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 The fatty continued, "The room was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything. I could only hear my own heartbeat and breathing, feeling like the whole world had frozen. Then, suddenly, the lights flickered, and ghostly images began to appear on the walls, followed by—"

Before he could finish, with a loud bang, the door at the end of the hallway suddenly swung open.

Dim light illuminated the aged walls, revealing cracks from years of neglect.

A chilling atmosphere filled the corridor, as if an invisible fear hung in the air.

In the center of the first-floor hall, an old television hung, its black-and-white static breaking the night’s silence.

A blurry figure appeared on the screen, producing a raspy voice like a chainsaw: "Welcome, my friends, to this gathering. I hope you enjoy this wonderful night."

That voice echoed through the hall like a ghost in motion.

The seven of them found themselves in this mysterious escape room, surrounded by a heavy atmosphere of terror.

The walls were adorned with ancient oil paintings, and the eyes in the paintings seemed to silently watch them. A cold smell permeated the air, and an old gramophone in the hall crackled, attempting to create the ambiance of a banquet.

Then, the speakers above began a countdown.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"The gathering officially begins!"

In front of the television, the shadow laughed eerily amidst the black-and-white static, as if it could see through each person’s deepest fears.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

Qi Dong glanced at the dark escape room, where only the figure on the screen still faintly glowed, like a ghostly eye flickering in the silence.

"Let’s wait. A task should be announced soon."

Xiang Ran remained relatively calm, if not for his girlfriend tightly gripping his arm.

Liu Shuyao’s carefully applied makeup now appeared faded; she felt her heart racing. With the lights out, she was afraid to even open her eyes, terrified of suddenly seeing something.

Her lips pressed together, she displayed a hint of annoyance. Unconsciously, she bit her lower lip and huddled closer to her boyfriend, seeking comfort.

As long as the fatty was with everyone, he felt a lot more at ease. He scanned the surroundings, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

"This escape room is pretty realistic; look, there are fruits on the table!"

He pointed to the table illuminated by the dim light from the television, where a few plates of fruit could be vaguely seen, along with some other items.

"This must be the gathering place, right?"

"Tick-tock!"

"Tick-tock!"

The countdown from the wall answered him.

Then, a chilling sound echoed throughout the escape room, as if ghostly whispers were calling.

When the faint light flickered back on, the seven found themselves in a simulated old graveyard. The walls were draped with withered vines, and the ground was covered in mist, creating an eerie atmosphere.

And what the fatty pointed to as fruits?

It was clearly offerings!

Then, the cold voice from the television rang out: "Welcome to the 'Dinner of the Dead.'"

"Friends! You need to find clues about the buried past to escape this graveyard."

"What?"

"This is a gathering of the dead?" Zhao Ying couldn’t help but exclaim, instinctively drawing closer to Qi Dong.

Their current task was to find clues about Mr. Feng's "cause of death" within the simulated graveyard to save each other.

"Ahhhh!"

"Look at what’s written on this tombstone!"

Xiao Qiao was also terrified, squinting and pushing Wang Hao forward.

"The name on the tombstone is 'Feng Zhiming.' There’s a line at the bottom: 'His cause of death was entanglement with an unknown shadow in the forest at night.'"

Wang Hao read the inscription aloud, "His soul has been wandering this graveyard until someone finds his lost belongings, allowing him to rest."

A cold wind swept through, making the simulated trees rustle, as if some supernatural presence lingered around them.

Xiang Ran stared at the tombstone; the face that had appeared on the television now resembled a portrait of the deceased hanging there.

"Where do we go now?"

Liu Shuyao clung to Xiang Ran’s arm tightly.

"Let’s check ahead for clues."

Xiang Ran gently patted her hand, signaling that everything was fine, but she still trembled in fear, taking tiny steps.

The first room had been empty and easily visible, only requiring them to decode it. Although the environment was dark, at least there was no worry about anything else happening.

Now, surrounded by darkness, they couldn’t even tell how big the hall was. The eerie sounds and the occasional gusts of wind were incredibly frightening.

The group split up to search cautiously.

"Here!"

"There’s a door here!"

Qi Dong discovered a hidden door behind a tombstone, leading to a basement!

"Be careful!"

Xiang Ran cautioned. One by one, they descended.

The basement was filled with a damp atmosphere, with old candles lining the walls.

In a corner, Wang Hao found an old map marking various locations in the graveyard.

"This seems like a clue."

"The map marks a specific area; I wonder if it relates to Feng Zhiming’s cause of death?"

Wang Hao waved the paper, calling the others over.

"Let me see."

Qi Dong leaned in.

"Is our current location marked on the map?"

The fatty spoke up.

"Right here."

Wang Hao pointed to a spot on the map.

Everyone focused intently, eager to find clues.

Suddenly, the candles in the basement extinguished, plunging them into darkness.

Then, eerie laughter echoed in the air.

From the corner, an NPC suddenly charged at them.

"Ahhh!"

"Oh my god!"

"Ahhhhhh!"

The group that had just been huddled together scattered in an instant.

In the darkness, Xiang Ran pulled Liu Shuyao into a corner.

Liu Shuyao trembled in fear, her heart racing so loudly it felt audible. Her bright eyes were filled with anxiety, and her long eyelashes quivered slightly. Due to the racing heartbeat, the tip of her nose turned slightly red, and her breathing became hurried.

Xiang Ran noticed her fear and pressed her back against the wall, trying to help her feel safer.

After a moment, the candles were lit again, restoring the previous light.

Liu Shuyao’s mind felt muddled, her thoughts chaotic. She clung to her boyfriend tightly, frowning, and quietly asked, "Have we left?"

"We've left, it’s okay now."

Xiang Ran wrapped his arm around Liu Shuyao’s slim waist and gently caressed her back, whispering soothingly in her ear, like comforting a frightened kitten.

On the other side, Wang Hao held Xiao Qiao, reassuring her that everything was fine.

Qi Dong checked on Zhao Ying, concerned after she seemed to brush against the wall in the earlier panic.

Only the fatty stood alone, holding the map with a bewildered expression, looking at the other six.

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