"Haowen, don't scare us. You're making this NPC sound like some kind of mastermind, always watching us intently." Wei Dong quickened his breakfast, not wanting the later analyses to spoil his meal.
"The NPC definitely isn't the mastermind," Qin Ci finished his milk, "but the NPC must represent the mastermind, or at least be one of the mastermind's henchmen. Think back to the scenes in the previous paintings; wasn't that always the case?"
"You mean, if the NPC can't manifest, then the mastermind can't manifest either? They're completely different from us." This time, it was Shi Zhendong who spoke.
This statement resonated with many, but no one could give a clear answer regarding the true relationship between shadows and entities.
"Our search will still focus on the area near the maze," Qin Ci said, glancing at the remaining seven people. "After deducting the four who are working, only three will be looking for autographs."
"Time is tight, so this is the only way," Shi Zhendong volunteered. "I'm already familiar with the work, so I'll stay and work this morning to finish all three large jars."
Miao Zipei also volunteered, "Dr. Qin is experienced, so I'll stay and work. I'm already very familiar with storing those berries."
Wei Dong also volunteered to take over the work in the purple room.
There wasn't a single person offering him any courtesy. Ke Xun looked pitifully at Mu Yiran and said, "Then you guys go ahead, be careful."
Mu Yiran lowered her eyelids, then raised her eyes and said, "Those who are working must remember not to be alone in the hall. Even when going to the restroom, at least one person should accompany you."
Everyone nodded silently. Ke Xun's eyes sparkled as she looked at Mu Yiran, her inner monologue reading: You be careful too, and remember to pick some flowers for me! Don't get yourself all dirty!
Ke Xun shuddered. How did she unconsciously become so effeminate? Mu Yiran was clearly softened by Ke Xun's gaze, even forgetting to maintain her cold expression...
Ke Xun also felt strange; something hadn't quite gone right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Time was of the essence, and no one wanted to waste a minute. They quickly split into two groups: four went into the workshop to work, while three went to the maze outside to find the answers.
Ke Xun finally said to the three people working, "We must stay alert. I felt like I was almost bewitched just now. If anyone needs to go to the toilet later, it's best to call out at the door. If someone answers, then go together."
No one dared to delay, nodding in agreement before returning to their work.
Although Ke Xun had something on his mind, it didn't affect his work efficiency. After all, he was the only one left in the room, so he had to finish his task faster than the others.
The strange thought from earlier remained a mystery. Thinking back carefully, it was clearly a thought that had popped into his head, but upon closer inspection, it felt very wrong.
As Ke Xun removed the branches and leaves from the berries, he carefully recalled the situation. That inexplicably coquettish remark was indeed a voice that had surfaced in his mind, as if someone he had been hiding had suddenly revealed a secret.
If one's will wasn't strong enough, they might have shown some signs on their face—Ke Xun smiled sheepishly; his own gaze had already subtly betrayed his inner thoughts.
Ke Xun carefully recalled his position just now. There were many people in the hall; he wasn't alone at all. Why then did he feel some kind of bewitching influence? Could it be that his position and actions had violated some hidden condition?
He had been attentively listening to everyone's analysis, sitting facing a wooden cabinet against the wall. The cabinet itself wasn't unusual; it was made entirely of wood with inlaid glass, without even a paint finish.
A flash of inspiration struck Ke Xun, as if he had caught a glimpse of a solution. Just then, he heard Shi Zhendong's voice from outside: "Anyone going to the restroom? Want to keep me company?"
Ke Xun had no interest in accompanying Shi Zhendong to the restroom; he was still racking his brains trying to recall that inspiration. Then he heard Miao Zipeng from next door reply, "Let's go together." The
thought of two people going together was reassuring.
Ke Xun continued to think about the cabinet, the handcrafted wooden cabinet against the wall, its doors made of bright glass, through which he could see the exquisite tea set inside.
The glass shimmered and reflected the light; if the angle was right, one could see their own reflection in it.
A shadow.
An image reflected in glass or a mirror is also a shadow.
Ke Xun suddenly understood. He remembered someone being bewitched alone in the hall before, and Mu Yiran had analyzed that it was because the shadow and the entity had developed a rift, allowing the boss to control the entity through the shadow.
Could that strange voice in his mind just now be the reflection in the glass cabinet door speaking to him? Why use such strange words to bewitch him?
Ke Xun dared not imagine what he would become if he were also bewitched—recalling Xin Beibei's inexplicable jealousy and Guo Lixia's violent and barbaric behavior, would he become a effeminate man with gentle eyes?
Mu Yiran had even given him a slightly moved look; now that he thought about it, it was clearly an illusion in his eyes, and also part of the shadow's manipulation!
Ke Xun was very glad he hadn't been successfully tempted...
