The Haunting of the Forgotten Palace

In the dense, ancient woods that bordered the once-grand capital city of Liang, there lay a palace long forgotten by time. The palace, known as the Abandoned Royal, had stood since the days of the first Liang Dynasty, its walls whispering tales of bygone emperors and their court. The locals spoke of it with hushed voices, warning children to stay away from its overgrown courtyards and shattered columns. It was said that the spirit of the first Liang King, the Ghost King, still roamed the halls, and his guardian, Wang Ni, kept a watchful eye over his realm.

One stormy night, three friends, Xiao Mei, Liang Chen, and Zhi Yi, decided to explore the Abandoned Royal. They were thrill-seekers, always on the hunt for the next great adventure. Little did they know that this night would change their lives forever.

As they pushed through the dense underbrush that surrounded the palace, the rain lashed against their faces. Xiao Mei, the most daring of the trio, led the way, her flashlight cutting through the darkness. The palace loomed before them, its once-great archways now mere frames of broken stone.

"Remember, no matter what happens, we stick together," Xiao Mei said, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Liang Chen, the most cautious of the group, nodded. "Agreed. If we get separated, we meet back here in an hour."

Zhi Yi, the quiet one, simply nodded, his eyes reflecting the eerie glow of the flashlight.

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder. The rain had stopped, and a strange silence enveloped them. Xiao Mei's flashlight beam danced across the walls, revealing carvings of ancient deities and forgotten rituals. They moved deeper into the palace, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and old wood.

Suddenly, Xiao Mei's flashlight flickered, and the beam caught something odd—a pair of eyes watching them from a shadowy corner. She gasped, and the flashlight went out. In the darkness, they could hear a low, rumbling voice.

"Who dares to enter my domain?" the voice echoed through the halls.

Liang Chen's heart raced. "It's just a ghost story," he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.

The voice chuckled, a sound like the rustling of leaves. "A ghost story, you say? Perhaps you are the one who should be afraid."

Xiao Mei fumbled for her flashlight, but it wouldn't turn on. "What do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Zhi Yi stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "We need to find the source of the voice. Follow me."

They followed Zhi Yi through a series of narrow corridors, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The air grew colder, and the walls seemed to close in around them. They reached a large, ornate door, its surface covered in intricate carvings. Zhi Yi placed his hand on the door, and it swung open with a creak.

Inside was a grand chamber, the center of which stood a pedestal. On the pedestal was a figure, draped in regal robes, with a crown upon its head. It was the statue of the first Liang King, the Ghost King.

Before them stood Wang Ni, the guardian of the Ghost King. He was an ancient figure, his eyes piercing through the darkness, his gaze unwavering. "You have trespassed upon my king's domain," he said, his voice a deep rumble.

Xiao Mei stepped forward, her heart pounding. "We didn't mean any harm. We were just curious."

Wang Ni's eyes flickered with a strange, knowing light. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing, especially in the presence of the dead."

Liang Chen stepped between Xiao Mei and Wang Ni. "We're just kids. We didn't know any better."

Wang Ni's gaze shifted to Liang Chen. "Children are often the most innocent of all. But sometimes, even innocence can be a curse."

Zhi Yi's voice was calm, but there was a tremor in it. "What do you want from us?"

Wang Ni's eyes narrowed. "I want you to leave. Now."

Xiao Mei's flashlight flickered back to life, and she pointed it at Wang Ni. "We're not leaving until we know why you're here."

Wang Ni's expression darkened. "You will leave, or I will make sure you never return."

Before they could react, the air around them grew thick and heavy. The walls seemed to close in, and the temperature plummeted. Xiao Mei, Liang Chen, and Zhi Yi felt themselves being pulled toward the pedestal, toward the statue of the Ghost King.

As they neared the pedestal, Xiao Mei's flashlight beam caught something strange—a pair of eyes staring back at them from the statue's face. She gasped, and the beam went out again.

"Look at him," Wang Ni's voice echoed through the chamber. "He is not just a statue. He is the spirit of the first Liang King, the Ghost King. And you have awakened him."

The air around them grew colder, and the walls seemed to close in even more. Xiao Mei, Liang Chen, and Zhi Yi felt themselves being pulled toward the pedestal, toward the statue of the Ghost King.

"Please," Xiao Mei pleaded, her voice breaking. "We didn't mean any harm."

But it was too late. The Ghost King's eyes opened wide, and a chilling laugh echoed through the chamber. The three friends were pulled into the pedestal, and the world around them shattered into darkness.

When they awoke, they found themselves back in the forest, the Abandoned Royal a distant memory. They had been gone for only a few hours, but it felt like days. They looked at each other, their faces pale and trembling.

"We should never have gone in there," Liang Chen said, his voice trembling.

Xiao Mei nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "We should have listened to the locals."

Zhi Yi stood up, his face pale but determined. "We need to get out of here. Now."

As they made their way back to the city, they couldn't shake the feeling that they had been left behind. The Abandoned Royal was still there, waiting, watching, and the Ghost King's guardian, Wang Ni, was still there, keeping a watchful eye over his king's domain.

And so, the legend of the Abandoned Royal grew, a chilling tale of the supernatural, of the Ghost King and his guardian, and of the three friends who dared to enter the domain of the dead.