Chapter Thirty-One: The Divine Art of Escape

Shang Yi used the Hanged Man’s voice and tone to address the black-faced security guard: “The guest who came today overheard our conversation and has already recorded it and reported it to the Xijiao Police Station. The Fool is furious.”

“He asked me to compile all the murder-related activities you’ve committed in this apartment, and then he’ll figure out what to do next. I need you to dictate them to me right now.”

After saying this, Shang Yi immediately began recording with his phone.

The black-faced security guard was so shocked by this news that he was momentarily speechless, his expression turning grim. He knew the Hanged Man’s forbidden domain was nearly invincible, and it never occurred to him that someone in this world could impersonate the Hanged Man and fool him.

He stood there dazed for a while before reluctantly beginning to recount the details of the murders he’d committed here.

He started from the first time he entered two years ago, describing every person he killed.

As he spoke, he tried to recall the events; he had killed so many, and participated every time, that some details were a bit hazy and he faltered now and then.

It took nearly three minutes before he finished describing all the murders.

Shang Yi, satisfied, stopped recording and made an “attack” gesture to Xue Ling, who stood behind the black-faced guard.

Xue Ling immediately understood, revealed herself, and activated her forbidden domain, “Crimson Lotus of the Dancing Tongue.” A long tongue of fire swiftly wrapped around the black-faced guard’s neck.

Suddenly attacked at a vital point, the guard’s survival instincts kicked in and he instantly activated “Iron Blood Frenzy,” tripling the hardness of his skin.

A ring of dark keratin formed on his skin, blocking the fire tongue’s assault.

Before coming in, Shang Yi had studied the black-faced guard’s forbidden domain many times. He knew that once the guard chose the defensive Iron Blood effect, it could only be maintained for five seconds.

And if he wanted to switch to the Frenzy attack effect, he’d have to wait thirty seconds.

Silently counting five seconds in his mind, Shang Yi watched the hardening fade from the guard’s skin, then quickly pulled a multi-purpose entrenching shovel from his spatial pocket and brought it down hard on the guard’s head.

Having experience knocking out the Hanged Man, he was confident that one blow would leave the guard unconscious.

Unexpectedly, the guard’s physique was far superior to the Hanged Man’s. Even without his hardened skin, he remained conscious after the blow.

Were it not for the fire tongue strangling his neck, which kept him busy tearing at it with both hands, he might have punched Shang Yi in the face the next moment.

Shang Yi didn’t dare use a skull-crusher or a heavy hammer directly on someone’s head.

He wasn’t sure how much force was needed to knock someone out, or how much would kill outright.

If he misjudged and struck too hard, the shovel would become a literal skull-crusher.

Seeing the guard struggling desperately and Xue Ling hesitant to use full strength for fear of strangling him, while Xiong Xia dared not risk using her fire breath, the situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

A flash of inspiration struck him. He quickly called Tan Gong outside the door to come in.

He signaled Tan Gong to use his abilities on the black-faced guard. Tan Gong instantly understood and activated his “Eye of Weakness” on the guard.

Shang Yi swung the entrenching shovel again, landing three more blows on the guard’s head.

With his injuries doubled by the Eye of Weakness, the black-faced guard finally collapsed to the floor, unable to hold out.

Shang Yi immediately took out a nylon rope from his spatial pocket and tied the guard up tightly.

The loss of the sentry outside the door set off a chain reaction. Before Shang Yi could get up, a bald, overweight man walked in.

The three ghosts sensed a living person approaching and quickly turned invisible, but there was no time to warn Shang Yi.

“Boss, what happened? What’s wrong with Li Fu?”

Finishing binding the guard, Shang Yi stood, turning to see a short, obese, and lecherous-looking bald man in the doorway.

He was wearing pajamas and looked half-asleep, as if he’d just been woken.

This must be Huang Liu, the one detected by the scanner.

Shang Yi’s mind raced, and he immediately used the Hanged Man’s voice and tone to address Huang Liu:

“Today’s guest has special abilities. Not only did they discover our body-hiding spot and report it to the police, but they also used telepathy to make Bao Lifu surrender himself.”

“Fortunately, I caught on in time and knocked him out.”

“The Fool is furious. He’s ordered me to compile all the murders, rapes, and related crimes you’ve committed here. He’ll handle the rest. Dictate everything to me now.”

Though his words weren’t flawless, there was no obvious hole in the story.

Add the pressure of the Hanged Man’s identity, and Huang Liu believed him without much thought.

Before he began, Shang Yi started recording again.

Huang Liu had a much better memory, taking less than two minutes to confess all his crimes.

After recording, Shang Yi looked toward the invisible trio of ghosts. Xue Ling and Tan Gong shook their heads vigorously, signaling their forbidden domains had not yet recharged.

He considered Xiong Xia’s forbidden domain, uncertain how powerful her ghostly fire truly was.

