My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

"Master..." Wang Biao's voice was dry, "How...how do we fight this?"

Lin Zhenyuan gripped the knife handle tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He also wanted to ask that question.

Even if I slash with the knife, it's useless. How am I supposed to fight like this?

Just as the five were locked in a stalemate, the sound of a door creaking open came from the other side of the vermilion gate.

Everyone turned to look.

The door opened.

It wasn't fully opened; only half of it was open.

Six "people" were standing inside the door.

The same gray servant's clothes, the same pale face, the same two patches of red cheeks.

They filed out of the door in two rows, their footsteps light and silent.

The two at the front were carrying lanterns—not the big red lanterns like those at the entrance, but white paper lanterns with a faint green flame burning inside.

Under the green light, the faces of these paper servants looked even more terrifying.

The texture of the paper is clearly visible under the light, the ink painting's eyes are dull and lifeless, and the red on its lips looks like it has just been licked with blood.

They walked to the wall, stopped, turned around, and faced Lin Zhenyuan and his group of five.

Then, they all raised their hands and made a "please" gesture.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like puppets controlled by the same person.

"Please" let us in?

Lin Zhenyuan felt an even greater chill in his heart.

This is clearly a trap to lure the enemy into a snare.

But my son is inside.

He gritted his teeth and whispered to the four men, "Stay close to me. Once inside, no matter what you see, don't panic. Find Yunfeng, and retreat immediately!"

The five men gripped their weapons tightly and walked step by step toward the gate.

The paper servants made way for them, still maintaining the "please" gesture.

The expression on their faces... or rather, the absence of expression, was more terrifying than any ferocious face in this situation.

Lin Zhenyuan stepped over the high threshold.

Inside the gate was the bluestone path he had just seen, with gardens on both sides and bright stone lanterns.

But standing here in person, the experience is completely different.

It's too quiet.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat and the buzzing of blood flowing in my ears.

The rustling of bamboo leaves and the ripples of the pond water sounded as if they came from a very far place, or like a play being played close to the ear, both real and illusory.

Moreover, there was a smell in the air.

It wasn't the scent of flowers or the smell of earth, but rather... the musty smell of damp paper mixed with the sour smell of cheap paste and the pungent odor of ink.

The lantern light was too stable.

Lin Zhenyuan looked up at the nearest stone lamp—the candle flame inside the white jade lampshade was straight up and motionless, as if it had been painted on.

He continued walking forward.

The paper servants followed behind them silently.

Lin Zhenyuan could feel those empty "eyes" staring intently at their backs.

At the end of the passageway is a hanging flower gate, with beaded curtains hanging low.

A paper figure dressed as a maid lifted the curtain—her face was even whiter, her cheeks even more rosy, and her lips painted a vibrant red.

She curtsied to the five people, her movements so precise they looked as if they had been measured with a ruler.

"Distinguished guests, please follow me."

His voice was dry and hoarse, just like the butler at the door.

Lin Zhenyuan tightened his grip on the knife and stepped into the inner courtyard.

The inner courtyard was even more exquisite, and even more eerie.

The osmanthus trees are in full bloom, their fragrance so rich it's almost cloying.

Upon closer inspection, Lin Zhenyuan discovered that the "osmanthus flowers" were not growing on the branches, but were tied on with thin threads—pale yellow silk flowers, each one exactly the same.

The maid sweeping fallen leaves under the tree was holding a paper broom, and the "fallen leaves" she was sweeping were also cut-out pieces of paper.

The maid wiping the pillars held a rag made of paper with fabric patterns.

Everything is clearly telling you: this is fake, it's all fake.

But ironically, these things are in motion.

The paper figures are moving, the paper flowers are swaying, and the paper leaves are fluttering.

This kind of terror, a blend of reality and illusion, is more chilling than simple ghosts and monsters.

The maid leading the way stopped in front of a spacious main hall.

The hall doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit.

Lin Zhenyuan spotted his son, Lin Yunfeng, sitting at the octagonal table, talking to a woman in red.

The woman had her back to the door, so her face was not visible, but she had a slender figure and her black hair was like clouds.

"Yunfeng!" Lin Zhenyuan shouted, about to rush in.

But the maid who was supposed to lead the way stepped in front of the door and blocked it.

She raised her head, her pale face framed by ink-painted eyes staring intently at Lin Zhenyuan. A stiff, unnatural smile slowly spread across her lips.

"The young lady is entertaining guests, please wait a moment."

"Get out of my way!" Li Tie had been holding back his anger for a long time. When he saw that the paper figure dared to block his way, he slashed at it with his knife!

He used all his strength in this strike; the blade pierced the air with a whooshing sound!

The paper maid neither dodged nor flinched.

"puff!"

The blade struck her shoulder.

It wasn't the dull thud of cutting into flesh, but the tearing sound of cutting into thick paper.

The maid's shoulder was slashed open, but there was no blood or bone inside, only layers of paper and a skeleton made of bamboo strips.

The paper around the wound was rolled up, revealing a pale white background underneath.

But she remained standing.

Even the smile on her face didn't change.

She slowly turned her head, looking at Li Tie with her ink-painted eyes, and then raised her hand—

That hand was also made of paper, with long, slender fingers and fingertips painted with light pink nail polish.

She grabbed Li Tie's knife.

Li Tie tried to draw his knife, but found that the blade was clamped in iron clamps and wouldn't budge!

This paper figure has incredible strength... It's ridiculously strong!

"Li Tie, watch out!" Upon seeing this, Wang Biao swung his knife and slashed at the paper maid's arm.

"when!"

Another crisp, metallic clang rang out!

Wang Biao's knife struck the paper arm, but it bounced back! And that paper arm... only left a white mark.

The paper maidservant gripped Li Tie's knife and slowly turned her neck—her neck made a "crackling" sound as if it would break at any moment.

Then, she pulled hard!

Li Tie felt a tremendous force come over him, and his whole body was pulled forward!

He quickly let go, staggered backward, and barely avoided falling flat on his face.

His waist knife had already fallen into the hands of the paper maid.

The paper maidservant gripped the knife and awkwardly swung it twice, seemingly getting used to this "new weapon."

Then, she raised her head, her ink-painted eyes sweeping over the five people, and her smile widened even further.

At the same time, they heard rustling footsteps behind them.

Lin Zhenyuan turned around and saw that the six paper servants had already surrounded him.

They somehow acquired "weapons"—made of paper, including knives, swords, sticks, and clubs, with rough patterns drawn on them.

Paper maids blocked the way in front, and paper servants surrounded it from behind.

The five people were surrounded in the open space in front of the main hall.

"Master..." Zhang Kui's voice trembled, "These ghostly things... are impervious to swords and spears!"

Lin Zhenyuan broke out in a cold sweat.

He noticed it too.

These paper figures appear fragile, but are actually incredibly hard.