A rush of power flooded my body at the mere thought of conquest. After all, I was facing not two grotesque, sinister entities, nor two blood-soaked corpses, but two delicate women—beauties who were one in ten thousand. What was there to fear?

Having made up my mind, I remained seated firmly, then feigned surprise. “Oh, you know Forensic Doctor You? What a coincidence; I’m his colleague.”

Zhang Hemei’s eyes instantly widened into perfect circles, making her already beautiful eyes look like two crystal grapes. “Really? That is quite a coincidence. Come, come, let’s down three glasses first.”

Zhang Hemei downed three glasses without a hint of hesitation, fully displaying her bold, uninhibited nature. I couldn't help but wonder if she was merely a different body sharing the name, face, and likeness of that woman from the International Xiyuan.

“What, Officer Wang isn’t showing respect?” Zhang Hemei had finished her three, while I, still reeling from the shock, hadn't touched a single one.

I hastily raised my glass and gulped one down. Having already drunk considerably, a real sense of drunkenness began to set in, and my tongue felt thick. “No, good, that’s polite, first time meeting, my apologies.” After saying this, I forced myself to take two more.

A smile played on Zhang Hemei’s seductive face, a smile that made me uneasy. “But I have a feeling we’ve met before. Think about it again.”

This was precisely what I feared she would bring up, yet she was persistent. I could only offer a vague reply: “I have a common face; you can find a hundred like me anywhere. It’s not strange that we’ve met.”

Zhang Hemei shook her head, refusing to let it go. “No, no, my memory is excellent; I wouldn’t be mistaken. We definitely have met. Besides, you’re such a handsome man; if this is what a common face looks like, it would be the happiness of all women.”

I inwardly groaned. They say alcohol harms the brain, but this woman was a monster—the more she drank, the sharper she became, and she even had the energy for witty banter. All I could do now was take things one step at a time.

Suddenly, Zhang Hemei slapped her thigh hard. “I remember now!”

Zhao Shiya covered her mouth and whispered softly, “Hemei, be more refined.”

I was so startled I nearly tumbled off the sofa. I managed to steady myself, asking with strained terror, “Have we really met?”

“No, no, we haven’t met, but I saw someone who looks just like you. He’s a network maintenance engineer from the complex. He looks exactly like you.” As she spoke, Zhang Hemei scrutinized me closely, as if playing a game of ‘spot the difference.’

I quickly joked, “Then I must go see him someday. Perhaps he’s the brother I lost many years ago.”

Zhao Shiya laughed, “Officer Wang is so witty. You must drink a few more rounds with Hemei today.”

I quickly demurred, “That might not be appropriate; I can’t keep drinking free liquor. How about we call it a day, and I’ll treat you both next time.”

Zhao Shiya grabbed my arm, her soft, small hand slippery and delicate, making refusal impossible. “It’s rare that we’ve all become friends today; we should celebrate. Moreover, you and Hemei share a special connection; you should certainly drink more.” With that, she called the waiter for a glass of vodka and two bottles of red wine, along with some snacks like chips and duck tongues, filling the table. It looked like they had no intention of letting me off easily.

Knowing avoidance was futile, I decided to let go completely. After all, I was a man; drinking too much would only harm my body, not compromise my virtue. Did I really need to fear these two female demons?

After several rounds, my intoxication deepened, and Zhao Shiya was also starting to show the effects of the alcohol. Only the bold Zhang Hemei relentlessly pressed me to drink more, her stance resembling a final, decisive battle where one had to triumph or perish.

I veiled my gaze behind the dim lighting, silently assessing Zhang Hemei. She was an inscrutable woman; her body housed both gentleness and wildness, restraint and flamboyance. But this was all surface; I wanted to see her soul.

I chewed over her previous words, trying to decipher what lay hidden beneath what seemed like casual remarks. Was her bluntness innate nature, or calculating manipulation? Was it boldness, or a test?

Her open discussion of her connection with You Qiaolin—was that born of recklessness, or because she knew I suspected them, thus feigning innocence? Yet, this was my only interaction with her, and I hadn't let any clues slip. How could she know my identity?

In sum, my primary task now was to determine if her demeanor was genuine expression or deliberate performance. Once that question was settled, the rest would become clear. I decided to test the waters.

As I made this decision, my emotions churned. I hesitated for a long time, because if my suspicions were true, I might end up hurting this woman, and hurting women was definitely not my specialty.

“Miss He, how did you meet Forensic Doctor You? You know, most girls shy away when they hear the word forensic doctor; after all, they deal with bloody corpses all day long.” My words were direct and carried weight.

Zhao Shiya seemed equally drawn into the topic, staying silent, watching Zhang Hemei with curiosity.

