Chapter 216 21

Chapter 216

Feeling unwell, Li Shang was taken back to their apartment early by He Lin after the investigation concluded.

Li Shang remained somewhat disoriented. Almost immediately upon arriving home, he went to the bedroom and fell asleep.

His sleep was deeply troubled. In his dream, he found himself back in the room he had seen that morning, the same buzzing sound echoing in his ears.

Just as he had that morning, Li Shang lifted the freezer lid. This time, however, what met his gaze was no longer the child's body, but...

The scene was almost unbelievable. He leaned closer to examine the figure inside the freezer, only for the face to slowly transform into his own.

Li Shang recoiled sharply, a chill running through his entire body as if he were truly trapped inside the icy chamber.

The dream repeated itself, trapping Li Shang in an endless loop. Over and over, he entered the same room—sometimes he was inside the freezer, sometimes it was He Lin.

He knew he was dreaming, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't wake up. He felt ensnared, helpless, unable to escape.

It wasn't until He Lin woke him for dinner that Li Shang finally broke free from the nightmare.

Perhaps due to the cold exposure from opening the freezer earlier, Li Shang had developed a mild fever—around 37.5°C.

The fever exacerbated his back pain, making it difficult to turn over or sit upright.

Seeing this, He Lin knew their evening run was definitely off.

That night, He Lin prepared Li Shang’s favorite steamed eggs and other light, easily digestible dishes he enjoyed.

After dinner, he made Li Shang some cold medicine and placed a hot water bottle against his lower back. After resting a while, Li Shang began to feel noticeably better.

Instead of going straight to bed, Li Shang draped a thin blanket over his shoulders and sat at the desk, reviewing recent case files.

When he finished, he sat quietly, pale-faced and slightly hunched. His hand rested beneath his chin, his gaze distant, lost in thought.

He Lin sat on the sofa opposite him, silently observing the serene scene for a moment.

Then he got up, walked over, bent down, and kissed Li Shang’s forehead to check his temperature. It was only slightly warm, which eased his concern. He then nuzzled against Li Shang’s neck and whispered, "Why aren’t you resting in bed?"

Li Shang reached out and gently stroked He Lin’s hair. "I want to review this case and summarize our progress."

Recently, the task force had made significant headway.

With the bank’s cooperation, Li Linxi had nearly completed gathering evidence related to money laundering.

With the help of several students, Gu Niantang had compiled a longer list of scam victims.

Zhou Yi’an had identified more followers of the Sentient Beings Society. Jiang Hui and her husband had been detained and interrogated, eventually confessing to their crimes.

At this point, the investigation had uncovered numerous leads from multiple angles, but there was still a long way to go before solving the entire case and exposing the core of the criminal network.

Li Shang wanted to identify the mastermind and dismantle the entire criminal organization.

The position of Commanding Officer, established jointly by the Provincial Department and the base, wasn’t just about making arrests—it also involved overseeing the entire investigation.

Most importantly, Li Shang served as the crucial link between the base and the Provincial Department, often required to report to both sides.

The Psi case was complex and deeply entrenched.

On the surface, He Lin led the task force, handling communication and adjusting investigative directions. But both of them knew that Li Shang was the true strategist behind the operation.

Though He Lin cared deeply about the case, he worried about the toll it was taking on Li Shang.

He said, "If there’s anything that needs investigating or extra work, just tell me. I’ll help."

Li Shang patted He Lin’s hand. "I won’t push myself too hard. You can stay with me—we can review the clues together and see what we might have missed."

Only then did He Lin agree. He moved both their phones farther away, brought Li Shang a glass of warm water with two lemon slices, and sat back down across from him.

Li Shang said, "We’ve been investigating along known paths, trying to learn more about the other side. Now we have a clearer picture of what these people have done."

He picked up a slender pen and began writing and sketching on paper.

Then he explained in detail, "Based on current evidence, I’m fairly certain the person behind the Sentient Beings Society is likely Bai Zang."

He continued with a thorough analysis: "We can use deductive reasoning and psychological profiling to reconstruct Bai Zang’s actions after leaving the park—and even before that—to understand his motives."

He Lin immediately caught on. "So we can deduce what he’s doing now and what he plans next?"

