Horror Movie Set: This extra is too good at playing the tricks.

Chapter 46 Census

For Lu Dan, the 7-day rest period in the real world is more like sharpening his knives in preparation for battle.

The news coming from Chen Zhongyi's side was not pleasant at all—a local opera was being performed in the middle of the night in an old residential area in the west of the city, a popular online streamer disappeared after visiting an unfinished building, and even the stray dogs in front of the flower shop started barking wildly at thin air.

All signs indicate that the film set is gradually encroaching on the city's real boundaries.

Aside from necessary physical recovery, Lu Dan spent most of the remaining time immersed in various bizarre folklore materials and third-rate horror scripts. He was training his brain, honing his sensitivity to anomalies, and his ability to predict clichéd plots.

As the countdown reached zero, Lu Dan sat on the sofa, clutching the Exorcising Revolver tightly in his hand.

"Hopefully I won't have to clock in this time."

Darkness arrived as expected, instantly severing all senses.

......

When I regained consciousness, a strong smell of wood filled my nostrils.

As soon as the dizziness subsided, Lu Dan's first reaction was to check the weapon in his hand.

Something felt off. Lu Dan lowered his head, his eye twitching involuntarily. The once imposing black revolver, engraved with exorcism runes, had transformed into a Y-shaped slingshot bound with two yellow rubber bands.

[Special Disguise in Effect: Exorcising Revolver - Slingshot]

[Note: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. This is perfectly reasonable. After all, in a simple rural area, pulling out a revolver would be extremely impolite. Rest assured, its power is still enough to blow anything's head off.]

"Reasonable my foot!"

Lu Dan tried pulling on the yellowed rubber band, and the sights and ballistic assist automatically appeared in his mind. Although its appearance had turned into a toy, its power was still there.

He stuffed his weapon into his pocket and began to look around.

This is a very standard bedroom in a self-built rural house.

The walls were painted half green, with the lower half covered in yellowed newspaper. A four-poster bed stood there, covered with a thick, floral quilt. A bulky solid wood wardrobe stood there, its paint peeling, its handles made of old-fashioned brass rings. There was also a wooden desk covered in carvings, its legs leveled by two bricks.

Everything is made of wood.

Lu Dan walked to the full-length mirror in the corner. The mirror reflected a young man wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket, black cotton-padded trousers, and cloth shoes with multi-layered soles.

This outfit is incredibly tacky, yet it fits surprisingly well.

"Adan."

Lu Dan read his new name to himself in the mirror, then turned and walked toward the window, which was completely covered by heavy curtains.

"Whoosh!"

The curtains were drawn back, and blinding sunlight streamed in, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Outside, life was vibrant; the terraced fields in the distance shimmered with green, and the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking could be clearly heard.

Sunlight.

Lu Dan narrowed his eyes, the script synopsis instantly flashing into his mind: [Those who walk in the sunlight are always the older brothers and sisters, while the younger brothers and sisters can only open their eyes in the darkness.]

Since he can see the sun and stand in the sunlight.

"So I'm probably the older brother."

He didn't feel relieved at all; the previous two scripts had already made him feel the uncertainty on set.

"Brother Dan! Brother Dan!"

A series of urgent knocks on the door broke Lu Dan's reverie.

He pushed open the door and went out. Two little kids wearing open-crotch pants and with snot hanging from their noses were lying at the gate, looking anxiously inside.

"You're awake! The sun's already high in the sky!" The chubby-faced child wiped his snot and pointed towards the village entrance. "Hurry up, Grandpa Village Chief is calling you. Several city folks have come in big metal boxes."

Lu Dan's heart stirred. He walked up to the two children, squatted down, and lined up with them.

With a warm smile on his face, he asked in a local accent, "With so many city people coming, do you think our younger brothers and sisters in the village know?"

The two children's expressions froze instantly; their previously laughing faces were now stained with fear like ink.

The chubby-faced child instinctively took a half step back, his eyes darting around in fear, his lips trembling, stammering for a long time without saying a word.

Another child covered his mouth and shook his head frantically.

Tiger-headed Kid hesitated for a long time, as if to avoid the topic, then grabbed Lu Dan's sleeve and dragged him outside: "Brother Dan, let's go, they're here to do a census, the village chief is worried sick."