Zhang Hemei was unbothered. “I won’t bother recounting how we met; that’s too cliché and boring. But I am very willing to answer your second question. I have no prejudice against his profession. What’s so terrifying about a corpse? Everyone meets that fate eventually. Are you afraid of yourself, too? Besides, every body he handles is one that died unjustly. Isn’t the work he does—seeking justice for the deceased—something truly sacred?”

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but applaud. “That’s truly moving. I believe Forensic Doctor You would willingly go through fire and water for you upon hearing this. Come, a toast!”

Now that I had decided to take a plunge, I opened up my capacity for alcohol, preparing for a heavy drinking session.

Zhao Shiya laughed from the side, “It seems you two get along very well. Hemei, you’ve gained another police friend.”

But Zhang Hemei clearly looked disappointed upon hearing You Qiaolin's name. She murmured softly to herself, “I’m just a substitute for her. His heart always belongs to someone else.”

I understood a little. Perhaps this was one reason for her heavy drinking, or at least a contributing factor. But this was no time for tender sympathy; I needed to test the truth.

Zhang Hemei’s face was flushed like a peach blossom, appearing even more alluring than before. Her eyes seemed to glance toward me intentionally, or perhaps unintentionally. I feigned a response, then, using the excuse of drunkenness, remarked, “Shuya mentioned that you’ve caused trouble for quite a few people in the past. I imagine Forensic Doctor You is one of them?”

This question carried significant force. If asked between two women, it might not be so provocative, but when a man asks a woman such a thing, it is inherently offensive.

If you were a lady, hearing a man ask that, you could slap him four or five times without hesitation and righteously tell everyone around you, who would likely slap him forty or fifty more times on your behalf.

But if the person you ask is not a lady, but a wanton, casual woman, she might raise her hand too, though the touch would be light and soft, instantly captivating your soul. If you pushed a little further, you might just become ‘one of them.’

I didn't know which category my subject fell into, so after asking, I stared intently at her, covering my own face with one hand.

Zhang Hemei suddenly burst into giggles, then turned to Zhao Shiya, “You wicked woman, how dare you speak ill of me in front of others? Watch me rip your mouth apart!” With that, she lunged forward, pinned Zhao Shiya down, and playfully pinched her mouth.

Sitting beside them, I stared dumbfounded. If I hadn't been sitting there the whole time, I would have thought the two women were sisters.

The two crazy women finally calmed down. Zhao Shiya laughed at me, “Officer Wang, you’re such a troublemaker. After sitting here for just a short while, you’ve dragged me into this mess.” She then turned to Zhang Hemei, giggling, “Now he’s taken a shine to you. Are you going to accept, or not? Give me a straight answer, and I’ll prepare the bridal chamber for you immediately.”

My mouth dropped open in utter astonishment.

Today, this young man has certainly gained experience. From now on, I would never underestimate women; if they started speaking without restraint, ten men stripped bare wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Just then, I felt a hand slide up my back, stopping only at the nape of my neck. My upper body stiffened like a fossil, unable to move for a long moment. To mask this flaw, I quickly improvised, “This must be the legendary Sunflower Acupoint Sealing Hand! I can’t move anymore! Do whatever you want.”

The hand behind me continued to move, and a perfume scent drifted into my nostrils. For the first time, I realized that the sense of smell could also be intoxicating. In the hazy light, Zhang Hemei looked like a bewitching sprite, exuding an intoxicating fragrance from her entire being. I gritted my teeth, constantly admonishing myself to remain calm and hide that composure deep within, ensuring not a sliver of it showed.

Yet, even as I desperately maintained my guard, the defenses on the other side began to crumble: this was indeed a licentious woman. If I moved even slightly now, she would devour me whole, skin and bones. The woman from International Xiyuan was clearly a deception—she had fooled You Qiaolin!

I no longer needed to probe further; my interest abruptly ended. I stood up and said coldly, “I’ve had too much to drink. I must take my leave!”

Zhang Hemei remained spirited, driven by alcohol, like a female beast brimming with desire. I hesitated momentarily, wondering if I should tell You Qiaolin. A woman like this was certainly not worthy of a fine officer like him.

Exiting Lan Guiren, the abundance of sunlight chased away the lingering alcohol fumes, leaving me feeling slightly warm. I looked around the bustling street, wondering how much darkness and sin were hidden within this clamorous city, and in which corner Xiao Xuan was being held captive.

Just then, a taxi pulled up, and a face both strange and familiar appeared before me. “Young man, hop in.”

That sly gaze instantly sobered me up considerably. I stammered, “Y-you, how is it you?”

“The owner of Lan Guiren called me just now, saying you were drunk. I happened to be nearby and had no fare, so I came over,” the taxi driver launched into his usual lengthy explanation, while my mind, carried away by the taxi, began to fully process the doubts of the past hour.

