Chapter 56: The Madman
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
In an extraordinary turn of events that defied all norms, Gao Ming, an expert in psychological counseling at a high-security prison, achieved what was once deemed impossible. In the midst of a realm where reality and fantasy blurred, he consumed the Heart of Mortality. This terrifying artifact, steeped in darkness and legend, had been secreted away in the depths of a sinister apartment complex, a creation of a malevolent ghost’s twisted imagination.
Situ An, a man of considerable strength and cunning, also discovered a means of survival in this nightmarish world. He daringly absorbed the consciousness of the malevolent ghost, intertwining it with his own essence. This bold act transformed him, making him one with the very entity that had been his tormentor.
“I truly don’t understand,” Gao Ming confessed, his voice tinged with confusion and disbelief. Despite his vast experience dealing with a spectrum of individuals in his role as a seasoned psychological counselor, Situ An’s actions baffled him. “You have wealth that would sustain ordinary people for countless generations, connections that span continents, and you are held in high regard and adoration by countless individuals. You have the power to fulfill any wish or desire. So why, then, choose to join the Investigation Bureau? Why immerse yourself in such profound despair?” he questioned, struggling to comprehend Situ An’s motives.
“Despair isn’t a construct of my own making; it’s an inherent part of existence,” Situ An replied sharply, his gaze fixed on Gao Ming with a mixture of respect and lethal intent.
“I used to believe that achieving excellence in every endeavor would garner respect. In my twenties, I encountered a prominent individual from Hanhai City City who seemed to genuinely admire my talents and was never stingy with his compliments. Yet, all it took was one offhand comment from him to render my efforts meaningless.”
“It baffled me until one day I noticed my housekeeper had perfectly cleaned the house. Out of habit, I praised her work.”
“As I saw our reflections on the impeccably polished floor, it struck me – that was exactly how the prominent figure used to praise me.”
“The greatest despair in life is realizing that when you gaze up at the sky, it bears no relevance to your existence.”
“This is the world I inhabit, but it doesn’t belong to me.”
As he spoke, Situ An’s hand tightened around a sharp knife, his resolve clear in his voice: “Be they humans or ghosts, they are all the same in my eyes.”
“Don’t bother with your words. The Heart of Mortality has been devoured, and my true form is unraveling. Your zealous subordinates will be here shortly,” a voice, distinctly not Situ An’s, echoed from his lips, betraying the malevolent ghost’s forced collaboration.
The moment the Heart of Mortality was extracted from the demonic statue, a dramatic change occurred. The network of blood vessels that ran through the underground torture chamber began to wither and decay. Rust-covered pipes that were affixed above started to slide downwards ominously.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
The corpses that littered the area decayed at an accelerated pace, and hidden red threads in the ceiling snapped. This caused massive cracks to form, leading to a catastrophic collapse.
Stones tumbled down, emitting foul odors and releasing torrents of blood. The ceiling above crumbled away, unveiling the hidden torture chamber that was the domain of the malevolent ghost.
Below ground, the surviving members of the investigation team were battered and injured, their numbers drastically reduced.
Yet, the horrific sacrifices they had endured were not in vain.
“Leave now! I’ll follow!” Yan Hua’s command allowed no room for hesitation. He swiftly cleared a path through the investigators, enabling Gao Ming to clamber out of the pit using his shoulders as a leverage point. “Xuan Wen is on the ninth floor of Building A. She’s in trouble too. Shadows won’t spare those who change fate!” he shouted, hinting that Xuan Wen’s intuition had led him to Gao Ming’s location.
Outside the pit, more investigators were waiting. Gao Ming, suffering intense pain, realized that he had to escape immediately or risk both him and Yan Hua becoming trapped.
His earlier decision to consume the flesh proved fortuitous; without its strengthening effect, his physical state would have severely limited his escape.
Evading the investigators blocking his path, Gao Ming made a beeline for Building A. Xuan Wen possessed unique abilities that could potentially turn the tide of their desperate circumstances. Assisting her might be key to altering their grim fate.
As he hurried towards the exit, Gao Ming felt an unsettling transformation within him. His heart seemed to be undergoing a bizarre metamorphosis, pulsating with an ominous “curse.”
Meanwhile, Yan Hua was fiercely contending with the besieging investigators. Situ An, however, chose a different path. He navigated a hidden passage, leaving the underground level behind.
“You destroyed my body,” the spirit within him lamented.
“If you’re thinking of trying to take over my body, feel free to try,” Situ An replied with a dismissive coolness.
Choosing not to pursue Gao Ming, Situ An arrived at the entrance of Granny’s apartment unit. He greeted the scene inside with a smirk, pushing the door open.
The floor was littered with talismans. Granny, her figure stooped and facing away from the door, was knelt amidst an array of three hundred and sixty statues of gods and demons, her demeanor one of resignation.
“You’ve worshipped so many spirits, but can they protect you now?” Situ An taunted as he walked through the room, his knife lightly touching the statues. “I’ll ask you once more, where did you hide the other talismans of slaying?”
Granny slowly raised her head, revealing a face wrinkled like ancient dragon scales. “All the talismans have been given to you,” she responded. “Humans act, and the heaven watches. You’re destined not to obtain certain things because they’re not in your fate.”
“If I had any faith in fate, do you think I would have gone to the lengths of constructing this death-infused apartment?” Situ An asked, his voice laced with a mocking chuckle. “I’m genuinely curious; you’ve altered the destinies of numerous affluent figures in Hanhai City. So why haven’t you changed mine?”
Granny remained silent, her gaze shifting downward to a copper basin before her. The basin, filled with water, cast back the reflection of an aged dragon’s head, a symbol steeped in mysticism.
As Situ An inched closer to her, a startling change occurred within the basin. Blood suddenly began to swirl into the water, and in the reflection, it appeared as though the dragon’s head had been gruesomely severed!
With a decisive “plop!” sound echoing through the room, Situ An’s actions were swift and without a trace of hesitation. He swung his heavy knife, and in a chilling moment, the old woman’s head tumbled into the copper basin, her life extinguished in an instant.
“Now, the slaying talismans are no longer of any use to me, nor is the person capable of creating them,” Situ An declared coldly, his actions underscoring the finality of his words and the ruthlessness of his character.
