Not long after, I received a text message from Li Meijuan. It was an audio clip, but I didn't dare to play it, fearing that if it made any sound, someone would rush in and swing a scythe at me.

Enduring until dawn, I finally managed to get out of bed to grab my headphones.

The audio was very noisy, with the sound of wind and rain even drowning out the voices. After careful listening, I could finally make out some words.

It was Li Meijuan's panicked and despairing voice—

They're going to kill me, I can't escape, my sister didn't escape either... This place is a nightmare for women... Xiaofang, run quickly, everyone in this village is crazy.

With trembling hands, I played the audio over and over again. Li Meijuan's ordeal from last night seemed to unfold before my eyes, and at some point, I realized cold sweat had soaked through my clothes.

Considering the experiences of the past few days, it's clear that leaving is the wise choice.

But... I can't leave anymore.

I met Li Jin downstairs. He asked if I slept well last night.

I feigned calm and nodded, casually mentioning my plan to take photos with Li Meijuan at the field ridge.

For a moment, Li Jin's expression was unnatural. He said that Li Meijuan had already checked out yesterday.

I looked at my phone, puzzled, "But she didn't tell me that."

Li Jin replied, "Maybe she forgot. She'll tell you when she remembers."

After a while, I did receive a WeChat message from Li Meijuan: "Mr. Fang, I've found a clue about my sister. I'm going to look for her. Let's reschedule."

I had never scheduled a photo shoot with Li Meijuan, nor would she call me Mr. Fang.

Someone must have impersonated her to send the message, proving that Li Meijuan had met with foul play, and... further confirming that the entire village was in on it.

Considering Li Lijuan's disappearance and Li Meijuan's claim that this place is a nightmare for women, I think this village must be a human trafficking syndicate.

Li Meijuan's discovery led to her being silenced, so was it the same for my father?

If all outsiders who knew the secret were killed, then could Mu Ping's entire family have died for the same reason?

As I was organizing clues on paper, I inadvertently glanced at the painting on the wall. It seemed as if its colors were darker, and after a careful sniff, there was a strange smell.

At this moment, I received a message from Zhao Han.

Zhao Han: Between 2010 and 2013, many people reported that their female family members lost contact after entering the village, but each time the police came back empty-handed.

Zhao Han: This village is extremely dangerous. Be careful. I'll come as soon as the rain stops. Don't act rashly, okay?

Just as I was about to reply, a sudden scream disrupted my thoughts.

Following the sound, I saw someone lying in a pool of blood, with fresh blood from their carotid artery mixing with the rainwater and flowing away.

Several men stood by, faces full of terror, saying, "It's a possession. Someone's been possessed..."

"Possession" was the most heard term after arriving in this village, and the rituals were associated with it.

Initially, I thought it was mere superstition, but the gruesome death in front of me made me question that.

Was it human action, or was there some truth to it?

In my contemplation, the villagers' gazes locked onto me, and someone screamed and lunged at me.

"It must be you, you brought the evil spirit."

He clutched my throat, displaying a ferocious expression that people show only when driven to the brink by extreme fear.

Before I could resist, I lost consciousness.