My eyes darted. “How about… we test it with something first?”

  Hua gave me a look that was half a smile, half a threat. “Oh? And what exactly do you plan to test it with? Your own life?”

  “Get lost!” I snapped. “My life is premium quality!”

  Just then, I spotted the paper doll that had handed us the note earlier. It was still slumped in the corner like an exhausted office worker clocking out after overtime.

  An idea struck me. I rushed over and grabbed it by the neck. “Hey, you were pretty energetic just now—come help again!”

  The paper doll dangled from my hand like someone had tied its head on with old rope.

  Hua raised a brow. “You’re going to use it to test the coffin?”

  “Of course!” I said, righteous and confident. “It’s made of paper. It can’t die twice.”

  Lian didn’t say a word, just watched me quietly. That alone gave me goosebumps. I forced a laugh. “Relax, relax. I know what I’m doing.”

  With that, I shoved the paper doll straight into one of the coffins that had reacted with smoke.

  “Squeak—”

  The lid shut itself. I immediately hopped back three steps, eyes wide.

  Three breaths later, the coffin lid jerked violently—

  BANG!

  The lid flipped open and a burst of black smoke shot into the air, choking me so hard I sneezed three times in a row.

  The paper doll flew out like a missile, now completely charred, still smoking slightly, as black and crispy as a burnt stick.

  I nearly latched onto Hua’s leg. “If we lie there — we’d be roasted alive! Thank god I’m a genius!”

  Hua chuckled. “Remarkably intelligent.”

  I trembled as I turned back to the other coffin. “Then… what about the second one? Please tell me it’s not another cremation chamber.”

  Lian started walking toward it. I yelped and grabbed his sleeve. “Hey hey hey—don’t be reckless! At least find another paper doll!”

  Lian flicked my hand off, voice flat. “There are no more paper dolls.”

  “You can’t test it yourself! You’re the Sect Leader of the Blood Lotus—act like one!” I was so anxious my eyes were tearing up.

  Hua crossed his arms, looking like he was watching a drama. “Don’t worry. If something happens to him, I’ll take care of you.”

  “Take care of my ass! If you’re so chill, why don’t you get in there with him?!” I was losing my sanity.

  But Lian was already bending down. With a light push—

  This time, the coffin lid gave a soft click and slid open smoothly. No smoke, no darts, no traps. Inside lay a neatly arranged set of ceremonial clothes—no corpse, just clothing.

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  The atmosphere froze.

  I swallowed, voice shaking. “…Does this mean… this one’s the real deal?”

  Lian said calmly, “You’ll know once you lie inside.”

  Before I could protest, he simply flipped himself in. No hesitation, no blinking.

  I lunged forward and slapped a hand on the lid. “Wait—! I’m coming too!”

  Lian arched a brow, cold as ever. “You’re sure?”

  Hua laughed like the world’s most annoying spectator. “Well, well… little Gong suddenly grew brave? Is this the Sect Leader’s inspiring influence? Should I beat a drum for your grand entrance?”

  I rolled my eyes hard enough to sprain them. “What do you mean ‘suddenly brave’? My admiration for Lian is like a mighty river—unceasing, overwhelming, sweeping everything in its path!”

  In my head, though, the truth was much simpler:

  Leave me here alone with a hundred coffins? I’d die of fright before any trap got me.

  And if this coffin really is the exit… and they leave me behind…

  Wouldn’t I just become permanent interior décor?

  So I shoved my butt forward and crawled in.

  The coffin was just wide enough for two people to lie on their sides face-to-face.

  So there we were—me and Lian—staring straight at each other, limbs touching, breaths mingling. I was so embarrassed my toes curled hard enough to drill through the wood.

  Just as I was about to fossilize from awkwardness, Hua’s lazy voice drifted in from outside. “Well then—I’m getting in too.”

  “No—!” I started, wanting to say the coffin was too small, but before the words left my mouth—

  Hua slid in like he was slipping under a blanket.

  The coffin instantly tightened. Three people plus one folded fan packed the space to full capacity.

  Thunk—

  The lid slammed shut.

  Darkness swallowed everything.

  I froze. Swallowed my “don’t come in.”

  Gone.

  Lian was right in front of me, his breath warm against my ear.

  Hua curled lazily at our legs, one hand propping up his chin like he was in a chaise lounge. “Dear Gong, your face is very red.”

  “You can’t even see anything!” I yelped. “Move over! Your fan is poking me!”

  Hua’s smile deepened. “You sure that’s the fan poking you?”

  “I—!!” I nearly exploded. “If there were room I’d kick you out!”

  Lian’s cold voice cut through the cramped darkness. “Quiet.”

  I shut up instantly and shrank like a quail. Only our breathing and my loud heartbeat filled the coffin.

  Time stretched painfully. The air felt thinner. I even wondered if the coffin was faulty and we’d suffocate in here.

  Right when I couldn’t stand it anymore—

  Click.

  Something shifted under us, like a hidden mechanism unlocking.

  The coffin began to sink.

  I clutched Lian’s sleeve. “Holy crap holy crap holy crap—it's moving! We're not falling into hell, right?!”

  The system chimed in, bored. “Falling into hell is within plot parameters.”

  “SHUT UP!!” I yelled louder than the coffin’s vibration.

  With a dull thunk, the coffin stopped.

  No impact. No shaking.

  It felt like we were suspended on… something.

  I pushed the lid open a crack and peeked out.

  Darkness. Nothing but black. Not even wind.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I ducked back inside. “Are we… floating? Like, about to drop any second?!”

  Before the others could reply, light flared outside—

  Countless tiny glowing motes, like fireflies on caffeine, swarmed toward the coffin and smacked into it with little pah pah pah sounds.

  “Hey hey hey! Stop hitting us! This is a coffin, not a battle tank!” I hunched down. “If this thing cracks and we fall, I don’t even want to imagine what shape I’d land in!”

  Si-si poked his head out from the other side. “They… look like they’re pushing us?”

  No sooner had he said it than the coffin jolted forward.

  We drifted—no, got dragged—like a boat on invisible currents.

  I clung to the coffin edge. “Who designed this formation?! Since when can coffins double as sailboats?!”

  The swarm kept shoving, bumping, and guiding us forward through the dark until—

  A massive stone platform loomed ahead, suspended in the void.

  Thick pillars hung from above like the handle of an upside-down stone umbrella. The whole structure looked like a giant mushroom suspended over a pit of rolling black fog.

  The coffin slammed into the stone edge with a clunk. I nearly face-planted climbing out.

  My foot hit the ground and I froze.

  Right in the center of the stone platform was a pool—deep, dark blue, bottomless, rippling faintly.

  Blue ghost-flames danced across its surface, reflecting off the stone like an underworld ritual altar.

  “I… I’m not seeing things, right? That water is dripping straight out of that central pillar?” I pointed at it, jaw hanging. “Is this some kind of seal? Or a sacrificial array? What the hell are we standing on…?”