It’s me who killed Ji Chenglin. How absurd, how utterly preposterous, yet it has happened with brutal reality!

Ji Chenglin’s blood had run dry, filling more than half a washbasin. Like a butcher, ‘I’ stripped his clothes, then carved his flesh piece by piece until only a blood-soaked skeleton remained.

‘I’ fed the carved meat into a grinder, mixed the resulting mince with the bone powder ground earlier, right there in the basin, and then used a long wooden rod to stir it all together before sprinkling the thick, red plasma out with a long-handled spoon… At this point, I was paralyzed, caught in a nightmare’s grip. Though desperate to close my eyes, I found I couldn’t.

Standing amidst the blood-soaked room, ‘I’ let out a chilling grin, like some bloodthirsty Demon King! After admiring my own masterpiece, ‘I’ packed everything used into plastic bags, even disassembling the skeleton at the joints and stuffing it into a satchel, then began cleaning the scene, sweeping the room with the most professional technique.

No wonder no traces were found at the scene; the killer was a professional criminal investigator! Unconsciously, I had begun to accept that I was the murderer!

But faced with such complete and vivid video evidence, what other choice did I truly have? My body convulsed as if jolted by an electric current, yet I was unaware of the movement myself.

I frantically searched for any flaw, any inconsistency, but found none. I really did kill someone!

No, I would never kill anyone. I remember none of this; I didn’t do any of it!

Suddenly, another voice echoed in my heart: I did it for you! I shrieked in horror, “Who are you?” “I am you, the other you.

We’ve met before, have you forgotten?” It hit me all at once—he was that other ‘me’ who wanted to replace me! It was he who took control of my body when I was unconscious and committed the atrocious act of murder!

But he is me. No one will ever believe in his existence, and I must pay the price for his savagery!

I plunged into extreme terror, the feeling akin to a condemned prisoner being led to the execution ground, facing imminent death with no possibility of escape. I had committed an act that damned me to the world, leaving no path for return.

My body temperature plummeted to its lowest, my physical senses utterly numb, like a corpse devoid of spirit. My body utterly deadened, I mechanically clicked open the video file numbered 2, moving like an automaton: Instantly, an ‘I’ appeared on the screen, wearing that exact same shirt with the red collar and yellow lettering!

I was stunned, but my mind no longer prepared to defend myself. This truly was me!

Or more accurately, that ‘I’. Ahead of ‘I’ walked a young woman in jeans—she was He Shuhua, the victim from the tenement.

I followed closely behind her. As we crossed the street, ‘I’ was momentarily blocked by a beggar harassing me.

Shaking off his entanglement, ‘I’ quickened my pace to catch up. Strangely, ‘I’ seemed to know exactly where He Shuhua was going, making no wrong turns.

At that moment, a man staggering down the street appeared ahead. ‘I’ stopped.

The man seemed terribly afraid of ‘me’ and quickly moved away. ‘I’ resumed the pursuit, arriving beneath Jiang Bo’s building.

After a while, He Shuhua emerged from upstairs. I tailed her all the way back to the tenement.

At the corner turn, ‘I’ struck her forcefully on the head with a wooden stick, and she collapsed limply. ‘I’ hoisted her onto the roof and brought her into the unfinished room, gagging her with a cloth and tying her hands and feet.

Then, I positioned her against a wooden platform, drew a sharp small knife, and slashed across her carotid artery. ‘I’ collected He Shuhua’s blood in a plastic bag.

Before she died, she opened her eyes—her look of terror and supplication was unbearable to witness, yet ‘I’ remained unmoved, clutching her throat and pressing down on her body. Suddenly, her foot hit a stack of wooden crates, causing the top one to tumble down with a heavy thud.

‘I’ urgently stabbed her heart twice more, and she finally ceased moving… Now my heart was like dead ash, but my hand acted of its own accord, opening video file number 3. The Priest smiled gently, “Didn’t you visit this morning?” ‘My’ voice replied, “There were still a few unclear points, so I had to bother you again.

Please forgive me.” “Very well, come into my room, and we can talk slowly.” ‘I’ followed the Priest into the room. The moment we crossed the threshold, ‘I’ suddenly struck him hard from behind, knocking him out, then dragged him inside and stuffed a large rag into his mouth.

Because the Priest was advanced in years, the elasticity and tension of his skin were extremely poor; the corner of his mouth was suddenly torn open, and he awoke. He looked at ‘me’ with horror, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Seeing he was conscious, ‘I’ frantically stabbed him all over with the knife, but the Priest simply wouldn't die, his throat continually convulsing. ‘I’ slammed him onto the floor, located the gap between his shoulder blades with the tip of the knife, pressed down, and drove the blade into the Priest’s body.

He spasmed twice and then was still. I carried him to the table and sat him down in the chair… There are three more video files remaining, but I lack the courage to open them, for I already guess what they contain.

