Chapter 76: The First to Kill Gao Ming
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
In the bustling Eastern District, right at the end of the bustling Queen’s Street, a magnificent charity event unfolded in the sprawling Century Hall. This grand occasion drew the crème de la crème of Hanhai’s high society, a gathering of wealth and influence under one roof.
Outside, the weather painted a stark contrast. Dark, ominous clouds blanketed the sky, unleashing a fierce downpour upon the city. Yet, within the walls of Century Hall, the mood was light and festive, a stark comparison to the storm’s fury outside.
A barrier of clear glass separated the inside world from the outside, creating a visual connection but a physical divide. Those inside could gaze out at the rain-lashed city, while those outside could only observe the festivities from a distance.
At the entrance, a burly security guard, with an air of superiority, firmly denied Gao Ming and Wan Qiu entry. “No invitation or work pass, no entry. You’re welcome to watch from outside,” he said, his tone laced with contempt, especially towards Gao Ming, whom he seemed to view as utterly unaware of his place.
Gao Ming, choosing not to confront the staff, silently led Wan Qiu to mingle with the onlookers, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
Inside, the security measures were stringent, an impenetrable barrier that made it impossible for anyone to get close to Situ An, the key figure Gao Ming sought, let alone take any action against him.
“The area’s too vast,” Gao Ming whispered to himself, his gaze lowered, contemplating their daunting task. He thought about triggering portraits as a distraction, but quickly realized the futility – the hall was simply too large. If anyone nearby heard his mutterings, they’d be chilled to the bone.
He reflected on the potential chaos that could ensue – a room full of influential individuals caught in an extraordinary event, surrounded by media. It would be a nightmare scenario, impossible to conceal. The thought alone was enough to send shivers down the spine of any member of the Investigation Bureau.
Soon, the charity event swung into full motion. Young students from Hande Private School graced the stage with their performances, their innocence a heartwarming sight. This was followed by a series of generous donations from philanthropic companies and individuals, all driven by a sincere desire to aid those in need.
After the donations, the moment Gao Ming had been anticipating finally arrived, just as he had once heard in a TV broadcast. The host’s voice rang clear, “Let’s cultivate and promote the spirit of charity, leading the trend of virtue and goodness! We now welcome Mr. Situ An, Vice Chairman of the Hanhai Charity Association, to address us.”
Situ An, clad in a tailor-made suit, exuded an aura of sophistication and confidence as he stepped onto the stage. The crowd erupted into applause, welcoming him with great enthusiasm, the background music shifting to complement his entrance.
From a distance, Gao Ming watched Situ An intently, his eyes betraying a hint of bloodshot stress. He struggled to maintain his composure, his gaze fixed on the man who presented such a perfect facade.
Situ An’s charisma was undeniable. Tall, with a balanced physique, and a face that blended handsomeness with maturity, he made an excellent first impression. Those who got to know him found him even more remarkable than expected. A genius in business, an ambassador of charity, humble yet knowledgeable – his approach to people was something of a legend, each of his traits dazzling on its own.
As Situ An began to speak, a hush fell over the audience. Even the most distinguished upper-class members listened with rapt attention, breaking into coordinated applause at intervals, thoroughly captivated by his presence.
In the light of day, Gao Ming knew that any attempt to forcefully activate the portraits would be less effective due to the sheer number of people present. His attention wasn’t on Situ An’s words; his mind was consumed with the singular desire to kill the man and trap his soul in the punishment room within his heart.
Struggling to suppress this intense urge to kill, Gao Ming surveyed the venue, looking for a chance to strike at Situ An. To his surprise, he noticed another person in the venue who seemed to harbor a similar deadly intent!
At the divide between the outer and inner areas of the venue, a mysterious figure in a mask discreetly changed his attire. He then pulled out a worn, old photograph from his pocket. The man appeared to offer silent prayers to the photo, performing a series of gestures. Following this ritual, an eerie transformation occurred – his shadow began to grow darker and more ominous.
Situ An’s speech went on for about fifteen minutes. As it neared its end, two young men dressed sharply in suits suddenly lunged at Situ An from their place in the audience, catching everyone off guard.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Panic ensued in the venue, and security personnel swiftly intervened. Amidst the turmoil, Situ An hastily retreated backstage. At that moment, a pale, ghostly arm emerged from behind the curtain, reaching out for the charity ambassador under the eyes of many.
