Around 1:19 AM today, the deceased, Wang Dong, inexplicably rose from the morgue and proceeded unimpeded until he was discovered by the forensic examiner You Qiaolin, having burned himself into a charred corpse nearby.

Previously, You Qiaolin had determined Wang Dong’s time of death to be around 1:00 AM yesterday. The fact that such an absurd and bizarre event occurred almost exactly twenty-four hours later—could it truly be a coincidence? The security footage clearly recorded Wang Dong’s reanimation, leaving no room to doubt its authenticity. However, due to the highly unusual nature of the incident, headquarters has ordered absolute secrecy; not a single syllable about the corpse walking can be leaked.

Stepping into the morgue area again, with half an hour yet before official working hours, the surrounding Yin energy felt even more dense. This time, however, we headed for You Qiaolin’s office.

“Ask whatever you need to ask,” You Qiaolin remarked, proving himself a true forensic professional, maintaining his composure even in the face of such uncanny events.

“I’d like to hear exactly what happened first,” I stated, preferring to get straight to the point.

“I was organizing some files last night, and it was past 1:00 AM when I finished. Nothing unusual at first; I packed up as usual and prepared to leave,” You Qiaolin began, sinking into memory.

“When I left, I passed the guardhouse and saw the main gate ajar. I assumed a colleague who was also working late had forgotten to lock it when they went out, so I didn't think much of it. After I went outside and started driving, I passed an alleyway and spotted a figure standing motionless, completely engulfed in flames. I was startled, but instinct took over, and I immediately got out of the car to try and smother the flames with my jacket. Even then, I found it strange; most people would instinctively struggle or run if they were on fire, but this person didn't move an inch. For a split second, I almost suspected he was enjoying bathing in fire.”

Hearing You Qiaolin recount this, a fine sweat beaded on my forehead. Enjoying a fiery bath—no normal person would behave like that.

“I called the fire department, the police, and the ambulance crew. Since the location was near the precinct, they arrived very quickly, and it took everyone working together to finally extinguish the blaze. As a forensic examiner, I have a habit of moving forward to check things out. At that point, it was certain the person couldn't survive. Whether it was suicide or homicide would require further investigation.” You Qiaolin adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. “Naturally, I had no choice but to work overtime. My studio is near the morgue. When I returned, I noticed the morgue door was open. Who would have thought that upon checking inside, the cold locker where Wang Dong’s body was stored was completely empty?”

“So you suspected the charred body was Wang Dong’s?” I pressed.

“Yes. I explained the situation to the criminal investigation colleagues who arrived. They said they would look into it, but since you’re the one questioning me now, they’ve most likely concluded the burnt corpse belongs to Wang Dong,” You Qiaolin said, looking at me.

“You have sharp deductive skills,” I remarked, considering that, based on standard police procedure, You Qiaolin shouldn't have seen the surveillance footage yet.

“Heh, you flatter me. I’m far behind you folks,” You Qiaolin managed a slightly stiff smile.

“Since you examined the charred body, did you find anything conclusive?” A body burnt to that extent likely wouldn't yield many clues.

“Nothing yet. The identity of the burnt corpse still requires further forensic confirmation.” You Qiaolin glanced at me, then nervously checked the doorway, leaning forward and lowering his voice. “There is one thing I think I should tell you.”

“What is it?” You Qiaolin’s sudden air of mystery caused an inexpressible sense of unease to rise within me.

“Based on my experience, the fire on this person originated from inside the body,” You Qiaolin articulated each word clearly.

You Qiaolin was right; I understood that much common sense. A normal body burns from the outside in—it’s the same principle as why a chicken drumstick is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. But if You Qiaolin’s assessment was correct, it meant this charred corpse had burned from the inside out. In other words, the fire that consumed the deceased had spontaneously generated from within his own body!

Defying logic, this case had been defying logic since it began. Was there truly something extraordinary at play? Wang Dong’s reanimation today, coupled with the mysterious self-immolation, undoubtedly plunged the case into deeper mystery. Leaving the forensic office, I was still utterly absorbed in the bizarre events, completely failing to notice that Lan Jinxuan was staring at me oddly just moments before.

“Senior Brother, what are you smiling about?” Lan Jinxuan asked, confused. It seemed she had adopted calling me Senior Brother quite naturally now.

“Huh?” I felt completely bewildered.

“Why were you smiling just now? You looked so strange,” Lan Jinxuan said, her gaze even carrying a hint of caution.

“Smile? When did I smile?” I felt a surge of genuine surprise.

“Just now. It looked really sinister,” Lan Jinxuan stated earnestly.

“Is that so?” I gave Lan Jinxuan a lecherous smile, my dominant, shameless charm instantly radiating outward.

“You’re acting weird,” Lan Jinxuan rolled her eyes at me and immediately headed toward the office.

My expression quickly returned to normal as I hurried after her, though my heart grew increasingly unsettled. I could be one hundred percent certain that I hadn't smiled, or even twitched, before Lan Jinxuan asked her question.

Back in the office, most of the necessary personnel had gathered. Zhang Jiewei was still fiddling with his lighter, Gao Jianning was nodding off in front of his computer, and Xiao Cuo still greeted me with a broad smile, yet something still felt fundamentally wrong. As for Elder Jiang, he was perpetually elusive; who knew where he was sleeping off a nap.

“The results from the identification department are in, along with the analysis report for the pus.” Before I could even fully sit down, Zhang Jiewei handed me a file.

