Shen Xingsui, quite anxious, immediately stood up, signaling a crew member, “Wait, wait! Don't post that yet!”

The crew member looked puzzled.

They hadn't expected such a strong reaction from him.

Rushing to grab the smartphone, the crew member thought Shen Xingsui was hesitant about sharing a link and dodged, “Mr. Jian, we're just posting the content required for the show. You don't have to worry...”

Feeling misunderstood, Shen Xingsui quickly clarified, “I'm not concerned about that. It’s just that you might be logged into my secondary account. Let me switch accounts first.”

The staff member hadn’t anticipated such a situation. Quickly handing the phone back to Shen Xingsui, he apologized, “I’m sorry.”

The unexpected event left Shen Xingsui slightly flustered, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead. Breathing a tad heavier, he said, “It’s alright, as long as it wasn’t posted.”

However, the live stream viewers became quite animated:

“A secondary account?”

“Xingsui, you have a secret account behind our backs?”

“Tell us, what have you been up to on this private account?”

“Haha, didn't he just say it? For downloading wallpapers.”

While many were slightly disappointed not to discover Shen Xingsui’s secondary account, the fun of speculating which one it might be had only begun:

“Is it just me or did ‘Madam’ also just come online?”

“I thought I was the only one who noticed ‘Madam’ coming online.”

“What a coincidence, right?”

“Wait, who’s this ‘Madam’ you all are talking about?”

“On a serious note, I think I’ve seen Xingsui’s phone wallpaper on a popular Weibo user’s page before.”

“Does anyone know whose picture that is?”

The astute 'Microscope Girl' had already started connecting the dots, while Shen Xingsui believed he had narrowly escaped the situation.

After the production team prompted everyone to share the Weibo link and waited ten minutes, the final voting result was unveiled:

【Free Action】

This outcome took all the participants by surprise.

The show’s director stepped forward, “We owe everyone an explanation. Over the last two days of voting, we detected attempts to maliciously manipulate the vote counts. To prevent and eliminate any such occurrences, today we will not form teams. Instead, participants will embark on individual quests.”

The group nodded in understanding.

Indeed, some fans, desperate for their idols to team up with their favorites, will resort to any means. It’s surprising to see such antics being extended here.

The group then dispersed.

The crew led everyone to the back of the Fei Village, and began, “Hidden within this dense forest is the treasure we seek. Your task is to quickly obtain the mirror and identify the malevolent presence among you. If this entity gets the chance to enter the treasure cave, it will result in chaos.”

Paths branched out in front of them, leading them into various parts of the woods. Consequently, everyone set out in different directions.

Shen Xingsui randomly chose a path and, while walking, turned to the camera operator behind him and asked, “Are the challenges different for each one of us?”

The cameraman commented, "There are multiple challenges ahead."

Observing that he was not inclined to reveal more, Shen Xingsui refrained from pressing further.

Moving along the path, he soon spotted a woman in traditional Fei attire in a nearby pavilion. Approaching with a polite greeting, she responded with a smile, "Welcome to the Fei tribe. I am one of the guardians of this forest. You cannot proceed any further unless you pass my test."

Sensing the challenge he had been anticipating, Shen Xingsui inquired, "Please, explain."

The woman gestured invitingly, taking his hand and leading him into the pavilion. "Please step into the center and hand over your token to me. Once you do, I'll explain your task."

With a mix of curiosity and caution, Shen Xingsui stepped into the pavilion.

Drawing close, the woman unclasped the token from his waist. Holding it, she instructed, "Turn around and wait for five seconds. The test will soon commence."

Shen Xingsui turned reluctantly, sensing her gaze still on him. Behind, he heard the soft patter of multiple footsteps. When he turned back around, he was astonished to see over twenty women, each dressed identically, with nearly indistinguishable features.

A voice from the show’s production team echoed nearby, "Identify the woman who took your token. You have only three chances."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback. He had been engrossed in their conversation and, while he had taken note of her appearance, he hadn't expected this challenge of identifying her amongst identical others!

The producer's voice returned, "You have five minutes. Begin."

At the command, Shen Xingsui approached the group. The women began to dance in nearly identical movements. Veils concealed their faces, rendering them indistinguishable. Their heights and builds were also strikingly similar. He contemplated pulling off a veil, but a warning ensued, "You cannot touch them."

Shen Xingsui hesitated once more.

As the dance concluded, over two minutes had already elapsed.

The producer queried, "Have you identified her?"

Trying his luck, Shen Xingsui pointed at one he felt resembled her the most, asking, "Is it her?"

The producer shook his head, "Incorrect."

A wave of helplessness washed over Shen Xingsui.

However, the live stream viewers empathized with his predicament:

"They look identical."

"Similar height and build."

