The Death Building was far more dangerous than Han Fei could have imagined; in fact, it was likely beyond the scope of a normal person’s imagination to fully grasp its terror.
For a level thirteen player, the Death Building was like purgatory composed of countless nightmares, enough to drive a sane person completely mad, instilling the notion that death would be a release.
"Zhuang Ren, Chairman of Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, Fu Sheng, Butterfly..." Han Fei’s mind was flooded with numerous perplexities, and he bore a pressure that a comedic actor should never have to endure.
Once he felt a little better, Han Fei crawled out of the Game Box and pulled open the curtains.
The sunlight shined on him and, slowly closing his eyes, Han Fei silently savored this moment of bliss.
"To be alive is such a real thing," he thought.
Warmth flowed across his cheeks, nourishing body and soul. Han Fei realized how foolish he had been to have felt despondent and troubled over his inability to become an actor.
"Once, a life of idleness and contentment was laid out before me, but I did not cherish it. Only after losing it did I understand the depth of my regret." Han Fei glanced at the wall of crime scene photos, randomly found something to eat in the fridge, and then dialed Li Xue’s number.
"There’s something I need to report to you—it’s very likely that Zhuang Wen’s biological father is Butterfly."
A clang sounded from the other end of the phone, as if Li Xue had bumped her shin against a wardrobe: "Are you sure?"
"Positive. You all need to speed up the screening process. Butterfly is feeling the danger too; the next few days will be its most frenzied. If we don’t identify the target soon, it might do something even more outrageously vicious."
"We can’t find anything through the citizen data screening, but we’re applying for higher-level access. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely dig him up as soon as possible."
"And make sure to protect Huang Ying at all costs. We can’t let him disappear like Feng Ziyu. It would be best if you stayed in his home and monitored his mental state all the time."
"We’re on it," Li Xue paused before speaking again, "Han Fei, it sounds like you’re in a hurry. Did something happen?"
"It’s like I’m racing against Butterfly, and the loser will lose everything."
After offering a few more words of caution, Han Fei hung up and headed out, putting on his coat.
Soaking in the sunlight seemed like rest for Han Fei, but he knew he had to make every second count.
He took a ride to Lihua Residental Community and knocked on Zhuang Ren’s door. Having ventured into death Building No. 4, he was now certain of one thing—Zhuang Ren was hiding a secret.
It was because of that secret that Butterfly hadn’t made a move on Zhuang Ren in reality and wanted to bring him into Deep World using the Soul-summoning method instead.
It took three minutes before the door finally opened, and Zhuang Ren looked even worse than before, with blackened lips and eyes nearly filled with blood silk. This wasn’t just poor health anymore; he looked like a man on the verge of death.
"Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night; I only managed to get to sleep at dawn," Zhuang Ren’s voice was hoarse, filled with exhaustion.
"Not really, I just dreamed about my daughter."
"Is it your younger daughter?" Han Fei asked casually.
"Yes," Zhuang Ren replied with some surprise, "She said she missed me a lot and hoped I would come to keep her company. But just as I was about to go, a Big Ghost picked her up by the neck and took her away."
"Do you often have dreams ?"
"I used to have them frequently a long time ago, but as I’ve gotten older, I dream of my family about once every four days."
Four days was exactly the interval between two Soul-returning Nights; in the Deep World, every Soul-summoning indeed had a slight impact on Zhuang Ren’s dreams, a discovery that also startled Han Fei.
"If not every dream of them were a nightmare, I’d really wish I could dream of them every night," Zhuang Ren said as he invited Han Fei into the house. "Have you had breakfast yet? I still have some fruit and dairy products at home."
"No need, I’ve come today because I have something very important to tell you." Han Fei sat down on the sofa, his tone and demeanor different from any previous visit.
"What is it?" Zhuang Ren also noticed that something was off with Han Fei. After closing the door, he sat on the other side of the sofa and looked at Han Fei with a puzzled face.
"I’ve found your family."
These simple words struck Zhuang Ren’s ears like thunder. He didn’t react at first, but after a few seconds, his pale lips trembled slightly, and his murky old eyes locked tightly on Han Fei.
"Not only do I know their location, but I’ve also met them," Han Fei threw out the bait, leaning back against the sofa as he spoke quietly, "However, their condition is very strange, as if they’re bewitched by something. They think they are still alive and that it was you who died in a car accident. To reunite with you, who is already ’dead,’ they are continuously selling their souls to the Evil Ghost, engaging in Soul-summoning."
Picking up the game controller, Han Fei didn’t even look at Zhuang Ren’s reaction, and he started to quickly clear the map in front of him.
With every sentence Han Fei spoke, Zhuang Ren’s complexion changed once again. There were some things Zhuang Ren hadn’t told Han Fei, but Han Fei had spoken the same words as the Chairman of Eternal Life Pharmaceutical all those years ago.
It was his wife and daughters who died in reality, but in the Death Building it was Zhuang Ren who perished.
"Where are they?" Zhuang Ren moved towards where Han Fei was sitting, his tone urgent.
"Room 4144 in the Death Building, I know the way there, I can let you see your family," Han Fei didn’t continue, he just watched Zhuang Ren.
"As long as I can really see my family, I can give you anything you want! I won’t live much longer, I can transfer my house, all my property, into your name. Right, aren’t you an actor? I used to have some friends, I can help you..."
"That’s not what I need," Han Fei shook his head. "My life might also have less than twenty-four hours left, money, fame, and benefits are truly unimportant to me, what I want is just to survive."
Zhuang Ren didn’t quite understand what Han Fei meant. He felt that Han Fei looked very healthy, not at all like someone suffering from a terminal illness.
"Then how can I help you?"
"Tell me all the information related to the Chairman of Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, besides the Death Building Game, did he give you anything else? Did he entrust you with anything else?" Han Fei couldn’t figure out why the Death Building Manager would put the God Statue that sealed the Memory Fragments of Fu Sheng in the room of Zhuang Ren’s wife and children.
"I’ve already told you all I know."
"Do you dare to swear on your wife and daughters?" Han Fei spoke while his hands controlled the game character, constantly clearing the map in front of him: "Think carefully before you answer. In a while, I’ll reach room 4144 to prove I haven’t deceived you, and at the same time, I also want you to see the kind of fear they are living in."