Population census?

Lu Dan stood up, dusted himself off, and looked deep in thought.

How do you conduct a census in a village where only half the population exists during the day and night?

This is like tap dancing in a minefield—it's suicide.

......

A large crowd had gathered under the old locust tree at the village entrance.

Most of the villagers were dressed in old, gray-blue clothes, their faces were dark, and their eyes were filled with curiosity. Among the drab villagers, a well-maintained Santana sedan stood out conspicuously.

The car paint reflected the sunlight, highlighting the unique air of wealth of this era.

Four people stood beside the car, two men and two women, dressed smartly, carrying briefcases and folders, looking out of place with their surroundings.

Lu Dan mingled at the back of the crowd, quickly scanning the four outsiders.

The man standing at the front was about thirty years old, with a square face, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He wore a dark brown leather jacket, stood upright, and had his hands hanging naturally at his sides with obvious calluses on the back of his hands—a veteran, Lu Dan mentally labeled him.

Beside him was a slightly overweight man wearing black-rimmed glasses. He looked somewhat honest and was constantly wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, but his eyes were darting around, observing every villager.

The other two were young women. One had short, neat hair and a stern expression, carrying a huge backpack. The other had her hair in a ponytail, looked somewhat nervous, and was tightly clutching her notebook.

"Is this Ah Dan?" The man in the leather jacket noticed Lu Dan's gaze and turned to look at him.

An old man with a wrinkled face, smoking a pipe, squeezed out of the crowd. When he saw Lu Dan, he looked at him as if he had seen a savior. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Lu Dan's arm, and pulled him in front of the four of them.

"Hey, leaders, this is Adan. He's the only one in our village... the only one who's ever been to middle school."

The village chief stammered, clearly not used to this kind of situation. "He's usually in charge of all the hospitality matters in the village."

"For your so-called census, just find him, just find him."

After saying that, the old man seemed to have gotten rid of a hot potato, retreated to the back of the crowd, puffed on his cigarette, and looked away.

The man in the leather jacket extended his hand first, a smile on his face: "Hello, I'm Ye Jianguo, the leader of the working group from the city in charge of this census."

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy: "This is Da Lu." He pointed to the fat man next to him.

"These two are Chen Hua and Zhang Min, who are in charge of data recording."

Lu Dan extended his hand and shook hands with Ye Jianguo; the other man's hand was rough and strong.

"Hello, just call me Adan." Lu Dan said without changing his expression.

Ye Jianguo emphasized, "Comrade Adan, the situation in our Shuangshan Village is quite special. This census is a heavy task with a tight schedule. We need to stay in the village for a few days to get a clear understanding of the situation of every household and every individual."

Lu Dan understood, but he didn't know whether the people in front of him were players or NPCs.

He chuckled憨厚ly, released his grip, pulled a crumpled pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, and expertly handed one to Ye Jianguo: "Don't worry, boss, cooperating with the work is what we should do."

Lu Dan struck a match and lit Ye Jianguo's cigarette, acting exactly like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world but wanted to curry favor with the leaders.

"However, the roads in our village are difficult to travel at night, and it's not easy to enter some houses, especially after dark. Leaders, please don't wander around."

Ye Jianguo's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, paused slightly.

"Since the village chief has entrusted this matter to me," Lu Dan straightened up, patted his chest, and said, "You leaders must be tired too, right? Come on, let's go to my house and rest for a while."

He wanted to keep these four people under his watchful eye first.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Adan." The fat man called Da Lu approached with a smile, "Our car..."

"Just stop here, you won't get lost. Everyone in the village knows you, they won't hit you."

Lu Dan casually made up a sentence and turned to lead the way.

Ye Jianguo and the other three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with wariness, but they still followed Lu Dan's steps.

Occasionally, a few pairs of eyes would peek at them through the cracks in the doors of the mud-brick houses on both sides.

Back in his own courtyard, Lu Dan pushed open the door to the main room and let the four of them in.

Then he turned around and forcibly pulled the village chief, who had been hiding behind him, into the room: "Grandpa Village Chief, don't be in such a hurry to leave."