The Horror Hotel

第20話 the Painted Realm

After Lin Ze and Tang Momo left the wolf demon behind, they ventured deeper into Black Wind Mountain, each step carrying them further into a strange, unsettling silence.

Their path twisted and turned, with the weight of the air pressing in on them, and the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Lin Ze’s thoughts were preoccupied with the eerie events they'd just experienced, and his fingers traced the ancient book still tucked in his bag. But there was something else and something far more significant ahead.

Soon, the rocky terrain gave way to an ancient stone doorway, overgrown with moss and tangled vines. A single inscription ran across its surface, written in an old language that neither of them recognized.

Yet, as Lin Ze reached out and touched the stone, the door creaked open, revealing an eerie glow from within. The atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

"Do you feel that?" Tang Momo asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, this place isn't natural," Lin Ze replied, his hand on the hilt of his blade, ready for anything. They cautiously stepped inside.

They found themselves in a vast chamber, dimly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.

At the center of the room lay a grand stone chest, its surface adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes.

A sense of foreboding surrounded the chest, but it was clear that it held something important.

"Well, this looks like it could be it," Tang Momo said, peering curiously at the chest. "Whatever's inside, it's probably a key to getting us off this mountain."

Lin Ze nodded. His instincts screamed that they had reached the next stage of their journey. He stepped forward and knelt before the chest, his fingers brushing over the surface of the stone. With a low rumble, the chest's lid began to open, revealing a single, elegantly rolled scroll resting inside.

He lifted the scroll cautiously, unfurling it to reveal a golden sigil that shimmered in the dim light. The scroll’s script was ancient, but Lin Ze could make out enough of it to understand its significance.

The text, though strange, seemed to pulse with energy, and Lin Ze read aloud:

Defeat a Boss First*

Chen Loong handing Destined One Ruyi Scroll for Chapter 3 secret area

"The first step to unlocking the Painted Realm is to find and defeat Chen Loong, a boss located close to the North Shore of the Bitter Lake Keeper's Shrine. From the Shrine, turn around to face the lake, then head to the right, along the shore. There, in a shallow pool, you'll encounter Chen Loong. Once defeated, speak to him, and he will say that only one of Xu Dog's Resurrection Pills will be able to save him."

Lin Ze’s brow furrowed as he read the instructions, trying to piece together the information. "So this is a guide… to unlocking something called the Painted Realm."

Tang Momo leaned over his shoulder, her eyes scanning the text. "Looks like it. But what’s a ‘Ruyi Scroll’? And who is Chen Loong?"

Lin Ze shook his head. "I don’t know yet, but it’s clear we need to follow this. There’s no turning back now."

The scroll’s instructions continued:

“Cyan Loong stands menacingly on a snowy mountain.”

A chill ran down Lin Ze’s spine. He glanced around the chamber. "Cyan Loong? That’s another name for the beast we’re looking for."

Tang Momo grimaced. "Great, another monster to deal with."

The scroll gave more details:

Defeat Cyan Loong on Turtle Island to collect rewards for crafting legendary weapons. Gather a third Loong Pearl.”

Lin Ze was trying to focus, but the overwhelming weight of the task was clear. "I’m guessing that’s part of the Painted Realm unlock. There’s more to this, something about Xu Dog and the Yellow Wind Ridge."

Tang Momo nodded slowly, reading the continuation of the scroll:

Chen Loong will relocate to a small dwelling nearby along the lake shore. To continue your quest for the Painted Realm, you’ll first need to meet the Zodiac Deity Xu Dog from the Yellow Wind Ridge area in Chapter 2 and complete his quest line. Once you have, he will be able to craft the pills requested by Chen Loong.”

Lin Ze rolled the scroll up carefully and tucked it into his pack. “Looks like we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

Their next task was clear. They needed to head to the Yellow Wind Ridge and find Xu Dog, a mysterious Zodiac Deity who could craft the Resurrection Pills needed to assist Chen Loong. The scroll's instructions provided details for this as well, explaining that Xu Dog resided near the Village Entrance Keeper's Shrine close to Sandgate Village. It described how to find him: "At the wooden bridge, jump off to the right and continue straight into the caverns where Xu Dog is located."

"Sounds easy enough," Tang Momo muttered, though she didn’t sound convinced.

"Not so fast," Lin Ze replied, looking up from the scroll. "The scroll mentions that Xu Dog will task us with finding his lost medicinal formulas. And from the look of this," he paused, glancing at the scroll, "it seems we’ll have to deal with a giant frog named Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw to get those formulas."

Tang Momo groaned. "A frog? Seriously?"

Lin Ze couldn’t suppress a grin. "Just wait. There’s more."

The scroll went on to explain that after dealing with Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw, Xu Dog would craft Celestial Medicines, including a special one for Chen Loong. Once they had the pills, they could return to the lake shore and deliver them to Chen Loong, who would reward them with the Ruyi Scroll—a mystical key to the Painted Realm.

### The Painted Realm Awaits

The Painted Realm, as described in the final part of the scroll, was a place of untold secrets and challenges. With the Ruyi Scroll in hand, Lin Ze and Tang Momo would be able to enter the realm at will, where they would find the Zodiac Village and the strange characters who inhabited it. There, they could gather ingredients from seeds planted by Chen Loong, who had taken up gardening in this realm. Xu Dog, too, would offer his Celestial Medicines, providing them with the resources to continue their journey.

As they traversed the Painted Realm, they would encounter more challenges—monsters, puzzles, and possibly even greater revelations about the truth behind their quest. They would need to keep pushing forward, collecting ingredients, upgrading their armor with Yin Tiger’s help, and strengthening themselves for whatever lay ahead.

"Ready for this?" Lin Ze asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Tang Momo stretched her arms above her head. "As ready as I’ll ever be."

Lin Ze smiled and adjusted the straps of his bag. "Then let’s get started. The Painted Realm won’t unlock itself."