Sensing that something was off, Gao Ming wondered, “Who else wants to kill him?” He reasoned that if the attacker had managed to get backstage, they would have had ample and better opportunities to execute their plan. Why wait until the very end of Situ An’s speech? The timing seemed deliberately chosen to ensure that everyone saw Situ An being attacked and gravely injured.
As blood was spilled, security and medical personnel rushed to the backstage area. The host tried to regain control of the situation, speaking into the microphone, but the audience was too shocked to pay attention.
Gao Ming quickly instructed Wan Qiu, “Go wait for me at the milk tea shop outside,” before following a suspicious individual who was leaving his seat and exiting the venue. Gao Ming trailed him discreetly, and they both ended up entering the restroom.
After a short wait, Gao Ming observed the shadows extending from the third restroom stall, which seemed to pull him into a shadowy, alternate world.
Concealing himself in a different stall, Gao Ming soon heard footsteps and a voice he recognized outside. “Is my photo useful?” the voice asked.
“Dr. Lu, I’ve done everything you asked. I created chaos and had my little sister attack Situ An in front of all the reporters,” replied the man, who was now removing his mask and coughing violently, indicating that the use of the portrait might be costing him his life.
Facing the masked man was a young doctor, slightly older than Gao Ming, dressed in a white coat, with glasses and a scholarly appearance. However, ominous shadow-like “birthmarks” marred his face.
Seeing Dr. Lu, Gao Ming felt a jolt of pain in his chest; he recognized this doctor. In his first death, when Gao Ming thought he was losing his sanity, he consulted this shadow world doctor for help and was betrayed by being stabbed in the neck with a scalpel.
Gao Ming’s initial encounter with death was at the hands of this very doctor. Afterwards, he met this doctor several times more in future iterations, and each encounter led him to a grim and tragic end.
In the restroom, Gao Ming stayed utterly silent, his breath held in. He had become all too familiar with the sensation of death, having endured it multiple times. The pain, once overwhelming, now barely fazed him.
“Is it done?” Dr. Lu inquired, retrieving his black and white portrait. He seemed to have a fixation on cleanliness, meticulously wiping the photo with care.
The man, clearly fearful, responded with a hint of desperation in his voice. “Because it’s broad daylight, my little sister’s abilities are severely constrained, so she might not have executed the plan to perfection…” He quickened his pace, anxiety evident as Dr. Lu remained quiet.
“The children from Hande Private School have been dealt with. They’ve all been sent to the Dog Cellar in the Eastern District. You and Situ An can check there tonight,” the man continued, his plea growing more urgent. “I’ve followed all your instructions. Can you please spare my little sister? She’s just a child.”
Dr. Lu’s response was cold and detached. “You can leave, but she cannot,” he declared. “Every patient of mine becomes a part of my collection.”
“You never mentioned this before!” the man protested, his voice laced with betrayal and despair. “I’ve done so much for you, even committed murder, and now I’m left with nothing!” As he approached Dr. Lu, a woman’s arm suddenly extended from under the doctor’s coat, and a patient’s face appeared on Dr. Lu’s body as if they were fusing together.
“I did lie to you,” he confessed as another arm, this one wielding a scalpel, materialized from behind him and plunged into the man’s neck. “Did you really think you could just walk away?”
The photo fell into the pool of blood, and the man’s body was rapidly consumed by the encroaching shadows. Dr. Lu seemed to absorb some power from this act, then left the restroom, disappearing deeper into the shadow world.
Gao Ming pondered the implications. “So, Situ An has been in cahoots with entities from the shadow world. He orchestrated his own attack to set the stage for his bid to lead the Eastern District Investigation Bureau? Or is it to publicly expose the existence of ghosts?”
He waited until the shadows receded before cautiously opening the stall door. He had been close to attacking Dr. Lu but held back upon overhearing critical information from the dying man.
Tonight, Dr. Lu was apparently scheduled to meet with Situ An at the so-called Dog Cellar in the Eastern District. Gao Ming was hesitant to confront Dr. Lu just yet, fearing that it might disrupt Situ An’s original plans.
“The Dog Cellar in the Eastern District? Could it be related to the infamous Hanhai Dog Cellar case?”
Gao Ming was well-acquainted with the case. It was a chilling story that unfolded near a temporary shelter on the fringe of the Eastern District. It began when a child spoke of a large dog lurking in an abandoned black cellar. Initially, the adults dismissed the tale, but concern grew when children from the village started vanishing. Eventually, suspicion fell on the cellar, where the horrified villagers discovered a deranged man who had been abducting local children.