You made all the streamers on the internet kneel before you when you were asked to make a game.

When Lu Zhixing said, "In this family, today, I'm in charge," the entire live stream room erupted in cheers.

[So powerful! Absolutely so powerful!]

Holy crap, is the cult leader trying to usurp the throne?!

[Our parents are still alive, and my eldest brother is already taking charge of the household? This would be considered a grave offense in ancient times!]

[What do you know? This is called reclaiming everything that belongs to you! The leader is awesome!]

in the game.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was frozen solid.

The two paper-mache "father" and "mother" sat there quietly.

The "father," his face pale and bluish, stared blankly ahead with lifeless eyes.

Meanwhile, the "mother" in the main seat had her dark, hollow eyes fixed intently on Lu Zhixing.

A resentment, colder and more immense than ever before, emanated from the two paper figures, almost freezing the air in the entire courtyard.

They are the controllers of this false "home".

They are the rule-makers.

Now, Lu Zhixing, the "son" who should have been a sacrifice, has openly challenged their authority.

[Warning: Your behavior has seriously offended the dignity of your elders!]

[Warning: Family relationships are on the verge of collapse!]

A series of bright red warnings flashed wildly in Lu Zhixing's vision.

But he ignored it.

His face remained expressionless.

He simply looked calmly at the two paper figures before him, awaiting their judgment.

Because this is the real choice.

The previous actions of serving food, toasting, and offering tea were just prelude.

He was expressing his stance to all members of this "family".

He acknowledged that the "bride" was his wife, he mourned the spirit of his "sister," and he also respected the identity of his "father."

But he would never submit to his parents' blind and cruel arrangement.

He is to play a role of "setting things right" in this twisted family drama.

If successful, you will achieve an S-rank clear and unlock "The Return of the Soul".

If defeated, he would be torn to pieces by these two long-suffering paper figures.

Time is passing by, second by second.

That terrifying pressure grew stronger and stronger.

In the live stream, more than 50 million viewers held their breath, and even the barrage of comments became much sparser.

at last.

That "mother" moved.

She slowly put down her chopsticks, making a soft "click" sound.

Then, she spoke in an extremely hoarse voice.

"you……"

"I've grown up."

Just four words, yet they left all the audience stunned.

Is this... admitting defeat?

A subtle change in expression appeared on Lu Zhixing's face.

The core of this game is indeed "human relationships and social interactions".

As long as your behavior aligns with the persona of a "head of the household" who is "responsible, opinionated, and filial," you can, in turn, become the controller of the rules.

But before he could even catch his breath, the "mother" spoke again.

"Since you're in charge."

"Then I'm leaving this family in your hands."

As she spoke, she slowly stood up from her seat.

The moment she stood up, her black burial clothes began to become old and tattered at a visible speed.

Her face, as dry and withered as tree bark, began to crack and peel away inch by inch, revealing the hollow, papery structure inside.

"We...should go too."

The "father" next to him also stood up.

His body underwent the same changes.

The bluish-purple skin faded, revealing the crookedly tied bamboo frame underneath.

The two paper figures, which had originally resembled human beings, were completely transformed back into crude sacrificial offerings in just a few seconds.

They stood side by side, then slowly bowed to Lu Zhixing.

They bowed deeply to their nominal "sons".

It's like a power transition is taking place.

【Ding! 】

[Congratulations to player "Science Cult Leader" for achieving an S-rank perfect clear in "Double Happiness"!]

[Hidden storyline "The Burden of Family" has been unlocked!]

[World Announcement: Player "Scientific Cult Leader" has achieved an S-rank rating, becoming the world's first player to perfectly complete "Double Happiness"! The final chapter, "The Night of Return," has been unlocked for him!]

A series of system notifications and a world announcement that resounded throughout the Nebula Platform declared Lu Zhixing's victory.

Holy crap!!!

[S-rank! It really was an S-rank clear!]

[The Cult Leader, eternal God!]

I'm fucking dumbfounded! This game can be played like this? This isn't a horror game, this is Game of Thrones!

"I'm the boss in this house." — The most domineering line of the year in the Federation, bar none!

This global announcement caused a major upheaval not only among players.

He also slapped Aurora Entertainment hard across the face.

In Gao Qi's office.

He stared at the glaring golden announcement on the screen, his face even more grim than the "Zombie King" he had designed.

Manager Liu stood to the side, trembling.

He had just confidently assured everyone that no one would be able to clear the game at S-rank within a month.

As a result, the announcement was issued in less than an hour.

