Since discovering the lines entwined around her and the monster, Elaine Chen felt as though she had unlocked a new world.

Her curiosity grew ever stronger, and she was eager to understand what these lines were and how they had formed.

Elaine Chen knew that she and the monster were bound together by that mysterious liquid, and wondered if the lines entangling them were a result of that substance.

However, the final outcome seemed inexplicable to her, surpassing her previous understanding.

But it was understandable. If such a bizarre existence as the monster could exist in this world, then any other strange phenomena seemed normal. Nothing was surprising anymore.

As for her ability to see these lines clearly, Elaine Chen believed it was a result of merging with that shadow in her mind.

The shadow had infiltrated her consciousness due to Its corruption, coming from that eerie place. Elaine Chen didn't understand why the shadow had such power, only that it made the world seem like a series of puzzles waiting to be solved.

Elaine Chen glanced at herself in the mirror; her pupils were starting to turn a faint blue. She turned off the lights and looked at herself again, seeing her eyes emitting a strange blue glow.

The sense of her soul being bound by the mysterious liquid remained, though the mental contamination seemed temporarily harmless.

Yet, her body's transformation was worsening. She knew she had to act, hoping the father and son duo could be of some help. With a silent resolve, Elaine Chen made a decision.

She stopped looking at her reflection and closed her eyes, following the threads in her mind to the entrance of that cave, where she saw Him on the other side. Knowing It,the monster couldn't see her from this side, she looked at the threads by her hand, wondering if It could feel anything if she pulled them.

Cautiously, Elaine Chen reached for the threads while observing the cave's other side.

To her surprise, her fingers passed straight through the threads upon touching them.

She tried several times, each with the same result. It seemed the threads, though visible, were not tangible.

Realizing these threads existed in her mind, Elaine Chen concluded they were more like light than physical objects.

Since the threads couldn't be touched, cutting the connection between her and Him directly was impossible. Looking at the threads attached to Him, Elaine Chen had another idea: to follow them and see if she could find a solution from Its side.

Elaine Chen referred to the process of entering the space and visualizing herself in her mind as "internal viewing". She had researched many ancient texts, finding that her phenomenon resembled the Daoist concept of the "soul leaving the body".

To Elaine Chen, it was simply her consciousness breaking through some established rules, extending to a higher level.

Elaine Chen focused her attention on the threads, soon realizing her consciousness could attach to them. Carefully, she extended her consciousness along the threads to the other end, stopping just before reaching Him. Slowly, she extended her consciousness further until it touched Him.

As soon as her consciousness reached Him, He seemed to react, suddenly turning to stare directly at Elaine Chen from the other side of the cave. Startled, Elaine Chen dared not move, but after a moment, He turned away without further action. His large eyes showed a strange expression as if sensing a spatial fluctuation but finding nothing unusual upon inspection. Satisfied, He dismissed it.

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After waiting to ensure It had no further reaction, Elaine Chen cautiously retracted her consciousness.

It remained unresponsive, and Elaine Chen couldn't help but feel excited. Her first attempt proved It couldn't detect her presence, and her consciousness could attach to It. This opened up numerous possibilities, which she planned to explore further.

When Elaine Chen opened her eyes, the scene disappeared, leaving only her reflection in the mirror and her eerie glowing blue eyes. Yet, her previous unease and anxiety were gone. She smiled slightly at her reflection.

Meanwhile, at a bar, Gang Chen Gang and his son Eason Chen were seated with several bottles of good liquor. However, their attention wasn't on the drinks. They kept glancing at their watches, seemingly waiting for someone.

"Dad, do you think he's planning to ditch us and enjoy everything himself? We agreed to meet at eight, and it's almost ten now. He's definitely getting cocky!" Eason Chen voiced his concern after waiting for so long.

"He wouldn't dare! Let's not forget that we can ruin everything for him by informing Elaine Chen. He's got no choice but to comply. Don't worry, Eason, we've got him by the short hairs." Gang Chen reassured his son with a pat on the head.

Just then, their awaited guest strolled in leisurely. Seeing the man, Gang Chen gave Eason a look that said, "See, I told you he wouldn't dare not show." Unaware, however, that the man was two hours late.

The man approached, seeing Gang Chen Gang and Eason Chen lounging with smug smiles, and quickly apologized, "Mr. Chen and Young Master Chen, I apologize for being late. I just finished dropping Elaine home. I came straight here afterward. Let me make it up to you with three drinks." With that, he downed three glasses before sitting beside Gang Chen.

"Wow, calling her Elaine so intimately, Mr. Luther. Are you planning to become my brother-in-law?" Eason Chen mocked with disdain.

The man, Luther, unaffected by the sneer, maintained a fawning smile, "Young Master Chen, it's just for work. How could I ever deserve such a title?"

Before Luther could continue, Gang Chen cut him off, "Mr. Luther, kids say silly things. Don't mind him. Let's get to business. How's the plan going? When can we drive my niece insane? Rest assured, your reward will be substantial."

"Don't worry, she's already in the net and can't escape. I'm planning to reel her in soon. Just be patient and wait for my news." Luther boasted, then eagerly refilled their glasses.

"Sounds easy. But when exactly? Remember, no funny business. You know what we've got on you. If things go south, it won't end well for you." Eason Chen warned.

"Eason, don't be rude. Mr. Luther is trustworthy and has his plans." Gang Chen scolded his son before turning to Luther with a friendly smile, "The streets have their rules, and Mr. Luther is a man of principles. He knows the consequences of breaking the rules. However, to avoid any issues, Mr. Luther, please give us a precise timeline."

"Mr. Chen, Young Master Chen, you can ask around. I've always been a man of my word. That's why I've lasted in this business. I live by three things: rules, rules, and rules! Consider me your brother. Trust me; I won't betray you." Luther declared, inwardly proud of his deceitful nature.

He added, "I plan to propose to Elaine Chen in the next few days, then get engaged. Women value these formalities, thinking they signify love. Once the timing is right, I'll dump her. A woman blinded by love is irrational. By then, whatever you want will be at your command."

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing. We'll wait for your good news. Here's to you, Mr. Luther."Gang Chen raised his glass, and Luther reciprocated, while Eason Chen continued to disdainfully ignore Luther's toast.

After Luther left, Eason dropped his aloof demeanor, smugly saying, "Dad, how was my performance? I bet I scared him. You can't give people like him a break, or they'll take advantage."

"Well done. We'll wait for his news. Once we have the money and status, we'll be unstoppable! Cheers to that!" Gang Chen laughed heartily at the thought of their future.

On his way back, Luther reflected on the conversation with contempt. What a pair of self-important fools, thinking their good cop-bad cop routine was convincing. Did they really think he couldn't see through it?

If he could manipulate Elaine Chen, why share the spoils with them? He could take everything himself. That little leverage they had on him was easily dealt with. He could hire some thugs to rough them up and scare them into silence. If that didn't work, he could make them disappear. A cold glint appeared in his eyes.

But for now, he needed to keep them appeased. Satisfied with his own scheming, he pondered Elaine Chen's misfortune of having such relatives, before thinking of her again.

Such a perfect woman—beauty, talent, and wealth. A woman like that would still fall into his grasp. He smiled triumphantly, envisioning both the woman and her riches as his own.