Trembling, I held my blood-soaked hands up before my eyes, wishing I could chop them off, but what good would that do? At that moment, a thought struck me: did Qi Wan really leave these behind?

All the above murders happened after Qi Wan died; she couldn't possibly have recorded these things for me. So, who left them?

Was it ‘myself’ leaving them for ‘myself’? ‘I’ recorded the process of every murder, then stored them in a locker at the World Trade Center, guiding me to find them via the flower shop cards.

I glanced at the remaining three video files and suddenly felt one too many, because after the Priest died, only Xiao Cuo and Gao Jianning met misfortune. Perhaps my assumption was wrong.

I opened the fourth video. There was no one else, only ‘I’ sitting there, holding a small, circular metal object.

I recognized it instantly—it was the small pendant I had once made from an artillery shell casing. ‘I’ picked up this small pendant, flipped it over, and affixed an identical plastic piece to it.

The two fused, looking like any ordinary pendant. Then, ‘I’ produced something resembling a remote control, walked to the other side of the room, and pressed a button.

The plastic disc suddenly sprang open, revealing a sharp spike glowing with a faint, eerie luminescence. The scene flashed, and Xiao Cuo suddenly appeared before my eyes!

Time reversed in that instant, and I was back in the past, when Xiao Cuo was still standing vividly before me. My tears finally blurred my vision.

I was unforgivable! “This thing wards off evil; keep it with you,” my voice said.

Xiao Cuo laughed, “No way, you believe in this stuff too?” “Of course. Believing is better than not believing.

This is my sincere thought, take it.” “Alright, I’ll definitely keep it with me!” I finally understood why Xiao Cuo didn't escape: before initiating the ignition sequence, ‘I’ first triggered the poison needle on the plastic disc, rendering Xiao Cuo unconscious until the fire completely engulfed him, only waking him up when it was already too late. Then, the camera flashed, and ‘I’ appeared again in Xiao Cuo’s apartment.

Opening his cabinet, the black leather bag suddenly appeared inside. ‘I’ took the black leather bag and casually tossed it into the trash bin.

So, it was ‘I’ who made the black leather bag disappear, and the reason for doing so was obvious: to frame Wang Xuyang! Xiao Cuo’s death ignited a flicker of anger in me, slightly diminishing my original fear.

I opened the fifth video. This time, ‘I’ was speaking to a strange man.

“Anyway, people who contract this disease never survive. Ten thousand yuan is enough for your wife and children’s future living expenses.

Whether you do it or not is up to you.” “Fifteen thousand, and I’ll do it for that amount!” “Fine, deal!” After speaking, ‘I’ pulled out a photograph—it was Gao Jianning! “This is the man.

I’ll tell you his movements later; you just need to run him over with your car.” As I spoke, ‘I’ paused, adding another sentence: “Make sure you kill him; no money if he doesn’t die!” “Don’t worry, I’ll run him over with the tire!” I sat there motionless in despair, my heart shattered into dust. My life had turned to ashes along with it.

Watching the sixth video, I sensed something ominous, as Gao Jianning was the last fatality. Could this hold the next one?

I hastily opened the video; I had to stop ‘me’! That was the only last thing I could possibly do!

The video opened, but I froze, because it was Qi Wan standing before me! Her face, like a water lily sleeping in the pond, possessed the gentle beauty of an Eastern woman; her dreamlike eyes drew one in deeply.

She stood there quietly, like an unsullied angel. I suddenly understood, yet fell into a deeper confusion.

Did Qi Wan not die? Was she behind all of this?

Was she about to unravel the mystery for me? Just then, a voice sounded, and my heart plummeted into an ice cave, because ‘I’ appeared again.

“Life is the most beautiful thing in the world, and destroying it is even more magnificent. Don’t forget your past experiences; all that suffering was brought to you by other lives.

You possess the ability to destroy them—this is God’s gift, and also His will. You must submit, not resist!” Qi Wan said, “No, I cannot do that!” “You will, because you are God’s daughter.

How can a daughter defy her father’s command?” Qi Wan shook her head, her eyes filled with terror, yet shimmering with a trace of yearning. She was hesitating.

“Don’t be afraid. No one in this world can hurt you again.

As long as you become strong, you can control the life and death of others, instead of being controlled by them.” ‘My’ words were intoxicatingly inflammatory, like a wolf luring an innocent girl, but what ‘I’ was deceiving was not the body, but the very soul. Under ‘my’ patient indoctrination, Qi Wan finally nodded: “I am God’s daughter.

I will become the ruler of the world, letting all men who betrayed women die by my hand!” My guilt deepened, pressing down on me so heavily I couldn't breathe. How long had this evil creature been hiding inside my body?

How much heinous evil had it committed! The scene shifted, and I nearly leaped up, staring at the screen, unable to believe my eyes, because You Qiaolin appeared!

Could he also be one of ‘my’ murder tools? On the screen, You Qiaolin’s face was utterly panicked, his expression pleading desperately.

