Netherworld Investigator

As I walked, I repeated what I heard from the tanned fellow. Now, all that’s left was to wait for the results of Yuanchao's investigation. I asked Xiaotao if she wanted to go back to the station.

"We’d just be waiting even if we went back. Why don’t we look for a cafe and have some ice cream?" She suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, how could I have forgotten? Bingxin can't have anything cold. Why don’t you decide?"

Indeed, only those with high emotional intelligence would take note of such details. Bingxin pointed to a stall serving beef soup. "I want that. My dad never allows me to eat at a roadside stall."

With a wave of her hand, Xiaotao said, "Let's go then!"

We were taking our time savoring a bowl of beef soup when Xiaotao's phone rang. She handed the phone over to me after saying a few words. "Is it Uncle Wang?” I asked.

On the phone, Yuanchao reported, "Song Yang, through my investigation, I found that Li Rumeng was hospitalized in the city’s fourth psychiatric hospital. I have the medical records faxed from the hospital in my hands. She has Dissociative Identity Disorder."

As soon as I heard the term, I immediately realized, "So she does have a split personality!"

Yuanchao began to read her records. "The patient had suicidal tendencies due to cosmetic surgery failure. In order to escape from reality, she created another personality, switching to the ego part of her personality when she was younger. This personality shows great hostility to the main personality and displays self-destructive behavior! After electroconvulsive therapy, she basically recovered, but there is still a risk of relapse."

Her medical record was a little different from what I had imagined, but it was still in the right direction. Li Rumeng was mentally ill!

Yuanchao asked, "Is there anything else that I should check?"

"No. Just come back first!" But I added, "You’ve worked hard, so I'll buy you a drink when you return."

After I hung up, Xiaotao asked, "What should we investigate next?"

I slammed the table and announced, "Investigate Cao Dazhuang's death. That’ll be our breakthrough in tearing off this couple’s mask!"

She laughed. "Weren’t you just at your wits’ end? How did you come up with another idea all of a sudden?"

"Perhaps the gears in my head are running again! Before this, I was worried I might cause a miscarriage of justice, just like Dr. Qin had, so I was slow to act. But now, I’m 99% sure that this couple are the murderers."

"How should we... investigate Cao Dazhaung’s death? There’s only the skeleton left from the corpse."

"Do you remember what the landlord said? At the time, Zhang Qiang helped Cao Dazhuang move on his own initiative. What does that mean?"

Xiaotao exclaimed excitedly. "I got it. The place where Cao Dazhuang lived was the first crime scene! But it’s already been so long—how are we going to investigate the scene?"

"We can only use forensic methods. Let’s go over and see if there are any traces of the murderer’s DNA left behind. It’s not that easy to clean a murder scene."

"Well, this depends on luck then! But with a face as fair as yours, I believe we’ll find something."

I responded with a bitter laugh. "Then according to what you say, Bao Gong would never have been able to solve any cases! You two go over first. I'll go to the tailor's and get some DNA samples for comparison."

Bingxin interjected, "You’re going alone? Let me go with you!"

I shook my head. "No, it’s more convenient if I go on my own. Follow Xiaotao."

I could feel that Li Qin was hostile towards Bingxin, so it’d be safer if I went alone.

Xiaotao asked, "What excuse will you give him?"

I borrowed a lighter from the uncle eating next to me, “accidentally” burning a hole in the down jacket I had just received. "I’ll ask him to mend the hole in my jacket. It’s a good reason, isn’t it?"

Xiaotao laughed. "You’re becoming more and more wicked..."

After we split up, I went to Zhang Qiang's tailor shop. Right now, the shop wasn’t as busy, and the couple were having their meal. As soon as he spotted me, Zhang Qiang put down his bowl and asked, "What's the matter? Is the down jacket uncomfortable?"

By observing his body language, I detected nervousness in his eyes but I didn't use Cave Vision. If the color of my eyes were to suddenly change right before him, he would’ve discovered it.

The man who had attacked me that night was undoubtedly Zhang Qiang. He must‘ve already realized that I was with the police, and I too knew that he was the murderer, yet both of us feigned ignorance. How intriguing!

I pointed out the hole in my jacket that needed mending. He assured me he would fix it and got right to it.

I looked around and found Li Qin behind a bolt of cloth with half her face exposed, casting a wary eye on me. Zhang Qiang stuck a cigarette between his lips and asked while he sewed, "What do you do, young fella?"

"What do you think?"

"You don't look like a student, but you don’t resemble an office worker either. Are you a writer?"

I smiled. "You're right!"

He looked up curiously. "What sort of books do you write?"

"Criminal investigation. I heard that there have been several murders here, so I’m here for research!"

I was deliberately testing him. The corners of Zhang Qiang's eyes twitched, but he soon forced a smile. "Looks like you’re doing well. You even have such a beautiful girlfriend. The city is where opportunities are abound. You can even make a fortune typing a few words. Unlike us, we work ourselves to the bone day and night just to earn that little bit!"

I modestly replied, "I'm doing okay. That’s right, I heard that the first victim was your sister-in-law. Can you tell me more?"

Zhang Qiang looked up, his eyes chilly. "She’s dead, what else can I say?"

I calmly met his gaze and asked, "Did you see the murderer?"

"I was outside, eating with my wife. The police have already questioned me. Go to them if you’re looking for research materials!"

I persisted. "Did the police suspect you?"

He curled his lip contemptuously. "So what if they suspect me? They have no evidence!"

We glared at each other for a few seconds before Zhang Qiang said, “You’re not a writer, are you?"

I smirked. "Then what do you think I do?"

"I think you’re a policeman!" Zhang Qiang’s face twisted into a murderous expression.

Fearful that further probing would reveal my identity, I quickly changed the subject. "Hey, you’ve dropped cigarette ash on my jacket."

Zhang Qiang looked down and quickly dusted off the cigarette ash, conveniently putting out his cigarette in the ashtray next to him. Making sure that I had obstructed Li Qin's line of sight with my body, I quickly nabbed a cigarette butt–not the one he had just put out–and hid it in my pocket. First off, there was still a bit of smoldering at the end which made it difficult to hide. Secondly, Zhang Qiang would’ve discovered it.

The one I nabbed was of the same brand as the one Zhang Qiang had been smoking. The bite marks on it also looked very similar. In all likelihood, his saliva should be on it.

However, I had underestimated Zhang Qiang. The moment he looked back up and glanced at the ashtray, his expression turned ugly. He proceeded to count them and asked aloud, "Why is there one missing?"

For a moment, I was shocked. This man even remembered how many cigarette butts there were in the ashtray!

Zhang Qiang counted them again and stood up, eyes awash with ill intention. "Did you steal it?"

I bluffed with false bravado. "Are you crazy? Why would I steal a cigarette butt?"

He glowered at me and roared, "Did you steal it?"

I shouted back at him, matching his volume. "You psycho! Are you crazy?"

Right then, Li Qin smashed her bowl and ran to the back room, crying with her face buried in her hands. “Darling!” Zhang Qiang seemed distressed for his wife. He turned to me sternly and threatened, "Say it again and I promise you I’ll knock out your teeth!"

His angry bellows attracted the attention of some passers-by, emboldening me to retort, "Do it then! We were just worried that we wouldn’t have a reason to detain you!"

Wicked laughter erupted through his teeth. "In fact, I recognized you when you first came. The three of you are experts from the city." Eyes glowing, his voice dropped to a low whisper. "You’re here to arrest me!"