The weapon by the pillow

Yes! The key!

He remembered that he had hidden a key and also took a box cutter!

A picture flashed through Cheng Tan's mind, and it seemed like there was a figure in it... but it was too blurry!

He patted his head, but still couldn't remember... Who was he?

Cheng Tan suddenly reached into his pajama pocket, but it was empty.

He hurriedly turned around, rushed to the bedside, haphazardly pulled back the covers, and groped around on the bed.

No. There's no key!

"What are you... looking for?" Cheng Jing followed and asked curiously.

"I remember... I was holding a piece of evidence..." Cheng Tan stammered, "Before I lost consciousness, I think... I remember... holding... something?"

As he spoke, he pressed down on the mattress with his hand and then lay down to look under the bed.

still none.

"You mean...that one?" Cheng Jing pointed to Cheng Tan's pillow.

Turning his head, Cheng Tan saw a paper cutter!

A rusty paper cutter lay beside my pillow...

Cheng Tan was stunned! This is it! So I really did have evidence with me... I must have been drugged and brought back! Someone must have been behind last night's events! ...But why is this policeman looking at me like that?

"Are you going to say... this is another one of your dreams... about weapons! Dreaming of murder! Dreaming of rituals..." Cheng Jing stared at him calmly, asking a series of questions, but her tone wasn't forceful, as if she were talking to herself, "These... aren't new these days, everyone on the internet is imitating them! And..."

She took out a tablet tucked under her arm, swiped her fingers a couple of times to open a screen, and then handed it to Cheng Tan.

"Take a look for yourself... The case is solved! Yang Hong solved it herself!"

"What?" Cheng Tan glanced at the screen suspiciously.

"Breaking news: The 403 online live-streamed murder case that shocked the entire internet last night has been solved by our city's police overnight... It is understood..." Upon seeing this, Cheng Tan snatched the tablet, brought it close to his face, and stared in astonishment.

"...According to the suspect Jin Xiaohao's confession, he harbored resentment towards his uncle's actions back then. Thirteen years later, he accidentally learned some inside information about what happened back then and inherited his uncle's 'relics' (the screen unfolds a blurry blueprint). He then meticulously planned everything that happened last night, using a live stream to 'avenge' his uncle and satisfy his twisted desire for performance and control... According to police investigation, after Jin Dafu's incident, he took a sum of money and hid for several years. He recently returned to the city and opened a small mahjong parlor in the west of the city. He has a criminal record and is involved in some illegal activities... Does Jin Xiaohao's recent whereabouts and financial situation match the footage in the live stream?"

An investigation revealed that Jin Dafu was fond of feudal rituals and used the five points of a pentagram—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—to conduct superstitious activities. He also taught Jin Xiaohao to write, direct, and act in a game to fool netizens and manipulate the public for clicks…

Using the case of Li Wan, who died thirteen years ago, as a gimmick, as a "sacrifice," her "spirit" is offered up to cover up sins, or... to achieve the purpose of a ritual.

The commentator said, "He is clearly a vengeful person living in his uncle's shadow, psychologically twisted, and eager to prove himself."

Cheng Tan's fingers froze on the cold tablet screen.

"This is fucking ridiculous!" He was dumbfounded by this news...

"However, everything he said is supported by evidence. Yang Hong went to arrest people last night..." Cheng Jing took out a cigarette, then lit it with a "click".

Cheng Tan grabbed it, put it in his mouth, and took a deep breath.

The words in the news reports were like poisoned needles, piercing his retina and disrupting his already confused understanding.

Jin Xiaohao? Uncle? Jin Dafu? A twisted desire to perform? A pentagram ritual? A sacrifice? Completion?

He recognized every word, but when strung together to form this so-called "truth," it was as absurd as the clumsy ending of a third-rate suspense novel.

"This...cough cough!" Cheng Tan opened his mouth, but was snatched a puff of cigarette smoked from his mouth. "This is impossible."

"What's impossible?" Cheng Jing leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, scrutinizing him sharply. "Jin Xiaohao confessed to the crime without reservation. The motive, timeline, some physical evidence, and even his descriptions of certain details from back then all match the information the police have. More importantly—"

She took a step closer, took the tablet back from Cheng Tan, and pulled up another photo.

A photo of a suspect identifying a crime scene. A tall, thin man who looks to be in his late twenties, pale-faced and with a gloomy look, is handcuffed and standing in a messy rented room, pointing to some items scattered on the table: a few old photos, some electronic devices, a few old books on criminal psychology and ritual symbols, and... a wooden die with a chipped corner.

"That's not...not that place?" Cheng Tan shouted.

"He admitted that the dice were his 'symbol,' representing a manipulated and distorted fate. He admitted to manipulating the live stream, posting, and drawing lots through internet technology to lure you virtual characters into a trap. He admitted to setting up scenes in rooms 402 and 403, including those 'murder weapons' and the secret room entrance..."

Cheng Jing's voice was calm, as if she were stating a case that had nothing to do with her.

He said that all the scenes were virtual and created using AI technology...

"Bullshit!" Cheng Tan suddenly broke down. "He's lying! It's full of holes! First, where's Li Kai?! Li Kai went crazy with his confession, saying he was the murderer! How could he be an AI-generated character? Second, Liu Li! Liu Li is dead! I saw her body with my own eyes! Hanged! What did Jin Xiaohao say? That was also his doing? Why? Third, that hidden compartment! The second secret room! We didn't even go in! What was inside? Did Jin Xiaohao confess? Fourth, this paper cutter next to my pillow!"

He grabbed the rusty paper cutter from beside his pillow and held it up to Cheng Jing. "I picked this up in room 402 before I lost consciousness! If it's AI, why didn't they take this obvious evidence? Why did they put it right next to my pillow? To remind me? Fifth, and most importantly—"

Cheng Tan's voice trembled:

"If everything was orchestrated by this so-called 'Avenger,' Jin Xiaohao, then how could he know so many details from thirteen years ago?! Details that only those who participated back then or those who conducted extremely in-depth investigations would know! Wu Guodong's surveying drawings! The suspicious circumstances surrounding Zhao Jianguo and Wang Bin's deaths! Liu Li's hidden identity! And... and my damned nightmares that even I can't understand! How does he explain my nightmares?! Did he drug me for thirteen years and make up stories for me every night?!"

He roared it out in one breath, his chest heaving violently.

"Good question."

Cheng Jing watched him erupt silently, her face showing no sign of being moved, until he stopped catching his breath, then she slowly spoke:

"But are you prepared to hear what I'm about to tell you, something even more horrifying?"