A single divination predicts life and death; the entire internet begs me to start a live stream.

1:57 a.m.

Haicheng North.

Three police cars without sirens blaring drove through the empty industrial road.

The headlights were lowered very low.

The rain had just stopped, and the road was still wet. The wheels made a soft, crunching sound as they rolled over the puddles.

Lin Wanqing sat in the passenger seat of the first car, clutching a walkie-talkie in her hand.

She didn't say anything.

The atmosphere inside the car was very tense.

In the back seat, two criminal police officers were working: one was checking the old waterworks floor plan, and the other was contacting the North City Police Department.

"Team Leader Lin, the old water plant has been out of service for seven years."

"The main gate has been sealed off, and there are damaged walls around it."

"There are many factories inside, the pipelines are complicated, and the location of the underground water storage tank is unclear."

Another detective whispered:

"The platform is cooperating, and the accounts in the live streams that are acting abnormally are being locked."

"But there are too many people, and screening will take time."

Lin Wanqing hummed in agreement, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

Chen Bufan's words were still echoing in her mind.

—Don't go through the main entrance.

—Below the reservoir on the west side.

—The door was locked with chains.

—A piece of red rope was stuffed into the keyhole.

She doesn't believe in metaphysics.

She absolutely refused to believe it, at least not until tonight.

But then came the cases of Shen Qingyue, the Wang family, and Zhao Qiming, and finally the disappearance of Zhou Xiaoyu.

Every time, Chen Bufan was absolutely right.

It was so accurate it didn't seem like a coincidence.

However, criminal police officers cannot rely on trust when handling cases.

We can only rely on evidence.

Lin Wanqing took a deep breath and pressed the intercom button.

"Attention everyone!"

"Turn off the warning lights when approaching the old water plant."

"Don't honk your horn."

"Do not enter through the main entrance."

Several voices came through the walkie-talkie.

"receive."

"receive."

The young detective in the back seat couldn't help but ask:

"Captain Lin, are we really going to listen to that anchor?"

Lin Wanqing glanced at him.

"We're not listening to the broadcaster."

"This is a risk warning."

The young detective was taken aback.

Lin Wanqing's voice was calm.

"If he's wrong, we'll just be taking a longer route."

"If he's right, the main entrance could be in danger."

"Saving lives is the priority."

No one spoke in the car anymore.

at the same time.

The number of viewers in Chen Bufan's live stream has exceeded four million.

The live stream connection was clearly interrupted.

The live stream only showed Chen Bufan.

But millions of people stubbornly stayed in front of their screens, refusing to leave.

The comments section never stopped.

Where is Officer Lin?

Is there any news about the old water plant?

Zhou Xiaoyu must live!

I'm from Haicheng. The old waterworks area in the north of the city is very remote; nobody goes there at night.

Is the killer still streaming?

[Platform, please ban these suspicious accounts immediately!]

[Won't this interfere with the police investigation? With so many people watching the live stream, the perpetrator could also see it.]

【Master Chen, why don't you end the broadcast first?】

We're even more panicked now that the broadcast has ended.

But the location has already been revealed. If the killer is really watching, won't they move the person?

The debate is intensifying.

Some people think Chen Bufan was saving someone.

Some people think that his revealing the location during the live stream might provoke the killer or even affect police operations.

The platform's backend is also under strain.

The security audit team, legal department, and public relations team were all called in.

On the big screen, the data in Chen Bufan's live stream was still rising.

A staff member whispered:

"Should we interrupt the live stream?"

The supervisor stared at the screen, his face grim.

"If we interrupt it now, the public will explode."

"Can we continue broadcasting? What if it interferes with the police investigation?"

"What did the police say?"

"The Criminal Investigation Division instructed us to retain the live stream data, lock any suspicious accounts, and not to interfere with the live stream for the time being."

The supervisor remained silent for two seconds.

"Assign someone to keep an eye on it."

"He said to immediately remind me of any specific details of the operation."

"Also, back up all the bullet comment data."

"Don't miss a single word."

In the live stream, Chen Bufan glanced at the comments.

He was certainly aware of the controversy.

They also knew the killer might be watching.

So he only mentioned the location.

The method of cracking it was not mentioned.

Some things cannot be said to the entire internet.

