The search in Guiwu Forest continued.
The road to the town had opened up, and the forensics team had sent in another set of testing equipment, along with detectors. This greatly facilitated the vice squad officers’ search for bodies in the woods.
“Boss, we found another body.” Bai Zhu brought over the vice squad officer who had detected the anomaly to report.
“What does Forensic Doctor Qin say?” Fang Si Ting followed them over.
From yesterday to today, they had already found six bodies, but all of them were reduced to white bones. After identification, the most recent had been dead for about ten years, while the oldest had been dead for over a hundred.
“This one’s recent.” Bai Zhu said, “Dead five or six days. The woods are damp, but luckily the temperature isn’t high, so it’s only in the early stages of decomposition. It was hung upside down from a branch extending from a large tree using vines, mostly gnawed by ants and wild beasts. Not many clues left.”
“Identified yet?”
“It’s the shaman from the village.”
Fang Si Ting stopped in his tracks.
【Well damn, the shaman really died.】
【Guo Dongying, Lu Kaiyu, Du Yutong, the shaman—four people now. One more to go.】
【Who could it be? Not really that stranger from a year ago, right? But if they didn’t know him, why would the killer target him?】
Bai Zhu thought of a possibility and said in horror, “You don’t think those bodies we dug up before were shamans too, do you? Like snakes, shedding their skin every few decades, so that guy stayed young forever, neither aging nor dying.”
“Why don’t you change careers and write novels?” Fang Si Ting said, “You’ve got talent for it.”
His imagination was truly rich.
Bai Zhu’s eyes lit up. “Really? I’ve been thinking about what to do after retiring. Doing nothing all day is so boring.”
The two walked farther and farther, arriving at a patch of grass several hundred meters behind the wooden cabin. Only then did Fang Si Ting realize this body was far from the previous ones.
And the method of disposal was different too.
Qin Wensu stood next to the laid-out body. “The time of death still needs confirmation back at the lab. Cause of death: sharp weapon severed the neck, leaving only a layer of skin connecting the head. Same as before—the skin from the upper torso was peeled off, but postmortem.”
Fang Si Ting immediately thought of the “folded person” Ou Yu had mentioned.
“On the night of the 24th, the killer secretly transported the dead shaman near the Substitute Life Well. Why?” Fang Si Ting couldn’t figure it out.
It was just… such a bizarre way to act.
Didn’t the shaman live in Purple Gold Village? If sneaking into his home to kill him, dumping the body right here in the woods would have been the best choice. Why haul it to the town, then all the way out to Guiwu Forest to dump it?
It didn’t make sense.
Unless…
“Captain Bai, could you trouble yourself to go door-to-door and check if anyone saw the shaman in town around the 24th, and who he was looking for?”
“Got it.”
If the shaman had gone to town and was killed there, it wouldn’t be convenient to dump the body in town, so they chose to throw him down the well at midnight—that’s what Ou Yu saw. And the person looking for the shaman was likely the killer.
“We can confirm now: the fake shaman is the killer. This is where he buried bodies after his crimes, and Tang Qin Xin saw him active here too.” Bai Zhu said, “Should I head to town and grab the fake shaman too?”
“No need. Transport the body back first and wait for the autopsy results.” Fang Si Ting didn’t jump to conclusions. From Du Yutong’s place yesterday morning to the Guiwu Forest in the afternoon, then tracking and searching here until now, he hadn’t closed his eyes once. Fatigue showed in his eyes.
“It’s noon. How about we head back to town to rest and regroup?” Tang Shen called out. Investigating a case tested both stamina and brains.
Fang Si Ting sat in the back of the sedan. By the time they returned to town with the body, lunch time had passed.
He told Tang Shen to order food first, while he headed back to the dorm to take a shower.
As soon as he opened the door, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.
The suitcase on the floor by the bed was open, clothes scattered inside. His backpack sat on the bedside table, with a white fox head plush keychain dangling from the zipper.
Fang Si Ting’s gaze visibly softened. He walked to the bedside and rubbed the little fox.
Just as Xiao Fen came out with a body full of steam, he saw Fang Si Ting packing his luggage for him. His clothes were neatly folded one by one in the cabinet, and personal items were arranged neatly on the desk.
“When did you get back?”
“Ten minutes ago.” Fang Si Ting said, “Where did you go the night before last?”
“After grabbing my luggage, I ran into someone I clicked with on the road, so we had a good chat.”
He had wanted to settle his luggage first, but halfway there, he spotted someone acting suspiciously, about to commit a crime.
Luckily, after his physical persuasion, the guy was so moved he practically turned into a corpse himself.
“A whole night chatting?” Fang Si Ting’s voice tightened a bit.
He knew under the live broadcast cameras, no one would do anything outrageous.
Xiao Fen sneered coldly, “What, checking up on me? We’re just temporary partners—you’re the vice squad officer, I’m the criminal. Don’t act like we’re close.”
His tone wasn’t great.
