Because the "daylight" time of the Lantern Journey was too short, everyone had to work in groups.
"I promised to help carry Lu Heng's coffin, so a few of us old friends from the photography circle will go to see him off in a bit," Mai Peng said, rubbing his aching head. "I believe Lu Heng will understand; after all, the most important thing right now is
to get autographs." Du Lingyu looked at Ke Xun, who said, "I'll go too in a bit. Dongzi and Luobo, stay here to set up the projector; we haven't had time to look at many photos from last night."
Wei Dong and Luo Yi nodded, and Xin Chun followed suit.
"Before the Lantern Journey members arrive, I think we should re-check our packages," Shao Ling said. "There are many things we've overlooked in our packages; they might contain important information."
This made a lot of sense. The ebony box in Lu Heng's package was now a mystery, but everyone insisted that Lu Heng, who was on the same timeline as them, would never have known the secret of the ebony box—his death was entirely passive.
At this moment, everyone took out their packages, no longer avoiding suspicion, and simply laid them all out on the table.
After taking out his package, Mai Peng exchanged a glance with Mu Yiran and quickly went to the communal cabinet to get the developing tank: "I'll develop the picture I took at the stairwell when we first arrived. That photo might be quite important."
"Plus the film from Xi Shengnan's camera that I cut out yesterday," Mu Yiran helped out, "I basically understand the film developing process. You go help with the coffin in a bit, and I'll take care of the rest."
If any layman had said this, Mai Peng would have refused outright, but Mu Yiran at this moment inspired trust: "I've prepared the developer and fixer. Mu-ge, you just add them according to the time. It's not complicated."
Mu Yiran nodded: "Don't worry."
While Mai Peng and Mu Yiran prepared to develop the film, the others checked the packages on the table.
Compared to the others, Fang Fei's belongings were the simplest; her package contained only a snow-white witch's mask, nothing else.
The others also took out some unusual items from their packages, such as Shao Ling's xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), Wei Dong's hand-drawn "The Wei Family Painting Collection of the Bright Journey," Du Lingyu's rhombus-shaped mirror, Ke Xun and Mu Yiran's identical wooden ducks, and so on.
Du Lingyu rummaged through the other items in her package: "I also have a few incense recipes here. I saw them the day I arrived, but I haven't had a chance to look at them yet. The days here are too short."
"Incense recipes?" Qin Ci was examining the two medicine boxes in his package. "Are they related to our goods? Or..."
"I'm quite interested in perfumery," Du Lingyu flipped through the incense recipes in her hands, checking for any missing pages. "In the real world, it's for blending perfumes, but in this world, it's probably evolved into incense and perfumery." "
I really find it strange. You all have books here, but Sister Xi's package doesn't contain any of her novels. Logically speaking, that Xia Yu has a very close connection with our world." Luo Yu's small package contained a lot of dried meat, with a note inside that specifically stated: "Heart Spring Calorie Supplement."
Luo Yu fed Xin Chun a piece of jerky, and Xin Chun jumped up happily, its tail spinning like a little top.
Cao Youning seemed to remember something: "I do recall what you're saying. Sister Xi always carries a book in her bag, though I don't know what it is."
Du Lingyu also seemed to remember something, and at this moment, she opened Xi Shengnan's bag, taking out the items one by one: "That's right, Sister Xi always carries that book with her! I remember she was flipping through that book in the hotel the night before going to the art museum! She must have put it in her bag, how could it be missing!"
Du Lingyu's words attracted everyone's attention. Shao Ling asked, "Are you talking about the novel about Xia Yu? Could you briefly describe the main content, and also, what's special about the book? For example, the content structure, the theme, even the publisher, editor, preface, cover design, any aspect you think of, you can talk about it!"
Du Lingyu tried to calm herself down and said first, "I'm sorry, I've been too nervous these days, I completely forgot about the book."
"It's okay, Xi Shengnan herself hasn't mentioned it." Shao Ling looked at Du Lingyu encouragingly.
Du Lingyu: "The book is called *Xia Yu*. It's about a girl's growth. The era is somewhat vague, and the narrative style is entirely ancient Chinese, but the content leans towards modern times. The text avoids describing modern things—there are no cars, telephones, etc.—but the heroine has to go out to work and changes her fate through her own efforts, finding love and happiness, and finally living happily ever after with the male lead."
"Forever?" Shao Ling didn't think this was the beautiful word from fairy tales like Cinderella or Snow White.
"The heroine found the gate to immortality," Du Lingyu said. "That's a bit far-fetched, and it doesn't fit the overall style of the story. Because of this 'gate to immortality' ending, the novel was heavily criticized by readers on literary websites."
Everyone listened and agreed that the novel's content was somewhat outlandish.
"I don't quite understand why she always carries her books with her?" Wei Dong couldn't help but ask.
Wei Dong: I'm really sorry to use the word "narcissistic" directly...
Du Lingyu said, "Brother Shao mentioned a publishing house earlier, but actually that book wasn't officially published—it's more like a self-made book bound by herself, printed by Sister Xi herself, and even included some of her own photographs. Only that one copy was ever distributed.
"Actually, Sister Xi kept revising that book, often writing new ideas in it with pens of various colors. It's more like an unconventional journal than a book."
