Tang Minghao looked troubled, contemplating with considerable conflict before slowly saying, "If you want me to explain in such detail, I can't possibly manage it right away. I can only figure out the way out gradually by spotting anything familiar or recognizing recognizable objects."

Hearing this, my heart immediately sank. After all that talk, he still wasn't certain he could find the exit. Forget it. I stopped pinning any hope on him and let out a sigh. There was no point in sulking or getting into a fight with Old Li and the others now. Tang Minghao seemed unreliable; ultimately, it would still fall to the other three. Despite some extremely unpleasant memories, I decided to temporarily set aside what they had done to me.

After careful consideration, I resolved to first seek Tang Minghao's help in figuring out how to save Old Li and the others. Their current state was deeply concerning; they were all rigid as wooden figures, and anyone could see something was terribly wrong with them. "Do you see any way to save the three of them?" I asked casually, "Even though they tried to take my life, we’ve been friends, after all. I can’t just watch them die, can I?"

Tang Minghao looked astonished. "Tried to take your life?" His tone was clearly skeptical. "When?"

I hissed out the details, "Of course, you wouldn't know. Before, I accidentally knocked over an incense burner from who knows where. And that other person—the other one inside Tang Minghao's body—he fiercely demanded the red water... Then Old Li and the others started cutting my wrist with things. Look, isn't this the wound? I almost died! If you hadn't shown up a bit later."

After I finished speaking, Tang Minghao flatly denied it. "No, that wasn't real. You misremembered." He then grabbed my wound. "Look, such a small cut, barely two or three grains of rice long—how could that possibly take your life? Besides... you cut yourself accidentally when you knocked over the censer. I was already out then. Why are you blaming someone else?"

Now it was my turn to be confused. "That can't be right. I remember it very clearly. There was so much blood, and Old Li and the others said some very cold-blooded things. They didn't help me at all."

Tang Minghao pondered for a moment. "Hmm... let me think... I know the reason. Breaking the censer angered a spirit, and it planted something in you to make you submit—something that makes you see what you fear most, stripping you of all hope for worldly life, thereby making you submit from the bottom of your heart." If what he said was true, then my greatest fear must have been betrayal by others. But what good did fear do? Betrayal always happens.

The thought instantly cast a shadow over me. "I... I..."

Tang Minghao said, "Trust me, young man. What you saw was merely an illusion created by the spirit. The thing inside you has now been purged, and you are no longer controlled by the spirit, so you should trust yourself, trust me. I need to take advantage of this moment while I still have the upper hand to get you out."

I glanced at Old Li and the other two. If what I saw was an illusion, then... in their current state, how could I possibly lead them out?

As if reading my mind, Tang Minghao let out a deep sigh. "These three have probably offended the spirit too. But to save you, the divine medicine brought by that girl has been completely used up. As for those three... they can only leave their fate to heaven."

My mind went blank. I never imagined the situation was this dire. I looked at Tang Minghao, momentarily helpless. "Didn't Yanzi bring ordinary medicinal herbs? We can go find and gather some." It was a childish thought; there were no medicinal herbs to be found here.

Tang Minghao pointed to the small cloth pouch on the ground. "Look at what’s on the ground now. Is your blood moving?" I nodded in fear. "Yes." I didn't understand why he brought this up—was he truly a shameless demon?

Tang Minghao said calmly, "These are things driven and summoned by the spirit. And the medicinal incense the girl brought was specially formulated three or four hundred years ago to restrain these evil spirits. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. Do you understand now?"

I nodded slightly, then shook my head, saying to him, "Since they're already out, why don't we just pick up the pouch, find a place to wash it clean, and use it again?"

Tang Minghao sighed. "I always thought you weren't a fool, so why are you saying something so idiotic now? You must realize that without that small pouch, the blood on the ground would target living people. Even 'Doctor Ciren' wouldn't be spared." As he spoke, he looked mournfully at the fist-sized, dark and glossy "Doctor Ciren" in his hand, his expression infinitely desolate. After a moment, he sighed again. "If one achieves immortality like this, what's the difference from being dead? I wonder what the King was thinking back then."

I had no patience for his meandering reflections. I urged him repeatedly to hurry up and lead us out. Tang Minghao, however, seemed possessed, staring at "Doctor Ciren" for a long time. "Look at him. He's clearly alive, possessing all his intelligence and wisdom, yet he must be parasitic on a host to be of any use. Look at me; I’m just like him. If this young man hadn't coincidentally had some physical issues that gave me an opening, I’d be just like 'Doctor Ciren' now. Alas... but in the end, this young man's body isn't ours; it must eventually be returned to you all."

