My name is Lin Ye, a sophomore student in the History Department of Tunghai University.
Because the water pipe in the old dormitory burst, I was temporarily transferred to Laozhaishe 404. Before moving in, the building elder Zhang only said one thing: "If you hear gongs and drums in the middle of the night, don't hum along."
I didn't take it seriously.
Until the first night after moving in, the sound of war drums from thousands of years ago came from under the bed, and seven military orders carved with swords appeared on the wall - "Anyone who refuses to enter after hearing the drums will be killed." There were dark red stains on the corners of roommate Zhao Ming's mouth, and the moonlight pulled his shadow into an ancient general wearing armor and holding a sword.
I found half a bronze tiger charm under the bed board. The tiger's eyes oozed blood, and two words were cast on the back: Anxi.
The instinct of the history department drove me to open the construction diary of 1934. The yellowed page records a buried secret: beneath the foundation of the old house is the coffin of a general from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The general's name was Wei Zhao. He never lost a single battle in his life, but he was recalled to death by twelve gold medals. Before he died, he bit his finger and wrote seven words on the prison car - "When I die, my soul will not return to the underworld."
Thousands of years later, his military orders are still implemented in Dormitory 404.
Every military order reads "Kill without mercy." But behind every knife, there is a "Regulations on Soldiers' Compassion" written by the general himself during his lifetime - it was his last trace of forgiveness for human nature. You can survive by cracking the regulations on military service. But every time I cracked one, I was one step closer to becoming his "dark soldier".
A descendant of Si family, the guardian of the tomb, told me: The tiger talisman recognizes its owner, and the general is calling your name.
The sound of gongs and drums is getting closer and closer.
This time, it was my turn to meet him.
In dormitory 404, only one person dies every year. This year – it's my turn to be the night watchman.