Cao Youning also said, "I was wondering why that book was so strange..."
Shao Ling asked Du Lingyu, "Have you read that book?"
"I read the e-book on a literary website. As for the physical book, I only flipped through it; I didn't have a chance to look at it closely." Du Lingyu thought carefully, "So, there's no such thing as a publishing house or binding like Brother Shao mentioned. But speaking of the book's appearance... I remember there was a very pretty page at the end with three words written on it: Dedicated to Yu."
"That book was dedicated to you?" "Luo Yu asked, bewildered.
"No, no, it's not the 'Yu' in my name, it's the 'Yu' in 'language.' I feel it should be someone's name." Du Lingyu felt uncomfortable revealing many of Xi Shengnan's secrets after her death, but she had to speak up to find the autograph. "I once asked her who this 'Yu' was, but she always just smiled faintly and didn't answer me."
Mai Peng suddenly stopped developing film and looked up: "Did you just say the 'Yu' in 'language'? The 'Yu' with the 'speech' radical?"
Du Lingyu nodded: "That's the character."
Mai Peng: "The painter Bi Di's original name was Bi Xiaoyu. I think this is more than just a coincidence."
Hearing this, everyone fell silent, as if they had discovered some secrets of this world.
"Could it be that Sister Xi knew Bi Di before? They're so far apart in age, how could they know each other?" Cao Youning asked, puzzled.
"I don't think they knew each other. When Bi Di passed away, Sister Xi was only a few years old," Du Lingyu, as a girl, carefully considered Xi Shengnan's thoughts. "I think it was more of an admiration. Sister Xi really appreciated Bi Di's photography. This time, it was she who suggested that we visit the art museum, and she even listed this visit as one of the must-see places on our trip."
Hearing this, Cao Youning's expression was a little complicated: "Yes, she also said that we would definitely feel that the trip was worthwhile…"
Mu Yiran washed his hands briefly and came over. At this moment, the film was slowly undergoing changes invisible to the naked eye in the developing tank. All he had to do was stir the liquid inside and open the developing tank at the appropriate time.
"If the 'language' in the book is indeed Bi Di, then all of this becomes clear," Mu Yiran felt that all the mysteries were slowly being unraveled one by one. "None of the paintings we've seen, none of the items we've carried with us were ever specifically intended as offerings to the painting or the painter. In my opinion, the fact that the book says it's dedicated to the painter is itself a form of sacrifice. The book will be incorporated into the painting in a special way, for the painter's use."
Everyone listened to these words, slowly digesting them, their expressions somewhat melancholic.
"But Xia Yu died as soon as we entered the painting!" Luo Yi was very puzzled. "Didn't she find some kind of gate to immortality in the book? Why did she die before even experiencing the world in the painting? And… she was killed by the very person who created her."
This point in itself seemed extremely ironic and absurd.
"Perhaps the ending isn't like this in another timeline. In that timeline, Xia Yu might be the last to die," Mu Yiran's eyes flashed. "If that's the case, Xia Yu might have had some interaction with us. That would explain why her things were in our room, in Xi Shengnan's bag, and why Xi Shengnan wore those jewelry so openly—if Xi Shengnan really had other purposes for Xia Yu, she would never have shown those jewelry to others."
"Brother-in-law, this is too confusing, my head is about to explode…" Luo Cheng innocently hugged Xin Chun. "Aren't there 13 people in the game? Why is there 15 this time?"
Xin Chun nodded, realizing she was included in the team.
"There's something wrong with this book!" Du Lingyu suddenly said, showing everyone a book of incense recipes she was holding. "The second half of this book isn't an incense recipe, but... I don't quite understand what's written on it: 'Earth eggs are formed from the soil, within which there is also light and time. First, the light of heaven gives birth to water, within which white fish are born, exhaling and inhaling to form qi, transforming me into a circling traveler...'"
Everyone crowded around to look at the book, only to discover that it was actually two books sewn together. At first glance, it looked like one incense recipe, with another booklet containing different content attached.
Du Lingyu found the sewn part between the two books and saw two words on the lower right corner of the second book's cover: "Witchcraft Rules." Wei
Dong said, "I think this should be Fang Fei's."
Fang Fei took the book and looked at it, increasingly convinced that it was a book about witchcraft.
Du Lingyu was very puzzled: "How did this book end up here with me, and hidden in this way?"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and the voice of the lamplighter came from outside: "The crystal coffin is ready; the deceased can be placed in it."
Everyone quickly packed up their bundles, and Ke Xun went to open the door.
A familiar crystal coffin stood outside, exactly the same one that had held Xi Shengnan yesterday.
Mai Peng and the others placed Lu Heng's body into the coffin, then walked along, their steps slightly unsteady, as if they were dizzy and lightheaded.
Du Lingyu, who was beside them, couldn't help but ask, "Are you alright? Don't force yourself."
Mai Peng replied, "I promised Lu Heng last night that I believed that in this world, those who are about to die will have some awareness of their own death."
"Perhaps," Du Lingyu said, her brows furrowed. "It's too difficult. This world is too difficult." "I hope that book will be useful. Fang Fei's identity is different from ordinary people. I hope she can understand that book."