Vol. 4 Chapter 6: The Gathering

 Chapter 6: The Gathering

These past few days in Le Ping City have been far from peaceful. Since the tragic alley incident, another person has been found dead in a city corner a few days later. This latest victim was a student who, after finishing his college entrance exams, helped his family by pushing a food cart to sell snacks at night.

Of course, this student was also a school bully, naturally strong and disinterested in studying. For him, school was just a place to play, and he often bullied other students for fun, believing that no matter how well they studied, they were still beneath him, still afraid of him.

This person was naturally one of the most vicious bullies and became Fu Bin's first target. When he was heading home after closing his stall, Fu Bin blocked his path at a street corner, knocked over his food cart, and easily killed this bully who once could pin him to the ground.

Fu Bin once again used the victim's blood to write on the wall and, before leaving, kicked the victim, leaving the words "School Bullies Must Die" along with a blood-red mask symbol.

Shao Zhang, whose name ironically means 'arrogant,' felt anything but that now. As a law major from a vocational school, the basic requirement for a law firm job was a bachelor's degree, making his field one of the most frustrating. After graduating, he could only work in the lowest entry-level sales job, carrying a briefcase and visiting companies daily. Over a year into this job, he found himself stuck in a mediocre position.

Sitting on the subway, Shao Zhang held his briefcase and browsed the local news on his phone. He came across an article about the murder and smiled, putting his phone away. Though the incident occurred in the same city, it felt distant and unrelated to him. He still had to face his own challenges.

Shao Zhang opened his phone and looked at a text message from his old university class monitor, inviting him to a class reunion costume party. He didn't know who came up with the idea of turning a simple class reunion into a costume party.

But maybe it's for the best, Shao Zhang thought. Class reunions were usually a chance for the successful to show off and reconnect with old crushes. Wearing a mask might not be so bad. He touched the mask in his briefcase, a strange item that appeared there a few days ago, likely as part of some prank. Remembering the girl he once secretly admired, Shao Zhang decided to bring it along, if only to see her one last time.

In another part of the city, a cheap rental apartment echoed with sounds from next door. A woman looked at a text message on her phone, her face expressionless but tears streaming down her cheeks. She remembered the carefree university days and the boy who secretly admired her. But now, feeling disgusted with her own dirty existence, she thought about her mother still in the hospital. If not for her, she might have already taken her own life.

She picked up a mask beside her, thinking that maybe going to see her old friends one last time and saying goodbye would help her move on.

Time passed, and Shao Zhang hesitated before picking up the mask. He always felt something strange about it, but he lacked the energy or resources to prepare another costume. Reluctantly, he decided to wear it, thinking he was just going to see some old classmates.

He hailed a taxi and sat in the front seat, listening to the driver chat about recent events in the city. The driver, about forty years old and bald, seemed friendly enough.

"You're going to that costume party at the hotel, right? You youngsters sure know how to have fun," the driver said, well-informed about local happenings. "It's strange, though. A few days ago, I found a weird mask in my trunk while cleaning. Must be some passenger's prank. It said I should use it well."

Shao Zhang's face turned strange at this but nodded silently, smiling in agreement. However, when he got out of the taxi, he made sure to note the car's license plate number, just in case. Then he laughed at himself, wondering what good it would do.

Standing before the hotel, Shao Zhang took a deep breath and took out the strange mask. It had long horns, pointed ears, terrifying teeth, and hollow eye sockets that seemed to stare back at him. Hesitating for a moment, he laughed at himself. He had come this far, so he couldn't back out now.

Putting on the mask, Shao Zhang instantly felt a cold energy flow into his body. The fatigue from his stressful job vanished, replaced by a newfound clarity. The timid, cautious character he had developed since entering society disappeared, and his old, fearless personality resurfaced.

His previously declining physical fitness improved under the influence of the shadow magic. Before he could think much about it, he heard a soft, seductive voice nearby. "Oh my, who might this be?"

Shao Zhang turned to see two stunningly attractive women in elegant half-masks, smiling warmly at him. He let out a playful shout and a whistle, loosening his tie and transforming from a timid office worker into a confident playboy.

"Oh my, who are these two beauties? Let me guess!" Shao Zhang teased. "Not Xiao Hua—her skin isn't as fair as yours. Not Ah Luo either—she doesn't have your figures. Oh, I remember now, it's the beautiful Yao and Zhao!"

"You flirty guy, you must be Shao Zhang, that naughty fellow," the two women giggled, playfully hitting his chest. "Shall we go in together, handsome Shao?"

"My pleasure!" Shao Zhang felt all the gloom of the past year lift. His old self was back, and he couldn't help but marvel at the mask's magic. His mind was clearer than ever, and the cold energy within him surged with his renewed spirit.

"This mask..." Shao Zhang thought, even as he flirted with the women and walked inside. His mind raced. "That driver had a similar mask, which means there might be more out there. With such a mask, success would be easy."

"And that news report!" Shao Zhang's eyes narrowed, recalling the details. "Words left behind, and the mark of a mask?"