Chapter 120: Knocking is the Courtesy Before Entering.
Only a thin wooden partition and a few plants separated the two hot springs.
Chi Shen's sigh could be clearly heard.
"He should have read the notebook, right?" Zhong Jingzhu questioned.
"He had been keeping the notebook before handing it to me on the plane," Zhong Yi replied, recalling how Chi Shen had asked him to memorize it. "He must have read it."
Zhong Jingzhu pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Is he testing the waters? Pretending to use the hot springs to make others believe he did... Could there be surveillance in this hotel?"
After saying this, Zhong Jingzhu looked somewhat anxious, his expression growing more serious.
However, Zhong Yi shook his head. "I don't think that's the case."
Zhong Jingzhu added, "The police had searched previously. There were no signs of cameras installed in the rooms."
From the neighboring room, the sound of water, like someone emerging from it, was followed by muffled footsteps.
"Did I memorize it wrong?" Doubt began to creep into Zhong Yi's mind.
Without hesitation, he reached into his overcoat and pulled out the notebook.
Both wore oversized gray-black coats. Not because it was their uniform or a personal preference, but these coats, akin to treasure troves, made it easy to store items. For them, carrying a notebook inside was no challenge.
Although Zhong Yi had memorized the content of the notebook, he kept it with him just in case. Flipping it open now, a puzzled look crossed his face.
He hadn’t misremembered; it was clearly written on the first page of the notebook:
“On the first day, our group of deceased individuals checked into room 1008—the same room where the missing man and woman had stayed. We examined every corner of the room and found nothing out of the ordinary. There was no malevolent energy, nor were there any cursed items. Officer Li, who accompanied us and possesses extensive criminal investigative experience, confirmed that there were no hidden cameras or other spying devices in either of the two rooms.”
“We subsequently inspected the hot spring pool, posing as tourists. Again, we found nothing unusual. Ah Shan attempted a minor soul-summoning ritual but failed to locate the spirits of the missing pair, suggesting they might still be alive.”
“We familiarized ourselves with the hotel's layout, which matched the promotional brochure. There were no strange or concealed areas. Everything seemed normal, leading us to ponder if this disappearance was not related to any paranormal activity. Officer Li and I discussed this, and he felt more observations were needed.”
“As night fell and our day's investigation bore no fruit, we decided to rest. Li and I shared one room, while Ah Shan and Xiao Hu took the neighboring room 1009. After their inspection, they too found no anomalies.”
“Around nine o'clock, drowsiness took over me, and I lay down. In my half-asleep state, I heard movement from the other bed. Opening my eyes, I saw Li getting up. He mentioned hearing a knock coming from the direction of the door leading to the hot springs and wanted to check it out.”
“I hadn't heard any knock, which felt strange, but Li was adamant. Thinking my aging ears might have missed it, I suggested joining him. But seeing my fatigue, he urged me to rest. I returned to my slumberous state.”
“Despite my tiredness, I didn't fall asleep. My aging body longed for rest, but my mind remained alert. I faintly registered the sound of water. After what felt like an eternity, I noticed Li had not returned.”
“Opening my eyes, I checked the time—it was nearly ten. Li's bed remained as he had left it, meticulously made. The door leading to the hot springs was closed, which I knew was Li’s doing, a considerate gesture to prevent the draft from chilling me.”
“The room's hot spring tub wasn't much larger than an average bathtub. With Li's prolonged absence and no prior intimation, I grew concerned. I got up and opened the door leading to the hot springs. It was eerily empty.”
“Had I missed something? Or had Li run into trouble?”
“Regret overwhelmed me. Even though Li was an experienced officer, he was unfamiliar with our spiritual techniques. I should not have let him venture out alone.”
“Instead of calling out—which could potentially endanger him further—I meticulously inspected the vicinity of the hot spring. The room's light revealed something odd near the edge of the pool: a written message accompanied by a faint smell of blood.”
“Approaching it, I saw the message written in fresh blood: "Stay away from the water."”
“The handwriting, though hasty and surrounded by water marks—as if penned by someone emerging from the pool—was unmistakably Li's. Having collaborated with him multiple times, I recognized his unique quirks in writing certain characters. This was undoubtedly his handwriting.”
“I quickly photographed the message, intending to discuss it with Ah Shan and Xiao Hu. But as I turned around, the door behind me was ajar, and there stood Li, looking perplexed, asking, ‘Uncle Zhong, why are you here?’”
“I felt a chill. Even though I sensed no malevolence, I couldn't be certain this was the real Li. I glanced back at the hot spring. The water marks persisted, but the bloody message had vanished.”
“Li gazed at me even more quizzically. I deflected with casual responses and probed him with questions only the real Li would know. His answers were spot-on, convincing me of his identity.”
“Yet, my suspicions hadn't entirely evaporated. As I jotted down the events, Li passed by, heading to Ah Shan and Xiao Hu's room to discuss the day's findings. I noticed a trail of wet footprints following him.”
“Once Li left, I rechecked the photo on my phone. The image of the bloody message remained intact.”
"Xiao Li might not be the same Xiao Li anymore."
