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My Husband and I Sleep in a Coffin

The Earth is Online

Wine and Gun

A Break in the Clouds (Poyun)

Art Thou Ailing?

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love

Gold Class Enforcers

Hunt for the Leviathan

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The Killer of Killers

Tailhook

The Earth is Online, Vol. 1

PreludeSix months before the story begins, enormous illusory black spires appear above cities around the world.
These spires resemble behemoth towers and are completely silent, provoking widespread attention and confusion.
Scientific and religious communities fail to provide any satisfactory explanation for the phenomenon.
Over time, humanity becomes desensitized to the spires and stops paying attention to them.
Tang Mo personally witnesses a small but critical anomaly: an insect crashes into a spire instead of passing through it, suggesting the spires are no longer illusions.
The day after Tang Mo's discovery, a mysterious childlike voice broadcasts a message to all humans globally.
The announcement, cheerful yet ominous, declares: “Ding-dong! It is the 15th of November, 2017. The Earth is now online.”
The event signals a new reality governed by unknown forces connected to the spires.
Following the announcement, three absolute laws of the Dark Spire are revealed: 1. The Dark Spire is the final authority. 2. Game time is between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. 3. All players must strive to conquer the Spire.

Chapter 1
The Earth Is OnlineTang Mo, a librarian in Suzhou, is working a routine day at the public library, dealing with visitors and colleagues like Zhao Yan and Mr Wang.
A strange man referred to as the "charlatan" (later revealed as Chen Fangzhi) is caught muttering about “God” and the Mayan civilization. He points at a mysterious levitating Dark Spire outside the library, claiming "God is coming."
The Dark Spire is described as a black, pyramid-like structure hovering 100 meters above Suzhou. It appeared six months ago without explanation, alongside over 1,000 others worldwide.
Initially a source of panic, the Spires eventually become normalized by society. Tang Mo regularly sees the one near his workplace but is largely indifferent to it now.
Tang Mo enjoys playing online bridge with a skilled player named Victor. Victor suddenly warns Tang Mo to stay away from the Dark Spire in the coming days.
Three days later, while Tang Mo is preparing to leave home for work, the Dark Spire plays “Jingle Bells” and emits a high-pitched child’s voice announcing: “The Earth is now online.”
Blue text appears on the Spire stating: "All players must eliminate another player within three days through methods including but not limited to games."
Global panic reignites, though many people either joke about or disbelieve the announcement. Tang Mo experiences anxiety, a racing heart, and restlessness.
He finds solace in bridge games, using them to calm himself over the next couple of days.
On the third day after the Spire’s announcement, a large crowd gathers outside the Spire. Some believe it heralds the apocalypse, while others treat it as a hoax or government experiment.
Tang Mo returns to the library to retrieve personal belongings before it is repurposed for research.
He hears sounds in the southeastern section and finds the charlatan Chen Fangzhi hiding a book. Despite suspicious behavior, nothing appears stolen.
Suddenly, a game is triggered: "Who Stole My Book?" The library becomes eerily quiet, and a childlike voice sings a creepy nursery rhyme. The library is now isolated in a white void.
A pixelated little girl with twin ponytails and no facial features appears, claiming she lost her book and asking Tang Mo and Chen Fangzhi to find it. She casually threatens to kill them if they don’t help.
She refers to her mother, "Mama," as a terrifying figure who will kill her if the book isn’t found.
After the girl vanishes, a diary appears on the library computer, describing her fear of her mother discovering the lost book. It ends ominously on November 18th with “I’m really dead this time.”
The confrontation game formally begins with the rules: 1. Violence is prohibited. 2. The Angel (one of the players) can receive one hint during the daytime. 3. The Demon (the other player) can burn one bookshelf at night.
The narrative introduces roles of Angel and Demon in the game, but doesn't clarify who is which.
The game setting turns twisted as the girl, named Mosaic, is described as sweet but fearful of her mother’s punishment for losing a book.
A bizarre fairytale is revealed: a demon stole the book, an angel stopped him, and the book was hidden in the library.
The voice declares: “O Kind and Wise Angel, after three days, Mosaic will be killed by her furious mother. Surely you cannot watch such an adorable little girl die.”
The chapter ends with Tang Mo fully immersed in the surreal, ominous game scenario with real stakes — he and Chen Fangzhi are trapped, and the game is about to begin.

Chapter 2
Who Stole My BookTang Mo and Chen Fangzhi (referred to as “the charlatan”) find themselves in a game triggered by the Dark Spire, inside a replica of the Suzhou Library’s third floor.
They discover they are part of the “Angel” camp, marked by wing patterns on their right hands.
Tang Mo suspects Chen Fangzhi may be hiding something due to his nervous behavior.
They realize they are trapped on the third floor; elevators and stairs are inaccessible.
A pixelated girl named Mosaic appears, demanding help to find her stolen book or else she will “die.”
Mosaic gives them vague hints daily. On Day 1, she provides “The Demon’s Feather.”
At night, the library darkens, and the Demon can burn one bookshelf. Shelf I is burned the first night.
Tang Mo deduces that each day/night cycle lasts 2 hours, not 24, making the total game span 12 hours.
On Day 2, Mosaic delivers another cryptic hint, “Mosaic's Stink Eye,” implying the Angel should know the book.
They try to brute-force shelf H by removing books one-by-one but are stopped at nightfall.
Shelf H is burned during the second night, shocking both of them since they were working on it.
On Day 3, Mosaic appears again, complaining. She gives a third hint, suggesting both Angel and Demon know the book.
Tang Mo tests Mosaic by provoking her emotionally and retrieves a book: The Secret Behind the Lost Mayan Civilisation.
Mosaic confirms it is her book, ending the game.
Chen Fangzhi reveals he was the Demon and brought Tang Mo into the game by deliberately luring him in.
He explains he worships the Dark Spire and had been selected for a 1v1 confrontation game but needed another player.
Tang Mo reveals he suspected Chen Fangzhi all along, citing inconsistencies in language and logic.
Tang Mo also deduced Mosaic assisted in setting the fires (her hair ends were singed).
The three hints from Mosaic indicated: 1. The Demon was deceptive and close by. 2. The Angel already knew the book. 3. The Demon also knew the book—narrowing the candidate to one they had both previously discussed.
Tang Mo’s victory is announced; he wins “Mosaic’s Giant Match” and “Mosaic’s Stink Eye.”
Chen Fangzhi loses and doesn’t know what the penalty entails.
They are still trapped in the library after the game ends.
At 6:00 a.m., Tang Mo suffers a sudden, dangerous increase in heart rate (over 500 bpm) but miraculously survives.
Chen Fangzhi helps him recover with cold towels, deepening their bond briefly.
When the door finally opens, Tang Mo's colleague Zhao Yan enters.
Tang Mo notices her legs are disappearing due to an invisible force.
Zhao Yan begs for help but is completely erased from existence within a minute.
The same fate begins to happen to Chen Fangzhi, revealing this is the penalty for losing.
In a panic, Chen Fangzhi begs Tang Mo to find his daughter Chen Shanshan in Shanghai and ensure she’s safe.
As he disappears, he provides her school and grade: Shibei Junior High, Year Seven.
Tang Mo promises to find her, and Chen Fangzhi disappears tearfully.
Alone and traumatized, Tang Mo kneels as the clock strikes eight.
A childlike voice announces: 498.16 million players have loaded into the global game.
The Three Absolute Laws of the Dark Spire are declared: 1. The Dark Spire is the final authority. 2. Game time is between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. 3. All players must strive to conquer the Spire.
Tang Mo stares up at the looming Dark Spire, now truly understanding the horrifying new world he’s been forced into.

Chapter 3
I'm Not Paying For ThatTang Mo leaves the library after the charlatan and Zhao Yan vanish with many others at 8:00 AM.
At the Dark Spire, scientists and law enforcement are also gone; Tang Mo doesn't linger, recognizing the mystery is beyond him.
With no public transport or working systems, Tang Mo steals a yellow rental bike by smashing its lock and cycles home.
His apartment is empty; Tang Mo grabs clothes and plans to go to Shanghai—partly to search for the charlatan’s daughter and reconnect with a university friend.
Tang Mo breaks into his elderly landlords’ apartment to borrow their car. They’re gone, and gas is leaking.
He finds the car key and drives off but suffers a sudden intense fever and chest pain, losing consciousness for ten hours.
Upon waking, Tang Mo discovers he has a supernatural ability tied to a sarcastic book titled “I’m Not Paying For That”. The book records his ability to collect others' powers.
His first test comes at a petrol station. While refueling using a staff card, he leaves two hundred yuan under a rock in symbolic payment.
Tang Mo is mugged by Qian Sankun, a shady man with unkempt hair and a knife, who steals Tang Mo’s wallet and attempts to take his car.
Tang Mo deceives Qian Sankun into letting him retrieve clothes from the boot, using the opportunity to test his new toughness and strike with the Giant Match.
The Giant Match proves immensely powerful, breaking Qian Sankun’s knife and injuring him.
A surprise burst of banknotes softens Tang Mo's second strike. Qian Sankun reveals his ability: tattoos on his wrists allow him to store items like money and weapons.
When Qian Sankun tries a sneak attack with a hidden knife, Tang Mo kills him with the Giant Match.
Tang Mo uses the book to absorb Qian Sankun’s ability, revealed to be “What Does He Have That I Don’t”, which lets users store inanimate objects as tattoos.
He stores the Giant Match in his wrist, gaining access to it at will.
The book teases that murder isn’t the only way to acquire powers but won’t clarify further.
Tang Mo buries Qian Sankun using the cash he loved so much.
On the road to Shanghai, Tang Mo demonstrates his new strength by physically clearing wrecked cars blocking the highway.
He encounters Li Wen, a dazed survivor of a car crash, and lets him hitch a ride. Tang Mo remains cautious but sees little threat in him.
Tang Mo shares limited info about his goals, including searching for a seventh-grade girl at Shibei Junior High.
A strange broadcast from the Dark Spire plays a cheerful Thanksgiving song. Then a system announcement repeats three times: Irregular Fu Wenduo has unlocked the first floor, and all players in China must challenge the Spire.
Tang Mo and Li Wen are pulled into darkness and fall into an underground cave.
Five others soon arrive through similar falls: Peng Yuwen, Lei Bin, Lin Qiao, Zhao Xiang, and Luo Fengcheng.
The group introduces themselves. Luo Fengcheng, a game designer who studied hydrology, deduces they’re in a subterranean cave near a water source.
Lei Bin, the PR worker, proposes they cooperate and theorizes this scenario is part of “conquering the Spire” as per the Three Absolute Laws.
They discuss the announcement and the possible purpose of their current trial.
A new announcement is made: “Dark Spire 1F initiated on dummy mode… Loading seven-player survival game… Story quest released: O Chosen Seven, survive!”

Chapter 4
Happy ThanksgivingThe seven characters—Tang Mo, Luo Fengcheng, Lei Bin, Zhao Xiang, Li Wen, Lin Qiao, and Peng Yuwen—wake up trapped in a cave by the Dark Spire.
A survival game is triggered by the Dark Spire: a seven-player escape challenge.
Lin Qiao hears digging sounds approaching the cave wall.
A giant, humanoid mole bursts into the cave, declaring it wants to roast a turkey using the humans as fuel, celebrating Thanksgiving.
The mole drops a giant turkey and identifies the humans as cooking fuel.
Zhao Xiang tries to flee and is instantly swatted unconscious by the mole.
The mole selects Peng Yuwen as kindling for the fire, grabs her by the head.
Lei Bin, Tang Mo, Li Wen, and Lin Qiao rush to save Peng Yuwen, pulling her back while Luo Fengcheng stomps on the mole’s toe.
They temporarily rescue her, triggering a quest: “Roast a turkey for the adorable Mr Moley.”
Luo Fengcheng throws a turkey leg as a weapon; Lin Qiao picks it up, and together with Luo Fengcheng they try attacking the mole.
Tang Mo summons a giant match using his ability, surprising everyone, and attacks the mole.
The mole easily catches the match but recognizes it as “Mosaic’s Match,” a powerful item, and begins roasting the turkey instead of fighting.
The mole happily cooks and eats the turkey, explaining that turkey roasted with Mosaic’s Match is the best.
The mole reveals knowledge of the game system: players are divided into official players, reserve players, and irregulars.
Official players participate and win Dark Spire games.
Reserve players do not win Dark Spire games but may participate in other challenges.
Irregulars are those who kill another person during the three-day initiation period.
The mole reveals that irregulars are rare, hated by the Dark Spire, and highly desirable to be eaten due to their powers.
A second side quest is triggered: “Find that wretched irregular!”
The mole detects one irregular among the seven humans and gives them one hour to identify the irregular—or he will eat one person every hour.
Tang Mo pretends to cooperate and asks how to identify the irregular.
Luo Fengcheng explains three categories of killers: unintentional, sociopathic, and premeditated but not inherently murderous.
Lei Bin accuses Tang Mo of being the irregular due to his ability but is countered by Li Wen and Luo Fengcheng.
Tang Mo and Lei Bin both confirm they are official players.
Lei Bin demonstrates his minor ability—drawing perfect circles—to prove his official player status.
Each person recounts their whereabouts during the three-day initiation: 1. Luo Fengcheng claims to be a Dark Spire researcher with verified credentials. 2. Lin Qiao stayed in her dorm the entire time gaming. 3. Li Wen was clubbing in Nanjing and was rear-ended in a car crash. 4. Zhao Xiang was doing food deliveries, including to two upscale estates. 5. Peng Yuwen was at home with her mother studying until her mother disappeared.
Lei Bin shares his game experience inside the Dark Spire, confirming his status as an official player.
Luo Fengcheng explains that people who kill show behavioral anomalies when confronted, except sociopaths or naïve murderers.
Tang Mo and Luo Fengcheng accuse Peng Yuwen of being the irregular based on her earlier behavior and reactions.
Peng Yuwen denies the accusation, crying and panicking.
Tang Mo firmly declares her to be the irregular, ending the chapter.

Chapter 5
A Large Turkey EggTang Mo accuses Peng Yuwen of being the irregular based on her statement and too-perfect recollection.
Lei Bin and Zhao Xiang agree with Tang Mo; Luo Fengcheng confirms the deduction with further reasoning.
Peng Yuwen tries to deny it but eventually admits she is the irregular and also admits to killing someone.
She reveals she murdered her newborn child because she never wanted to be a mother and couldn’t handle the burden.
Lin Qiao accuses her of cruelty, and Tang Mo points out that the child had the right to live.
Zhao Xiang celebrates finding the irregular, assuming their side quest is now complete.
Tang Mo asks Peng Yuwen about her ability, suspecting it relates to the torch she used.
Peng Yuwen reveals her power and violently lashes out, summoning a massive match identical to Mosaic’s Match.
She attacks Zhao Xiang and smashes his head with the match, fatally injuring him.
The mole intercepts Peng Yuwen's next attack, breaks her match, then brutally kills and eats her.
Tang Mo checks Zhao Xiang’s condition and confirms he is dead.
The mole critiques Peng Yuwen’s ability: she could replicate objects seen within 24 hours, but only twice daily and at reduced strength.
Luo Fengcheng and Tang Mo discuss how Peng Yuwen’s use of a torch indicated her ability.
The Dark Spire announces side quest 2 is complete.
Tang Mo asks about the real Mosaic’s Match; the mole instead gives him a “Large Turkey Egg” as a reward.
The mole reveals the egg can’t be hatched by humans and shows off thousands of similar eggs.
Tang Mo notices the mole has grown stronger, likely due to consuming Peng Yuwen.
The mole refuses to reward the others and mocks them by farting.
Lin Qiao and Lei Bin cover the remains of the deceased with clothing in a somber moment.
Tang Mo receives Lei Bin’s ability, “Cranky Curse Circle,” after taking the torch without payment.
He discovers his ability book shows Lei Bin’s curse ability, now linked to himself.
The turkey egg doesn’t break despite attempts to crack it; instead, it damages everything else.
On the first floor of the Dark Spire, Fu Wenduo finishes a deadly fight against a giant turkey and steals its rare egg.
Fu Wenduo barely survives and escapes the Dark Spire, receiving the same egg-type item as Tang Mo.
His egg is undamaged and reveals it is called Momo, with the ability to “save game progress.”
Tang Mo’s egg is damaged, displaying corrupted text and incomplete info.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo unknowingly contact each other via the turkey eggs, discovering they function like magical phones.
Both are surprised at the egg's communication range: from Shanghai to Beijing.
They test how to initiate and end calls: three taps to connect, holding it with both hands to end.
Fu Wenduo refuses to share much information; Tang Mo mirrors this, leading to mutual suspicion.
The name Momo causes confusion and awkwardness as Fu Wenduo unknowingly calls Tang Mo by a pet name.
The two part on civil but cautious terms.
Tang Mo returns to Shanghai with the egg, trying to locate Shibei Junior High to find a specific student.
The streets of Shanghai are chaotic; people are looting, wounded, or dying.
Tang Mo navigates carefully and observes survivors scavenging in small groups.
He finally finds the school and hears an announcement that players in the USA are about to enter the Dark Spire.
Tang Mo grows disturbed by the news that 80 million players have died since the game began.
Approaching the school, he encounters strange attacks like invisible nails, clearly set up as traps.
A voice tells him to stay away; Tang Mo suspects a trap and confirms it by springing it intentionally.
Tang Mo evades a deadly pitfall and corners a boy who had tried to trick him.
Another man—Mr Qin—appears, thinking Tang Mo is dangerous.
Just as tensions rise, Li Wen appears and explains the misunderstanding, recognizing Tang Mo and confirming he is trustworthy.

Chapter 6
Shibei Junior HighLi Wen reunites with Tang Mo at Shibei Junior High, bringing four students and a teacher, Mr Qin.
Tang Mo meets Chen Shanshan, the cool and intelligent girl he's been searching for.
Tang Mo reveals he knew Chen Fangzhi, her father, and informs her of his death, which she accepts with visible sadness but composure.
Mr Qin explains that only two teachers and sixteen students remain at the school after the Dark Spire games began; the rest disappeared.
Tang Mo is shown five corpses, including three students killed by irregulars in a post-game assault.
Li Wen and Mr Qin recount how irregulars demanded a matchstick item from Wang Chao, one of the students, and killed him and Mr Wang when they resisted.
Tang Mo stores the large matchstick item on his body with his ability.
Mr Qin introduces two official players among the students: Zhao Ziang (offensive ability) and Qiao Feifei (can identify others' roles).
Qiao Feifei can't see Tang Mo's identity until touching him, confirming he's an official player.
Chen Shanshan deduces that people became reserve players by winning games where the loser said “I’ve been eliminated,” influenced by the Dark Spire terminology.
Chen Shanshan has a genetic ability—“Genius-Level Intellect”—that enhances her cognitive skills and judgment accuracy.
Tang Mo receives Chen Shanshan's ability when she offers him biscuits and asks him to kill the irregulars.
Tang Mo and the group prepare for a nighttime assault from the remaining three irregulars: a gunner (infinite bullets), a fire-breather (emits 961°C flames), and a one-armed man who can grow flowers that bloom into deadly poison.
That night, the irregulars attack. Tang Mo kills the fire-breather using the Mosaic’s Match after a fierce battle.
Zhao Ziang shoots and kills the gunner from a clock tower.
The final irregular, the flower man, ambushes and fatally wounds Mr Qin.
Chen Shanshan and Zhao Ziang coordinate to destroy the flowers before they bloom and release poison.
The irregular reveals he never left the school and had been watching them the whole time.
The group desperately tries to destroy the flowers. Tang Mo bashes them with the match while others use nails, kitchen tools, and a pistol.
Just as the flowers begin to bloom under a cloud-covered moon, the clouds clear, stopping the process.
Tang Mo destroys the remaining flowers. Zhao Ziang kills the last irregular with a nail to the head.
The children stomp on the irregulars’ corpses and place them in a toilet. They then mourn Mr Qin’s death.
Zhao Ziang vomits from the emotional toll. Tang Mo consoles him and tells him to grow stronger.
Tang Mo acquires Xu Qiang’s (the fire-breather’s) ability, but vows never to use it due to its humiliating activation phrase.
Chen Shanshan offers Tang Mo water and thanks him for fulfilling her father’s wish. She chooses to stay with her schoolmates.
Tang Mo admits he wanted to take her with him for her intellect, but respects her decision.
Chen Shanshan asks for a hug, but the moment is ruined when Tang Mo hears the voice of Fu Wenduo in his head via the turkey egg.
Fu Wenduo contacts Tang Mo telepathically to use the egg's true ability—Momo—the "save game" function.
Fu Wenduo explains the egg allows a save file that lasts one hour and can only be created jointly.
Tang Mo activates the save file, and for the next hour, hears Fu Wenduo engaged in a brutal, one-sided fight.
At the 59th minute, Fu Wenduo, unable to draw the "L" to load the save, kills himself so the file auto-loads.
Fu Wenduo revives thanks to the save file and apologizes for wasting Tang Mo’s time.
Tang Mo realizes Fu Wenduo now owes him a favor and contemplates leveraging it later.

Chapter 7
Parting of WaysTang Mo and the students recover from the recent battle, sleeping in late due to exhaustion.
Tang Mo and Li Wen gather supplies from the campus supermarket and prepare to leave.
Tang Mo advises the five students (Zhao Ziang, Chen Shanshan, Qiao Feifei, and two boys) to split into two groups to reduce danger and avoid attention.
Chen Shanshan agrees with the plan, understanding the risks of traveling in a large group.
Tang Mo informs Chen Shanshan he is heading to Pudong to find a friend and may return in ten days.
Li Wen decides to search for his parents and leaves with Tang Mo since his house is along the way.
On the way, Li Wen appears cheerful but is clearly anxious about the possibility of finding his home empty.
At his villa, Li Wen hesitates to enter until Tang Mo breaks the gate open, offering silent support.
Inside, Li Wen finds no one but discovers a note from his mother saying she is alive and waiting in Kunshan.
Tang Mo encourages Li Wen to find his mother, and the two part ways near the Huangpu River.
As a final gesture, Tang Mo warns Li Wen not to blindly trust people, showing care with a playful tone.
Tang Mo continues alone to Pudong, becoming more aware of the population loss and danger now that he’s traveling solo.
He secures himself inside an abandoned eatery for the night using makeshift alarm traps.
Reflecting on his actions and the people he’s killed (Qian Sankun, the fire-breather, and others), Tang Mo remains emotionally detached.
He thinks about Fu Wenduo and the mysterious turkey egg, wondering how Fu Wenduo became an irregular.
The next day, Tang Mo meets a friendly university student and briefly ponders whether he's too cynical, but this feeling vanishes after discovering two headless corpses.
He reaches his friend Haozi’s neighborhood and encounters a disturbing scene: six corpses in a garden, all seemingly having killed each other.
Tang Mo investigates the corpses cautiously and then heads to Haozi’s apartment.
The flat is abandoned, with leftover food and signs of sudden disappearance; no note is left.
Tang Mo reminisces over a photo of himself, Haozi, and another friend from graduation, showing bittersweet emotion before leaving.
As he exits the complex, a suspicious old man pretends to need help with a sprained ankle.
Tang Mo is wary and walks away, but is ambushed by a group of seven players trying to drag him into a game.
Despite his quick reaction and escape, Tang Mo accidentally touches a planter, triggering a multiplayer game dungeon called "Pipes and Ladders".
Eight players, including Tang Mo, are forcibly entered into the game at 5:02 p.m., November 22, 2017.
The setting morphs into a massive spiral board game hosted by a disturbingly cheerful cartoon giant named Mario.
The board has 150 squares, various types (blank, prize, penalty, warp, king, convict, and game-clear), and a glowing red “START” square.
Mario explains the rules: roll dice, move forward, win rewards or face punishments depending on the square landed on.
Rewards include items like abilities and game saves; punishments can be fatal.
Tang Mo cleverly proposes using the order of names called by the Dark Spire to determine the rolling order, protecting himself from being the first to go.
First player Li Zhen lands on a blank square and survives; others get Magic Mushrooms (healing items) or land safely.
Tang Mo rolls last, lands on a level 1 penalty square, and must confess a misdeed (he glued a bully to a chair in school).
He plays it cool and gains Mario’s approval.
The next few rounds proceed: Tang Mo advances to square 20 and receives an Invincibility Flower (5 minutes of immunity).
Tang Mo deduces that some squares are safe or dangerous based on their effects: blank, prize, penalty, warp.
A level 3 penalty square triggers a fight against a Goomba for one player, resulting in severe injury.
Tang Mo grows suspicious about the reward mechanics, realizing that some rewards like the flower may be traps due to timing limitations.
Just as Li Zhen is about to roll again, Mario ominously announces he "forgot something important," causing Tang Mo to feel dread about a twist yet to be revealed.

Chapter 8
Pipes and LaddersMario announces a new game rule called "We Are Not In This Together", triggered from round five onward: if multiple players land on the same square, it turns into a level 7 penalty square, remaining deadly until only one player is left on it.
Tang Mo realizes the Invincibility Flower is meant to bait players into deadly traps once others follow into the same square.
The LED board displays the total number of Mario’s victims: 6,463 dead players, with Tang Mo and his group becoming the 6,464th group.
Li Zhen is terrified but rolls a three, landing her on square 20, sharing it with Tang Mo—but the effect isn't triggered since it's her first round.
The balding man avoids landing on square 20 by rolling a three and moves to square 22.
The beer-bellied man narrowly avoids triggering the rule and lands on square 21.
The taciturn man Zhao Guo rolls one and moves to square 16.
The young man rolls and reaches square 18; the young woman rolls five and jumps to square 27.
The young woman lands on a level 4 penalty square and is attacked by a black Koopa Troopa; she is brutally wounded but survives by timing her attack and beheading it.
The old man lands on square 24, and it becomes Li Zhen's target in her next turn.
Li Zhen rolls four, landing on square 24, triggering the level 7 penalty as it now has two players.
Black Mario spawns and attacks both players. Li Zhen stabs the old man in desperation, but he shoots her instead, killing her.
The old man is revealed to be named Qi Feng, who had faked a limp to manipulate Tang Mo into joining the game.
Tang Mo suspects one among the players has an ability, most likely the beer-bellied man or the balding man.
The game progresses several rounds without triggering the effect. The balding man reaches square 59, Tang Mo at square 53.
Qi Feng chooses to retreat using a warp square to square 29 instead of advancing, to maintain distance and avoid the effect again.
Tang Mo rolls a six, landing on square 60, which is already occupied by the balding man, triggering the deadly rule.
The balding man attacks with a knife, but Tang Mo easily defeats him with superior physical power.
Black Mario appears again. Tang Mo fights using Mosaic’s Match, suffering severe injuries, including a broken arm, while barely surviving.
When it becomes clear that only one person can survive the square, Tang Mo kills the already-dying balding man to end the effect.
Tang Mo draws a circle in blood and sarcastically wishes Mario health and longevity.
The players now fear Tang Mo, and his presence dominates the board.
A middle-aged man later dies gruesomely to level 5 penalty Cheep Cheeps, eaten alive until nothing is left.
The young woman rolls a six, which would land her on her boyfriend’s square. They promise to die together.
At the last moment, both betray each other: she stabs his chest, he stabs her abdomen. They die together in agony and betrayal.
Only Tang Mo (square 80), the beer-bellied man (62), and Qi Feng (55) remain.
Tang Mo reaches square 83 and triggers a free jump square.
Tang Mo asks Mario four key questions: 1. All 6,456 past players died here—Mario says they chose to "stay." 2. If one player finishes the board alone, he is not last place. 3. Mario confirms the existence of king and convict squares, though none appeared yet. 4. He also confirms the presence of a game clear square.
Tang Mo activates the turkey egg communication device to contact Fu Wenduo thousands of kilometres away.
Fu Wenduo answers mid-shower. Tang Mo requests: “Could you activate the game save function?”

Chapter 9
The ChallengersTang Mo receives a telepathic message from Fu Wenduo via a turkey egg, giving him one hour to use the save file, usable only once.
In the Pipes and Ladders dungeon game, Tang Mo confronts Black Mario, questioning the absurd odds of no one winning out of 6,456 players.
Tang Mo deduces that the game has been rigged: six convict squares in a row near the end make it impossible to win via standard progression.
Tang Mo reasons that warp squares were the only possible way to reach otherwise unreachable squares like square 1.
Despite skepticism from Qi Feng and the beer-bellied man, Tang Mo boldly decides to warp back to square 1 instead of advancing.
Black Mario reacts furiously to Tang Mo’s choice, but is confined to the stage and unable to attack him.
Tang Mo reaches square 1, triggering the hidden game clear square and winning Mario's Treasure.
As gold and gems rain down, a ruby marks the true game reward. Tang Mo takes it, which ends the dungeon and returns them to the real world.
Black Mario, enraged, slips on his own tears and accidentally kills himself by smashing his head on a coin stuck in the stage.
Tang Mo, Qi Feng, and the beer-bellied man return to the Shanghai residential complex and verify that four players have died; one corpse is missing.
Tang Mo uses his match ability to break the beer-bellied man's leg as punishment for dragging them into the dungeon.
The beer-bellied man reveals his ability: controlling wind, which he uses in a failed counterattack.
Tang Mo strips the beer-bellied man of his jacket to claim ownership of his ability and walks off.
A stranger named Nie Fei appears, identifying them as survivors of “Dungeon 2.” He invites them to his organisation’s base.
Qi Feng confirms they survived the game; Nie Fei calls in Tang Qiao and Ye Yuanze for support and proposes an information exchange.
The trio of strangers identify themselves as part of a 17-member organisation of powerful ability users called The Challengers.
The Challengers had previously found 7 dungeons; Dungeon 2 (Pipes and Ladders) was thought to be unbeatable with no known survivors—until now.
Tang Mo is wary but follows them to their base inside a massive shopping complex.
There, they meet Ajax, a towering foreigner, and are led to a researcher named Luo Fengcheng.
Luo Fengcheng and Tang Mo recognise each other—they survived the first floor of the Dark Spire together on November 19.
Luo Fengcheng confirms Tang Mo's identity and dismisses the others to speak with him privately.
They discuss login methods for the Dark Spire and player categories (official vs. reserve).
Tang Mo agrees to an information trade: he’ll reveal the contents of Dungeon 2 in exchange for knowledge about dungeons and Spire mechanics.
Tang Mo recounts the mechanics of Pipes and Ladders, the “We Are Not In This Together” effect, and how players were doomed by design.
Luo Fengcheng provides classified documents detailing three known dungeons: Dungeon 1: High death toll, mysterious animal attacks, players lose their hearts. Dungeon 2: Multiplayer deathmatch (Pipes and Ladders), with most players killing each other. Dungeon 3: Asphyxiation deaths, possibly an extreme survival game.
Tang Mo also receives a marked map of dungeon entrances in Pudong.
The Challengers' goal is to proactively raid dungeons to grow stronger, despite the dangers.
Luo Fengcheng reveals that the group was originally named Exist, formed by players who realised they couldn’t speak about the games and posted cryptic messages online.
After players began dying in the Dark Spire challenges, the group changed to a more offensive strategy and became The Challengers.
Tang Mo realizes their radical approach: they trade for information to prepare for harder dungeons, risking everything to grow.
He acknowledges the risk of joining such a group and ends by saying, “I’ll give joining some thought.”

Chapter 10
Kill BillTang Mo hides in a mall shop after leaving Luo Fengcheng’s office, disabling the security camera and examining his ability book.
He reviews his abilities, now possessing six: a storage skill, a curse circle, identity check, Chen Shanshan’s passive buff, and two offensive powers—fire-breathing and “Roar of the Tiger”.
Tang Mo inspects a ruby found in the last dungeon; after some handling, it turns into Mario’s Cap—an item that lets him headbutt for a chance at magical items, but he finds it silly and disappointing.
At night, Tang Mo leaves the mall; a shadow reports his departure to Luo Fengcheng, who cryptically notes a change in Tang Mo's file: “391” becomes “6461”.
Tang Mo visits Shibei Junior High’s gym and finds a moldy piece of bread and a farewell message on the wall from Chen Shanshan and Zhao Ziang.
A broadcast announces someone in Europe cleared the Dark Spire’s 1st floor; shortly after, Tang Mo receives notice that he has qualified to challenge the Dark Spire in 10 days.
In Shanghai, Zhao Ziang and Liu Chen scavenge for food. They suspect “Matchman”—a mysterious attacker using a giant match—is Tang Mo but dismiss the thought.
The real Matchman (Tang Mo) observes a target with a periscope, attacks and humiliates a beer-bellied irregular, and steals his ability: “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” which lets the user displace nearby objects as shields.
Tang Mo reflects on his limitations; although he has six abilities, most are restricted or passive, making him weaker in sustained fights.
He starts using Qiao Feifei’s “Buddy-o-Radar” ability to identify irregulars (murderers who awakened abilities before the games), ambushing and stealing their abilities.
Tang Mo camps near Nanjing Road, hunting irregulars and gaining the nickname “Matchman”. As players become more cautious, he plans to shift to targeting safe dungeons.
Tang Mo tails Ajax, the strongest Challenger, who enters a factory and vanishes through a manhole. Tang Mo follows and triggers the dungeon “Kill Bill”.
In a dark tunnel, Tang Mo meets a red-haired man who thinks Tang Mo is his shift replacement. The man says “Bill has gone mad” and flees.
Tang Mo finds a dying blond named Carris, wearing the same uniform. Carris warns of a terrifying monster and offers Tang Mo a wooden club as a weapon.
The quest “Kill Bill” begins with three rules: abilities are prohibited, only a kerosene lamp may be used, and only the wooden club can hurt the monster.
Tang Mo encounters Bill, revealed to be a massive earthworm kept as a circus exhibit. The earthworm attacks violently and is nearly impervious to the club.
Tang Mo fights it but fails to defeat it within 20 minutes. He is ejected from the dungeon unharmed—the game resets, confirming it’s a safe dungeon.
On his second attempt, Tang Mo burns Carris’s uniform and his own clothes to use fire to trap and limit the earthworm, combining fire and melee strikes with the club.
He deals damage to the worm's bulging pink ring (a weak spot), but the flames extinguish and the worm regains mobility. Tang Mo barely survives, and the game resets again.
On the third run, Tang Mo proceeds more cautiously, questioning the purpose of the dungeon. He realizes: Carris is Bill.
Tang Mo meets the ginger man again, then confronts the injured Carris. Instead of going deeper into the tunnel, he bludgeons Carris to death with the wooden club.
The chapter ends with Tang Mo reflecting on the cryptic nature of the Dark Spire's game logic: Bill was not the earthworm but the dying man, and the real objective was to kill him.

Chapter 11
CountdownAjax appears at the factory entrance, meeting Tang Qiao.
Ajax excitedly tells Tang Qiao he defeated the earthworm in Dungeon S3 but still failed the quest.
Tang Qiao is shocked; she suspects the dungeon objective might not be to kill the earthworm.
Tang Mo clears the "Kill Bill" dungeon, obtaining the reward Earthworm Tear, but is not teleported out.
Tang Mo reenters the tunnel, discovering the earthworm is still caged and acting pitiful, speaking in a childish, emotional voice.
The earthworm, assuming Tang Mo is friendly, snuggles against him. Tang Mo tries comforting it to elicit a tear.
Tang Mo realizes he was misled by Ajax’s assumption that the earthworm was the dungeon boss.
He identifies hints suggesting Bill is the real "monster" of the story, not the earthworm.
Tang Mo analyses clues: 1. Ginger man’s wounds came from sharp objects, not the earthworm. 2. "Bill is a monster" could be literal or metaphorical. 3. Earthworm may be a misunderstood victim, not the objective.
Tang Mo deduces the story: Bill beat the earthworm while drunk, injuring the ginger man in the process.
Earthworm escaped the cage and injured Bill in self-defense.
Tang Mo comforts the crying earthworm but cannot get it to shed a real tear.
Eventually, the earthworm wakes up and searches for an exit, accidentally triggering a secret door.
As it tries to leave, Tang Mo begs for a tear and prepares to use Mosaic’s Match to stun it.
Just before being struck, the earthworm gives him a real tear and flees the dungeon.
Tang Mo is teleported back to the factory in Pudong and safely leaves the area.
Tang Mo stores the tear in a garage. The tear solidifies into a crystal with healing properties.
Item Description: Earthworm Tear heals wounds and traumatic injuries, usable three times.
Tang Mo reflects that it was worth the uncomfortable process to get such a useful item.
Meanwhile, Ajax reports his failure again to Luo Fengcheng.
Luo Fengcheng deduces the real target in S3 is the blond man, not the earthworm.
Ajax is shocked and resolves to try again the next day, but the dungeon entrance no longer works — it has been cleared by Tang Mo.
Ajax’s opportunity is lost; he decides to try Dungeon S1 instead.
Tang Mo, unaware he stole Ajax’s chance, continues hunting for safe dungeons.
Tang Mo clears another solo dungeon while tailing a player; it is long but not difficult.
He prepares for the floor challenge, ensuring weapons are ready and food is stocked.
Tang Mo eats and reflects on his reduced hunger due to physical changes after previous dungeons.
He contacts Fu Wenduo using the turkey egg to ask about the floor challenge.
Fu Wenduo describes his floor challenge: his quest was to steal the turkey egg, while his teammates had to protect it.
Fu Wenduo and his team entered a divided world: Underland and Monster World, separated by a pink river.
Players had to use a ferry with game constraints to cross to Monster World.
A fierce battle with a giant turkey ensued; three died, one escaped. Fu Wenduo succeeded and claimed the egg.
Tang Mo reflects on his chances: Fu Wenduo’s offensive ability helped him, but Tang Mo is not an irregular, which makes his situation slightly safer.
Tang Mo thanks Fu Wenduo, who wishes him luck and hopes the turkey egg retains its save feature.
Tang Mo prepares and walks to the Dark Spire in Jing'an, determined but calm.
Meanwhile, two injured men stumble into Shanghai, terrified and desperate, searching for irregulars.
They fear the Cannibals, a murderous irregular group, might be in Shanghai.
They break down upon hearing Shanghai also has irregulars.
The chapter ends with Tang Mo standing under the Dark Spire as it initiates: "Ding-dong! Dark Spire Floor 1 initiated on normal mode..." "Welcome to Monster World!"

The Earth is Online, Vol. 2

Chapter 12
Monster ValleyTang Mo enters the Dark Spire’s first floor and finds himself in a surreal forest rather than the usual game environment.
He receives no immediate quest, only a brief “Welcome to Monster World” message, so he starts exploring cautiously.
Spotting a knife-shaped mountain peak in the distance, Tang Mo uses it as a landmark but fails to reach it even after walking for an hour.
While moving, he hears rhythmic thuds approaching and is soon chased by a giant three-meter-tall white rabbit with red eyes.
Tang Mo uses his powerful ability “I Am Fire, I Am Death” to burn the rabbit and the forest, triggering a massive wildfire.
The destruction forces Tang Mo to flee. A side quest is triggered: “Impersonate Little Red Riding Hood and infiltrate Monster Valley.”
As he tries to escape, he encounters a group of humanoid monsters heading to fight the fire, including a gorilla-headed man, pig-headed man, and monkey-headed creatures.
Tang Mo hides in a tree but is detected by a dog-headed monster who smells him out.
He is surrounded by the monsters who chant about eating Underlanders. Tang Mo is forced to think quickly.
He uses a ruby to summon Mario’s Cap and declares he is Little Red Riding Hood to fulfill the side quest.
The monsters are confused but a parrot recalls that Little Red Riding Hood is the hybrid granddaughter of Grandma Wolf.
Mr Gorilla believes the disguise and offers to escort “Little Red Riding Hood” to her grandma’s house.
They exit the forest and enter Monster Valley, a strange underground realm.
Tang Mo is led to Grandma Wolf’s pink cottage and meets her — a massive, muscular werewolf in a tutu with a bowler hat.
Grandma Wolf immediately suspects Tang Mo but believes his disguise because of the foul smell of the cap (which belonged to his “father”).
She drags him inside, reveals she eats Underlanders, and assigns Tang Mo seven days of labor in exchange for seven bronze coins.
The story quest is then triggered: “Monster Valley’s Jolly Whac-A-Gopher.”
Tang Mo must catch a golden gopher in the next seven days or be eaten by Grandma Wolf.
The golden gopher appears only at 6 p.m., once per day, in one of nine tunnels, attracted by yam made from Underland objects.
Black gophers may appear instead, which eat Underlanders.
Tang Mo tests the pink jar that converts Underland objects into yam, but it rejects decomposed Underlander hair as "bleurgh!"
He tries fresher hair, also rejected. Finally, he uses Mario’s Cap to knock out a set of filthy dentures, which the jar accepts, producing proper yam.
With three attempts per day using Mario’s Cap, Tang Mo obtains usable items but notes the drop rate is low and the items are mostly junk.
He scouts the nine tunnels and finds deep claw marks and mixed fur, deducing that the black and golden gophers are equally large and powerful.
On Day 1, Tang Mo places yam outside the fifth tunnel but hides ten meters away instead of standing with the food.
A black gopher appears, devours the yam, then stares directly at Tang Mo, radiating bloodlust before retreating.
Tang Mo confirms the golden gopher cannot appear unless he stands at the same tunnel as the food; otherwise, the black gopher may show up.
He decides to avoid placing the bait again until later days to gather more information and avoid unnecessary danger.
Tang Mo returns to the cottage, planning the rest of the seven-day challenge with the goal of catching the golden gopher and surviving.

Chapter 13
Whac-A-GopherTang Mo uses Mario’s Cap to obtain junk and exchanges one for a yam via the pink jar.
He prepares to bait a gopher by placing the yam at the fifth tunnel at 6 p.m., hoping to attract the golden gopher.
Instead, Tang Mo is ambushed by the black gopher, which is extremely intelligent and aggressive.
Tang Mo uses darts and the Giant Match to fight and manages to injure it by snapping one of its claws.
The black gopher traps Tang Mo in the tunnel, forcing him to confront it head-on before narrowly escaping with a torn back.
Tang Mo notices crushed porcelain powder in the third tunnel, deduces someone else placed a plate there during the time he was distracted by the black gopher.
He confirms that when food is placed in multiple tunnels, the golden gopher cannot appear, only the black gopher does.
Realizes the plate count in Grandma Wolf's kitchen is unchanged—meaning someone else placed a plate.
Attempts to leave the mountain but is blocked by force fields, confirming he’s trapped in the game space.
Reassesses the Dark Spire's rules, concluding they never stated he was the only player in the game.
Suspects the unknown player may also be trying to catch the golden gopher or possibly aiming for the black one.
Tries to use Cranky Curse Circle to target the other player but finds his active abilities are disabled in the dungeon.
Tests multiple abilities—all fail except storage abilities, such as summoning the Giant Match and using Mario’s Cap.
Attempts to use the Earthworm Tear (a healing item) and turkey egg (to contact Fu Wenduo) but both initially fail.
Uses Mario’s Cap again and successfully retrieves a Phantom’s Pocket Watch, which can grant five minutes of invisibility.
Later manages to contact Fu Wenduo using the turkey egg, and learns it's actually December 6th, not December 1st as he thought.
Fu Wenduo reveals Tang Mo contacted him on December 3rd, saying he needed to "save the game" because the challenge might end early.
Tang Mo deduces a time loop or memory manipulation is in play, and he's caught in a repeating cycle.
Figures out the Circus of Curiosities is involved, tying back to a prior dungeon called Kill Bill, where he released one of the circus’s treasures.
Suspects Grandma Wolf might return early, affecting the game timeline.
Tang Mo asks Fu Wenduo to ask “Tang Mo” tomorrow what his lucky number is, to verify continuity.
Tang Mo's lucky number is nine, tied to his crush’s birthday on September 9th.
Uses the ability I Am Your Father on himself, changing his name to Momo for three days, revealing his deepest secret: he has quietly crushed on Victor.
Under the ability's influence, Tang Mo (now Momo) believes his name is Momo, even though he knows it’s not.
Realizes his own ability changed his name universally, even altering the ability book and external references.
Contacts Fu Wenduo again, who now also calls him Momo, further confirming the ability's impact.
Tang Mo reflects that the Spire game’s simplicity is deceptive, and something is fundamentally wrong—especially regarding time.
Considers two theories: 1. The Dark Spire wipes or resets his memory, making him think it’s always Day 1. 2.There are multiple versions of Tang Mo in the same game, all unaware of each other, possibly acting at the same time.
Ends the chapter preparing for the final day, now fully aware that time has passed and that he may not be the only “him” in the game.
Fu Wenduo affirms his support and says he hopes to see Tang Mo/Momo in Shanghai.

Chapter 14
Devouring HeartsTang Mo collects items to prepare food for the golden gopher, ultimately offering a large yam at the ninth gopher tunnel at exactly 6:00 p.m.
At moonlight, a golden gopher appears and eats the yam enthusiastically; just as it finishes, the illusion around Tang Mo shatters.
The massive golden gopher vanishes, replaced by a tiny one with a swollen belly; Tang Mo traps it in a sack.
Tang Mo investigates the other tunnels and finds evidence of repeated timelines involving plate traces, indicating looping events.
Tang Mo realizes the golden gopher is manipulating time; each day since December 1st, a new version of himself appears.
Tang Mo names these versions TM-1 to TM-7; each version believes they are in the original timeline, causing desynchronization.
The timelines synchronize every day at 6 p.m., causing loss of ability precedence for earlier versions.
Tang Mo deduces that precedence determines who can use abilities or affect the timeline.
Tang Mo concludes that the game is single-player and the other "player" is always himself in another timeline iteration.
TM-3 tries to catch the golden gopher early due to a newspaper headline suggesting the game might end prematurely.
TM-6 uses Phantom's Pocket Watch to enter the tunnel unseen and "I Am Your Father" ability to synchronize names across timelines, revealing a hidden confession: Tang Mo has quietly crushed on Victor for the longest time.
On the seventh day, all seven Tang Mo variants converge on the ninth tunnel and catch the golden gopher, completing the quest.
Tang Mo earns five bronze coins and exchanges them with Grandma Wolf for a powerful magical parasol.
Grandma Wolf attempts to cook Tang Mo, but is interrupted by Mr Gorilla who comes to escort Tang Mo to safety.
Grandma Wolf reacts with shock upon seeing the golden gopher, calling it the Golden Spacetime Gopher.
Grandma Wolf demonstrates the gopher's ability to multiply through time loops using a hamster wheel.
Tang Mo refuses to follow Grandma Wolf to her bedroom and narrowly avoids another trap.
Mr Gorilla arrives and offers Tang Mo a way out; Tang Mo leaves the cottage.
Quest complete: Tang Mo receives 21 points, unlocking the hidden story quest and clearing the Dark Spire’s first floor on hard mode.
Global notification announces “Player Momo” (Tang Mo) has cleared the floor on hard mode; many players around the world take note of the name.
Tang Mo vents his anger by smashing a monument, then reflects on the misleading challenge and hidden difficulty escalation.
Tang Mo examines his rewards: Grandma Wolf's Parasol (excellent defense/offense) and King’s Gold Coin (lets player skip a Dark Spire game once).
Tang Mo falls asleep for the first time in a week but is awakened by screams and discovers a man with his heart ripped out.
Tang Mo finds another corpse in a car trunk with the same missing heart.
He drives through an increasingly deserted Shanghai, encountering more heartless corpses.
At a megamall, Tang Mo meets Luo Fengcheng and learns that "irregulars"—humans, not monsters—are behind the killings.
Luo Fengcheng reveals that these irregulars consume hearts within three minutes of death and have killed Nie Fei, a former ally of Tang Mo.
Tang Mo deduces that heart consumption may be linked to gaining strength.
Luo Fengcheng suggests two theories: societal collapse freeing cannibalistic urges, or that cannibalism directly increases power.
Tang Mo and Luo Fengcheng agree: the irregulars consume hearts to become stronger.

Chapter 15
30-Second ManQiao Feifei and Chen Shanshan discover a second corpse with its heart gouged out in Fengxian, Shanghai. Qiao Feifei vomits from shock, while Chen Shanshan examines the body methodically.
Chen Shanshan suspects that Zhao Ziang and Liu Chen may have headed west, toward the danger, and decides to search for them despite the cannibal threat.
In Pudong, Tang Mo tells Luo Fengcheng about a man who died quietly while Tang Mo was asleep just 100 meters away. This raises alarm about the cannibals' stealth.
Ajax, the strong blond man, brings back two boys — Zhao Ziang and an unconscious Liu Chen, who was critically injured by an irregular named Electroman.
Lizzie and Tang Qiao attempt to save Liu Chen with limited equipment. Tang Mo intervenes with a magical item, Earthworm Tear, healing Liu Chen temporarily.
Tang Mo talks privately with Zhao Ziang, learning that they had been isolated and unaware of the cannibals’ spread until it was too late.
Zhao Ziang reveals his growing telekinetic ability — he can now throw stones (and knives) with force within a short range, but it exhausts him.
Tang Mo reflects on Zhao Ziang’s evolving powers and suspects abilities may have “levels.” He checks his own ability book but finds his ability lacks clear restrictions or level designations.
To test ability collection, Tang Mo asks Zhao Ziang for his knife willingly, but the boy’s power doesn’t appear in the book — indicating deeper collection restrictions.
Luo Fengcheng shares intel on the seven known irregular cannibals from Suzhou, who have killed over 1,000 players. Notable ones: 1. Electroman: lightning powers, cooldown of 32 seconds. 2. Blindfold: ability unknown, always accompanied by another irregular, possibly vision-related. 3. Flash: superhuman speed, alias for a scarred man.
Zhao Ziang chooses to join the Challengers to grow stronger and protect friends. He shares Chen Shanshan’s message-drop system at their school using hidden notes.
Tang Mo agrees to leave a note for Chen Shanshan. Disguised as a casual jogger, he makes a stealthy journey to Shibei Junior High.
At the school, Tang Mo lays the note but is ambushed by the scarred man — Flash, one of the seven cannibals.
Tang Mo fights Flash using Grandma Wolf’s Parasol (a dual-mode weapon), Zhao Ziang’s defensive debris ability, and clever misdirection.
Tang Mo tricks Flash by lodging the parasol into the security door, blocking his escape. He then activates his ability “I Am Fire, I Am Death,” incinerating Flash with 800°C flame.
As Flash attempts a last strike, Tang Mo finishes him off using a summoned massive match from another ability.
Flash dies with the words: “Why... do you... have... three abilities…” confirming Tang Mo has multiple powers — unusual and dangerous.
Tang Mo rewrites and replaces the burned letter for Chen Shanshan and returns to base, concealing most of the battle details.
In a parallel scene, Fu Wenduo enters Suzhou. He survives an ambush by a bald man using bladed weapons, revealing Fu Wenduo's steel-like body and deadly combat skills.
Back in Pudong, Tang Mo confirms to Luo Fengcheng that he killed Flash. The Challengers suspect someone is leaking information to the cannibals.
Tang Mo learns Flash may have targeted him because he resembled another irregular named Gluttony, who Flash hated but couldn't attack.
Luo Fengcheng suspects Gluttony is either Blindfold or a refined man seen at the Bund.
Luo Fengcheng plans to go on the offensive. They track the cannibals to a cinema above Madame Tussauds in Puxi. A raid is scheduled in three days during a rainstorm.
Tang Mo gains a new ability: “30-Second Man” (from Flash), which allows movement at Mach 1 speed for 30 seconds — but shortens lifespan and causes daily side effects. It's a double-edged sword.
The chapter ends with Tang Mo being told he has visitors — revealed to be Chen Shanshan and Qiao Feifei, who have returned to the base safely.

Chapter 16
Brewing StormHere is a full spoiler-filled bullet-point summary of Chapter 16: Brewing Storm with every major plot point:
In Suzhou Industrial Park, Fu Wenduo kills a cannibalistic woman using a tetrahedral obsidian weapon. Her severed right hand and psychokinetic attacks fail to stop him.
He gets a minor cheek injury but defeats her with a final stab to the throat. Her death avenges a victim named Lulu.
Fu Wenduo departs the scene and his wound heals rapidly due to his abilities.
In Shanghai, Tang Mo reunites with Chen Shanshan and Qiao Feifei after they find his message at their school. They risk travel despite irregulars patrolling the city.
Luo Fengcheng questions how much Tang Mo told them; Tang Mo insists he only mentioned they joined an ability-user organisation.
Chen Shanshan deduces Tang Mo’s group opposes the Cannibals, inferring from subtle clues.
She reveals a schoolmate stayed behind due to reuniting with surviving family.
Tang Mo confirms to Chen Shanshan that they plan to eliminate the remaining irregulars (Cannibals). Six remain, but only one’s ability is known.
Chen Shanshan displays improved deduction and insight since they last met.
Tang Mo and Ajax prepare to clear dungeon S4 but expect it won’t aid the upcoming fight.
Zhao Ziang tells Feifei and Shanshan about his injuries and dramatic rescue. Chen Shanshan focuses on Liu Chen’s condition.
Luo Fengcheng confirms rain is forecast and the team will launch a surprise attack during the storm.
Tang Mo and Luo discuss "Gluttony"—a key Cannibal member. Two suspects: a bespectacled man and a blindfolded teenager.
Chen Shanshan is consulted; she picks the blindfolded teen based on intuition alone.
Tang Mo trusts her judgment due to her innate ability to guess unknowns with up to 50% accuracy.
The next evening, Tang Mo and 10 Challengers begin the raid. They split into teams and ascend to the cinema on the twelfth floor during the rainstorm.
Tang Mo enters a theatre alone and ambushes the bespectacled man using a parasol and wind-based ability “Roar of the Tiger.”
After a strategic aerial fight, Tang Mo impales the man’s chest, killing him.
He finds three Challenger corpses and four Cannibal corpses, confirming only two Cannibals remain.
He saves Ajax from a pyrokinetic woman, Dong Si, using the rubber rope ability he just gained.
Dong Si nearly kills Tang Mo in hand-to-hand combat. She is the most formidable foe he’s ever faced.
Tang Mo uses another ability—time-freeze—to fatally stab her from behind. It costs him four minutes of his life and weakens his body.
Before dying, Dong Si slaps the ground to warn Blindfold. He summons fire to block Tang Mo and escapes toward another building.
Tang Mo chases but finds Blindfold killed by Zhao Ziang using a nail through the skull. It’s Zhao Ziang’s second kill, motivated by revenge for Liu Chen.
All six Cannibals are now confirmed dead.
Tang Mo and Zhao Ziang return to find Ye Yuanze has died from injuries. Only Tang Qiao remains from Tang Mo’s original companions.
The team recovers at the building overnight. Four Challengers died in the operation, bringing total losses to five with Nie Fei.
Tang Mo burns down the Cannibals’ base the next day, symbolizing freedom for the locals.
Back at base, Luo Fengcheng and Tang Mo reflect on Blindfold likely being Gluttony due to his support role and possible link to the Cannibals’ heart-consuming powers.
Tang Mo decides to return to Suzhou, home of the Cannibals, where others may still be alive.
Luo reveals Chen Shanshan asked to become his student. He agrees, seeing her raw intelligence but limited knowledge.
Qiao Feifei also joins the Challengers due to her power to detect other abilities, making her valuable for security.
Tang Mo gains two new powers: 1. “I’m Gonna Be The Pirate King’s Man” from Liu Zhen: launches rubber ropes that can’t be removed for 30 seconds (Tang Mo edition). 2. “Raging Inferno” from Dong Si: creates fire up to 1535°C with rapid water loss as side effect (Tang Mo edition: max 3 uses/day).
Tang Mo prepares to leave. He tells Chen Shanshan she can decide whether to join him or not.
As he walks away on Christmas Eve, a Dark Spire announces a global event: the “Christmas Eve Surprise Dungeon.”
Despite the claim that all players in China will enter a dungeon in 3 minutes, Tang Mo remains untouched and unaffected.
Suddenly, Santa Claus appears in the sky with reindeer and starts dropping “Christmas Tree Twigs” (entry tokens for the dungeon).
Tang Mo fights other players for a twig and wins after fending off a boomerang-wielding woman.
He enters Christmas Eve Surprise Dungeon 419 in China Zone 2.
Inside, he finds himself on a white battlefield with 7 others—4 players per side, divided by a central golden star.
As plaques rise before each player, Tang Mo’s attention is caught by a man in black who returns his stare.
They exchange a silent but charged look, setting the stage for what comes next.

Chapter 17
Christmas SpecialTang Mo and seven other players encounter a singing puppet named Pinocchio in a white void, marking the start of a Christmas-themed dungeon game.
Pinocchio, clearly unstable and unpredictable, introduces “Pinocchio’s Honest Card Game” as part of Santa Claus’s Christmas Eve Surprise Dungeon.
He berates humans for being dishonest and reveals that multiple "irregulars" are present, meaning players with unusual status or abilities. Tang Mo suspects the man in black is one.
Pinocchio announces the prize: a King’s Gold Coin, which grants the ability to skip a Dark Spire game, enter and exit Underland cities, and has immense value.
The game setup involves two teams of four, each with a set of four cards: Slave, Knight, Chancellor, and King/Queen.
The card mechanics are cyclical: Slave defeats King/Queen, King/Queen defeats Chancellor and Knight, Chancellor defeats Knight and Slave, Knight defeats Slave.
The game is supposed to be peaceful if both teams play cards in a specific honest order: Slave → Knight → Chancellor → King/Queen. If both teams match cards, they are discarded. If they don’t match, a duel is triggered in the "Field of Honour."
Pinocchio bets Santa Claus that the players will cheat; if so, he gets to give out the Gold Coins to the winning team.
Tang Mo’s team (Tang Mo, Zhao Wenbin, Qiang, and high school girl Lulu) discusses strategy. Zhao Wenbin leads, proposing they start with Chancellor to play it safe. Tang Mo suggests Queen but doesn’t object when outvoted.
Tang Mo still stands on the Queen card’s position during the selection phase, potentially testing the mechanics.
The opposing team plays the King. Tang Mo’s team plays the Chancellor. Since King beats Chancellor, Lulu (the representative) is forced to duel.
Lulu panics, pulls a gun, and fires at the man in black but accidentally hits the middle-aged woman on his team.
She empties two pistols and attacks with a knife, all failing. The man in black is calm and precise; he ends the duel with a dagger at her throat and forces her to yield.
After tricking him with a last-ditch weapon, she is finally defeated and pulled into a black portal—sent to the next brutal game.
The first round ends, and Tang Mo’s team now has only three cards left.
Tang Mo announces loudly they will play the Queen next round, likely as a psychological tactic.
Zhao Wenbin and Qiang panic, accusing Tang Mo of sabotage. He remains calm.
Tang Mo deduces something critical: the opposing team didn’t reach a consensus to play the King—they were likely a single unit.
He realizes the three teammates of the man in black don’t think independently and only the man in black is real, controlling all decisions.
Tang Mo uses a magical pink parasol weapon and asserts dominance over his team, injuring Qiang and flooring Zhao Wenbin effortlessly.
He declares that he alone will lead the team and make all decisions. If they disobey, he will kill them after the game.

Chapter 18
Grovel to Your QueenFu Wenduo and Tang Mo's teams face each other in the next round of Pinocchio's Honest Card Game.
Tang Mo tricks Pinocchio into almost violating the rules, testing his boundaries and confirming some game mechanics.
Tang Mo aggressively takes control of his team’s card decision, forcing them to play the Queen card.
The opposing team’s card clashes with Tang Mo's team’s, triggering a “Field of Honour” duel.
Qiang, who is forced to play the Queen, is chosen as the representative and duels a young woman.
The young woman uses a strange bullet-bending ability to kill Qiang, becoming the first confirmed death of the game.
Tang Mo deduces Fu Wenduo played the Knight to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, despite having the chance to play a more aggressive card.
A deep conversation occurs between Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo. Tang Mo asks if the King's Gold Coin is more important than “Momo” (his turkey egg). Fu Wenduo answers “No” but clarifies he wouldn’t give up the Gold Coin for it.
Tang Mo realizes Fu Wenduo knows he possesses a King’s Gold Coin, despite his attempts to conceal it.
Tang Mo figures out Fu Wenduo's identity before the second round ends; Fu Wenduo had recognized Tang Mo’s voice before the first.
Tang Mo bets Fu Wenduo that they’ll end up standing in the same space again in the third round.
The bet's stakes: If Tang Mo wins, they end the game peacefully; if Fu Wenduo wins, their relationship with Momo won’t be affected.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo purposely stand on the border between spaces, skirting the game’s conditions and winning the bet.
Fu Wenduo keeps his word and agrees to end the game peacefully, frustrating Pinocchio.
Tang Mo defeats the bullet-wielding young woman in a duel, surviving her deadly power through skill and item use.
A middle-aged woman forfeits instantly upon seeing Tang Mo, mistaking him for a deadly irregular.
Only Tang Mo and Zhao Wenbin remain on one team; Fu Wenduo and an old man remain on the other.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo agree to follow the standard card sequence to end the game without further death.
Fu Wenduo plays the King card while Tang Mo plays the Slave card; Tang Mo wins the round.
Pinocchio, excited by the game, accidentally violates the rule by admitting he knows the card contents.
Pinocchio loses his Underland citizenship. The dungeon is renamed from “Pinocchio’s Honest Card Game” to “Santa’s Honest Card Game.”
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo immediately attack Pinocchio for cheating.
A fast-paced battle erupts; Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo work in seamless coordination, gradually overpowering Pinocchio.
Both reveal a portion of their abilities during the fight—Fu Wenduo's body-weapon transformation, Tang Mo's item-based matchstick attack.
Fu Wenduo restrains Pinocchio with a magical binding rope, completely subduing him.
Tang Mo reminds Pinocchio he no longer represents Underland or the game, nullifying his threats.
A duel is still technically active between Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo because of the King-Slave matchup.
Just as Tang Mo prepares to use the turkey egg to escape the duel, a crack breaks the glowing ribbon of challenge.
A voice booms, “Hohoho, Merry Christmas!” ending the chapter.

Chapter 19
Dark Spire Version 2.0Santa Claus arrives dramatically in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, scaring everyone with his presence.
Santa Claus is furious at Pinocchio for stealing his golden star and starting the dungeon without permission.
Santa Claus captures Pinocchio by sucking him into a gift sack and declares Pinocchio will be exiled to Monster World.
Tang Mo and the others learn that the real reward of the game was always the Christmas Tree Twig, not the golden star.
Santa Claus announces a peaceful version of the Honest Card Game will now begin with less dangerous rules.
Tang Mo reflects on how Pinocchio was uniquely included in the game rules, unlike other dungeon bosses.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo secretly coordinate through the turkey egg's save file function to trap Pinocchio.
The trap involved manipulating Pinocchio into breaking the game rules by pretending to share card choices.
Fu Wenduo and Tang Mo work together silently using logic and subtle signals, exploiting Pinocchio’s fear of being punished by the Dark Spire.
The Honest Card Game ends peacefully with both teams playing their last cards simultaneously.
Santa Claus gives his farewell and flies off in his sleigh.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo exchange respectful parting words, acknowledging each other's strength and cooperation.
After exiting the dungeon, Tang Mo watches as his Christmas Tree Twig flies into the sky.
All across China, twigs turn into beams of light forming a giant glowing Christmas tree.
Santa Claus appears and throws gifts from the sky; Tang Mo catches a glowing star which enhances his physical strength slightly.
The Dark Spire announces the Version 2.0 update going live on January 1st, 2018.
Key additions include: real-world dungeons, monthly open dungeons, and mandatory Spire challenges every three months.
Tang Mo records known rules and regional structures of the Dark Spire, preparing for future strategy.
Tang Mo returns to the Challengers’ base and learns many failed to receive rewards or survive the Christmas dungeons.
Luo Fengcheng reveals that difficulty scales with player strength and only side-quest players received the star reward.
Tang Mo is shaken upon learning Chen Shanshan hasn’t returned from her dungeon and was likely forced into a floor challenge.
He decides to stay in Shanghai for ten days, waiting for Chen Shanshan.
Seven days pass. On New Year's Eve, Tang Mo, Ajax, and Luo Fengcheng stake out the Dark Spire for the version update.
At midnight, the Spire lights up and a childlike voice announces the 2.0 update officially begins.
Tang Mo notices a white dot blinking 62 times at the top of the Spire before the update starts.
He returns to his companions and reports what he saw. Luo Fengcheng agrees it's important and symbolic.
They confirm that over 300 million players have died since the start—over 75% of the total.
On January 1st, Tang Mo spots a suspicious player and eavesdrops to confirm real-world dungeons are active.
A Shoemaker entity dragged a player named Li Qiang into a real-world dungeon; the Spire’s monsters now roam Earth.
Tang Mo confronts the witnesses and threatens them to get the truth, confirming the start of a new, far more dangerous phase.

Chapter 20
Untimely EncountersTang Mo reports to Luo Fengcheng that a real-world dungeon has appeared.
A middle-aged man explains how he and Li Qiang encountered a dangerous Spire entity named the Shoemaker during what was supposed to be a safe dungeon attempt.
The team investigates the site; they confirm the Shoemaker's presence based on blood evidence and the Shoemaker’s verbal self-identification.
A real-world dungeon notification triggers for the side quest “Chance encounter with the Shoemaker.”
The group encounters a transparent force field that blocks physical entry but allows natural elements like wind and sunlight through.
Luo Fengcheng hypothesizes that natural phenomena can pass, but manipulated or artificial objects are repelled.
A public real-world open dungeon is announced by the Dark Spire, to occur at Banana Tavern.
Tang Mo chooses not to join, stating risks and past experience with Mario, a dangerous character linked to the location.
Tang Mo trades a Banana Tavern help-wanted poster to Luo Fengcheng in exchange for a report on the dungeon outcome.
Tang Mo uses Mario’s smelly cap to slam into a wall three times to acquire dungeon drops, getting random items.
After using the cap, Tang Mo is attacked in the darkness by a skilled fighter.
A tense, close-quarters fight ensues, ending in a deadlock where Tang Mo’s parasol is at the attacker’s neck, and a dagger is at Tang Mo’s stomach.
Tang Mo realizes the attacker is Fu Wenduo, whom he met during the Christmas dungeon.
Fu Wenduo reveals he’s looking for Luo Fengcheng.
Tang Mo takes Fu Wenduo to meet Luo Fengcheng, who recognizes Fu Wenduo as Major Fu, a national-level soldier.
They discuss the "Dark Spire Selection", a mysterious pre-game phenomenon involving increased heart rate and emotional instability.
Luo Fengcheng reveals some patients exhibited this phenomenon just before the Earth went online; he suspects it’s how the Dark Spire identifies powerful individuals.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo both confirm they experienced these symptoms.
Luo Fengcheng shares data from Nie Fei, a former Challenger whose rapid growth in ability hinted at this selection pattern.
Luo Fengcheng proposes two theories: 1. The Dark Spire bestows abilities. 2. The Spire unlocks latent abilities that some individuals already possess.
Fu Wenduo confirms his own irregular status originated from a military mission where he killed someone.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo discuss the state of China, especially Beijing.
Fu Wenduo reveals he killed three irregulars in Suzhou, essentially wiping out the Cannibals there.
He says Beijing is similarly chaotic but more stable than Suzhou; its most powerful organisation is the Chosen Ones, made up of irregulars.
Fu Wenduo sparred with a first-floor-cleared irregular in Beijing, suggesting many elite players exist whose names remain unknown.
Tang Mo is shocked to learn that only his name was broadcast globally after clearing the first floor, making him a visible target.
Fu Wenduo offers Tang Mo information freely, partly due to their shared past and Momo connection.
They discuss the implications of name anonymity, player tracking, and social breakdown post-Spire.
Lizzie arrives and informs Tang Mo that Chen Shanshan has returned alone, injured but alive.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo begin heading back to the mall together.
On their way, they hear the ominous sound of metal chains being dragged, signaling the Shoemaker’s return.

Chapter 21
The ShoemakerTang Mo and Fu Wenduo encounter the Shoemaker, a towering, grotesque man holding chains and a rusted spike.
The Shoemaker appears menacing but doesn’t immediately attack; instead, he smirks and speaks ominously.
Tang Mo remembers a previous warning that encountering the Shoemaker doesn’t guarantee being captured.
Tang Mo suddenly apologizes to Fu Wenduo and runs away, hoping the Shoemaker was after Fu Wenduo instead.
The Shoemaker captures Tang Mo with a chain that cannot be removed—he triggered the game.
The Shoemaker then binds Fu Wenduo as well, ignoring his resistance and confirming both have entered the “Shoemaker’s Game World.”
Fu Wenduo echoes Tang Mo’s earlier “Sorry,” mocking his failed betrayal.
A game announcement from the Dark Spire confirms a side quest: "Chance Encounter with the Shoemaker," and both players must follow him into the workshop.
The Shoemaker drags them to a factory and separates them. Tang Mo is forced inside first while Fu Wenduo is taken elsewhere.
Tang Mo explores the factory, realizing it is a food processing plant. He uses a glowing pebble as a makeshift light source.
In an office, he finds a young man, Xing Feng, severely injured and unable to walk. Xing Feng reveals he's been trapped for days and that previous teammates were killed.
A strange event occurs: a computer powers on with a video call from Fu Wenduo, despite having no electricity.
They confirm they share the same quest—to find the Shoemaker's missing shoe polish.
Both Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo realize they’ve lost the ability to use their powers or items after being separated.
They cautiously share their side quests and verify they're the same by writing the answer and revealing it together.
Fu Wenduo reveals he is locked in a storeroom containing three crucified, bloodless corpses—similar to what Xing Feng described.
Xing Feng becomes increasingly agitated, revealing that a “wolf” is coming, not the Shoemaker.
A system announcement from the Dark Spire warns of incoming “Shoeshine Wolves” and states that killing them will yield shoe polish.
Tang Mo hears banging and snarling from outside the office, indicating a Shoeshine Wolf is attacking.
He prepares for battle, while Fu Wenduo’s monitor goes dark, then plays a bizarre show hosted by a cartoonish Cinderella.
The strange TV show teases cryptic lore about the Underland, including “Underland’s Ten Unsolved Mysteries.”

Chapter 22
Missing Shoe PolishTang Mo hides in an office with Xing Feng as a Shoeshine Wolf lurks outside.
Tang Mo uses a glowing pebble to gain the visual advantage and ambushes the wolf, fighting it with a broken vase.
He kills the Shoeshine Wolf with a shard of porcelain, and the wolf drops a black liquid – a single drop of shoe polish.
Tang Mo interrogates Xing Feng, demanding answers about the Shoeshine Wolf, past deaths, and his injuries.
Xing Feng explains the wolves spawn every 3 hours, increasing in number (1, then 2, then 3…), and killing one gives a drop of shoe polish.
If not killed within 5 minutes, the wolves disappear, but 10 minutes later, the Shoemaker arrives asking for shoe polish.
The Shoemaker bursts into the room, threateningly demanding his shoe polish and leaves after taking the drop.
In a separate location, Fu Wenduo watches a bizarre game show called Happy Q&A hosted by Cinderella.
Cinderella introduces Fu Wenduo as the first irregular and famous player to clear the Dark Spire’s 1st floor.
Fu Wenduo correctly answers question 1, wrongly answers question 2, and gets "drowned for an hour" as penalty.
Tang Mo gives the shoe polish to the Shoemaker, who complains it's only one drop and not enough.
Tang Mo confirms with Xing Feng that substitute polish (from wolves) only works once and the Shoemaker will demand more every time.
If players don’t have polish, the Shoemaker takes blood—400cc per drop—painful but survivable.
Fu Wenduo calls Tang Mo, drenched from the drowning penalty. They share updates.
Fu Wenduo explains the quiz relates to shoe polish. Tang Mo agrees and decides to search the factory for clues.
Tang Mo hides a plastic bag of samples (e.g., water, soil) while preparing for the next wave of wolves.
Two Shoeshine Wolves spawn. Tang Mo hides, then ambushes them when Xing Feng makes noise.
After a brutal fight, Tang Mo kills both wolves, though he suffers a bite and torn flesh.
Xing Feng is shocked Tang Mo could do it alone. He admits past attempts with others failed horribly.
The Shoemaker took their blood when they couldn’t supply enough polish. The others died from over-extraction.
Tang Mo presses him further and learns Xing Feng lied to others to hoard polish and let them die.
Tang Mo reveals he plans to let the Shoemaker take Xing Feng’s blood next time instead of using his own.
Shoemaker returns, takes two drops, and demands three for next visit, or else he’ll take blood.
Tang Mo later discovers Xing Feng had two hidden drops of shoe polish in a coffee cup, disguised as liquid.
Tang Mo keeps Xing Feng alive for utility—as a blood bank—but trusts him very little.
Fu Wenduo later calls again. His penalties escalate—he fails question 5 and gets slashed by violent winds.
Cinderella reveals Grandma Wolf as punishment for another wrong answer, but Missy Turkey donates enough to skip it.
Fu Wenduo correctly answers a question about the source of the Shoemaker's polish—“humans”.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo theorize polish might be blood, since everyone’s seen it from birth.
But Tang Mo realizes if it were blood, Shoemaker wouldn’t search for it—so they remain uncertain.
Tang Mo fights three wolves in the next cycle and barely survives, suffering a deep wound across his stomach.
Fu Wenduo fails another question and avoids a duel with Grandma Wolf thanks to sponsorship again.
He’s asked: “Where does the Shoemaker get his polish?” and chooses “humans” — a confirmed correct answer.
Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo regroup via video. Tang Mo says blood isn’t the polish and he’s near his limit.
Fu Wenduo reveals his next quiz question gave no helpful clue.
Tang Mo, gravely wounded, says if a fourth wolf spawns next, he might not survive the battle.
The chapter ends with the two of them still searching for the real shoe polish’s identity, low on time and hope.

The Earth is Online, Vol. 3

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The Earth is Online, Vol. 4

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The Earth is Online, Vol. 5

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The Earth is Online, Vol. 6

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The Earth is Online, Vol. 7

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The Earth is Online, Vol. 8

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 1

Prologue
WPD Open Serial Killer Case FilesThe file is presented as internal case files from the Westland Police Department with margins annotated by a woman’s handwriting.
Case File T144-0736 introduces the serial killer called “The Sunday Gardener,” active since at least 2006, who decorates victims’ bodies with flowers and displays them publicly on Sundays.
The Sunday Gardener does not torture victims during the killing but arranges corpses afterward, often with symbolism tied to the victim’s past.
His signature is not extremely distinct, leading to confusion with possible copycats.
October 8, 2006: Benjamin Maurrin is found dead in his car, initially mistaken for CO poisoning until oleander petals are discovered in his mouth and nose. He had restraint injuries and died of asphyxiation. This is considered the first confirmed murder. His corpse was not publicly displayed, suggesting the killer’s early inexperience.
September 23, 2007: A woman known as “Ophelia” is found in Fernando Park lake dressed in white with a garland of flowers, resembling the Hamlet character’s drowning. She is suspected to have been a prostitute but remains unidentified.
February 14, 2016: Mischa Tamir and Thomas Monroe, called “The Mogel Street Lovers,” are found embracing on frozen river ice, each holding the other’s heart, chests filled with roses and snow. Authorities suspected a copycat, but the notes argue this was still the Sunday Gardener’s work.
June 26, 2016: “The Bridal Boat” case is discovered outside Christ Child Church, with a human skeleton in a wedding dress, ribcage filled with roses dyed red by blood, and more white roses scattered. The skeleton was bleached and unidentifiable.
Investigators profile the Sunday Gardener as a white male, age 28–38, height 5’11”–6’1”, with strong anatomical knowledge suggesting surgical training.
His murders escalate in complexity over time, and some bodies are never recovered.
Theories suggest water imagery and Sunday timing may reflect commemorative trauma, possibly tied to a loved one drowning rather than personal experience.
The annotations critique WPD for focusing too narrowly on suspects with personal water trauma instead of family-related tragedies.
Case File T209-1948 introduces “The Westland Pianist,” active since 2010, who strangles victims with piano wire.
The Westland Pianist targets men with criminal histories, mostly tall blond men, and tortures them severely before killing them.
February 18, 2010: Tom Green, acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her children, is found with his face skinned, body stabbed 107 times, and lying in a blood-painted target.
July 10, 2010: Edward Tasmeer, linked to deadly bank robberies, is found at a construction site, joints smashed, gold coins in his throat, and body suspended by piano string in a pose matching an angel relief.
April 29, 2016: Trappe Callahan, suspected rapist and murderer, is found in his home mutilated—limbs severed, organs removed while alive, body stuffed with his own severed parts.
The Pianist demonstrates a consistent and mature method, suggesting prior experience in other states before arriving in Westland.
He may have access to a large vehicle, strong physique, and combat training, possibly from an affluent background.
He taunts police by sending anonymous letters with crime locations, but the commentary suggests this is not arrogance but a cautious way to distinguish his work from unrecognized earlier crimes.
His victim selection suggests personal trauma involving violence by an older blond man.
The annotations argue he is extremely cautious and effective at disguising himself, possibly misleading police with false clues.
Some consider the Westland Pianist more dangerous than the Sunday Gardener, though the notes argue the Sunday Gardener is more enigmatic and unfathomable.
The annotator speculates about what would happen if both killers crossed paths, imagining one might become prey to the other, and calls the idea a spectacle worth witnessing.

Chapter 1
The Mark of Cain Part IAlbarino Bacchus, the chief forensic pathologist, is called to a late-night crime scene in Westland, a city overwhelmed by violence and serial killings.
Detective Bart Hardy is already at the scene and warns that this case is serious—it’s likely the work of the notorious serial killer known as the Westland Pianist.
The crime scene is an apple orchard where a scarecrow-like corpse has been displayed grotesquely: impaled on a stake, mouth stitched into a grin, buttons nailed into the eyes, dressed like a scarecrow.
Olga Moroz, a former FBI profiler now consulting for the WPD, arrives to profile the killer.
The victim is quickly suspected to be Richard Norman, a known gang leader.
Albarino examines the body at the scene and confirms the killer is left-handed, a known trait of the Pianist.
Victim was tortured while alive: face mutilated and sewn crudely, buttons nailed in eyes, impaled on a stake, strangled, arms manipulated using wires.
During autopsy, Albarino and Bates Schwandner discover the heart was removed and replaced with an apple.
In the abdominal cavity, they find wheat stuffed between the organs.
Albarino deduces the killer tortured Richard Norman alive, manipulated his limbs, then impaled him, mutilated his body, strangled him to death, and finally removed his heart and inserted symbolic items.
Olga notes the killer’s symbolic consistency: the use of strangulation in every killing.
Albarino theorizes the Pianist’s symbolic use of apples and wheat to reflect judgment or punishment of the victim's criminality.
They confirm the time of death to be around 11 PM to midnight the previous evening.
Detective Bart Hardy interviews potential witnesses, including gang members and Richard Norman’s younger brother, Thomas Norman.
Thomas Norman shows no remorse, claims he’s happy his brother is dead, but denies involvement.
Olga and Albarino agree Thomas is arrogant and self-centered but not the killer.
Attention shifts to Herstal Armalight, the Norman brothers’ mob lawyer.
Armalight is cold, calculating, and fits the mold of a stereotypical amoral defense attorney.
Albarino becomes captivated by Herstal Armalight’s face and personality, viewing him artistically as a potential future victim for his own homicidal urges.
Albarino is revealed to be the Sunday Gardener, another active serial killer in Westland, who plants flowers in his victims.
Albarino had been watching Richard Norman for three months, planning to kill him, but is furious that the Pianist got to him first—he considers it artistic theft.
Albarino now sees the Westland Pianist not only as a rival but someone who must be punished.
He mentally adds Herstal Armalight as a future victim, second on his hit list.
Albarino vows to go after the Pianist next—he has a plan in mind.

Chapter 2
The Mark of Cain Part IIHerstal Armalight, the Norman brothers’ lawyer, is interrogated by Detective Hardy about the brothers’ relationship and the murder of Richard Norman.
Herstal explains that Richard Norman and Thomas Norman had a long-standing, bitter rivalry due to Richard’s incompetence and jealousy toward the more capable Thomas Norman.
Herstal bluntly suggests that the murder method doesn't match Thomas Norman's personality and implies the Westland Pianist is responsible.
Hardy suspects Herstal is withholding information but can't push further due to lack of a warrant.
Richard Norman was last seen with Herstal, then with a lover, and disappeared until his body was found grotesquely displayed.
Herstal leaves the interrogation, clearly confident, only to be stopped by forensic pathologist Albarino Bacchus, who informs him he needs to sign documents as Thomas Norman’s representative.
They walk to the morgue together, passing a horde of media, and there Herstal views Richard Norman’s mutilated body without reaction and signs the documents.
Albarino becomes unusually intrusive and vividly describes how the Westland Pianist killed Richard Norman: drugged, sewn shut, impaled alive, disemboweled, and heart ripped out.
Albarino almost mimics the murder in demonstration, touching Herstal intimately while explaining. Herstal remains calm but wary.
Albarino appears obsessed with Herstal, subtly threatening him while hiding predatory tendencies.
The media fixates on the case due to the victim being a known criminal. Debate erupts on whether the Pianist is a vigilante.
Albarino receives a call from Detective Hardy about another suspected Pianist killing—Thomas Norman is dead.
Albarino visits the crime scene, a private estate with a stream, where Thomas Norman is found upside-down, nailed to a stake underwater.
Herstal had discovered the body after receiving a text from Thomas Norman asking to meet; Herstal claims his dashcam proves he didn’t kill him.
Albarino, clearly the actual killer of Thomas Norman, sent Herstal the text from the dead man’s phone as part of a twisted artistic expression.
Thomas Norman's corpse is staged: upside-down, nailed, flower-stuffed chest, sheep horns sewn to his head, and draped in symbolic flowers.
Forensics indicate the body was arranged post-mortem, with no signs of pain or vital reaction, unlike the Pianist’s usual style.
Albarino suspects that this murder was not the Pianist’s doing, but rather the work of the Sunday Gardener.
Olga Moroz excitedly deduces that the Sunday Gardener mimicked the Pianist’s previous motif to send a message of recognition and response.
The murder of Richard Norman was revealed to reference Cain: a jealous older brother.
The murder of Thomas Norman reflects Abel, complete with symbolism of sheep horns, blood, soil, and inverted staging to mirror Richard Norman.
Albarino realizes the Gardener understood the Pianist’s artistic message better than the police ever did and responded with his own artistic murder.
The forensic team confirms the symbolism: wheat and apple blossoms, soil in wounds, and mirrored compositions.
Dialogue quotes from Byron’s play “Cain” emphasize the biblical metaphor being enacted.
Olga states the two serial killers—Westland Pianist and Sunday Gardener—are now acknowledging each other through their kills.
The chapter ends with unsettling consensus: the city’s two most dangerous serial killers are no longer working in isolation, but communicating through murder.

