Myriad Calamities

Part One, Section 1: Prologue

Prologue

There are some things that the higher-ups are unwilling to publicize in order to avoid causing an uproar among the public. For example, the Nanpu University expedition team went missing in the mountains, and the rescue team sent by the Jingyun local garrison only had five survivors. Moreover, these five people were either seriously injured or mentally unstable.

However, some things are destined to cause a public outcry, such as the series of events that occurred in the Jingyun Mountains involving the Nanpu University expedition team and rescue team. Although the news media did not report on this matter, the School of Humanities at Nanpu University has a certain reputation both domestically and internationally. The Nanpu University expedition team's entry into the deep mountains of Jingyun to search for the lost Mansi people was a major event for the school. Therefore, how could the fact that the seven members of the expedition team never returned to the school hide it from the students' discerning eyes?

The more the higher-ups remained tight-lipped about the matter, the more speculation arose among the public. No secrets stay hidden forever, so the students of the School of Humanities eventually learned the vague conclusion indirectly: the Nanpu expedition team was completely wiped out in the Jingyun Mountains, more than half of the rescue team perished, and those who survived were like the American soldiers who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II—some remained silent, some committed suicide, and some went insane.

In today's highly developed internet age, the story of the Nanpu University study tour quickly spread, becoming a nationwide topic of conversation. The more it was circulated, the stranger, more outrageous, and more bizarre it became. Not to mention the versions circulating in the streets and alleys, there were more than a dozen versions circulating online alone.

Some claim the expedition team and rescue group encountered vampires and were all turned into zombies; others say the Jingyun Mountain area is a real-life depiction of the movie "Anaconda," where everyone perished in the snake's belly; still others say the expedition team members lost their heads, which were preserved as specimens and remain forever in a cave called Wantouku...

The truth remains unknown.

Part One, Section Two: Chapter One, The Formation of Calamity ○1(1)

Chapter One: The Beginning of Calamity (Part 1)

Countless nights I've been lost in dreams, in which I become a bat, swooping down on terrified faces... Then I wake up drenched in sweat, looking at the cold moonlight outside the window, slowly calming my breathing, regaining my senses. I am not a bat, I am policeman Xu Haicheng.

(Excerpt from "Police Detective's Diary")

In the dimly lit tunnel, two dim lights slowly emerged. A chilly wind swept in with the subway's movement, causing Xu Haicheng on the platform to squint slightly, his hair standing on end, revealing a circular scar. The scar was still fresh, grayish-white, a stark contrast to his naturally dark skin. This scar was left half a year ago when he was searching for the Nanpu University research team in the Jingyun Mountains. Of course, that journey to uncover the truth brought him far more than just that. He also had three bullet holes in his body, and a gaping hole in his heart, perhaps one that could never be repaired.

The subway came to a stop, and people poured out of the carriages and into the platform, all in a hurry. It was late autumn and early winter, and most people were dressed in dark clothes. As they huddled together, their faces were somber and their expressions blank, much like some gloomy scenes in a movie.

Suddenly, a commotion arose behind me.

Xu Haicheng turned around and saw a person tumbling down the escalator, clutching something tightly in their hands. The person landed on the ground and couldn't get up immediately. They turned their head to look behind them, their face filled with panic.

Following his gaze, a girl of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old rushed down the stairs. She was dressed smartly, her hair in a ponytail, and her movements were nimble. She shouted as she walked, "Stop!"

The crowd was quite surprised and quickened their pace to squeeze into the carriage, afraid of getting into unnecessary trouble.

Xu Haicheng was half-pushed into the carriage by the crowd, but his eyes remained fixed on the stairwell. He recognized the girl; her name was Pan Xiaolu, a junior from the same police academy. She had been transferred to the city bureau's criminal investigation team six months ago and was his subordinate. During his hospitalization for serious injuries, she had visited him with other colleagues.

The man who had rolled onto the ground scrambled towards the carriage, finally managing to squeeze in before the doors closed. Pan Xiaolu, however, was left standing outside. Frustrated, she pounded on the door, but to no avail. Then, her eyes caught sight of Xu Haicheng, and she suddenly brightened, staring intently at him.

Xu Haicheng nodded slightly to her, and she understood, her eyes shining even brighter.

The subway started moving, the friction of the rails hissing. Pan Xiaolu was left behind.

Xu Haicheng silently observed the person. He stood by the other door of the carriage, leaning against it, and looked out the window until Pan Xiaolu's figure disappeared before letting out a long sigh.

He looked very young, probably only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a thin build and slightly long hair that covered his entire forehead. His eyes were hidden beneath his hair, and when he looked around, they revealed a cautious and wary expression. Upon seeing his face clearly, Xu Haicheng was a little surprised. He recognized the man; his name was Xu San, a habitual thief with whom Xu Haicheng had some history.

Xu San's surname was naturally Xu, but because he was a habitual thief, commonly known as "Three Hands," everyone called him Xu San, and his real name was forgotten. His parents died early, and he grew up relying on his grandmother. His grandmother doted on him, but this fostered his lazy and gluttonous habits. When he was in junior high school, his grandmother passed away, and he dropped out of school. From then on, he hung out with a group of thugs and gradually embarked on a path of petty the

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