Because of a prior agreement with Gao Liang, no matter what happened at the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation, unless Director Gao himself gave the order, no one was allowed to enter the Bureau under any pretext. It wasn't until Secretary Yang was released from the secret chamber that he managed to get in touch with the Ministry's top leadership. Upon hearing that something this serious had happened at the Bureau—and that it had even cost Gao Liang his life—the Ministry leaders were not only shocked but also immediately decided to dispatch an investigation team to take over operations under the guise of a formal inquiry.
After receiving these instructions, Secretary Yang didn't dare make decisions on his own. He hurried off in a half-run to find Sun Fatty. At this point, Sun Fatty had recovered a bit and was gritting his teeth while handling the aftermath. He was holding onto me and asking for details about what had happened before he and the two Yangs returned.
Secretary Yang didn't try to be discreet. Right in front of me, he relayed the Ministry's instructions. After he finished, I intended to excuse myself, but Sun Fatty wouldn't let me go. With a tone that was neither sarcastic nor sincere, he said, "Lazi, don't leave—stay and give me a little backup. Let's hear what Secretary Yang really thinks."
Sun Fatty was as sharp as ever—how could he not see through this setup? It was just that he hadn't fully come to terms with Gao Liang's death, and now this bureaucratic power play was pouring salt in the wound. He let out a cold laugh toward Secretary Yang, sending a chill down the man's spine for no reason at all.
"I actually agree that this isn't appropriate," Secretary Yang said, rushing to position himself before Sun Fatty could blow up. "The Ministry is really overstepping this time—trying to stick their nose into everything. It's like giving them face and getting slapped for it." After his brief tirade against no one in particular, he looked carefully at Sun Fatty's coldly amused face and added cautiously, "Deputy Director Sun… How about this—you leave this matter to me. I'll be the one to push back against the Ministry. I've worked there for many years; I still have a few connections. Not to brag, but I used to be in the same rustication unit with our current Vice Premier. Back then, half the eggs my family sent me ended up in his belly. Time to collect, with interest! If anyone tries to settle accounts, let them come for me. No big deal—I'm about to retire anyway. If it comes early, so be it. Frankly, I'd welcome it."
After that heartfelt declaration, Sun Fatty's expression softened a bit, and a trace of his usual sly smile returned. "Old Yang, come on—don't make it sound so dramatic. You'll scare me to death. It's not worth sacrificing yourself over this. Here's what we'll do: just follow the Ministry's orders. Tomorrow, I'll hang a big banner to warmly welcome the investigation team to the Bureau. But since something this tragic just happened—and Director Gao just passed—we probably shouldn't use a red one. How about we settle for a white banner instead?"
"Using a white one is already giving them too much face..."Now that he had Sun Fatty's approval, Secretary Yang had achieved his purpose. After a few token pleasantries, he turned around and hurried back to his office to report to the higher-ups.
Watching him leave, I said to Sun Fatty, "Da Sheng, are you really going to let the investigation team in?"Sun Fatty's eyes were also fixed on Secretary Yang's back. Hearing my question, the corners of his mouth curled into a half-smile. "We'll see if they have the guts to actually come."
Just after Secretary Yang left, the Bureau's senior secretary Wang Lu arrived looking for Sun Fatty. She brought another headache: just ten minutes ago, Taiwan's Religious Affairs Commission suddenly released two announcements.
First: With unanimous agreement from the Commission members, former Chairman Hao Zhengyi was stripped of all positions within the Commission. His actions henceforth were declared to be solely personal and unrelated to the Commission.Second: By majority vote, the former religious legal representative Huang Ran was appointed Chairman of the Religious Affairs Commission. His inauguration would be held in three days, and dignitaries from all sectors were invited to attend.
At the very top of the invitation list for non-Taiwan regions was none other than the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Folklore Affairs Investigation and Research—Sun Desheng.
After Wang Lu finished, Sun Fatty let out a cold laugh and said, "Now they know fear? Too late…"
Another chaotic day passed. It wasn't until the following evening that Wu Rendi returned to the Bureau. When he came back, he went straight to the fifth basement level and stayed there for about ten minutes before returning to his office.
When Yang Jun informed me that Director Wu was back, my scalp tingled with dread. Knowing his personality, Director Wu might not care even if something catastrophic happened at the Bureau. But if he found out that Guangren had escaped… that was a consequence I couldn't afford to face.
