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

"He's near the police station."

As soon as Chen Bufan finished speaking, Lin Wanqing's pupils contracted sharply.

Outside the old waterworks, the night wind blew across the roof of a police car.

The walkie-talkie was still transmitting messages about three empty locations.

Xichen Square: None.

Hong'an Warehouse: None.

There is no water pump room at Blue Harbor Apartment either.

All three locations were fake.

However, these three locations, when connected, perfectly surround the West Branch of the Public Security Bureau.

Lin Wanqing reacted almost instantly.

It's dark under the lamp.

The killer deliberately led the police away.

He knew the police would prioritize investigating remote areas, abandoned sites, and underground spaces.

So he deliberately hid people in the most unlikely place.

Near the police station.

The more dangerous, the safer.

The live stream chat exploded.

[Near the police station?!]

Holy crap, this killer is insane!

Was he deliberately watching the police run away?

[The darkness is right under your nose! This is truly a case of the darkness being right under your nose!]

Officer Lin, go back quickly!

[Hang in there, little sister!]

Without a second's hesitation, Lin Wanqing grabbed the walkie-talkie.

Attention all units!

"Re-investigate the area within 500 meters of the Chengxi Branch."

"The focus of the inspection will be on abandoned residential buildings, basements, garages, repair shops, and vacant shops."

"All nearby police forces, withdraw immediately!"

"quick!"

The walkie-talkie crackled with responses.

"receive!"

"receive!"

"The search and investigation of the area surrounding the Chengxi Branch has begun!"

Lin Wanqing turned and got into the car.

"Go to the west of the city."

The young detective followed.

"Team Leader Lin, which location?"

Lin Wanqing stared at the map on her phone.

There are two old residential buildings near the Chengxi Branch Bureau, and half of them have been demolished.

One of the buildings has been vacant due to a property dispute.

The ground floor houses old shops.

There is an old-fashioned storage room on the ground floor.

The location is exactly in the center of the three fake locations.

She zoomed in on the map.

The label next to it reads: Old building in Nanhe New Village.

"Nanhe New Village".

"That abandoned building that wasn't completely demolished."

Chen Bufan overheard this on the other end of the phone and whispered:

"right."

Lin Wanqing asked:

Is the person still alive?

Chen Bufan stared at the photo, his fingers pressing on the edge of the "Destiny Record".

My chest still hurts.

The metallic taste of blood from that mouthful hadn't dissipated yet.

But he can't stop.

"To live."

"But time is running out."

Lin Wanqing gritted her teeth.

"A few minutes?"

Chen Bufan looked at the life lamp between the girl's eyebrows in the photo, which was almost suppressed by black energy.

"At most twenty minutes."

The car fell into a deathly silence.

The driver stepped on the gas.

The police car did not sound its siren.

The car headlights cut through the rain and fog of the night as it sped toward the West Branch of the Public Security Bureau.

In the live stream, everyone was so nervous that they dared not send any random messages.

[Twenty minutes!]

[Help, it's so tight!]

[Officer Lin, hurry!]

Don't rush us, the police are on their way.

This killer is incredibly cunning; he hid the person near the police station.

Did he think the police wouldn't expect this?

Chen Bufan looked at the comments and suddenly spoke:

"He didn't think the police wouldn't have thought of it."

"He wanted to see something the police wouldn't expect."

The live chat stopped.

Chen Bufan continued:

"This kind of person does more than just kidnapping."

"He enjoys being in control."

"He wants to see everyone being led around by him."

"He wants to prove that he's smarter than the police, smarter than me."

"So he won't hide far away."

"He needs to hide in a place that will excite him."

A chill ran through the barrage of comments.

【abnormal.】

[That's really weird.]

This kind of person is terrifying.

The master must seize him.

Ten minutes later.

The area surrounding the Chengxi Branch of the Public Security Bureau.

Old buildings in Nanhe New Village.

Two police cars silently pulled up at the entrance of the alley.

This location is less than 300 meters away from the Chengxi Branch of the Public Security Bureau as the crow flies.

Even from the rooftop, you can see the police lights at the branch office gate.

The old building's exterior walls are mottled, and most of the windows are broken.

