Первая книга из серии «Мастер озорства» Кто я

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I have to survive!

If the strongest organ is the heart, then the most powerful force for me must be the longing for someone. I let out a muffled shout and pushed myself up from the ground.

"Let's go!"

Section 122: Dai Bamboo Houses (9)

At my command, everyone scrambled to their feet, wiping the rain from their faces and suppressing their fear, before running alongside me again. The rain was still so cold, yet it somehow made me feel a little warm.

Thank you for the strength you gave me.

Humans are fragile creatures, which is why we gather together—it makes us stronger. People need a pillar of support, whatever that pillar may be. I must admit, for me, my pillar of support is simply a girl I've liked for many years. If this belief makes you think I'm pathetic, then I have nothing but deep regret. Because we must acknowledge that when we set aside all possibilities and impossibilities, what remains, whether you admit it or not, is the truth.

The truth has its inherent form, and we cannot force it to undergo cosmetic surgery.

Amidst my conflicted feelings, the dark, cold alleyways began to change with our hurried, chaotic footsteps. They became wider and narrower, twisting and turning, and then, they became dead ends.

Unexpectedly, at the end of the alley stood a "traditional mansion." We were all speechless with astonishment. Our astonishment wasn't due to the lack of an exit, but rather the mansion itself. It seemed to be a…

"This house is huge!" Lu Fangzhi exclaimed.

"It seems so..." Ye Min murmured slightly.

"Should we take a detour? This place looks like...like..." I doubt even Lü Fang himself knew what he was saying. The rest of us understood perfectly well what he meant.

"This looks like an official residence. But who lives here is anyone's guess." I wiped the rain off my face, interrupting the word he was about to say, and calmly analyzed the situation.

"An official residence? The place where officials lived in ancient times? How come..."

"To go in or not?"

Before Ye Min could finish speaking, the horse-faced man behind her spoke up. Ye Min was clearly annoyed that he had interrupted her; I caught her glancing at him, her eyes filled with disgust.

To go in or not to go in... I knew I didn't have much time to think, and my heart started pounding with anxiety. "It doesn't look very safe. Let's see if there are any other intersections." Actually, I was also very scared. Lu Fang and Ma Lian had similar thoughts, but I guessed Ye Min might have some other ideas. A girl's sixth sense is indeed very strong, and quite eerie.

Section 123: Dai Bamboo Houses (10)

She looked at me, then at what was behind me, with a strange expression. "What did you see on the second floor just now?" It seems that once the danger has passed, people like to start asking all sorts of questions.

"Not a good thing!" Faced with this question, I suddenly became a little agitated, which startled them.

"Let's go in!" I gritted my teeth and made the decision on my own.

"but……"

"No need to say more! We don't have time to find another way out!" I said resolutely, ignoring Lü Fang's concerns. We didn't know for the moment whether the building in front was dangerous, but compared to the real danger behind us... I believed my decision was right.

Horse Face didn't offer any further opinions, seemingly indifferent; Lü Fang looked somewhat lost, I knew he was struggling, a futile struggle; Ye Min quietly came over and took my arm, saying nothing more. Alright, the resolution passed. I took one last worried look at the old bamboo house before me, frowned, and pushed open the courtyard gate.

I wonder if these weary souls will be able to get through in the heavy rain?

2nd floor (middle floor)

As is well known, the Dai people play a vital role as the dominant ethnic group in Xishuangbanna. When discussing the Dai, their culture is indispensable. An ancient saying goes, "One can live without meat, but not without bamboo." The Dai people not only live in bamboo houses, but also enjoy bamboo-tube rice and bamboo-tube wine—their happiness is truly indescribable. If you are fortunate enough to travel to Xishuangbanna, be sure to visit a Dai bamboo house; once you step inside, you're sure to be greeted by a unique and wonderful experience.

As I pushed open the door, I recalled this advertising slogan for Dai bamboo houses and couldn't help but frown: Indeed, once you step into the bamboo house, you're sure to be greeted with a variety of wonderful surprises...

A blinding flash of lightning tore open the darkness, instantly creating a large white halo. In the brief illumination of this white halo, I carefully glanced at the building we were about to enter.

