Chapter 711: The Bell Tolls for You

Arriving at the scene, the team found an old man lying in the mud under a bridge. His upper body was stripped, and his chest and back were covered with what looked like patches. Peng Siqiao examined him and noticed his dry lips, bulging eyes, and red skin on his neck.

Removing one of the patches, Peng Siqiao immediately understood—they were heat pads, the kind you can buy at convenience stores.

“These are heat pads. The cause of death is likely heat exhaustion. The body’s surface temperature exceeded its ability to dissipate heat, causing severe cellular dehydration and organ failure, ultimately leading to cardiac arrest,” Peng concluded.

This method of death was undeniably another instance of prolonged and cruel torture. The old man’s mouth was gagged, his hands and feet bound to prevent him from bending his body. Cars passed over the bridge all night, making it unlikely anyone would notice anything unusual below. The thought of his ordeal sent chills down everyone’s spine.

Chen Shi said, “This is another method from the novel. It’s terrifying to think that what readers considered mere curiosity can actually kill.”

Looking at the old man’s body, Lin Qiupu felt a deep sense of helplessness. He murmured, “No more deaths.”

Aside from the forensic technicians, Lin Qiupu instructed everyone else to leave the scene and continue searching for Xu Guolong.

“Wait…” Chen Shi said, “Where are the victim’s clothes?”

Only then did they realize the old man’s clothes were missing. Lin Dongxue said, “Do you think he wore them to escape?”

“It’s possible. Both yesterday’s and today’s incidents happened in this district, within a few kilometers. The area is full of surveillance cameras, and the police are searching everywhere. If he walked around openly, he’d be easily spotted.”

Lin Qiupu examined the body and compared it to the victim’s photos. “This old man originally had a beard, which has now been shaved off. The suspect may be using it as a disguise. Look for an ‘old man’ in brown clothes with a fake beard.”

“Is this another trick from the novel?” Lin Dongxue asked Chen Shi.

“No, I think he’s improvising. Although he’s not well-educated, people can be incredibly resourceful in desperate times.”

Chen Shi briefly recalled the difficult days Song Lang faced when he was on the run, hiding in the darkest corners to evade the police.

He shook off these thoughts and said to Lin Dongxue, “We should continue our work and try to reason with that guy.”

Lin Dongxue replied, “I plan to go in the afternoon. This morning, I’ll help my brother find the suspect.”

“Alright, that should work.”

By afternoon, the police still had no leads. Xin Bai was still lying sideways on the conference room table when Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue walked in. Xin Bai opened his eyes and then closed them again. Chen Shi said, “Mr. Bai, are you taking a nap?”

“What else is there to do? There’s nothing here,” he replied curtly.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go home? You can use your computer, play games, and update your novel. Your readers are going crazy waiting for it.”

“I’m not updating. I finally got arrested; why waste such a good excuse to delay?”

Chen Shi clasped his hands together and said, “Another elderly man was killed early this morning. A human life, man! Please, don’t be so stubborn. If you walk out that door now, Dongxue and I will protect you!”

“What does it have to do with me?” Xin Bai said angrily. “Can you stop blaming me for the deaths? Isn’t it your responsibility for not catching the guy in two days?”

“There are tens of thousands of people in this district and only dozens of police officers. Two days is not enough.”

“Anyway, I’m not leaving here. Don’t even think about pushing me into the fire pit, hmph!”

Chen Shi scratched his head in frustration. This guy was too stubborn. He considered getting some ether to knock him out and drag him away.

At this moment, Lin Dongxue leaned over and said, “I have something to tell you.”

In front of a pretty woman, Xin Bai was a bit more reserved. He sat up, wrapped his clothes tightly, and blushed. “Don’t try to persuade me. Really, it’s my freedom to stay here. You should focus your energy on catching the suspect.”

“Can I show you something?” Lin Dongxue took out a photo of a woman. “This woman is Qin Xuemei. She runs an online store from home, just like you. Her husband works out of town and only comes back once a week. They were planning to have a baby later this year. Every time her husband returned, she would go to the supermarket early in the morning to buy groceries and cook a nice meal. Do you know what her biggest goal was? She felt her teeth weren’t straight enough and wanted to save money for the most expensive porcelain veneers to feel more confident when she smiled. But she’ll never achieve that because her life was cut short yesterday morning. The coroner estimated her death took two hours. She was gagged, unable to call for help, enduring torture and humiliation while thinking of her loved ones, dying in despair.”

Lin Dongxue’s voice carried a note of sadness. Xin Bai shifted uncomfortably and mumbled, “What does this have to do with me?”

Lin Dongxue took out another photo, this time of the old man. “This is Han Jianjun, 70 years old…”

She vividly described the lives and agonizing deaths of the victims. Chen Shi understood her intention—to make Xin Bai realize that these were not just numbers, but real lives lost, families devastated, and countless friends and relatives affected.

“You’ve read that Hemingway novel, right? ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.’ There’s a line in it: ‘Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.’ Every person’s death is connected to you,” Lin Dongxue said.

Xin Bai scratched his neck, his face turning red. After a long silence, Lin Dongxue continued emotionally, “No one knows who the next victim will be, but if you’re willing to go home, that person might be saved. We’ll have more time to catch the real killer.”

Xin Bai slowly shook his head. “You’re all being fooled. He’s just a thrill killer. Releasing me is just a diversion… Fine, I’ll go home now, but you must protect me.”

Chen Shi sighed with relief. This stubborn guy was finally persuaded. Xin Bai packed his things and went to the bathroom to wash his face. Chen Shi said to Lin Dongxue, “Impressive. So you spent the morning preparing for this?”

“Not too much, just some personal touches.”

“Well done… Oh, take your gun.”

“I’ve got it!”

Once Xin Bai was ready, they escorted him out. Seeing the sunlight again, he sighed deeply and said to Chen Shi, “How many psychos are in this city? It must be tough being a cop.”