But Lin Wanqing must know.

He looked down, picked up his phone, and sent a private message to Lin Wanqing's work account.

Three things.

First, do not use the main entrance.

Second, turn off the power switch upon entering.

Third, do not touch the red string.

After sending the message, he looked up at the live stream.

"The police are already on their way."

"Do not go to the old water plant without permission."

"Don't block the road with your cars."

"Don't cause trouble for the police."

The comments section immediately started flooded with messages.

Listen to the master!

Don't go to the scene!

[People in the same city, please don't cause trouble.]

Saving lives is not about watching the spectacle.

But master, could you tell me if the person is still alive?

Chen Bufan remained silent for a second.

"To live."

His voice was very low.

"But the life lamp is very weak."

This sentence instantly brought tears to the eyes of the viewers in the live chat.

You must hold on.

[Zhou Xiaoyu, hang in there!]

Don't be afraid, little sister, the police are coming to rescue you.

My daughter is also a senior in high school, and it breaks my heart to see her like this.

Please, please, you have to make it.

Outside the old waterworks.

The police car was parked in an abandoned parking lot 200 meters away from the main entrance.

Lin Wanqing got out of the car and looked up at the old water plant not far away.

black.

too dark.

Half of the wall surrounding the factory area has collapsed, and a sign saying "Rusty" is hanging on the iron gate.

[Danger area, entry prohibited]

A night breeze blew by, and the sign swayed gently.

creak.

creak.

The sound was like someone grinding their teeth in the dark.

The officers from the Chengbei branch have arrived.

A middle-aged police officer lowered his voice and said:

"Team Leader Lin, the main gate is locked from the outside."

"We can break the lock and get in."

Lin Wanqing immediately said:

"Don't use the main entrance."

The middle-aged police officer was taken aback.

Why?

Lin Wanqing did not explain.

"Go along the west back wall."

"Find the main power switch first."

The officers exchanged glances.

Although they were puzzled, no one refuted them.

Lin Wanqing works for the Criminal Investigation Division of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Now it's a matter of life and death again.

They can only execute orders.

The group went around to the west side.

Sure enough, a section of the back wall collapsed.

The collapsed section was hidden by weeds and could easily be missed if you weren't looking carefully.

The young detective whispered:

"Team Leader Lin, there really is a hole in the back wall."

Lin Wanqing's eyes darkened.

Chen Bufan was right again.

She didn't stop.

"Go in."

Several police officers climbed over first, and only after confirming it was safe did Lin Wanqing follow.

The weeds in the factory area are very tall.

When you step on it, the wet mud sticks to the soles of your shoes.

The abandoned factory in the distance looked like a monster lying in the night.

The windows were completely dark.

There are no lights.

There was no sound.

But the quieter it is, the more uneasy one feels.

Lin Wanqing turned on her flashlight.

The beam of light swept across the wall.

The mottled cement wall was covered with moss and old water stains.

There was a musty smell in the air.

There was also an indescribable fishy smell.

The young detective frowned.

"This place doesn't seem like a place where people can hide."

Lin Wanqing whispered:

"The less similar it seems, the more we need to investigate."

She took out her phone and saw a private message from Chen Bufan.

Three sentences.

Don't use the main entrance.

Turn off the power switch as soon as you enter.

Do not touch the red rope.

Lin Wanqing stared at the second line, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Find the power switch first."

The police officer next to me asked:

"The person hasn't been found yet, and you're already turning off the power?"

"right."

Lin Wanqing's tone left no room for argument.

"Turn off the power first."

The group dispersed to search.

A short while later, someone shouted from the side of the old factory building:

"Team Leader Lin, there's a power distribution box here!"

The distribution box was badly rusted, and the outer casing was half open.

There are still a few old wires inside.

A police officer shone a flashlight inside, and his expression changed.

"Is there still electricity here?"

Logically speaking, an old water plant that has been out of service for seven years should still have electricity.

There is a newly connected wire in the distribution box.

The black tape was wrapped very roughly.

It's clearly a follow-up.

Lin Wanqing's eyes darkened.

"Turn it off."

The police officer put on insulated gloves and pulled the power switch.

Snapped.

Deep within the factory area, a low, humming sound suddenly ceased.

It was like some kind of machine had its power forcibly cut off.