Chapter 3
Confession to Persephone Part IHerstal Armalight is introduced as a composed, morally ambiguous mob lawyer working at Armalight & Holmes.
Reporters swarm the office following the latest murder by the Sunday Gardener.
Albarino Bacchus, chief forensic pathologist, unexpectedly visits Herstal at work under the pretense of lunch and concern from Detective Bart Hardy.
Albarino reveals the Sunday Gardener used the victim's phone to text Herstal, a major deviation from the killer’s usual behavior.
Herstal is disturbed that Albarino brings him lunch without prior notice and comments on his lack of interpersonal boundaries.
They eat together in Herstal’s pristine, impersonal office. Albarino’s food is surprisingly good, which Herstal admits.
Albarino hints he’s intrigued by Herstal for unknown, possibly sinister, reasons and continues to blur boundaries under the guise of "inspiration."
A gunman named Mark Jones storms into the law office and opens fire, targeting Davis, an employee who defended Jones’s daughter in court.
Jones blames Davis for his daughter’s three-year sentence. His daughter recently died in a prison riot, triggering the shooting.
Davis is critically injured. Albarino saves Herstal by tackling him to the ground just as Jones fires.
Herstal and Albarino assist the wounded before the police arrive. Herstal remains calm, unsettling Albarino.
Detective Bart Hardy identifies the shooter as Mark Jones. They discover Davis’s daughter has been kidnapped by Jones as well.
Herstal and Albarino give statements. Albarino observes Herstal may be left-handed, linking him to the Westland Pianist based on crime scene patterns.
Suspicion arises that Herstal may have known about a secret murder attempt by Richard Norman against his brother Thomas.
Albarino begins suspecting Herstal could be the Westland Pianist due to his age, profession, knowledge of crimes, and possible left-handedness.
Albarino invites Herstal for drinks with Olga Moroz. Surprisingly, Herstal agrees.
At the bar, Olga points out that the Sunday Gardener specifically choosing Herstal to discover the body is suspicious.
Albarino realizes he may have accidentally shown one of his murders (as the Sunday Gardener) to the Westland Pianist (possibly Herstal).
Olga asks Herstal if he knows anyone who could be the Sunday Gardener. Before answering, Herstal gets a call.
Detective Bart Hardy informs them that Mark Jones is demanding a ransom for Davis’s daughter and insists Herstal deliver it himself.
Herstal agrees to go, believing he has no choice. Albarino protests but eventually relents.
Olga privately asks Albarino if he has romantic or sexual interest in Herstal. Albarino deflects.
Albarino admits internally that he wants to confirm whether Herstal is the Pianist—he would prefer it to be true for artistic and personal reasons.
Herstal meets with Detective Bart Hardy, who gives him a tracker and a ransom bag, promising backup during the exchange.
Meanwhile, Albarino goes rogue and hunts down Richard Norman’s former subordinate in a dark alley.
Albarino tortures and interrogates the man, confirming that Richard Norman once tried to have Thomas Norman killed.
The subordinate confesses that only Richard Norman, Herstal Armalight, and himself knew about the assassination attempt.
To keep the secret buried, Albarino kills the subordinate, dismembers the body, and outlines how he will dispose of the remains using his usual gruesome methods.
He calls Detective Bart Hardy, pretending to be concerned and asks to join the police at the ransom location.
Albarino smiles coldly, fully aware he may have just uncovered the Pianist and that events are now spiraling into a deadly confrontation between two serial killers.

Chapter 4
Confession to Persephone Part IIHerstal Armalight follows Mark Jones’s instructions to a remote location for the ransom exchange, knowing Hardy’s team is tailing him.
Herstal drives into a narrow alley that traps the pursuing police cars, exits via sunroof, and proceeds into the darkness with the ransom money.
Albarino Bacchus arrives at the scene where police are stuck at the alley entrance; unknown to them, a murdered lieutenant's body is in his trunk.
Herstal enters an abandoned factory where Mark Jones is waiting with a gun and the kidnapped girl tied up nearby.
Mark Jones is agitated and irrational, believing his daughter is dead and demanding the ransom money.
Herstal tries to reason with Mark Jones, suggesting that escaping with the money without killing would reduce his charges.
Herstal kicks the backpack over; Mark Jones moves forward to inspect it, distracted.
Herstal lunges at Mark Jones in a panther-like attack; a gunshot goes off and grazes Herstal's leg.
The two struggle; Herstal disarms Mark Jones, subdues him, and nearly strangles him to death until police arrive.
Police rescue the girl and arrest Mark Jones; Herstal is injured but walks away with Albarino’s help.
Outside the factory, Albarino pushes Herstal against the wall and inspects his wound inappropriately, touching it with unnerving fascination.
Albarino asks if Herstal enjoyed the act of strangling Mark Jones; Herstal coldly denies it.
Albarino insinuates Herstal might have gotten aroused from imagining murder, which Herstal sternly rejects.
Albarino discovers Herstal’s hidden knife sheath strapped to his left leg.
In the following week, Herstal resumes life at the firm, constantly visited by Olga Moroz and Albarino Bacchus under the guise of protection.
Olga takes Herstal to an expensive restaurant; they discuss the psychological profiles of the Westland Pianist and the Sunday Gardener.
Olga theorizes the Sunday Gardener acts by choice rather than compulsion and could change his victim profile or methods at will.
Olga speculates the Sunday Gardener may shift from killer to torturer or artist, based on whims.
On Sunday, police cordon off Herstal's office; a skull adorned with flowers, gold leaf, and pomegranate seeds is found on his desk.
The skull is clean, bleached, partially decorated, and artfully filled with Persephone-themed symbols (wheat, narcissi, pomegranate).
The victim is revealed to be the body in Albarino’s trunk during the kidnapping case—killed the same night.
Albarino and Olga conclude the skull is a personalized message from the Sunday Gardener to Herstal.
The symbolism draws on Greek mythology: Herstal is likened to Persephone, abducted to the underworld by Hades.
Albarino provocatively suggests Herstal is being courted by the killer, albeit in a twisted, predatory way.
Olga clarifies it’s not love but a possessive, violent metaphor meant to claim Herstal as an object.
Bates Schwandner is disturbed; Olga flippantly describes it as a slap on the ass from the Sunday Gardener.
The chapter ends with the realization that the Sunday Gardener has focused on Herstal, possibly romantically, but more likely obsessively.

Chapter 5
Olga's Journal: September 25, 2016Olga received an email from Lavazza Mercader at the BAU rejecting her request to include two old cases in her upcoming book.
Lavazza Mercader also included a long sermon warning against publicizing the cases, citing societal panic and risk of copycats.
Lavazza Mercader expressed concern about Olga’s move to Westland and implied it was bad for her mental health.
Olga recalled how her relationship with Lavazza Mercader ended badly, including a physical altercation and deep ideological differences.
Lavazza Mercader believes in a strict moral binary between “good people” and “bad people,” which clashes with Olga’s analytical and nuanced view.
Olga reflected on why she writes about murderers—not to admire them but to study and understand them with objectivity.
Olga planned to get drunk with Albarino to forget Lavazza Mercader’s rejection but was interrupted by major news.
The Sunday Gardener struck again, this time placing a skull filled with fresh flowers on Herstal Armalight’s office desk.
Olga was excited by this development because it showed a new change in the Sunday Gardener's modus operandi.
Olga theorized that Herstal Armalight might have triggered the change and noted that the killer is still evolving.
Bart was distraught because the Sunday Gardener bypassed all surveillance systems, and the skull was cleaned to the point of seeming fake.
Bart informed Olga that Herstal Armalight had been at the WPD again to give another statement, continuing a recent pattern.
Olga learned from Bart that the skull belonged to Richard Norman’s lieutenant, known as Mr. Armalight.
Within two weeks, the Westland Pianist had killed once, and the Sunday Gardener had killed twice, all victims being connected to Herstal Armalight.
Bart was so worried he considered putting Herstal Armalight into the FBI’s witness protection program.
Olga made a comment regretting the loss of the lieutenant, as she wanted to ask him if Richard Norman had ever planned to kill his brother, tying into her theory about the "Cain" motif.
Bart regretted not following up on Olga’s theory earlier, but it had been low priority due to lack of evidence.
Herstal Armalight found Olga’s theory plausible but said he never heard Richard mention such a plan and doubted the lieutenant knew anything.
Olga speculated that the Sunday Gardener might be helping the Westland Pianist get rid of evidence, implying a connection between the two killers.
Herstal Armalight pushed back, arguing that even if the two killers knew each other, they’d probably want to kill each other, not help.
Olga countered that contradiction is a core human trait, citing the contradiction between love and death as embodied by the Sunday Gardener’s floral skull gift.
Herstal Armalight mocked her philosophical references and sarcastically called her “Miss Encyclopedia,” a nickname he likely learned from Albarino.
Olga reminded him of the dangers of underestimating evil, invoking Mephistopheles as a metaphor.
Herstal Armalight joked in return, implying classical music (and not demons) was the threat.
Olga warned him that unless the Sunday Gardener gets distracted, he would come back again.
Herstal Armalight only smiled in response, not indicating whether he took her seriously.

Chapter 6
The Mint MetaphorOlga greets Herstal Armalight at the bar, teasing him about being alive after the Sunday Gardener left flowers on his desk twelve days earlier.
Herstal is exhausted from a migraine-inducing case involving a client whose son dumped a prostitute’s body after an S&M incident.
Despite normally preferring silence at home, Herstal joins Olga and Albarino Bacchus at the bar, ordering a cocktail called “Glory Hole.”
Olga remarks that the Westland Pianist will inevitably retaliate against the Sunday Gardener, since their Bible-themed murder contest is all over the internet.
Olga leaves to take a call, and Herstal and Albarino continue the conversation about killers and “competition.”
Albarino suggests a “romantic” perspective on murder, quoting Nietzsche. Herstal challenges him but suddenly kisses him briefly.
Albarino exaggerates surprise, while Herstal claims it’s part of a “game.”
A woman in a red dress, Albarino’s lover Sarah, storms over and punches him in the face for kissing another man.
Olga returns to find Albarino bleeding and Herstal sipping his drink; Albarino calls his lovers “steady bed partners,” downplaying relationships.
The next morning, Detective Bart Hardy arrives at Albarino’s home with police officers, showing him a crime scene photo of Sarah brutally murdered in a red dress with mint leaves placed in her chest.
The murder weapon has Albarino’s fingerprint, and he mutters that he needs a lawyer.
Albarino calls Herstal from detention, demanding legal representation and invoking their “game.”
Police search Albarino’s house with Olga and Bates present; they find scorched fragments of burned bone in his shed.
In interrogation, Hardy lays out evidence: Sarah’s death, witnesses to their fight, Albarino’s fingerprint on the knife, and no alibi.
Herstal arrives as his lawyer, and when alone, Albarino accuses him of framing him with the fingerprint.
Flashback reveals Herstal had lifted Albarino’s print from a glass container and made a 3D-printed mold, later planting it on the murder weapon.
Albarino pins Herstal to the table, reenacting Sarah’s murder, nearly choking him before stopping and remarking that Herstal is aroused by asphyxiation.
They exchange taunts about Sarah’s killing; Herstal had tailed Sarah and witnessed her murder, then placed the fingerprint to frame Albarino.
Herstal outlines possible trial outcomes: second-degree murder charges, potential parole after fifteen years, unless evidence clears him.
Meanwhile, police find burned canine bones in Albarino’s shed—later confirmed to be coyote remains from his hunting.
A second victim in red is found dumped outside the police station, killed in a similar way to Sarah, undermining Albarino’s guilt.
In detention, Hardy, Olga, Bates, and Albarino profile the killer: a man in his 30s–40s, likely poor, with domestic violence history, fixated on women resembling an ex.
Investigation identifies Bob Langdon, recently bailed for domestic violence against his black-haired ex-wife who often wore red.
Hardy says officers are already after Langdon, but Albarino insists on calling Herstal again.
Over the phone, Albarino describes killing and dissecting a coyote, emphasizing blood and heat, unnerving Herstal.
Albarino warns that if Langdon dies before capture, Herstal’s frame will stick and he’ll remain the prime suspect.
Their conversation ends with Albarino laughing, leaving Herstal unsettled at a cocktail party as he plans his next move.

Chapter 7
The Pianist's Interlude: Serial Killer Bob LangdonBob Langdon was charged with domestic violence in April 2016 and, while out on bail, murdered four women who resembled his ex-wife.
His murders initially went unnoticed by the Westland Police Department because he stole from his victims, so the first two cases were classified as robbery-homicides.
During the same time, the Westland Pianist and the Sunday Gardener committed multiple high-profile murders, overshadowing Bob Langdon’s crimes.
One of the Sunday Gardener’s most infamous cases, the Bridal Boat murder, drew massive attention, further delaying investigation into Langdon’s victims.
On October 8, 2016, Sarah Aardman was found stabbed 41 times with a switchblade that had Albarino Bacchus’s fingerprint on it.
Albarino Bacchus, the WPD’s chief forensic pathologist, was arrested despite being a respected figure with an outstanding track record.
The night before Sarah Aardman’s murder, she had argued with Albarino Bacchus in front of Herstal Armalight and Olga Moroz.
Albarino Bacchus was arrested and oddly chose Herstal Armalight, a mob lawyer, to represent him.
Herstal Armalight barely defended Albarino Bacchus and did not argue strongly for bail, which was denied.
On October 9, a second woman’s corpse, similar in appearance and dressed like Sarah Aardman, was dumped in front of the police station while Albarino Bacchus was in jail.
The police reopened previous cases and linked the murders, finally focusing on Bob Langdon as a suspect.
Bob Langdon lived close to the crime scene and had a history of violence; his DNA was found on the van used to dump the second victim.
When police went to arrest Bob Langdon, he had vanished from his filthy apartment, indicating he had fled.
The WPD could not determine who killed Sarah Aardman, why the knife had Albarino Bacchus’s fingerprint, or what the bundle of mint on her body meant.
On October 17, the Westland Pianist sent a letter to Detective Bart Hardy that led police to Bob Langdon’s mutilated corpse.
Bob Langdon had been brutally killed by the Pianist, with piano strings suspending him, over 50 stab wounds, and his chest cut open with mint and lavender blossoms in place of his heart.
The mint ball echoed the mint bundle left on Sarah Aardman, suggesting the Pianist was mocking Langdon.
That same day, police found incriminating evidence in Langdon’s apartment: his murder diary and victims’ hair bundles, clearing Albarino Bacchus of all charges.
Albarino Bacchus was released just as Bob Langdon’s body was found, as if orchestrated by the Pianist to create poetic irony.
Questions remained about how Albarino Bacchus’s fingerprint got on the murder weapon and whether the Pianist framed him.
Speculation grew that the Westland Pianist’s real target had always been Albarino Bacchus and that Bob Langdon was just a pawn.
Albarino Bacchus had dissected the Pianist’s and Sunday Gardener’s victims in previous cases, possibly inciting the Pianist’s rage.
Psychologists speculated that the Pianist’s attack on Albarino Bacchus later that year was not about pleasure but symbolic revenge.
The Pianist tortured and sexually assaulted Albarino Bacchus but did not kill him, an anomaly meant to send a message to the authorities.
Olga Moroz explained that the Pianist used the assault as a metaphor, showing contempt for police who "destroy" his artistic crimes.
When Herstal Armalight was later arrested, blood found in his condo was confirmed to belong to Albarino Bacchus.
Albarino Bacchus’s body was never recovered, and in February, police officially declared him dead.
The mint-filled chest of Bob Langdon may have been a symbolic love letter from the Westland Pianist to the Sunday Gardener.
The chapter ends with the idea that Albarino Bacchus was the only victim of the Pianist who survived his attack—temporarily—and that all the events from 2016 to 2017 were possibly part of an elaborate personal vendetta or a twisted homage.

Chapter 8
Bounty Hunter Alan Todd's Work LogAlan Todd is woken by a late-night phone call from an unfamiliar number; the caller introduces himself as William Smith, a bail bondsman from Westland.
Smith asks Alan to capture Bob Langdon, who skipped bail before his trial for attempted second-degree murder.
Langdon’s bail is $150,000, and Smith offers Alan 15% ($22,500) if he brings him back.
Alan hates Westland for its crime and serial killers but accepts the job due to the payout.
He travels to Westland, staying in a moldy motel near Langdon’s old residence.
Smith explains that Langdon disappeared recently and can’t be contacted.
Alan investigates rental agencies and discovers Langdon used a fake name to rent a car cheaply, then vanished without returning it.
Alan suspects Langdon left Westland and starts searching routes out of the city.
Alan meets his injured old friend Hunter, who warns him about Westland gangs and offers secret exit routes from the city.
Hunter urges Alan to join him in chasing serial killers for bigger payouts, but Alan refuses.
Using Hunter’s advice, Alan searches smaller towns and gas stations off main roads.
At a gas station, Alan gets confirmation that Langdon was there recently, driving north.
In another town, a waitress recalls Langdon nervously watching TV while eating. She says he left quickly afterward.
Alan informs Smith of his progress; Smith seems dissatisfied but thanks him anyway.
Alan finally tracks Langdon to a rundown motel, where Langdon drunkenly attacks him with a knife, stabbing Alan in the shoulder.
Alan manages to knock Langdon unconscious with his gun and ties him up.
While waiting in the ER, Alan reads about the Westland Pianist, a serial killer who mutilates victims and has terrorized the city for years.
Alan delivers Langdon to a nearly empty apartment per Smith’s instructions, locks him inside, and leaves the key under the mat, never meeting Smith in person.
Soon after, Alan learns from the news that Langdon has been brutally murdered by the Westland Pianist, strung up with piano wire and disemboweled.
Realizing Smith must be the Pianist, Alan recalls Smith’s cold voice and suspicious instructions.
Horrified, Alan calls Smith’s number, expecting it to be disconnected, but Smith answers.
Smith coolly admits nothing directly, but warns Alan against reporting him, implying Alan should not antagonize forces beyond his control.
Alan realizes Smith used him to capture Langdon and deliver him straight to the Pianist’s hands.
Their conversation ends with Smith casually saying it is time for his breakfast, leaving Alan shaken, knowing they will likely never “meet” again.

Chapter 9
Golden RainHerstal Armalight returns home from a murder, blood still on his hands, when Albarino Bacchus unexpectedly arrives at his door, soaked in rain.
Albarino had recently been released from prison due to new evidence proving Bob Langdon was the true killer of Sarah Aardman; evidence includes Langdon’s trophy journal and victims’ hair.
Albarino shows Herstal a photo of Bob Langdon's mutilated corpse: hanged with a piano wire, chest opened, ribs exposed, and a mint flower sphere placed where the heart should be.
Albarino subtly accuses Herstal of being the killer, pointing out blood on his hands and mocking him about using gloves versus skin-to-skin contact.
The two engage in a disturbingly intimate confrontation where Albarino undoes Herstal’s bloody cufflink and examines old self-harm scars on Herstal’s wrist.
Albarino begins licking the blood off Herstal’s fingers while philosophizing about killing as artistic expression.
Herstal compares the experience to playing a theremin—touching flesh but controlling intangible music (soul).
The tension turns erotic as Albarino presses himself close, kisses Herstal’s knuckles, and licks his wounds.
Herstal puts a knife to Albarino’s throat as the mood oscillates between seduction and deadly threat.
They exchange literary and artistic metaphors (Titian's Danae, Klimt’s Danae) implying romanticized violence and obsession.
Albarino kneels in front of Herstal and disarms him by removing the knife strapped to Herstal's ankle, claiming he wants mutual honesty.
They engage in a power play where Herstal counters by discovering Albarino’s concealed gun and throwing it aside.
Albarino sexually provokes Herstal, undoing his belt while claiming Herstal is the one who can’t stop killing.
The encounter escalates into a graphic sexual act with Herstal eventually dropping his knife and forcing himself into Albarino’s mouth.
Albarino deepthroats him while reflecting on Herstal’s obsessive, compulsive tendencies and monstrous nature.
Herstal climaxes violently and then collapses to the floor, still tangled with Albarino.
They kiss, Herstal bites Albarino’s throat, and they both reflect on their deadly attraction.
The next morning, Herstal wakes up with a headache and regrets letting Albarino stay the night, even though nothing went further.
Albarino, now dry and in Herstal’s apron, has cooked breakfast, showing complete ease in Herstal’s condo.
Herstal receives a call from bounty hunter Alan Todd, who is terrified and unsure whether to report Herstal.
Herstal warns him off and then destroys the burner phone, dismissing Todd as too cowardly to pose a threat.
Over breakfast, Albarino casually discusses Herstal’s food habits and critiques his lifestyle, mocking his Southern accent.
They verbally spar about theatricality in murder, mocking each other’s artistic methods.
Albarino pries into Herstal’s past, noting his Southern roots and speculating about his childhood trauma based on his self-harm scars.
Albarino claims he had a normal childhood, reinforcing Olga Moroz’s theory that he is a born psychopath rather than made by trauma.
Herstal acknowledges the fundamental difference between them: Herstal may have been shaped by experience, but Albarino is inherently monstrous.
Albarino states openly he wants to kill Herstal, dismember him, devour him—but also savor him, understand him, and find the place he “suits” best.
The chapter ends with Albarino quoting Shakespeare, warning Herstal never to show weakness.

Chapter 10
Rain Rain Go Away Part IBart Hardy investigates a dumped corpse in the Westland wilderness, assuming it’s a gang-related case.
Albarino Bacchus, supposed to be on paid leave, unexpectedly arrives at the crime scene out of boredom.
The corpse is of a handsome blond man with his throat slit and signs of having been stuffed into a small space before being respectfully arranged postmortem.
Albarino deduces that the killer may have had emotional ties to the victim based on how the body was treated and the blood cleaned from the victim’s face.
Bart Hardy realizes the murder fits the M.O. of “Johnny the Killer,” a serial killer who targets handsome blond men, kidnaps, sexually assaults, and kills them after rainstorms.
Johnny’s victims are kept alive and cared for, then killed and dumped post-rain.
The FBI is contacted, and Lavazza Mercader from the BAU arrives.
Mercader and Olga Moroz have a hostile professional history involving disagreements about a prior case and a blocked book publication.
Albarino and Mercader meet, but tension lingers between Mercader and Olga.
Albarino is officially brought into the Johnny case due to his experience.
The victim from the current case is confirmed to have been restrained, sexually assaulted, and fed well before death—consistent with Johnny’s pattern.
Olga and Albarino profile Johnny as someone who believes he “loves” his victims, selecting them as ideal lovers, caring for them, and eventually killing them in a fit of rage or disappointment.
Herstal Armalight, a defense lawyer and acquaintance of Albarino, is stalked and later abducted after a staged tire incident.
Johnny the Killer, revealed to be a young man named Elliot, incapacitates and kidnaps Herstal.
Elliot shows obsessive affection toward Herstal, feeding him, tending to him, and expressing love, which Herstal quickly deduces is pathological.
Herstal pretends to reciprocate Elliot’s emotions to stay alive, using manipulation to gain Elliot’s trust.
Elliot masturbates on Herstal while proclaiming his love, reinforcing that his affection is rooted in control and dependency.
Herstal internally compares Elliot to a mentally ill man who equates captivity with love, realizing Elliot finds joy in complete dominance.
Albarino, Olga, and the team discover Herstal’s abandoned bloodied car, analyze the scene, and deduce there was a struggle.
Evidence suggests Herstal injured Elliot during the fight, and Elliot subdued Herstal with a stun gun.
Mercader provides Quantico’s case files to Albarino, hinting at deeper involvement.
Olga warns that Mercader’s extreme righteousness is dangerous, just like excessive wickedness.
Olga agrees to continue assisting the case despite her grudge.
Herstal, bound in Elliot’s hideout, pretends to be emotionally dependent to buy time and learn Elliot’s behavior.
Elliot feeds Herstal and acts like a devoted lover, but also sexually assaults him, reinforcing that his love is twisted and rooted in dominance.
Herstal deduces that Elliot loves victims only when they are utterly helpless and dependent on him.
Albarino had earlier quoted Plato’s Phaedrus about lovers preferring inferior partners, which Herstal now realizes foreshadowed Johnny’s obsession.
Elliot proclaims his love for Herstal, unaware of Herstal’s cold and calculating inner thoughts.
The chapter ends with Herstal brooding over Elliot’s twisted nature and the deeper implications of Albarino's cryptic warnings.

Chapter 11
Rain Rain Go Away Part IIHerstal Armalight dreams of a fatherly figure blessing him like Joseph, then wakes up bound and imprisoned by Elliot Evans, dehydrated and in pain.
Herstal reflects bitterly that his capture is Albarino Bacchus's revenge for an eight-day wrongful imprisonment during the Bob Langdon case.
Herstal is determined to escape and starts planning to use a broken ceramic shard to cut his restraints.
At WPD, Olga Moroz and Albarino Bacchus pull an all-nighter investigating Johnny the Killer with Detective Hardy and Lavazza Mercader.
DNA evidence confirms the blood at the crime scene isn’t Herstal Armalight’s, but Johnny the Killer’s DNA has no matches in the criminal database.
Olga believes the existing criminal profile is flawed and suspects the killer’s choice of when to kill is emotionally driven, not purely timed with rain.
Albarino analyzes the rainfall pattern between kidnappings and murders, concluding Johnny doesn’t kill after the first rainfall but when emotionally “bored.”
Olga proposes the killer responds differently to victim personality types—those who resist or show fear die sooner, those who feign compliance survive longer.
They profile Johnny as a socially awkward white male under 35, possibly short, not strong, doing temp work, and harboring deep control fantasies.
Victim interviews suggest survivors lasted longer due to submissive behavior rather than appearance; Olga and Albarino believe emotional reactions are key.
A new suspect list is created based on psychological and logistical profiling; Albarino recognizes Elliot Evans from a photo and reveals past interactions.
Elliot had a minor run-in with Albarino at a convenience store, which led to them eating together and forming a casual friendship.
Albarino and Mercader visit Elliot’s filthy apartment for questioning. Elliot appears anxious and bandaged. He claims he was home during the time of Herstal’s disappearance.
Albarino asks to use the bathroom and secretly searches the apartment, finding a locked basement door, which he picks open.
Herstal is discovered by Albarino, bound and gagged in the basement. He has been trying to escape using a ceramic shard.
Albarino mocks Herstal, kisses him forcibly, and steals the shard from his hand, thwarting Herstal’s escape attempt.
Albarino re-locks the door, returning to Elliot and Mercader without revealing what he found, planning to watch Herstal “burn.”
Herstal is left seething with fury, knowing Albarino will act innocent while he remains helpless.
Herstal vows inward revenge, murder in his eyes.

Wine and Gun, Vol. 2

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 3

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 4

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 5

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 6

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Wine and Gun, Vol. 7

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A Break in the Clouds (Poyun), Vol. 1

1Jiang Ting experiences recurring nightmares about a catastrophic explosion where he sees a mysterious figure taunting him in the flames.
The dream ends with Jiang Ting consumed by fire and darkness as sirens wail.
Three years later, Jiang Ting wakes from a coma in a Jianning hospital.
Nurses gossip about his miraculous recovery after being unconscious for so long.
Yang Mei, stylish and confident, arrives to take him home, revealing she pretended to be his fiancée on hospital forms.
Jiang Ting acknowledges he owes Yang Mei for looking after him, but warns her he is still in danger from old enemies.
Yang Mei pushes him in a wheelchair to her car and takes him to her karaoke bar, Nightless, where she lives upstairs.
They encounter a young man with a backpack in the alley who quickly flees when spotted by Jiang Ting.
Yang Mei insists they are safe in Jianning, but Jiang Ting insists he will return to Gongzhou to settle unfinished business.
He asks Yang Mei to obtain false IDs, phones, and unregistered SIM cards.
A commotion breaks out in the bar when a drunk, handsome man argues with the bartender about a non-alcoholic cocktail.
At the same time, the chef discovers a dead body in the freezer and panics.
Jiang Ting examines the body with gloves, concluding the man froze to death inside the freezer.
Jiang Ting insists Yang Mei call the police despite her reluctance.
Yan Xie, senior sergeant of Jianning CID, arrives with his men, including Ma Xiang and Wan Zhenguo.
Yan Xie inspects the body, noting signs of hypothermia and expensive clothing that suggest the victim was wealthy.
He suspects the victim entered the freezer while hallucinating, not after being killed.
Officers find the victim’s jumper but no wallet, phone, or backpack.
Yan Xie questions Jiang Ting, who identifies the jumper as belonging to the man he saw earlier in the alley.
Jiang Ting gives a fake name, “Lu Chengjiang,” when questioned by Yan Xie.
Yan Xie feels the man looks familiar but cannot place him.
Jiang Ting later confides to Yang Mei that he recognizes Yan Xie from a case years ago where Yan Xie fought a drug trafficker with a beer bottle.
Meanwhile, Yan Xie remains troubled by the feeling he has seen Jiang Ting before.
The next day, the forensic pathologist Gou Li discovers an unknown hallucinogen in the victim’s system, 1,600 times stronger than scopolamine, mixed with methamphetamine.
The drug caused hallucinations, loss of thermoregulation, and led the victim to strip and lock himself in the freezer.
CID officers, narcotics bureau officer Qin Chuan, and Deputy Commissioner Wei hold a meeting to review the case.
Surveillance footage shows the victim acting erratically before stumbling into the bar’s back door.
Yan Xie deduces the man had a backpack earlier and must have met a dealer before the drug took effect.
He theorizes the man was testing a new drug from a dealer in a nearby vehicle.
Traffic police identify twelve possible cars near the scene; Yan Xie narrows it to those with two or fewer occupants.
While investigating, Yan Xie saves Jiang Ting, who freezes in the middle of an intersection, reliving the trauma of his accident years ago.
Yan Xie carries him to safety and notices his face closely, struck by the sense of familiarity.
Jiang Ting thanks him but quickly regains composure, maintaining his guard.
The chapter closes with Yan Xie still troubled by the mystery of Jiang Ting’s true identity and the origins of the deadly new drug.

2Yan Xie finds Jiang Ting alone and frail near Nightless and offers to walk him back.
Jiang Ting says he's recovering and taking a walk alone, joking about PTSD after seeing a car crash.
Yan Xie teases Jiang Ting about his wealthy girlfriend, Yang Mei, and how lucky he is.
Jiang Ting explains he and Yang Mei met while working in Gongzhou, but he had an accident on the way to Jianning and now feels like a burden.
Inside Nightless, Yang Mei fusses over Jiang Ting and thanks Yan Xie profusely for his help.
Yan Xie inspects the kitchen where the body was found and finds Yang Mei unusually composed and polished.
He starts suspecting inconsistencies in Jiang Ting and Yang Mei’s relationship and backstory.
Yan Xie calls Ma Xiang to investigate Lu Chengjiang (Jiang Ting's fake identity).
They discover Lu Chengjiang and Yang Mei used to manage a nightclub in Gongzhou and were involved in shady activities like gambling and assaults.
Yan Xie finds a Fendi zipper pull near the crime scene and sends it for analysis, believing it could lead to a major break.
At the station, Yan Xie confirms the zipper pull belongs to a luxury Fendi men's backpack, recently released, priced at 18,000 yuan.
CCTV footage shows the deceased, Feng Yuguang, bought the backpack in April under the name Chu Ci.
Chu Ci is interrogated and claims Feng was his annoying, loud, and irresponsible roommate.
Chu Ci admits Feng tried to reconcile with him by gifting the bag, but he refused.
Chu Ci had tried multiple times to switch dorms due to Feng’s disruptive behavior.
Yan Xie deduces Feng’s sudden academic ambition and bag gift were efforts to win Chu Ci over and possibly get help with research.
Chu Ci recounts the last conversation: Feng wanted to bet on getting into a doctoral program. Chu Ci didn't take it seriously.
Surveillance for Chu Ci's lab alibi was faulty, and there's no footage confirming he was working during the murder timeframe.
Yan Xie warns Chu Ci he has motive, means, and no alibi, making him the only suspect unless he cooperates.
Chu Ci insists he didn't do it but says Feng read about an experiment and asked for help before the bet.
When asked why he denied knowing about the bag initially, Chu Ci says he didn’t want to be involved.
Yan Xie believes Chu Ci is hiding something but not necessarily guilty.
They receive a call about the discovery of the Fendi backpack in a second-hand shop called Jora Luxury.
Jiang Ting and Yang Mei are found at the shop; Jiang Ting claims they were there to sell a bag and happened to see the Fendi bag.
Jiang Ting points out chocolate wrapper-like tinfoil in the front pocket, which Yan Xie confirms is blister pack foil.
Yan Xie becomes increasingly suspicious of Jiang Ting’s calm demeanor and unusually high awareness for a former small-town labourer.
Forensics identify the bag's seller as a man driving a Toyota with fake plates, throwing the investigation off.
Yan Xie confronts Jiang Ting, subtly accusing him of knowing more, but Jiang Ting deflects coolly.
Jiang Ting is officially labelled a “person of interest” and banned from leaving Jianning.
Back at the station, Yan Xie tells Ma Xiang he doesn’t believe Jiang Ting is guilty but acknowledges something is off about him.
Yan Xie realises Jiang Ting is too composed, too aware, and not acting like a weak, dependent man he claims to be.
While pondering the tinfoil, Yan Xie suddenly recognises the material as not chocolate foil but blister packs.
He calls forensic expert Gou Li and asks if a study-enhancing drug exists that mimics motion sickness or ecstasy.
Gou Li confirms the drug Adderall, which contains amphetamine, is used by students and can cause hallucinations if overdosed.
Yan Xie theorizes Feng Yuguang might have thought he was taking Adderall but was sold scopolamine and MDMA instead, leading to an overdose.
The true cause of death is now suspected to be a deliberate substitution of a “study drug” with deadly narcotics.

3Yan Xie instructs the CID to compile lists of students from wealthy families with drug issues and individuals with records of illegal prescription drug dealings.
Qin Chuan presents a case file of Hu Weisheng, a recently released convict who once smuggled counterfeit ADHD medications.
Hu Weisheng's vehicle matches the one seen near the crime scene; Yan Xie sends a team to arrest him.
Yan Xie reviews Hu Weisheng’s criminal record and finds inconsistencies, especially the attempted rape conviction which seems suspiciously resolved.
Yan Xie accesses old digital case files using Deputy Wei Yao's credentials and finds the attempted rape case involved Liu Xue, a student who was drugged and left unconscious in an illegal clinic.
Yan Xie suspects Hu Weisheng used fake Adderall-like substances, not a date rape drug, and notes the case was handled unusually fast.
The supervising officer of that old case was Jiang Ting, a name that triggers intense memories for Yan Xie.
Jiang Ting was believed to have died in a failed drug raid three years ago, which also killed 13 officers; he was never awarded posthumously.
Yan Xie confronts Wei Yao about Jiang Ting’s case. Wei Yao shares details of the operation, explaining suspicions around Jiang Ting’s last-minute plan changes.
The raid was compromised; a mole named Rivet was also killed. An email Rivet sent prior showed the original raid plan—implying Jiang Ting ignored key intel.
Yan Xie remembers Jiang Ting once helped him earn a medal, despite having no obligation to, which makes Jiang Ting’s motives unclear.
Yan Xie insists Hu Weisheng’s background and Jiang Ting’s involvement are connected.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ting visits the nursing home for a medical checkup. He notices someone watching him—a man with a baseball cap.
The doctor mentions a “relative” visited asking about Jiang Ting and for Yang Mei’s contact. Jiang Ting identifies the visitor as the stalker from the café.
Jiang Ting dodges the stalker with a slick trick—spilling soup behind him to create a distraction.
Jiang Ting leads the stalker into chaos and escapes unnoticed. He spots Yan Xie at the nursing home but pretends it’s coincidence.
Jiang Ting later secretly texts Yang Mei instructions to set up an ambush at a restaurant backdoor where he will lure the stalker.
Yan Xie, however, has been tracking both Jiang Ting and the stalker, confirming Jiang Ting’s suspicious behavior.
Yan Xie confronts the stalker, fights him off, and survives an attempted shooting.
The stalker escapes with help from a mysterious man named Jie who drives a black SUV and extracts him from Jianning.
Jie, acting under mysterious orders, kills the stalker (Delta) during the escape, snapping his neck and disposing of the body.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting continue their tense cat-and-mouse game; they both suspect each other but aren’t showing their full hand.
Yan Xie joins Jiang Ting for lunch, keeping close watch, while Jiang Ting pretends to be innocent.
Both Jiang Ting and Yan Xie play subtle mind games, suspecting more lies than truths in each other’s actions.
The chapter ends with major revelations: Jiang Ting is alive, possibly hiding from both criminals and police, and there’s a bigger conspiracy involving narcotics, old cases, and Jiang Ting’s fall from grace.

4Yan Xie communicates with officers during a manhunt while forensic pathologist Gou Li extracts DNA from under Yan Xie’s nails due to a fight with a suspect.
A bullet is found to be fired from a high-quality homemade gun, complicating the trace.
Gou Li and Yan Xie have a humorous exchange, showcasing their close (and combative) relationship.
Han Xiaomei returns with food, which Yan Xie steals, teasing Gou Li about his weight.
Yan Xie escapes Gou Li’s wrath and returns to his car, where Jiang Ting is waiting.
Yan Xie updates Jiang Ting on the failed attempt to catch the shooter; Jiang Ting remains calm and seemingly indifferent.
Yan Xie attempts to get insight from Jiang Ting about the suspect’s escape but is repeatedly stonewalled.
Jiang Ting deduces that the shooter was picked up by a driver in a dark SUV, who is likely his accomplice.
Jiang Ting points out the alley's one-way direction and its difficulty for large vehicles, highlighting the driver’s local knowledge and planning.
Jiang Ting suggests the SUV had fake plates, and the driver is a professional.
Police find the suspect’s mangled corpse on a highway, likely run over by multiple lorries.
Gou Li believes he was dumped or killed after betrayal; Jiang Ting determines he was strangled before being dumped.
Jiang Ting deduces the killer used a single hand, was trained, and likely a professional hitman.
Yan Xie orders the surveillance tracking of the SUV and initiates DNA analysis.
Jiang Ting implies the killer was sending a message with the corpse’s condition—an act of warning or dominance.
Jiang Ting references Hu Weisheng, shocking Gou Li and exposing Jiang Ting’s insider knowledge.
Yan Xie confronts Jiang Ting about knowing too much, but Jiang Ting deflects and warns of deeper secrets.
Jiang Ting suggests Hu Weisheng was hiding more than just drug possession—possibly tied to drug manufacturing.
Jiang Ting explains the killer’s brutality wasn’t to hide a gun’s origin, but a calculated psychological tactic.
Back at the Phaeton, Yan Xie corners Jiang Ting against the car and confronts him about being targeted.
Jiang Ting turns the tables by psychoanalyzing Yan Xie, suggesting unresolved feelings or rivalry.
Han Xiaomei walks in on the tense scene, hilariously misinterpreting it, flustering both men.
Yan Xie receives news that incriminating chemistry books and a wiped iPhone were found at Hu Weisheng’s home.
At Yan Xie’s upscale apartment, the two share awkward domesticity. Yan Xie showers while Jiang Ting explores the flat.
Yan Xie reveals his past: a delinquent saved from jail by being pushed into the police academy.
He tried to join the Narcotics team in Gongzhou but was stopped by Deputy Commissioner Wei due to internal dangers.
Jiang Ting hints at how corrupt and complex Gongzhou was, as Yan Xie realises Jiang Ting survived what would've killed him.
They clash over Hu Weisheng’s release and the appearance of a new drug right after Jiang Ting’s reappearance.
Yan Xie accuses Jiang Ting of being involved; Jiang Ting deflects with the metaphor of peeling an onion.
Jiang Ting agrees to stick close to Yan Xie for protection until the case is solved.
Jiang Ting is offered the guest room in Yan Xie’s flat for the night.
Yan Xie ponders Jiang Ting’s evasive behaviour, convinced he's both a source of truth and trauma.
In the morning, Qin Chuan calls and wakes Yan Xie, revealing a breakthrough in forensics.
Jiang Ting wakes up from a nightmare, visibly sick and soaked in sweat, alarming Yan Xie.
Yan Xie shares that the shooter, an ex-con named Fan Zhengyuan (nickname Delta), had narcotics on him—a match with the unknown drug found earlier.
Jiang Ting accompanies Yan Xie to HQ wearing a mask to avoid recognition.
Yan Xie hides Jiang Ting in his office and instructs him to act as a witness if discovered.
A case briefing reveals Delta was likely silenced by the hitman to prevent him from talking.
Qin Chuan suspects the killer used Delta's trust to get close and kill him after the job.
Yan Xie questions the plausibility of a heroin user switching to amphetamines, raising suspicion about the drug capsule in Delta’s pocket.
Jiang Ting, left alone in Yan Xie’s office, suffers a dizzy spell from low blood sugar.
While searching for food, Jiang Ting finds stale crackers but is interrupted by Han Xiaomei.
Jiang Ting bribes Han Xiaomei with 50 yuan to buy him buns and soy milk, falsely saying it was Yan Xie’s order.
Han Xiaomei leaves confused and flustered, further convinced there's a secret relationship between Jiang Ting and Yan Xie.

5Huang Xing explains the recovery of data from Feng Yuguang's phone, revealing a last call from an unregistered SIM and another call to Ding Dang, Feng Yuguang's internship supervisor's daughter.
Yan Xie argues with Huang Xing about the nature of Feng Yuguang and Ding Dang’s relationship, asserting they weren’t dating.
Han Xiaomei is scolded by Yan Xie for fetching breakfast, mistakenly believing Jiang Ting had sent her. Yan Xie orders Huang Xing to identify Feng Yuguang’s contacts and bring them in.
Yan Xie teases Jiang Ting with food but backs off when Jiang Ting shows signs of low blood sugar. Jiang Ting drinks and eats.
Jiang Ting challenges the assumption that Fan Zhengyuan used amphetamines, deducing the amount found was too small for recreational use and might’ve been planted.
Yan Xie receives a call that a second drug stash has been located; he brings Jiang Ting along.
They search Hu Weisheng’s dilapidated dorm, discovering shoeprints on a dusty windowsill indicating someone used the fire escape.
They find an illegal rooftop shack housing a meth lab and a fridge containing various chemicals and a suspicious packet labeled "Group C Box 9 #7704" with light blue powder.
Jiang Ting shows signs of recognition and distress over the packet, recalling a haunting memory of a massive drug operation.
Yan Xie catches Jiang Ting trying to keep the packet and demands an explanation. Jiang Ting refuses, prompting a standoff.
Jiang Ting sarcastically claims he might be using the drug, triggering Yan Xie to physically drag him out of the shack.
A professional killer named Jie ambushes them. Yan Xie fights him, gets temporarily blinded with sand, and is stabbed in the leg.
Jie tries to steal the packet from Yan Xie’s pocket; they fight viciously. Jie nearly throws Yan Xie off the roof.
Jiang Ting is held at gunpoint by a mysterious man who taunts him with whispers. Yan Xie dangles off the roof as Jie stomps on his fingers.
Jiang Ting dares the man to shoot him, then breaks free, tackles Jie, and they crash through a door down the stairs.
Yan Xie climbs back up as another man appears and shoots at him. Meanwhile, Jiang Ting and Jie tumble down the stairwell, Jiang Ting gravely injured.
Jiang Ting blacks out from injuries; a dream sequence reveals childhood memories, a mysterious friend, and a betrayal promise.
Jiang Ting wakes up in the hospital with Yang Mei and Yan Xie by his side. He asks about Jie, confirming the killer escaped.
Jiang Ting warns Yan Xie not to pursue the case due to the dangerous syndicate involved. Yan Xie refuses to back down.
Yan Xie confronts Jiang Ting over hiding the drug packet and accuses him of lying about drug use since his bloodwork shows two years clean.
Jiang Ting coldly deflects Yan Xie’s interrogation, hinting at having suffered but never tortured. Yan Xie finds this suspicious, implying possible connections with the drug syndicate.
Yan Xie challenges Jiang Ting’s integrity and threatens to investigate him further if he hinders the case.
A flashback to the police station shows Deputy Commissioner Wei exploding in rage over the rooftop incident and nearly suing situation.
Yan Xie is reprimanded for acting alone and not reporting the rooftop operation. He remains sarcastic.
Gao Panqing reports that Hu Weisheng's fingerprints were only on non-critical parts of the equipment, suggesting he wasn’t the manufacturer.
Yan Xie concludes Hu was only the caretaker of the lab; someone else did the cooking.
Deputy Commissioner Wei gives Yan Xie 72 hours to solve the case or lose his job.
Yan Xie confidently promises to crack it, challenging Hu Weisheng in an interrogation, vowing to get a confession in one hour or eat his own shoes.

6Hu Weisheng is being interrogated by the police for selling fake Adderall and his fingerprints were found on rooftop drug-manufacturing equipment.
He denies all charges and refuses to give information about the person in the backseat of his car on May 2nd, claiming it was a hitchhiker.
Ma Xiang wants to use torture methods but Yan Xie lectures him about the law and ethics.
Yan Xie uses psychological tactics instead, including showing Hu Weisheng a gruesome photo of a body claiming it’s his accomplice.
Hu Weisheng is visibly shaken but denies knowing the person.
Yan Xie presents copper hydroxide in an evidence bag pretending it's the mysterious blue drug.
Yan Xie manipulates Hu Weisheng using pressure and emotional leverage, suggesting his accomplice is already dead.
Yan Xie mentions the Liu Xue case and Hu Weisheng panics, referencing Jiang Ting who allegedly led that case.
Hu Weisheng reveals Jiang Ting had a “brother” who may have sought revenge.
Yan Xie claims Jiang Ting is dead and was crushed on a motorway, mirroring the body in the photo.
Hu Weisheng almost confesses but then realizes the body is not his accomplice, deducing the victim had short hair while his accomplice is a long-haired woman.
Yan Xie realizes the accomplice is female and likely someone Hu Weisheng cared for romantically.
Yan Xie instructs the team to dig into Hu Weisheng's romantic connections for leads.
Yan Xie goes undercover at Breezy Blossom nightclub, posing as a wealthy drug buyer.
He uses money and charm to gain access to drug dealers, guided by an informant nicknamed Chubbs.
Two enforcers named Wyvern and Astro escort Yan Xie to meet their boss, but demand to search him.
Jiang Ting appears in disguise as a drunken gay lover, causing a scene that allows Yan Xie to avoid suspicion and buy time.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting are taken to a private VIP room with Chubbs and the two enforcers.
Yan Xie continues his undercover persona and offers a bribe to convince the dealers of his credibility.
Jiang Ting fakes drug withdrawal symptoms to help Yan Xie’s cover.
Wyvern searches Yan Xie thoroughly but finds nothing incriminating.
Jiang Ting is also searched and passes without issue.
The boss Mr Zong arrives and warms up to Yan Xie once he claims to be a friend of Hu Weisheng.
Mr Zong offers white capsules but Yan Xie stalls, saying he wants a new product Hu Weisheng mentioned—red capsules used to lure young women.
Mr Zong laughs and agrees, praising Yan Xie’s taste and confirming he has such drugs.
Mr Zong insists Yan Xie try the white capsules first to confirm quality.
Yan Xie is caught in a dilemma since taking drugs is forbidden and dangerous.
Jiang Ting intervenes by pretending to snort the drugs, but secretly hides the powder in his hand.
Yan Xie carries Jiang Ting to the restroom, playing along with the act, and hides from the dealers.
Inside, Yan Xie berates Jiang Ting who reveals he didn’t actually take the drugs.
Jiang Ting tries to reveal something about the new blue psychedelic drug but they are interrupted.
Police from Yihe Station burst in, shouting they received a report of sodomy and solicitation.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting realize these are not their backup officers and panic.
The chapter ends with the police demanding IDs and threatening to break down the door.

7Jiang Ting and Yan Xie are interrupted during a covert operation when the local police raid the nightclub unexpectedly.
Yan Xie helps Jiang Ting escape through a window while he stays behind to confront the officers.
The local police mistakenly believe Yan Xie is a criminal and assault him, ignoring his protests.
Qin Chuan and the municipal police arrive too late to stop the chaos and are horrified to see Yan Xie get hit and arrested.
Qin Chuan tries to de-escalate by asserting jurisdiction, but the local officers accuse Yan Xie of assault, resisting arrest, and involvement in solicitation.
Yan Xie is forcefully restrained in front of his subordinates, damaging his reputation and morale.
Qin Chuan improvises by citing internal restructuring and jurisdiction, taking control of the case to protect Yan Xie’s identity and mission.
The local officers remain hostile, insisting Yan Xie beat up several of them and calling him dangerous.
The situation is further complicated when local officers accuse Yan Xie of helping a suspect escape through the window and imply a homosexual encounter occurred.
Qin Chuan is forced to pretend to agree to avoid further suspicion from the drug traffickers.
Yan Xie is reluctantly escorted out while everyone involved misunderstands the situation.
Qin Chuan and Gou Li tend to Yan Xie's injuries in a van outside the nightclub.
Yan Xie believes something is suspicious about the timing of the raid and insists on checking previous solicitation reports for matching records.
He suspects the report triggering the local raid was a setup meant to sabotage the municipal operation.
Qin Chuan confirms the report was oddly timed and agrees to help investigate.
Yan Xie orders surveillance footage analysis and interrogation of the suspects, especially the red-haired man.
Yan Xie worries why they haven’t heard from their superior yet.
Qin Chuan gets a call from Fang Zhenghong, who informs them that Hu Weisheng is dead.
Fang Zhenghong ominously says "Deputy Commissioner Wei" in relation to Hu Weisheng’s death.
Chu Ci infiltrates a chemical plant at night using a stolen access card and renders a guard unconscious.
Chu Ci searches for specific chemicals, indicating his involvement in something nefarious.
Jiang Ting calmly confirms with Yan Xie over the phone that Hu Weisheng’s death was intentional and expected.
Yan Xie realises that Hu Weisheng’s death was related to a small drug packet and not Breezy Blossom.
Jiang Ting tells Yan Xie the money found at the nightclub was Yang Mei’s and tells him to get reimbursed.
Yan Xie attends a meeting with Commissioner Lyu, provincial reps, and others.
Gou Li explains the use of heroin (diacetylmorphine) was approved by Deputy Commissioner Wei Yao to get Hu Weisheng to talk.
The provincial rep Mr Chen blames Jianning Police for Hu Weisheng’s death and demands Gou Li be taken off the case.
Commissioner Lyu calmly takes responsibility and launches into a long, deliberate speech to stall for time.
Yan Xie receives a text confirming the task they were waiting for is done.
Mr Chen is called by Director Liu, who sides with Jianning Police and gives them jurisdiction over Hu Weisheng’s case.
Mr Chen storms back in, realising he was played and scolds Yan Xie, warning him of consequences.
Yan Xie jokes that his family is no longer the wealthiest in Jianning.
Commissioner Lyu ends the meeting and instructs everyone to move fast on the investigation.
Commissioner Lyu privately warns Yan Xie that if Wei Yao is involved, they'll all be in trouble.
Yan Xie tries to unwind but is startled to see Jiang Ting waiting for him outside in Yang Mei’s Mercedes.
Jiang Ting returns Yan Xie's undercover earpiece, causing Yan Xie emotional turmoil wondering how it was retrieved from his body.
Yan Xie awkwardly takes the earpiece, fearing contamination.
Jiang Ting remains calm and unbothered, confusing Yan Xie.
They go out to eat at Ippinkyo, where Jiang Ting asks for an update on the case.
Yan Xie confirms that the raid report wasn't faked but was based on real calls from a payphone.
Jiang Ting finds it suspicious that a man in his 50s would report prostitution, implying it was staged.
Jiang Ting hints he knew about the raid because Yang Mei planted someone at the police station to watch Yan Xie’s car.
They discuss the issue of heroin handling within the department and the possibility of corruption or tampering.
Jiang Ting confirms Commissioner Lyu is trying to plug loopholes in evidence handling procedures.
Yan Xie mistakenly thinks Jiang Ting might be dating Yang Mei and gets jealous, leading to awkward banter.
Jiang Ting denies being with Yang Mei and suspects Yan Xie has feelings for her, or possibly something else.
Yan Xie dodges the topic and makes inappropriate jokes, confusing Jiang Ting further.
Yan Xie is interrupted by a call reporting a break-in at a chemical plant.
Yan Xie storms into the bathroom where Jiang Ting is, leading to more awkwardness.
They learn Chu Ci attacked guards and stole chemicals from the plant where he works.
Han Xiaomei briefs them on the crime scene; Chu Ci incapacitated two strong guards with surprising ease.
Ding Jiawang, Chu Ci’s supervisor, arrives and tells Yan Xie about Chu Ci’s behaviour.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting suspect Chu Ci is not just a chemistry student but also potentially dangerous and trained.

8Han Xiaomei suspects Yan Xie is overly possessive of Jiang Ting and imagines melodramatic romance plots between them.
Yan Xie interrupts a conversation between Han Xiaomei and Jiang Ting, pulling Jiang Ting aside and asserting dominance.
Ding Jiawang reveals Chu Ci had a violent altercation with Feng Yuguang a week before Feng Yuguang’s death, which had not been previously disclosed.
Yan Xie scolds Ding Jiawang for withholding information that could have prevented the incident.
Jiang Ting deduces from Ding Jiawang’s account that Feng Yuguang had accused Chu Ci of theft, leading to the fight.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting analyze the blood at the crime scene; Jiang Ting notes the lack of struggle and suspects the attack was swift.
Jiang Ting playfully questions the “Watson” nickname Yan Xie uses for him.
Jiang Ting identifies three key chemicals in the missing inventory list that can be used to produce amphetamines.
Jiang Ting recommends issuing a warrant for Chu Ci’s arrest.
Ding Dang, Ding Jiawang’s daughter and art student, appears and defends Chu Ci, saying he was supportive and hardworking.
Yan Xie questions Ding Dang and suspects the fight between Chu Ci and Feng Yuguang was related to her.
Jiang Ting notes that Chu Ci had begun erratic and varied experiments after the interrogation on May 5th, using stolen chemicals.
Jiang Ting deduces Chu Ci has OCD based on extremely precise notes and alignment of storage tank outlets.
Jiang Ting finds signs that the chemical outlets used for the theft were misaligned, indicating someone else staged the theft.
Jiang Ting deduces Chu Ci has been abducted and used chemical book titles during a phone call to secretly call for help.
Jiang Ting concludes that the security supervisor Diao Yong is involved and instructs to detain him.
Diao Yong is arrested; Jiang Ting exposes inconsistencies in Diao Yong’s story using a reenactment and measurements.
Jiang Ting proves that Chu Ci couldn’t have inflicted Diao Yong’s injuries due to height and angle inconsistencies.
Diao Yong is exposed for fabricating the encounter and is taken into custody, still denying wrongdoing.
Jiang Ting and Yan Xie confirm Diao Yong faked injuries and acted as part of the kidnappers.
Chu Ci is identified as a victim, not a perpetrator; he's been abducted by a drug syndicate.
Yan Xie and Jiang Ting determine that Chu Ci was investigating discrepancies in chemical storage post-Feng Yuguang’s death.
Jiang Ting explains that water had been added to chemical tanks to hide theft, and Chu Ci's OCD helped him detect it.
Chu Ci’s investigation into solution density after Feng Yuguang’s death suggests he suspected foul play.
They deduce Chu Ci was framed and went to investigate on his own, leading to his kidnapping.
The forensic evidence suggests the female suspect stabbed Diao Yong, as the wound angle fits a shorter person.
Han Xiaomei is starstruck by Jiang Ting and watches him work in awe.
The team confirms the presence of a red Camry with covered plates at the scene at 3:06 a.m.
Jiang Ting connects the book titles to known meth synthesis methods, confirming Chu Ci’s silent plea for help.
Professor Niu confirms Chu Ci called during the heist, speaking calmly, signaling his abduction.
Yan Xie issues an urgent warrant and orders citywide surveillance and tracking of the Camry.
A forensics report reveals the stab wounds were shallow, and Jiang Ting concludes Diao Yong's accomplice is female.
Back at the station, Jiang Ting and Yan Xie review the entire case, piecing together Chu Ci’s behavior.
Ma Xiang and Han Xiaomei speculate on the relationship between Jiang Ting and Yan Xie.
Jiang Ting confirms Chu Ci was investigating inconsistencies in chemical levels post-May 5th.
Jiang Ting explains how denser chemicals topped up with water could be visually undetectable except by someone extremely meticulous like Chu Ci.
Jiang Ting eats unagi donburi while the others have instant noodles, highlighting the difference in treatment.
Diao Yong has yet to confess, but Jiang Ting emphasizes his role as a key link to the drug producers.
The team realises they’re short on time to rescue Chu Ci, who may only be alive because of his chemical expertise.
Just as Yan Xie prepares to leave the room, Huang Xing bursts in and announces the red Camry has been located on surveillance footage.

9A burnt car is found on a rainy provincial highway with no bodies inside; police suspect it was set on fire to destroy evidence.
Yan Xie organizes a detailed forensic sweep of the area before dawn.
Jiang Ting is sent to rest but instead continues analyzing surveillance footage from the chemical company at Yan Xie's apartment.
A red Toyota Camry with a muddy license plate is seen exiting the chemical plant at 3:06 a.m.; driver’s face and features are obscured.
Jiang Ting deduces the plate might share digits with Hu Weisheng’s car’s fake plate: JAGU799.
Han Xiaomei confirms that plate, and Jiang Ting suspects a woman asked Hu Weisheng to match their fake plates.
Ma Xiang finds animal bones while searching the slope; no female footprints found.
Yan Xie discovers suspiciously shorter shrubs, suggesting a struggle occurred there.
Blood is found using luminol—indicating Chu Ci may still be alive.
Yan Xie receives a call from Jiang Ting theorizing the female accomplice had Hu Weisheng use her car plate to imply a relationship.
Yan Xie identifies Liu Wanqiu as the car’s registered owner—Ding Jiawang’s wife’s niece.
Chi Rui’s DNA is found at the scene; he has a history of illegal firearms manufacturing.
Jiang Ting accidentally brews tea from Yan Xie's most valuable antique tea cake, meant for his future wife.
Han Xiaomei is revealed as the culprit who brewed the tea, horrifying both Jiang Ting and Yan Xie.
Yan Xie receives news that Liu Wanqiu has an airtight alibi and denies owning the car; she celebrated her birthday at a karaoke bar.
Investigation into Chi Rui’s whereabouts reveals he might be hiding in an underground drug lab in Wuhai.
Jiang Ting suggests narrowing the search to unused factories in Wuhai.
Jiang Ting summarizes the syndicate’s members: Diao Yong (security), Chi Rui (weapons), Hu Weisheng (distribution), and an unidentified female possibly controlling Hu Weisheng.
Jiang Ting identifies a unique glove in the surveillance footage—insulating gloves used by electricians.
Yan Xie connects this to Wang Le, a missing electrician with gambling debt.
Ma Xiang reports that Ding Dang has escaped police surveillance by faking a wardrobe change.
Ding Dang is seen outside a police station and then forcibly pulled into a black car.
Yan Xie explodes in rage at the officers who failed to stop her and reassigns them.
Interrogation of Ding Jiawang yields no results; he denies knowledge of the car or daughter’s involvement.
Surveillance footage disproves his claims—he is seen with his wife in the red Camry.
Yan Xie receives texts from Jiang Ting suggesting they approach Ding Jiawang’s wife, Zhang Jiao, instead.
Zhang Jiao is shown surveillance of her daughter’s abduction and breaks down, revealing a lab in Wuhai disguised as a packaging factory.
She confirms Hu Weisheng and Ding Dang were in a relationship and says Hu Weisheng had a packet of extremely addictive blue powder stolen from a "big shot".
Zhang Jiao reveals the drug is highly addictive, even through skin contact.
Yan Xie rushes to act on her testimony and redirects the interrogation strategy toward Diao Yong.
Jiang Ting and Yang Mei are at a restaurant when Jiang Ting sends advice to Yan Xie about exploiting Zhang Jiao’s maternal fears.
Yan Xie uses this to successfully crack Zhang Jiao.
In the final interrogation, Yan Xie uses fake wanted posters and surveillance footage to manipulate Zhang Jiao into confessing everything.
She provides confirmation about the factory's location and the drug's origin but claims Ding Dang is innocent.
Yan Xie decides to bait Diao Yong instead of Ding Jiawang, believing the former is more likely to crack.
Yan Xie orders Han Xiaomei not to tell Jiang Ting about the existence of the blue drug or the big shot source.
The chapter ends with the police preparing to interrogate Diao Yong and a looming sense of urgency to save Ding Dang and stop the syndicate.

10Chi Ci wakes up in a small, dark room with a high fever, injured, and realizes he has been kidnapped.
He recalls trying to resist during the kidnapping by leaving blood traces in the bushes.
Chi Ci notices Ding Dang is in the same room, also kidnapped and injured.
Ding Dang confesses she tried to turn herself in but was abducted before she could.
Ding Dang reveals Feng Yuguang's death was indirectly her fault—he died after taking a fake drug sold by her father and boyfriend.
Hu Weisheng, Ding Dang's boyfriend, is revealed to be a drug dealer who possesses a dangerous, skin-absorbable drug.
Ding Dang’s father, Ding Jiawang, tried and failed to replicate the drug, resulting in toxic variants, one of which killed Feng Yuguang.
The original drug can be absorbed through skin and is dangerously addictive; its formula excludes regulated ingredients.
The drug's original developer is an unnamed "King of Spades," active in the region years ago.
Wang Le enters with a gun and takes Chi Ci away.
Simultaneously, Yan Xie interrogates Ding Jiawang, who denies involvement but is clearly hiding the truth.
Yan Xie deduces that Ding Jiawang, Wang Le, Diao Yong, and Chi Rui formed a group to create and sell drugs, later joined by Hu Weisheng.
Yan Xie reveals that the group tried to replicate Hu Weisheng's drug but failed, leading to accidental deaths.
They kidnapped Chi Ci to force him—being a top chemistry student—to help recreate the drug properly.
Police intelligence narrows down the hideout to three factories near Songxinqiao.
Yan Xie uses psychological tactics and the threat of losing leniency to manipulate Diao Yong into confessing.
Diao Yong confirms the location of the kidnappers’ lab at a factory on Dongyuan Road called Jiaxing.
He also reveals the drug is called “Sapphire” or “Tingkercloud,” and is potent, skin-absorbable, and possibly fentanyl-based.
Chu Ci is brought to the factory lab where he narrowly avoids execution by revealing the theoretical basis of how to recreate the drug.
He explains the drug is likely a modified fentanyl compound and offers to reverse engineer it if given a sample.
The kidnappers argue over whether to kill him or let him help; Chu Ci stalls them.
Yan Xie races to the location with SWAT and gets permission to direct the raid.
Jiang Ting covertly follows them, revealing his presence in a silver Mercedes and exchanging cryptic messages with Yan Xie.
Yan Xie is suspicious of a mole in the police, possibly Jiang Ting.
Yan Xie inserts a microchip into Jiang Ting’s pocket but keeps his suspicions masked under casual flirtation and banter.
Jiang Ting warns Yan Xie at the last moment that there are not three kidnappers, but four.

A Break in the Clouds (Poyun), Vol. 2

11Jiaxing Mould Processing and Packaging Factory is under police surveillance, with Commissioner Lyu directing a hostage rescue operation after snipers confirm three hostiles inside and the hostages somewhere on the first floor.In response, Commissioner Lyu assigns Kang Shuqiang’s Team One to enter through the roof while Yan Xie’s Team Two secures the stairwells and corridors, with the priority set on extracting the hostages and avoiding gunfire.Despite the careful plan, Chen Chu worries about the danger, but Commissioner Lyu sternly tells him to trust the police and not underestimate either the operation or the enemy.Meanwhile, Han Xiaomei watches Jiang Ting step out of Yan Xie’s Jeep Grand Cherokee and head toward the silver Mercedes, knowing she is supposed to monitor him but feeling too intimidated and emotional to stop him.This leads Han Xiaomei to block Jiang Ting’s path with sudden courage, but Jiang Ting simply offers her chocolates and invites her to sit in the car with him.At 7:45 p.m., Yan Xie waits near the factory entrance with his gun ready while Huang Xing contacts him through an earpiece and complains about being asked to track Yan Xie’s own chip.As Yan Xie advances with the team, Huang Xing teases Yan Xie about trying to catch a cheating girlfriend, only to report that the chip has moved about twenty metres.In response, Yan Xie tells Huang Xing not to bother him unless the chip moves more than five hundred metres, then switches channels and leads Team Two deeper into position.At 7:50 p.m., surveillance spots movement inside a first-floor room, but frosted glass prevents a clear view.This leads Commissioner Lyu to order Kang Shuqiang and Yan Xie to hold position, with Kang Shuqiang’s Team One ready to rappel in and Yan Xie’s Team Two already securing the main access routes.At 7:52 p.m., Chu Ci is forced to work inside the factory lab, exhausted, dehydrated, feverish, and threatened at gunpoint by Wang Le and the other kidnappers.In response to Wang Le’s demand, Chu Ci says the setup is barely functional and warns that the lab lacks the proper equipment to make fentanyl safely.Despite Chu Ci’s warning, the cook dismisses the danger and argues that they are only making drugs for money, claiming the police will not care as long as no one dies.This leads the cook to tempt Chu Ci with money, equipment, freedom, and even Ding Dang, telling Chu Ci that Ding Dang likes him and could belong to him if he cooperates.Before Chu Ci can respond, Chi Rui drags Ding Dang into the room with a gun to her head, making Ding Dang look terrified and helpless as she pleads with Chu Ci.Meanwhile, Jie buys all the fruit from a nearby vendor to avoid suspicion, waits for the vendor to leave, throws the fruit away, and goes upstairs to assemble a sniper rifle.At 8:00 p.m., surveillance reports that the kidnappers have moved several metres away from the hostages, but frosted glass prevents a clear view.In the Mercedes, Jiang Ting listens to the situation and calmly deduces that the kidnappers are not rushing because Chu Ci has made an agreement with them.This leads Jiang Ting to reveal to Han Xiaomei that the hostage can synthesize Sapphire, explaining why the kidnappers are keeping Chu Ci alive.Inside the lab, Chu Ci tries to protect Ding Dang and asks the kidnappers to let her go, but Wang Le and the cook only mock him and shove Ding Dang toward him.Despite Chu Ci’s fever and weakness, he notices a safety rope outside the window and realizes SWAT may be approaching.In response, Chu Ci secretly grabs a large test tube and prepares to use it as a weapon while Chi Rui orders Wang Le to get the lorry and prepare to move.Chi Rui suddenly notices movement near the window, making the command vehicle tense as Team One reports that a target is approaching the east-corner window. This leads Commissioner Lyu to give the order for Team One to move in.Kang Shuqiang rappels toward the factory window, but Jie fires from his sniper position and shoots Kang Shuqiang in the back before Kang Shuqiang crashes through the glass.In the chaos, Chu Ci breaks the test tube and grabs Ding Dang, pressing the sharpened glass against her carotid artery while shouting that he will kill her if anyone comes closer.This shocks Ding Dang, and Chu Ci reveals he knows Ding Dang is the orchestrator rather than an innocent hostage.As SWAT bursts into the room, the command vehicle panics over Kang Shuqiang’s injury and Commissioner Lyu orders Yan Xie to move in.Yan Xie charges into the factory, sees Chi Rui lunging at Chu Ci, and immediately shoots Chi Rui in the thigh.In response, officers flood both ends of the corridor, Wang Le drops his gun, and Yan Xie keeps Ding Dang in his sights while ordering his team to check on Kang Shuqiang.Despite being exposed, Ding Dang pretends to be innocent and begs Yan Xie not to believe Chu Ci’s accusation.Before Yan Xie can grab Ding Dang, Jie’s sniper shots shatter test tubes, blow apart the chemical cabinet, rupture reaction vessels, and ignite the lab.This leads to a massive explosion as crystal meth, chemicals, sparks, and spilled reagents erupt into fire and smoke.In the Mercedes, Jiang Ting hears the report of a sniper and chemical explosion, and the scene triggers a traumatic memory of a past drug bust, explosion, and teammates trapped in fire.Despite trembling from the memory, Jiang Ting calmly asks Han Xiaomei whether Kang Shuqiang was shot in the back and begins calculating the sniper’s location.In response, Jiang Ting realizes the sniper must be using a high building within six hundred metres, then slams the accelerator and drives away with Han Xiaomei.Back inside the burning lab, Chu Ci is overwhelmed by smoke and hydrogen sulphide, only for Ding Dang to pick up Wang Le’s discarded gun and press it against his forehead.Ding Dang drops her innocent act completely, screaming at Chu Ci for figuring her out and trying to kill him.Before Ding Dang can shoot Chu Ci, Yan Xie dives in, forces the gun upward, and the bullets tear into the ceiling instead.In response, SWAT restrains Ding Dang, gives Chu Ci a gas mask, and carries Chu Ci out through the smoke-filled wreckage.Even while barely conscious, Chu Ci warns Ma Xiang that hydrogen sulphide above a certain concentration kills the sense of smell and could make everyone think the gas has cleared when it has not.Meanwhile, Jie leaves behind a child-sized shirt marked with a sunrise-like design and dark bloodstains, suggesting a deliberate message connected to the old case.After leaving the rooftop, Jie reaches a black Range Rover, but Jiang Ting and Han Xiaomei spot him almost immediately.In response, Jie drives off, and Jiang Ting pursues him in the Mercedes with Han Xiaomei screaming beside him.Back at the factory, Yan Xie emerges from the smoke-covered scene exhausted but alive, and Chen Chu awkwardly praises his work.This leads Ma Xiang to tell Yan Xie that Kang Shuqiang is in surgery and survived partly because of his bulletproof vest.Soon after, Huang Xing calls Yan Xie and reports that Yan Xie’s tracking chip has moved far more than five hundred metres and is heading toward Gongzhou.Yan Xie freezes because he realizes Jiang Ting is involved, forcing him to choose between reporting Jiang Ting and exposing his secrets or chasing him alone.Despite knowing the proper answer, Yan Xie follows his instincts, gets into his Jeep Grand Cherokee, and demands Huang Xing send him the chip’s real-time coordinates.Meanwhile, Jiang Ting continues chasing Jie onto the motorway, cutting between lorries and staying close to the Range Rover despite Han Xiaomei’s terrified screams.Although Jiang Ting appears calm, the chase forces him back into the nightmare of the past crash, making the road and traffic twist around him like a repeating trauma.In response to Jie’s attempt to escape, Jiang Ting accelerates beside the Range Rover and rams it into the guardrail, trying to force it off the motorway.Jie sneers that Jiang Ting has a death wish and steers toward a fork where one road leads to Gongzhou and the other dead-ends.This leads both vehicles off the motorway and onto an abandoned road, where the chase ends in a violent crash against a guardrail.After the crash, Han Xiaomei regains consciousness inside the wrecked Mercedes and is relieved to realize she is alive.However, Han Xiaomei panics when Jiang Ting does not answer her and Jie gets out of the warped Range Rover to approach them.In response, Jiang Ting wakes, tells Han Xiaomei not to move, gives her a Jianning Police GPS tracking chip, and tells her to stay inside until Yan Xie arrives.Despite Han Xiaomei’s pounding on the doors, Jiang Ting locks her inside the Mercedes, throws the keys into the darkness, and walks toward Jie alone.Jie mocks Jiang Ting by asking whether he is waiting for Jianning Police, Gongzhou Police, or Yan Xie.Jiang Ting dodges Jie’s attacks with difficulty and asks why Jie’s side created such a spectacle at the factory.In response, Jie reveals two reasons: Hu Weisheng took something he should not have taken and Chu Ci’s group was using it for research, while the boss also enjoys reenacting old police operations with unexpected explosions.This reveal enrages Jiang Ting because Jie confirms the factory disaster was staged as a cruel reenactment of Jiang Ting’s past trauma.Jie then reveals he recorded a video on the boss’s orders and asks whether Jiang Ting wants to greet an old friend.In response, Jiang Ting lunges for the phone, but Jie twists his wrist and quickly overpowers him.Despite Jiang Ting’s weakened condition, he suddenly pulls a concealed folding knife and slashes Jie across the chest, revealing a ruthless combat skill Han Xiaomei never expected from the refined “Mr Lu.”This leads Han Xiaomei to realize Jiang Ting is not stalling for backup and is actually trying to kill Jie.Jiang Ting continues attacking Jie with lethal precision, nearly cutting Jie’s eye and repeatedly aiming for Jie’s throat.Despite this, Jie regains control, disarms Jiang Ting, and chokes him against the Range Rover door.Jie mocks Jiang Ting as weakened and “declawed,” then asks why Jiang Ting insists on getting himself killed when he could have had a good life.Even while being strangled, Jiang Ting refuses to let Jie take him back and forces out the words “Dream on.”In response, Han Xiaomei escapes the Mercedes through the shattered rear window, grabs a gun, presses it to Jie’s forehead, and orders him to let Jiang Ting go.Jie is surprised by Han Xiaomei’s courage and releases Jiang Ting while turning toward her with his hands raised.As Jiang Ting struggles to recover, Han Xiaomei shakily asks him to cuff Jie for her. However, Jiang Ting notices the shattered window and freezes, realizing too late that Han Xiaomei has injured herself escaping and is in danger.This leads both Jiang Ting and Jie to lunge at the same time, but Jie reaches Han Xiaomei first.Jie dislocates Han Xiaomei’s elbow, snatches the gun from her, presses the muzzle against her pale forehead, and pulls the trigger.

12Han Xiaomei freezes in terror when Jie pulls the trigger at her forehead, but the gun only clicks empty, revealing that Han Xiaomei had been bluffing with an unloaded weapon.In response, Jie mocks Han Xiaomei for failing to bluff convincingly and warns Jiang Ting not to move, using Han Xiaomei’s life to keep Jiang Ting from reaching for the knife.Despite his pain from the crash, Jiang Ting forces himself to stand without showing weakness and asks Jie what he wants.Jie drives his knee into Han Xiaomei’s abdomen, leaving her on the ground in agony with her injured arm twisted, then reveals that Hu Weisheng is dead and the packet of Sapphire is gone.This leads Jie to admit that his boss will be even happier if Jie brings back something the boss truly wants, clearly referring to Jiang Ting.In response, Jiang Ting agrees too quickly and tries to bargain for Han Xiaomei’s release, warning Jie that killing a cop will make Jie’s future miserable.Despite Jie’s indifference, Jiang Ting threatens to take Jie down with him if Jie insists on dragging him away, making Jie reconsider the situation.Jie finally releases Han Xiaomei, and Jiang Ting immediately crouches beside her to ask if she is all right.Meanwhile, Jie retrieves a metal briefcase from the Range Rover and takes a pistol from the glove box, making Han Xiaomei panic and warn Jiang Ting.In response, Jiang Ting orders Han Xiaomei to stay down because she may have a concussion, while secretly drawing her attention to the handcuffs in her pocket.This leads Jiang Ting to whisper that backup will arrive soon and promise that he will return, giving Han Xiaomei a chance to survive.When Jie closes in and grabs Jiang Ting, Jiang Ting suddenly spins around and smashes the handcuffs into Jie’s temple, shouting for Han Xiaomei to run.Han Xiaomei obeys at once and bolts into the darkness while Jie reels from the blow and throws the handcuffs away.Despite Jiang Ting’s attempt to create distance, Jie slams the butt of the pistol into Jiang Ting’s skull and drags him into a chokehold.At that moment, Yan Xie arrives in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, headlights blazing as he charges into the scene.In response, Jie throws Jiang Ting aside and rolls away while Yan Xie fires at him, forcing Jie to scramble for cover behind the Range Rover.Jiang Ting warns Yan Xie that Jie has a gun, and Yan Xie rushes in while telling Jiang Ting to get into the car.Despite being under fire from Jie’s Beretta 92, Yan Xie advances steadily, shooting whenever Jie peeks out from behind the Range Rover door.This leads Yan Xie to empty his magazine, throw his handgun onto the roof, leap onto the Range Rover, and grapple directly with Jie.During the struggle, Jie fires the M92, making Han Xiaomei scream for Yan Xie, but Yan Xie knocks the weapon away before it can decide the fight.In response, Yan Xie taunts Jie for bringing a gun to a proper fight, and Jie accepts the challenge with a vicious grin.The fight becomes brutal and evenly matched, with Jie’s professional precision clashing against Yan Xie’s mix of street-brawling instincts, boxing experience, and police training.Despite Jie’s clean technique, Yan Xie uses ruthless, practical methods to counter him, pinning him with his legs and driving him through glass.Jie keeps fighting back, kicking away the M92 before Yan Xie can recover it and slamming Yan Xie onto the car roof hard enough to shatter more glass.In response, Yan Xie locks his legs around Jie from above and smashes him through a window, declaring that criminals are not worth having fun with.The two continue exchanging devastating blows, crashing into the Range Rover, the guardrail, the shattered windows, and the twisted wreckage around them.Despite Yan Xie’s injuries, Yan Xie catches a metal briefcase swung at his face, throws it aside, and kicks Jie hard enough to send him flying into the guardrail.Jie rises bloodied and furious, growling that he should have killed Yan Xie back then. In response, Yan Xie tastes blood, smiles coldly, and taunts Jie forward.Before Jie can attack again, a gunshot stops everyone, and Jiang Ting appears beyond the guardrail holding the M92.Jiang Ting aims at Jie and warns him not to move, even though the slight tremor in Jiang Ting’s hand reveals how badly he is struggling.Jie notices Jiang Ting’s torment and deliberately provokes him by telling Jiang Ting to shoot him the same way Jiang Ting killed Rivet.This name freezes Jiang Ting, dragging him into a traumatic memory of being forced to choose between himself and an undercover cop named Rivet with only one bullet.In the memory, Jiang Ting tries to survive because his comrades are dead and he must find the truth, but guilt and horror blur his mind as he pulls the trigger.In reality, Jiang Ting has not fired, and Yan Xie gently tells him that whatever happened back then is over and that he should put the gun down.Despite Yan Xie’s attempt to steady him, Jiang Ting trembles and turns the gun toward himself as if possessed by the memory.Before the situation can collapse, two motorcycles roar over the hill, and Yan Xie shouts for Han Xiaomei to watch out.Han Xiaomei barely avoids the motorcycles, while Yan Xie vaults over the guardrail and snatches the M92 from Jiang Ting.This leads Jie to grab onto one motorcycle while the other rider retrieves the briefcase, allowing both enemies to escape into the wilderness.Yan Xie fires after them until the last bullets vanish into exhaust smoke, but he stops when he sees countless taillights across the ridge and realizes an ambush is waiting.Frustrated, Yan Xie smashes the empty gun against a rock, then turns back when police sirens finally reach the scene.Instead of focusing on the escaped enemies, Yan Xie notices Jiang Ting shaking uncontrollably with his face buried in his palm.In response, Yan Xie pulls Jiang Ting’s hand away, sees his bloodless face and trembling lips, and softly tells Jiang Ting to breathe and stay with him.Jiang Ting apologizes and tries to hide his face, but Yan Xie holds him firmly and draws him into his arms, telling him that he has him and that Jiang Ting is fine.This leads Jiang Ting to confess that he wanted to help but cannot pull the trigger again, revealing the depth of his trauma over Rivet.Before Yan Xie can answer, Han Xiaomei reports that police found the sniper’s nest on a residential demolition site roof along with a suspicious child-sized white T-shirt stained with old blood.The discovery shatters Jiang Ting’s remaining composure, and Jiang Ting pushes Yan Xie away, repeats the report in shock, and finally passes out.In response, Yan Xie catches Jiang Ting, lifts him in a princess carry, orders Han Xiaomei into the car, and demands a private hospital instead of waiting with the others.Ma Xiang arrives with police cars just in time to see Yan Xie speed away with Jiang Ting, leaving Ma Xiang confused and yelling after him.As Yan Xie drives through red lights, Yan Xie watches Jiang Ting unconscious in the rearview mirror and worries over Jiang Ting’s words about being unable to pull the trigger again and Rivet’s death.Meanwhile, Jiang Ting sinks into a feverish dream where he sees a laughing boy by a river, a white T-shirt, and a gloomy friend who invites him to hear a violin.This dream shifts into a beautiful, abandoned theatre where the friend performs only for the boy, preserving a carefree childhood memory untouched by time.Despite the warmth of that memory, the dream darkens into Jiang Ting’s past captivity after an explosion, where Jiang Ting is wounded, blindfolded, handcuffed, and approached by someone whose presence he recognizes.The violin memory and the prison memory overlap, mixing childhood affection, coercion, guilt, and the voice of someone insisting Jiang Ting once loved him.In the hospital, doctors warn that Jiang Ting has blood clots in his brain, barely active brain function, and a risk of becoming vegetative.In response, Yang Mei nearly collapses in despair, while Yan Xie demands that the doctors find a way to save Jiang Ting no matter the cost.When the doctor says the newest equipment and pharmaceuticals are only available in Germany, Yan Xie immediately asks who has them and declares that the supplies will arrive on the next flight from Germany.As Jiang Ting drifts deeper into unconsciousness, his dream becomes a sequence of police lights, rain, office footsteps, the promise of seeing comrades tomorrow, and the explosion that destroys that tomorrow.This leads Jiang Ting’s soul to imagine letting go, embracing a laughing demon, and falling with him toward hell as the theatre burns and the violin keeps playing.Suddenly, everything in the dream goes silent, and Jiang Ting feels a firm hand take hold of him from the light.Jiang Ting wakes to doctors, nurses, and people crying and laughing with joy, but he is confused by why they are so happy.Eventually, Jiang Ting opens his eyes again and sees that Yan Xie is the one who stayed at his bedside. In response, Yan Xie tells Jiang Ting that he was unconscious for six days and jokes that they used money to manipulate fate, pointing at the German-labeled IV bags and equipment.Despite his weakness, Jiang Ting shows a faint smile, and Yan Xie teases that their fates are now intertwined. Jiang Ting quietly agrees, giving Yan Xie a small but meaningful emotional victory.After the freezer case’s preliminary investigation wraps up, the police begin the exhausting work of interrogations, sorting contradictions, and building a solid case.Later, Yan Xie prepares to visit Jiang Ting and dresses far more extravagantly than usual, treating the hospital visit almost like a blind date.However, Yan Xie’s mood plummets when he arrives and finds Yang Mei feeding Jiang Ting chicken soup in the ward.In response, Yan Xie politely but haughtily tells Yang Mei that he and Jiang Ting need to discuss something, then uses the news that Ding Dang confessed to make Jiang Ting send Yang Mei away.Outside the ward, Yang Mei encounters Han Xiaomei, who is recovering in the same private hospital because Yan Xie is paying the bill due to Jiang Ting’s condition.Yang Mei recognizes Han Xiaomei as the intern who was in the car with Jiang Ting, circles her critically, and makes Han Xiaomei panic by mentioning that the wrecked car belonged to Yang Mei.Han Xiaomei immediately apologizes, but Yang Mei becomes even more curious and asks why Han Xiaomei was following Jiang Ting instead of doing normal intern work.In response, Han Xiaomei truthfully explains that Yan Xie ordered her to monitor “Mr Lu” and report anything unusual, then suggests that Yan Xie may be infatuated with Jiang Ting.This shocks Yang Mei at first, but Yang Mei quickly recovers and changes tactics, warmly taking Han Xiaomei’s hand and offering to treat her to a nice meal.Meanwhile, inside the ward, Jiang Ting confirms with Yan Xie that Ding Dang confessed. Yan Xie proudly says he handled the interrogation, and Jiang Ting mildly remarks that he believes Ding Dang would not have lasted five minutes in front of Yan Xie.Yan Xie then asks how Jiang Ting knew Ding Dang was the fourth kidnapper, connecting back to Jiang Ting’s earlier warning that there were not three kidnappers but four.Jiang Ting explains that he doubted Ding Dang’s intent, not her behavior, because Ding Dang went to the police station to report the others rather than to truly turn herself in.This leads Jiang Ting to deduce that Ding Dang planned to blame Ding Jiawang, Chi Rui, Wang Le, and the others while shifting responsibility for drug trafficking and her relationship with Hu Weisheng onto her father.Jiang Ting further explains that after Diao Yong’s arrest, Ding Dang noticed police surveillance, tried to act first by telling a story at the station, and was kidnapped by Chi Rui’s group when they sensed her betrayal. In response, Yan Xie agrees but notes that Ding Dang had no choice and chose to work with the kidnappers again.Jiang Ting then confirms that the woman in Hu Weisheng’s car on the night of the freezer incident was Ding Dang and adds that Feng Yuguang’s murder was likely premeditated.Yan Xie asks Jiang Ting to explain, clearly enjoying their private exchange while still watching Jiang Ting closely.Jiang Ting reasons that Feng Yuguang had relied on psychoactive substances to pass exams, accepted Ding Dang as a supplier for convenience, and had no idea Ding Dang meant to kill him.This leads Jiang Ting to suspect that Ding Dang gave Feng Yuguang a burner number to mislead police and then lured him into Hu Weisheng’s car as part of her plan.Jiang Ting adds that Feng Yuguang took one of Ding Jiawang’s failed products, a drug supposedly destroyed long ago, making it unlikely Ding Dang grabbed the wrong substance by accident.Despite this theory, Jiang Ting admits it is speculation and doubts Ding Dang would confess to premeditated murder because the penalty would be harsher. In response, Yan Xie surprises Jiang Ting by revealing that Ding Dang did confess after Yan Xie’s team searched the Ding home.Yan Xie explains that the police found over a dozen poisoned stray cats and dogs around the same time period, with Ding Dang’s DNA on several claws. Jiang Ting immediately understands that Ding Dang was testing for a lethal dosage.This gives the police solid evidence of deliberate poisoning, and Yan Xie says Ding Dang broke down under the weight of the evidence.With testimonies, physical evidence, and confessions fitting together, the case against the group becomes airtight for gun possession, drug production, and murder.Jiang Ting then asks whether Ding Jiawang truly introduced Ding Dang to Hu Weisheng, and Yan Xie dismisses that story as false.Yan Xie explains that the boss at the Breezy Blossom revealed Ding Dang was already known at the bar and likely connected with Hu Weisheng because Hu Weisheng kept buying her drinks.This makes Jiang Ting reflect that Ding Dang was the key link between Hu Weisheng’s distribution network and Ding Jiawang’s operation, while also being dangerously alluring and addictive to the men around her.Yan Xie notices Jiang Ting’s discomfort with that observation but bluntly says no one needs to feel comfortable about a criminal.Yan Xie then reveals Hu Weisheng’s autopsy results, explaining that Hu Weisheng died from a peanut allergy.This leads Yan Xie to explain that the batch of diacetylmorphine that killed Hu Weisheng had been requested for training dogs, returned, and later found to contain glucose and peanut powder.Jiang Ting and Yan Xie both find the coincidence suspicious because Hu Weisheng happened to receive peanut-contaminated heroin despite having a peanut allergy.Yan Xie admits they will not know for a while whether Hu Weisheng’s death was fate or a deliberate setup, then playfully says it is a good thing he kept Jiang Ting alive because they have plenty of time.Jiang Ting thanks Yan Xie and asks whether Yan Xie can see him off when he returns to Gongzhou.Instead of agreeing directly, Yan Xie tells Jiang Ting they will discuss it later and says Jiang Ting should stay at Yan Xie’s place after discharge because Yang Mei’s bar has too many prying eyes.In response, Yan Xie tosses Jiang Ting a key, leaving Jiang Ting frozen as Yan Xie waves goodbye and walks out.After Yan Xie leaves, Jiang Ting tosses the key onto the bedside table and releases a quiet breath in the sunlit hospital room.