If it was even more deadly than a military flamethrower, the bald man would become a charred corpse in moments.

Watching Huang Liu’s confused gaze, Shang Yi calculated where to strike to keep the man alive, yet advance his own plan.

Huang Liu stared at Shang Yi, thinking, I’ve confessed everything—why isn’t the boss saying anything or moving?

Shang Yi glanced at Xiong Xia, making a “go” and “gentle” gesture, then pointed to the area between Huang Liu’s legs, and signaled Tan Gong to close the door.

Xiong Xia understood and unleashed her “Infernal Ghostfire,” sending a jet of black flames straight at Huang Liu.

Simultaneously, Tan Gong appeared and shut the door tightly.

Suddenly scorched in his most sensitive area, Huang Liu leaped up, screaming in agony.

Though the door was closed, Shang Yi feared the screams would reach both the living and the dead on the third floor.

He quickly snatched up the entrenching shovel and whacked Huang Liu’s bald head.

Clutching his crotch, Huang Liu was completely unprepared for his superior to suddenly attack him with a shovel. Before he could dodge, he was struck several times.

Huang Liu’s constitution was far inferior to the black-faced guard’s; after a few blows, he was senseless and collapsed.

Shang Yi took out another nylon rope and bound Huang Liu securely.

He then opened his messaging app and sent the two recorded confession videos to Tian Yuan, leaving a message: “Please send these two videos to Captain Yuan Qi immediately. Thank you.”

Tian Yuan replied at once: “Will do. Boss Shang, you’re incredible!”

Shang Yi reviewed the two videos. The confessions corroborated each other and detailed the crimes of the Hanged Man’s gang thoroughly.

They also implicated another accomplice, the tall, long-faced man Zhang Kun, as shown on the scanner.

Though Zhang Kun’s forbidden domain wasn’t outstanding in attack or defense, it was a miracle for escape.

If he managed to teleport out of sight and warn Fang Liang, things could get very complicated.

“Xue Ling, I haven’t been to the third floor. Can you describe the room layout for me?”

Xue Ling nodded. “There are five rooms on the third floor: two bedrooms on either end, with a bathroom, a media room, and a gym in the middle.”

“Fang Liang’s bedroom is on the far east, Zhang Kun’s on the far west.”

“Good, they’re far apart,” Shang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. “Is the gym next to Zhang Kun’s room?”

“That’s right.”

“Here’s the plan for dealing with Zhang Kun. Once your forbidden domains have recovered, Xue Ling, Tan Gong, and I will enter Zhang Kun’s room. Xiong Xia, you’ll go into the gym next door.”

“Zhang Kun’s forbidden domain is instant teleportation, but we don’t know the activation conditions yet.”

“If we can’t knock him out immediately, he might teleport to the gym next door.”

“Xiong Xia, block the gym door so he can’t escape. He won’t be able to teleport again within two minutes. That should give us enough time to subdue him.”

Shang Yi discussed further details of the plan with the three ghosts. When the time was right, they all moved up to the third floor and stood before Zhang Kun’s bedroom.

Using the Hanged Man’s key, Shang Yi tried to unlock the door, but found it bolted from inside. He had no choice but to knock gently.

“Who is it?” came a middle-aged man’s voice from within.

Shang Yi didn’t know how the Hanged Man usually referred to himself, so he replied, “It’s me,” hoping the other would recognize the voice.

“Is that Brother Ran?”

Shang Yi had no idea how Zhang Kun usually addressed the Hanged Man. Since the question was posed, he could only answer, “Yes.”

After a while, there was still no movement from inside.

Shang Yi immediately suspected that the “Brother Ran” address was a deliberate test, and now Zhang Kun was suspicious.

With no other option, he knocked again. “Open up. I need to talk to you urgently.”

Still, there was no response. Sensing something was wrong, Shang Yi knew he couldn’t wait any longer.

He signaled Tan Gong to check the gym next door.

Meanwhile, he took out a handheld electric saw from his spatial pocket, switched it on, and began sawing through the bolt on the door.

The saw was high quality; within seconds, the bolt was cut.

He pushed the door open to find the room empty, windows shut tight.

Rushing in, he checked under the bed and in the closet—Zhang Kun was nowhere to be found. He ran to the gym next door, where Xiong Xia and Tan Gong still stood guard by the entrance, but the room was empty.

“You didn’t see Zhang Kun come through here?”

Tan Gong and Xiong Xia shook their heads, and Shang Yi knew trouble was brewing.

Zhang Kun was cunning—he’d escaped without even a confrontation.

“Even if he can teleport, the range is only five meters. If he didn’t come here, where could he have gone?”

Shang Yi ran a hand through his hair, then suddenly thought of something. He quickly asked Xue Ling, “What room is directly beneath Zhang Kun’s bedroom on the second floor?”