C28 The Turning of the Road

To my surprise, Liang Yue firmly shook her head after hearing my words. "No. I'm coming with you."

Liang Yue was adamant, so I reluctantly agreed and slowly made our way out of the surveillance room, flashlight in hand.

Approaching the two bodies outside with caution, I couldn't resist sneaking a peek. They remained as still as wooden posts, devoid of any expression or movement. This was, of course, their natural state. How could a corpse move or show expression?

Yet, what had just transpired made them appear as though they had come back to life, capable of attacking us and tracking our movements. Subconsciously, I hadn't regarded them as corpses at all.

For reasons unknown, they had abruptly ceased their assault and reverted to their lifeless state.

I was too preoccupied with finding out whether the person was Third Uncle and, if so, whether he was dead or alive.

As I approached the third figure, an ominous premonition washed over me. The sensation was eerily similar to when I had stood beside the other two bodies. It's hard to describe, but it felt as though the other party was completely devoid of life, a different entity altogether. In plain terms, it was the sensation of being alive in the presence of death.

Could it be that Third Uncle...

A fresh layer of cold sweat broke out over my skin, and my body began to shake uncontrollably at the thought.

"Third... Third Uncle..." I called out softly once more.

There was no response from Third Uncle, and my flashlight quivered as it illuminated his face. There he stood, unmistakably Third Uncle, his face as pallid as I had felt, lacking any hint of color, chillingly white, and utterly expressionless.

What sets humans apart from the animal kingdom is our capacity for emotion, most directly conveyed through our facial expressions. But a face devoid of expression is profoundly disturbing.

And that was exactly how Third Uncle looked in that moment.

I was inching closer to Third Uncle to get a better look when that eerie flute sound echoed through the underground parking lot once again. As the melody played, Third Uncle slowly turned and began walking in a different direction. To my horror, his legs moved like rigid sticks, mirroring the two corpses, with knees that didn't bend, shuffling forward in a stiff gait. My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a scream.

Despite my skepticism towards Third Uncle's Tao Arts, deep down, I always felt he was different. For instance, on the rooftop, both Liang Yue and I succumbed to the flute's spell, yet Third Uncle remained unaffected. It never crossed my mind that he could be in danger.

Fearing I was seeing things, I spun around to find Liang Yue, hoping she could confirm the reality of the situation. But as I turned, a more chilling sight confronted me.

Liang Yue, tall as she is, was standing right behind me, her body pressed close. When I looked back, her face was just inches from mine. Instinctively, I recoiled, and my flashlight beam caught her in its glare.

She had been perfectly fine when we first stepped out, but in a short time, she had transformed into a replica of Third Uncle. Her complexion was ghastly, and her previously tense muscles had slackened suddenly, leaving her resembling a zombie.

Her eyes, once lively and sparkling with warmth, now appeared dull and lifeless, indistinguishable from those of a dead fish.

"Liang Yue, please... don't frighten me..." I stood frozen, unable to trust my own eyes. How could two perfectly healthy individuals change so drastically in a mere moment? I clung to the slim hope that this was their idea of a prank. But realistically, who would have the nerve to play such a joke in this eerie place?

Liang Yue seemed oblivious to my plea, her gaze fixed on the distant darkness. Her body, like Third Uncle's, moved rigidly forward.

Then, the two corpses that had been standing began to move, following in Liang Yue's wake.

All four of them formed a single file, marching stiffly to the tune of the flute.

My mind was a complete blank; I had no mental preparation for what I was encountering. Despite having anticipated various dangers and difficulties before entering, the reality of the situation caught me entirely off guard and was beyond my control.

I noticed Third Uncle and Liang Yue had moved some distance ahead. Without a moment to spare for further thought, I quickened my pace to catch up and join the end of the procession.

Somehow, I was the only one whose mind remained clear. I couldn't abandon them—I needed to follow and find out what was happening. Could pursuing them lead me to the source of that eerie flute sound?

Mimicking their movements, I stiffly shuffled forward. Within a few steps, my knees began to ache, and my legs grew increasingly uncomfortable, feeling almost alien to me.

Once my eyes adjusted to the pitch-black underground, I switched off my flashlight to avoid drawing attention. Ignoring the discomfort, I mechanically trailed at the rear of the group.

The flute was now playing a soothing, melodious piece with an ancient charm. Yet, in these circumstances, all I could sense was an ominous presence, devoid of any aesthetic pleasure.

