Wen Xiaohua and Xu Sheng still vividly remembered the scene that night .

How could they forget? Every detail of every frame was etched into their minds, like a meticulously sketched painting .

After midnight, they had received a call from Lu Ji . “Come to Ke Qian’s place immediately . ”

Wen Xiaohua couldn’t figure out what was going on . “So late? How did your talk with him go?”

“Don’t ask so much! Come quickly . ” Lu Ji’s voice indicated that something was afoot .

After that, everyone arrived .

Upon entering Ke Qian’s home, each of them was scared witless . Blood was all over the floor . Unexpectedly, Ke Qian was wearing a black wig and a white, gauzy dress, and was all made up . He was dressed in his favourite cosplaying female role .

A knife protruded from his left chest, and he was lying in a pool of blood . His eyes were open and staring, and he had already stopped breathing .

Blood was still flowing ceaselessly . Wen Xiaohua had not previously imagined that so much blood could issue from one person .

“What’s happened?” Rong Xiaofeng asked shrilly . “You killed him? Killed him?”

Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua were both unable to speak .

Jiang Xueran just sat there with injuries on his face . Things were strewn all around the room . Lu Ji was leaning against the door, his face unmarked by blood .

“It was an accident . ” Jiang Xueran’s voice was still trembling slightly . “He suddenly became hostile and refused to give us the money . Then, he made his move . ”

“I didn’t intend to kill him, I didn’t . . . ” Lu Ji whispered . “We were all fighting, I grabbed the dagger on the table only to frighten him . But, he resisted so violently; once we broached the topic of money, he became very fierce and even told us to get lost, saying he was going to report us . I was so angry . . . ”

Everyone was silent, and a strange atmosphere pervaded the room .

“Have you called the ambulance?” Wen Xiaohua stammered out .

“He’s not breathing, and there’s no heartbeat,” Jiang Xueran said in a low voice . “We checked just now . Moreover, if we call the ambulance, can we escape being involved?”

All the people in the room were ashen-faced . Rong Xiaofeng suddenly cried out, “What do you mean, ‘we’? You’re the one who killed him, what has got to do with us? Why are you dragging us into this? Why did you ask us to come here?”

Xu Sheng also moved her lips .

Lu Ji turned his head away without speaking . Jiang Xueran yelled angrily, “d.a.m.n it! Didn’t we all agree that we should get the money from him? Even if he wasn’t willing, he would still have to give in to our request – isn’t this what we agreed on? Xiaofeng, weren’t you waiting for the money so you could go on holiday overseas with your boyfriend? Right now, since there’s been an accident – this is an accident – it’s not just to do with the two of us, all of you are involved as well . Why don’t you try making a police report, and see if you have the responsibility of collusion or not . Will the police believe that you are guiltless?”

Rong Xiaofeng was so shocked by this that she could only murmur incoherently . Xu Sheng made no noise . Stricken with terror, Wen Xiaohua blurted out, “Will we . . . have to go to jail?”

Rong Xiaofeng was so shocked by this that she could only murmur incoherently . Xu Sheng made no noise . Stricken with terror, Wen Xiaohua blurted out, “Will we . . . have to go to jail?”

Jiang Xueran paused for a moment before replying . “Yes . If we make a police report, we will go to jail . If we don’t . . . ” He glanced at Lu Ji . Lu Ji’s face was horrible to look at . Almost inaudibly, he whispered, “Ke Qian, he . . . he didn’t have any other friends, and he lived alone . He hasn’t had a job this half year since graduation . ”

“Let’s bury him together,” Jiang Xueran said slowly . “No one will notice if he disappears . We’ll divide the money, $400,000 each . ”

That night was especially dark, and the moon was extraordinarily bright . Five young people who were on the cusp of becoming contributing memners of society carried the body, avoided being seen by others, and walked, all the way to that wasteland .

Although Ke Qian was thin, he was tall, and his body was very heavy . At the beginning, Wen Xiaohua was still able to hear the dripping of blood in the woven bag . After that, the blood stopped flowing .

That night, Wen Xiaohua even forgot to cry; he was only hazily aware of the trees in the distance and the moon in the sky . He had learnt once from watching television that a person’s body would turn cold after death . That night, he truly experienced it for himself as Ke Qian’s body became colder and colder . That boy in the studio who always carefully weighed people’s expressions, brought them breakfast, helped them tidy up the tables, the only one who would brave the rain to buy medicine for him when he was sick, and smile happily as he did so – that boy was really dead, dead and cold .

They dug a pit and buried him in it .

Someone had already closed Ke Qian’s eyes, or could it be that he had closed them himself? At that moment, the strange notion suddenly flashed into Wen Xiaohua’s mind that this was an excellent way for Ke Qian to die . White clothes, long hair, delicate makeup, full of vitality . Forever frozen in his favourite, most beautiful appearance . He was also not suitable for this world, he was far too naive and too frail .

He was different from the rest of them . He believed in his dreams, and persisted in them .

In truth, he was more courageous and talented than they were .