"The veils make it impossible for anyone to distinguish."

As the timer resumed and a second dance was about to commence, desperation gripped Shen Xingsui. He paced anxiously, like a restless ant on a hot plate. A light drizzle began, yet amidst the growing tension, he found clarity. What would Fu Jinxiao do in this situation?

Would Professor Fu be anxious?

Most likely not.

He needs a calm judgment and thoughtful deliberation...

Shen Xingsui began to recall every gesture and movement of the woman from the moment he arrived. As the five-minute countdown neared its end, his eyes lit up, and he confidently commanded, "Excuse me, please stop dancing."

The young ladies immediately halted.

The producer reminded, "Remember, no touching."

Shen Xingsui advanced towards the ladies, leaning in without making any physical contact, yet pausing briefly in front of each one. Finally, he asserted, "The girl from before isn't here."

The producer looked puzzled, "Are you sure?"

Shen Xingsui nodded firmly, "I'm certain."

A mysterious smile graced the producer's face before he snapped his fingers, "Congratulations, you've passed."

Streams of question marks floated across the live chat.

Even the producer was baffled, "How did you figure it out?"

From a nearby grove, the young lady from earlier emerged, returning the token to Shen Xingsui. She gazed at him with equal parts curiosity, awaiting his response.

Scratching his head sheepishly, Shen Xingsui simply said, "Scent."

Everyone was taken aback.

"She had a distinct aroma, which I noticed when she took my token," Shen Xingsui gestured to the assembled crowd, "None of the others here have that scent."

Impressive.

Both the producer and the young lady broke into smiles, with the lady adding, "Young sir, you have proven your capability to proceed. The path ahead is perilous. The desired mirror lies within a cave 300 meters ahead. It's fraught with danger, so I gift you this talisman. It can repel one malevolent attack."

Bowing in gratitude, Shen Xingsui responded, "Thank you."

With the clue in hand, he sprinted towards the cave but encountered An Ran along the way.

An Ran approached enthusiastically, "Xingsui, have you completed the task?"

Hesitating slightly, Shen Xingsui chose to be discreet, asking instead, "And you?"

An Ran sighed, "I couldn’t. It was too challenging. I couldn't distinguish among them. They all looked the same!"

Continuing, An Ran added, "She let me through anyway, just without the reward."

Shen Xingsui realized An Ran lacked the protective talisman.

As the two pressed on, an announcement echoed through the woods, "Someone has reached the cave and acquired the magic mirror."

Shen Xingsui paused in surprise.

He thought he had been quick, not realizing someone else was even swifter.

While deep in thought, Shen Xingsui spotted Fu Jinxiao leisurely strolling down a nearby path. He held nothing in his hands. An Ran quickly asked, "Master Fu, who took the mirror?"

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "I'm not sure."

! !

Shen Xingsui, growing anxious, inquired, "Wasn't it you?"

Posing this question seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Fu Jinxiao's eyes settled on Shen Xingsui as he said, "The mirror has been destroyed."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback.

"By the time I arrived, it was already shattered," said Fu Jinxiao, taking a sip from one of the two water bottles he held. "Someone must've beaten me to it."

The idea of someone outpacing Fu Jinxiao was astonishing.

Was it the work of malevolent forces?

How could anyone complete the challenge so quickly and then shatter the mirror?

Overwhelmed with thirst, An Ran asked, "Master Fu, may I have a bottle of water?"

Only upon hearing this did Shen Xingsui realize his own thirst. The water Fu Jinxiao held suddenly seemed invaluable. But since An Ran had spoken first, Shen Xingsui hesitated to ask and remained silent.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

And he had always been the silent wheel.

Fu Jinxiao's gaze lingered on Shen Xingsui momentarily. But he handed the unopened bottle to An Ran, simply saying, "Here."

An Ran hadn't expected Fu Jinxiao to be so generous!

Gratefully accepting, he said, "Thank you, Master Fu!"

After a few gulps, seemingly to tease Shen Xingsui, An Ran offered, "Oh, I almost forgot about you, Xingsui. Would you like some? We could share."

Despite his thirst, Shen Xingsui declined without looking at Fu Jinxiao, "I'm not thirsty. I'll go ahead and search for any clues about the mirror."

Passing them, Shen Xingsui felt as though he was expending his last reserves of energy.

While he was somewhat tired and thirsty, an unexpected vigor propelled him forward. As he journeyed on, a broadcast echoed through the woods: "Since the mirror has been destroyed and the remaining participants failed to complete the challenge within the set time, we're now announcing the list of those who've been infected and eliminated."

"Shen Xingchen: Out."

"Feng Fan: Out."

"Teacher Li: Out."

Three were eliminated due to infection? How were they removed?