It was merely a coincidence, yet my near-feverish state had turned this sequence of events into a conspiracy. How pitiful and ridiculous. The real culprit was hiding in the shadows, watching me, while I falsely suspected the innocent. Utterly foolish!

As I lay sprawled on the bed, a dog outside began barking incessantly, like it had seen something unclean in the night, howling mournfully and unbearably, preventing any sleep. A strange, paranoid thought began to claw its way out of my already ominous mind.

I had no choice but to open the window to let more light into the room. I found a nearly used-up bar of soap but still couldn't locate the source of that irritating barking.

In my frustration, Gao Jianning called. “Brother Lei, are you alright?”

His tone implied that something bad had happened to me. I snapped back inexplicably, “Mind your own business and take care of yourself!”

“Yes, yes, sir.”

He was rarely so docile. He must think I’m genuinely ill now. I was about to hang up, too annoyed to deal with him, when I suddenly remembered something. I softened my voice and asked, “Any news on Xiao Xuan?”

“We’re checking. We’ll notify you immediately if there is anything.”

“Thanks.”

Silence followed on the other end. He was probably shocked by my single ‘thanks,’ as I never thank him.

The annoying dog started barking wildly again. I swiftly shut the window. The noise subsided slightly, and the light inside the room dimmed. Through the greenish glass, the room took on an eerie quality.

I turned around and suddenly noticed the computer screen was lit up!

A bad omen reappeared!

In that instant, I made the best decision of my life: I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed Gao Jianning.

“Hurry, my computer turned on by itself again! Check it quickly!”

The voice on the other end hesitated, not answering, as if I had dialed the wrong number. But I checked the digits; it was definitely Gao Jianning.

It suddenly struck me that I was now a prime candidate for the Shipanshan Mental Hospital. Everyone would assume that everything I was seeing and hearing now, and in the past, was a hallucination. Who would pay attention to my terror and anxiety?

I thought that perhaps even if the murderer stood before me now, holding the razor blade that slit the throats of three women, and proceeded to recount the entire case—how he slit their arteries, drained their blood, and then carved up their bodies piece by piece—and even if he finished his slow narration, if I repeated it to another colleague, the one arrested wouldn't be the murderer, but me!

I live in this world, yet not a single person believes me.

I suddenly realized I had fallen into a massive conspiracy and trap. I could no longer do anything for the case, which was exactly what the killer intended!

Is everything orchestrated by him?

A fear born of utter weakness instantly enveloped me, like the deep blue sea swallowing a fallen leaf. I felt I could be shattered by the slightest wave at any moment, and my cries for help were drowned out—no one could hear, and even if they did, they would dismiss it as illusion.

Since Gao Jianning wasn't responding to my distress, I had to face the terror alone. I walked toward the computer step by step, my gait faltering due to panic. The distance from the window to the computer was less than five meters, yet it took me nearly three minutes.

The square screen suddenly began to distort unnaturally, twisting into a gaping, foul-smelling maw of blood, the light emanating directly from its fangs.

Finally, my fingers rested on the left side of the mouse, and with a light click, an email opened!

“West River Ten Willows Bend, 21:00 hours. No excuses for lateness!”

Thirteen characters, like thirteen needles piercing my nerves—neither pain nor itch, but an utter inability to find peace.

I didn’t know what it meant, but it contained every possibility I could conceive: good, bad, deadly, auspicious. However, all these answers required me to be at West River Ten Willows Bend, and before 21:00, or I would never know the answer in my lifetime.

West River Ten Willows Bend is located east of Anyang City. It’s called West River because it lies to the west of Willow Bend. Willow Bend has ten bends in total, and Ten Willows Bend is the last one, notorious in the city as a cursed location. It is far from the urban area, with complex terrain and numerous ditches—the perfect spot for murder and body dumping. Over the years, many murder victims have been discovered there.

What did the sender want me to do at that ghost-ridden place at eight in the evening?

My heart clenched abruptly, as if gripped by a hand. Though I tried desperately not to think in that direction, the pain forced me deeper into the horrifying contemplation!

My head felt like it was exploding, but I forcibly reined those thoughts back, stuffing them into their proper places. This surge of agony almost made me faint, but I bit down hard, letting the pain pierce my lip until blood trickled down my chin, forcing all parts of my body back into peak readiness. Because right now, I was the only one who knew this message. If I collapsed, no one would carry out the task.

I dared not think further, only urging the taxi driver to hurry, like a soul eager for reincarnation.

It was about six in the evening. That meant I had only two hours to reach the location, which was nearly a hundred kilometers away. Two hours isn't short normally, but nearly ten kilometers of the journey were within the city limits. This was the peak of rush hour, and traffic was like a patient with blocked arteries, the flow slower than blood. Time was running short, and I hoped I could make it.