13Yan Xie returns to the CID building after his hospital visit with Jiang Ting, and his colleagues immediately tease him about coming back from a blind date.In response, Yan Xie snaps at the gawking officers and orders them back to work on documents, evidence lists, and case files.Huang Xing then approaches Yan Xie with a burdened expression and says the DNA results have returned for the bloodstained child’s T-shirt found on the roof.This leads Huang Xing to reveal that Commissioner Lyu wants to see Yan Xie, making Yan Xie immediately solemn.Yan Xie goes to Commissioner Lyu’s office, where he sees Jiang Ting’s police intranet profile displayed on the monitor.In response, Commissioner Lyu explains that the old blood on the child’s T-shirt matches samples from a police rescue operation three years ago and belongs to Jiang Ting, the former inspector of Gongzhou Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau.Despite the shock, Yan Xie pretends to be casual and asks whether Jiang Ting supposedly died during that operation and who the police had been trying to rescue.Commissioner Lyu explains that most high-ranking officials believed Jiang Ting died in the explosion, but a few exceptions suspected otherwise.This leads Commissioner Lyu to name Yue Guangping, the former vice mayor of Gongzhou and commissioner of Gongzhou’s police, as one of the people who believed Jiang Ting might still be alive.Commissioner Lyu explains that after the operation failed, Gongzhou Police formed a special investigation unit to examine what went wrong and rescue the missing undercover agent Rivet.According to Commissioner Lyu, Rivet was believed to be held in an abandoned house on the border of Gongzhou and Jianning, so Gongzhou and Jianning police launched a joint raid.However, by the time the police arrived, the house was already burning, and after the fire was put out, they found Jiang Ting’s gun in the debris alongside Rivet’s body.This leads Commissioner Lyu to reveal that Rivet had been shot between the eyebrows, ballistic analysis matched the bullet to Jiang Ting’s gun, and fresh fingerprints on the grip belonged to Jiang Ting.Yan Xie carefully says that those facts alone make it look like Jiang Ting killed Rivet, but his tone leaves room for doubt.Commissioner Lyu does not press the point and says that was the last time anyone heard from Jiang Ting before Jiang Ting vanished completely.Commissioner Lyu adds that Jiang Ting was officially marked as having died in the line of duty, but if Jiang Ting resurfaces, the police may face serious trouble.After hearing all this, Yan Xie asks what kind of person Jiang Ting was.Commissioner Lyu describes Jiang Ting as young, decisive, highly intelligent, frighteningly so, and “uncomfortable,” which catches Yan Xie’s attention because Jiang Ting used the same word earlier.Commissioner Lyu then dismisses Yan Xie, saying everyone at the CID is exhausted and can take a holiday once the case is handed over for trial.Before leaving, Yan Xie asks whether Commissioner Lyu wants to ask him anything, but Commissioner Lyu says he trusts Yan Xie because Yan Xie represents Jianning Municipal Police.Outside the office, Huang Xing anxiously waits by the lift and apologizes for not telling anyone earlier about tracking Yan Xie’s chip.Huang Xing explains that Commissioner Lyu already seemed to know about the chip and even went to Digital Forensics to retrieve the tracking history.This leads Huang Xing to suspect that Yan Xie’s chip request was connected to the bloodstained shirt and that Yan Xie had wandered into something sensitive.Yan Xie punishes Huang Xing lightly by canceling the five-star rooftop barbecue buffet he had planned to treat him to, leaving Huang Xing devastated.When Yan Xie returns to the CID office floor, he finds his colleagues enjoying a spread of cake, chocolate, pizza, beef jerky, milk tea, and large cherries.In response, Yan Xie jokes about filing the snacks under informant expenses, only for Ma Xiang to say the victim came to thank them personally.Yan Xie sees Chu Ci standing nearby, watching as officers escort Ding Dang toward the detention center.Ding Dang no longer looks innocent or frantic, but stares at Chu Ci with deep hatred and something more complicated beneath it.As Ding Dang passes Chu Ci, she stops and asks how Chu Ci knew she was the orchestrator before police stormed the lab.Chu Ci calmly replies that Ding Dang lied about Feng Yuguang inviting her to karaoke on the night of the 2nd.This shocks Ding Dang and Yan Xie, and Chu Ci gently explains that Feng Yuguang packed study guides before leaving, proving he had not been going on a date.Ding Dang breaks down screaming in the corridor and is dragged away, leaving Chu Ci staring after her with quiet sorrow.Yan Xie tries to ease the awkward moment by telling Chu Ci there was no need to spend so much on gifts.In response, Chu Ci gives Yan Xie a plastic bag containing food and two packs of premium Yunyan cigarettes, saying the police saved his life.Yan Xie accepts the gift after refusing several times and jokes that Chu Ci saved the station from paperwork, performance reviews, and career disaster.This leads Yan Xie to ask whether Chu Ci will continue the internship, return to Shangdu, or go back to his hometown.Chu Ci explains that his mother and brother were visiting Shangdu, and he is leaving that afternoon because the doctor delayed his discharge after the explosion.Yan Xie asks whether Chu Ci plans to pursue a PhD, but Chu Ci unexpectedly says he wants to leave academia and find work.Chu Ci reveals that his family’s finances are difficult, and he regrets spending more years in school when working earlier could have helped his younger brother.Yan Xie listens seriously as Chu Ci explains that there is nothing truly fair in the world, but he wants to work hard, support his family, and live honestly.Despite Yan Xie joking that Chu Ci could make a lot of money using his chemistry knowledge, Chu Ci rejects ill-gotten gains and says he is content with a modest, honest life.Watching Chu Ci leave, Yan Xie thinks about how Jiang Ting had advised him not to tell Chu Ci about Ding Dang’s motive, deciding there is no point now because Chu Ci already has enough burdens.Yan Xie then calls Jiang Ting, checks whether Jiang Ting finished his soup, and says Chu Ci stopped by with food before Yan Xie returns to work.The timeline then shifts to the morning after the office party, when Yan Xie wakes up hungover after celebrating the freezer case’s transfer to the prosecutor’s office, Kang Shuqiang’s stabilized condition, and the team’s coming holiday.Yan Xie remembers that his mother called him about something that day and jolts awake when he reads her message about a noon blind date with a real estate tycoon’s daughter.In response, Yan Xie grumbles that it is time to sell himself again and transforms from a stubbled mess into a polished, expensive-looking young master.Before getting dressed, Yan Xie goes to the kitchen for tea and finds Jiang Ting calmly opening a box of tea.Yan Xie is startled because Jiang Ting actually came to his home, then realizes Jiang Ting is drinking the tea meant for Yan Xie’s future wife.Jiang Ting tries to deny it, but Yan Xie finds a ruined tea cake and demands to know whether Jiang Ting or Han Xiaomei drank it. As Yan Xie leans closer, Jiang Ting points out that Yan Xie should put on trousers first.Yan Xie realizes he is still naked and visibly aroused after his shower, then tries to cover his embarrassment with bravado before fleeing to dress.An hour later, Yan Xie reappears fully dressed in luxury clothes and drives Jiang Ting in the Mercedes S450.In the car, Yan Xie seeks praise for his appearance, but Jiang Ting ignores him while reading The Red Book.Annoyed, Yan Xie snatches the book away, and Jiang Ting admits he does not understand it but says abstract philosophy helps wash away certain images.Yan Xie realizes Jiang Ting is referring to seeing him naked and becomes uncharacteristically quiet.This leads Yan Xie to ask whether Jiang Ting is really that bothered by seeing him naked.Jiang Ting vaguely says Yan Xie’s physique is unusual, which makes Yan Xie insecure and defensive.Jiang Ting then lightly asks whether Yan Xie brought him along to the blind date so Jiang Ting could casually mention Yan Xie’s physical adequacy.Yan Xie angrily insists he can woo anyone with his looks alone, while Jiang Ting dryly encourages him to do it.Eventually, Jiang Ting asks why Yan Xie’s blind dates never work out, since Yan Xie is wealthy even if his profession is a drawback.Yan Xie explains that dates arranged by his parents either want him to quit police work and inherit the family business or are spoiled and domineering.He also explains that dates introduced by colleagues either do not interest him, think he is not gentle enough, or demand half his assets before marriage.During this conversation, Yan Xie becomes distracted by Jiang Ting drinking milk and is flustered by Jiang Ting’s lips, though he pretends to be irritated.After Jiang Ting gets out at the restaurant, Yan Xie calms himself by reading The Red Book for three minutes and feels spiritually purified.However, Yan Xie immediately loses composure again when he sees Yang Mei dressed beautifully at the restaurant.Yang Mei says she came to eat, and Jiang Ting reveals he invited her. In response, Yan Xie realizes Jiang Ting arranged lunch with Yang Mei to compensate her for her totaled car and settle debts between them.Yan Xie reluctantly agrees because Jiang Ting points out that Yang Mei’s car was destroyed while helping him.Jiang Ting and Yang Mei take one observation lift while Yan Xie and his blind date take another, leaving Yan Xie incredulous and annoyed.In the lift, Yang Mei awkwardly asks Jiang Ting what he has against Yan Xie. Jiang Ting answers that Yan Xie is not that bad and advises Yang Mei not to waste time dancing around Yan Xie if they are both getting older.This shocks Yang Mei, but Jiang Ting adds that if he leaves, Yang Mei could be dragged into revenge against him, while Yan Xie is dependable and can protect Yang Mei.Yang Mei is left stunned as Jiang Ting steps out of the lift, nearly dropping her expensive handbag.At the rooftop restaurant, Yan Xie hides behind the bar and asks the manager to watch Jiang Ting and Yang Mei, especially to report if they get too close or if anyone tries to pay.The manager misunderstands the situation and assumes a melodramatic romantic conflict is unfolding between Yan Xie, Yang Mei, and Jiang Ting.Yan Xie reluctantly joins his blind date, but keeps looking at Jiang Ting and Yang Mei instead of paying attention to the young woman across from him.The blind date tries to make conversation about spare time, hobbies, reading, travel, and concerts, but Yan Xie gives blunt and unappealing answers.When she asks about interesting cases, Yan Xie launches into gruesome details about bodies on a motorway and drug smuggling, horrifying her.In response, the young woman decides she should have known better but still tries to exit gracefully.Yan Xie becomes alarmed when he sees Jiang Ting and Yang Mei heading to the observation deck and looks as if he has caught a partner cheating.The blind date calmly says it was lovely meeting him but that they should not exchange numbers.Yan Xie belatedly asks why not, and she says they were not having fun.The young woman then asks whether the couple Yan Xie keeps watching is dating or married.Yan Xie internally rejects the idea that Jiang Ting and Yang Mei are married and insists they are not in a relationship.In response, the young woman encourages Yan Xie to pursue what he wants, use force if needed, and leaves without looking back.The manager gravely tells Yan Xie that this failed date is Yan Xie’s own fault. Yan Xie hurries to the observation deck with his cigarette case and interrupts Jiang Ting and Yang Mei by claiming he got a call from the station.Jiang Ting immediately turns to him, and Yan Xie lies that there is an emergency alert about the new fentanyl variant.As expected, Jiang Ting tells Yang Mei to go first because he needs to discuss the issue with Senior Sergeant Yan.Yang Mei is furious but composes herself and leaves, clearly imagining Yan Xie’s corpse under her heels.Once alone, Jiang Ting asks for the latest on the drug, but Yan Xie dodges the question and lights them both cigarettes despite the No Smoking sign.Jiang Ting comments that Yang Mei may not know what she wants in her other half yet, surprising Yan Xie with his insight.Their conversation turns to Jiang Ting’s own dating history, and Jiang Ting says colleagues tried to set him up before, but he was the one doing the rejecting.Jiang Ting explains that frontline police officers with emotional ties hesitate, overthink, and end up hurting themselves and their loved ones, so he was never interested to begin with.This realization shocks Yan Xie, who starts wondering if Jiang Ting is not interested in women and whether Jiang Ting might be interested in men instead.Yan Xie spirals into internal panic, connecting Jiang Ting accepting his key, agreeing to move in, coming to the blind date, calling Yang Mei over, and drinking milk in the car into a ridiculous theory that Jiang Ting has a crush on him.Jiang Ting notices Yan Xie acting strange and tries to check on him. Before Yan Xie can recover, his phone rings with a call from the municipal station.Yan Xie answers privately behind the bar, and Gou Li tells him a new case has come in: a couple received a ransom call demanding two hundred million yuan for their son.Yan Xie immediately questions the amount because only a few families in Jianning could pay that much, and he suspects it may be a prank.Gou Li explains that the supposed kidnapper sent a photo of a blood-soaked T-shirt, and judging from the blood volume, the victim is unlikely to still be alive.In response, Yan Xie rushes back toward the station in his Mercedes S450 with traffic police motorcycles clearing the way, running red lights and drawing public attention.Jiang Ting warns Yan Xie to slow down because such a high ransom does not sound like a real kidnapping.Yan Xie argues that they cannot slow down if someone really wants two hundred million yuan, while Jiang Ting shouts that using animal blood as a scare tactic means it is probably not a real kidnapping.The Mercedes bursts through the station gate and stops in front of the CID building, with Yan Xie’s arm preventing Jiang Ting from being strangled by the seatbelt.When Yan Xie asks how Jiang Ting knows the blood is animal blood from the photo alone, Jiang Ting says it is a logical deduction based on behavior patterns and not proof.Yan Xie hides Jiang Ting in his office by putting a baseball cap and anti-smog mask on him, then tells him not to wander around and to eat snacks from the drawer.Ma Xiang runs up and briefs Yan Xie on the supposed kidnapping of fifteen-year-old Shen Xiaoqi, the only child of Shen De and Yin Jindie.Ma Xiang explains that Shen Xiaoqi went on a mountain trip with classmates after exams, his parents received an anonymous internet phone call at noon demanding two hundred million yuan, and his phone had been off.Yan Xie asks whether the call was recorded, and Ma Xiang says the parents first thought it was a scam, so recording it was the last thing on their minds.Yan Xie grows suspicious because the kidnapper called when Shen Xiaoqi’s phone happened to be off.Suddenly, Digital Forensics reports that Shen Xiaoqi’s phone has been located and is on, and that Shen Xiaoqi is speaking with his parents at that very moment.In the conference room, Shen De angrily scolds Shen Xiaoqi over the phone for letting his phone die and not bringing a power bank.Shen Xiaoqi protests that he was with his classmates the whole time and asks why anyone would target him when his family could never pay a fraction of the ransom.

Yin Jindie cries with relief while Wei Yao comforts her and turns the false alarm into a positive reflection on public trust in police.After the parents leave to give statements, the CID team relaxes, joking that they almost had a major case and first-class merit.Despite everyone else easing up, Yan Xie remains troubled because the two hundred million ransom and timing still feel strange.Wei Yao dismisses Yan Xie’s concerns, saying overwork makes police see criminals everywhere.Wei Yao then reveals that Fang Zhenghong told him Yan Xie acted alone during the previous operation, driving far and fighting the suspect.Yan Xie complains that Fang Zhenghong is always snitching on him, while Wei Yao teases him for his pretentious blind-date outfit.Yan Xie blames the station for ruining his date with the real estate tycoon’s daughter, but Wei Yao shows that Yan Xie’s own mother approved calling him back for urgent work after hearing the date failed.Off-duty officers scatter, and Yan Xie returns to his office still angry and looking for someone to vent to.Inside the office, Yan Xie finds Jiang Ting lounging in his swivel chair with snacks piled across the desk, though Jiang Ting has only eaten half of one strawberry cream Oreo.Yan Xie eats the half-eaten Oreo and teases Jiang Ting for being picky, but Jiang Ting simply asks about the kidnapping case.Yan Xie summarizes the case as an idiot messing around and says it has been sent back to the neighborhood station while Digital Forensics traces the IP and the source of the bloody-shirt photo.Jiang Ting pauses and says the case is strange, explaining that the ransom was absurdly high and Shen Xiaoqi was contacted too quickly for it to feel like a normal scam or prank.This leads Jiang Ting to reason that someone like Shen Xiaoqi’s family could plausibly pay two million if guaranteed safety, but two hundred million would only make them call the police.Jiang Ting concludes that the real goal may have been to attract the police’s attention.Yan Xie had already reached the same conclusion but pretends to be surprised and asks what the police’s attention would be for.Jiang Ting calls it only an inference, but Yan Xie notices Jiang Ting looking at trending topics on Weibo.Jiang Ting shows Yan Xie that the luxury car escorted by traffic police while running multiple red lights has gone viral online.Yan Xie is stunned by the comments accusing Jianning’s elites of abusing privilege and jokes that Jiang Ting can have a Bugatti as a dowry if he wants one.In response, Jiang Ting tells Yan Xie it would be better to spend that money getting the trending topic taken down.Yan Xie’s mother, Zeng Cuicui, scolds Yan Xie by phone for being reckless and says he is as useless as barbecue pork.After the call, Zeng Cuicui pulls strings to suppress the trending topic and then complains at the family dining table about Yan Xie.Yan Xie’s father brings up Yang Mei’s questionable background as a karaoke bar owner, but Zeng Cuicui fiercely defends Yang Mei as a successful businesswoman and genetic upgrade.When Yan Xie’s father says Yang Mei may already be with someone, Zeng Cuicui insists Yan Xie can make it work if he chooses her.Zeng Cuicui reflects that her standards for Yan Xie’s partner have fallen from princess-level to “female, alive, and younger than me,” and that she has even started reading about legal issues in same-sex marriage.Although Zeng Cuicui initially plans to throw the same-sex marriage book away, she remembers Yan Xie’s past failures and carefully returns it to the study shelf in case it becomes useful.

14Yan Xie buys sweet porridge and custard buns from the bun shop by the station, awkwardly admitting to the owner that the food is for someone else.In response, the owner tries to gossip about whether Yan Xie is buying food for a pretty lady, and Yan Xie evasively calls the person “an exceptionally charming officer” before leaving.As Yan Xie walks toward the CID building, Yan Xie privately wonders why he is buying food for Jiang Ting when Jiang Ting is supposedly the one with a crush on him.Before Yan Xie can return upstairs, Shen De and Yin Jindie stop him near the mail room with a small cardboard box, looking terrified.This leads Shen De to explain that the box was left at their company doorstep and that they do not know what to do except bring it to the police.Yan Xie opens the box and immediately smells a strong metallic stench, then sees a neatly folded T-shirt soaked in blood. In response, Yan Xie orders everyone not to touch the shirt, box, or tape, tells officers to bag everything for prints and analysis, and has Digital Forensics get Shen Xiaoqi’s number to triangulate his phone.Yan Xie also orders officers to contact Shen Xiaoqi’s teacher and obtain the full list of students and guardians from the mountain trip.When Gao Panqing asks whether to inform Deputy Wei, Yan Xie delays because Shen De is repeatedly calling Shen Xiaoqi and the boy’s number is out of service.Yan Xie asks where Shen Xiaoqi went, and Yin Jindie says he is at Mount Tianzong, a newly developed tourist spot with terrible signal.This leads Yan Xie to question when and where the box was found, while Yin Jindie struggles to explain through panic that they discovered it after returning to their company that evening.Seeing how frightened Shen De and Yin Jindie are, Yan Xie brings them into a small conference room and closes the door.Despite protocol, Yan Xie tries to ease their fear by saying the blood on the shirt does not smell like human blood and that Shen Xiaoqi is unlikely to be hurt.Yin Jindie is overcome with relief and asks if Yan Xie can really smell the difference, while Yan Xie privately thinks he has smelled human blood in every state but Jiang Ting still beat him by recognizing it from a photo. In response, Yan Xie keeps his certainty restrained and says they will know for sure after lab results come in.Yin Jindie calms herself enough to explain that the Shen family owns a small clothing company, and Jiang Ting had been right that they would probably never have called the police over a two-million ransom.This leads Yin Jindie to recount that after the false alarm that afternoon, Shen Xiaoqi told his parents he could not return early because his classmates had an evening activity and that his signal might be bad later.Shen De and Yin Jindie made Shen Xiaoqi promise to stay at the guesthouse and only go out with the group, then returned to work still worried.That evening, Shen De and Yin Jindie left early for a business dinner and found the blood-soaked T-shirt outside their office, making the situation feel far more targeted than the earlier prank-like call.As Shen De continues redialing Shen Xiaoqi, the out-of-service notification suddenly cuts off and Shen Xiaoqi answers.Yin Jindie nearly collapses from relief, and Yan Xie catches her just as Jiang Ting strolls into the conference room.While Shen De roars at Shen Xiaoqi on the phone, Yan Xie quietly asks Jiang Ting what he is doing there.Jiang Ting casually says Commissioner Lyu and Deputy Wei are not around, then asks where the buns are.Yan Xie realizes he left the food somewhere and starts to offer to order more, but Jiang Ting’s attention shifts to Shen De’s frantic call. In response, Jiang Ting tells Shen De to switch to a video call.Shen Xiaoqi reluctantly appears on video, looking like a spirited young man rather than an injured hostage.Shen De tells Shen Xiaoqi they are coming to pick him up immediately, but Shen Xiaoqi insists it is just a prank and says his father has already called the police twice.When Shen De asks why Shen Xiaoqi is not at the guesthouse, Shen Xiaoqi says there is a bonfire that night and that he is collecting wood before leaving early tomorrow.Yan Xie asks Jiang Ting for thoughts, and Jiang Ting says Shen Xiaoqi looks like a normal post-exam teenager excited to be out with friends.However, Jiang Ting then leans close and whispers that Yan Xie should look at Shen Xiaoqi’s eyes.This closeness distracts Yan Xie, making his mind go blank while Jiang Ting’s breath hits his ear.Huang Xing interrupts before Yan Xie can fully react, reporting Shen Xiaoqi’s phone coordinates and bringing a map of Mount Tianzong.Huang Xing explains that Mount Tianzong is in Jianning’s southeastern outskirts, recently developed into a tourist destination, and full of registered guesthouses and inns.Yan Xie says the situation still does not add up because a group of teenagers would not normally choose an obscure place no one has heard of.Huang Xing suggests adolescents avoid obvious choices because they want to seem different, but Yan Xie remains unconvinced.Jiang Ting agrees that it does not make sense, then calmly explains that teenagers usually choose trendy, well-known destinations and show them off online.This leads Jiang Ting to conclude that someone in the group strongly wanted to go to Mount Tianzong, likely the group leader.Shen De and Yin Jindie hesitate to accept this because Shen Xiaoqi is popular, sociable, and good-natured, but their defense of him makes the officers skeptical.Jiang Ting further explains to Yan Xie that Shen Xiaoqi’s video behavior was strange because his eyes kept blinking, avoiding his father, and turning away as if checking something.This finally activates Yan Xie’s detective instincts, and he realizes Jiang Ting suspects Shen Xiaoqi is hiding something.Huang Xing then reports that the forensic results show the blood on the T-shirt is not human blood but avian blood.The Shen parents are relieved, but Yan Xie notices Huang Xing’s hesitation and guesses it is not from a common bird like a chicken or duck.Huang Xing confirms the blood likely came from a white-tailed eagle, a Class I protected species, and says Chen Chu helped send samples to the provincial lab for specific identification.In response, Yan Xie tells Huang Xing to contact the Forestry Department because collecting that much white-tailed eagle blood would require killing many protected birds.Just then, Shen De’s phone rings with the same ransom number from earlier, and Yan Xie orders Shen De to answer, stall, negotiate, and keep the line open while Huang Xing tracks it.Shen De answers the call, and the synthetic voice asks whether he called the police. In response, Shen De looks to Yan Xie for permission, then admits he did because he cannot possibly raise two hundred million yuan.The caller repeats the demand for two hundred million and refuses to lower it. Shen De tries to negotiate using his business instincts, saying he wants his son and the caller wants money, but neither side will get anything if the ransom remains impossible.Yin Jindie slaps Shen De for saying he could pretend he never had a son, even though Shen De mouths back that it was only for show.The emotionless caller repeats the ransom demand like a broken record, making the room suffocatingly tense.Shen De loses his temper and yells that the caller does not even have his son, that Shen Xiaoqi is perfectly fine, and that the bloody shirt is only soaked in bird blood.In response, the caller suddenly says Shen Xiaoqi has forty-eight hours and twenty-four minutes until execution, then hangs up.The abrupt countdown leaves everyone confused, and Yan Xie immediately asks Huang Xing whether the call was traced.Huang Xing explains that the call came through an overseas internet service with a disposable number, making it crude but difficult to trace, although the caller is still in the country.Remembering Jiang Ting’s earlier warning that the setup was too elaborate for a prank, Yan Xie realizes the kidnapping may be genuine.Jiang Ting appears beside Yan Xie with folded arms, and Yan Xie quickly summarizes Huang Xing’s findings while asking for Jiang Ting’s thoughts.Jiang Ting says the kidnapping may be real or may be a prank by someone the Shens offended, but either way they should stay vigilant.Before Jiang Ting can finish, an intern announces that Mr Wang from the bun shop has brought food for “a pretty officer,” making Jiang Ting raise an eyebrow at Yan Xie.Embarrassed, Yan Xie angrily calls for Gao Panqing and scolds the intern for turning “pretty officer” into gossip.Yan Xie goes to collect the food and finds Mr Wang craning his neck down the corridor instead of looking for him.Mr Wang points to Shen De and Yin Jindie and reveals that his son Wang Ke is classmates with Shen Xiaoqi and also went on the Mount Tianzong trip.Yan Xie realizes the connection is important and asks whether Wang Ke also went to Mount Tianzong, making Mr Wang panic.Yan Xie reassures Mr Wang and brings him to the Shen parents, where Yin Jindie explains the extortion call and bloody shirt.Mr Wang tries to comfort the Shens by saying the municipal police are skilled and once rescued a rich child, although his example only horrifies them more.In response, Yan Xie cuts him off and tells Mr Wang to call Wang Ke to confirm that Shen Xiaoqi is with the group. Wang Ke answers quickly, unlike Shen Xiaoqi, and says Shen Xiaoqi is not with them.The Shens tense again, but Wang Ke adds that Shen Xiaoqi went to gather firewood and will return soon because everyone is preparing for a bonfire.Hearing Wang Ke corroborate Shen Xiaoqi’s story, Shen De and Yin Jindie finally relax a little.Yan Xie advises the parents to lock their doors and windows when they get home and says he will update them if there is news about the shirt.After escorting the parents out, Yan Xie realizes it is past 8 p.m., most of the CID team has left, and he feels unusually tired from the day. Yan Xie calls for Watson so they can go home, but Jiang Ting does not answer.When Yan Xie turns, he nearly bumps into Jiang Ting leaning against his office doorframe, calmly asking where the buns meant for the pretty officer are.Yan Xie realizes he has misplaced the food for a second time, and Jiang Ting smirks while taking out his phone to order delivery.In response, Yan Xie grabs Jiang Ting’s arm and insists they go home so he can make it up to Jiang Ting with a proper feast.Jiang Ting follows Yan Xie into the S450, assuming they are going to buy groceries, but Yan Xie instead drives straight home after sending a few texts.At Yan Xie’s apartment, Jiang Ting discovers that Yan Xie has arranged a candlelit five-course meal with wine, silverware, violin music, and dishes under silver cloches.Jiang Ting lifts one cloche cautiously and finds lobster linguine on hand-painted Hermès porcelain.In response, Jiang Ting politely asks Yan Xie to turn off the music because he does not really like it.Yan Xie turns it off and admits that listening to Ave Maria over dinner at home would probably cause indigestion, blaming the chefs for trying too hard.The food is excellent, but the atmosphere is painfully tense because Yan Xie begins overthinking whether a candlelit dinner between two men seems romantic.This leads Yan Xie to worry that Jiang Ting might think Yan Xie is trying to woo him, while also spiraling into thoughts about long-distance relationships between Jianning and Gongzhou.Yan Xie finally asks whether Jiang Ting would consider moving to Jianning for work if he had the chance. Jiang Ting is caught off guard but says he supposes he would.Yan Xie privately concludes that Jiang Ting really is willing and interprets this as proof that Jiang Ting is taking the initiative. After finishing dessert, Jiang Ting unexpectedly thanks Yan Xie.Yan Xie asks what the thanks are for, and Jiang Ting says he does not know exactly, only that Yan Xie makes the people around him feel safe. This sincere compliment leaves Yan Xie stunned.Jiang Ting then gets up to wash dishes, saying movement will do him good, and Yan Xie silently joins him by drying the plates.As they work side by side in domestic quiet, Yan Xie notices Jiang Ting’s scarred fingers and remembers Jiang Ting saying he cannot pull the trigger anymore.Despite the painful thought, Yan Xie privately thinks Jiang Ting’s hand would have looked beautiful pulling the trigger.Jiang Ting says good night with a smile, and Yan Xie is too overwhelmed to say anything meaningful in return.That night, Yan Xie tosses and turns with restless desire and eventually falls into hazy dreams.Hours later, Ma Xiang calls Yan Xie and reports that the Shen parents drove to Mount Tianzong in the middle of the night, only to find Shen Xiaoqi truly missing from the guesthouse.Ma Xiang adds that the Shens received another anonymous call with Shen Xiaoqi screaming for help, and the kidnapper gave a new countdown of thirty-eight hours and fifty-two minutes until execution.In response, Yan Xie realizes it is 5:35 a.m. and quickly heads out with Jiang Ting in the Phaeton.While driving toward Mount Tianzong, Yan Xie learns from Ma Xiang that the parents went to the guesthouse around 3 a.m., found Shen Xiaoqi missing, and got inconsistent answers from the other students.Jiang Ting asks whether the students were uncooperative, and Yan Xie says the students claimed not to know when Shen Xiaoqi disappeared.Jiang Ting raises the possibility that the students themselves could be the perpetrators, briefly making Yan Xie and Jiang Ting look at each other before both look away.Yan Xie explains that the second call played ten seconds of Shen Xiaoqi screaming before the kidnapper gave the countdown.Jiang Ting calculates that the execution time is about 8:09 p.m. the next day and says the precise timing must matter unless it is only meant to taunt the police or parents.Yan Xie asks what could be special about 8:09 p.m., but Jiang Ting snaps that he is not the kidnapper and goes back to clutching his thermos.It becomes clear that Yan Xie had dragged a weak, half-asleep Jiang Ting out of bed and dressed him like a doll because Jiang Ting was in no condition to get ready himself.Jiang Ting calls this passive defiance in response to violent treatment, leaving Yan Xie without a comeback.By 8:30 a.m., Yan Xie, Jiang Ting, and Ma Xiang arrive at the Mount Tianzong guesthouse, where local officers have already cordoned off the area.Ma Xiang reports that there were four other students on the trip, two boys and two girls, and that their statements are full of contradictions.Ma Xiang says one student claims Shen Xiaoqi never returned after gathering firewood, another says they went back to the guesthouse after the bonfire and knew nothing, and another girl says she might have seen him at the bonfire but could not be sure.Yan Xie asks what Wang Ke said because he expects the bun shop owner’s son to be the most cooperative.Ma Xiang says Wang Ke claimed Shen Xiaoqi never came back from gathering wood, which currently seems the most believable version.Yan Xie then asks who claimed to have seen Shen Xiaoqi at the bonfire, and Ma Xiang identifies the girl as Tan Shuang.Inside the guesthouse, Yin Jindie is distraught while Tan Shuang tries to comfort her. Yan Xie studies Tan Shuang, reads the students’ statements with Jiang Ting, and calls Tan Shuang over for questioning.Tan Shuang cautiously approaches, clearly assessing Yan Xie’s authority and danger. Yan Xie asks Tan Shuang how she knows Shen Xiaoqi will be fine, and Tan Shuang replies that with so many police officers present, how could he not be fine.Jiang Ting then leaves to look around, and Yan Xie sends Ma Xiang with him to make sure Jiang Ting has what he needs.Yan Xie questions Tan Shuang about whether Shen Xiaoqi has enemies, whether he fought with anyone, and what her relationship with him is. Tan Shuang says Shen Xiaoqi is like a brother to her and that they are close.

As Yan Xie walks with Tan Shuang, he notices Wang Ke peeking anxiously from a corner and pretends not to see him.Yan Xie changes the subject and asks who suggested Mount Tianzong, and Tan Shuang says without hesitation that Shen Xiaoqi did.Tan Shuang explains that Shen Xiaoqi said it was quiet and secluded, confirming Jiang Ting’s earlier suspicion that Shen Xiaoqi wanted this specific location.Yan Xie asks if Shen Xiaoqi acted unusually before disappearing, but Tan Shuang grows frustrated because she has been asked the same questions repeatedly.Yan Xie asks how many boys and girls came on the trip, and Tan Shuang says there were two girls, Tongtong and Tan Shuang, and three boys, Shen Xiaoqi, Wang Ke, and Wu Zixiang.Tan Shuang adds sharply that the officers should have checked the guesthouse register already.Yan Xie says he noticed five students booked three rooms and asks whether anyone ended up alone.Tan Shuang says Wu Zixiang snores, so no one wanted to share with him, leaving him in a room by himself.Yan Xie calmly smiles and says he is just wondering why Tan Shuang is acting so hostile.This hits Tan Shuang hard, and she protests that the police are treating them like criminals when they do not know anything and are only being detained.Yan Xie notices the two parallel cuts on Tan Shuang’s palm and asks about them.Tan Shuang tries to claim she was feeding a cat, but Yan Xie immediately orders her to give him her phone.Meanwhile, Jiang Ting searches through the guesthouse with Ma Xiang, checking wardrobes, cabinets, bathrooms, and every room except locked suitcases.Ma Xiang is increasingly uneasy because Jiang Ting spends so much time searching the girls’ room and appears to be acting like a peeping Tom, but Ma Xiang senses Jiang Ting is too sharp to be dismissed.Jiang Ting finds a pink ceramic rod with a short handle, rubber grip, and buttons in the girls’ bathroom drawer.Ma Xiang does not recognize the object, and Jiang Ting casually says Yan Xie would know.Ma Xiang misunderstands the object and blushes violently, leaving Jiang Ting baffled but not curious enough to ask.Gao Panqing then reports to Yan Xie that none of the students called their parents, which supports Yan Xie’s suspicion.Yan Xie explains that the four students are not afraid of the kidnapper or worried about Shen Xiaoqi, but afraid of the police.This leads Yan Xie to conclude that the students are waiting for Shen Xiaoqi to return so the police will leave and no parents or teachers will learn what happened.Gao Panqing asks if the students are involved in Shen Xiaoqi’s disappearance, and Yan Xie says Shen Xiaoqi is likely the mastermind, with Tan Shuang helping and the others backing him up.Yan Xie rejects the idea that Shen Xiaoqi staged it only to test whether his parents care, because the Shens drove to Mount Tianzong in the middle of the night to save him.Yan Xie also rejects Gao Panqing’s theory that the eagle blood means someone kidnapped Shen Xiaoqi for harming protected eagles, noting white-tailed eagles are not native to the area and are too dangerous for teenagers to handle.Yan Xie returns to Jiang Ting with food and asks whether Jiang Ting has found any clues.Jiang Ting, now wearing gloves, picks hair strands from the floor with tweezers and studies them under the light.Yan Xie is confused and asks whether he should be wearing shoe covers, but Jiang Ting stays focused and asks what Yan Xie brought.Yan Xie gives Jiang Ting warm soy milk and red bean buns, presenting them as thanks for Jiang Ting’s unpaid service.Jiang Ting takes a sip while still staring at the hair and warns Yan Xie that if he prioritizes buying food over a kidnapping case with a thirty-hour deadline, he will not remain senior sergeant for long.Yan Xie clarifies that he made Gao Panqing’s intern fetch the food and tells Jiang Ting to shut up and drink it.Jiang Ting explains that the hair and the pink rod are not necessarily evidence but are worth examining. Yan Xie picks up the pink device, examines it, and realizes the hair does not match it.This leads Yan Xie to understand what the situation is really about, muttering about the nerve of kids these days.Jiang Ting says there is also something in the boys’ room and suggests Yan Xie look because he may have insights.Yan Xie leaves the bathroom and hands the pink device to Ma Xiang, who turns flaming red and holds it like a ticking bomb.Yan Xie and Jiang Ting are confused by Ma Xiang’s reaction, and Yan Xie asks whether something is wrong with the “curling iron.”Ma Xiang, who has never held a girl’s hand despite being single, straight, and of marriageable age, falls silent under everyone’s puzzled stares.

15The guesthouse dining hall is tense as the owners, Tan Shuang, Wang Ke, Wu Zixiang, and Zhen Tongtong sit under police watch, with Tan Shuang silently reassuring Zhen Tongtong by typing that everything will be all right and that Shen Xiaoqi owes them for this.Meanwhile, Zhen Tongtong anxiously looks toward the boys, and Wu Zixiang gives her a comforting nod, showing that the four teenagers are hiding a shared secret.Soon after, Yan Xie enters with Jiang Ting, his left hand in his pocket, a plastic bag in his right hand, and one arm slung around Jiang Ting’s shoulder. In response, the guesthouse owners immediately beg Yan Xie to believe they know nothing about the kidnapping, but Yan Xie shuts them down by listing their incomplete registration, poor fire safety, and missing surveillance cameras.This leads the flustered owners to offer excuses and even try to bribe Yan Xie with cigarettes before officers drag them away.Once silence returns, Yan Xie notices the four teenagers exchanging uneasy looks and begins calling them out by name.Yan Xie calmly says someone is missing, and when Tan Shuang insists Shen Xiaoqi will return, Yan Xie reveals that another girl is also missing.This shocks the teenagers because Yan Xie has discovered Bu Wei’s disappearance as well.Yan Xie tosses the plastic bag onto the girls’ table and pulls out the pink curling iron, then asks whether Tan Shuang and Zhen Tongtong really stayed in the same room the previous night.Zhen Tongtong’s face drains of color and she instinctively looks at Wu Zixiang, making the hidden relationship obvious.Yan Xie then turns to Wang Ke and Tan Shuang and suggests that there are not just one but two couples involved. In response, Tan Shuang angrily denies being with Wang Ke, while Wang Ke pleads for Yan Xie not to tell his father.Yan Xie and Jiang Ting silently exchange the same resigned thought about teenagers, leaving Yan Xie embarrassed by how well they understand each other.Yan Xie explains that Tan Shuang and Zhen Tongtong can deny their room situation, but Zhen Tongtong and Wu Zixiang cannot. This leads Wu Zixiang to accidentally admit the truth by asking how Yan Xie knew.Yan Xie explains that the curling iron contained long wavy hair, while Tan Shuang has a bob and Zhen Tongtong’s straight ponytail would not leave that type of strand.Yan Xie further reveals that three hair types were found in the girls’ room, proving a third girl stayed in the room booked for two.Yan Xie also found faint lipstick stains and straight black hair with an elastic-band crease on Wu Zixiang’s pillow, confirming Zhen Tongtong stayed with him.When the teenagers grow emotional, Yan Xie tells them the police do not care who slept in which bed because the real issue is the kidnapping. In response, Yan Xie presses them to tell the truth about what actually happened.Zhen Tongtong starts to say Bu Wei’s name, but Tan Shuang cuts in and claims Bu Wei went missing while gathering firewood and Shen Xiaoqi went looking for her.Jiang Ting calmly points out that the scratches on Tan Shuang’s palm may contain Bu Wei’s DNA and asks whether Tan Shuang is willing to have them tested. Tan Shuang immediately covers the wound, proving the scratches matter.Yan Xie then reconstructs the likely plan, saying two couples arranged a trip with one single boy and one single girl so they could help Shen Xiaoqi pursue Bu Wei.Yan Xie suggests Shen Xiaoqi liked Bu Wei, or the feeling was mutual, and the group agreed to give them chances to be alone.Yan Xie then accuses Tan Shuang of luring Bu Wei into a secluded forest spot during the bonfire, knocking her out, and letting Shen Xiaoqi have his way with her. Tan Shuang becomes hysterical and insists that did not happen.Yan Xie warns Tan Shuang that being a minor does not protect her from criminal responsibility if something happens to Bu Wei.Tan Shuang tries to throw water at Yan Xie, but Jiang Ting catches her hand before the water can hit him.Jiang Ting gently but firmly tells Tan Shuang that whether Shen Xiaoqi acted impulsively or both parties were willing, Tan Shuang may still be charged if her actions helped create the crime.Jiang Ting explains that if Bu Wei returns and feels exposed before police, classmates, teachers, parents, and relatives, she may say Shen Xiaoqi forced her, which would implicate both Shen Xiaoqi and Tan Shuang.This breaks Tan Shuang’s defenses, and Wang Ke stands up to urge her to cooperate.Tan Shuang finally breaks down and says she did not hurt Bu Wei and was only trying to save her.After Tan Shuang’s confession, Yan Xie orders a task force to retrieve Shen Xiaoqi’s messaging app logs, browser history, payment records, call logs, and hired-car information.In the police car, Jiang Ting silently asks Yan Xie whether he trusts Tan Shuang’s confession, and Yan Xie decides he does because the other teenagers corroborated it.The true sequence emerges: Shen Xiaoqi organized the Mount Tianzong trip to confess to Bu Wei, choosing the secluded place and lax guesthouse oversight to create privacy.The plan was for the students to split up during bonfire preparations, with Tan Shuang leading Bu Wei into the forest while Shen Xiaoqi secretly followed.Tan Shuang was supposed to leave Bu Wei lost and frightened so Shen Xiaoqi could appear with a torch and rescue her like a hero.Shen Xiaoqi had prepared flowers, gifts, and transportation, planning to take Bu Wei elsewhere overnight if the confession succeeded.However, the plan went wrong when Bu Wei fell into a ditch before Tan Shuang could slip away. Tan Shuang tried to pull Bu Wei out and scratched her own hand in the process.In response, Tan Shuang told Bu Wei to stay calm while she went to get help, then found Shen Xiaoqi and told him what happened.Shen Xiaoqi thought the accident was lucky for his heroic rescue plan, so he took a torch and rushed to help Bu Wei.Tan Shuang followed from a distance until she saw Shen Xiaoqi pull Bu Wei out, then returned to the guesthouse using Shen Xiaoqi’s markings.The four teenagers later assumed Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei were together somewhere and that the kidnapping was only a scam or adult overreaction.Yan Xie is stunned by their recklessness because two teenagers could have died from snakes, poisonous insects, wild animals, or simple exposure in the remote forest.Despite Yan Xie and Jiang Ting’s earlier suspicions, the teenagers insist Bu Wei liked Shen Xiaoqi too and that they were only trying to play matchmaker.While driving, Yan Xie offers Jiang Ting water, and Jiang Ting opens it only to hand it back to Yan Xie first.In the back seat, Wang Ke consoles the dehydrated, crying Tan Shuang and asks Yan Xie for water for her. Wang Ke then nervously asks whether Yan Xie will tell his father about Tan Shuang.Yan Xie teases Wang Ke about whether his father should start saving for the wedding, then scolds the teenagers for being too young and reckless.The car reaches the command area, where Ma Xiang reports that officers have found the ditch Bu Wei fell into and that the school and other parents have been notified.Ma Xiang also says Bu Wei’s parents are dead and police are trying to reach her legal guardian, her uncle.Yan Xie reviews Bu Wei’s records and is struck by how beautiful she is, though her photo also feels strangely lifeless.Yan Xie compares Bu Wei’s beauty to Jiang Ting’s and privately thinks Jiang Ting is still more beautiful, then notices something unsettling in Bu Wei’s eyes.As the group walks deeper into the forest, Jiang Ting is bitten or stung by ants after touching a tree trunk for support.In response, Yan Xie fusses over Jiang Ting, supports his weight, and complains that this is why Jiang Ting should have stayed behind.Jiang Ting insists he is not helpless, but Yan Xie says Jiang Ting is even more delicate than a helpless little girl.Soon, a local officer reports that the police dogs can only track Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei’s scent to that point.Yan Xie surveys the isolated wilderness and realizes there is no signal and that the pair did not stay long enough for the dogs to follow the trail further.Ma Xiang explains that the location is several kilometers from the planned route and that Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei went deeper into the forest in a straight line rather than wandering in circles.This leads Jiang Ting to say both possibilities remain open: they may have been kidnapped, or they may have become lost before being led deeper.Jiang Ting asks whether Bu Wei’s uncle is wealthy, and Ma Xiang says he is an art agent who is usually out of town but not rich enough to pay two hundred million.Jiang Ting concludes that if the kidnapper wanted money, the ransom would be ten or twenty million, but two hundred million with no room for negotiation means the target was always the children.Yan Xie repeats the word “execution” and realizes that an execution implies punishment for a crime.Ma Xiang wonders if the white-tailed eagle blood is connected, but Jiang Ting dismisses the idea that the Shens are the true target.Jiang Ting explains that if the kidnapper wanted to punish the Shens, he would demand an amount they could barely raise, give false hope, then increase the price while sending body parts. Yan Xie summarizes this as psychological torture.Jiang Ting agrees and says the current case is something else entirely because the ransom is not designed to squeeze the family emotionally or financially.Yan Xie and Jiang Ting then consider whether the kidnapper intends to punish Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei, but the question becomes what crime two teenagers could have committed to deserve “execution.”The dog trainer suggests the case may involve Bu Wei because her parents are dead and she was adopted by her uncle.Jiang Ting says they cannot rule that out, especially given Bu Wei’s striking appearance, and that they will learn more after speaking with her guardian.Gao Panqing reports that Bu Wei’s guardian has been found and is being brought in, while Huang Xing has sent over Shen Xiaoqi’s computer data.In response, Yan Xie says search and rescue is not their strength and orders everyone back to the command vehicle to analyze the new information.At 2:30 p.m., the command vehicle moves through the forest while Gao Panqing presents a compressed digest of Shen Xiaoqi’s call logs, transaction history, social media chats, and browser searches.Ma Xiang worries about the idea of police examining everyone’s intimate online secrets and asks Gao Panqing to protect his own computer drives if he dies in the line of duty.Gao Panqing jokes about burning Ma Xiang’s data for him, and Ma Xiang dramatically insists on preserving his gaming legacy.Yan Xie suddenly notices that Shen Xiaoqi first searched for “Mount Tianzong guide” on May 9th and had no prior travel-related searches before that.This leads Yan Xie to realize Shen Xiaoqi did not compare destinations, follow local travel accounts, or show any earlier interest in Mount Tianzong.Jiang Ting agrees that in a famous tourist city like Jianning, Shen Xiaoqi ignoring all other scenic spots suggests a fixation on Mount Tianzong.Gao Panqing asks what could create that fixation, and Jiang Ting suggests a rumor, someone close to Shen Xiaoqi visiting the place, or another trigger.Before Jiang Ting can finish, he leans out the window and vomits from motion sickness.Back at the guesthouse dining hall, police question Bu Wei’s uncle, Wang Xingye, who insists he knows nothing and says he is only Bu Wei’s legal guardian, not her father.Yan Xie brings the sick Jiang Ting back inside, and Ma Xiang fusses over him with ice water while telling others that Jiang Ting is Yan Xie’s personal consultant and the brains behind the case.When Yan Xie introduces Wang Xingye, Wang Xingye freezes as if seeing a ghost and stares past Yan Xie at Jiang Ting.Yan Xie immediately notices Wang Xingye’s reaction and gently but firmly asks who he thought he saw.Wang Xingye tries to deny it, but Yan Xie guides him to the kitchen for a private conversation.In response to Yan Xie’s questioning, Wang Xingye admits that he once got caught soliciting prostitutes in Xinyue and saw someone there who looked exactly like Jiang Ting.This unsettles Yan Xie because Jiang Ting’s photo should not have been widely available, and Jiang Ting’s appearance changed after three years in a coma.Yan Xie wonders whether Wang Xingye’s recognition is truly coincidence or evidence of something deeper.Yan Xie shifts the questioning to Bu Wei, and Wang Xingye admits Bu Wei is not his biological niece, only a girl he supports on paper for school.Wang Xingye explains that Bu Wei’s father was an old friend who once helped him financially, and after Bu Wei’s parents died in an accident four years ago, he paid for her schooling out of gratitude.However, Wang Xingye also reveals he does not keep in close contact with Bu Wei, calling only every week or two because she lives at school and he is often away.Yan Xie asks whether Wang Xingye knew Bu Wei disappeared with Shen Xiaoqi, and Wang Xingye admits he only heard about Shen Xiaoqi from the parents outside.Wang Xingye then becomes agitated, saying the target must be Shen Xiaoqi because the ransom went to the Shens, and Bu Wei is only an unintended victim.Wang Xingye complains that he is not even related to Bu Wei, has cared for her for four years, and should not be asked to help pay the ransom.Before Yan Xie can push further, Jiang Ting comes to the kitchen and says the kidnapper is on the line and wants to speak to police. Yan Xie rushes to the command vehicle, where the Shens are wailing, the students are crying outside, and Digital Forensics is routing the connected call through Huang Xing’s team.The negotiator tells Yan Xie to stall for time, but Yan Xie boldly identifies himself as Senior Sergeant Yan Xie of Jianning Police.Gao Panqing silently curses Yan Xie for risking direct confrontation, but Yan Xie continues calmly.The electronic voice asks whether preparations for the two hundred million ransom are complete.Yan Xie says money is not the problem but he needs proof of life because the police will not pay if the hostages are already dead. Yin Jindie becomes hysterical and is dragged away by officers.The kidnapper mocks Yan Xie and says he is right there, inviting the police to catch him if they can.Yan Xie asks how the kidnapper will get the money if the police catch him, and the kidnapper says Shen Xiaoqi dies if he does not get the money.Yan Xie then asks about Bu Wei and suggests returning the girl because the Shens are the target.After a silence, the kidnapper says Bu Wei is unlucky and that the police cannot get another hostage back without paying.The negotiator signals Yan Xie to extend the deadline, and Yan Xie tries to argue that they cannot prepare random-sequence banknotes and transportation before 8:09 p.m. the next day.The kidnapper only says they have twenty-nine hours until execution, then hangs up.The room falls into a chilling silence when the computer shows it is exactly 3:09 p.m., confirming the execution is set for 8:09 p.m. the following day.Yan Xie nearly smashes the phone but stops himself and steadies his anger.In response, Yan Xie orders the team to prioritize Shen Xiaoqi’s hired car, follow the white-tailed eagle lead with Forestry Department help, and search everyone’s browsing histories for “Mount Tianzong”. Jiang Ting then asks to hear the call recording again because he has a theory.The recording plays, and Jiang Ting compares the kidnapper’s phrases and tone from different parts of the call.Jiang Ting notices something strange in the audio and says it sounds like there are two kidnappers.Jiang Ting adds that if there are not two kidnappers, then one kidnapper is deliberately presenting two different personas to the police.Yan Xie is troubled and asks what Jiang Ting means.Jiang Ting suddenly asks whether Yan Xie trusts him.

After a tense pause, Yan Xie says he does not keep Jiang Ting around because he trusts Jiang Ting, but because he wants to trust himself.In response, Jiang Ting holds Yan Xie’s gaze and says what he is about to say may change the entire direction of the investigation.

16With twenty-nine hours remaining before the execution deadline, Yan Xie and Jiang Ting face the possibility that the case is not a simple kidnapping but something far more deliberate.In response to Yan Xie’s willingness to listen, Jiang Ting clips earpieces onto both of them and replays the kidnapper’s call from the beginning.Jiang Ting points out that when the kidnapper asks whether the two hundred million is ready, the voice is flat, mechanical, and emotionless.This leads Jiang Ting to replay the part where the kidnapper mocks Yan Xie, revealing that the same voice suddenly carries feeling, sneering, and upward inflection.Yan Xie realizes the shift suggests emotion, and Jiang Ting confirms that the kidnapper’s voice changes depending on what role he is playing.Jiang Ting then separates the kidnapper’s behavior into two personas: a greedy, ruthless kidnapper demanding money and a cold executioner focused on punishment.In response, Yan Xie understands that the ransom persona uses threats like “he dies,” while the executioner persona focuses on the precise countdown and the word “execution.”Jiang Ting argues that the executioner persona is likely the real self because the two hundred million is nearly impossible to move, and the kidnapper never asks for transport or unsequenced bills.This leads Jiang Ting to conclude that the kidnapping is part of a larger ritual shaped by symbolic meaning, emotional displacement, and a need to carry out punishment.Yan Xie suddenly realizes the repeated 8:09 p.m. execution time may mean the culprit is reenacting something that happened before.In response, Yan Xie calls Deputy Wei and asks to review similar kidnapping cases from the past three years, especially cases involving two young hostages taken together.Back at the CID office, Yan Xie orders officers to search province-wide for unsolved cases involving kidnapped or missing youths, prioritizing cases with two victims, extreme ransom demands, one family receiving the call, and the victims knowing each other.When a technician asks whether the victims must be one boy and one girl, Yan Xie tells them to pull every possible case because nothing about teenagers surprises him anymore.Soon after, Fang Zhenghong confronts Yan Xie and criticizes him for redirecting manpower to old files when less than twenty hours remain.Yan Xie uses Deputy Wei as cover and says the review may reveal that this is not the culprit’s first crime.Fang Zhenghong then shows Yan Xie a viral post about Jianning traffic police clearing the way for Yan Xie’s luxury car, accusing Yan Xie of worsening public suspicion by suppressing the topic instead of clarifying it.Despite Fang Zhenghong’s anger, Yan Xie dismisses the outrage as internet hype and says police cannot jump every time public opinion flares.Fang Zhenghong escalates the argument by accusing Yan Xie of secretly acting alone during cases and possibly hiding something in his office.This alarms Yan Xie because Jiang Ting is likely watching from behind the one-way mirror in Yan Xie’s office.Before the confrontation worsens, Yu Zhu arrives and interrupts, reminding everyone that the deadline matters more than internal conflict.Yu Zhu mildly criticizes Yan Xie for recklessness but firmly redirects Fang Zhenghong, making it clear that the younger officers should be allowed to focus on the investigation.Fang Zhenghong leaves after warning Yu Zhu that they should focus on the right things.Once Fang Zhenghong is gone, Yan Xie immediately orders everyone back to work on the old-case search.Yan Xie brings Yu Zhu into his office, where Jiang Ting hides behind the filing cabinet while Yan Xie briefs Yu Zhu on the case and Jiang Ting’s analysis.Yu Zhu listens carefully and agrees that treating the case as a possible serial pattern is logical.However, Yu Zhu notices that Yan Xie’s behavioral analysis sounds unusually specialized and asks whether someone at the station is feeding him ideas.In response, Yan Xie lies smoothly that he consulted psychologists through his family’s private hospital.Yu Zhu accepts the explanation but warns Yan Xie not to let outside influence, even from within the force, cloud his judgment.After Yu Zhu leaves, Jiang Ting emerges from behind the curtains, pretending he did not hear the conversation.Meanwhile, Yu Zhu visits Commissioner Lyu, who is watching surveillance footage from the night Hu Weisheng died after taking heroin.Commissioner Lyu asks Yu Zhu for her opinion of Jiang Ting, and Yu Zhu says Jiang Ting was exceptional at case analysis but highly unreliable beyond that.Yu Zhu adds that Jiang Ting had a dangerous talent for gaining people’s trust and says she is certain Jiang Ting was involved in the deaths of Yue Guangping and Rivet.As evening turns to night, Ma Xiang reports that the province has had 2,864 missing teenager cases in three years, with 216 still unresolved and nineteen confirmed kidnappings.This initially looks like a dead end because none involved two simultaneous hostages or ransom demands above two million.In response, Jiang Ting says the approach is correct but the screening method is wrong.Jiang Ting points out that the kidnapper ignored Bu Wei when speaking as a kidnapper, meaning Bu Wei may be useless to the kidnapper but necessary to the executioner.Yan Xie realizes Bu Wei may have been taken as a witness rather than as a ransom hostage.This leads Jiang Ting and Yan Xie to decide they should search for a missing person case that occurred around the same time and region as another kidnapping, even if the second case was not treated as a kidnapping.Half an hour later, Ma Xiang rushes back with a case from Longchang, Jiangyang County, where sixteen-year-old Heng Liang was kidnapped the previous year.Ma Xiang explains that Heng Liang’s kidnapper demanded one million yuan with a seventy-two-hour deadline, the family delivered the money, but no one collected it, and Heng Liang’s body was never found.Ma Xiang points out two similarities: Heng Liang’s parents received a bloodied shirt, later confirmed to be chicken blood, and the possibility of an execution motive cannot be ruled out.In response, Yan Xie immediately orders officers to contact Longchang Police for the full file.Ma Xiang then reveals a second case from the same day and region: sixteen-year-old Li Yuxin was reported missing, then the report was withdrawn after her family claimed she returned on her own.Yan Xie and Jiang Ting exchange meaningful looks at the phrase “on her own.”Ma Xiang adds that Li Yuxin later ended up in a detention center for repeated theft, despite attending Jiangyang First, a top school across from Heng Liang’s school.Jiang Ting suggests Li Yuxin’s theft may be kleptomania triggered by trauma if she was the witness in the earlier execution case.At 1:20 a.m., Yan Xie, Jiang Ting, Ma Xiang, and Zhang Guanyao drive back to the station to interrogate Li Yuxin.Ma Xiang praises Jiang Ting for correctly identifying the case as a repeat pattern, but Jiang Ting warns that their conclusions are still behavioral deductions rather than hard evidence.Jiang Ting explains that even strong profiling can be wrong and asks Ma Xiang to consider whether the similarities could be coincidence, imitation, or unrelated events.Ma Xiang asks what happens if they are wrong, and Jiang Ting says Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei are finished.In response, Yan Xie says uncertainty is a normal part of solving cases because police are not gods, and all investigators can do is recover, learn, and keep trying.Yan Xie then stops at a convenience store and buys Red Bull, coffee, snacks, and hot red bean buns for Jiang Ting.Jiang Ting is surprised by the gesture, while Yan Xie tells him to eat and sleep because they will interrogate Li Yuxin first thing.As the car drives through the night, Ma Xiang falls asleep, and Jiang Ting quietly eats the buns in the back seat.Soon after, Jiang Ting falls asleep with a half-eaten bun in hand, his head dropping onto Yan Xie’s shoulder.In response, Yan Xie hesitates but wraps an arm around Jiang Ting’s shoulders so he can rest more comfortably.As Jiang Ting sleeps against him, Yan Xie notices how soft, light, and fragile Jiang Ting feels compared to the lean toughness Yan Xie always associated with him.Yan Xie gently touches Jiang Ting’s hair and temple, then lets his thumb drift toward the corner of Jiang Ting’s mouth.This leads Yan Xie to realize that his feelings for Jiang Ting have already taken root and can no longer be ignored.When Yan Xie notices a tiny speck of red bean paste on Jiang Ting’s mouth, he impulsively wipes it away and brings it to his own lips.Yan Xie suddenly senses Jiang Ting’s breathing halt for a moment, making the car feel frozen with tension.Yan Xie quietly asks whether Jiang Ting is awake, but Jiang Ting gives no response and continues breathing peacefully.After calming himself, Yan Xie decides that even if Jiang Ting was awake, pretending nothing happened is the most mature way to let both of them choose whether to acknowledge it.As Yan Xie leans back and closes his eyes, Yan Xie finally accepts that the feelings growing inside him have already sprouted and that it is far too late to deny them.

17Yan Xie, Jiang Ting, Ma Xiang, and Zhang Guanyao arrive at Jiangyang Detention Centre near 5 a.m. to question Li Yuxin about the Heng Liang case.After registration, Yan Xie and Jiang Ting enter the interrogation room while Ma Xiang and Zhang Guanyao wait outside the barred gate.Soon after, officers bring in Li Yuxin, and Yan Xie is startled because Li Yuxin is far more beautiful and fragile-looking than her photograph suggested.Despite the detention centre officers saying Li Yuxin has not been beaten, Yan Xie doubts them because Li Yuxin is shaking with obvious terror.In response, Yan Xie checks Li Yuxin’s arms, hair, and neck for injuries, but he finds no bruises or signs of abuse.This leads Yan Xie to realize Li Yuxin is not afraid of the guards, but of him.Yan Xie clears the room so only Yan Xie, Jiang Ting, and Li Yuxin remain.Yan Xie introduces himself and says he wants to ask about Heng Liang, who was kidnapped the previous July.The moment Li Yuxin hears Heng Liang’s name, she trembles violently and insists she knows nothing.In response, Yan Xie points out that Li Yuxin disappeared the same day Heng Liang was abducted and that her timeline matches the kidnapping too closely to be coincidence.Li Yuxin screams that she does not know Heng Liang and starts hitting herself in panic.Yan Xie restrains Li Yuxin before she can hurt herself further, while Jiang Ting orders the officers not to cuff her because she will not talk if restrained.When Li Yuxin tries to slam her forehead into the table edge, Jiang Ting shields her with his hand and injures himself.Yan Xie becomes furious but forces himself to focus after checking that Jiang Ting is all right.This leads Yan Xie to notice that Li Yuxin’s denial sounds rehearsed, especially because she keeps saying she does not know Heng Liang “at all.”Yan Xie softens his approach and tells Li Yuxin that another boy and girl have now been kidnapped, making it clear that Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei may suffer the same fate.Li Yuxin finally reacts and says there is no point because Shen Xiaoqi will die and Bu Wei will end up like her.Yan Xie and Jiang Ting realize their theory is correct: Li Yuxin was kidnapped alongside Heng Liang and survived the earlier execution case.Yan Xie presses Li Yuxin about the kidnapper, but Li Yuxin gives a strange smile and asks what the kidnapper looked like, why he did it, and how he killed Heng Liang.Jiang Ting asks the doctor to leave so he and Yan Xie can talk privately, then explains that he has a theory about the ransom amounts that contradicts Yan Xie’s first assumption.Jiang Ting suggests the ransom may not be based on the boy’s family status but on the girl, possibly because Li Yuxin and Bu Wei share some feature beyond beauty.This unsettles Jiang Ting because the case forces him to keep entering the perpetrator’s inner world, making him feel as if he is being dragged into a vortex.Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, Bu Wei wakes injured, dehydrated, and bleeding, then finds Shen Xiaoqi feverish with a badly broken arm.Despite her own weakness, Bu Wei helps Shen Xiaoqi stand and promises they will survive and escape.At Jiangyang County Hospital, Yan Xie uses a letter from Liu Ting of the Provincial Public Security Department to gain access to Li Yuxin after her breakdown.Jiang Ting follows Yan Xie into the ward in glasses and a baseball cap, despite the detention centre director’s objection.Yan Xie tells Li Yuxin a true case about a kidnapped businessman forced to mutilate a corpse, explaining that evidence can clear someone who acted under coercion.This leads Yan Xie to promise that if Li Yuxin cooperates, the police can help clear her name and expose the real criminals.Li Yuxin whispers about “the guilty,” but then shuts down again and only begs to be left alone.Seeing the deadline approaching and Yan Xie growing desperate, Jiang Ting asks Yan Xie to let him speak with Li Yuxin alone.Yan Xie agrees, hugs Jiang Ting tightly, tells him to be careful, and secretly plants a listening device on Jiang Ting.Once alone, Jiang Ting calmly tells Li Yuxin that the person the executioner wants to punish is not Heng Liang or Shen Xiaoqi, but the person who betrayed him.Jiang Ting then whispers that the one who betrayed him is Li Yuxin herself, shocking Li Yuxin into reacting.After hearing enough through the listening device, Yan Xie returns when Jiang Ting says Li Yuxin will talk.Li Yuxin asks whether she can really go back to school if she cooperates, and Yan Xie promises she can.Li Yuxin reveals that she and Heng Liang were dating the previous July and ran away after arguing with her parents.This leads Li Yuxin to admit that she and Heng Liang accepted a ride from a stranger in a silver Hyundai and then fell asleep, likely after being drugged.When Li Yuxin and Heng Liang woke up, they were abandoned in the mountains with no food, water, or way to call for help.For two days, Li Yuxin and Heng Liang wandered through the forest while growing feverish, injured, and desperate.On the third day, Li Yuxin passed out and woke to find masked people in black surrounding a clearing, with Heng Liang bound and kneeling.The kidnapper’s voice told Li Yuxin that Heng Liang was a coward who betrayed her and that Li Yuxin had to kill him.When Li Yuxin refused, the kidnapper threatened that she and Heng Liang would be executed together.Li Yuxin then reveals a pit nearby contained two decomposing bodies, a boy and a girl holding hands, proving Heng Liang’s case was not the first kidnapping.This reveal horrifies Yan Xie and Jiang Ting because it means the executioner group had already killed at least one earlier pair of victims.Li Yuxin says she does not remember killing Heng Liang, only that she passed out and woke to find him dead.She explains that the kidnappers later drove them to another mountain, buried Heng Liang in a pit, and forced her to watch.Yan Xie concludes that the executioner is not one person but an organized group that kidnaps young couples, stages ransom calls, uses blood-soaked clothing, and coerces the girl to kill the boy.Jiang Ting asks why Heng Liang was buried far from the execution site, and Yan Xie realizes the group may have moved Heng Liang’s body to scare the next pair of hostages.This leads Yan Xie to connect the previous burial site to Mount Tianzong and order Ma Xiang to retrieve road surveillance around Mount Tianzong from the same date last year.Li Yuxin remembers that the burial site had a grove of fiery-red royal poinciana trees, a detail the kidnapper cruelly mocked her with.Yan Xie immediately orders the police to conduct aerial and satellite searches for a royal poinciana grove on Mount Tianzong.At 3:30 p.m., Yan Xie, Jiang Ting, Li Yuxin, Ma Xiang, and Zhang Guanyao head back toward Jianning while the police race to locate the grove.Ma Xiang says the investigation has been fruitful, but Yan Xie snaps that reopening old cases means nothing unless Shen Xiaoqi and Bu Wei are saved.Ma Xiang asks whether Bu Wei might kill Shen Xiaoqi if the police fail to arrive in time.Yan Xie thinks of Jiang Ting’s earlier words about betrayal and asks Jiang Ting for his view.Jiang Ting answers wearily that he is not Bu Wei and does not know enough about her to analyze her character.As the car jolts along, Jiang Ting receives a text from Yan Xie, even though Yan Xie is sitting in the same car.Yan Xie asks whether the “betrayal” is symbolic or specific, and Jiang Ting texts back that it is specific.In response, Yan Xie texts his theory that Heng Liang may have done something while Li Yuxin was unconscious or that Heng Liang was only a symbolic substitute for someone else.Jiang Ting realizes Yan Xie planted a bug on him when leaving the ward and calls him out by text.Yan Xie laughs because Jiang Ting has seen through him again.Before Yan Xie can continue, Zhang Guanyao warns that a lorry seems to be following them.Yan Xie tells Zhang Guanyao to slow down and see whether the lorry overtakes, but the lorry accelerates instead.Yan Xie realizes the lorry is aiming for them and shouts for Zhang Guanyao to floor it.The lorry rams the Cherokee, throwing everyone forward and smashing the car against the guardrail.After a second impact, the Cherokee flips over the guardrail, rolls down the embankment, and plunges into the river.Water floods the car, and Yan Xie wakes underwater, injured but conscious.In response, Yan Xie releases his own seatbelt, frees Li Yuxin’s seatbelt, and immediately searches for Jiang Ting.Yan Xie finds Jiang Ting motionless and trapped, but Ma Xiang and Zhang Guanyao pull Yan Xie out before he can free him.Driven by panic, Yan Xie breaks free from Ma Xiang and dives back into the sinking car for Jiang Ting.Yan Xie reaches Jiang Ting, releases the seatbelt, untangles him, and drags him upward while silently begging him not to die.Yan Xie surfaces with Jiang Ting and forces water from Jiang Ting’s lungs until Jiang Ting chokes back to life.Before they can reach shore, gunfire erupts from figures beside the lorry, proving the crash was an assassination attempt.Yan Xie pulls Jiang Ting underwater again, while Ma Xiang and Zhang Guanyao dive too.Li Yuxin is shot while Zhang Guanyao carries her, and Zhang Guanyao is also engulfed in blood.Caught in the river current, Yan Xie struggles to keep Jiang Ting alive while Jiang Ting starts drowning again.In response, Yan Xie gives Jiang Ting air mouth-to-mouth underwater and shields him with his own body as the current slams them against rocks.The current finally sweeps Yan Xie and Jiang Ting ashore, but Jiang Ting’s pulse is dangerously faint.Yan Xie performs chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Jiang Ting while bleeding heavily without realizing it.Jiang Ting finally coughs up water and regains consciousness, making Yan Xie collapse from relief and exhaustion.Jiang Ting then discovers Yan Xie has been shot and presses cloth hard against Yan Xie’s abdomen to slow the bleeding.Yan Xie, dazed and frightened, asks what is wrong and tells Jiang Ting not to cry.Jiang Ting cradles Yan Xie in his lap, keeps pressure on the wound, and tells Yan Xie help is coming.As Yan Xie fades in and out of consciousness, Yan Xie asks whether Jiang Ting was awake in the car the previous day.Jiang Ting admits he was awake.In response, Jiang Ting tells Yan Xie to stay awake and says that he once had many people like brothers, but they all left him three years ago.Jiang Ting then tells Yan Xie that Yan Xie is different and that if Jiang Ting dies, he will watch over Yan Xie from heaven so Yan Xie can live a good life.

18Jiang Ting sits blankly outside the operating theatre after Yan Xie is rushed into surgery, and when a nurse asks whether Jiang Ting is Yan Xie’s family, Jiang Ting can only answer that he is Yan Xie’s friend.In response, Ma Xiang arrives soaked and breathless, identifies Yan Xie as the CID senior sergeant, and urges the hospital to proceed with surgery.Ma Xiang then tells Jiang Ting that Zhang Guanyao is being treated next door after being shot in the arm, while provincial, municipal, and local police are sealing the area and pursuing the attackers.When Jiang Ting remembers Li Yuxin, Ma Xiang reveals that Li Yuxin was shot in the chest and died in the ambulance.This leads Jiang Ting to conclude that the attackers were after Li Yuxin.In response, Ma Xiang angrily wonders how the attackers knew Li Yuxin had been taken out of the detention centre and suspects an insider.Jiang Ting calmly says everyone is suspect until the perpetrators are caught, including Ma Xiang, Jiang Ting, Yan Xie, Zhang Guanyao, Li Yuxin herself, and anyone at the municipal station with access to the case files.Despite Ma Xiang’s anger, Jiang Ting admits he is the most suspicious because he is an outsider with an unclear background known only as Yan Xie’s friend.Ma Xiang counters that Yan Xie saved Jiang Ting from the sinking car, proving Yan Xie trusted him enough to risk dying for him.Before Ma Xiang leaves for a station call, Ma Xiang asks whether Jiang Ting is Yan Xie’s friend or an undercover spy.In response, Jiang Ting says he is whoever Yan Xie thinks he is.Left alone, Jiang Ting looks at the clock and realizes it is already 6 p.m., less than two hours before the execution deadline.This leads Jiang Ting to wonder why the attackers would silence Li Yuxin after she had already confessed everything, unless someone feared she had more to reveal.Jiang Ting also thinks about the symbolic contrast between Li Yuxin’s chicken blood and Bu Wei’s eagle blood, questioning what Bu Wei will choose or what the mastermind intends her to do.At 7 p.m., Commissioner Lyu directs the Mount Tianzong command vehicle while search teams report no findings in the red zone and begin spreading to the orange zone.In response to the chaos, Yu Zhu arrives and immediately organizes the search, ordering teams to sweep every royal poinciana site, sync traffic surveillance feeds, guide ambulances, and report one at a time.Commissioner Lyu quietly tells Yu Zhu that Yan Xie is injured, and Yu Zhu regrets having brought up retirement in front of so many people earlier.Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Shen Xiaoqi struggles forward with Bu Wei while injured, dehydrated, and nearly at his limit.Shen Xiaoqi spots a distant cluster of royal poinciana trees and calls Bu Wei’s attention to them.However, Bu Wei loses her balance while supporting Shen Xiaoqi, causing both of them to tumble down the hill and crash into a rock.In response, Shen Xiaoqi crawls to Bu Wei in panic, shaking her and blaming himself for everything.Despite her weakness, Bu Wei reassures Shen Xiaoqi that they will survive and says she will protect him.Shen Xiaoqi breaks down and promises that if they survive, he will repay Bu Wei and protect her for the rest of his life.This promise makes Bu Wei smile genuinely, as if she had been waiting a long time to hear those words.As evening falls, Shen Xiaoqi’s cries fade, and something described as Death silently emerges from the forest atop a nearby hill.Back at the hospital, Jiang Ting sees nurses rush from the operating theatre for amiodarone, blood, and medicine, making Jiang Ting panic about Yan Xie’s condition.The medical emergency throws Jiang Ting back into the sensation of drowning in the river, and he nearly collapses before Ma Xiang helps steady him.Ma Xiang reports that Zhang Guanyao’s surgery succeeded and that the bullet was removed from Zhang Guanyao’s left arm as evidence.Despite his own terrible condition, Jiang Ting refuses a full check-up, and Ma Xiang brings him a hot drink and dry clothes instead.After Ma Xiang leaves, Jiang Ting turns on his damaged phone and finds the unread text Yan Xie sent just before the lorry hit them.Yan Xie’s text confirms he planted a bug on Jiang Ting, then asks Jiang Ting to be direct if he needs help and whether Jiang Ting does not trust that Yan Xie would help him.In response, Jiang Ting silently thinks that he really does trust Yan Xie and begs Yan Xie to wake up and live.On Mount Tianzong, Shen Xiaoqi wakes in a clearing surrounded by royal poinciana and sees a bottle of water placed nearby.Despite suspecting the water may be poisoned, Shen Xiaoqi’s survival instincts overwhelm him, and he drinks the entire bottle.This leads Shen Xiaoqi to remember Bu Wei, but before he can check on her, the ground collapses and he falls into a pit.In the pit, Shen Xiaoqi touches something strange and comes face to face with the half-decomposed corpse of Heng Liang.Terrified, Shen Xiaoqi screams and hallucinates that the corpse is grinning and reaching to bind his hands.Shen Xiaoqi hits his head against a stone and loses consciousness while still clutching the empty water bottle.At the same time, Qin Chuan’s search team follows police dogs through the mountain but initially finds no trace of Shen Xiaoqi or Bu Wei.Qin Chuan discovers clothing fibres that may have come from Shen Xiaoqi’s camo trousers, proving they are close.Then a muffled scream echoes in the distance, sending the dogs charging toward a large grove of royal poinciana.With less than a minute before the 8:09 p.m. deadline, Qin Chuan fires two shots into the air to scare off any kidnappers nearby.At exactly 8:09 p.m., the dogs erupt in furious barking, and the search team finally finds Bu Wei and Shen Xiaoqi lying at the foot of a grassy hill with no signs of breathing.Outside Yan Xie’s operating theatre, the red light goes off, and the doctor tells Jiang Ting that Yan Xie’s surgery succeeded, the bullet was removed, and Yan Xie’s condition is stable.The relief overwhelms Jiang Ting, and he nearly faints as the world spins around him.Soon after, Ma Xiang calls to report that Bu Wei and Shen Xiaoqi were found alive among the royal poinciana trees.Jiang Ting responds hoarsely but hides his weakness and emotion.In response to Jiang Ting’s pallor, the head nurse orders him checked for acute hypotension and given glucose.Jiang Ting politely asks to be placed in the same ward as Yan Xie.At 9 p.m., Jiang Ting lies in a white hospital ward with an IV while Yan Xie is wheeled in beside him after surgery.Once the medical staff leaves, Jiang Ting removes his IV needle and moves to Yan Xie’s bedside.Jiang Ting holds Yan Xie’s scarred hand and reassures himself through Yan Xie’s warmth and pulse that Yan Xie is truly alive.This leads Jiang Ting to smooth Yan Xie’s furrowed brows and mutter that Yan Xie may be smart but is still an idiot.Meanwhile, at Mount Tianzong, Qin Chuan reports that Bu Wei and Shen Xiaoqi likely fell down the hill, that Heng Liang’s body has been found in a pit, and that Gou Li is preparing to transport it.Gao Panqing then brings Qin Chuan an evidence bag containing the empty water bottle found in the pit with Heng Liang’s body.Qin Chuan notices the bottle’s manufacture date is from three months ago, even though Heng Liang was buried the previous July.This reveal shocks Qin Chuan, Gou Li, and Gao Panqing because it proves someone recently placed the bottle in the old burial pit.In the early dawn, Yan Xie wakes from anesthesia in pain, and Jiang Ting immediately calls the doctor.The doctor says Yan Xie’s vitals are stable and that post-surgery pain is normal, but warns Jiang Ting to watch him so Yan Xie does not aggravate his injury.When a nurse says pain is nothing for a police officer, Jiang Ting coldly reminds her that police officers are human too and asks for painkillers.After Yan Xie becomes more alert, Jiang Ting wipes Yan Xie’s sweat with a hot towel.Yan Xie catches Jiang Ting’s hand and asks why Jiang Ting is there.Jiang Ting tells Yan Xie to sleep, but Yan Xie asks whether Jiang Ting is there to take care of him.Yan Xie then complains that it hurts too much to sleep and asks Jiang Ting for his hand.Despite his irritation, Jiang Ting gives Yan Xie his hand, and Yan Xie presses it to his chest.Yan Xie asks whether Jiang Ting can feel his heartbeat and says it is beating very fast.Jiang Ting says nothing, but he remains seated beside Yan Xie until Yan Xie falls asleep again.A week later, Jiang Ting calls Yang Mei from a public phone booth and tells her he has already been discharged and is staying at a guesthouse.In response, Yang Mei explodes with worry, demanding to know why Jiang Ting did not tell her sooner, where he is staying, who is cooking for him, and whether the attackers have been caught.Jiang Ting hangs up after failing to get a word in.That morning, Jiang Ting buys medicinal herbs and orders a live fish to be made into plain nourishing soup for Yan Xie, even though hospital staff agree Jiang Ting is the one who needs rest.As Jiang Ting approaches the hospital with fish soup and soy milk, Ma Xiang runs into him and comments that Yan Xie is strong while Jiang Ting nearly drowned and should be taking better care of himself.Jiang Ting ignores the comment and asks why Ma Xiang is there.Ma Xiang explains that Jiangyang police finished screening suspicious vehicles from the ambush, and Deputy Wei has ordered them back to Jianning that afternoon.Jiang Ting does not ask about the sensitive results because he knows Ma Xiang would not reveal them without Yan Xie’s permission.Instead, Jiang Ting asks about Bu Wei and Shen Xiaoqi.Ma Xiang says Bu Wei woke up that morning but passed out again and may be too psychologically stressed to question yet, while Shen Xiaoqi remains in the ICU with uncertain prospects.Ma Xiang also says all exits from Mount Tianzong were sealed, but there has been no trace of the kidnappers after two days, causing an uproar at the station.Jiang Ting concludes that Shen Xiaoqi is the key because Bu Wei likely does not know who the kidnappers are or how they made contact.Ma Xiang then mentions that the water bottle from the scene was analyzed and only Shen Xiaoqi’s fingerprints and DNA were found on the bottle and cap.This detail makes Jiang Ting freeze with suspicion and realization.Before Jiang Ting can return upstairs, Wei Yao arrives carrying a fruit basket and calls out to Ma Xiang.In response, Jiang Ting quietly slips into the crowd to avoid being seen.Ma Xiang covers for Jiang Ting by telling Wei Yao he came alone and brought “chicken soup” for Yan Xie.Jiang Ting mouths a silent thank-you to Ma Xiang before Ma Xiang follows Wei Yao upstairs.In Yan Xie’s ward, Yan Xie has been watching the clock impatiently because Jiang Ting has been visiting briefly every noon with lunch and is now ten minutes late.When the door opens, Yan Xie starts complaining, only to realize the visitor is Wei Yao instead of Jiang Ting.Wei Yao awkwardly tries to act caring and calls Yan Xie “kiddo,” stunning both Yan Xie and Ma Xiang.Yan Xie then jokes about Wei Yao bringing expensive fruit for his parents, while Wei Yao nearly hits him and asks why Yan Xie has not told his family about being shot.Yan Xie snatches Wei Yao’s phone to stop him from calling Zeng Cuicui, explaining that his mother would either force him to resign or send celebrities to trap him into marriage.Wei Yao reluctantly promises not to tell Zeng Cuicui, and Yan Xie returns the phone.Wei Yao asks who has been taking care of Yan Xie, and Yan Xie lies that a police academy classmate in Jiangyang helped him.Wei Yao then notices the soup is fish soup, contradicting Ma Xiang’s claim that it was chicken soup.Ma Xiang hurriedly says he mixed it up, but Yan Xie understands the soup came from Jiang Ting and cannot stop smiling.Yan Xie takes a mouthful and happily declares fish soup is the best.When Yan Xie asks about the investigation, Wei Yao says Jiangyang investigators found a suspicious vehicle near a national motorway entrance, got an image of the driver, and are using the Skynet system to track the lorry’s escape route.Yan Xie reasons that the ambushers are likely working with the kidnappers because they tried to silence Li Yuxin.However, Wei Yao reveals another disturbing lead involving Fan Zhengyuan, also known as Delta.Wei Yao explains that the homemade bullet from Zhang Guanyao’s arm chemically matches the bullet Fan Zhengyuan fired at Yan Xie near Sanmao Street.This means the illegal ammunition is almost certainly from the same batch.The revelation connects the river ambushers to Fan Zhengyuan and possibly to the older drug case network.Wei Yao then delivers the most alarming possibility: the attackers may not have been targeting Li Yuxin at all, but Yan Xie.

