As the saying goes, "Hearing is deceiving, but seeing is believing."

　　It seems to be an unassailable truth that has stood the test of time for centuries.

　　However, under certain special circumstances, what we see may not necessarily be the truth.

　　Take magic tricks, for instance. No matter how dazzling the performance, it can't escape the objective judgment that "magic is all about deception." It's just that some magic tricks are performed so convincingly that they often achieve the effect of being indistinguishable from reality.

　　I have a high school classmate named Xiao Zhou. Despite having studied for over a decade, he has exceptionally good eyesight. He teaches at a remote rural middle school, and his dormitory backs onto a desolate hill.

　　One late night, Xiao Zhou was awakened by the urge to urinate. Before going to bed, he had accompanied Principal Liang in entertaining the leaders from the county education bureau's education department for dinner, and had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol.

　　Xiao Zhou had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but he couldn't handle drinking recklessly. He had had quite a bit of beer, white wine, and red wine. Before going to bed, he was a bit tipsy. However, after being awakened by the urge to urinate, he felt confident that he was wide awake. The dormitory building he lived in was built in the 1970s and had no restroom. To use the toilet, one had to go to the public restroom at the end of the corridor.

　　Being a man, Xiao Zhou didn't hesitate to stand on the table and urinate out of the open window when he saw no one around.

　　At that moment, Xiao Zhou's urine shot out like arrows far away.

　　"Who is it? Where are you peeing?"

　　An angry voice startled Xiao Zhou, and he recognized the bald man walking downstairs as Principal Liang.

　　Principal Liang had also had a lot to drink. Could he have also woken up in the middle of the night? Xiao Zhou quickly dismissed this thought.

　　Principal Liang lived in a newly built apartment building where each room had its own restroom. Even if he needed to use the toilet in the middle of the night, he wouldn't come here.

　　Having urinated on Principal Liang, Xiao Zhou didn't dare to make a sound and peeked out of the window stealthily.

　　Principal Liang seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere. After shouting angrily, he didn't pursue the matter and hurried off towards the desolate hill.

　　What was Principal Liang doing on the desolate hill in the middle of the night? Could the rumors be true?

　　Xiao Zhou, who had only recently arrived at the school, had also heard that Principal Liang was extremely lecherous and often invited pretty female teachers to the desolate hill for illicit affairs. If a female teacher refused,she might be forgotten and not becoming a class teacher or receiving any awards.

　　Curiosity got the better of Xiao Zhou, and he immediately went downstairs and followed Principal Liang into the desolate hill.

　　Principal Liang didn't notice anyone following him at all. His portly figure moved with difficulty, but his steps were surprisingly large.

　　It was already late autumn, and the desolate hill was desolate with withered grass and trees. A gentle breeze blew, sending chilling whispers through the air.

　　Xiao Zhou was scared and kept looking around as he walked, afraid that something terrible would suddenly jump out. This distraction caused him to lose sight of Principal Liang.

　　Where had Principal Liang gone?

　　Xiao Zhou didn't dare to search around aimlessly and decided to retrace his steps.

　　"Xiao Zhou, what are you doing here?" Principal Liang suddenly appeared beside Xiao Zhou like a ghost, scaring him out of his wits.

　　"Principal Liang, I couldn't sleep at night, so I came out for a walk," Xiao Zhou said sheepishly.

　　Principal Liang didn't pursue the matter and grabbed Xiao Zhou's hand, saying, "Xiao Zhou, come with me."

　　Although Principal Liang often took Xiao Zhou along for social engagements, it was only to have him block the drinks. Their relationship hadn't reached such an intimate level yet. Being held by Principal Liang's hand made Xiao Zhou feel both flattered and uneasy.

　　Following Principal Liang, they arrived at a wooden hut. This desolate hill had once been used for growing potatoes, but the potatoes always rotted at the roots. Not only potatoes, but anything planted here would rot. This wooden hut had been left behind by the potato grower and was now in disrepair.