Seeing him ramble incoherently, I quickly cut him off, insisting he recall how to get out. Tang Minghao didn't seem to hear, muttering to himself, "Alas, what was the King thinking back then? Did all his subjects follow him? Why can't everyone live well without relying on others' bodies and minds?"

As he spoke, Tang Minghao seemed on the verge of tears. I didn't know why he had become so melancholy. I wondered if the King he spoke of was an ancestor of Zhuoma Yangjin. He probably was; at least everything that had appeared here seemed connected to the ancient Guge Kingdom of the Zhuoma Yangjin family. Didn't "Doctor Ciren" ask a few questions about the Princess when he saw Yanzi? It must be so.

Oh, it was all getting too messy. Seeing this big man, Tang Minghao, sinking into sorrow, even though I knew he wasn't the real Tang Minghao, I still felt a pang of sadness. I didn't know why, but I just felt miserable, as if I had lived alone through thousands of ages, seeing through all joys and sorrows. Thinking further, I suddenly felt that life and death didn't matter. Was getting out really that important? In the end, everyone dies anyway; perhaps it's better to die now and avoid so much suffering.

With that thought, I looked again at Old Li and the others—they all looked teary-eyed, their eyes glistening as they stared at Tang Minghao—at the hand holding "Doctor Ciren."

I jolted awake, suddenly realizing the problem—was "Doctor Ciren" causing this? Deliberately making us all willing to die here? "Brother Hao! Brother Hao!" I rushed over and grabbed Tang Minghao’s shoulders, shaking him repeatedly. "Brother Hao, what's going on?"

Tang Minghao remained tearful, not looking at me, just staring at the hand holding "Doctor Ciren," sighing. I realized the hand must be the problem. I grabbed it and saw that the black, glossy mass seemed to have grown into his palm; no matter how I tried to spread it open, it wouldn't fall off. My heart sank, and the scene of Chief Wang being overrun by the Faceless on Qiangbake Mountain immediately flashed through my mind. Could this thing be...?

Daring not to trust my eyes, I pulled out my dagger and carefully used the tip to prod "Doctor Ciren." Sure enough, it had grown some extremely fine, tiny claws that were adhering to Tang Minghao's hand, and an unnatural crimson flush was spreading across the back of his hand.

"You!" I pointed at Tang Minghao, my face pale with terror. "Your hand—did you do that on purpose?"

Tang Minghao slowly raised his head, looking at me with equal parts guilt and sorrow, his tears stopped. He stammered, "I... I didn't mean to. I'm only realizing it now..." As he spoke, his eyes rolled upward uncontrollably, revealing only the dark pupils, as if the whites of his eyes had instantly vanished.

My limbs went weak with sudden terror, reliving Chief Wang's story from that day. "Brother Hao, hold on!" I did my best to steady my breathing and composure. "I’ll get that thing off first, or everyone will be doomed."

Yanzi then approached me, looking at me with tears welling up, pointing at Old Li and urging me to look at him. I turned and saw Old Li’s face was bright red, his eyes rolled back, and his mouth hung open, emitting a faint "huh-huh" sound.

Exactly! There was no time for fear. I quickly calmed down, my mind clearer than ever before—I was the only normal person left! When we killed the Faceless before, it required the deployment of all sorts of weapons. Now we only had four guns with eight bullets total, and two military daggers—clearly not enough. No. I had to focus on controlling the "person" inhabiting Tang Minghao's body. He seemed to know something about this.

"Brother Hao," I said with unnerving calm, "Doctor Ciren is the Faceless Devil. I've seen it; Old Li and I both have." Tang Minghao’s body trembled almost imperceptibly, showing a flicker of fear. He whispered, "How do you know?"

I adopted the most placid expression possible, casually remarking, "We have killed two Faceless Devils before."

Tang Minghao gasped, "Killed?" There were still tears in his eyes; he clearly didn't believe me.

I nodded and repeated, "Yes, killed. So, if Doctor Ciren is determined to target Brother Hao, I imagine the only way in the end will be to use the same method. However, I think I have gained some skill now, and I should be able to avoid mutual destruction, preserving Brother Hao's life in the end."

A look of dread crossed Tang Minghao's face, replacing the sorrow. He spoke proudly, "You underestimate Doctor Ciren's cunning too much. Do you think a few simple words can scare him away?"