C7 The Real Murderer Revealed His Tail

After work one evening, Lee Qingshan failed to return home. Worried, Jiaang Mei made inquiries everywhere until she finally discovered her son's body in a seedy motel.

Convinced that her son was not the type to seek out such encounters, she adamantly believed he had been lured by those women. The police investigation revealed that after finishing work that night, Lee Qingshan had been taken to the motel by three women.

Jiaang Mei filed a report with the Snowbush City Police Department, demanding the arrest and prosecution of those women. However, the officers claimed that her son had not resisted and had been somewhat complicit, so they refused to open an investigation and brusquely turned Jiaang Mei away.

The mountain village lay down a small path off Moresby Road. Four individuals reached the village entrance and, after questioning several locals, they eventually located Jiaang Mei's home.

With sirens blaring, the four drove two police cars right up to Jiaang Mei's doorstep.

Within fifteen minutes, the vehicles pulled up outside her home. At that moment, Jiaang Mei, with a heart full of turmoil, was busy sorting through cardboard boxes in the yard.

Upon hearing the cars approach, she turned her head sharply, only to see Xiao Chennai and his companions approaching.

"What do you want now?" Jiaang Mei slowly rose to her feet, gripping the carving knife tightly in her hands, which bore the marks of time.

"We're here to ask you to come back with us for a statement. There's been an incident involving three deceased individuals found in a vehicle. Have you heard anything about that?" Xiao Chennai probed, aware that someone of Jiaang Mei's advanced age, who likely didn't follow the news or use a smartphone, would be unaware of such events.

If she showed any reaction to the news, it would suggest a connection to her.

This approach was a tactic Jian Chenyi had suggested to Xiao Chennai on their way over.

At the mention of the van, Jiaang Mei's carving knife clattered to the ground, her face overtaken by a mix of panic and distress.

Struggling to bend down, she picked up the knife and stammered, "What van? I don't know anything about a van. I don't know anything at all!"

Jiaang Mei hastily turned her back on the group, resuming her work with the worn cardboard boxes, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

She harbored a sense of resentment that she couldn't let go of.

Xiao Chennai took a few slow steps, a smile of delight crossing his lips. He paused, then said, "Mrs. Jiaang, how did you know about the van? Could it be that... you know something?"

Xiao Chennai feigned confusion as he spoke with a casual air. Jiaang Mei's expression darkened further. She halted her movements and slowly turned to face him.

"I, I don't know what you're talking about. I have things to do. Please leave!"

Jiaang Mei's tone grew increasingly hostile, her wrinkled face losing all color, becoming frighteningly grim.

As Jiaang Mei attempted to turn and leave with the cardboard box, Xiao Chennai stepped in front of her, presenting the fuel log he had obtained from the gas station attendant. He tossed it before Jiaang Mei.

"Was it you?"

Jiaang Mei glanced at the fuel log, her gaze distant. Suddenly, she tore the log to shreds in a frenzy, "Get out, get out! You're not welcome here!"

Jiaang Mei, acting like a fishwife, brandished a carving knife, urging them to leave.

Jian Chenyi raised his hands, gesturing gently, and said, "Mrs. Jiaang, I know life has been hard for you, but that doesn't justify committing a crime."

Jian Chenyi spoke with a serene tone, reminiscent of a Western preacher.

"Please, put down the knife. We mean no harm; we simply seek the truth. Moreover... I truly understand you."

Jian Chenyi's soothing voice seemed to pacify the frantic Jiaang Mei. The panic in her eyes dissipated, and slowly, the carving knife in her hand was lowered.

At the mention of 'understanding,' Jiaang Mei's reddened eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

For so long, both the villagers and outsiders had prejudged her. As a widow, she had to scavenge for a living to support her child and ailing mother. Though she managed to get by, to everyone else, she was merely a scavenger.

Whenever she stepped outside, she was met with stares of disdain. This same prejudice was why her son couldn't find a bride in the village.

Jian Chenyi grew even more convinced that the elderly person before him was the culprit. In her gaze, he discerned not only boundless fury and regret but also a sense of unwillingness and remorse.

"I'm aware of the incident at the police station, and I know they wronged your son. I'm here to apologize on their behalf," he said, bowing deeply.

Hua Ning, standing behind him, was baffled. What was Jian Chenyi doing apologizing?

Jiaang Mei's eyes reddened once more, her voice raspy with scorn. "The police are nothing but useless trash. But I've taken care of it, hahaha!"

Her laughter was chilling.

Xiao Chennai felt a shiver of cold dread as he listened to the old woman's laugh.

The group exchanged glances, their suspicions confirmed.

"Taken care of it? Mrs. Jiaang, what exactly do you mean?"

Jian Chenyi's softly spoken question was deliberately probing.

Jiaang Mei's laughter cut off abruptly as she pointed to a decrepit little house, "They're going to be trapped in there forever!"

The eerie, frightening smile that twisted Jiaang Mei's lips sent shivers down Hua Ning's spine.

As the sky grew overcast, a fine misty rain began to fall.

Xiao Chennai phoned Sunn Limin, requesting backup.

Before long, four or five police cruisers pulled up. Xiao Chennai and Jian Chenyi, donning white medical gloves, stepped into the old house.

The moment they crossed the threshold, a foul odor assaulted their senses. They knew this smell all too well—the scent of death and blood.

The door creaked open. Xiao Chennai covered his mouth and nose, flicking on his flashlight as he cautiously moved forward.

The interior was cramped and elongated, likely once used for poultry farming.

Inside, three bodies lay on the ground, hairless, their faces a mangled mess of blood, beyond recognition.

"Ugh—"

Confronted with such a gruesome sight for the first time, Jian Chenyi felt his stomach churn, and he bolted outside.

Hua Ning fetched a raincoat from the police car and handed it to Xiao Chennai, her brows knitted in horror.

"Oh my god! This... They died so horribly," Hua Ning exclaimed, still shaken.

"Take your time getting used to it. In our profession, we'll come across a wide array of cases. You need to have a strong mental fortitude..." Jian Chenyi said, giving Hua Ning a reassuring pat on the back to help her steady herself.

The scene, however, was exceedingly gruesome, and Hua Ning found it difficult to adjust on the spot. She quickly turned away, clutching her stomach.

"Drink some water; it'll help you settle," Jian Chenyi suggested, offering her a bottle of mineral water.

He then moved towards the three bodies, ready to begin his work.