Rise of the Otherworld.

With a creak, the shabby wooden door slowly opened, and a stale, decaying smell filled the air. It was like a dusty cellar, a mixture of dampness and mildew that made one almost nauseous. The room was dimly lit, like a pool of deep ink. In the faint light that filtered through the cracks, Zhang Hao and the mysterious man could vaguely see a shadowy figure in the corner.

The figure huddled on the ground, like a wounded beast trying to protect itself, uttering low moans that sounded painful and helpless, like a wail from the depths of its soul. Zhang Hao and the mysterious man exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with vigilance. They nodded slightly, weapons tightly gripped, and slowly approached the corner, taking each step cautiously, fearing to disturb the unknown being.

"Who's there?" Zhang Hao shouted, trying to embolden himself and intimidate the other party. His voice echoed in the silent wooden house, but it fell on deaf ears. The only response was the continuous low humming sound, as if it was the only thing that controlled the dim space.

As they got closer, they finally saw that it was an old man in ragged clothes. His hair was a mess like a bird's nest, with a few strands of white hair sticking up wantonly. His face was as haggard as a dead tree eroded by time, covered in deep wrinkles. His skin was loose and dark, and he exuded an unpleasant odor, like the smell of long-term unwashed clothes mixed with decaying environment.

"Old man, why are you here?" The mysterious man crouched down, trying to sound gentle and friendly as he asked softly. The old man slowly raised his head, his cloudy eyes shrouded in a thick fog, filled with fear and confusion. His lips trembled like a candle flickering in the cold wind, but he seemed unable to utter a complete sentence.

"Don't... don't come close... you will be cursed..." The old man finally squeezed out a few words, his voice was as weak as a gossamer, as if he would be swallowed by the darkness if he exerted even a little force.

"Curse? What curse?" Zhang Hao asked, startled. His heartbeat quickened, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. But the old man, as if provoked by something, suddenly clutched his head tightly, babbling incoherently, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if the horrible memories were flooding him like a tide.

"Light...horrible light...it will take away everything..." The old man's words were intermittent, like broken puzzle pieces, but they filled Zhang Hao and the mysterious man with doubts, as if they were in a fog and couldn't find their direction.

At this moment, Ling Yu and the old man's voices came from outside the house: "Zhang Hao, are you here?" The voice was like a ray of light in the darkness, allowing Zhang Hao and the mysterious man to temporarily escape from this weird atmosphere.

Zhang Hao and the mysterious man walked out of the cabin and told Lingyu and the old man in detail about their encounter. Lingyu frowned, his face filled with confusion and worry, and said, "This sounds so strange. Could it be related to the villagers' disappearance?" His eyes revealed a hint of uneasiness, as if he had already sensed a huge danger hidden behind this.

The old man thought for a moment, a glimmer of wisdom flashed in his eyes, and he slowly said: "It is very likely. Judging from what the old man said, that strange light may be the key. But what exactly is this so-called curse?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to search his mind for clues related to this strange incident.

Everyone decided to take the old man back to the village chief's house first. Perhaps in a relatively familiar environment, the old man could regain some of his sanity and provide more useful clues. Along the way, the old man was like a frightened bird, his body trembling constantly, his eyes filled with fear, and he looked around vigilantly, as if countless demons were hidden in the darkness.

Upon returning to the village chief's home, the woman saw the group bringing back an elderly man and hurried over to help. Her eyes were filled with concern and tenderness as she gently helped the man to a chair, brought him a basin of warm water, and carefully wiped his face with a towel. Under the careful care of the village chief and the woman, the man's emotions gradually stabilized, and his tremors subsided.

"You... must leave here... that thing... is too scary..." Although the old man's voice was still weak, he could express his meaning more clearly. His eyes revealed a deep fear, as if warning everyone not to get involved in this terrible disaster.

"Don't worry, old man. We will definitely find out what happened and protect everyone's safety. Can you tell me in detail about that strange light?" Zhang Hao said patiently, his eyes full of firmness and determination, trying to make the old man feel their strength and confidence.

The old man took a deep breath, as if mustering up great courage, and slowly said: "That light... appears every once in a while, and every time it appears, someone disappears... It is a cursed light, and anyone illuminated by it will disappear without a trace..." The old man's voice was low and trembling, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard.

As they listened to the old man's story, they felt the situation became increasingly daunting. However, they had no intention of backing down. Having accepted the mission, they were determined to uncover the truth, rescue the missing villagers, and break the terrifying curse that enveloped the village.

"It seems that we have to find a way to find the pattern of the appearance of this light, and then sit back and wait." The mysterious man said, his eyes flashing with calmness and wisdom, as if he had already begun planning a battle with an unknown force in his mind.

Zhang Hao nodded in agreement: "That's right, we can set up some traps in the village, and then arrange people to take turns to guard the night. When the light appears, see if we can catch what is behind it." His voice was firm and powerful, like a beating war drum, inspiring everyone's morale.

So, everyone got busy in the village. They set traps along key thoroughfares, fashioned tripwires from thick branches and vines, dug deep pits, and planted sharp stakes at their bases. They also prepared tools for lighting and defense, such as torches and gongs. At the same time, they developed a detailed night watch plan, dividing the night into several time periods, ensuring that someone was vigilantly observing the village at each time, not missing any unusual activity.

As night fell, the entire village was shrouded in darkness, a silence so eerie it was almost unsettling. The darkness enveloped the village like a vast curtain, the occasional chirping of insects only deepening the stillness rather than breaking it. Zhang Hao and the others, as planned, remained at their respective posts, awaiting the appearance of the eerie light. Their eyes were filled with vigilance, their heartbeats racing, as if they were awaiting an unknown challenge, a showdown with a mysterious force about to begin...