Third Uncle led the way, navigating the darkness as if he could see clearly, following the flute's sound with unwavering certainty.

The flute's enchantment grew stronger, and it appeared that all the events were tied to its sound. Finding its source might just unravel the mystery at hand.

As I continued with the group, an unsettling feeling crept up on me from behind.

I was certain I had been the last in line, but now, faint footsteps echoed from behind me.

A chill ran down my spine, and my scalp tingled with dread. Was a corpse following me?

I held my breath, too afraid to turn around, and strained my ears to pick up any sounds from behind.

The footsteps were light, seemingly controlled with care. Strangely enough, I could also hear breathing.

Initially, I dismissed it as my imagination, but when I stopped breathing, the sounds became unmistakably clear.

A wave of anxiety washed over me, and I instinctively slowed down, distancing myself from the group until I finally came to a halt.

Indeed, once I stopped, the footsteps behind me ceased as well.

I felt a chilling breath on the back of my neck. Terrified, I froze, not daring to make a move. It was obvious someone was standing behind me, their breath hitting my neck.

Was it a ghost or a person? Alive or dead?

My heart pounded uncontrollably as fear gripped me, and I instinctively wanted to scream.

But as soon as I opened my mouth, a hand reached from behind and clamped over it.

Chills ran down my spine. I wanted to struggle when a hushed voice behind me said, "Stay still if you want to live."

The voice was unfamiliar, yet it offered a sliver of comfort. Clearly, he wasn't one of the walking dead. It seemed he was here to rescue me.

In my moment of hesitation, the man yanked me aside and we started running.

As Third Uncle and Liang Yue moved further away, my anxiety peaked, yet I was helpless.

The man was carrying a flashlight and led me through a door to a staircase leading upwards. I realized this was the same staircase Liang Yue had shown me earlier.

But back then, the door had been locked, and now this man had it open.

In a hushed tone, I asked, "Who are you?"

The figure ahead remained silent, pressing on as if delaying would have dire consequences.

I stopped and demanded, "Who are you, really? Stop playing games. Speak up or I won't be so polite."

Finally, the man ahead sighed and said, "I'm Old Hsiao. Just follow me, quickly."

"Old Hsiao? Who's that?" My mind was a blur, but after a moment, it clicked. Old Hsiao was the gatekeeper, the one Liang Yue referred to as Uncle Hsiao.

"Uncle Hsiao?"

"Quiet. Come with me." Uncle Hsiao gestured and crouched, making his way up the stairs.

I glanced back; no one was following. I hesitated, torn between trusting Uncle Hsiao and going back to find Third Uncle and the others, and to investigate the mysterious flute sound.

Uncle Hsiao took a couple of steps forward and, noticing I hadn't kept up, let out a sigh. In a deep voice, he said, "If you want to save them, follow me. If you're looking to meet your maker, then go downstairs."

He didn't wait for my response and sprinted up the stairs, his figure quickly vanishing from sight.

I mulled it over for a moment. It seemed my only option was to trust Uncle Hsiao. When I first arrived, I had noticed his shifty gaze and doubted his intentions, suspecting he was up to no good.

Now, it was hard to believe that our lives were inextricably linked to his.

I raced up the stairs after him, and Uncle Hsiao led me straight into his small room. An oil lamp flickered inside, casting a warm glow that, while not as bright as electric light, offered a comforting sense of safety. It felt like stepping out of hell and back into the world of the living, except for the unpleasant odor that permeated the room—an odor I had noticed earlier around Third Uncle and the others.

"Uncle Hsiao... they..." I gestured downwards, attempting to explain the situation.

Uncle Hsiao gestured for me to stop and said, "No need for details. Leave this place for now. Tomorrow morning at nine, come find me at No. 4 Peace Lane."

"And them...?"

"They won't die within three days. Don't take shortcuts, stick to the main roads. Avoid the shadows, stay in the light."

After giving me these instructions, Uncle Hsiao moved to close the door.

Realizing he was serious about dismissing me, I left his room, albeit reluctantly. Uncle Hsiao escorted me out of the main building, and the iron gate shut behind me with a resounding clang.

Outside, the air was crisp and refreshing, and I inhaled deeply, savoring it.

I heeded Uncle Hsiao's advice, walking under the streetlights all the way back to my hotel. Sitting in the hotel's radiant lobby, it all felt like a surreal dream.

Now, with Third Uncle absent, the next move was mine to decide...