The atmosphere in the hospital room was heavy and oppressive. Feng Yuhuai sat by the bedside, anxiously recounting the various anomalies occurring at school to Feng Ju.

Her voice was low and trembling, and finally, with a hint of pleading, she said to Feng Ju, "Dad, could you find out if that corpse is really Yang Tuo?"

Feng Ju furrowed his brows and did not answer immediately.

Feng Yuhuai continued with lingering fear, "The corpse was terrifying. The whole body was shriveled beyond recognition, as if some monster had drained all its blood, no longer human-like."

Feng Ju's expression suddenly turned grave, and he asked, somewhat flustered, "What exactly is the situation with the corpse you're talking about?"

Feng Yuhuai replied numbly, "Dry and shriveled, the flesh was sunken, the cheeks withered, you couldn't tell what it originally looked like."

Her voice revealed deep fear, as if the horrifying scene was still vividly in front of her.

A nerve-wracking thought suddenly crossed Feng Ju's mind—could that bone-faced monster have silently infiltrated his daughter's campus?

He straightened his back abruptly, his face gloomy, and said in a cold voice to Feng Yuhuai, "Take a leave from school and don't attend classes for the time being."

Feng Yuhuai's pupils contracted slightly, trying to feign confusion, she whispered, "Dad, isn't that a bit too much? It's just one person died, the Patrol Office will surely catch the culprit soon."

Feng Ju shook his head, seemingly wishing to expel those terrifying memories from his mind, but they clung to his memory like stubborn stones.

At that moment, his arm also began to ache faintly, as if that bone claw was once again tearing at his bones and muscles.

Feng Ju's voice became low and heavy: "One person dead? That's far from enough. At least another ten or even dozens more would have to die, sacrifices would be needed, then perhaps the Patrol Office could catch such a monster."

Feng Ju kept a cold face: "Listen to your father, don't go to school for now."

Feng Yuhuai shook her head, her tone unusually resolute: "No, the monthly exams are coming up. If I take a leave, I'll fall out of the advanced class."

Seeing his daughter's exceptionally firm tone, Feng Ju felt a bit conflicted, torn between the possible danger to her life and the importance of exams and her future.

After pondering for a while, Feng Ju said to Wang Xiuli, "Go close the door."

Only then, with a sullen face, did Feng Ju lower his voice significantly, saying: "What I am about to tell you is strictly confidential information requested by a Special Envoy. I've leaked it to you, but you must not tell anyone, understand?"

Feng Yuhuai was overjoyed inwardly, but on her face, she nodded obediently.

Only then did Feng Ju reveal the reason for his injuries to Feng Yuhuai, repeatedly advising her at the end: "Return to the dorm immediately after class. If you encounter a creature wearing a bone [Mask], remember, never engage or obstruct it; just turn and run immediately, understand?"

Feng Yuhuai drew the image of [Mask] in her mind, and facing Feng Ju's concerned gaze, she nodded compliantly.

"Mask?!!" Feng Yuhuai silently remembered this, as the identity she would have to disguise and imitate next.

....

4.12, Tuesday.

The Chief Constables of the Patrol Office were busily engaged on the campus of the Eighth Academy, conducting detailed inquiries and investigations with every teacher and student.

This task was vast and complex, progressing not as swiftly as anticipated.

4.13, Wednesday.

The Patrol Office finally confirmed the identity of the deceased woman—Lu Yazhi.

Moreover, the Patrol Office found Lu Yazhi's phone in the school's sewer.

After technical personnel repaired it, the phone recorded the calls and messages from her family and friends within two days after Lu Yazhi's death.

Upon learning of her best friend's death, Feng Yuhuai wept bitterly in her dormitory, truly moving those who heard it and bringing tears to those who saw it.

4.14, Thursday.

After an initial screening, the Patrol Office drew up a list of 50 suspects.

Li Shang quickly deployed his subordinates for strict surveillance, borrowing additional support from the Arrest Department.

In this operation, the Arrest Department personnel borrowed by the Patrol Office belonged to the Second Brigade, led by the Second Brigade Captain Gou Xin.

In the operation, groups of three began 24-hour covert tracking and monitoring of the suspects listed, to ensure catching [Mask] at the first sign of exposure.

Like a cycle tanned by destiny, Li Shang felt he had seen this scene somewhere before, a strange sense of familiarity.

