Chapter 749: X-rated Performance
Before the police arrived, Han Fei used the skills he learned in the cryptic world to pry open the mouth of one of the students. Sunday Night School was a very special organization. The teacher here was once a student. Their base was in the countryside. At first, they only communicated through correspondence. However, as the teaching lessons became more in-depth, they started to work on small animals and finally, living humans.
Just like Shen Luo’s welcoming ceremony, they started with bad people. When the emotions in their hearts were unleashed, they had slipped down the abyss. They walked into Doctor Bai’s trap and slowly became monsters. The students all had valid identities in the morning. Only on Sunday nights would they reveal their true nature. Sunday Night School provided a reason for them to kill. They were not even forced. After they attended the practice lesson, they couldn’t stop. Every week they waited for Sunday to come.
Every teacher was responsible for a few students. These normal students were monsters cultivated by the night school. To know the school’s real secrets, Han Fei had to capture one of the teachers. Han Fei sat in the middle of the group of murderers. Most of the students hadn’t completed their solo hunts before. They still needed guidance from their teacher. “No matter what, they have participated in murders. They will spend the rest of their lives in prison.” Han Fei looked through the students’ clothes and phones. Some of them were new fathers, well-respected model citizens, and so on. They were completely different from the pictures of themselves on their phones. Han Fei was only looking around for fun. However, when he looked through the BBQ stall boss’ phone, his eyes narrowed. He found something. “What is this?” Han Fei showed a message that consisted of meaningless numbers to the boss. The background was a clubhouse. A cracked head was placed in the middle of the club.
“I don’t know.” The boss was lying on the ground. Han Fei didn’t hold back. Only his mouth and neck could move now.
“Why doesn’t your wife have this message? Have you joined other activities without telling her?” Han Fei checked the others’ phones. He noticed similar messages on the artist’s phone. Compared to the BBQ shop Boss, the artist had sunken even further. After he completed his latest artwork, he captured it and used some special channels to share it with the other members of the clubhouse.
“You’re not only a student of the Sunday Night School, but you’re also a member of this clubhouse? You sure have a busy life.” Han Fei pressed the artist to the ground. He was about to interrogate the man when the artist’s phone lit up. There was a new reply. It came from the club. The person had rated and reviewed the artwork.
“Artwork, Worse than Dog, 1.5. It’s supposed to be art, but it’s incredibly crude. This unbridled venting of anger is blasphemy to death. This artwork will not be accepted, but you’ve obtained a visiting chance and a free drink. Plus, use them before the coming dawn.” The message then unraveled into codes. Only the clubhouse symbol was left.
“Even deaths can be rated? What a bunch of crazies!” When Han Fei was poor, he rarely left home. He stayed at home to play games. Before Han Fei could react, the string of codes became an address. Then the message disappeared.
“Northern Countryside Si Shui Bay No. 17?” Han Fei searched online, but this place didn’t exist. He decided to use Huang Yin’s account to assess the darknet. Eventually, he found a place called Shi Shui Bay. Shi Shui Bay was the most northern point of Xin Lu. It was underdeveloped due to the stormy seas and many steep cliffs. The place had been abandoned for more than three decades already.
“It does sound like a perfect hideout for murderers.” Han Fei wanted to search further when his virtual id was kicked out. A few seconds later, Huang Yin’s call came. “Han Fei, did you use my virtual id to see something you shouldn’t?”
“I merely checked an address.”
“That’s all?”
“The address appears to be where the Murderer’s Clubhouse is.”
“No wonder…” Huang Yin apologized. “The check on the virtual network is very strict recently. The id I lent you was from my father. I temporarily do not have the right to break into the photon computer’s info storage.”
“Has he taken back the id?”
“Yes. He also told me to stay in the intelligent city. He said something huge is about to happen.” That was why Huang Yin called Han Fei too. “The two tech giants are planning something. You better stay with the police too.”
“Okay.” Han Fei hung up, but all he could think of was that address. “The artist sent the other party his artwork, and he got a visitation chance for it. He needed to use it before dawn.” Han Fei had called the police. Doctor Bai had escaped. The people at Sunday Night School and Murderer's Clubhouse might be scared off. The address might only be valid for that one night.
“There’s also a clubhouse on the map Du Jing showed me, but that was a map of the cryptic world…” Han Fei contemplated and finally decided to travel to Shi Shui Bay. After he tied the students up, Han Fei shoved the BBQ store boss and the artist’s phones into his pocket.
“Where are you going?” Shen Luo hurried after him.
“Do I need to report to you? You better ponder how you are going to explain yourself to the police. Or they’ll see you as their accomplice.”
“I’m really innocent. I didn’t mean to aim the knife at you either.” Shen Luo showed Han Fei the butterfly wound on his arm. “Ever since I got this wound, I felt like there is a monster trying to get out of my body. It’s a giant butterfly covered in malice. It feeds on my fear. The more I resist, the happier it is.”
