The Blood-Stained Key

　　The chewing sound lasted for a long time, as if meticulously chewing every bone. 

　　The sound of crunching through bone was physiologically unsettling, but everyone silently endured.

　　Finally, as dawn began to break in the sky, the chewing stopped, along with the silent woman outside the wall who had been staring at them.

　　Lin wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that before the woman disappeared, he heard a faint burp... as if something had just finished eating.

　　The sky finally turned bright. Lin, having sat in the courtyard all night, felt like he had been through a different world. 

　　He said, "Is it over?"

　　Ruan didn't give a definite answer, she only said, "Maybe."

　　They had cut down the tree, prayed at the temple, and filled the well. 

　　All that remained was to get the coffin from the carpenter.

　　Everyone looked weary, but beneath the fatigue was a glimmer of excitement. 

　　This should be the last step. 

　　As long as they got the key, found the iron gate, they could leave this terrifying world.

　　Everyone thought so, their steps became lighter.

　　The village in daylight didn't have the chilling terror of the night, it seemed like an ordinary mountain village with simple villagers. 

　　No ghosts, no death.

　　When they went to the carpenter's, they just happened to be passing by the spot where Wang died. 

　　But Lin didn't see anything there. 

　　Only white snow remained on the ground, leaving no trace of the previous night's events.

　　"Was her body eaten?" Lin asked.

　　"Probably." Ruan, "That thing has quite an appetite."

　　They arrived at the carpenter's house, seeing the carpenter sitting by the door slowly smoking. 

　　Lin arrived first, greeted him, saying, "Old man, we're here to get the coffin."

　　The carpenter didn't say anything, just pointed inside the house.

　　They entered the house one after another and saw a beautiful red coffin standing in the small room. 

　　The coffin was exquisite, made with meticulous craftsmanship, every detail was perfectly fitted, not at all like something that was hastily crafted.

　　Lin felt the varnish on the coffin was odd. 

　　He reached out and touched it, finding it oily and slightly sticky. 

　　He detected a fishy smell.

　　Ruan was much faster than him. She blurted out, "It's blood soaked, isn't it?"

　　"Probably." Chi said, "What varnish looks like this?"

　　"Whatever it's soaked in, let's just take it back." Ruan said, "Let's go."

　　Lin originally thought the coffin would be heavy, but when he lifted it, it felt surprisingly light. 

　　Two people could easily carry it.

　　Cheng was completely useless, leaving Lin and Chi as the only ones capable of physical labor in the group. 

　　They lifted the coffin, one in front and one behind, heading towards the residence.

　　"What do we do next?" Lin asked as he carried the coffin.

　　"Let's go back and see if there's anything in the coffin." Ruan said, "I guess the key is in the coffin. Once we get the key, everything will be easy."

　　Lin silently hoped it was so.

　　Back home, Cheng, who had been knocked unconscious, woke up. 

　　He sat in the hall, looking vacant. 

　　When he saw everyone carrying the coffin back, he didn't even greet them. 

　　His expression was like a simpleton.

　　Lin felt a little worried, whispering, "Did I make him stupid?"

　　Ruan: "Uh…"

　　Lin: "Shit, I just hit him casually…"

　　Ruan reassured him, "If he's stupid, so be it. Nobody is going to hold you responsible anyway. And stupid people aren't afraid of ghosts, isn't this just helping him out? You're his benefactor!"

　　Lin: "..." 

　　Ruan, how did you get so used to this?

　　Because of Cheng's performance yesterday, everyone was reluctant to talk to him. 

　　Chi and Xiao pretended not to see him.

　　"Open the coffin." Chi announced, placing the coffin down.

　　"Okay." Lin nodded. He and Chi lifted each side and pushed open the lid.

　　With a creak, the lid opened. 

　　A damp smell of wood hit their faces.

　　 Xiao was the most anxious, as soon as the lid opened, she stuck her head inside, looking for what they were hoping to find.

　　"I found it!!! The key!!!" A moment later, Xiao's excited voice came, almost crying with joy. 

　　Her emotions were completely out of control. "It's here, it's here!!"

　　Lin saw Xiao holding an old bronze key, it had an antique design, simple and exuding an aura of time. 

　　Red liquid stained the handle, earlier Lin would have thought it was paint, but now he thought it was human blood.

　　"We have the key! We have the key!!" Xiao held the key, her tears streaming down. 

　　Her emotions were clearly nearing their breaking point.

　　It seemed like even though she had been acting calm, she couldn't bear the pressure of death.