Having given up all thoughts of fleeing, I braced myself and went to his office. Before I could even knock, I heard Sun Fatty shouting inside:"Come on, Director Wu—when I went to Nanjing to beg you to come back and stabilize the situation the day before yesterday, I understood if you were tied up. But now, talking about quitting? That's a bit much, don't you think? Chief Gao just passed, and you're bailing too? Might as well shut down the Bureau and let everyone pack up and go home!"
Wu Rendi was leaving?
I pulled back the hand I had raised to knock on the door and pressed my ear against it, trying to hear what was going on inside. That was when I heard Wu Rendi's signature acerbic voice:"So now I'm the air you can't live without? You're only anxious now? Gao Fatty told you before—I would leave one day. Where were you back then?"
Then came Sun Fatty's round, mellow voice:"Yeah, Chief Gao did say that. But then he died the next day. And on the fourth day, you say you're leaving? What is this, a coordinated plan? Director Wu, if you're really set on leaving, I can accept that—but can't you at least give me ten years, maybe eight, to get used to the idea? Let's talk again then."
Sun Fatty's comment drew a mocking laugh from Wu Rendi. After a short chuckle, he said:"Ten years, eight years? Keep dreaming. Gao Liang and I had an agreement—he'd stay in the Bureau, and I'd stay with him. Now that he's gone, I see no reason to remain here."
After hearing Wu Rendi's words, Sun Fatty fell silent for a moment before saying, with some resignation:"Not to nitpick, but if you're leaving, can't you at least avenge Chief Gao first? That would be a proper end, wouldn't it?"
What he said was heartfelt and reasonable, but Wu Rendi's response was cold as ever:"He's already dead. Even if you avenge him, will that bring him back? And if you all hadn't relied on me so much, Gao Liang wouldn't have ended up like this. Starting tomorrow, I'm no longer part of the Bureau. As for revenge—do it yourselves."
"Tomorrow you're no longer part of the Bureau..." Sun Fatty repeated, pausing for a moment before adding,"That's a bit premature. Not to be that guy, but according to tradition, before the seven-day mourning ends, Chief Gao technically isn't dead yet. If you really must go, can't you at least wait until after his seventh-day memorial? The two of you were like brothers—no need to rush a clean break, right?"
These words seemed to move Wu Rendi. After a moment of silence, he finally said,"Fine. I'll stay until Gao Fatty's seventh-day rites are over. But let me say this up front—don't try to pull anything funny. Even if you talk the sky down to earth, I'm leaving when the time comes."
Inside, Sun Fatty chuckled and replied,"Let's wait until after Chief Gao's seventh day, then."
After that, he let out a deliberately awkward cough and raised his voice a bit:"Alright then, Director Wu, I won't keep you any longer."
Hearing footsteps approach the door, I quickly stepped back a few paces, pretending I had just arrived.
The office door opened. Sun Fatty stepped out, looked at me, and smiled:"Lazi, what a coincidence—you here to see Director Wu too?" As he spoke, he kept winking at me. After that, he mouthed a few exaggerated words—it wasn't hard to guess what they meant: Come find me after this.
I gave a slight nod to show I understood, exchanged a few polite words with him, and watched as Sun Fatty strolled off, swinging his arms as he went.
I turned back toward the office and saw Wu Rendi already seated in his chair, giving me a strange look.
Under his gaze, I grew more uneasy. I gave a dry laugh and said:"Director Wu… You're back. Just in time—I've got something to report. That, um, person might have escaped… Sorry to trouble you, but we'll probably need your help locating him."
"That person? Who are you referring to?" Wu Rendi looked at me with a smirk. Then he added,"Do you remember what I told you? I handed that person to you. If anything went wrong, it'd be on you to clean it up. Sorry, but did you actually think you were my son?"
Wu Rendi's words hit like a weight. His aura was so intense I didn't even dare meet his eyes. Only after he finished speaking did I force myself to look straight at him and say:"The Bureau had a major incident yesterday—I really couldn't manage him anymore. Even if I have to bring him back, can you at least give me a clue?"
"A clue? Sure…" Wu Rendi gave a cold chuckle."East, west, south, north, up, and down—those six directions. Go find him."
