With no knowledge of the movie's plot, the group could only follow Old Lady Wang, relying on Leon as their translator to gather as much information as possible.

Through their conversations, they learned that Old Lady Wang primarily performed "mystic readings" and "soul restoration" - the latter term being something Leon had never heard before.

According to Old Lady Wang, it was essentially a form of exorcism.

The method involved using a substitute (usually a paper doll) to transfer one's illness or suffering onto it, achieving healing through this transfer.

This process was complex and lengthy, typically requiring three hours or even longer.

Halfway through their interview, Old Lady Wang's husband - Uncle Liu - suddenly interrupted. He announced that someone in "Prince Hill" had become possessed and urgently needed a soul restoration ritual.

Old Lady Wang was initially reluctant, given that Prince Hill was remote and would take at least five hours by car.

However, once her husband mentioned they'd already agreed on the "price," she quickly calculated the time and decided they could arrive by evening.

To Leon and his companions, this "Prince Hill" was clearly their designated event location.

While the elderly couple packed their essential items, the group used their system-provided 500 in cash to purchase various necessities from local shops.

They bought flashlights, compressed biscuits, mineral water, and other survival supplies.

The bald Derion even purchased a cleaver for protection.

In reality, such ordinary weapons were unnecessary - evil spirit events couldn't be resolved with mere blades. Carrying such items would only hinder their movement.

Once everything was ready, Uncle Liu, considering the film crew's needs, arranged a spacious van where the six could fit comfortably in the back.

Now they just had to wait for the drive to their destination.

The five-hour journey could have been spent sleeping in the van... but due to anxiety, worry, and an innate fear of death, most remained awake, staring blankly at the pastoral scenery outside.

Leon was different.

His previous research work had required him to maintain irregular hours, allowing him to adjust his biological clock to some degree. He'd even learned a quick sleep technique online.

Following the sleep techniques of WWII pilots, Leon completely relaxed his body and quickly dozed off against the window.

If he could get five hours of rest before the event began, he'd be mentally prepared to analyze and handle any bizarre occurrences during the night.

This was Leon's first time sleeping since his rebirth seven years ago.

As he fell into deep sleep, however, he fell into a bizarre dream.

...

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In the dream.

Leon found himself back at the familiar University of Florence.

He walked into the lecture hall holding a teacher's manual.

Unlike usual, not a single student had skipped the typically dull cell biology lecture - the large amphitheater was completely full.

Even stranger.

All students wore hooded jackets with their hoods up, heads bowed low, their faces hidden from view.

Reaching the podium, Leon habitually took out his USB drive to plug into the multimedia device.

That's when something bizarre happened.

The USB port transformed into a slimy tentacle that plugged into the now flesh-like multimedia device.

The cell biology lecture slides that should have been displayed on the projection screen transformed into bizarre symbols that Leon couldn't understand.

Simultaneously, every student in the amphitheater raised their heads, pulling back their hoods to reveal faces completely devoid of features.

"Faceless..."

Accompanied by a ringing in his ears, Leon suddenly awakened.

Night had fallen.

Leon woke up just as the vehicle reached their destination - 'Prince Hill,' in front of an abandoned Holiday Inn.

It was a two-story building that had served as an inn, with eight separate guest rooms on the second floor connected by a central staircase.

Large red lanterns hung neatly along the second-floor corridor, appearing eerily ominous in the darkness.

The client and the possessed person were residing in this building.

As everyone peered through the car windows at the dilapidated structure, Leon, who had just jolted awake from the nightmare, looked visibly distressed, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, his expression unnatural... as if deliberately concealing something.

『You have arrived at the event area. Countdown has begun. Requirements are as follows:

1. All participants' activity zone is limited to the [Abandoned Mountain Manor] and within 500 meters of its perimeter. Individuals who leave the designated area for more than 10 seconds will be eliminated.

2. Group living is prohibited. Please select individual rooms for sleeping.Between 23:00 and 06:00, if two people are found in the same room, the first occurrence will result in a warning, the second in elimination.

3. During the event, you may freely interact and communicate with plot characters without restrictions.

4. After the 72-hour countdown ends, survivors will be transported away.』

As they got out of the car, an honest-looking man in his thirties approached Old Lady Wang, asking: "Master, who are these people?"

"They're foreign students filming a documentary. They'll be recording the entire 'soul restoration process'... is that alright?"

"As long as it doesn't interfere with your work, Master, I don't mind. Though... I'm afraid I haven't prepared enough dinner for everyone."

Leon quickly stepped forward and politely said: "That's fine, we have our own food. Please just make sure Old Lady Wang and Uncle Liu are fed, don't worry about us."

After a brief conversation, they were led into the building's ground floor hall, where they met the possessed subject.

Unlike their expectations of someone tied to a bed or locked in a room, screaming, self-harming, or eating insects, the possessed person was a well-mannered woman with long hair from the village. She appeared completely normal, even helping with washing vegetables and cooking.

After dinner, they got straight to business.

The young man introduced himself and explained the situation of his sister who had become "possessed by an evil spirit". They learned that the afflicted woman was his elder sister.

The man's name was Qing, and the possessed woman was Chen Li.

They used to run the inn here, and business had been decent... until the tourist area relocated a few years ago, leading to its abandonment.

As for his sister Chen Li's condition, it was peculiar - she behaved normally during the day, only showing symptoms at night.

According to Qing, they had seen doctors in the city... the diagnosis was schizophrenia, but Chen Li insisted she wasn't schizophrenic, rather that something was "residing" in her body.

That was the general situation.

Qing hoped Old Lady Wang could use the 'soul restoration' method to transfer whatever was residing in his sister's body into a paper doll.

"We can't do it now. The yin energy is too strong at night, making it difficult to draw out whatever's inside your sister... besides, we're tired from the rushed journey.

Soul restoration is a ritual that demands great spiritual energy. We'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Old Lady Wang's statement meant everyone would need to stay the night.

Qing responded enthusiastically: " Alright... I'll show you to the rooms upstairs. The place is pretty basic/modest, I hope you don't mind."

The film crew of six, the elderly couple, and the possessed Chen Li - Just enough to fill the second floor, where red lanterns hung along the corridor.