It was eight at night.
Streamer Wang Chuan, also known as Qin Tiantian, had just finished playing her game.
"It's eight already. Time to slack off, time to slack off."
She said it into the microphone. The live-stream chat beside her was filled with comments like "It's only eight," "Bullshit," and "Please, stop slacking off," but Qin Tiantian remained unmoved.
As she put it, she was a health-conscious streamer who ended her broadcasts at eight. Bliss.
Actually, slacking off was secondary. The main reason was that Qin Tiantian didn't dare stay up late.
Ever since watching Lu Ban's video, whenever Qin Tiantian stayed up past midnight in front of her computer, she would start imagining things. She would stare at the curtains and feel as though someone was standing behind them, or see the cabinet move and immediately quit whatever she was doing.
It left her unable to sleep at night and unable to wake up during the day. Even Black and White capsules were useless.
So Qin Tiantian had started going to bed early every night. As long as she fell asleep, she wouldn't be afraid anymore!
She was just about to end the stream when WeChat on her computer suddenly chimed.
Curious, she clicked on it—and immediately regretted it.
It was Lu Ban.
After adding Lu Ban on WeChat, she had never spoken to him. Lu Ban probably didn't check his Moments either. The two of them couldn't even be considered casual acquaintances who occasionally liked each other's posts.
"Why is he contacting me at this hour? What does he want?"
Qin Tiantian muttered, and countless possibilities burst into her mind.
Could he have found those unclean things and be coming over to deal with them?
Or did he discover that something was wrong with my house?
Wait, did my cabinet move just now?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Qin Tiantian shuddered and looked at the message Lu Ban had sent.
Motionless: Could you take a look at my latest video while you're streaming?
"?"
Qin Tiantian froze.
That's it?
No, wait a second. You uploaded a video?
Qin Tiantian had followed Lu Ban after that day, but she followed hundreds of people and was constantly bombarded with updates. She hadn't seen Lu Ban's video even once.
Wang Chuan: But I've already ended my stream. Next time, definitely. Next time, definitely.
How could she dare watch Lu Ban's video in the middle of the night?
Qin Tiantian prepared to end the stream at lightning speed, but another WeChat message popped up.
Motionless: But I can still see that you're streaming?
"Gasp—"
Why did this feel exactly like secretly playing on the computer while one's parents went out for a walk, then shutting it down before they returned, only for one's observant mother to feel the unusually warm computer case and catch everything?
Qin Tiantian had intended to refuse, but after thinking it over, she remembered how many people had streamed themselves watching Lu Ban's videos last time. The entertainment value had been excellent, and they had gained quite a few followers.
If I'm the first to stream myself watching Lu Ban's new video this time, maybe I can benefit too?
Wang Chuan: Fine, I'll watch it now.
She replied, then sent another message.
Wang Chuan: If anything goes wrong, you have to take responsibility.
Only after sending it did she feel that the wording was a little strange. Qin Tiantian was just about to retract and edit the message when Lu Ban had already replied.
Motionless: No problem.
"What else can I do? I'll watch it, then."
Qin Tiantian turned to the audience and said, "I'm going to watch a video before ending the stream. A friend sent it to me."
She then opened her following list and found Lu Ban's latest video.
[No Strangers Allowed] Forbidden Zone Exploration 01: Jiangcheng Grand Theater
"Tsk."
Qin Tiantian regretted it the instant she saw the title.
This is definitely a supernatural horror video!
And where is Jiangcheng Grand Theater? Wasn't it enough for you to mess around at home? Now you're going out to torment other people too?
The video's thumbnail showed several mannequin dolls used to display clothes. Their bodies were tattered, and their originally featureless faces had crude, graffiti-like eyes drawn on them.
The drawings were clearly clumsy, yet those eyes seemed almost alive, staring at Qin Tiantian beyond the screen. Combined with the classic green filter from horror movies, they created an intensely unsettling feeling.
Just looking at the thumbnail made Qin Tiantian feel her courage draining away.
But the audience didn't care. The instant they saw something entertaining, they began cheering wildly.
Damn, this video looks great. I'm going to watch it too.
Chuanbao, don't be afraid. Mommy's here with you.
Jiangcheng Grand Theater—was this filmed in Jiangcheng?
Will we get to hear Chuanbao's earth-shattering scream today?
This video looks incredibly exciting. Wang Chuan definitely won't be sleeping tonight.