19Yan Xie realizes with a chill that if the ambushers were not targeting Li Yuxin, their true target was likely Jiang Ting, because Fan Zhengyuan had also gone after Jiang Ting before.In response, Wei Yao mistakes Yan Xie’s silence for fear and tells Yan Xie not to overthink the homemade ammunition link until the attackers are caught.Despite Wei Yao’s concern, Yan Xie forces himself to act calm and shifts the topic back to Bu Wei, Shen Xiaoqi, and the unidentified bodies Li Yuxin mentioned.Wei Yao updates Yan Xie that Bu Wei and Shen Xiaoqi’s conditions remain uncertain, the kidnappers have not been found, and the Mount Tianzong search has produced footprints and fibres but no useful breakthrough.This leads Yan Xie to recall Jiang Ting’s cryptic words about “summer dusk,” 8:09 p.m., execution, betrayal, and someone recreating Jiang Ting’s hidden past through the kidnappings.Yan Xie begins connecting the symbolic kidnappings, Hu Weisheng’s gang, Delta’s killer, and the King of Spades, but he still cannot determine the exact connection.When Wei Yao tells Yan Xie to rest, Yan Xie asks why Qin Chuan is helping CID, and Wei Yao explains that Yu Zhu’s heart condition limits her overtime while Qin Chuan lacks decision-making authority.In response, Yan Xie worries about Fang Zhenghong planting someone near him once Yan Xie returns to work, but Wei Yao hints that Yan Xie should think bigger because Yu Zhu and Deputy Commissioner Wang are both nearing retirement.After Wei Yao leaves, Yan Xie thinks through the personnel situation and realizes Fang Zhenghong may be the most suitable candidate to replace Deputy Commissioner Wang.This leads Yan Xie to remember that Fang Zhenghong’s grudge may have started years ago when Yan Xie, as a foolish young officer, misunderstood Fang Zhenghong’s interest in his expensive watch and offered it to him.Yan Xie pushes the office politics aside and returns to the case, wondering whether Jiang Ting’s confession about being pulled into the perpetrator’s inner world was actually a hidden cry for help.When Jiang Ting does not arrive on time, Yan Xie becomes restless and leaves his ward despite his wound.In response, the head nurse catches Yan Xie in the corridor, scolds him for wandering alone, and helps him reach the reception phone.Yan Xie calls Jiang Ting and asks where his lunch is, but Jiang Ting says he is buying a new phone and will no longer come to the hospital because plainclothes officers are watching the building.Before Jiang Ting can hang up, Yan Xie deliberately knocks over a flowerpot and pretends to collapse, using Jiang Ting’s worry to lure him back.Half an hour later, Jiang Ting arrives with a new phone and angrily asks why Yan Xie dragged him over when at least five plainclothes officers are nearby.Yan Xie acts pleased that Jiang Ting came quickly and teases him for caring, while Jiang Ting insists he is not a doctor and could not have helped anyway.In response, Yan Xie shares Wei Yao’s update that the attackers may be connected to Delta because the bullets match Fan Zhengyuan’s earlier ammunition.Jiang Ting argues that the same bullet composition only proves a shared supplier or region, not that Jiang Ting was the target.Despite Jiang Ting’s denial, Yan Xie presses him and says Jiang Ting keeps seeing himself in Heng Liang, Li Yuxin, Bu Wei, and Shen Xiaoqi.Yan Xie accuses Jiang Ting of hiding the truth about the betrayal at the center of the kidnappings and suggests the mastermind may be the gunman from Hu Weisheng’s rooftop.This leads Yan Xie to name the King of Spades, the drug lord behind Tingercloud, and Jiang Ting’s reaction confirms the name matters.Yan Xie tells Jiang Ting that he wants to trust him, but he will be deeply disappointed if Jiang Ting is protecting the King of Spades.In response, Jiang Ting mocks the idea that naming a drug after a narcotics officer proves a relationship and suggests Yan Xie may be projecting his own feelings onto the case.Yan Xie freezes when Jiang Ting exposes his hidden desire so bluntly.When Jiang Ting turns to leave, Yan Xie grabs him, pins him against the door, and kisses him.Jiang Ting is shocked at first and tries to push Yan Xie away, but he realizes the kiss is not only forceful, but also soft, intense, and disorienting.After Jiang Ting finally pushes Yan Xie back, Yan Xie asks what Jiang Ting thinks.Jiang Ting struggles to sound composed and asks whether Yan Xie wants praise for his technique.Yan Xie, hurt beneath his calm, asks whether he is not worthy of Jiang Ting’s approval after their trust, partnership, and life-risking help.In response, Jiang Ting coldly says everything he told Li Yuxin was a lie, that the King of Spades is a drug lord, and that Jiang Ting is a police officer who has not betrayed anyone.Jiang Ting warns Yan Xie not to think like the kidnappers or he will start seeing everyone as a traitor and get himself killed.After Jiang Ting leaves, Yan Xie decides to stop waiting helplessly and calls his father to send someone to pick him up.Meanwhile, Jiang Ting gets into Yang Mei’s car, and Yang Mei panics over the danger surrounding Jiang Ting.Jiang Ting reassures Yang Mei that the King of Spades was not directly behind the attack, but says the King of Spades made a mistake and Jiang Ting intends to get to the bottom of it.After returning to Nightless, Jiang Ting goes upstairs alone, showers, and reflects on how Yan Xie dragged him back from what he had accepted as death in the sinking car.This memory unsettles Jiang Ting because Yan Xie’s rescue has forced him back toward life in a way he did not expect.Jiang Ting then opens his hidden safe, retrieves old notes, photographs, newspapers, and a yellowed King of Spades card, and builds a case map on a whiteboard.He connects the King of Spades to Gongzhou Narcotics Bureau, Hu Weisheng, Fan Zhengyuan, Jiangyang County, kidnapping, and execution.Jiang Ting focuses on the water bottle found with Heng Liang and realizes the King of Spades is reenacting the past because he is dissatisfied with the original outcome.This leads Jiang Ting to understand that the King of Spades’ obsession with bloody execution exposes an emotional weakness, giving Jiang Ting a new angle against him.Before Jiang Ting can continue, someone knocks on his window, and Jiang Ting is stunned to find Yan Xie clinging to the drainpipe outside.Jiang Ting opens the window and pulls Yan Xie inside, furious that Yan Xie escaped the hospital and climbed up in his condition.Yan Xie jokes that the wound was handled cleanly, but Jiang Ting tells him this is not the place to recover and orders him to go home.In response, Yan Xie refuses because he wants to keep looking at Jiang Ting and then directly asks Jiang Ting to date him.Jiang Ting tries to explain Yan Xie’s feelings as blind trust, crisis bonding, and misattributed arousal from danger, but Yan Xie cheerfully ignores the psychological analysis.Before the conversation can continue, Yang Mei knocks, forcing Jiang Ting to hide Yan Xie behind the bed.Yang Mei brings Jiang Ting congee, and Yan Xie becomes jealous over how freely Yang Mei enters Jiang Ting’s room.After Yang Mei leaves, Yan Xie complains that he skipped dinner rushing to see Jiang Ting, so Jiang Ting tells him to eat the congee.Yan Xie refuses because Yang Mei made it, calling Yang Mei his rival.This leads Jiang Ting to leave the room and head downstairs, while Yan Xie climbs back down the drainpipe and waits outside.Jiang Ting and Yan Xie end up at a lively night market, eating cold noodles, crayfish, spicy crab, and drinking beer and soy milk.Yan Xie happily eats heavy food despite Jiang Ting warning that spice and oil may inflame his injury.In response, Yan Xie jokes that after nearly dying, having food, drink, and a beauty beside him makes life complete.Jiang Ting dryly says Yan Xie’s logic is terrifying and tells him not to go to the station tomorrow because Jiang Ting plans to take him to an ophthalmologist.The mood then turns serious when Yan Xie apologizes for earlier and admits he did not truly believe the accusations about Jiang Ting and Tingercloud.Jiang Ting explains that Tingercloud is Sapphire, a new fentanyl variant that was mostly smuggled abroad but could draw major attention if distributed domestically.Yan Xie realizes Jiang Ting has known about Sapphire all along.In response, Jiang Ting reveals that he investigated Sapphire secretly after an armed robbery case involving a drug addict, because the report was altered and the chemist was transferred.Jiang Ting says the secret investigation led him to an underground drug lab outside Gongzhou, where some informants were sacrificed along the way.This leads Jiang Ting to reveal that he was caught at the lab and that the King of Spades was there that day.Yan Xie is shocked when Jiang Ting admits he has never seen the King of Spades’ face and only came close when the King of Spades held a gun to the back of his head.Jiang Ting recalls the King of Spades showing him fentanyl worth six hundred million yuan and calling it the price of worldly happiness.Jiang Ting also remembers the King of Spades speaking close to his ear, saying Jiang Ting was more useful alive than dead.Jiang Ting explains that the King of Spades spared him because Jiang Ting’s investigation had already exposed the lab district and killing him would have caused more trouble.When Yan Xie asks about Jiang Ting’s disappearance after the plastics warehouse explosion, Jiang Ting says he was in a coma for three years and remembers mostly darkness.Jiang Ting adds that he was likely blindfolded and cannot form a mental image of the King of Spades’ face.Yan Xie asks whether the King of Spades thinks Jiang Ting betrayed their alliance, but Jiang Ting says the King of Spades believes Jiang Ting betrayed his very being.Jiang Ting explains that the kidnappings are deeply personal because they force young couples with pure feelings into desperate situations.He concludes that the King of Spades is not punishing betrayal of money or power, but a betrayal of belief, emotion, and identity.This leads Jiang Ting to say the King of Spades is recreating scenes of betrayal to punish Jiang Ting through other people.After revealing this, Jiang Ting finishes his beer, stands, and says they should go.

A Break in the Clouds (Poyun), Vol. 3

(Chapter)

A Break in the Clouds (Poyun), Vol. 4

(Chapter)

A Break in the Clouds (Poyun), Vol. 5

(Chapter)

Art Thou Ailing?, Vol. 1

Chapter 1In the eighth year of Emperor Yonghe’s reign, Qin Zhao receives a secret message delivered by a black bird and reports to Chu Mingyun that Chen Xuanwen has been found dead.Chu Mingyun learns that Chen Xuanwen, a respected former Minister of War who had recently retired, supposedly committed suicide by slitting his own throat after being heard drunkenly singing, and a rumored blood-written message on the wall read that his death would prove his innocence because he could no longer endure torment.Chu Mingyun suspects foul play, reasoning that Chen Xuanwen’s words suggest coercion rather than despair, likely involving threats against Chen Xuanwen’s family, and notes that Chen Xuanwen’s kin are mysteriously absent.Qin Zhao reports that another group had been following Chen Xuanwen and that this group is connected to the Su family, leading Chu Mingyun to focus on Su Shiyu, the Grand Censor and his political rival.Chu Mingyun reflects that Great Xia’s power is split between himself as Grand Commandant and Su Shiyu as Grand Censor, forming two opposing factions in court, and begins to suspect that Su Shiyu may have hidden forces beyond official authority.Chu Mingyun orders Qin Zhao to secretly investigate Su Shiyu thoroughly while being cautious not to alert him.A courtesan named Ruji attempts to seduce Chu Mingyun with soup, but Chu Mingyun coldly chokes her to warn her before dismissing her, revealing that many women in his household are planted spies and that he intends to eliminate them eventually.To destabilize Su Shiyu and make him unable to counter surveillance, Chu Mingyun instructs Qin Zhao to spread rumors throughout Chang’an that he prefers men and ensure Su Shiyu hears of it.After court, Chu Mingyun publicly confesses exaggerated romantic feelings to Su Shiyu, claiming he has long been in love with Su Shiyu, but Su Shiyu calmly rejects him and treats it as nonsense.Chu Mingyun’s dramatic confession successfully spreads scandalous rumors, while Su Shiyu privately dismisses them as baseless and refuses to clarify matters to avoid fueling gossip.Du Yue, a healer and former fellow disciple of Chu Mingyun and Qin Zhao from Mount Cangwu, arrives in Chang’an after his teacher’s death, and Qin Zhao is visibly anxious because he harbors unspoken romantic feelings for Du Yue.Du Yue reveals that Su Shiyu is his cousin, shocking both Chu Mingyun and Qin Zhao when Su Shiyu unexpectedly appears at the tavern where they reunite.Su Shiyu politely thanks Chu Mingyun for caring for Du Yue, and subtle tension fills the room as Chu Mingyun continues to tease with flirtatious remarks while Su Shiyu calmly parries them.Qin Zhao attempts to gauge Du Yue’s understanding of the political rivalry but discovers Du Yue naively sees both Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu simply as officials without grasping their power struggle.In private conversation, Su Shiyu warns Chu Mingyun to take proper care of Du Yue and subtly confronts him about his false courtship act, while Chu Mingyun refuses to drop the pretense and continues to toy with ambiguity.Su Shiyu offers Du Yue a position under him instead, but Du Yue insists on honoring his promise to Chu Mingyun, choosing to stay with Chu Mingyun and Qin Zhao.Back at the grand commandant’s residence, Du Yue reveals that Master Baili has also died on the day of Master Ye’s burial and that Master Baili left a message for Chu Mingyun saying that the road ahead is long and lonely.Chu Mingyun reacts with quiet laughter and introspection to Master Baili’s final words, showing hidden grief beneath his composed exterior.Du Yue expresses his distress at being unable to choose between Chu Mingyun, Qin Zhao, and Su Shiyu if conflict arises, promising he would save all of them if they were hurt.Chu Mingyun confirms to Qin Zhao that despite Du Yue being Su Shiyu’s cousin, they will still move against Su Shiyu if necessary, though they will avoid killing him to prevent hurting Du Yue.Chu Mingyun confronts Qin Zhao about his feelings for Du Yue, pointing out that Du Yue only sees Qin Zhao as a best friend, while Qin Zhao admits he will not force Du Yue to reciprocate and is willing to wait indefinitely.Alone under the night sky, Chu Mingyun reflects on Master Baili’s words about the long and lonely road ahead, acknowledging that he has always known the isolation that awaits him.

Chapter 2Chu Mingyun attends the lavish banquet hosted by Song Heng, noting that four of the six ministers and both the Chu and Su factions are present, and suspects that Song Heng is boldly trying to position himself between the two political camps.Chu Mingyun is led to a secluded pavilion above a pond where Su Shiyu is already seated, and Song Heng deliberately leaves them alone, creating an awkward and suspicious private setting.Su Shiyu discreetly pours Chu Mingyun’s wine into an incense burner after realizing the mixture of liquor and incense is drugged, and both men recognize that they are being targeted.Chu Mingyun deliberately smashes his cup to trigger a hidden mechanism, causing the floor beneath them to collapse and drop them into an underground prison, choosing to confront the trap directly rather than avoid it.In the dark cell beneath the pond, Chu Mingyun uses the metal ribs of his fan to slice through iron bars, revealing his concealed weapon and freeing them from confinement.Chu Mingyun considers abandoning Su Shiyu but decides to cooperate temporarily, while Su Shiyu calmly destroys the fan in a subtle show of strength, revealing that he is far from the harmless scholar he appears to be.As they navigate the labyrinthine prison corridors, they encounter armed guards, and Chu Mingyun displays brutal martial prowess while Su Shiyu quietly and efficiently kills as well, exposing his hidden combat ability.Su Shiyu uses poison smoke to repel pursuers and cleverly locates a hidden switch in the wall, demonstrating his intelligence and preparedness.They trigger an arrow trap near what appears to be the exit, and Chu Mingyun instinctively pulls Su Shiyu into his arms and takes an arrow in his shoulder to protect him, sustaining a deep wound that nearly reaches bone.Su Shiyu calmly disarms the trap by rotating a concealed oil lamp mechanism and then later negotiates with a surviving poisoned guard, offering him what appears to be an antidote in exchange for guidance.After the guard betrays them and seals them inside a stone chamber, Su Shiyu reveals that he never gave an antidote but only more poison, predicting the guard would die within thirty minutes and showing his ruthless pragmatism.Chu Mingyun’s shoulder wound worsens, and Su Shiyu personally bandages him with torn fabric from his own inner garment, their physical closeness deepening the charged tension between them as Chu Mingyun continues to tease about his supposed love.During their escape through a hidden passage, they question each other, and Su Shiyu reveals he followed his father Su Jue into war at fifteen and learned to conceal his martial skills after being forbidden from violence, though no official records confirm his battlefield involvement.Chu Mingyun admits he is an orphan whose entire family was massacred in Liangzhou by the Huns and was later taken in by Grand Swordsman Baili, explaining the source of his ambition and coldness.They finally escape through a concealed stone door into Song Heng’s study, discovering the banquet has ended and Song Heng has disappeared under suspicious circumstances.Tan Jing claims Song Heng left abruptly after receiving urgent news, but Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu suspect the situation is far more complex.Outside, Su Shiyu thanks Chu Mingyun for saving him and promises a personal favor unrelated to politics, while Chu Mingyun jokingly demands a kiss and instead requests to see a genuine smile, which Su Shiyu reluctantly gives, leaving Chu Mingyun momentarily mesmerized.The next morning, Song Heng’s mutilated corpse is found, and a failed examinee confesses to the murder out of jealousy, closing the case publicly while masking the deeper conspiracy.Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu silently understand that the banquet host had likely been an impostor using Song Heng’s identity and that the real Song Heng was killed to cover up the failed assassination attempt.Chu Mingyun investigates the hidden prison’s possible location in the western mountains after shadow guards track suspicious cargo wagons but lose them in dense terrain.Frustrated by the difficulty of locating the prison, Chu Mingyun decides to trigger flash floods by destroying the mountain area with gunpowder, caring little if any hidden prisoners die, and plans to leverage Tan Jing’s corrupt dealings to obtain explosives discreetly.Qin Zhao reports that there are no official records of Su Shiyu ever serving in battle despite his claims, raising suspicion about what truly happened twelve years earlier during the Huns invasion.Chu Mingyun believes Su Shiyu was not lying about his past but intentionally provided an unverifiable truth to keep him guessing, recognizing that their rivalry and entanglement have only just begun.

Chapter 3Li Yanzhen, now ruling in a time of peace, grows bored with state affairs and decides to expand his harem to find refined, intelligent women who can appreciate his poetry, reigniting political maneuvering in Chang’an.Su Shiyu responds neutrally when Li Yanzhen hints at wanting sharper companions, while Chu Mingyun privately mocks Su Shiyu for previously discouraging the emperor from indulging in personal pleasures.Noble families scramble to send eligible daughters to the capital for the harem selection, understanding that influence in the inner palace translates to power in court.Qin Zhao worries that other factions will use the harem selection to gain leverage over Li Yanzhen and urges Chu Mingyun to participate politically, but Chu Mingyun disdainfully rejects such tactics and instead jokes about sending Du Yue into the harem.Du Yue interrupts their discussion, remaining oblivious to the political implications, while Qin Zhao struggles with his feelings and awkwardly offers Du Yue grapes instead of confessing anything.During a monthly report at the palace, Li Yanzhen ignores state documents to sculpt a rare block of wood and asks Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu to recommend a beauty worthy of being immortalized.Li Yanzhen openly praises Su Shiyu’s beauty and dismisses Chu Mingyun’s “sultry” appearance as not to his taste, while Su Shiyu subtly redirects attention back to Chu Mingyun, maintaining their charged banter.At the Scarlet Sleeve brothel, a nobleman visits Jingnyu, and news arrives that operations in the western mountains have gone wrong just as a storm breaks, implying that Chu Mingyun’s planned avalanche has destroyed the hidden prison and those within.Yan Ye informs Chu Mingyun that Chen Xuanwen’s family supposedly died in a suspicious fire in Lin’an, though rumors suggest Chen Xuanwen’s grandson may have escaped by carriage in the night.Yan Ye also reveals that Su Shiyu is investigating Tan Jing for trafficking large quantities of gunpowder and may personally retrieve a ledger hidden in a warehouse in Market West.Alarmed because he previously used Tan Jing’s gunpowder for the mountain explosion, Chu Mingyun rushes to the warehouse to intercept Su Shiyu.Chu Mingyun discovers Su Shiyu has already secured the ledger and playfully confronts him, continuing his flirtatious act while probing for information.Inside the gunpowder storehouse, patrol guards approach, and Chu Mingyun pulls Su Shiyu behind a door, pressing him close under the pretense of hiding while secretly slipping his hand into Su Shiyu’s robes to steal the ledger.Chu Mingyun tears out two pages from the ledger before returning it to Su Shiyu, using shameless teasing to distract him and conceal his interference.Outside, Tan Jing confronts Chu Mingyun about their prior dealings, fearing betrayal, but Chu Mingyun burns the torn pages to prevent blackmail and then deliberately directs Tan Jing toward Su Shiyu instead.Tan Jing ambushes Su Shiyu, believing he is acting on Chu Mingyun’s orders, but Su Shiyu swiftly defeats and captures Tan Jing.In prison, Tan Jing confesses that he trafficked gunpowder to afford expensive medicine for his wife Ah-Xiu, who suffers from mental deterioration after an accident, and claims he acted out of love.Su Shiyu coldly counters that love does not absolve crime and reveals that Tan Jing’s wife would be punished alongside him under the law, pressuring Tan Jing to reveal who ordered the stockpiling of gunpowder.Tan Jing finally names the Duke of Huainan as the mastermind behind the gunpowder operation.Su Shiyu later visits Chu Mingyun to test whether he removed the missing pages that implicated the Duke of Huainan, but Chu Mingyun brazenly denies it while teasing him by pretending to strip in front of him.Su Shiyu realizes the missing pages likely contained the Duke of Huainan’s name but chooses not to accuse Chu Mingyun or expose the duke without solid proof, deciding instead to bide his time.In court, Li Yanzhen suggests leniency for Tan Jing out of sympathy for his wife, but Su Shiyu insists on strict adherence to the law, and surprisingly Chu Mingyun sides with Su Shiyu, ensuring Tan Jing’s execution.Tan Jing is publicly executed, believing he acted for Ah-Xiu’s sake, while Ah-Xiu is manipulated into drinking poisoned broth under the promise of seeing him again.Su Shiyu brings Du Yue to examine Ah-Xiu’s body, and Du Yue discovers that her supposed medicine was actually opium, causing addiction and withdrawal episodes rather than treating illness.Su Shiyu deduces that Ah-Xiu was never incurably ill but was deliberately addicted to opium to control Tan Jing, likely by forces connected to the Duke of Huainan, meaning Tan Jing was exploited into committing crimes.Realizing Tan Jing was manipulated and died for a false belief, Su Shiyu reflects bitterly on the tragedy, understanding that a larger conspiracy involving the Duke of Huainan is unfolding beneath the surface of court politics.

Chapter 4Chu Mingyun receives news that Chen Xuanwen’s grandson Chen Siheng is alive and currently staying at the Scarlet Sleeve in Chang’an, prompting him to personally investigate while leaving Qin Zhao behind.At the Scarlet Sleeve, Su Shiyu is already meeting Chen Siheng and Jingnyu, politely questioning the boy about the fire that killed Chen Xuanwen’s family and learning that Jingnyu supposedly rescued Chen Siheng after he ran from the burning estate.Chen Siheng begins recalling that his father had spoken to a man addressed as “Grand—” before being interrupted, suggesting a high-ranking figure’s involvement in the tragedy.Chu Mingyun barges into the room under the pretense of jealousy, openly teasing Su Shiyu and creating tension, while carefully observing Chen Siheng and Jingnyu’s reactions.Chen Siheng becomes visibly frightened after Chu Mingyun’s entrance and clings to Jingnyu, reinforcing the suspicion that Jingnyu exerts strong influence over him.After Jingnyu escorts Chen Siheng away, Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu exchange guarded remarks, both aware the other had been secretly investigating Chen Xuanwen’s family.Chen Siheng later recalls that his father addressed the mysterious man as “Your Grace,” confirming the involvement of a duke-level noble in the conspiracy.Chen Siheng refuses to leave the brothel with Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu, insisting on staying with Jingnyu, and Su Shiyu allows it to avoid alarming their suspect while planning further surveillance.Outside, Su Shiyu invites Chu Mingyun for tea and proposes cooperation, revealing that he suspects the Scarlet Sleeve is connected to a hidden underground gambling den that the Capital Police failed to uncover.Chu Mingyun agrees to collaborate, and together they travel to a bamboo grove west of Chang’an where Su Shiyu uncovers a hidden metal ring that reveals a secret underground staircase.The two descend through a pitch-black tunnel, with Su Shiyu unexpectedly holding Chu Mingyun’s wrist to guide him, until they emerge into a lavish hidden valley housing the Joykeeper’s Hall, a massive secret gambling establishment.Inside Joykeeper’s Hall, masked patrons gamble extravagantly, and attendants explain that whoever wins the most can challenge the housemaster, who promises to fulfill any wish.Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu realize this is no ordinary gambling den but likely a front for manipulating powerful nobles through debt and influence.They notice Xu Tong, son of Deputy Minister of War Xu Yin and a member of the Chu faction, arrogantly boasting after a winning streak, revealing that young elites frequent the establishment.Chu Mingyun, using the alias Lin, provokes Xu Tong publicly and pretends to be an arrogant noble accompanied by Su Shiyu acting as his lover, deliberately drawing attention and baiting the house.Su Shiyu plays along despite discomfort, even offering a valuable jade pendant as gambling collateral to strengthen their cover.Chu Mingyun boldly declares that his wish, if he wins, would be to lie with Su Shiyu the Grand Censor, shocking the room and testing the house’s reaction.Xu Tong mocks Chu Mingyun and crudely suggests that Grand Commandant Chu would be a better bedmate, unknowingly insulting Chu Mingyun directly while both officials remain masked.Though Chu Mingyun initially appears to hold a losing hand, the overseer manipulates the outcome in his favor, granting him the highest possible winning combination, proving that the gambling den rigs games for selected players.Recognizing the deliberate cheating as a means to cultivate influence over nobles, Su Shiyu confirms their suspicion that Joykeeper’s Hall serves a political purpose rather than simple profit.They are escorted upstairs to meet the housemaster, and while waiting, Su Shiyu identifies their location as a former mass grave west of Chang’an, explaining why the den remained undiscovered.Alone, Chu Mingyun sends a secret message via a trained black bird to coordinate with Minister Lu and Qin Zhao, preparing for official intervention.Housemaster Mu arrives and attempts to maintain composure, but visibly reacts when Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu remove their masks, revealing their true identities.Su Shiyu hints that Housemaster Mu resembles a younger acquaintance who calls him “brother,” implying he recognizes Mu’s true identity and background.After leaving the room, Housemaster Mu angrily scolds the overseer for admitting them without proper vetting and admits that Su Shiyu likely knows who he is.Housemaster Mu orders preparations to evacuate and commands that Jingnyu be sent out of Chang’an immediately, revealing her connection to the larger conspiracy and confirming that the Scarlet Sleeve and Joykeeper’s Hall are part of the same network.

Chapter 5Housemaster Mu returns with dancers and proposes a blindfold guessing game to distract Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu, clearly stalling for time while preparing an ambush.Su Shiyu personally blindfolds Chu Mingyun to ensure there are no tricks, and the dancers swirl around him in a coordinated formation meant to conceal a hidden assassin.One dancer attempts to stab Chu Mingyun during the performance, but Chu Mingyun detects the killing intent through the movement of air and fatally strikes her with his sandalwood fan before she can land the blow.Housemaster Mu orders his men to attack, and black-clad assassins rush in as the dancers draw hidden blades, turning the performance into a coordinated assassination attempt.Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu fight side by side, with Chu Mingyun displaying ruthless battlefield prowess and Su Shiyu revealing his own lethal skill, efficiently neutralizing attackers without losing composure.Chu Mingyun corners Housemaster Mu after cutting down multiple enemies, wounds him severely, and nearly kills him, but Housemaster Mu escapes by leaping out of the window, leaving behind a bronze token torn from his robes.The Ministry of Justice troops arrive in time to capture the remaining assassins and shut down Joykeeper’s Hall, though Housemaster Mu’s body is not found in the forest despite blood traces.A black messenger bird delivers word that Jingnyu is fleeing Chang’an with Chen Siheng, prompting Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu to intercept them outside the city at dawn.Jingnyu attempts to maintain her gentle facade but panics when Chu Mingyun shows her the bronze token and falsely claims Housemaster Mu is dead, revealing her deep attachment to him.Overcome by hatred and despair, Jingnyu attacks Chu Mingyun but is swiftly subdued, then commits suicide by swallowing poison before she can be interrogated.Before dying, Jingnyu mutters lines from the poem Jingnyu and recalls being renamed by a master who treated her as a numbered subordinate, revealing she was once called Shiqi and served someone powerful from a young age.Chen Siheng, overwhelmed by grief and rage, attacks Chu Mingyun with a dagger given to him by Jingnyu, but Chu Mingyun disarms and pins him easily.Su Shiyu exposes the contradictions in Jingnyu’s story about the fire, forcing Chen Siheng to confront that Jingnyu likely participated in the massacre of his family and manipulated him to maintain control.Chu Mingyun bluntly tells Chen Siheng that since losing his family he is no longer a child and must rely only on himself for vengeance, refusing to promise justice but offering shelter out of respect for Chen Xuanwen.Su Shiyu subtly encourages Chen Siheng to follow Chu Mingyun and learn from him, implying that proximity to General Chu will benefit Chen Siheng more than blind hatred.After court resumes, the Joykeeper’s Hall investigation reveals no treasury on site, raising suspicion about where the gambling wealth has been stored.Deputy Minister Xu Yin begs Chu Mingyun to secure Xu Tong’s early release from prison, but Chu Mingyun coldly warns Xu Yin to discipline his son and mind his words, asserting dominance over his own faction.Chu Mingyun visits Su Shiyu at night under the pretense of romance but secretly searches Su Shiyu’s residence for hidden mechanisms, finding nothing suspicious.Chu Mingyun requests jurisdiction over Song Heng’s mansion to investigate the bronze token and possible hidden contraptions, and Su Shiyu grants it while agreeing to share findings.In Song Heng’s study, Chu Mingyun discovers that the bronze token fits a hidden mechanism, revealing a secret chamber filled with massive quantities of gold and detailed dossiers on officials across the capital and prefectures.The records document personal details and vulnerabilities of numerous officials, proving a long-term conspiracy aimed at manipulating and destabilizing the court.Chu Mingyun orders the books moved to his residence and allows his men to take some gold before intending to report the treasury to Li Yanzhen through Su Shiyu.Soon after, multiple officials including Zheng Wan are assassinated in coordinated fashion, each killed similarly, indicating an organized syndicate silencing those connected to the conspiracy.Evidence is planted to implicate Chu Mingyun in the murders, and the case is transferred to the Censorate with Li Yanzhen ordering Su Shiyu to investigate personally.Su Shiyu deliberately delays the investigation despite pressure, recognizing that the evidence against Chu Mingyun is too obvious and likely fabricated to frame him.Su Shiyu reasons that eliminating Chu Mingyun now would destabilize the military and benefit hostile forces at the borderlands, suggesting a broader external threat behind the conspiracy.Su Shiyu privately informs Li Yanzhen that although Chu Mingyun is dangerous and ambitious, removing him prematurely would create greater chaos, and that his arrogance will eventually become his downfall.Su Shiyu visits Chu Mingyun with the forged letters as evidence, and Chu Mingyun calmly dismisses the accusations, pointing out flaws in the imitation handwriting and trusting Su Shiyu not to move against him.Chu Mingyun concludes that the masterminds silenced the listed officials to prevent the secret dossiers from being used against them and attempted to reverse the situation by framing him for their deaths.Despite mutual suspicion and political rivalry, Chu Mingyun acknowledges that having Su Shiyu on his side for this crisis shifts the balance in his favor, marking a fragile but strategic alliance between the two.

Chapter 6Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu leave Chang’an in plain clothes to investigate Zheng Wan’s murder in Fufeng, sharing a single inn room on the way due to lack of space and engaging in sharp banter over propriety, suspicion, and their uneasy alliance.Su Shiyu insists on sharing the bed equally despite Chu Mingyun’s teasing, and that night Chu Mingyun briefly considers killing Su Shiyu in his sleep but instead brushes his hair aside and falls asleep, while Su Shiyu later opens his eyes, aware of the movement.They arrive in Fufeng and are welcomed by Su Xing, the newly reinstated Prefect of Fufeng and Su Shiyu’s uncle, who expresses concern over Su Shiyu’s unmarried status and shows thinly veiled disdain toward Chu Mingyun.Chu Mingyun deliberately insinuates impropriety between himself and Su Shiyu to unsettle Su Xing, forcing Su Shiyu to smooth things over and maintain appearances.At Zheng Wan’s residence, they examine the altered crime scene and deduce from Madam Zheng’s testimony that the murderer must have known Zheng Wan’s habits, the layout of the residence, and the presence of urgent reports that night, indicating an insider or close acquaintance.Su Xing’s chief registrar presents a supposed suspect who confesses to murdering Zheng Wan and claims to have acted under Chu Mingyun’s orders, attempting to frame Chu Mingyun directly.Chu Mingyun mocks the prisoner’s claim of loyalty and questions inconsistencies in his story, while Su Shiyu remains calm and unconvinced, refusing to accept the confession at face value.Su Shiyu later interrogates the prisoner privately and compares him to Tan Jing, warning that blind loyalty will not protect his family, gradually unsettling the man and exposing that he is acting under coercion.Su Shiyu deduces that the mastermind is likely based in Fufeng due to the timing and pattern of the murders and deliberately announces their departure to lure the real culprit into acting that night.That night, they hear movement on the roof and pursue it, discovering Su Xing under attack in the long-unused torture chamber, where the chief registrar lies dead with his throat slit.Su Shiyu prevents Chu Mingyun from immediately intervening and instead confronts Su Xing with contradictions in his timeline, exposing that Su Xing had secretly returned to the capital region before his official appointment and orchestrated the murders.Su Shiyu reconstructs Su Xing’s entire scheme, revealing that Su Xing committed the serial murders, staged the suspect’s confession to frame Chu Mingyun, spread rumors among witnesses, killed the chief registrar to silence him, and planned to kill both Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu in the torture chamber to fabricate a final narrative.Su Xing admits his resentment toward Su Jue for banishing him and declares Li Yanzhen an incompetent ruler, revealing that he pledged loyalty to another master and acted out of political ambition rather than justice.When Su Shiyu urges him to surrender, Su Xing instead triggers a hidden mechanism in the torture chamber, causing a stone wall to crash down and kill himself before he can be arrested.Su Shiyu orders cleanup and arrests of remaining accomplices without visible emotional turmoil, while Chu Mingyun awkwardly attempts to console him and invites him out for drinks.At a tavern, they discuss Housemaster Mu’s identity and Su Xing’s possible connections, while Su Shiyu acknowledges that by law his entire clan could be implicated in treason, including himself, yet he insists he will report everything truthfully.Chu Mingyun admits he would be upset if Su Shiyu died, revealing rare sincerity, and smooths the crease from Su Shiyu’s brow in a quiet, intimate moment before an autumn rain begins outside.The released prisoner leads constables to rescue his hostage family and arrest remaining accomplices, and under interrogation they confess, producing letters, bronze tokens, and seals that directly implicate the Duke of Huainan as Su Xing’s true master.Su Shiyu verifies the letters and seals as authentic and realizes that the serial murders, like Tan Jing’s case, trace back to the Duke of Huainan, confirming a broader conspiracy.Su Xing’s wife confronts Su Shiyu publicly, attempts to strike him, and calls him a heartless monster who killed his own uncle, while her daughter Ying’er still calls Su Shiyu “brother” and tries to shield him.Su Shiyu accepts the accusations in silence and walks away, while Chu Mingyun blocks the assault and later questions why Su Shiyu did not simply frame him to protect his clan and eliminate a rival.Su Shiyu calmly replies that wrongdoing must be punished regardless of who committed it, reaffirming his unwavering adherence to law and principle even at the cost of family, reputation, and personal suffering.

Chapter 7Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu return to Chang’an after closing the Fufeng case, and despite gossip condemning Su Shiyu as heartless for exposing Su Xing, Su Shiyu submits a formal report proposing punishment for himself under clan liability laws.Li Yanzhen refuses to execute Su Shiyu or punish Su Xing’s innocent family, citing loyalty of the Su clan and the need to avoid more bloodshed, and publicly affirms trust in Su Shiyu.Su Shiyu questions Li Yanzhen about the Duke of Huainan and presents the Feoffment Decree proposal to weaken the dukes by dividing their lands among heirs while preserving titles in name.Su Shiyu explains that he deliberately omitted the Duke of Huainan’s involvement in Su Xing’s case to avoid alerting him and proposes arresting the Duke of Huainan during a future inspection, using the exposure to justify curtailing ducal power.Li Yanzhen hesitantly agrees to Su Shiyu’s long-term plan to seize the Duke of Huainan after the new year.Su Shiyu encounters Jiang Yuan, the favored consort, who observes him with a cryptic expression before entering the study.Du Yue visits Su Shiyu to comfort him about Su Xing’s death and reveals he quarreled with Qin Zhao and ran away from Chu Mingyun’s residence in anger.Qin Zhao broods silently over Du Yue’s absence at Chu Mingyun’s estate, and Chu Mingyun coldly reminds Qin Zhao that forcing Du Yue to choose will only drive him further away.After more than a month, Du Yue returns awkwardly, and Qin Zhao stiffly welcomes him home, revealing unresolved tension and suppressed feelings.During the Winter Solstice ceremony, Li Yanzhen performs rituals to heaven, and Chu Mingyun privately reflects on Su Xing’s doubts about the empire’s fragile peace.At the banquet, Jiang Yuan lures Chu Mingyun to Lake Taiye, feigns romantic confession, and secretly passes him a sachet containing a bronze key connected to Tianlu Keep.Chu Mingyun discovers the key hidden in the sachet and immediately throws both into the lake, refusing to participate in the scheme.The captain of the Yulin Guards interrupts the banquet to report that Tianlu Keep was robbed and keys stolen, and Jiang Yuan produces a key claiming she found it near one of the top officials.Lu Shi insinuates Chu Mingyun as suspect since he left his seat, but Su Shiyu calmly lies that he was with Chu Mingyun, protecting him and undermining Jiang Yuan’s accusation.Jiang Yuan retracts her accusation under pressure, and Li Yanzhen suppresses further investigation to preserve the festive mood.Later, Jiang Yuan reflects that she was prepared to die to implicate Chu Mingyun and weaken him through Su Shiyu, but Su Shiyu refused to exploit the opportunity, and Li Yanzhen’s naïve trust further disrupts her plan.Near year’s end, Li Yanzhen invites Su Shiyu to spend New Year’s Eve together as in the past, but Su Shiyu refuses on grounds of propriety and reminds him of the confinement incident in the Eastern Palace.Chu Mingyun provocatively offers to host Su Shiyu instead, subtly challenging Li Yanzhen, and Su Shiyu later accepts the invitation privately.On New Year’s Eve, Su Shiyu arrives alone at Chu Mingyun’s snow-covered residence, confirming he came of his own will.Chu Mingyun secretly orders guards to stand down after confirming Su Shiyu brought no hidden entourage.Du Yue drinks recklessly to prove his tolerance and collapses, and Qin Zhao carries him away, recalling how Chu Mingyun once saved him in winter and silently confessing his love while Du Yue drunkenly apologizes.Alone, Chu Mingyun questions why Su Shiyu truly came, and Su Shiyu states he came because Chu Mingyun invited him before Li Yanzhen, then reveals the plan to arrest the Duke of Huainan and promises to publicly clear Chu Mingyun’s name afterward.Chu Mingyun dismisses public opinion as meaningless, but Su Shiyu insists it is his duty to restore Chu Mingyun’s reputation once the truth is exposed.At midnight, they set off Du Yue’s hidden fireworks together, laughing as explosions light up the sky and children’s songs drift through Chang’an.They build snow figures under the plum tree, and Su Shiyu retaliates playfully after Chu Mingyun ruins his rabbit sculpture, escalating into a snow fight that ends with both tumbling into the snow.Beneath falling snow and fireworks, Chu Mingyun nearly kisses Su Shiyu in an impulsive moment but abruptly pulls back in shock at his own desire.Back inside, soaked and warming themselves, Chu Mingyun reflects uneasily on his lapse while Su Shiyu calmly removes his outer robe, and their charged conversation lingers unresolved as the new year begins.

Chapter 8A Krorainian delegation led by Princess Ayasi arrives in Chang’an at the start of spring, receiving honors equivalent to a duke, and Chu Mingyun recalls how he once mischievously nominated Su Shiyu as her marriage candidate.Chu Mingyun remembers that Princess Ayasi had previously nearly been matched with Su Shiyu, and Su Shiyu had coolly responded to Chu Mingyun’s teasing nomination with a single “Impressive.”Princess Ayasi rushes to Su Shiyu, calls him bhaika, meaning brother, and insists on spending the day with him, dragging Chu Mingyun along.At a noodle stall in Dongshi, Princess Ayasi eats ravenously after starving herself to look pretty for Su Shiyu, bluntly explaining her logic while Chu Mingyun watches in disbelief.Su Shiyu recalls his first meeting with Princess Ayasi, when she tested him with a whip, confided her three failed marriages, and explained that she targeted corrupt officials to protect her father.Princess Ayasi tells Su Shiyu that she likes him but cannot marry him because she feels mist between them and senses he does not love anyone, instead asking him to be her bhaika.Back in the present, Princess Ayasi privately asks why Su Shiyu is kind to Chu Mingyun if he is his rival and even offers to marry and kill Chu Mingyun for him, forcing Su Shiyu to suppress laughter and defend Chu Mingyun’s importance.The trio wander through street performances, and each time Princess Ayasi wants to challenge a performer, Su Shiyu redirects her by claiming Chu Mingyun can do the same feats, until Chu Mingyun admits defeat at sword swallowing and buys her jewelry instead.At an inn, commoners gossip that Su Shiyu and Chu Mingyun colluded to frame Su Xing and cover up crimes for mutual benefit, accusing Su Shiyu of using the murders to eliminate his uncle.Chu Mingyun laughs off the rumors as proof that the masses prefer gossip over truth, while Su Shiyu maintains that facts must still be upheld so truth does not vanish entirely.Before departing Chang’an, Princess Ayasi gives Su Shiyu a sealed letter to be opened only after she returns home and gifts Chu Mingyun candied pine nuts, making them promise to attend her wedding.Shortly after her departure, news arrives that Princess Ayasi was ambushed at a border town within Great Xia’s territory, her entire entourage slaughtered, and her body found reaching outward as if for help.Kroraina’s king sends an envoy demanding accountability, and tensions rise in Xuanshi Hall as the envoy accuses Great Xia of responsibility.Chu Mingyun counters the accusations, suggesting multiple possibilities and refusing to accept unilateral blame, while Su Shiyu mediates and urges cooperation to find the killer.Su Shiyu deduces that Ji Heng, the Great Xia merchant whom Princess Ayasi planned to marry, is missing and likely involved, prompting an arrest warrant.Li Yanzhen impulsively offers three cities as recompense in a posthumous union, but Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu jointly stop him and insist such matters require court deliberation.In private negotiations, Su Shiyu secures an agreement to compensate Kroraina with gold instead of land, prioritizing national interest over personal grief for Princess Ayasi.Alone at home, Su Shiyu finally opens Princess Ayasi’s letter and reads her clumsy but heartfelt words defending him from slander, calling him the kindest person in the world and hinting she knows whom he loves.Ji Heng is captured and confesses to murdering Princess Ayasi.Chu Mingyun visits Chen Sheng to clarify past suspicions, confirming that Chen Sheng was manipulated by Miss Jingnyu to sow discord between Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu by invoking the title Grand Commandant.Chu Mingyun realizes the enemy intended to incite factional conflict and retrieves a bronze token linked to Miss Jingnyu’s authority, while Chen Sheng expresses desire to become Chu Mingyun’s shadow guard.Later, Chu Mingyun follows the sound of a zither at night and finds Su Shiyu alone by a riverside pavilion, playing a mournful piece in memory of Princess Ayasi.They speak of music and ambition, and Chu Mingyun bluntly states he desires a domain stretching to the horizon and allegiance from all lords, revealing his grand political ambition.As Su Shiyu plays, Chu Mingyun leans close and rests against him, unaware that Su Shiyu’s heart is racing painfully with realization of his own feelings.Su Shiyu internally confronts the question of whether he loves Chu Mingyun, recalling Princess Ayasi’s words about scorpions and butterflies and recognizing the ache and joy in his chest.Overcome by emotion, Su Shiyu almost reaches out to touch Chu Mingyun’s eyes but withdraws at the last second, plucking a stray hair instead and masking his feelings with composure while Chu Mingyun remains oblivious.

Chapter 9Ji Heng is secretly brought before Su Shiyu in a private room rather than the Censorate, where Su Shiyu questions him about Princess Ayasi’s murder and confirms that the riot where Ji Heng met her was staged and that Ji Heng never loved her, viewing her only as a pawn.Ji Heng admits he seduced Princess Ayasi under coercion and killed her without hesitation, mocking Su Shiyu’s perceived naïveté about love and manipulation.Su Shiyu coldly forces Ji Heng to swallow a pill that will keep him alive but subjects him to private torture in his own residence as personal retribution for harming his spasu Ayasi, separating his actions from his official duties.Meanwhile, Qin Zhao informs Chu Mingyun that Ji Heng’s testimony is tightly controlled by Su Shiyu and inaccessible even to most of the Censorate, prompting Chu Mingyun to suspect deeper conspiracies and order an investigation into Jiang Yuan.Qin Zhao urges Chu Mingyun to kill Su Shiyu to eliminate uncertainty, but Chu Mingyun refuses, claiming Su Shiyu is more useful alive and insisting he has not fallen in love, though he struggles to justify why he spares him.A maidservant loyal to Su Shiyu overhears Chu Mingyun calling Su Shiyu heartless and reports it, and Su Shiyu responds calmly that Chu Mingyun is not wrong and reiterates that only a fool would fall in love.Public resentment grows in Chang’an over the gold compensation given to Kroraina for Princess Ayasi’s death, and commoners begin criticizing Su Shiyu as corrupt and spineless, even believing rumors that he colluded with Chu Mingyun to kill Su Xing.A self-righteous swordsman attempts to assassinate Su Shiyu at night in his study over the compensation issue, but Chu Mingyun intervenes and kills the attacker before Su Shiyu can defend himself.In gratitude, Su Shiyu gives Chu Mingyun his personal jade pendant, granting him unrestricted access to the Su residence, and Chu Mingyun recognizes it as the pendant Su Shiyu once attempted to pawn.Su Shiyu confirms that Ji Heng’s written confession implicates the Duke of Huainan as mastermind but expresses doubt due to increasingly obvious planted evidence.Chu Mingyun reveals that Jiang Yuan is from Huainan and suggests that someone wants to provoke Su Shiyu into targeting the Duke of Huainan, deliberately escalating incidents to force action.Despite the risk, Su Shiyu decides to proceed with his inspection tour of the dukedoms, believing confronting the Duke of Huainan is necessary.Chu Mingyun proposes stationing Zhou Yi at the western borders to deter both Kroraina and the Huns, and Su Shiyu agrees to discuss it with Li Yanzhen, recognizing Zhou Yi’s loyalty and competence.Reviewing the Tianlu Keep robbery, Su Shiyu lists stolen items including records of dukes and bestial motifs, leading Chu Mingyun to realize that the theft erased proof linking a bronze token’s motif to its true owner.Chu Mingyun later shows the jade pendant to Du Yue, who is shocked and reveals it was the only keepsake left by Su Shiyu’s mother and a symbol of authority within the Su clan.Chu Mingyun deliberately drops the pendant to test its value and his own feelings, then secretly retrieves it upon noticing fine cracks, unable to truly discard it.Du Yue confronts Su Shiyu about the pendant being thrown away, and Su Shiyu calmly states that since he gave it willingly, Chu Mingyun has every right to keep or discard it.Su Shiyu reveals that his mother left him only that one jade pendant to give away, confirming its emotional significance and implying Chu Mingyun is its intended recipient.Preparing for his inspection tour, Su Shiyu requests temporary command of the Southern Border Command from Li Yanzhen, anticipating potential resistance from the Duke of Huainan and possible hidden forces.Li Yanzhen agrees but notes that the military token is held by Chu Mingyun, forcing Su Shiyu to negotiate directly with him.Chu Mingyun refuses to hand over the military token, instead providing a personal letter to command the troops, maintaining ultimate control while feigning compliance.Su Shiyu subtly tests Chu Mingyun by asking whether commanders would obey the token or the letter if orders conflicted, but Chu Mingyun avoids giving a direct answer.After leaving, Su Shiyu reflects that the Southern Border Command’s allegiance effectively lies with Chu Mingyun, underscoring the imbalance of military power.On the appointed day, Su Shiyu officially departs Chang’an under imperial ceremony to inspect the dukedoms, receiving the emperor’s token and public blessings.As Su Shiyu prepares to leave, Chu Mingyun grips his wrist and quietly tells him not to die and to return soon, adding that he might fall ill from longing.For once, Su Shiyu does not retreat from the intimacy, meeting Chu Mingyun’s gaze and promising to return, silently acknowledging the feelings he had long denied.

Chapter 10A month passes after Su Shiyu departs for Huainan, and Chu Mingyun behaves impeccably at court without making any suspicious moves, though he grows increasingly irritable and repeatedly asks Qin Zhao for news of Su Shiyu’s return.Reports confirm that the Duke of Huainan refused entry at first and mobilized troops, creating a tense standoff with the Southern Border Command summoned by Su Shiyu, but overnight the duke’s advisor assassinated the Duke of Huainan and surrendered with the duke’s severed head.The advisor publicly confesses to orchestrating major conspiracies, including manipulating Tan Jing with opium, establishing Joykeeper’s Hall, ordering Su Xing’s murders, and coercing Ji Heng to kill Princess Ayasi, then begs that innocent people be spared.Su Shiyu responds that he never asked for the duke’s head and supervises the temporary takeover of Huainan, orders investigations, discovers vast poppy fields, and commands their complete destruction.After the poppy fields are burned, the advisor throws himself into the flames, dying before he can be interrogated, leaving the case conveniently closed but riddled with unanswered questions.Chu Mingyun understands that the deaths of both the Duke of Huainan and the advisor conveniently eliminate all living testimony, leaving only surface evidence and deepening suspicion that the truth remains hidden.Alone, Chu Mingyun rereads the shadow guards’ report confirming Su Shiyu’s safe departure from Huainan and denies missing him, though he obsessively dwells on his absence.The Hunnic ninth prince Ertugrul arrives in Chang’an and boldly demands that Great Xia relinquish five northwestern cities in exchange for peace, exploiting tensions with Kroraina.Ertugrul argues that the Huns seek survival and cites Great Xia’s compensation to Kroraina as precedent, while Chu Mingyun rejects the demand and warns against trusting the Huns.Minister Wei Song supports ceding the disaster-stricken lands to ease financial burdens, arguing that relinquishing troublesome territory could reduce strain on the treasury.Chu Mingyun fiercely opposes surrendering land reclaimed with soldiers’ blood and questions the Huns’ trustworthiness, but Li Yanzhen delays the decision until Su Shiyu returns.Yue Yuxuan privately tells Wei Song that Chu Mingyun opposes the cession because he is from Liangzhou and seeks to preserve personal influence, casting doubt on Chu Mingyun’s motives.Anticipating possible Hunnic treachery during the imperial hunt, Chu Mingyun personally drafts new security measures for Mount Qi, including guarding the usually unprotected southern slope due to low river levels.Chu Mingyun finally sees Su Shiyu returning to the palace gardens and openly asks if he was missed, attempting to embrace him before being stopped due to public decorum.Luo Xin excitedly approaches Su Shiyu to thank him again and expresses admiration for General Chu, not realizing he is speaking to Chu Mingyun himself.When Su Shiyu introduces Chu Mingyun, Luo Xin is stunned that the legendary general looks delicate rather than fearsome, praising him naively and embarrassing himself.Lu Qinghe returns home at her father Lu Shi’s summons and is ordered to attend the imperial hunt to choose a husband among the noblemen present.At Jianzang Palace after the ceremonial rites for the hunt, Luo Xin confides to Su Shiyu that he faces suspicion in Chang’an due to his prior service under the Duke of Huainan and worries that people think Su Shiyu intends to use him to weaken Chu Mingyun.Su Shiyu advises Luo Xin to ignore gossip and remain steadfast in his goals, internally wrestling with his own uncertainty about Chu Mingyun’s ambitions and loyalties.Prince Ertugrul and Ugur mock Great Xia in Hunnic, recalling the brutal conquest of Liangzhou thirteen years earlier and insulting the fallen defenders, unaware that Chu Mingyun understands their language.Ertugrul recounts how a lone woman defended Liangzhou before her corpse was hung on the walls, triggering Chu Mingyun’s traumatic memories of his sister Zhiqing’s death during the Hunnic invasion.Overcome by rage and grief, Chu Mingyun draws his sword and charges toward the Huns with murderous intent, abandoning restraint.Su Shiyu chases him into the grove, restrains him from behind, and deliberately allows Chu Mingyun’s blade to cut his own shoulder to stop him from killing the envoys and provoking war.Su Shiyu covers Chu Mingyun’s eyes and speaks gently, reminding him that he has already avenged the past and reclaimed lost lands, calming him with steady reassurance.Chu Mingyun, shaken, asks Su Shiyu to keep speaking and to tell him he is alive and present, seeking grounding in Su Shiyu’s voice.After regaining control, Chu Mingyun pulls Su Shiyu into a fierce embrace and, in a surge of possessive desire and blood-scented instinct, licks and kisses the wound at Su Shiyu’s neck and collarbone.Su Shiyu breaks away in alarm, regains composure, and insists they return to the others, concealing the emotional impact of the moment behind polite detachment.Su Shiyu fabricates a story that a falling tree caused his injury to prevent suspicion, though Luo Xin notices his flushed face and ears.Rumors of the incident spread rapidly, and Du Yue and Qin Zhao tease Chu Mingyun about nearly killing Su Shiyu, but Chu Mingyun retreats alone, bewildered and shaken.In private, Chu Mingyun slaps his own forehead and questions in confusion why he ended up hugging and licking Su Shiyu, revealing his growing inability to deny his feelings.

Chapter 11The vernal hunt procession arrives at Mount Qi, and after settling in, Su Shiyu approaches Chu Mingyun, who openly says he has been thinking about him and asks Su Shiyu to walk him back to his quarters.Lu Qinghe arrives at the retreat, immediately falls for Chu Mingyun’s beauty under the peach blossoms, and declares to Lu Shi that she wants to marry him.Lu Shi angrily refuses because of Chu Mingyun’s dangerous reputation and his rumored shameless courtship of Su Shiyu, forbidding Lu Qinghe from pursuing him.Determined, Lu Qinghe schemes to meet Chu Mingyun secretly at the Glass Pavilion at night, lying to Lu Shi that she intends to meet Su Shiyu instead.Lu Shi later visits Wei Song and discovers Su Shiyu is with Wei Song all evening discussing the Hunnic envoys, realizing Lu Qinghe’s plan must have failed.Lu Shi informs Su Shiyu of Lu Qinghe’s supposed infatuation and request to meet him at the pavilion, and Su Shiyu agrees to go clarify matters despite having no romantic interest.At the Glass Pavilion, Su Shiyu finds not Lu Qinghe but Chu Mingyun asleep with a jug of liquor, drapes his white robe over him, and almost touches his face before being caught.Chu Mingyun wakes, removes Su Shiyu’s jade hairpin, lets his hair fall loose, then suddenly kisses him deeply and forcefully, tasting of alcohol and biting his lip.Su Shiyu regains composure, breaks away, and asks if Chu Mingyun is sober, to which Chu Mingyun replies he was never drunk.After Su Shiyu leaves in haste, Chu Mingyun realizes he can no longer deny his feelings and admits to himself that he is in love with Su Shiyu.Lu Qinghe encounters Chu Mingyun afterward, and from his words and Su Shiyu’s earlier disheveled state deduces they share a secret romance, deciding to help them unite instead of pursuing Chu Mingyun.The next day at the banquet, Ertugrul mocks Great Xia’s lack of martial prowess and challenges them indirectly, provoking national pride.Chu Mingyun offers to compete, but Ertugrul declines, claiming defeat is certain, so Su Shiyu volunteers instead to defend Great Xia’s honor in archery.Before shooting, Su Shiyu asks Chu Mingyun to teach him how to hold the bow, and Chu Mingyun embraces him from behind in public under the pretense of instruction, teasing him about kisses while adjusting his grip.Ertugrul hits the bullseye first, drawing cheers, but Su Shiyu’s arrow strikes precisely beside it and splits Ertugrul’s arrow, winning the contest and humiliating the Huns.Lu Qinghe arranges another meeting between Su Shiyu and Chu Mingyun at the peach grove, hoping to create an opportunity for romance.In the grove, Chu Mingyun confesses directly that he is in love with Su Shiyu and asks whether Su Shiyu feels the same.Su Shiyu deflects the confession by steering the conversation to political matters regarding the Hunnic demands, refusing to acknowledge the romantic declaration.That night, an assassin disguised with a lifelike mask as Su Shiyu infiltrates Chu Mingyun’s quarters, but Chu Mingyun instantly detects the deception and crushes the impostor’s throat.After killing the assassin and burning the mask, Chu Mingyun decides to check on the real Su Shiyu and encounters Ertugrul alone in the corridor.Ertugrul boasts of his brother Atkiray’s past victories over Great Xia, provoking Chu Mingyun.Chu Mingyun reveals that he personally captured and tortured Atkiray at a salt lake until Atkiray betrayed Hunnic positions, leading to his death, shattering Ertugrul’s pride.Chu Mingyun threatens that if Great Xia’s court agrees to surrender cities, he will kill Ertugrul and welcomes war, asserting that the khan would not wage war over an expendable son.Ertugrul is left shaken and humiliated, while Chu Mingyun walks away having reasserted dominance and revealed the ruthless depth behind his beauty and ambition.

Chapter 12Qin Zhao receives a secret letter from Chu Mingyun instructing him to gauge how the officials remaining in Chang’an feel about the Huns’ demand for five cities, clearly intending to ensure opposition to the peace treaty.Du Yue complains about Chu Mingyun’s coldness, especially about throwing away a jade pendant from Du Yue’s cousin, and questions what kind of person Chu Mingyun truly is.Qin Zhao explains that Chu Mingyun has always been cautious and discards any gift whose intent he cannot discern, revealing that even they never truly knew his background.Qin Zhao recounts Master Baili’s ominous words that if Chu Mingyun attempts to overturn the order of the world by his own power and fails, he will meet a horrific end.Chu Mingyun visits Su Shiyu at night and subtly confirms that Su Shiyu was not the one who approached him earlier in disguise, asking whether anyone had been staring at his face in Huainan.Su Shiyu reveals that he has invited the Duke of Xiling to support the Feoffment Decree, needing another duke to help legitimize curtailing the regional lords’ power.Chu Mingyun again tries to press his confession of love, teasing Su Shiyu, and the two nearly kiss before being interrupted by urgent summons to the main hall.At the main assembly hall, Wei Song is accused of treason for allegedly writing a letter to Ertugrul promising assistance in ceding the five cities to the Huns.Wei Song’s attendant testifies that Wei Song ordered him to deliver the letter personally to Ertugrul, and the handwriting on the letter matches Wei Song’s.Wei Song desperately claims he did not know the letter’s contents and accuses Su Shiyu of asking him to deliver it discreetly.Lu Shi testifies that Su Shiyu was in his quarters at the time Wei Song claimed to have met him, providing an alibi and deepening Wei Song’s isolation.Li Yanzhen publicly declares he believes Su Shiyu innocent, leaving Wei Song abandoned and devastated.Wei Song, proclaiming decades of loyal service and denying treason, commits suicide by smashing his head against the jade steps before the throne.Chu Mingyun reveals to Commander Tong that an assassin disguised with a mask of Su Shiyu’s face infiltrated his quarters, and the assassin’s boots carried white roses from the southern slope of Mount Qi.Chu Mingyun makes it clear that lax security allowed the assassin to enter, forcing Commander Tong into fearful submission and pledging the Imperial Guards’ loyalty to Chu Mingyun.Back in Chang’an, the court’s stance shifts completely against the peace treaty, as Wei Song’s death silences all advocates for peace and no official dares support ceding land to the Huns.Su Shiyu reasons to Su Bai that Wei Song was framed not to kill him personally but to destroy all support for peace, and that someone likely used a lifelike mask of Su Shiyu to deceive Wei Song.Su Shiyu forbids Su Bai from speculating that Chu Mingyun orchestrated the plot, refusing to voice suspicion despite the obvious political benefit to Chu Mingyun.Lu Qinghe visits Li Yanzhen and poses for him while he carves and paints, learning about his tragic childhood, his birth mother’s death, and his first meeting with Su Shiyu when Su Shiyu was a beautiful youth summoned as his attendant.Li Yanzhen admits fondly that he once mistook young Su Shiyu for a girl because of his beauty and recalls Su Shiyu’s dislike of being called pretty.Li Yanzhen declines Jiang Yuan’s suggestion to take Lu Qinghe as a consort, saying a wandering swordswoman belongs to the world rather than the palace.Chu Mingyun meets Su Shiyu on the way to the imperial study and flirts openly, but their conversation is interrupted by the Duke of Xiling Li Chenghua.Li Chenghua reminisces about Chu Mingyun’s ruthless battlefield prowess and praises him, while also complimenting Su Shiyu’s appearance and recalling Su Shiyu’s late father.In the imperial study, Li Yanzhen reveals he has promised the Dukedom of Huainan to the Duke of Xiling in exchange for support of the Feoffment Decree.Chu Mingyun sharply criticizes the decision, pointing out that granting Huainan expands rather than curtails the Duke of Xiling’s power, contradicting the decree’s purpose.Su Shiyu smooths over the tension, accepting the emperor’s promise as irreversible and framing the duke’s support as strategically necessary.After Su Shiyu leaves, Li Yanzhen softly sighs that if Su Shiyu were a woman, things would be simpler, revealing lingering affection.Chu Mingyun realizes the unfinished wooden sculpture in the study resembles Su Shiyu, deepening his awareness of Li Yanzhen’s feelings.In a distant scene, a scarred young man speaks to his father, who reads a parchment in Hunnic script and instructs him to depart soon, hinting at future conflict involving the Huns and an unresolved injury.

Art Thou Ailing?, Vol. 2

(Chapter)

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love, Vol. 1

(Chapter)

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love, Vol. 2

(Chapter)

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love, Vol. 3

(Chapter)

Gold Class Enforcers, Vol. 1

(Chapter)

Gold Class Enforcers, Vol. 2

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 1

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 2

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 3

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 4

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 5

(Chapter)

Hunt for the Leviathan, Vol. 6

(Chapter)

Obsessed, Vol. 1

(Chapter)

Obsessed, Vol. 2

(Chapter)

The Killer of Killers, Vol. 1

Prelude: The Oregon Nightmare

Chapter 1
Another Walks the NightRoy drives alone along a dark Oregon interstate late at night, feeling unsettled by the unnatural silence around him until a large stranger suddenly appears in front of his car, forcing him to brake violently and narrowly avoid a crash.After recovering from the shock, Roy confronts the stranger, who introduces himself as Kieran and claims his drunken friends stole his car and abandoned him on the roadside, leaving him desperate for a ride.Although Roy is uncomfortable with Kieran’s intimidating appearance and crude personality, he reluctantly allows Kieran into the Volkswagen after realizing the man has little chance of finding another ride in the middle of nowhere.As they continue down the highway, Kieran studies Roy and identifies him as Asian, while Roy remains polite but guarded around his unsettling new passenger.Before long, Kieran steers the conversation toward the notorious serial murderer known as the Freeway Killer, whom he dramatically nicknames the Oregon Nightmare, and he appears strangely fascinated by the case.As the discussion grows darker, Kieran vividly describes details of the murders that have never been released publicly, including victims being hung upside down, drained of blood, disemboweled, and displayed as part of satanic-style rituals.Roy notices Kieran’s enthusiasm while discussing the killings and becomes increasingly disturbed when Kieran boasts about the killer’s intelligence and apparent success at evading police.Their conversation is interrupted when Roy spots a stranded black Volvo occupied by a businessman named Alden and a sleepy hitchhiker named Jessica, prompting him to stop and offer assistance.Roy learns that Alden’s vehicle ran out of gas because of a faulty gauge, while Jessica appears intoxicated and exhausted after accepting a ride from Alden several hours earlier.Hoping to help, Roy connects the Volvo to his Volkswagen with tow cables and begins towing the disabled car toward the nearest gas station while Kieran, Alden, and Jessica wait nearby.During the trip, Roy notices Jessica constantly leaning against Alden despite Alden clearly being uncomfortable with her attention, suggesting that the businessman has little interest in her advances.Eventually they reach a gas station, where all four travelers agree that driving through the night is unappealing and decide to stay at a nearby motel instead.Upon arriving at Rainbow Inn, they discover only two rooms are available, forcing the strangers to share accommodations despite not knowing each other.Jessica drunkenly embarrasses everyone by loudly suggesting sexual arrangements between the travelers, causing Roy to choke on his drink while Alden hurriedly drags her away.After Roy and Kieran settle into their shared room, Roy becomes even more uneasy when Kieran strips down and reveals extensive tattoos, making the intimidating man seem even more threatening.A short time later, Alden unexpectedly appears and asks to stay in their room instead of sharing with Jessica, prompting Kieran to mock him and accuse him of being attracted to men.While Kieran eventually appears to fall asleep, Roy remains awake and confides in Alden that he suspects Kieran may actually be the Freeway Killer.To support his theory, Roy points out that Kieran was alone on the interstate, lacked evidence of the drunken companions he mentioned, and somehow knew details of the murders that were never released publicly.Although Alden initially doubts the accusation, he agrees to help investigate after realizing Roy’s observations are suspicious.Together they secretly search Kieran’s belongings and discover a notebook filled with disturbing writing and drawings depicting terrified victims, blood, inverted pentagrams, and bodies hanging from trees.Convinced they may be sharing a room with a serial killer, Roy and Alden decide not to contact police because the evidence is too weak, choosing instead to flee the motel immediately.Following this plan, Roy retrieves both vehicles while Alden goes to collect Jessica so they can escape together before Kieran wakes up.Unexpectedly, Alden returns alone and reports that Jessica has disappeared, likely having wandered off in search of alcohol, and neither man feels responsible enough to delay their escape for her.Roy and Alden leave without Jessica and speed down the highway, both eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the suspected killer.Their escape is interrupted when Alden’s Volvo suddenly breaks down again only thirty miles from the motel, forcing him to abandon it and continue with Roy.As a result, Alden joins Roy inside the Volkswagen, where an increasingly uncomfortable atmosphere develops due to Alden’s obvious attraction toward Roy.Roy senses Alden’s predatory interest and grows uneasy as the businessman watches him with escalating desire throughout the drive.Suddenly, Alden grabs the steering wheel and deliberately forces the car off the road, trapping Roy in an isolated location where no one can interfere.Alden reveals his true intentions, boasting that he is stronger than Roy and planning to overpower him before secretly preparing to inject him with a paralytic toxin.However, just before the needle reaches its target, Roy effortlessly intercepts Alden’s attack and turns the syringe against him, injecting him with his own poison instead.As paralysis rapidly overtakes him, Alden realizes in horror that Roy was never a helpless victim and that he has catastrophically underestimated the man he intended to murder.Roy drags the immobilized Alden from the car and calmly reveals that he knows Alden’s true identity as the infamous Freeway Killer, exposing the entire misunderstanding involving Kieran.In the same moment, Alden realizes that Roy is actually the legendary Green Cleaner, a vigilante serial killer who exclusively hunts and murders other serial killers.Roy explains that the Freeway Killer is destined to become the Green Cleaner’s eighth victim and cheerfully notes that the number eight is considered lucky in his culture.Meanwhile, Alden becomes trapped inside his own paralyzed body and realizes with terror that he is about to suffer the exact fate he inflicted upon his previous victims.Two hours later, Roy leaves the scene after carrying out the execution, while evidence suggests the Freeway Killer has been displayed in the same gruesome manner as his own victims.As dawn arrives, Roy discards a sketch depicting a gutted wolf hanging upside down, symbolically commemorating the death of the predator who became prey.Two days later, Kieran finds himself repeatedly interrogated by FBI agents because his notebook and suspicious behavior made him appear connected to the murders despite his innocence.While the investigation continues, agents Robby Owens and Leo Lawrence discuss the Green Cleaner and become frustrated by the fact that witness descriptions produce entirely different facial composites each time, making identification nearly impossible.The agents review new evidence left by the Green Cleaner, including the wolf sketch, and conclude that the killer is intelligent, artistic, and highly skilled at disguise.As their discussion continues, Robby jokes constantly while Leo remains focused and determined, revealing a strong moral opposition to vigilante justice regardless of how evil the Green Cleaner’s victims may be.Leo argues that the Green Cleaner is ultimately no different from other murderers because he enjoys killing and may eventually target innocent people once he runs out of serial killers to hunt.Shortly afterward, Leo receives an angry call from his sister Jasmine Lawrence, who reminds him that he forgot to pick up her boyfriend from the airport nearly an hour earlier.Forced into action, Leo rushes to the airport expecting to meet an intimidating older man who could withstand Jasmine Lawrence’s overwhelming personality.Instead, Leo discovers Binqing, an extraordinarily youthful and innocent-looking Chinese man who appears far younger than Jasmine Lawrence and is peacefully asleep while holding a sign asking Leo Lawrence to pick him up.Leo is shocked by how vulnerable Binqing appears and becomes even more concerned when he notices strangers casually touching the oblivious young man while he sleeps in public.After waking him, Leo learns that Binqing is exhausted from travel and quickly falls asleep again during the trip to Leo’s apartment.Consequently, Leo ends up carrying the sleeping Binqing through the building, attracting suspicious looks from neighbors who immediately jump to conclusions about their relationship.Because the Green Cleaner investigation consumes all of Leo’s attention, he leaves Binqing alone in the apartment and completely forgets about him for five straight days.Only later does Leo suddenly realize that Binqing has been trapped in the apartment without keys, transportation, English skills, or local knowledge, causing him to panic over what might have happened.Horrified by the possibility that the naïve and defenseless Binqing could have gotten into serious trouble, Leo abandons his work and rushes back to the apartment as quickly as possible.

Chapter 2
The Beast and Its ChainsLeo Lawrence rushes back to his apartment looking for Binqing and grows alarmed when he finds the apartment empty, though the cleaned rooms, washed laundry, and faint smell from the kitchen prove that Binqing has been there.Just as Leo Lawrence prepares to leave and search for him, Binqing returns in sweats with a large bag of groceries, surprising Leo Lawrence with how calmly and independently he has managed.Binqing explains that he found Leo Lawrence’s spare key under the doormat after seeing the trick on American TV shows, and Leo Lawrence casually admits that many people hide keys poorly or forget them often.As Binqing starts preparing dinner, Leo Lawrence watches him with unexpected ease and realizes that, despite Jasmine Lawrence’s claim that Binqing cannot speak English, Binqing can get around with basic words, money, and help from friendly strangers.Soon after, Binqing lists the Chinese dishes he plans to cook, and Leo Lawrence is impressed by Binqing’s domestic skill, especially when Binqing asks whether Leo Lawrence can use chopsticks.When Binqing mentions having beautiful children with Jasmine Lawrence, Leo Lawrence asks about their wedding plans, only to learn that Binqing and Jasmine Lawrence are not engaged yet because Binqing first wants to learn English, earn a degree, and find a stable job in the United States.After dinner, Leo Lawrence enjoys Binqing’s cooking far more than the local Chinatown food he has tried before and learns that Binqing usually handles housework because, where Binqing comes from, men do the chores while women shop and play mahjong.Rather than immediately returning to the office, Leo Lawrence works from the master bedroom and immerses himself again in the Green Cleaner case, studying the facial composites that haunt his sleep and fuel his need to catch murderers.As Leo Lawrence reflects on Kenneth’s old warning not to follow evildoers too deeply into darkness, Leo Lawrence admits to himself that he cannot stop because uncovering the truth requires entering that darkness.Hours later, Leo Lawrence leaves his room for coffee and nearly reacts like an agent to the figure on the sofa before remembering that Binqing is now staying with him.Binqing is curled comfortably on the sofa with a notebook and pencil, and his cozy presence softens Leo Lawrence’s guarded mood in a way that makes the apartment feel unusually warm and lived-in.When Binqing offers Leo Lawrence Lapsang souchong tea, Leo Lawrence accepts and notices how Binqing’s relaxed movements evoke the feeling of a peaceful home, helping Leo Lawrence understand what Jasmine Lawrence may have found appealing.As Leo Lawrence looks over Binqing’s Chinese books, he recognizes works by Roy Lee and realizes Binqing is a fan of crime thrillers.This leads Leo Lawrence to ask Binqing about the mystery in Bedside Whispers, and Binqing immediately explains that there was never a real twin or split personality because the murderer fabricated the brother from the beginning.Building on that explanation, Binqing describes how the killer fooled everyone with falsified records and even a custom-made blow-up doll before eventually becoming consumed by his own lie.Leo Lawrence feels relieved by Binqing’s interpretation because it means the murderer did receive a form of punishment, which aligns with Leo Lawrence’s hatred of stories where criminals escape justice.In response, Binqing observes that every person has a beast constrained by morality and justice, and his comment pushes Leo Lawrence to think more deeply about the Green Cleaner’s motives.From there, Leo Lawrence reasons that the Green Cleaner may have been shaped by violence or trauma and now targets serial killers as revenge, but Leo Lawrence fears the killer’s pleasure in murder will eventually break free of any restraint.Because of that fear, Leo Lawrence decides he cannot wait for the Green Cleaner to deteriorate further and considers working backward through old serial murder cases to find the trauma that may have created him.When Leo Lawrence finally notices Binqing has fallen asleep on the sofa in a fetal position, he feels unexpected tenderness and gently carries Binqing to the guest bedroom.For once, Leo Lawrence goes to bed without looking at the haunting facial composites, but after failing to sleep, he takes pills from an unlabeled orange bottle and finally falls into chemically induced rest.The next morning, Leo Lawrence oversleeps until eleven, blames the medication for disrupting his discipline, and worries that he may be slipping back into dependence on the drugs.As Leo Lawrence prepares to rush out, Binqing stops him with breakfast and gently insists that a man needs to eat before work.Although Leo Lawrence first tries to leave, Binqing looks hurt at the idea of Leo Lawrence choosing outside food over his cooking, and Leo Lawrence gives in with a laugh.During the meal, Leo Lawrence enjoys Binqing’s dishes and jokes that Binqing could open a restaurant popular with the whole office, but Binqing says that is not currently part of his plans.As they talk, Binqing asks about Leo Lawrence’s FBI work and quickly shows sharp understanding by questioning why the FBI focuses more on individual criminals than large criminal organizations.Leo Lawrence explains that individual criminals are easier to target and produce clearer results for the government and public, while Binqing compares the tactic to coyotes picking off the weakest members of a pack.With surprising intuition, Binqing guesses that Leo Lawrence is working on the “Serial Killer Killer,” making Leo Lawrence realize again that Binqing is much sharper than his innocent appearance suggests.Before leaving for work, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing he will help enroll him in a language academy and allows him to explore the neighborhood, while Binqing asks whether Leo Lawrence will come home for dinner.When Binqing admits it is no fun cooking for only one person, Leo Lawrence feels strangely guilty and promises to call if he does not stay late.After Binqing says he plans to buy a phone and SIM card, Leo Lawrence leaves his number on a sticky note, and Binqing later sends a simple English text saying he is not busy and can be called anytime.Later that day, while Leo Lawrence continues working the Green Cleaner investigation, he calls a private language tutoring service to arrange support for Binqing’s studies and university plans.As Leo Lawrence thinks through the arrangement, he decides Binqing should stay in Portland and attend language school while waiting for Jasmine Lawrence, because Leo Lawrence’s work is too dangerous and mobile for Binqing to follow.When Leo Lawrence tries to call Binqing to explain the plan, the phone repeatedly says the customer is unavailable, making Leo Lawrence uneasy because Binqing had specifically said he could be called anytime.Alarmed by the inconsistency, Leo Lawrence contacts Selena and asks her to locate Binqing’s SIM card, using FBI resources to get coordinates.Selena quickly traces the SIM card to Southwest Portland, and Leo Lawrence becomes especially upset when the location appears to be in the Burnside Triangle, Portland’s gay district.Leo Lawrence imagines Binqing wandering around vulnerable and easy to exploit, and his concern turns into anger strong enough that he slams the steering wheel and abruptly speeds off with Robby Owens still in the vehicle.Robby Owens complains when Leo Lawrence’s sudden driving launches his burger, but Leo Lawrence only says he has a personal matter to handle and drops Robby Owens downtown.After leaving Robby Owens behind, Leo Lawrence follows the coordinates to a dimly lit park and realizes the signal only gives a rough area, making a proper search difficult to justify without enough evidence of a kidnapping.While Leo Lawrence considers involving local police, Binqing suddenly appears on the park trail, dazed and holding the back of his head, startling Leo Lawrence with both relief and anger.Binqing casually greets Leo Lawrence and explains that he bought his new phone around noon, sent the text with help from a Chinese-American shop assistant, and then went wandering through town.As Binqing continues, Leo Lawrence learns that a large white man stole Binqing’s wallet, and Binqing chased the thief into an alley where two accomplices attacked him and took his phone as well.Binqing shows Leo Lawrence the bump on his head, and Leo Lawrence touches the injury with a frown while scolding Binqing for chasing a robber instead of calling 9-1-1.When Binqing admits that the men wanted to “have fun” with him after he woke up in the park, Leo Lawrence understands the danger immediately and becomes rigid with rage.Once they are inside the SUV, Binqing explains that the attackers underestimated him and failed to tie him up, allowing him to surprise-kick one of them and flee through the trees until they gave up.Because Binqing retells the escape almost like a mischievous adventure, Leo Lawrence loses control of his anger, slams the brakes, grabs Binqing by the neck, and forces him against the car door.In a furious outburst, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing that abductions and assaults are not amusing stories, describing the horrific fate of a seventeen-year-old victim to make Binqing understand how close he came to disaster.Instead of responding defensively, Binqing gently straightens Leo Lawrence’s disheveled bangs and admits that he was lucky, promising not to take such risks again even if someone steals his wallet.When Binqing jokes that thieves could even take his wife, Leo Lawrence’s anger cracks into reluctant amusement as he warns that Binqing must chase if Jasmine Lawrence is taken.After Binqing asks to go home and eat, Leo Lawrence gives up on lecturing him further and decides they will pick up food instead of cooking so late.As they drive back, Leo Lawrence realizes he has overestimated Binqing’s ability to protect himself and decides he cannot leave Binqing alone in Portland as originally planned.Finally, when Binqing falls asleep in the passenger seat, Leo Lawrence pulls over, covers him with his own jacket, and tenderly caresses Binqing’s cheek without recognizing how intimate the gesture is toward his sister’s future husband.

