A thick, profound darkness poured in from outside the house—deeper and more intense than ordinary night. Zhang Yuanqing possessed eyes that could see through the night, yet he could not penetrate this eerie, oppressive dark, only vaguely catching sight of a figure dressed in a wedding gown stepping steadily across the threshold. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing experienced his most profound terror since birth—not the shock of being drained by a "spine-pressing spirit," nor the panic of being chased by zombies—but the terrifying sensation of having emotions explode inside while the body remains completely still and powerless. Unable to resist, unable to defend, overwhelmed by endless despair. Night Wandering Deity’s abilities were utterly suppressed at this moment. Even small person_name, who had been trembling so hard he couldn’t cry, found his owner shaking too—his own body now convulsing with the same fear. The darkness surged into the house, and the figure in the wedding gown walked slowly forward, her presence casting a dense atmosphere of death over every corner of the room. At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing’s cat tucked safely in his pocket suddenly emitted an impassive voice: “She has arrived, bringing unparalleled terror… The groom sits by the bedside, thinking through his plans, but though he appears calm, he is actually—” Then, as if disrupted by something unforeseen, the speaker crackled with static. After a few seconds, the sound stabilized—but what came out astonished Zhang Yuanqing: “The groom appears calm, yet deeply joyful! Indeed, because the bride is beautiful and gracious, gentle and well-matched—such a rare pairing. Yes, precisely… crackle…” Then silence again. Actually joyful? Did he really mean to say that at first? This speech had so many flaws—Zhang Yuanqing couldn’t find words to express his bewilderment. He bowed his head, unwilling to look at the ghost bride. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead; his body trembled softly. Then, while still bowing low, he saw a pair of red embroidered shoes resting before him—just in front of him. … Time passed slowly. Shé Lingxi sat quietly on the edge of the bed, motionless. Her features were delicate and refined, contrasting beautifully with the bridal setting—so it seemed as if she was the true bride. According to the old guidebook, whoever was chosen by the ghost bride would inevitably perish—that rule should still hold in this new version too. Whoever she selects will be gone… Shé Lingxi swallowed a quiet gulp of breath. She had always known about the ghost house’s storyline—hadn’t shared it with anyone, originally planning to use that as leverage upon entering. But when she learned Wang Tai was Night Wandering Deity and the mission had evolved—to include dowry, invitations, wedding rituals—she realized the old guidebook no longer applied. And so, she never mentioned it again. Shé Lingxi felt afraid. Though she’d successfully completed two solo Spirit Realms and two group Spirit Realms, and faced danger during each, especially in her single-person journeys—where every single-person mission ended with death—it was always a matter of "excitement" rather than true terror. The first Spirit Realm she had experienced—the Jinshui Amusement Park—had been particularly overwhelming. The fear wasn’t just about dying—it stemmed from the very nature of ghosts and spirits, which inherently evoked human dread in people. “I’ll never watch horror films again,” she vowed silently within herself. In the bridal room, time seemed to lose meaning—the endless wait felt unending—until suddenly, she heard a spirit prompt: [You have completed the Ghost House (Underworld Wedding) task. You are now entering the "Heart-Pounding Excitement" series of facilities: Carousel → Underground Parking → Ghost House (Underworld Wedding) → Detective & Puzzle Hall. Please proceed to the fourth location within half an hour.] “Is it over?” Shé Lingxi was startled—then a surge of joy flooded through her, as if after enduring a long night’s journey, she could scarcely contain herself with excitement. At last—the dreadful spirit event has ended! Then came another thought: Who had actually died? She eagerly pushed open the grille door and stepped outside, looking around. The night was misty and solemn; lanterns hung at the eaves—yet no movement or sound. Soon after, footsteps echoed behind her—Shé Lingxi turned to see the red-haired Fire Demon stepping out from behind the bridal hall. The Fire Demon’s face shimmered with