Chapter 276 Panicked Zhao Hongyan

Chapter 276 Panicked Zhao Hongyan

Each painting depicted the victims, their lifeless forms arranged into grotesque, disturbing works of art that had made headlines for their horrifying artistry.

Shoushan's gaze remained fixed on the grotesque paintings, her horror at peak while her heart constantly pounding, when suddenly Xie Meirong asked with a chilling smile, "Do you like them?"

!!

Song Shoushan's body was covered in goosebumps as she confronted Xie Meirong's deranged smile. Her voice quivered in horrified disbelief, "What kind of people are you?"

The Xie Meirong who had once appeared enigmatic and composed now appeared to Shoushan as a psychotic figure, her twisted and sadistic nature laid bare for the world to see.

Xie Meirong's smile remained fixed, her voice tinged with obsession as she responded, "We're the kind of people who appreciate true art, Shanshan. The world is filled with mundane souls who can't comprehend the beauty in chaos - We are the ones who bring art to life!"

The Phantom shook his head, a sigh escaping him. "Don't drag me into this 'art,' please. That's a beauty only you can see."

Xie Meirong's expression darkened as she struggled to comprehend why no one else could appreciate the beauty of her creations.

Her frustration was palpable, yet she continued to derive satisfaction from the grotesque works she had surrounded herself with.

However, their exchange of words sparked a realization in Song Shoushan that sent her trembling in shock. "Y-You are that serial killer!" Her eyes quivered as she stared at Xie Meirong, the enormity of the revelation sinking in.

Never had she imagined that one of her friends could turn out to be the infamous serial killer who had terrorized the city.

Xie Meirong was momentarily taken aback, her response bordering on amusement. She clarified, "I would prefer to be called an artist."

Song Shoushan's confusion deepened. "Artist?"

Xie Meirong couldn't contain a soft, eerie giggle. "Let me show you." Her enchanting voice washed over them, and she gracefully made her way to one of her art pieces, concealed beneath a delicate piece of cloth.

Shoushan's heart pounded, uncertain of what she was about to witness. The room felt increasingly like a surreal nightmare, and she was a helpless spectator in this place.

*Gasp!*

With a graceful, almost ceremonial motion, Xie Meirong unveiled the concealed art piece, as though she was showcasing her most prized work.

The sight that met Song Shoushan's eyes sent a surge of unimaginable terror coursing through her veins, freezing her in place.

The painting depicted none other than herself, and the horrifying image that stared back at her left her breathless.

In the horrifying painting, her eyes had been cruelly removed from their sockets, her head hung upside down, and her lifeless body was suspended from a cross. Her upturned hands clutched her own eyes, and her legs contorted in grotesque, unnatural angles.

Shoushan's horror was beyond words as she confronted the nightmarish painting that depicted her own mutilation and suffering.

The realization that she was in the presence of a deranged artist who had reimagined her torment in such a fashion was too much to bear.

"What... What is this?" She finally managed to stammer, her voice trembling with fear and disbelief. "Why would you do this?"

Xie Meirong, seemingly unfazed by Shoushan's distress, smiled with an eerie sense of pride. "I call it 'Art of Torment.' It's a masterpiece, don't you think?"

The Phantom remained silent, his inscrutable eyes hidden behind his mask.

If he had to describe Xie Meirong in one word, it would undoubtedly be "crazy."

Despite the bizarre and chilling situation, the Phantom spoke with a reminder, "Don't forget your words, two days at most."

Then, without warning, a small object dropped from his hand and hit the floor, creating a deafening *boom!* that filled the room with acrid smoke.

*Cough! Cough!* Song Shoushan sputtered, her vision obscured by the thick haze. As the smoke gradually cleared, she found herself alone in the room, the Phantom and Xie Meirong having vanished without a trace.

In the eerie silence that followed the mysterious disappearance of the Phantom and Xie Meirong, Song Shoushan's voice trembled with fear. "Where have they gone now!?"

The room offered no answers, and Shoushan was left to grapple with the horrifying uncertainty of her situation, her every instinct screaming for her to find a way out of here, before they come back, or else something even more horrifying might follow!

_______

As Song Shoushan wrestled with the horrors of her situation, Zhang Wei had already concluded his own battle with the new interns.

All five of them now lay exhausted and naked, their bodies adorned with subtle redness, hickeys, and marks – a proof of the intense battle they had just endured.

Zhang Wei looked upon his handiwork with a proud smile, much like Xie Meirong, considering himself an artist in his own right.

But just as he was about to fully revel in his "masterpieces," his phone rang unexpectedly, drawing his attention. n.-O(.v(.e-/l)/B-/I).n

"Zhao Hongyan?" Zhang Wei muttered in surprise as he saw the caller ID.

Zhao Hongyan seldom initiated contact with him, and the unexpected call left him intrigued and slightly puzzled.

Zhang Wei quickly picked up the call, a sense of concern tugging at his thoughts. "Zhao Hongyan?"

In the other end of the line, Zhao Hongyan's voice trembled with panic and worry. "Zhang Wei! Yes, it's me! S-Shanshan... she hasn't returned home since yesterday. I've tried calling her, but there's been no response. I'm getting really worried."

Zhang Wei's brow furrowed in alarm as he processed the unsettling information. "What?" He inhaled deeply before piecing together her words, he asked. "... Did she mention anything about where she was going?"

Zhao Hongyan's voice shook with anxiety. "No, she didn't say anything. She just left yesterday morning and hasn't been back since. I've reached out to her friends, but no one knows her whereabouts. I'm terrified something terrible might have happened to her."

'Yesterday morning!?' A realization hit Zhang Wei like a ton of bricks.

Wasn't Song Shoushan with them just yesterday?

A sense of unease spread within Zhang Wei. "I'll come over right now," he replied urgently, his mind racing with worry and questions about what could have possibly happened to this troublesome girl now.