Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The narrator learns about the destruction of Taoyuan Town from Qiao Li, who reveals that a mysterious sword caused the town's inhabitants to go mad and attack each other.
• Qiao Li hints that the sword is extremely evil and powerful.
• The narrator discovers that Qiao Li is much younger than he appears, leading to a conversation about eternal life.
• Qiao Li reveals that the Taoyuan Town Massacre was a conspiracy, and he was one of the survivors who sought revenge. He also mentions a powerful being with white hair all over his face.
• After Qiao Li reveals this information, he rapidly ages and dies, indicating that he had been granted longevity by the mastermind and had betrayed him by sharing the information.
• The narrator concludes that the mastermind behind the Taoyuan Town Massacre and the Abandoned School is still alive.

Character Developments

• Qiao Li: Initially presented as a mysterious and powerful figure, Qiao Li's past is revealed, showing his role as a survivor of the Taoyuan Town Massacre and his subsequent servitude to the mastermind. His betrayal leads to his rapid aging and death.
• The Narrator: The narrator continues to uncover the truth behind the tragedies, demonstrating determination and curiosity. They also show empathy by closing Qiao Li's eyes after his death.

Significant Themes

• Power and its corrupting influence: The mysterious sword and the mastermind's ability to grant longevity illustrate the corrupting influence of power.
• Betrayal and its consequences: Qiao Li's betrayal of the mastermind leads to his rapid aging and death, highlighting the severe consequences of betrayal.
• The passage of time: The seventy-year gap between the Taoyuan Town Massacre and the present emphasizes the enduring nature of the mastermind's plan and the passage of time.

Character Interactions

• The narrator and Qiao Li: Their conversation reveals Qiao Li's past and the truth behind the Taoyuan Town Massacre. Their interaction also shows the narrator's ability to extract information from others.
• The narrator and Li Tongtian: After Qiao Li's death, the narrator shares the information with Li Tongtian, leading to a discussion about the mastermind's possible goals and the true nature of the Abandoned School.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Tongtian and the protagonist discuss the Taoyuan Town Massacre and the abandoned school's history, revealing a long-standing conspiracy.
• Li Tongtian shares his concern about the whereabouts of the evil sword that caused the massacre.
• Wu Yong, upon the protagonist's return, reveals he's been extorting classmates, taking half of their earnings after they leave the abandoned school in exchange for protection from the Ghost Doctor.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more aware of the mastermind's long-term plan and the power of the evil sword, feeling helpless and disbelieving.
• Li Tongtian shows determination to investigate the Ghost Doctor further.
• Wu Yong demonstrates his cunning and ruthlessness in exploiting their classmates' desperation for survival.

Significant Themes

• Powerlessness in the face of overwhelming evil and conspiracy.
• Manipulation and exploitation of the weak by the powerful.
• The corrupting influence of power and desperation.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Li Tongtian share information and theories about the conspiracy, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
• Wu Yong interacts with the protagonist, seeking his approval for his extortion scheme, and with their classmates, exerting dominance and control.
• The protagonist remains distant and indifferent towards their classmates' plight, focusing more on his own survival and understanding of the conspiracy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, disillusioned with human gratitude, decides to let Wu Yong, a ghost, do as he pleases.
• Several girls approach the protagonist, but he shows no interest in them.
• The protagonist tells Wu Yong to cherish the last use of the Soul Summoning Bell and be careful when he's not around.
• The protagonist leaves school to search for clues and strengthen himself at night.
• He visits the Abandoned Hospital, where he encounters a mysterious shadow that leads him to uncover the truth about the hospital's past.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more detached and focused on his mission, showing less interest in human relationships.
• Wu Yong remains loyal and concerned for the protagonist's well-being.
• The mysterious shadow in the Abandoned Hospital reveals its plight and agrees to help the protagonist find the truth.

