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

Chen Bufan's expression darkened after just one glance at the photo.

iron gate.

Iron chain.

Keyhole.

Half a red rope.

The red string hanging from the keyhole was a dark, almost blackish red.

It was just a photo taken on a mobile phone, but millions of people watching the live stream felt a chill run down their spines for no apparent reason.

[There really is a red string!]

[The master was right again!]

What would have happened if the police had touched it?

Don't touch it! Please don't touch it!

Is Zhou Xiaoyu inside?

[Quickly, save them!]

Lin Wanqing did not start a live broadcast.

But she kept sending Chen Bufan photos of the scene via private message.

Chen Bufan stared at the photo, his finger gently pressing on the copper coin.

The coin did not make a sound.

But the coldness in his eyes was even stronger.

This is not a murder plot.

At least, it wasn't simply to kill Zhou Xiaoyu.

A red rope is used to plug the keyhole, and an iron chain is used to seal the door; the old waterworks is a place where water accumulates and brings misfortune.

This is a very crudely made trap.

The technique was not skillful.

But it's ruthless enough.

The trapped person will become increasingly weak and fearful, and their consciousness will gradually dissipate.

When a person can no longer hold on, their soul energy dissipates first.

The body is still alive, but the person feels trapped in a dream.

The most troublesome thing is that in such a situation, the killer doesn't necessarily have to be present at the scene.

Once the trap is set, anyone locked up inside will walk down the path to their death.

Chen Bufan picked up his phone and sent a message to Lin Wanqing.

Don't pull the red string.

Cut the chain, but don't touch the keyhole.

Save lives first, then break the deadlock.

Soon, Lin Wanqing replied with two words.

【receive. 】

The basement of the old waterworks.

Lin Wanqing squatted in front of the iron gate, her eyes as cold as ice.

After reading Chen Bufan's reply, she immediately spoke:

"Attention everyone!"

"Don't touch the keyhole."

"Don't touch the red string."

"Broken iron chains."

The young detective standing nearby couldn't help but ask:

"Captain Lin, what's wrong with this red rope?"

Lin Wanqing stared at the half-broken red rope.

"I have no idea."

Her voice was very steady.

"But so far, everything Chen Bufan has said has been correct."

No one asked any more questions.

Two police officers took out breaching pliers.

Click.

It didn't break on the first try.

The chains were thick and newly replaced.

Click.

The second time, the chain broke in half.

The echoes were muffled in the basement.

It sounds like someone is beating a drum in the distance.

The musty, rotten smell in the air was even stronger.

One of the officers frowned.

"There seems to be a sound inside."

Lin Wanqing immediately raised her hand.

Everyone quieted down.

In the basement, only the sound of dripping water could be heard.

Tick.

Tick.

Then came a very soft sob.

Like a kitten meowing.

It sounded like a girl squeezing out a sob from her throat.

Lin Wanqing's expression changed.

"The person is inside!"

The pliers clamped the chain again.

Click!

The chain broke.

A police officer reached out to push the door open.

Lin Wanqing whispered:

"slow."

She shone her flashlight through the crack in the door.

There is no organization.

There are no power lines.

There are no obvious hazards.

But the half-length of red rope in the keyhole still hung there.

Not moving at all.

Lin Wanqing put on gloves, used a tool to hold the door panel in place, and slowly pushed it inward.

squeak-

The iron gate opened.

A stronger, more humid smell wafted over.

It smelled musty, rusty, and had a sour, rotten odor.

The flashlight beam shone inside.

It's not a regular basement.

It was actually an equipment room next to an abandoned water storage tank.

The ground is slippery.

The paint on the wall is peeling off.

Old pipes and discarded iron drums were piled up in the corner.

And at the very back, next to a rusty water pipe, a person was huddled up.

Blue and white school uniform.

The ponytail was loose.

His hands and feet were bound with cable ties.

His mouth was taped shut.

He was curled up in a ball, and you could hardly see him breathing.

Lin Wanqing's heart tightened suddenly.

"Zhou Xiaoyu!"

She strode forward, but then stopped half a meter away from the girl.

Because there was a red string wrapped around the girl.

A thin red string.

The pipe wound around the corner of the wall, then around the girl's feet, and finally connected to the edge of the reservoir.

Like a crooked circle.

