tkworld #532 - The other side of Ms. Hualu
#532 - The other side of Ms. Hualu
Tang Yin's footsteps came to an abrupt halt on the mountain path, the sight before him causing him to gasp. The mountain path had collapsed, leaving a scene of devastation and a precipitous cliff. No wonder Xia Hui and Zhou Zhengxiong hadn't left last night; with a collapse of this magnitude, not even an SUV could pass, let alone a van.
He stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the scene before him. The mountain wind rustled his hair, bringing a touch of coolness. Tang Yin took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of soil and vegetation, but it did little to alleviate the anxiety in his heart.
"Just give up like this?" Tang Yin muttered to himself. He recalled how much he hated the 'invisible wall' setting in games. The feeling of being blocked by something unseen always frustrated him immensely. And this cliff before him was like a real-life invisible wall, ruthlessly blocking his path.
Tang Yin's gaze swept around, suddenly reminded of another game setting he loathed—when the road abruptly vanished, turning into a cliff. He shook his head with a wry smile, never expecting to encounter such a situation in reality.
But Tang Yin was not one to give up easily. He took a deep breath and decided to continue along the edge of the break. The path underfoot became even more rugged, covered in humus, ferns, and moss. Affected by the dampness, the ground was exceptionally slippery, requiring him to be cautious with every step.
Tang Yin continuously snapped the saplings blocking his way, struggling to push forward. Sweat soaked his T-shirt, sticking uncomfortably to his body. He looked up at his surroundings, and a question couldn't help but arise in his mind: "This is clearly a mountain village, so why doesn't Baifeng Village develop forestry?"
As he progressed, the slope became increasingly steep. Tang Yin stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the almost vertical cliff face, and couldn't help but gasp. "No matter what, there's no way to climb this," he muttered to himself, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
But Tang Yin didn't give up. He went around to the side of the slope and began to climb carefully. Each step required careful calculation, fearing that a misstep would send him tumbling to the bottom. He tried to maintain his direction, not wanting to stray too far from his destination.
However, against his wishes, Tang Yin found himself lost once again without realizing it. The surrounding scenery began to look unfamiliar, and he felt a sense of bewilderment. But at this moment, he had no choice but to continue climbing.
"Baifeng Village is near the top of the mountain, as long as I keep climbing, it should be fine…" Tang Yin reassured himself, forcing himself to continue forward.
However, as the altitude increased, an eerie mist began to envelop the surroundings. Tang Yin felt his breathing become difficult, as if he were immersed in a bowl of thick rice soup, or trapped in a large block of milk jelly.
"What's going on?" Tang Yin gasped, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from his body. The air became heavier and heavier, even breathing became difficult. His body felt as if it were glued by some invisible force, making every movement exceptionally difficult.
Tang Yin forced himself to stay awake. "This is reality, just a dense fog…" he repeated to himself, trying to dispel the fear in his heart. But as time went on, this self-suggestion seemed increasingly powerless.
He clung tightly to the hillside, his fingers digging deep into the soil, struggling to climb upward. Each step felt like a battle against the entire world, each breath becoming exceptionally difficult.
"This is reality, just a dense fog…" Tang Yin's voice grew weaker and weaker, his consciousness beginning to blur. His vision began to spin, the surrounding scenery turning into a chaotic gray.
Just as he was about to give up, a thought suddenly flashed through Tang Yin's mind: "Why is there such a strange fog? Is this really just ordinary fog?"
However, he no longer had the energy to think about this question. As the last trace of consciousness faded, Tang Yin's body slid weakly down the steep hillside.
In the last moment before losing consciousness, Tang Yin seemed to hear a faint sound coming from the distance. The sound was both strange and familiar, as if it were a call from another world. But he could no longer respond, and could only allow himself to sink into the boundless darkness.
...
Sanren sighed deeply, his brow furrowed, and muttered in a low voice, "As expected, it's a bad ending." There was a hint of helplessness and disappointment in his voice, as if he had already foreseen this outcome.
The game screen seemed to be turned back by an invisible hand, returning to the previous choice branch. Several options flashed on the screen, each seemingly leading to a different fate.
Tang Yin crossed his hands and rested his chin on them, falling into deep thought.
"What should I do now?" he murmured to himself, his gaze shifting across the screen. After much deliberation, he finally decided not to leave and to wait and see.
