Chapter Twenty-Three: A Perfect Hit

Fang Nian’s words stirred up a huge commotion among those present. As the saying goes, a nation has its laws and each trade its rules. In the business of running hunting grounds, the most vital principle is to be transparent and trustworthy. If everything Fang Nian described was true, then the Jin family had overstepped their bounds—not just simple deception, but outright fraud. In an era where survival was so difficult, using these means to squeeze the people was nothing short of disgraceful.

Yet, many in the crowd still harbored doubts about Fang Nian’s account.

“What? That’s impossible. I remember the Jin family made it clear in their advertisements—‘Deadly ID’ is a multiplayer hunting ground: ten participants in a session, and only one has a chance to clear it.”

“Yes, it was absolutely promoted as a multiplayer event, with the battle of wits and courage among ten people as its main attraction. And many revealed details proved it was indeed multiplayer.”

“I agree, I don’t buy it either. Who would go to such lengths to design a solo hunting ground? This Fang fellow must be playing tricks.”

“But…he did clear it, and he’s the only one who ever has. His words carry weight. Could it be…‘Deadly ID’ really is…a solo hunting ground?”

…

At this moment, Jin Jindao’s face grew even darker. He never imagined that the elaborate trap he had so carefully designed would be seen through by Fang Nian. For a moment, he even felt a pang of regret—perhaps seeking ‘the truth’ here was a mistake, and in the end, he had only brought humiliation upon himself.

Fang Nian recounted his story with relish, and the audience was enthralled. Yet, he failed to notice that the one listening most intently stood right beside him. When Fang Nian turned, he saw Summer Moyan’s breathtaking visage utterly immersed in the world he conjured.

A moment later, realization dawned in her eyes. She gazed at Fang Nian, delight shining in her expression.

“I think I understand. If it’s a solo hunting ground, then the key to clearing it isn’t any particular action by the hunter. It’s about discovering something the designer deliberately hid.”

Hearing her words, this time it was Fang Nian who was taken aback.

“I never imagined this girl’s talent was so extraordinary—she saw through it at once. And the way she concentrates…how captivating.”

Fang Nian smiled knowingly and at last unveiled the true core of ‘Deadly ID.’

“When the hunt reached its end, only that woman and I remained in the scene. In fact, as she was leaving, she never realized that I’d already taken out the doctor in the trunk with a trap I rigged using steel wire and a pen. And as she drove away, I detonated the entire motel—including myself.”

He paused, then sighed softly and continued.

“If you’ve followed my story to this point, you probably think the hunt was over. But in truth, it was only just beginning. Because finally, we return to the real world within the hunting ground: the hospital bed in a psychiatric ward.

“That’s right—the character designed by the architect was a patient with dissociative identity disorder. All ten people in the hunt were merely facets of the same patient’s mind. They battled and tormented each other within his brain, each with their own traits—some as violent as the doctor, some as sinister as the bald boss.

“And so, the final question: Now that you know what’s hidden behind the hunt, how does one clear it? The answer…is to leave behind the most beautiful thing.”

Among these ten personalities, the only one with a truly pure soul was that final woman. She alone, departing the locked motel at dawn, was the key to clearing the game. She was the character the patient most longed to preserve.

Summer Moyan immediately understood, yet a new question arose.

“Then why didn’t you survive and leave?”

Fang Nian spread his hands helplessly, looking at her with gentle eyes.

“Because the role I played was not a policeman, but a criminal who killed the policeman and wore his uniform. The woman just thought I was a cop.”

At this, nearly everyone in the room understood. For a moment, they could not help but marvel at the hunt’s ingenious design, forgetting entirely the Jin family’s despicable use of fraud.

Fang Nian himself had to admit that Jin Jindao did possess considerable talent in constructing hunts—only, it was put to the wrong use.

After hearing Fang Nian’s analysis, Jin Jindao was left speechless—every point had hit the mark.

Now, it was clear he had suffered a total defeat. There was no use in staying any longer; the crisis facing the Summer family had been resolved almost without their noticing. All that remained was for him to deal with his own troubles.

“Fang, we’ll meet again.”

He turned to leave with Xu Lang. But just then, Fang Nian called out to them, a playful smile on his lips.

“Gentlemen, don’t go just yet. You’ve had your fun, but I haven’t had mine. Isn’t it my turn now?”

The two turned back, staring coldly at Fang Nian.

“What, do you expect us to apologize to you?”

Fang Nian waved his hands.

“No need, no need. If apologies were enough, there’d be no need for regulatory authorities. Besides, your apologies aren’t worth much. What I want to ask is—after all your scheming against the Summer family, after costing us so much, don’t you think you owe us something?”

Xu Lang, already in a foul mood and now faced with the hunt’s fiasco, didn’t even know how to explain things at home. Hearing Fang Nian’s words, his anger boiled over.

“Fang Nian, don’t push your luck. Your losses are because your own hunt was too simple—what does that have to do with me?”

Fang Nian spread his hands again, but his face suddenly hardened, his eyes glinting with menace—a stark contrast to his previous casual manner.

“Fine. Since you’ve stepped forward, let’s settle accounts with your Xu family first.”

With those words, Fang Nian exchanged a look with Summer Muyu, who at once had someone drag a man from the Summer family’s basement and toss him to the ground. The man’s face was covered in blood, both legs broken—he looked utterly wretched.

Though his features were distorted, someone from the Summer family immediately recognized him.

“That’s…Jiang Peng? What happened to you?”

Fang Nian looked at Xu Lang.

“I wonder, Young Master Xu, do you know this man?”

Xu Lang’s body trembled slightly.

“No.”

Fang Nian waved dismissively.

“No matter—he knows you. Jiang Peng has confessed. According to his statement, his son lost a fortune at your Xu family’s underground casino. To repay the debt, you demanded that Jiang Peng, as the person in charge of the Summer’s hunting grounds, hand over the design plans for ‘The Ayr Cipher.’ Because of this, the Summer hunting ground ended up in its current predicament.

“Second Young Master Xu, am I wrong?”

Xu Lang began to panic.

“You…what proof do you have?”

With a thud, Fang Nian took a folder from Summer Muyu and tossed it to the ground.

“Video, audio, transaction records, the photos you used to threaten him, and screenshots of your communications—they’re all inside. Do you need anything else?”

Xu Lang was dumbstruck.