‘I’ began to speak: “What I said earlier was correct, wasn’t it? You killed your own wife and claimed she was missing.

I can even tell you exactly where you hid her remains.” “Stop talking, I beg you, don’t say another word. I’m genuinely a little ‘afraid’ of you doing this.” ‘I’ laughed: “Afraid?

I don’t believe you’d be afraid.” You Qiaolin’s expression settled slightly, then he asked, “What exactly do you want? Is it money, or something else?

As long as I can afford it, I’ll give you anything.” ‘I’ shook my head, a mocking smile playing on my lips: “That’s not what I want.” “Then what do you want?” “It’s very simple. Since you killed your wife because you loved her, I just want you to continue your former hobby.” “What do you mean?” “Stop playing dumb with me.

Don’t tell me you’re not a man anymore!” You Qiaolin lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead, showing how terrified he was and what an excruciating decision he faced. This decision would transform him from a man into a malevolent spirit, a ghoul devouring life!

“Why should I do this?” You Qiaolin suddenly asked. “You are not qualified to ask me any questions.

However, I am willing to tell you the answer because I am the messenger sent by God to awaken people’s conscience through sin. You are fortunate enough to be my chosen one; you should feel honored.” I sat there blankly.

Life no longer existed for me now; from the first video, I was no longer one person. Even if I found ten thousand reasons to prove the videos were forged, the facts were too clear and undeniable.

Especially the metal object found at the fire scene—experts hired by Lord Jiang had confirmed it was made of military-grade artillery material. And indeed, after the archive fire, I could never find that artillery shell casing pendant again.

Faced with ironclad evidence, could I simply deny it? I could not.

I am the killer, and moreover, the manipulator behind the Qi Wan and You Qiaolin cases! I had completely sunk into the deepest part of despair, with no chance of escape.

I would be eternally imprisoned here, unable to leave even through cycles of reincarnation! Then, my gaze fell upon that folder again.

Now that the entire truth was laid bare, what purpose did a folder still serve? At this point, I already entertained the thought of ending my life; I feared no longer adding another charge, so I clicked open the folder, which shockingly contained yet another video file.

Upon opening the video, I, who had already grown as cold as snow, began to tremble violently once more, because I saw Xiao Xuan! No, this couldn’t be, this was absolutely impossible!

I screamed inwardly in helplessness, like a stranger chased by a pack of beasts in a dark wilderness. I yelled at the looming black mountain silhouette, screamed at the vast, boundless heavens and earth.

But no one paid attention. They mercilessly cast me to the savage pack, letting my body be torn apart, my flesh licked clean.

The moment I saw myself bring the blade down upon Xiao Xuan’s head, a sharp, inhuman sound burst from me, and then I collapsed straight down. After an unknown time, I slowly awoke, but that terrifying image remained etched in my mind like a carving.

My body should no longer exist in this world, for it housed another ‘me.’ I must avenge Xiao Xuan, avenge Xiao Cuo, Gao Jianning, and all the victims who died because of ‘me’! There is only one path for me: death!

No! The threat of death made my brain extraordinarily clear.

I suddenly realized I had one last doubt, one last sliver of hope—it concerned the female victim from the tenement, He Shuhua. According to the recording, she visited Jiang Bo’s home but then left.

If she hadn't left, or if she had left with Jiang Bo, then ‘I’ didn't kill He Shuhua, which would mean the recording was fake! I dialed Zhang Jiewei, my voice trembling so much I couldn’t even recognize it.

“Zhang Jiewei, I strongly suspect the killer is Jiang Bo, because He Shuhua very likely went to his house…” Zhang Jiewei’s voice didn’t change in response to my distress: “I’ve already confirmed that situation; I hadn’t time to report it. Victim He Shuhua did indeed go to Jiang Bo’s house on the night she was murdered, and she left afterward.

Jiang Bo has now admitted that he initially insisted He Shuhua never visited his place because he feared being suspected.” His answer was like a thorn, and my hope was like a bubble, ruthlessly pierced. “Maybe He Shuhua didn’t leave, maybe he…” For the sake of my own survival, I unhesitatingly shifted the suspicion onto someone else.

“There are witnesses for that matter. Ms.

Wang on the third floor of Jiang Bo’s building personally saw He Shuhua go downstairs that night, and they walked down together…” The pitiless Zhang Jiewei delivered the most merciless blow, his words extinguishing all my hope and will to live. Suddenly, Zhang Jiewei asked, “Where are you now?” I replied numbly, “At home,” and hung up the phone.

Reflecting on everything past, I was deeply weary. Love and hate, sorrow and grief—they were all irrelevant to me now.

I was never meant for this world. Misfortune arrived by chance, but I walked step-by-step into the abyss without realizing it.

I caused the deaths of everyone; I am a Demon King worse than You Qiaolin. If my blood can wash away my sins, I will be content.

If not, I pray I never enter reincarnation, allowing that kind me to drag ‘me’ into hell forever. Blood must be repaid with blood!