His face was swollen from being slapped.

"The leader of the cult of science..."

Gao Qi stared intently at the ID, his eyes filled with resentment and incomprehension.

It is him again!

Why him again!

Could this guy be a plant hired by Hao Ren?

……

in the game.

As the two paper figures of "father" and "mother" completely weathered into a pile of waste paper.

The entire courtyard began to undergo drastic changes.

The festive red lanterns turned a ghastly white.

The Eight Immortals Table and the paper-crafted banquet have also disappeared.

Instead, a black coffin was placed quietly in the center of the courtyard.

It's exactly the same scene as the opening of "The Red Veil".

Lu Zhixing was still sitting in the chair, holding the paper bride in his hand.

The main storyline of the game has ended; next, we will enter the entrance to "Return of the Dead".

He stood up and released the paper bride's hand.

"Wait for me to come back."

He said softly.

The paper bride did not respond; she simply stood quietly in place, like a statue waiting for her husband.

Lu Zhixing turned around, walked to the black coffin, and lay down inside.

Then, the coffin lid was slowly closed.

Before my eyes, I was plunged into absolute darkness.

[Switching your game...]

Welcome to... *The Return of the Dead*.

A cold, impersonal system notification sounded.

When Lu Zhixing opened his eyes again, he found himself floating in mid-air.

He looked down at his body.

It is translucent with a faint fluorescent glow, just like a holographic projection.

He truly became a "soul".

Lu Zhixing looked around.

This is the very Chen family mansion he just left.

But everything has changed.

The entire house was shrouded in a grayish hue.

All the objects looked as if they were covered with a layer of dust.

Is this... the perspective of the underworld?

[Mission Objective: Today is the seventh day after your death, the night your spirit returns. Find the true culprit who murdered your entire family.]

[Note: As a soul, you cannot physically interact with any objects in the mortal realm, nor are you required to abide by the rules of physics.]

[Warning: Your existence is limited to one hour. If the truth is not found before dawn, your soul will be annihilated.]

Lu Zhixing frowned slightly as he looked at the mission prompt.

There is only one hour.

Time is of the essence.

He began to try to move.

Sure enough, he could ignore the obstruction of walls, doors and windows and move freely throughout the entire house.

This feeling is very novel.

He "floated" into the main hall.

The main hall was empty.

The paper bride who had been waiting for him in the ending of "Double Happiness" was gone.

Where has she gone?

A hint of doubt flashed through Lu Zhixing's mind.

He didn't linger in the main hall, but instead went straight through the wall and into the depths of the house.

He recalled that in the story of "The Embroidered Shoes", after Professor Chen completed the game, he unlocked a hidden world called "The Old Story of the Chen Family".

Although the specific details have not been released, Lu Zhixing guessed that there must be clues hidden in it about the massacre of this family.

He walked through corridors and rooms.

The entire Chen family mansion was larger than one could imagine.

Moreover, the layout inside is completely different from when he played "Red Veil" and "Embroidered Shoes" before.

This is the true, complete appearance of the Chen family mansion.

Finally, he found the first clue in a secluded woodshed in the backyard.

In the corner of the woodshed, there was an account book that was half burned.

Lu Zhixing "floated" over.

As a spirit, he was unable to pick up the ledger.

But he can focus his "eyes" on the ledger and see the handwriting clearly.

On it, expenses were recorded in hasty, illegible handwriting with a brush.

"On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, I purchased three catties of Guanyin clay and one tael of cinnabar..."

"On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, an unclaimed female corpse was purchased from a mass grave west of the city for three hundred taels of silver..."

"On the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, we invite the 'Hundred Opera Troupes' from outside the city to come to our mansion and perform for three days..."

Upon seeing the words "Hundred Plays Troupe," Lu Zhixing frowned.

Just as he was pondering this.

A mournful and melodious singing voice drifted out from a certain direction of the house without warning.

"A good match was made without any misunderstanding, but alas, they are separated by life and death..."

"The figure in the painting, the moon in the mirror, a wasted wait, a calamity..."

The voice was plaintive and sorrowful, as if it could penetrate into one's very bones.

Lu Zhixing suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound.

In the deepest part of the Chen family mansion, in the largest courtyard that had never been opened to players before.

An old-fashioned stage has been quietly built, though no one knows when it was erected.

The stage was brightly lit.

A figure dressed in a gorgeous theatrical costume, with heavy makeup on his face, is facing away from him, his flowing sleeves fluttering as he sings a heart-wrenching lament.