Everyone froze for a moment.

The young detective muttered a curse under his breath.

"Something is actually using electricity."

Lin Wanqing did not speak.

She simply gripped the flashlight tighter.

If you had entered through the front door and the power hadn't been turned off, what would have happened inside?

no one knows.

In the live stream room.

Chen Bufan remained silent.

But his phone screen lit up briefly.

Lin Wanqing sent two words:

It's closed.

Chen Bufan glanced at it.

His expression softened slightly.

The viewers in the live chat immediately noticed his expression.

Has the master received the message?

Have the police arrived at the old waterworks?

Tell me quickly!

Don't rush me; it might involve operational details.

Yes, don't let the killer know.

If the killer is really in the live stream, they're probably panicking right now.

Just then, a comment appeared in the live stream chat.

It's no use, turning off the power won't help.

This comment only lasted for a moment.

It was quickly submerged.

But Chen Bufan saw it.

The platform's backend immediately locked the account.

The staff member called out:

"An unusual account has posted again!"

User data is retained!

"The location request has been shared with the police!"

Chen Bufan looked at the screen full of comments and suddenly spoke:

"You're in a hurry."

Everyone in the live stream was stunned.

Who is the master talking to?

[The killer?]

Was there a strange comment just now?

[I saw that too, saying turning off the power doesn't work.]

Chen Bufan stared at the screen, his voice cold.

"You'd better pray she's still alive."

"Otherwise, you won't even have the chance to turn yourself in."

That account never posted again.

Inside the old waterworks.

Lin Wanqing led the team into the main factory building.

The main entrance is at the other end.

They didn't leave.

The factory was filled with rusty pipes and abandoned equipment.

Footsteps echoed in the empty space.

Snapped.

Snapped.

Snapped.

Every single one of them made my heart race.

"Team Leader Lin, there's a staircase this way!"

A police officer discovered a passage leading underground.

A metal plate was half-covered at the entrance to the passage.

A pile of scrap wood was pressed down on the iron plate.

It's obvious that someone deliberately covered it up.

Several people worked together to move it.

A damp, rotten smell instantly rose up from below.

The young detective's expression changed.

"Someone has worked there before."

Lin Wanqing raised her hand.

"slow."

She crouched down and shone her flashlight into the passageway.

The cement steps lead all the way down.

The wall is slippery.

There are fresh signs of friction on the edge of the steps.

It looked like something had been dragged down there.

Lin Wanqing recalled Chen Bufan's third reminder.

Do not touch the red rope.

"Attention everyone!"

"After you go down, don't touch anything."

"Especially the red rope."

The middle-aged police officer frowned.

"A red string?"

Lin Wanqing did not explain.

Do as instructed.

The column began its descent.

The basement was deeper than I had imagined.

The lower you go, the colder the air gets.

When the flashlight beam swept across the wall, mottled watermarks and unidentified black stains could be seen.

Upon reaching the last step, an iron gate appeared ahead.

There was an iron chain hanging on the door.

The lock is rusted.

But the chains are new.

Lin Wanqing's heart sank suddenly.

The door was locked with iron chains.

Chen Bufan was right again.

She crouched down and shone her flashlight into the keyhole.

The next second, she caught her breath.

There really was half a red rope stuffed in the keyhole.

It was a dark, dull red.

It looked like it had been soaked in blood.

The red rope peeked out from the keyhole, hanging gently.

There is no wind.

It swayed very slightly, as if it were alive.

The young detective next to him instinctively reached out his hand.

"I pulled it out."

"Don't touch it!"

Lin Wanqing suddenly shouted in a low voice.

The young detective's hand froze in mid-air, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Everyone looked at the broken red rope.

The basement was so quiet that only breathing could be heard.

Lin Wanqing took out her phone, took a picture, and sent it to Chen Bufan.

A few seconds later.

In Chen Bufan's live stream, his phone vibrated slightly.

He glanced down at the photo.

iron gate.

Iron chain.

Keyhole.

Red string.

His face grew colder and colder.

The live stream chat was filled with people staring at him.

What happened to the master?

Have you found it?

Have you found Zhou Xiaoyu?

Why does the master look so pale?

Chen Bufan raised his head, his voice low.

"The red rope has been found."