As I mentioned, I grew up in Xishuangbanna, this hot and humid land, and am naturally very familiar with its distinctive architecture. Generally speaking, Dai villages are mostly located on flat plains near water, along streams, rivers, and lakes. Wherever there is lush bamboo and shady trees, there is bound to be a Dai village. Larger villages house two or three hundred households, while smaller ones have only a dozen or so. The houses are all detached, with open spaces around them, each family having its own courtyard. However, the houses along the Tenglong border are mostly single-story earthen houses, each divided into three rooms: a bedroom and a living room. This clearly shows the influence of Han Chinese and is no longer the original form of the Dai people. Along the border of Sipu, the houses are entirely made of bamboo and wood frames, with people living on top and livestock on the bottom, resembling large tents. This perfectly matches the description of "nest dwellings" in the Southern Yue region recorded in the *Huainanzi*, and is also the "stilt house" dwelling of the ancient Liao people described in historical records as "living by piling wood against trees." This is a typical and inherent architectural feature of the Dai people. The lower level of these bamboo houses is seven or eight feet high, with no partitions on all sides, and cattle and horses are tethered to the pillars. Near the stairs on the upper level, there is a terrace, leading to a long, large room. A corner is partitioned off with bamboo fences to serve as the master's bedroom and storage for important valuables, while the rest is a large open space. The roof is not high, sloping on both sides, with the eaves reaching the floorboards, so there are no windows. If the eaves are slightly higher, there are small windows on both sides, and a door at the back. In the center of the house is a hearth, which burns day and night, regardless of winter or summer, for cooking and brewing tea. Hosts and guests gather around the hearth, either squatting or sitting. The roofs were thatched, and the beams, pillars, doors, windows, and floors were all made of bamboo. This type of dwelling was extremely easy to build; simply cutting down large bamboo poles and gathering the help of neighbors could complete it in a few days. However, it was also very prone to rotting, requiring repairs every year after the rainy season. The residences of the chieftains, on the other hand, were mostly built of wood instead of bamboo, though still resembling bamboo houses, only slightly taller, and instead of thatching, they were covered with tiles.

Section 124: Dai Bamboo Houses (11)

Within Xishuangbanna, the Dai people have mastered the art of tile making. Their tiles resemble fish scales, are three inches square, and only two or three-tenths of an inch thin. Each tile has a hook on one side. First, bamboo strips are nailed horizontally to the roof rafters, with each strip about two inches apart. The tiles are then hung on the bamboo strips, forming a fish scale pattern. No further ash is added to secure them. Therefore, Dai roofs are not climbable. If a tile is broken and needs replacement, one simply reaches under the rafters to remove the broken tile and then hooks on the new one. Moreover, anyone living in such a house was considered a prominent family in the village. Even the Cheli Xuanwei Yamen (a government office for the Dai people) was no different in architectural style, except that it was much larger than the wooden houses of ordinary Dai people. The entire building was supported by 120 large wooden pillars, more than 10 zhang long and 7 or 8 zhang wide. The upper floor was divided into several rooms of different sizes, with corridors all around, but no windows, so it was dark all day long. The lower floor was open and unobstructed, with only the 120 large wooden pillars neatly arranged, where cattle, horses, pigs and chickens could roam freely. This was the official residence and government office of the most powerful Dai people.

Houses like these, with people living on the upper floor and cattle and horses raised below, are common in the southwestern border regions. For example, the Hani, Jingpo, and Lisu ethnic groups, as well as the Miao, Yao, and Li, all build houses in this style, except that the lower floor is often constructed with large stones or mud walls. The Dai people's bamboo houses, however, have an open lower floor. Every morning when the cattle and horses are released from their enclosures, their manure is cleared away, allowing sunlight to reach them and preventing those living on the upper floor from being exposed to foul odors…

Within a hundred steps from the courtyard gate to the bamboo house, I thought carefully, but neither the materials and documents nor my life experiences could be related to the bamboo house in front of me—except that it was also made of bamboo.

Traditional Dai bamboo houses have a very unique architectural style, as mentioned above, but the one in front of me gives me a different feeling.

"Why does the roof of this bamboo building look like a crown?" In the flash of lightning, the others also caught a glimpse of it. College students usually have more questions than ordinary people, and even as he staggered, Lü Fang didn't forget to ask me.

How would I know? I coughed, unsure what to say, and could only raise an eyebrow and taunt, "Maybe it's the residence of some Dai prince..." I only got halfway through the sentence before I felt a little guilty myself. Prince...

"Wow! That's really impressive!" Lü Fang exclaimed approvingly. None of the rest of us could respond to his comment...

The night was a bit chilly.