Significant Themes

• The futility of human gratitude and the protagonist's disillusionment.
• The protagonist's growing determination to uncover the truth and strengthen himself.
• The trapped and suffering spirits in the Abandoned Hospital, reflecting the theme of the consequences of past actions.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with several girls who show interest in him, but he remains indifferent.
• The protagonist and Wu Yong share a moment of understanding and concern for each other.
• The protagonist communicates with the mysterious shadow in the Abandoned Hospital, showing empathy and a desire to understand its plight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and the Shadow visit the Shadow's memory from twenty years ago, just before the calamity at the hospital.
• They witness a girl who has lived for a thousand years rapidly aging and doctors debating whether to treat or destroy her.
• The environment shifts to a scene of mass destruction, with thousands of corpses (not just over a hundred) in the hospital, revealing the true death toll.
• The protagonist sees a dark silhouette with terrifying eyes, who is implied to be the murderer responsible for the hospital massacre.

Character Developments

• The Shadow: Reveals more about his past and the true extent of the hospital's tragedy.
• The protagonist: Discovers the shocking truth about the hospital's death toll and encounters the murderer's chilling presence.

Significant Themes

• The horror of the unknown and the truth behind the hospital's calamity.
• The struggle between curiosity (wanting to understand the girl's secret) and self-preservation (fearing her terrifying power).

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and the Shadow: The Shadow guides the protagonist through his memories, revealing the hospital's dark past.
• The protagonist and the dark silhouette: The protagonist encounters the murderer, feeling unspeakable fear upon seeing his terrifying eyes.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The narrator learns about a massacre in an abandoned hospital, where a figure killed over two thousand people, sparing only a few.
• The narrator discovers that the mastermind behind these events is a figure who looks down on all beings and uses their deaths to grow stronger.
• The narrator is told that the mastermind is currently weak and can be killed, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stop the tragedies.
• The narrator is given the ability to see the mastermind through their right eye, which turns black and can detect a red aura around the mastermind.

Character Developments

• The narrator becomes determined to find and kill the mastermind to end the cycle of tragedies.
• Shadow, the spirit from the abandoned hospital, reveals crucial information and helps the narrator by imbuing their right eye with the aura of an evil spirit.

Significant Themes

• The power of life and death, and the consequences of using others' suffering for personal gain.
• The struggle between the narrator and the mastermind, with the narrator seeking to end the cycle of violence and the mastermind growing stronger through fear and death.
• The theme of redemption, as the narrator seeks to right the wrongs committed by the mastermind.

Character Interactions

• The narrator interacts with Shadow, learning about the mastermind's true nature and gaining the ability to find them.
• The narrator shares their plan with Wu Yong and Li Tongtian, enlisting their help to find the mastermind within the school.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist senses an evil spirit's aura in the school but can't pinpoint its source.
• He enlists Li Tongtian's help to gather a list of students and teachers who haven't arrived at school.
• The protagonist and Wu Yong visit each person on the list, searching for the mastermind, but find nothing unusual.
• Wu Yong mentions a girl in white clothes he found attractive, which sparks the protagonist's suspicion.
• The protagonist decides to revisit the girl in the red dress, despite the late hour.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains determined and patient in his search for the mastermind, even after a fruitless day.
• Wu Yong shows appreciation for beauty but also loyalty to the protagonist, following him despite his exhaustion.

Significant Themes

• Patience and perseverance in the face of obstacles.
• The importance of keen observation and attention to detail.
• The duality of appearances: the mastermind's true nature hidden beneath a seemingly innocent exterior.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Li Tongtian work together, with Li providing valuable assistance.
• The protagonist and Wu Yong search together, with Wu Yong occasionally expressing his thoughts and concerns.
• The protagonist interacts with the families of the people they visit, showing determination but also respect for their privacy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist encounters a girl who appears normal but has red clothing and nails in his eyes, while others see white.
• He realizes the girl has been absent from school, evading him, and deduces she's the mastermind behind a series of events.
• The protagonist attacks the girl and her parents, who are revealed to be corpses. He then confronts the girl, who admits to being the mastermind.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates exceptional perception and deduction skills, identifying the girl as the mastermind despite her disguise.
• The girl, revealed to be the mastermind, shows no remorse for the deaths she's caused and considers human lives insignificant.