Then, because of two million dollars, he died at their mediocre and gutless hands .

Then, because of two million dollars, he died at their mediocre and gutless hands .

……

But, now, Wen Xiaohua and Xu Sheng looked in unison at the stark, empty pit in front of them, not daring to trust their own eyes .

Where did the corpse go?

Where did he go?

——

The second point of exploration for the criminal investigators was the place that Ke Qian used to rent, which was in a nearby residential compound . Although he had disappeared some time ago, the other residents had not even realised it .

“Because he paid two years of rent and utilities up front, about half a year ago,” the owner explained . “That place is in a remote location and run down, so I don’t normally go there . ”

The building was in a corner of the residential compound . From the outside, it was indeed an old and narrow single-story house . However, when Bo Jinyan, Jian Yao and the others walked inside, it was like a breath of fresh air .

Beige wallpaper, patterned with delicate flowers, was on the wall, and paper lanterns hung from the ceiling . Although these were inexpensive, they suited the style of the building . The sofa, table and chairs were wooden, old-fashioned pieces of furniture . Jian Yao knew that many people liked to scour the flea markets for such items . There was no bed, only an old, string hammock with a Minion* pillow tossed upon it .

*T/N 小黄人 (xiao huang ren) – literally, ‘little yellow man’ . Taken to refer to the Minions from the ‘Despicable Me’ movies .

There was dust everywhere, but the blood which should have been on the floor had been cleaned up .

*T/N 小黄人 (xiao huang ren) – literally, ‘little yellow man’ . Taken to refer to the Minions from the ‘Despicable Me’ movies .

There was dust everywhere, but the blood which should have been on the floor had been cleaned up .

“It’s his style,” Bo Jinyan suddenly whispered .

This statement caused Jian Yao to be inexplicably terrified .

She abruptly realised that she had not really understood Bo Jinyan . She knew he was intelligent, arrogant, and resolute . He had no fear in mediating with persistently vicious, extremely evil ‘disciples’, and even gained both satisfaction and excitement in doing so .

However, towards some criminals, such as Xie Min in the Ancient City case, or Ke Qian in the current one, he would vaguely exhibit a kind of mood which was very intense, and very difficult to describe . Was it sympathy? No, he would never be soft-hearted to this extent . Was it understanding? No, he had said that one should never kill even if one were faced with compelling and difficult circ.u.mstances .

It was insight .

It was a kind of tranquil, compa.s.sionate, calm insight . It would not be easily affected, but it would also not bring to bear any contempt or prejudice . He looked at these criminals who had come to the end of the rope, and he did not see any difference between them and an ordinary, sinless person .

After thinking this through, Jian Yao raised her head and gazed steadily at him . His handsome and focused profile, his clear and perceptive eyes .

Therefore, she loved him .

Far better than any scenery she had seen thus far in her life .

Wen Xiaohua and Xu Sheng still vividly remembered the scene that night

How could they forget? Every detail of every frame was etched into their minds, like a meticulously sketched painting

After midnight, they had received a call from Lu Ji . “Come to Ke Qian’s place immediately . ”.

Wen Xiaohua couldn’t figure out what was going on . “So late? How did your talk with him go?”.

“Don’t ask so much! Come quickly . ” Lu Ji’s voice indicated that something was afoot

After that, everyone arrived

Upon entering Ke Qian’s home, each of them was scared witless . Blood was all over the floor . Unexpectedly, Ke Qian was wearing a black wig and a white, gauzy dress, and was all made up . He was dressed in his favourite cosplaying female role

A knife protruded from his left chest, and he was lying in a pool of blood . His eyes were open and staring, and he had already stopped breathing

Blood was still flowing ceaselessly . Wen Xiaohua had not previously imagined that so much blood could issue from one person

“What’s happened?” Rong Xiaofeng asked shrilly . “You killed him? Killed him?”.

Xu Sheng and Wen Xiaohua were both unable to speak

Jiang Xueran just sat there with injuries on his face . Things were strewn all around the room . Lu Ji was leaning against the door, his face unmarked by blood

“It was an accident . ” Jiang Xueran’s voice was still trembling slightly . “He suddenly became hostile and refused to give us the money . Then, he made his move . ”.

“I didn’t intend to kill him, I didn’t . ” Lu Ji whispered . “We were all fighting, I grabbed the dagger on the table only to frighten him . But, he resisted so violently; once we broached the topic of money, he became very fierce and even told us to get lost, saying he was going to report us . I was so angry . ”.

Everyone was silent, and a strange atmosphere pervaded the room

“Have you called the ambulance?” Wen Xiaohua stammered out

“He’s not breathing, and there’s no heartbeat,” Jiang Xueran said in a low voice . “We checked just now . Moreover, if we call the ambulance, can we escape being involved?”.

All the people in the room were ashen-faced . Rong Xiaofeng suddenly cried out, “What do you mean, ‘we’? You’re the one who killed him, what has got to do with us? Why are you dragging us into this? Why did you ask us to come here?”.

