After reading the novel, Trist looked grim.

The content of this part of the manuscript is that the investigators decided to investigate the novelist's house before going to Beihan Town. They saw the desolate courtyard, the fetid pool, the dilapidated living room, and the strange noises coming from the second floor.

Afterwards, the group came to the second floor, witnessed a hideous monster, defeated it, and found part of the novelist's manuscript in a messy bedroom. They discovered that they had done the same thing as the characters in the book.

"Put it here."

This is what Lu Ban commented.

"But it cannot be denied that what we did was indeed similar to what is described in this novel."

Shia pointed out.

Apart from some differences in details, what they experienced was exactly what was described in the novel.

However, these manuscripts only reached the part where a few people found the original manuscripts, read them, were horrified, had their reason challenged, and prepared to go to Beihan Town to find out what was going on.

Of course, it is also mentioned here that on the way to Beihan Town, several people seemed to have encountered something unimaginable, but it has been crossed out and the writing is also very messy, as if the author denied what he wrote and was preparing to rewrite it on another piece of manuscript paper.

But there is nothing after that.

"Nonsense, absolute nonsense."

Trist seemed a little manic. It was unclear whether it was a side effect of his reduced sanity or because these unreasonable events happened in his own world.

Lu Ban could understand this feeling very well.

No matter how outrageous the things he encounters, no matter how terrifying the monsters are, they are just alien creatures. They will not suddenly cross the dimensional wall to find you in your bed.

However, these strange events that happened in his own world were very real, especially when he became the protagonist of a horror novel. If it were Lu Ban, maybe...

Maybe it's nothing.

"The handwriting on these manuscripts is very clear, and the handwriting does not appear messy. It can be seen that Gu Du was in a relatively rational state when he wrote. He was seriously thinking about these plots, which is obviously inconsistent with the condition of the house. This means that he was quite calm when writing this novel, but left in a hurry. What happened in between?"

Xia reviewed the contents of the manuscript again.

"Also, if this manuscript had been placed here from the beginning, the editor who came to check it out earlier should have discovered it long ago. The reason why we are only seeing it now... is it because it just appeared now?"

Lu Ban added.

"What nonsense are you talking about..."

Drizzt leaned against the wall and took a long drag on his pipe, trying to numb his mind with the tobacco.

"No, no, no, I mean, it was brought by this monster."

Lu Ban glanced at the messy bedroom.

"Look, in this way, no matter what, we will kill the monster and get the manuscript, which will be consistent with what is written in the novel. If we can't kill the monster, then naturally we won't see the manuscript."

"Um?"

Trist's attention was attracted by Lu Ban's words, and he seemed to have thought of something.

"This technique is very simple. Prepare several different branching plots in advance and place them at the trigger point. This way, no matter what choice we make, it seems as if the author has anticipated it in advance. It's a little trick."

Although Lu Ban had never seen such a complicated thing, there were many similar things on the Internet. The simplest one was to use several accounts to post online, predicting the outcome and score of the game in advance. When the result came out, other posts would be deleted and only the correct one would be left to circulate. This would give people the illusion that they were able to predict the future or that they had traveled back from the future.

Just like now, when this monster comes with the manuscript, Lu Ban and the others will feel that everything about them is written into the novel and is destined. Maybe similar manuscripts are in other places that Lu Ban and the others can access. When they find them, they will feel that their actions are predicted by the novel.

“…That seems to make sense.”

Drizzt muttered to himself, but his steps were still unsteady.

"In that case, shouldn't we go to Hanxu?"

Shiya thought.

"That's not necessary. This novel has set us up, but it also reveals information. That is, as long as we go to Beihan Town, or Hanxu, we can take the next step and have a chance to meet this writer."

Lu Ban answered immediately.

"It's just that being able to control a monster like this, I feel that Gu Du, or the person behind it, is not normal."

The three searched the ancient capital's home again but found no more clues. As it was getting close to evening, they decided to set off for Hanxu after having a meal.

North of the city, Tenth Ring Road area.

"I didn't expect you didn't have your own car, Lao Cui. It feels like you're a failure."

Lu Ban sighed.

"I don't usually go out of town, so there's no need to buy a car."

Drizzt argued.

The three of them were struggling with the issue of travel.

Although the road between Feidu and Hanxu is long, basic safety is guaranteed because people travel back and forth all year round. There are even a few small villages in the middle. However, if you take public transportation, you will have to leave two days later. If you want to set off tonight, you must drive yourself.

Drizzt didn't have a car, so they had to rent one.

That's another amount of money.

"You just don't want to spend money."

Lu Ban hit the nail on the head.

"I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to leave in two days. It will be more lively."

Drizzt avoided the question.

"Based on the development of this abnormal situation, the situation may deteriorate to a level that is difficult to handle in two days."

Shia reminded.

If Gu Du or someone else was affected, two days would be enough for a person's spirit to collapse and reorganize into rational madness. If you delay the departure for two days, the situation may be worse.

"You don't know how to drive, do you?"

Lu Ban asked.

"How could I not understand!"

Trist jumped up and down. He came to the car rental place, which was usually the business of gangs in the outer ring. There were some cars that didn't look so reliable displayed in the shop, and there were a few thugs wearing old suits and baseball caps to watch over the place.

After exchanging a few words, Trist selected a car and went to the cashier to pay.

To put it bluntly, the gangs in the wasteland are still doing business, both above ground and underground. Generally speaking, if it is a normal transaction, the gangs will not cause any trouble to the customers, but if someone is ungrateful and wants to take advantage of the situation, then the gangs may give him a condition that he cannot refuse.

"Deposit of 8,000, daily rent of 400, sign here."

The cashier was reading a book, but when he saw a customer coming, he quickly put down the novel in his hand, looked up and spoke.

Lu Ban saw that the novel was written by Gu Du. The cover was a monster that came out of a painting. The monster had a body like a large dog and a head full of octopus-like tentacles, exactly the same as the one they saw in Gu Du's home.

Drizzt's expression suddenly froze.

Xia borrowed a book and saw that the title was "The Dog in the Painting". She flipped through it casually and found that the story was about the protagonist buying a strange painting, and a monster like the one on the cover emerged from the painting and eventually killed the protagonist.

At this moment, the cashier looked at Lu Ban, and his expression suddenly brightened.

"Is it Mr. Lu Ban?"

He stood up and looked at Lu Ban.

“I am a stone.”