Significant Themes

• Perception vs Reality: The protagonist sees things differently from others, hinting at a supernatural ability or unique perspective.
• Power and Corruption: The mastermind's disregard for human life and her enjoyment of causing fear and death highlight the corrupting influence of power.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Wu Yong work together to uncover the truth, with Wu Yong supporting the protagonist's deductions.
• The mastermind taunts the protagonist, acknowledging his abilities but expressing confidence in her own power.
• The mastermind shows no regard for her 'parents,' confirming their status as corpses under her control.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist finds the mastermind, a woman, surprisingly weak and forthcoming about her role in the abandoned school and town massacres.
• The woman reveals she's over a century old, created the abandoned school, and orchestrated the events, treating the humans and fierce ghosts as pawns.
• She's being pursued by unknown entities, and her current state is due to them. She possesses a powerful defensive item, a red pearl.
• Wu Yong summons an old woman, the Ancestor of Longhu Mountain, using the now-shattered Soul Summoning Bell. The old woman wounds the mastermind.
• The protagonist attempts to kill the weakened mastermind, but the old woman blocks the attack.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more suspicious and cautious about the woman's true identity and motives.
• Wu Yong demonstrates loyalty and desperation in wanting to avenge his family, even summoning a powerful entity.
• The woman reveals her immense age, power, and manipulative nature, showing no remorse for her actions.

Significant Themes

• Power and manipulation: The woman's actions highlight the theme of power dynamics and manipulation, using others for her own ends.
• Karma: The woman mentions karma, suggesting that her past actions may have consequences, and her current situation could be retribution.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and the woman engage in a tense conversation, with the protagonist trying to extract information and the woman taunting him.
• Wu Yong and the protagonist work together to try and defeat the woman.
• The old woman's sudden appearance and actions create a surprising turn of events, revealing a complex relationship with the woman.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe, summoned by Wu Yong's Soul Summoning Bell, initially defies Wu Yong's command not to kill the woman.
• Wu Yong and the protagonist realize that the Old Woman in Taoist Robe is resisting the Bell's control due to her immense power.
• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe prevents the protagonist and Wu Yong from killing the woman, stating that she "cannot be killed."
• Wu Yong, driven by desperation, attacks the woman physically. The Old Woman in Taoist Robe does not intervene.
• The protagonist decides to let Wu Yong kill the woman, despite reservations about potential consequences.

Character Developments

• Wu Yong: Becomes increasingly desperate and reckless, prioritizing immediate action over potential risks.
• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe: Reveals resistance to the Soul Summoning Bell's control, hinting at a complex motivation for protecting the woman.
• The protagonist: Shows hesitation and caution, considering potential risks before deciding to let Wu Yong kill the woman.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The Old Woman in Taoist Robe's resistance to the Soul Summoning Bell highlights the struggle between different sources of power.
• Consequences of action: The protagonist and Wu Yong grapple with the potential outcomes of their actions, with Wu Yong prioritizing immediate results and the protagonist considering long-term risks.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yong and the protagonist: Their dynamic shifts as Wu Yong becomes more reckless and the protagonist more cautious.
• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe and the woman: Their relationship remains unclear, with the Old Woman in Taoist Robe protecting the woman despite her being the mastermind behind her death.
• The protagonist and the Old Woman in Taoist Robe: Their interaction hints at a shared understanding of the situation's complexity, with the protagonist respecting the Old Woman in Taoist Robe's resistance to the Bell's control.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and Wu Yong find the mastermind (a woman) and Wu Yong kills her multiple times to ensure her death.
• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe reveals that the mastermind cannot be killed and gains strength from death.
• They realize they've been tricked; killing the mastermind helped her regain power.
• The mastermind's goal is vast and will result in many deaths if achieved.

