Ch 139: The World’s Number One Resort

“Welcome to Great Tang Glasses, [Haunted Town] edition. I am your guide, Xiaomi of the town…” In the blink of an eye, the man found himself in a vast, mist-covered square.

A pleasant female voice echoed from the air.

“Stroke of the brush? Quite high-tech.”

The man’s name was Sun Dahe, and he had signed up for the standard Great Tang tour package. It included a seven-day pass, a Stroke of the brush experience, one-time access to Sora Cinema, a ticket to Thrilling Racing, and around twenty other activities.

Sun Dahe had been on Great Tang Resort for three days. Had he seen this scene earlier, he would have been quite amazed. However, after experiencing the 10D effects of Stroke of the brush and Sora Cinema, he had learned to keep his excitement in check.

The scene before him was similar to the opening of the Stroke of the brush experience.

“[Haunted Town] is a horror game developed by FillTech Company over several years. The scenes are highly realistic, offering a lifelike experience. We hope it brings you thrills and enjoyment!”

Sun Dahe glanced around. After half a minute, the introduction ended, and a nearly transparent 3D interface appeared before him.

Player Identity: Visitor
Player Nickname: None
Age: 32
Game Mode: Trial Game, Random Scene
Inventory: Empty

Would you like to enter?

[Yes] [No]

The interface was simple and straightforward, much like any other game. There were also many “locked” options visible.

Sun Dahe surveyed his surroundings, then pressed “Yes.”

The scene shifted once more, and Sun Dahe found himself standing before a slightly desolate old mansion. The moon was high in the sky, and his personal interface showed that it was 12:45 a.m.

“Whoosh, whoosh—”

“Random Task: Proceed to the Lian Ancestral Hall, find the ‘bronze mirror dropped by Lian Meiyu,’ and use the mirror to comb your hair at 1 a.m. Yunsong Time.”

A gust of cold wind blew through as the system issued the task.

“What the heck, what the heck!” Sun Dahe felt his mind go blank. After uttering a few exclamations, he finally snapped out of it. The scene had truly changed!

Sun Dahe looked up. The ancestral hall beside him was in a state of decay, with an old plaque covered in cobwebs that read “Lian Ancestral Hall.” Beneath the plaque were two dark red doors, wide open. In front of the doors stood two half-man-high stone lions.

Their eyes were as big as bronze bells, exuding an eerie sense of authority in the moonlit, chilly atmosphere.

Sun Dahe glanced around. Due to the nature of the “ancestral hall,” the only other building nearby was a small shop called “Yunsong Incense.”

Sun Dahe tightened his clothes around him. Growing up watching Hong Kong horror movies, he considered himself brave. However, being suddenly placed in this setting was unsettling, to say the least.

He composed himself and looked at the task requirements.

The task had two parts: 1. Find Lian Meiyu’s bronze mirror. 2. Use the mirror to comb your hair.

Sun Dahe touched his head. Due to the in-game character design, he was currently wearing a shiny sequin jacket and had a buzz cut. Trying to comb his hair with this look… would be a bit of a challenge.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he walked into the Lian Ancestral Hall.

Sun Dahe passed through the vermillion gates. Behind them was a 300-square-meter courtyard. On either side, overgrown weeds dominated the area, with a winding cobblestone path leading to a 200-square-meter hall supported by four large camphor pillars. Flanking the hall were couplets that read, “Dressed for all eternity, rituals and offerings last through the ages.”

This was evidently the main hall of the Lian Ancestral Hall.

Time Remaining: 05:12

Sun Dahe checked his personal panel. The task required him to comb his hair at 1 a.m., and there were still five minutes left. After a brief pause, he began searching the hall for the bronze mirror.

The environmental effects in [Haunted Town] were similar to those in Stroke of the brush. However, while Stroke of the brush allowed visitors to explore a painted world for a total of fifteen minutes, [Haunted Town] was a much larger, consciousness-driven game.

After a brief experience in the game, Sun Dahe became increasingly immersed.

Since this was a trial mission, the task items weren’t difficult to find. After a bit of exploration, he located the bronze mirror on the long table in the main hall.

“Ding! Congratulations, player, you have found the task item: Lian Meiyu’s bronze mirror.”

