Chapter 1, Temple

However, before I could speak, Wang Lei, who shared the same hospital room, disdainfully spat and said that this guy must be here to see his cheap little uncle

Two days later, Ah Gui, who lived in the same dormitory as me, suddenly developed a high fever. Not only was he rambling incoherently, but he also began to vomit. In the midst of vomiting, he ended up bringing up blood. Initially, I approached the situation with sympathy and tried to help clean up, but as I got involved, I became dizzy myself, which resulted in me being unable to go to work the next day

That day, I felt dizzy and disoriented; all I remember is constantly having blood tests, receiving saline infusions, and undergoing gastric lavage, suffering as if I were on the brink of death

I thought it made sense, so I did not think much further

I remember that the next day I took ambulance 120 to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, I realized that I was not the only one sent there; Ah Gui and three other colleagues from the company were also brought in, including Wang Lei, who was also suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea and was directly carried over on a stretcher.

I lay in bed tossing and turning, feeling a heat all over my body, as if something were riding on my head, feeling drowsy and unaware, I gradually fell asleep

At this time, the second boss in charge of the company's logistics and administration came to see us, expressed the company's condolences, and then hurriedly left

In the center stands a statue, blackened by the smoke of incense, resembling a figure of some deity or ghost. The area around its eyes is glossy and pitch black, as if the oil used for anointing it is somewhat different, giving off a peculiar impression

I was afraid of being mocked by Wang Lei and A Gui, so I tiptoed towards the library. However, after taking just two steps, I felt something was off and noticed a vague figure by the window.

A Gui asked me if I wanted to buy it. When I reached into my pocket, I realized that I had changed into sportswear for climbing at the hotel during lunch and had not brought any money. I asked him if he had any money, and he shook his head.

Agu's words made me raise my eyebrows; upon careful consideration, it is indeed true

As a result, I woke up in the middle of the night and found that I had wet the bed. All the lights in the hospital room were turned off, and it was dark. I was in a room by the window, and the sheets were completely soaked with the smell of urine.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but laugh; that guy in the black robe looks just like a stand-in, as if he were a temporary actor brought in from some nearby village.

In the days following our return, this trip has been incessantly criticized, and it can almost be described as a nightmarish memory

I took a quick glance and felt an inexplicable sense of panic in my heart, so I hurriedly bowed and went out

The matter began with a trip organized by our company. Initially, I did not want to go, as I had been feeling unwell during that period and was planning to take the holiday to recuperate. However, I could not resist the persuasion of my dormitory friend, A Gui, and ultimately, I could not bring myself to decline, so I went along with the group.

However, for me, it is merely the beginning of a nightmare

He left in a huff, which startled the tour guide. The guide hurried over to persuade him, saying that he had just offended someone and needed to quickly buy something as an apology. Otherwise, if the spirit was angered, it would be a serious matter.

Influenced by my mother since childhood, I have become particularly superstitious. Children should not speak of strange forces and spirits; who knows if there are any malevolent entities present

It is important to remind everyone that when you are out, even if you encounter unreasonable or inappropriate situations, it is best not to confront them directly. The most effective approach is to gather evidence and wait for the relevant authorities to handle the matter. Otherwise, you may find yourself entangled in trouble

As soon as the results were out, the tour guide took us to a nearby shed, which was a place selling Buddha statues, pendants, and bracelets. Several middle-aged women were looking at the stalls. The tour guide explained to us that the items here had all been consecrated by the temple's abbot and could ensure safety. There were also incense sticks available for ten yuan each, which were very inexpensive, encouraging us to buy some to offer incense.

We are a German-funded company specializing in high-speed rail connection pipes, with several hundred employees. The owner is German and is rarely seen, as there is a language barrier. Therefore, the second-in-command is the most significant figure in our eyes. It is truly a rare opportunity for him to come and visit us

The argument did not last long; after a while, both sides were pulled apart. Before leaving, that strange man made a remark, saying that anyone who disrespects the gods should not blame the gods for being ungracious.

However, that tour guide was indeed quite persuasive; many people felt uneasy after hearing him speak. Moreover, the incense priced at five or ten yuan was not expensive. The souvenirs were somewhat lacking, but spending twenty or thirty yuan for peace of mind was quite reasonable. Therefore, everyone was too lazy to fuss over it and gradually bought some more.

