A casual remark stirred up the deepest fears in everyone’s heart. The words made sense, but the meaning was terrifying when pieced together.

“My wife always taught me that one shouldn’t be greedy. So each day, all I need is one set of human bones.” With these words, the carpenter turned his head slowly, each movement accompanied by a crisp “click.”

“For fairness, the offering will be chosen by drawing lots.” The scene before them grew increasingly surreal and unsettling.

Earlier, Fang Chen had closely observed the carpenter. During the day, he seemed to move more naturally. Now, Fang Chen’s gaze lingered on the man’s left hand, noticing in the dim candlelight that his hand was indeed missing something: the ring had disappeared.

Fang Chen glanced at Yan Xuan, who had sat quietly the entire time, half of his face shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to read his expression.

Liu Mang gripped his fan, breaking the silence. “Drawing lots is fair? But even if chosen, there’s no chance to refuse. How is that fair?” His tone was cool and cautious, as if he was probing for something.

“Oh? This guest has a point,” the carpenter replied. With a sudden “clank,” he hit his own head. “How about this? We’ll play a little game. The one who draws the lot has a chance to live, but if they’re unwilling…”

“Enough!” a loud voice interrupted, startling everyone.

Normally gentle, Li Duo had stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor replaced by anger. Fear, once reaching a certain level, turns into rage; sometimes violence isn’t about scaring others but rather empowering oneself.

Li Duo, a martial arts instructor, charged forward, grabbed the carpenter, and punched him square in the nose. The lantern dropped to the ground, casting giant shadows of the two as they wrestled.

One blow, then another…

No one dared to intervene; no one could stop him. But what made Li Duo halt was something else altogether.

Breathless, he backed up, staring with trembling hands at what lay before him. The carpenter’s head spun multiple times on his neck, then tilted with a sharp “click,” falling to one side. He began clawing at his face, trying to right it, but failed.

Now his head tilted grotesquely at a 90-degree angle, resting on his shoulder, all the while maintaining that eerie smile.

Under the flickering candlelight, the scene was unbearably horrifying. This was not something a normal human could do.

“My wife reminded me to be generous,” the carpenter resumed, his twisted face turning to address the guests. “So I’ll give you all one last chance. Just this once.”

In the silence that followed, everyone held their breath, too terrified to speak, staring in shock at the nightmarish figure.

The carpenter picked up the fallen lantern, continuing his earlier announcement. “If tonight’s offering doesn’t want to die, they can kill someone else tomorrow before sunset to replace them.”

“Killing has consequences,” he continued. “Anyone choosing this method must face judgment from the other guests.”

“Now, I’ll repeat the rules of the game.”

[Who is the Offering—Game Rules]

1.The offering is chosen by drawing lots, with only one lot marked “offering”; the rest are blank.

2.The offering has a chance to live. If they do not wish to die, they may kill someone else to replace them before sunset the following day.

3.If this happens, a vote will be held that night to determine who the offering is.

Three possible outcomes exist:

Outcome 1: The offering kills someone and successfully deceives everyone during the vote, allowing them to survive while the person they killed becomes “material” for the day, triggering a new drawing.

Outcome 2: The offering kills someone but is discovered during the vote, in which case both the offering and their replacement are sacrificed. Since two people were offered, the next vote is postponed an additional day.

Outcome 3: The offering willingly sacrifices themselves, and a new drawing is held immediately.

Additional Rules: No killing at night, no revealing the drawing results, and no gathering in groups.

“Did I make myself clear, guests?”

Long silence met his question.

“What happens if we gather?” Fang Chen finally asked.

“Feel free to try tomorrow,” the carpenter replied.

“Then…” A soft voice trembled as Rong Rong raised her hand. After piecing her question together with great effort, she managed, “Does this mean, if we keep going like this… will we all die here?”

“If you wish to leave, then find a way to clear the fog quickly.” With that, he gestured to the table, inviting them forward.

On the round table in the middle of the room, nine folded slips of paper lay waiting.

Gasps filled the air as dread seeped into everyone’s bones. Under the carpenter’s haunting gaze, they reached for the slips, hands shaking.

Fang Chen drew one, gently unfolded it, revealing a blank paper.

As he looked up, he noticed several anxious gazes directed his way. In that brief moment, their eyes met, only for them to quickly look away. Even Meng Qiyan seemed to look at him with a mixture of fear and caution.

The method was truly cruel, pushing people who had just begun to trust each other back into suspicion, pitting them against one another.

Fang Chen instinctively looked at Yan Xuan, who was observing him, eyes half-closed, a flicker of warmth reflected in his narrowed gaze, like stars glinting in a night sky. He smiled softly, fingers holding his own slip of paper.

Once everyone had drawn, the carpenter turned to leave.

“It’s getting late,” he announced. “I suggest you all rest well tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

With each step, his head swayed, seemingly barely attached to his body, shifting grotesquely from side to side.

Rong Rong covered her mouth, stifling sobs.

Faced with this terrifying game, no one dared defy the rules; they could only follow the brutal path laid before them.

A chilling breeze slipped through the door’s crevices, like the cold brush of a scythe at their necks.

The red notebook on the table suddenly flipped open, its pages rustling ominously. Fang Chen picked it up, and his gaze landed on a new entry.

[August 16, Sunny]

“My cousin came to visit from afar and introduced me to a big job. Completing it would allow me to afford the dowry. She’s a kind and caring wife. For her, I’ll finish this deal no matter what it takes. Let’s hope all goes well. But… where can I find such fine wood? I need a lot… a lot of it.”

Meng Qiyan leaned in, her voice quivering as she spoke. “Is this… the carpenter’s story?” She hesitated, swallowing hard, afraid to say the words “before he died.”

Fang Chen nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

Suddenly, Bai Li spoke up, his voice tense. “Did anyone draw the offering slip?”

His question hung in the air, tension mounting in the room.