Although the rain showed no signs of letting up, I desperately wanted to find shelter, but I was hampered by what I'd seen on the second floor of that dilapidated house, so I didn't dare slow down even an inch. I'd put the prince aside for now; at least we were still together, unlike if I were alone...

Section 125: Dai Bamboo Houses (12)

My mind was still preoccupied with Su Yan—not finding her earlier had left me somewhat disappointed, and I wondered how she was doing now… As I glared at Lü Fang with a mixture of anger and disdain, we had already passed through the front courtyard of the bamboo house. Walking beneath this bamboo house, for some reason, the rows of fish-scale tiles overhead, in the flickering light, gave me a disorienting and alluring feeling.

Why does it feel the same as those images of empresses flying in the underground sewers?

"Crunch—Squeak—"

I was still feeling dizzy when a familiar sound mixed with the pattering night rain entered my ears—in my fright, I immediately recognized the source of the sound—it was the sound of the courtyard gate opening and closing.

So everyone quickly followed me up to the bamboo house of the "Dai Prince".

The building isn't tall, with four doors and three courtyards, and the bamboo staircase leads directly to the main living room... What I mean is, it doesn't have a door, and the second floor where we are is what everyone generally refers to as the main living room.

At first glance, the interior of this building is no different from many other bamboo houses I've visited. The only difference is that it's rather desolate—in this large hall, apart from something that looks like a window (its decay is so severe I can't tell if it's actually a window), there's no other decoration whatsoever. Not to mention decoration, there's not even a trace of furniture. Because of this, it looks very empty, creating the visual effect that "this place is very large."

"Wilderness" should mean lifeless and uninhabited, but why does this dark and gloomy second-floor room only appear slightly damp to me? Although it is an abandoned place, it feels surprisingly clean and tidy, as if... as if someone has cleaned it?

I was filled with unanswered questions, but then I noticed something: in the flickering light, there was still a mystery in the second-floor room. Perhaps, as I said, we really had stumbled into the residence of some prince; otherwise, how could I explain the phrase "this bamboo house is not that bamboo house"?

That description isn't entirely unreasonable; I discovered that there was actually a staircase in the otherwise empty second-floor main living room.

It was unusually abrupt.

The staircase was an ordinary wooden one, but like a pair of sorrowful, deep eyes, it stood silently in a far corner. I felt quite awkward; bamboo houses were usually two stories high, and there was never a staircase built in the main living room to lead upwards. Frustrated and unable to find anywhere else to hide, as the one who first proposed and organized this, I had no choice but to consider this illogical staircase.

Section 126: Dai Bamboo Houses (13)

"Why is this staircase damp? Wow! It's dripping water! Really?" As Lü Fang spoke, I noticed the problem too. Upon closer inspection, it was just as he said: water was dripping down the stairs, slowly and steadily. What is this? A staircase? A stream? A waterwheel? Or something else?

"Maybe... the third floor is leaking?" Ye Min thought, making the connection with the rainy day.

Her thinking wasn't unreasonable; this strange, self-flowing substance quite startled me. I looked up, but saw nothing. The third floor wasn't far from us (if it existed), but everything overhead was as black as the bottom of a pot, and the "water staircase" didn't connect to the floor beneath our feet. I crouched down and examined it closely for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. It seemed the staircase stood on this dark, metallic block, which in turn was placed on the second-floor floor… What was going on?

Trouble always comes in waves, and if we dawdle any longer, we'll have to face something I don't want to face—we'll talk about avenging Fatty Lin later; I'm not ready yet. And if we continue to stay on this empty second floor… it's like being meat on a chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.

My decision was wrong once again, so I had to frown and think it over carefully: should we go up into this duplex or not?

Time ticked by, and the rain on my face was replaced by sweat, yet I remained completely at a loss. Everyone in the room held their breath, as if all their hopes were pinned on me alone. But apart from tension, fear, and pressure, I felt nothing else.

what to do?

It seems we have no choice but to go through fire and water to climb this treacherous third floor!

"Go upstairs!"

"ah--"

My hasty decision was cut short by the terrified screams before I could even put it into action. I, Lü Fang, and Ma Lian all jolted at the same time, and immediately turned our gazes toward the source of the sound—it was still coming from Ye Min.

The previous times I'd heard her scream, it had all ended without serious injury, but this time I wasn't so lucky. I thought I'd ask her "What's wrong?" as usual, but then I realized...

Ye Min has disappeared!