Part I: Le Mal en Rose

Chapter 3
The Rose ButcherBinqing arrives at Portland State University with Leo Lawrence, and Leo Lawrence explains that the language course he signed Binqing up for will be held there, with an easy bus route from the apartment.Soon after, Wayne warmly welcomes Binqing, speaks a few Mandarin phrases, and shakes Binqing’s hand so enthusiastically that Binqing looks uncertainly to Leo Lawrence for reassurance.Before leaving, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing that Wayne will take him inside and that Binqing will need to commute by himself starting the next day.Just as Leo Lawrence turns to go, Binqing briefly grabs his sleeve like a nervous child being left behind, and Leo Lawrence softens as he tells Binqing to relax and be himself.After Leo Lawrence drives away, Wayne mistakenly assumes Leo Lawrence is Binqing’s boyfriend, and Binqing quickly corrects him by explaining that Leo Lawrence is his girlfriend’s brother.Later that afternoon, Binqing finishes class and declines Wayne’s offer to walk him to the bus stop because he wants to explore the campus and nearby Marquam Nature Park on his own.As Binqing wanders across the leafy campus, he notices the scent of multiflora rose and reflects that Portland truly deserves its reputation as the City of Roses.While Binqing is still enjoying the campus, a student named Reggie Duran approaches him, introduces himself, and tries to start a conversation despite Binqing’s limited English.Because Reggie Duran speaks too quickly for Binqing to follow, their conversation stalls, but Reggie Duran realizes Binqing may be a new IELP student and leaves on friendly terms.At that moment, Leo Lawrence calls to say he is waiting outside the building, and Binqing happily ends the awkward encounter with Reggie Duran so he can return to Leo Lawrence.When Binqing reaches Leo Lawrence, he sees Leo Lawrence leaning against the SUV in a polished white shirt and sunglasses, drawing attention from nearby women who secretly photograph him.In response to Binqing’s teasing about the women mistaking him for a celebrity, Leo Lawrence dryly worries about portrait rights, making Binqing silently pity whoever falls for such a rigid man.As Binqing gets into the car, he briefly notices Reggie Duran watching from under a tree but dismisses it as coincidence.The next day, Binqing starts commuting by bus, and on the third morning Reggie Duran boards the same bus and sits beside him.To bridge their language gap, Reggie Duran brings an expensive hand-held translator and explains that he wants to befriend Binqing because Binqing seems like someone he could get along with.In turn, Binqing says Reggie Duran may become his first friend in the United States if they truly get along, and Reggie Duran leaves the translator with him as a helpful gift.Over the following days, Binqing and Reggie Duran repeatedly meet on campus, grow close, and often use gestures or the translator until their failed attempts at communication turn into shared laughter.As their friendship develops, Reggie Duran encourages Binqing to practice speaking without fear, while Binqing’s rapid language progress reveals how intelligent, hardworking, and perceptive he is.Meanwhile, Binqing continues exploring Portland State University and Marquam Nature Park, though he has not yet fully hiked the park’s trails.One day, Wayne warns Binqing to avoid a clearing in a bigleaf maple grove because a Portland State University student’s body was discovered there five months earlier.After Binqing thanks him, Wayne calls Binqing lovable and jokes about wanting to bite his cheeks, making Binqing wonder whether the comment counts as sexual harassment or just American directness.Then Reggie Duran steps out from behind a tree and tells Binqing that Wayne’s remark could be reported as sexual harassment, but Binqing dismisses it as a joke.As Binqing and Reggie Duran walk together, Binqing suddenly detects a strange odor near an overgrown construction area, describing it as metallic but overwhelmed by multiflora rose.Driven by curiosity, Reggie Duran leads Binqing toward the smell, and the two discover a horrific naked corpse lying face down in blood with branches and twigs jammed into the body.Shocked by the gruesome scene, Binqing turns away and nearly vomits while Reggie Duran panics, grabs Binqing’s phone, and calls 9-1-1.Soon afterward, police sirens break the campus calm, rain pours over Portland, and Binqing and Reggie Duran are taken to the precinct for questioning.At the precinct, Sergeant Trevor Jackson separates Binqing and Reggie Duran for interviews, while Officer Lopez shows sympathy toward the soaked and frightened students.During Binqing’s interview, Sergeant Trevor Jackson asks for every detail, but Binqing struggles in English and eventually slips into Mandarin because the concepts are too difficult to explain.After a failed attempt to use Officer Tam as a translator because Officer Tam speaks Cantonese rather than Mandarin, Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens arrive from the FBI and take over the interview.Although Sergeant Trevor Jackson objects that the case belongs to Oregon, Leo Lawrence explains that he can help by communicating with Binqing in Mandarin.Once Leo Lawrence speaks to Binqing directly, he gently asks whether Binqing is all right, and Binqing admits he was frightened at first but insists he is not fragile.With Leo Lawrence taking notes, Binqing recounts his movements from the conversation with Wayne to the discovery of the corpse, while carefully leaving out Wayne’s potentially inappropriate comments.After comparing Binqing’s statement with Reggie Duran’s account, Sergeant Trevor Jackson and Officer Lopez find no major discrepancies and conclude the students were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.When Officer Lopez asks whether the FBI needs both students, Leo Lawrence bluntly clarifies that he is only taking Binqing home, making it obvious that Binqing is personally connected to him.On the ride away, Reggie Duran asks who Leo Lawrence is, and Binqing introduces Reggie Duran as his new school friend while identifying Leo Lawrence as his girlfriend’s little brother.Robby Owens reacts loudly after realizing Binqing is dating Jasmine Lawrence, joking about Jasmine Lawrence’s fierce personality until Leo Lawrence silently warns Binqing to ignore him.After Leo Lawrence drops off Reggie Duran, Robby Owens notices that Leo Lawrence and Binqing live together and immediately reads more into the arrangement.Back at the apartment, Binqing showers and then joins Leo Lawrence in the living room, where Leo Lawrence has ordered pepperoni pizza because he does not know Binqing’s preferred toppings.While eating, Binqing asks whether the FBI will take over the case, and Leo Lawrence explains that the FBI usually will not unless local police request help or the case becomes a serial killing.When Binqing asks whether the murder was motivated by love, hatred, or impulse, Leo Lawrence shuts down his curiosity and reminds him that his priority should be personal safety.Later that night, Leo Lawrence discovers his unlabeled orange pill bottle is empty, recalls that he took the last two pills the previous night, and decides he will have to quit again without refilling it.As Leo Lawrence lies in bed, the three Green Cleaner composites seem to watch him, and he faces them like an old obsession before expecting to meet them again in his dreams.In the following days, the new body unsettles Portland State University, revives rumors about the earlier unsolved murder in Marquam Nature Park, and inspires the nickname “The Rose Butcher” because petals were found at both scenes.As one of the people who found the body, Reggie Duran becomes the focus of student curiosity, while Binqing avoids the worst attention because of his unfamiliarity and language barrier.During lunch three days after the discovery, Reggie Duran calls Binqing over to a group of male students discussing the case, even though Binqing does not want to be dragged into the gossip.In the group, Quentin Jackson boasts that he saw the autopsy report on Sergeant Trevor Jackson’s desk and reveals that the victim was brutally skewered with eleven stakes after losing half his blood.Meanwhile, Binqing notices Quentin Jackson’s resemblance to Sergeant Trevor Jackson and quietly remarks to Reggie Duran that Quentin Jackson looks like a younger and more foolish version of the sergeant.The tense campus atmosphere worsens when Clyde Brandy approaches with other students and insults the group with racist and homophobic remarks.Colin Myravitch angrily confronts Clyde Brandy, and Clyde Brandy escalates by mocking the murder victims as gay men of color while praising the Rose Butcher for “cleaning” the world.Colin Myravitch snaps and attacks Clyde Brandy, causing both groups of students to erupt into a violent brawl.Although Binqing tries to retreat from the fight, someone targets him because of his race, forcing Binqing to dodge a punch and kick the attacker in the stomach before escaping.When campus security approaches, Reggie Duran flees with Binqing and Colin Myravitch, while Clyde Brandy makes a throat-slitting gesture and threatens that Colin Myravitch will be next.After they get away, Colin Myravitch rages about Clyde Brandy’s death threat and suggests revenge, but Reggie Duran slaps him back to his senses before he can do something criminal.Once Colin Myravitch storms off, Reggie Duran apologizes to Binqing for pulling him into trouble and worries that Binqing could have faced serious consequences if caught fighting.Binqing reassures Reggie Duran that he was not hurt, though he privately feels relieved that he avoided a black eye because Leo Lawrence would have reacted badly.In the aftermath, no student is punished for the brawl, but Quentin Jackson becomes the unofficial source of police information because his father, Sergeant Trevor Jackson, is involved in the case.Quentin Jackson tells other students that police believe the Marquam Nature Park murder and the campus murder were committed by the same person because both scenes involved rose-like petals as the killer’s signature.He further explains that the suspected killer appears to target homosexual men of color, with the violence suggesting a white supremacist and homophobic motive.When another student jokes that Colin Myravitch and Clyde Brandy fit the possible killer-victim pattern perfectly, Reggie Duran and Binqing share an uneasy moment about spoken words becoming a bad omen.Fourteen days later, that ominous feeling proves justified when Colin Myravitch is found dead along the Willamette, becoming the third known victim linked to the same killer.At the morgue, Officer Lopez grieves over Colin Myravitch’s young age while Thea Mitchell tells Sergeant Trevor Jackson that Oregon now appears to have another serial killer following the Freeway Killer.The forensic scientist Doug reports that Colin Myravitch died from internal bleeding and organ damage caused by multiple puncture wounds, with an additional stake through the mouth and rose petals matching the earlier case.Because Clyde Brandy had publicly fought with and threatened Colin Myravitch, Sergeant Trevor Jackson identifies him as a suspect, noting his history of racist, homophobic behavior and prior offenses hidden by family influence.Although Clyde Brandy lacks a solid alibi and physical evidence links his damaged diamond watch to Colin Myravitch’s injury, Sergeant Trevor Jackson admits Clyde Brandy’s powerful family and lawyer made the case difficult for local police.In response, Thea Mitchell decides the FBI will act where the PPB hesitates and orders Clyde Brandy’s arrest.Clyde Brandy’s arrest shocks the community, and media coverage quickly frames him as the Campus Killer and Rose Butcher while public opinion turns against his wealthy family.Back at the apartment, Binqing reads the newspaper and tells Leo Lawrence that he does not believe Clyde Brandy is the killer, though he admits he has no proof yet.When Leo Lawrence dismisses Binqing’s suspicion as a hunch, Binqing declares he will find evidence, prompting Leo Lawrence to forbid him from getting involved.Their disagreement turns tense as Binqing argues that Leo Lawrence is not his parent, while Leo Lawrence threatens to cancel Binqing’s enrollment and confine him to the apartment if he interferes.Leo Lawrence reinforces the threat by invoking Jasmine Lawrence and warning that he would kill Binqing if Binqing ever hurt her, forcing Binqing to promise he will keep his distance from the investigation.Despite that promise, Binqing later calls Leo Lawrence while Leo Lawrence is eating with Robby Owens and other agents at Umami Café, saying he has something important to discuss.When Binqing arrives, he lays out two bags of petals and explains that they are not ordinary roses but multiflora rose petals taken from two crime-related locations.Binqing argues that the police may have misunderstood the killer’s emotional message, explaining that ordinary roses and multiflora roses carry different symbolic feelings and that multiflora rose suggests a beautiful boy rather than a beautiful woman.Although Robby Owens lightly mocks the idea as subjective detective play, Dr. Clement becomes intrigued and realizes Binqing’s observation may inspire a new forensic angle.Suddenly energized, Dr. Clement leaves for the lab to run the weapons through spectroscopic analysis again, implying that Binqing’s insight may have uncovered a flaw in the current theory.Immediately afterward, Leo Lawrence drags Binqing out of the café and angrily confronts him for breaking his promise not to interfere.In his defense, Binqing says he could not stand by because he knew Colin Myravitch, remembered his living face and expression, and could not accept seeing him reduced to a mutilated corpse without trying to help.Hearing the pain in Binqing’s words, Leo Lawrence’s anger fades because he recognizes the same sleepless helplessness in himself.Still, Leo Lawrence warns Binqing that his trust has been damaged, says his involvement ends immediately, and threatens jail for obstruction if Binqing meddles again.Finally, Binqing understands that Leo Lawrence is not bluffing and agrees to keep his nose out of the investigation.

Chapter 4
A Sinister SoliloquyDr. Clement interrupts Thea Mitchell and Leo Lawrence with new forensic results from the stakes, revealing that spectroscopy found traces of semen on the stake used on the second victim, which proves the victim was sexually assaulted before or after death.Because the DNA from the semen does not match Clyde Brandy, Dr. Clement tells Thea Mitchell that the FBI has arrested the wrong person.As Thea Mitchell struggles with the implication, Dr. Clement explains that the finding contradicts the theory of an extreme homophobe killer and suggests the murderer may be gay, closeted, or unable to experience desire except through blood, corpses, and violence.This revelation makes Leo Lawrence remember Binqing’s earlier insistence that Clyde Brandy was not the killer, and Dr. Clement praises Binqing for pointing him toward the flower clue that led to the new forensic discovery.That evening, Leo Lawrence returns to the apartment and finds Binqing curled on the sofa with his notebook, prompting Leo Lawrence to reflect on how harshly he spoke to Binqing the previous day.After some hesitation, Leo Lawrence apologizes, and although Binqing accepts the apology, he pointedly asks whether he still has to keep his nose out of the case.In response, Leo Lawrence keeps the restriction in place but softens it by saying Binqing can still give his opinion, then reveals that Dr. Clement wants to speak with Binqing.Excited by the invitation, Binqing immediately forgives Leo Lawrence more enthusiastically and becomes overjoyed when Leo Lawrence offers to take him on a tour of the FBI office after class.Overcome with happiness, Binqing playfully punches Leo Lawrence in the chest, and Leo Lawrence jokes that Binqing is guilty of assaulting an officer before sentencing him to one hour of kitchen duty.The next day, Leo Lawrence takes Binqing to the FBI building, where Binqing behaves respectfully but cannot hide his curiosity and excitement.Once they reach Leo Lawrence’s office, Binqing notices the covered case materials on the wall and guesses they are related to the Green Cleaner, but Leo Lawrence’s expression makes it clear he does not want to discuss them.Soon after, Dr. Clement arrives, warmly greets Binqing, and is delighted when Binqing praises him as a top forensic psychology expert.Rather than interviewing Binqing alone, Dr. Clement asks Leo Lawrence to bring Robby Owens and Thea Mitchell so everyone can hear Binqing’s thoughts on the PSU serial killer.Once the group gathers, Dr. Clement summarizes the known facts and encourages Binqing to share his first instincts without worrying that his ideas will mislead the professionals.Gathering his courage, Binqing uses the translator and begins speaking from the killer’s point of view, bluntly saying that he is now the campus serial killer.As Binqing continues, he constructs a psychological profile of the killer as someone shaped by emotional abuse, possible physical or sexual abuse, a controlling mother, a neglectful or violent father, and childhood humiliation connected to masculinity and sexuality.From there, Binqing theorizes that the killer grew to fear women, desire men, resent male strength, and redirect sexual frustration into cruelty, beginning with animals before escalating to human victims.Binqing then imagines the killer’s first murder as a violent sexual awakening, where blood, pain, domination, and the victim’s death finally give the killer the control and arousal he could not find through normal sex or kink.As the monologue grows darker, Binqing’s expression and voice take on such a disturbing intensity that Thea Mitchell reaches toward her gun, Robby Owens backs toward the panic button, and Leo Lawrence tenses despite remaining seated.Meanwhile, Dr. Clement stays calm and fascinated, allowing Binqing to continue even as the room feels overtaken by the imagined killer’s twisted desire.Binqing concludes that after the first killing went unpunished, the murderer gained confidence, killed again, and began scattering multiflora rose petals as a personal flourish inspired by a victim’s request for flowers.When Leo Lawrence abruptly moves as if to stop the performance, Dr. Clement restrains him and praises Binqing’s empathy, saying Binqing’s profile overlaps with at least two-thirds of his own professional projection.Dr. Clement is so impressed that he offers to act as Binqing’s reference if Binqing ever wants to pursue forensic psychology, and Binqing modestly accepts.Almost immediately, Binqing snaps back to his usual clean and innocent demeanor, leaving Leo Lawrence unsettled by the sharp contrast between the harmless “pudding boy” he knows and the frighteningly perceptive analyst he just witnessed.Robby Owens admits that Binqing nearly scared him into drawing his gun, while Binqing apologizes and says he has trouble controlling himself once he starts.Dr. Clement then asks why Colin Myravitch showed no signs of sexual assault, and Binqing reasons that Colin Myravitch was never the killer’s real target but was chosen as a strategic victim to shift blame onto Clyde Brandy.Thea Mitchell immediately understands that Colin Myravitch was useful because his public brawl with Clyde Brandy made Clyde Brandy look like the obvious murderer.Next, Dr. Clement asks when Clyde Brandy should be released, and Binqing argues that releasing Clyde Brandy sooner would pressure the real killer into striking again to reinforce the frame-up.Binqing adds that the next victim would likely be someone connected to a conflict with Clyde Brandy, allowing law enforcement to monitor possible targets and catch the killer, though he admits the plan risks innocent lives if protection fails.After Binqing leaves, the agents hold a meeting where Thea Mitchell resists releasing Clyde Brandy because it could provoke another murder.Leo Lawrence counters that Clyde Brandy cannot remain in custody if he is innocent and suggests reducing the target pool by priming Clyde Brandy to retaliate against a specific Portland State University student.Horrified, Thea Mitchell realizes Leo Lawrence is willing to use an innocent person as bait, and she warns that any mistake could cost another life.Despite Thea Mitchell’s objections, Leo Lawrence insists the operation can work with constant surveillance, trackers, wires, and nonlethal arrest methods, because letting the killer disappear could lead to even more deaths.Robby Owens unexpectedly supports Leo Lawrence’s plan, leaving Thea Mitchell disappointed and furious enough to accuse Leo Lawrence of having a broken moral compass.Dr. Clement refuses to decide the field operation for them, so Thea Mitchell abstains while reserving the right to report the matter to headquarters.Afterward, Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens discuss the plan in the car, and Leo Lawrence reveals that Clyde Brandy quickly jumped to the conclusion that Quentin Jackson had informed on him, making Quentin Jackson the unavoidable bait.Because Sergeant Trevor Jackson would never agree to his son being used, Leo Lawrence decides not to tell him and orders Robby Owens to assemble a task force with surveillance, tracking, security shifts, a GPS tracker, and a wire.Once Clyde Brandy is released, media coverage erupts again, and Clyde Brandy smugly denies being the killer while publicly praising the Rose Butcher.The next day, Clyde Brandy and Quentin Jackson lead rival student groups into another campus brawl, resulting in both instigators being suspended for three days.Four days later, Quentin Jackson goes drinking with friends, including Reggie Duran, and eventually leaves the club after taking a phone call.As the FBI task force tracks Quentin Jackson, Leo Lawrence coordinates the operation and orders all units to keep Quentin Jackson in sight without revealing themselves.Near midnight, Quentin Jackson reaches the Portland State University Rec Center and enters the dark male locker room, where someone greets him from inside.Through Quentin Jackson’s wire, the FBI hears the hidden speaker reveal that Clyde Brandy has been lured there with a fake note from a cheerleading captain and locked inside a locker.The speaker then tells Quentin Jackson they can beat Clyde Brandy while wearing masks, but Leo Lawrence realizes the backpack Quentin Jackson is about to open is part of the trap and immediately orders every unit to move.FBI agents rush from hiding with guns drawn, but the killer grabs Quentin Jackson in a chokehold while holding a sharpened wooden stake.Because the agents are close enough, they fire rubber bullets and incapacitate the attacker long enough for Leo Lawrence to handcuff him and end the five-day operation.Under the flashlights, Leo Lawrence identifies the Rose Butcher as Reggie Duran, revealing that Binqing’s friendly school companion was the Portland State University serial killer all along.Even while in pain, Reggie Duran smiles defiantly and greets Leo Lawrence, saying Leo Lawrence arrived thirty minutes earlier than he expected.After Reggie Duran is taken away, agents open the locker and free Clyde Brandy, who rants at the police without fully understanding how close he came to being framed for Quentin Jackson’s murder.Leo Lawrence grabs Clyde Brandy and forces him to imagine being found beside Quentin Jackson’s mutilated body, making Clyde Brandy finally grasp that the sting saved him from a death sentence.Later at the Multnomah County Justice Center, Sergeant Trevor Jackson explodes with fury when he learns Leo Lawrence used Quentin Jackson as bait and nearly attacks Leo Lawrence for endangering his son.Leo Lawrence calmly apologizes for not warning Sergeant Trevor Jackson but insists the operation was the best chance to catch Reggie Duran and that every possible measure was taken to protect Quentin Jackson.When Sergeant Trevor Jackson asks how Leo Lawrence would feel if his own family had been used that way, Leo Lawrence answers without hesitation that he would be glad if it saved innocent lives.Sergeant Trevor Jackson is dragged away in rage, and Robby Owens tells Leo Lawrence that even if the plan was objectively right, most people cannot think objectively when someone they love is at risk.Rather than celebrate the arrest, Leo Lawrence immediately turns toward interrogating Reggie Duran, explaining that there are still hundreds of active serial killers and countless victims who may need help.Robby Owens gives up on the idea of rest once again, defeated by Leo Lawrence’s relentless drive for justice.

Chapter 5
Smell the RosesReggie Duran refuses to confess even after Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens spend a full day starving, exhausting, and pressuring him through interrogation.Instead of breaking, Reggie Duran calmly insists he is not guilty, demands a defense attorney, and reminds the agents that he knows his rights.When Robby Owens argues that Reggie Duran was caught red-handed, Reggie Duran counters that the sting only proves attempted injury against Quentin Jackson and false imprisonment against Clyde Brandy, not the three murders.As Robby Owens brings up the semen evidence, Reggie Duran twists it by claiming it only proves consensual sex with the second victim, not rape or murder.Likewise, Reggie Duran explains away the stakes and petals in his backpack by saying they could prove only that he was a Rose Butcher copycat planning to imitate the real killer.Frustrated by Reggie Duran’s smug legal evasions, Robby Owens storms out of the interview room and vents to Leo Lawrence behind the two-way mirror.Leo Lawrence stays calmer than Robby Owens and says Reggie Duran’s denial is ultimately useless because the evidence should still support charges for three murders, attempted murder, and false imprisonment.Even so, Robby Owens remains furious at the thought that Reggie Duran might exploit appeals, loopholes, and the legal system to delay punishment.In response, Robby Owens decides to make Reggie Duran’s conditions worse by withholding food and lowering the temperature, and Leo Lawrence quietly supports the harsher tactic.Two hours later, another agent reports that Reggie Duran is finally cold enough to consider confessing, but only if he can see Binqing Li.Leo Lawrence immediately refuses the request, but Robby Owens argues that a guarded meeting with Binqing Li might be worth it if it leads to a confession.Although Leo Lawrence compares the situation to leaving a younger family member alone with a serial killer, Robby Owens points out that Binqing Li is an adult who deserves to make his own choice.After Leo Lawrence calls Binqing Li, Binqing Li eagerly agrees to come to the precinct, proving that Leo Lawrence cannot simply decide for him.When Binqing Li arrives, he rushes to Leo Lawrence and asks whether Reggie Duran is truly the serial killer, still searching Leo Lawrence’s face for any sign that the conclusion might be wrong.Leo Lawrence explains that Binqing Li’s own idea led them to surveil Quentin Jackson and catch Reggie Duran in the act.Because of that confirmation, Binqing Li admits he had suspected Reggie Duran but did not want to believe it because Reggie Duran was his friend.Even with that pain, Binqing Li insists on seeing Reggie Duran because, in his heart, Reggie Duran is still his friend for the moment.Leo Lawrence finally gives in and brings Binqing Li to the interview room, where Reggie Duran brightens with excitement as soon as Binqing Li enters.As Binqing Li sits across from him, he notices that Reggie Duran looks cold and exhausted, while Reggie Duran says he feels better just because Binqing Li is there.Reggie Duran then demands to speak with Binqing Li alone, but Leo Lawrence refuses and warns him not to push his luck.When Reggie Duran threatens to stay silent unless he gets privacy, Robby Owens pulls Leo Lawrence outside and argues that Reggie Duran may be looking for someone like a priest to confess to.Leo Lawrence still objects because Reggie Duran has murdered and mutilated three men, and Leo Lawrence refuses to gamble with Binqing Li’s safety for a confession.However, Binqing Li steps in and asks for twenty minutes alone with Reggie Duran, promising Leo Lawrence that he will be careful.After a tense pause, Leo Lawrence agrees to the meeting but warns Binqing Li that manipulative criminals can bend people’s minds quickly.For privacy, Reggie Duran asks to speak in Sergeant Jackson’s office, and Leo Lawrence waits outside with barely concealed anxiety while counting down the minutes.When Binqing Li comes out, he appears outwardly normal, but Leo Lawrence immediately worries and asks what Reggie Duran said to him.Binqing Li only says Reggie Duran shared personal things that he likely does not want others to know, then reports that Reggie Duran will confess the next day after resting.Since Reggie Duran has finally promised to confess, Robby Owens orders him fed, locked up, and watched closely until morning.Later, Leo Lawrence drives Binqing Li home and gently asks whether Binqing Li wants to talk, but Binqing Li says he is only tired and needs sleep.Once alone in the bathroom, Binqing Li breaks down privately and submerges his face in the sink as Reggie Duran’s words replay in his mind.Through that memory, it is revealed that Reggie Duran told Binqing Li that Colin Myravitch was not supposed to be his target because Binqing Li was the one he truly wanted to decorate with stakes, hear crying, and use as his canvas.Nearly suffocating himself in the water, Binqing Li finally pulls his head up and stares at his drenched reflection, shaken by the knowledge that he had been Reggie Duran’s intended victim.That night, Reggie Duran is held in a single cell at Multnomah County Detention Center because of the severity of the charges against him.Just before midnight, Reggie Duran suddenly appears to have a seizure, convulsing and foaming badly enough that the correctional officers decide to move him to the medical clinic.In the clinic, Dr. Jenny Lopez examines Reggie Duran while Officer Amanda Lopez happens to arrive after returning Dr. Jenny Lopez’s forgotten phone.Dr. Jenny Lopez says Reggie Duran may have had an epileptic seizure and should stay overnight for observation, while the correctional officers are reluctant to keep him restrained because another seizure could cause injury and liability.After Dr. Jenny Lopez suggests that Officer Amanda Lopez can stay with her, the correctional officers leave Reggie Duran in the clinic instead of guarding him closely.Once they are alone, Officer Amanda Lopez looks at Reggie Duran with tears because his features remind her of her dead son Julio.This resemblance becomes Reggie Duran’s opportunity, and by morning the Justice Center learns that he manipulated Officer Amanda Lopez, escaped his restraints, assaulted her, restrained Dr. Jenny Lopez, stole sedative, changed into a police uniform, and walked out.When Leo Lawrence receives the call about Reggie Duran’s escape, he rushes to the Justice Center and immediately orders searches of CCTV footage, Reggie Duran’s home, his possible contacts, and roadblocks around the city.Before long, police locate Reggie Duran’s suburban safe house, a white two-story home surrounded by blooming multiflora roses.During the search, law enforcement discovers horrifying souvenirs from Reggie Duran’s crimes, including a bloodstained stake, a lighter, body parts, and a ring made from a victim’s vertebra.These trophies reveal that the body found in Marquam Nature Park may not have been Reggie Duran’s first victim and that more victims may still remain undiscovered.Then Leo Lawrence finds a polished bronze box containing seven photographs of attractive young men, with the fifth and sixth photographs matching known victims.When Leo Lawrence reaches the seventh photograph, he is horrified to see Binqing Li smiling on the Portland State University campus, confirming that Binqing Li was Reggie Duran’s intended seventh victim.The discovery terrifies Leo Lawrence so deeply that he screams Binqing Li’s name and bolts from the house while Robby Owens follows in alarm.As they speed away, Leo Lawrence explains that they wrongly assumed Reggie Duran would flee, when a defiant psychopath like Reggie Duran would more likely strike again to get revenge.Robby Owens realizes the target could be Binqing Li because Reggie Duran may now be driven by his deepest desire rather than self-preservation.Leo Lawrence cannot reach Binqing Li’s phone, so he has Robby Owens call Selena to locate it while he drives toward Portland at reckless speed.Selena soon reports that Binqing Li’s phone location is unavailable, likely because the battery was removed or the device was destroyed, worsening Robby Owens’s fear for Leo Lawrence’s mental state.After finding no one at the apartment, Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens rush to Portland State University and question Wayne, who says Binqing Li came to class late but does not know where he went afterward.A Chinese student then reports seeing Binqing Li take a phone call and leave with his backpack about an hour earlier, giving Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens their first clue.Outside the classroom, Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens reason that Reggie Duran must have used something emotionally convincing to lure Binqing Li without making him call the police.Robby Owens suggests Reggie Duran may have faked suicidal distress or confessed love to Binqing Li, and although Leo Lawrence reacts angrily, Robby Owens insists Reggie Duran seemed infatuated with Binqing Li beyond ordinary predatory desire.With no solid leads, Leo Lawrence imagines how Binqing Li might leave him a hint and suddenly rushes back into the classroom to search Binqing Li’s desk.There, Leo Lawrence finds the words “big black walnut” written in black ink inside the desk, which points him toward the large black walnut tree on campus.After searching around the black walnut tree, Robby Owens finds Binqing Li’s broken BlackBerry hidden among the bushes, confirming that Binqing Li managed to leave another clue.When Leo Lawrence reassembles the phone, he finds a ninety-second recording that captured Reggie Duran begging Binqing Li to talk and admitting that he had threatened to throw an unconscious girl from a rooftop to keep Binqing Li from calling police.The recording also reveals that Reggie Duran lured Binqing Li to a place Binqing Li had wanted to visit but never had anyone to go with, and Leo Lawrence immediately realizes they went to the Rose Garden.Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens race to the Portland International Rose Test Garden, where backup is still on the way and the overpowering scent of flowers makes the search harder.Eventually, they smell blood near the garden’s edge, and Leo Lawrence pushes into the thicket, ignoring scratches across his face and neck in his panic to find Binqing Li.Inside the thicket, they find a naked mutilated corpse stabbed with freshly picked thorny multiflora rose stems, and Leo Lawrence nearly collapses before flipping the body over.To Leo Lawrence’s overwhelming relief, the corpse is not Binqing Li but Reggie Duran, who has been killed in the same manner as his own victims.Robby Owens realizes the killing matches the Green Cleaner’s signature and says Reggie Duran’s body is still warm, meaning the Green Cleaner may not be far away.However, Leo Lawrence ignores the chance to chase the Green Cleaner and focuses entirely on finding Binqing Li nearby.Within minutes, Leo Lawrence and Robby Owens find Binqing Li unconscious beneath a tree, and Leo Lawrence drops beside him in terror before confirming that Binqing Li still has a pulse.Leo Lawrence gathers Binqing Li into his arms and calls urgently for an ambulance, prioritizing Binqing Li’s survival above everything else.At OHSU Hospital, a doctor tells Leo Lawrence that Binqing Li has regained consciousness but shows signs of concussion, including headache, nausea, vertigo, light sensitivity, fatigue, and blunt force trauma to the back of the head.Fortunately, the MRI shows no dangerous hematoma, so the doctor expects Binqing Li to recover with rest and a short hospital stay.The doctor also warns Leo Lawrence that Binqing Li has post-traumatic amnesia and does not remember the events leading to the injury, so questioning should wait until he rests.Inside the hospital room, Leo Lawrence watches Binqing Li sleeping under the painkillers and quietly tucks him in before leaving, acting like a silent guardian.Later, Thea Mitchell visits Binqing Li with lilies, kisses his cheek, and teases him while checking how he is recovering.As they talk, Thea Mitchell explains that Leo Lawrence expresses affection through control and warns Binqing Li that he may need to push back when Leo Lawrence makes decisions for him.Thea Mitchell then gives Binqing Li a Chinese copy of Xin Mo that had belonged to Reggie Duran and was meant for Binqing Li, revealing that Leo Lawrence had taken and hidden it at his desk.Binqing Li remembers telling Reggie Duran he wanted that book in Chinese, and the fact that Reggie Duran remembered and obtained it leaves Binqing Li with complicated grief.After Thea Mitchell leaves, Binqing Li flips through the book and finds a withered crimson multiflora rose pressed between the pages.Along with the rose, Binqing Li discovers a graphite drawing of thorn-covered gates sealing a bleeding bound man and two lines of Latin beneath it.When Leo Lawrence arrives, Binqing Li asks what the Latin means, and Leo Lawrence translates it as Reggie Duran saying that a monster lives in his heart and asking Binqing Li to become the thorn and vine that seals it away forever.Overcome with tears, Binqing Li realizes the book was Reggie Duran’s last cry for help and blames himself for not understanding sooner.To comfort him, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing Li about another serial killer who believed love had saved him, only to later murder the woman he called his soulmate.Through that story, Leo Lawrence explains that serial killers kill because their desire demands it, and once their inner demon breaks free, love, remorse, and punishment cannot truly restrain it again.Leo Lawrence firmly tells Binqing Li that there was nothing he could have done to save Reggie Duran because serial killers pass the point of no return once they spill their first victim’s blood.Accepting that painful truth, Binqing Li repeats the idea back, gives Leo Lawrence the book to dispose of, and lets the withered rose crumble in his hand.

Part II: The Deep Blue Debacle

Chapter 6
Black and WhiteA shadowed chess game begins with two unseen players moving white and black pieces, and the captured pawn signals that a deadly contest has begun.Meanwhile, Leo Lawrence, Robby Simons, and Binqing arrive in sweltering Chicago after leaving Portland, and Robby Simons immediately complains about the heat.After landing, Leo Lawrence meets Agent Murphy from the Chicago field office and immediately asks about nearby ESL programs for Binqing, showing that Binqing’s schooling remains a priority even during a new case.Agent Murphy explains that Loyola should work well for Binqing’s classes, and Leo Lawrence arranges to send over Binqing’s information for registration.Soon afterward, Agent Murphy drives them to a beautiful lakeside house that will serve as their accommodation, though he reveals it once belonged to the Ferrins, an illegal arms-dealing family killed in a violent takedown.Once they settle in, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing he and Robby Simons must go to the office, and Binqing quickly guesses that another serious case, possibly another serial killer, has brought them to Chicago.Robby Simons answers what Leo Lawrence avoids, telling Binqing that three law enforcement officers have been killed in two weeks.Left alone at the house, Binqing explores the property and then studies a city map to locate the nearest supermarket.At the FBI Chicago field office, Alfred Bergman introduces himself as the SSA in charge of the Chessman Killer case and begins briefing Leo Lawrence and Robby Simons.Alfred Bergman explains that Officer Sean Geraghty was killed during a traffic stop when the driver slit his throat, and a white chess pawn was later found in his pocket.He then describes how Officer Raymond Bidwell was shot outside the 1st District building, with a black pawn found in his jacket pocket, linking the second murder to the first.Continuing the briefing, Alfred Bergman says Kevin Hawkins, a correctional officer at USP Thomson, was shot in the head by a sniper, and an anonymous letter later delivered another black pawn.As Leo Lawrence studies the chess pieces, he notices their unusual texture and suggests they may be made from human bone rather than ivory.This possibility unsettles Alfred Bergman, who agrees to send the pieces back to forensics for material analysis.Afterward, Robby Simons voices concern that the killer seems like both a souvenir-collecting psychopath and a trained professional.Leo Lawrence then asks Agent Murphy to take them to the crime scenes, beginning the on-site investigation.While Leo Lawrence moves from one crime scene to another, the Chessman Killer strikes again, this time murdering DEA deputy administrator Jason Voight in his office with a fountain pen and leaving a white knight in the blood.As the fourth killing throws Chicago into panic, the media swarms the FBI and CPD, while serial-killer enthusiasts online begin treating the Chessman Killer like a new idol.Because of the media frenzy, Leo Lawrence is forced to wear sunglasses and a cold expression while pushing past reporters outside the field office.In the SUV, Robby Simons complains that he would rather hunt murderers than deal with journalists, especially after one ruined his dinner reservation.Leo Lawrence teases Robby Simons by saying he has Binqing’s Chinese cooking waiting at home, which makes Robby Simons realize Leo Lawrence has been selfishly keeping good food to himself.That evening, Binqing prepares several Chinese dishes and adds kung pao chicken for Robby Simons, who devours the meal and declares he will return for dinner whenever he is not working late.After the meal, Robby Simons jokes that Leo Lawrence should remind him to marry a nice Chinese girl, but Leo Lawrence warns him that women from Binqing’s hometown may expect men to do housework.Later, the task force reviews the case and grows frustrated because the killer has left almost no usable witnesses, footage, or physical evidence.When morale drops, Leo Lawrence reminds the agents that no murder is truly traceless and orders everyone to reexamine every crime scene, object, vehicle, camera, witness, and overlooked detail as many times as necessary.That night, Leo Lawrence returns home exhausted but cannot sleep, and the Green Cleaner composites on his wall continue haunting him like predators watching from the dark.While heading to the kitchen for a beer, Leo Lawrence notices light under Binqing’s door and finds Binqing awake with newspaper clippings arranged like an evidence board.Seeing that Binqing has built his own investigation wall about the Chicago killings, Leo Lawrence sternly tells him not to get involved in police work.Binqing pushes back, saying investigation is his passion and that Leo Lawrence has no right to take it away when Binqing has not obstructed the official case.The argument intensifies when Leo Lawrence brings up Reggie Duran and says Binqing’s reckless choices nearly got him mutilated, almost admitting that it would have broken his own heart before changing it to Jasmine Lawrence’s heart.Binqing apologizes for breaking his promise but explains that Leo Lawrence should understand the irresistible inner craving to act when something matters deeply.Leo Lawrence then says he may have been wrong to look after Binqing because his work is dangerous, but Binqing argues that danger finds him regardless and that people often mistake him for someone easy to exploit.When Binqing offers to move out and pursue forensic psychology through school and Dr. Clement’s recommendation, Leo Lawrence realizes he absolutely does not want Binqing joining the FBI.As a compromise, Leo Lawrence allows Binqing to pursue his interest only as long as he stays out of FBI business and limits himself to giving “two cents.”Immediately encouraged, Binqing shows Leo Lawrence a chessboard and explains that he has been studying the media reports for days.Binqing’s first major theory is that the Chessman case involves not one killer but two killers.To support this, Binqing points out that black pieces follow gun-related deaths while white pieces follow fatal neck injuries, suggesting two different players using different methods.Building on that idea, Binqing theorizes that the killers are competing like chess players, with Chicago as the board and law enforcement victims as the pieces.Binqing further explains that the pawns correspond to lower-ranking officers while the knight corresponds to a higher-ranking DEA official, meaning the chess pieces may reflect each victim’s rank in the law enforcement system.Leo Lawrence realizes that if Binqing is correct, the FBI is facing two professional serial killers whose skill and precision make them far more dangerous than ordinary killers.Binqing also notices the intervals between murders, one day, eight days, and three days, and wonders whether those numbers form a hidden pattern.Frustrated by the limits of public information, Binqing grabs Leo Lawrence’s shoulders and says he needs confidential crime-scene details, autopsy reports, and evidence to analyze the case properly.The closeness unsettles Leo Lawrence, who becomes aware of Binqing’s touch and his own unusual physical reaction before pulling back.Instead of giving Binqing direct access, Leo Lawrence tells him to create a profile first, promising to pass it to the official profiler and consider taking him to the office only if the profiler finds it useful.Binqing is thrilled and immediately wants to begin, but Leo Lawrence stops him and orders him to get eight hours of sleep before working on the profile.Before sleeping, Binqing notices Leo Lawrence’s dark circles and gently tells him to rest too, revealing concern for Leo Lawrence’s health beneath their earlier argument.After Leo Lawrence leaves, Binqing says “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite,” and the simple English phrase makes Leo Lawrence pause at the door.Back in his own room, Leo Lawrence reflects on his chronic insomnia, the return of his anxiety, and his increasing reliance on unlabeled pills.Wanting dreamless sleep, Leo Lawrence takes four pills instead of two and trusts the drugs to keep away the Chessman Killers, the Green Cleaner, and the ghost that haunts him.The next day at the FBI Chicago field office shooting range, Leo Lawrence completes a moving-target hostage drill with perfect accuracy and breaks the FBI system record, then refuses to save the result.As Leo Lawrence leaves, Antonio Souza Castilho calls out to him, forcing Leo Lawrence to face the brutal former underground fighter who once tormented him during training in New York.Antonio Souza Castilho, known as the Chariot of Death, is revealed to be a former undefeated underground fighter turned FBI combat instructor after surviving the collapse of his fighting career.Their past resurfaces as Leo Lawrence remembers how Antonio Souza Castilho mocked his looks, challenged him during training, and drove him to push himself harder in hand-to-hand combat.The tension erupts when Leo Lawrence tries to leave but suddenly attacks Antonio Souza Castilho, launching a rapid sequence of kicks that forces the larger man to defend seriously.Despite Leo Lawrence’s improved skill, Antonio Souza Castilho overwhelms him with superior combat ability, striking his chin and showing he could seriously injure or kill him if he wished.Antonio Souza Castilho taunts Leo Lawrence by comparing his survival time to other fighters, but Leo Lawrence strikes back verbally by mentioning Antonio Souza Castilho’s loss to the Fiend.The remark unsettles Antonio Souza Castilho because his defeat remains a deep humiliation tied to the brutal underground world that shaped him.After escaping Antonio Souza Castilho’s final grab, Leo Lawrence showers, changes, and reminds himself that hand-to-hand combat and Antonio Souza Castilho are not central to his life or career.Comforted by his Glock 18, which he calls Glen, Leo Lawrence decides he trusts his firearm more than any grappling technique.When Leo Lawrence returns to the office, he is surprised to find Binqing there playing chess with Emily after finishing his profile.Leo Lawrence immediately questions how Binqing got inside, and Binqing explains that Robby Simons brought him in before asking Leo Lawrence not to treat him like a suspect.Softening, Leo Lawrence apologizes for being in work mode and takes Binqing’s profile to the official profiler.Before leaving, Leo Lawrence warns Binqing not to get too close to Emily because her complicated romantic history could bring trouble from a jealous ex.After Leo Lawrence exits, Robby Simons jokes that Binqing should stand up to Leo Lawrence’s controlling behavior, but Binqing says Leo Lawrence is only trying to protect family.Robby Simons then sits down to play chess with Binqing, casually asking how many moves it will take him to lose.That single word, “moves,” suddenly makes Binqing realize that the murder intervals one, eight, and three may refer to chess moves rather than dates alone.Excited by the breakthrough, Binqing grabs Robby Simons and urgently asks where the profiling team is because he needs to find Leo Lawrence.

Chapter 7
Death Knocks on Your WindowBinqing nearly rushes to tell Leo Lawrence his new theory, but he stops himself because he feels the pattern is still unconfirmed and thinks they may need one or two more chess pieces to be certain.Robby Simons realizes with discomfort that Binqing is calmly thinking of future victims as data points needed to complete the pattern, though Binqing looks innocently focused rather than cold-hearted.Before Robby Simons can dwell on that uneasy feeling, Binqing receives Leo Lawrence’s call and happily says Leo Lawrence wants him to come over, likely because the FBI liked his profile.Robby Simons dismisses his earlier concern as a hangover effect and escorts Binqing to Agent Wysocki’s office.In the forensics section, Agent Wysocki enthusiastically discusses the Chessman Killer case with Binqing and repeatedly invites him to help with the analysis.Watching Binqing and Agent Wysocki connect, Robby Simons notices Leo Lawrence looking both proud and worried, then compares Leo Lawrence’s reaction to an overprotective brother meeting a sibling’s first girlfriend.Leo Lawrence denies being overprotective and insists Binqing should be studying, gaming, or spending time with Jasmine Lawrence instead of chasing serial killers and witnessing gore.Robby Simons warns Leo Lawrence that Binqing is not a doll to control and that trying to force him away from his talents will only backfire.After the discussion, Leo Lawrence gets Binqing an intern-style building pass, which gives Binqing limited FBI access and fills him with obvious excitement.From then on, Leo Lawrence adjusts Binqing’s English lessons to mornings and evenings so Binqing can spend afternoons at the FBI building working with Agent Wysocki.Eleven days after Jason Voight’s death, the fifth victim is killed when a U.S. Marshal transporting a convict outside the Dirksen Federal Building is shot in the back of the head.As with earlier firearm murders, a black pawn is found in the U.S. Marshal’s jacket pocket, confirming the Chessman pattern has continued.The next day, the sixth victim dies when a CPD motorcycle officer is thrown by a sudden chain across the road and then has his neck violently broken.Because this killing matches the cold-weapon pattern, another white pawn is left behind.With two rapid murders in a row, law enforcement pressure intensifies, and Leo Lawrence spends the next three days barely sleeping or eating while the task force struggles for leads.Forensics identifies the U.S. Marshal’s bullet as a 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge, while a shoe print from the patrol officer’s murder suggests a massive attacker between six-foot-two and six-foot-six and weighing 250 to 270 pounds.Meanwhile, Binqing and Agent Wysocki form a breakthrough theory, and Binqing calls Leo Lawrence while Leo Lawrence is driving toward USP Thomson to inspect a possible sniper vantage point.Binqing explains that the intervals between murders also match the number of chess moves between captures in a famous chess game.He reveals that the killers are reenacting the 1997 game between Deep Blue and Garry Kasparov, making the case a symbolic battle of man versus machine, natural versus artificial, blades versus guns.Leo Lawrence understands that black pieces left after shootings are captured by the white player, while white pieces left after blade or physical killings are captured by the black player.Binqing then warns that the historic chess game has three more captures remaining and that the next one should be a white bishop, due today.Although Binqing cannot identify the next target, Leo Lawrence praises him for the analysis and tells him to leave the fieldwork to the agents.Just after Binqing tells Leo Lawrence to be careful, Leo Lawrence’s SUV suddenly suffers a blown tire, forcing him to pull off the road.When Leo Lawrence finds a caltrop embedded in the tire, he realizes the breakdown was a trap, but the attacker strikes before Leo Lawrence can fully react.The assailant yanks Leo Lawrence’s ankles out from under him, knocks away his Glock, and removes his backup weapon, leaving Leo Lawrence injured and disarmed.During the fight, Leo Lawrence sees enough of the masked attacker’s size, eyes, and skill to realize he is likely the killer of white pieces and that Leo Lawrence himself has become the white bishop.Leo Lawrence tries to fight back with kicks, but the attacker’s strength and technique are overwhelming, and Leo Lawrence suffers knife wounds to his ankle and back.Knowing he cannot win directly, Leo Lawrence uses dirt to distract the attacker and lunges for his gun.Once Leo Lawrence recovers the Glock and fires, the masked attacker abandons the attack and disappears into the tall corn, proving he is careful enough to retreat when the advantage is gone.Injured but alive, Leo Lawrence bandages himself roughly, drives onward instead of returning to Chicago, and seeks help at the Thomson Fire Department.Since the village has no proper clinic, a receptionist who has watched her nurse husband practice sutures volunteers to stitch Leo Lawrence’s knife wounds.By dusk, Leo Lawrence returns to the FBI building with his wounds cleaned, stitched, and dressed, though he is still in pain.Antonio Souza Castilho smells Leo Lawrence’s blood and mocks him, but Leo Lawrence responds with open hostility.When Leo Lawrence mentions that the attacker’s knife style, amber eyes, and strength reminded him of Antonio Souza Castilho, Antonio Souza Castilho grows serious.After Leo Lawrence describes the burn scar on the attacker’s hand, Antonio Souza Castilho identifies the likely suspect as Saar Alon, also known as the Fiend.Antonio Souza Castilho explains that Saar Alon is a former underground fighting champion who once defeated him and later fled after losing his own title to Alex Chan.With this identification, Saar Alon becomes the prime suspect in the Chessman Killer case, though Leo Lawrence warns that there is still a second player to catch.Soon after, Binqing bursts into the office and anxiously questions Leo Lawrence in Chinese about whether he is hurt, how badly he is hurt, and why he is still working.Seeing Binqing’s worry, Leo Lawrence softens and admits the injury is on his lower back.Binqing gently touches the bandage and winces as if he can feel Leo Lawrence’s pain himself, then insists Leo Lawrence must rest until he recovers.Trying to care for him, Binqing promises to make blackfish and peanut soup because Chinese medicine says it helps injuries heal faster.Leo Lawrence reacts with mild distaste toward Chinese medicine but is visibly touched until Binqing mentions that he once made the soup for Jasmine Lawrence.The reminder of Jasmine Lawrence makes Leo Lawrence’s expression stiffen, and Binqing notices the shift without understanding what caused it.Then Alfred Bergman enters and expresses concern that the killers have marked Leo Lawrence as a target.Alfred Bergman suggests assigning Leo Lawrence round-the-clock security, but Leo Lawrence refuses, saying Robby Simons is enough.When Alfred Bergman proposes Antonio Souza Castilho as additional protection, Leo Lawrence reacts furiously and rejects the idea outright.Because Antonio Souza Castilho is unacceptable to Leo Lawrence, Alfred Bergman instead assigns Agent Murphy to accompany Leo Lawrence and Robby Simons.As the night grows late, Leo Lawrence tells Binqing to leave and asks Alfred Bergman to arrange a secure ride for him.Binqing realizes Leo Lawrence and Robby Simons will not return to the house because Leo Lawrence fears the killers may try again and does not want to endanger him.Distressed, Binqing clutches Leo Lawrence’s arm and asks him to promise that he will protect himself and not get hurt again.Leo Lawrence wants to comfort Binqing more openly but can only smile politely in front of the others and promise both Binqing and Jasmine Lawrence that he will be careful.Reassured by Leo Lawrence’s promise, Binqing tells him to do what he must and keep calling because Binqing’s phone will stay open twenty-four hours a day.Over the next few days, Binqing only sees Leo Lawrence and Robby Simons at the FBI building, leaving him lonely enough to stop cooking proper dinners and survive on noodles instead.Even so, Binqing brings medicinal soup for Leo Lawrence at lunch, and Robby Simons envies Leo Lawrence while joking again that he needs a Chinese wife.One day, lunch is interrupted when Leo Lawrence receives a report of Saar Alon sighted in Englewood driving a silver Range Rover Evoque.Leo Lawrence, Robby Simons, and Agent Murphy head to Englewood to interview the person who reported the sighting.As they drive through Englewood, the neighborhood’s poverty, violence, drug use, and despair weigh heavily on the scene, especially for Agent Murphy, who grew up there.When a basketball hits the windshield as a prank, Robby Simons nearly reacts with his gun before awkwardly worrying that his comment about the neighborhood sounded racist.Agent Murphy stiffly explains that he was born and raised in Englewood and might have ended up on the streets if his mother had not been injured by a ricochet bullet during a drive-by.Robby Simons apologizes and expresses respect for Agent Murphy, creating a heavy silence in the SUV.Before Agent Murphy can respond, a bullet pierces the driver-side window and hits Agent Murphy in the temple, killing him instantly.With Agent Murphy dead at the wheel, the SUV veers out of control, smashes through metal gates, and crashes into an abandoned depot property.Amid the chaos, Leo Lawrence shouts for Robby Simons to hit the brakes, and Robby Simons manages to force Agent Murphy’s leg down until the smoking SUV finally stops among wooden crates.After the crash, silence abruptly replaces the violence, leaving Leo Lawrence and Robby Simons in a stunned moment of aftermath beside Agent Murphy’s body.

Chapter 8
The Fiend and the RangerLeo Lawrence regains awareness after the crash and immediately hears Robby Simons groaning in pain beside him.As Robby Simons explains what happened, Leo Lawrence learns that the bullet passed through Agent Murphy’s head and lodged in Robby Simons’s shoulder blade, leaving Robby Simons wounded, horrified, and covered in Agent Murphy’s remains.Although guilt threatens to overwhelm Leo Lawrence because Agent Murphy was driving in his place, Leo Lawrence forces himself to focus on survival instead of blame.After confirming Robby Simons can still move, Leo Lawrence escapes the damaged SUV, smashes the jammed window, and helps Robby Simons crawl out from under Agent Murphy’s body.With Robby Simons bleeding heavily, Leo Lawrence orders him to call for backup, find a back exit, and take shelter while Leo Lawrence covers him.Soon after, Leo Lawrence spots an armed attacker outside the hole in the wall and exchanges fire, forcing the enemy back long enough for Robby Simons to retreat.Before leaving, Robby Simons drops his spare ammunition for Leo Lawrence, showing that he trusts Leo Lawrence to hold the attackers off alone.Once Robby Simons is gone, Leo Lawrence listens for the approaching enemy, then uses an offensive grenade to clear space and make a run for the same exit.Just as Leo Lawrence reaches the rusty door Robby Simons left open, a metal shelf crashes down and blocks the exit, revealing that the escape route was an ambush.Immediately afterward, Saar Alon attacks Leo Lawrence with brutal martial skill, exploiting Leo Lawrence’s reopened back wound and overwhelming him with kicks and punches.As Leo Lawrence collapses under the beating, Saar Alon removes his balaclava and mocks him for issuing the warrant against him.Then the second killer, Martin, appears wounded from the grenade blast, revealing himself as the shooter who killed Agent Murphy and accidentally hit Robby Simons.Martin wants to execute Leo Lawrence immediately, but Saar Alon stops him because, according to their rules, it is Saar Alon’s turn after Martin failed to kill the intended target earlier.Since Martin accepts the rules of their deadly game, Saar Alon decides to take Leo Lawrence alive and make his death more elaborate.After knocking Leo Lawrence unconscious again, Martin lets Saar Alon carry Leo Lawrence away from the depot.Not long after, FBI SWAT, CPD, armored vehicles, ambulances, and other law enforcement units arrive at the abandoned property, but Leo Lawrence has already been abducted.Nearby, a hooded man in a Ford watches the response and calls a hacker named Spinner, requesting exact coordinates for a man abducted by two men in a silver Range Rover Evoque.During the call, the hooded man reveals that Spinner secretly has access to public surveillance in major American cities through NetSpion, and he pays whatever price is needed to track Leo Lawrence urgently.Five minutes later, the hooded man receives an address and drives away, showing that the abductors are now being tracked through the city’s cameras.When Leo Lawrence wakes again, he finds himself bound on bare concrete with paracord wrapped around his arms, torso, legs, and crotch so tightly that movement is nearly impossible.Pretending to remain unconscious, Leo Lawrence studies his captors and notices Martin’s Ranger tattoos, realizing the second killer is likely a former U.S. Army Ranger.Nearby, Martin painfully removes shrapnel from his wounds while Saar Alon teases him, confirming their familiarity and twisted partnership.After Saar Alon helps clean Martin’s wounds, the two killers go upstairs for supplies, leaving Leo Lawrence tied up because they believe he is too badly injured to escape.As soon as they leave, Leo Lawrence uses the chance to retrieve a hidden obsidian shard sewn into his pants, despite reopening his back wound and nearly blacking out from pain.With the obsidian shard, Leo Lawrence slowly cuts through the paracord, forcing himself through extreme pain because he would rather die escaping than be killed by serial killers.After freeing himself, Leo Lawrence checks his injuries, puts on his boots, and leaves the room to search for a way out.As Leo Lawrence explores the building, he discovers locked rooms and horrifying torture facilities, including padded rooms, acid vats, autopsy tables, quicklime pits, a torture chamber, a gas chamber, and a crematorium.Horrified by the building’s purpose, Leo Lawrence grows enraged at the thought that innocent people may have been tortured and murdered there.While stumbling through the strange hallway, Leo Lawrence accidentally triggers a trap, causing a huge metal ball to roll toward him.As the ball closes in and escape seems impossible, a mysterious man reaches down from a ceiling vent and orders Leo Lawrence to take his hand.Leo Lawrence grabs the man’s hand and is pulled into the duct just before the metal ball can crush him.Once safe in the vent, Leo Lawrence studies the stranger and realizes from the coldness in his eyes that he is face to face with GC, the Green Cleaner.The Green Cleaner greets Leo Lawrence almost playfully, while Leo Lawrence is stunned because he has spent over a year chasing him and now cannot immediately process the encounter.As they move through the ducts, the Green Cleaner explains that the entire building is booby-trapped and that the main control is in the master bedroom on the top floor.When Leo Lawrence asks where they are, the Green Cleaner reveals they are inside Holmes’ Murder Castle, a replica tied to H. H. Holmes and his infamous history of torture and murder.Leo Lawrence understands the building’s horrific legacy and realizes it is now sheltering Saar Alon and Martin more than a century after its namesake’s crimes.When Leo Lawrence asks why the Green Cleaner saved him, the Green Cleaner clarifies that saving Leo Lawrence is only a bonus and that he has come for his own “work.”Leo Lawrence tries to argue that hunting murderers is law enforcement’s responsibility, not the Green Cleaner’s, warning that the Green Cleaner is becoming the very thing he hunts.In reply, the Green Cleaner mocks the justice system as ineffective, corrupt, expensive, and morally hollow, insisting that killing murderers is more efficient than feeding them in prison.Although Leo Lawrence recognizes the Green Cleaner’s arguments as flawed, he also understands that the Green Cleaner’s speeches are likely masks hiding his real self.Leo Lawrence promises that he will catch the Green Cleaner one day and take him where he belongs, but the Green Cleaner laughs and says he will only enter prison if he chooses to check in himself.After leaving the duct, Leo Lawrence’s injuries worsen, and the Green Cleaner notices that he has lost too much blood and may soon go into shock.Despite Leo Lawrence’s suspicion, the Green Cleaner unzips his jacket, examines the reopened wound on his lower back, and treats it with hemostatic powder and elastic bandaging.The Green Cleaner also checks Leo Lawrence’s ribs and jaw, diagnosing likely fractures and telling him he needs urgent medical attention.To help Leo Lawrence escape, the Green Cleaner draws a simplified map on his jacket, marks the traps to avoid, and gives him a cell phone that will unlock after one hour.Leo Lawrence realizes the one-hour delay likely marks how long the Green Cleaner has allowed himself to kill Saar Alon and Martin, so he tries once more to convince him to leave the killers to the FBI.The Green Cleaner silences Leo Lawrence with a finger against his lips and tells him to save his strength because he wants Leo Lawrence to walk out on his own rather than be dragged out unconscious.Forced to accept that he cannot stop the Green Cleaner or fight Saar Alon and Martin in his condition, Leo Lawrence heads toward the escape route to contact law enforcement as soon as possible.After Leo Lawrence leaves, the Green Cleaner touches the realistic disguise on his face and reminds himself that serial killers and law enforcement are both his enemies, leaving no room for personal feelings.Finally, the Green Cleaner waits until Leo Lawrence is likely gone, then heads for the electrical room to shut off the generators and plunge Holmes’ Murder Castle into darkness for his own hunt.

Chapter 9
A Kiss in ScarletThe Green Cleaner waits in the dark after cutting the power, knowing either Saar Alon or Martin will come to the electrical room and hoping only one target appears.Within minutes, Saar Alon enters with a flashlight, an ATAK knife, and a handgun, giving the Green Cleaner the chance to isolate the more mobile killer while Martin remains wounded elsewhere.After Saar Alon finds the damaged cable and lowers his guard to repair it, the Green Cleaner ambushes him with a triple-edged knife.However, Saar Alon senses the attack in time, and the Green Cleaner’s blade misses his heart and sinks into his upper arm instead.As the fight begins, Saar Alon recognizes the Green Cleaner as another Chinese opponent and charges at him with brutal force.The Green Cleaner avoids direct confrontation because Saar Alon is much larger and stronger, relying instead on joint locks, vital strikes, and technique to survive.Even so, Saar Alon fights recklessly and absorbs injuries if it lets him land a hit, leaving the Green Cleaner badly damaged and close to hypovolemic shock.Just when the Green Cleaner’s body begins failing, Leo Lawrence intervenes by throwing a burning oil-soaked jacket at Saar Alon, triggering Saar Alon’s trauma around fire.Using that opening, Leo Lawrence attacks Saar Alon with Castilho’s signature-style kicks and knocks him down despite collapsing from his own injuries afterward.Seizing the chance Leo Lawrence creates, the Green Cleaner slams Saar Alon’s temple and then snaps his neck, killing the Fiend in the same gruesome style as one of his own victims.Afterward, Leo Lawrence accuses the Green Cleaner of killing Saar Alon, but the Green Cleaner counters that they killed him together and mocks the difference between legal force and murder.When Martin calls Saar Alon’s phone, the Green Cleaner impersonates Saar Alon’s voice perfectly and convinces Martin that everything is normal.Since Martin is still alive and dangerous, the Green Cleaner asks Leo Lawrence whether they should take him down together.Leo Lawrence insists Martin must be arrested, judged publicly, and sentenced properly, while the Green Cleaner agrees only if Martin surrenders.To prepare Leo Lawrence for the next fight, the Green Cleaner gives him Saar Alon’s FN Five-seven and explains that its restricted rounds can pierce Level III body armor.The Green Cleaner then cuts off Saar Alon’s thumb so they can bypass the fingerprint lock guarding the top-floor room.At the locked doors, the Green Cleaner uses powder, black light, a decoder, and Saar Alon’s severed thumb to open the entrance.Inside, Leo Lawrence and the Green Cleaner find no Martin, only the chessboard showing the white bishop captured and set aside as the symbol of Leo Lawrence’s near death.The sight of the white bishop unsettles Leo Lawrence, and the Green Cleaner briefly squeezes his shoulder in quiet encouragement.That small gesture makes Leo Lawrence feel an odd sense of familiarity, as if he may have met the Green Cleaner somewhere before under another face.Before Leo Lawrence can dwell on it, the Green Cleaner brings him back to the present and reminds him they still need to find Martin.Moments later, the lights go out, and Leo Lawrence and the Green Cleaner realize Martin has likely discovered something wrong and is now hunting them in the dark.Forced to move through the Murder Castle without proper visibility, Leo Lawrence and the Green Cleaner trade sharp jokes that briefly ease the tension between them.As they descend the stairs, Leo Lawrence accidentally kicks an empty can, giving away their position.Martin immediately opens fire, and Leo Lawrence rolls down the stairs to avoid the bullets despite the agony it causes his injuries.While pinned down, Leo Lawrence realizes Martin is using an MP5 and likely still has the advantage in the dark.To counter Martin’s possible night vision, Leo Lawrence throws a stun grenade and warns the Green Cleaner in Mandarin to close his eyes.The flashbang blinds Martin long enough for the Green Cleaner to shoot the MP5 from his hands and wound his leg.Before the Green Cleaner can finish Martin, Leo Lawrence rushes in, cuffs Martin, and declares that Martin is under arrest.The Green Cleaner points his gun at Martin’s head anyway, but Leo Lawrence aims at the Green Cleaner and reminds him of their agreement.After a tense standoff, the Green Cleaner lowers his weapon and gives Martin to Leo Lawrence.Leo Lawrence then urges the Green Cleaner to turn himself in, promising to testify about his help and ask for leniency.Rather than accept, the Green Cleaner challenges Leo Lawrence to either lower the gun or shoot him.Leo Lawrence admits he does not want to kill the Green Cleaner, even though he cannot simply let him go.The Green Cleaner argues that prison would destroy him, while Leo Lawrence insists people must face consequences and that prison exists to restrain the beast inside criminals.As the Green Cleaner counters that everyone has a beast inside, he notices Leo Lawrence has been shot in the thigh.The Green Cleaner examines the wound and decides to remove the bullet without using his arsenic-forged blade.In a startlingly intimate move, the Green Cleaner uses his teeth to pull the bullet from Leo Lawrence’s thigh.When the Green Cleaner looks up with Leo Lawrence’s blood staining his lips, Leo Lawrence is overwhelmed by pain, adrenaline, and attraction.Then the Green Cleaner kisses Leo Lawrence, and Leo Lawrence knows he should stop but does not, allowing the bloody kiss to deepen.During the kiss, the Green Cleaner secretly feeds Leo Lawrence a drug so Leo Lawrence will lose consciousness and avoid making another difficult choice.However, Leo Lawrence reveals that he handcuffed himself to the Green Cleaner and claims he lost the key during the fight.Leo Lawrence also reveals that he used the unlocked phone to dial a private FBI number, allowing law enforcement to trace the location.As Leo Lawrence passes out, the Green Cleaner realizes Leo Lawrence managed to checkmate him despite being injured and drugged.Instead of cutting off Leo Lawrence’s hand, the Green Cleaner dislocates his own thumb, slips free of the cuff, kisses Leo Lawrence’s head, and calls him “my lionheart.”The Green Cleaner considers killing Martin while Leo Lawrence is unconscious but ultimately lowers the gun and leaves Martin alive.When Leo Lawrence wakes, Robby Simons is calling his name, and Leo Lawrence immediately asks whether the Green Cleaner was caught.Robby Simons is stunned to learn that the Green Cleaner was there and even more shocked when Leo Lawrence shows the loose handcuff proving he had briefly caught him.As law enforcement escorts Martin out, Leo Lawrence notices the Murder Castle inscription quoting H. H. Holmes about being born with the devil in him.Robby Simons bitterly says a world without serial killers is cleaner while glaring at Martin, still furious over Agent Murphy’s death.Seconds later, a sniper bullet blows Martin’s head apart, revealing that the Green Cleaner has finished the Ranger from a distance after all.As everyone scrambles for cover, Robby Simons forces the wounded Leo Lawrence into a car and warns him not to play hero.Leo Lawrence is not surprised by Martin’s death, realizing he should have expected the Green Cleaner to complete his “eye for an eye” justice.At the same time, Leo Lawrence tries to dismiss the kiss with the Green Cleaner as an adrenaline-driven mistake he simply needs to forget.Later, Leo Lawrence wakes in the hospital after surgery, his face bandaged and his body dulled by pain medication.Binqing enters and immediately rushes to him, explaining that Leo Lawrence had surgery to fix his maxilla and should not speak yet.When Leo Lawrence writes that Binqing does not need to worry, Binqing becomes emotional and says Leo Lawrence should focus on himself after being hurt so badly.To comfort him, Leo Lawrence gently pulls Binqing down until their foreheads touch, silently assuring Binqing that he is alive and recovering.Binqing insists on staying at the hospital to help until Leo Lawrence is discharged and threatens to tell Jasmine Lawrence about all the injuries if Leo Lawrence refuses.After Binqing leaves to ask about food, Antonio Souza Castilho visits and mocks Leo Lawrence’s condition before asking how Saar Alon died.Leo Lawrence writes that he killed Saar Alon with Antonio Souza Castilho’s signature kick and that Saar Alon recognized it.Satisfied by that indirect revenge, Antonio Souza Castilho thanks Leo Lawrence sincerely and gives him a customized Victorinox Swiss Army knife as a get-well present.Later, Robby Simons visits and updates Leo Lawrence on Martin Shelley, explaining that Martin was a former 75th Ranger Regiment soldier who killed his wife’s police-officer lover after discovering the affair.Robby Simons adds that Martin Shelley met Saar Alon in an online chess room, and together they created the murderous chess game after Saar Alon could not forget the thrill of killing in the ring.As Robby Simons reflects on Agent Murphy’s death, he admits he is beginning to understand the Green Cleaner’s brutal karma even though Leo Lawrence knows the report will be difficult to write.Leo Lawrence decides he wants vacation leave, and after joking with Robby Simons, he settles on two months including sick leave.When Binqing returns with food, Robby Simons notices Binqing looks strange and learns Binqing fell on the stairs, though Binqing insists it is only bruises.Back in Leo Lawrence’s room, Binqing mentions that Robby Simons is easy to get along with and even adorable, which makes Leo Lawrence suspicious and briefly jealous.Leo Lawrence warns Binqing not to cheat on Jasmine Lawrence, but Binqing becomes embarrassed and insists he is not gay.Leo Lawrence feels relief followed by an unnamed unease, then changes the subject by telling Binqing he is taking two months of vacation.Binqing becomes excited and immediately imagines traveling together, arguing that Leo Lawrence can teach him English during the vacation instead of formal lessons.Unable to disappoint him, Leo Lawrence agrees, and Binqing happily focuses on making sure Leo Lawrence eats soft foods while recovering.While eating, Leo Lawrence considers omitting the Green Cleaner from his official report to avoid adding charges or implicating himself for letting him escape.Leo Lawrence then reflects that the Green Cleaner is not like ordinary killers because he is rational, brilliant, and potentially useful if guided away from violence.At the same time, Leo Lawrence knows the Green Cleaner could still fall deeper into bloodlust and become the same kind of monster he hunts.Finally, Leo Lawrence looks at Binqing quietly waiting beside him and thinks the Green Cleaner would be easier to save if he were as docile and sweet as his pudding boy, not noticing the possessiveness in that thought.

Part III: The Chamber of Cherubs

Chapter 10
Slumbering WeedsOne month after the Chicago case, Leo Lawrence and Binqing arrive at JFK Airport, take a yellow cab into Manhattan, and immediately run into a loud, music-loving driver who ignores Leo Lawrence’s request to turn down the volume.During the ride, Binqing misunderstands “Tyler the Creator” as a religious reference, while Leo Lawrence dryly suggests he might be a cult leader, annoying the cab driver with their lack of music knowledge.Once they reach East Eighty-sixth, Leo Lawrence pays the fare and warns the driver about the smell of marijuana in the cab, flashing his FBI credentials and frightening the man into promising never to smoke in the car again.After the cab speeds away, Binqing laughs over the driver’s dramatic reaction, and Leo Lawrence jokes back while warning Binqing not to make certain comments around Black people unless he wants to be punched.Soon afterward, Leo Lawrence and Binqing enter Leo Lawrence’s parents’ Park Avenue apartment, air out the dusty rooms, and settle into the bright, cozy space while Leo Lawrence explains that his parents are vacationing in Europe.When Binqing questions why Leo Lawrence treats his parents’ home as something requiring permission, Leo Lawrence brushes it off as a cultural difference.Then Leo Lawrence offers to show Binqing his and Jasmine Lawrence’s childhood rooms, and Binqing excitedly grabs Leo Lawrence’s hand, calling the rooms time capsules.The touch makes Leo Lawrence unexpectedly dazed and conflicted, so he releases Binqing’s hand and leads him into his old bedroom.Inside Leo Lawrence’s teenage room, Binqing notices a strange lamp made from a cat skeleton, and Leo Lawrence explains that he built it at seventeen after finding a cat killed by a car.Binqing praises Leo Lawrence’s craftsmanship but finds the lamp creepy, prompting Leo Lawrence to explain that his lack of fear helped him survive FBI work.From there, Leo Lawrence warns Binqing again about the psychological toll of criminal investigation, saying violence, corpses, murderers, and psychopaths can consume people over time.Binqing asks what FBI agents do about that burden, and Leo Lawrence explains that therapy and mental-health evaluations are part of Bureau work.Afterward, Leo Lawrence takes Binqing to Jasmine Lawrence’s room, which is dark purple, orderly, minimalist, and completely unlike a stereotypical teenage girl’s room.Seeing Jasmine Lawrence’s room, Binqing feels tenderness and recognition for the woman he knows, which reassures Leo Lawrence about Jasmine Lawrence’s future happiness while also giving him a painful ache.Disturbed by his own feelings, Leo Lawrence reminds himself that Binqing is Jasmine Lawrence’s boyfriend and his future brother-in-law, then wonders whether medication or stress is warping his emotions.When Binqing notices Leo Lawrence spacing out, Leo Lawrence claims he forgot what he was thinking about, and Binqing gently redirects him toward the purpose of vacation: resting, relaxing, and doing ordinary things.Choosing one of those ordinary things, Leo Lawrence agrees to go grocery shopping with Binqing, and the peaceful domestic moment feels strangely comforting against Leo Lawrence’s usual world of violence.That evening, Leo Lawrence and Binqing prepare to watch baseball with snacks and beer, but Binqing becomes distracted by a flyer advertising a lakeside cabin near Kittatinny Mountain.Binqing’s excitement is obvious, so Leo Lawrence agrees to look into the cabin, though he stops Binqing from trying to pack immediately because it is too late to call that night.When Binqing worries that Leo Lawrence should still be recovering, Leo Lawrence insists he is not an average patient and jokes that the cabin’s negative air ions might help him heal.To pass the evening, Leo Lawrence and Binqing bet on a Yankees versus Rays game, agreeing that the loser must hand-wash the winner’s laundry, including underwear and socks.After the Rays win six to three, Binqing gleefully holds Leo Lawrence to the wager, while Leo Lawrence complains and tries unsuccessfully to reduce the punishment because of his injuries.Later, as they say good night outside their rooms, Leo Lawrence feels bitter because Binqing is going into Jasmine Lawrence’s room rather than staying near him.In that charged moment, Leo Lawrence suddenly recalls the bloody kiss with the Green Cleaner and imagines almost kissing Binqing against the wall, terrifying himself with the possible consequences.Once Binqing turns away, Leo Lawrence snaps out of the fantasy and realizes he needs to understand what is happening to him before he hurts Binqing, Jasmine Lawrence, or himself.Remembering Robby Simons once drunkenly asking whether he was straight or gay, Leo Lawrence realizes he no longer has a clear answer.The next morning, while Binqing buys supplies, Leo Lawrence reserves the lakeside cabin and then calls his physician friend Wyatt about his worsening insomnia and medication use.Wyatt quickly realizes Leo Lawrence’s old problem has returned and becomes alarmed when Leo Lawrence admits he relapsed on medication a year earlier and recently doubled the dosage.Wyatt scolds Leo Lawrence for abusing Xanax, warns him not to quit cold turkey, and gives him a tapering plan while promising a later prescription for zopiclone only after Leo Lawrence follows instructions.More importantly, Wyatt tells Leo Lawrence that medication cannot solve the trauma underneath his condition and urges him to face the past before it crushes him.Leo Lawrence quietly admits that he believes he deserves the suffering because he cannot undo the past or bring back the dead.Because Leo Lawrence finally seems willing to seek help, Wyatt recommends Dr. Deborah McGrath, a trauma and PTSD specialist, and Leo Lawrence writes down her number.After the call, Leo Lawrence memorizes the number and burns the note, keeping the therapist as a private safety net even though he is not ready to call.Leo Lawrence then reflects on sexuality, remembering a past non-consensual kiss from Jason during a hijacking case and realizing he was stunned rather than disgusted.Inevitably, Leo Lawrence compares that memory to the willing kiss he shared with the Green Cleaner and admits to himself that he may be sexually attracted to men.Instead of denying the possibility, Leo Lawrence decides that the worst case is simply accepting the truth and keeping distance from Jasmine Lawrence’s future family if needed.When Binqing returns with bags of supplies, Leo Lawrence helps him and feels less awkward after deciding to maintain their current relationship until Jasmine Lawrence returns.The next day, Leo Lawrence and Binqing drive to northwestern New Jersey, where Binqing is delighted by the lake, dock, canoes, woods, and Kittatinny Mountain scenery.Excited by the outdoors, Binqing immediately suggests camping, hiking, and hunting, but Leo Lawrence explains the rules around licenses, authorized firearms, hunting seasons, and game restrictions.When Binqing switches to fishing, Leo Lawrence says he already got fishing licenses but then overwhelms Binqing with regulations until Binqing gives up on fishing altogether.Choosing the simplest activity, Binqing decides to swim instead, changes into navy trunks, and jokingly says he will report the advertisement for false advertising when he gets back.As Binqing jumps into the lake, Leo Lawrence is struck by Binqing’s hidden athletic build and again reads his own attraction as evidence that he may be very far from straight.Binqing surfaces far from the dock, teases Leo Lawrence about not being allowed to do strenuous exercise, and jokes that Leo Lawrence should wait for fish with his measuring tape.After Binqing dives again, Leo Lawrence looks away to prepare fishing gear, only to realize nearly three minutes have passed without Binqing resurfacing.Panic-stricken, Leo Lawrence calls for Binqing, receives only silence from the lake, and immediately dives in because all signs suggest Binqing has drowned.Underwater, Leo Lawrence searches desperately through the murky vegetation until he finds Binqing floating motionless, trapped by something wrapped around his ankle.Remembering Antonio Souza Castilho’s gift, Leo Lawrence pulls out the knife and cuts through the dark strands holding Binqing down.Once Binqing is free, Leo Lawrence drags him to shore, forces water from his body, and performs CPR until Binqing finally coughs up water and starts breathing again.Only after Binqing revives does Leo Lawrence collapse in relief, admitting Binqing scared him half to death while cushioning Binqing’s head with his leg.As Binqing recovers, he explains that his ankle was caught in what he thought were weeds, but when he examines the strands more closely, he realizes they do not feel like plants.Leo Lawrence examines the strands too, and both Leo Lawrence and Binqing realize at the same time that the material is human hair.Because the hair suggests a body at the bottom of the lake, Leo Lawrence and Binqing exchange a look and decide to dive back in to confirm the truth.After they find the body of a young girl partly hidden by sediment, Leo Lawrence returns to the cabin and calls 9-1-1.The dead girl appears to be around ten years old, with her hands tied behind her back and sandbags fixed around her waist, making her death clearly suspicious and deeply disturbing.Shaken by the sight, Binqing sits on the dock with his face tucked between his knees while Leo Lawrence understands how devastating it must be to see such a young victim.About half an hour later, the New Jersey State Police arrive, and Sergeant Heider verifies Leo Lawrence’s credentials before handling the initial questioning and recovery of the body.Although still pale, Binqing approaches Sergeant Heider and urges him to search the entire lake because he fears there may be more bodies.Sergeant Heider is shaken by the implication of a possible serial killing, but Leo Lawrence supports Binqing’s concern and advises expanding the investigation zone and clearing tourists.With the vacation effectively ruined, Leo Lawrence and Binqing decide not to return to New York immediately and instead plan to stay nearby before leaving in the morning.Finally, as Binqing remains haunted by the feeling of the dead girl’s hair around his ankle, Leo Lawrence gives him his jacket and tells him they will stay the night before moving on.

Chapter 11
WaywardAfter the police leave the lakeside cabin under park ranger control, Leo Lawrence apologizes to Binqing because their vacation has gone wrong, but Binqing reminds Leo Lawrence that Leo Lawrence saved his life.In response, Leo Lawrence brings up the Chinese saying “dà ēn bú yán xiè,” and Binqing teasingly adds the second half, “zì dāng yǐ shēn xiāng xǔ,” which flusters Leo Lawrence because it implies offering oneself in repayment.Playing along, Binqing beckons Leo Lawrence closer and hooks a finger around Leo Lawrence’s shirt button, making Leo Lawrence obey despite knowing the situation is dangerous.As the distance between them becomes intimate, Leo Lawrence wonders whether Binqing is joking, testing him, or suggesting something real.Just before Leo Lawrence loses control, Binqing casually removes a dead bug from Leo Lawrence’s hair, breaking the tension and making the moment seem innocent again.Afterward, Binqing explains the saying as being entirely at Leo Lawrence’s disposal, even joking that Leo Lawrence could eat him for survival in an apocalypse.The joke backfires when Leo Lawrence compares it to a cannibal serial killer case, and Binqing anxiously realizes the soup he made contains black pepper like the killer’s soup.Since the soup is now ruined for them, Leo Lawrence and Binqing settle for leftover hot dogs, and the dangerous emotional atmosphere settles back into ordinary comfort.The next morning, police identify the dead girl as nine-year-old Layla Durr from nearby Lougheed, so Leo Lawrence and Binqing go to her home while waiting for lake search updates.At Layla Durr’s house, county police have detained Brenda Rizzo, Layla Durr’s mother, and Officer Schmidt describes her as an abusive woman who previously drowned her six-month-old child.Officer Schmidt explains that Brenda Rizzo avoided conviction after being diagnosed with schizophrenia and later regained custody of her two daughters after being released from psychiatric care.Hearing this, Binqing is horrified by the idea of a mother killing her own child and wants to believe Brenda Rizzo must not have been aware of what she was doing.Meanwhile, Leo Lawrence notices Abigail, Layla Durr’s younger sister, sitting under the porch in a dirty white dress while officers try to comfort her.When Abigail looks up, Leo Lawrence is shaken by her sandy blonde curls and blue eyes, reacting as if he has seen a ghost.Binqing sees Leo Lawrence turn pale, sweat, and tremble, then pulls him away to the car before Leo Lawrence completely breaks down.Inside the vehicle, Binqing slaps Leo Lawrence to snap him out of his dissociation, then immediately regrets it because of Leo Lawrence’s recent jaw surgery.Leo Lawrence claims he only felt suddenly sick and refuses Binqing’s suggestion to go to the hospital, so Binqing takes him to a nearby inn called Emerald Suites.At the front desk, the clerk misunderstands the situation as sexual urgency, but Binqing angrily pays cash and demands a room so Leo Lawrence can rest.Once inside the room, Leo Lawrence’s panic escalates as he struggles to breathe, sweats, shakes, and cannot even open a water bottle.When Binqing again suggests medical help, Leo Lawrence erupts, smashes the glass, throws everything from the table, kicks the table aside, and screams that his body is his own.Trying to calm him, Binqing approaches gently from behind, but Leo Lawrence reacts by instinct and knees Binqing hard in the stomach.As Binqing falls to the floor in pain, Leo Lawrence is horrified by the realization that he hurt the very person he wants most to protect.Rather than blame Leo Lawrence, Binqing excuses the attack as a trained reaction and tries to reassure him, which makes Leo Lawrence feel even more ashamed.Leo Lawrence realizes that Binqing has always treated him with care and forgiveness, while Leo Lawrence has often controlled, threatened, or neglected him.When Binqing says he loves Leo Lawrence’s strong, badass side and feels terrible seeing him like this, something inside Leo Lawrence changes and he finally understands that he has fallen for Binqing.Overcome by that realization, Leo Lawrence pulls Binqing into his arms, while Binqing recognizes that he has gained Leo Lawrence’s unconditional trust but feels guilty because this was part of the path he chose.After Leo Lawrence calms down, Binqing guides him to bed and asks whether he needs anything else.Fighting his craving for medication, Leo Lawrence asks Binqing to retrieve three pill bottles from his bag.When Binqing brings the bottles, Leo Lawrence swallows a large handful of pills, and Binqing becomes alarmed by the dose.Leo Lawrence reluctantly admits the medications are Zoloft, Buspar, and Xanax, confirming that he is dealing with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.Seeing Leo Lawrence’s misery, Binqing presses Leo Lawrence’s fists to his chest and kisses him, trying to comfort him with the strongest feeling he cannot put into words.Leo Lawrence responds by holding Binqing’s neck and deepening the kiss, finally giving in to the desire he has been denying.Soon after, the drugs take effect, and Leo Lawrence falls unconscious while still gripping Binqing’s wrist.When Leo Lawrence wakes hours later, he sees that Binqing stayed beside him in one position so Leo Lawrence would not have to let go of his wrist.As Binqing wakes too, Leo Lawrence directly asks whether they kissed, immediately regretting how blunt the question sounds.Embarrassed, Binqing says he was not thinking clearly and only wanted to help Leo Lawrence feel better, then asks Leo Lawrence to forget it ever happened.Leo Lawrence is hurt but decides forgetting is the rational choice for Jasmine Lawrence’s sake and for preserving his relationship with Binqing.To make the agreement easier, Leo Lawrence turns it into a joke and threatens to tell Jasmine Lawrence that her boyfriend and brother performed CPR on each other.Since both men fear Jasmine Lawrence discovering Binqing nearly drowned and Leo Lawrence is addicted to Xanax, they agree to forget the kiss in exchange for Binqing doing laundry for two weeks.Afterward, Leo Lawrence realizes he slept for five or six hours and suggests they go eat because they have barely eaten all day.Before leaving, Binqing suggests visiting the sheriff’s office after dinner because he is not convinced Brenda Rizzo killed Layla Durr.Binqing explains that the tied wrists, scraped logos on the sandbags, lack of dirt or weeds in Layla Durr’s mouth and nose, and postmortem dumping suggest a careful killer rather than a schizophrenic mother acting impulsively.Leo Lawrence understands that Binqing expects a repeat offender and agrees the details point toward someone who has killed before.As they leave the inn, the same clerk comments that Leo Lawrence looks better, and Binqing calmly says Leo Lawrence only needed sleep.When the clerk praises the king-size bed, Leo Lawrence and Binqing both blush, suddenly aware that they only have one room and one bed after everything that happened.Finally, Binqing awkwardly asks for another room, but the clerk mocks them by asking why they would need two rooms.

Chapter 12
SpectersAfter dinner, Leo Lawrence and Binqing visit the sheriff’s office and see Brenda Rizzo, whom the local papers call “the Devil’s Mistress,” sitting handcuffed in the interview room with a vacant expression.Because Brenda Rizzo does not respond to questions, the officer in charge dismisses her silence as a trick and insists she behaved the same way after killing her son.While studying Brenda Rizzo carefully, Binqing notices that part of her right index finger is missing and that her other fingers are marked with old and new wounds.Looking deeper into Brenda Rizzo’s file, Binqing finds that she was raped four years earlier and that the attacker bit off part of her finger during the assault.From there, Binqing realizes Brenda Rizzo’s dead infant son may have been conceived during the rape, and he criticizes the police for never considering that possibility because Brenda Rizzo was mentally ill and easy to dismiss.Binqing then theorizes that Brenda Rizzo may have drowned her son because his face reminded her of her rapist and triggered a violent break in her already fragile mind.Although Leo Lawrence finds Binqing’s hypothesis reasonable, the officer still calls Brenda Rizzo an infant-killing psycho and resists seeing her with sympathy.Before leaving, Binqing notices Brenda Rizzo’s fingers moving rhythmically and asks for her handcuffs to be opened so he can observe the motion.Once Brenda Rizzo’s hands are freed, Binqing realizes she is miming the act of braiding Layla Durr’s hair, suggesting that Brenda Rizzo still sees Layla Durr alive in her mind.Because of that gesture, Binqing argues that Brenda Rizzo loved Layla Durr in her own broken way and may not have killed her daughter, though the officer remains skeptical.On the drive back, Binqing stays silent until Leo Lawrence asks him to speak honestly, and Binqing questions why society shows sympathy for physical illness but rejects and discriminates against mental illness.As the conversation turns personal, Binqing tells Leo Lawrence that he is worried about Leo Lawrence’s anxiety, depression, and hidden trauma.When Leo Lawrence tries to shut him out, Binqing says seeing Leo Lawrence suffer makes him feel like he is suffocating and praises Leo Lawrence as brave, honest, principled, and deeply good.Moved by Binqing’s faith in him, Leo Lawrence finally breaks down and admits he believes he committed an unforgivable sin.Leo Lawrence reveals that five years earlier, he shot a young hostage named Abigail while trying to stop a serial killer from taking her away.Worse still, Leo Lawrence confesses that he covered up the accident by wiping his prints from the gun, placing it in the killer’s hand, and manipulating the scene so everyone believed the killer had shot Abigail.As Leo Lawrence collapses emotionally, he admits Abigail has haunted his dreams ever since, staring at him as if blaming him for both her death and his selfish cover-up.Rather than condemn him, Binqing holds Leo Lawrence and tells him that he made the best decision available in a terrible situation, because letting the killer take Abigail would have led to an even worse death.Binqing also argues that Leo Lawrence has saved many lives in the years since, meaning society needs him free and working rather than destroyed by the past.Reassured by Binqing’s words, Leo Lawrence resolves to help Brenda Rizzo and Abigail by finding Layla Durr’s real killer if that is the last thing he does.Since Leo Lawrence is still shaken, Binqing promises to stay beside him when they meet Abigail again the next day.Needing comfort, Leo Lawrence asks Binqing to sleep beside him, and Binqing immediately agrees.That night, Leo Lawrence dreams of the old hostage case, but the nightmare twists until the hostage becomes Binqing and the killer taunts Leo Lawrence with the choice of shooting Binqing or letting him be tortured.In the dream, Leo Lawrence nearly turns the gun on himself, but the Green Cleaner appears behind him and urges him to pull the trigger with the promise that Leo Lawrence will not miss this time.Leo Lawrence wakes from the gunshot in the dream and realizes he is safe in the Lougheed inn, with Binqing asleep against him.While watching Binqing sleep, Leo Lawrence reflects that his nightmare has rewritten Abigail into Binqing, forcing him to confront the horror of choosing between killing someone he loves and letting them suffer.Leo Lawrence is also disturbed that the Green Cleaner appeared as a supportive figure in the nightmare, because he refuses to accept the idea that his subconscious sees the Green Cleaner as an ally.The memory of the Green Cleaner’s bloody kiss then overtakes Leo Lawrence again, making him physically aroused and ashamed while Binqing sleeps beside him.After a long, restless night, Leo Lawrence smokes repeatedly until dawn, then returns to the room when he hears Binqing waking.Finally, Leo Lawrence greets Binqing in the morning and asks whether he slept well, trying to return to ordinary calm after a night of guilt, desire, and fear.