Character Developments

• Wu Yong: Realizes his mistake in killing the mastermind, feels stupid and guilty.
• The Protagonist: Understands the mastermind's scheme, feels shocked and determined to stop her.
• The Old Woman in Taoist Robe: Reveals more about the mastermind, her past, and her goal.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: The mastermind uses the protagonist and Wu Yong to regain her strength.
• Power dynamics: The mastermind gains power through death and sacrifices.
• Perseverance: Despite the setback, the protagonist remains determined to stop the mastermind.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yong and the protagonist: They work together to find and kill the mastermind, but later realize their mistake.
• The protagonist and the Old Woman in Taoist Robe: She provides crucial information about the mastermind and warns the protagonist not to kill her again.
• The mastermind and the protagonist/Wu Yong: The mastermind manipulates them into killing her, regaining her strength.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist (unnamed) and Wu Yong discuss the possibility of killing the mastermind.
• The protagonist visits the Abandoned Hospital again but finds it empty and no longer haunted.
• The Shadow reveals that the mastermind can command ghosts, including itself, and has resurrected after being killed.
• The mastermind's body has mysteriously disappeared, and the Shadow can't refuse her orders.
• The protagonist learns that the mastermind doesn't have an immortal body, which is a relief.
• The protagonist and Li Tongtian discuss the mastermind's situation and decide to focus on dealing with the Ghost Doctor for now.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains determined to find and kill the mastermind but feels powerless due to the broken clues.
• The Shadow reveals its inability to disobey the mastermind's orders, showing its submissive nature.
• Li Tongtian shows concern for the protagonist's safety and agrees with his strategy to wait for the Ghost Doctor and mastermind to fight.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against an overwhelming and seemingly invincible enemy (the mastermind).
• The importance of finding and exploiting weaknesses in one's enemies.
• The theme of survival and adaptability in the face of powerful adversaries.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Wu Yong: They share their determination to kill the mastermind but are frustrated by the lack of progress.
• The protagonist and the Shadow: The protagonist expresses his frustration with the Shadow for helping the mastermind deceive him, while the Shadow reveals its inability to disobey the mastermind's orders.
• The protagonist and Li Tongtian: They discuss the mastermind's situation, the Ghost Doctor, and their strategy moving forward, showing their mutual understanding and agreement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist discovers a demon fetus with double pupils in his refrigerator, hinting at its extraordinary nature and the potential cause of the abandoned hospital massacre.
• He dreams of climbing a snowy mountain, with others falling behind until he's alone at the summit, facing a giant, pitch-black hand from the sky.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more determined to unravel the mystery behind the demon fetus and the massacre.
• Wu Yong shows remorse for missing the opportunity to eliminate the mastermind.

Significant Themes

• The extraordinary nature of the demon fetus and its potential impact on the world.
• The relentless pursuit of the truth despite obstacles and setbacks.
• The power dynamics between the protagonist, Wu Yong, and the mastermind.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Wu Yong discuss the missed opportunity to eliminate the mastermind and strategize their next steps.
• Students, unaffected by the brand, joke about their trip to the abandoned school, showing a mix of fearlessness and nonchalance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ghost Doctor's power is feared, but a list provides safety in the Abandoned School.
• Survivors pay Wu Yong a high commission for spots on the list.
• The Southern Emperor, injured by the Ghost Doctor, seeks Liang Fan's help.
• The Southern Emperor reveals Lan Lele is the mastermind's spy and gives Liang Fan her phone as evidence.

Character Developments

• Liang Fan remains indifferent and uninterested in helping the Southern Emperor despite his pleas.
• The Southern Emperor, once powerful, is now desperate and disabled, willing to do anything to survive.

Significant Themes

• Survival and desperation in the face of the Ghost Doctor's power.
• The corrupting influence of power and wealth, as seen in Wu Yong's extortion.
• Betrayal and secrets, with Lan Lele's true allegiance revealed.

Character Interactions

• Liang Fan and the Southern Emperor: The Southern Emperor begs Liang Fan for help, but Liang Fan remains unmoved until he learns about Lan Lele.
• Wu Yong and the survivors: Wu Yong extorts the survivors for high commissions to secure spots on the list.
• Liang Fan and Lan Lele: Liang Fan discovers Lan Lele's betrayal through her phone, leading him to help the Southern Emperor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist finds Lan Lele with a boy, and they have a private conversation.
• The protagonist reveals he knows about Lan Lele's betrayal and her role in monitoring him for the mastermind.
• Lan Lele admits her actions and expresses regret, but the protagonist remains cold and indifferent.
• The protagonist demands his spot back, but Lan Lele refuses, fearing death.
• The protagonist leaves, warning Lan Lele not to expect to see him again unless it's her last moment.
• Afterward, the protagonist focuses on finding props and clues about the mastermind, leading him back to the Abandoned School and its origins.

