Zeng Shu screamed in fright. “What exactly are you talking about?”

Xue Bin spoke incoherently as the two embraced and cried bitterly.

After their emotions had calmed somewhat, Huang Yi asked: “Xue Bin, do you still remember Ling Lie?”

The name made Xue Bin shudder.

“He’s currently investigating what happened to you. You’ve witnessed his abilities.” Huang Yi said, “He asked me to ask you—did you go to Fengxia Mountain?”

Xue Bin cried out vaguely and pushed Zeng Shu away.

Huang Yi continued asking: “What about Yebin Town? Did you come back from there?”

“No, no…”

Xue Bin refused to speak, but his reaction to Fengxia Mountain was much stronger than to Yebin Town. Huang Yi rushed back to the technical investigation team. They traced a breakthrough—Xue Bin had been to a village called Xialian.

A line connected Xialian Village and Yebin Town. Ji Chenjiao stared at these two locations on the electronic map. The clues Feng City police found on Xue Bin indirectly confirmed his deduction. The villages and towns around Fengxia Mountain bore the pressure of dispersing people. Beyond these two places, other villages and towns must also have victims staying there.

Police forces had already spread toward Fengxia Mountain. In an inconspicuous guesthouse south of Fengxia Mountain, Ling Lie squeezed himself into the narrow passage between the bed and wall, imitating Yu Dalong’s posture and hugging himself.

Yu Dalong was initially still afraid, instinctively resisting everyone. But whenever he moved, Ling Lie followed suit, like a living mirror.

“Brother Hang said you’re a very capable manager who’s passionate about developing talent, bringing out quite a few young idols.” Ling Lie said, “You’re their idol too.”

Though Yu Dalong’s eyes still brimmed with fear and vigilance, his shoulders were gradually relaxing.

He worked in the entertainment industry and had to understand fan culture. He’d previously seen settings about mental power and thought—isn’t this just nonsense? How could people have mental power?

But at this moment, facing Ling Lie, he felt Ling Lie’s gaze and surrounding aura were almost tangible, like water—not simple water. His restlessness and fear gradually diluted within it.

He lowered his head, wanting to say something but still unable to open his mouth.

“Da Long, you’re a victim.” Ling Lie continued, “No matter what reason those people targeted you for, you’re not the one at fault. You’re safe now. I hope that after you’ve thought things through, you can tell us what happened to you during this time.”

Ling Lie took out his credentials and placed them on the floor between them. “I’m the same as Brother Hang. We’ll both protect you.”

Perhaps the words “Brother Hang” struck a chord. Yu Dalong shook his head in small movements.

“Even if you want to hide what happened, you actually can’t. It’s always in your heart, and those people know it too.” Ling Lie said, “I understand your thinking. You feel you narrowly escaped death, and those people make you afraid. If staying silent means not exposing yourself, you’re willing to treat it as an unreal nightmare.”

Yu Dalong let out a pained groan, his hands forming fists pressed against the floor.

“They all did the same as you.” Ling Lie said, “After returning, they kept secrets. Some simply had no one to confide in, others didn’t want to involve unrelated people. But have you considered that someone has already been implicated because of you?”

Yu Dalong’s eyes widened in surprise, his gaze trembling with welling tears.

“Brother Hang—Fang Yuanhang—your important detective friend is already in the game.”

Yu Dalong began to sob, bewildered and helpless.

Ling Lie said: “Based on the information we’ve gathered, I can tell you a conclusion—they’re not targeting you, but Fang Yuanhang.”

Yu Dalong couldn’t believe it. “No, impossible!”

“Then why you? What basis did they have for choosing you?”

“I…” Yu Dalong said suppressively, “I have psychological problems. I keep thinking—this world is too terrible. Why did Uncle Jin and I have to encounter those things?”

Ling Lie said: “I also think this world will fall apart sooner or later. Many people think this way. What makes you special?”

Yu Dalong froze.

Ling Lie’s gaze sharpened. “Because to them, you’re someone who can be used. You have a very promising police friend who hasn’t fully matured yet. Fang Yuanhang is the person they really want to ensnare. And you almost became bait.”

Yu Dalong’s heart shook violently. “Really? They want to harm Hanghang?”

Ling Lie shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know. My understanding of them is far less thorough than yours. I’m just making a wild inference from a recent series of cases. I need you to tell me what you experienced before and after your disappearance. That’s why I cornered you here.”

Yu Dalong frantically wiped his tears. Ling Lie handed him a packet of tissues. After wiping his face, Yu Dalong’s eyes held less confusion. He looked at Ling Lie very seriously. “I wasn’t targeted because of myself—they want to harm Hanghang?”

Ling Lie said: “I can’t be certain, but it’s possible.”

“Then I’ll talk!” Yu Dalong stood up, his legs still trembling. “They said if I followed them, I’d see the truth of all injustice and evil. They could correct this world’s mistakes. There was still time.”