Chapter 13
Motionless CherubsAfter breakfast, Leo Lawrence and Binqing travel to the abbey where Abigail is staying, hoping to learn more about Layla Durr’s death and the circumstances surrounding the orphanage.During the drive, Officer Schmidt explains that Father Boyle has spent nearly twenty years at the abbey, is known for his devotion and kindness, and dedicates himself to caring for children whom he calls “angels.”Although Binqing jokingly calls Father Boyle a saint, Leo Lawrence remains cautious and remarks that monsters are far more common than saints.Upon arriving at the abbey, Leo Lawrence and Binqing find Father Boyle patiently listening to a young boy describe a drawing of a whale, refusing to interrupt the child until the conversation is finished.This first impression reinforces Father Boyle’s image as a compassionate caretaker who genuinely enjoys spending time with children.After introducing themselves, Leo Lawrence requests permission to speak with Abigail, and although Father Boyle is reluctant, he eventually agrees and escorts them to her room.When they arrive, Abigail is sitting on the floor with a worn pink rabbit-shaped tape recorder, and Leo Lawrence immediately struggles with memories of the Abigail from his past case.Remembering his promise to face the situation, Leo Lawrence steadies himself while Binqing takes the lead in speaking with the child.Binqing wins Abigail’s attention by talking about her rabbit and pretending it is hungry because it needs batteries.At the same time, Binqing gives Abigail a raccoon hand puppet, hoping to make her more comfortable and willing to talk.During their conversation, Abigail reveals that Layla Durr was often beaten by Brenda Rizzo whenever Brenda Rizzo became angry.Abigail also explains that Layla Durr sometimes acted harshly toward her but could also be kind, creating a complicated picture of their relationship.When Binqing asks about money, Abigail admits she does not know how Layla Durr obtained candy and donuts because Brenda Rizzo never gave them allowance.Shifting topics, Binqing learns that Abigail believes Layla Durr is somehow “inside” the rabbit and still singing through it.Although the explanation makes little sense at first, it convinces Binqing that the tape recorder may contain something important connected to Layla Durr.Father Boyle eventually interrupts the questioning, believing Abigail remembers little beyond abuse from her mother and sister and should not be forced to relive painful memories.Once Leo Lawrence provides fresh batteries, the rabbit begins playing a song that immediately unsettles both investigators because of its dark, mournful atmosphere.Father Boyle remarks that the song sounds almost demonic, while Binqing becomes increasingly convinced it held special meaning for Layla Durr.After obtaining Abigail’s permission, Binqing borrows the cassette so he and Leo Lawrence can analyze it further.Outside the abbey, Binqing checks on Leo Lawrence, and Leo Lawrence admits the encounter with Abigail was easier than expected because he avoided focusing on her resemblance to the girl from his past.In response, Binqing hugs Leo Lawrence and reassures him that confronting those memories will become easier with time.Leo Lawrence secretly buries his face in Binqing’s hair and realizes Binqing’s presence calms him so effectively that it feels dangerously close to another addiction.Shortly afterward, Sergeant Heider reports that divers found only two old accidental drowning victims and no additional murder victims connected to Layla Durr.Because the discovery contradicts Binqing’s theory of a serial offender, Binqing becomes deeply troubled and retreats into thought.Back at the inn, Leo Lawrence buys a cassette player so they can examine the recording in detail.While listening, Leo Lawrence identifies the song as “Room of Angel” and explains that it comes from a horror game and centers on a daughter who both loves and resents her abusive mother.Binqing concludes that Layla Durr likely connected emotionally with the song because she experienced similar feelings toward Brenda Rizzo.After the music ends, Leo Lawrence and Binqing unexpectedly hear faint footsteps and the sound of a large bell hidden in the recording.Realizing the sounds were likely recorded accidentally, they deduce that Layla Durr must have wandered somewhere on the abbey grounds while the recorder was running.Continuing to listen, they hear a door creak open, followed by footsteps descending into an enclosed area.Moments later, the recording captures frantic running and terrified breathing, proving that Layla Durr encountered something that frightened her badly.Because the recording ends abruptly afterward, Leo Lawrence and Binqing conclude that whatever Layla Durr saw may be directly connected to her death.Determined to investigate, Leo Lawrence and Binqing decide to return to the abbey after dark and secretly retrace Layla Durr’s movements.Although Leo Lawrence initially wants Binqing to stay behind, Binqing refuses and jokingly threatens to hire strippers if he is left alone, forcing Leo Lawrence to give in.Later that night, they search the abbey grounds and eventually locate a hidden door whose design blends almost perfectly into the surrounding wall.Since the door is locked, Leo Lawrence concludes that Father Boyle likely possesses the key and decides to investigate the abbot’s room.Sneaking into Father Boyle’s quarters, they discover an extremely simple lifestyle with few possessions and little evidence of luxury.To ensure privacy, Leo Lawrence uses Forane to render Father Boyle unconscious while they search the room.While examining the room, Binqing finds a financial ledger showing meticulous records of charity donations and personal expenses.The records reveal that Father Boyle consistently sacrifices his own comfort to donate more money to charities such as Save the Children and the American Red Cross.Hoping to expose a fraud, Leo Lawrence contacts the FBI to verify the donations, only to learn that all the records are genuine.As a result, both men become less certain that Father Boyle is responsible for Layla Durr’s death.Just before leaving, Binqing discovers that the missing key has been hanging around Father Boyle’s neck the entire time.Using the key, Leo Lawrence and Binqing unlock the hidden door and descend deep beneath the abbey into a vast underground chamber.Inside, they find numerous glass cases containing astonishingly lifelike winged children that resemble angelic sculptures.While Binqing marvels at the craftsmanship, Leo Lawrence realizes the figures are not sculptures at all but preserved human bodies.Horrified by the implication, both men begin to suspect that the abbey may be hiding a graveyard of murdered children.Searching further, they discover a workshop filled with embalming chemicals, surgical tools, preservation equipment, and ceramic jars.Leo Lawrence opens one jar and finds the preserved body of a child, confirming that the workshop is used to prepare the corpses.Based on the chemicals present, Leo Lawrence explains that Father Boyle appears to have mastered advanced embalming methods capable of preserving bodies in remarkably lifelike condition.Even so, Leo Lawrence refuses to make an arrest until he can prove the children were alive before entering the workshop and were not merely preserved after natural deaths.Their investigation is interrupted when Father Boyle unexpectedly appears in the doorway, fully awake despite the anesthetic.Father Boyle calmly explains that his body is unusually resistant to anesthetics and shows no fear despite being confronted in his secret chamber.Leo Lawrence immediately places Father Boyle under suspicion of murder and demands an explanation for the preserved children.Rather than deny the bodies, Father Boyle calls them “sleeping cherubs” and claims he is merely preserving vessels whose souls have already gone to Heaven.To justify his actions, Father Boyle recounts a religious revelation he experienced twenty years earlier after seeing the famous preserved child known as the Sleeping Beauty of Sicily.According to Father Boyle, God commanded him to become a guardian of children’s bodies, inspiring him to track down the embalming techniques of Alfredo Salafia and devote his life to preserving deceased children.Listening to the story, Leo Lawrence privately concludes that Father Boyle sounds more psychotic than divinely inspired, while Binqing sees him as sincere but deeply unbalanced.Although neither man believes Father Boyle’s theology, they begin to suspect that his obsession with preservation may be separate from the murders themselves.When questioned about the children’s deaths, Father Boyle insists he never investigated them because he views every death as part of God’s plan.Binqing concludes that Father Boyle is both devout and insane, yet too oblivious to recognize the possibility of murder occurring around him.Seeking another suspect, Leo Lawrence asks who oversees the orphanage on a daily basis and learns that the nuns rotate responsibility for the children.Father Boyle reveals that Sister Alma is currently responsible for the children, immediately triggering Leo Lawrence’s memory of her nervous behavior earlier that day.Remembering the panic hidden behind Sister Alma’s calm expression, Leo Lawrence begins to suspect she may know more than she admitted.Acting on that suspicion, Leo Lawrence handcuffs Father Boyle to the stair railing as a precaution while he and Binqing investigate Sister Alma.Instead of protesting, Father Boyle cheerfully accepts the situation and resumes praying, completely unconcerned with the danger around him as Leo Lawrence and Binqing hurry off in pursuit of their new lead.

Chapter 14
ReincarnationLeo Lawrence and Binqing reach the orphanage and immediately spot Sister Alma sneaking out of a child’s bedroom, but Sister Alma panics when Leo Lawrence identifies himself as an FBI agent.Before Leo Lawrence can question her, Sister Alma locks herself inside the room, smashes through the window, and escapes with a child.Realizing the bed is still warm, Binqing tells Leo Lawrence that Sister Alma has taken a child, and Leo Lawrence immediately vaults through the window to chase her.Sister Alma reaches her silver Camry first and flees the abbey grounds, forcing Leo Lawrence and Binqing to pursue her in the Chevy.During the chase, Leo Lawrence calls 9-1-1, reports the fleeing suspect, requests backup, and then shoots out the Camry’s rear tires while Binqing holds the steering wheel.After the Camry skids off the road, Sister Alma emerges with Abigail as a hostage, holding a box cutter to the little girl’s neck.The sight of Abigail in danger freezes Leo Lawrence because it mirrors the traumatic hostage incident from five years earlier.As Sister Alma threatens to kill Abigail, Binqing gently takes control of the situation by calming Sister Alma and lowering Leo Lawrence’s gun.Binqing talks to Sister Alma about Abigail’s innocence and reminds Sister Alma that she once became a nun because she wanted to do good.Pressed by Binqing’s words, Sister Alma admits she has struggled with celibacy, desire, and her unfulfilled devotion to Christ.Sister Alma then reveals that she fell in love with Father Boyle but kept it secret because Father Boyle had given his whole heart to God.Binqing deduces that Sister Alma helped Father Boyle with the underground embalming work because it made her feel close to him.As the confession deepens, Sister Alma admits she began killing children after natural or accidental deaths stopped occurring, because she craved the connection that helping Father Boyle gave her.Sister Alma further admits that murder brought her pleasure rather than guilt, showing that her obsession has become completely twisted.When Binqing asks why Layla Durr was dumped in the lake instead of preserved, Sister Alma says Layla Durr did not deserve to become an angel because she was troublesome and would have corrupted Father Boyle’s faith.Leo Lawrence finally regains his voice and tries to persuade Sister Alma to release Abigail in exchange for the car keys.Instead, Sister Alma gives up on escape, decides she would rather leave Father Boyle one last “gift,” and prepares to cut Abigail’s throat.Leo Lawrence reaches for his backup gun, but the trauma from five years ago freezes him again before he can fire.At that crucial moment, Abigail bites Sister Alma’s arm hard enough to make her scream and loosen her hold.Binqing discreetly picks up the dropped Glock, positions himself behind Leo Lawrence, supports Leo Lawrence’s shaking arm, and tells him to shoot.With Binqing steadying him, Leo Lawrence fires and hits Sister Alma’s arm, shattering her radius and stopping her without killing her.The successful shot breaks Leo Lawrence’s old nightmare cycle, proving that the bullet can finally travel the right path instead of repeating Abigail’s death.Abigail runs to Leo Lawrence for protection, and Leo Lawrence drops to his knees, catches her, and tearfully apologizes as if apologizing to both this Abigail and the girl from his past.Abigail unknowingly answers “It’s okay,” giving Leo Lawrence the forgiveness he has needed for five years.Binqing suggests that Abigail may be a reincarnation-like chance for Leo Lawrence to save the girl he once failed, giving him a different ending.When Abigail thanks Leo Lawrence, Leo Lawrence pulls her close again and says he should be the one thanking her.After police, firefighters, and an ambulance arrive, Leo Lawrence steps aside to process the emotional aftermath.Leo Lawrence then questions whether Binqing knows how to use a gun, because Binqing’s support during the shot seemed far more practiced than ordinary paintball or laser tag experience.Although Binqing gives a casual explanation, Leo Lawrence briefly senses that there may be more beneath Binqing’s soft and innocent exterior.Before Leo Lawrence can dwell on that suspicion, headquarters calls and orders him and Robby Simons to report to DC immediately.Leo Lawrence tells Binqing that their vacation is truly over and offers him the apartment keys so he can return to Manhattan or choose another place to stay.On the way back, Binqing asks whether Father Boyle will be convicted, and Leo Lawrence explains that the legal outcome is uncertain because of religious precedent around preserved bodies.Leo Lawrence also notes that Father Boyle will almost certainly lose his post in Lougheed, possibly being transferred to a role like cemetery groundskeeper.More importantly, Leo Lawrence reflects that the Green Cleaner never appeared during this case, which feels unsettling because the Green Cleaner usually reaches serial killers before law enforcement can.When Binqing jokes that the Green Cleaner might simply be vacationing with a girlfriend, Leo Lawrence blurts out “or boyfriend,” revealing how much the Green Cleaner still occupies his thoughts.At Emerald Suites, Binqing receives a call from Jasmine Lawrence and excitedly tells Leo Lawrence that Jasmine Lawrence is coming to New York next month.Binqing adds that Jasmine Lawrence wants to discuss their engagement, and he watches Leo Lawrence closely for a reaction.Leo Lawrence tries to sound supportive, but the news clearly leaves him emotionally conflicted because Binqing and Jasmine Lawrence may soon be officially engaged.When Binqing asks whether Leo Lawrence will have time to be best man, Leo Lawrence forces a cheerful response and says he would be honored if the new case allows it.Leo Lawrence then leaves quickly for his flight to DC, avoiding a prolonged farewell with Binqing.After Leo Lawrence drives away, Binqing stands alone by the window and tells himself he has one month, implying he has a plan to act before Jasmine Lawrence arrives.

Part IV: Island Affairs

Chapter 15 ImpostersXavier walks through East Harlem broke, hungry, and freshly released from USP Rycken Island, realizing that prison froze his life while the outside world moved on without him.Before prison, Xavier had been a First Superior in a Brownsville Blood set, but his violent gang life and a stabbing tied to Crip rivalry made him an easy federal target.After paying heavily for legal help and accepting a plea deal, Xavier served over seven years, only to return and find his money gone, his girlfriend Chyna gone with D’Andre, and his old crew absorbed by others.With no money and no status left, Xavier buys a cheap slice of pizza and admits to himself that he has hit rock bottom and needs a way back up.Then Xavier notices a flyer recruiting volunteers for a dangerous wild animal rescue mission on a tropical island, promising room, board, travel, and thirty thousand dollars after three months.Although the flyer seems suspicious because it asks for no real qualifications, Xavier decides the money is worth the risk and goes to the listed address.At the recruitment office, Xavier fills out forms, notices many desperate-looking applicants, and grows more suspicious that the agency is targeting vulnerable people from poor neighborhoods.Even so, the staff’s free food, drinks, and cigarettes keep the applicants calm and satisfied, while Xavier accepts the hospitality because he has few options.While observing the room, Xavier notices Duke Ly, a flashy Asian man with frosted tips, obscene playing cards, and an attitude that immediately draws Xavier’s attention.After twenty-four applicants are chosen, Xavier is relieved to be selected but also notes that the chosen group seems to consist of the shabbiest, most vulnerable candidates.During the waiting period, Xavier approaches Duke Ly with coffee and introduces himself, hoping to turn attraction into conversation.Duke Ly bluntly says he only cares about money and offers Xavier a price list for sexual services, shocking Xavier and bursting the fantasy Xavier had begun forming about him.After a brief, sour exchange, Xavier and Duke Ly both pass the simple interview, sign an NDA, take headshots, and are assigned to the same dormitory for immediate training.That night, a volunteer named Emilio has an apparent withdrawal episode, screaming and banging his head until staff take him away.When Emilio returns calm and high, the other volunteers realize the agency provides drugs as a “company benefit,” making the whole operation seem even more suspicious.Soon, staff deliver marijuana to the dorm, and most of the men eagerly smoke while Duke Ly initially refuses.Xavier pressures Duke Ly to take a hit, and Duke Ly awkwardly smokes despite clearly lacking experience.Once the drug affects Duke Ly, his dazed, sultry expression captivates Xavier and also draws Omar’s unwanted touch.Xavier immediately slaps Omar’s hand away and claims Duke Ly’s space through intimidation, making the other men back down.Afterward, Duke Ly jokes about wanting sausages, and Xavier becomes even more fascinated by how Duke Ly seems both shameless and strangely innocent.The next morning, eighteen accepted volunteers are taken to Teterboro and loaded onto an unmarked private jet with fixed window shades, making Xavier increasingly uneasy.Xavier voices his suspicion to Duke Ly, pointing out the flyer, NDA, drugs, and private flight, but Duke Ly shrugs off the danger because thirty thousand dollars is too tempting.During the flight, Xavier’s attraction to Duke Ly intensifies, and Duke Ly teasingly plays along while still treating the situation like a transaction.After several landings, the volunteers finally arrive at the Mahina Islands, where the flight attendant cheerfully tells them they will have the time of their lives.The volunteers are taken through tropical jungle to a fenced compound with modular buildings, staff in camouflage, and around forty total recruits, which briefly reassures Xavier that the project is large and organized.Meanwhile, a silver helicopter lands elsewhere on the island, bringing Edmond Goldring and Rafael Garcia-Yang to the elite Artemis Club.Oliver Grimm welcomes Edmond Goldring and Rafael Garcia-Yang, introducing himself as the club’s general manager and emphasizing high-end service.Rafael Garcia-Yang complains about the club’s strict induction process, while Oliver Grimm explains that the secrecy protects wealthy members participating in an “unconventional activity.”Oliver Grimm reveals that the hunting season begins in two days, that Mahina Minor houses the guests, and that Mahina Major is the hunting ground.Edmond Goldring nervously tries to back out of participating, but Oliver Grimm reminds him of his past two kills, exposing that the “hunting” involves killing people.Once alone in the car, Rafael Garcia-Yang pressures Edmond Goldring by reminding him that he has powerful backing, that Edmond Goldring’s file will be erased, and that Edmond Goldring will enter witness protection if he cooperates.At the clubhouse, Rafael Garcia-Yang chooses a villa and rejects the lavish services, including a female escort named Velvet and later a young male escort.Alone in the bathroom, Rafael Garcia-Yang studies his altered face and reveals that he is actually Special Agent Leo Lawrence undercover, using contacts, makeup, a false identity, and training to impersonate a wealthy club member.One week earlier, Godinez had shown Leo Lawrence and other agents a horrifying film of people in orange uniforms being hunted, mauled by dogs, and shot by wealthy hunters.The FBI determined the footage was likely real, raising questions about who the victims were, where the film was made, and who was selling or producing the snuff footage.Godinez explained that the main suspect was Andrew Richard Souter Stuart, also called Richie, a politically connected aristocratic figure whose family ties made the investigation difficult.Because the FBI needed evidence strong enough to withstand wealth, politics, and diplomatic pressure, Godinez wanted an agent to go undercover inside the operation.Before accepting, Leo Lawrence privately gives Godinez his report confessing the Abigail cover-up from five years earlier, expecting punishment or dismissal.Godinez agrees to submit the report but warns Leo Lawrence that the Bureau may only fine or demote him because it values his ability to save lives.Godinez then urges Leo Lawrence to take the undercover mission because, whatever happened in the past, they can still fight for the living.Leo Lawrence accepts the mission as long as he is still considered trustworthy, and Godinez reassures him that he has never doubted Leo Lawrence’s professionalism.To prepare, Leo Lawrence undergoes specialized training to act like a rich, superior, disconnected elite because Rafael Garcia-Yang must feel authentic inside the Artemis Club.By the present, Leo Lawrence has successfully infiltrated the Artemis Club as Rafael Garcia-Yang, aiming to reach Andrew Stuart and gather proof of the island’s human-hunting crimes.However, the chapter’s final reveal suggests Leo Lawrence’s mission will soon be disrupted by someone unexpected, setting up the “train wreck” that will complicate the undercover operation.

Chapter 16
Let the Hunt BeginOn Mahina Major, the volunteers are stunned when staff deliver bright orange uniforms and announce that their “work” will begin in two days, despite earlier promises of exclusive training.When one volunteer protests that they are being locked inside, a racist insult sparks a fight that quickly spreads through the common area along racial lines.Rather than join the chaos, Duke Ly grabs food and water from the boxes, and Xavier sits beside him, dismissing the fighters as idiots wasting energy for no reward.As they eat, Duke Ly casually steals Xavier’s better sandwich, and Xavier tolerates the switch because he is already growing attached to Duke Ly.When a young volunteer named Jerry admires Xavier’s claim that he could beat everyone up, Xavier snarls at him and scares him away.After the fight dies down, Duke Ly tells Xavier that Omar tried to touch his ass, reigniting Xavier’s possessive anger from the previous night.Xavier threatens Omar from across the room, while Duke Ly teases that Xavier might end up back in prison if he keeps acting on violence.Later, staff distribute marijuana as a daily benefit, improving the volunteers’ mood even as some demand harder drugs.Xavier offers Duke Ly a joint again, but Duke Ly refuses and threatens to shove it up Xavier if he keeps pushing.While watching others inject drugs, Duke Ly asks why Xavier avoids the hard stuff, and Xavier explains that he knows the drug trade well enough to understand how dangerous addiction can become.As Xavier gets high, Duke Ly quietly withdraws to their room, studies the orange uniform, and counts down the two days before the real danger begins.The next day on Mahina Minor, Oliver Grimm gives the hunters a formal briefing in the clubhouse lounge, announcing that the hunting season will begin the following morning at eight.Oliver Grimm explains that each hunter will receive firearms, ammunition, knives, binoculars, a Jeep Wrangler, and a personal bodyguard-chauffeur for the hunt.He further clarifies the rules: hunters may kill orange-colored “game” outside the safe zone, with a maximum of three kills per hunter per day between eight a.m. and eight p.m.Meanwhile, Oliver Grimm worries that Rafael Garcia-Yang has rejected every escort and may either be sexually impotent or dissatisfied with the club’s services, which could threaten the Artemis Club’s reputation.That evening, two guards invite Rafael Garcia-Yang to Andrew Stuart’s manor for tea, giving Leo Lawrence an unexpectedly direct chance to approach the mission’s main target.Although Leo Lawrence worries his rich-man act may not survive close scrutiny, he accepts the invitation and follows the guards to Andrew Stuart’s French-colonial-style manor.Inside the drawing room, Leo Lawrence notices Andrew Stuart waiting behind white curtains on the porch and prepares himself to perform the Rafael Garcia-Yang persona.Andrew Stuart presents himself like an aristocratic portrait come to life, and Leo Lawrence immediately profiles him as a nobleman drunk on inherited status.To build rapport, Leo Lawrence compares Andrew Stuart’s art collection to his own “collection” of guns and casually references pointing loaded weapons at people’s faces.Andrew Stuart is surprised but intrigued by Rafael Garcia-Yang’s violent bluntness and invites him to call him Richie, signaling initial acceptance.When Leo Lawrence asks whether Andrew Stuart participates in the hunt, Andrew Stuart instead describes traditional fox hunting and reveals his fascination with terror, pursuit, helpless prey, and death as a one-time performance.Leo Lawrence is inwardly disgusted by Andrew Stuart’s sadism but outwardly praises the vision, pretending to be excited about hunting humans as challenging big game.In response, Andrew Stuart flirts with Rafael Garcia-Yang and suggests that he can offer pain and pleasure if Rafael Garcia-Yang brings him the “pelt” of the most beautiful and cunning fox.After returning to his villa, Leo Lawrence throws away Andrew Stuart’s handkerchief in revulsion, then retrieves it so the staff will not notice and report the insult.Alone, Leo Lawrence updates his profile of Andrew Stuart from psychopath to psychopathic sadist and realizes he may have to endure Andrew Stuart’s seduction for the sake of the mission.That night, Leo Lawrence takes the smaller Xanax dose Wyatt prescribed and is surprised when it works, perhaps because Abigail no longer haunts him.In his dream, Leo Lawrence first sees Binqing and Jasmine Lawrence at a wedding reception, forcing him to endure the pain of imagining their marriage.The dream then shifts to the Green Cleaner drenched in blood, and Leo Lawrence chases him before they fall into an erotic and deadly embrace on a bed of corpses.The Green Cleaner tells Leo Lawrence to follow him to the Gates of Hell, jolting Leo Lawrence awake just as dawn arrives and the hunt is about to begin.On Mahina Major, staff wake the volunteers violently and order them to put on their orange uniforms for their first day of “work.”Breakfast is limited and chaotic, but Xavier uses quick hands and old criminal instincts to secure enough sandwiches, muffins, and water for both himself and Duke Ly.At 7:45 a.m., the staff leader finally reveals the truth indirectly by saying the volunteers only need to survive outside the compound until sunset.When the volunteers hesitate to enter the jungle, staff release twenty trained dogs, forcing the terrified group to flee through the gates and into the greenery.Duke Ly reacts fastest and runs before the dogs arrive, with Xavier chasing after him because he wants to keep Duke Ly in sight.Once they are deep in the jungle, Xavier complains that the agency used dogs to drive them in on purpose, while Duke Ly calmly scans the environment.Xavier compares the situation to a survival movie where convicts are secretly filmed on an island, but Duke Ly’s sudden warning cuts him off.Duke Ly kills a venomous black snake near Xavier’s shoulder, revealing startling survival knowledge and reflexes that completely contradict his streetwalker persona.Xavier is shaken as Duke Ly explains the dangers of venomous snakes, scorpions, mosquitoes, dengue fever, and the broader hostile environment.Seeing Duke Ly move confidently through the jungle, Xavier begins to realize Duke Ly is far more dangerous and capable than he has pretended to be.When Xavier decides to return to the road, Duke Ly refuses because the narrow lane would make them easy targets.Xavier grabs Duke Ly in frustration, but Duke Ly instantly disables him against a tree, proving he can physically overpower Xavier despite his smaller size and false persona.Humiliated and suspicious, Xavier asks who Duke Ly really is, but Duke Ly only says that is for Xavier to discover.Xavier storms off alone toward the road, guided by his compass and memory of the island’s layout.Near the roadside, Xavier witnesses Omar being shot by two wealthy hunters, Prince Abdul and Mr. Schwarz, who argue politely over who wounded him first.Their casual coin toss over Omar’s fate reveals that the “volunteers” are the prey in a human hunt, and that the hunters see them as animals or trophies.As Mr. Schwarz approaches Omar with a knife and talks about completing an ashtray collection, Xavier finally understands the entire recruitment operation was designed to trap disposable people for rich hunters.Omar spots Xavier hiding in the brush and, out of spite, exposes his location to the hunters.Xavier flees as bullets tear through the jungle around him, abandoning the road and running back toward where he left Duke Ly.After stumbling and injuring himself, Xavier finds Duke Ly again and admits that Duke Ly must have known more than he let on.Desperate to survive, Xavier asks to join whatever plan Duke Ly has and promises full cooperation, offering himself as an asset.Duke Ly reads Xavier’s desperation and decides he may be useful, so he helps him up and rinses his wounds with their water.When Xavier worries about wasting water, Duke Ly says they will collect fluids and food, build shelter before dark, and avoid returning to the compound because staff may drug or control the volunteers overnight.Finally, Duke Ly reveals his plan to take down at least one lone-wolf hunter and steal his firearms before sundown, and Xavier eagerly embraces the idea of hunting the hunters.

Chapter 17
Temporary TruceDuke Ly begins by demanding Xavier’s hidden knife, revealing that he noticed Xavier stealing it from under Omar’s pillow and reminding Xavier that Duke Ly is the one in charge.After that, Duke Ly dismantles the agency-issued compass and exposes the GPS tracker inside, proving the volunteers were given compasses so hunters could locate them.In frustration, Xavier throws his compass away and then immediately regrets losing navigation, but Duke Ly explains the compass and tracker were integrated anyway.Moving forward, Duke Ly leads Xavier through the island and uses survival skills to collect bamboo water and banana-stump liquid for hydration.Once they recover some strength, Duke Ly identifies edible plants, including noni fruits and ambarellas, while Xavier complains that he wants meat instead of sour fruit.Continuing toward the coast, Duke Ly guides Xavier down a dangerous cliff using banyan roots, forcing Xavier to overcome his fear of heights.When they reach the beach, Duke Ly climbs a coconut palm for food and water but painfully regrets the climb, giving Xavier a chance to tease him.As daylight fades, Duke Ly and Xavier build a small raised shelter from bamboo, vines, banana leaves, and palm leaves before rain traps them there for the night.During the night, Xavier tries to steal the knife while Duke Ly appears asleep, but Duke Ly instantly catches him and threatens to cripple him if he tries anything again.The next morning, Duke Ly and Xavier spear fish in the lagoon, eat coconuts and cooked triggerfish, and prepare for the day’s plan.Duke Ly explains that volunteers will avoid the roads after seeing the truth, meaning the hunters will need to enter the jungle where traps can be used.Reluctantly, Xavier accepts the role of bait because Duke Ly bluntly points out that he is stronger and better suited to attack from hiding.Duke Ly builds deadly vine-triggered spike traps along an escape route, using swinging latticework and a backup deadfall to kill or disable anyone chasing Xavier.Soon after, Xavier lures a hunter and bodyguard from the road into the forest, pretending to stumble near the trap marker.The bodyguard triggers the trap and is pinned by the deadfall, while Duke Ly silently kills the hunter by cutting his throat.Keeping his promise, Duke Ly returns the knife to Xavier and equips himself with the hunter’s clothes, guns, machete, and cowboy hat.Meanwhile, Xavier strips the bodyguard, dresses the corpse in his orange uniform, buries the bodies, and takes the bodyguard’s weapons and car keys.When Duke Ly dismantles the traps to avoid killing innocent volunteers, Xavier realizes Duke Ly is not a hitman and begins suspecting he may be law enforcement.Afterward, Xavier eats the hunter’s lunch in the Jeep, shares chocolate truffles with Duke Ly, and resents his own growing attachment because Duke Ly may be tied to law enforcement.Elsewhere, Leo Lawrence patrols as Rafael Garcia-Yang with Ustinov and refuses to shoot several vulnerable volunteers, pretending he is only interested in catching a “beautiful, cunning fox” for Andrew Stuart.When nearby gunshots make Leo Lawrence unable to keep ignoring the slaughter, he orders Ustinov to stop the Jeep and enters the jungle despite knowing it could endanger his cover.At the same time, Xavier and Duke Ly clean up after killing a second hunter, with Duke Ly observing that Xavier seems energized by violence and may turn dangerous if he gains the upper hand.Hearing Leo Lawrence and Ustinov approach, Duke Ly and Xavier hide behind a tree and prepare to ambush them.Just before Xavier can shoot, Duke Ly recognizes Leo Lawrence’s voice and physically blocks Xavier’s trigger finger.Because Xavier accidentally scratches the rifle barrel against the tree, Ustinov detects them and demands they come out.Xavier steps out pretending to be a bodyguard, and Duke Ly follows while hiding his face under the cowboy hat.Ustinov grows suspicious when he cannot recognize Xavier and realizes Duke Ly is not one of the season’s club members.Before Ustinov can raise his rifle, Duke Ly shoots him between the eyes, leaving only Leo Lawrence facing Duke Ly and Xavier.Leo Lawrence lowers his shotgun and reveals that he is an FBI agent, trying to prevent a needless fight with people he believes are victims.Xavier reacts with shock at another undercover federal agent, while Leo Lawrence asks Duke Ly which field office he belongs to.Duke Ly raises his face, greets Leo Lawrence by name, and reveals himself as GC, the Green Cleaner, under yet another flawless disguise.Leo Lawrence is shaken by the reveal and immediately challenges the Green Cleaner, insisting a serial killer cannot be allowed to control the case.In response, Duke Ly argues that only one of them can operate freely and threatens to restrain Leo Lawrence until the island mission is finished.Duke Ly then uses Xavier as leverage, introducing him as a violent “Crip Killer” who would be willing to harm Leo Lawrence if necessary.Xavier enjoys the attention and asks Duke Ly if he can kill Leo Lawrence, revealing his hatred of law enforcement and willingness to murder.Even so, Duke Ly’s glare forces Xavier to back down, showing that Xavier is still afraid of crossing him.Leo Lawrence is disappointed and angry to see the Green Cleaner allied with someone like Xavier, because it contradicts the Green Cleaner’s supposed rule about not harming innocents.Duke Ly argues that if Leo Lawrence fights them, at least two of the three will be killed or crippled, allowing Andrew Stuart and the Artemis Club to continue operating.After weighing the situation, Leo Lawrence accepts that cooperation in practice may be the only way to protect the victims and bring down the mastermind.Duke Ly proposes that Leo Lawrence continue gathering evidence while Duke Ly kills the hunters, with both sides staying out of each other’s business.Leo Lawrence refuses to call it cooperation and instead agrees to a temporary arrangement, still warning that Duke Ly has no right to decide who deserves death.At the same time, Leo Lawrence realizes he can use the situation to strengthen his Rafael Garcia-Yang cover and earn Andrew Stuart’s trust.To sell the lie, Leo Lawrence asks Duke Ly to shoot him in the left tricep without hitting bone.Duke Ly shoots Leo Lawrence precisely, and Leo Lawrence thanks him before leaving with a bleeding wound that will support his cover story.Before Leo Lawrence disappears, Duke Ly calls after him and says he is sorry, while Leo Lawrence privately thinks he is sorry too.Once Leo Lawrence is gone, Xavier questions why Duke Ly let him walk away and even asks whether Duke Ly and Leo Lawrence have slept together.Duke Ly dismisses the idea and says it is now a race to see whether they can eliminate the hunters before Leo Lawrence brings down the mastermind.Although Xavier worries the island search will soon expose them, Duke Ly says he has ideas and gives Xavier one last chance to leave.Xavier chooses to stay because he believes remaining with the Green Cleaner is his safest chance of survival.Duke Ly warns Xavier not to get in his way, and Xavier accepts the threat before asking again whether Duke Ly and Leo Lawrence are really not “fuckbuddies.”

Chapter 18
No Friend Is Forever, No Enemy Is EternalAfter surviving the attack on Mahina Major, Leo Lawrence applies a tourniquet, roughly dresses his gunshot wounds, drives himself to the northwestern garage, and takes a dinghy back to the clubhouse compound.Instead of returning to his villa, Leo Lawrence storms into Andrew Stuart’s manor covered in blood and demands to see Andrew Stuart, forcing Oliver Grimm to summon him.When Andrew Stuart arrives in a silk robe, Leo Lawrence complains as Rafael Garcia-Yang that the club promised member safety but allowed him to be shot and Ustinov to be killed.To prove his injury, Leo Lawrence removes the bloody dressing and throws it at Oliver Grimm, intimidating him while keeping up the outraged wealthy-member act.Alarmed by the situation, Andrew Stuart orders medical help while Leo Lawrence suggests that either another member or one of the “animals” must have attacked him.Dr. Ratima and Hiroshi treat Leo Lawrence’s bullet wounds, confirm no major vessels or bones are damaged, and stitch him up.Afterward, Andrew Stuart tries to flirt with Leo Lawrence again, but a call from Oliver Grimm interrupts before Leo Lawrence has to endure more.The call horrifies Andrew Stuart because Oliver Grimm reports that four club members are missing, making Andrew Stuart order a lockdown and a full search.When the volunteer headshots are brought in, Leo Lawrence identifies Duke Ly and Xavier as the supposed attackers, secretly recognizing Duke Ly as the Green Cleaner’s newest disguise.Playing his role, Leo Lawrence demands Duke Ly and Xavier be captured alive so he can personally punish them for shooting him.Meanwhile, Xavier and Duke Ly hide from dogs and helicopters after killing multiple hunters, and Xavier pushes a fifth hunter’s body into a fissure.With the island search tightening, Duke Ly leads Xavier to the northwestern coast and reveals they must swim about one and a half miles to Mahina Minor.Xavier panics at the shark-infested water, but Duke Ly explains how to avoid provoking sharks and gives him crushed fish-poison fruit as a possible deterrent.Forced to choose between hunters and sharks, Xavier follows Duke Ly into the water and survives the exhausting crossing to Mahina Minor.Once they shelter in a coastal cave, Xavier gathers coconuts and firewood while Duke Ly harvests oysters from the reef.During their meal, Duke Ly explains that Mahina Minor holds the clubhouse and wealthy members, while Mahina Major is the hunting ground.Xavier wants to hijack a helicopter and escape, but Duke Ly says he plans to kill every club member before leaving.Xavier tries to persuade Duke Ly to abandon vigilante killing and use his talents for money and power instead, insisting they are both above ordinary rules.Duke Ly calmly tells Xavier that Xavier does not know him, rejecting Xavier’s fantasy of partnership and leaving Xavier angry, humiliated, and tempted toward violence.Later, Duke Ly infiltrates Mr. Schwarz’s villa disguised as Freddy Falcon with Velvet’s help, passing the guards by pretending to be an escort.Once inside, Duke Ly injects Mr. Schwarz with ketamine, knocks Velvet unconscious for her safety, and examines Mr. Schwarz’s skull ashtray collection.Remembering that Mr. Schwarz had planned to turn Omar’s remains into an ashtray, Duke Ly says “Rest in peace, Omar” and selects a handsaw from Mr. Schwarz’s tools.At the same time, Edmond Goldring tries to flee to the heliport because he fears both Andrew Stuart and the federal operation closing in.Edmond Goldring crashes his Wrangler and is ambushed by Xavier, who knocks him down and holds a knife to his neck.In his panic, Edmond Goldring accidentally reveals that he has an agreement with the DOJ and expects witness protection, allowing Xavier to realize Edmond Goldring helped federal agents infiltrate the Artemis Club.This revelation makes Xavier remember that Leo Lawrence is the same officer who arrested him in Jamaica years earlier and ruined his life.Seeing a chance for revenge, Xavier forces Edmond Goldring to call Oliver Grimm and then Andrew Stuart.While dining with Andrew Stuart, Leo Lawrence considers knocking him out and searching for evidence, but Andrew Stuart’s satellite phone interrupts the meal.On the call, Xavier tells Andrew Stuart that the DOJ has sent an undercover agent into the club and demands one hundred million dollars for the mole’s identity.Andrew Stuart initially resists but agrees after Xavier suggests the mole can be killed and blamed for the island deaths.Once the money is transferred, Xavier exposes Rafael Garcia-Yang as Leo Lawrence, a former NYPD officer now working for the Feds.Andrew Stuart thanks Xavier but reveals the airstrip and heliport are closed, trapping Xavier on the island despite his betrayal.The chapter leaves Xavier terrified after realizing that selling out Leo Lawrence may not save him from Andrew Stuart or the Artemis Club.

The Killer of Killers, Vol. 2

Chapter 19
Crossed PathsLeo leaves the powder room and sees that Stuart is still in the study, which makes Leo decide that he would rather face armed hostiles than continue enduring Stuart’s company.Because Leo wants to escape without destroying his cover, Leo considers using the spiked wines he brought to the Mahinas, including one drugged with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and one containing truth serum.After deciding on that plan, Leo heads for the front door, but Stuart catches him before he can leave.Stuart teasingly accuses Leo of leaving in the middle of dinner without saying goodbye, forcing Leo to improvise an excuse about Richie being busy and Leo feeling the effects of blood loss.Instead of letting Leo go, Stuart insists nothing is more important than Leo tonight and takes Leo upstairs to the game room.Once they arrive in the game room, Stuart invites Leo to play blackjack, and Leo immediately senses that Stuart has another motive.Leo plays along because openly refusing Stuart might ruin the relationship he has been maintaining under his Rafael Garcia-Yang cover.During the game, Stuart says Leo already has what Stuart wants and that it is only a matter of time before Leo gives it to him.As the blackjack rounds continue, Leo notices that Stuart does not seem pleased by winning and instead keeps glancing at the clock.After about forty hands, Stuart’s satellite phone rings again, and Stuart immediately leaves the game room to answer it.Once Stuart is gone, Leo tries to call Edmond, but Edmond’s number is unavailable instead of simply busy.Because Edmond was supposed to keep his satellite phone on at all times, Leo realizes something is wrong and concludes that the mission has likely been compromised.Acting quickly, Leo checks the flower bed below the balcony, climbs over the railing, lowers himself down, and drops safely enough to roll through the landing.When security guards approach, Leo disguises his escape attempt by pretending he came outside for a cigarette and lost his lighter.Leo then manipulates one guard by claiming he wants to go skinny-dipping and threatening to complain to Richie if the guard refuses.Since Stuart’s interest in Leo gives Leo influence over the staff, the guard accepts Leo’s bribe and drives Leo away in a Defender.Meanwhile, Stuart receives confirmation from the information broker that Rafael Garcia-Yang is actually Special Agent Leo Lawrence.Feeling betrayed and humiliated by falling for Leo’s honey pot operation, Stuart becomes obsessed with revenge.Furious, Stuart summons his personal guards and orders them to catch the mole after realizing Leo escaped through the balcony.At the same time, Leo hears the driver’s walkie-talkie transmit a warning and knocks the guard unconscious by cutting off blood flow through the carotid arteries.Without slowing down, Leo takes control of the Defender, shoves the unconscious guard out of the vehicle, and continues the escape.Elsewhere, Duke showers off blood while singing, revealing that Duke has been killing inside the clubhouse operation.Duke uses Mr. Schwarz’s wardrobe and restores Duke’s hair color with dye found near Mr. Schwarz’s shaving kit.Through Duke’s thoughts, it is revealed that Duke had bleached Duke’s hair, lightened Duke’s skin, and hidden Duke’s scars to fool the special agent.Soon after, Duke sees armed mercenaries patrolling outside and realizes Duke’s plan to finish killing the remaining club members that night has been disrupted.Adapting quickly, Duke imitates the German’s voice to lure two guards inside and incapacitates both guards within seconds.Duke strips one guard, puts on the guard’s uniform and gear, and joins a team of armed men to escape detection.Over the walkie-talkies, Duke hears that Rafael Garcia-Yang has been sighted leaving the compound and that violent force is allowed if Rafael Garcia-Yang resists.When a man beside Duke becomes suspicious, Duke elbows him and jumps off the moving truck into the jungle while bullets follow.Meanwhile, Xavier realizes Xavier has trapped himself on the island, smashes the satellite phone, and kills Mr. Goldring in anger.Xavier climbs a hill and sees the last helicopter leaving, which confirms that Xavier has no easy way off the Mahinas.After panicking, Xavier decides Duke is probably Xavier’s best chance of escaping because Duke must have prepared a backup plan.With that hope in mind, Xavier takes Mr. Goldring’s Jeep and heads back toward the clubhouse.Along the way, Xavier hides from an armed search team and wonders whether Duke or Lawrence caused the emergency.Despite Xavier’s panic, Xavier decides to follow the search team to see whether the situation can be turned to Xavier’s advantage.Meanwhile, Leo abandons the Defender after encountering a roadblock and flees into the jungle.As Leo becomes the hunted instead of the hunter, Leo recognizes the irony but focuses on staying alive and finding shelter.Leo decides the beach on the other side of the island might offer a better hiding place than staying exposed in the jungle.Choosing stealth over speed, Leo moves through the dark jungle under the closed canopy with only a weak flashlight to guide him.The jungle terrifies and exhausts Leo with venomous snakes, thorns, muddy ground, hidden drops, and overwhelming darkness.Eventually, Leo reaches the coast, but a helicopter searchlight forces him to crawl through shrubbery and look for cover.Leo spots a triangular opening in the rock face and enters what he hopes is a sea cave.Inside the cave, Leo wades through knee-deep water, suffers from salt stinging his wounds, and avoids using the flashlight to prevent detection.As Leo moves deeper, he realizes the cave is more like a tunnel and worries about being trapped by the tide.Before Leo can rest, he hears someone else wading through the water and prepares for a silent close-quarters fight.Leo ambushes the stranger, but the man fights back fiercely and proves skilled in close combat.During the struggle, Leo and the stranger both try to reach their weapons, but the grappling turns chaotic in the dark.The fight takes a painful turn when Leo accidentally grabs the stranger’s crotch and then gets struck in the same place in return.After the collision, Leo and the stranger recognize each other by voice, revealing the stranger is Duke.Leo and Duke immediately argue over why neither of them spoke earlier, with both blaming the darkness and confusion.Once the tension lowers, Leo asks how Duke reached Mahina Minor from Mahina Major, and Duke says Duke swam using the front crawl.Leo mocks Duke for fearing sharks despite being a cold-blooded killer, then confronts Duke about killing club members.Duke reveals Duke has killed six club members, not five, and blames Leo for waking up the mercenaries before Duke could finish the job.Alarmed, Leo grabs Duke by the collar and asks whether Duke killed Edmond.Duke denies killing Edmond and says the man Duke killed was Wilhelm Schwarz, which relieves Leo on that specific point.Even so, Leo immediately challenges Duke’s morality and questions whether Duke is any different from the murderers Duke hunts.In response, Duke insists Duke is neither delusional nor psychopathic and argues that Duke is simply acting according to Duke’s own convictions.Although Leo remains frustrated, Leo realizes that neither of them will ever persuade the other about justice or morality.Nevertheless, Leo privately reflects that Duke possesses many admirable qualities, which only makes Duke’s violence harder for Leo to accept.After dwelling on Duke for more than a year, Leo finally accepts that Duke is unlikely to change.Shifting back to survival, Leo warns Duke about the helicopter and armed patrols sweeping the island.Duke responds by suggesting they stay hidden in the cave, build a fire, and wait out the danger.When Duke slips in the darkness, Leo instinctively catches Duke by the arm.Duke then leads Leo deeper into the cave toward supplies Duke secretly cached there earlier.As Duke guides him by the wrist, Leo becomes distracted by memories of the passionate kiss they shared in the Murder Castle.Because of that memory, Leo struggles with confusing feelings of attraction that seem impossible given that Leo is an FBI agent and Duke is a serial killer.Trying to suppress those thoughts, Leo reminds himself that the person Leo truly loves is someone entirely different.Distracted by those reflections, Leo accidentally walks into Duke when Duke stops and announces they have reached the hidden supplies.Duke climbs the rocks, retrieves the supplies, and successfully starts a fire using flint, coir, and dry palm fronds.Because the cave is cold and damp, Leo and Duke strip down to their underpants and dry their clothes beside the fire.While Duke appears completely comfortable, Leo feels deeply awkward about sitting half-naked with the serial killer he has been chasing for over a year.To improve morale, Duke shares coconuts, clams, and sea urchins, allowing both men to satisfy their hunger.After eating, Leo and Duke create simple sleeping areas from banana leaves and prepare to rest.Unfortunately, Leo still cannot sleep and continues lying awake with racing thoughts.Sensing Leo’s restlessness, Duke asks whether Leo is nervous because of Duke’s presence.Their conversation turns playful when Duke promises not to try anything funny and Leo jokes about arresting Duke in his sleep.The discussion eventually shifts to Duke’s earlier escape from handcuffs, and Duke casually reveals that Duke dislocated a finger to free himself.Leo’s comments about psychopaths unexpectedly strike a nerve, causing Duke to lash out and accuse Leo of viewing Duke as just another monster.Realizing Duke is genuinely upset, Leo clarifies that Leo has never seen Duke as identical to the predators Duke hunts.Through the exchange, Leo realizes Duke willingly injured himself rather than hurt a law enforcement officer during the escape.Encouraged by that realization, Leo admits that Leo believes Duke’s motives are not entirely selfish.Duke responds honestly by admitting that killing provides an addictive rush that grows stronger over time.Leo compares that temptation to Leo’s struggle with Xanax and argues that change is possible if someone truly wants it.Duke rejects that optimism and insists Duke will continue following Duke’s own path regardless of what others think.Deciding the conversation is going nowhere, Duke redirects their focus toward resting before the incoming tide traps them.Before sleeping, Duke jokes about giving Leo a goodnight kiss, while Leo responds by asking for handcuffs instead.Duke quickly falls asleep afterward, leaving Leo awake and increasingly conflicted about both Duke and himself.Throughout the night, Leo periodically checks the time and keeps the fire alive while remaining unable to sleep.Once morning approaches, Leo wakes Duke and the pair begin moving through the increasingly flooded cave.During the journey, Leo recovers the flashlight lost during their earlier fight.As dawn light appears ahead, Leo and Duke hear voices and discover an armed search team with dogs positioned near the cave entrance.Duke estimates that the cave will flood completely within roughly half an hour, placing them under intense pressure.After observing the beach, Leo realizes that escaping into daylight would make them easy targets for the armed patrol.Because the search team settles down nearby, Leo and Duke become effectively trapped between drowning and being shot.Rather than panic, Duke calmly asks Leo whether Leo would prefer dying by gunfire or by the sea.Leo replies that Leo would rather be eaten by fish than allow Stuart’s men to get their hands on Leo.With no safe exit available, Duke leads Leo deeper into the cave toward a possible refuge above the high tide line.Although Duke admits there is no real backup plan, Duke explains that a raised rocky section may provide enough space to survive the flooding.Accepting that gamble, Leo agrees to follow Duke.As the water rises higher and higher, they are forced to swim through nearly submerged passages while relying on small air pockets.Before entering the most dangerous section, Duke warns Leo that Duke may not make it through and tells Leo to prioritize survival if necessary.That unexpected concern affects Leo emotionally, though Leo cannot see Duke’s face in the darkness.Duke dives first into the submerged tunnel, with Leo following close behind.When Leo finally reaches an air pocket, Leo discovers that Duke has failed to surface.Realizing Duke is drowning, Leo immediately dives back underwater and uses the last remaining power in the flashlight to search for him.Leo finds Duke desperately holding back the instinct to breathe and rushes to save him.Without hesitation, Leo pulls Duke close, removes Duke’s hands from Duke’s face, and gives Duke air mouth-to-mouth.Duke instinctively clings to Leo while taking the desperately needed oxygen.Once both men reach the air pocket above, the life-saving act transforms into a passionate kiss fueled by fear, relief, adrenaline, and overwhelming emotion.Only after saltwater splashes into their eyes do Leo and Duke finally break apart and gulp fresh air into their lungs once more.

Chapter 20
In the DarkDuke and Leo recover from the saltwater kiss, but Duke quickly reminds Leo that they must keep moving because the tide is still rising.Without arguing, Leo dives back underwater, and Duke follows as they push toward the raised platform where they spent the night.Fortunately, Duke and Leo reach the familiar cracked rocks within minutes and climb up to wait out the tide.As the water continues rising, Duke and Leo are forced into a cramped five-by-nine-foot refuge where they can only sit or lie on the cold slanted stone.Despite the discomfort, Duke and Leo accept the space as a blessing because it keeps them from drowning.Soon after, Duke worries that the small enclosed space may not have enough oxygen for both of them to survive.Refusing to give up, Duke feels around the rocks and discovers freshwater dripping from above.Because the freshwater proves there are rain-fed gaps in the rock, Duke realizes there is likely enough airflow to keep them from suffocating.While Duke is relieved, Duke notices Leo is distracted and asks whether Leo is upset about their kiss.Leo tries to dismiss the kiss as heat-of-the-moment confusion, but Duke insists Duke was fully aware both this time and in Chicago.Duke challenges Leo to admit Leo is attracted to Duke, but Leo argues that any physical reaction was just adrenaline and instinct.Hurt by Leo reducing their attraction to hormones, Duke tries to explain that Duke has been interested in Leo since Leo took over Duke’s case.Duke admits that Leo’s intelligence, fighting ability, discipline, and observation skills made Duke’s missions harder and more exciting.As Duke continues, Duke reveals that leaving clues for Leo became thrilling because Duke enjoyed being pursued by someone capable.Leo is disturbed by Duke connecting a federal investigation to pleasure and accuses Duke of turning their conflict into a game.Frustrated, Duke argues that Leo has also prioritized chasing Duke over dates, hobbies, and chances at a normal life.Then Duke shocks Leo by openly saying Duke has been infatuated with Leo for more than a year.Leo rejects Duke’s confession harshly, accusing Duke of trying to unnerve him with words after failing to break him physically.Angered in return, Duke snaps that Duke has been going easy on Leo and threatens to act on Duke’s feelings more aggressively.The argument turns physical when Leo kicks toward Duke’s voice, and Duke grabs Leo’s ankle before the two begin fighting in the cramped space.Their fight becomes chaotic until Duke and Leo fall off the rock into the saltwater and are forced to climb back up coughing.After calling a timeout, Duke admits the space is too cramped for them to fight safely.In the heavy silence that follows, Duke tells Leo that Duke’s feelings are not a game.Leo responds that nothing can come from whatever exists between them because Leo is not attracted to Duke.Duke dismisses Leo’s denial and brings up the person Leo truly loves, mocking Bingqing as a soft and helpless Ragdoll.Leo becomes defensive and warns Duke not to insult Bingqing.Duke points out that Bingqing does not belong to Leo and argues that Leo can fantasize about anyone while still admitting the desire between Duke and Leo.Suddenly, Duke kisses Leo again, provoking Leo’s anger and pushing their tension into a more intimate confrontation.Their struggle shifts from violence into sexual tension, and Leo’s desire for control collides with Duke’s refusal to submit easily.When neither Leo nor Duke wants to give up dominance, Leo nearly walks away to cool down rather than force the situation.Unexpectedly, Duke stops Leo and concedes, telling Leo that Leo wins and can call the play.Leo is stunned by Duke’s willingness to yield and asks whether Duke understands what Duke is saying.Duke refuses to beg but makes it clear that Leo can accept the offer or leave it.Leo answers with a deep kiss, and Duke embraces him, confirming that Duke is choosing to continue.Before going further, Leo tells Duke to say the word if Duke wants to stop.Duke insists Duke never backs out once Duke is in, so Leo proceeds carefully.At first, Duke’s body is tense and strained, and Leo pauses when Leo realizes Duke is fighting powerful instincts to resist.Hearing Duke whisper Leo’s name like a way to control himself, Leo understands that Duke is restraining the violent part of himself for Leo’s sake.Moved by that realization, Leo changes his approach and reassures Duke gently.As Leo comforts him, Duke relaxes and openly asks Leo to continue.Their intimacy deepens, and Leo experiences a powerful sense of satisfaction from Duke willingly opening himself to him.Afterward, Leo checks on Duke with concern, while Duke brushes off the worry with pride.Leo then realizes Duke still needs attention and helps Duke find release too.In the quiet aftermath, Duke and Leo hold each other, kiss, and share a moment of warmth that feels far removed from their usual hostility.Leo thanks Duke, and Duke jokes that there is a price because next time Duke will call the play.Surprisingly, Leo agrees that Duke can take control next time since Duke compromised this time.Duke is genuinely caught off guard by Leo’s answer but happily claims the promise.Afterward, Duke and Leo wash off in the cave water and put their wet clothes back on.Once they return to the rock, Leo rests his head on Duke’s chest and falls asleep to Duke’s heartbeat.While Leo sleeps, Duke kisses Leo’s head and softly calls Leo Duke’s lionheart.Later, Duke and Leo finally leave the sea cave near ten o’clock at night after sleeping through two high tides.Outside, Duke listens carefully and determines that the helicopter and search teams are no longer nearby.Leo reasons that Stuart’s men may believe they escaped to Mahina Major, which means Mahina Minor may be less heavily guarded.Seeing an opportunity, Duke suggests hiding in the clubhouse compound because Stuart would keep most guards near Stuart’s manor.Leo questions whether Duke is still focused on killing the remaining club members, but Duke argues that Stuart’s ego may have kept everyone locked down.Duke suggests going after the members and Stuart together, calling it Murder Castle round two.Although Leo calls Duke crazy and egotistical, Leo admits Leo has no better plan and agrees to go along.Their fragile cooperation cracks when Duke jokes about Leo’s honey pot role with Stuart, and Leo warns Duke not to interfere with Leo’s work.Duke needles Leo about hypocrisy and about their new intimacy, making Leo realize the cave may have been a serious mistake.Leo tries to address the situation seriously, but Duke immediately points out that Leo no longer called Duke babe.After Leo forces himself to use the nickname, Duke agrees to behave like a grown-up while still insisting Duke can do what Duke wants with the remaining targets.Leo tells Duke not to kill anyone on Leo’s watch, but Duke simply suggests Leo should not watch.As Duke walks away into the shrubbery, Leo considers parting ways from him.Before Leo can leave, Duke complains that Duke’s ass hurts and asks to lean on Leo, trapping Leo back into reluctant cooperation.Later that night, Leo and Duke reach the clubhouse compound and observe the patrols from the bushes.Because the patrols are smaller and less frequent, Leo and Duke conclude that Stuart has likely reduced the force on Mahina Minor.Working together, Leo boosts Duke over the twelve-foot wall, and Duke uses Duke’s shirt to handle the razor wire.Once inside, Duke and Leo land safely on the manicured lawn.Leo says Leo needs to return to Rafael Garcia-Yang’s villa to retrieve hidden supplies.Duke teases Leo like a spy but agrees to visit the villas first, partly because Duke hopes the club members may still be there.After sneaking into Rafael Garcia-Yang’s assigned residence, Duke stops Leo and whispers that someone is inside.Listening closely, Leo hears a sleeping person breathing from the bed.Duke attacks the sleeper first, but the man wakes and pulls a knife from under the pillow.As Duke and the man struggle over the knife, Leo intervenes with an arrest maneuver and pins the man down.When the man claims to be on their side, Duke recognizes the voice as Xavier.Leo releases Xavier, and Xavier pretends concern while privately resenting that Stuart failed to eliminate Leo.Duke questions why Xavier is there, and Xavier explains that the heliport was cleared and the clubhouse seemed like the safest hiding place.Xavier then asks whether Duke finished Duke’s targets or whether Leo has managed to restrain Duke.Leo cuts in and identifies Xavier Schafer, revealing that Leo remembers Xavier from Rycken Island.Xavier hides his rage behind a fake smile while internally fantasizing about revenge against Leo.Leo asks Xavier about the satellite phone, but Xavier lies and pretends not to know anything about it.After that, Leo retrieves the two drugged bottles of Burgundy and the hidden syringes from the villa.When Leo returns, Xavier is trying to flatter Duke and rejoin Duke as a sidekick to escape the island.Duke gives Xavier one last chance, warning Xavier that betrayal or interference will earn Xavier a burial instead of forgiveness.Xavier swears loyalty, and Duke rewards him with the degrading but affectionate approval of calling him a good boy.Leo reacts sharply to Duke touching Xavier, yanks Xavier away, and orders Xavier out so Leo and Duke can change.Once Xavier leaves, Duke strips off the soaked clothes and chooses fresh clothing from the wardrobe.Leo moves close behind Duke and warns Duke again that Xavier is no good for Duke.Duke challenges whether that warning comes from Agent Lawrence’s concern or from Leo’s possessiveness as Duke’s recent lover.Leo is bothered when Duke reduces himself to a fuckbuddy, but Duke throws Leo’s earlier words back at him.Leo then admits that he does not even know who Duke really is, questioning whether Duke is Duke’s real name or whether any face Leo has seen is Duke’s true face.Duke counters that Leo would imprison Duke if Duke ever lifted that veil, so neither of them truly trusts the other.Duke also accuses Leo of merely fooling around while still clinging emotionally to Bingqing.This accusation devastates Leo because Leo realizes Bingqing has not crossed Leo’s mind since returning to the cave during high tide.Overwhelmed with shame, Leo thinks about Bingqing, Duke, and Leo’s own indecision before apologizing.Duke refuses Leo’s apology and tells Leo to forget the man who does not belong to Leo and focus only on Duke.Duke compares Leo to Apollo cursed to chase Daphne, declaring that Leo will chase Duke to the ends of the earth.Duke kisses Leo, and Leo accepts with little resistance despite knowing that getting closer to Duke is dangerous.Leo calls Duke the devil in disguise who tempts the weak-minded into sin.Duke playfully replies that an angel should put Duke in Duke’s place.Leo says Leo will do it even if it hurts, making clear that Leo still intends to stop Duke one day.Duke finds that almost sweet and kisses Leo again, this time with Leo inviting Duke in.When Duke and Leo finally return to the lounge in fresh clothes, Xavier is irritated and suspects they were intimate.Xavier privately speculates about Duke and Leo’s dynamic, growing jealous and resentful of the attention Duke gives Leo.Duke warns Xavier that smoking could alert the guards and takes the cigarette from Xavier.Xavier demands a real plan for escaping the island, and Duke says they will go to Stuart’s manor and make Stuart see them off by helicopter.Xavier calls the plan stupid because Stuart is surrounded by professional mercenaries.Duke explains that they will lure Stuart out of protection instead of trying to fight through the guards.Xavier suggests using Leo because Stuart hates Leo, but Leo immediately becomes suspicious of how Xavier knows that.Xavier tries to explain that he overheard mercenaries discussing Stuart’s orders, but Leo does not believe him.Leo tackles Xavier onto the sofa and accuses Xavier of blowing Leo’s cover and harming Edmond Goldring.Xavier responds with rage, revealing deep resentment over Leo’s role in Xavier’s arrest and humiliation years earlier.Leo punches Xavier and reminds Xavier of assaulting Leo’s colleague, showing that Leo still despises Xavier for what Xavier did.As Leo prepares to continue, Duke stops Leo by grabbing Leo’s wrist.Duke explains that if Xavier already betrayed Leo to Stuart once, then Xavier can be useful because Xavier can do it again.

Chapter 21
The Ultimate TargetOliver spends the last twenty-four hours hoping either the informant or the mole will be caught because Richie Stuart’s growing anger over losing a hundred million dollars is becoming increasingly dangerous for everyone around him.Instead of disappearing, the mysterious informant contacts the bodyguards’ radio frequency again and claims to have information that could help locate the mole.When Oliver assumes the informant wants money, the informant surprises him by offering the intelligence for free and only asking to speak directly with Richie Stuart.Although suspicious, Oliver decides the information might improve Richie Stuart’s mood and passes the request along.Unlike previous encounters, Richie Stuart remains calm and reasons that the informant is desperately trying to repair their relationship after angering him earlier.Confident that the informant has little leverage, Richie Stuart agrees to communicate with him over the radio.During the conversation, the informant claims Leo has been hiding inside the sea cave on Mahina Minor and explains that Richie Stuart’s men overlooked a hidden elevated area with airflow.As the explanation continues, Richie Stuart becomes furious that nobody understood the cave’s geology well enough to discover the hiding place.The informant then claims Leo returned to the cave recently and is supposedly waiting there for rescue.Although Richie Stuart does not completely trust the story, Richie Stuart sees enough credibility in it to investigate personally.Driven by fantasies of humiliating and killing Leo himself, Richie Stuart assembles a tactical force and prepares to lead the operation.Before departing, Richie Stuart even checks his appearance in the mirror and freshens up as though attending a social event rather than a manhunt.Meanwhile, Duke watches Richie Stuart and his men leave the compound and rewards Xavier for successfully feeding false information to the aristocrat.Xavier proudly admits that the only lie in the story was the timing, since Leo and Duke had indeed used the cave earlier.Leo mocks Xavier’s reliability, but Duke privately realizes that Duke is also becoming a liar through the choices Duke is making.After waiting to ensure Richie Stuart is truly gone, Duke and Leo sneak into the servants’ quarters and steal uniforms as disguises.Once dressed as staff members, Duke and Leo head toward Richie Stuart’s manor while security remains noticeably relaxed due to their employer’s absence.According to the plan, Xavier remains behind near the entrance to act as lookout in case Richie Stuart returns unexpectedly.As Duke and Leo approach the manor carrying cleaning supplies and flowers to complete their disguises, they nearly expose themselves when they encounter a real housekeeper.Thinking quickly, Leo pulls the woman into the powder room and pretends they are sneaking away for a romantic encounter.A passing guard misunderstands the situation entirely, sympathizes with Duke as the supposed wingman, and leaves without raising an alarm.Once the guard is gone, Duke confirms the coast is clear while Leo reveals he knocked the housekeeper unconscious and tied her up.With their cover intact, Duke and Leo proceed upstairs and lock themselves inside Richie Stuart’s bedroom.Despite searching extensively, Duke and Leo fail to locate any obvious evidence or secret storage area.Leo concludes that Richie Stuart must be hiding important information inside a secure safe rather than entrusting everything to subordinates.After another fruitless half hour, Duke reluctantly agrees that only Richie Stuart himself may reveal the safe’s location.While Duke toys with the idea of using violence, Leo firmly insists that Richie Stuart can be made to talk without torture.Suddenly, Xavier contacts Duke and warns that Richie Stuart has already returned by helicopter after realizing he was deceived.Duke immediately urges Leo to flee before they are trapped.However, Leo refuses because Leo believes this may be the only opportunity to gather evidence and save the victims connected to the hunting operation.Leo explains that abandoning the mission would likely condemn many innocent captives to death.Realizing persuasion will fail, Duke claims Duke intends to hunt down the remaining club members instead.Rather than chasing Duke, Leo admits rescuing victims and securing evidence now matter more than stopping Duke.Although Duke appears annoyed, Duke ultimately leaves Leo behind and departs the room.After Duke disappears, Leo privately admits that Duke’s safety has become more important to Leo than the fate of the remaining club members.Preparing for the worst, Leo finds a hiding place and waits for Richie Stuart’s return.Soon afterward, Richie Stuart’s men thoroughly search the manor and discover signs of intrusion but fail to locate Leo.Exhausted by continuous setbacks, Richie Stuart surprisingly restrains his temper and dismisses the guards instead of exploding at them.Once alone, Richie Stuart accesses a hidden wall safe concealed behind a gramophone mechanism.The safe is revealed to be protected by a password, fingerprint verification, iris recognition, and even explosives designed to kill intruders.Satisfied that everything remains untouched, Richie Stuart collapses onto the bed from sheer exhaustion.Hidden beneath the bed the entire time, Leo quietly emerges and injects Richie Stuart with sodium thiopental from a concealed syringe.Although Richie Stuart awakens, the drug quickly impairs his judgment and lowers his inhibitions.Despite his own physical exhaustion from hanging beneath the bed while guards searched the room, Leo seizes the opportunity to interrogate Richie Stuart.Over the next several minutes, Leo carefully extracts every piece of information he can, including the method for opening the safe.Just as Leo finishes, Oliver Grimm arrives outside the bedroom and grows suspicious when Richie Stuart fails to respond normally.Leo realizes that if Oliver Grimm becomes alarmed, the entire operation could collapse.Making matters worse, Richie Stuart’s phone begins ringing repeatedly while Oliver Grimm remains outside the door.Since neither ignoring the call nor answering incorrectly would fool Oliver Grimm, Leo finds himself trapped in an impossible situation.At that critical moment, Duke suddenly reappears by climbing through the French windows from outside.Without hesitation, Duke answers the phone while perfectly imitating Richie Stuart’s voice.Duke insults Oliver Grimm and orders him to leave, instantly convincing the manager that everything is normal.After the threat works, Oliver Grimm retreats downstairs in embarrassment.Leo is relieved but immediately questions why Duke came back when Duke could have escaped safely.Duke jokingly complains that Leo never expresses gratitude properly and suggests Leo should be more affectionate.Ignoring the flirting, Leo focuses on opening the safe using the information extracted from Richie Stuart.Inside the safe, Leo discovers a silver hard drive containing membership records, financial information, payroll data, hunting ground operations, recruitment records, and evidence covering both current and former members.After verifying the files on a laptop, Leo realizes the evidence is more than enough to destroy Richie Stuart and the entire operation.Overjoyed, Leo celebrates that there is finally a chance to save the victims and secure justice.When Duke asks whether Duke deserves credit as well, Leo immediately acknowledges that none of it would have been possible without Duke.Hoping for a reward, Duke puckers his lips, and Leo responds by kissing Duke without hesitation.Their kiss quickly intensifies as Leo pushes Duke against the wall and completely forgets about everything else.Richie Stuart groans from the bed and inadvertently interrupts the moment.To prevent further problems, Leo injects the remainder of the drug into Richie Stuart and dismisses concerns about protocol.Claiming the mission is effectively complete, Leo pulls Duke back into another passionate kiss.Eventually, Duke admits that part of Duke wants to leave before Leo changes Duke’s mind and arrests him.In response, Leo strokes Duke’s hair and gently tells Duke that all Duke has to do is surrender.Leo promises that cooperation could reduce Duke’s sentence and says Leo will be waiting for Duke when Duke gets out of prison.Rather than feeling encouraged, Duke bursts into laughter because the offer is fundamentally incompatible with who Duke is.Duke explains that Duke does not want to become another achievement or success story in Leo’s career.Declaring their temporary truce over, Duke reveals that the remaining five club members are still imprisoned because Richie Stuart has become paranoid and distrustful.Duke then proposes a race to see who reaches those men first.Before Leo can stop him, Duke leaps from the balcony and disappears into the darkness.Frustrated but focused, Leo activates a hidden tracking device embedded beneath a scar in Leo’s arm and transmits his location.On another island, the signal confirms Leo’s position and triggers the launch of Mission Avondale.As military forces mobilize, fighter pilots prepare Super Hornets while transport aircraft and a destroyer move into position.Meanwhile, Duke escapes the compound and reunites with Xavier in the jungle.Xavier is relieved that Duke and Leo are no longer working together and immediately pushes Duke to focus on escaping.Nevertheless, Duke refuses to leave because Duke still considers the remaining five club members unfinished business.Xavier becomes increasingly desperate and even offers Duke tens of millions of dollars to abandon the mission.Duke dismisses every offer because Duke’s real objective remains Richie Stuart’s death.While they argue, Duke points out that law enforcement is already arriving, making time extremely limited.Xavier argues that the authorities will eventually arrest Richie Stuart anyway.Duke rejects that reasoning and launches into a bitter explanation of why Duke believes the justice system will never truly punish someone as wealthy and influential as Richie Stuart.According to Duke, Richie Stuart will likely avoid execution and spend years appealing any sentence while surviving comfortably.Duke’s contempt for legal justice culminates in Duke declaring that Lady Justice is merely a hypocrite hiding behind a robe.Convinced that nobody else will deliver the punishment Duke considers appropriate, Duke vows to do whatever Duke wants regardless of the consequences.Although Xavier initially feels empowered by Duke’s confidence and determination, Xavier quickly realizes how dangerously close Duke is to crossing a point of no return.Back at the manor, Leo contacts Robby using coded language and confirms that the evidence has been secured and that the mission’s primary target is in custody.During the conversation, Leo learns that one of the helicopters carrying the remaining club members has exploded and crashed, leading Leo to suspect Duke was responsible.Although Leo keeps that suspicion to himself, Leo chooses to remain inside the compound because Leo believes Duke may return and because Leo still wants to find him before everything is over.

Chapter 22
Subterfuge and More SubterfugeLeo waits in Richie Stuart’s bedroom while Oliver Grimm’s phone keeps ringing, knowing Oliver Grimm may eventually disobey orders and come check on Richie Stuart after the explosions and Richie Stuart’s silence.After ten more minutes, someone knocks and enters, but Leo quickly realizes the man is not Oliver Grimm and is instead Allen, one of Oliver Grimm’s bodyguards.Leo restrains Allen and demands answers, forcing Allen to explain that Oliver Grimm sent him to check whether anyone else was in Richie Stuart’s room and deliver a message.Allen claims Oliver Grimm knows the operation is finished and wants to surrender as a witness against Richie Stuart, but only if Leo meets Oliver Grimm outside the compound.Because Leo suspects a trap, Leo refuses to leave Richie Stuart’s room and tells Allen that Oliver Grimm must come to him if Oliver Grimm wants a deal.When Allen calls Oliver Grimm with Leo’s terms, Oliver Grimm hangs up without replying, confirming that the offer was likely bait.To prevent Allen from causing trouble, Leo ties Allen up, gags him, and hides him in the walk-in closet.Elsewhere, Xavier is furious that Leo did not fall for the trap and stomps on Oliver Grimm while Duke mockingly points out that Leo already saw a similar trick earlier.As airplane engines roar overhead, Xavier uses binoculars and realizes that the Department of Justice has called in military support.Panicking at the arrival of commandos, Xavier insists that it is now or never for Duke to act.When Duke does not respond, Xavier abruptly stabs Oliver Grimm in the neck and kills him.Duke questions Xavier’s choice because Oliver Grimm was not one of Duke’s targets, even though Duke admits Oliver Grimm was far from innocent.Xavier argues that killing Oliver Grimm was for Duke’s own good and says Duke is too obsessive to leave room for survival.Although Xavier hopes his words will change Duke’s mind, Duke becomes even more determined to pursue Richie Stuart.Even so, Duke decides Xavier is no longer useful and tells Xavier the escape plan as payment for Xavier’s work.Duke explains that Xavier should return to the cave, reach the cliffside opening, dive below it, retrieve a hidden satellite phone from a ziplock bag, and call the first contact for pickup.Xavier asks for the code word, and Duke gives him the phrase, “The quick brown fox jumped over the canine unit.”Before leaving, Xavier hesitantly asks Duke for a hug because of everything they have been through together.Duke allows Xavier to come closer, but when Xavier nearly tries to kiss Duke, Duke stops him and notices Xavier’s dog tag.Duke recognizes the dog tag’s symbol from Xavier’s tattoo and asks to keep it as a souvenir of their island affairs.Although Xavier first refuses, Xavier changes his mind after interpreting Duke’s request as sentimental.Duke takes Xavier’s dog tag and puts it around Duke’s own neck, secretly pleased that the exchange may become useful later.After Xavier leaves, Duke turns away to carry out a new plan.Meanwhile, unmarked soldiers arrive on the Mahinas, and Richie Stuart’s mercenaries barely resist because Richie Stuart is missing and Oliver Grimm is gone.Within half an hour, the military force secures the islands, rounds up guards, staff, and mercenaries, and finds twenty-seven injured victims on Mahina Major.Back in Richie Stuart’s manor, Leo finally relaxes when Leo sees familiar members of the secret task force.Robby rushes in and embraces Leo, celebrating the evidence, Richie Stuart’s capture, and the rescue of twenty-seven innocent people.Leo remains cautious and tells Robby not to celebrate too early.Robby insists the mission looks successful, but Leo orders Richie Stuart transferred on a stretcher with constant supervision.Soon after, Kevin reports that Richie Stuart is unconscious because Quinn accidentally struck Richie Stuart while trying to stop him from pulling a firearm from under the pillow.Frustrated, Leo orders the team not to disturb the already-busy medics and instead calls Richie Stuart’s own medical team to examine him.Dr. Ratima, Hiroshi, and other medical staff arrive under escort and begin checking Richie Stuart.While the doctors discuss the substances Leo used on Richie Stuart, Hiroshi is sent to retrieve additional drugs from the pharmacy.When Hiroshi returns and prepares an injection, Leo suddenly senses something wrong.Leo realizes Hiroshi is the only cleared person who left the room and came back, meaning the surgical mask could hide an impostor.Acting on instinct, Leo draws his weapon and shouts for everyone to stop the nurse and stop the injection.The soldiers move too late, and the injected solution has already entered Richie Stuart’s bloodstream.Richie Stuart convulses violently as the medical staff tries to treat him, while the disguised “Hiroshi” overpowers the soldiers attempting to restrain him.Leo orders the windows secured and tells the soldiers not to use live ammunition because Leo wants the asset captured.Despite the medical team’s efforts, Richie Stuart goes still, his body showing the fatal effects of the poison.The disguised “Hiroshi” casually reveals that Richie Stuart is dead from four hundred milligrams of potassium cyanide.Leo recognizes the voice and realizes that “Hiroshi” is actually GC.Robby is stunned to learn that GC is the Green Cleaner and realizes Leo knew more about the Green Cleaner’s presence than Robby had been told.Leo angrily says GC would not have fallen into FBI hands if GC had stopped chasing GC’s murder mission.Robby points out that catching the Serial Killer Killer should be a major victory, but Leo’s reaction makes it clear the situation is personally devastating.Facing Leo and the agents, Duke calmly raises Duke’s hands and says Duke surrenders.Robby can hardly believe the Green Cleaner is surrendering voluntarily, but the agents cuff Duke.Robby jokingly tells Duke that Duke caused Robby to lose weight and caused Leo to bail on several dates.Duke apologizes for Robby’s weight loss but says Duke is not sorry about Leo’s obsession with Duke.Leo orders Duke’s ankles cuffed too, warning that Duke may dislocate a thumb and escape again.Robby teases Leo about respecting GC as an extra special agent and becomes fascinated by Duke’s disguise.When Robby notices a cut on Duke’s jaw that reveals another layer of skin beneath, Robby realizes Duke is wearing an extremely realistic high-fidelity skin suit.Leo decides it is time to reveal who GC really is and moves to remove the mask himself.Duke warns Leo not to be the one to take the mask off and says Leo will regret it.When Leo refuses to listen, Duke asks Leo to make everyone else leave before the mask is removed.Sensing rare desperation in Duke’s request, Leo orders the soldiers and agents out of the room.Robby protests, but Leo forces Robby to leave as well.Once alone, Duke warns Leo one final time, but Leo insists he will make Duke regret every sin Duke has committed.Leo peels away the mask and reveals the Green Cleaner’s true face at last.Instead of feeling satisfaction, Leo is horrified because Duke’s real face looks like Binqing Li.Leo first assumes Duke is wearing a second mask modeled after Binqing Li and accuses Duke of desecrating Binqing Li’s innocent identity.Duke coldly repeats Leo’s words and lets Leo continue accusing Duke.Leo tries to tear away what he believes is another mask, but nothing comes off, and Duke’s skin starts bleeding.Duke laughs and confirms that this is Duke’s real face, not another disguise.Leo desperately tries to convince himself that Duke only resembles Binqing Li by coincidence or possible relation.To destroy that denial, Duke recalls private memories Leo shared with “Binqing Li,” including Bedside Whispers, eggplant stew with minced pork, the mugging incident, Emerald Suites, Leo’s withdrawal, and their kisses.As Duke lists those details, Leo realizes the person living with him as Binqing Li was actually Duke.Enraged and disbelieving, Leo slams Duke down and insists Binqing Li is Jasmine’s boyfriend who arrived in the United States three months earlier with legitimate documents.Duke then reminds Leo that Leo was late picking Binqing Li up from the airport, revealing the opening Duke used to replace the real Binqing Li.Leo pieces together the memory and realizes the real Binqing Li had already landed long enough for Duke to abduct and impersonate him.Duke confirms Duke used Leo’s identity and a fake badge to take the real Binqing Li away before Leo arrived.Duke says the real Binqing Li is alive, contained in a secure location, and being fed and watered.Duke explains that Duke and Binqing Li already looked similar, and Duke adjusted hair color, skin tone, and body language to complete the impersonation.When Leo asks about Jasmine, Duke admits that speaking to Jasmine was difficult, but Duke used information extracted from the real Binqing Li and Leo’s own confirmations to keep Jasmine from becoming suspicious.Leo asks whether the real Binqing Li is still alive, and Duke appears offended because Duke claims Duke never harms innocent people.Still desperate for answers, Leo asks why Duke infiltrated Leo’s life and whether Duke did it for FBI access.Duke admits access to FBI information was useful but says Duke’s real motive was getting closer to Leo.Duke reveals Duke had become fascinated by Leo because Leo had pursued Duke longer and more effectively than any other law enforcement officer.Duke says Duke wanted to discover whether Leo was truly as honest, righteous, and flawless as Leo seemed.When Leo proved too rigidly moral, Duke made it a personal mission to corrupt Leo’s perfect self-image.Duke explains that Duke chose the role of a gentle, innocent, intelligent man because that was exactly the kind of person Leo would fall for.Duke cruelly points out that Leo fell in love with someone Leo believed to be Jasmine’s future husband and asks whether the taboo thrill was worth the guilt.Leo explodes with rage, accusing Duke of torturing him emotionally just to make a fool of him.Duke admits Duke enjoyed creating the masterpiece of Leo Lawrence’s emotional collapse.Duke explains that Duke wanted Leo to fall for both the serial killer and the pure “Binqing Li,” leaving Leo crushed by guilt and shame.Duke adds that the cave encounter happened sooner than planned because Jasmine changed her plans, leaving Duke desperate for a quick chance.Unable to bear the revelation, Leo beats Duke while Duke remains shackled and defenseless on the floor.Even while being beaten, Duke taunts Leo and dares Leo to shoot, pushing Leo’s shattered restraint past its limit.Leo draws his gun and switches off the safety, but Robby rushes in and restrains Leo from behind.Robby begs Leo not to ruin Leo’s career, but Leo breaks down and says Duke has already ruined and destroyed him.Leo drops the gun, clings to Robby, and sobs uncontrollably.Robby, who had been eavesdropping, is shocked by the truth that the Green Cleaner had been living with Leo as Binqing Li for three months.Despite the horror, Robby struggles to believe that the gentle “Binqing Li” was entirely fake.Robby thinks a good lie must contain some truth and chooses to believe that some part of “Binqing Li” exists somewhere inside the Green Cleaner.Meanwhile, Xavier reaches the end of the cave and waits until survival instinct pushes him to retrieve the hidden satellite phone.After calling the contact, Xavier is told to wait somewhere safe for a seaplane.An hour and a half later, Xavier accepts that Duke is not coming and prepares to escape alone.When the pilot asks about the Chinese man who hired him, Xavier says Duke is not coming and promises to pay whatever Duke owed.The pilot hesitates, but Xavier threatens him with a knife and forces him to take off immediately.Once the seaplane is airborne, Xavier looks down at the Mahinas and prays that Xavier will meet Duke again someday.As Xavier leaves the islands behind, Xavier thinks about returning to New York with new wealth, power, and a hunger for revenge.