Fang Si Ting said nothing, silently zipped up the suitcase, stood it up, and placed it in the corner.
He seemed angry.
After finishing, he opened the door, hand on the knob, and paused.
“Eaten yet? Let’s grab something together.”
Xiao Fen froze for a second, then tossed the towel aside and ruffled his messy hair.
Fang Si Ting couldn’t stand it, grabbed the hairdryer from nearby, and pressed him into the chair.
“Gently, gently.” Xiao Fen squinted as the hot air blew into his eyes. “You’re taking revenge on my hair.”
Fang Si Ting ignored him.
“When do we eat?”
“What’re we eating?”
“Just the two of us? No one else?”
“Shut up.”
Fang Si Ting quickly dried his hair, then combed it smooth.
“Style it.” Xiao Fen made a request.
He was a serial killer who cared about his image, after all.
“After you just ruffled it with your hand, you want styling?”
Xiao Fen grinned. “That’s why I’ve got you.”
Fang Si Ting’s lips curved up involuntarily. He picked up the blow dryer again, comb in one hand, patiently styling a handsome look bit by bit.
“Mr. Black Cat, your hands are so skilled.”
Xiao Fen admired his perfect features in the half-length mirror, left and right. Then his waist tightened as an arm, unable to bear it, dragged him away from the mirror.
“A grown man, why be so vain.”
“None of your business.”
Fang Si Ting shook his head helplessly.
Entertainers were such a hassle.
“Put on your hat.”
“I’ve got a style now—why wear a hat?” Xiao Fen plopped his hat on Fang Si Ting’s head. “Let’s go, let’s go. I’m starving.”
A round table had been set up in the courtyard downstairs. Tang Shen and a few vice squad officers carried in bags big and small of food, filling the table.
“Perfect timing. Come eat. We’ve got a tough battle ahead after this.”
“What happened?” Xiao Fen asked. “Where’s Brother Bai Zhu?”
“He’s out investigating.” Tang Shen gave him a rough rundown of the two bodies found from yesterday to today.
Xiao Fen nodded, saying nothing.
Fang Si Ting handed him a fast food box.
Xiao Fen opened it—all his favorite dishes.
“Team Leader Tang, you’re too thoughtful.”
“Not my doing—I didn’t know you were coming.” Tang Shen smiled.
Xiao Fen snapped open the disposable chopsticks and scraped at the food, diving in as if he hadn’t heard, wolfing it down.
The others shoveled their rice just as quickly.
They silently and efficiently finished their late lunch. Qin Wensu dove straight into the dissection room without pause, Tang Shen headed to the temporary forensics lab, and everyone else got busy.
After his subordinates reported in, Fang Si Ting turned and saw Xiao Fen sitting nearby, head nodding, so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open.
However long Fang Si Ting hadn’t slept, Xiao Fen hadn’t slept either.
Fang Si Ting picked him up and laid him on the black leather sofa across from the desk, draping his suit jacket gently over him.
“Inspector Fang, you’re finally here!” The director of the Tengcha Inspection Office burst into the second-floor office, excited. “You all went to Guiwu Forest and left hardly anyone behind—what are we supposed to do here?”
“What is it? I thought some vice squad officers were still here.” Fang Si Ting checked his phone and saw several missed call notifications. No signal in the forest earlier.
“Regular officers don’t dare act either.” The director said, “We kept thinking you were handling a real case, so we didn’t want to bother you. But the program crew kept subtly pressuring us—we’re in a tough spot.”
Only after speaking did he realize he’d let slip about the program crew, a flash of guilt crossing his face.
“Fake case, talk to Professor Peng.” Fang Si Ting said.
“But this feels connected to the real case.” The director said, “And it’s about the Lu Family Crown Prince.”
At those words, everyone looked at him.
————
Time rewound to a day earlier.
After Ou Yu led the pursuit team to the wooden cabin and calmed down a bit, he returned from Guiwu Forest a day ahead of Fang Si Ting. Exhausted with red, swollen eyes, he ran into Lu Jin at the town entrance, who was driving out.
“I was just about to find you.” Lu Jin said worriedly, “I heard about Guiwu Forest. Tired, right? Let me drive you back.”
Tang Qin Xin, who had returned with him, said goodbye to them and politely declined their offer to drive her home.
Ou Yu was a bit worried about her emotional state and had Lu Jin send a few logistics staff to follow her, just in case.
“I want to check out the end of town, near the Substitute Life Well.”
Lu Jin drove him there. The area around the Substitute Life Well was dense with houses and alleys—his car couldn’t get through. He had to follow the loop road along Five Directions Stream to the end.
Ou Yu recounted the recent murders to him, especially what he’d seen in the wooden cabin yesterday.
“I know. The staff report progress to me every day.” After all, he was the future head of the Lu Family.
“You… got nothing to say?” Ou Yu looked at him in slight surprise.
“What is there to say? Good thing we didn’t run into the killer.”