At first glance, many people do not even dare to step outside, believing that the outside world is too dangerous and that home is the safest place. However, if guided correctly, going out to see the world and broaden one's horizons can be very beneficial

Speaking of Ma Quandan, Agui, who had been silent all along, suddenly remarked: "Have you noticed something? The people who are hospitalized, aren't they all staying by that dilapidated temple in Mangshan without spending any money?"

In that dream, it turned over and over, and I even dreamed that the person in the black robe was myself, squinting my eyes and coldly gazing at those who did not spend any money

There is actually not much worth buying locally. Those jade shops claim to sell jade and gemstones transported from Yunnan, but a discerning eye can easily tell that they are of inferior quality. As a result, very few people make purchases. Throughout the journey, the tour guide maintained a stern expression, as if someone had died at home.

A Gui let out a soft "oh," did not object, and continued to sleep with his head down, while I became increasingly fearful as I thought more about it

At first, I wanted to step forward, but upon hearing that it was Ma Quandan, I decided not to intervene

I went to borrow money from Wang Lei, who I have a relatively close relationship with. As a result, not only did he not bring any money, but he also disdainfully said, "What are you afraid of? Spending money to seek peace of mind? We don't have any money, who would want to harm us? Besides, so many people have bought it; even if a few of us don't, it won't matter.

Some people believe that evil cannot triumph over good, so why fear when one is in the right? Here, I would like to share a small experience with you. After reading it, you may have a different perspective.

I found it amusing; the statue placed in the middle of that temple just now is not the hetushu.com Buddha statue at all. How did the abbot come out again

Wang Lei informed me that Ma Quandan from the Quality Department had a dispute with someone, claiming that it was all a deception. Initially, he argued with the tour guide, but later, an odd man in a black robe appeared from nowhere, and the two of them began to fight.

During a stretch of the journey into Mangshan, the tour guide, who had been in a bad mood, suddenly regained his energy and led us to a dilapidated temple, taking us inside for a visit.

I only found out when I asked that Ma Quandan is also hospitalized, but he is fortunate to have a private room, unlike me, Wang Lei, and A Gui, who are less fortunate, crammed into a single ward.

The travel group organized by the company was the lowest-priced option. During the two-day, one-night itinerary, the meals consisted solely of radishes, greens, and tofu, and the activities were mostly free ones, making the entire trip particularly uninteresting. Moreover, there was one aspect that was especially annoying: the tour guide constantly took us to local souvenir shops to buy things

The tour guide spoke extravagantly, but in reality, this temple is not worth seeing. It is not large and is rather dilapidated, with a dark interior that shows little sign of worship.

This makes me a bit embarrassed, as a college freshman, to still wet the bed is simply the height of shame

At that time, I felt a bit urgent and went to the restroom. When I returned, I heard someone arguing, and a crowd had gathered. I couldn't squeeze in, so I had to grab the team leader of the first-floor production line, Wang Lei, and ask what was going on

In recent years, with the increase in national income, many people have developed the idea of traveling. However, there have also been numerous negative reports about travel groups in the news, such as "Female tourists beaten for 3 minutes for refusing to ride a horse," "Audience fighting at the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village in Guizhou," as well as "Post-90s couple goes missing in Bangkok, girlfriend sold into a brothel," and "Traveling to South Korea becomes a new trend, beware of the quick cosmetic surgery trap that turns you into a ghost"

The quality department's Ma Quandan, whose sister is the mistress of our company's second boss, has become accustomed to being arrogant in his daily life. He has poor interpersonal relationships, and few are willing to help him

My face suddenly turned a bit pale with fright, but Wang Lei beside me said, "Nonsense, if we go by your logic, there were about ten people who didn't spend any money at the time, so why are there only a few of us hospitalized?"

That day, I tossed and turned, plagued by nightmares, dreaming that I had returned to that dilapidated temple. I gazed at the fierce and menacing face of the deity in the temple, as well as the cold smile of the man in the black robe, whom I had used as a pawn, before he departed, causing me to shiver uncontrollably

In a company where so many people fell ill simultaneously, there was naturally a response from the higher-ups. The first suspicion fell on the cafeteria; however, it was quickly ruled out that it was not food poisoning, but rather a viral fever. Despite the hospital administering various special medications, they were unable to bring the fever down

I pressed the nurse call button, but there was no response for a long time. The bed was filled with the foul smell of urine, making it unbearable to stay. I got out of bed, prepared to take the bed sheets to the bathroom, and then I would go to the nurse's station to request a new set.

Perhaps due to the excessive physical exertion from climbing the mountain, I felt extremely fatigued in the following days, and I could not muster any energy for work