The old shops on the first floor have rusted roller shutters, and there are piles of discarded wooden planks at the entrance.

There were no lights in the hallway.

It was as black as an open mouth.

Lin Wanqing got out of the car and pulled out a baton and a flashlight.

"Block both exits."

"Keep someone at the back door."

"Beware of gas, electrical wires, red ropes, and suspicious devices."

The young detective was taken aback.

"gas?"

Lin Wanqing said coldly:

"He's a plumber."

"He won't just kidnap people."

Just as he finished speaking, Chen Bufan's voice came from the phone.

"Don't go through the main entrance on the first floor."

Lin Wanqing paused in her steps.

Why?

Chen Bufan said:

There's a wire behind the door.

Lin Wanqing immediately raised her hand.

"stop."

An officer was almost touching the roller shutter when he heard the order and stopped abruptly.

He crouched down and shone his flashlight through the crack in the door.

A few seconds later, he almost cried out.

"Team Leader Lin, there really is a wire behind the door."

"Very fine."

"Like a fishing line."

The police officer next to him muttered a curse in a low voice.

"It triggers as soon as the door is opened?"

Lin Wanqing's eyes grew even colder.

"Break in through the second-floor window."

Chen Bufan said:

"West-side window."

Lin Wanqing immediately waved her hand.

"West side."

Several police officers quickly circled around to the side of the building.

There is a broken window on the second floor of the old building, with a cracked window frame and piles of discarded bricks below.

They set up a makeshift ladder and climbed in one by one.

Lin Wanqing was the last to enter.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she smelled a faint smell of gas.

It's very light.

But it does exist.

She immediately raised her hand.

Everyone stopped.

"Don't shoot."

"Don't light it."

"Don't touch the switch."

It's real gas.

If we had broken down the door directly and triggered some kind of electrical spark, I don't even want to think about the consequences.

In the live stream, not all the details of the scene could be heard, but Lin Wanqing kept her voice chat with Chen Bufan on the line.

Chen Bufan heard her breathing become lighter and immediately asked:

"Can you smell it?"

Lin Wanqing lowered her voice.

"gas."

The live stream chat exploded.

【gas?!】

[Is the killer planning to bomb the building?]

No wonder we couldn't use the main entrance.

That's too ruthless!

[Officer Lin, watch out!]

Chen Bufan continued.

"He wanted to detonate it."

"The hostages are underground."

"He may not necessarily want to leave alive."

Lin Wanqing understood.

Where is he?

Chen Bufan closed his eyes.

The image of the old building unfolded in his mind little by little.

A broken window.

corridor.

Damp cement floor.

The smell of gas.

electric wire.

There is also a cloud of black mist hidden underground.

"Underground storage room."

"Not the innermost part."

"The one in the middle."

"An old Spring Festival couplet was pasted on the door."

Lin Wanqing immediately gestured behind her.

The group hugged the wall as they descended the stairs.

The staircase in the old building is very narrow.

The dust is very thick.

Each step produces a very soft rustling sound.

Sure enough, at the end of the first-floor corridor, there was an iron door leading to the underground.

The iron gate was ajar.

A cold draft was seeping out from under the door.

Lin Wanqing squatted down and shone her flashlight inside.

There is no wire.

But a red rope was wrapped around the doorknob.

Another red rope.

Lin Wanqing lowered her voice:

"There's a red string on the doorknob."

Chen Bufan said:

"Don't touch it."

Lin Wanqing: "How do I get in?"

Chen Bufan looked at the lifeline in his mind and said in a low voice:

"Kick the door."

"Kick the bottom half of the door panel."

"Don't touch the handle."

Lin Wanqing made a gesture.

A police officer stepped forward and kicked the lower half of the door panel hard.

boom!

The iron gate was kicked open.

The red rope was still hanging on the handle, untouched.

The underground passage has been revealed.

The smell of gas was stronger.

There was also a bloody smell.

Lin Wanqing led the team down.

There are six underground storage rooms in total.

The middle room had half a faded Spring Festival couplet pasted on the door.

Only the character "福" (fortune) remains.

It's paid for outright.

