The Magical Manor 1

They nodded to one another.

A moment later, a dazzling white light flashed, and Lu Mi couldn't help closing his eyes.

When he regained consciousness, he found his surroundings swaying. On closer inspection, he seemed to be inside a moving carriage.

"We'll be there soon. Please remain seated." A voice came from up front. Before the speaker had finished, the carriage jolted. Lu Mi lost his balance and lurched sideways.

He hurried to steady himself, but a pair of hands caught his shoulders.

"Thanks... Roman?"

"Sit tight and hold on to my arm." Roman released him and lifted the curtain beside them.

Outside, dark clouds filled the sky, and thick smoke billowed in the distance. Several other carriages were traveling along the muddy road ahead of and behind them.

"The other players are probably in carriages too. Judging by the buildings in the distance, this story is set in the nineteenth or twentieth century."

Lu Mi leaned forward and asked the driver where they were going.

"Don't you know? You're going to the famous Bart Manor. Mr. Bart himself is just up ahead."

Lu Mi lifted the front curtain. Sure enough, an unusual, finely decorated carriage stood ahead of them, proclaiming its owner's wealth or status.

He was about to ask another question when two gunshots rang out. The carriage ahead stopped abruptly, then overturned amid the horses' terrified whinnies.

The driver craned his neck to see what had happened. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he scrambled down from his seat:

"It's them! They're here! Run!!"

Who were they?

A tall man dressed as a soldier came into Lu Mi's view.

In a few long strides, he caught the driver and pressed a revolver against his head. "Get back up."

Then a dozen or so men in matching uniforms came around the carriage ahead and surrounded the other drivers trying to flee, along with several players who had climbed out.

A panicking new player without a wristband shoved past a soldier. No matter how the others called to him, he refused to look back and ran for his life.

A second later, a flower of bloody mist burst from the back of his head.

"Ah-he... he killed him!!!" A middle-aged woman wearing glasses witnessed the scene. After freezing for a few seconds, she screamed.

Then a dark gun barrel pointed at her. "Keep making noise, and you'll meet the same end."

In the end, the drivers and surviving players returned to their carriages, trembling.

In front of Lu Mi's carriage, the man in charge asked, "Who are the people inside?"

"They're... they're the private tutors Mr. Bart hired from the capital for Miss Noel." The driver stammered, his eyes fixed on the gun.

"Oh?" A meaningful smile spread across his face. "Then give my regards to Mrs. Bart and her daughter. I hope they enjoy peaceful, happy lives."

Then he waved a hand and turned to leave with the other soldiers.

The driver thumped his chest. "How terrifying. I can't believe the eastern forces have already fought their way here."

Lu Mi seized on the key detail. "There's a war?"

The driver seemed unwilling to say more and drove on. "Once I get paid, I'm taking my wife and children far, far away..."

As they passed the carriage ahead, Lu Mi saw its driver lying backward across a horse's back, a dark hole in his forehead.

The carriage had overturned, and part of a man's arm protruded from the compartment. Beneath it, a pool of blood was still spreading.

There had been two gunshots. It seemed Mr. Bart had already been killed.

Before long, they reached their destination. The players climbed out, frightened or at a loss.

Before them stood an enormous iron gate. Beyond it loomed a huge black castle, made all the more frightening by the dusk.

Still shaken, the woman in glasses asked someone who had shared her carriage, "Is this some kind of big reality show?"

Her companion wore a wristband, so he apparently wasn't a newcomer. He answered lightly, "That's right."

The woman forced a smile. "Then the person who was killed just now and those soldiers were actors, right?"

Her companion smiled too, but his reply instantly drained the color from her face. "Nope."

Suddenly, the iron gate slowly opened from within, and a pale face emerged from the thick fog. "Welcome."

The drivers went forward to collect their payment. From their conversation, the person behind the gate appeared to be the manor's butler.

Strangely, when they mentioned that Mr. Bart had been shot dead on the way, the butler said, "How terribly unfortunate," but showed no trace of grief. He didn't even mention retrieving the body.

Once the drivers had their money, they climbed up and prepared to leave.

The woman grabbed one of them by his coat. "Wait! Tell the production crew to take me home. I don't want to stay here. I... I can't keep up with you young people."

But the driver coldly shook off her hand and drove away.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please come in." Smiling, the butler stepped aside to let them enter the manor.

Seeing everyone else go in, the woman had no choice but to follow. She kept peppering her companion with questions, but received only impatient looks and finally fell silent.

Lu Mi observed his surroundings as he walked. Neatly trimmed shrubs and flower beds lined the gravel path. Through the thick fog, the outlines of fountains and marble statues briefly appeared.

The castle drawing ever closer ahead looked two or three hundred years old.

Age was one thing, but the western tower was severely damaged, as though it had come under artillery fire.

Just then, a hand gently tugged at his clothes.

Lu Mi instinctively prepared to defend himself. At his summons, the fountain water was already bubbling as though boiling, but then he heard the woman's voice:

"Um, hello, handsome. My name's Li Fan. I'm a little scared. Could I stay with you two?"

Roman immediately pulled Lu Mi behind him, his gaze icy. "No."

Lu Mi pushed him aside. "You can walk wherever you like. Just remember, this place is dangerous. Whatever you see, you'd better stay quiet."

The woman had clearly sensed that something was wrong here. She merely nodded and moved closer to Lu Mi.

Roman asked, "Is this person a friend?"

Lu Mi found that strange. "Why would you care about something like that?"

By then, they had reached the castle. The doors slowly opened, and the butler, still smiling, invited them inside.

As Lu Mi walked past him, he felt that, up close, the butler's face was unnaturally pale, as though something had been smeared over it.

Inside the castle, however, the furniture was toppled and askew, leaving everything in disarray.

Roman persisted. "Is she a friend?"

The butler had already stepped in front of them, looking ready to make an important announcement.

Lu Mi answered offhandedly, "Whether she's a friend or not, try to act a little friendlier."

Roman nodded regretfully and fell silent.

"Welcome to Bart Manor. Now, come and meet the manor's young mistress."

As he spoke, the butler clapped his hands.

A maid came down the spiral staircase, leading a little girl by the hand.

The little girl held a teddy bear. With her rosy cheeks and sweet smile, she looked like an exquisite doll.

What drew the most attention, however, were the two brightly colored butterflies covering her eyes, their wings slowly fluttering with her breathing.

Each set of wings bore symmetrical black half-oval patterns. When they spread, it looked as though a pair of human eyes had opened.