joy, his eyes full of anticipation. “So it must be either Wang Tai or the Immortal Prince who has passed.” Upon seeing that he survived, Shé Lingxi slightly furrowed her brow. The Fire Demon was in high spirits: “The most perilous stage is now complete—the next one at Detective & Puzzle Hall should not be difficult. If we can reach it safely, then we’ll achieve our S-level first kill—wow! I’ve already begun to look forward to the rewards. Oh, and there’s also the guidebook—just reading that alone will keep me busy for a long time.” Shé Lingxi glanced at him, said lightly: “The guidebook for the Ghost House stage—we’re not entirely clear on it. Wang Tai knows it best. The value of your guidebook may have to be adjusted somewhat.” The Fire Demon shrugged: “Even then, it will still be very valuable.” They didn’t wait long—soon footsteps echoed behind them. They turned to see who had arrived. “Wait,” the Fire Demon said, slightly startled, then recovered with a chuckle: “It seems the Immortal Prince has decided to stay here as the groom—the boy is so timid and hesitant! If he can’t make it out of this realm alive, that will be truly unfair.” “Wang Tai Brother!” Shé Lingxi smiled sweetly. Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, looked toward the Fire Demon, his tone solemn: “After all, we’ve been companions through this journey—there’s no need to say anything coldly.” “Yes, yes—the moment you speak is the moment it counts. Leave quickly—I don’t want to be here a second longer! Let’s get out of here and finish our mission now!” The phrase "each to their own" was emphasized with particular weight. Thus, under Zhang Yuanqing’s guidance, the three passed through the inner courtyard, the main hall, and the outer yard—encountering no crises along the way—successfully leaving the ghost mansion. Their footsteps were swift throughout the dark alley—never pausing, moving in perfect synchrony—each clearly bearing a growing psychological unease about this place. Ten minutes later, following signs on the roadside, they reached Detective & Puzzle Hall. It was a white building, its sturdy columns supporting a triangular roof, with a standard Western architectural style. The iron gate stood open, and there was a fountain in front of the entrance. “Would you like to rest for a moment?” Zhang Yuanqing stopped outside the iron gate, asking his two teammates. Shé Lingxi and the Fire Demon shook their heads. The terror from the Ghost House had mostly drained them mentally—physical exhaustion wasn’t significant. This ten-minute journey was sufficient to calm their emotions—they didn’t need any further rest. Besides, at this stage, they were eager to end tonight’s dream-like mission as soon as possible. Entering the main gate and passing by the fountain, they stepped into a hall that resembled a museum. The hall featured square tiles laid evenly across the floor, with eight elegant crystal chandeliers suspended from the vaulted ceiling—casting bright, radiant light. Several display cabinets were arranged throughout, holding diverse items: pipe tobacco holders and walking canes, red neckties and footballs, dancing figures' symbols, and a hand-bound edition of *The Washing of Justice*… Even the red neckties seemed intentional—an obvious nod to humor in this storyline—something Zhang Yuanqing would surely appreciate. As a dedicated fan of his grandfather and aspiring to become an excellent police officer, he was familiar with such objects. Their eyes swept over the display cabinets, then moved on to settle upon six identical sculptures standing at the center of the hall, each draped in red cloth. The Fire Demon looked at the red-covered sculptures, blinked several times, saying: “What is the mission for this stage? Is it about reasoning? I detest tasks that require mental effort.” Shé Lingxi remained silent. Zhang Yuanqing pointed to the six sculptures and smiled: “Didn’t we already receive the instructions?” As soon as he spoke, all three of them simultaneously received a task prompt: [Ring! Welcome to Detective & Puzzle Hall!] [We have removed unnecessary items. This is a venue for testing intelligence—no physical conflict allowed; violators will be eliminated. Please proceed with your captain to unroll the red cloths.] Shé Lingxi and the Fire Demon remained still, while Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and lifted each red cloth. The six sculptures were identical—each one bore a name plaque on its chest: Ordinary Citizen, Neutral, Neutral, Guardian, Insider, Evil Member. “We have an Evil Member in our