　　Entering the hut, Xiao Zhou was surprised to see a very sturdy bed inside.

　　This bed was not only sturdy but also soft and spacious.

　　Xiao Zhou had seen such a bed in the bridal chamber of his wealthy uncle's second marriage.

　　Principal Liang's face lit up with a smile as spring flowers, and he said proudly, "Do you know Li Meili?"

　　Li Meili was the most beautiful female teacher at this rural middle school, as stunning as a movie star. Unfortunately, by the time Xiao Zhou arrived at the school, Li Meili had already been transferred away. Xiao Zhou only saw her once when she came to the school to handle the transfer procedures, but because she was so incredibly beautiful, he remembered Li Meili and her name vividly.

　　"Hehe, that little slut, she resisted for three years, but she couldn't escape my grasp in the end!"

　　Principal Liang's face lit up with a lecherous smile, sending shivers down Xiao Zhou's spine.

　　"Xiao Zhou, are you still a virgin?" Principal Liang suddenly asked.

　　"Um..." Xiao Zhou nodded awkwardly.

　　"Haha!" Principal Liang burst out laughing and said, "Xiao Zhou, at your age, I had already been with many women. You don't know how wonderful women are. Jiang Ya, Tan Guiying, Qi Jia, Liao Xiaoqi... each has her own unique charm!"

　　"Ah!" Xiao Zhou's mouth hung open in shock. Jiang Ya, Tan Guiying, Qi Jia, and Liao Xiaoqi were all female teachers at the school, and beautiful ones at that. According to Principal Liang, he had tasted each of them.

　　"Alas, life is fleeting, and time waits for no one. The good days are gone forever," Principal Liang slumped onto the bed, feeling dejected.

　　"Principal Liang..." Xiao Zhou didn't know what to say, but inside he was cursing Principal Liang. You old baldy, you've already been with so many beautiful women. What more do you want?

　　"Xiao Zhou, you go back first. I'll just sit here for a while," Principal Liang suddenly lost his enthusiasm for boasting and said coldly.

　　The late autumn night wind carried a hint of chill, and Xiao Zhou was eager to leave. He turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, he felt it was inappropriate to leave Principal Liang alone and thought he was being an irresponsible subordinate.

　　He turned back to ask if Principal Liang had any further instructions, only to find the wooden hut empty. Principal Liang, who had been sitting on the bed just now, had vanished without a trace. Xiao Zhou felt a chill run down his spine, but he searched around anyway and couldn't find Principal Liang. He guessed that Principal Liang must have gone back.

　　If things had ended there, there would have been nothing unusual.

　　The problem was that early the next morning, news spread of Principal Liang's death. According to his wife, Principal Liang had complained of a headache when he returned home the previous night. She didn't think much of it and let him sleep on the bed. It wasn't until dawn that she realized he hadn't moved. When she shook him, she found his body was already cold.

　　"Did Principal Liang go out again after returning home last night?"

　　"No. The door at home has been broken for a few days. Opening it in the middle of the night would have woken up the whole family."

　　Could it be that I was dreaming?

　　Xiao Zhou was confused. He leaned closer to Principal Liang and sniffed, clearly detecting the smell of urine on him.

　　Xiao Zhou told me this story, insisting that he wasn't dreaming and hadn't mistaken anyone for someone else. He asked for my opinion.

　　At the time, I just smiled and said, "The world is full of wonders. Maybe Principal Liang slipped out at night without waking up his family when he opened the door."

　　"That's what I thought too," Xiao Zhou said after a moment's thought. "But why did Principal Liang tell me about his romantic escapades? Usually, people keep such things hidden and don't readily share them with others."

　　Xiao Zhou's eyes were filled with deep confusion. He told me several times that he had seen a ghost, but as a people's policeman, I didn't believe in such absurd things.

　　Several years have passed since then, and I didn't give it much thought until I encountered something similar myself. Moreover, my experience was even more terrifying and bizarre...