Original Mystery Novel: "B l i z z a r d M a n o r" EP57

The handwriting was the same as the invitation: "Your mother. She didn't leave Mist Valley. She's inside that door." Chen Mo's fingers tightened. Inside the door. He looked at the corner of the room. There was a smaller door there—almost completely hidden by the papers plastered on the wall, revealing only a dark gap. He walked over and removed the papers one by one, revealing the door panel. It was smaller than the outer door, like some kind of toddler passage, but Chen Mo pushed it, and it opened. Inside was a very small space, about two pyeong, like a forgotten secret room. The air was damp and cold, with the smell of earth and grass. In the center of the floor sat an old wooden box. Chen Mo squatted down. The wooden box was unlocked, and the lid was loosely placed. When he opened it, what was inside made him freeze for a long time. A red knot. Exactly the same as the one around Zhang Zhenyu's neck, but older and more faded. Next to the knot lay a thin booklet, with "Ritual Records" written on the cover. He opened the booklet. The first page had a date—earlier than eighteen years ago, twenty-four years ago. Mist Valley still existed then, and Chen Mo didn't know this world. The page contained handwritten instructions: "Spirit Binding Ritual, one cycle every twelve years. The youngest child in the village must be used as the 'bolt,' sealing the 'memory' of their village within the door. The bolt must not leave the village, otherwise the memory will overflow, causing all villagers to lose their memories or die. However, if a blood relative of the bolt stays behind to take responsibility, the blood relative can undertake the bolt's duty, allowing the bolt to leave." Chen Mo's breath hitched. (To be continued)