Character Developments

• Protagonist: Becomes more cold and calculating after learning of Lan Lele's betrayal. He prioritizes finding the mastermind and her accomplices over personal relationships.
• Lan Lele: Shows remorse for her actions but remains self-centered and focused on survival. She's willing to do anything to keep her spot.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal: Lan Lele's betrayal of the protagonist highlights the theme of trust and its absence in their world.
• Power and Survival: Both characters are driven by the desire for power and survival, leading to their actions and decisions.
• The Mastermind's Identity: The search for the mastermind's true identity and her connection to the Abandoned School becomes a central mystery.

Character Interactions

• Protagonist and Lan Lele: Their interaction is tense and filled with resentment. The protagonist's coldness contrasts with Lan Lele's desperation and remorse.
• Protagonist and the Mastermind: Though not directly present, the mastermind's influence is evident in their interaction, as Lan Lele's actions were driven by her fear of the mastermind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist and Li Tongtian investigate the founder of their school, Liu Xingbang, and his son, Liu Wen.
• They visit the Liu family manor, finding it dilapidated despite the family's wealth.
• They meet Liu Wen, who offers a donation to the school and claims his family is frugal despite their fortune.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains suspicious and analytical, piecing together clues about the Liu family.
• Liu Wen is portrayed as humble and philanthropic, but the protagonist suspects he's hiding something.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs. Reality: The Liu family manor's exterior grandeur versus its interior decay hints at a hidden truth.
• Money and Power: The allure of the Abandoned School's wealth drives people to enter, reflecting the corrupting influence of money.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Li Tongtian work together, sharing their thoughts and suspicions about the Liu family.
• The protagonist interacts with Liu Wen, subtly probing his character and the family's situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Tongtian and the protagonist discuss the abandoned school's wealth and the mastermind's funding source.
• They suspect the Liu family's involvement and decide to investigate.
• The protagonist infiltrates the Liu family manor, finding it dilapidated yet secure.
• He discovers a locked, unmaintained building and decides to monitor Liu Wen instead.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains determined to uncover the truth about the mastermind.
• Li Tongtian shows analytical skills in discussing the mastermind's wealth.
• Liu Wen is revealed to have an obsession with jade artifacts, hinting at his true wealth.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of wealth and power.
• The disparity between appearance and reality.
• The obsession with material possessions.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Li Tongtian collaborate and share their thoughts on the case.
• The protagonist infiltrates Liu Wen's home without his knowledge, highlighting the power dynamic between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Wen, now a jade addict, secures the room after his jade obsession episode.
• His son demands a luxury car, and Liu Wen reluctantly agrees, revealing they pay an annual 'tribute'.
• Liu Wen's son questions the tribute, causing Liu Wen to reveal a century-old family secret.

Character Developments

• Liu Wen: Transforms from a refined gentleman to a jade addict. Reveals his fear and deference towards the tribute recipient, suggesting a higher power.
• Liu Wen's Son: Initially appears spoiled and materialistic, but later shows curiosity and concern for his family's situation.

Significant Themes

• Greed and Materialism: Liu Wen's son represents this theme, while Liu Wen's fear of the tribute recipient hints at the consequences of unchecked greed.
• Power Dynamics: The 'tribute' system implies a power imbalance, with Liu Wen and his family being subservient to an unknown entity.

Character Interactions

• Liu Wen and his son: Their interaction highlights the son's materialism and Liu Wen's fear and reluctance to discuss the tribute. It also shows Liu Wen's protective nature towards his family.
• Liu Wen and the narrator: The narrator observes Liu Wen's actions and overhears his conversation with his son, leading to the revelation of the family secret.

