C15 Rogue?

"There's not a single wound on his body. How can you be so certain it was murder?" Chen Zhixuan had examined the body but found no obvious injuries, leading him to doubt whether Elder Hou's death was natural.

"Mr. Chen, is there a way someone could be killed without any external signs?" Police Qiu inquired.

"A method of killing without leaving a trace?" Chen Zhixuan mused, then his demeanor shifted to one of intense focus.

"Policewoman Rong, take off the clothes."

"Hey, you pervert!" Policewoman Rong lashed out with a kick at Chen Zhixuan.

With a swift movement, Chen Zhixuan sidestepped and caught her ankle. "I meant Elder Hou's clothes. Not all injuries are visible on the surface. I need to examine him more closely," he clarified.

"You should've made that clear from the start," Policewoman Rong snapped, giving him a glare before proceeding to remove Elder Hou's jacket.

Chen Zhixuan's hand pressed against Elder Hou's chest, moving methodically.

Sounds emanated from Elder Hou's body with each motion of Chen Zhixuan's hand, a technique of force application and auditory diagnosis he had mastered from the principles of Eight Extreme Fist.

After a few minutes, Chen Zhixuan shook his head, "No, it's not possible. There's nothing wrong internally. Could it be poison?"

"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to handle his body?" A gruff voice interrupted Chen Zhixuan's pondering.

"Mr. Hou, we're conducting an investigation," Policewoman Rong interjected, blocking the newcomer.

"That's Elder Hou's son, Hou Yuan," Police Qiu added.

Chen Zhixuan didn't respond but scrutinized Hou Yuan, noting the striking resemblance to Mr. Hou.

"Let him through, Rong," he said.

"Who let you mess with him? Instead of solving the case, you're here bothering my father?" Hou Yuan grumbled, hastily dressing Elder Hou and sliding him back into the freezer.

Initially, Chen Zhixuan hadn't been overly concerned, but when Hou Yuan's hand lingered over Elder Hou's heart, a realization struck him.

"Dark force, huh?" Chen Zhixuan mused to himself.

The dark force was a rare and elusive technique of exerting power. In Chen Zhixuan's recollection, Asi was perhaps the only other person he knew who could wield it, and he hadn't come across anyone else capable of it. Even with his mastery of the Eight Extreme Fist, Chen Zhixuan still struggled to adeptly apply the dark force. It was a sinister and nearly indefensible form of energy that could penetrate the body and wreak havoc internally without leaving any external trace. It was just like the stone he had left with Asi; the dark force had shattered its internal structure while leaving the exterior unscathed.

Lost in thought, Chen Zhixuan noticed Hou Yuan shouldering his father's corpse, preparing to depart from the police station.

"Hou Yuan, Elder Hou's case isn't closed yet," Officer Qiu interjected, blocking his path.

"Officer Qiu, solving crimes is the police's job. I don't want my father to suffer here any longer. And if you can't crack the case, may I request to withdraw it? All I ask is that you stop desecrating my father's remains," Hou Yuan replied with a frosty detachment.

"Hou Yuan, please, be reasonable. Don't you want justice for your father?" Officer Qiu was insistent, continuing his attempts to reason with him.

"Officer Rong, I've discovered something," Chen Zhixuan whispered, tugging at Officer Rong's sleeve.

"What is it?"

"Hou Yuan is the killer. He's trying to destroy the evidence," Chen Zhixuan revealed calmly.

"That's preposterous, don't spout such nonsense," Officer Rong quickly silenced Chen Zhixuan, fearful that Hou Yuan might overhear.

"It's the truth, I'm not deceiving you. If you're skeptical, just press gently on Elder Hou's heart three times. Then you'll see," Chen Zhixuan insisted with conviction, and Officer Rong found herself intrigued.

"Hold on," Officer Rong said, halting Hou Yuan before seizing Elder Hou's body.

"What are you doing?" Hou Yuan's icy query caused Officer Rong to falter.

She glanced back at Chen Zhixuan, who responded with an encouraging thumbs-up.

"We've established the cause of Elder Hou's death, and it seems you might be implicated," Policewoman Rong declared with a hint of trepidation in her voice.

"What? You're out of your minds, obsessed with cracking this case," Hou Yuan retorted as he shoved Policewoman Rong aside and strode toward the exit.

"Stop him!" Police Qiu barked to the nearby officers, prompting an immediate encirclement.

Blocked, Hou Yuan spun around, challenging, "Police Qiu, are you planning to seize the body? This is a police station. Do you intend to flout the law?"

"Hou Yuan, release Elder Hou's body now, or I'll charge you with theft and tampering with evidence," Police Qiu warned, his tone severe.

"Ah, so it's come to this—you want to pin this on me," Hou Yuan scoffed with a cold laugh.

"We'll determine if it's a frame-up later. Take Hou Yuan to the interrogation room," Police Qiu commanded.

Hou Yuan was led away, visibly frustrated.

"Rong, did you actually find something?" Police Qiu inquired urgently, now that the scene was under control.

"He's the one who found it," Policewoman Rong said, pointing at Chen Zhixuan.

"Not me," Chen Zhixuan quickly objected.

"How can you deny it? You were the one who suggested Hou Yuan could be the killer, prompting me to detain him," Policewoman Rong protested, visibly upset.

"Do you have proof?"

"You—"

"Enough, Mr. Chen. There's no time for games with Rong. The situation has escalated. In eight hours, Hou Yuan could dispose of the body and have the case dismissed. We'd be left empty-handed, failing to secure justice for Elder Hou and possibly bringing trouble upon ourselves," Police Qiu reasoned.

Chen Zhixuan hadn't wanted to get involved, but Asi's recommendation left him no choice. He was also curious about Meng Ruyan and sought insight from Police Qiu. Moreover, he owed a debt of gratitude to Elder Hou; his parents had once received assistance from Elder Hou's foundation during his college years. It wasn't much, but Chen Zhixuan was not one to forget a kindness.

"What's your name, anyway?" Police Qiu was on the verge of losing his patience when he asked.

"Her name is Su Rongrong."

"Rongrong, that's a nice name."

"You." Su Rongrong clenched her silver teeth, a frosty glint in her striking eyes.

"Okay, enough teasing. Do exactly as I told you—try it on Elder Hou's body," Chen Zhixuan instructed.

Taking a deep breath, Su Rongrong pressed gently several times over Elder Hou's heart.

But there was no response, everything remained unchanged.