Trapped her inside.

The young detective cursed under his breath:

"What the hell is this thing?"

Lin Wanqing did not touch it.

She first turned on the body camera and pointed it at the scene.

"Photograph."

"The whole process was recorded."

"Medical preparations."

After saying that, she took out her phone, took a picture of the red rope and Zhou Xiaoyu's location, and sent it to Chen Bufan.

In the live stream room.

Chen Bufan's phone vibrated again.

He looked down at the photo.

The chat instantly tensed up.

Have you found them?

Master, please say something.

Is Zhou Xiaoyu still alive?

I'm so anxious!

After looking at the photos, Chen Bufan immediately sent a message back.

Don't touch the red string.

Enter from the southeast corner.

Remove the tape first, then feed water slowly.

Do not help her stand up immediately.

After posting, he looked up at the live stream.

"The person has been found."

The chat was silent for a moment.

The next second, it exploded completely.

Found it!

【It's really found!】

Zhou Xiaoyu has been found!

Is she alive? Master, is she alive?

Please, please, you must live.

Chen Bufan said in a deep voice:

"To live."

Two words.

The entire live stream room exploded.

【Very good!】

[Alive!]

[Hang in there, little sister!]

[The police are awesome!]

Master Chen is awesome!

Officer Lin is awesome!

I cried, I really cried.

The basement of the old waterworks.

After receiving Chen Bufan's reminder, Lin Wanqing looked down at the red rope on the ground.

Southeast corner.

There is indeed a gap.

The red rope was not completely closed there.

It looks like an opening left on purpose.

Lin Wanqing frowned.

Is this a coincidence?

Or was it intentionally left there by the person who designed it?

She didn't have time to think about it.

Saving lives is the most important thing.

"Go in from here."

Lin Wanqing stepped across the southeast corner and squatted down next to Zhou Xiaoyu.

The girl was pale, her lips were chapped, and her forehead was burning hot.

He had abrasions on his body, and his school uniform was covered in mud and water stains.

Lin Wanqing reached out and touched the side of her neck.

And a pulse.

very weak.

"Light rain."

"I am a police officer."

"Don't be afraid, we're here to save you."

Zhou Xiaoyu's eyelids twitched.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

But she was too weak; she didn't even have the strength to open her eyes.

Lin Wanqing carefully peeled off the tape from her mouth.

As soon as the tape was torn off, the girl let out a broken cry.

"save……"

"Help me..."

Lin Wanqing felt a lump in her throat.

But her voice remained steady.

"It's safe now."

"Don't speak."

"Conserve your energy."

The medical staff came down quickly.

As Lin Wanqing reminded her, she first moistened Zhou Xiaoyu's lips with a cotton swab, and then fed her water little by little.

There was no force-feeding.

They did not forcibly lift him up.

Several police officers cut the cable ties and carefully lifted her onto a stretcher.

Throughout the entire process, no one touched the red string.

Lin Wanqing only breathed a sigh of relief after Zhou Xiaoyu was carried out of the equipment room.

But the next second, she looked at the red string and frowned again.

After Zhou Xiaoyu was rescued, the red rope was hollow in the middle.

That ring of red stood out even more starkly against the damp ground.

Like an empty trap.

Waiting for the next person to step in.

The news has already spread in the live stream room.

Zhou Xiaoyu has been rescued!

[Someone at the scene said he's already been put on an ambulance!]

My sister is still alive!

[Thank you to the police!]

Thank you, Officer Lin!

Thank you, Master Chen!

The entire internet truly saved lives tonight.

I'll never forget this live stream.

Chen Bufan did not laugh.

He looked at the photos Lin Wanqing sent him, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

The person has been rescued.

But the situation remained unresolved.

To be precise, the purpose of this scheme may not have been to kill Zhou Xiaoyu at all.

She is the bait.

She wasn't the only one trapped.

There were also people who came to rescue her.

Chen Bufan picked up his phone and sent a message to Lin Wanqing.

The perpetrator was not at the scene.

A few seconds later, Lin Wanqing called directly.

She did not post any more messages.

Once connected, the volume was kept very low.

How did you know?

Chen Bufan did not turn on speakerphone.

But the live stream was eerily quiet; everyone was staring at his expression.

Chen Bufan looked at the photos on the computer screen.

