Chapter Twenty Not All Those Who Sleep Forever Are Truly Dead

Still following his previous approach, he decided to start with minor scares, observing each person’s reaction. Those who responded intensely would experience milder frights later, while those who barely reacted could face more suspenseful situations next.

After organizing the staff and sending the new group of eight visitors into the haunted house, Shang Yi monitored the surveillance footage, at the same time replaying recordings from the restroom encounter. He also summoned Lizard, questioning him in detail about his confrontation with the white shadow, his feelings during that encounter, and his own experiences while in a state of dissociation.

Drawing on the accounts from the Duke, Curly, and Lizard, Shang Yi deduced that the white shadow was a monster with hallucinogenic abilities. It could invoke a person’s deepest fears based on their memories, thereby creating vivid illusions. Moreover, it possessed the power to directly possess and control humans. Once possessed, the individual would exhibit symptoms closely resembling schizophrenia. In this respect, the Duke’s description closely matched Lizard’s previous experiences.

Recalling Tang Ya’s earlier comments, Shang Yi speculated that the white shadow couldn’t fully possess a human outright. It had to gradually drive its host into madness before it could maintain a lasting possession. The reason the white shadow forced the Duke into the medical warehouse was likely to find drugs that could exacerbate the host’s mental breakdown, thus speeding up the possession process. Given the prison’s ongoing research into inducing schizophrenia, it was highly probable that such medications were stored in the medical warehouse. This also indicated the white shadow’s familiarity with Jiuyin Mountain Prison.

After analyzing the white shadow’s capabilities, Shang Yi meticulously reviewed every detail of the Duke’s actions in the surveillance footage. Watching the recording several times, he focused on the Duke’s left hand as it moved along the stall’s door. He noticed that while in a trance, the Duke had unconsciously scratched the shape of a “C” onto the door panel. Coincidentally, the panel beneath Shang Yi’s left eye bore a blood-red mark in the same shape.

He began to suspect that inscribing a “C” on the door was a ritual for opening a portal to another world—much like the fairy tale phrase “Open Sesame.” The Duke, in his trance, had uttered “Open Sesame,” thus inviting the robbers from beyond the door’s world. If the white shadow had truly escaped back, so long as one avoided being near the door at three in the morning, they wouldn’t fall under its hallucinogenic influence. As long as no “C” was drawn on the door, the white shadow wouldn’t be released.

Furthermore, it was clear that the white shadow was deeply afraid of Tang Bohu—though whether it feared Tang Bohu himself or the presence of Tang Ya within him remained uncertain. In any case, with Tang Bohu by his side, Shang Yi felt confident in dealing with the white shadow.

With this reassurance, his mind finally settled, and he turned his attention to ensuring that ordinary visitors could have the best possible experience in the haunted house.

Under Shang Yi’s careful guidance, the experiences of the second group of eight visitors differed greatly from those of the police academy students. The average fear rating dropped sharply from three stars to about one. Even so, a few timid guests still screamed and turned pale, though none vomited or fainted.

After two rounds of visitors, the prison’s ghostly staff gained a much deeper understanding of Shang Yi’s design philosophy and executed their roles with greater finesse. Thanks to the positive word-of-mouth from the second group, the arrival of the third wave of guests happened quite naturally. The ghostly staff had also learned to better tailor the level of fright to each individual’s tolerance.

As a result, after the third round of visitors, the reputation of Shang Yi’s haunted house soared.

Every guest who emerged couldn’t help but recommend Shang Yi’s haunted house on social media and review websites. The pool of potential guests planning to visit grew considerably.

Shang Yi and Su Xiaoxue worked tirelessly until the park closed at five in the evening. Although overall attendance wasn’t high, the steady stream of visitors lining up at the haunted house drew the attention of other park-goers, who, encouraged by glowing reviews, decided to give it a try themselves. Throughout the day, there was never a lull in guests, and no one fainted from fright again.

Uncle Li, worried that something might go wrong, kept watch at the entrance. Only after two in the afternoon, seeing everything running smoothly, did he finally leave to check on other parts of the park. Near closing time, he received a phone call and hurried back to the haunted house entrance.

“Xiao Yi, Director Ni wants to see you.”

“Director Ni? Me?” Shang Yi quickly recalled the details he’d heard from his parents: Director Ni was the true mastermind behind Dreamland Park, a major businessman for whom the park was just one venture among many. He used to visit Shang Yi’s family often when he was a child, even bringing gifts.