Key Revelations

• The Liu family pays an annual 'tribute' to an unknown entity, implying a feudal-like power structure.
• Liu Wen's grandfather encountered a woman who saved him from bandits over a century ago, possibly a supernatural entity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grandpa Liu Wen encounters a mysterious woman who offers him wealth in exchange for worship and tribute.
• His business flourishes, and he becomes the richest man in the area, but must offer annual tributes to the woman.
• His family faces numerous tragedies when they attempt to defy the woman's demands.
• The Liu family's prosperity and misfortunes are tied to the woman's whims, and they must continue to offer tributes to avoid annihilation.
• Liu Wen's son considers breaking away from the family to escape the woman's control, but his father warns against it.

Character Developments

• Grandpa Liu Wen: Starts as a poor man, becomes wealthy and devout to the woman after her offer. His devotion grows with each family tragedy.
• Liu Wen (Father): Takes over the family business, continues worshipping the woman, and becomes more cautious and fearful over time.
• Liu Wen's Son: Initially unaware of the family's secret, he later considers breaking away from the family to escape the woman's control.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: The woman exercises absolute power over the Liu family, controlling their wealth and lives.
• Dependence and Manipulation: The Liu family relies on the woman's power for their prosperity, but this dependence also makes them vulnerable to her whims.
• Family Loyalty vs. Individual Ambition: Liu Wen's son considers breaking away from the family to escape the woman's control, but his father warns against it, emphasizing the importance of family unity.

Character Interactions

• Grandpa Liu Wen and the Woman: Their relationship is one of worship and fear, with Grandpa Liu Wen becoming increasingly devout as the woman's demands and punishments escalate.
• Liu Wen and his Son: Liu Wen tries to instill caution and fear in his son regarding the woman, warning him against defying her. His son, however, initially considers breaking away from the family to escape her control.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Wen, the patriarch of the Liu family, secretly visits a dilapidated house and retrieves a letter revealing the family's servitude to the mastermind for generations in exchange for wealth and prosperity in life and eternal glory after death.
• The protagonist learns about this arrangement and shares the information with Li Tongtian.
• Li Tongtian suggests using the Liu family to find a trace of the mastermind, as eliminating them might not be enough to stop the mastermind's influence.

Character Developments

• Liu Wen: Revealed to be deeply devoted to the mastermind, driven by the promise of eternal glory after death.
• Protagonist: Realizes the mastermind's power extends beyond the Abandoned School, influencing prominent families like the Liu family.
• Li Tongtian: Shows strategic thinking, suggesting they use the Liu family to track the mastermind.

Significant Themes

• Power and influence: The mastermind's power extends beyond the supernatural, controlling influential families in the mortal world.
• Servitude and wealth: The Liu family's wealth and prosperity come at the cost of serving the mastermind.
• Mortality and afterlife: The promise of eternal glory after death drives Liu Wen's devotion.

Character Interactions

• Protagonist and Liu Wen: The protagonist follows Liu Wen and discovers the family's secret.
• Protagonist and Li Tongtian: They discuss the Liu family's situation and strategize against the mastermind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist investigates the Liu family and discovers their involvement in human trafficking on a massive scale, targeting women from poorer nations.
• The Liu family's wealth and their tribute to the mastermind are revealed.
• The protagonist feels a sharp pain in his back and is summoned to the abandoned school, where he meets Wu Yong and other students.

Character Developments

• Liu Wen: Revealed as a ruthless and evil patriarch of the Liu family, involved in human trafficking and willing to sacrifice others for personal gain.
• Protagonist: Becomes more determined to uncover the truth and stop the Liu family's crimes, despite the danger and the mysterious mastermind's abilities.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and Greed: The Liu family's illegal activities driven by greed and power.
• Helplessness and Resolve: The protagonist's feelings of helplessness against the mastermind's power, yet his resolve to uncover the truth remains unshaken.

Character Interactions

• Protagonist and Liu Wen: The protagonist observes Liu Wen's conversations, leading to the discovery of his crimes.
• Protagonist and Wu Yong: Wu Yong seeks the protagonist's help for the girls, but the protagonist remains indifferent, prioritizing survival and the limited spots they have.
• Wu Yong and the Girls: Wu Yong is tempted to help the girls but ultimately decides against it, following the protagonist's lead.