Book 3: Chapter 2: The Hollow
The title of this chapter is 空幻之屋, which I assumed is a reference to the official Chinese name for The Hollowby Agatha Christie. I have not read this novel before so I cannot say for certain that this is what the chapter title means, but based on my research, the two stories share one (minor) similar point. In addition, the literal translation of the title, “House of Illusions”, does not make much sense with the context.
Indeed, there really was a house there, towering aloft the empty expanse of short weeds. There were no other homes to be seen.
It was a two-story foreign house. It was impossible to get a clear view of the exterior in the darkness, but every window on the two floors was lit with a dim yellow glow. They were similar to guidelights in the hazy darkness, pointing the lost people on their night trek to the right direction.
Thus, the fourteen people that had come from the train followed their sole light source. They crossed through the vacant grounds to arrive before the residence.
The front door was tightly shut and there was no doorbell. There was only an enormous brass knocker with a strange design carved on it, giving it a mysterious and ancient feel.
Everyone stood before the door and exchanged looks with each other. Then, one of the men walked up the steps and banged the brass knocker.
Thud, thud, thud.
The muffled sound of metal striking wood echoed through the night.
There was no response from the inside even after they waited for a few seconds.