To make matters worse, after that night, the number of missing persons around Mulian Village increased to twelve.
Seven people had vanished in a single night.
The investigators worked tirelessly and finally managed to grasp a lead.
Among the second group of missing persons was a minor influencer. On the night of his disappearance, he happened to have his equipment set up for a test, and he unintentionally recorded the entire process of his own disappearance.
In the footage, the influencer was initially lying on his side on the bed watching television. Suddenly, he sat up and faced the door, appearing to listen intently.
Immediately after, his breathing became rapid, and a look of terror washed over his face. Gasping for air, he began to wave his arms frantically at the empty air, screaming hysterically:
“Get out! Get away! You wretched cat, get away from me!!”
“Get away! Ah!”
“Vile cat! Get out! No!”
He seemed to be struggling against some invisible creature in the air until he was utterly exhausted, collapsing to the floor with a final scream.
The footage cut off at that point.
However, sharp-eyed investigators noticed a detail: the moonlight shining through the hotel window was a murky yellow color, which cast a misty yellow haze over the entire scene.
At first, the investigators had assumed it was simply the color of the room's lighting.
“Is this that influencer? I remember there was a scandal about him abusing cats, sleeping with fans, and scamming his followers...”
“It couldn't really be a ghost, could it? Otherwise, how do you explain a perfectly healthy person suddenly going mad like that?”
“Pah, pah, pah! Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony...”
“So all these disappearances are related to the yellow moon?”
“Look at the shadows. It’s not that the moon itself is yellow; it’s because the air is yellow, making the moon appear that way.”
Someone boldly proposed a theory:
“Could that yellow moonlight... actually be miasma? The southwest is prone to miasma. In some deep mountain forests, rotting leaves and animal carcasses ferment under the action of microorganisms to form a kind of toxic gas.”
“If humans inhale too much of this gas, they experience difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, it can even lead to death. Perhaps this yellow mist is a form of miasma that causes hallucinations in those who inhale it?”
“As for the multiple supernatural cases occurring at night and the strange events around the Mulian Village scenic area, maybe they are also linked to this miasma?”
This hypothesis immediately gained the approval of most people present, but it was quickly dismissed.
“It is not miasma. Miasma only appears in dense, uninhabited forests and requires specific temperature and humidity levels.”
“However, I agree with the previous statement that this unknown yellow gas likely has some kind of hallucinogenic effect, which is why none of the missing persons noticed anything wrong on the night they vanished.”
The speaker was a tall, thin young man with a ponytail. His features were not particularly striking, but his complexion was remarkably fair, possessing an ivory-white glow.
He coughed slightly as he spoke, his gaze sweeping across the room with a gentleness like water, ensuring no one felt the slightest bit of discomfort.
“The generation of miasma also requires prerequisite conditions. The Mulian Village scenic area covers 312 square kilometers, and if you include Mulian Lake, the area is even larger.”
“Creating hallucinogenic miasma on such a massive scale would be difficult to achieve even with current technological means. Therefore, I am more inclined to believe that a genuine supernatural phenomenon has occurred around Mulian Village.”
Everyone in the meeting fell into deep thought. Some, who were unfamiliar with the speaker, leaned over to whisper to their colleagues:
“Who is that...?”
“He’s from the Special Investigation Bureau that was just established recently. Part of the guidance group sent down from Jingbei. I heard he’s a lay monk from Mount Emei named Zhuang Sinan...”
“The Special Investigation Bureau? Wait, are there even monks on Mount Emei?”
Someone quietly questioned, but Zhuang Sinan ignored the remark. He took a shallow breath before continuing:
“I suspect the changes around the Mulian Village scenic area might be related to the sudden appearance of the yellow mist. We humans might not be able to perceive these changes, but they manifest in plants and animals.”
“I have already applied to my superiors to borrow professional equipment and researchers from the southwest region. I believe that as long as we find the source of the yellow miasma, we can solve the problem at its root.”
“As for the testing site, I want to set it at Mulian Village.”
Half a month ago, the central government in Jingbei proposed that every province and prefecture-level city in the country should establish a Special Investigation Bureau. It was specifically noted that Jingbei would dispatch guidance groups to oversee the establishment process.
Zhuang Sinan was one of those members.
His suggestion was quickly adopted, and military tents began to spring up silently like mushrooms after a rain.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing persons continued.
The local government deployed a large number of police officers to conduct a grid search toward Qingmeng Mountain in an attempt to recover the missing individuals.