As Sun Dahe picked up the bronze mirror, his personal interface updated. Similar to an online game, Sun Dahe had found the correct item.

The mirror was about the size of a palm, with a dragon and phoenix pattern engraved on the back. From its design and intricate carvings, it was clear this was a mirror intended for women.

A layer of dust about an inch thick covered the surface.

Sun Dahe wiped it clean with his sleeve, revealing a somewhat hazy reflection. Although its clarity couldn’t compare to modern mirrors, it was still decent.

He propped the mirror upright on the long table.

It was now 12:59 a.m., and Sun Dahe waited patiently. The tiles of the Lian ancestral hall were cracked in some places, allowing moonlight to spill in, creating a tranquil atmosphere in the hall.

…

“An extended version of [Stroke of the brush]? This game’s effects are definitely worth $388.”

“It’s eerie and a bit scary. Not for the faint-hearted.”

“The game world seems pretty seamless. I wonder what the overall storyline is.”

Inside [Haunted Town], Sun Dahe was waiting for the countdown to comb his hair. Meanwhile, outside at the Great Tang Experience Store, visitors were watching his gameplay, discussing it animatedly.

Since this was a trial, with Great Tang’s advanced technology, the entire experience was in broadcast mode. Onlookers could clearly see what Sun Dahe was experiencing in the game.

Watching him enter the ancestral hall and search for the mirror, the visitors breathed a collective sigh of relief. Regardless of what might happen in the “horror game” next, just the otherworldly setting itself was already worth the $388 price tag.

At this point, even $3,888 seemed like a bargain!

“Click, click—”

“I’m currently at the Great Tang Experience Store on Sora Island. It’s midnight Sora time, and the Great Tang glasses have officially launched. Everyone, this is the effect in the Haunted Town VR game. Double-tap to light up the little heart, and I’ll show you more in the second half #GreatTangResort…”

Amid the whispers and conversations, many visitors began snapping photos, while others went live on Douyin.

Great Tang Resort had become a hot topic on Douyin. Scrolling through Douyin, liking, and indulging in Great Tang’s attractions had become a daily routine for its users.

“It’s time.” In [Haunted Town], Yunsong time struck 1:00 a.m.

As the countdown on his personal interface hit ’00:00,’ Sun Dahe bent his fingers, using them as an improvised comb to brush his hair in front of the bronze mirror. To be honest, his hair was only an inch long, so there wasn’t much to comb…

Sun Dahe followed the task instructions, brushing his hair while deep in thought.

One second, two seconds, ten seconds… He combed for a full thirty seconds. Apart from the eerie feeling of looking into a mirror at midnight, nothing else happened.

“That’s it?” Sun Dahe lowered his hand, feeling quite baffled.

It wasn’t scary at all.

He picked up the bronze mirror again, wondering if he might have been using the wrong posture while combing his hair…

“Oh my gosh, was there a shadow that just floated by?”

“Not sure… I think so… It’s kind of creepy.”

“Ahhh, look up there!”

…

While Sun Dahe inspected the mirror, the visitors at the Great Tang Experience Store held their breath. During his hair-combing scene, they had clearly seen a shadowy figure floating around him. If some background music were added, it would undoubtedly be a live horror movie.

“Have you seen Mr. Zhai…” Back in the game, as Sun Dahe put the mirror back in place and prepared to head out, a somewhat eerie female voice suddenly echoed beside his ear.

“What Mr. Zhai… Who are you?” Sun Dahe replied casually. After speaking, he felt that something was off.

A gust of cold wind blew into the ancestral hall, causing the yellow paper on the long table to rustle. Sun Dahe looked up to see a woman in a red qipao, with long hair tied in a ponytail, standing behind him. She had bound feet and a delicate face, but her overly pale complexion told Sun Dahe that there was something very wrong with her…

“Haven’t seen Mr. Zhai.” Sun Dahe muttered, his lips twitching slightly. It was obvious that the woman in front of him had already crossed the boundary of what could be considered ‘human.’ More accurately, this was a horror game, and everything in it was a product of advanced technology.

“Ding, ‘Lian Meiyu’s Bronze Mirror’ mission completed. Reward: multifunctional flashlight.”

