Chapter 856: The Viper Strikes

Patient: Li Qing

Gender: Female

Age: 24

Diagnosis: Rebelliousness

The patient experienced her parents’ divorce at a young age, resulting in a significant estrangement from her father, who she lived with. During her adolescence, she engaged in various rebellious behaviors to express her dissatisfaction with her family, exacerbating familial conflicts. The patient derived pleasure from the distress these actions caused her father. After graduating high school, she became mostly estranged from her family, maintaining minimal contact to avoid her familial responsibilities.

Suggested Treatment: Awakening remorse by the father’s death!

This “diagnosis” document, which was essentially a murder report, was placed on the table. Li Qing sat beside it, silently shedding tears. She had just endured the pain of losing her father, and these words were like salt in her wound.

Reactions varied among the people who read it—

“This is inhumane! How can he act so high and mighty after committing murder?”

“Li Qing, these are just the ramblings of a madman. Don’t let it get to you.”

“This guy must have psychological issues!”

“It must be them!” Chen Shi exclaimed, “This clean method, this high-profile stance, it’s definitely Zhou Xiao and Ling Shuang. Their target isn’t just Li Qing, but the entire Criminal Investigation Team Two!”

“You mean…” a young officer stammered, “all our families are their targets?”

“Exactly!”

The room erupted in a flurry of panicked whispers. Officer Zhang coughed to bring order and said, “We don’t have concrete proof yet. Let’s not lose our heads. Panicking won’t help the investigation.”

Zhang’s words aimed to stabilize the team. Even though Chen Shi was certain the culprits were Zhou Xiao and Ling Shuang, he stayed silent for the sake of the bigger picture.

Lin Dongxue picked up the paper and said, “The issue is, how did they know about Li Qing’s father, his residence, and these family details? Li Qing, forgive me for asking, but is this information accurate?”

The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to Li Qing. She calmed herself and said, “My parents did divorce when I was young. I was assigned to my father by the court, and it felt like the sky was falling. I blamed my father for everything, and I despised him. When I was home, I would shut myself in my room, barely speaking to him. In middle school, I hung out with poor-performing students, spent time at internet cafes or playing games after school because I didn’t want to go home. The atmosphere at home was suffocating!” She wiped away her tears. “My relationship with my father was terrible back then. We argued over the smallest things and often broke things during fights. Fortunately, I had a kind uncle who helped and advised me when I was lost, guiding me to make the right choices. I attended police school and had little contact with my father afterwards. After graduation, I interned and then worked, living alone… In the past two years, my father started calling me. Looking back, he was clumsily trying to apologize, but I ignored him. I always felt he should bear the consequences alone. Who knew he would suddenly…”

Thinking of her father’s cold body in the morgue, Li Qing burst into tears again.

After a moment of silence, Chen Shi said, “Are all our files stored in the police department’s computer system? Let’s check!”

They brought in a colleague from the IT department to check the personnel files. Everyone anxiously watched the screen. After about ten minutes, the IT colleague said, “The logs show that your team’s files were emailed to this address two nights ago.”

“Whose email?” Zhang asked.

The IT colleague read out the email address, and Xu Xiaodong, embarrassed, said, “It’s mine… But I was out investigating with you guys that night. Everyone knows.”

“Did you log into your email from the office computer that night?” Chen Shi asked.

“No, but I logged into the police system to check my salary.”

“Your computer might have been compromised. You should check it for any suspicious activity,” Chen Shi suggested. “Can we trace the recipient’s address?”

The IT colleague shook his head. “It’s an international IP, untraceable.”

“I’ll get an expert!”

A phone call brought Sun Zhen to the scene. He thoroughly checked Xu Xiaodong’s computer and said, “There’s definitely malware, including spyware programs. I’ve disabled them.”

“Can you trace the source?”

Sun Zhen shrugged, “They used proxy servers. It’s untraceable.”

“You must be able to do something!” Chen Shi insisted, knowing Sun Zhen’s hacker skills surpassed those of Zhou Tianan, the one who trained Zhou Xiao.

“Chen Shi, untraceable means untraceable, no matter how much you trust my skills.” Sun Zhen glanced at the officers, appearing to hold back.

“What if I say you can use any means necessary?” Chen Shi said.

“That’s not appropriate, Chen,” Officer Zhang interjected. “We can’t use illegal methods within the police department. Our investigations must be lawful.”

Zhang’s words subtly suggested that such methods might be permissible outside the police department. Chen Shi got the hint and said to Sun Zhen, “Thank you for your help. Let me see you out.”

In the parking lot, Chen Shi said, “Little Worm, Zhou Xiao is targeting the police. You have to do something!”

“The viper has finally struck?” Sun Zhen scratched his nose. “But what can I do?”

“You must be able to do something!”

Sun Zhen sighed, “That again… Alright, I’ll do my best.”

“You and KK should not take on any other jobs for now. I might need you anytime.”

“Should I inform Ms. Gu?”

“Yes, we came together to deal with Zhou Xiao.” Chen Shi patted Sun Zhen’s shoulder. “Be careful.”

As Sun Zhen walked away, he turned back and asked, “Zhou Xiao is targeting the police, not us, right?”

“Don’t worry.”

Chen Shi pondered if this case was Zhou Xiao’s independent action, an order from Lie Guoxiao, or a diversion for a bigger crime. No matter the reason, both Lie Guoxiao and Zhou Tianan’s gangs were at their wits’ end. This could very well be their final madness.