Lin Wanqing's heart tightened.

Chen Bufan was right again.

Just then, a suppressed sob came from inside.

"Waaah..."

The hostages are inside!

Lin Wanqing immediately moved closer to the door.

Before she could give the order, a cold, menacing voice suddenly came from inside the door.

"Don't come in."

"Come back in, I'm setting it on fire."

Everyone stopped.

Lin Wanqing waved her hand, signaling the people behind her to retreat.

She stood close to the door and said coldly:

"You are surrounded."

"Release the hostages."

You still have a chance.

The man inside laughed.

His laughter was hoarse yet excited.

"Chance?"

"I've been waiting for you to come."

"Aren't you guys very good at finding things?"

"Isn't Chen Bufan quite good at calculations?"

"Then you guys decide, do I dare to order?"

In the live stream, millions of people heard this sound, and the chat went wild instantly.

It's that alt account!

[Murderer!]

He's really inside!

Don't provoke him!

The hostages are still in his hands!

Hearing that voice, Chen Bufan felt somewhat gratified.

it's him.

Thirty-four years old.

Plumber/electrician.

There is a scar on the tiger's mouth.

Old injury to left leg.

However, at this moment, the life force within this person is in a state of chaos.

It's not simply fierce.

There's also a surge of frenzied energy that's been ignited.

Someone planted a seed of anger in his heart.

Chen Bufan asked in a deep voice:

"Lin Wanqing, can you see inside?"

Lin Wanqing lowered her voice:

"The door gap is very narrow."

"All we can see are the hostages."

"The girl was tied to a chair."

"The killer is behind her."

"It looks like he has a lighter in his hand."

Chen Bufan immediately said:

"He doesn't dare to order right away."

"He wants you to listen to him."

Lin Wanqing's eyes flickered slightly.

Why?

"He wants an audience."

Chen Bufan stared at the live stream.

"He's been watching the live stream ever since the old water plant."

"He enjoys being seen."

"Give him a chance to speak."

"Hold him back."

Lin Wanqing immediately understood.

She said to the person inside:

"You want to talk to Chen Bufan?"

The man inside indeed remained silent for a second.

Then he laughed.

"Let him speak."

"Let that master speak."

"I want to hear him beg me."

The comments section was filled with angry remarks.

【brute!】

He really treated this like a performance.

Master, don't beg him!

[The hostages are the priority; stabilize the situation first.]

Chen Bufan turned on the speakerphone on the other end of the line, which was connected to Lin Wanqing's.

His voice was transmitted into the underground storage room through Lin Wanqing's mobile phone.

"What do you want to hear me say?"

The man inside began to breathe heavily.

"Chen Bufan".

"Aren't you good at math?"

"You tell me, do you dare to die now?"

Chen Bufan said:

"I wouldn't dare."

The man was furious.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Chen Bufan's voice was very flat.

"If you really wanted to die, you wouldn't be hiding near the police station."

"You want to get arrested."

"But you want to be remembered by everyone."

"You dare not die silently."

"I don't even dare to admit that I'm just a dog in someone else's hands."

The basement was deathly silent.

Lin Wanqing could clearly hear the man inside breathing more rapidly.

Chen Bufan's knife struck accurately.

The man's voice became shrill.

"I'm not a dog!"

"I am the chosen one!"

"He said that if I complete this game, I can exchange my life for his!"

He said it.

There really was someone behind it all.

Lin Wanqing also heard this and immediately looked at the police officer next to her.

The officers understood and quietly looked for an angle to break down the door from the side.

Chen Bufan continued:

"He said he'd let you exchange your life?"

"Did he tell you that the Black Fate Mark won't help you change your fate, it will only hasten your death?"

The man paused.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Chen Bufan said:

"Is the scar on the web of your right hand hurting now?"

There was no sound inside.

Chen Bufan continued:

"My old injury in my left leg is also hurting."

"I feel tightness in my chest."

"My vision is going black."

"You think it's nervousness?"

"no."

"It's the life-saving charm that's eating your life."

The man's tone began to panic.

"Shut up!"

"Shut up!"

Chen Bufan's voice was crisp and clear.

