"So there are still a few mysteries left," Ye Chu said, breaking the faintly sorrowful mood. "First, how did Zhong Xiaoli die? Second, what happened between Wang Chunhua and Zhong Xiaoli that we haven't discovered yet? Third, why does Tian Fuguo keep saying Zhong Xiaoli wants to run away?"
Pei Yanchuan nodded. "Once we solve those mysteries, we should be able to uncover the ultimate paradox."
The thought of finally leaving this hellhole instantly lightened the mood.
"Then let's look for more clues here." Su Fengzi surveyed the morgue as he spoke. The lighting was dim, and the temperature was a little low. The refrigerated compartments stood wide open, and several tables were arranged inside, almost every one with a body lying on it.
As expected, they found the bodies of Wang Chunhua, Li Jiayi, and Zhong Xiaoli.
"The death record lists multiple bruises and a broken rib..."
Pei Yanchuan stared at the body. "I don't believe a fall could do this." That scumbag must have beaten her.
"Domestic violence," Ye Chu said. "Bastard."
"Is it possible Zhong Xiaoli was trafficked here too?" Su Fengzi suddenly asked. "Maybe Wang Chunhua didn't feel attached to her as a mother-in-law. Maybe she saw her younger self in her."
Lu Rui nodded. "Yes! Tian Yatou said her mother always cried over her childhood photos in the middle of the night. That must have been why."
Wu You added, "Wang Chunhua wanted to help Zhong Xiaoli escape. Since the Tian family favored boys over girls, Zhong Xiaoli wanted to take Tian Yatou with her. That matches what happened at the beginning! When Ye Chu wanted to take Tian Yatou away, Zhong Xiaoli didn't stop him."
Pei Yanchuan flipped through the death records. "But for some reason, Zhong Xiaoli failed. Tian Fuguo flew into a rage and beat her to death. Meanwhile, Tian Yatou hid at Lu Rui's home."
"It all fits." Ye Chu took a deep breath. "I think I know what the paradox is."
Zhong Xiaoli wanted to keep Tian Fuguo in the hospital, a life for a life. But the law stipulated that no personal grievance could take precedence over it.
Tian Fuguo had to be judged by the law.
The others quickly realized it too. Pei Yanchuan's fists crackled as he clenched them. "A bastard like him-can't we just let him die here?!"
Everyone fell silent.
Ye Chu exhaled and patted Pei Yanchuan on the shoulder. "Come on. We can finish the game now."
Back on the third floor, they found the man and the ghost still locked in a standoff. Tian Fuguo held Tian Guangzong in front of him as though the boy were a guarantee of immunity. "Come on, kill me! I still have your son!!"
Su Fengzi frowned. "Ye Chu, do we really need to save this man?"
Ye Chu's gaze was indifferent, his voice icy. "The law won't let him get away with it."
Su Fengzi shrugged helplessly, only to see Ye Chu rush forward and slam his fist into Tian Fuguo's face. Lu Rui hurried after him and scooped Tian Guangzong out of the way.
Tian Fuguo had no time to react. Stars burst across his vision.
"That punch was for trafficking women and destroying countless families."
The others caught on too. They couldn't kill Tian Fuguo right now, but they could certainly beat him up. Wu You ran over and punched him hard in the back, striking with such force that he dropped to his hands and knees. "That punch was for favoring boys over girls! Pah! Scumbag!"
Su Fengzi lifted his foot and drove it into Tian Fuguo's back, knocking him flat. "That kick was for attacking hospital staff! Pah! Bastard!"
After putting the child down, Lu Rui rushed over too and punched Tian Fuguo in the head. "That punch was for abusing your wife! Pah! Animal!"
Tian Fuguo spat out a mouthful of blood, unable even to crawl. Pei Yanchuan grabbed him by the hair and snorted coldly.
Tian Fuguo could no longer open his eyes. He mumbled, "Please... please let me go..."
"Let you go?" Pei Yanchuan sounded as though he had heard something hilarious. "When you trafficked people, did you hear their parents begging you to let their children go? When you attacked that nurse, did you spare her? When you favored your son over your daughter, did you spare your six-year-old girl? When you abused your wife, did you spare her...?"
Pei Yanchuan hauled him up and pointed at the victims present. "Did you hear them when they begged you? Did you spare them?"
Pei Yanchuan drove his fist into Tian Fuguo's stomach. "No one will forgive what you've done." He released his grip, and Tian Fuguo collapsed limply to the floor.
"The law will punish you."
Tian Guangzong and Tian Yatou threw themselves into Zhong Xiaoli's arms. "Mom." Sweet smiles lit their little faces, as though they hadn't noticed the brutal scene behind them.
Zhong Xiaoli's figure slowly turned white, taking on the gentle, lovely appearance she had in the photograph. She smiled as she held her two children, two little dimples appearing beside her lips.
She raised her head and looked gratefully at the people before her as her body slowly turned transparent.
Ye Chu stepped forward and solemnly promised, "Don't worry. We'll take you and Granny Wang home."
Zhong Xiaoli's smile grew brighter, a tear sliding down her cheek. Her body gradually vanished, and the darkness slowly receded, restoring the hospital to its brightly lit state.
[Congratulations, players! You have successfully completed the "Illusion Paradox" challenge!]
A flash of white light filled Ye Chu's vision-the familiar light pollution. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his own room.
He opened the door and saw that the others had woken up too and were heading toward the living room.
"Ye Chu." Pei Yanchuan had been walking perfectly well a moment earlier, but the instant he saw Ye Chu, he suddenly went weak and leaned against his shoulder. "My arm really hurts..."
Ye Chu supported him and asked anxiously, "Where? Is it where Zhong Xiaoli scratched you? Didn't I give you the antidote? Didn't it work?"
The corners of Pei Yanchuan's mouth had just begun to lift when the system's voice sounded at the worst possible moment:
[Hello, player. Injuries sustained within the game will not carry over outside it. Please rest assured.]
Pei Yanchuan's smile froze. Ye Chu raised an eyebrow and watched him calmly.
Let's see how you explain your way out of this.
"Ha..." Pei Yanchuan gave a couple of awkward laughs. "I guess I was so scared I started imagining things."
Ye Chu shoved him away. "Come on. Let's go downstairs and join the others."
In the living room, the other three were already seated by the sofa, watching television and eating fruit.
"Where did the fruit come from?" Ye Chu asked, spearing a piece of watermelon with a fork.
Su Fengzi ate an orange. "We just exchanged some points for it. We got quite a few tips from that last game, so we bought some fruit."
Pei Yanchuan followed Ye Chu downstairs, looking thoroughly dejected. Wu You couldn't help laughing when she saw him.
The system's voice had echoed throughout the room earlier. It took only one guess for them to figure out what had happened.
Hearing her laughter, Pei Yanchuan looked up and shot Wu You a fierce glare. Wu You raised her eyebrows, then turned to Lu Rui beside her with a wounded expression. "Lu Rui, my hand hurts."
Lu Rui looked at Wu You, then at Pei Yanchuan's tense face, and smiled. "All right, stop teasing Xiao Pei."
Before you continue