“Butterfly wound?” When Han Fei sent Shen Luo out of the cryptic world, he was mentally fine. However, that was clearly not the case now. “Why would you have the butterfly imprint?”
“I really don’t know! When I logged out of the game, I received hundreds of crazy people. Someone even sent me a bug-filled package. All my neighbors think I’m crazy.” Shen Luo really didn’t know what to say.
Han Fei stared at Shen Luo. How come the other players didn’t face this problem? Then again, perhaps this was Shen Luo’s fate. When Dream’s consciousness shattered, it tried to possess someone, and it chose Shen Luo.
“There’s a butterfly flying in my brain. Sometimes, mad laughter echoes in my ears. I feel like I’ve been pushed to the abyss by two devils. If not for the situation, I wouldn’t have come here to consult that Doctor Bai.” Shen Luo didn’t understand why he would suddenly attract so many crazy people either.
“You’ve shown up on the livestream, and you have the butterfly tattoo. It’s normal for those people to come to you. They probably mistake you for someone else.” Han Fei had a brief idea of why this was happening.
“Yes. Some of them even called me master, and they are supposed to be murderers!”
Han Fei was quite sorry seeing Shen Luo like this. He had no idea what Mad Laughter did to Shen Luo, and he didn’t know Shen Luo was with Mad Laughter at Fu Sheng’s theme park. Han Fei thought this was an after-effect of his persona surgery.
“Since you have the butterfly wound, it’s not safe for you to stay here alone. Doctor Bai might still be around too.” Han Fei didn’t dare to leave Shen Luo there. After thinking about it, he asked, “You’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. Do you want to go unwind with me?”
“Where are we going?” Shen Luo blinked at Han Fei. “Actually I want to go home, but my home is haunted. Perhaps I should turn myself in with the police.”
“I’ll bring you to a clubhouse. Not many people know about it. We’ll have so much fun.” Han Fei grabbed the van key and led Shen Luo downstairs.
“Really?” Shen Luo was dubious. “Is it really a good idea to go clubbing now? There has just been a murder here. Aren’t the police going to worry?”
“It’s fine. I’m familiar with the police.” Han Fei patted Shen Luo’s shoulder. He took out his phone to call Li Xue. He updated her about the situation and told her the modified car’s model and plate number. Then, he hopped into the van and called Shen Luo to take the passenger seat.
“Are we really going?” Shen Luo was still uncertain, but he really needed to unwind. He had been so tense.
“Of course.” The engine started. Based on the GPS, Han Fei drove even further into the countryside. Half an hour later, when all the streetlights were gone, Shen Luo finally couldn’t hold the questions in anymore. “Han Fei, are you sure we’re going to a club to relax?”
“Yes. We’ll be there soon.” “The club is a normal club, right?” Shen Luo held the seatbelt nervously.
“I have no idea, but they have some intense and X-rated performances there.” Han Fei smiled.
“I’m surprised you’re this kind of person… I have no money, and I’ve lost my phone. Can you lend me some money when we’re there?” Shen Luo asked softly. Han Fei didn’t answer as he drove the van into a small path. The scent of blood floated in the air. They were close to the sea. The GPS frizzed after 10 minutes. Han Fei passed several junctions. He pondered things from the perspective of a killer, and they eventually arrived at an abandoned holiday villa near the bay. This place had been abandoned for a long time. All the formerly luxurious houses were abandoned.
“We’re here.” Han Fei handed the boss’ phone to Shen Luo. “Cover the butterfly wound. You’re now a BBQ shop boss and a crazed murderer.”
“What do you mean? Do we have to roleplay here?” When Shen Luo lifted his eyes, he noticed Han Fei had changed into a different person. There was a perverse glint in his eyes. “Don’t be like that. I’m scared…”
“Keep close to me.” Han Fei didn’t waste time and led Shen Luo into the bay. They passed many buildings before stopping before a hotel. Even though the place was abandoned, it was once very high-end. Only the truly rich could stay here.
“Is this No. 17?”
They entered the hotel. The dim light shone on Han Fei and Shen Luo. There were many masks hanging on the left wall. The right wall had all sorts of protective gears. “Why are there two of you? Shouldn’t there be just one?” A shrill voice came. A man in a black outfit walked out. He was wearing a parrot mask. “Never mind. Pick your masks and come with me. If you are afraid that your clothes might get dirty, you can wear protective gear. Are you going to use your own tools, or do you need us to provide them?” “What can you provide?”
“Anything.” The parrot man cackled. He kicked the shelf beside him, and a lot of torture devices fell out. “When you’ve done your pick, come along. You’re lucky because this is going to be the last show before dawn.”
The parrot man led the way. Han Fei found a good dagger. Shen Luo was frozen. He grabbed Han Fei’s clothes. “What is this place?”
“What’s wrong?” Han Fei tried the dagger. “Don’t you want to see some X-rated performances?”