Xu Sheng also moved her lips

Lu Ji turned his head away without speaking . Jiang Xueran yelled angrily, “d.a.m.n it! Didn’t we all agree that we should get the money from him? Even if he wasn’t willing, he would still have to give in to our request – isn’t this what we agreed on? Xiaofeng, weren’t you waiting for the money so you could go on holiday overseas with your boyfriend? Right now, since there’s been an accident – this is an accident – it’s not just to do with the two of us, all of you are involved as well . Why don’t you try making a police report, and see if you have the responsibility of collusion or not . Will the police believe that you are guiltless?”.

Rong Xiaofeng was so shocked by this that she could only murmur incoherently . Xu Sheng made no noise . Stricken with terror, Wen Xiaohua blurted out, “Will we . have to go to jail?”.

Jiang Xueran paused for a moment before replying . “Yes . If we make a police report, we will go to jail . If we don’t . ” He glanced at Lu Ji . Lu Ji’s face was horrible to look at . Almost inaudibly, he whispered, “Ke Qian, he . he didn’t have any other friends, and he lived alone . He hasn’t had a job this half year since graduation . ”.

“Let’s bury him together,” Jiang Xueran said slowly . “No one will notice if he disappears . We’ll divide the money, $400,000 each . ”.

That night was especially dark, and the moon was extraordinarily bright . Five young people who were on the cusp of becoming contributing memners of society carried the body, avoided being seen by others, and walked, all the way to that wasteland

Although Ke Qian was thin, he was tall, and his body was very heavy . At the beginning, Wen Xiaohua was still able to hear the dripping of blood in the woven bag . After that, the blood stopped flowing

That night, Wen Xiaohua even forgot to cry; he was only hazily aware of the trees in the distance and the moon in the sky . He had learnt once from watching television that a person’s body would turn cold after death . That night, he truly experienced it for himself as Ke Qian’s body became colder and colder . That boy in the studio who always carefully weighed people’s expressions, brought them breakfast, helped them tidy up the tables, the only one who would brave the rain to buy medicine for him when he was sick, and smile happily as he did so – that boy was really dead, dead and cold

They dug a pit and buried him in it

Someone had already closed Ke Qian’s eyes, or could it be that he had closed them himself? At that moment, the strange notion suddenly flashed into Wen Xiaohua’s mind that this was an excellent way for Ke Qian to die . White clothes, long hair, delicate makeup, full of vitality . Forever frozen in his favourite, most beautiful appearance . He was also not suitable for this world, he was far too naive and too frail

He was different from the rest of them . He believed in his dreams, and persisted in them

In truth, he was more courageous and talented than they were

Then, because of two million dollars, he died at their mediocre and gutless hands

…….

But, now, Wen Xiaohua and Xu Sheng looked in unison at the stark, empty pit in front of them, not daring to trust their own eyes

Where did the corpse go?.

Where did he go?.

——.

The second point of exploration for the criminal investigators was the place that Ke Qian used to rent, which was in a nearby residential compound . Although he had disappeared some time ago, the other residents had not even realised it

“Because he paid two years of rent and utilities up front, about half a year ago,” the owner explained . “That place is in a remote location and run down, so I don’t normally go there . ”.

The building was in a corner of the residential compound . From the outside, it was indeed an old and narrow single-story house . However, when Bo Jinyan, Jian Yao and the others walked inside, it was like a breath of fresh air

Beige wallpaper, patterned with delicate flowers, was on the wall, and paper lanterns hung from the ceiling . Although these were inexpensive, they suited the style of the building . The sofa, table and chairs were wooden, old-fashioned pieces of furniture . Jian Yao knew that many people liked to scour the flea markets for such items . There was no bed, only an old, string hammock with a Minion* pillow tossed upon it

*T/N 小黄人 (xiao huang ren) – literally, ‘little yellow man’ . Taken to refer to the Minions from the ‘Despicable Me’ movies

There was dust everywhere, but the blood which should have been on the floor had been cleaned up

“It’s his style,” Bo Jinyan suddenly whispered

This statement caused Jian Yao to be inexplicably terrified

She abruptly realised that she had not really understood Bo Jinyan . She knew he was intelligent, arrogant, and resolute . He had no fear in mediating with persistently vicious, extremely evil ‘disciples’, and even gained both satisfaction and excitement in doing so

However, towards some criminals, such as Xie Min in the Ancient City case, or Ke Qian in the current one, he would vaguely exhibit a kind of mood which was very intense, and very difficult to describe . Was it sympathy? No, he would never be soft-hearted to this extent . Was it understanding? No, he had said that one should never kill even if one were faced with compelling and difficult circ.u.mstances

It was insight

It was a kind of tranquil, compa.s.sionate, calm insight . It would not be easily affected, but it would also not bring to bear any contempt or prejudice . He looked at these criminals who had come to the end of the rope, and he did not see any difference between them and an ordinary, sinless person

After thinking this through, Jian Yao raised her head and gazed steadily at him . His handsome and focused profile, his clear and perceptive eyes

Therefore, she loved him

Far better than any scenery she had seen thus far in her life