The gardener's words were a clear hint!
Finding that hidden door, opening the secret chamber, and uncovering all the secrets concealed within the manor might be the shortcut to ending this terrifying story early.
The gardener and the butler—these two should both be aware of the secret chamber. But since the gardener refused to speak, no amount of pleading would help.
This was the story's limitation on its characters, as well as on the participants. The final secret had to be uncovered by their own hands.
Of course, when the secret was revealed, they would also face the darkest and most horrifying part of the story.
"Right before our eyes, yet undiscovered..."
"Behind the door lies something that can dispel all evil..."
These two sentences were undoubtedly crucial hints in the story. But what else was right under their noses, overlooked by the participants?
Xiao Bai's gaze involuntarily returned to the old mansion, a massive shadow lurking like a beast in the darkness.
Returning to the house from the heavy rain, pushing open the door, a flash of lightning behind her outlined the hall in a stark black-and-white image.
Xiao Bai's eyes, caught by that momentary light, swept around.
This was where they had first entered and lingered.
This was also where the butler had first told them, the participants, they could freely search.
Just then, another bolt of lightning split the sky outside the open door, black and white, light and dark, intertwining once more.
The dazzling light illuminated a massive painting ahead.
It seemed to be an oil painting personally created by the painter couple—angels dancing among the clouds, surrounding a baby like stars around the moon.
Yet in that instant under the lightning's glare, Xiao Bai was startled to find the painting suddenly changing.
The image seemed to melt as if something were dissolving it, black liquid streaming downward. Where the black liquid passed, the scene transformed into another horrifying vision.
Those dancing angels turned into countless black arms, reaching for the baby in the center. The entire image was not only grotesquely distorted but also eerie and terrifying.
Ye Xiaomei and Ke Shufan both screamed, stepping back in unison. But Xiao Bai remained unmoved, instead stepping forward to examine the painting more closely.
The supernatural change in the painting was undoubtedly another hint from the story to the participants, subtly revealing the manor's secret.
In an instant, a thought flashed through Xiao Bai's mind...
Could it be that the evil wasn't lurking within the manor?
Perhaps the manor itself was the embodiment of that evil.
The painting continued its horrifying transformation. The black arms and the baby began to warp, oozing black matter. Yet Xiao Bai didn't retreat, quietly watching the terrifying change.
The black matter surged forth until the entire canvas turned pitch black, revealing nothing.
At that moment, a strange, cold smile curled at the corner of Xiao Bai's mouth. She reached out and began to feel around the now-black painting.
Ah, there it was.
In the middle of the canvas, her fingers touched a tiny, barely noticeable irregularity.
A small hole.
"Xiao Bai? What are you doing?"
Seeing Xiao Bai so boldly exploring the painting undergoing its horrific change, Ye Xiaomei was nearly scared to death. But after a moment, noticing that nothing had attacked her, she cautiously leaned in.
"Come look at this."
Standing before the painting that had turned completely black, Xiao Bai's voice was remarkably calm.
"Look here. Doesn't this look like a door?"
"A door?"
Ye Xiaomei was taken aback, then studied the black "painting" anew.
When it was still a painting, it wouldn't have given that impression. But now that everything on the canvas was covered in flowing black matter, eerily turning it pitch black, combined with the thick frame...
It did indeed look like a black door!
"Could the gardener have meant..."
This was the door to the secret chamber, right before everyone's eyes yet unnoticed by anyone!
Now it had finally revealed its true form!
And what proved it beyond doubt was...
The small hole Xiao Bai had touched at the "handle" position was a tiny keyhole!
The manor's secrets might lie behind this door!
Crack—another flash of lightning streaked across, illuminating a shadow at the open doorway. Unbeknownst to them, the white-haired butler had appeared behind everyone, silently watching.
"Hurry, Xiao Bai..."
No reminder was needed. Xiao Bai knew the situation was dire. This mysterious butler, appearing soundlessly every time, sent chills down their spines.
A soft click came from her hand, as if something had been unlocked. With a gentle push, the wall before her sank inward, revealing a narrow passage.
The passage was extremely tight, barely allowing one person through. The enclosed space reeked of decay.
At the other end of this passage might lie the space where Chen Cailing had once been trapped. But it was surely fraught with danger!
Turning a corner in the secret passage, a long staircase suddenly appeared before them, descending like a path to hell.
Narrow, dark, terrifying—the three relied solely on their flashlights to grope their way through. Xiao Bai, leading, felt little, but Ye Xiaomei and Ke Shufan behind her were already trembling uncontrollably.
Though terrified, their awareness as participants kept them silent, gritting their teeth and pushing on. Anyone could see that this secret passage held crucial story secrets!
More importantly, they knew the strange butler was now outside the passage, sealing off their escape.
And indeed, that was the case!
As the participants entered the hidden passage, the secret door closed. But the butler at the entrance made no further move, continuing to watch expressionlessly.
Just then, thud, thud, thud.
A sound suddenly echoed in the corridor. Hearing it, the long-still butler finally turned his head, seeing a waist-high shadow standing in the hallway, gazing at him from afar.
"So it's you..."
A smile crept onto the butler's usually expressionless face.
—
PS, here's the second update for today, la la la.