Having figured this out, he suddenly remembered that two members had gone to the restroom. Ke Xun quickly opened the door, intending to remind everyone to pay attention to the glass cabinet, but when he opened the door, he saw Shi Zhendong and Miao Zipei sitting at a table in the lobby talking about something.
Shi Zhendong frowned, and it was Miao Zipei who was speaking: "Every holiday I visit many art museums around the world. Some foreign art museums have very unique designs: some art museums use a uniquely shaped container filled with candies equal to the weight of the painter. When guests leave, everyone can take a candy from the container. I think this design is particularly thoughtful, as if the painter's inspiration and artistic sense have permeated everyone."
Even Ke Xun thought this design was excellent. Why didn't the art museums he had visited give out candy?
Miao Zipei looked up and saw Ke Xun, smiling and beckoning him over. This strangely enthusiastic gesture made Ke Xun a little uncomfortable.
Although Miao Zipei liked to talk about art, he rarely spoke directly, and such a warm greeting was extremely rare.
Ke Xun exchanged a glance with Shi Zhendong, then smiled at Miao Zipei: "Although I'm a bit averse to places like art museums now, what you just said was really quite good."
"Many successful painters have absolute devotion to art. In ancient times, some painters would even obtain pigments from their own bodies to paint, and some would even sacrifice their own relatives..."
Ke Xun couldn't bear to listen anymore: "Some people may choose to sacrifice themselves for art, but to let your own relatives sacrifice for art is too selfish and cruel."
Miao Zipei just smiled faintly and continued: "Have you heard the story of the famous Japanese painting 'Hell Screen'? A painter, in order to better depict the burning carriage in hell, put firewood on his beautiful daughter's carriage and watched helplessly as his daughter was burned alive in the burning carriage, and then watched the carriage fall off a cliff... But that painter created 'Hell Screen' that terrifies and evokes despair in everyone."
Ke Xun was about to say something when Shi Zhendong gave him a subtle wink, so he nodded without saying a word.
He figured he'd better not become a target of those being manipulated, or he might become their ambushes. It was best to remain calm and wait for the right moment.
Shi Zhendong, being older and more experienced, smiled and said to Miao Zipei, "We still have a lot of berries to store. Everyone, hurry up and get to work."
Miao Zipei, with his reverence for color, returned to his yellow room first.
Ke Xun didn't rush back. Seeing Shi Zhendong pull out a chair for him, seemingly wanting to tell him something, he sat down to listen.
"You noticed it too? Little Miao has some issues," Shi Zhendong said softly.
Ke Xun glanced instinctively at the glass cabinet facing him in the distance, then quickly averted his gaze: "You two went to the restroom together, how did Miao Zipei have the chance to be alone in the lobby..."
"He was quick, and he's not used to waiting for people in the restroom. He washed his hands and went to the lobby. The two of us came out of the restroom about a minute apart." Shi Zhendong's expression was somewhat panicked. "Could it be that the power of the shadow has become stronger? It seems to be more adept at bewitching people."
"Let's both be careful." Ke Xun clenched his fist, remaining silent.
"Why do I feel like you don't look well? Are you alright?" Shi Zhendong was very observant.
Ke Xun shook his head: "It's nothing, I just feel that time is pressing. Three nights have already passed, and the painting doesn't seem to have the patience to give us seven days—if Miao Zipei has really been bewitched, then the yellow he represents is the color the boss desperately needs."
"Let's try our best to protect ourselves. As for Xiao Miao... if he really does something like suicidal with the color, I'm afraid we won't be able to stop him even if we want to." Shi Zhendong sighed.
The two didn't have time to talk much more and went back to their respective rooms to work.
Ke Xun was determined to speed up his work, and even though his arms ached from exhaustion, he finally finished storing the three large jars of berries before noon.
Throughout the work, Ke Xun didn't stop to think, and after finishing, he finally understood some things.
Ke Xun gently pushed open the door, went to the purple room, and let out a soft whistle—his and Wei Dong's signal for many years; when they were kids, they would secretly arrange to go to the internet cafe to play games, they would greet each other like this from the window.
Wei Dong quickly opened the door: "I'm exhausted..." "
Dongzi, listen carefully to what I have to say," Ke Xun's expression was serious, causing Wei Dong to immediately shut up and listen intently.
Ke Xun's voice was very soft; although he was standing at the door of the purple room, only the two of them could hear what he said: "Go back to your room now, quietly barricade the door, and don't open it for anyone. I'm going out now to meet Yi Ran and the others; you can open the door when we come back and knock."
Although Wei Dong only half understood, he trusted Ke Xun the most, so he closed the door and barricaded it from the inside with some tables and chairs.
Ke Xun tried his best not to look at any shadows in the hall, and rushed out of the hall in one stride.