Li Shang nodded slightly.

Previously, they had too little information to conduct such an analysis. But now, with the investigation deepening, the full scope of the crime was gradually emerging. Reviewing the details would help them advance.

After explaining this, Li Shang first drew a timeline on the paper.

Due to his low-grade fever, Li Shang didn’t feel well. His face was pale, his lips colorless, which made his dark eyes appear even deeper, reflecting his calm and sharp intellect.

He said seriously, "First, Bai Zang is male, relatively young, and previously worked as a programmer. We can infer he studied computer science in university. After joining the park, he upgraded Lily Park’s systems and fraud methods, earning the Zhao brothers’ trust and helping the park expand."

"Later, Bai Zang believed that for further growth, the park needed to focus on online payments and acquire advanced technology. On his suggestion, the Zhao brothers partnered with Cha Xin to kidnap Shang Ting. She was later rescued by us during transport."

Li Shang continued writing as he spoke, "After that failure, they shifted targets and kidnapped semi-retired Engineer Yuan, successfully bringing him to the park."

"While at the park, they were likely already developing the Psi system. Bai Zang’s ambitions extended beyond Lily Park—he aimed to create a new form of money laundering, distinct from traditional fraud."

"When Lily Park was shut down, he turned focus to domestic operations with Xia Yan, launching large-scale money laundering."

"Their first step was acquiring several shell companies. After laundering previous fraud proceeds through Psi, they injected funds into small internet startups, gaining equity stakes."

"Next, they began embedding necessary programs and functions, initiating big data collection and surveillance. At the same time, they started developing AI technology, preparing to create AI 'ghosts'."

Li Shang looked over his notes and gently shook his head. "That doesn’t seem right. The timeline doesn’t add up. A hastily assembled team couldn’t develop this quickly…"

He revised the diagram, drawing an upward arrow. "I think it’s possible the entire plan was conceived and prepared while they were still at Lily Park. Their domestic operations were merely the gradual implementation of a pre-existing blueprint."

Clearly, whether it was the AI or the embedded systems, these were all components of the Psi website’s supporting infrastructure.

The other side used ready-made technology to execute their plan in the shortest possible time, allowing the situation to escalate to its current scale within just two and a half years.

He Lin sighed. "With such advanced technology and determination, they could have pursued legitimate ventures. Why turn to crime?"

"Once they boarded that path and deceived thousands, they could never wash their hands clean. They might as well go all the way. Moreover, this operational model aligns closely with Bai Zang’s personal experiences and psychology. Their choices inevitably led to this outcome." Li Shang shifted in his seat, leaning lazily against the chair back. He coughed lightly a few times and pulled the blanket tighter around himself.

After filling in these details, Li Shang reached his conclusion.

"After completing all preliminary preparations, they established the Sentient Beings Society. Using prophecies and the deaths of young people, they recruited followers, enabling greater fraud and coercing cooperation in their money laundering scheme."

It was at this point that Psi became fully operational.

The police had initially investigated backward, but now, by organizing events chronologically, Li Shang had clarified the entire sequence.

They could finally see the sinister silhouette of their enemy hidden in the darkness.

Li Shang said, "Next, we need to figure out the psychological motives behind Bai Zang's establishment of the Sentient Beings Society."

A thousand people might approach the same goal a thousand different ways. It is precisely this criminal mindset that allows them to understand Bai Zang more deeply.

He Lin followed his line of thought and analyzed, "I think there are two main reasons. One is to cultivate the most loyal followers, strengthen the connections among the victims, and make it easier to control the money laundering process. The other is to fulfill his desire for a personal cult. With his manipulation, people like Jiang Hui emerge—these obsessed individuals will unconditionally obey his commands. If their numbers grow large enough, it could become a terrifying force."

The room was quiet, with only the sound of their calm analysis.

Li Shang said, "Bai Zang's primary goal, first and foremost, is money. Whether it was back in the park or now with Psi, they are undoubtedly obsessively accumulating wealth—pig-butchering scams, virtual currencies, commissions from money laundering, and illegal transactions on Psi—all for this purpose."

It could be said that the other party has an unhealthy fixation on money.

"And the reason he wants to build the Sentient Beings Society might also be that, even with vast amounts of money, he doesn't feel satisfied."