"This is the note Mr. Zhong left them. It details the events that took place on the first day after they checked into the Dongshan Hot Springs Holiday Hotel. Sandwiched within the note is a photograph. Just as described, it's an image with the words 'Stay away from the water' written in blood. There's a water stain nearby, and indeed, there's an extra horizontal stroke added to the character for 'near'."
"This is Officer Li's note," Zhong Yi stated. Grandfather often collaborated with the police. Zhong Yi happened to be present when Grandfather laughed at Xiao Li's handwriting. It was probably because the always serious Officer Li seemed unusually shy when he laughed that Zhong Yi remembered the scene.
At that moment, they compared the photograph with the hot spring pool and found that their room matched the scene. After all, the layout of the rooms on both sides seemed very similar.
Based on the note's description of the first day, they could even speculate that after entering this hot spring pool and climbing back out, one might not remain human.
Zhong Jingzhu took a sharp intake of breath, immediately saying, "I need to save Chi Shen and the others—"
Just then, they heard a raspy, strange voice from the next room, "This place smells of someone drowned. I love it here."
Both recognized the voice. It belonged to the ghost that had been following Chi Shen, the one with only a face. Its voice was so distinct, both grating and weird, that it was unforgettable.
Zhong Jingzhu momentarily looked perplexed. Soon after, he composed himself and told Zhong Yi, "I'll check the next room."
But Zhong Yi shook his head, "Uncle, wait. This is the room where Uncle Shan and Lao Hu stayed. Let's see if they left us any clues first. Both are cautious individuals. If they couldn't leave here, they might've left something for us."
"But their room, based on the note, seems even stranger."
Zhong Yi replied, "Don't worry about them. I get the feeling they came here genuinely for a vacation."
With a deadpan expression, Zhong Jingzhu added, "More than a vacation, they seem like they've come home."
"So, let's focus on ourselves first. Uncle Shan must have left us a clue. Let's search around." Zhong Yi, while speaking, had already circled around the hot spring pool and even looked behind some plants, but found no clues.
After a thorough search around the pool, the two found nothing. Not daring to touch the water inside, they decided to inspect inside the house.
They began rummaging through the room, initially only checking easily accessible spots, such as under the bed and inside cabinets. Finding nothing, they then started to strip the bed linens and planned to inspect even the hanging lights and ceiling.
Just as they were about to check the hotel slippers for any hidden items, Zhong Jingzhu suddenly stopped. He looked back towards the door.
"Did you hear that?"
Following his gaze towards the door, which was shrouded in darkness, Zhong Yi asked, "What?"
"A knock on the door."
Chapter 120: Knocking is the Courtesy Before Entering.
Only a thin wooden partition and a few plants separated the two hot springs.
Chi Shen's sigh could be clearly heard.
"He should have read the notebook, right?" Zhong Jingzhu questioned.
"He had been keeping the notebook before handing it to me on the plane," Zhong Yi replied, recalling how Chi Shen had asked him to memorize it. "He must have read it."
Zhong Jingzhu pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Is he testing the waters? Pretending to use the hot springs to make others believe he did... Could there be surveillance in this hotel?"
After saying this, Zhong Jingzhu looked somewhat anxious, his expression growing more serious.
However, Zhong Yi shook his head. "I don't think that's the case."
Zhong Jingzhu added, "The police had searched previously. There were no signs of cameras installed in the rooms."
From the neighboring room, the sound of water, like someone emerging from it, was followed by muffled footsteps.
"Did I memorize it wrong?" Doubt began to creep into Zhong Yi's mind.
Without hesitation, he reached into his overcoat and pulled out the notebook.
Both wore oversized gray-black coats. Not because it was their uniform or a personal preference, but these coats, akin to treasure troves, made it easy to store items. For them, carrying a notebook inside was no challenge.
Although Zhong Yi had memorized the content of the notebook, he kept it with him just in case. Flipping it open now, a puzzled look crossed his face.
He hadn’t misremembered; it was clearly written on the first page of the notebook:
“On the first day, our group of deceased individuals checked into room 1008—the same room where the missing man and woman had stayed. We examined every corner of the room and found nothing out of the ordinary. There was no malevolent energy, nor were there any cursed items. Officer Li, who accompanied us and possesses extensive criminal investigative experience, confirmed that there were no hidden cameras or other spying devices in either of the two rooms.”
“We subsequently inspected the hot spring pool, posing as tourists. Again, we found nothing unusual. Ah Shan attempted a minor soul-summoning ritual but failed to locate the spirits of the missing pair, suggesting they might still be alive.”
“We familiarized ourselves with the hotel's layout, which matched the promotional brochure. There were no strange or concealed areas. Everything seemed normal, leading us to ponder if this disappearance was not related to any paranormal activity. Officer Li and I discussed this, and he felt more observations were needed.”
“As night fell and our day's investigation bore no fruit, we decided to rest. Li and I shared one room, while Ah Shan and Xiao Hu took the neighboring room 1009. After their inspection, they too found no anomalies.”
“Around nine o'clock, drowsiness took over me, and I lay down. In my half-asleep state, I heard movement from the other bed. Opening my eyes, I saw Li getting up. He mentioned hearing a knock coming from the direction of the door leading to the hot springs and wanted to check it out.”
