Hidden Dead Ends

A lit lighter was tossed gently onto the painting.

With a sudden whoosh, flames rapidly engulfed the frame, setting the cloth wrapping ablaze.

The white fabric turned a charred yellow, then blackened, twisting and hardening as it burned.

Li Chengyi stood silently to the side, watching the scene unfold.

The wind on the rooftop caused the flames to flicker slightly to one side.

The yellow flames licked close to his boots, forcing him to step back to avoid them.

"Is this...enough now?" he sighed, his voice low.

No one responded.

Li Chengyi frowned, glancing up.

"Huh? Where’s Zhong Ying?"

Suddenly, he realized with horror that Zhong Ying, who had just been standing across from him, had vanished without a sound.

Not a single movement or noise—one moment, she’d been there, setting fire to the painting, and the next, she was gone.

The others remained oblivious, still standing in a circle.

Five people formed the circle…

Five people!?

If Zhong Ying wasn’t here, then who was standing in her spot!?

As this unsettling thought dawned on him, Sindra and Song Ran’s faces grew tense, and they simultaneously rolled to the side, creating distance.

Almost at the same time, Li Chengyi and Sima Gui drew their handguns, aiming at the fifth person.

But just then, everyone had moved, breaking the circle.

To their shock, they realized that Zhong Ying’s position was empty—no one stood there at all.

Li Chengyi and Sima Gui felt a chill run down their spines as they pointed their guns at the empty space.