Bai Zang is an abnormal person; to understand this madman, one must put themselves in his shoes.

Li Shang said, "I'd speculate that there are gaps in Bai Zang's personality. He lacks a sense of security, self-worth, and belonging. These emotions may stem from low self-esteem and an unclear sense of self in his childhood. He longs to integrate into a collective and become its core."

"The Sentient Beings Society allows him to experience this."

"At the same time, he likely has histrionic and antisocial tendencies. He lacks empathy, has contempt for rules, and views others as mere 'tools' or 'audiences.' He disregards societal rules and moral boundaries and feels no guilt."

"And then there are the prophecies. The reason he orchestrates those horrific events is not only to gain more followers but also because he seeks the thrill and sense of control they provide."

When people become wealthy and find paths to greater power, they will seek to satisfy themselves as much as possible.

Some seek sensual pleasures, some seek extreme luxury or self-indulgence, some seek health and longevity, while others seek to do as they please, crossing moral and legal boundaries.

What Bai Zang does may seem unusual, but it still follows this logic.

Hearing this, He Lin said, "Such behavior is similar to how he tortured people with cruel punishments back in the park." He paused and added, "What appear to be accidental injuries replace the tortures in the punishment room. Money is merely his need, but these actions are what truly satisfy him. He has a pathological attachment to violence and being worshipped."

In the park, Bai Zang had suppressed his perverse emotions within the small punishment room. Clearly, ordinary punishments could no longer satisfy his bloodthirsty desires.

Li Shang agreed with He Lin's point. He nodded in agreement, "This brutality and bloodshed correspond to the inner gratification he feels. He constantly seeks stimulation, and when it no longer satisfies him, he turns to more innocent people. He mentally rehearses those violent acts countless times, even watching recordings of the incidents, waiting for them to unfold, deriving twisted joy from them."

Li Shang continued his psychological interpretation, "He creates terror through prophecies, then verifies them, harvesting people's worship to reinforce his perceived 'divinity'."

He Lin tried to analyze, "This may be his way of compensating for his inability to control his own fate during his childhood. In other words, in his perception, 'only those who decide the life and death of others are worthy of attention.'"

The room's light illuminated Li Shang's pale and tired face. He nodded gently. From beginning to end, He Lin was the one who was always quickest to follow his reasoning.

The Sentient Beings Society is Bai Zang's ultimate gratification.

After summarizing this, Li Shang said, "So, such a person won't stay passive during our investigation. The Psi he has now created is his masterpiece, unlike the Lily Park he could abandon at any time. Retreat is impossible; the closer he gets to risk, the more excited he becomes."

"He will do everything he can to monitor our investigation's progress, find ways to approach us, the police, and even... mock us, because that also brings him pleasure..."

The temporary calm is merely an illusion before the storm.

This battle is inevitable.

Although they still do not know who their opponent is, through analyzing these behaviors, they have already learned much about him.

After saying this and clarifying his thoughts, Li Shang felt much more relaxed. The water beside him had cooled down. He picked up the cup, took a sip, and looked up to see He Lin staring intently at him, as if wanting to say something.

Li Shang paused while drinking and looked at He Lin. He asked, "What else have you thought of?"

He Lin chose his words carefully and said, "In my criminal investigation work, I've encountered some serial cases. Those heinous individuals often show early signs in their actions. There must be a beginning to all this..."

Li Shang immediately understood what he meant, "Are you referring to... Case Zero?"

His years of frontline investigative experience have given He Lin a heightened sensitivity to criminal cases.

In the field of criminal investigation, there is the concept of Case Zero—the first crime committed by an offender. At that time, the criminal characteristics may not be obvious, and due to the passage of time, the case may have had little impact or the victim may not have suffered serious harm, often causing it to be overlooked.

However, such Case Zeroes are highly unique and contain the criminal's subsequent behavioral traits, profoundly influencing their future methods.

He Lin pointed at the timeline Li Shang had written, "I'm curious how such a capable and ambitious person like Bai Zang ended up going to the U.S."

He didn't think Bai Zang was kidnapped or deceived; instead, he felt there might be other reasons.

He Lin's words made Li Shang bow his head in deep thought.