Part V: Draconic Deception

Chapter 23
Welcome to MCCElaine watches Duke Thanh Ly on the monitor and worries that Duke Thanh Ly looks badly injured enough to need a doctor.Because Elaine notices bruises, cuts, blood, and what may be a broken bone, Elaine becomes confused by everyone else’s willingness to ignore Duke Thanh Ly’s condition.Hayden dismisses Elaine’s concern and quietly reminds Elaine that Duke Thanh Ly is believed to be the Serial Killer Killer.As Hayden explains the situation, Hayden suggests that nobody will admit Duke Thanh Ly requested medical care because protecting Leo Lawrence from possible accusations matters more to the office than treating Duke Thanh Ly properly.Elaine still argues that Duke Thanh Ly should be examined so Duke Thanh Ly remains alive and mentally fit for questioning.Hayden begins listing the serial killers Duke Thanh Ly supposedly eliminated, revealing Hayden’s admiration for the Green Cleaner.When Elaine realizes Hayden is a fan of the Green Cleaner, Elaine accidentally reveals that she follows him too.Encouraged by their shared interest, Hayden asks Elaine to lunch, and Elaine accepts.Meanwhile, Gary and Elliot struggle to process Duke Thanh Ly for booking because Duke Thanh Ly is too injured to stand properly, hold the booking sign, or provide clean fingerprints.Since nobody has given Gary and Elliot clear instructions, Gary and Elliot become increasingly uneasy about handling Duke Thanh Ly instead of sending him to a hospital.Robby arrives from the Washington Field Office and tells Gary and Elliot to take a break so Robby can speak privately with Duke Thanh Ly.Once alone, Robby addresses Duke Thanh Ly uncertainly, and Duke Thanh Ly tells Robby not to call him Binqing because that name was only borrowed temporarily.Robby tells Duke Thanh Ly that Duke Thanh Ly is exaggerating the severity of his injuries, even though Leo Lawrence lost control.Duke Thanh Ly counters that the lack of medical attention proves how little the federal government values human rights when Duke Thanh Ly is considered too dangerous.Robby admits the risk of escape is too high and bluntly says Duke Thanh Ly’s case matters more than Duke Thanh Ly’s rights.Instead of trying to pressure Duke Thanh Ly into waiving Miranda rights, Robby advises Duke Thanh Ly to wait for an attorney and avoid relying on a public defender.Duke Thanh Ly dismisses the advice because Duke Thanh Ly has no lawyer and does not want to pay for one.Robby realizes Duke Thanh Ly is difficult to help and reflects that Duke Thanh Ly is nothing like the gentle “Binqing” Robby still partly remembers.Robby also thinks about Leo Lawrence disappearing after checking in at the NYC field office, leaving the rest of the team to handle the paperwork and bureaucracy.Before leaving, Robby warns Duke Thanh Ly to have an attorney explain trial procedures and plea deals properly.Outside the room, Robby instructs Gary and Elliot to get an agent with OpMed training to patch Duke Thanh Ly up enough for mug shots and fingerprinting.Robby then reminds Gary and Elliot that field offices do not have overnight holding cells for serial killers, so Duke Thanh Ly must be transferred.Later that night, Duke Thanh Ly arrives at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan with another detainee named Juan Cruz.During intake, the correctional officers treat Duke Thanh Ly as a high-security detainee because Duke Thanh Ly is injured, restrained, and accompanied closely by transport officers.After Duke Thanh Ly and Juan Cruz complete the commitment process, both men are ordered to strip and change into jail uniforms.Juan Cruz flexes to intimidate or impress Duke Thanh Ly, but Duke Thanh Ly ignores him and calmly dresses.While belongings are being processed, Duke Thanh Ly asks to keep Xavier’s dog tag necklace by claiming it is a blessed religious object.Wilson does not recognize the symbol, so Duke Thanh Ly claims to be Baha’i and explains the faith in broad terms.Wilson says a chaplain must approve the necklace before Duke Thanh Ly can get it back.When Wilson asks for a mailing address for Duke Thanh Ly’s belongings, Duke Thanh Ly first claims not to have one.After Wilson says the belongings will be discarded without an address, Duke Thanh Ly writes down Mr. Leo Lawrence’s Upper East Side address and giggles at the thought of Leo Lawrence receiving the package.Juan Cruz mutters an insult at Duke Thanh Ly in Spanish, signaling that Juan Cruz already sees Duke Thanh Ly as a target.Soon afterward, Duke Thanh Ly and Juan Cruz are moved into a crowded waiting room where detainees are sleeping on chairs and makeshift beds.Juan Cruz complains about the crowd and smell, then tries to take the row of chairs where Duke Thanh Ly is sitting.The correctional officers quietly allow the detainees to test the newcomers, and several men surround Juan Cruz with crude sexual threats and offers.Juan Cruz panics as the detainees pretend to fight over him, exposing his fear and weakness in front of the room.At the same time, other detainees try the same intimidation routine on Duke Thanh Ly.When one detainee reaches to grab Duke Thanh Ly, Duke Thanh Ly breaks the man’s wrist before the man can touch him.After proving himself, Duke Thanh Ly calmly takes a granola bar from another detainee’s hand.When the young Latino man tries to take the granola bar back, Duke Thanh Ly throws him into the wall so quickly that the others barely understand what happened.The detainees immediately scatter and conclude that Duke Thanh Ly knows kung fu.The correctional officers end the ritual, amused that Duke Thanh Ly has turned the usual intimidation game against the others.While Juan Cruz remains shaken and humiliated, Duke Thanh Ly settles across three chairs and says the place seems kind of nice.Once the lights go out, Juan Cruz struggles with fear because Juan Cruz has already shown weakness and knows he has been marked as prey.Elsewhere, Robby repeatedly calls Leo Lawrence until Leo Lawrence finally answers from a loud nightclub.Robby realizes Leo Lawrence is drunk, surrounded by women, and barely coherent.Using Leo Lawrence’s vague description of huge disco balls, Robby identifies the nightclub and goes to find him.At the club, Robby finds Leo Lawrence sprawled drunkenly on a couch while several women drink and flirt with him.Robby flashes his badge to scare the women away and removes Leo Lawrence from the club.After getting Leo Lawrence home, Robby puts Leo Lawrence in a bathtub and turns on cold water to sober him up.Once Leo Lawrence regains awareness, Robby asks when Leo Lawrence became an alcoholic.Leo Lawrence snaps back by referencing Robby’s own drinking and argues that Leo Lawrence is finally allowed to take leave after five years without vacation.Robby insists Leo Lawrence cannot just walk away from the case or from the person Robby refuses to name directly.Trying to explain his concern, Robby compares Duke Thanh Ly to a disguised painting with something hidden beneath the surface.Leo Lawrence rejects the analogy and says uncovering what lies beneath Duke Thanh Ly’s disguises is no longer Leo Lawrence’s job.Robby argues that Leo Lawrence is someone who pursues truth and does not hide behind alcohol when things become painful.Leo Lawrence then reveals that he has not slept at all since leaving the Mahinas, meaning Leo Lawrence has been awake for three days.Robby becomes alarmed and asks whether Leo Lawrence’s medication is no longer working.Leo Lawrence explains that medication is not the real problem, because Leo Lawrence had been reducing the dosage successfully before everything collapsed.Leo Lawrence admits that before “Binqing” entered Leo Lawrence’s life, Leo Lawrence had expected a conventional, passionless future rather than real love or infatuation.However, “Binqing” shattered Leo Lawrence’s controlled world and made Leo Lawrence surrender to emotions Leo Lawrence could not manage.Leo Lawrence says the worst part is realizing that the entire emotional avalanche was fabricated and that every moment of Leo Lawrence’s vulnerability was orchestrated for Duke Thanh Ly’s entertainment.Robby acknowledges that Leo Lawrence loved “Binqing” and may feel as though Duke Thanh Ly murdered the person Leo Lawrence believed in.Leo Lawrence agrees, saying it feels like a murder with no body or evidence because only Leo Lawrence knows what Duke Thanh Ly took from him.When Robby asks whether hate is the only thing Leo Lawrence feels toward Duke Thanh Ly, Leo Lawrence is overwhelmed by memories of the Green Cleaner saving him, kissing him, fighting him, confessing to him, and trembling during their intimacy.Although Leo Lawrence tries to crush those memories, Leo Lawrence can only answer that hate is all he feels.Robby gives Leo Lawrence a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, deciding that sleep matters more than arguing if alcohol is the only way Leo Lawrence can rest.Robby says Duke Thanh Ly’s arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow and suggests the case may end in a guilty plea.Leo Lawrence insists Duke Thanh Ly will not plead guilty because Duke Thanh Ly does not believe Duke Thanh Ly is guilty.Robby explains that if Duke Thanh Ly refuses a plea, the trial and discovery process will be long and exhausting.Leo Lawrence knows Duke Thanh Ly will fight anyway because Duke Thanh Ly will not bend unless resistance is part of Duke Thanh Ly’s plan.After Leo Lawrence drinks enough to finally pass out, Robby rolls him onto his side and leaves a bucket beside the bed.By sunrise, the MCC holding room becomes louder as more detainees arrive from across the city.When Duke Thanh Ly wakes, Alessio introduces himself and compliments Duke Thanh Ly’s fighting moves.Duke Thanh Ly studies Alessio and notices the NF tattoo marking Alessio’s affiliation.Alessio explains that Alessio has been booked for three days and asks whether this is Duke Thanh Ly’s first time in federal custody.Duke Thanh Ly says yes and admits Duke Thanh Ly did not realize jail would be so crowded, loud, and foul-smelling.Alessio explains the temporary holding process, arraignment, bail decisions, and the overcrowding caused by the federal system.Duke Thanh Ly asks whether that is why the room smells so bad, and Alessio explains that some detainees have not showered for days.As the morning routine begins, the service window opens and everyone hopes to be called out of the holding room.Finally, the correctional officers call Duke Ly to the counter.

Chapter 24
The Lion and the Mountain LionDuke Ly is called first in the morning, which annoys other detainees who have been waiting much longer.As Anderson cuffs and shackles Duke Ly, Cruz complains that Duke Ly is getting special treatment despite arriving at the same time as Cruz.Perez dismisses Cruz’s protest and tells Cruz to get a faster lawyer if Cruz wants to leave sooner.While Duke Ly is led away, Duke Ly hears the other detainees turn on Cruz for insulting them.Rather than pitying Cruz, Duke Ly reflects that foolishness without the strength to support it is a recipe for disaster.Anderson and Perez bring Duke Ly to a small room on the first floor and cuff Duke Ly to a table.Duke Ly asks whether this is where Duke Ly will see the judge, but Perez says Duke Ly will be brought to the courthouse for that.After Anderson and Perez leave, Saul Geller enters and introduces himself as a lawyer from Geller Law.Saul Geller urgently tells Duke Ly that Saul Geller knows who Duke Ly is and can help Duke Ly get what Duke Ly wants.Saul Geller tries to persuade Duke Ly by painting a dramatic picture of lost freedom, future dreams, family life, a nice home, and vacations that could still be within reach.Then Saul Geller claims the Department of Justice lawyers are unimpressive and says Duke Ly needs Geller Law for defense.Duke Ly realizes Saul Geller has connected Duke Ly to the Green Cleaner despite the case being kept quiet.Interested but cautious, Duke Ly asks Saul Geller what Duke Ly actually wants.Saul Geller confidently answers that Duke Ly wants acquittal and argues the public will see Duke Ly as a vigilante hero rather than a murderer.Duke Ly smiles and tells Saul Geller that Saul Geller gave the wrong answer.Even so, Duke Ly finds Saul Geller interesting because Saul Geller is ambitious and clearly wants to use the Green Cleaner case for publicity.Saul Geller accepts the opening and urges Duke Ly to officially appoint Saul Geller as Duke Ly’s defense attorney.After Saul Geller leaves, Anderson and Perez return and escort Duke Ly through the underground security route to the Foley Square courthouse.In the courthouse basement, Duke Ly is given documents about the case and pretends to look through them.During the initial hearing, the magistrate judge reads Duke Ly’s rights and official charges.When the court appoints Justin Travieso as public defender, Duke Ly rejects the appointment and says Saul Geller has offered free representation.Duke Ly presents Saul Geller’s business card and frames the choice as saving public resources for someone less fortunate.Justin Travieso feels embarrassed but also relieved because Duke Ly’s case is difficult.Although the lawyer switch creates extra paperwork, the hearing continues as the lawyers argue whether Duke Ly should be detained.Unsurprisingly, the judge sides with the prosecutor because Duke Ly has no residence in New York and is a flight risk.As a result, Duke Ly is ordered held in jail until trial, with a preliminary hearing scheduled in seven business days.After the hearing, Duke Ly is taken back through the courthouse basement and returned to MCC custody.Once administrative processing is completed, Duke Ly is brought to the south wing on the ninth floor with a box of provisions.Perez warns Duke Ly that Duke Ly has a special Italian cellmate and should get acquainted.Duke Ly notices the unlucky cell number thirteen and accepts that this is where Duke Ly will live until conviction or acquittal.Inside the cell, Alessio greets Duke Ly again and offers a handshake.Duke Ly refuses to put down the box and jokes that Alessio’s meat grinder might bite, referencing old Italian mob violence.Alessio brushes off the reference and says guns are more common now.Duke Ly finds Alessio’s casual attitude funny, while Alessio explains that the life is simply what Alessio was born into.Alessio asks whether Duke Ly failed to post bail too, and Duke Ly confirms Duke Ly will likely be there for a while.When Alessio asks what Duke Ly is charged with, Duke Ly only says authorities think Duke Ly is responsible for a few deaths.Alessio assumes Duke Ly may have killed in self-defense and reassures Duke Ly that some lowlifes deserve what happens to them.Duke Ly thinks of the mangled serial killers Duke Ly killed and agrees that Alessio could say that again.Meanwhile, Leo Lawrence is forced by repeated calls from the doorman to collect a package addressed to him.Hungover and confused, Leo Lawrence wonders what the package could be because Leo Lawrence has not ordered anything or expected a gift.After returning upstairs, Leo Lawrence opens the box and finds scrubs, a wallet, a BlackBerry, a Zippo lighter, lint, and briefs.Leo Lawrence then finds a note from Duke Ly calling Leo Lawrence “big boy” and signing off as Leo Lawrence’s “MVP receiver.”The handwriting and items make Leo Lawrence realize the package came from Duke Ly.Horrified, Leo Lawrence hyperventilates because the briefs remind Leo Lawrence of the two nights Duke Ly spent in Leo Lawrence’s apartment under the Binqing identity.Leo Lawrence wishes Duke Ly would disappear from Leo Lawrence’s life so Leo Lawrence could bury the shameful memories connected to Duke Ly.Leo Lawrence checks the courier label and feels some relief when the Park Row address confirms Duke Ly is still locked up.Even so, Leo Lawrence collapses inward under the emotional pressure and curses Duke Ly.Back at MCC, Alessio asks Duke Ly what Duke Ly wants to do that day.Duke Ly claims to feel sick and regrets leaving the gifts collected in the waiting room.Alessio explains that prison survival depends on building routines, making phone calls carefully, understanding monitored communications, and learning how access to jobs or resources depends on connections.Alessio also tells Duke Ly that MCC has no yard because it is located in Manhattan.Duke Ly jokes about television prison drama, but Alessio says real prison is mostly boring until violence suddenly erupts.When Alessio mentions the correctional officers are showing Top Gun after recently showing Saving Private Ryan, Duke Ly complains about constant military movies.Alessio is amused by Duke Ly’s rant and suggests Duke Ly join a weekly activity run by older inmates during library time.Alessio explains that the activity could help Duke Ly meet people because connections are important inside prison.Duke Ly wonders why older inmates would welcome a newcomer, and Alessio says Duke Ly may fit in because they have been missing one player.Before Duke Ly can attend, a housing unit officer announces that Duke Ly’s attorney is there to see him.Duke Ly is not surprised that Saul Geller came quickly and is pleased by Saul Geller’s eagerness to perform.At the attorney meeting, Saul Geller thanks Duke Ly for giving the partnership a chance and promises to handle the case until Duke Ly is vindicated.Duke Ly tells Saul Geller to call Duke Ly “Ly” and asks how Saul Geller plans to vindicate Duke Ly.When Saul Geller begins talking about acquittal again, Duke Ly interrupts and warns Saul Geller that honesty is required.Duke Ly explains that an acquittal is nearly impossible because most federal cases end in plea deals, few go to trial, and even fewer end in acquittals.Duke Ly also points out that the FBI has spent over a year building the case, which means the prosecutor is unlikely to make an easy mistake.Duke Ly then asks Saul Geller why Duke Ly should work with Saul Geller when Saul Geller benefits far more from the Green Cleaner case than Duke Ly does.Flustered, Saul Geller finally admits the arrangement is not equally beneficial but promises to fight for the shortest sentence possible.Duke Ly approves of Saul Geller’s honesty and says Saul Geller still has a chance to play ball.Saul Geller realizes Duke Ly is unlike any client Saul Geller has ever represented because Duke Ly shows no fear, panic, or hopelessness despite facing life in prison.Rather than being frightened, Saul Geller becomes thrilled because Duke Ly’s case could be Saul Geller’s breakout moment.When Saul Geller says Saul Geller will contact the prosecutor about possible offers, Duke Ly flatly says Duke Ly will not take any plea deals.Saul Geller realizes Duke Ly wants to go to trial despite knowing conviction is likely, likely because Duke Ly wants maximum media attention.Excited by the possible spectacle, Saul Geller agrees to continue and admits the trial could turn the case into something extraordinary.Duke Ly then gives Saul Geller specific instructions to visit a pawn shop on West Fourteenth, ask for Trevor, say “Prince has lost his key again,” and retrieve a USPS PO box key.Duke Ly tells Saul Geller to open box thirteen-ninety on West Eighteenth and retrieve a manuscript.Saul Geller asks whether the manuscript is a novel or autobiography, and Duke Ly says the pseudonym is written on it and Saul Geller will know what to do after reading it.Before Saul Geller leaves, Duke Ly asks Saul Geller to get the chaplain to return Duke Ly’s necklace for daily prayers.When Saul Geller notes that Duke Ly did not seem religious, Duke Ly jokes that Duke Ly can be whatever Duke Ly wants if it lets Duke Ly sue the Bureau of Prisons for violating First Amendment rights.Elsewhere, Robby hangs up the office phone and tells Gary that Robby has a bad feeling about Duke Ly hiring Saul Geller.Gary reminds Robby that Duke Ly previously rejected paying for a lawyer, making the sudden private representation suspicious.Robby wonders whether Saul Geller is a red herring or a smokescreen.At that moment, Leo Lawrence returns to the office in a gray trench coat and interrupts with the point that the exact label does not matter.Robby is delighted to see Leo Lawrence and welcomes Leo Lawrence back.Leo Lawrence says Leo Lawrence would not miss this for the world, suggesting Leo Lawrence has returned from leave because of Duke Ly’s case.Robby introduces Gary to Leo Lawrence, and the discussion quickly turns back to Saul Geller.Robby shows Leo Lawrence Saul Geller’s background, noting that Saul Geller has represented many types of cases.Gary adds that Saul Geller seems like the kind of lawyer who bends over backward for money while staying barely within ethical rules.Robby compares Saul Geller to a lighter version of Duke Ly, but Leo Lawrence calls Saul Geller a weaponized version because Duke Ly can still recruit men to fight for him even from jail.Robby concludes that Saul Geller must know Duke Ly is using him, which means they likely struck a dangerous deal.Robby asks whether they should organize a press release about catching the Serial Killer Killer before journalists discover it.Leo Lawrence argues against a quick press release because the prosecution needs time to prepare and jury bias will become harder to avoid once media coverage begins.Leo Lawrence also notes that the Green Cleaner already has passionate supporters among families and friends of victims, which could complicate public opinion.Gary remarks that the case could boost prosecutor Hoffman’s career, while Robby jokes bitterly about FBI salary caps.Refocusing them, Leo Lawrence says they need to learn more about Saul Geller and what they are up against.Robby suggests Saul Geller may have information from Duke Ly that Hoffman could use, and Leo Lawrence acknowledges Robby is crafty enough to try getting it.Robby then asks whether Leo Lawrence is coming along, but Leo Lawrence’s silence makes Robby change tactics.Over coffee, Robby suggests Leo Lawrence should visit Duke Ly next door for personal closure before eventually testifying against him.Leo Lawrence rejects the idea because visiting Duke Ly would violate regulations and could lead to Leo Lawrence losing control again.Robby argues that Leo Lawrence needs to face Duke Ly with a steady mind or Leo Lawrence will keep replacing pills with alcohol.Robby adds that Duke Ly is injured, alone, and physically vulnerable in jail, making Leo Lawrence wonder whether prison life might already be punishing Duke Ly.Leo Lawrence says Duke Ly should have considered the consequences earlier, but Robby reminds Leo Lawrence that punishment should not include humiliation or torture.After parting from Robby in Foley Square, Leo Lawrence struggles with memories of Duke Ly and realizes Leo Lawrence cannot let go or move on.Eventually, Leo Lawrence uses a connection with Jason O’Brien to enter MCC as a visitor and be shown around the facility.Jason O’Brien offers to bring Duke Ly to the visiting room, but Leo Lawrence changes his mind and asks for a tour instead.Leo Lawrence questions why Duke Ly is not held in maximum security, arguing that Duke Ly’s skills make Duke Ly more dangerous than many inmates.Jason O’Brien explains that Duke Ly’s official charges did not warrant the tenth-floor maximum security unit.When Jason O’Brien checks Duke Ly’s cell, the cell is empty because it is leisure time.After a radio inquiry, Jason O’Brien learns Duke Ly is in the law library on the eighth floor.Leo Lawrence and Jason O’Brien head to the library, passing inmates using old computers and legal books.In a back room, Leo Lawrence sees Duke Ly seated at a table with three Asian inmates and two correctional officers watching nearby.Duke Ly is playing travel-size mahjong with Yang, Lau, and Guo.During the game, Duke Ly blocks Ah-Kay’s winning tile and claims priority, provoking Ah-Kay’s anger.Lau quietly reminds Ah-Kay about sportsmanship, and Ah-Kay immediately backs down.The nearby correctional officers reveal they have been informally betting on the game and joking about disciplining previous inmates.Jason O’Brien becomes embarrassed and explains that Yang once worked under Burmese drug lord Khun Sa, Lau was a hitman for the Big Circle Gang, and Guo was a former Snakeheads leader in Little Foochow.Seeing Duke Ly already socializing with serious criminal figures, Jason O’Brien understands why Leo Lawrence thought Duke Ly belonged in maximum security.Jason O’Brien offers to bring Duke Ly to a visiting room, but Leo Lawrence refuses because Leo Lawrence has seen enough.Jason O’Brien notices the correctional officers’ misconduct and angrily orders them to Jason O’Brien’s office while ending leisure time.Leo Lawrence storms away, furious at himself for thinking Duke Ly might be helpless or vulnerable in prison.Leo Lawrence realizes Duke Ly is not being preyed on at all but is already thriving like a predator who can dominate almost any environment.Humiliated by the failed visit, Leo Lawrence vows not to waste more energy on Duke Ly and blames Robby for suggesting the idea in the first place.

Chapter 25
Chaos in CourtroomRobby sees a shocking headline on Twitter revealing that the FBI secretly arrested the Serial Killer Killer, and the news makes Robby panic so badly that Robby spills café de olla all over himself and several people in the elevator.Robby rushes to Leo’s cubicle, where Leo has already seen the article and is scowling at the screen.Furious about the article, Robby complains that Leah Mizrahi of the Daily is framing the Green Cleaner as a heroic anti-hero while twisting details of past cases.Leo stays calm and reminds Robby that journalists care about clicks and engagement, not the full truth.By noon, Federal Plaza is crowded with journalists and curious citizens trying to learn more about the Green Cleaner case.To avoid being swarmed, Leo and Robby escape to Central Park and eat lunch while discussing the case.After speaking with Jason, Leo learns that Saul Geller visited Duke Ly at MCC with a woman pretending to be an articling student.Robby immediately suspects the woman was Leah Mizrahi and believes Saul Geller and Leah Mizrahi are working together for exclusive media access.As they continue talking, Leo points out that Duke Ly’s identity still has no real trace, with no birth certificate, social security number, or credit card history.Robby wonders whether Duke Ly is a man who never existed or someone who came back to life under a new identity.Leo insists Duke Ly must have a real name somewhere and suspects hidden or falsified records may be involved.Because Duke Ly has now stepped into the spotlight, Leo admits Duke Ly’s impatience surprises him.Robby suggests Duke Ly may believe he can be acquitted and leave the Green Cleaner life behind.Leo rejects that idea, saying Duke Ly’s desire and ambition are too strong to stop unless Duke Ly dies.Robby quietly disagrees that Duke Ly is as unstable as Leo thinks, but Leo does not let the point go far.Shifting strategy, Leo decides they should work from home and wait until the preliminary hearing, since Hoffman already has enough complications.Robby teases that Leo really wants to avoid journalists because Leo hates dealing with the press more than serial killers.When Robby brings up Chicago, Leo refuses to discuss what really happened with Duke Ly, Alon, and Shelley.Meanwhile, Saul Geller visits Vanessa Hoffman after meeting Duke Ly, while protesters gather outside MCC.Vanessa Hoffman immediately offers a plea deal of thirty years on second-degree charges if Duke Ly admits his role in the murders.Saul Geller argues that thirty years is too close to life in prison, so Vanessa Hoffman lowers the offer to twenty-five years if Duke Ly reveals his information sources.Saul Geller tries to frame Duke Ly as a virtuous vigilante instead of a bloodthirsty psychopath.Vanessa Hoffman gives a final offer of twenty years if Duke Ly discloses his finances and pays restitution.Saul Geller admits Duke Ly will not accept any plea agreement because Duke Ly insists Duke Ly did nothing wrong.Vanessa Hoffman becomes angry when she realizes Saul Geller came to the meeting knowing Duke Ly would refuse.Later, Leo and Robby watch public news coverage showing people debating whether the Green Cleaner’s victims deserved death and whether the Green Cleaner should be punished.One woman praises the Green Cleaner for giving families closure when the police failed.Leo changes channels repeatedly but keeps finding more Green Cleaner coverage.When Leo lands on Arrow, Leo bitterly compares another green vigilante to Duke Ly and says people are too eager to worship vigilantes.Robby warns Leo that Leo will have to work hard to convince the judge and public that Duke Ly is not a hero.The next morning, Leo arrives at the courthouse as required and waits with Robby in the witness waiting room.Inside the packed courtroom, journalists fill the gallery as Vanessa Hoffman questions Sergeant Trevor Jackson about Reggie Duran.Through Sergeant Trevor Jackson’s testimony, Saul Geller highlights that Reggie Duran was suspected of violent murders and died in the same manner as his own victims.Vanessa Hoffman briefly cross-examines Sergeant Trevor Jackson and emphasizes that Reggie Duran was only a suspect who had never been convicted.When Leo is called to the stand, Leo notices Duke Ly wearing a dark green suit and no bandages, even though Duke Ly could have used his injuries for sympathy.Vanessa Hoffman establishes Leo as the FBI agent who investigated Duke Ly and helped arrest him.Leo testifies that Duke Ly evaded capture for eighteen months because Duke Ly is clever, meticulous, careful, and rarely leaves evidence.Vanessa Hoffman uses Leo’s testimony to portray Duke Ly as more cunning, evasive, and dangerous than ordinary criminals.Vanessa Hoffman then asks whether Duke Ly would ever hurt someone who was not suspected of murder.Leo answers that he cannot rule out the possibility, then agrees Duke Ly may hurt people not suspected of murder.Saul Geller objects too late, and although the answer is struck, Leo notices Duke Ly briefly closing Duke Ly’s eyes in pain.When Saul Geller begins cross-examining Leo, Saul Geller introduces detective novels by Roy Lee.Leo confirms that Leo has read Roy Lee’s books and that the FBI keeps copies because they provide insight into forensic psychology and deduction.Saul Geller then shocks the courtroom by implying that Duke Ly is Roy Lee.Saul Geller submits a forensic handwriting affidavit comparing an unpublished manuscript by Duke Ly with a Roy Lee manuscript from Bounded Publishing.The evidence indicates both manuscripts were written by the same person, revealing Duke Ly as the author Roy Lee.Saul Geller explains that Duke Ly’s unpublished manuscript, The Caro-Kann Crisis, is based on the Chicago Chessman Killer case.Saul Geller questions Leo about the Chicago case, forcing Leo to admit Leo was the FBI agent kidnapped and nearly killed by Alon and Shelley.Saul Geller then asks how Alon and Shelley died, and Leo says Alon’s neck was broken and Shelley was shot in the head.Under oath, Leo is forced to admit that the Green Cleaner killed Alon by breaking Alon’s neck.Saul Geller reads a passage from The Caro-Kann Crisis that closely matches Leo’s real conversation with Duke Ly in the hideout.Leo confirms the passage is very close to what happened, exposing that Leo worked with Duke Ly during the Chicago case.Saul Geller presses the point until Leo admits Leo chose to collaborate with Duke Ly without express orders from the FBI.Although Vanessa Hoffman’s objection prevents Saul Geller from fully framing Leo as having recruited Duke Ly, the damage is already done.As Leo leaves the stand, Leo hears Saul Geller whisper excitedly that they have the case in the bag.Back in the witness waiting room, Leo tells Robby that Duke Ly set a trap and Leo walked straight into it.Shaken by the testimony, Leo admits Leo does not want to lose Leo’s job because the job is all Leo has left.After crossing back to the Federal Building, Leo locks himself in a bathroom to escape the cameras and reporters.Godinez calls Leo and angrily demands an explanation for how Saul Geller led Leo into such a damaging testimony.Leo apologizes repeatedly, but Godinez orders Leo to fix the situation within twelve hours by making Saul Geller confess publicly to fabricating evidence.When Leo suggests resigning and turning himself in, Godinez refuses to let Leo take the easy way out and reminds Leo that the whole Bureau has now been implicated.After the call, Leo realizes Godinez has not abandoned him and decides Saul Geller is the best place to start.Even so, Leo feels hollow because Duke Ly’s presence, Leo’s feelings, and their mutual betrayals have trapped them in a cycle of saving and hurting each other.Leo remembers telling the court that Duke Ly might hurt innocents and understands that Leo struck Duke Ly where Duke Ly was most vulnerable.Then Jasmine calls, and Leo suddenly remembers that the real Binqing is still missing.When Jasmine says Jasmine is coming to LaGuardia next week, Leo feels temporary relief but realizes Leo must find Binqing quickly.Renewed by the need to protect Jasmine, Leo asks Robby to distract the journalists while Leo leaves through the parking lot.Robby worries Leo is too calm and becomes alarmed when Leo says Leo is going to MCC.At MCC, Leo uses Jason’s help to arrange a special private visit with Duke Ly in Jason’s office.When Duke Ly enters still cuffed and shackled, Duke Ly smiles and says Duke Ly expected Leo to come eventually.Leo ignores the banter and immediately asks where Binqing is.Duke Ly avoids answering and instead taunts Leo about Duke Ly’s books, Duke Ly’s injuries, and the box Duke Ly sent to Leo.As Duke Ly keeps dodging, Leo grows increasingly furious and demands to know what Duke Ly wants in exchange for Binqing’s location.Duke Ly guesses Jasmine is coming back soon and points out that Leo cannot let Jasmine learn her boyfriend was kidnapped under Leo’s watch.Leo offers to bargain over years removed from Duke Ly’s sentence, but Duke Ly says Duke Ly does not want a reduced sentence.Duke Ly instead reveals that Duke Ly wants Leo to keep the promise from the island and let Duke Ly have sex with him.Leo initially believes Duke Ly is trying to provoke Leo into killing him, but Duke Ly insists Duke Ly only wants Leo to let Duke Ly in.Leo attacks Duke Ly, and Duke Ly can only partially defend himself because Duke Ly is restrained.After Leo nearly chokes Duke Ly, Duke Ly frames the demand as blackmail or a trade between Leo’s virginity and Binqing’s life.Leo realizes Binqing’s life is in Duke Ly’s hands and that violence will not make Duke Ly talk.Duke Ly promises to return Binqing if Leo lets Duke Ly take him, insisting Duke Ly’s word is still good.Leo swears on Leo’s mother’s life that Leo will do it with Duke Ly, and Duke Ly gives Leo an address.Leo is horrified when Duke Ly reveals Binqing has been hidden in a place guarded by men who believe they are part of an FBI witness protection program.Duke Ly then asks Leo to remove the restraints so Duke Ly can hold Leo properly, but Leo exploits the wording of Leo’s promise instead.Leo forces Duke Ly against the window and begins a violent, non-consensual sexual assault while Duke Ly remains cuffed and shackled.Duke Ly protests that Duke Ly does not want it from behind or near the window, but Leo ignores Duke Ly’s boundaries.As the assault continues, Leo recognizes that Leo is acting without consent but tells himself Duke Ly brought it on himself.During the act, Leo feels the darker part of himself emerging, including memories of past delinquency, hidden cruelty, and a violent need for control.Duke Ly struggles against the restraints and repeats that Duke Ly does not want to be by the window.Instead of stopping, Leo tells Duke Ly to shut up and pushes Duke Ly’s head against the window.

Chapter 26
UntouchableDuke’s mind is overwhelmed by Leo’s command to shut up, and the assault by the window drags Duke into a terrifying memory of helplessness, violence, and a severed woman’s head watching him from a gloomy lawn.As Duke retches and convulses, Leo finally realizes something is truly wrong and releases Duke.When Leo sees Duke’s blank, tear-filled eyes and blood from his torn body, Leo is shaken out of the cruel, violent state that had taken hold of him.Leo calls Duke “GC” and turns Duke over, only to find Duke limp, sweaty, and emotionally absent.Moved by fear and guilt, Leo leans down to kiss Duke’s tears away.Before Leo can fully process the moment, Duke suddenly attacks with a sharpened toothbrush hidden despite Duke’s restraints.Leo’s reflexes save him from the first strike, which would have cut into Leo’s neck, and Leo quickly blocks Duke’s second attack by pinning the handcuff chain down.Leo calls out to Duke again, and Duke slowly comes out of the trauma-driven stupor.Once Duke recognizes Leo, Duke sounds exhausted and asks if Leo wants to keep going, but begs to be moved away from the window.Instead of continuing the assault, Leo pulls Duke close and embraces him.Duke mocks the sudden tenderness, pointing out the absurdity of being cuddled while both of them are exposed.Leo tightens the embrace and says Duke does not truly hate Leo or want to kill Leo, even though Duke tricked and humiliated Leo.Duke reminds Leo that Leo’s career is likely ruined and says Leo raped him because Duke deliberately provoked him.Leo admits he is angry and spiteful because Duke saw through Leo before Leo could understand Duke.As Leo continues, Leo confesses that even after removing Duke’s mask, Leo still cannot see the real Duke.Leo also admits that despite everything Duke destroyed, Leo still has strange, unreasonable beliefs about Duke.Duke replies that Leo should not have those beliefs because Duke will destroy them too.Leo asks why Duke keeps trying to make Leo hate him, but Duke deflects by repeating Leo’s earlier judgment that Duke is conceited, stubborn, and damaged.After a heavy silence, Leo pulls Duke’s pants back up and tells Duke to go to the clinic for treatment.Duke bitterly calls the advice excellent coming from a rapist.Leo says Duke will no longer trigger him because Leo has seen through Duke’s act.Regaining composure, Leo says Duke caused chaos in court but insists Leo can handle it.Leo then tells Duke that even if Duke is locked up for life, Leo will keep visiting him because they may be trapped in a strange relationship no normal mindset can explain.Before leaving, Leo asks what happened to Duke by the window and suggests Duke had been trapped in a nightmare.Leo reminds Duke that Duke once helped drag Leo out of a nightmare and says perhaps it is Leo’s turn to help Duke.Duke’s expression turns cold and unreadable, making Leo feel briefly suffocated.Duke then breaks the moment by saying what happened was simply that a federal agent sexually assaulted him and asks whether Duke should file a police report.Leo admits Leo should not have done it but says Leo will not apologize.After Leo leaves, Duke hides the sharpened toothbrush back in Duke’s sleeve before the correctional captain escorts Duke back.Back in the cell, Alessio notices Duke looks terrible and immediately asks what happened.Duke tries to climb into bed and says Duke is tired, but Alessio spots blood on the back of Duke’s pants.Alessio offers to take Duke to the clinic, but Duke refuses and insists Duke is fine.Still concerned, Alessio offers Tylenol, gauze, and other supplies.Duke reluctantly accepts the supplies but refuses Alessio’s help applying them.Alessio gently asks whether Duke’s bad mood is related to the recent visit and says Alessio learned from the papers that Duke is the Serial Killer Killer.Duke says Duke was forced, but not about Duke’s case.During the conversation, Alessio notices Xavier’s dog tag necklace on Duke and asks whether it represents bad blood with another organization.Duke denies being in a gang, but Alessio recognizes the symbol as possibly connected to Hard Eye, one of the founders of the East Coast Bloods.Alessio explains that Hard Eye raised chosen sons and gave special pendants to seven favorites.Duke says the dog tag has never done anything good for Duke.Alessio says the symbol may once have earned respect on the streets, though most people have forgotten its meaning.When Duke asks whether Duke can safely wear it in prison, Alessio says the old gangsters are mostly gone but mentions Uno B, also known as Frank Baxton, one of Hard Eye’s sons imprisoned in Rycken Island.Duke becomes curious when Alessio explains that Rycken Island is nicknamed the Pound and contains multiple security zones.Alessio reveals that Alessio knows so much because Alessio’s own people passed down knowledge, just as Duke may have inherited the necklace.While preparing the ointment for Duke, Alessio tells Duke not to feel broken by what happened.Alessio shares that Alessio once nearly killed himself after being hurt at fifteen but chose revenge instead.Alessio says the men who hurt Alessio died, and Alessio kept the scar as a reminder that anyone who hurts Alessio dies.Duke considers that principle and admits Duke does not want Leo to die.Alessio suggests Duke can always hurt Leo back in the same way Leo hurt Duke.Duke accepts the idea and says Duke can always do that.Meanwhile, Leo meets Robby in the Worth Street parking garage after leaving MCC.Robby immediately asks what Leo did to Duke and whether Leo choked Duke unconscious.Leo says Duke is alive but in a lot of pain.Robby tells Leo not to feel guilty because Duke reaped what Duke sowed.Robby then reveals that Robby has found damaging information on Saul Geller, including that Saul Geller fathered a child with his wife’s underage niece.Robby believes the scandal can be used to pressure Saul Geller into admitting to misconduct with the evidence.Two hours later, Leo and Robby confront Saul Geller in Saul Geller’s Newark office.Saul Geller looks defeated and begins to agree to sign something, but a phone call interrupts him.After the call, Saul Geller unexpectedly relaxes and says the agents’ leverage is unnecessary now because Duke Ly has agreed to plead no contest.In the car afterward, Robby is baffled that the stubborn Duke Ly would agree to no contest.Leo suspects Duke Ly must have a new plan because the plea does not fit Duke Ly’s personality.Robby suggests at least the plea may force Duke Ly to reveal Duke Ly’s true identity and accomplices.Leo dismisses the idea of trusting any name Duke Ly provides.Even though Robby questions why Leo remains obsessed, Leo says Leo wants to know what happened by the window.After Duke Ly’s unexpected plea decision becomes public, debates erupt across mainstream media, Twitter, and online platforms.Because many people cannot understand why the Green Cleaner would accept a plea after gaining an advantage in court, conspiracy theories against the federal government spread quickly.Green Cleaner supporters camp outside MCC while journalists swarm the Jacob K. Javits building, forcing the city to consider riot control measures.At the office, Robby complains about online claims that the FBI tortured Duke Ly or made secret deals behind closed doors.Robby also finds fanfiction about Leo and GC, and Leo is horrified to learn people online are debating which of them is on top.Robby explains that the fanfiction exploded because Saul Geller sold excerpts of The Caro-Kann Crisis to a creative writing platform.Leo is stunned that Duke Ly’s writings are reshaping public opinion and feeding fantasies about Leo and Duke Ly.Robby reassures Leo that the fanfiction will not affect Leo’s daily life, then immediately ruins the comfort by asking who was on top.Leo hits Robby with a folded newspaper and redirects the conversation to the SWAT team.Robby reports that the real Binqing is safe, has no obvious injuries, and has been moved to a clinic for examination.However, Robby adds that the men guarding Binqing escaped before they could be questioned.Leo is unsurprised because GC always plans everything carefully.Robby then explains that Hoffman reached a plea agreement with Duke Ly for seventeen years in federal prison in exchange for a no contest plea, Duke Ly’s true identity, financial sources, accomplices, and a public statement that Duke Ly’s new book is fictional.Leo quietly repeats the seventeen-year sentence while staring at Duke Ly’s picture in the newspaper.Robby points out that Duke Ly could get out earlier with good behavior, but Leo still does not believe the name Elvis Lee from Phoenix, Arizona.When Leo receives a lead from a twenty-year-old file in Utah, Leo prepares to leave immediately.Before going, Leo assigns Robby a mission to collect Jasmine Lawrence from LaGuardia.Robby panics because Robby does not want to tell Jasmine Lawrence that her brother’s failure led to Binqing’s kidnapping or that Leo slept with the impostor boyfriend.Leo ignores Robby’s protests and escapes the office without hesitation.At MCC, Alessio asks Duke whether this is truly it and questions why Duke requested transfer to Rycken Island.Alessio warns Duke that Rycken Island, known as the Pound, is one of the worst penitentiaries in the country.Duke calmly says Duke knows, showing that Duke’s choice is deliberate.Before Duke leaves, Alessio asks Duke for a favor and gives Duke the Berardi family seal ring to deliver to Alessio’s brother Salvatore in Zone 5.Duke studies the ring’s double-headed viper and lily carving, realizing it is more than a simple piece of jewelry.Alessio explains the ring is considered cursed because previous holders died strange or violent deaths.Duke agrees to deliver it because Alessio has been kind during Duke’s short time at MCC.When Duke says Duke does not know what Salvatore looks like, Alessio assures Duke that Duke will know Salvatore when Duke sees him.As Duke prepares to leave, Alessio grabs Duke’s wrist and warns Duke to be careful of everyone.On the way out, Lau appears and says goodbye, claiming Duke’s departure leaves them with only three mahjong players.As Duke passes, Lau whispers in Cantonese that Duke should check beneath the tiles in the laundry room in Zone 5.At dawn, Duke is handed over to the marshals and loaded into a prisoner transport vehicle bound for Rycken Island.Back in the MCC cell, Alessio receives a hidden cellphone from an officer and calls someone to say only that Duke is coming over.As the transport approaches Rycken Island, the prison is described as a grim complex of warehouses, fences, zones, and isolation from the rest of New York.Upon arrival in Zone 5, Duke is taken to the shower room under escort from Seth and Joe.Duke’s pretty face immediately draws the attention of the inmates, and Seth warns the men not to try anything.The shower passes without incident because Seth and Joe supervise closely.After Duke leaves for medical and psychological exams, the inmates reveal open interest in claiming Duke.Narwhal offers to pay double the regular price to have Duke in Narwhal’s cell that night.Warhammer counters by offering triple, creating tension between Narwhal’s faction and Warhammer’s faction.Narwhal and Warhammer exchange threats, but neither side attacks because the prison atmosphere is already dangerously pressurized.Meanwhile, Larry faces a dilemma because angering either Narwhal or Warhammer could put Larry’s family outside prison at risk.Seth advises Larry to place Duke in single cell 1317, next to someone powerful enough to neutralize Narwhal and Warhammer’s dispute.Larry worries how the inmate in unit 1316, known as the Godfather, will react to Duke being placed next door.Seth suggests making Narwhal and Warhammer believe the Godfather ordered it, which would protect Larry from both factions.Looking at Duke’s mugshot under the name Elvis Lee, Larry decides Duke may be pretty enough that the Godfather will accept Duke as a neighbor rather than view Duke as a provocation.Seth leaves with a bad feeling that something is about to go down in the Pound.Larry knocks on wood and wonders what else could possibly happen in such a dangerous prison.

Chapter 27
Tightrope WalkingDuke enters cell 1317 with Duke’s allotted belongings and immediately decides that a single cell is still better than being crowded in with a cellmate.Across the hallway, two inmates whistle at Duke, and one of them exposes himself while shouting degrading insults, but Duke ignores them and studies the cell instead.Inside the cramped cell, Duke finds a cot, a stainless steel sink and toilet, a built-in counter, and a tightly secured metal mirror.As Duke examines the walls, Duke notices stains that appear to be blood and possibly brain matter from a recent violent incident.Duke searches the cell for hidden items left by past residents and finds pornography, stamps, a lighter, moldy cigarettes, and finally a capless pen that Duke hides in Duke’s sock.While cleaning between the cot and the wall, Duke finds human remains, including a fingertip and a piece of scalp with curly hair.Rather than reacting with horror, Duke flushes the remains down the toilet and lies down to relax.Meanwhile, the inmate across the hall becomes louder and creates a mess in the corridor, prompting a correctional officer to drag him out and force him to clean it up humiliatingly.Later, during afternoon free time, Seth notices two of Narwhal’s lackeys entering Duke’s cell and suspects they are about to torture the new arrival.Although Seth considers intervening because it is Duke’s first day, Joe interrupts and pulls Seth away to help discipline another inmate.Because Seth leaves, Seth misses the shocking sight of Narwhal’s two hardened lackeys being thrown out of Duke’s cell with broken noses and bloody faces.One lackey crashes into Salvatore Berardi, who crushes the man’s fingers underfoot and pins the man’s forearm to the floor with the man’s own rusty spike.Terrified, Narwhal’s lackey recognizes Salvatore Berardi as Don Sal and apologizes.Salvatore Berardi calmly warns the man to tell Narwhal that Salvatore Berardi is keeping tabs.Curious about the blood trail leading to cell 1317, Salvatore Berardi walks to Duke’s cell with a regal, controlled presence.Duke immediately recognizes Salvatore Berardi as Alessio’s brother because the two share similar grayish-blue eyes and facial features.Salvatore Berardi studies Duke from head to toe and tells Duke that although Duke can hold Duke’s own, fighting ability alone will not be enough to survive in Rycken Island.Duke says Duke does not want trouble and was only minding Duke’s own business.Salvatore Berardi replies that prison is not that simple and says Duke must know where Duke stands.Before leaving, Salvatore Berardi warns Narwhal’s lackey that the next time Narwhal’s men come after Duke, they should make sure they do not dirty Salvatore Berardi’s shoes.The other inmates realize Salvatore Berardi has not officially claimed Duke, which means Duke remains vulnerable to anyone bold enough to try.By dinnertime, the inmates’ desire to test Duke boils over as Duke carries Duke’s tray toward the tables.One inmate trips Duke, while others catch Duke and use the moment to crowd and harass him.Rory spits into Duke’s food and mocks him, escalating the confrontation.Duke elbows the inmate holding him and breaks free, but Rory grabs Duke’s arm and touches Duke’s hip.Keeping Duke’s gaze lowered, Duke grips the tray until the other inmates mistake Duke’s stillness for helplessness.Suddenly, Duke smashes the tray into Rory’s face, breaking Rory’s nose and knocking out a tooth.When other inmates rush Duke, Duke pivots and lands another blow before the correctional officers arrive.Seth stops the fight by threatening solitary confinement for anyone who moves again.Because no one wants the hole, the inmates release Duke and back away.Seth sees Rory’s injuries and jokes that Rory should be grateful Duke spared worse damage.Captain Eric escorts Rory to Health Services after taking a bribe, while Seth gives Duke only a mild punishment of mopping the floor after dinner.Duke politely accepts the punishment, and the inmates’ desire to break Duke only intensifies.Later that night, while Duke is mopping, four inmates overpower Duke in the hallway and try to assault him.Duke seizes a tiny opening, grabs detergent, and throws it into one attacker’s face.The attackers respond by forcing Duke down again and escalating the threat.During the struggle, Xavier’s pendant slips out from under Duke’s shirt.Warhammer, who has been watching from the shadows, immediately calls for his men to stop when Warhammer sees the pendant.When one of Warhammer’s men ignores the order, Warhammer throws him into the wall.Warhammer examines the pendant and demands to know where Duke got it.Duke initially tells Warhammer to back off, but Warhammer intimidates Duke and forces an answer.Duke lies that the pendant is an heirloom from Duke’s father, whose surname was Schafer.Warhammer recognizes the Schafer name and remembers Axel Schafer, then Duke claims Xavier Schafer is Duke’s half-brother.Warhammer accepts the explanation and concludes that because Duke’s supposed father was a Blood, Duke is a Blood too.Warhammer offers Duke protection but warns Duke not to betray him.Duke acts fearful and resistant before finally agreeing.Warhammer sexually intimidates Duke but says Warhammer does not touch Warhammer’s own men, making Duke officially part of Warhammer’s side.Warhammer orders his men to respect Duke and threatens to personally teach them if they do not.The men immediately reverse their attitude and offer Duke contraband cigarettes and marijuana.When Duke says Duke still has to mop, Jerome and others quickly clean up for him.Warhammer warns Duke to watch out for Narwhal and explains that the Crips are enemies of the Bloods.Duke asks about Salvatore Berardi, and Warhammer explains that the Godfather is quiet but dangerous, with many men willing to get their hands dirty for him.Warhammer also reveals that cell 1317 once belonged to Paolo, Salvatore Berardi’s right-hand man, who died after Salvatore Berardi learned Paolo had been falsifying the books.Duke privately notes that Duke already flushed some of Paolo’s remains down the toilet.The next day, Seth runs into Duke on the way to the library and is surprised Duke survived Duke’s first night in Rycken Island unharmed.Seth awkwardly apologizes about the previous night’s punishment, saying Seth did not know things would happen that way.Duke smiles warmly and tells Seth it had nothing to do with Seth and that Duke is fine.Seth is struck by Duke’s pure, warm smile and momentarily loses focus.After recovering, Seth tries to give Duke personal advice about surviving as a new arrival.Duke playfully encourages Seth to continue, making Seth flustered.Seth advises Duke to find someone who can protect Duke and says the Godfather is a better option than Warhammer or Narwhal.Seth admits Seth assigned Duke to unit 1317 because Salvatore Berardi seemed less likely to assault Duke.Duke sincerely thanks Seth for giving Duke the single cell.After Duke walks away, Eric warns Seth not to develop feelings for inmates.Eric cynically says a correctional officer can abuse, exploit, or extort inmates, but cannot have feelings for them because that violates professional ethics.Seth tries to deny being gay, then quietly adds after Eric leaves that Seth does not want to use Duke that way.In the library, Duke reaches for Abnormal Psychology, but Salvatore Berardi smoothly takes the book first.Duke greets Salvatore Berardi as Don Sal, but Salvatore Berardi questions that familiarity now that Duke has chosen to become a Blood.Duke explains that surviving in prison means doing what Duke must do.Salvatore Berardi accuses Duke of being clever but short-sighted for aligning with Warhammer while living in cell 1317.Duke says Duke had no say in the cell assignment and carefully implies that Salvatore Berardi did not seem inclined to protect Duke.Salvatore Berardi asks whether Duke is accusing Salvatore Berardi of failing to help.Duke answers diplomatically that Salvatore Berardi had no obligation to help and that Duke knows who is truly in charge.Salvatore Berardi is pleased by Duke’s deference but still tells Duke to stick with the camp Duke chose.Before leaving, Salvatore Berardi says Duke can stay in 1317 and perhaps the ghost there will teach Duke the consequences of crossing the wrong person.After Salvatore Berardi drops the book and leaves, Duke picks up Abnormal Psychology with a smile and slides it back onto the shelf.Meanwhile, Leo lands in Salt Lake City and rushes to the Public Safety Building to follow a twenty-year-old lead.Captain Jensen helps Leo locate the file on Christopher Sorenson, a man who kidnapped eight children, killed five, and left three survivors.Captain Jensen explains that Christopher Sorenson’s twelve-year-old son had likely been involved but was spared prosecution because of his age and his father’s coercion.Leo studies the victim photographs and compares one Asian survivor’s photo with a generated childhood image of the Green Cleaner.Because the images do not conclusively match, Leo seeks someone who can identify the survivors.Captain Jensen tells Leo that the three survivors and their families moved away after the case because of the stigma they faced.Captain Jensen then suggests Leo speak to Sorenson Junior, who has spent years volunteering at a community center out of guilt.Leo visits Sorenson Junior, who is now thirty-two but looks much older because of years of remorse.Sorenson Junior says he still remembers the victims’ faces and has punished himself through endless work because the law did not punish him.Leo shows Sorenson Junior the generated childhood image of the Green Cleaner, but Sorenson Junior says the boy was not one of the victims.Leo feels disappointed that the lead fails but also relieved that the Green Cleaner may not have suffered that particular childhood trauma.Before leaving, Leo asks whether anything important was never investigated.Sorenson Junior suddenly remembers Christopher Sorenson had a mysterious pen pal whom Christopher Sorenson called a spiritual teacher.Sorenson Junior explains that Christopher Sorenson burned most of the letters during the investigation but that one unopened letter may still be in the attic.Sorenson Junior retrieves the letter, and Leo opens it carefully with gloves.Inside, Leo finds disturbing language encouraging Christopher Sorenson to expand from child victims to entire families and describing cruelty as ecstatic pleasure.Leo sees the letter is signed “Enjoyer” and postmarked from Anaheim, California, giving Leo a new lead.Leo sincerely thanks Sorenson Junior and prepares to fly to California, realizing this search is now for the Cleaner, for justice, and for Leo himself.Back at USP Rycken Island, a correctional officer calls Duke from the yard and claims Duke must go to the clinic to sign a psychological report.Duke follows the officer, but the officer locks Duke in a locker room instead of taking Duke to the clinic.Narwhal emerges with nine men and mocks Duke for thinking gang protection would keep Duke safe.Narwhal taunts Duke about Warhammer and threatens Duke, while Duke checks the room and notices there are no cameras.Duke smiles and says nobody will see him either, revealing Duke is not afraid.Later, Jerome tells Warhammer’s group that Narwhal and Narwhal’s men were found unconscious, naked, and tied together in the locker room.Jerome laughs that Narwhal lost all respect because of the humiliating position Narwhal was found in.Warhammer quietly asks Duke whether Duke did it.Duke innocently denies it by pointing out that one person could hardly beat nine men and claims Duke was signing papers at the clinic.Warhammer doubts Duke could have done it alone and focuses instead on the fact that the Crips have lost face.Warhammer says the loss of respect can only be repaid through bloodshed, meaning the coming gang battle may happen sooner than planned.Warhammer orders Jerome to prepare the Bloods’ weapons.Warhammer then tells Duke that Duke must prove Duke’s loyalty by killing two Crips.Duke agrees easily, finishing Duke’s vegetable soup as if the order is nothing.Warhammer identifies Salvatore Berardi as the wild card because Salvatore Berardi secretly helped the Crips in the last battle.Warhammer orders Duke to keep a close eye on Salvatore Berardi and report any contact with the Crips.Duke suggests Duke can do more than watch Salvatore Berardi.Warhammer warns Duke that Salvatore Berardi is not like Narwhal and will not be swayed by a pretty face.Duke replies that Duke will have to show Salvatore Berardi that a pretty face is not all Duke has.Warhammer flirts with Duke and invites Duke to Warhammer’s cell, but Duke declines by telling Warhammer to save Warhammer’s gun for their enemies.

Chapter 28
Alliances and VisitsDuke visits Salvatore Berardi in unit 1316 after dinner and asks to speak with him alone.After Salvatore Berardi sends the two other inmates away, Duke asks whether Salvatore Berardi has discussed the coming battle with Narwhal’s men.Salvatore Berardi immediately suspects Warhammer sent Duke as a negotiator and mocks Duke as Warhammer’s new pet.Duke denies having that kind of relationship with Warhammer and stays focused on business.Salvatore Berardi reveals Salvatore Berardi knows Duke defeated Narwhal and nine men alone, then questions why Duke would side with Warhammer if Duke is already that capable.Duke drops the act and admits Duke does not care about the Bloods and Crips conflict.Instead, Duke tells Salvatore Berardi that Duke is after money.To support the claim, Duke shows Salvatore Berardi Xavier’s dog tag and explains that it is one of Hard Eye’s tokens.Duke reveals the dog tag is not merely a symbol of ownership but a key connected to Hard Eye’s hidden estate.Duke explains that Hard Eye gave seven adopted sons special tasks to decide who would inherit leadership, and Frank “Uno B” Baxton became the intended successor.Duke further explains that another adopted son ignored the rules, killed Hard Eye, and seized power on the West Coast.Duke says Xavier Schafer’s dog tag came from Axel Schafer, another of Hard Eye’s adopted boys.Salvatore Berardi becomes interested when Duke suggests the hidden fortune may be worth at least five hundred million dollars.Duke claims Duke joined the Bloods to get close to Uno B, switch the dog tags, and locate the treasure.Since Duke cannot find Uno B in Zone 5, Duke believes Warhammer may know Uno B’s location.Salvatore Berardi sees through Duke’s generosity and asks what Duke wants from the Berardi family.Duke says Duke wants protection and offers Salvatore Berardi four-fifths of the fortune.When Salvatore Berardi demands a proper reference, Duke names Alessio Berardi and implies Duke and Alessio Berardi were very close at MCC.Salvatore Berardi tests Duke’s connection to Alessio Berardi by asking about Alessio Berardi’s scars.Duke corrects Salvatore Berardi and recounts Alessio Berardi’s trauma at fifteen, showing Duke knows a private truth Alessio Berardi rarely shares.Duke speaks of Alessio Berardi with sympathy and tenderness, which makes Salvatore Berardi briefly soften before returning to his cold mobster composure.Salvatore Berardi agrees to offer protection only after Duke delivers the promised fortune.Duke then says Duke needs Salvatore Berardi’s help to get Warhammer to reveal Uno B’s location.Salvatore Berardi threatens Duke with a slow death if Duke lies to or betrays Salvatore Berardi or Alessio Berardi.Afterward, Duke tells Warhammer that Salvatore Berardi has agreed to help the Bloods temporarily under certain conditions.Warhammer is shocked and pleased because Warhammer has failed to win Salvatore Berardi over before.Duke says Duke promised Salvatore Berardi ten percent more and hopes Warhammer approves.Warhammer approves because defeating Narwhal and the Crips matters more than sharing some profit with the Italians.When Warhammer asks how Duke persuaded Salvatore Berardi, Duke jokes that it may have been Asian persuasion or that Salvatore Berardi simply likes Duke.Warhammer warns Duke that Warhammer may need to keep Duke away from Salvatore Berardi.Duke replies that Duke would rather avoid Salvatore Berardi’s hidden shiv anyway.During afternoon leisure time, Duke plays checkers with Blood members and wins cigarettes, M&Ms, and a shiv.Seth calls Duke away and tells Duke that Duke has a visitor.Since visiting time is supposedly over, Duke assumes Seth arranged another special favor and thanks Seth warmly.Instead of Saul Geller, Duke finds Xavier waiting in the public visiting room.Xavier tries to act confident now that Xavier has regained money and power while Duke is imprisoned.Duke undercuts Xavier’s confidence by reminding Xavier that Xavier was once an abandoned puppy with empty pockets.Xavier brags that Xavier has killed people who wronged him and reclaimed territory and power.Duke dismisses Xavier’s violence and says Xavier will always remain a loud, unlucky puppy to Duke.Xavier grabs Duke’s collar, but Seth intervenes and orders Xavier to let Duke go.Duke lies smoothly that Xavier is only having prison-related PTSD flashbacks.Once Xavier calms down, Xavier admits Xavier came to get Xavier’s chain back.Duke teases Xavier by calling the dog tag something Xavier gave Duke to remember Xavier by.Xavier is embarrassed but insists Xavier changed Xavier’s mind and wants it back because Xavier now understands its value.Duke refuses to return the dog tag but invites Xavier to try taking it back by getting imprisoned again.Xavier then threatens Leo, saying Xavier saw Leo alone in Los Angeles and could hire someone to kill him.Duke hides Duke’s reaction to the Los Angeles clue and says Xavier killing Leo would only let Duke snitch for a reduced sentence.Enraged and humiliated, Xavier leaves without recovering the dog tag.Seth escorts Duke back and comments that Xavier seems unstable.Duke agrees that Xavier is unstable but calls the visit entertaining.As Seth walks beside Duke through sunlit bars, Seth privately wishes the quiet moment could last longer.Meanwhile, Leo leaves a post office in Anaheim disappointed because the twenty-year-old letter lead has produced no usable records, employees, surveillance, or paper trail.Leo decides his only remaining option is to send a photograph of the letter to BAU for handwriting analysis.Outside, Leo suddenly feels watched by a hostile presence and scans the area for danger.Leo identifies the threat as possibly coming from a tall building at his five o’clock, but the feeling vanishes before Leo can confirm anything.Unseen by Leo, an assassin withdraws a gun barrel after losing the shot because a waitress stepped into the line of fire.Robby calls Leo with bad news and surprising news.Robby first reports that the letter and envelope have no fingerprints and that BAU’s handwriting profile is too broad to help much.Robby then shares a tip from Ray, an Interpol contact who once met a middleman connected to mercenaries, dictators, and billionaires.According to Robby, the middleman saw the Green Cleaner’s mugshot on television and said, “That’s not him,” suggesting the middleman knows the real Green Cleaner.This leads Leo to suspect the Green Cleaner may not be a documented American citizen and may have once operated outside normal national systems.Leo realizes the Green Cleaner’s skills, disguises, weapons knowledge, and combat style fit an international mercenary background.Still, Leo cannot yet explain why such a person would abandon mercenary work to hunt serial killers.Back at the hotel, Leo calls Kyle for Interpol information about major disruptions in international mercenary organizations two years earlier.Leo also asks Robby to get more information about the middleman through Ray.At USP Rycken Island, Thanksgiving offers no real holiday spirit beyond canned turkey meat and pumpkin puree.During roll call, Captain Eric bitterly tells the inmates to be grateful the federal government abolished the death penalty.As Captain Eric turns away, Warhammer signals Duke’s side to begin the planned attack.Blood members suddenly stab their predetermined targets with hidden shivs.Bloodshed erupts across Zone 5, and the riot spreads as inmates attack enemies or anyone they hate.The correctional officers panic because holiday staffing is too low to control the uprising.Captain Eric calls for backup and orders the correctional officers to retreat to safety.While the riot consumes the unit, Duke slips into Salvatore Berardi’s cell, which remains untouched like a separate world.Salvatore Berardi mocks Duke for not fighting with the Bloods, but Duke says the real fight is internal, not outside.Salvatore Berardi gives Duke the address Duke wanted and reveals Uno B is in Zone 6.Duke realizes Uno B is still on Rycken Island, even if not in Zone 5.Salvatore Berardi warns that Zone 6 houses psychologically unstable inmates and says Duke would have to turn himself into a psycho to get transferred there.Duke considers the warning and smiles, saying it is an idea worth considering.Salvatore Berardi then reminds Duke that Duke begged for protection and says Duke is nothing in the Pound without the Berardi family.Duke calmly accepts Salvatore Berardi’s dominance and addresses him respectfully as Don Sal.Pleased by Duke’s submission, Salvatore Berardi tells Duke to get what belongs to Salvatore Berardi.Salvatore Berardi also warns Duke not to hurt Alessio Berardi’s heart if Duke wants to keep Duke’s own.In Anaheim, Leo feels the hostile gaze again while eating at a diner.Leo abruptly leaves money for the bill and rushes outside, but the danger fades into the city before Leo can locate the watcher.Once again unseen, the assassin retreats into the shadows after missing the shot.Kyle calls Leo with information from Interpol about private military groups and mercenary organizations.Kyle first mentions the Brotherhood of Angels, but Leo confidently rejects it as the wrong lead.Kyle then describes the Arctic Foxes, a mysterious organization founded in 1984 with exactly thirty-four members.Kyle explains that the Arctic Foxes allegedly handled illegal missions such as kidnappings and assassinations for private employers.Kyle adds that the Arctic Foxes suffered heavy damage during a dangerous mission two years ago, causing some members to leave.Most importantly, Kyle says the Arctic Foxes allegedly had an ethnically Asian member, though this person’s whereabouts are unknown.After the call, Leo wonders whether the Green Cleaner was the Asian member of the Arctic Foxes.Leo also wonders whether the Green Cleaner’s shift from mercenary work to killing serial killers was connected to childhood trauma.Although the Green Cleaner’s past remains hidden, Leo feels he is finally seeing glimpses behind the disguises.Leo resolves to uncover and heal whatever bloody truth lies beneath the Green Cleaner’s darkness, for both the Green Cleaner and himself.

Chapter 29
Glimpses of the PastCode Red is declared in Zone 5 after the riot leaves seven inmates dead and twenty-five others injured.As punishment, the inmates are locked in their cells for seventy-two hours with no yard, showers, or food, leaving hunger to weaken even the loudest men.In contrast, the wounded inmates in the clinic fare slightly better because they at least receive food while being treated.Duke uses a superficial but bloody wound to bribe Dr. Fremont into keeping Duke in the clinic for another night.After dinner, Dr. Fremont warns Duke not to trick him, but Duke offers weekly money in exchange for a more useful arrangement.Dr. Fremont agrees to take Duke privately to the lab under the excuse of an allergen swab.Once alone, Duke knocks Dr. Fremont unconscious and takes Dr. Fremont’s cellphone.Duke calls Spinner and asks Spinner to find blackmail material on Michel Fremont.Duke explains that the leverage must be strong enough to force Dr. Fremont to alter medical records and transfer Duke to the zone for mentally ill inmates.Spinner quickly retrieves useful information and asks Duke for advice instead of money.When Spinner asks how to make a fickle person loyal, Duke says Spinner must either make the previous best thing seem new every day or keep the person from meeting the next best thing.Meanwhile, Leo finds the middleman dead in a San Francisco condo, with his throat cut by someone highly skilled.Leo realizes the killer is still nearby and speaks aloud to draw the person out.Leo identifies the hidden killer as an Arctic Fox and offers information about what happened to the Arctic Foxes two years ago.The killer appears behind Leo with a gun and a digitally altered voice, confirming Leo’s suspicion by reacting to the two-year incident.Leo argues that the FBI is not truly the Arctic Foxes’ enemy and offers to investigate the ambush that harmed the organization.When Leo mentions the Green Cleaner, the killer’s reaction confirms the Green Cleaner was connected to the Arctic Foxes.Leo admits that his feelings for the Green Cleaner are complicated and deeper than rivalry, friendship, or ordinary love.The killer reveals the Green Cleaner refused the Arctic Foxes’ help and chose to remain in prison for his own reasons.Leo asks whether the Green Cleaner was always like this, and the killer agrees to trade one address for Leo’s future investigation.The killer gives Leo an East Los Angeles address and says the Arctic Foxes met the Green Cleaner there when he was fifteen.The killer identifies himself as Matrix and says he will contact Leo again when Leo has something useful.After Matrix leaves, Leo calls Robby and reveals the middleman is dead.Leo also reveals that he secretly recorded Matrix with his phone while Matrix held him at gunpoint.Leo recognizes that the Green Cleaner has changed him because Leo is now balancing personal interest with legal duty instead of seeing the world in black and white.In Zone 6, Duke sits among mentally ill inmates after using Dr. Fremont’s altered diagnosis to get transferred there.Seth finds Duke and realizes Duke’s sudden acute PTSD diagnosis is suspicious.Seth worries someone is setting Duke up and insists rules still matter.Duke tells Seth to stay out of it because Duke distrusts altruism and does not want Seth involved.Hurt by Duke’s suspicion, Seth reveals that Samantha, Seth’s twin sister, was killed by the Park Avenue Prowler.Seth explains that the Green Cleaner avenged Samantha by killing her murderer in the same brutal way.Duke awkwardly tells Seth that Duke did not act for justice and that Seth does not need to feel grateful.Seth refuses to let go of that gratitude and asks Duke to let Seth help if Duke ever needs it.Duke finally agrees that if the time comes, Duke will remember Seth.In a memory, a barefoot teenage Qingzhu Lin flees a burning house and crashes into Matrix near a car.Captain notices Qingzhu Lin’s bruises, scars, and cigarette burns and offers help, but Qingzhu Lin only asks for shoes.Captain gives Qingzhu Lin money, and Qingzhu Lin promises to repay him.As Matrix and Captain drive away, they see the burning house and the Rogans arguing about Qingzhu Lin.Captain realizes Qingzhu Lin has more courage than Matrix first assumed.Leo follows Matrix’s address and discovers the house has been rebuilt, with the current family knowing nothing about the past.After canvassing the neighborhood, Leo learns from an old woman that the previous owners were the Rogans and that they adopted a handsome Asian boy said to be autistic.The old woman confirms the boy resembled Leo’s composite image but was older and looked unhealthy.She also recalls hearing the Rogans accuse the boy of burning the house down before he vanished.Leo realizes the clues point toward abuse, disappearance, and the foster care system.Leo admits to himself that the investigation is no longer just a job because he wants to understand the Cleaner’s true past and future.In another memory, teenage Qingzhu Lin runs into the Arctic Foxes again while working in a seedy bar.After Qingzhu Lin stabs a customer’s eye with a broken bottle and flees, Matrix catches him and brings him to Captain’s private room.Qingzhu Lin recognizes Captain and repays part of the money Captain gave him earlier.Aurora teases Qingzhu Lin and suggests drinking or sleeping with guests, prompting Qingzhu Lin to attack.Qingzhu Lin’s layered tactic catches Aurora off guard when Qingzhu Lin splashes liquor into her face after using a punch as a distraction.Captain stops Aurora from retaliating and asks whether Qingzhu Lin plans to turn himself in or report Steve Rogan’s abuse.Qingzhu Lin says reporting Steve Rogan is pointless because Steve Rogan is a cop and adds that sparing the Rogans from being drugged before the fire was already kindness.Captain praises Qingzhu Lin as someone born a warrior and offers to train him into an unstoppable killing machine.Qingzhu Lin asks whether that strength will let him hunt evil in the shadows and kill anyone he hates.The crew introduces themselves as the Arctic Foxes, confirming how Qingzhu Lin entered their world.Leo’s investigation reaches the child services office, where a clerk identifies the boy as Qingzhu Lin, also known as Roy.The clerk explains that Qingzhu Lin entered the system at age nine after witnessing his family’s murder and spending a year in psychiatric care.Leo learns Qingzhu Lin repeatedly moved through foster homes because families could not handle his mental trauma and nighttime episodes.The clerk says the Rogans were Qingzhu Lin’s last foster placement before the fire and disappearance.Leo accuses the agency of failing Qingzhu Lin by trusting Steve Rogan’s police status and not checking often enough.Leo then investigates the Rogans, learns Steve Rogan retired to Mexico, and turns toward the murders that orphaned Qingzhu Lin.After tracking down an old LAPD officer involved in the case, Leo hears the horrifying details of the Lin family murders.The old officer explains that the killer gained the family’s trust, terrorized them, murdered Qingzhu Lin’s father, dismembered and violated Qingzhu Lin’s mother, and assaulted Qingzhu Lin.The old officer says Qingzhu Lin survived only because a nearby car alarm startled the killer away.The old officer also admits he believed the perpetrator was a serial killer, but political pressure kept the case from being pursued properly.Leo realizes the details feel familiar and races to buy Roy Lee’s Bedside Whispers.Reading a scene in Bedside Whispers, Leo recognizes the traumatic window memory as a fictionalized version of Qingzhu Lin’s own childhood assault and his mother’s severed head watching from the lawn.Leo finally understands that the Green Cleaner’s nightmares were hidden inside Roy Lee’s writing all along.Leo realizes Qingzhu Lin survived unimaginable violence, abandonment, foster care failure, and a lack of justice before becoming the Green Cleaner.Leo understands the Cleaner as both a militant avenger and a genius writer who poured pain into fiction while waiting for someone to truly see it.In Zone 6, Duke wakes from another nightmare, sweating and shaken by memories Duke thought Duke had buried.Once Duke steadies himself, Duke retrieves three stolen keys from beneath Duke’s pillow.The keys can open Duke’s cell, an iron corridor door in Zone 6, and Frank “Uno B” Baxton’s cell.At half past four in the morning, Duke decides it is time to act.

Chapter 30
Aces Up the SleeveFrank Baxton wakes from a nightmare and realizes a shadowy intruder is holding a sharp object to Frank Baxton’s throat.When Frank Baxton tries to reach the nurse call button, the intruder stabs the back of Frank Baxton’s hand and pins it to the sheets.The intruder tells Frank Baxton to cooperate if Frank Baxton wants to live.Frank Baxton stays calm despite the pain because Frank Baxton recognizes the intruder as someone dangerous and experienced.Frank Baxton first assumes Elijah sent the intruder because of old power struggles among Frank Baxton’s brothers.The intruder dismisses Frank Baxton’s internal Bloods conflicts and asks about the Enjoyer instead.Frank Baxton claims not to know anyone called the Enjoyer, but the intruder pushes Frank Baxton to think of pen names, signatures, and unspeakable crimes.Under the intruder’s pressure, Frank Baxton suddenly remembers the name Hutch Colten.The intruder reacts intensely to Hutch Colten’s name but keeps control and asks where Hutch Colten can be found.Frank Baxton says Frank Baxton has not contacted Hutch Colten in years and tries to minimize their connection.The intruder reveals knowledge that Frank Baxton and Hutch Colten were once lovers and that Frank Baxton protected Hutch Colten from being linked to West Coast murders.The intruder also says Hutch Colten later used Frank Baxton, abandoned him after Frank Baxton lost power, and sold Frank Baxton out to Elijah.By exposing Frank Baxton’s buried resentment, the intruder offers to kill Hutch Colten and make sure Hutch Colten hears Frank Baxton’s name before dying.Frank Baxton is seduced by the promise of revenge and admits the thought would be beautiful.The intruder gives Frank Baxton an inhaler at the right moment and promises Frank Baxton will see that revenge.After the intruder leaves, Frank Baxton pulls the pen from Frank Baxton’s injured hand and makes a sound like laughing and crying at once.Duke returns to Zone 5 and cell 1317 after the trip to Zone 6.Soon after Duke returns, Salvatore Berardi appears at the bars and asks whether Duke has dealt with Frank Baxton’s key.Duke answers indirectly by saying Duke will be the last to do laundry that day.That evening, Duke enters the laundry room with dirty clothes and finds Salvatore Berardi already waiting there.Salvatore Berardi demands Frank Baxton’s key and says Salvatore Berardi will handle decoding it.Duke refuses to hand over the key because Duke believes Salvatore Berardi would kill Duke before sunrise once Salvatore Berardi had it.When Salvatore Berardi threatens Duke, Duke reveals the Berardi family ring that Alessio Berardi gave Duke.Salvatore Berardi is shocked and furious to realize Alessio Berardi entrusted Duke with the ring.Duke offers to trade the ring for more time with the key.Salvatore Berardi silently accepts because the ring matters too much to refuse.Duke gives Salvatore Berardi the ring and explains that Alessio Berardi said the brothers would remain brothers as long as their interests did not conflict.Duke then twists the situation by saying Salvatore Berardi has Alessio Berardi’s “scepter,” while Duke has Alessio Berardi’s “heart.”Salvatore Berardi calls Duke a son of a bitch, but Duke replies that Duke is a son of a bitch Alessio Berardi loves.Resigned, Salvatore Berardi gives Duke one week to decode the key and reveal Hard Eye’s secret vault.After Salvatore Berardi leaves, Duke remembers Lau’s hint about a gift hidden under the laundry room tiles.At dinner, Duke notices both Warhammer and Narwhal are missing from the cafeteria.Jerome explains that the warden sent Warhammer and Narwhal to the hole after the riot, though Warhammer’s punishment is shorter because the warden takes Bloods’ money.Jerome celebrates the Bloods’ victory over the Crips and looks forward to the next battle.Duke watches the inmates and reflects that confinement has reduced them to despair, boredom, violence, and bloodlust.Duke leaves the cafeteria and calls Saul Geller from the payphones.Duke tells Saul Geller to inform Xavier that Duke wants Duke’s little mutt to fetch Duke’s frisbee in exchange for a treat.After Duke hangs up, Duke sees Seth nearby and realizes Seth has been listening for some time.Seth hesitates awkwardly, then asks Duke to call him Seth instead of sir.Duke agrees and tells Seth that Duke needs Seth’s help.Seth immediately lights up and asks what Seth can do for Duke.Duke leans close and tells Seth the plan with an unusually cold expression.One week later, Salvatore Berardi confronts Duke in the yard and demands to know whether Duke has cracked the code.Duke tells Salvatore Berardi to come to Duke’s cell that night.During the nine o’clock headcount, Salvatore Berardi slips into Duke’s cell while the correctional officer pretends not to notice.Inside the dark cell, Salvatore Berardi demands answers, but Duke says Duke has not cracked the code and will give Salvatore Berardi the key while still expecting Duke’s share.When Salvatore Berardi reaches for the key, Duke suddenly yanks the chain and knees Salvatore Berardi in the stomach.Salvatore Berardi tries to fight back, but Duke throws Salvatore Berardi down and binds Salvatore Berardi’s wrists and ankles with shoelaces.Salvatore Berardi realizes Duke’s earlier fear and vulnerability were all a predator’s performance.Duke sits on Salvatore Berardi’s back, takes the chain back, and teases Salvatore Berardi for being better with guns than fists.Salvatore Berardi demands to know whether Duke intends to keep the fortune for himself.Duke reveals that the five-hundred-million-dollar secret vault never existed and that Duke made the entire story up.Duke explains that Hard Eye’s dog tags were only symbols of domination over Hard Eye’s adopted sons.Duke tapes Salvatore Berardi’s mouth shut and moves toward the cell door.Seth arrives and nervously asks whether Duke is ready.Duke shows Seth that Salvatore Berardi is bundled in the bed well enough to pass a distant flashlight check.Duke explains the setup will give Duke at least ten hours of freedom if everything goes smoothly.Seth leads Duke out of the prison block and provides Duke with a correctional officer uniform.Using Seth’s ID card, Duke and Seth leave Zone 5 and take a prison transport vehicle westward across Rycken Island.When they reach Zone 10, Seth explains that the barge’s outer deck lacks an electric fence because prisoners cannot normally access it.Seth gives Duke a temporary pass that can open the gates to the deck.Duke urges Seth to escape with Duke because Seth will be in danger once the truth comes out.Seth refuses, saying Seth cannot run and would rather wait for justice to take its course.Duke warns Seth that Duke is using him and says Seth can still stop everything by shouting or pressing an alarm.Seth insists the real injustice was what society allowed to happen to Samantha and Seth’s family.Seth says Seth is Duke’s willing accomplice and that helping Duke is Seth’s own choice.Duke accepts Seth’s decision, embraces Seth, and says Duke owes Seth.Seth replies that Duke owes no one and that others owe Duke.Seth tells Duke to go because Seth cannot keep the vehicle parked there too long.Duke heads toward the barge, planning to reach the deck, jump into the water, and escape to a civilian mini-submarine waiting below.Duke trusts the submarine owner to cooperate because the owner believes in the fake five-hundred-million-dollar treasure promised by the pendant.Back in cell 1317, Salvatore Berardi hears the door open and tries to alert the person who enters.Seth appears, but instead of freeing Salvatore Berardi, Seth searches the cell.Seth finds Duke’s makeshift knife, the shiv Duke won in checkers and carried before the prison riot.Salvatore Berardi positions his bound hands and feet toward Seth, expecting Seth to cut him loose.Instead, Seth stabs Salvatore Berardi in the back with Duke’s knife.Seth pins Salvatore Berardi down while Salvatore Berardi struggles and slowly dies.After Salvatore Berardi stops moving, Seth confirms Salvatore Berardi is dead and sees the mob boss’s eyes still open in shocked confusion.Seth removes the ring from Salvatore Berardi’s thumb, leaves the weapon in the corpse, covers the body, and exits.In the staff room, Seth calls someone and says Salvatore Berardi is dead.Seth explains that Duke’s fingerprints should be on the knife and that inmates can confirm Duke won the weapon in a game.Seth then demands that the caller release Seth’s parents before Seth hands over the ring.Seth threatens to throw the ring into the East River if the caller refuses.After the call, Seth breaks down in tears and apologizes to Duke and Samantha.Meanwhile, Alessio Berardi stands by a window in MCC and reveals that Alessio Berardi has been controlling Seth by holding Seth’s elderly parents hostage.Alessio Berardi reflects that Seth was willing to betray Duke because Seth was desperate to save Seth’s parents.Alessio Berardi says goodbye to Salvatore Berardi with regret, thinking Alessio Berardi would have loved being Salvatore Berardi’s brother in a normal family.Alessio Berardi also knows Duke will now face the Berardi family’s vengeance for Salvatore Berardi’s murder.Alessio Berardi remembers warning Duke to be careful of everyone.Alessio Berardi completes the warning in private, revealing Duke should especially have been careful of Alessio Berardi.