These viewers were like elementary schoolboys who didn't dare speak directly to the girls they secretly liked. Instead, they bullied them in all sorts of ways to attract their attention while refusing to admit their feelings. They loved tormenting streamers more than anything.
Qin Tiantian swallowed, straightened up a little, and clicked on the video.
The video began with Lu Ban taking a bus toward the outskirts. On the empty bus, Lu Ban's narration could be heard.
"Today, we'll be exploring Jiangcheng Grand Theater. The theater is located in the suburbs of Jiangcheng City. It was abandoned more than twenty years ago after a fire. It changed hands several times afterward and now belongs to Jiangcheng Industries, but it was never developed and has remained abandoned ever since."
As Lu Ban filmed the desolate scenery outside, he introduced the situation surrounding Jiangcheng Grand Theater. The segment was brief, explaining everything in less than two minutes. The reports about the fire edited into the video were particularly chilling.
Just as Qin Tiantian's curiosity was aroused and she wanted to search for information about the Jiangcheng Grand Theater fire, the scene suddenly changed.
Amid the afterglow of the setting sun, a dilapidated, declining theater appeared on screen. Although there was no deliberate composition or embellishment, the barren scene left an incredibly deep impression, as though this was exactly the kind of landscape survivors would see if human civilization were destroyed.
"A breathtaking view ahead," Lu Ban added.
When Qin Tiantian saw Lu Ban arrive in front of the abandoned theater, the sense of decay grew even stronger.
The shabby signs, damaged roof, moss-covered walls, and deserted corners all carried a hint of primitive unknown.
"We're going inside to take a look around, then we'll set up a few cameras in advance."
The video showed Lu Ban's first-person perspective. He picked up a flashlight and a crowbar, illuminating the dark entrance hall.
The screen immediately darkened, and the image quality deteriorated considerably. Only the circle of flashlight beam provided any visibility.
The live-stream chat filled up as the number of viewers increased.
This atmosphere is a hundred percent suspicious!
I just looked it up. Jiangcheng Grand Theater really is creepy. There's something unclean there!
These videos are all staged, right? How could ghosts possibly exist in this world?
Think about it. He uploaded a video, so obviously he's fine!
I'm scared. Everyone, fill the screen with "protection"!
Qin Tiantian had no time to read the chat. She curled up her slender legs, shrinking into her chair with both arms wrapped around her shoulders. Her eyes were half-closed, as though she was ready to shut them at any moment and deceive herself.
She saw the flashlight sweep across an abandoned corridor. Lu Ban's first-person view entered a dressing room, and the flashlight illuminated a mirror on the wall directly opposite the door. As the camera moved closer, it clearly showed dark yellow grease seeping from the edge of the mirror.
The camera seemed to be startled as well, trembling slightly as it backed away.
Then Qin Tiantian saw it: in the mirror illuminated by the flashlight, Lu Ban's deathly pale face was wearing a strange, horrifying smile as he stared at her beyond the camera.
Qin Tiantian instinctively held her breath.
*
Let me tell everyone something.
The structure of this book is inspired by Big Sis Air Conditioner's Adventure House and Healing Game. I thought over things myself as well, which led to this path of intertwining dungeon exploration with entertainment in the real world. The real-world entertainment is connected to the dungeons too. After all, that's what the title is about, but I won't go into detail.
As a result, there will be scenes that the protagonist has explored being retold in movies or videos. Some people may feel that this has no substantial content and is just padding, but I think these scenes are similar to tricking someone into watching a horror movie. Readers get frightened while reading about the dungeon, and they can also enjoy watching the audience in the book get frightened by the video. I think that's one of the core pleasures of an entertainment novel. Of course, once the dungeons become longer, I probably won't retell them at such length anymore. At most, I'll mention what was changed.
As for some of the descriptions that establish the background or narrate events, they're all meant to add detail. Everyone can read the free chapters without charge. I can't very well wait until the book is put on sale and then waste words writing all this.
Actually, I'm a very timid person. I've never really dared watch horror or thriller movies since I was little. Horror novels and horror videos are even more out of the question, so I don't really know how to write something scary. I'll be happy as long as everyone enjoys reading it.
For example, the first mission was based on something that often happens to me. Sometimes, when I'm asleep, I dream that I'm sleeping in class. My deskmate calls out to me, but I can't wake up. My body keeps trying to move, but I can't move at all. Then I can only watch helplessly as the teacher comes closer and closer. I made a few changes to that experience.
As for the second story—wait a moment, someone upstairs is banging on the floor again. I'll go take a look. I'll talk about it in the author's note if I get the chance later!
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