Shen Xingsui, puzzled on the spot, encountered his elder brother not far away, who was about to leave the dense woods due to his elimination. Hurrying over, he asked, "How were you eliminated?"

Shen Xingchen was equally perplexed: "I didn't do anything."

"No one touched you?" Shen Xingsui queried. "Or, like before, asked you something?"

Shen Xingchen was truly baffled: "This time, no one came with questions, and no one placed anything on me. I've been very careful. All I've done since this morning was eat breakfast and grab two buns from Brother Fu."

Shen Xingsui chuckled in exasperation, "I see."

He had yet to come across Feng Fan and Teacher Li.

As he moved forward, at the next checkpoint, he met the still-standing Teacher Tu Ya and Xu Qinke. Engrossed in a discussion, they waved Shen Xingsui over upon seeing him: "Xingsui, come here."

Approaching, Shen Xingsui inquired, "Were Teacher Li and Feng Fan eliminated?"

With a shudder, Teacher Tu Ya said, "It's genuinely terrifying. And I'm certain the hidden assassin is still out there."

"How were they eliminated?" Shen Xingsui pondered, "Yesterday, Xingchen and I were together all day. We just separated to do tasks during the day. The eight of us hardly intersected. How did it happen?"

Xu Qinke posed, "Teacher Tu Ya, who do you suspect?"

"There are only two possibilities for this round's assassin," Teacher Tu Ya analyzed, "One is An Ran. The other possibility is..."

As they discussed, a broadcast interrupted: 【An Ran: Out】

A hush fell over the group.

Yet another had been cast aside. The speed and efficiency of the assassin exceeded anyone's expectations. Recalling the last time An Ran was the assassin, they had quickly deduced his methods. But now, they were utterly clueless.

Taking a deep breath, Tu Ya said, "The only person I can think of with such capability is Fu Jinxiao."

It was the worst possible scenario.

If Fu Jinxiao was indeed the killer, they'd be cornered. With the mirror destroyed, all significant leads seemed to be monopolized by Fu Jinxiao.

Xu Qinke stated, "Our priority is to discern the method. Otherwise, we're finished."

Shen Xingsui relayed Shen Xingchen's words from earlier.

"Buns?" Tu Ya immediately dismissed the idea, "Impossible. He doesn't have enough buns to eliminate people. And you underestimate him. His moves wouldn't be so overt. The buns themselves can't be the issue."

After contemplation, Xu Qinke hesitated before adding, "Before being eliminated, Feng Fan had a drink."

What seemed a simple remark sent chills down Shen Xingsui's spine.

The live audience felt a similar chill:

"A brush with the water of death."

"Holy crap..."

"Mr. Fu must've slipped something in his drink, hahaha!"

"So there are only three of us left now, right?"

The production team announced, “To the remaining brave souls, your final opportunity awaits. Five hundred meters from here lies the Sacred Lake, where the divine water bestowed by the Goddess herself resides. Reach the lake first, retrieve the divine water, and you can eliminate the evil forces and protect the treasure."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and began heading towards the Sacred Lake.

As they walked, Tuya remarked, "I have a protective amulet with me. Given Mr. Fu's capabilities, he'll likely reach the water before us. If we lose that too, we're done for. So, even if he gets the water first, we must try to take it from him."

Xu Qinke hesitated before admitting, "I drank the water too. But I had the amulet, so I was spared. Now, without it, I'm vulnerable."

Shen Xingsui interjected, "I have one amulet left."

Tuya thought for a moment and then revealed, "I believe I know the location of the treasure cave. However, when I visited it earlier, the guardian informed me that only those possessing the map can enter."

Shen Xingsui quickly responded, "I have the map."

"Then you should go," Tuya decided. "While the three of us may seem numerous, we're no match for Fu Jinxiao. But our advantage lies in our numbers. You head to the treasure cave, while the two of us buy some time. That way, we can win. Understand?"

Shen Xingsui agreed with Tuya's strategy.

With their roles set, they wasted no time. As Tuya and Xu Qinke raced towards the Sacred Lake, someone was already there waiting for them.

In Fu Jinxiao's hand was the vial containing the divine water.

Tuya chuckled ruefully, "Experience truly bests youth. I knew we couldn't outpace you."

Fu Jinxiao surveyed them and finally asked, "Where's Shen Xingsui?"

"Your little friend is safe," Tuya responded with a resigned tone. "I bet you're relieved he isn't here, so you don't have to play the villain in front of him."

Fu Jinxiao smirked, "I never intended to hide it forever."

While Tuya engaged in conversation, Xu Qinke, armed with the amulet, launched a surprise attack, successfully snatching the vial.

Jubilantly, Xu Qinke exclaimed, "Tuya, I've got it!"