As soon as Sun Dahe finished speaking, a system notification sounded. In addition, his inventory now contained a “flashlight.” Since this was a trial game, Sun Dahe glanced briefly at his inventory, then turned his attention back to the woman.

The woman had red lips and a pale face. Under the red clothes, she appeared frail and thin.

“What do you…”

In folklore, female ghosts are often known for their emotions. Sun Dahe was about to ask more questions when the woman’s demeanor abruptly changed. Her long black hair flew wildly, her nails grew sharp, and her tongue extended down to her chest.

A chilling wind filled the ancestral hall. In a daze, Sun Dahe noticed several figures in long robes and round-topped hats appearing around him. Most of these figures were middle-aged men between 30 and 50 years old. Each one was skinny, with sunken eye sockets, lacking both eyeballs and whites… as if their eyes had been gouged out.

These were the “corpses” within [Haunted Town].

The corpses slowly approached, and Sun Dahe backed away in fright.

“Anyone who is not Mr. Zhai must die.” The woman’s eyes turned blood-red, her fangs extended, and she lunged at Sun Dahe.

“Ding, player’s stamina -100.”

“Ding, player’s endurance -50.”

“Ding, player’s mental strength -100.”

…

“Ding, player’s level too low, equipment insufficient. Total score reset to zero. Game over.”

Sun Dahe was scared out of his wits and wanted to escape, but there were too many corpses surrounding him, leaving him no room to retreat. As the woman bit towards him, a series of prompts appeared.

Before Sun Dahe could react, the game ended.

…

“Holy crap, this game is intense, just like an American zombie movie!”

“This script is off. Shouldn’t the female ghost chat with the protagonist first, then fight the boss together?”

“What’s wrong with you? This is a player, not the protagonist.”

In the Great Tang Experience Store, the visitors were stunned. Following common tropes, they thought Sun Dahe would easily pass this level. They didn’t expect him to clear the task but meet such a brutal end.

Due to the game’s regulations, visitors couldn’t see the exact details of Sun Dahe’s death. However, given the suspenseful atmosphere before, one could imagine how Sun Dahe felt… It was like watching a domestic horror film—while the dangerous scenes might be edited out, the atmosphere alone could still earn it a top rating.

“He’s out.” Amidst the discussions, Sun Dahe took off the VR headset and looked around, slightly dazed.

As he glanced around, he instinctively reached for his neck.

Thank heavens, it was still there.

“How was it?” Seeing Sun Dahe’s dazed expression, some curious visitors stepped forward to ask. That last part was truly terrifying, and they were eager to hear about Sun Dahe’s firsthand experience.

“Horrifying, thrilling!” Sun Dahe opened a bottle of mineral water, struggling to find the words.

It was indeed intense. In those final thirty seconds, he really thought he was about to be bitten to death. However, apart from a brief numbness on his neck, he felt nothing else.

“Being alive is wonderful.” After offering these four words as his review, Sun Dahe continued to elaborate.

Sun Dahe worked as an overseas purchasing agent. To earn a bit of commission, he usually had to act humbly in his daily life. Though he appeared smart and shrewd, his life was filled with stress. Aside from movies and mobile games, he had very few ways to relieve that stress.

Horror films were a decent way to unwind. However, with advancing technology and broadcasting restrictions, Chinese horror movies had become more like child’s play. Sun Dahe had paid for his fair share of low-quality experiences and had since moved on to watching big-budget American blockbusters. It had been three years since he last watched a horror film in theaters.

Now, coming out of [Haunted Town], Sun Dahe felt completely relaxed, just like when he watched Hong Kong horror films as a child. Although the entire experience was terrifying and dangerous, deep inside, his brain was exhilarated. It was a unique thrill of conquering fear.

In the game, Sun Dahe had fully released his pent-up anxieties through fear.

Outside the game, while he could still recall the fright, his mind and body were now calm. It was a strange experience, like the rush after a wild ride.

“Do you accept card payments? I’ll take fifty units.” While processing his thoughts, Sun Dahe placed the water bottle on the table and said with determination.

As an overseas purchasing agent, Sun Dahe had a gut feeling that [Haunted Town] was far better than online reviews suggested.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️