Sheriff Uncle, open the door quickly! I've come to solve a case!

My body felt so heavy I couldn't move; it felt like a mountain was pressing down on me.

His subconscious was screaming that he had to get up quickly; he couldn't fall asleep, or Bai Zhizhi would be in danger.

But my body just wouldn't cooperate; my whole body was numb.

"Uncle, wake up."

Qin Qingzhou took a deep breath, as if she had been pulled out of the sea and finally woke up.

Bai Zhizhi kept shaking him, and only after seeing that he was awake did she pout and say, "Uncle is so lazy, still sleeping so late~"

When did he fall asleep?

Qin Qingzhou raised her hand and rubbed her numb neck.

This was the first time he had stayed up all night to study materials, and it was common for him to go on field missions and stay up for several nights in a row without sleeping. He had never fallen asleep halfway through a mission.

Why did I fall asleep so inexplicably last night, especially at the time when I should have been most alert...?

My gaze fell on a piece of paper on the table, with its handwriting flowing freely.

[They deliberately lure passersby into the mountain village, capture outsiders, and extract their vital energy; the entire village survives only under the protection of the snake god.]

Qin Qingzhou's heart jumped into her throat.

Someone came in while he was asleep!

"Bai Zhizhi! Is there anything wrong with you?"

Bai Zhizhi looked down at herself in surprise: "There's nothing there~".

Who exactly came in?

Qin Qingzhou picked up the paper and carefully considered the words on it.

Could it be a translation of the inscription on the shrine?

Why is it completely opposite to what the village chief said?

But according to the facts, this village does seem to be absorbing the spiritual energy of others, just as it is written on this piece of paper.

So, was the person who left this note from their side? Was it a villager? Or someone else? What was their purpose?

Bai Zhizhi, who wasn't as tall as the table, stood on tiptoe and craned her neck: "What is Uncle looking at?"

Qin Qingzhou handed the paper to Bai Zhizhi: "Can you sense who left this?"

Bai Zhizhi lowered her head in disappointment: "No, Uncle, Zhizhi can't sense anything in the village. The village will suppress it."

A knock sounded at the door, and Xu Shan called out to them from outside, "Qingzhou, are you up? Want to go for a walk outside?"

Yes, Qin Qingzhou hadn't forgotten today's main task. He replied, "Let's wash up in a bit."

"Okay~ I'll wait for you outside."

Qin Qingzhou and Bai Zhizhi quickly finished washing up, opened the door, and Xu Shan was outside.

The two exchanged glances, and Xu Shan took the lead.

Bai Zhizhi skipped and hopped after him, while Qin Qingzhou lagged behind.

He glanced back inexplicably; it was a tightly closed door.

Since they arrived in the village, the tourists in the next room have never come out.

Or perhaps they've come out, but are hiding from them.

Qin Qingzhou quickly dismissed the idea; there were police officers everywhere in the village, it was impossible for no one to have seen him.

But is it possible for a tourist to come here and never even leave the house?

Could it be... that he has already been taken away by the villagers?

"Qingzhou," Xu Shan called out to him as she turned around.

"What are you looking at?"

"It's nothing, let's go." Qin Qingzhou withdrew her gaze and slowly went downstairs.

Everyone was downstairs, and Qin Qingzhou and her companion arrived last, so everyone was there.

There were a few houses not far from the dormitory. The villagers sat in front of their doors enjoying the cool air, glancing in their direction from time to time.

"Are we all going out together today? Are there any fun places to go?" Lin Yuhe jumped up excitedly.

The man who was with her gently took her hand: "Didn't we already go shopping yesterday, honey?"

Lin Yuhe shook the man's hand like a child: "Oh dear~ haven't you had enough? The scenery here is so beautiful."

"I heard from the villagers that there's a really beautiful sinkhole. Why don't we go see it today?" the man suggested.

The others agreed, and the group marched out of the dormitory area in a grand procession, with Qin Qingzhou lagging behind.

The old man from the house closest to the dormitory greeted everyone.

Good morning, everyone! Where are you all going?

Lin Yuhe greeted the old man first: "Good morning, sir. We're planning to visit the sinkhole, but we don't know how to get there. Could you take us there?"

The old man looked everyone over, then gave a suitable smile: "Of course."

Another male police officer approached another house, where an elderly woman was standing at the door.

"Auntie, do you know any fun things to do around here?"

"Yes, there are lots of fun things to do! Shall I take you?"

"Okay." The male police officer followed the woman, which conveniently led away the people from the two households guarding the dormitory.

It was only then that everyone realized that although the village was perfectly normal yesterday, starting this morning, almost every household had a red rope tied to their door.

The red rope stretched out in a certain direction, and one could vaguely see that the direction seemed to be a shrine.

Like a bloody path with a clear direction.

Lin Yuhe and the male police officer led the old man away, and the other police officers also led away several villagers who were likely to be spying on them.

Until only Xu Shan, another female police officer, Qin Qingzhou, and Bai Zhizhi remained.

When I arrived at the old woman's house where I had eaten watermelon yesterday, she was indeed still there, washing clothes. A red rope was tied to the door.

"Sister Shan," Qin Qingzhou called softly to Xu Shan.

Xu Shan understood, and without looking at Qin Qingzhou, walked straight towards the old woman.

"Good morning, sister."

"Good morning, little girl. Where are you going to play today?"

Xu Shan thought for a moment: "I've been to many places, but there's one lake I haven't been to. Do you know where that lake is, sister?"

The old woman dried her hands with a cloth: "Oh! You mean that round lake? I'll take you there."

"Okay, thank you, sister."

The old woman quickly carried the clothes back into the house, locked all the doors, and only left with the group after confirming that everything was alright.

Qin Qingzhou hissed as she clutched her stomach, falling half a step behind the others: "Excuse me, everyone, I think I ate something cold this morning. I need to go back to the restroom."

Xu Shan looked speechless: "Why are you like Zhizhi, going to the toilet when you're having fun?"

"I'm really sorry." Qin Qingzhou smiled awkwardly and looked at the old woman, who gave him a probing look.

"I probably won't be able to find you guys after I go to the bathroom, so I'm not going today. I'll just sleep in the dorm all day. Sister Shan, could you look after Zhizhi for me for the day?"

"Alright, alright, Zhizhi, come over here."

Bai Zhizhi let go of Qin Qingzhou's hand and ran over to grab Xu Shan's hand.

The old woman's expression gradually became serious, but she quickly returned to normal.

It's okay, there are people watching the dormitory entrance, he can't go anywhere.

The man went back, which made things easier for her.

With two women and a child left, dealing with them was more than enough.

Let's leave this man to the people at the dormitory entrance.

Today is a special day, and she doesn't mind letting her prey struggle a little longer.

Watching Qin Qingzhou run towards the dormitory and gradually disappear from sight, the old woman led the three away.

But what she didn't know was that the people standing at the dormitory entrance had already been transferred away.

Qin Qingzhou also kept it a secret from his team members.

He had other places to go before heading to the old woman's house.