Overjoyed, Tuya urged, "Quick, open the vial and splash the water! That'll eliminate him!"

Their hands trembling with excitement, they hurriedly uncorked the vial and splashed the divine water towards Fu Jinxiao, even high-fiving afterward, "We've won!"

They had, against all odds, defeated Fu Jinxiao.

This achievement was one they could brag about for an entire year. It was a triumph of wit.

Suddenly, a broadcast echoed through the woods:

【Tuya out】

【Xu Qinke out】

As the chilling announcement rang out, the two celebrating figures were left dumbfounded, scarcely believing their own ears. Their expressions in that moment could easily become the stuff of legend.

The director explained, "That isn't the divine water vial. You've taken the wrong one. According to the rules, both of you have taken and used items from Mr. Fu, so you're both out."

No, it wasn't the divine water.

Tuya stammered, "But isn't this the vial for the divine water?"

"This vial?" Fu Jinxiao leisurely pulled another identical one from his pocket, "I got it as a souvenir from the snack shop. Two for 9.9. Would you like another?"

"..."

Tuya was rendered speechless, questioning everything.

Xu Qinke chuckled helplessly, "Mr. Fu, that was a sly move."

Outplayed.

Truly outmatched. This game is impossible with Fu Jinxiao in play.

The live audience experienced a roller-coaster of emotions:

"What a twist!"

"Man, I wouldn't last a single episode in there."

"Fu Jinxiao is formidable, both in skill and intellect. Absolutely dominant."

"If I were there, I'd be Shen Xingchen."

"Hahaha! It's not so much harmful, just supremely insulting."

"Shen Xingchen: Is that supposed to be polite?"

Inside the Treasure Cave, after searching for quite a while with the map's guidance, Shen Xingsui located the treasure. He too had heard the broadcast, shocked that both Tuya and Xu Qinke had been taken out.

The treasure was secured inside a locked box, which required a key or a password to open.

Shen Xingsui realized a significant problem: only one of them had the key, and that key was with Fu Jinxiao!

He'd have to crack the password then.

Shen Xingsui racked his brain, trying multiple passwords to no avail. He was on the verge of a breakdown, muttering, "What could the password be? Why is it so hard..."

Just as he was deeply engrossed, the cave's entrance opened. A tall figure stood in the doorway, the dim light from the cavern casting an enigmatic and threatening shadow over him. The man's deep voice, tinged with amusement, resonated, "Need some help?"

Shen Xingsui turned sharply, his gaze meeting Fu Jinxiao's.

Nearly dropping the box he was holding, Shen Xingsui pressed himself against the wall in fear, feigning calm, "Mr. Fu."

Fu Jinxiao smirked, "Yes?"

"Why... why are you here?" Shen Xingsui stuttered but managed to say, "I don't need help. I can manage on my own."

Fu Jinxiao's dark gaze never wavered, his eyes deepening as he softly asked, "Are you afraid of me?"

Who wouldn't be?

After what you've done to everyone, who wouldn't fear you?

Shen Xingsui felt a lump in his throat, knowing that the key was with Fu Jinxiao. His only protective charm was given to Xu Qinke. Without the password or the divine water, he felt trapped, with no doubt in his mind that Fu Jinxiao would prevail.

Clutching the box, Shen Xingsui tried to intimidate him, "Mr. Fu, good and evil have never coexisted. No matter what, I must protect this box. Don't... don't come closer, or we'll both perish."

Leaning casually against the wall, Fu Jinxiao's lips curled into a chilling smile as he drawled, "Is that so..."

Undeterred, the man stepped forward, each footfall echoing ominously, like the very beats of a heart under duress. As he approached with a domineering aura, one could hardly breathe.

A cold bead of sweat dripped from Shen Xingsui's forehead.

As Fu Jinxiao neared, Shen Xingsui even contemplated surrendering with the box in tow.

The live-stream audience was strangely excited:

"Ah, it's love and war!"

"Once he gets the box, Mr. Fu wins."

"Xingsui has no cards left to play, he's done for."

"Poor Xingsui, haha."

"Maybe he doesn't realize, but Mr. Fu is invincible. He's never lost."

"GDKGDK."

Fu Jinxiao stood before Shen Xingsui, his arms encompassing him. Shen Xingsui, already weak-kneed, trembled, their eyes locked — one predatory, the other like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Dominantly, Fu Jinxiao leaned in. Instinctively frightened, Shen Xingsui closed his eyes, waiting for his elimination announcement.

But instead of the expected voice, he felt a cold sensation in his palm. Cautiously opening his eyes, he found a small porcelain vial placed in his hand.

Their proximity was intense.

With Fu Jinxiao almost cradling him, he whispered into Shen Xingsui's ear, his voice deep and magnetic, making him feel a soft warmth, "Kill me."