...
Nan Zhi was completely unaware of the chaos in the outside world.
Nearly half a month had passed, and she remained in her meditative trance, standing as still as a stone statue.
The turmoil of the outside world had nothing to do with her.
She felt as if her entire body were soaking in a warm hot spring, a gentle warmth permeating her limbs.
It was as if she were back in the amniotic fluid, feeling exceptionally warm and comfortable.
...
Drip... drip...
Water droplets seeped from the walls of the bear cave one by one, hitting the ground and forming a small puddle. The golden treasure-seeking mouse curled into a ball, lying in the half-open suitcase while nibbling on a round pill.
[Ding!]
【Zhang Qiuyu: Ahhh, why aren't you back yet? It’s so boring slacking off, eating, and leaving work all by myself.】
【Zhang Qiuyu: Just thinking about me being a corporate slave in the office while you're out there having fun makes my teeth itch.】
【Zhang Qiuyu: Where are you today?】
The notification sound chimed as the smartphone connected to a power bank let out a crisp ring. Corn skillfully rolled over and tapped on the screen with its two paws:
【Nan Zhi: Traveling is all about relaxing the mind and body.】
【Nan Zhi: Yes, I’ll be staying out here for a while longer.】
【Nan Zhi: Youth is priceless; the train goes straight to Lhasa.】
It used the prepared dialogue scripts Nan Zhi had left on the clipboard.
Corn skillfully opened the photo gallery, randomly selected a landscape photo and a pre-prepared selfie, and sent them over.
It was becoming increasingly proficient.
And increasingly indifferent.
Zhang Qiuyu didn't notice anything unusual. After complaining a few more times, she ended the conversation.
[Ding!]
【Shi Hongjiang: Sister Zhi, do you know what that health supplement you gave me actually is?】
【Shi Hongjiang: That thing is the real deal. It’s so precious, why did you just give it to me like that!】
【Shi Hongjiang: The village has been so strange lately. A lot of people in white lab coats have arrived. They're disinfecting everything, taking our temperatures, and even telling us to move out, saying there’s a gas leak.】
【Shi Hongjiang: There are some things I can't really explain over text. I'll call you later.】
【Shi Hongjiang: (Missed Call)】
【Shi Hongjiang: Sister Zhi, are you busy?】
【Shi Hongjiang: Grandpa and I are staying in the county seat now, but don't worry. The government people told us we can move back once they clear the source of the gas. I'll go check on your family’s old house then.】
【Shi Hongjiang: There was one extra pill in the bottle you gave me. I’ll mail it back to you. You wouldn't believe how many oranges the tree at home grew. I’ll mail you some; I know you love them.】
【Shi Hongjiang: Sister Zhi, you're okay, right?】
【Shi Hongjiang: Sister Zhi, call me back. Things aren't peaceful in the village lately!】
【Shi Hongjiang: (Missed Call)】
The phone kept ringing incessantly, but the treasure-seeking mouse didn't know how to reply and could only scratch its ears in frustration.
Why did this person send so many black blocks of text?
Didn't he know it was just a mouse with limited literacy?
As for the phone calls...
It twitched its nose in distress. Its master hadn't told it what to do in this situation.
Corn was on the verge of tears.
It was just a poor, hardworking treasure-seeking mouse that enjoyed digging for treasures.
Why was life so difficult?
[Ding ding ding ding ding!]
The ringing became increasingly urgent. Just as the large golden rodent was pacing in circles, not knowing what to do, a fair arm suddenly reached out from the side and picked up the phone:
“Hello?”
It was Nan Zhi, completely naked.
Her limbs were long and slender, and steam was billowing from every pore of her body as if she were wreathed in smoke.
【Cultivator: Nan Zhi】
【Level: 40】
【Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Level 1】
...
【Techniques: 《Small Huanzhen Manual》 (Perfected), 《Moon-Worshiping Breathing Method》 (Tier 2 Mid-stage), 《Great Huanzhen Manual》 (Tier 1 Initial-stage)】
【Skills: Five Thunder Protection Curse, Mirage Pearl Escape, Water Shield Art, Flying Fire Art, Wood Binding Art, Earth Mud Art, Sharp Gold Curse.】
【Currently Equipped: “Butcher’s Daughter”, “Mountain Lord’s Curse” (Luck stat -10, Combat power -5)】
【Heavenly Treasure Tree Lottery Ticket: 35】
Foundation Establishment: Complete!
Rate on N.U.
