“One million? You're robbing me!”
“Too expensive?” The girl curled her lip. “Uncle, you go take a trip to the Underworld and see if you can even make it back alive. A million is a steal!”
As they were arguing, the police arrived.
The girl's expression changed. She quickly stuffed her things into her bag and took off running.
But there were too many people surrounding her, and she couldn't squeeze her way out at all. In the end, even though she tried to ride her pillow to escape, she was still taken away by the police.
Before she left, she still clutched that ceramic pillow tightly, her expression wary.
...
The girl was taken away, but the speed at which public opinion fermented was terrifying.
The crowd gradually grew restless.
“There really are treasures inside the Instances...”
“Hey, do you think we should also try to pick up some paper money? If we happen to find a treasure, we won't have to worry about the rest of our lives!”
“Are you stupid? Didn't you hear what she just said? It's extremely dangerous in there! It's full of ghosts, and you age ten years when you come out. What if you die in there?”
“What's there to fear? Take a gamble, and a bicycle becomes a motorcycle!”
Several young people gathered together. The more they talked, the more tempted they became, and they began to ask around where there was more paper money.
...
...
On , 2026.
On this day, Hong Kong was like a hornet's nest that had been poked.
Missing persons appeared in almost every district.
At the Yuen Long vegetable market, a vegetable-selling auntie suddenly appeared in front of her stall, clutching two gold ingots in her hands, scaring the neighboring shoppers into scattering in all directions;
In a hospital emergency room, a man dropped out of thin air, covered in blood, claiming he had been skinned by a fierce ghost, clinging to a doctor and screaming for help;
In a Sham Shui Po children's playground, a soaking wet woman climbed out of the ball pit, saying she had been dragged away by Black and White Impermanence to dig river silt for three days...
In short, as if in the blink of an eye, the missing people began to appear one after another.
Like mushrooms, one would pop up here, and a cluster would grow there.
But without exception, everyone claimed they had gone to the Underworld, been captured by Black and White Impermanence, and were only released after being punished.
Some were digging silt in a dried-up river, some were picking up dead men's bones in a mass grave, and some were using shovels to scrape off ghosts stuck to the walls—
Everyone returned in a different state.
Some, having survived a disaster, hugged their families and wept, trembling all over whenever they saw anything round.
Some were utterly despondent, repeatedly muttering about their deceased relatives in the Underworld, losing their appetite and thinking only of going back.
Some brought back a bag full of items, selling them off as soon as they returned and becoming overnight millionaires.
...
In street-side Cha Chaan Tengs, on roadside giant screens, and mall displays, the TVB anchor's tone was solemn:
“...Recently, several missing persons in our city have returned one after another. The police remind citizens not to pick up unidentified golden papers to prevent harm to their personal safety.”
Customers chatted while eating pineapple buns.
“Do you think we can really see dead people in the Underworld? My old man passed away three years ago, and I haven't dreamed of him even once.”
“I also want to see my mom. I want to ask her where she put our family insurance policy.”
“Those dark clouds overhead just won't disperse. I haven't seen the sun at all these past two days!”
“If you want to know if it's true, why don't you just pick up a piece of paper and try it?”
“Try what?! You could lose your life! I wouldn't dare risk it.”
“That's true... but if I could really see them one more time, I'd willingly give up ten years of my life...”
The uncle who spoke sighed, lowering his head to stir the milk tea in his cup, his gaze a bit vacant.
—His daughter had passed away last year from cancer, and it had been very painful.
If... they could really meet one more time...
The uncle clenched his spoon, making up his mind in secret.
...
The entire city of Hong Kong was like a pool of water into which a giant boulder had been thrown.
From the streets to the alleys, from office buildings to public housing estates, people's minds were quietly stirring.
Fear, greed, longing, curiosity, desire... countless emotions churned together, just like the dark clouds hanging over Hong Kong that refused to disperse for a long time.
The golden paper coins seemed to float around in even greater numbers.
...
...
...
The lights at the Special Investigation Bureau's temporary Hong Kong office had never been turned off.
“Ring, ring, ring—”
“Ring, ring, ring—”
In the office, documents were piled higher than a person, telephone rings rose and fell one after another, and staff members ran in and out, everyone's eyes bloodshot.
“Chief Li! Another thirty-two returnees have registered! They're from Yuen Long, Sha Tin, and Hong Kong Island! Preliminary physical examinations show a widespread indication of organ failure, consistent with natural aging symptoms!”