Yu Dalong took a deep breath. “That organization is called ‘Pink Mask.’ Their symbol is a building collapsing like snow.”

---

Yu Dalong’s twenty-plus years of life had been eventful. During school, because his mannerisms lacked masculinity and people knew early on he liked men, he was collectively isolated and bullied. His family didn’t treat him well either.

Only Uncle Jin, a school security guard, was good to him, saving him when he attempted suicide. When he grew up and wanted to repay Uncle Jin, Uncle Jin became a victim under the hands of brutal villains.

He grew up lonely and with difficulty. By chance, he made friends with Fang Yuanhang, a detective. But when his good friend investigated a serial murder case, because of his relationship with Uncle Jin, Fang suspected him of avenging Uncle Jin and viewed him as a suspect.

The truth came out—he was innocent.

These experiences didn’t crush him. He remained that cheerful, ambitious, sharp-tongued little gay guy who couldn’t help drooling over handsome men. The nobodies he managed gradually became minor celebrities. He also gained some status in the industry.

But if he could choose, he didn’t want such an eventful life.

Occasionally, after finishing a long stretch of work, when the various people around him no longer surrounded him, he’d reward himself with a drink. When drunk, inexplicable sad emotions would surge up.

He felt this world was truly fucked up. Why couldn’t he live more easily? He had to fight tooth and nail just to appear to live easily.

Wiping away his stubborn tears, he’d think of his school days, of Uncle Jin, of those rich people who toyed with Uncle Jin like an ant, of being treated as a suspect by his good friend, of the little celebrity under his management crying quietly when wronged…

The anger hidden in his heart would grow wild like weeds.

He wasn’t like this often—really only extremely occasionally would he lose emotional control.

He wouldn’t let others see it either. These emotions he digested himself—spending money or cursing online a few times.

When others saw him, he’d transform back into a refined little enchanter.

He didn’t pay much attention to this matter and never thought about confiding in a psychologist. But one day, his phone suddenly received a message with a strange link. The message stated his name and ID number, looking exactly like a scam message.

He originally wanted to forward it directly to Fang Yuanhang, but the message also mentioned that “Pink Mask” knew his confusion and anger. The organization had many people who’d experienced similar pain, and they could find ways to change this world together.

He froze, instinctively looking around. He was in the company break room with only a makeup artist nearby.

Who was sending him messages? What was “Pink Mask”?

Just as he felt doubtful and tense, another message came in, also with a link. This one detailed his past experiences, precisely stabbing at the source of his pain.

He gasped in surprise, the sound drawing the makeup artist’s attention. He immediately turned off his phone screen and hurried out of the break room back to his office.

For the next few days, no new strange messages came, but he’d occasionally open those two, becoming so familiar he could recite them.

He was caught in a contradictory struggle. One side said: Quick, send it to Hanghang. He’s a detective, he can help you! The other side said: No, Hanghang is your friend, but think about his upbringing. Someone so upright can’t truly understand a little person like you who’s been repeatedly beaten down. Only those who’ve experienced similar things can understand each other. Have you forgotten? Hanghang once treated you as a suspect!

A week after receiving the messages, Yu Dalong nervously clicked the link. Precisely speaking, it wasn’t a link—just an entrance.

He saw a page constantly falling with ash, like a world falling apart. At the center of the screen was a tall building, with ash falling from it like snowflakes.

His heart pounded violently, not knowing what website he’d reached. After calming down, following the screen’s instructions, he jumped through several times. Then he saw the organization’s introduction.

So “Pink Mask” was this organization’s name.

Yu Dalong asked what “Pink Mask” actually did. Why did they know his confusion? Why did they find him?

A customer service-like mechanical voice answered: because he was someone who could be saved and someone who could save others.

Yu Dalong was completely confused.

The mechanical voice said: Don’t you feel the world is getting worse? It looks beautiful, but malice always spreads wantonly.

Yu Dalong wanted to refute but couldn’t even convince himself.

Not long ago, a young celebrity he’d managed was slandered with false accusations. The celebrity hadn’t done anything in the smear campaign, but was taken out of context and subjected to collective mockery. The celebrity cried while clearing their name, but did anyone listen? The more they clarified, the more abuse they received.

The celebrity broke down, sending him voice messages late at night: “Brother, I’m ready to cut open my stomach to show them. Why are people so evil?”

He told the celebrity that even if you cut open your stomach, they won’t believe you. Stay silent—you can only stay silent.

This was his hard-won experience, but he knew it was wrong. The celebrity wasn’t at fault—why should someone who did nothing wrong bear such malice?

The mechanical voice said: See, this world really is terrible.

He angrily asked: Then what can you do? Even police can’t change things—what can you change?

The mechanical voice said: Just us alone, of course we can’t do anything. But isn’t there you? You, and countless people with the same pain and unwillingness as you.

That day’s conversation didn’t last long. “Pink Mask” seemed very clear that first-time stimulation should stop at the right point.

