Chapter 738: Fish Dead, Net Broken

Lin Dongxue said, “Guo Yang’s sister was bullied by local thugs. Late at night, he carried a machete, scaled the wall, sneaked into the thug’s house, and killed the entire family of three. The evidence against him is solid. Guo Yang went into hiding before his arrest and has been on the run ever since. According to the local police, due to the murder case, people in the county turned a cold shoulder to his sister. A year after Guo Yang fled, unable to bear the public pressure, his sister committed suicide by drinking pesticide.”

“Doesn’t he have anyone else in his family?”

“The siblings relied on each other. It’s said that his sister actually knew the thugs who bullied her. The police speculate that she couldn’t support herself and Guo Yang, who was in high school, on her factory wages alone, and she was involved in some underground dealings to make ends meet. That’s the local police’s version of events, but the truth is unclear.”

“Who can completely know the truth of something that happened three years ago!” Chen Shi pondered. “We should go find him now, but what about the reporters outside…”

“Follow me!”

Lin Dongxue led Chen Shi down the stairs to the underground parking lot, where they found several journalists waiting. The entire Long’an media was in a frenzy; they even heard that the TV station crews had arrived, with news vans parked outside.

“I remember there’s no railing on the second-floor windows,” Chen Shi said.

“If they see us climbing out, they’ll definitely question us thoroughly.”

“Let’s take the risk!”

So, the two carefully climbed out of the second-floor window. Chen Shi went down first and caught Lin Dongxue. Luckily, they weren’t spotted by any reporters and quickly left the area.

They couldn’t retrieve the car parked in the garage, so they had to take a taxi to Xiao Si’s studio. Arriving in front of the studio, Chen Shi said, “Let’s not make a scene when we meet. Let’s find a way to restrain him. Do you have handcuffs?”

“I do!” Lin Dongxue patted her waist.

However, Xiao Si wasn’t at the studio. People there said he had taken leave. Chen Shi had a bad feeling about this. He tried calling a few others but found their phones turned off. It was daytime now; all of them being unreachable couldn’t be a coincidence.

They had no choice but to seek help from the station to track Xiao Si’s phone signal.

At that moment, Lin Qiupu called. “I saw your text. Who let you two investigate on your own?”

“Chief, Xiao Si is likely the culprit. With this incident now, he’s likely to act recklessly. We need to apprehend him.”

“Ah, the station is a mess right now. We’re trying to handle the reporters. Be careful on your own.”

“We understand!”

Soon after, Information Technology called. Xiao Si’s phone was off. Lin Dongxue asked them to check on the others, but they were all unreachable. Just as they were at a loss, Lin Dongxue exclaimed. She had received a location ping on WeChat from one of them, sent half an hour ago, pinpointing a place on Longhe Road—a board game bar.

“We need to go there quickly!” Chen Shi said.

In the evening, the two arrived by car. The street was bustling as usual, with advertisements for the board game bar plastered nearby.

The bar was on the second floor of a building. Lin Dongxue gripped her gun as she and Chen Shi went up together.

Arriving at the bar’s entrance, they found the metal shutter locked. Chen Shi knocked a few times. Suddenly, they heard a desperate cry for help from inside, followed by silence.

Oh no! It’s a hostage situation, Chen Shi thought.

“We’re the police! Who’s inside?” Lin Dongxue shouted.

No response. Lin Dongxue continued bluffing, “No answer? We’re coming in!”

Chen Shi gestured to make a phone call. Lin Dongxue nodded and quickly texted for backup from the nearby precinct.

Chen Shi pressed his ear against the metal shutter and heard footsteps approaching, getting closer. Then they stopped behind the shutter, as if listening to the situation outside.

There was no gap in this metal shutter. Both sides stood separated by a layer of iron, but they could almost hear each other’s breathing, and the tension grew palpable.

“Was that Officer Lin just now?” someone inside said.

“Who are you?”

“You can’t tell?”

It was Xiao Si’s voice, but it wasn’t his usual tone. Lin Dongxue looked at Chen Shi for his opinion. He replied for her, “Xiao Si, we’re here. Do you know what it means that we found you here?”

“I know. It means you’ve already figured out who I am. I really admire this once-in-a-million occurrence. Did Zhang Xiao say something? No, he couldn’t speak, so he must have written something.”

“You left clues to expose yourself.”

“Heh heh, I thought this plan was seamless, but in the end… I guess I’m still too naive.”

“So what’s your relationship with Duan Lin?”

“What relationship? I don’t want to be defined by those boring terms for our relationship. Anyway, for her sake, I can do anything… This morning, I already avenged her. But I’m not satisfied. I want to make those disgusting men all die, so they can’t harm other girls again.”

“You kidnapped a few people?”

“Haha!” Xiao Si laughed loudly. “All of them!”

The footsteps moved away. Then a man began to call for help, followed by another. The five of them took turns shouting, and then the room fell silent again. Chen Shi guessed Xiao Si must have removed their gags one by one.

“Did you hear that?” Xiao Si shouted from inside. “I want to cut off their heads and see if they’ll come back to life like Zhang Xiao! You must be looking forward to that too!”

What is this? The exposure of his identity has led to utter chaos? Chen Shi thought. This killer has always been very cautious in his memory, extremely self-protective. How could he fall so easily?

Could this be another one of his plans!?

“Xiao Si, we know your past. We understand your feelings for Duan Lin, but doing this won’t make up for anything. It will only forever link her name to a series of murders. If she were alive, would she want to see you become like this?” Lin Dongxue attempted to negotiate.

“How to do it is my decision. It has nothing to do with my sister. Officer Lin, did you feel how disgusting those people were when you came into contact with them? From head to toe, they are covered in invisible mold! In fact, you don’t have to do anything. Go downstairs for a drink or to the bathroom. Give me some time. I’ll clear out this garbage, and then you can rush in and shoot me, making everyone happy!”

Hearing this, Chen Shi silently went downstairs, and Lin Dongxue followed immediately after.

Chen Shi went to a distance to observe the window of the room. He said, “His words just now seem to be begging for death!”

“He referred to Duan Lin as his sister, which means he has put his own sister into Duan Lin. This is the completion of revenge. He doesn’t want to live anymore!” Lin Dongxue guessed.

“No! He’s not that kind of person. Taking this extreme action is because of the accidental event of the body ‘revival.’ He thinks he’s exposed, but he could have easily run away, just like last time. Why do this? I think he has a backhand! Or a plan to deceive everyone.”

“But how can this small room deceive the world? It can’t possibly fly away, right?”

“Who is the landlord here? I need to inquire about something!”