Shen Jingqi felt a powerful force, almost irresistible, like an invisible yet immensely strong pair of giant hands, clutching him tightly, trying to pull him into an abyss filled with unknown fears, deep and bottomless. His body seemed to be bound tightly by countless invisible, unbreakable chains, pinning every inch of his skin and every bone in place. No matter how hard he struggled, kicking wildly, waving his hands frantically, he could not move an inch.

The darkness surged from all directions like a tide, enveloping him tightly. It seemed as if countless pairs of cold eyes hidden within the darkness were staring at him intently, whispering spine-chilling words. Fear slithered up his spine like a venomous snake, making his heart pound furiously, as if it would burst through his chest.

At this moment, a familiar voice, like a lifeline, pierced through the dense clouds of the dawn, bringing warmth and hope, cutting through the endless darkness and suffocating fear.

"Shen Jingqi! Wake up!" Xu An's voice was filled with urgency and concern, like a sharp sword, instantly cutting through the thick haze of fear in Shen Jingqi's heart.

Shen Jingqi felt a surge of power from deep within, as unstoppable as a volcanic eruption. With his last ounce of strength, he suddenly opened his eyes. The darkness before him receded rapidly like a tide, replaced by a familiar yet slightly dim room.

He found himself standing in front of a portrait, grasping the frame tightly, his knuckles white from the effort. In the portrait, Cong Nanxue's face remained beautiful and mysterious, with a slight uplift at the corners of her mouth as if giving him a meaningful smile.

Xu An stood behind him, looking at him with a worried expression, eyes full of care and puzzlement. "Shen Jingqi, are you okay? No matter how I called, I couldn't wake you," Xu An's voice trembled slightly, clearly shaken by Shen Jingqi's earlier state.

Shen Jingqi panted heavily, each breath feeling like he was exerting his entire strength, as if he had just woken from a long and terrifying nightmare. His forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, which trickled down his cheeks, soaking his collar.

"I... I just heard Cong Nanxue's voice..." Shen Jingqi said, his voice trembling, with lingering remnants of deep fear and confusion in his eyes. The voice he heard in the darkness echoed in his mind, sounding so clear, so real, as if Cong Nanxue was standing right beside him.

Xu An frowned slightly, his gaze slowly falling on the portrait. He approached carefully, his steps light as if afraid of disturbing something. He stood in front of the portrait, scrutinizing Cong Nanxue's image with a look of examination and doubt.

"It's just a normal painting, it can't possibly make a sound." Xu An shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a firm certainty. Yet, a hint of imperceptible doubt flickered in his eyes, as if doubting his own judgment.

Shen Jingqi, however, shook his head, his eyes filled with determination and steadfastness: "No, I'm sure I heard her voice. It was right by my ear, so clear, so real. It seemed like she was telling me something, but I couldn't quite make it out." His hands involuntarily clenched into fists, his knuckles cracking from the effort.

Looking at Shen Jingqi's serious demeanor, Xu An couldn't help but feel a bit swayed. He scrutinized the portrait again, and suddenly, his gaze was drawn to Cong Nanxue's eyes. Her eyes seemed to possess a magical power, hiding countless secrets, making one irresistibly want to explore.

"Shen Jingqi, look at Cong Nanxue's eyes, they seem a bit different." Xu An said, pointing at the portrait, his voice tinged with curiosity and tension.

Shen Jingqi followed Xu An's gaze, noticing that Cong Nanxue's eyes appeared brighter than before, as if shimmering with a layer of mysterious light. A chill surged through him, a foreboding rising in his heart.

"What's going on here? Could there really be something strange about this portrait?" Shen Jingqi's voice trembled, his eyes full of fear and unease.

At that moment, a cold wind suddenly blew, causing the curtains in the room to flutter noisily. It seemed that Cong Nanxue in the portrait swayed slightly in the cold wind, her smile becoming even more eerie, as if mocking their ignorance and fear.

Shen Jingqi and Xu An exchanged glances, their eyes filled with vigilance. They slowly stepped back, maintaining a certain distance from the portrait, as if it were a dangerous bomb ready to explode at any moment.

"We can't stay here any longer, we need to leave immediately." Xu An said softly, his voice carrying a hint of tension.

Shen Jingqi nodded, about to turn and leave, when he suddenly heard a faint sound of footsteps behind him. The footsteps were light but remarkably clear in the silent room.

"Who?!" Shen Jingqi shouted abruptly, turning around. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his eyes full of alertness.

The room was empty, with only the portrait hanging quietly on the wall, as if nothing had happened. But Shen Jingqi and Xu An both knew things weren't as simple as they seemed.

"Could we have heard wrong?" Xu An whispered, but his eyes revealed a hint of doubt.

Shen Jingqi shook his head, saying, "Impossible, I clearly heard footsteps. There must be something in this room."

Both of them cautiously approached the portrait again, examining every detail carefully. Suddenly, Shen Jingqi noticed a small protrusion on the frame of the portrait, something not noticeable without close inspection.

"Xu An, look here." Shen Jingqi pointed to the protrusion.

Xu An leaned in closer, carefully examining the protrusion. He reached out and gently pressed it, hearing a "click" as the back of the portrait slowly opened, revealing a hidden compartment.

"So there's a hidden compartment here!" Xu An exclaimed in surprise.

The two exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with anticipation and tension. They had no idea what the compartment might contain—perhaps the key to unraveling the mystery of the portrait, or maybe an even more terrifying secret.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, slowly reaching out his hand to open the compartment. Inside lay an old diary, with "Cong Nanxue's Secret" written on the cover.

"This is Cong Nanxue's diary!" Shen Jingqi said excitedly, his eyes gleaming.

Xu An also leaned in, and together they opened the diary. The first page read: "Today, I discovered a terrifying secret, a secret that might change my life forever..."

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