Yasushi glanced at his watch, noting the fifteen minutes that had ticked by. He took a breath, preparing to move. "Okay, that should be enough time," he said. No sooner had the words left his mouth than his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out and checked the message from Anfeng. The update was clear: Zihan's group had descended into the basement, a sprawling space within the rundown building, and Anfeng's team suspected they were about to attempt persuading Jingliu to join their group.
He handed his phone to Yueqin. She skimmed the message, her eyes narrowing in thought. "That was the plan, yes," she confirmed. "I think we should head down there quietly."
Yueqin's gaze fell on Lingxi, who lay sprawled across her lap, deeply asleep. Without a word, Yueqin leaned in, pinching Lingxi's cheek with a gentle but firm touch. When that didn't rouse her, Yueqin carefully slid a finger down Lingxi's throat. The subtle pressure did the trick; Lingxi stirred, blinking sleepily as she slowly woke up.
Yueqin's voice, steady and calming, cut through the tension as she laid out the situation for Lingxi, who stared back with a mix of confusion and dread. Lingxi's eyes widened as she absorbed the information. The realization that Yasushi knew the full truth seemed to shatter her resolve. She wiped her eyes, her voice trembling as she spoke, "I want to be free; I hate being cruel to people. Every time I come home after doing these things, I end up throwing up."
Tears slipped down her cheeks, each drop proof to the weight she had carried in silence. Yasushi, observing the raw vulnerability in her confession, offered a nod of understanding. He then explained his plan in brief, outlining their next steps. Lingxi's initial reluctance melted away as she recognized the opportunity to escape the torment that had become her daily existence. She agreed to join the plan, seeing it as her chance to break free from the suffocating nightmare.
As they moved quietly, the sound of their footsteps muffled against the dilapidated floor, Yasushi broke the silence with a question. "What else can you tell me about the other three?"
Yueqin and Lingxi exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Yueqin spoke. "Shuyin and Fanglan were also forced into this situation by Zihan, but their story took a different turn. Unlike us, they eventually began to find some semblance of satisfaction in what they were doing. They grew close to Zihan and, in time, developed genuine friendships with her. Together, the three of them began seeking out others to join their group. That's how we ended up being recruited."
Lingxi's voice wavered as she continued, her eyes filled with distress. "Fanglan is the most physically aggressive of the group. Whenever Zihan starts something, Fanglan always takes it to the next level. I remember once when we were tormenting a boy, Zihan had been slapping him, and Fanglan decided to kick him hard between the legs. It was brutal — he ended up throwing up from the pain."
Yueqin listened intently, nodding thoughtfully. "Shuyin is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, in a sense. She tries to be the strategic mind behind our operations, but she often falls short. Her plans are usually flawed, though not entirely without value. When it comes to academics, Lingxi is the standout. She aces every test, quiz, and exam we have. She's definitely the most intelligent among us."
As they continued their discussion, the conversation grew softer, the gravity of their situation weighing on them. Their words fell away as they approached the stairs leading down to the basement. Yasushi held up a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. The others complied, their footsteps barely audible on the creaky stairs.
Reaching the bottom, they found themselves in a dimly lit hallway with three branching paths. The murmur of voices guided their decision, and they chose the rightmost corridor. The faint echoes of conversation grew clearer as they moved cautiously forward, the tension in the air thickening with each step.
They reached the room, their footsteps muted as they approached the door. Pressing themselves against the wall, they strained to hear the conversation unfolding inside.
Zihan's voice cut through the silence, smooth and persuasive. "Come on, Jingliu, just join us. Leave Japan and return here, where you truly belong. This is the greatest country in the world. Don't you feel out of place there? Surrounded by Japanese people, isn't it stifling? Being forced to speak a foreign language?" Her smirk was evident even through the door, her tone dripping with condescension as she addressed Jingliu, who remained unmoved.
Jingliu's expression was a mask of icy detachment as she stared at Zihan, Shuyin, and Fanglan. Her gaze held a steely resolve, showing no sign of wavering under the pressure.
Shuyin chimed in, her voice attempting to sound convincing. "Think about it, Jingliu. If you returned here, life would be much easier for you. Joining us would mean we could take over the entire town and shape it to our liking. Who wouldn't want that kind of power and control?" Her words were meant to seduce with the promise of influence and ease, yet her efforts seemed to fall short of breaking Jingliu's resolve.
Jingliu's voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. "What made you think I'd desire something like that? Absolute control over everyone?" She tilted her head slightly, her skepticism clear. "At first glance, it might seem like an exciting prospect, almost incredible. But when you actually consider it, the reality of wielding such power becomes overwhelming and draining. The responsibility for every single person and every action — it's not as glamorous as it sounds."
