Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 299: Secret Room

Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Secret Room

The plot has been triggered...

The four people, including Bai Yanliang, immediately became vigilant, their nerves on edge.

Everyone looked in the direction Ouyang Kang was pointing. It was the very center of the hall, where a strange landscape painting hung on the wall, beneath which stood an ancient-looking wooden table, and on the table lay an A4 paper printout.

Lin Dayou was the first to step forward to pick up the A4 paper and read aloud word by word:

"Welcome to Heavenly Castle, Lin Dayou, Ouyang Kang, Wang Rui, Zhan Yunhong, Liu Ruonan, Song Que, Bai Yanliang, Xu Zhifei, Qi Nian, among the nine, only one person can receive a reward of three million yuan, hidden somewhere in the villa. Please search for it yourselves. Good luck to you all."

Not until Lin Dayou read Bai Yanliang’s name from the paper did Bai Yanliang confirm that the task had indeed begun.

The text from Fog Gathering was just the background to the mission’s start; this was a real film, and... it had already started filming.

"Xiao Rui, there really is three million!"

Excited after hearing the announcement, Ouyang Kang exclaimed while holding his girlfriend’s hand.

Wang Rui, however, was not so thrilled. She said worriedly, "Ouyang, I always feel... searching for that three million might be dangerous. There’s no such thing as a pie in the sky. How about... we leave?"

Ouyang Kang didn’t take Wang Rui’s concerns to heart. He pulled Wang Rui aside, glanced at the others, and whispered, "Idiot! We’re juniors, and there’s only a year until graduation. With this three million, we could start a business or buy a house. You know my family’s situation. Without money... your parents wouldn’t agree to you marrying me."

Ouyang Kang’s words made Wang Rui’s heart melt. She tapped his chest, blushfully annoyed, and said, "Who said I want to marry you... shameless..."

Ouyang Kang chuckled, pulling Wang Rui into his arms as they quietly slipped away.

Although they left quietly, they were still noticed by the others. However, at this point, no one stopped them.

At this moment, Lin Dayou suddenly smiled and said, "Guys, are we searching together to split the money once found, or are we searching separately, each keeping what we find?"

"Hmph." With a cold snort, Zhan Yunhong said nothing and walked towards another direction with his backpack.

Seeing him leave, Song Que immediately called out, "Brother Zhan, want to pair up?"

Zhan Yunhong glared at him, "Don’t follow me."

Song Que, known for his not-so-good temperament, just grinned when faced with Zhan’s glare.

"Fine, take your time."

Without turning back, Zhan Yunhong left immediately.

Seeing this, Lin Dayou quickly suggested, "This villa and manor are at least the size of a soccer field. Let’s split up to search."

As Lin Dayou departed, besides Bai Yanliang and the other three, only Liu Ruonan remained.

She and Xu Zhifei were somewhat alike, both not speaking much.

But their temperaments were totally different. Xu Zhifei was cold, keeping people at a distance, whereas she exuded a fragile, submissive aura.

If Xu Zhifei didn’t speak because he was disinterested.

Then Liu Ruonan’s silence was entirely out of fear.

She was always on edge, looking at everyone with a wary glance.

This behavior piqued Bai Yanliang and the others’ curiosity; her reaction was much like someone who had seen a ghost.

"Miss Liu, would you like to come with us?"

Just as Liu Ruonan was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed, and she turned her head to look around.

"Bang—bang—bang—bang—"

Several thick iron plates suddenly descended from outside the walls, sealing off all the doors and windows!

At the same time, the two doors that Zhan Yunhong, Lin Dayou, Ouyang Kang, and Wang Rui had left through also suddenly lowered an iron wall.

The five of them were trapped in the hall!

Darn, is there a time limit?

Bai Yanliang thought quickly, looking at the elegant Western clock in the corner of the hall. The current time was... 17:31.

Song Que, Qi Nian, and Xu Zhifei rushed to the window, forcefully pounding the iron wall that had just descended.

Moments later, the expression on all three faces turned grim.

"The thickness and weight are astonishing; it’s impossible to open it bare-handed."

Song Que returned to Bai Yanliang’s side.

At this moment, Bai Yanliang glanced at Song Que, "You’re sweating."

Song Que took out a handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and said confusedly, "I’m not someone who sweats much."

"Neither am I."

Saying this, Bai Yanliang raised his head, looking towards the ceiling.

More accurately... at the lights on the ceiling, shining like a myriad of stars.

The others quickly looked up too, and as they did, their faces altered dramatically.

"Those lights, have they gotten hotter?" Song Que asked with uncertainty.

"Those aren’t lights." Xu Zhifei’s black hair was already slightly damp with sweat, "They’re infrared heating tubes."

"Infrared heating tubes?" Qi Nian was somewhat puzzled.

"Also called infrared heat lamps, simply put, you can think of us now as being trapped inside a giant oven," Bai Yanliang said expressionlessly.

Liu Ruonan trembled all over. She looked up at the ceiling, suddenly focusing her gaze and trembled out, "It’s lowering... by one centimeter."

What?

Bai Yanliang also looked at the ceiling in surprise, was it getting closer?

Upon careful observation, the group finally saw what Liu Ruonan had meant—it indeed lowered by one centimeter.

The ceiling was genuinely descending at a rate of approximately one centimeter every ten seconds!

"So hot!"

Song Que loosened his collar, his mood fraying under the conditions.

It wasn’t just a heat issue now; with all entrances and exits sealed and the ceiling descending continuously, this was essentially a closed room!

If they couldn’t find an escape route, the five of them would be roasted alive!

In such temperatures, Bai Yanliang felt agitated, much less the others.

Qi Nian paced around in discomfort, Song Que was nearly stripped of his clothing, Xu Zhifei stood silently in place, though drenched in sweat.

Liu Ruonan, in worse shape, was not only sweating but also crying.

Her tearful face was painfully endearing, and the weakness easily evoked a protective instinct in others, but in a situation like this, no one could protect her.

What to do? What should we do?

Is there a way to live? Where is the way to live?

Everyone was deep in thought. Bai Yanliang watched as they searched every inch of the hall without discovering any mechanisms or secret passages.

Could it be that they’d really be roasted alive?

Bai Yanliang’s eyes roamed around. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, just about to speak, when a scream pierced the air.

"Ah!"

It was Qi Nian’s scream!

Everyone quickly turned towards the source of the sound, only to see a dark hole on the floor closing. Qi Nian, who had stood there, had already vanished.

"Qi Nian!" Bai Yanliang’s heart tightened, and he rushed over, pounding the ground furiously. Yet, the solid feedback made it hard to believe there had been a big hole underneath.

What did Qi Nian do just now? Why did the floor beneath her suddenly open up?

"I got it! She smashed the infrared heating tube!"

Song Que’s voice carried a tone of surprise, pointing towards the ceiling.

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