"Lin Wanqing."

"Let's do it."

Almost simultaneously, Lin Wanqing suddenly raised her leg and kicked open the storage room door.

boom!

The door slammed against the wall.

The scene inside was instantly exposed.

The girl was tied to a chair, her mouth was taped shut, and her face was covered in tears.

Behind her, the man was holding her hair with one hand and a lighter in the other.

There were gas cylinders on the ground.

The hose was cut open, and the smell of gas was so strong it was pungent.

The man was startled by the sudden breaking down of the door, and his finger instinctively reached for the lighter.

Chen Bufan said sternly:

"Left hand!"

Lin Wanqing reacted extremely quickly.

Instead of lunging at him head-on, she stepped to the side and lashed the man's left wrist with her baton.

Snapped!

The man screamed in agony.

The lighter fell to the ground.

The police officer next to him immediately rushed over and kicked the lighter away.

Another officer lunged at the gas cylinder and quickly shut off the valve.

The man tried to struggle, but Lin Wanqing had already grabbed his shoulder and pressed her knee against his old injury on his left leg.

"what!"

The man screamed and fell to his knees.

Lin Wanqing twisted his arms behind his back and handcuffed him with a click.

"Don't move!"

"police!"

"Behave yourself!"

The girl was grabbed by another officer, who quickly cut the ropes.

"We're safe now."

"Don't be afraid, you're safe now."

In the live stream, millions of people breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.

The barrage of comments surged out like a tsunami.

We've got them!

The hostages have been rescued!

Officer Lin is so handsome!

[The master just said, "My left hand is my life!"]

[Gas cylinder! It really is an explosion trap!]

This was so exciting, my hands were shaking.

[Thank you to the police! Thank you, Master Chen!]

Lin Wanqing pressed the man down and dragged him out of the underground storage room.

The man was around thirty-four years old, with a stubble beard and red-rimmed eyes.

Sure enough, there was a scar on the web of my right hand that looked like a centipede.

He walks with a limp on his left leg.

That's exactly what Chen Bufan said.

When he was escorted out of the old building, a police cordon had already been set up outside.

Residents in the surrounding area were quarantined.

Someone took a picture with their phone.

They were quickly stopped by the police.

Lin Wanqing walked to the door and looked up at her phone screen.

Chen Bufan's face remained pale on the other side of the screen.

The two looked at each other for a moment.

Lin Wanqing did not ask "How did you know?" again.

She just whispered:

"The person has been rescued."

Chen Bufan nodded.

"Um."

Lin Wanqing looked at him.

"Thanks."

Chen Bufan did not respond to that sentence.

Just asking:

"Does he have any talismans on him?"

Lin Wanqing immediately looked at the police officer next to her.

"search."

Soon, the officer pulled a yellow talisman folded into a triangle from the man's inside pocket.

The yellow talisman had blackened edges and a thin, long black line on it.

Lin Wanqing picked up the talisman and aimed it at the camera.

Chen Bufan glanced at it.

"Life-Protecting Talisman"

Upon hearing those three words, the man suddenly looked up.

There was no fear on his face after being arrested.

Instead, he laughed.

He was laughing so hard his mouth was split open.

"Chen Bufan".

Lin Wanqing frowned.

"Behave yourself!"

The man didn't look at her.

He stared intently at the phone in Lin Wanqing's hand.

It was as if I was staring at Chen Bufan through a screen.

"You win."

"You've found me."

"You saved them."

"Aren't you feeling smug?"

Chen Bufan remained silent.

The man laughed even harder.

"it's useless."

"He said you would definitely come."

"You're bound to meddle."

"You will definitely use the Destiny Record."

Upon hearing the words "Destiny Record," Chen Bufan frowned slightly.

The live stream chat exploded with comments again.

[The Record of Destiny?]

How did he know?

[The people behind the scenes know the master's secrets!]

[This killer was definitely not the mastermind!]

The man was escorted into a police car by officers.

Before the car door closed, he suddenly turned his head and grinned at the camera.

That smile was sinister and insane.

"Chen Bufan".

"The game has only just begun."

"Next."

"They'll die a more spectacular death."