Chapter 92: The Church of Unity |
"She used to be such a quiet girl when she was young. How did she become so reckless as she grew up?"
Guan Shan shook his head.
Before high school, Shen Dinghua had always been like a small rabbit in Guan Shan's eyes, always quiet and well-behaved, even a bit reluctant to interact with others. He didn't know when it started, but she had become much livelier, loved to act spoiled, and occasionally threw small tantrums. However, overall, she was still the same cute, well-behaved girl.
"But... it's also a good thing."
Guan Shan thought, "When she encounters something unhappy, she chooses to complain and confide in me first, which is also proof that she relies on me."
Hmm... once the situation at the apartment is sorted out, he would accompany Xiao Shen to buy flowers.
After making up his mind, Guan Shan proceeded to buy the skill book [Soul Burning Whistle] and the [Equipment Expansion Slot x1] from the store.
After the end of this simulation, his game coins had reached 27,342, and now he spent 23,000.
He had 4,342 left, which he didn't plan to spend for the time being. Firstly, he couldn't afford the [Toy Bear], and secondly, he didn't have enough inventory space for the [Lucky Pot x10]...
Guan Shan immediately used 1 skill point to learn [Soul Burning Whistle], filling the vacant slot.
The remaining skill point, as usual, was allocated to [Rotted Flesh Accumulation], maxing it out to level 5.
His health instantly increased to 5,079, comparable to the 15th-level girl NPC he encountered before.
Additionally, his current level was still 13, with an experience value of [28,080/40,000]. He estimated that he could level up after another simulation.
However, the current situation was not optimistic. Guan Shan felt that the difficulty of each simulation was increasing significantly, and it was becoming more oppressive.
"Even though I know the simulation won't present an impossible scenario, it's still too difficult."
Guan Shan couldn't help but think, "Comparing my current health to that of the NPC back then, I'm definitely considered to have thick health now. But the boss can just pop out with over a hundred thousand health."
"This time was indeed exaggerated, so the weakness was obvious. Overcoming fear and delivering a single blow was enough to kill it. But if the next boss has fifty thousand health, it might really require a hard fight..."
Guan Shan increasingly felt the need to enhance his strength.
"Could it be that I really need to use that item to actively start a simulation?"
He even had such a terrifying thought.
Guan Shan shook his head vigorously, snapping himself out of his wavering thoughts, "No! I can't be stupid!"
The sky gradually brightened with the first light of dawn. He checked the time, straightened his clothes, and headed back to the apartment building.
Sure enough, the area was already cordoned off by police, with even earlier-arrived reporters present.
However... Guan Shan unexpectedly saw a familiar face.
"Xia Lei?"
---
Because the matter involved the Church of Unity, Xia Lei had personally come to the scene.
The entire apartment had completely collapsed into a pile of rubble, with the only intact part being the 704 room buried within.
The logistics team quickly cleared the room and drove away the onlookers who had come to see the excitement.
Xia Lei inspected the 704 room, crouching down to examine the symbols drawn on the floor, thinking, "It really is the 'Unity Ceremony.' Why would these lunatics from the Church of Unity come to Hang City..."
The Church of Unity was a mysterious Esper religion.
They worshipped the "God of Unity," constantly proclaiming, "All things have spirits, man becomes nirvana, returns to unity, and lives eternally."
All followers of the Church of Unity did not naturally possess abilities but claimed to be bestowed by the "God of Unity."
Using the "Unity Ceremony," through the sacrifice of "Bonds," they completely merge themselves with something they deeply desire, achieving harmony between heaven and man, and ultimately reaching a state of eternal existence with all things.
This was the doctrine of this Esper religion.
However, the "Bonds" had no specific form and were based on the individual's thoughts.
And clearly, according to the remnants of the 704 room, it could be seen that... Qin Deguang sacrificed his "closest kin" and merged with the entire apartment.
The logistics squad captain ran over, looking grim, "Instructor Xia, we've found remains of two bodies in the kitchen..."
Xia Lei sighed, "Notify Han Ying's parents, give them some money, and let them have a proper burial."
Qin Deguang definitely did not join the Church of Unity voluntarily. This Unity Ceremony was very complete, so someone must have guided him.
But now that person was nowhere to be found...
Xia Lei was about to call someone to identify the ceremony and see if there were any remaining clues.
The logistics team suddenly said, "Guan Shan is here."
Xia Lei was stunned. He had just been wondering if the masked man was Guan Shan, and now Guan Shan had "delivered himself to the door"...
He walked over and saw Guan Shan waving at him from outside the cordon, greeting warmly, "Instructor Xia, long time no see."
He couldn't be more enthusiastic. This was the guy who gave him a monthly salary of 200,000 yuan.
Xia Lei saw him standing obediently outside the cordon, looking like he wanted to use his connections, and couldn't help but twitch his lips. He waved back and helplessly said, "Come in, we'll talk."
A reporter nearby saw this scene and immediately made a fuss, "Why can he go in?! Didn't you say there's a risk of collapse inside? Is it not dangerous for him to go in?!"
The logistics team members blocked him with indifferent expressions, thinking Guan Shan was indeed dangerous, but it was he himself who was dangerous...
Xia Lei didn't bother to explain to these nosy reporters. With a glance, he had the logistics team chase them all away.
Later, the psychologist would erase their memories, and it would be over.
Guan Shan followed Xia Lei into the ruins, thinking the simulator had really destroyed the place thoroughly. Curious, he asked, "Instructor Xia, why are you here to handle this? Aren't you busy lately?"
It didn't seem like a supernatural event...
Xia Lei thought Guan Shan was referring to the Death Hive's situation and said, "Busy, just taking some time to check on this. The nature of this matter is different."
Guan Shan suddenly saw two bodies being carried out of room 704, froze, and asked in a low voice, "Who are they..."
"Han Ying and Qin Yaoyao." Xia Lei replied, "Both were killed by Qin Deguang, kept in the room's wall cavity for two weeks. It was only discovered after the building collapsed."
Guan Shan's heart sank.
Although he had anticipated it, he still felt saddened.
After investigating for several days, it turned out to be too late...
Guan Shan couldn't help but ask, "Why did Qin Deguang do this?"
At the same time, he thought of the items he obtained in the simulation: [Secret Behind the Door], [Innocent Child's Drawing], and [Mirror Shard].
Each seemed closely related to this family of three, especially the woman holding a small hand in the mirror in the simulation.
Could it be... the simulator was also hinting to him? Was that woman Han Ying?
Xia Lei turned to him, "You should know better than us, right? Haven't you been investigating this matter all along?"