To play the character of Spider, Han Fei had read the book Cattle Alley multiple times. Spider had detailed description about the mask inside the book. The pig’s mask was very unique in the sense that many people slowly became monsters after wearing the mask for too long. It was suggested that wearing the mask would take away all the pain other than hunger. Initially Han Fei believed that wearing the mask would prevent one from being attacked by other pig-faced monsters but what happened earlier proved that hypothesis wrong. ‘Must one wear a mask to become a Midnight Butcher?’
The mask on the decapitated head was heavily fractured, it could barely cover the face underneath it. Holding the mask, a desire to put it on surged through Han Fei. He couldn’t tell where that urge came from. It was as if the mask could evoke the beastial side within him. There was a voice in his mind that coaxed him, telling him that after he put the mask on, he would become an actual member of the Cattle Alley. He would no longer be targeted and the other pig-faced monsters would not make him their main target anymore. This mask was the only thing that delineated the difference between prey and predator.
His breathing turned heavy as Han Fei moved the mask closer and closer to his face. Finally the mask stopped an inch from the tip of his nose. ‘I appear to possess the ability to resist the voice from the mask.’ After raising his acting to masterful, Han Fei had a switch in his mind that could control his emotions. He locked his memory and emotion deep within his mind, turning his fore-conscious into a blank canvas, that way he was able to resist any temptation temporarily. The heavily fractured pig’s mask wished to summon the beast inside Han Fei’s heart but Han Fei’s heart was empty, perhaps only an intact pig’s mask would be able to lure out the thing residing deep within Han Fei. However, that thing would be not a beast but probably a ghost that no one had ever seen before.
‘I might need this thing in the future but not now.’ Han Fei put the mask away. He glanced at the desecrated body on the ground and turned to follow the other pig-faced monster using the blood trail. When he walked past the dead carcass, the system rang again in his mind, “Profession Assessment 3: I’ve read this in a fairytale, let sin fight with sin, those with kindness shouldn’t even dirty their hands.” Han Fei had no idea whether this assessment was good or not. In any case, there was only one thought in his mind then, which was how to kill that single-eyed pig-faced monster.
Even though Han Fei had been there for only 2 nights, he had gotten quite familiar with Cattle Alley. The smell of decomposition and blood no longer affected him anymore. Han Fei could maintain sharpness of his mind at this location where even the air was dirty. Without putting on the mask, Han Fei forced himself to acclimatize to this place. The wound on Han Fei’s calves was still stinging with pain so he could not run. On the other hand, the pig-faced monster wasn’t moving too fast either because it suffered a wound close to its vitals. These two individuals kept a safe distance from each other as they travelled down the alley.
Even with the injury, the single-eyed monster did not take any pitstop. As if sensing that it was getting weaker, it needed to locate a sanctuary to recuperate immediately. It had a very fixed destination in its mind, it had been moving towards the northern side of the Cattle Alley. Han Fei followed behind it quietly. To his surprise, the red paper doll was pointing him down the same direction as well. ‘Why would both of them be pointing at the north side? What exactly is over there?’
In real life, Fu Gui Meat Packing Plant was in the northern countryside of Xin Lu and the living compound was to the north of the plant. As they moved further north, other than the increase in number of carcasses, there were also chopped cursed objects. The blades in Cattle Alley appeared to be able to strengthen themselves through slicing up other cursed objects. The smell of blood deepened, it was almost heavy enough to coagulate into a mist. Every breath Han Fei took left a rusty scent in his lung. ‘Earlier, I’ve only been exploring the outskirts of Cattle Alley?’
Han Fei used his photographic memory to not only memorize all the paths he took but also all the available hiding spots along the way. ‘Where exactly is this monster going?’ Han Fei had no idea of its destination but he realized the paper doll was reacting more and more intensely. The face similar to Xu Qin revealed a horrifying expression, the doll was smiling. Moving deeper into the alley, the place was finally engulfed by a blood mist. Han Fei studied the blood mist around him and was reminded of the grey fog inside Yi Ming Private Academy’s manager mission. One was made from negative emotions, the other malice and blood. The sounds of footsteps became more numerous, the density of monsters gathered here was much higher than outside.
The thought of exiting the game pushed forward in Han Fei’s mind but the paper doll was reacting too strongly, Xu Qin should be not far away now. Han Fei continued to follow behind the single-eyed monster. However, after he climbed over a wall covered in bloody vines, something unexpected happened!
The monster suddenly stopped, as if sensing danger, it raised the cleaver defensively. The only eye stared into the mist. Initially Han Fei did not notice anything but when he moved closer, he could hear clearly the sound of munching and engulfing. The person who made the feasting noise did not keep their presence unknown. It was as if they only had hunger left in their mind. When it heard this harrowing voice, the paper doll’s smile turned brighter. If not for Han Fei clutching it, it would have run ahead already.
The black anaconda behind Han Fei slithered in anxiety too. It wanted to move ahead but it was afraid of the pig-faced monster. Carrying the snake on his back and holding the bone-paring knife in his right hand, Han Fei believed that the opening he had been waiting for had finally arrived. The wounded monster hissed warningly. It waved the cleaver wildly as the single eye pulsed in its head.
At the same time, the crunching sound deep inside the alley suddenly stopped. Moments later, the blood mist was stirred as five slender, pale fingers holding a table knife reached out from the mist. The heels clicked. A woman covered in blood and wearing half of the pig’s mask on her face appeared inside the alley. Licking away the trace of blood from her lips, the eyes underneath the mask leaped over the pig-faced monster and instantly landed on Han Fei. Then the lips that were redder than the blood mist hooked into a smile.
