Chapter Twenty-Three

"I hope that kid doesn't get targeted by this demon." Song Haicheng prayed. That kid was Yu Xingyue. Although he couldn't explain why, Song Haicheng had a vague premonition that Honda Haoyun was about to make his next move. No one could stop it, and even if one wanted to help, they couldn't stand against Honda Haoyun's massive, imposing frame.

Song Haicheng dialed Lin Zimo’s number. On the other end, Lin Zimo said, "Missing me already after only a few minutes? Am I really that charming?"

Song Haicheng replied gravely, "Lin Zimo, listen to me. I just saw Honda Haoyun. I have a bad feeling."

"You saw Honda Haoyun?" Lin Zimo sounded incredulous. "Doesn't he only appear at night?"

"I don't know why I ran into him, but I'm certain he is seeking revenge against someone who rescued his previous victims. I just hope it’s not the kid you mentioned; he wouldn't be able to handle this devil."

"Don't be so dramatic," Lin Zimo said. "We don't even know if Yu Xingyue rescued anyone. Don't jump to conclusions. You can just ask him when we meet tomorrow."

"I hope so. Wait—I feel like that person has been watching me. I'll call you back." Song Haicheng hung up. The Honda Haoyun who had vanished had reappeared in his line of sight. But the situation was dire; once targeted by this demon, the prey had only one fate: to be slaughtered.

"Damn it, I need to get out of here." Song Haicheng quickened his pace. He could hear footsteps growing closer behind him; there was no doubt Honda Haoyun was closing in. Song Haicheng frantically searched for a way to evade his pursuer.

A glimmer of hope appeared ahead, and he sprinted toward it. Honda Haoyun followed, but lost him in the sea of people in the bustling market. One of Honda Haoyun’s weaknesses was his fear of crowded places; he would flee when surrounded by too many people.

As expected, Honda Haoyun left and stopped searching. Song Haicheng, hiding in the middle of the crowd, finally exhaled. Why hadn't anyone arrested him yet? Even with multiple homicides linked to his mental instability, he remained at large.

Song Haicheng reported the sighting to the police, who immediately arrived at the scene—an internet cafe. Based on Song Haicheng's description, the police knew Honda Haoyun had been in the vicinity. Since there was surveillance footage outside the cafe, they decided to wait until nightfall to investigate.

They mistakenly believed the cafe was empty. Inside, Yu Xingyue was fast asleep, oblivious to the activity outside, with a trace of drool at the corner of his mouth.

When Yu Xingyue finally woke up, it was already three in the afternoon. He hadn't realized he’d slept so long. He felt sore and lethargic, having skipped lunch, and the bruises he hadn't treated with medicinal wine were throbbing again.

"Damn it! How could I be so forgetful?" Yu Xingyue tapped his head. Before falling asleep, he had intended to tell Lin Zimo something, but the slumber had wiped it from his memory. He tried hard to recall the matter, but it remained elusive.

"I'll remember it eventually. Time to eat." He stretched and headed downstairs, where he saw Xia Qinyumei cleaning.

Seeing her, his hunger and pain vanished. He quickly stood on his tiptoes and scrambled back upstairs. He had almost forgotten that Xia Qinyumei was wearing makeup; he had nearly been caught while still in his "Yu Xingyue" identity. Seeing her appearance, he realized he hadn't applied his own disguise. He had to go back up before he was discovered.

He entered Liu Hailizi’s room and sat before the vanity. He had progressed from a novice to someone who could handle basic makeup. Everything Liu Hailizi had taught him remained fresh. This time, he wanted to look a bit sharper. He grabbed the cosmetics and finished in under ten minutes.

He checked the mirror and nodded. "This is the look I wanted. Perfect!" he smiled, then went back downstairs.

"I heard you moving around upstairs. Are you hiding something from me?" Xia Qinyumei suddenly appeared behind him, startling him. It was an irresistible force—or perhaps just because Yu Xingyue seemed so suspicious—that caused Xia Qinyumei, who rarely spoke more than twenty words at a time, to add three extra words to her question.

"I left my phone upstairs, and someone called me, that's why I was in such a hurry. Also, I had already come down once while you were cleaning, heard the phone ringing, and ran back up," he explained. Xia Qinyumei listened, half-doubting, but she didn't interfere in others' private affairs, including Yu Xingyue's.

"I'm starving. I'm going to grab a bite, we'll talk later." Yu Xingyue left the cafe to eat at the restaurant across the street. As he walked out, a pair of eyes remained fixed on him, never leaving for fear he might suddenly disappear. Yu Xingyue felt a chill and looked back, but saw no one. He suspected the hunger was causing hallucinations.

He patted his head. "I'm clear-headed; no hallucinations. I must just be overly sensitive from hunger." Despite saying this, he kept glancing over his shoulder. He hadn't felt fear like this in a long time. It wasn't showing on his face, but it was gnawing at his heart.

Inside the cafe, Xia Qinyumei noticed the situation. As Yu Xingyue left, she caught sight of a tall man staring intently at him. She recognized Honda Haoyun immediately. Watching him watch Yu Xingyue, she felt a surge of concern. Was he being targeted?

Yu Xingyue ate with a heavy heart, lacking his usual gusto. The inexplicable fear persisted. He scanned the surroundings, but everything seemed fine. Still, he felt unsettled and decided to walk down that particular road alone after eating. He felt he had to confront this.

If the man was indeed Honda Haoyun, it made sense. They said that anyone who rescued his victims would be targeted for "secret disposal." Yu Xingyue had already resolved to meet this demon head-on. If he didn't return, so be it, but he felt guilty toward Lin Zimo.

"Zimo, I'm sorry. Please forgive my selfishness for not being able to come back to you," he whispered. After eating, he walked down a secluded path. Honda Haoyun was likely to appear in such places. He was gambling on this encounter, hoping that if everything went according to plan, he could eliminate this pest once and for all.

The sky gradually darkened. Xia Qinyumei waited anxiously for his return, but when he didn't show, she grabbed some pepper spray from her bag and headed out to find him, praying he was safe. Meanwhile, Yu Xingyue was busy "fishing" for Haoyun.

*Come out, you demon.* He repeated the thought internally, hoping Honda Haoyun would emerge for a face-to-face talk. But then again, could you really talk to a psychotic killer? His only motive was to slaughter the man before him; his deeper reasons remained a mystery.

A breeze brushed against Yu Xingyue's face, and he felt Honda Haoyun's presence nearby. The silence was so profound he could hear his own breathing. He looked at his shadow on the ground and felt a jolt of terror; a larger shadow was looming over him, ready to strike. He spun around and stumbled back, finally seeing the face of Honda Haoyun.

Honda Haoyun was wearing their school uniform, stained with fresh red blood. Yu Xingyue realized that someone else must have been attacked while he was eating. The wet blood on the fabric was proof.

Just as the stories described, the figure was tall and broad, roughly the same height as Yu Xingyue. His face was hidden behind a mask. The mask and the blood-soaked clothes reminded him of Michael Myers—Honda Haoyun was practically a carbon copy, though with one distinct difference: a grotesque, exposed scar on his leg that nearly made Yu Xingyue retch.