Closing the book, the scene of the Monkey Clan rushing in to seize Xing’er and Ah Li that day flashed before my eyes. The golden-furred monkey squatting on the eight immortals table had smashed a dent in the wall using only a small incense burner; its explosive power was truly formidable. Had it truly struck my head, the one currently accompanying Xiao Shu to the Reflection Villa would likely be a lingering spirit instead of my true self.

Looking up at Xiao Shu, he was still perched on the cloud ladder, meticulously studying the contents of the book. I suddenly remembered that Hua Gu and A Mang were still outside, and I wondered if this exploration trip had brought them any joy. Putting the book down, I walked out of the library to find them.

The first time I came here was to seek a method to transcend vengeful spirits. After Xiao Shu and I entered the villa, we headed straight for the library. During that time, although my soul had left my body and I was taken to the hallway by Hua Jinlan's mother, I remained utterly unfamiliar with the entire villa. Now, taking the opportunity to look for Hua Gu and A Mang, I decided to wander around and thoroughly compare this reflection with the original above.

After circling the hallway, a row of doors stood, each separated by less than two meters—a design strongly reminiscent of those cramped, low-rent motels. Strangely, given such a small layout, the interior spaces shouldn't be very large, yet the room behind the library door seemed to be at least a hundred square meters inside. If all these doors and the rooms behind them existed in the same spacetime, estimating the length of the wall adjacent to the hallway based on the library's size, all the doors on the right side of the corridor should lead into the library. Thinking this over, another question arose: the library’s four walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, leaving absolutely no second doorway. If so, the other doors in the hallway must be redundant or simply locked. But what kind of designer would create such a layout?

Pondering this, I tried pushing one of the doors. It was locked tight! I tried the second door. Still wouldn't open! As I approached the third door, I suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, as if I had seen it somewhere before. I carefully reached out, grasped the spherical doorknob, and gently turned it clockwise. With a soft clack, the lock gave way!

With a long, drawn-out creak, the door slowly swung open. The image of the wardrobe door hanging askew on its hinges in the entrance passage flashed into my mind. Yes, this door was strikingly similar to that wardrobe door that had fallen to the floor—the same color, the same style, the same material…

Just as I was fixated on the wardrobe door, a tremendous crashing sound, a clatter, echoed from inside the room. Startled, I immediately pulled the door shut, clutching my chest and stepping aside, terrified that some demon or monster might come charging out.

After a long moment, the door remained as it was; no one emerged. Following that one loud crash, everything fell silent, as if no further abnormality had occurred. So, I gripped the handle, slowly turned the mechanism, and gently pushed the door inward.

Initially, the room was pitch black, so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I stood still for two seconds, and then the door—with a sharp creak—swung shut by itself. A bad feeling washed over me—could this be a trap! I turned back to open the door but was immediately blinded by the sudden burst of light. I quickly retracted my hand, shielding my eyes with my fingers, peering through the gaps to see what was happening.

The room was a complete disaster. Pots, pans, and bowls were scattered across the floor; bedding and clothes were ripped and strewn everywhere. At first glance, it looked like a robbery had taken place. On closer inspection, a man and a woman stood in the very center of the room, appearing to be the owners of the house.