Due to Feng Ju, Feng Yuhuai was eliminated as a [Mask] suspect from the start.

In the past three days, Feng Mu stayed inside the [Douqiong Martial Arts Hall], not stepping out of the door, focusing solely on training, eating, and sparring.

After three days, his appetite increased, he grew closer to Hong Ya, and became more intimate with Yuan Xidi.

The edibility of Calamity Iron reached 4%, everything was in order, and the days were peaceful and harmonious.

In between, Masked Feng Mu and Offline Ma Bin had a phone call.

Ma Bin reported to him that he had confirmed the five members of the A-level tactical squad, including Chen Ya, were detained in Zone 9, Prison No. 4.

Meanwhile, senior brother Li Bashan and fifth brother Gong Qi were employed at Zone 9, Prison No. 2.

This slightly differed from Feng Mu's most ideal prediction, making him a bit undecided on which prison to visit next.

April 15, Friday.

The hunger of the Puppet Mother felt like an invisible hand, gripping Feng Yuhuai's heart tightly during class. A faint taste of blood surfaced on her tongue, almost like a warning signal.

Almost simultaneously, in the Arresting Bureau's sketch room, Wang Yu received a call from Liu Yang.

Wang Yu did not hurry to answer the phone. Instead, he calmly put down his brush, handed the sketch to an officer in the first team, patiently waited for the officer to express gratitude and leave, and then slowly called back.

When the call connected, Wang Yu's voice was steady and unperturbed, speaking in a normal tone: "Alright, I'll be there shortly."

Wang Yu left the sketch room, first stopping by the third team to find Liu Xie. After a quiet conversation, he left the Arresting Bureau, not taking a bureau car, but instead riding an electric bike to the location mentioned in the call.

After riding for a while, Wang Yu stopped the electric bike by the roadside, switched the phone SIM card, and sent a message to senior brother Li Bashan's backup number.

Then, unhurriedly, he restarted the electric bike and continued to the destination.

An hour later.

Wang Yu arrived at the destination, an out-of-the-way chemical plant residential area.

The walls of the estate were faded and covered in layers of graffiti, with jagged glass shards hanging from the top. Many shards had gaps, likely caused by children with stones.

At the entrance, two iron garbage bins stood silently, with not much trash inside, making them look rather empty.

"This is an old neighborhood with few residents," Wang Yu immediately concluded in his mind.

Wang Yu parked the electric bike at the entrance, casually scanning the surroundings.

The area wasn't large, with only six or seven low-rise buildings, tightly arranged.

The gaps between buildings were adorned with inconspicuous trees and bushes which, due to lack of care, had sparse and withered leaves.

Wang Yu glanced up at the faded building number and walked towards Unit 2 of Building 3 slightly inside; the unit door was worn, with a brick propping the threshold.

Wang Yu pulled the door, which creaked as it opened.

He walked in, climbed to the fourth floor, and as he reached it, the door to 401 opened, with Liu Yang waving at him from inside.

Wang Yu walked into the apartment, closing the door behind him.

The furnishings inside were simple; besides Liu Yang, there was a young man about 20, with rough skin and sunken, darkened eyes, continuously yawning.

"Junkie." Wang Yu merely glanced at him, immediately labeling the man. He could even tell from the hue and shape of the man's eye spots that he had been using T-37-type hallucinogens for about two years.

The T-37-type hallucinogen, produced by Holy Light Pharmaceutical Company five years ago, was legally marketed as Awakening Liquid, a product with a medical serial number.

Liu Yang coughed and said, "This neighborhood is close to the chemical plant, heavily polluted, so those who could move away have left, not many people live here."

"This guy is Wang Xu, he works at the chemical plant and rents an apartment here. Last night, he noticed someone entering and exiting Unit 1 of the building opposite, someone who looked very much like the [Black Face] on the wanted poster," Liu Yang briefly explained the situation to Wang Yu.

"Are you sure it's [Black Face]?" Wang Yu asked.

Liu Yang said, "I came here this morning, watched for the entire morning, and didn't see [Black Face] come out of the unit entrance. However, I did see a masked man going in and out, acting suspiciously. I estimate it's very likely; that's why I informed you to come over."

After speaking, Liu Yang suspiciously asked, "You're alone, didn't notify Captain Liu Xie?"

Wang Yu slightly pursed his lips and calmly said, "I have told them, no rush, they'll be here soon."

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