After all, he and Wang Lina were at least friends. If he left without saying goodbye or failed to help in a crisis, he would definitely feel guilty. Tang Yin closed his eyes, and Wang Lina's slightly melancholy face appeared in his mind. This level of friendship made it impossible for him to easily abandon her.
"Let's not consider leaving for the time being," Tang Yin muttered to himself, then cheered up and decided to first clarify some doubts.
He looked up at Wang Lina and asked softly, "Can I ask you a question? Why won't you let me eat the food from Mist Hidden Village? Is it some kind of foreshadowing?"
Wang Lina's eyes flashed with surprise when she heard this, then she gave a wry smile: "I've been found out?"
Tang Yin nodded, half-jokingly saying, "Yeah, I hope it's not some strange foreshadowing, it would be scary."
Wang Lina suddenly laughed at his words, her smile adding some life to her originally pale face: "Ahahaha, I'm really impressed by you, it's nothing, just a safety measure, or rather, psychological comfort."
Tang Yin was infected by her smile and also smiled, but the doubt in his eyes deepened: "Huh? Can you explain it in more detail?"
Wang Lina's expression suddenly became serious, and she lowered her voice and said, "…Um, you know that story, right? About eating food from a certain store and then turning into a pig and not being able to escape."
Tang Yin was stunned, then realized: "Huh? Could it be hell?" He suddenly remembered the animated movie DVD he had watched, and couldn't help but look around, wondering if there were any bathhouses here.
Wang Lina's eyes became deep, and she said softly: "Who knows, maybe it really is hell."
Tang Yin slowly accepted the situation, thinking to himself, could it be that even he was starting to believe in superstition? He tentatively asked, "So, you're going to keep doing this?"
Wang Lina nodded, comforting him: "There's still a lot of stored food, don't worry."
A pile of cup noodles immediately appeared in Tang Yin's mind. It wasn't that he couldn't accept cup noodles, but he never thought that cup noodles would become a means of dealing with superstition, this contrast made him want to laugh.
He and Wang Lina returned to her room together. The room was small, but it was very tidy. Several landscape posters were pasted on the wall, adding a touch of life to this slightly gloomy space. They made a cup of noodles together for lunch, the steaming fragrance filling the entire room.
Tang Yin looked at the cup noodles in front of him and suddenly realized that he had missed two meals. But for him, cutting food expenses was commonplace. While eating the cup noodles, he recalled the days in college when he often only ate one meal a day to save money.
The taste of the cup noodles wasn't great, but at this moment it gave Tang Yin a sense of peace. He needed time to think calmly, but Wang Lina was obviously very concerned about the situation of the other villagers. Her eyes kept drifting out the window, as if she was worried about something.
Having no other choice, Tang Yin had to accompany Wang Lina. After all, his identity did not allow him to act alone here. As an outsider, he knew that his every move could arouse the suspicion of the villagers.
...
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Tang Yin and Wang Lina arrived at the cafeteria. The room was filled with a faint scent of wood, mixed with a trace of tea fragrance.
Chen Xiang's hair was tied into a simple bun, and she wore a plain apron. She had a gentle smile on her face, and when she saw the two of them come in, she immediately greeted them warmly.
"Oh, welcome, are you here for lunch?" Chen Xiang's voice was gentle with a hint of cheerfulness.
Wang Lina smiled and shook her head, "No need, we've already eaten, can we sit down?"
"Yes, of course, I'll go make some tea now." Chen Xiang said as she was about to turn around.
Tang Yin quickly spoke, "Sorry, can I have a glass of plain water?" There was a hint of apology in his tone.
Chen Xiang turned around, a look of surprise on her face, "Oh, drinking tea is good for the body." There was a hint of persuasion in her tone.
Tang Yin scratched his head, explaining somewhat awkwardly: "Um, I'm the type who can't sleep if I drink tea."
Chen Xiang's expression became a little regretful, but she nodded anyway, "Oh… I guess there's no helping it, then have plain water."
Just then, Wang Lina suddenly interjected, "Don't drink plain water either." There was a hint of nervousness in her tone.
Tang Yin turned to look at Wang Lina, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, "But the water for the cup noodles was also from here."
Wang Lina was stunned, a look of realization on her face, "Ah."
Tang Yin couldn't help but complain, "You're just realizing that now!"
Wang Lina explained somewhat flusteredly, "Boiled water should be fine, right?" There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Tang Yin thought to himself, is the boiled water from hell really okay? But he didn't say this thought out loud.