Yu Dalong exited the page and found the original link invalid. He fiddled with his phone for half the night and searched online for “Pink Mask,” but found nothing.

But two evenings later, he received another link. This time after clicking in, he directly received an encrypted entrance on the website. The mechanical voice told him that each time he logged in, a unique entrance would be randomly generated for him. Used once, it would be discarded. Next login would generate a new entrance.

Yu Dalong visited “Pink Mask” almost daily. “Pink Mask” organized activities—members from all over the country would be picked up and taken to a secret location for “games.” Those who participated in these “games” reportedly gained entirely new perspectives on the world, society, and themselves.

If after the “game” ended, they didn’t want to become members of “Pink Mask,” the organization wouldn’t pester them further. The login entrance would never appear again. But if during the “game” they realized life’s meaning and wanted to become part of changing the world, “Pink Mask’s” doors would open to them.

In short, the “game” was a watershed and the key step into “Pink Mask.”

Yu Dalong asked how he could participate in the game. The mechanical voice said there would be a “game” in November this year. If he’d thought it through, he should register his departure time. A vehicle would pick him up at the designated location.

The mechanical voice repeatedly emphasized not to rush into the “game.” He must think it through completely and arrange his schedule so people around him wouldn’t notice anything unusual.

Yu Dalong decided to participate. He had a work gap in November, and Fang Yuanhang would be studying elsewhere. Recently, “Pink Mask” had made him anxious. If he didn’t go see the people behind the website with his own eyes and experience that “game,” he might suffer a nervous breakdown.

On November 3rd, an SUV appeared at the agreed location. He nervously got in the car. Besides him, there were three unremarkable people—one driver and two who seemed to be staff.

The car left Dongye City. Soon, he fell asleep—not naturally, but after drinking some drug. When he regained consciousness, he was already in a dimly lit cave, surrounded by silent people—all “game” participants.

Here, Yu Dalong’s nightmare began.

The participants didn’t know each other and came from all over. Yu Dalong knew they were participants rather than “Pink Mask” members because “Pink Mask” members all wore masks and had guns.

The masked people were no longer as gentle and patient as the mechanical voice on the website. After explaining the “game” rules, they threatened them not to break rules, saying losers in the game would face capital punishment.

Initially, everyone thought this was a joke. Would people actually die in a “game”?

But one masked person sneered: “Have any of you read infinite loop novels?”

Yu Dalong had. Several other young people also raised their hands.

The masked person said: “If you die in an infinite game, can you still live in reality?”

Yu Dalong’s heart sank.

The masked person: “The loser’s ending is exactly what you’re thinking.”

But after the “game” started, Yu Dalong discovered it wasn’t quite like the infinite loop novels he knew. They didn’t have adventure, combat, or puzzle-solving challenges. They only needed to point out wrongdoings the other person had committed, one-on-one or two-on-two.

How would strangers know others’ wrongdoings?

Because before the “game” officially started, the masked people made them live together and get to know each other. Everyone was angry and anxious then, feeling they’d reached a pyramid scheme organization and been deceived.

Once emotions ran high, people started talking about their experiences, gradually developing into boasting. In this environment, displaying evil was more important than displaying goodness. Kindness would be bullied, but evil could protect you from bullying.

Yu Dalong had excellent memory. Scripts that young celebrities couldn’t memorize, he could recite after looking briefly. He unintentionally remembered all the strangers’ information and what they’d said.

Someone had abused animals, someone stole packages, someone stabbed another person, someone stole another’s wife…

In the first round of the “game,” Yu Dalong’s opponent was a man in his thirties. This person had chatted until midnight last night, saying when he was young he collected protection fees. People for miles around feared him. Police didn’t dare rough him up. He’d even broken a young cop’s nose.

Yu Dalong couldn’t help but picture Fang Yuanhang as that young cop, immediately finding this man utterly repulsive.

In the “game,” Yu Dalong was sharp-tongued, stating the absurd things the man had done. He spoke rapidly with large amounts of information. The man barely managed to squeeze out a sentence before being instantly rebutted.

This match had no suspense—Yu Dalong won.

But the man didn’t think much of it. He’d long wanted to leave this godforsaken place. Wasn’t losing perfect for going home?

However, a shocking scene appeared. The loser was bound with rope, a sack placed over his head, dragged out like a pig awaiting slaughter.

Outside the cave came agonized screams.

The cave suddenly fell silent. Only then did the “game” winners realize this might not be a “game” that should exist in normal lawful society.

Ultimately, they’d been drugged and brought to this place unknown to anyone. This matter itself was highly abnormal. Why had they only realized this now?

Gunshots rang out. The smell of blood gradually spread. No one dared speak anymore. People looked at each other, their expressions changing from bewilderment to tension and malice.

They gradually understood—to survive, they must “kill” their opponents. How to kill? According to the “game” rules, using their mistakes as weapons!