Chapter 272: Chapter 272

Jing Shu only realized after seeing Yang Yang punch the wall that the fake doors in the underground tunnel and the fake mirrors in the castle—all, without exception, were doors made to look exactly like their surroundings, with new spaces added behind them. This was indicative of a person’s habits. Just like Jing Shu, whose identity as a foodie was an unchangeable part of her very core.

So, even someone as clever as Lin Yi, due to his lack of security, would inevitably hide himself where no one could find him, no matter where he went. It had become a habit for him.

Thus, Jing Shu believed that Lin Yi was here in this house, in a secret chamber he had modified and hidden himself!

It was indiscernible from the outside without a careful look. Of course, even with a careful look, it couldn’t be found. After all, the entire house was empty, with nothing but walls. Who would think that in such a common residential building, someone would have constructed a small, hidden room?

Jing Shu knocked bit by bit, going around once without finding anything unusual. Yang Yang clearly didn’t understand, but Jing Shu didn’t know how to explain.

Explaining would give herself away—for instance, how did she open the fake door in the underground passage? So, when with clever people, speak less.

Jing Shu knocked around again—up, down, left, and right. This time, she didn’t even spare the built-in wardrobe, and sure enough, one section emitted a crisp sound!

Although not hollow, the sound was different from the surroundings!

This hiding spot was incredibly well-concealed! She estimated that even the police wouldn’t search this place.

Yang Yang and Jing Shu looked at each other. Jing Shu saw a strange expression on Yang Yang’s face, as if he were looking at some kind of freak.

"Now, we just need to open it," Jing Shu said, her fists cracking. Maybe she should just grab a sledgehammer and smash it open?

Just then, the hidden door opened, revealing Lin Yi’s face with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. He stepped out and dusted off his hands. "It seems I’ve underestimated you. Next time I make a door, even if it’s a bit more troublesome, I’ll have to use identical materials so it’s not so easily discovered."

Jing Shu’s vision penetrated the door, revealing what was inside: a hidden space of less than four square meters, yet fully equipped. It had all sorts of food, water, and even electricity. There was also a Murphy bed for sleeping. It could be said that it had all the conditions for survival; living in there for a month or so would absolutely be no problem.

"Do you think you can still escape?" Jing Shu sneered. This person was far too self-assured, wasn’t he? Outside, hundreds of police officers were searching for him. Now, as long as Yang Yang shouted, everyone would rush in. Even if he had explosives, he couldn’t save himself now.

"Escape? Why would I need to escape? Jing Shu, today is when we truly get to know each other, right? Why such hostility? I haven’t even blamed you for ruining my painstakingly crafted plan," Lin Yi said, hands in his trouser pockets, shrugging casually. He always looked so sunny and optimistic, the corners of his mouth always turned up in a slight smile.

Such a calm and composed demeanor. He must have had an ace up his sleeve to be so indifferent.

"Yang Yang, call for backup."

The hallmark of a major villain is arrogance and verbosity—Jing Shu was determined not to give Lin Yi any time to call for help or anything of the sort.

Lin Yi tilted his head, his fingers rubbing rhythmically against his trousers. He casually tried to negotiate, "Otherwise, Officer Yang, how about you let me go this once? Just pretend you never found me today, and let me comfortably stay in there for a few more days."

Jing Shu scoffed. This Lin Yi really dared to say such things. It would be a wonder if Yang Yang didn’t beat him to death!

Then, something that made Jing Shu’s jaw drop in astonishment occurred!

Yang Yang pondered for a moment and actually said, "Alright, I’ll let you off this time."

Jing Shu was utterly bewildered. What in the world is happening?

She then saw Lin Yi walking towards her step by step, the rubbing of his fingers becoming faster and faster. As she watched his long, handsome fingers, Jing Shu felt a wave of drowsiness.

"So, Jing Shu, what do you think? Perhaps you’re tired after a long day. You should go home and enjoy that sumptuous dinner you’ve been wanting. Your grandmother has made a whole table of delicacies for you. Your cousin is waiting for you to come back and tell her about all the novel things that happened today. You are basking in the envious and jealous gazes of your whole family. You really enjoy this atmosphere; you need to express and release your feelings..."

Inexplicably, Jing Shu almost agreed.

I almost fell for your wicked trick. Jing Shu’s mind suddenly jolted. She activated the Magic Cube Space’s newest ability—Illusion! She instantly snapped back to clarity from the verge of succumbing.

Lin Yi revealed a surprised expression. The rightful source is N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

"So, this is your unknown trump card? This ability of yours? Whatever you say, people will obediently listen?" The corners of Jing Shu’s mouth curled upward. If that was the case, everything seemed to make sense now.

But do Superpowers really exist in this world?

"You’re the second person who hasn’t succumbed to my hypnosis," Lin Yi said somewhat regretfully. "It’s not a particularly remarkable ability. It’s just that I’m the world’s only hypnotherapist who can achieve Level 7 hypnosis. In the field of hypnotism, hypnosis is generally divided into six levels."

This was just like Mr. Ma saying it was nothing remarkable and that he wasn’t interested in money.

Jing Shu’s mouth fell open. Hypnotism? This is actually hypnotism? It’s when the Hypnotist provides suggestions to the person being hypnotized. Under a hypnotic state, a person might experience "some changes in perception, thought, memory, and behavior."

This includes temporary paralysis, illusions, and amnesia regarding the Hypnotist’s suggestions.

This seemed to be a level higher than the new Illusion ability of Jingshu’s space, though the two weren’t directly comparable. Lin Yi’s hypnotism succeeded through voice, hand gestures, and other cues, subsequently making people do things they wouldn’t even remember.

Lin Yi’s hypnotism was more geared towards the permanence and event-specific nature of a task, ’not resting until the goal is achieved,’ whereas Jing Shu’s had to be within the range of the Magic Cube Space.

But Jing Shu’s Illusion ability was still quite formidable; it was like a cheat code. She could use the Magic Cube Space to directly implant suggestions in a person without needing extra hand gestures, voice cues, or other hints. And if it didn’t succeed once, she could keep suggesting until it did.

"So that’s why Grandma and Zijin said they saw you drive away! You used their mouths to convey the message that you had already left, making all of us think you had escaped?"

"Oh, right! And you made your subordinate Ling Qi commit suicide by detonating the Detonator—that was also your hypnotism?"

"Last year, you also used hypnotism to escape from their hands?"

"And you used hypnotism to extract all of Uncle Gou’s and the others’ secrets, didn’t you?"

Lin Yi began to clap. "However, I didn’t hypnotize Ling Qi. She did it willingly."