Chapter 32 s*icide?
In the moment Lu Xibei confirmed Gu Xinian’s identity, countless thoughts floated through her mind.
Although her ultimate goal in going to Banshan Apartment or visiting Huacheng Library to reference the “Huacheng Urban and Rural Construction Local Chronicles” was to find members of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society, she had not intended to make contact with them so soon.
After all, the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society was still labeled as a cult.
Until she had enough information, she could not determine whether they were a group of “awakened ‘madmen’” or a bunch of vicious, evil, antisocial 24K pure perverts.
But now…
The strange behavior of the girl on the bus, the librarian’s furtive glances, and Gu Xinian suddenly appearing before her all indicated that the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society had long since set their sights on her.
This sudden situation made her feel very insecure.
God knows what Gu Xiliu’s intentions are?
Perhaps behind those rows of bookshelves are three hundred kn*fe-wielding men, just waiting for Gu Xinian’s command to jump out of the dark corners and turn me into minced meat.
Even though I know the technique for exploding water heaters, if three hundred people really charge out, I’m afraid I still wouldn’t stand a chance, Lu Xibei thought.
Thus, she made a bold decision.
If you can’t beat them, join them!
In a situation where she couldn’t tell whether they were friend or foe, as long as she took the initiative to become their friend, didn’t that eliminate the possibility of becoming an enemy?
A beautiful girl eager to join the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society conducting a hidden investigation into them—seems reasonable, right?
If she could gain their recognition, not only would there be no danger, but she could also obtain information about the real world from them.
Then, depending on the situation, she could decide whether to follow them in their antics or report their stronghold’s location to the police.
This move? It’s like killing three birds with one stone! Lu Xibei thought.
“You want to join us?” Gu Xinian asked seriously, “Why?”
Lu Xibei nodded and said earnestly, “I’ve heard about your deeds for a long time; I’ve admired you since I was a child!”
“Our deeds?” Gu Xinian tilted her head in confusion.
Since the last failed attempt, the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society hadn’t taken any action for nearly twenty years, aside from secretly accumulating resources and recruiting members, waiting for new opportunities.
Where did she hear about our deeds? Gu Xinian wondered.
Noticing a change in Gu Xinian’s expression, Lu Xibei felt a slight tightening in her heart.
Did I say something wrong?
Could it be? You guys haven’t done anything bad at all in all these years?
Can’t you be a little self-aware and let me in on it instead of making me perform?
“Right! Didn’t it say online? The Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society is a brutal and fierce cult, involved in everything from arson and robbery to abducting children and beating up grandmas!”
“I’ve done it!” Lu Xibei said, thumping her chest.
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and excitement, as if she could hardly wait to rush out into the streets and randomly k*ll two innocent passersby with a toilet plunger.
As for how to k*ll… she hadn’t thought that far.
The things she mentioned were indeed circulated online as accounts of the atrocities committed by the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society, but almost none had concrete evidence.
Although it felt like any unsolved crime could be pinned on the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society.
However, this did not affect the Society’s image, which had gradually become demonized in the public’s mind.
When Lu Xibei searched for news about the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society online and read through the comments, she sometimes felt they had become an outlet for some netizens to vent their negative emotions.
Gu Xinian, “……” No, girl, can you clarify what you mean? What have you done? Arson, robbery, or beating up grandmas? Why do I feel like you are a bit dangerous?
“Miss, I think you might have misunderstood something? We might not be what you imagine!”
At least in my area of responsibility, this is the case; I can’t guarantee what my second uncle is responsible for… she added in her mind.
In fact, every year, there are some mentally unstable individuals who think they are kindred spirits with the members of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society and come to seek membership. Gu Xinian had gotten used to this.
“I understand, I understand!” Lu Xibei said seriously, “You don’t think this world is fake and that there’s another real world, right?”
“I actually feel the same way, the doctor even said I have delusions and dissociative identity disorder.”
Gu Xinian, “…”
Although from the perspective of ordinary people, the members of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society are a bunch of madmen, but madmen come in different types!
Your kind with hospital certification is probably not in the same category as us, really.
Gu Xinian thought, preparing to gently refuse Lu Xibei’s request to join the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society and advise her to go back and get proper treatment.
At that moment, Lu Xibei suddenly spoke up, “Actually, I know I might not be normal; I don’t have any particular ideal in finding you guys. I just want to confirm that this world is indeed false, so it’s normal for me to feel disgusted by it. Can you help me?”
As she spoke, although her face showed no expression, her eyes perfectly conveyed a sense of loneliness, helplessness, and confusion.
