104. Approach Case Handling with Enthusiasm-Something’s Not Right with This Healing Game(Words lacking in substance are as disgraceful as coarse speech.)

"And then?"

"And then she talked with me all night long."

"Just talking?"

"Yes, she kept telling me that I was a good person."

Chen Sheng: "..."

This abysmal line of dialogue—the developer was clearly trolling and being insufferable again.

While complaining silently, Chen Sheng asked, "Then why have you wasted away like this?"

Looking at a person whose vitality had been completely drained, as if ten tons of goji berries wouldn't be enough to restore him, all because of a night of talking? That was clearly impossible. Chen Sheng suspected this old guy wasn't telling the truth.

"I don't know, I just followed her instructions to exchange money and buy things for her." As he said this, the gaunt, skeletal Teacher Zhang’s expression suddenly turned vacant, and the light in his eyes vanished in an instant.

"Exchange money?" Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Teacher Zhang with suspicion. In this day and age, did that line of work no longer require a decent appearance?

This "Healing Game" was so realistic, with every detail handled so meticulously; there was no way the developers would make such a mistake.

But if it wasn't that kind of work, what other transaction could cause a person to wither away into a stick-thin frame?

"Yes, exchanging money, hehehe..." Teacher Zhang started to emit a strange laugh. It sounded like a foolish giggle, yet it carried an undertone of a cold sneer, which was deeply unsettling.

For no reason, it gave one a chill to the bone.

However, Chen Sheng’s expression didn't even flicker. After all, it was just a "game world"; what did it matter how eerie it was?

"How did you exchange it?" Chen Sheng asked.

"I..." Teacher Zhang subconsciously wanted to answer, but after saying only one word, he seemed to jam. He stared blankly for a long while before slowly continuing, "How did I exchange it?"

Teacher Zhang scratched his head and ears, his face gradually showing signs of manic agitation. "How did I exchange it? Let me think... I don't seem to be able to remember..."

"Then don't think about it. Tell me, what did you do after you got the money?" Chen Sheng forcefully changed the subject. The scene before him was already obvious enough. Even though Teacher Zhang hadn't said anything, it was likely a very sinister method of exchanging money.

For instance, trading one's life or vitality for currency.

"I bought her clothes, bags, cosmetics. Oh, and she wanted a car! I’ve already paid for more than half of it. As long as I go to exchange money again tonight, I can finish paying for it!" When Teacher Zhang mentioned this, he became instantly excited, his face filled with extreme satisfaction.

"You spent all the money you exchanged on her?"

"Yes, as long as she is happy, I am happy too. Hehehe..." Teacher Zhang emitted that weird laugh again.

***

Chen Sheng couldn't help but gasp. For the first time in this game, he felt a genuine sense of fear.

"The fate of a 'simp' is truly tragic!"

"Is this 'Healing Game' off-topic? Or is this perhaps the developer’s own personal experience, deliberately placed in this game to amuse the players?"

Chen Sheng speculated as he picked up the painting and left.

This was no place to linger!

Looking at this "Teacher Zhang NPC," Chen Sheng felt a sense of dread toward romance.

He didn't want to end up this miserable!

Even if this was just a "game plot," it was so life-like and echoed the real world so closely that it could serve as a cautionary tale!

After all, Chen Sheng’s college roommate had once been a "spare tire" simp.

Every time Chen Sheng recalled that guy's tragic experience, he felt a needless shiver down his spine.

After all, in this era where money was paramount, trying to express one's love without having any money easily led to becoming a "spare tire" simp.

Coincidentally, Chen Sheng had no money either.

So, he felt particularly empathetic toward this situation; he really couldn't help but feel a lingering fear!

"Confusion and disorientation, disorientation and confusion, when will it ever end!"

Reciting a line from a Ji Gong television series, Chen Sheng fled as if escaping. Only after running a certain distance did he regain his composure, and he hurried toward the Police Department.

However, upon arriving, he realized he didn't know where to go to report his progress.

All the official officers of the Spirit Investigation Unit had run off, leaving only the interns who couldn't escape.

Chen Sheng looked at these dejected interns and was immediately reminded of his own miserable experience of being wanted within days of starting. He couldn't help but sigh, "Temporary workers really have it rough."

He quickly asked, "Where are the people from the Spirit Investigation Unit?"

"Captain Yan took everyone to work over there." An intern pointed toward the tallest building outside the Police Department.

"Thanks. I don't have time to treat you to a meal, so take this money and grab something to eat yourself!" Having obtained his "mission reward" from the police chief, Chen Sheng was feeling unusually flush with cash. He dropped two of the highest-denomination currency notes and headed straight for the place the intern had pointed to.

When Chen Sheng arrived, he found quite a few officers in the building. At a glance, it seemed that more than half of the Police Department was there, as there were not only members of the Spirit Investigation Unit but also the Plainclothes Division.

***

That division was the easiest to recognize.

The Police Department had three divisions in total.

"What are you doing here?" Yan Wucheng, a senior officer of the Spirit Investigation Unit, looked as if he really didn't want to see Chen Sheng.

"Completed a mission. This painting is the culprit behind seven bizarre deaths—or maybe eight, because when I got it, the eighth person had already been withered to a husk by this thing." Chen Sheng tossed the painting over.

"This painting..." Yan Wucheng had originally intended to open it, but his expression suddenly shifted. He nearly jumped up and scrambled away from behind his desk with all limbs moving.

"The Delusion Painting!"

Yan Wucheng screamed in terror. He looked at Chen Sheng, his emotions nearly spiraling out of control: "Are you crazy? Throwing this painting at my face? Do you want to kill me?!"

As a senior officer, it was impossible for him to be entirely ignorant; he possessed the necessary basic knowledge.

After all, this was Shangsanjiang City.

A place filled with slaughter and the supernatural, a place where the competition was cutthroat.

"Calm down, the painting isn't that terrifying." Chen Sheng hadn't expected this "Captain Yan NPC" to be such a coward, so he offered a few words of comfort.

"Bullshit!" Yan Wucheng naturally didn't agree with Chen Sheng.

The horror of the Delusion Painting had been circulating for a long time.

"So, is my mission complete?"

"It's complete! Get out of here, and take this painting with you!"

"Fine!"

Hearing him say that, Chen Sheng immediately walked over, grabbed the painting, and took it away.

Then he stuffed it into his pants pocket.

He realized this painting was actually quite good for scaring people. If he’d had it earlier, who in the Spirit Investigation Unit would have dared to stop him?

Leaving the temporary office building of the Police Department, Chen Sheng headed straight for the "Old Mansion," where he received a mutilated but still-moving corpse from Qian Shaoshao.

"Long time no see!" Chen Sheng greeted him proactively, his tone very enthusiastic. "Old brother, do you want to report a crime?"