Series: Love Spell

　The damp cave was icy and gloomy, illuminated only by the precious light filtering through the entrance, casting a dim glow over this corner of the world. Countless tiny insects seemed to lurk in the darkness, their gnawing sounds unsettling.   I lay on my side, pulling my jacket tightly around me, curling up beneath…

The moment we stepped out of the car, a group of beautiful young women greeted us at the village gate. All dressed in deep green embroidered Miao attire, their heads adorned with silver ornaments that jingled with every step—a sight as pleasing to the eye as it was to the ear. 　　The girl leading the…

　　The commercialization in the Miao village was indeed overwhelming. Stalls and shops selling trinkets were practically everywhere, along with numerous so-called specialty stores. Yet the “specialties” inside were nothing unique—commonplace items found anywhere. I couldn’t tell if the girls in Miao costumes were genuine villagers or tourists posing for photos. 　　We wandered aimlessly along the…

“Brother, don’t leave! Sister has fine wine in her bowl!” 　　Several Miao girls boldly blocked my path. I looked closely—the leader looked familiar. Who else could it be but Ali, the one who’d poured me the welcome wine? I wasn’t sure what they meant. Were they trying to get tourists to join in? Or did…

That night, I had no idea when Xu Zirong and Qiu Lu returned. I kept flipping through the photos on my camera until I drifted off to sleep without realizing it. 　　I was awakened by the drawn-out crow of a rooster. To be honest, having grown up in the city, my ears were constantly filled…

　　By the time we left the old woman’s home, it was already noon. We reviewed our notes and felt we’d gained a great deal. We gathered to discuss and decided to invite Anpu and Ali to lunch as a thank-you for their help. We chose a restaurant Ali recommended, known for its authentic Miao cuisine.…

By this day, our field research and data collection were nearly complete. After discussing it together, we decided to stay two more days, buy some local specialties, and then head back to school. Wen Lingyu and Qiu Lu were eager to explore and left early. Oh, and they brought along our porter, Xu Zirong. 　　Yesterday,…

We were lost in the vast mountain ranges. What could be more terrifying, more dreadful than this? 　　Green trees, almost black in their intensity, surrounded us on all sides. Occasionally, birds would streak past, leaving no trace behind. The path grew narrower and more desolate, overgrown with weeds along the edges. The sky darkened steadily,…

At dawn, the sun pierced through thin clouds, showering the earth with radiant light. Dense forest foliage lay thick and lush; beneath layers of overlapping leaves, sunlight could only cast scattered patches of light. These formed visible beams in the air, projecting dappled patterns onto the ground. 　　The morning mist swiftly dissipated under the sun,…

The dawn of escape lay just ahead. Wen Lingyu and Qiu Lu embraced each other in excitement. 　　“This is amazing! Little Yu, we’re finally almost out! Finally escaping this cursed place!” Wen Lingyu nodded repeatedly in excitement. Even Xu Zirong began tapping his shoulders, forehead, and navel with his right hand, tracing an imperfect cross.…

Tonight, I knew, was destined to be sleepless. If sleeping in the car last night had been bad luck, then sleeping under the open sky tonight was a first in my life. 　　Whispered voices drifted from the tent—Wenlengyu and Qiulü’s soft murmurs, indistinct and muffled. Xu Zirong lay restless for ages, his breaths short and…

Xu Zirong followed my gesture, and his eyes widened instantly. “It is a stele! There are characters carved on it!” he said with certainty. Half-hidden behind cascading green vines, the stone stood about half a meter tall, cloaked in moss that made it blend seamlessly with its surroundings. If I hadn’t happened to glance that…

We stayed frozen, watching it glide out of sight, not daring to move a muscle. My sweat dripped into my eyelashes, stinging, but I didn’t even blink until the last rustle faded away. “Can we move now?” Qiu Lu asked in a shaky voice. My arms were locked tight around the stick; my muscles burned…

Among us, some had bungee-jumped, some had paraglided—but always with safety gear and careful preparation. Now, staring at a rope ladder dangling in midair with no harness, no rail, nothing between us and a hundred-meter drop—none of us were eager to be the first. Even someone without a fear of heights would feel their knees…

So this was his house. The only stilt house in the entire forest—lonely, quiet. I’d assumed it was abandoned, but no. It was where Shen Jianqing lived. We exchanged glances before following him up the steps into the house. At the entrance was a narrow corridor, about two meters wide, connecting three rooms on the…

Happy to see us? But every record and rumor said the Shengmiao people hated outsiders. Yet Shen Jianqing had welcomed us with such warmth. Maybe the village that raised him wasn’t so cold after all. Books and reports only tell you so much—seeing the world for yourself, that’s the real truth. Wen Lingyu set her…

“What’s with that girl?” Xu Zirong pointed at her retreating figure, then turned to Shen Jianqing. “She seemed pretty familiar with you.” “Just someone I happen to know,” he said casually. “I told her to call the village elders to come greet you. We know each other’s names, that’s all—nothing more.” “Greet us?” Qiu Lu’s…

Today, we had agreed with Shen Jianqing to wander around the village, taking photographs for our field research records and evidence. By the time the scheduled hour approached, the others still hadn’t finished preparing. I fiddled with my camera on the lower-level corridor while waiting. Luckily, I had spare batteries and a power bank. If…

I wandered into a bamboo grove nearby. Far from the settlement and fields, the grove leaned against a mountain. The bamboo was tall and dense, and the ground was carpeted with long, yellowed leaves that crackled crisply underfoot. Early summer was the season for fresh bamboo shoots. Beneath the bamboo, conical green shoots peeked from…

Morning light filtered through the leaves, golden and bright, forming a holy beam that seemed perfectly aimed at Shen Jianqing, outlining him in a radiant halo. I hesitated. “If something is troubling you, you can tell me. We’re friends. I won’t tell anyone.” Shen Jianqing stepped closer, teeth lightly biting his lower lip, resembling a…