This should clarify the main idea, right? Lu Xibei thought to herself.
Clarifying the main idea, coupled with a beautiful girl making a request, and an unintentionally released weak charm, she instantly executed a perfect k*ll.
Seeing Lu Xibei’s pitiful look, Gu Xinian paused for a moment and felt a sudden clarity wash over her.
I understand, is it like this?
Because she feels everything in this world is fake, she abhors it, which is why she can engage in terrible things without psychological burden.
It looks like she could be an assimilable member!
Gu Xinian thought, nodding, “Miss, I understand. I’d be happy to help you. However, joining the mutual aid society is not solely up to me; before that…”
“I understand, I understand!” Lu Xibei interrupted, raising her hand and making a throat-slicing gesture, “You want a bl**d oath, right?”
Gu Xinian, “……” What do you think you know? Can’t you wait for me to finish speaking? What the heck is a bl**d oath!
“It’s not what you think; we don’t require a bl**d oath,” she explained with a helpless expression.
“Then what do you need me to do?” Lu Xibei interjected.
“……” Gu Xinian hesitated for a moment and said, “There are many things you need to do, but it can’t be summarized in a few words. I will send someone to find you later and explain it to you slowly.”
“By the way, I still haven’t asked, what’s your name?”
“Wang Buliu!” Lu Xibei said without thinking.
Wang Buliu? What a unique name… Gu Xinian was stunned for a moment and smiled, “Congratulations, Miss Wang, you are now a prospective member of the society.”
“It’s getting late today; I’ll be leaving now. I’ll contact you when the time is right.”
After saying this, Gu Xinian stood up and was about to leave.
At that moment, Lu Xibei suddenly raised a hand, lowering her voice to call out, “Wait!”
“What else is there?” Gu Xinian turned around to ask.
“Don’t really have to…” Lu Xibei made a throat-slicing gesture again, “Is it unnecessary?”
Why are you fixated on that? Gu Xinian’s mouth twitched, “No, no need…”
“Oh…” Lu Xibei nodded pensively, contemplating for a moment. Just as Gu Xinian was about to leave again, she called out softly, “Wait!”
Gu Xinian, “…”
“What is it?”
Lu Xibei pointed at the “Huacheng Urban and Rural Construction Local Chronicles” on the table, frowning, “Did you tear out the pages in here? Can I have a look?”
Although she had come into contact with the members of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society in advance, Lu Xibei was still curious about that abandoned factory in her dream.
“This… I can’t allow,” Gu Xinian said with a wry smile. “You’ll naturally find out when you become a formal member.”
“Oh…” Lu Xibei nodded.
It seems that abandoned factory is a very important place for the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society, Lu Xibei thought.
“Is there anything else?” Gu Xinian asked.
I know you talk a lot, so go ahead, then I’ll leave, okay?
“No.” Lu Xibei shook her head expressionlessly.
“Then I’ll leave?”
“Uh-huh.”
Just then, as Gu Xinian turned to leave, she heard Lu Xibei’s voice behind her.
“Wait!”
Gu Xinian, “……” Can’t you just finish your sentence at once?
————
Huacheng, Yun Kang Psychiatric Hospital, in Gold Horn’s temporary office.
Gold Horn sat in front of the computer, browsing through the intelligence continuously being sent by informants and subordinates, occasionally making cuts or annotations in hopes of gathering clues about the whereabouts of the Inheritance Beast.
At that moment, a sudden knocking broke the silence.
“Knock knock knock——!”
“Come in!”
As Gold Horn called out lightly, a visibly anxious member of the Special Action Team rushed in.
“N-no! It’s bad, Secretary Officer! Something—something big has happened!”
“Something big has happened?” Gold Horn blinked in surprise, looking up at the Special Action Team member. “What happened? Don’t rush it, take your time and explain clearly.”
“Gulp——!” The Special Action Team member swallowed hard, adjusting their breath slightly, “The prisoner in B2016 has died.”
“What? Died?!” Gold Horn exclaimed, leaping up from his seat. “Let’s go, quickly check it out!”
————
Moments later, inside cell B2016.
Dressed in a restraint suit, Beres lay on the single bed, facing away from Gold Horn, completely still.
Gold Horn approached, gently turned Beres over; his body flopped around limply.
Just as the Special Action Team member had said, he was already dead.
Gold Horn lifted Beres’s eyelid, pried open his lips to check his tongue, then stripped off his restraint suit top to examine his body, frowning.
There were no signs of poisoning, no struggle before d*ath, but there were symptoms of excessive bl**d loss. Could it be… s*icide?