“Director Ni called me personally. Come with me, quickly,” Uncle Li urged.

Uncle Li led Shang Yi to an office building at the southernmost end of the park. “When you meet Director Ni, be mindful of your words. You may be a boss yourself now, but you’re still young—speak less, listen more, understand?”

“Thank you, Uncle Li. I’ll keep that in mind.”

They took the elevator to the seventh floor and stopped outside a door labeled “President’s Office.” Uncle Li knocked, and soon a man in his sixties emerged from within—tall and lean, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his silver hair gleaming, his small but piercing eyes sharp with wisdom. Deep wrinkles carved his square face, lending him an air of world-weariness and seasoned experience.

To Shang Yi, Director Ni embodied the image of a veteran businessman.

“Director Ni, I’ve brought Xiao Yi to you.”

“Good, thank you. You may go about your business,” Director Ni replied, dismissing Uncle Li so that only he and Shang Yi remained.

“Xiao Yi, have a seat on the sofa,” Director Ni offered warmly, his smile genuine and inviting. The spacious office was quiet as Director Ni moved to a corner and brewed Shang Yi a cup of tea.

“Thank you, Director Ni,” Shang Yi said, accepting the cup, feeling a little overwhelmed.

“I’ve heard from Uncle Li about you and your parents. I was close friends with them, despite the age gap—we always got along well. Their departure was a great loss to the park, and to me personally.” Director Ni glanced at Shang Yi, noting his calm demeanor, and continued, “As their only son, could you tell me the real reason they left?”

“My parents only told me to take good care of the haunted house. They didn’t share anything else.”

“I see.” Director Ni pondered silently for a moment, then asked, “With your parents gone and you not yet graduated from university, are you having any difficulties managing the haunted house alone?”

Shang Yi responded at once, “I want to expand the haunted house, but there isn’t enough space. Director Ni, could you lease me the underground parking lot beneath the haunted house?”

Director Ni regarded Shang Yi’s youthful face with a slight smile. “Young people with ambition—I admire that. On your very first day running things, you’re already thinking about expanding. The park welcomes bold new projects. But as a business owner, have you carefully considered the financial implications of expansion?”

He lit a cigarette, pausing as Shang Yi didn’t answer immediately, then continued, “Let’s set aside the rental fees for now—we’re family, after all. The real challenge in expanding a haunted house lies in perfecting the settings. Living above the haunted house with your parents, you must have some idea of how costly the initial investment can be.

“Unlike restaurants or hotels, where furniture and utensils can be resold if the business fails, haunted house props are all unique to their settings. If you ever have to close, it would be difficult to sell your custom props to another haunted house, since their themes will differ. How do you plan to recover your investment?

“Another thing: haunted houses, unlike other attractions in the park, operate on a one-time admission model. The number of local visitors is limited. Even if you’re a sensation for a while, interest will eventually wane. How will you attract a continuous flow of new customers?

“Finally, if all the new attractions are built underground, visitors outside won’t be able to see or hear anything. Where will your exposure come from? Even park visitors are hard to draw in—let alone outsiders. So, how do you plan to solve these problems?”

As he finished, Director Ni exhaled a ring of smoke, his expression that of a seasoned negotiator subtly challenging a young upstart to give up.

Shang Yi met Director Ni’s meaningful gaze and replied with firm resolve, “Today I unveiled new attractions in my haunted house and drew in many new visitors without relying on anyone. Leasing the underground parking lot is only my first step. Given enough time, my haunted house will become the best in Donghai and attract tourists from other cities, boosting the park’s overall performance.”

Clap, clap, clap!

Director Ni, cigarette dangling from his lips, applauded vigorously.

“Bai Mei’s son, truly remarkable! She bet on the right person by entrusting the haunted house to you.” Director Ni’s tone softened. “Xiao Yi, the real reason I asked you here today was to give you a message. Your mother called me yesterday morning, saying she was handing the haunted house over to you, and asked me to relay something to you once you officially took charge.”

Shang Yi, surprised by his mother’s foresight, listened as Director Ni solemnly recited, “What sleeps forever is not necessarily dead. Beyond that abyss of black and white, wonders and glory eternal await you.”

The moment he heard these words, a subtitle flashed before Shang Yi’s eyes: “Side quest completed—Mother’s Message.”

“Gained: Portable Space—Pet Slot.”