[System]
All players, the final challenge is about to begin. Please be prepared. Good luck to you all.

“Captain Xu, why did you suddenly faint?” Mingliang asked.
Xu Yi sat up from the hospital bed, his head throbbing. At that moment, Yi Yu entered from outside.

“You’re awake?”

Mingliang quickly used the time to brief them on the case. “Captain Xu, here’s the situation. The deceased, Li Xiaoming, age 26, was a journalist at a company. The forensic report states the cause of death was asphyxiation.”

“This is the third case this month. We suspect a serial killing.”

Xu Yi was still stuck on the name Li Xiaoming, while Yi Yu’s eyes already said everything. Moments later, the two sat in the backseat of the police car, both staring out the window. Mingliang chewed gum—something about the atmosphere felt very off.

Back at the task force office, three photos of the victims were pinned to the board. Xu Yi sat down while Yi Yu poured him a cup of warm water—just like always. Just as an idea began to form in Xu Yi’s mind, a teammate interrupted.

“The first victim, Wang Qiang, 25, was a third-tier celebrity. Cause of death: asphyxiation. He died at home and was found without breath by his agent.”

“The second victim, Liu Ye, 35, was a singer. Also died from asphyxiation.”

“A reporter, an actor, and a singer. Did anyone investigate whether the victims knew each other?” Xu Yi picked up his pen.

Mingliang continued, “We did. The three had no social connections with one another. However, there is one thing they had in common…”

“They all went to the same psychological clinic.”

“Was the clinic investigated?” Yi Yu’s tone was hard to read. One of the seated team members replied.

“Mingliang and I looked into it. The psychologist is Fei Ye, 27. At the time of the crime, he was abroad giving a presentation for a project. He still hasn’t returned.”

One familiar name after another—Xu Yi’s headache intensified. After giving a few instructions, Yi Yu picked him up and carried him to the room.

Team members: “?”

That night, Xu Yi and Yi Yu visited Li Xiaoming’s house. The small home was plastered with newspaper headlines. The walls were covered with clippings.

On one of the newspapers, a particular article had been circled with red pen. Xu Yi tore it down and brought it to Yi Yu, who was in the living room holding a book he found beneath the TV stand.

“Is there something off about this article?”

“The article reports on a fire, and he circled it in red. Even the other newspapers all report on fires.”

Yi Yu flipped open the book, and a piece of paper fell out—on it was the same mysterious symbol from the crime scene.

An angel mask, but behind it was the smile of a demon. In its hand—a hammer?

The phone rang.
“Captain Xu, Fei Ye’s coming back tomorrow. Should we stake him out?”

“Also, we found that all the victims had a painting in their homes. The image in each painting matches the one found at the crime scene.”

It seemed that all the pieces were falling into place. At midnight, on the highway, Yi Yu was driving while Xu Yi opened the window from the passenger seat.

“Consultant Yi, why are you so sure he’s not the killer?”

“Tell Yi Yu to go to the scene—now. If he won’t, then tell him to quit.”

The fragmented images in Xu Yi’s mind slowly began to piece themselves together. He looked at Yi Yu beside him, driving.

He closed his eyes. It felt like he was standing atop a giant mirror. Looking down, he saw his reflection—and Yi Yu’s. But there was also a version of Yi Yu he couldn’t see clearly.

The Yi Yu in the mirror was the one who tucked a blanket over him when he stayed up late working on a case.

The one who swapped his soda for tea in his insulated cup.

The one who, even after constant arguments about work, would buy him his favorite braised chicken and rice.

He even asked a team member to deliver it to him.

So it turns out… everything had left traces all along.