Chen Xiang walked over with a pot of steaming water and several cups, "Please enjoy…" She placed the cups on the table, then said thoughtfully, "Speaking of which, Tang Yin is really unlucky, his car broke down, and also…"
Tang Yin took the cup and shook his head gently, "It's nothing, it's already the best of a bad situation…" He paused, then asked casually, "By the way, does this kind of thing happen every year?"
He knew that the more important the matter, the more casually it should be asked.
Chen Xiang sat down, a look of reminiscence on her face, "No, this is also my first time participating in the banquet." She paused, and continued, "I heard that this kind of thing has happened before, but most people were not in Mist Hidden Village at that time."
Tang Yin's heart stirred, was this before Mist Hidden Village was isolated? But he knew that now was not the time to ask that.
He changed his angle, "In other words, for most people, this is the first time participating in the banquet?"
Chen Xiang nodded, "Um… I guess so."
A hint of doubt flashed in Tang Yin's eyes, "Is that so… Then how are the rules of the banquet passed down?"
Chen Xiang's expression became a little serious, "…This kind of thing is easy, right? In this place where there are no entertainment activities, everyone grows up listening to stories told by their elders."
Her gaze became a little erratic, as if she were recalling something, "Ancient legends and ancient folk songs have always been passed down."
"Folk songs?" Tang Yin repeated softly, a hint of doubt in his voice.
Just then, a crisp child's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the room.
"Folk songs…"
Tang Yin turned his head sharply, only to see a little girl who looked six or seven years old appear at the entrance of the cafeteria, it was Xiao Mie.
Xiao Mie walked in with small steps, a naive smile on her face, "Folk songs, I learned it…"
Chen Xiang's expression instantly softened, and she said gently, "Oh, that's amazing, sing it?"
Xiao Mie nodded, and then sang in a childish voice: "The guardian beast of Qianming God, the more soy sauce soup, the stronger the taste."
Tang Yin listened to these strange lyrics, and the doubt in his heart deepened. The more soy sauce soup, the stronger the taste? Isn't this the recipe for miso soup? However, a strange sense of familiarity rose in his heart, he seemed to have heard this melody somewhere before.
Wang Lina clapped her hands with a smile, "Ahahaha, that folk song is a bit difficult." There was a hint of reluctance in her voice, as if she were trying to ease the atmosphere.
Just then, another voice came from the door. "Xiao Mie, so you're here… ah."
A tall, mysterious-looking woman appeared at the door, it was Xiao Mie's guardian, Hua Lu. Her gaze swept across the room, pausing slightly when she saw Tang Yin.
Chen Xiang's attitude suddenly became reserved, "Oh… I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared enough." There was a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Hua Lu shook her head, "It's nothing, I'm the one who's interrupting, Xiao Mie didn't cause any trouble, did she?"
Chen Xiang quickly waved her hand, "No, no, don't be so polite, the more it is at times like this, the more we need to relax."
Hua Lu nodded, "Then…"
Just as she was about to say something, an accident happened. Hua Lu stepped on the rail of the sliding door, lost her balance, and leaned forward abruptly.
With a "thump," Hua Lu took a classic faceplant.
Wang Lina exclaimed, "Waaah!? Are you okay, Hua Lu!?"
Chen Xiang also hurried forward, "Oh… are you hurt?"
Hua Lu lay on the ground, covering her nose with both hands, groaning in pain, "…Hoooh ooooh ooooh… it hurts…" Tears seeped out from between her fingers, and her mysterious persona completely collapsed at this moment.
Tang Yin stared at Hua Lu subconsciously, never expecting that this mysterious woman would have such a rich range of expressions.
Noticing Tang Yin's gaze, Hua Lu raised her head, her face showing annoyance and embarrassment, "Um, don't… stare at me."
Tang Yin finally came back to his senses and quickly apologized, "Ah, sorry…" He paused, suddenly thinking of something, "Right, is this the first time we've spoken?"
Hua Lu slowly stood up, tidying her disheveled clothes. "...I think so. Um... I'm very sorry."
Tang Yin was taken aback. "Huh? Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?"
Hua Lu lowered her head, her voice filled with apology. "I've implicated you."
Tang Yin recalled what had happened before and asked thoughtfully, "So, you were telling me to leave quickly back then?"
Hua Lu raised her head, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "Because... the fog was coming in, and luckily, we made it in time."