As I said, we were chased to a rather unusual Dai bamboo house. After making our way to the second floor, we were shocked to find that there was a third floor. What was unsettling was that the third floor seemed eerie. Just as I was about to lead everyone upstairs again, Ye Min vanished without a trace, leaving only an atmosphere of fear in the empty second-floor space.

Section 127: Dai Bamboo Houses (14)

"Where did she go?!" After a few seconds of stunned silence with Lü Fang and Horse Face, I snapped out of my daze and roared.

"No...no...I don't know?" Lu Fang's voice and legs trembled in a rhythmic motion.

Horse Face seemed quite surprised as well, but I didn't know why he frantically patted himself down the moment he came to his senses. Just as I was wondering what was going on, Lu Fang mumbled something about how she had just been there, when a blinding beam of light suddenly shot out from behind him, so bright that I couldn't open my eyes.

"Hurry up and look!" Horse Face looked at me with a flashlight.

A flashlight! I suddenly remembered that the last time I held a flashlight was on the second floor of that terrifying old inn. In my panic, I tumbled down from the second floor to the first floor. I didn't think about anything and just grabbed Ye Min and ran... Right, that's when I left the flashlight there. I didn't expect that Horse Face would pick it up. He really helped me a lot.

Slightly embarrassed, I took the flashlight from his hand and immediately began looking around.

Sometimes, some things... it's better not to know than to know.

In a hurried glance, we discovered an even more chilling fact: the deserted second floor actually contained more than just a wooden staircase; the walls in the darkness were covered with patterns sprayed with red paint—or rather, a jumble of disordered marks.

"Blood! Blood!" Lu Fang cried out in fright like a baby, his pupils dilating considerably as the light shone through.

"Shut up! This is all paint!" I roared, but my voice lacked conviction. It's definitely paint, it definitely is! I preferred to think that way.

"On the ground!" Horse Face reminded me to look at the floor not far away; he seemed to have discovered something. As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of light appeared, and I nearly fainted.

Just a few steps away from us, there was a huge hole that had collapsed into the floor!

Oops!

We rushed over. It was clear that the floorboards were severely rotten due to years of neglect and rain erosion. Ye Min, probably completely unaware, had walked over and stepped on them, and...

Thinking of this, I hurriedly raised my flashlight and searched downwards where the floor had collapsed, and sure enough, I found Ye Min lying there.

The bamboo houses of the Dai people are generally not very tall; the distance from the first to the second floor, and from the second floor to the roof, is not excessive. Fortunately, this house also follows this rule, built in an unusual way but still low. Looking down from above, Ye Min was still somewhat conscious, perhaps because the sudden change had startled her, huddled on the muddy ground at the bottom of the house, bewildered and at a loss.

Section 128: Dai Bamboo Houses (15)

She was terrified.

Seeing that she seemed to be alright, I quickly called out to her, "Are you okay? Don't move around, we're coming down right away!" Only after I was sure she understood what I was saying did I get up, take Lü Fang and Horse Face and prepare to turn back, go downstairs to where Ye Min was.

I forgot that something was following us.

In a moment of desperation, I had no choice but to drag the other two down from the second floor... Yes, right from the collapsed spot where Ye Min had fallen. Fortunately, it wasn't very high, and with the rain falling, everyone only looked a little awful.

I helped Ye Min up, scolding her for being so careless, while also checking her and the surrounding area at the bottom of the building. After all, with a flashlight in hand, one should make the most of it.

"I saw something on that wall and wanted to see what it was..." Ye Min explained to me with a pained expression.

"Okay, I got it, let's go." I didn't have time to delve deeper; it was good enough that she was alright. As for what we saw on the wall later, we wouldn't tell her for now. Besides, I didn't want to pay attention to Horse Face and Lü Fang's questions about why they were pushed down. Since everyone was alright, what was the point of staying here?

Standing at the bottom of the building, I could almost hear the footsteps of that person above me.

Downstairs… I suddenly remembered that thing at the bottom of the wooden stairs earlier—that black, metal-like plate. If I'm not mistaken… With that thought, I turned the flashlight and focused the beam on the top of our heads—the bottom of the second floor.

"What...what is this?"

The spot where the beam of light focused made all four of us gasp – the damp bottom of the second floor was covered with a lot of black, moss-like viscous substance!

Clumps of black, viscous substance clung tightly to the base of the second floor of the bamboo house, looking perfectly natural, like...like neatly arranged loaves of bread in an oven. A chill ran down my spine, and I shouted, "Let's go!"

I don't know what this is, but seeing it made my insides clench. It's disgusting.