The two of them finally went downstairs and saw that everyone else had already finished breakfast, seemingly just waiting for the two of them.

"You two, where did you go?" Adam Grant said. "We've been waiting for you."

Facing everyone's gaze, Grace Cooper wasn't nervous at all. She sat lightly by the table and picked up a bowl to start eating breakfast.

Eric Bennett didn't have Grace Cooper's thick skin. He mentioned the bloodstains in his hair and also said he saw some strange marks on the ceiling of the third floor.

After hearing this, everyone's expressions turned unpleasant, and some even reflexively looked up at the ceiling.

They were discussing the people who died last night and those strange marks when a middle-aged man in his forties walked in from outside. The man was wearing a thick, army-green cotton coat, holding an oil lamp in his hand, and slowly walked into the hall.

"Hello," the man said. "I'm the village chief here. You must be the people I invited to help, right?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone in the room fell silent.

"It's getting cold, and our village wants to make some coffins to prepare for next year," the man said in a hoarse voice. "So I'm asking you to help the carpenter out."

No one answered the village chief, and he didn't seem to expect any response from them.

After speaking, he coughed a few times, picked up the wobbling kerosene lamp again, and walked out. Although the snow outside had stopped, the wind was still blowing. The howling wind slammed against the door and the treetops, and at first listen, it sounded like human wailing.

"It's started," Adam Grant said softly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a strong gust of wind blew outside, slamming the half-closed door hard against the wall. With a crack, the seemingly sturdy wooden door was smashed into several pieces.

Everyone in the room was silent. Finally, Adam Grant spoke first: "It must be about making coffins."

"How could this happen, how could this happen!!" Suddenly, someone in the room started wailing. Eric Bennett turned his head and saw that it was a man from their team who had broken down emotionally. "It's actually a world this difficult—how are we supposed to survive? Who knows how to make coffins? We're going to die, we're going to die here—"

Adam Grant seemed used to such scenes and showed no emotion at all.

The man who had broken down swept everything off the table onto the floor, his face covered in tears and snot. "There were thirteen people when we came in, and two died on the first day... I've never encountered a world this difficult before!!"

"Enough!" Adam Grant said impatiently. "Crying won't save you from dying, will it? What's the point of losing it? Do you think you're a newbie? Look at the composure of the real newcomers!"

This made the man glare fiercely at Eric Bennett for no reason. Eric Bennett thought to himself, so having good composure is my fault now?

But honestly, it wasn't strange for the man to break down. In a space so different from the normal world, with all kinds of terrifying omens, it was hard for anyone to stay calm.

"Let's discuss what we should do next," Adam Grant said. "The village chief said we need to make coffins, so the key must be related to that."

Eric Bennett said, "Excuse me, what do you mean by 'key'?"

Adam Grant glanced at him. "It's the thing used to open the door. After we come in, we need to find the clues provided by the characters here, find the key to get out, and then find an iron door to leave this place."

Eric Bennett asked, "Is there a time limit?"

Adam Grant sneered, "Of course—before everyone dies."

So that's how it is. Eric Bennett felt a bit relieved. At least there was a way out. What he feared most was the kind of horror with no solution, where escape was impossible and everything was futile.

"The clue is the coffin," Adam Grant said, glancing at the weather outside. "Let's go find the people in the village who do carpentry and ask about the situation."

"Alright," Little Scott said. "I'll go with you."

Eric Bennett raised his hand. "I want to go too."

Adam Grant nodded indifferently. "Fine." Unconsciously, he had already become the leader of the group. He instructed, "You guys check the building and see if there are any useful clues."

At this moment, Grace Cooper came forward, gently tugged on Eric Bennett's sleeve, and whispered, "I'm scared. I want to stay with you."

Although this girl was actually quite tall and didn't give off a delicate vibe at all, she was good-looking enough to inspire a bit of sympathy. Eric Bennett nodded. "Alright, but I can't guarantee I can keep you safe."

Grace Cooper smiled. "It's okay." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I just feel safer with you."

Eric Bennett thought, girl, you're pretty good at flirting.

So the four of them set out while it was still early.

On the way, Eric Bennett asked Adam Grant some more details about this world and learned that the ghosts and monsters here generally wouldn't kill people indiscriminately. But there were exceptions—if they encountered a high-difficulty world, the ghosts and monsters would have no scruples and could attack at any time. In that case, survival was nearly impossible.

"What is the real purpose of this world?" Eric Bennett asked, voicing his biggest curiosity.