“How are things?” I set the file aside without looking, instead asking Zhang Jiewei, partly because I found his vocal tone quite pleasing.

“DNA identification confirms the charred corpse is indeed Wang Dong. The pus contains high concentrations of protein, lipids, and some chitin,” Zhang Jiewei replied expressionlessly before turning back to his station.

“Chitin?” I found this unbelievable. “Have the deceased’s family been notified?”

“Headquarters requires this investigation to remain confidential; we haven’t contacted the family yet,” Zhang Jiewei said, maintaining his poker face.

“What is chitin?” Seeing my expression shift from surprise to confusion, Lan Jinxuan seemed convinced I knew the truth and asked me.

“Chitin is chitosan, a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide biopolymer widely found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, the carapaces of insects, and the cell walls of fungi. It also exists in some green algae. In the biological world, its annual synthesis volume is second only to cellulose.” Fortunately, my biology knowledge served me well, satisfying Lan Jinxuan with the answer, though she clearly hadn't grasped the true reason for my astonishment.

Pus containing chitin, and that pus flowed from Wang Dong’s head. Although chitin is the second most abundant natural polymer on Earth, it absolutely should not be present in a human body. While it might be found in crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, insects, or even mollusks, it cannot and should not appear in a human being. In this context, chitin could be compared to cellulose.

The atmosphere in the office was somewhat heavy; everyone’s mood seemed infected by the case, appearing quite gloomy. Xiao Cuo, of course, was the exception, perhaps best described as an outlier.

“Senior Brother, what is your take on Wang Dong’s reanimation and subsequent self-immolation?” Lan Jinxuan remained very concerned about the case.

“Heh, what does everyone else think?” This felt like handling a hot potato. Did I really have to admit that ghosts and gods existed?

“That is the fierce fire from hell, destined to devour everyone!” Xiao Cuo suddenly spoke up after maintaining a stiff smile on the side for a long time.

All our attention was drawn to Xiao Cuo. Seeing his earnest expression, we couldn't help but feel a little unnerved. Xiao Cuo often spouted nonsense like this; it was baffling why Elder Jiang had brought him onto the team.

“Stop talking, I’m getting the chills,” Lan Jinxuan said, pulling her jacket tighter, sounding visibly unnerved.

I wasn’t sure how Zhang Jiewei and Gao Jianning were feeling, but judging by their looks, they were half-believing Xiao Cuo’s bizarre pronouncements. As for me, I was starting to lose my own grip on reality.

“Things are getting weirder. What’s our next step?” Lan Jinxuan unconsciously moved closer to me, perhaps seeking more Yang energy. If possible, I wouldn't mind being drained by her.

“Don’t let these strange events confuse our focus. We do what needs to be done; the investigation must continue, regardless,” I stated seriously.

“Heh heh, Brother Lei, you’re actually starting to sound like a real leader,” Gao Jianning teased, appropriately lightening the mood in the office.

“Of course. What will really make you admit defeat is yet to come. Hurry up—Jiewei and Xiao Cuo, start investigating the aspects related to the burning. Gao Jianning, stay on standby. I need to go meet that woman named Mu Anmian.”

As I spoke, I stood up and brushed off my clothes to shake off the ill luck.

“You’re going alone?” Lan Jinxuan immediately asked.

“Haha, if our beautiful Lan were willing to grace me with her company, it would be this humble one’s greatest honor!” I truly admired my own audacity; I could be this thick-skinned even in front of so many people.

“Come on, Brother Lei, she’s only going because she pities you, afraid you might accidentally turn into a charred corpse on the way,” that scoundrel Gao Jianning deserved a beating!

“Scram, a dog’s mouth only spits out bad things. Guard the post well. If you perform well, I’ll reward you with a bone when I return,” I deliberately circled around him and slapped him on the shoulder.

“Be careful not to turn into a charred corpse…” Gao Jianning was momentarily speechless, only able to glare at me with a grim expression.

I felt a shiver run down my spine, gave him a sharp look, and turned to leave. Lan Jinxuan quickly followed; she had almost become my full-time assistant now.

For ease of investigation, Elder Jiang had managed to procure two police cars for us—a Land Rover and an Audi, though both were second-hand. In this regard, our perpetually invisible Elder Jiang showed some competence; even as used vehicles, they were considered above average among domestic police cars. I still couldn't figure out his background; he remained persistently mysterious.

I decisively chose the Land Rover—its maneuverability and comfort were unequivocally excellent, coupled with superb off-road capability. If it weren't for this case, I’d have loved to take Sister Lan out for a spin in the suburbs and truly enjoy some time for two.

Mu Anmian: twenty-six years old, a native of Anyang City. After two years of working post-university graduation, she married a wealthy businessman and became a full-time wife. The road I was currently driving down was Anyang City’s famous Chang'an West Street, whose unique English architectural style attracted many prominent figures to reside here.

“The woman you mentioned lives here?” Lan Jinxuan couldn't help but ask as soon as she stepped out of the car.

“Heh, what else?” I raised an eyebrow, looking at the magnificent European medieval-style villa before us. It felt strangely familiar.

Our police status didn't make passage much easier. After ringing the bell and communicating with the security guard who answered the door, we still waited about ten minutes before finally entering the villa.

As the guard came to open the wrought-iron gate for us, I couldn't help but look back at the villa again. On the expansive balcony of the second floor, a graceful silhouette of a woman in black had suddenly appeared...