Fanglan, not deterred by Jingliu's response, stepped forward with a clenched fist. Her tone was insistent and edged with frustration. "Just think about it. You'd be able to exercise your authority over everyone, just like your grandparents did. They were a nightmare to deal with, weren't they? You're far smarter than they were, so why not use that intelligence? Don't let all the abuse you've endured throughout your life be for nothing." Her last remark was accompanied by a mocking snicker, which cut through the already tense silence in the room.
Jingliu's expression darkened, her face growing colder as she absorbed Fanglan's venomous words. The casual way her painful past was being used against her stung deeply. Even Zihan and Shuyin took a cautious step back, acutely aware of the danger Jingliu posed. The tension in the room was unmistakably rising, the threat of her anger hanging heavy in the air.
Jingliu's hand tightened into a fist, her knuckles whitening, but she remained still, her gaze fixed on Fanglan with icy resolve. "Care to repeat that?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence with a steely edge. Her eyes, now devoid of emotion, locked onto Fanglan's with a fierce intensity.
Before Fanglan could respond, Zihan intervened with a commanding presence. "Enough of this," she said firmly. "We're only asking you to do one thing. If you refuse, we'll frame your boyfriend for sexually assaulting Yueqin and Lingxi. We'll ensure it destroys his life, and he'll come to despise you. We'll make it clear that you were with us the entire time and were merely acting on his behalf to shield him."
Jingliu's gaze hardened further, her eyes narrowing as she met Zihan's smirk with a cold glare. "I can take that as a threat, correct?" she inquired, her tone dripping with venom.
Zihan's smirk remained unshaken. "However you choose to interpret it, the outcome remains the same. We will ruin both of your lives if you don't comply with our demands. Join our group, and we'll limit our destruction to just his," she warned, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Before anyone could utter another word, the door creaked open and Yasushi, accompanied by Yueqin and Lingxi, stepped into the room. Their sudden entrance took Zihan and her two accomplices by surprise, their faces registering shock.
Yasushi wasted no time, his voice firm and resolute. "So, you believe you can evade the consequences of your numerous crimes?" he challenged, his gaze locked on Zihan. "Let me assure you, Zihan, you'll soon face a retrial for all the twisted things you've done."
Zihan responded with a mocking laugh, her expression one of scornful amusement. "And who would believe you? You're Japanese, and you're here in China, surrounded by Chinese people. Even if our generation and perhaps the previous one have shown a bit more tolerance and acceptance, that doesn't mean the current government or the older officials in positions of power will support you."
Shuyin, taking a step forward, nodded as if confirming her own thoughts. "Zihan is correct. You know as well as I do how the older generation operates, and with the current leaders manipulating the public, they're likely to side with us. Even if Jingliu were to support you, it wouldn't make a difference. I suggest you consider surrendering."
Yasushi's smile grew wider as he spread his arms out in a grand, almost theatrical gesture. The move was deliberate, aimed at adding an element of confusion to the tense atmosphere. "I'd planned to visit this place before you and your friends approached us," he began, his tone carrying an undertone of satisfaction. "I had heard rumors about it being haunted. But once I discovered what you and your associates have been doing for amusement, I decided it was time to turn the tables and get back at you for all the suffering you've inflicted over the years."
His announcement hit Zihan and her two accomplices like a jolt. The room seemed to hold its breath as Yasushi continued, his voice steady and full of grim satisfaction. "Even though you didn't trigger all the traps we set up here — none of which would have harmed you — you overlooked a crucial detail. Everything in this house is being recorded. Every single action, every word spoken, is captured by cameras installed at Jingliu's home."
The impact of Yasushi's words was immediate. Zihan and her companions froze, their faces going pale as their eyes darted around in growing panic. The realization that their confessions and the incriminating details they had revealed were being recorded caused visible horror to spread across their faces. They began to search frantically for any sign of the recording devices, their movements growing increasingly agitated, but finding nothing. Yasushi's smirk deepened as he watched their futile attempts to locate the hidden cameras.
Yasushi's grin widened as he took in their growing panic. "Did you really think we made it easy for you to find the cameras?" he taunted. "They're hidden well, and even if you search for them now, everything has already been recorded and backed up multiple times. So tell me, do you still think I'm going to be screwed over in this situation?" His smile was almost smug, his satisfaction obvious.
He dropped the dramatic pose, his demeanor shifting to a more straightforward, yet still intimidating, stance. "Yueqin and Lingxi have both agreed to stand against you and testify when the time comes. We've also started reaching out to various people about the heinous acts you've committed over the years. The evidence is building up against you."
Yasushi's grin morphed into something darker, more sinister. "This is, without a doubt — a checkmate, don't you think?" His confidence was unshakable, his words laced with a cold certainty.
An oppressive silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint sound of the wind rustling outside. Zihan, Shuyin, and Fanglan were visibly shaken, their expressions reflecting a mix of disbelief and fear. They found themselves cornered by the meticulously planned trap, their faces betraying the weight of their predicament.