team? That explains why the Carousel guidebook remained unchanged—yet River God perished—and Wang Tai, you must’ve noticed that earlier,” said the Fire Demon, suddenly enlightened. Then he looked at Zhang Yuanqing with surprise: “Are you the captain?” Zhang Yuanqing smiled and turned back: “Didn’t you all know this already?” The Fire Demon fell silent. Then, a new prompt echoed in their minds: [Ring! Now announcing the Captain’s mission: Note that one of your team members is an Evil Member. Ensure that at least three team members remain—otherwise penalties will apply and current level experience will be reset. Please keep your identity hidden. ] [Ring! Each member has a role. The captain must deduce each person's identity and affix their name card to the sculpture. Any misplacement of cards results in failure of the Detective & Puzzle Hall mission, with elimination of all members in the Captain’s group.] [Each team member retains the right to defend themselves.] [Complete the reasoning within half an hour; otherwise, it will be deemed a failure—resulting in complete elimination of the Captain's group.] [Two things in the world cannot be gazed upon directly: the sun and human hearts. Timer begins: 00:30:00] Ah—I see now why the hidden mission requires us not to reveal our identities—that’s exactly it… Zhang Yuanqing mused mentally—while also sensing that something had subtly changed in his inventory panel. Opening it, he saw that all items were gray (inactive), except one—a stack of name cards—colorful and ready for use. He extracted the six name cards—one for each team member—and held them up in a fan-like shape before Shé Lingxi and the Fire Demon: “With time limited, I’ll begin my reasoning starting with those who have died—you both agree?” “Agreed,” said the Fire Demon. Shé Lingxi nodded. Zhang Yuanqing opened his cards in a fan, scanned them briefly, then drew out the card labeled “A Father Who Feels Regret.” “For safety’s sake, I’ll start with this one—the most reliable. He died before me and personally told me this. Honestly, at first I didn’t believe it—because he belongs to the Evil Organization.” It was precisely then that Zhang Yuanqing truly confirmed each team member had received the hidden mission. “An Evil Organization member?” said the Fire Demon, surprised: “Could he be the Evil Member? After all, since his death, no one has died without cause.” “The Evil Member doesn’t kill people for a reason—I’ll explain later—but this man is not the Evil Member. Immediately after completing the Underground Parking task, I quietly consulted with him.” Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and affixed the card labeled “A Father Who Feels Regret” to one of the two Neutral figures. [Ring—Correct inference.] Then, a new message appeared above the sculpture now bearing that name: [Neutral Member: Among your team, there is one Captain and one Evil Member. You must choose your allegiance before the first task concludes. Please keep your identity hidden.] This was the hidden mission for the Neutral Member. “Choose allegiance before completing the first task…” Zhang Yuanqing smiled and looked back at Shé Lingxi: “So it appears, Lingxi—you are also a Neutral Member. Yes, now I have my own.” Shé Lingxi smiled gently: “That’s correct, Wang Tai Brother. Choosing an allegiance must be cautious—I didn’t know who was the captain or the Evil Member; if I made a wrong choice, I might perish. So I suggested we begin with the Carousel—the simplest of all facilities, free from external influence. If its guidebook remains unchanged, then it becomes the perfect platform for negotiation between the Captain and the Evil Member. Then, based on their outcomes, I’ll decide which side to join. Wang Tai Brother—you’ve done an excellent job coming up with a solution. So now, I’m joining the Captain’s group.” Zhang Yuanqing exhaled deeply and affixed her name card. She had been quietly attentive since after the Carousel—that “private lesson” conversation was Zhang Yuanqing’s subtle test—and she had responded positively: “Yes! Yes!” [Ring—Correct inference.] The hidden mission for the Neutral Member reappeared on screen. Zhang Yuanqing then drew out the card labeled “Xi Shi.” “The woman has been consistently passive throughout the entire process. During the ride on the roller coaster, she merely expressed awareness of being awake—nothing more. When faced with the robot figures, she never took action beyond self-preservation. Her actions throughout the night have lacked momentum and initiative, which leads me to conclude that she is a civilian. ‘How do you see it, Fire Demon?’ The Fire Demon furrowed her brow: ‘That’s too decisive. The same reasoning could equally apply to one of the Evil Followers.’ Zhang Yuanqing smiled: ‘Not at all decisive—though I cannot yet explain why.’ He affixed Westerl’s business card onto the civilian statue. [Chime! Inference correct.] [Civilian: Your identity is Civilian. Please identify and secure the Captain before the first mission concludes, and remain discreet about your role.] Beyond what was just mentioned, Zhang Yuanqing has two additional reasons for believing Westerl to be a civilian: First, during the process of tracing back her past illness, he observed that Westerl repeatedly tested others’ identities—inquiring whether Xie Lingxi was an official staff member, and then hesitating between himself and He Bo during the roller coaster ride. This subtle detail would have remained undetected had it not been for his ability to trace back time. And as for one of the Evil Followers, once aware of the Captain’s existence, they would typically refrain from making such overt inquiries. Second, in that same conversation about identity, Westerl responded: ‘No need for deference—rather, roughness and wildness are expected.’ This was actually an implicit signal pointing to her civilian status. Of course, there was also the inquiry to Ling, which further reinforced it. A civilian does not require respect—they are consistently treated with roughness and wildness. At first, Zhang Yuanqing interpreted this as a statement of allegiance—only now, after seeing the ‘Civilian’ designation, has he fully grasped its significance. ‘He Bo was the first to die—we’ll set that aside,’ Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, looking at the Fire Demon. ‘Fire Demon sister, are you the Guardian or one of the Evil Followers?’ The Fire Demon’s expression instantly darkened, and she replied firmly: ‘I am a Guard.’ ‘Pish!’ Xie Lingxi rolled her eyes. ‘You this broad-shouldered fellow—how could you be any less like a good person? From beginning to end, you’ve been the one constant source of disruption—well, actually… just plain a pile of waste.’ The Fire Demon remained composed, offering well-reasoned defense: ‘Brother Wang Tai, I truly am a Guard. In fact, I knew you were the Captain even during the roller coaster ride. Consider it—if I had been an Evil Follower, wouldn’t I have acted as decisively as I did with He Bo?’ ‘Haha…’ ‘What’s so funny now?’ asked the Fire Demon, frowning. ‘I am a seasoned traveler who has participated in countless Spirit Realms—someone whose experience is deeply rooted. To me, any claim you make will be immediately undermined.’ Zhang Yuanqing finished with a cold chuckle: ‘When I came out of the ghost house just now, you seemed disappointed, didn’t you?’ ‘How could I possibly feel disappointed? I was thrilled!’ countered the Fire Demon, growing increasingly agitated. ‘I would have taken action to eliminate you by now—wouldn’t you agree?’ Xie Lingxi hesitated—though she sensed the Fire Demon wasn't trustworthy, she lacked concrete evidence and feared saying something that might mislead the Captain. Any mistake made would result in the entire team being wiped out—including herself. Thus, her heart was now fully lifted into anticipation. ‘Then explain,’ Zhang Yuanqing pressed, ‘why during the roller coaster ride, you misled us by stating that the closed-eye strategy had failed? Don’t tell me you were stunned—after all, we’re not novices—we all just held our breaths and you were completely knocked off balance.’ The Fire Demon took a deep breath, calming her rising frustration, before patiently explaining: ‘I admit I made a judgment error—I was anxious and hurried. But this is a matter of capability—not proof that my intent was to harm the team. What benefit would I gain if everyone perished during the first task? The subsequent missions will require more than just one person’s effort to complete them.’ ‘No, no, no!’ Zhang Yuanqing waved her hand. ‘I didn’t say you wanted to eliminate the entire team by proposing to open your eyes—what could possibly be your ulterior motive other than identifying the Captain?’ The Fire Demon’s face darkened further. Xie Lingxi, on the other hand, smiled warmly. ‘At that time, I advised everyone: if the roller coaster strategy remained unchanged, opening one’s eyes would result in a team-wide collapse. By contrast, losing one member per round was a more rational approach. Yet surprisingly, every single person voted to agree with opening their eyes.’ Zhang Yuanqing said dryly. ‘Of course, no one is that naive—each of you has hidden your own intentions: some aiming for self-preservation, others seeking an opportunity to identify the Captain. You know, once the Captain opposes, they will naturally surface as a threat.’ The Fire Demon fell silent. Xie Lingxi’s eyes shimmered into a crescent moon: ‘Brother Wang Tai—you are truly remarkable.’ This was genuine admiration. At the time of voting, she had not yet chosen her allegiance—she had agreed to open her eyes merely as a test of the Captain's ability and also to avoid intense opposition that might raise suspicion from the Evil Followers. In any case, no matter what the outcome, she would still choose to remain closed-eyed. Westerl likely felt much the same—being a mother, after all, was undoubtedly a source of emotional strain. Xie Lingxi hadn’t anticipated that Wang Tai had already grasped their underlying intentions so clearly—the young woman now gained renewed confidence in her own reasoning process. The Fire Demon remained silent for a while before repeating: ‘I am truly a good person—not an Evil Follower, otherwise I would have eliminated you by now.’ ‘No!’ Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: ‘After the roller coaster ride, I realized my identity had been exposed. From that moment on, it became clear—my status was no longer hidden. I therefore emphasized that we were all in this together—we were bound as one chain of allies. I was especially pleased when the underground parking task required human resources—I knew at least initially, our safety would be secured. Later, once Xie Lingxi received permission to use a Prop card, I immediately volunteered to take on the challenge against the robot figures and revealed the cost—those dancing shoes that would kill anyone who stepped on them. All of these actions were designed specifically to make the murderer hesitate—and to encourage them to delay their action, as I still held value for them.’ The Fire Demon’s expression shifted from uncertainty to growing anger, her tone becoming fierce: ‘I should have eliminated you earlier—right at the underground parking level!’ Xie Lingxi encouraged: ‘Now would be a good time to act.’ The Fire Demon glared at her before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath: ‘Wang Tai—you are strong. I admit it—I am the Evil Follower…’ Zhang Yuanqing gave a short, satisfied laugh—then removed the Fire Demon’s business card and affixed it to the Inner Traitor statue. Xie Lingxi gasped, her face pale: ‘You—?’ Yet as soon as she saw the Fire Demon’s expression shift—from fierce determination to deep despair and disarray—she realized that all those displays of anger had been carefully staged. This… startled Xie Lingxi. [Chime! Inference successful.] [Inner Traitor: Your identity is Inner Traitor. You must identify and assist the Evil Follower in concealing their identity, eliminate the Captain, and upon the Captain’s death, complete your mission and receive a Prop item as reward.] ‘I never said you were an Evil Follower—so what? You’re just a plain Inner Traitor now! And you’ve managed to mislead me and cause my inference to fail?’ Zhang Yuanqing spat. The Fire Demon seemed drained—as though her very spirit had been pulled away, eyes glazed, murmuring: ‘How… did you know that…?’ ‘Because you were too visible,’ Zhang Yuanqing replied, staring intently at the Inner Traitor’s mission card and stroking his chin. ‘If I were an Evil Follower, I would have made every effort to remain unnoticed—quietly working in the background.’ ‘Then, who is the Evil Follower? It has become clear—my guess is correct: it is the Immortal of Heaven and Earth—the Celestial Pilgrim.’ He examined the Fire Demon with a composed look, then added with a cold smile: ‘I have doubted every single member of the team. I have tested each one individually, systematically eliminating suspects until I found myself uncertain between you two—right up to the moment I arrived at the Detective’s Pavilion. Even then, I remained unsure which of you was the culprit. Only upon seeing the Inner Traitor’s identity did it suddenly become clear. Xie Lingxi is right—you have acted with the intensity of a true predator: first proposing to open eyes, standing behind He Bo, persistently criticizing Xie Lingxi—and when I signaled potential danger within the team and asked you for conversation, you immediately showed goodwill toward me—behavior consistent with someone who was genuinely anxious. Indeed, your performance has been remarkably convincing. And precisely because of this—my hesitation between you two remained unresolved. Now that it’s clear, I understand: every action you’ve taken has been designed to serve as a distraction for the Celestial Pilgrim, shifting my focus from you and prompting me to suspect you first.’ The Fire Demon’s eyes reflected growing fear—the young man had such a sharp mind. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Xie Lingxi—seeing her bright-eyed, full of admiration—and nodded in satisfaction before continuing: ‘During the underground parking ride, you and the Celestial Pilgrim had a disagreement—he wanted to act together while you insisted on acting separately. Wasn’t that a point of divergence between your two parties?’ The Fire Demon groaned: ‘After the roller coaster, you mentioned potential danger within our team—I sensed my performance was becoming too conspicuous, possibly under suspicion. The Evil Follower has the authority to kill—so does the Captain. I feared being eliminated by you, so I suggested that the Celestial Pilgrim eliminate me during the underground parking ride—but he declined. He believed it would be unwise to act at that time—he thought the parking area too dangerous—and in truth, it was not him who felt threatened—it was me who was being treated as a mere expendable piece on the board. Later, upon realizing I survived the underground parking challenge, I breathed easier. Then came the ghost house—again, I suggested he eliminate me—but he still did nothing…’ Zhang Yuanqing smiled: ‘Of course he wouldn’t kill me. Do you think I would have exposed my Night Wanderer identity to you? During the underground parking ride, I had been tense and cautious—but once inside the ghost house, I knew I was safe—indeed, absolutely immune to death. You all rely on the Night Wandering Deity for protection—you know that well. And when it comes to choosing a husband for the Ghost Bride—the selection is inevitable.’ The Night Wandering Deity has an irresistible attraction toward spectral spirits—the choice of groom is obvious enough with just a touch of intuition. Suddenly recalling something, the Fire Demon raised her voice: ‘Why then did the Ghost Bride not choose you? Why?’ This was precisely what puzzled her—why had she seen Wang Tai alive at the end when the ghost bride had chosen him instead? Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi both laughed. The young woman now folded her arms, proud and confident: ‘Because during our time in the underground parking area, we discovered a card—the Card of Transferring Blame.’ She no longer pretended to be delicate or soft-spoken. ‘I chose to redirect the Ghost Bride’s attention toward the Celestial Pilgrim—because I believed his suspicion was greater than yours,’ Zhang Yuanqing added with a smile. ‘You…’ the Fire Demon felt a chill run through her—from beginning to end, both she and the Celestial Pilgrim had been calculated into the very core of the plan. It left her feeling utterly defeated. That selfish, self-centered man—she now doubted he even knew how or why he would meet his end. Zhang Yuanqing turned away from him without further comment—he affixed the Celestial Pilgrim’s card to the Evil Follower statue. [Chime! Inference successful.] [Evil Follower: Your identity is the Evil Follower. Note that there is a Captain in your team—your adversary. Locate and eliminate him. Remain discreet about your identity.] ‘Victory!’ Xie Lingxi cheered, jumping slightly with excitement. The Fire Demon glared at them both, then said coolly: ‘Don’t celebrate too soon—I admit you are formidable, I admit defeat—but what now? The entire team is reduced to just us three members. The Captain’s mission requires that the number of remaining members remain equal to or greater than three. Can you really eliminate me?’ ‘You are so astute—you must have understood the true nature of the hidden task. Once the Evil Follower is identified, their fate is sealed—eliminated. And while the Inner Traitor carries a risk of being mistakenly eliminated, there’s no other penalty beyond death. What could possibly be greater than death? ‘Now—even if you reveal my identity as an Inner Traitor, I will not suffer any consequences because you have already voluntarily stepped back from exercising your Captain’s authority. Of course, you still have one final opportunity—but unless you wish to clear all experience points at the current level, you cannot kill me.’ Once he regains his composure, he will use his own networks to investigate both individuals and deliver their information to the Evil Organization. Rivalries formed within the Spirit Realm are common—this doesn’t mean the matter ends with the completion of a single instance. He has eliminated numerous colleagues who had grown rivals in the Spirit Realm—how best to handle adversaries from the same team, he has ample experience in this realm. Xie Lingxi blinked—her radiant joy instantly faded into stillness. Zhang Yuanqing remained silent—his decision not to exercise Captain’s authority during the ghost house mission was precisely why. ‘Don’t worry,’ he added gently, ‘there is one final person yet.’ Zhang Yuanqing spoke calmly. He affixed the final business card to the guard's body. 【Ping! Inference successful.】 【Guard: Your identity is that of a guard. Please protect the team leader and ensure he is not killed by one of the Evil Ones. Should you be slain by an Evil One (excluding death incurred during mission execution), all your actions will be suspended until the team leader triumphs—then you will revive. If the team leader fails, you will remain deceased.】 Indeed! Zhang Yuanqing read through the information content, feeling both surprised and unsurprised. By this point, Zhang Yuanqing was certain that He Bo had actively sought out a platform to assert his influence at the time—equating the guard’s motivation with that of an internal traitor, both acting as shields for their respective masters. Initially, during his self-introduction, He Bo exhibited a style marked by coldness and somber demeanor—a behavior typical of someone independent and inclined to operate autonomously, less likely to proactively seek leadership status. Yet later, he dramatically shifted, contesting Zhang Yuanqing’s authority over the narrative. This transformation could not have occurred without a clear underlying reason. It was precisely this very reason that led the Evil Ones to suspect him as the team leader and to choose him for elimination first. In contrast, Zhang Yuanqing—ever since the initial gathering—had consistently demonstrated an outgoing, sociable nature with no significant shift in character during the process. Moving on—the hidden mission, though concealed, was still just a hidden mission. The team members were not long-lost brothers or close allies. Given that such a high-risk act as shielding one’s leader required substantial personal commitment and assurance, who would willingly undertake it? Thus, Zhang Yuanqing found this development entirely unsurprising. Still, for the guard, it remained an immense gamble. The advantage was clear: death once would secure victory, effectively eliminating future exposure to S-level Spirit Realm crises. The drawback was equally evident—success might not be guaranteed; he could very well perish in the first attempt. Yet considering the high mortality rate among S-level Spirit Realm participants, what could possibly be more daunting than entering this very environment? Zhang Yuanqing’s astonishment stemmed from his underestimation of the Spirit Realm's ability to restore life—perhaps such revival was limited to within the instance itself—but it still represented a remarkable achievement. As the guard’s information materialized on screen, He Bo’s face gradually paled. His lips began trembling; his pupils contracted violently, and an overwhelming sense of dread enveloped him. The instance prompt sounded: 【You have completed the "Detective's Pavilion" mission. You are now progressing through the "Heart-Quickened and Body-Trembling" series of recreational facilities: Roller Coaster → Underground Parking Garage → Haunted House (Mourning Marriage) → Detective’s Pavilion. You have successfully concluded this series of missions.】 Zhang Yuanqing received the prompt, with an additional notification compared to Xie Lingxi and He Bo: 【Ping! You have successfully led your team through a mission, earning one opportunity to exercise leadership authority. Please designate among your team members who is the Evil One—the designated individual will be eliminated!】 【Failure to make a choice within thirty seconds constitutes abandonment of this opportunity.】 Zhang Yuanqing maintained his composed expression and said gently: "He Bo!" At that moment, He Bo’s fear erupted into full force: "No…!" In the cry of shock, his head severed from his neck and rolled to the ground, spouting a fountain of blood three meters high—bloody and vivid. His head remained wide-eyed, lips still moving in rhythm. 【Ping! Congratulations on completing the multi-member Spirit Realm mission—"Jinshui Amusement Park," Instance No. 6203, Difficulty Rank S, now processing rewards…】 ……