“So many more people are dead, and even my subordinates got caught in the crossfire.”
“The mastermind behind this is clearly up to no good.”
In the Cuifeng City Investigation Bureau, the director sat behind his desk with a sour expression, having just returned from the crime scene.
A man dressed in a white robe sat opposite him, his expression cold and indifferent.
“It is because you went too far; your exploitation was too severe.”
“This city is like a powder keg. It’s only natural for it to suddenly explode.”
The director looked at him with disdain. “Why are you acting all high and mighty with me?”
“If I don't exploit them, who’s going to make the money? Who’s going to fund the church's growth?”
The white-robed man ignored the director's mockery and said calmly, “The person stirring up trouble in the shadows is very powerful.”
“They likely aren't some commoner who just suddenly awakened supernatural powers.”
“Otherwise, your useless subordinates wouldn't have been wiped out in an instant.”
The director rolled his eyes.
“What’s the point of saying all this?”
“The most important thing right now is to find a way to solve the problem quickly!”
“If we attract the attention of headquarters and they send someone over, you wouldn't want the church exposed right under their noses, would you?”
“The current headquarters isn't what it used to be.”
The white-robed man thought for a moment and said, “We still don't know what their true objective is.”
“As long as we can figure out their goal, it will be easy to trace their movements.”
The director shot him a contemptuous glance.
“If the opponent is a person, what you say isn't wrong; we could lock onto their location through their objectives.”
“But what if the opponent is a supernatural creature?”
“Supernatural creatures don't need a reason to kill; they kill simply for the sake of killing.”
The white-robed man looked momentarily embarrassed; he truly hadn't considered that point.
“How about you go and pray immediately? See if the Lord you believe in gives you a response or some guidance,” the director suggested.
The white-robed man’s face instantly chilled. “How could we disturb the Lord's peace for such a trivial matter?”
The director’s expression also turned cold, but in the end, he said no more.
...
In a private residence.
The youth who had killed Mr. Yin was hiding here.
He was leisurely preparing dinner for himself, looking completely unhurried.
He didn't look at all like a villain who had murdered his father, killed his mother, and then exterminated another's entire household.
Dinner was simple: just soy sauce fried rice.
The original owner of this house hadn't stocked much food.
As for why the original owner allowed the youth to stay here?
It was because he was a kind dead man.
After finishing dinner, the youth didn't bother cleaning up. He took out the original owner's dusty dumbbells and lifted them a few times.
It was incredibly easy.
He truly possessed power now.
Though it wasn't supernatural power, his physical attributes had multiplied several times over.
He also had a vague understanding of the source of this power.
‘The more malicious I am, the more power I gain.’
‘I must not only act with malice but also mentally approve of the evil deeds, embracing this darkness from the bottom of my heart.’
‘If I waver, or if a spark of conscience remains, my power will diminish.’
‘Malice brings not only power but also wisdom.’
‘I can now effortlessly think of countless ingenious ways to harm people.’
‘But this wisdom is extreme; it is only useful when I intend to cause harm.’
‘If I try to do good or save someone, my brain turns into mush, and I have no idea what to do.’
The youth walked to the window, watching the swirling snow outside.
Before, he had been a law-abiding citizen, living a miserable life without hope.
In his childhood memories, there was only his parents' endless arguing.
Now that he had become a villain and discarded his parents—who had long since become burdens—he had actually found a moment of peace.
He was liberated from day after day of high-intensity work and mental stress.
Though this peace and leisure were bound to be short-lived, it was an experience he had never had before.
How ironic.
...
Late at night.
At 3:00 AM, Yue Shi was listening to the radio in the extra-dimensional space.
The Bone-Drunk Vase was placed nearby, making no sound at all, as if it were dead.
The skin provided by Boss Plankton had already burst; the current Resonant Daoist was a skinless monster.
Yet, he was still tenaciously alive.
A voice came from the radio.
“The Bewitching Beauty Painting Workshop of the Deep Red Continent is actually a living wooden galley; the mortals on board are all livestock raised for meat.”
Yue Shi froze in place.
The secret the radio broadcasted this time wasn't some petty drama about random people?
Where was the Deep Red Continent?
Did such a place exist in the world?
The space fluctuated, and familiar footsteps echoed behind him.
Yue Shi didn't even turn his head; the only person who could enter and exit the extra-dimensional space at will was himself.
“Did something happen?”
“Take a look at this.”
His future self handed him something.
Yue Shi reached out to take it. It felt cold to the touch and had a faint smell of mildew.
It was an invitation, bound by a dark red cord.
Countless tiny, twisted, wailing ghost faces were drawn upon it.
The inner page read:
Are you tired of the noise and mediocrity of the day?
In the silence of the deep night, do you long for a true thrill?
You have been observed and selected.
This is no ordinary pastime, but an ultimate game where you bet against fate.
Lonely souls in solitude, awaiting new friends.
We shall wait until we meet, for a beginning that never ends.
【Supernatural Game Show】—Humbly presented in blood.
“Wow, I actually received one of these?”
“Why are they so reckless? Aren't they afraid I'll go in and wreck the place?”
“Who knows? Maybe they have a death wish.”
“How did the invitation appear?”
“It just appeared out of thin air by my hand. I didn't even notice.”
“You returned to the past just for this small matter?” Yue Shi tilted his head to look at himself.
“Tomorrow morning at around 9:08 AM, the invitation will appear.”
“When the time comes, don't busy yourself with other things. Pay attention to how the invitation appears. It would be best if you can follow the clues to strike at the source.”
Yue Shi nodded. “Understood. You can go now.”
The future Yue Shi said, “If I go back now, I’ll be facing a rewritten reality.”
“The time limit for staying in the past hasn't expired yet anyway, so why go back so early?”
Yue Shi asked, “So? What’s fun about staying in the past?”
The future Yue Shi replied, “Who says the past isn't fun? Aren't you the most fun thing here?”
“When I activate Time Reversal, you and I are in a special state. We are essentially temporary independent individuals.”
“Talking to my past self... the feeling is truly quite marvelous.”
“I can also try to comprehend the time laws while I'm at it, though it’s probably useless.”
The future Yue Shi pulled his other self close, reaching out to twirl their long hair together.
Yue Shi rolled his eyes, feeling for the first time just how annoying he could be.
Immediately after, a subtle feeling welled up in his heart.
Something felt... strange.
Rate on N.U.