Ou Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Lu Jin thought for a moment and said casually, “The program tasks have been simple lately—no criminals caught. In five more days, we can escape via the highway. By then, the pursuit team will have cracked the real case too. Gotta say, this case did us a big favor.”
“That’s all you think?”
“It’s Y Country’s case. Helping them is a favor, not an obligation.” Lu Jin said matter-of-factly, “H Country’s top inspector handling it for them—they should feel honored.”
Ou Yu pressed his lips together and said nothing the rest of the way, just fiddling with his phone.
“I remember there’s a great little eatery in the alleys around here. Come eat with me?” he suddenly said.
Lu Jin agreed happily, but an instant later, a wave of boredom surged uncontrollably in his heart.
He thought of Xiao Fen.
That day, the three of them had gone to the forest together, seen the wooden cabin together.
At this moment, Xiao Fen definitely wouldn’t be so sentimental.
Too emotional, overflowing.
He didn’t know how to comfort people—such hassles, he never dealt with.
The Lu Family Crown Prince only ever had others bending over backward to console him.
“Let’s eat.” Lu Jin got out of the car without looking back.
He regretted coming to find Ou Yu today. It kinda ruined his mood.
Ou Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth, deleted the call log on his phone, got out of the car, a cold glint in his eyes.
Ten minutes later, Lu Jin returned to the car. He searched around the passenger seat where Ou Yu had sat, finally finding the pendant that had fallen off his bracelet.
A black gold cross.
What a hassle.
Impatience flashed across his face, but mindful of the live stream, he didn’t show it.
He pressed the car door button.
Nothing happened.
What the hell?
He jabbed at the door button harder—no response.
Sweat slowly beaded on his sharp, rugged face.
Part from the frustration of the locked door, part because it was hot inside the car.
He shifted to the passenger side and tried that door switch—still nothing.
His sports car used electric buttons, no handles to pull. Normally, pressing the button would automatically unlock from inside.
This was a car he had just bought when he came for the trip. There were no circuit aging issues at all.
He slammed his sturdy arm against the car roof. Damn it, the sunroof didn’t budge an inch.
He was trapped.
He couldn’t start the engine, couldn’t honk the horn, and couldn’t turn on the air conditioning.
The midday weather was scorching hot. The blazing sun overhead slowly roasted the black sports car.
This road ran alongside a stream, with no tree shade or anything else to block the sun.
The entire interior of the sports car turned into a narrow oven.
【What’s going on? Boss Lu is trapped in the car?】
【Did an accident happen? Where are the staff?】
【So scary. Feels like something bad is about to happen.】
The viewers in his live stream chat began to grow anxious.
Phone? It wasn’t with him; he had left it at the snack shop.
Shout for help? It was too remote—no sign of anyone outside.
What to do?
He tried calling the program crew. The staff jumped in surprise and said they would head over right away.
But a minute later, the staff’s regretful voice came through. “Boss Lu, we can’t come over. Your live stream traffic is surging right now. We can’t appear on camera and ruin the immersive experience for the viewers.”
“Why? I’ve had an accident right now.”
“It’s not an accident.”
“What?!” Lu Jin was stunned.
Not an accident—then it was deliberate.
Someone had tampered with his car.
They wanted to “kill” him!
The criminal guest’s mission!
Besides Xiao Fen, who else could pull off something so deranged? He couldn’t think of anyone.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and instead calmed down.
“Rest assured, Boss Lu. Your life isn’t in danger.”
Since it was done by a program guest, he wouldn’t actually die.
The car interior slowly heated up. He felt the leather seat beneath him turn into an iron plate, himself like a squid grilled repeatedly on it—his skin stung painfully at the slightest contact.
His breathing grew scorching and parched.
Lu Jin panted rapidly. He began to feel chest tightness, dizziness, dry mouth and tongue. He couldn’t catch his breath.
Xiao Fen, Xiao Fen—why do this to him?
Damn it, why had he joined this show? It was pure torment.
For one Ou Yu—to be toyed with like this over and over, enduring so much hardship—was it really worth it?
His lips cracked and dried. His vision blurred. The scorching dehydration left his mind in a haze.
He could no longer tell if this was just a show or a real murder.
His memories drifted back to the distant past, to his naive university days. Then they shifted to the room in the Imperial Capital Grand Hotel, curtains drawn, where Xiao Fen kicked him to the ground and beat him like a drowned rat.
Afterward, he was back in the Abandoned Villa—like a sacrificial offering, his naked body bound to a chair, surrounded by sharp scissors. The surroundings were dim, save for two dimly glowing red electronic candles that illuminated the green mold in the corner.
Was he in hell?
He knew he was wrong.
Sorry.
Xiao Fen.
Xiao Fen?
It really was him.
He had come!
A white figure appeared outside the window—like salvation.
Saving him from this fire and water.
Finally, he saw the man open the door. A cool breeze surged in from behind him.
“Xiao Fen, sorry…”
Xiao Fen sneered mockingly. He raised the injectant in his hand and jabbed it unhesitatingly into his neck.
