"He is different from you; he doesn't kill for pleasure."
Chen Zhenxiong let out a strange laugh from his throat. "He is after brains—that madman."
After he spoke, he saw the woman across from him, who had remained calm until now, suddenly change her expression. She remained silent for a long time.
"You found Wu Gang's body, but unfortunately, you won't find Wu Ming's."
Chen Zhenxiong took two steps forward. "The building is about to be demolished. Everything is coming to an end..."
Nan Yue suddenly sighed. "Two methods, huh... The first one is unlikely for me, but I can still try the second."
Chen Zhenxiong frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Nan Yue looked up, her eyes cold and indifferent. "Ah, I wasn't talking to you."
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure flashed, and she appeared behind Chen Zhenxiong. Before his blade could get close, she had already dislocated his arm.
Chen Zhenxiong's disease made it impossible for his facial muscles to obey him completely; even opening his mouth to cry out in pain was something he couldn't fully manage.
A sound like the howl of a strange beast echoed through the basement.
"My friend said that because you've killed too many people, those returning spirits who are trapped and unable to enter reincarnation will attach themselves to the next victim. They either assimilate them into what they once were, or... they influence the person's mind, forcing them to experience their past despair and pain."
"There are two ways to break this curse-like suppression. The first is to find all the people you killed and let their bodies see the light of day. That way, they won't cling to the victim like ghostly accomplices."
"The second way is to have a strong enough mental stability to resist that psychological assimilation and influence."
Nan Yue looked at the man lying on the ground. "You've been active for too long, and your victims are scattered all over the city. The first method isn't very realistic."
Nan Yue revealed a smile. "Fortunately for me, I'm the one you met."
Nan Yue took a roll of plastic film from Chen Zhenxiong's pocket—a tool he had prepared for his own crimes.
"Guess how long it will take for you to be discovered?"
Panic filled Chen Zhenxiong's eyes, and the smile on his face began to twitch. "You..."
"I won't kill you."
"I cannot kill."
Nan Yue sounded somewhat regretful. "So, I'll leave your life to fate."
She used the plastic sheeting to wrap Chen Zhenxiong up like a cocoon and dragged him toward the restroom.
"Your victims were hidden in various places, never to see the light of day."
"If you're lucky enough to be found, you might just keep your life."
Nan Yue tossed him into the last stall and watched as he leaned against the long-dead Wu Gang. She gave a little wave.
"I hope you're found soon."
She closed the restroom door, turned off the light, and conveniently placed the "Under Repair" sign in front of the door.
...
On the other side, Jiang Haoyu had been battered into a daze by Granny Li. Even without the returning spirits interfering, his limbs were powerless.
The old woman looked elderly, but she possessed considerable strength. She grabbed him by the hair and dragged him toward her room.
Jiang Haoyu struggled desperately, yet he was still dragged all the way into Granny Li's room.
He was tossed like a dead dog into the dark room where she brewed medicine. Once inside, a pungent, fishy stench hit him, nearly choking him to death.
He had lost too much blood, and his vision was doubling. At first glance, the area around the black stove and the traditional medicine jars seemed filled with crouching black figures.
On the ceiling and behind the refrigerator, there were silhouettes with only half a head. Their empty skulls contained no brains, and black-red blood smeared most of their faces as they watched him with ill intent.
When he looked closer, they were gone.
There were only small clay jars arranged neatly on the shelves. Besides the stench, there was the smell of medicine, and labels were attached to them with dates and names.
Jiang Haoyu's face turned deathly pale. He saw the information of many former tenants.
Wasn't it said that Old Wu was the one who scooped out brains?
Why were all the brains here with Granny Li?
Granny Li was outside praying to Buddha. The scent of cheap incense drifted in. Jiang Haoyu struggled to stand, knowing that only he could save himself now.
He smashed all the brain jars.
The sound of clay jars shattering rang out, followed by Granny Li's panicked and furious roar from outside. She rushed in holding a strangely shaped small spoon. After seeing the scene before her, she screamed and lunged at Jiang Haoyu.
Jiang Haoyu dodged frantically a couple of times, but due to his blood loss, he accidentally slipped and fell to the ground.
Granny Li panted heavily, her eyes bloodshot as she grabbed a hammer from the corner and swung it at Jiang Haoyu.
"Bang!"
The door was kicked open. Gu Xiang Kai, who had rushed over, saved Jiang Haoyu just in time.
Granny Li was strong, but for Gu Xiang Kai, it was easy to disarm her. He tied her up with a rope and tossed her into the room.
"Let's go."
They couldn't kill. With Jiang Haoyu in critical condition, Gu Xiang Kai could only perform basic first aid to stop the bleeding before taking him out of the building.
By this time, it was getting late. During the afternoon, the people nearby had moved out one after another.
Excavators and demolition crews were already in position. Everyone could see that the work was truly about to begin; the others had all left.
Only this demolition building remained.
Jiang Haoyu asked as they walked, "Sister Xi Ning... Sister Xi Ning is still upstairs!"
Gu Xiang Kai was also panting as he supported him. His current body was essentially that of a seventy-year-old man; he was at his limit.
"Everyone is downstairs. You're the only one left."
When Jiang Haoyu reached the third floor, he saw a blaze of fire and was somewhat surprised.
"Is there a fire?"
Gu Xiang Kai took a look. "No."
After Chi Yu heard Zhu Xi Ning's voice in her mind, her initial surprise was followed by complete trust.
All of Xie Hui's victims were likely in the church. She didn't know what kind of obsession Xie Hui had to commit such heinous acts in such a sacred place.
After Chi Yu struggled to smash all the flowerpots, the feeling of weakness and powerlessness vanished.
She couldn't kill Xie Hui, so she trapped her with flames.
Otherwise, in her mind, someone who had committed so many evil deeds deserved to pay with their life.
Chi Yu went upstairs and carried the still-unconscious Zhu Xi Ning down. Although she didn't know how Zhu Xi Ning had saved her life while unconscious, it was now close to midnight. If they didn't leave, they might be buried here.
As they were heading down, Uncle Zhong was frantically running upstairs.
He had seen the fire.
He saw the church on fire and was going up to save his adopted daughter.
Yin Qian, who had gone downstairs to look for clues, had been followed by Uncle Zhong. If Jiang Siyan hadn't returned in time, Yin Qian might have ended up lying next to Yang Xufeng's body.
"He hasn't killed anyone."
Yin Qian sat on the ground, still listless. "His hands were shaking, and his eyes were full of fear. It was probably his first time."
Uncle Zhong had always known about Xie Hui's issues; he knew she had an antisocial personality and had killed many people in this building.
But she was his adopted daughter, whom he had raised since she was a child. He didn't have the courage to call the police.
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