Six directions? Why don't you just give me a die to roll? Of course, I didn't dare say that out loud. I just kept my forced smile plastered on as Wu Rendi continued,"He escaped while under your watch. That means the rest of your life is now set. I don't care if it takes to the ends of the earth or a hundred years or a thousand—it's your responsibility to find him. You lost him; you get him back."
At first, I felt guilty listening to him, but by the end, I noticed something off. A hundred years, a thousand years—he hadn't even set a deadline. Wu Rendi didn't seem all that concerned about Guangren's escape. Compared to when he first took me down to the fifth sublevel to meet Guangren, he was like a different person.
After that, Wu Rendi glanced at me and, for once, dropped his usual sarcastic tone."After I leave, Yang Jun and Yang Xiao likely won't stay here either. You're probably the only trace of me left in the Bureau. Everything in my level—my collection down there—is yours now. The seed inside you has already awakened. What it becomes depends on your own fortune."
Then he pulled out The Nether Codex from his bookshelf—the same one I had seen before. Without sparing me another glance, he opened it and started reading. Still staring at the pages, he spoke in my direction:"That's all. Sun Desheng is still waiting for you. Go see him."
Sun Fatty had made those mouth movements behind Wu Rendi's back—how had he noticed?
But now wasn't the time to think too hard. Wu Rendi's presence was too suffocating—staying any longer wasn't doing me any good. I offered a few parting words and quickly left the Director's office. Still puzzled over Wu Rendi's odd behavior, I made my way to Sun Fatty's office.
When I arrived, the place was clouded with smoke—God knows how many cigarettes Sun Fatty had smoked. As soon as he saw me, he lit another, took a drag, and asked,"So? Did Old Wu budge at all? Is he dead set on leaving?"
"He's already wrapping up loose ends. What do you think?" I replied, opening the windows to let some air in—the smoke was suffocating, even for a smoker like me."Not just him. He's arranged farewells for the two Yangs too. Says they'll probably leave with him. Da Sheng, this isn't going to be easy. You better start planning ahead."
"Leave just like that? Not so fast." Sun Fatty flicked away the cigarette in his hand and walked over to the door, locking it. Returning to his desk, he pulled out a disc from his coat pocket, wearing a strange expression."Lazi, I've got something to show you. The stuff on this disc… it's intense. I'm not kidding—I only made it five minutes before I puked. If you think you're gonna hurl, speak up now."
As he put the disc into the computer, I said,"Come on, I've been with the Bureau long enough. What haven't I seen? What is it, anyway? Why so secretive?"
"You'll see." Sun Fatty rotated the monitor toward me."Lazi, you cannot let this leak out. If Old Wu and the others find out, it's over."
As he spoke, the video began playing. To my shock, the footage showed Guangren's cell in the fifth sublevel. My breath caught in my throat. I was just about to speak, but Sun Fatty held up a hand."Watch. I'll explain once it's over."
I was about to ask more when the scene suddenly shifted. A huge, burly man walked into frame—it was the same fat guy who had gone down with me and Hao Zhengyi to the fifth sublevel.
He approached Guangren cautiously, circling around and muttering to himself. Unfortunately, the footage had no audio, so I couldn't hear a word. After only a few sentences, Guangren opened his eyes and stared directly at the man. His mouth moved—clearly saying something back.
Then the fat man froze. His eyes grew blank as he stared at Guangren. What happened next left me stunned: he knelt down, grabbed the chain around Guangren's ankles, and—with one powerful yank—snapped it clean.
His strength was unbelievable. One by one, he tore through the remaining chains as well.
Then came the real nightmare fuel. Freed at last, Guangren began muttering nonstop as both he and the fat man stripped off every stitch of clothing—completely naked.
Stiffly, the fat man retrieved two daggers—one large, one small—from within his clothes and respectfully handed the smaller one to Guangren.
Guangren sat cross-legged and began shaving off his white hair with the blade.
As for the fat man—his next actions made me feel like vomiting. He took his dagger and cut open the skin on his chest. His hand moved steadily downward, slicing himself open from sternum to groin.
He didn't stop there. He slashed open the skin of both legs—all the way down to the feet.
I was already horrified—but what happened next pushed me over the edge. The fat man used both hands to pry apart the skin on his left leg. Then, with a sharp lift of his foot, he pulled out an entire leg bone from beneath the flesh and muscle.
And then came the right leg…