Chapter 261: Finally Taking Off This Human Mask

It was obvious that this wasn't the normal speed of an elevator, but someone had deliberately accelerated it. Sweat began to bead on Da Mao’s forehead—this was a clear indication that the opposition was well-prepared.

A massive roar shook the entire underground tunnel violently. Small stones scattered around, striking the confused Jing Shu, cutting several gashes on her face and body. Blood trickled into her mouth, and as she licked it, she was startled to find it surprisingly delicious.

“Wang Chuang? Where’s Wang Chuang?”

“He didn’t make it out!”

Su Mali panted heavily, disbelief written all over her face as she ran toward the hole through which they had just escaped. The elevator had crashed at high speed, smashing into the frame of the propulsion system. Su Mali peered inside, but all she could see was a protruding arm, wrist adorned with the Swiss watch she had gifted to Wang Chuang.

The bearded man had been completely crushed under the elevator, likely turned into a mere pulp of flesh.

The elevator itself was almost destroyed—it had been empty! This was no accident; someone had deliberately manipulated it. Could it be that they already knew we had escaped?

Jing Shu, still in a daze, walked toward them. She was aware of what was happening but seemed to have no control over her body, moving solely by instinct.

Tears streamed down Su Mali’s face as she stood there, shocked. How could this be? How had it come to this? Just moments ago, Wang Chuang had been speaking to her, and now… why didn’t he escape?

Da Mao gritted his teeth, his lips pressed tightly together. "Brother, don't worry. I swear I’ll protect Miss Su," he said before pulling out his phone to check for a signal. “Still no signal, Miss Su. We need to keep moving and find an exit. Here, take this handgun. If anything seems off, don’t hesitate to shoot.”

Da Mao grew even more vigilant. Now, of the three remaining, he was the only one they could rely on. He began tossing small stones to probe the area ahead, hoping to find a way out.

Meanwhile, Jing Shu remained in her trance. If she had been fully conscious, things might have turned out differently.

“We must hurry,” Da Mao urged. “We should stick to the walls as we go.”

Da Mao cautiously entered the newly opened path, and seeing no immediate danger, signaled for Su Mali to follow. She pulled Jing Shu along, whispering words of encouragement.

Just then, blinding light flooded the hall.

"Run back!" Da Mao barely had time to shout before gunfire erupted. Without thinking, he pushed Su Mali and Jing Shu through the door, saving their lives but costing him his own. The gunfire continued for only a few seconds, but it was enough—Da Mao was down, riddled with bullets.

Blood pooled on the ground as Da Mao lay there, his breathing labored. "Miss Su… run… get out of here… and if you do, take care of my family…" With those final words, Da Mao's head slumped to the side, lifeless.

Sobbing, Su Mali stood up, her once pristine yellow dress now dirty and torn. Her hands shook as she pointed toward the man standing before her, his submachine gun still smoking. "You? No… it can't be!"

The man before her was none other than Gou Shu.

"How? Why?"

Jing Shu, meanwhile, had collapsed, her mind overwhelmed by everything that was happening. But within her subconscious, something shifted. The dimensional space inside her mind—the magic cube—had finally reached a breaking point, shattering the invisible barrier that had been holding it back. It began to expand, a phenomenon Jing Shu could perceive even in her unconscious state.

Su Mali, now truly alone, was devastated. Her trusted bodyguards were dead, and her most faithful servant, Gou Shu, had betrayed her. The man standing before her, the one who had orchestrated everything, was none other than Gou Shu, or at least, someone wearing his face.

The traitor began to speak. “Oh, Miss Su, you think I’m your loyal Gou Shu? What a pity. The real Gou Shu died a miserable death two months ago.” The man then reached up to his face and began peeling away a mask, revealing a younger face beneath.

And it was a familiar one.

The face beneath the mask was none other than Lin Yi, the very man Jing Shu had been secretly monitoring all along.

Stunned, Jing Shu’s mind reeled. How had she not realized it? Every day she had watched him, thinking he was an ordinary man with no suspicious behavior. But now it was clear—he had known he was being watched all along.

“I’ve been pretending to be him for three months,” Lin Yi continued, speaking as he finished removing the mask. "Two months ago, I kidnapped Gou Shu and replaced him. It took a lot of effort, but I learned everything about him. Now, at last, I can take off this human skin."

Lin Yi grinned as he began to peel the mask from his neck…

Author's Note:

Adding another chapter thanks to Mumu’s donation. Great, all the additional chapters will be released together, reaching the 20,000-word mark!