Finale: The Green Cleaner

Chapter 31
Sweet VengeanceLeo searches the LAPD evidence storage room for preserved cold-case evidence from the Lin and Lee homicide because Leo believes the damaged old files may still have crucial physical clues.While searching, Leo finds a yellowed note in the “19960413 Homicide Lin&Lee” file and compares its handwriting to the letter Sorenson Junior gave him.After noticing matching details in the handwriting, Leo realizes Sorenson’s “spiritual mentor,” the Enjoyer, may be the same monster who destroyed the Cleaner’s childhood.Although the lead is thin, Leo vows to find the Enjoyer and bring him to justice because it is the best thing Leo can do for the Cleaner while the Cleaner is still behind bars.At that moment, Godinez calls Leo and orders Leo to return immediately because the Serial Killer Killer has escaped from Rycken Island.At LaGuardia Airport, Robby meets Leo and hugs him, complaining that Jasmine panicked when Leo disappeared and nearly destroyed Robby’s door.Robby tells Leo that Jasmine spent a week in the hospital with Binqing and then left with Binqing for Las Vegas.Leo feels relieved because Leo can now separate the real Binqing from the “brother-in-law” role the Cleaner once played.As Leo and Robby leave the airport, Robby notices that Leo seems tired but steadier and more human than before.Leo teases Robby for staring, and Robby jokes that Leo has learned to flirt only after years of being too focused on law enforcement.When Robby says Leo seems more like a lover because of a certain someone, Leo’s mood shifts and Leo asks about the Cleaner’s escape.Robby explains that the Cleaner was missing during morning roll call and that Salvatore Berardi was found tied up and stabbed to death in the Cleaner’s cell.Leo immediately doubts the obvious setup because killing Salvatore Berardi in the Cleaner’s own cell and leaving the weapon behind does not match the Cleaner’s style.Robby admits the escape itself is not surprising because prison walls and fences were never likely to hold the Cleaner for long.Leo questions why the Cleaner chose this time and place to escape, suspecting the Cleaner went to Rycken Island for a person, an object, or information.Leo and Robby go to Rycken Island and discover that correctional officer Seth has disappeared.The investigation shows that several cameras around cell 1317 and the exit corridor were shut down from nine at night until seven in the morning.Roadside footage reveals Seth leaving with another man in a guard uniform and heading toward the dock.Security logs show Seth’s temporary authentication was used to access the ship-prison and open the gate to the deck.Robby concludes the Cleaner’s escape was almost too easy and jokes that Seth may have fallen for the Cleaner.Leo snaps at Robby, revealing jealousy or sensitivity over the idea of Seth being attached to the Cleaner.Since Seth seems easier to track than the Cleaner, Leo and Robby search for Seth first.A little over an hour later, Leo and Robby find Seth dead in an alley after an apparent fall from a twelve-story building.Although Seth’s hat, scarf, and suicide note suggest suicide, Leo and Robby both suspect murder and staging.With Seth dead, the trail to the Cleaner suddenly stops.Two days later, a 9-1-1 call reports a violent ongoing crime severe enough to draw FBI attention.At the Raymond home, the family is decorating a Christmas tree when a knock interrupts the warm holiday scene.Mr. Raymond becomes suspicious because security never announced a visitor.Before Mr. Raymond can check, six-year-old Jennifer opens the door and finds a handsome young Asian man outside.The visitor politely greets Jennifer and asks whether her father is Owen Raymond.After Jennifer confirms it, the visitor gives her a rainbow lollipop as a Christmas gift and enters the house.Mr. Raymond demands to know who the visitor is, but the visitor addresses him as Hutch Colten and reveals a fire axe.Hutch Colten panics and denies the name while telling Shirley to take the children and use the panic button.The Cleaner advances with the axe and reveals that Hutch Colten has haunted the Cleaner’s dreams for years.The Cleaner describes remembering Hutch Colten’s violence, the pain, and the image of the Cleaner’s mother’s head outside the window.Rather than seeking remorse, the Cleaner says the only thing the Cleaner wants is to make Hutch Colten afraid.When Hutch Colten reaches for a hidden gun, the Cleaner shatters one wrist with the axe.The Cleaner then breaks Hutch Colten’s other wrist, leaving Hutch Colten helpless on the floor.Hutch Colten begs for mercy and claims Hutch Colten turned over a new leaf after meeting Shirley and becoming a father.The Cleaner laughs at the idea that Hutch Colten can destroy families, then hide behind a new life and ask forgiveness as a good father.Rejecting Hutch Colten’s plea, the Cleaner says God may forgive Hutch Colten, but the Cleaner will not.The Cleaner crushes Hutch Colten’s ankles and drags Hutch Colten toward the living room window.Meanwhile, Shirley hides in the kitchen with the children and calls 9-1-1 after the panic button brings no visible help.When Jennifer hears Hutch Colten screaming, Jennifer runs toward the living room despite Shirley’s warning.Jennifer reaches the doorway and witnesses the Cleaner hacking Hutch Colten apart by the window.After killing Hutch Colten, the Cleaner carries Hutch Colten’s head outside and places it on the lawn facing the window.The Cleaner paints Hutch Colten’s lips red with blood and murmurs “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”Then the Cleaner apologizes gently to Jennifer for the terrible Christmas Eve she has been forced to witness.In the aftermath, the Cleaner realizes Hutch Colten, once the nightmare monster of the Cleaner’s childhood, is now only pathetic rotting flesh.With Hutch Colten dead, the Cleaner feels that the monster can no longer hurt him.The Cleaner retrieves the bloodstained axe and leaves the family unharmed because Hutch Colten was always the only target.Leo and Robby arrive by helicopter as police surround the Raymond estate.Leo asks whether the suspect is still inside, and the officer in charge says no one has left since the perimeter was formed.Leo insists on entering with the SWAT team despite the danger.Instead of waiting for a full breach, Leo opens the mansion door himself and steps into the blood-heavy interior.Inside, Leo sees the horrifying remains by the window and the severed head on the lawn.Leo realizes the victim was the Enjoyer and understands this was vengeance twenty years in the making.Robby notes that the Cleaner escaped just before the police arrived, as expected.When Robby asks Leo’s plan, Leo says Leo will catch the Cleaner and lock him up again.Robby privately hoped the Cleaner might choose freedom and abandon violence, but the crime scene proves otherwise.Leo asks Robby whether Robby has read Bedside Whispers and tells Robby to check it out before leaving the scene.Elsewhere, Duke showers Hutch Colten’s blood from Duke’s body while Xavier waits at the bathroom door with a towel and pajamas.Xavier openly lusts after Duke, but Duke dryly tells Xavier to learn to knock.Xavier asks about the chain and the money connected to it, insisting part of the fortune belongs to Xavier.Duke tells Xavier to relax and says not everyone changes sides as easily as Xavier does.Xavier notices Duke does not look relieved after killing Hutch Colten and teases Duke about secretly mourning victims.Duke grabs Xavier by the throat and warns Xavier to shut up unless Xavier wants to die.Xavier becomes frightened but also aroused by Duke’s danger.When Xavier tries touching Duke, Duke releases Xavier and tells Xavier not to think about it because Duke is not into Xavier.Xavier asks whether Duke is into the FBI agent instead.Duke confirms that Duke only wants Leo.Xavier questions why Duke still wants Leo after Leo arrested and pursued Duke.Duke sees no problem with wanting Leo despite the danger.Xavier concludes Duke is drawn to Leo because Leo remains the challenge Duke has never fully conquered.Duke warns Xavier not to get in Duke’s way again.Xavier says Xavier will wait near Rycken Island for Duke’s call and reminds Duke not to forget Xavier’s money.Back at the FBI office, Leo identifies a Range Rover on CCTV and says the timing suggests the Cleaner used it to escape the Raymond estate.The dark tinted windows make the passenger impossible to identify, so Leo orders the team to trace the car’s owner and current location.After Homeland Security helps track the vehicle through plate swaps and evasive routing, Leo recognizes the owner as Xavier Schafer.Leo explains to Robby that Xavier Schafer is a former Blood member who sold Leo out on the Mahina mission and has long been after the Cleaner.Robby understands that Xavier Schafer’s connection to the Cleaner bothers Leo personally.When IT locates the Range Rover heading toward LaGuardia, Leo immediately heads for the helipad.Robby warns that the setup feels too easy and may be a trap.Leo agrees it may be a trap but says failed attempts are still necessary steps toward catching the suspect.Leo and Robby pursue the Range Rover by helicopter while police cars chase from the ground.As the Range Rover flees, Leo realizes the car had several opportunities to let the Cleaner escape unseen.Robby suggests the Cleaner may already be gone and jokes that the Cleaner could be having a candlelight dinner with Xavier.Annoyed by the image, Leo orders the team to force the vehicle to stop.The Range Rover is pushed off the road near the river and surrounded by SWAT.A young Asian man exits with raised hands, but Leo immediately senses the man is not GC.Robby realizes the driver is only a pawn.Then a phone rings from the driver’s pocket with a mocking nursery-rhyme tune about Leo having a runaway he could never catch.Leo answers and hears GC cheerfully ask whether Leo has eaten dinner.Leo cuts through the provocation and asks why GC staged everything after already killing the Enjoyer.GC says, as a conceited and deranged serial killer, GC plans to create as much havoc as possible.GC tells Leo to take the helicopter higher and look north for a light show.From the helicopter, Leo and Robby see a massive explosion on the outskirts of the city.GC reveals the explosion was Zone 5 of Rycken Island, which GC calls the Sinner’s Paradise.GC explains that Lau’s “gift” under the laundry room tiles was C4 and a remote detonator.GC also reveals Xavier used the submarine near Rycken Island to trigger the explosion on GC’s command.Horrified, Leo calls GC insane.Leo realizes GC has crossed the line Leo feared by killing on a mass scale and enjoying the destruction.GC frames the explosion as a salute and a declaration of battle between GC and Leo.GC says they must decide a victor and that the loser will pay with his life.Leo roars GC’s name in rage, but GC only laughs.GC gives Leo a hint to find him faster: “a lonely Christmas.”After GC hangs up, Robby asks what GC is planning and what they should do.Leo says GC wants to settle things with Leo, and Leo will either arrest GC or kill him.

Chapter 32
The Ultimate KillerRobby traces GC’s recent call to a smashed cellphone near the Queensboro Bridge and realizes GC only needed binoculars to watch the FBI’s movements.While staring at the bridge, Leo repeats GC’s clue, “a lonely Christmas,” and suddenly connects it to a memory from when GC lived with Leo as Binqing.In that memory, Binqing asks Leo whether it snows in New York, and Leo explains that it usually snows around the holidays.Binqing says Jasmine will be back by Christmas and that they should celebrate together because Christmas is like family time.Remembering that conversation, Leo realizes GC’s clue points to the abandoned amusement park where Leo once spent a snowy Christmas working a case.Robby objects when Leo says GC wants Leo to come alone, but Leo warns that GC will escape and cause more destruction if they ignore the instruction.As a compromise, Leo agrees to wear a tracker while Robby and the team stay a mile away until Leo calls for backup.Leo drives alone to the abandoned amusement park and walks through the decaying grounds under light snow.After searching the park and briefly wondering whether Leo misunderstood the clue, Leo senses danger and reaches for Leo’s gun.GC appears without a mask or disguised voice, dressed casually in a gray hoodie and sweatpants, and wishes Leo a merry Christmas.GC says Leo did well not bringing the whole squad, but then reveals there is still one loose end.Leo follows GC’s gaze and is horrified when Robby falls from the pirate ship ride, bound and gagged.Realizing Robby disobeyed the plan and followed too closely, Leo demands that GC let Robby go because the matter is only between Leo and GC.GC refuses because Robby could bring the whole city down on GC.Leo appeals to whatever connection GC once had with Robby, but GC argues that even what GC and Leo had never made Leo go easy on GC.Leo says everything between Leo and GC was a mistake, and GC agrees while claiming their game should have stayed only a game.GC says getting emotionally involved led to injuries, capture, and trouble that GC never would have had otherwise.Leo accuses GC of staging the entire legal chaos just to reach Rycken Island and get information about the Enjoyer.GC admits GC only meant to stay in prison briefly, while Leo wanted GC locked up permanently.GC says Leo and GC are irreconcilable opposites, and GC claims GC’s physical attraction to Leo is not enough to matter.When Leo asks whether murder is what attracts GC more, GC casually agrees and says GC can find someone faster, stronger, and smarter to replace Leo.Leo is visibly wounded by GC’s words, and GC giggles because GC expected Leo to react with violence.Leo says Leo does not even want to touch GC anymore, not even with Leo’s fists.GC decides they can settle things with weapons instead and moves to deal with Robby.Leo draws Leo’s gun the instant GC moves, but GC fires first toward Robby.Robby’s torso appears to explode with blood, and Leo instinctively fires at GC.GC staggers backward with a bullet wound in GC’s chest, while Leo rushes to free Robby.Robby tears open Robby’s shirt and reveals GC used a blank and a fake blood bag instead of truly shooting him.Leo freezes in horror because Leo realizes GC tricked him into shooting GC.Overwhelmed by what Leo has done, Leo rushes to GC and finds GC still alive but slipping into shock.Leo holds GC desperately, presses the wound, and buries his face against GC while realizing GC’s faint smile looks satisfied.When the helicopter arrives, Leo carries unconscious GC aboard and screams for the pilot to go to the nearest hospital.Robby tries to comfort Leo by saying Leo showed more restraint than Leo would have shown with any other criminal.Leo ignores everything except GC and silently promises to listen to everything GC has hidden if GC survives.At the hospital, Leo waits through surgery with Robby until the surgeon reports the operation succeeded and the bullet missed GC’s heart.The surgeon explains that GC’s left lung was injured but should recover with rehabilitation.Leo feels relieved but also worries that the injury may affect GC’s strength and stamina.However, GC does not wake after twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours, or seventy-two hours.When doctors suggest GC may lack the will to wake, Leo angrily rejects the idea because GC has always fought fiercely to survive.Sitting beside GC, Leo tries to provoke GC awake by mentioning escape, Robby’s bruise, the failed Rycken Island explosion, and Xavier Schafer.Even as Leo speaks for hours, GC remains unconscious.Godinez eventually orders Leo back to the Bureau, forcing Leo to leave only after asking the agents guarding GC to call if GC wakes.The hospital is soon swarmed by journalists and GC’s fans after someone leaks GC’s location.One fan even appears in a wedding dress and screams that GC’s bride has arrived.To avoid more chaos, the FBI secretly transfers GC to a military hospital.Robby reports the transfer dramatically, but Leo barely reacts because Leo is buried in work and refusing to eat or rest.Worried about Leo’s self-destruction, Robby lies that the hospital called and said GC moved.Leo rushes to the hospital and nearly attacks Robby when Leo realizes the claim was false.A doctor explains that GC’s condition appears psychogenic, meaning GC’s mind may be shielding itself from trauma by refusing to wake.The doctor suggests using important voices, smells, languages, or familiar environments to stimulate GC’s consciousness.Alone with GC, Leo asks whether GC refuses to wake because of Leo, childhood trauma, or disappointment in the world.Leo decides GC must have left some hidden doorway for Leo to find, just as GC left the truth inside Bedside Whispers.Leo returns to Leo’s parents’ apartment and lies on the sofa where Leo once sat with GC as Binqing.As Leo relives every memory, fight, look, and conversation, Leo realizes how deeply GC has imprinted himself into Leo.Leo breaks down, understanding that if Leo truly loves GC, every wound inflicted on GC also belongs to Leo.Then Leo remembers GC specifically asking Leo to keep GC’s BlackBerry before Leo attacked him at MCC.Realizing the BlackBerry may be the doorway GC left behind, Leo retrieves it, charges it, and searches through the files.Leo finds a lone recording in the Music folder and plays it.In the recording, GC addresses Leo in Mandarin and says GC hopes Leo is the one listening.GC admits GC does not fully know why GC made the recording, but says GC has already written the finale of their story.GC explains that GC chose Leo as a weapon after observing Leo and realizing Leo believed everyone must face the consequences of their actions.GC recalls Leo warning that GC was becoming the very thing GC hunted.GC reveals GC already knew that every time GC looked in the mirror, GC saw a serial killer GC wanted to kill.GC says GC never regretted killing serial killers, but GC planned to keep killing until the Enjoyer was dead and then end GC’s own life.GC reveals the meaning of the name Green Cleaner, explaining that “Qing” means green and that the last serial killer GC must clean up is himself.Leo realizes GC never meant to be a vigilante hero but a condemned killer choosing Leo as GC’s executioner.GC admits Leo unexpectedly became more than an executioner and turned into a weakness that made GC imagine a future together.Even so, GC says GC and Leo are like two comets that would crash if they stayed together.GC says GC wants Leo to live, burn brightly, and watch over the godforsaken world after GC dies.After the recording ends, Leo sobs and realizes GC wanted Leo to kill him, while also leaving behind proof that GC had wanted something more.Leo wonders whether it is too late to tell GC not to self-destruct and promises inwardly to find a reason for them to live together.On day twenty after surgery, the task force discusses what to do if GC remains unconscious and becomes comatose.Because long-term hospital care creates legal, financial, security, and media problems, the team debates transferring GC elsewhere.Some agents suggest a mental hospital, but Robby points out that GC’s fame, fans, journalists, and lawsuits make that dangerous.Leo silently slides Godinez a note suggesting GC be secretly transferred to Leo’s apartment for twenty-four-hour surveillance.Godinez understands the implications and ends the meeting without discussing the note openly.On day twenty-three, GC is secretly moved out of the military hospital and settled in Leo’s apartment.GC is fitted with an ankle device that tracks him and can inject tranquilizer if GC leaves the designated area or tries to remove it.Godinez asks what Leo really thinks, but Leo only says Leo is responsible and must watch over GC.Leo reveals Leo has finished all pending work in twenty days and presents a report supporting Leo’s sick leave.Robby later storms into Leo’s office, thinking Leo resigned, but learns Leo is taking sick leave after failing the psychological exam.Robby worries the medication addiction note will damage Leo’s career, but Leo accepts that risk to stop working and care for GC.Godinez warns Leo that sick leave lasts only one year and that GC must still face legal process once GC wakes.On day twenty-five, Leo returns to the apartment and begins caring for unconscious GC full time.Leo’s daily routine includes feeding GC, administering supplements, cleaning bodily waste, disinfecting equipment, massaging GC’s body, bathing GC, changing GC’s clothes, and talking to GC.At night, Leo lies beside GC, holds him, kisses him gently, and imagines plans for whether GC wakes within the year or not.Leo promises that if GC does not wake within a year, Leo will quit Leo’s job and care for GC permanently.Leo also promises that if GC wakes, Leo will find a way to keep GC from being thrown back into prison.On day forty, Jasmine storms into Leo’s apartment and confronts Leo for hiding from her.Terrified of Jasmine, Leo makes Jasmine tea and spends two hours explaining everything from Binqing’s arrival to GC’s current condition.After listening, Jasmine slaps Leo once on behalf of their parents because Leo is coming out and disrupting their expectations.Jasmine then slaps Leo again on behalf of GC because no one should shoot the love of their life in the chest.Leo admits this is the first time he feels he truly deserved Jasmine’s beating.Jasmine softens, says they are square, and asks to see the person who stole Leo’s heart.Leo warns Jasmine not to touch GC, and Jasmine promises while saying Jasmine has Jasmine’s own man.After seeing GC, Jasmine admits GC is a good catch and asks when Sleeping Beauty will wake.When Jasmine asks whether Leo will waste Leo’s life if GC never wakes, Leo physically prepares to stop Jasmine from hurting GC.Jasmine laughs that GC can take over as Leo’s punching bag if GC wakes because GC would likely beat Leo in a death match.Jasmine suddenly slaps unconscious GC for what GC did to Binqing.Leo tackles Jasmine too late, and Jasmine says the slap was for Binqing because Binqing is Jasmine’s naïve idiot.Before leaving, Jasmine jokes that sex might wake GC because sex is a strong drug.Leo ushers Jasmine out and gently applies ice to GC’s swollen cheek while angrily calling Jasmine a vulgar Chinese insult.As Leo watches GC, Leo notices GC’s lashes flutter.At first, Leo thinks Leo may be imagining it, but then GC’s right hand twitches and the fingers curl as if breaking free of a spell.

Chapter 33
Till the End of the LineRoy wakes slowly after forty days unconscious, and Leo sees Roy in a genuinely helpless state that reminds Leo of the gentle “Binqing” identity Roy once created.As Leo reflects on that resemblance, Leo realizes “Binqing” may have been Roy’s projection of a life Roy secretly longed for but believed he could never have.Leo chooses to call Roy by Roy’s real names instead of GC, first saying “Roy” and then “Lin Qingzhu.”After hearing “Lin Qingzhu,” Roy finally responds by asking for water.Leo helps Roy drink, and Roy slowly regains enough strength to ask how long Roy was unconscious.When Leo gives the exact time, Roy immediately realizes Leo found the BlackBerry recording.Leo admits Roy’s recording made Leo understand his feelings, but Leo clarifies that Leo had fallen long before listening to it.Roy is pleased and claims victory because Leo was the most difficult target Roy ever pursued.Leo accepts that Roy won and admits Roy is more important than Leo’s work, duties, and life.Roy teases Leo for not saying Roy is more important than Leo’s family, but Leo answers that love should not require disrespecting life.Roy says that is exactly why Roy loves Leo, and they kiss with genuine tenderness.Their intimacy starts heating up, but Leo stops because Roy has just woken and still needs to heal.Roy reluctantly accepts the delay and orders Leo to make congee.Thirty-five days after awakening, Leo cooks for Roy while trying to support Roy’s recovery.However, Leo finds Roy exercising against medical advice and scolds Roy for ignoring the three-month rest period.Roy argues that Roy has been lying around too long and refuses to treat the injury as serious.Leo reminds Roy that Roy had two holes in the lung, major blood loss, and surgical wounds.Roy challenges Leo’s fussing, but Leo admits Leo is only worried.Roy softens, clings to Leo, and deliberately tempts him.Leo tries to hold back because of the doctor’s orders, but Roy tricks Leo into carrying Roy to the bath.In the bathroom, Roy pulls Leo into the tub, and their playful fight turns passionate.Leo pauses when Leo sees Roy’s chest scar and is overwhelmed by guilt over the bullet wound.Roy tells Leo to stop blaming himself because Roy intentionally trapped Leo into firing the shot.Leo asks Roy to promise never to risk his life like that again because Leo wants Roy alive and with him.Roy promises indirectly by saying staying alive is worth it if it means being with Leo.Their passion resumes, and Roy tries to take control because Leo promised Roy could top next time.Leo resists the timing of the promise, but Roy insists Roy can force the issue too.When Leo quietly accepts that possibility, Roy immediately clarifies that Roy is not trying to retaliate for what Leo did before.Leo explains that their relationship must be equal, with both of their physical and emotional needs respected.Roy agrees, and Leo willingly lets Roy take him.Their intimacy becomes intense and emotional, joining them physically and psychologically.Afterward, Roy jokes that Roy can do better, while Leo compares Roy to a fast cheetah.Roy and Leo settle together in the bath, still connected and emotionally fulfilled.Leo apologizes for everything, and Roy thanks Leo for everything, leaving them both smiling.Forty-six days after awakening, Roy spars with Leo and becomes offended when Roy realizes Leo is holding back.Leo tries to comfort Roy by saying Roy is still dangerous at eighty percent, but Roy resents being weaker than before.Roy demands that Leo remove the ankle monitor, but Leo refuses because it would tranquilize Roy and send Roy back to Rycken Island.Leo admits the FBI knows Roy is awake and that Godinez is pressuring him to restart the judicial process.Roy rejects the idea of returning to court and prison because Roy can escape again and disappear.Leo asks Roy for time because Leo is developing a plan to keep Roy out of prison.Roy warns Leo that no shackle will truly restrain the beast inside Roy, making Leo understand the urgency of finding a better solution.Leo returns to the FBI office, where Robby greets Leo happily and asks about Roy.Robby warns Leo that the Bureau is discussing what to do with Roy and likely wants Roy locked up again.On the way to see Godinez, Leo and Robby encounter Shawn, who has just returned from an undercover assignment involving Ronald Tackman.Shawn explains Ronald Tackman is the Eternal Escapist, a man famous for breaking out of prison twenty-eight times.Shawn reveals the Bureau tried to make Ronald Tackman a prison security consultant, but Ronald Tackman escaped again because he loved breaking out more than freedom.Hearing this, Leo gets the idea to turn Roy into an FBI consultant rather than sending Roy back to prison.Robby quickly understands Leo wants to give Roy a new legal framework and identity through cooperation with the Bureau.Leo admits the plan is risky because Roy may not follow FBI rules, but Leo says failure is not an option for Roy or for himself.Forty-nine days after awakening, Leo returns home excited but exhausted and finds Roy writing a new manuscript titled Island of the Damned.Leo kisses Roy and gently tells Roy not to overwork, since Roy’s readers may be impatient but Roy is still recovering.Leo introduces the idea by saying there are hundreds of active serial killers in the country and that catching them could inspire Roy’s future books.Roy immediately sees through Leo and asks whether Leo wants the federal government to recruit Roy.Leo explains the Ronald Tackman precedent and proposes making Roy a consultant so the FBI can use Roy’s serial killer profiles.Leo argues the Bureau can trade reduced confinement for Roy’s help catching serial killers, especially if leadership can take credit for major arrests.Roy asks whether Leo knows what Roy actually wants to bring to the table.Leo fears Roy will reject the plan because it still forces Roy into the legal system Roy despises.While Leo struggles internally, Roy cooks liver and feeds Leo a bite, testing Leo’s resolve.Roy laughs when Leo swallows it despite being visibly uncomfortable.Roy asks what chance Leo thinks there is that Roy would give up Roy’s rules for Leo’s.Leo guesses low, but Roy reveals the question was a trick because Roy does not see it as giving anything up.Roy explains Roy still wants serial killers to die or be permanently removed from the world, but now Roy wants to do it with Leo beside him.Roy even says Roy can accept less violent means if it means working with Leo.Leo is stunned because Roy’s answer is far more hopeful than Leo expected.Roy makes clear that serial killers must never see freedom again, whether through execution, prison, or old age.Leo accepts that condition and embraces Roy with overwhelming relief.Roy and Leo remain wrapped together until their food goes cold.Roy then suggests they eat and discuss the plan, but Leo teasingly turns the conversation toward intimacy.Eighty-seven days after awakening, Roy is temporarily at FCI Otisville and sketches a symbolic drawing of a man trapped in thorny vines with roses blooming from his blood.Roy writes a Latin message on the drawing before being called to meet a visitor.In the visiting room, Roy meets Leo after thirty-eight days apart.Leo says the bureaucracy is almost complete and presents Roy with the consultant contract.Roy teases that Roy could refuse to sign and still avoid serving sixty years.Leo panics slightly but reminds Roy that they already discussed the agreement.Roy asks whether the contract is an official invitation to be Leo’s partner.Leo confirms it is an invitation in every meaning of the word.Roy then gives Leo the sketch as Roy’s own invitation.Leo reads the Latin message and understands that Roy is asking Leo to become the rose that seals the evil in Roy’s heart.Leo promises to be that rose and seal the monster away.As sunlight falls over Leo, Roy looks toward the window and feels the shadows of the past finally disappear.After all the harm, misunderstanding, love, and struggle between them, Roy and Leo become each other’s savior and choose to face the future together till the end of the line.

Extra 1
The Countdown BeginsLeo and Roy wake together on Roy’s first day working with the FBI, and Leo feels deeply happy that Roy is alive, safe, and soft in Leo’s arms.Because they still have time before work, Roy teases Leo with the marks they left on each other the night before.Leo gives in to the temptation, and their morning turns intimate before Roy jokingly calculates how much time they can spare.Later, Leo enters the FBI office with Roy, and the entire room falls silent before agents begin whispering about the Serial Killer Killer joining the Bureau.Leo shuts down the gossip and leads Roy into Leo’s office before anyone can approach them.Soon after, Robby bursts in and cheerfully greets Roy as a newbie.Roy immediately mocks Robby for transferring to the Information and Technology Branch because of Robby’s girlfriend.Trying to reclaim dignity, Robby says FBI tradition requires newbies to make coffee.Roy appears to comply by making two cups, but Robby panics over which cup might be safe.When Robby grabs Leo’s cup, hot coffee spills down Robby’s pants because Roy rigged the cup to collapse.Roy reveals Robby was never in real danger because Roy cooled the coffee first.Roy warns Robby that Roy is there to hunt serial killers, not make coffee.Leo finally snaps and orders Robby back to work while telling Roy to focus on the serial killer profiles.After reviewing Roy’s profiles, Leo picks Phoenix, Arizona, and a killer called the Hangman as their first case.Roy resists the idea of presentations and teamwork, saying Roy prefers working alone.Leo tells Roy that Roy must learn teamwork because solo heroes are not welcome in the FBI.Before they can continue arguing, Jane delivers a package addressed to Roy.Leo becomes suspicious because the package reached Roy on Roy’s first day at the correct FBI department.Inside the package, Leo and Roy find a flash drive containing footage of Salvatore Berardi’s elaborate funeral.Leo identifies the video as an obvious Sicilian revenge message meant to intimidate Roy.The funeral video reminds Leo that Salvatore Berardi’s death was officially tied to Roy, even though Roy insists Roy was framed.Leo says Roy would admit it if Roy had killed Salvatore Berardi, but also admits there is no evidence proving Roy’s innocence.Roy shifts attention to Seth’s suspicious death and points out that Leo lacks jurisdiction while Roy does not.As the video continues, the funeral imagery ends with a dagger and bullets spelling out “al diavolo.”In response, Roy changes their next target from the Hangman in Phoenix to the Alley Prowler in New York.Leo tries to reason that Roy should avoid the mafia’s trap and that the Hangman profile is stronger.Roy counters that the Hangman is likely cooling off, while the Alley Prowler is overdue to kill again.Roy paints the likely suffering of the Alley Prowler’s next victim so vividly that Leo cannot ignore the danger.Leo gives in and agrees that their first stop will be New York.Arriving in New York during a cold April drizzle, Leo and Roy approach the SUV waiting outside the airport.Roy stops Leo from opening the back door after noticing the driver is dead and the scene feels staged.Roy throws a rock into the vehicle, triggering a massive explosion that would have killed them both.After the blast, Roy explains that the driver’s mismatched hat and concealed angle suggested someone had hidden a bullet wound.Roy also notices the dead driver’s expensive watch and connects it to stolen goods likely moved through criminal networks.Leo realizes the dead man may have been a mafia-linked mole planted near the FBI.Roy reasons the assassin backed out, so the mafia killed him and turned him into bait for Roy and Leo.Leo worries the next attempt could involve more sophisticated assassination methods and insists Roy’s lack of self-preservation must change.Just then, Leo receives a strange text reading “37. 37,” and Roy identifies it as part of a twenty-four-hour countdown.Leo understands the countdown as a deadline for Roy’s assassination and vows no one will decide Roy’s fate.Instead of accepting police escort, Leo and Roy take a taxi to Leo’s parents’ apartment on Eighty-Sixth.In the apartment, Roy comments on the nostalgia of returning to the place where Roy once lived as Binqing.Leo jokes bitterly about Roy’s old belongings and kisses Roy roughly, saying Leo can get Roy’s scent from the source whenever Leo wants.Roy stops the moment from escalating because they still have a case to solve.Over tea, Leo and Roy review the Alley Prowler’s case files and photographs.Roy explains that the Alley Prowler targets blonde, busty women in stilettos, tortures and sexually assaults them, and arranges their bodies in ritualistic ways.Leo compares Roy’s analysis with BAU’s profile and notes that the Alley Prowler is a controlled, organized, sadistic killer who separates his everyday life from his hunting grounds.When Leo presses Roy for hidden information, Roy admits the Alley Prowler joined the auxiliary police program to help search for himself because the irony excites him.Leo immediately decides they need NYPD auxiliary police records.Meanwhile, Giuseppe meets with Iverson at River Deli and confirms Leo and Roy were traced to the Eighty-Sixth Street apartment.Giuseppe then orders Joaquín to send men to ensure nothing in the apartment survives.Giuseppe explains that Alessio Berardi will soon walk free and can use Salvatore Berardi’s revenge to claim leadership unless Roy dies first.Soon afterward, Joaquín’s men break into Leo’s parents’ apartment and shoot up the bed.Because Leo and Roy are already gone, the attackers only destroy pillows before leaving quickly.While driving to One Police Plaza, Leo receives another countdown message and realizes the apartment will need repairs.Roy says the countdown continues until either Roy or Giuseppe dies.Leo suggests Roy go to Washington, D.C. for safety, but Roy refuses.At One Police Plaza, Leo and Roy obtain auxiliary officer rosters linked to the Alley Prowler search parties.Leo has Terry build a database of 268 people using physical traits, work, residence, education, and hobbies.Roy narrows the list by eliminating people with rigid jobs, those living too close to body dump sites, anyone under thirty, anyone without enough intelligence, and anyone physically unlikely to lure victims.Roy’s profiling reduces the suspect pool from 268 to seven.Leo prepares to investigate the seven suspects, but Roy says Roy should not come because Roy might torture the Alley Prowler if Roy finds him.Leo insists Roy stay within Leo’s line of sight or be tranquilized by the ankle monitor.Roy argues police protection will not keep Roy safe from Sicilian revenge, and the argument becomes embarrassing enough that Terry asks them to take it outside.Leo and Roy both snap at Terry before Leo drags Roy out by the wrist.The FBI and NYPD begin a joint operation and eliminate four of the seven suspects by noon.While eating lunch in the SUV, Roy jokes they should skip to the last suspect because movie logic says the killer is always last.Leo asks why Roy never killed the Alley Prowler before, and Roy says the wig and stilettos Roy ordered had not arrived before the Mahinas operation.Leo reminds Roy about self-control and the chain that binds the beast.Roy grows quiet and gives a soft acknowledgment.Elsewhere, Giuseppe scolds Giuseppe’s men for failing twice and gives them twelve more hours to kill Roy.Giuseppe realizes some of his men may be stalling until Alessio Berardi is released.Giuseppe then calls Joaquín and demands Joaquín’s presence.At 2:30 p.m., Roy waits in the SUV while Leo and the SWAT team search another suspect’s location.A sniper aims at Roy from a second-floor window, but pauses after receiving a phone message.The sniper shifts the aim slightly and fires.Roy’s danger instincts make Roy throw open the door and roll out of the SUV just before the bullet shatters the rear window.By the time the officers react, the sniper has already disassembled the rifle, hidden it in a janitor’s cart, and escaped.Leo is furious because Roy nearly died and orders Roy back to the Bureau.Roy examines the angle of the bullet and realizes the sniper missed on purpose.Leo shows Roy the latest countdown message, but Roy responds that Roy loves the thrill.Around six p.m., Leo and the team arrest Andreas Wolk, the real Alley Prowler, at a private home near Queens and Nassau counties.Andreas Wolk is revealed as a normal-looking mechanic with a blonde wife and daughter, matching the source of the killer’s fantasy.In Andreas Wolk’s secret basement room, investigators find trophies, body parts, personal belongings, and a murder kit full of stained tools.Roy studies the tools and murmurs that it is a shame Roy will never know how each tool feels on Andreas Wolk.Leo gently reminds Roy that Roy is not like Andreas Wolk.Roy gives Leo an unreadable look, then says Roy has turned in his homework and now wants personal fun.Leo insists Roy is returning to Washington, D.C. with Leo instead of storming mafia headquarters.At 10:30 p.m., Roy visits Alessio Berardi at the Metropolitan Correctional Center before Alessio Berardi’s release.Alessio Berardi greets Roy warmly and says Alessio Berardi missed Roy.Roy says Alessio Berardi has a strange way of showing it and notes another countdown message.Alessio Berardi admits the messages remind Roy that Alessio Berardi will soon return to New York.Roy says Roy was going to ask whether Alessio Berardi believed Roy killed Salvatore Berardi, but Alessio Berardi’s face already gives the answer.Roy accuses Alessio Berardi of not grieving Salvatore Berardi and of using Salvatore Berardi’s death as an excuse to kill rivals.Alessio Berardi pretends heartbreak, but Roy calls Alessio Berardi one of the best liars Roy has ever met.Roy also hints that Alessio Berardi would deny knowing Seth if asked.Alessio Berardi plays along by innocently asking who Seth is.Roy ends the visit, saying Roy would rather never see Alessio Berardi again but knows Roy will.Alessio Berardi notes that MCC is probably the safest place for Roy until midnight.Roy replies that the safest place for Roy is sitting on the corpse of Roy’s dead enemy.Outside MCC, Roy tells Leo that Salvatore Berardi was almost certainly killed on Alessio Berardi’s orders and that Seth was likely forced into it.Roy becomes sad because Seth was a clean soul who somehow dirtied his hands for Alessio Berardi.Leo says being clean is not the same as being strong and that retreating boundaries can push people outside humanity.Roy vows to avenge Seth, but not in a way Seth would have hated or been forced to accept.Leo proudly tells Roy there is something Roy should know.Leo reveals that an operation was originally kept from Roy but has now been approved early because of the assassination attempts.Roy grows suspicious, but Leo says they need to meet someone first.Near midnight, Leo and Roy wait in a quiet alley as Leo receives the countdown message “0. 4. 59.”Roy prepares Roy’s blade, but Leo stops Roy and says they are meeting the real prowler known to the FBI as Agent A.On the twentieth, the FBI and NYPD launch a massive raid across Greater New York against the Cosa Nostra.More than 800 agents and officers arrest 127 mafia members on charges including drug trafficking, arson, extortion, robbery, and murder.The Berardi family is hit especially hard, with Giuseppe Messina, Giancarlo, and many senior members arrested.Alessio Berardi is re-arrested less than two days after acquittal, this time facing far more serious charges.The operation’s central undercover agent is revealed as Agent A, also known as Joaquín Belgrano.Agent A had infiltrated the mafia for two years and recorded over 2,700 hours of conversations.Later, Roy reads about the raid in The New York Times while sitting across from Joaquín, whose real name is Luis.Luis confirms Luis belonged to neither Giuseppe nor Alessio Berardi and was Agent A all along.Roy asks whether Luis fired the sniper shot that went wide, and Luis admits it.Luis also admits Luis made sure nobody was home before the attack on Leo’s parents’ apartment.Luis thanks Leo and Roy for getting the operation moving before Luis lost himself completely in the mafia world.After Luis leaves, Roy warns Leo not to make another speech about morals.Instead, Leo simply asks whether Roy wants dinner before their flight to Phoenix.Roy smiles and suggests Italian, turning the defeated mafia threat into a private joke between him and Leo.

Extra 2
A Higher PowerLeo and Roy relax together after dinner while Roy browses online fanfiction about them and gleefully explains the wildly explicit “discipline” stories fans have written.Leo is horrified by the fanfiction, especially when Roy reads out details involving handcuffs, wine, and dominance.Roy argues that fantasy is harmless because the writers are not hurting anyone, but Leo protests because he feels personally victimized by the stories.Their argument turns playful when Roy jokes that they can fight over who gets to decide the kinky roles later that night.At one in the morning, Robby and Bruce are working the night shift in the FBI data processing center and gossiping about Roy and Leo’s destructive partnership.Bruce asks whether Roy and Leo are truly together, but Robby avoids answering and implies Bruce should ask them himself if he wants to risk death.While joking around, Robby spills an energy drink on the console, and the mess is immediately interrupted by an alarm.Bruce identifies the alarm as coming from Roy’s ankle monitor because Roy is approaching the five-mile boundary from FBI headquarters.Robby calls Leo at once and warns Leo that Roy is trying to bolt.Leo races through the streets in a Suburban, realizing Roy may have drugged or distracted him earlier with wine before slipping away.Although Leo fears Roy may finally be rebelling against the ankle monitor, Leo decides Roy’s recklessness must have a deeper reason.Leo tracks Roy to a nightclub called Angel of Death, where Roy is drinking with a woman named Yulissa.Roy casually makes Leo pay for another drink, while Yulissa flirts with both men.Leo pulls Roy away and orders Roy to leave because Roy is too close to crossing the restricted boundary.Roy says Roy has not crossed the line and explains Yulissa is an old acquaintance who owns part of the club.When Leo becomes jealous, Roy laughs and assures Leo that Roy is not there for Yulissa but for a dead drop that turned into a signal.Roy whispers a codename to Leo, and Leo recognizes the person as an Interpol most-wanted figure connected to Robby’s contact.Roy insists Roy must investigate alone because Leo’s suit and badge would scare the contact away.Leo reluctantly gives Roy one hour and waits in the car.Yulissa leads Roy through the club, removes her wig, drops the flirtatious act, and reveals a more androgynous, sharper persona.Yulissa opens a concealed elevator, and Roy descends alone after warning Yulissa that Leo is a shadow who strangles back.When the elevator opens, Roy dodges a sudden knife attack and realizes old Arctic Foxes members are waiting below.Aurora, Quickdraw, and Wolf greet Roy, and Aurora temporarily freezes Roy’s ankle monitor signal with a fake feed.Aurora admits the hack will only last one or two hours because the encryption refreshes, disappointing Roy because Roy only has an hour.Roy reunites with more surviving Arctic Foxes in a hidden chamber filled with crates.Quickdraw comments that the Arctic Foxes are only a shadow of their former strength after the massacre two years ago.Wolf notes that Roy was the first to walk away and seemed the least likely to return.Tundra arrives silently, and the room grows tense while everyone waits for Matrix, who supposedly summoned them.After Matrix fails to appear, a man with the Captain’s voice enters and claims Matrix will not be coming.The surviving Arctic Foxes are stunned because the Captain was believed dead.The Captain says he survived the explosion, spent months accepting paralysis, and then rebuilt himself through a miracle.Tundra doubts the Captain’s identity because Tundra saw the explosion and cannot believe anyone survived it.The Captain shows old scars to prove himself, identifying specific wounds and the people who treated or caused them.Before the Captain can show another scar, Roy embraces him, and the room erupts into emotional relief.The Captain declares that the Arctic Foxes are back.Outside, Leo waits past the one-hour mark and notices the scent of blood near the car.Leo draws his gun and confronts a badly wounded man who reveals himself as Matrix.Matrix says complications forced Matrix to come to Leo instead of going inside.Matrix explains Matrix is there partly because of the Arctic Foxes investigation and partly because Roy matters to him.Leo coldly says Roy is not Leo’s prisoner but Leo’s partner.Roy exits the club and reacts to Matrix’s ruined face with dry sarcasm instead of shock.Leo orders Matrix into the car so everyone can talk at the apartment.Back at the apartment, Roy explains that Matrix’s coded summons reached all surviving Arctic Foxes worldwide.Roy says most surviving Foxes answered, but the person who appeared at the meeting was the Captain, not Matrix.Matrix explains that Interpol pursued Matrix after Leo tipped them off about Matrix killing a snitch.Leo refuses to apologize because Leo is still a federal agent and will not ignore a murder committed in front of him.Matrix says the Captain saved Matrix during that pursuit and convinced Matrix to summon the Foxes to regroup.Roy reveals Roy knew the Captain was an impostor because the real Captain should have had a triangular scar from being impaled before the fatal blast.Roy admits the impostor had every other detail perfect, but Roy was with the real Captain until the end and knew the missing scar mattered.Leo concludes someone went to extraordinary lengths to resurrect the Captain and gather the Arctic Foxes for a dangerous purpose.Roy reasons the impostor needs the Foxes for something difficult and time-sensitive, likely within a month.Roy says twelve members have already answered the call, not counting Roy and Matrix, and most believe the impostor is real.Matrix distrusts Leo, but Leo says preventing civilian casualties matters more than arresting the Foxes afterward.Leo shares what Leo learned about the Arctic Foxes’ massacre two years earlier, revealing Operation Fox Hunt was designed to kill the Captain and wipe out the Foxes.Leo explains the Sierra Leone rescue mission was a setup involving a mining company, IX Security, insurgent forces, fake hostages, human bombs, and bait diamonds.Matrix declares the insurgent leader is already dead and that IX Security will be next.Leo realizes Matrix likely killed Sheriff before Sheriff could stand trial at The Hague.Roy suggests IX or a connected party may also be behind the fake Captain.Roy proposes returning to the Foxes undercover while Matrix stays outside as support.Leo refuses to let Roy disappear off-grid and says Leo will get a portable controller so Roy must remain within a mile of him.The Arctic Foxes regroup again, with seventeen members answering the Captain’s call, including Roy and several deserters.The fake Captain announces the group needs seed money to restart operations.After rejecting several proposals, the fake Captain presents a job involving Gennady Zhukov, a Russian-born American professor working on strategic technology.The fake Captain claims Gennady Zhukov is a deep-cover spy preparing to leak microchip technology to Moscow.The fake Captain says SRC wants Gennady Zhukov killed before the leak, while publicly pretending to protect him.Wolf warns the job is dangerous because the target is a scientist tied to U.S. military interests on American soil.The fake Captain argues the hit will be blamed on Russia and offers each Fox three hundred thousand dollars.Most of the Arctic Foxes enthusiastically accept the mission.Tundra remains silent, while Roy gives a lazy nod to join.Gennady Zhukov publicly claims he will fly out Thursday, but actually boards a private train to Ohio late Wednesday under heavy security.On the train, a stewardess serves Gennady Zhukov oyster steak while guards surround him.Roy and Leo sneak aboard in steward disguises, with Roy annoyed that Leo came too.Leo says Roy’s ankle monitor requires Leo to stay close and that Leo’s transport contacts made the stowaway plan possible.Roy insists Leo not interfere because their target is not the professor or the fake Captain but the force controlling events.Leo says Leo’s priority is making sure innocent people do not get hurt.Roy silently takes out guards near the cockpit and times the emergency brake.Ahead of the train, Wolf and Quickdraw blow a massive crater in the tracks with an RPG.Roy pulls the emergency brake, stopping the train three hundred yards before the destroyed rail.Humvees arrive, and the Arctic Foxes storm the train with heavy fire.Leo restrains Roy from entering the crossfire, and Roy agrees to watch because the Foxes outclass the security detail.The guards try to evacuate Gennady Zhukov while taking heavy losses.A frightened stewardess clings to Gennady Zhukov’s leg, and Gennady Zhukov orders the guards to take her along rather than abandon her.Aurora pauses to steal data from Gennady Zhukov’s laptop.Aurora realizes the files are not ordinary microchip research but classified military technology involving electronic warfare systems and defense-network disruption.Realizing the job is a setup involving military secrets, Aurora stops copying the files and runs after the others.In the escaping Humvee, Gennady Zhukov suddenly vomits blood and dies from poisoning.Clara Michaels, disguised as the stewardess, reveals herself as an SRC liaison and the person who poisoned Gennady Zhukov through the oyster steak.The guards realize their own employer ordered Gennady Zhukov’s death.When the guards surrender, Wolf prepares to destroy them anyway, but Roy orders Wolf to hold fire.Aurora reveals to the Foxes that the laptop contained classified military hardware, not memory technology.Clara Michaels admits SRC used the Foxes to create a false Russian assassination narrative and says the military has already been alerted because Aurora accessed monitored files.Clara Michaels then offers the Arctic Foxes a corporate future under SRC, promising resources, backing, and real profit.The fake Captain accepts Clara Michaels’s offer and shakes her hand.At that moment, Tundra kills the fake Captain by slitting his throat.Roy announces over the earpiece that the man was not the Captain because he lacked the triangular scar the real Captain would have had.Roy explains the fake Captain’s decisions led the Foxes into a trap and that the real Captain would never have acted so recklessly.Roy reveals IX Security is an SRC subsidiary, meaning SRC likely targeted the Arctic Foxes two years ago and returned now to finish recruiting or controlling them.Roy further warns that someone among the Foxes must have given SRC the real Captain’s scar details, meaning there is a traitor.Before paranoia erupts into friendly fire, U.S. military forces approach.Tundra tells the Foxes to deal with the immediate situation first.Wolf fires on Clara Michaels and SRC’s forces in rage.By the time military helicopters and vehicles arrive, the Arctic Foxes have vanished, leaving only wreckage, bodies, and the ruined train behind.Ten miles away, the surviving Foxes escape in a truck.Aurora privately urges Roy to return to the Foxes and says Aurora has cracked Roy’s ankle monitor.Roy refuses because Leo calls with a new case involving a copycat killer imitating Roy.Roy tells Aurora he is grateful for the ten years with the Foxes, but Roy is now bound to a different fate.Roy says farewell to the Arctic Foxes because Roy has chosen the force pulling him forward with Leo.Roy and Leo later visit Matrix, who asks whether the job is done.Roy says the target is dead, the Foxes survived, and the Captain is dead again.Roy then reveals Matrix’s lie, explaining that Matrix could not have lived with the fake Captain for nearly a month without noticing the flaws unless Matrix was part of the deception.Roy accuses Matrix of making a deal with SRC for protection from Interpol, money, a clean slate, or control of a rebuilt Arctic Foxes.Matrix reaches for a gun, but Leo shoots Matrix through the knee before Matrix can act.Matrix lunges anyway, but Leo and Roy subdue him together.Leo cuffs Matrix in a way that prevents Matrix from escaping through dislocation or lock tricks.Roy tells Matrix that Roy did not reveal Matrix’s betrayal to the Foxes but warns they may learn someday.Leo calls Robby and tells Robby to contact Ray because Leo has captured the man who killed Ray’s informant.Police arrive and haul Matrix away, wounded, chained, and beaten.Robby arrives excited and thankful because capturing Matrix will satisfy Ray after all the trouble Matrix caused.Roy interrupts Robby’s rambling by asking Robby to buy dinner because Roy and Leo have driven all night without eating.Robby reluctantly agrees, and the three leave together in Leo’s Suburban.As Robby drives, Roy rests with his head in Leo’s lap, and the old rhythm of chasing cases together returns around them.

Extra 3
Beneath the Stars of HanleiWhile vacationing together in Kauai, Leo reads Roy Lee’s new novel Island of the Damned and watches Roy cook in the kitchen when Roy unexpectedly asks whether Leo remembers where they spent the previous Christmas.Although Leo is reluctant to revisit the memory, Roy keeps pressing until Leo recalls the abandoned amusement park where Roy staged the confrontation that led Leo to shoot him in the chest.Building on that memory, Roy asks about the Christmas before that, prompting Leo to remember another violent case involving a holiday murder spree in the same amusement park.As a result, Leo realizes Roy brought him to Kauai because Roy wanted them to finally experience a proper Christmas together.Rather than answering directly, Roy finishes cooking a colorful dish of broccoli, shrimp, eggs, and scallops before bringing it to Leo.Roy jokingly introduces himself as “monitoring anklet number 006,” deliberately teasing Leo about the year Roy spent under supervision because of Leo.Leo feels another stab of guilt over Roy’s imprisonment and the shooting, but also recognizes that Roy’s willingness to let him live happily despite everything is a form of extraordinary love.Roy feeds Leo a spoonful of broccoli despite Leo’s long-standing hatred of the vegetable.To Leo’s surprise, Roy’s cooking is so good that Leo begs Roy to make this dish instead of liver in the future.After sharing the meal, Roy feeds Leo the last cherry tomato and kisses him, crushing the fruit between their lips.The kiss quickly escalates into a playful struggle for dominance as Leo pushes Roy onto the sofa and starts undressing him.Roy retaliates by pulling off Leo’s shirt and using it to tie Leo’s wrists, turning their flirtation into another mock battle.Just as things are about to become more intense, Roy’s phone begins ringing repeatedly.Annoyed by the interruption, Roy almost ignores the call until he notices the caller is Xavier Schafer.Meanwhile, Leo continues distracting Roy physically while Roy answers the phone.Xavier Schafer immediately reveals he is still alive and still a wanted fugitive.Roy greets Xavier Schafer with amused mockery and jokes that Xavier Schafer must be calling from some miserable corner of the world.Leo quickly realizes who is calling and secretly messages Selena to begin tracing the call.As Leo continues distracting Roy, Roy struggles to pay attention to Xavier Schafer’s complaints.Xavier Schafer bitterly argues that Roy manipulated him into committing crimes after prison and claims Roy bears responsibility for everything that happened.Roy dismisses the argument and suggests Xavier Schafer surrender, pay bail, and stop running.Xavier Schafer refuses because the money he earned remains more important to him than peace of mind.Roy points out that the government could seize the money Xavier Schafer earned by betraying a federal agent.Xavier Schafer suddenly realizes Roy and Leo are in the middle of an intimate encounter and becomes furious and jealous.Roy openly confirms that Leo Lawrence is the only person Roy wants, making Xavier Schafer even more miserable.Xavier Schafer accuses Roy of humiliating him repeatedly and complains that Roy never takes him seriously.Even so, Xavier Schafer insists he has important intelligence involving a potential national security threat.Leo tells Roy to keep Xavier Schafer talking because Selena is tracing the call.Roy switches the call to speakerphone so both he and Leo can listen.Xavier Schafer explains that ISIL has oil-smuggling operations in Libya and is using the resulting money to fund recruitment efforts inside the United States.Xavier Schafer claims extremists are attempting to recruit people across multiple states for future attacks on civilians.Roy remains skeptical and says the information must be valuable if Xavier Schafer expects a deal.Xavier Schafer insists the intelligence is genuine and claims to possess even more information, including the identities of senior leaders.After hearing enough, Roy ends the conversation by bluntly reminding Xavier Schafer that he will never be the person Roy wants.Xavier Schafer is left enraged and humiliated after realizing he spent the entire conversation listening to Roy and Leo together.Once the call ends, Leo immediately redirects all of Roy’s attention back toward him.Gradually, the playful conflict between possessiveness, lust, and rivalry gives way to genuine affection and tenderness.As their emotions settle, Leo supports Roy while they remain physically close and deeply connected.Roy jokingly offers to stop and bake a Christmas cake, but Leo refuses because he wants both the cake and Roy.Together they move into the kitchen while still teasing and flirting with each other.Leo strips away Roy’s apron and decorates Roy with whipped cream, fruit, sugar crystals, and chocolate like a living dessert.Roy realizes this absurd treatment is Leo’s revenge for the wine Roy once used to trick him.Leo openly confirms that it is indeed “sweet revenge.”After thoroughly wrecking the kitchen in the process, they move to the bathroom and continue spending time together.During a quieter moment beneath the shower, Leo reflects on how their violent history has transformed into love rather than destruction.Roy jokingly proposes turning the holiday into an extended sex marathon and expanding far beyond their honeymoon experiences.Leo enthusiastically agrees and calls it the most reckless and decadent Christmas holiday of his life.As the mood becomes more serious, Roy reflects on the bullet scar near his heart and explains that the wound gave him a new beginning rather than the ending he originally expected.Roy places Leo’s hand over the scar and asks what the experience means to Leo.After a thoughtful pause, Leo answers that the scar represents the mercy of fate.Later, after changing into comfortable clothes, Leo notices several new voicemail messages.Leo listens to a message from Selena, who reports that Xavier Schafer’s call was traced to Sirte, Libya.Although Selena cannot narrow the location further because of the chaotic conditions in the region, the trace confirms Xavier Schafer was telling the truth about where he was calling from.Leo thanks Selena and jokingly asks whether she wants a souvenir from Hawaii.Turning back to the matter at hand, Leo asks Roy whether Xavier Schafer’s intelligence is genuine.Roy says they do not need to determine the truth themselves because passing the information and its source to the proper authorities is enough.Roy points out that intelligence agencies can evaluate the information and decide whether Xavier Schafer deserves a deal.Roy also notes that Xavier Schafer may eventually earn his freedom, or he may die in Libya before ever collecting any reward.Since neither outcome directly concerns them, Roy chooses not to dwell on Xavier Schafer’s future.Instead, Roy declares that Leo needs to learn how to enjoy leisure rather than constantly working.When Leo asks where that philosophy comes from, Roy quotes Aristotle’s idea that people work in order to enjoy leisure and wage war in order to live in peace.Expanding the thought further, Roy adds that people endure suffering so they can eventually find love.Finally, Roy extends his hand and invites Leo on a midnight walk to Hanalei Bay beneath the lighthouse and the stars.Leo accepts, and the two leave behind work, violence, guilt, and old wounds to spend Christmas night together beneath the stars of Hanalei.

Tailhook

Chapter 1Zhou Qichen completes his 5,861st carrier landing aboard carrier Zhiyuan in rough seas, fully aware that it will be the final time he ever lands a J-15 fighter on a carrier deck.As Zhou Qichen approaches the deck, he reflects on the danger and precision of carrier aviation, making the moment especially emotional because every step of the landing marks the end of an eight-year chapter of his life.Moments later, Zhou Qichen successfully catches the arresting wire, receives applause from the deck crew, and quietly completes his final military carrier landing.After flight operations conclude, several younger pilots approach Zhou Qichen to praise his performance and seek advice from the highly respected veteran aviator.Meanwhile, Bai Ziyu joins the group, casually discussing the difficult landing conditions while sharing the comfortable familiarity that comes from years of working alongside Zhou Qichen.Once they are alone, Zhou Qichen reveals that he is leaving the military and that the day’s landing was the last time Bai Ziyu would ever guide him as a Landing Signal Officer.In response, Bai Ziyu says almost nothing, leaving Zhou Qichen unable to read his thoughts despite believing they were once close friends.After thanking Bai Ziyu for supporting him over the past eight years, Zhou Qichen walks away, while Bai Ziyu silently spends half an hour smoking the cigarette Zhou Qichen left behind.The narrative then shifts three years into the future, where Zhou Qichen has successfully transitioned from naval aviation to Hainan Airlines and built an extensive network throughout Beijing Daxing Airport.Although many acquaintances stop to greet him, Zhou Qichen is distracted because he is waiting for Lang Feng, a man he has recently begun dating.As he waits, Zhou Qichen recalls how his connection with Lang Feng began after mutual friends helped arrange opportunities for them to spend time together.Soon afterward, Lang Feng arrives at the airport after piloting a KLM Airbus A330-300 from Europe, immediately drawing attention due to his youth, skill, and reputation as one of KLM’s few Asian wide-body captains.In addition, Lang Feng openly displays his sexuality through a rainbow PRIDE lanyard issued by KLM, reflecting a level of openness rarely seen in Zhou Qichen’s earlier military environment.After greeting each other, the two men begin discussing aircraft and flying, naturally bonding over their shared passion for aviation.Their conversation eventually turns toward career histories, prompting Lang Feng to ask what other aircraft Zhou Qichen has flown.In response, Zhou Qichen casually reveals that he used to fly carrier-based J-15 fighters for the navy, shocking Lang Feng.As Lang Feng pieces together Zhou Qichen’s unusual career path, he realizes that Zhou Qichen entered civil aviation only after years of military service.When Lang Feng asks why he left the military, Zhou Qichen points to Lang Feng’s rainbow lanyard and quietly implies that his desire for personal freedom was one of the decisive reasons.This honest exchange deepens their connection, and after several dates, Lang Feng finally invites Zhou Qichen back to his home.Once inside the luxurious penthouse, the long-building sexual tension between them finally breaks, leading to an intense physical encounter.During the encounter, Zhou Qichen becomes increasingly fascinated by Lang Feng because of the contrast between Lang Feng’s composed, disciplined exterior and the vulnerability he reveals in private.Despite Zhou Qichen initially taking control, Lang Feng later surprises him by attempting to reverse their roles, revealing a more assertive side beneath his calm demeanor.Although Zhou Qichen postpones that possibility for another time, the intimacy between them continues as he helps Lang Feng reach climax.As a result, both men become noticeably more comfortable around each other, sharing quiet moments afterward instead of immediately retreating behind emotional walls.While exploring the apartment, Zhou Qichen notices several family photographs and asks about Lang Feng’s relatives.This leads Lang Feng to enthusiastically talk about his younger sister Lang Yi, revealing a warm and affectionate side of himself that Zhou Qichen has not previously seen.Lang Feng explains that he and Lang Yi have always supported each other as equals and that he is extremely proud of her accomplishments.In turn, Lang Feng asks about Zhou Qichen’s own younger sister, expecting a similar answer.Instead, Zhou Qichen becomes noticeably withdrawn and admits that he has barely spoken to his sister in years.The question unexpectedly stirs painful memories, causing Zhou Qichen’s mood to change almost immediately.Although Lang Feng attempts to ease the tension by suggesting a late-night meal, Zhou Qichen politely declines and prepares to leave.Even so, Zhou Qichen privately acknowledges that he is beginning to fall for Lang Feng despite believing that genuine love is a luxury he cannot afford.His thoughts then drift back to age fifteen, when a girl named Xu Susu unexpectedly kissed him at school and triggered a chain of events that would permanently shape his life.Because another boy named Chen Teng became jealous, Zhou Qichen ended up fighting him in the freezing winter cold.Although Zhou Qichen won the fight, the consequences at home proved far worse.After learning about the incident, Zhou Chenghai brutally slapped Zhou Qichen fifteen times, reinforcing Zhou Qichen’s belief that he was unwanted within his own family.Despite his anger and humiliation, Zhou Qichen remains silent because he does not want to wake his baby sister Zhou Qirui.Consequently, Zhou Qichen learns to protect Zhou Qirui even when nobody protects him, a lesson that deeply influences his personality.Later that same night, while replaying the fight in his mind, Zhou Qichen experiences his first clear realization that he is attracted to boys rather than girls.This discovery becomes the first major turning point in his life and eventually shapes many of his future choices.Three years afterward, Zhou Qichen joins the military because of financial hardship, limited academic prospects, and his natural athletic ability.At the same time, he convinces himself that his attraction to men can remain hidden forever if he suppresses it hard enough.However, that belief begins to crumble when twenty-one-year-old Zhou Qichen first encounters Bai Ziyu aboard carrier Zhiyuan.While other recruits admire Bai Ziyu as an exemplary officer and pilot, Zhou Qichen immediately feels a far more personal attraction.As the years pass, Bai Ziyu becomes both Zhou Qichen’s superior and his mentor, helping him develop into one of the carrier’s most accomplished aviators.Through countless flights, landings, and shared experiences, Zhou Qichen gradually falls deeply in love with Bai Ziyu.Nevertheless, Zhou Qichen always knows that Bai Ziyu is straight, making any romantic future impossible from the beginning.Even with that knowledge, Zhou Qichen continues nurturing his feelings in silence, accepting the pain of loving someone he can never have while remaining Bai Ziyu’s closest friend and most trusted wingman.

Chapter 2Zhou Qichen participates in a routine monthly patrol exercise near the PLA Naval Aviation University, while privately noticing that Bai Ziyu is absent despite having shared dinner with him the night before.Because Bai Ziyu had said nothing about leaving, Zhou Qichen assumes something may have happened with Bai Ziyu’s ill father and decides to ask him later.Soon after takeoff, Zhou Qichen’s J-15 suffers a bird strike over Chenshui County at five hundred metres, killing both engines and leaving him with almost no time to react.Since Zhou Qichen is flying over a populated area, he refuses to eject immediately and instead forces the dying aircraft through several sharp turns to avoid crashing into civilians.With farmland finally ahead, Zhou Qichen ejects at seventy-two metres, below the minimum safe altitude, knowing survival now depends on luck.As the ejection throws Zhou Qichen from the cockpit, he regrets never seeing more of the world, never taking Zhou Qirui to Disneyland, and never properly loving anyone.Although Zhou Qichen loses consciousness, his parachute deploys in time, making his survival the lowest successful bailout recorded in the 29th Army.After waking in the field in terrible pain, Zhou Qichen sees the wreckage of ZY2968A1B3 and recognizes that the aircraft represented twenty-nine years of effort, sacrifice, and identity.Since nothing can be salvaged from the destroyed fighter, Zhou Qichen takes only the nameplate from his parachute pack as a keepsake.Later, Zhou Qichen tattoos ZY2968A1B3 on his inner thigh, turning the lost aircraft into a permanent mark on his body.In the present, Lang Feng discovers the tattoo during their second night together, when it is Lang Feng’s turn to take control in bed.As their intimacy deepens, Lang Feng becomes intensely focused on Zhou Qichen’s body, especially the hidden tattoo, the scars, and the vulnerable responses Zhou Qichen tries but fails to hide.During their encounter, Zhou Qichen realizes that Lang Feng is not only technically attentive but also unexpectedly earnest, which makes the intimacy feel more dangerous than casual sex should.Afterward, Lang Feng almost kisses Zhou Qichen, but Zhou Qichen turns away and retreats to the shower, avoiding a tenderness he is not ready to face.Even so, Lang Feng offers Zhou Qichen permission to call him Evan, and Zhou Qichen jokingly offers Ah-Chen as his own nickname.The intimacy resumes in the bathroom, where Lang Feng asks for one more round and Zhou Qichen silently agrees, unable to resist him.This leads to another intense encounter, but Zhou Qichen slips after climax and crashes into the tub, hurting his already injured back.In response, Lang Feng immediately stops and checks Zhou Qichen for injuries, showing genuine concern that unsettles Zhou Qichen more than the pain itself.When Lang Feng asks about Zhou Qichen’s scars, Zhou Qichen gives only a curt answer about surgery and military service, clearly avoiding the full story.Once alone in the bath, Zhou Qichen realizes that Lang Feng treats sex as something emotionally meaningful, and that realization frightens him because he has also let his own guard down.Consequently, Zhou Qichen leaves while Lang Feng is showering, tidying the room and leaving only a polite note that says he has jet lag and will call next time he is in Beijing.After finding the note, Lang Feng feels disappointed by Zhou Qichen’s quick escape, though he takes small comfort in the fact that Zhou Qichen called him Evan.Meanwhile, Zhou Qichen is deeply unsettled because he knows he did not run from sex but from the emotional exposure that came with Lang Feng’s gentleness.Although Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng continue exchanging polite messages, Zhou Qichen keeps his replies careful and bland to avoid encouraging deeper feelings.Shortly afterward, Lang Feng calls Zhou Qichen directly for the first time, asking if Zhou Qichen is all right after the fall and making his concern impossible to dismiss.In answer, Zhou Qichen reassures Lang Feng, but he feels warmth in his chest because Lang Feng’s worry is too sincere to reject.Then Lang Feng awkwardly reminds Zhou Qichen that they had agreed to take turns, using desire as a way to reopen the connection without directly addressing Zhou Qichen’s departure.Because Zhou Qichen is away on a demanding flight schedule, the two cannot meet immediately, though Lang Feng still sends his roster and tries to plan around him.Their conversation drifts toward Spring Festival plans, which makes Zhou Qichen uncomfortable because holidays remind him of family distance and loneliness.To avoid revealing too much, Zhou Qichen redirects the conversation toward aviation, where both men are more comfortable discussing technical decisions and flight incidents.The narrative then turns back to Lin Xiao, who first meets Zhou Qichen after his crash while working emergency overtime as a nurse at PLA No. 201 Hospital.Upon seeing Zhou Qichen badly injured and wrapped like a mummy, Lin Xiao’s irritation over being called in disappears.Instead of acting helpless, Zhou Qichen jokes with Lin Xiao about whether all his body parts are still present, immediately showing the humor he uses to survive pain.As Lin Xiao cares for him, Zhou Qichen casually tells her he does not like girls, and Lin Xiao responds that she does not like men either, creating an instant private understanding between them.Over the following nights, Lin Xiao watches Zhou Qichen endure severe post-surgical pain while refusing stronger medication that might affect his motor function.Because Zhou Qichen remains remarkably spirited despite his suffering, Lin Xiao grows fond of him and begins sharing personal worries about Xu Weiran.When Lin Xiao asks about notifying Zhou Qichen’s family, Zhou Qichen avoids burdening his elderly parents and instead gives Bai Ziyu as his emergency contact.After Lin Xiao finally reaches Bai Ziyu, Bai Ziyu asks to speak with Zhou Qichen, and Zhou Qichen realizes this is the call he has been waiting for since the crash.Although commanders and political officers have already contacted him, Bai Ziyu’s silence has hurt Zhou Qichen more than he admits.During the call, Zhou Qichen explains the bird strike and low-altitude ejection lightly, masking how badly he wanted Bai Ziyu to visit or call sooner.Then Bai Ziyu reveals that he got married, blindsiding Zhou Qichen more with the secrecy than with the marriage itself.Even though Zhou Qichen immediately offers congratulations, Lin Xiao sees the flash of devastation on his face and understands the truth of his feelings.Once the call ends, Zhou Qichen asks to be alone, while Lin Xiao gently checks that he will not do anything reckless.In the aftermath, Zhou Qichen realizes that Bai Ziyu may either no longer consider him a close friend or may have discovered his feelings, and both possibilities wound him deeply.The next morning, Zhou Qichen notices Lin Xiao’s ring and learns that she and Xu Weiran consider themselves partners even though China does not legally recognize their relationship.Seeing Lin Xiao’s quiet certainty gives Zhou Qichen a painful glimpse of the kind of love and freedom he wants for himself.That night, Zhou Qichen stares out the hospital window for hours and finally understands that achieving that freedom will require giving up the military, the J-15, carrier Zhiyuan, and his impossible love for Bai Ziyu.Ultimately, Yu Xiaoyuan ends the relationship, leaving Zhou Qichen with another painful example of loving more deeply than the person beside him.

Chapter 3Zhou Qichen arrives at Lang Feng’s hotel carrying a bottle of Lang Feng’s favorite Riesling, only to be blindsided when Lang Feng immediately announces that they should end their relationship before they even exchange greetings.Although caught off guard, Zhou Qichen accepts the announcement with outward calm and suggests sharing a drink before leaving, revealing his habit of using composure and humor to avoid confronting painful emotions directly.Meanwhile, Lang Feng struggles to look at Zhou Qichen’s smile because it is one of the things he treasures most, making the breakup far more painful than he expected.As they sit together with the wine, Lang Feng asks whether Zhou Qichen is truly fine with ending things, hoping for some sign that Zhou Qichen wants to fight for the relationship.In response, Zhou Qichen says that if Lang Feng wants to end things, that reason alone is sufficient, once again refusing to argue for himself or reveal deeper feelings.Lang Feng then admits that the breakup is not caused by a lack of interest but by the opposite problem, confessing that he likes Zhou Qichen far more than he originally intended.Attempting to deflect the emotional intensity, Zhou Qichen jokingly asks whether Lang Feng has fallen for him, but immediately realizes the joke is inappropriate.Rather than avoiding the subject, Lang Feng openly acknowledges his feelings and explains that while he is putting significant effort into the relationship, he is not receiving the same emotional investment in return.As Lang Feng explains himself further, he reveals that physical compatibility is not the issue because they work exceptionally well together in that regard, making the emotional imbalance even more difficult to ignore.Consequently, Lang Feng concludes that continuing the relationship would only hurt both of them because he wants something deeper that Zhou Qichen cannot currently provide.After offering the possibility of friendship instead of romance, Lang Feng waits for a response, but Zhou Qichen remains unusually silent for a long time.Eventually, Zhou Qichen responds not with words but by beginning to unbutton his shirt and proposing one final sexual encounter before they part ways.However, Lang Feng immediately stops him and refuses, insisting that sleeping together now would only make the breakup more painful afterward.Left with no further argument, Zhou Qichen abandons the idea, finishes the evening, and leaves the hotel while reflecting on how brief and temporary the entire relationship had always felt.As Zhou Qichen walks away, he acknowledges that he did develop feelings for Lang Feng but always believed they were fundamentally incompatible people.He reflects on Lang Feng’s healthy and equal family relationships, recognizing that Lang Feng’s emotional stability comes from a life vastly different from his own.In contrast, Zhou Qichen realizes that his own relationships have always been unequal, either built on admiration and longing or resentment and distance, never true balance.Two days later, just as Zhou Qichen assumes the breakup is complete, he receives an unexpected international call from Lang Feng in the Netherlands.To Zhou Qichen’s surprise, Lang Feng explains that he called not to restart the relationship but because he felt guilty about how abruptly he handled their final meeting.Lang Feng thanks Zhou Qichen for the Riesling and admits that only afterward did he appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the gift.Furthermore, Lang Feng apologizes for being too blunt and reassures Zhou Qichen that he respects whatever personal reasons lie behind the things Zhou Qichen has not shared.He also makes it clear that he still values Zhou Qichen as a person and remains willing to be a friend if Zhou Qichen ever wants someone to talk to.Hearing such honesty leaves Zhou Qichen shaken because Lang Feng’s openness exposes his own pattern of avoidance more clearly than any criticism could.In turn, Zhou Qichen apologizes for how their last meeting ended and admits that he never intended to disappear from Lang Feng’s life completely.Although both men apologize to each other, neither reveals the full extent of their lingering feelings, allowing the conversation to end on surprisingly warm terms.Despite the friendly conclusion, Zhou Qichen finds himself far more emotionally affected afterward than before the call.Over the following two weeks, thoughts of Lang Feng repeatedly surface during ordinary moments, from cooking and cleaning to lying awake at night.Unlike his breakup with Yu Xiaoyuan, which felt inevitable, this separation leaves Zhou Qichen haunted by a sense of unrealized possibility and missed opportunities.As Valentine’s Day approaches, Zhou Qichen’s emotional turmoil intensifies while lingering back pain forces him to seek medical evaluation.The examination reveals that one of the metal plates in his back may have developed a fracture, forcing him to choose between immediate surgery and risking future complications.Faced with the decision, Zhou Qichen reaches out to Yu Xiaoyuan for medical advice because Yu Xiaoyuan remains one of the few people he trusts professionally.After consulting colleagues, Yu Xiaoyuan strongly recommends removing the plates immediately, offering technically excellent advice but little personal concern.This interaction reminds Zhou Qichen why their relationship ultimately failed, because Yu Xiaoyuan remains emotionally distant even when discussing major surgery.As Zhou Qichen compares Yu Xiaoyuan’s detached professionalism with Lang Feng’s genuine care, he begins recognizing what he truly values in a partner.Soon afterward, Zhou Qichen schedules surgery, arranges leave from work, and contacts Lin Xiao for support.Following the operation, Lin Xiao visits him in the hospital and immediately encourages him to reconsider giving up on Lang Feng.Although Zhou Qichen insists that ending things was the safer choice, Lin Xiao questions whether he is abandoning potential happiness out of fear rather than logic.Their conversation leads Zhou Qichen to revisit memories of his breakup with Yu Xiaoyuan and the emotional devastation that followed his move to Beijing.Even so, Lin Xiao continues arguing that Lang Feng deserves to be judged on his own merits rather than compared to previous disappointments.Left alone afterward, Zhou Qichen reflects on how little his emotional wounds have actually healed despite years of personal growth and newfound freedom.Before leaving, Lin Xiao tells him to follow his heart and warns that many relationships are lost because people miss a single opportunity to act.Her words linger with Zhou Qichen as he reflects on everything that has changed since his military days, including his career, friendships, travels, and past loves.During this reflection, Zhou Qichen suddenly remembers what he was thinking immediately before anesthesia took effect: two people remained unfinished business in his life, Zhou Qirui and Lang Feng.Acting on impulse, Zhou Qichen calls Lang Feng’s Dutch number before he can lose his nerve.When Lang Feng answers, Zhou Qichen immediately asks whether Lang Feng would reconsider if he changed his mind about ending their relationship.Elsewhere, Ivy notices unusual behavior from Lang Feng, particularly how secretive he has become regarding his personal life and how much time he is spending in Beijing.After suffering a skiing accident in Switzerland, Ivy finds herself surrounded by family members who rush to support her, including Lang Feng.While visiting Ivy in the hospital, Lang Feng receives Zhou Qichen’s call and immediately leaves the room to answer.Following the conversation, Lang Feng abruptly announces that he must return to Beijing because someone important has asked him to come back.Although Lang Feng avoids details, he admits to his father that the person waiting in Beijing means a great deal to him, revealing the depth of his feelings more openly than ever before.Without hesitation, Lang Feng secures flights, cancels his upcoming schedule, and races across continents in order to reach Zhou Qichen as quickly as possible.During the journey, Lang Feng prays not only for Ivy’s recovery and flight safety but also for the possibility that he and Zhou Qichen still have a future together.Less than thirteen hours after their phone call, Lang Feng arrives in Beijing and contacts Zhou Qichen immediately.To his surprise, he learns that Zhou Qichen is hospitalized recovering from surgery and had never told him about it.As they speak by phone, Lang Feng remains on the line the entire drive to the hospital, unwilling to leave Zhou Qichen alone even for a short journey.Once Lang Feng reaches the ward, Zhou Qichen is struck by how handsome he looks, while Lang Feng is immediately concerned by Zhou Qichen’s pale appearance and visible signs of recovery.After receiving permission, Lang Feng embraces Zhou Qichen gently, creating a moment of warmth and reassurance that neither man tries to hide.Wanting to start over honestly, Lang Feng brings gifts, drinks, and six bottles of beer, joking that they should finally have the conversation they avoided before.Their discussion quickly turns serious when Lang Feng asks directly whether Zhou Qichen wants to continue the relationship.This time, Zhou Qichen answers clearly that he does not want them to end and hopes they can try again, though he insists Lang Feng deserves to know the truth about his past first.Encouraged by this honesty, Lang Feng asks whether Zhou Qichen has ever been in love, opening the door to the deepest confession Zhou Qichen has ever made.Zhou Qichen begins by recounting his eight-year unrequited love for Bai Ziyu, explaining how admiration, dependence, and devotion gradually became inseparable from romantic feelings.He describes how the isolation of carrier life turned Bai Ziyu into the center of his world and how difficult it was to move on from someone he could never have.Continuing his story, Zhou Qichen explains how his near-fatal crash forced him to confront the regrets he had accumulated throughout his life and ultimately pushed him to leave the military.He then summarizes his relationship with Yu Xiaoyuan, admitting that despite believing fate brought them together, the relationship collapsed because their feelings were fundamentally unequal.When Zhou Qichen explains that Yu Xiaoyuan could never reciprocate his level of devotion, Lang Feng immediately concludes that the failure was not Zhou Qichen’s fault but a matter of incompatibility.Deeply moved by Lang Feng’s empathy, Zhou Qichen continues opening up and eventually begins discussing his estrangement from Zhou Qirui and the consequences of coming out to his family.He reveals how his parents cut ties with him after he came out and how his desperate attempt to reconnect with Zhou Qirui ended with her tearfully begging him to stay away.Remembering that rejection nearly overwhelms him because losing Zhou Qirui hurt far more than losing either of his parents.As the painful memories resurface, Zhou Qichen struggles to maintain his composure, exposing emotional wounds he rarely allows anyone to see.

Chapter 4After hearing the full story of Zhou Qichen’s past, Lang Feng sits in stunned silence with red-rimmed eyes and barely contained tears, leaving Zhou Qichen startled that someone else is grieving over his pain.In response, Zhou Qichen tries to comfort Lang Feng with a smile, insisting that he is fine and questioning why Lang Feng is the one crying.However, Lang Feng admits that his heart aches for Zhou Qichen and confesses that he cannot imagine enduring the loss of family relationships the way Zhou Qichen has.As the conversation continues, Lang Feng repeatedly apologizes for asking about Zhou Qirui because he now realizes how much pain the subject carries for Zhou Qichen.Meanwhile, Lang Feng reflects on how every part of Zhou Qichen’s life seems littered with emotional landmines, making him understand for the first time how much suffering hides beneath Zhou Qichen’s easygoing exterior.Despite this, Zhou Qichen insists that Lang Feng has nothing to apologize for and acknowledges that shutting people out has never been healthy for him.Watching Lang Feng cry over wounds that others often ignored leaves Zhou Qichen overwhelmed by a bittersweet warmth he has never experienced before.Although Zhou Qichen offers to continue explaining more of his past, Lang Feng firmly refuses because he feels Zhou Qichen has already shared enough for one day.Nevertheless, Zhou Qichen insists on revealing one final truth, admitting that he never lacked feelings for Lang Feng and only walked away because he believed they were fundamentally incompatible.More specifically, Zhou Qichen explains that he saw Lang Feng as emotionally whole while viewing himself as damaged, making him fear that a relationship would eventually become a burden for Lang Feng.Lang Feng immediately rejects that reasoning and points out that Zhou Qichen made the decision alone without ever giving him a chance to choose for himself.Realizing the criticism is fair, Zhou Qichen is left speechless because he understands that he unfairly excluded Lang Feng from a decision that affected both of them.Softening his tone, Lang Feng asks only that Zhou Qichen talk to him first in the future instead of silently deciding everything on his own.In return, Zhou Qichen admits that everything since meeting Lang Feng has already been one surprise after another.Without warning, Lang Feng leans in and kisses Zhou Qichen, finally giving them the kind of sincere, emotional kiss they have rarely shared despite their physical intimacy.As the kiss deepens, both men feel a level of closeness that goes beyond sex, reinforcing how much they genuinely care for each other.Afterwards, they spend the rest of the morning talking about lighter topics such as work and daily life, allowing the emotional intensity to settle.During these conversations, Zhou Qichen discovers just how much Lang Feng enjoys sweets as he steadily works through multiple chocolates.Before long, casual conversation turns into affectionate kissing, with Lang Feng repeatedly finding excuses to touch and kiss Zhou Qichen.As Lang Feng’s hands begin wandering beneath the blankets, Zhou Qichen eventually stops him, reminding him that they are still in a hospital and that his recovery must come first.Once things calm down, Lang Feng formally proposes that they try being together and asks only that Zhou Qichen stop shutting him out emotionally.Although happy, Zhou Qichen admits that the situation feels almost unreal and worries that he might wake up to discover none of it actually happened.In response, Lang Feng confesses that he also never expected things to turn out this way and believes that they narrowly avoided losing their chance at happiness.Furthermore, Lang Feng argues that they are not incompatible at all and that their differences actually complement each other.Curious about commemorating the moment, Zhou Qichen asks for the date, prompting Lang Feng to carefully record the exact time they officially became a couple.Elsewhere, Lin Xiao receives a simple text message announcing that Zhou Qichen and Lang Feng are finally together.Reading the message fills Lin Xiao with joy because she understands how much courage and heartbreak it took for Zhou Qichen to reach this point.As she reflects on her own relationship with Xu Weiran, Lin Xiao recognizes that Zhou Qichen’s journey toward love has been even more difficult than hers.Later that day, Lin Xiao visits the hospital and immediately meets Lang Feng for the first time.Upon seeing how naturally close Lang Feng and Zhou Qichen already are, Lin Xiao instantly approves of the relationship.After introducing himself politely as Evan, Lang Feng makes such a positive impression that Lin Xiao mentally gives him a perfect score.Later, while Lang Feng is away buying dinner, Lin Xiao brings Zhou Qichen the metal plates removed from his spine along with his medical records.When Lin Xiao reveals that one plate really did have a hairline crack, Zhou Qichen recounts the bathtub accident that led to the discovery.Hearing the story, Lin Xiao jokingly remarks that Lang Feng may have accidentally saved Zhou Qichen from a much worse outcome.While reviewing years of medical records connected to Yu Xiaoyuan, Zhou Qichen lingers over them briefly before deciding to throw everything away.Symbolically, this decision allows him to discard another lingering connection to his past relationship.That night, Zhou Qichen unexpectedly calls for a nurse, causing concern because he is normally an extremely undemanding patient.Instead of needing medical help, Zhou Qichen quietly asks for a blanket because Lang Feng has fallen asleep in an uncomfortable chair beside his bed.Over the following days, Lang Feng remains at Zhou Qichen’s side so constantly that Zhou Qichen eventually conspires with Nurse Zhang to force him to get proper rest.Although Lang Feng reluctantly agrees to leave, he immediately worries that Zhou Qichen no longer wants him around and sends anxious messages seeking reassurance.In response, Zhou Qichen quickly calls him and explains that he simply wants Lang Feng to sleep comfortably rather than exhaust himself.Meanwhile, Lang Feng updates Ivy about both Zhou Qichen and the relationship, openly sharing details he normally keeps private.When Ivy teases him about prioritizing romance over family, Lang Feng sincerely explains that Zhou Qichen currently has far fewer people supporting him than Ivy does.Touched by his words, Ivy promises to pray for both of them.A week after surgery, Zhou Qichen passes all required examinations and is finally discharged from the hospital.Because Lang Feng has arranged additional leave, he accompanies Zhou Qichen home and begins caring for him during recovery.During the first week, Lang Feng handles chores, meals, entertainment, and daily companionship, transforming Zhou Qichen’s apartment into a shared domestic space.Although doctor’s orders prevent full sexual activity, the attraction between them remains constant and intense.As a result, they settle for gentler forms of intimacy that allow them to remain physically close while protecting Zhou Qichen’s recovery.Beyond physical desire, Zhou Qichen discovers a new kind of emotional closeness in the quiet moments that follow their intimacy.During one conversation, they revisit their first meeting and discuss whether Lang Feng was attracted to Zhou Qichen from the beginning.Lang Feng admits that Zhou Qichen’s presence fascinated him from the start and confesses that he often thought about their first kiss.In response, Zhou Qichen kisses him again and jokingly promises to make up for all the kisses he owes him.Their conversation eventually shifts toward faith, prompting Lang Feng to explain that Christianity gives him freedom and security rather than limitations.He also reveals that he prays for both himself and Zhou Qichen before every flight.Curious but skeptical, Zhou Qichen listens as Lang Feng encourages him to try praying as well.When Zhou Qichen jokes that God would not know who he is, Lang Feng quietly replies that God knows everything about him.Those words affect Zhou Qichen deeply because they make him feel seen and understood in a way he never has before.That night, moved by emotions he cannot fully explain, Zhou Qichen falls asleep holding Lang Feng tightly.Several days later, as Zhou Qichen’s mobility improves, the couple finally begins exploring more adventurous intimacy while still respecting his physical limitations.Afterwards, Lang Feng remains attentive and caring, carefully cleaning Zhou Qichen up and thanking him with sincere affection.As Lang Feng’s departure date approaches, Zhou Qichen initially avoids thinking about the reality that they will soon be separated by continents.Instead, he immerses himself in their daily routines, enjoying walks, meals, movies, drinks, and simple domestic moments together.Zhou Qichen gradually realizes that he is still adjusting to the idea of openly loving someone and being loved in return.Eventually, the reality of their impending long-distance relationship becomes impossible to ignore when Lang Feng’s departure day arrives.While discussing the future, Lang Feng reveals a meticulously organized schedule showing exactly how he plans to maximize their time together despite living on different continents.Seeing how thoroughly Lang Feng has already integrated him into future plans leaves Zhou Qichen deeply moved.In turn, Zhou Qichen suggests that Lang Feng spend future Beijing visits at his apartment rather than always staying at the Celestial.Their conversation quickly shifts into teasing about unresolved sexual promises before ending with a kiss.Two weeks after Lang Feng returns to Amsterdam, Zhou Qichen makes a startling discovery: he misses Lang Feng far more than he expected.Although separated by distance, Lang Feng remains consistently present through messages, calls, schedules, reminders, and daily check-ins.Even so, Zhou Qichen struggles with the imbalance between his idle recovery period and Lang Feng’s busy professional life.Seeking advice, Zhou Qichen invites Lin Xiao and Xu Weiran over for drinks and admits that he cannot stop thinking about Lang Feng.Lin Xiao bluntly tells him that missing someone is meaningless unless he actually says it.Taking her advice, Zhou Qichen later tells Lang Feng directly that he misses him.Without hesitation, Lang Feng responds that he misses Zhou Qichen too, giving him exactly the reassurance he needed.Shortly afterward, Zhou Qichen receives excellent medical news and is cleared for normal activities as well as a return to work.Motivated by recovery and future goals, Zhou Qichen begins carefully planning his flight hours and finances.However, these calculations inevitably remind him that the money he has been saving was originally intended for Zhou Qirui’s future education.Reflecting on old dreams of traveling with Zhou Qirui and supporting her ambitions, Zhou Qichen realizes that he no longer knows what kind of person she has become.The painful uncertainty leaves him confronting the possibility that the future he imagined for years may never exist.Even so, before allowing himself to spiral into envy or regret, Zhou Qichen reminds himself that despite everything he has lost, he managed to find Lang Feng, and that alone makes him extraordinarily fortunate.