"The scene was so clean."

Lin Wanqing frowned.

"We haven't finished our survey yet."

Chen Bufan said:

"I'm not saying the evidence is clean, but that it is clean."

"It's because the air is too clean."

Lin Wanqing was silent for a second.

If it were before, she would have thought that statement was absurd.

But now, she didn't interrupt.

Chen Bufan continued:

"The old waterworks was damp and cold, making it suitable for Tibetans."

"But it's not suitable for a long stay."

"The murderer kept Zhou Xiaoyu locked up there for three days, but left no trace of guarding the scene."

"That means he left a long time ago."

Lin Wanqing glanced at the equipment room.

"And what about this red string?"

Chen Bufan lowered his voice slightly.

"A trap."

Lin Wanqing's eyes darkened.

"effect?"

"It made her increasingly weak."

"It lowered her will to survive."

"It also allows her life force to converge in one place."

Lin Wanqing frowned as she listened.

"Just state your conclusion."

Chen Bufan remained silent for half a second.

"This round isn't about killing her."

Lin Wanqing was taken aback.

"Not to kill her?"

"Why is that?"

Chen Bufan looked at the empty red rope circle in the photo.

"It's because someone is coming to rescue her."

A chill instantly ran down Lin Wanqing's back.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Bufan said:

"Zhou Xiaoyu is too weak to withstand this situation."

"But she can attract people."

"police."

"Live stream room."

"And me too."

Lin Wanqing tightened her grip on her phone.

She suddenly looked up and around.

The basement of the old waterworks was cold and damp.

Several police officers are cordoning off the scene.

Medical staff have already carried Zhou Xiaoyu upstairs.

Everything seemed normal.

But as soon as Chen Bufan said that, she suddenly felt that this was not a rescue scene.

It's more like a setup that's already been orchestrated.

Lin Wanqing asked in a low voice:

"You mean, the killer deliberately let you find this place?"

Chen Bufan did not deny it.

"He's in the live stream."

"He saw me mention the location."

"But he didn't move anyone."

Why do you think so?

Lin Wanqing's face turned completely cold.

"Because he originally wanted us to come."

"right."

Chen Bufan said:

"He wants to see how I handle this."

"It also depends on whether the police will do as I say."

"More importantly, we need to see if the entire internet will believe me."

Lin Wanqing remained silent.

This is no longer an ordinary kidnapping.

This is a provocation.

In response to the police's provocation.

This was also a provocation directed at Chen Bufan.

"Can I touch that red rope?"

Lin Wanqing asked.

"Not now."

Chen Bufan said:

"Wait until I finish reading it."

Lin Wanqing was taken aback.

"Are you coming to the event?"

Chen Bufan did not answer.

He was just watching the live stream.

The comments on the screen were still going wild.

They've been rescued!

【Very good!】

[Master Chen is deified!]

Officer Lin is so handsome!

Catch the culprit immediately!

This beast must be severely punished!

Amidst the cheers, one comment stood out as particularly jarring.

You've saved the wrong person.

The comment flashed by in an instant.

It was quickly submerged.

But Chen Bufan saw it.

His gaze gradually turned cold.

In the live stream, the viewers also noticed something was wrong.

Why is the master silent now?

Are there still any questions?

"Wasn't the person rescued?"

The master looked very unwell.

The murderer hasn't been caught yet, has he?

Chen Bufan put down his phone.

Then he looked up and looked at the camera.

At that moment, millions of viewers in the live stream felt a chill run down their spines for no apparent reason.

Because it seems that Chen Bufan wasn't looking at everyone.

It's someone behind the screen.

He spoke, but in a very low voice.

"Stop hiding it."

The comments section froze instantly.

Who is the master talking to?

[The killer?]

Is the killer still streaming?

Chen Bufan stared at the bullet screen section.

He said, word by word:

"Zhou Xiaoyu has been rescued."

"It's time for your scheme to come to light."

A few seconds later.

The account without a profile picture posted another comment.

Chen Bufan, do you really think you saved her?

The live stream chat exploded instantly.

Holy crap!

It's him!

The killer is really here!

[Lock him on the platform! Lock him up now!]

Call the police!

Chen Bufan's eyes turned completely cold.

He glanced at the comment and spoke calmly:

"The killer is currently in the live stream."