“Chief Li! The media is blocking the entrance downstairs! They're demanding to interview us on whether the Underworld really exists! Some reporters are also asking if the supernatural items are real!”
“Chief Li! Over a dozen items have already leaked into the black market! There are talismans, storage bags, and a few offensive items. The prices are being hyped up extremely high!”
Chief Li rubbed his temples, his head feeling like it was about to explode.
It was simply impossible to suppress any longer.
The returnees emerged batch after batch, bringing not only intelligence but also real, tangible game items.
Various videos had spread all over the internet; it couldn't be covered up at all.
“Keep blocking the media. Tell them we are currently investigating, and everything is subject to official announcements.”
Chief Li pinched the bridge of his nose and quickly ordered:
“Gather and house all returnees centrally. Take their statements, perform physical examinations, and reward those who voluntarily register their items. For those who hoard or resell them, warn them according to the regulations.”
“Chief Li, that's hard to execute.”
The subordinate smiled bitterly. “Many people don't register at all. They hide as soon as they return and sell their items to the black market. We can't trace the source at all.”
A single item easily fetched hundreds of thousands or even millions. Even though the Special Investigation Bureau explained the value of these items, a significant portion of the players still wanted to cash out immediately.
“Do your best to investigate first.”
Chief Li sighed.
“In addition, push the draft of the 'Regulations on the Import and Export Control of Supernatural Items' up again. Urge the general bureau to approve it as soon as possible. Any later, and some of the rare items will slip abroad.”
“Yes, sir!”
Just as the subordinate left, the secure phone rang again.
It was from the general bureau.
“We understand the situation.”
Sun Zhao's voice sounded increasingly exhausted:
“The regulations will be approved by tomorrow. In addition, the reinforcement team has already set out and is expected to arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow morning.
“Chen Xi's team has been inside the Instance for three days now and is temporarily out of contact. Set up a reception team on the periphery.
“With Chen Xi there, the probability of clearing the Instance is very high.
“But the relevant intelligence cannot be sent inside. It requires players to enter. Do your best to gather as much intelligence as possible on the periphery, receive the returnees, and stabilize the public.”
“We will complete the mission!”
Hanging up the phone, Chief Li let out a sigh of relief.
With professional players stepping in, the pressure inside the Instance should be much lower.
The crowd of reporters and people downstairs grew larger and larger.
The waters of Hong Kong had already become so muddy that one could not see the bottom.
The news simply could not be kept under wraps.
...
...
...
That night, several hashtags like #HongKongUnderworldInstance, #LivingPeopleReturningFromTheUnderworld, and #FlyingItemsEmerge shot straight to the top of the Weibo hot search list, all marked with “Explosive” next to them.
Clicking on them revealed videos of the scenes.
The man whose hair had turned white, the woman weeping as she looked for her husband and son, the ceramic pillow flying in midair...
Weibo crashed once again.
[Is there really an Underworld and Black and White Impermanence?! I thought it was just a myth!]
[Oh my god... then are my grandparents over there too? I wonder if they're doing well...]
[Anyone want to form a team to go to Hong Kong? Let's try to pick up some paper money. If we happen to find a treasure, we'll make a fortune!]
[Is the person above crazy? Didn't you see that being caught by Black and White Impermanence ages you ten years? What if you die inside?]
[Who's afraid of death! Being poor is what's truly terrifying!]
[Am I the only one who wants to go in to see my deceased parents? I'd willingly sacrifice ten years of my life just to say one more word to them...]
This comment received over a hundred thousand likes.
Countless people left messages in the comments, saying they missed their fathers, mothers, children, and lovers.
After all, there were many in this world who lived with regrets.
—If they could really meet one more time, even for just a minute, many would be willing to pay the price.
Soon, groups called “Underworld Family Reunion Tour” appeared online.
Some shared guides, some formed teams, some crowdfunded for equipment... all thinking of entering the Instance to find their deceased loved ones.
Some even sold their houses to raise money for talismans and life-saving items, just to enter the Instance to look for their deceased children.
Was it crazy?
Extremely crazy.
—But in the face of extreme longing, madness seemed entirely reasonable.
The world was falling into chaos because of the arrival of the Instances.
And the source of it all lay in Hong Kong.
Rate on N.U.