“I hadn't heard any knock, which felt strange, but Li was adamant. Thinking my aging ears might have missed it, I suggested joining him. But seeing my fatigue, he urged me to rest. I returned to my slumberous state.”
“Despite my tiredness, I didn't fall asleep. My aging body longed for rest, but my mind remained alert. I faintly registered the sound of water. After what felt like an eternity, I noticed Li had not returned.”
“Opening my eyes, I checked the time—it was nearly ten. Li's bed remained as he had left it, meticulously made. The door leading to the hot springs was closed, which I knew was Li’s doing, a considerate gesture to prevent the draft from chilling me.”
“The room's hot spring tub wasn't much larger than an average bathtub. With Li's prolonged absence and no prior intimation, I grew concerned. I got up and opened the door leading to the hot springs. It was eerily empty.”
“Had I missed something? Or had Li run into trouble?”
“Regret overwhelmed me. Even though Li was an experienced officer, he was unfamiliar with our spiritual techniques. I should not have let him venture out alone.”
“Instead of calling out—which could potentially endanger him further—I meticulously inspected the vicinity of the hot spring. The room's light revealed something odd near the edge of the pool: a written message accompanied by a faint smell of blood.”
“Approaching it, I saw the message written in fresh blood: "Stay away from the water."”
“The handwriting, though hasty and surrounded by water marks—as if penned by someone emerging from the pool—was unmistakably Li's. Having collaborated with him multiple times, I recognized his unique quirks in writing certain characters. This was undoubtedly his handwriting.”
“I quickly photographed the message, intending to discuss it with Ah Shan and Xiao Hu. But as I turned around, the door behind me was ajar, and there stood Li, looking perplexed, asking, ‘Uncle Zhong, why are you here?’”
“I felt a chill. Even though I sensed no malevolence, I couldn't be certain this was the real Li. I glanced back at the hot spring. The water marks persisted, but the bloody message had vanished.”
“Li gazed at me even more quizzically. I deflected with casual responses and probed him with questions only the real Li would know. His answers were spot-on, convincing me of his identity.”
“Yet, my suspicions hadn't entirely evaporated. As I jotted down the events, Li passed by, heading to Ah Shan and Xiao Hu's room to discuss the day's findings. I noticed a trail of wet footprints following him.”
“Once Li left, I rechecked the photo on my phone. The image of the bloody message remained intact.”
"Xiao Li might not be the same Xiao Li anymore."
"This is the note Mr. Zhong left them. It details the events that took place on the first day after they checked into the Dongshan Hot Springs Holiday Hotel. Sandwiched within the note is a photograph. Just as described, it's an image with the words 'Stay away from the water' written in blood. There's a water stain nearby, and indeed, there's an extra horizontal stroke added to the character for 'near'."
"This is Officer Li's note," Zhong Yi stated. Grandfather often collaborated with the police. Zhong Yi happened to be present when Grandfather laughed at Xiao Li's handwriting. It was probably because the always serious Officer Li seemed unusually shy when he laughed that Zhong Yi remembered the scene.
At that moment, they compared the photograph with the hot spring pool and found that their room matched the scene. After all, the layout of the rooms on both sides seemed very similar.
Based on the note's description of the first day, they could even speculate that after entering this hot spring pool and climbing back out, one might not remain human.
Zhong Jingzhu took a sharp intake of breath, immediately saying, "I need to save Chi Shen and the others—"
Just then, they heard a raspy, strange voice from the next room, "This place smells of someone drowned. I love it here."
Both recognized the voice. It belonged to the ghost that had been following Chi Shen, the one with only a face. Its voice was so distinct, both grating and weird, that it was unforgettable.
Zhong Jingzhu momentarily looked perplexed. Soon after, he composed himself and told Zhong Yi, "I'll check the next room."
But Zhong Yi shook his head, "Uncle, wait. This is the room where Uncle Shan and Lao Hu stayed. Let's see if they left us any clues first. Both are cautious individuals. If they couldn't leave here, they might've left something for us."
"But their room, based on the note, seems even stranger."
Zhong Yi replied, "Don't worry about them. I get the feeling they came here genuinely for a vacation."
With a deadpan expression, Zhong Jingzhu added, "More than a vacation, they seem like they've come home."
"So, let's focus on ourselves first. Uncle Shan must have left us a clue. Let's search around." Zhong Yi, while speaking, had already circled around the hot spring pool and even looked behind some plants, but found no clues.
After a thorough search around the pool, the two found nothing. Not daring to touch the water inside, they decided to inspect inside the house.
They began rummaging through the room, initially only checking easily accessible spots, such as under the bed and inside cabinets. Finding nothing, they then started to strip the bed linens and planned to inspect even the hanging lights and ceiling.
Just as they were about to check the hotel slippers for any hidden items, Zhong Jingzhu suddenly stopped. He looked back towards the door.
"Did you hear that?"
Following his gaze towards the door, which was shrouded in darkness, Zhong Yi asked, "What?"
"A knock on the door."
