My intellect felt rather pallid and weak, standing before this monstrous entity that seemed both crude and overwhelmingly powerful, questioning him: "They must have screamed before they died. You're lying!" But You Qiaolin merely returned with ease, "They certainly screamed, and their cries were so utterly tragic, so heart-wrenching they could bring a man like you to tears, but that is precisely the sound I favor most. So, I collected every last one of those sounds into a black box, preventing anyone else from hearing them." The lies flowed from him, so numerous I could never count them all.

Yet, I was utterly powerless, forced to watch him grin at me with smug satisfaction, a smile that stripped me of all defense and armor. And yet, such a vicious and cunning brute was utterly duped by a woman. I still don't know the reason behind Zhang Hemei telling me about You Qiaolin, but one thing is certain: this woman knows far more than we ever imagined.

Suddenly, Zhang Hemei flashed in my mind, offering me a chilling smile: "Have you remembered where that woman's head is hidden?" A sharp pain pierced my heart. Xiao Xuan’s headless corpse instantly materialized before my eyes. Her head?

Could it be that the 'woman's head' Zhang Hemei mentioned wasn't You Qiaolin's wife’s, but Xiao Xuan’s? But Xiao Xuan might not have been dead then. How could she know You Qiaolin had hidden her head?

The morning sun was wonderfully pleasant; even I, feeling so disheartened, could sense a touch of warmth. While everyone bustled about preparing for the day's work, I remained, a long cigarette clamped between my fingers, eyes slightly narrowed, watching time slowly tick away. Meanwhile, Zhang Jiewei was presiding over the Special Operations Office morning meeting.

He sat in the foremost chair, his expression grave, and said, "I presume everyone is aware of yesterday's case. It might be one unlike any we’ve ever faced, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared. Now, Bao Qiang, please give us the introduction." It was a rare moment for Xiao Cuo to be in the spotlight, so he tried hard to appear professional.

He began, "The homicide yesterday at 703, 215 Wang Li Alley, Changqing Road, can be termed the 'Grotesque Murder Case,' because the perpetrator might not be any type of person we’ve encountered before—or perhaps, not a person at all." Zhang Jiewei gave a low affirmation, and Xiao Cuo immediately stopped. Zhang Jiewei continued slowly, "It is sufficient that everyone understands what Bao Qiang means, but absolutely no word of this is to leak to the outside. Personally, I believe we cannot jump to conclusions before this matter is fully investigated.

It is possible the killer deliberately manufactured various illusions to mislead our focus. But whatever the culprit is, it is merely a tool; the one truly manipulating it is human. Once we find that person, the case will be solved." I suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Solved?

Don't end up sacrificing all our lives in the process!" The atmosphere in the room instantly turned frigid. Zhang Jiewei’s face was cold, devoid of expression. Gao Jianning quickly interjected, "Team Leader Zhang, Brother Lei means for everyone to be cautious.

That thing is not ordinary; extra care is warranted." Zhang Jiewei regulated his breathing, not looking at me, and continued, "Naturally, we must pay attention to the case's peculiar nature, so everyone must maintain a high degree of vigilance and readiness during this period." "You can be wary of people, but how do you guard against something that isn't human?" My voice cut through the air like a knife, aimed directly at Zhang Jiewei. "What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhang Jiewei kept his head down, refusing to meet my gaze. "Hmph, I don't object to seeking praise, but gambling with the lives of our brothers—that is not something a human should do." Zhang Jiewei shot up from his seat, but I felt no fear.

I had already made up my mind: I would stop them from investigating this case. The reason was simple: I had lost Xiao Xuan, and I couldn't bear to lose anyone else I knew. Furthermore, since this kind of case was likely to yield no clear results, the superiors wouldn't blame us, so there was no need to risk our necks.

Gao Jianning and the others were terrified, urgently pleading with me, "Brother Lei, say less. This isn't as dangerous as you think." I suddenly pointed at Xiao Cuo: "You speak. Tell everyone clearly what we are facing!" Cornered, Xiao Cuo had no choice but to say, "According to my research, this thing is an extremely ferocious and bizarre entity, known in folk legends as the 'Evil God.' It only began appearing in China after Western missionaries brought it in during the late Qing Dynasty, so it could also be called the Grim Reaper." The office fell silent, as if the 'Grim Reaper' had already arrived.

No one spoke a word. Zhang Jiewei also remained silent, but his eyes were fixed squarely on me, wishing he could bore two holes through my body with his gaze alone. Finally, he broke the silence: "Comrades, the moment we put on these uniforms, it means we have dedicated our lives and youth to the nation and the people.

When the lives of the people are threatened, we must step forward without hesitation. No matter what the entity is, whether living or dead, it cannot shake our faith!" I had to admit, Zhang Jiewei indeed possessed ability. A few quick sentences managed to dispel the fear gripping everyone.

The fiery passion flashed again across Gao Jianning’s computer-like face. But I wasn't buying it. My faith had already departed with Xiao Xuan’s passing.

Now, I was merely an empty shell—and a shell trying to cling precariously to life at that. I leaned back lazily in my chair, saying acidly, "Having faith is your business. If you have the guts, go handle this case alone.

Don't drag the brothers along as cannon fodder." As soon as my words fell, Zhang Jiewei, seated two chairs away from me, suddenly materialized directly in front of me. Then, to my stunned surprise, he landed a heavy punch squarely on my head. His movement was too fast, and I simply hadn't expected a disciplined, outstanding policeman like him to commit such a breach of conduct.

Because of this, after being hit, I just stood there like an idiot, unable to even register the pain. Gao Jianning and Xiao Cuo were even more astonished than I was; after the event, they all sat frozen, perhaps doubting their own eyes. Zhang Jiewei pinned me against the chair with one hand, breathing heavily, and spat out, "This punch is for throwing your cigarette butt into my teacup yesterday." Before the words finished, another punch landed.

Then, "This one is for being an hour late on Monday." And a third followed: "This one is for not wearing your uniform to work last Friday." The rapid succession of pain finally convinced me that this fellow Zhang Jiewei was using my face as a punching bag. I struggled, grabbed his hand, twisted hard outwards, pushed him away, and sprang to my feet. Yet, there was no anger in my heart.

How could an empty shell possess joy or sorrow? I covered my face and suddenly burst into a hearty, almost gleeful laugh, which stopped Gao Jianning and the others who had started to move forward. They stared at me in bewildered fashion, as if looking at a millennium-old demon.

Zhang Jiewei’s face remained hard as stone, showing no reaction. "Well done. I hope you fare better against the 'Grim Reaper' than you did against me," I tossed out this remark before turning and leaving the office.

I had initially intended to find some ointment, but after taking only two steps, Zhang Jiewei called out from behind me: "Wang Lei, the training ground." It seemed this guy had developed a taste for hitting me. He wasn't satisfied with merely hitting me a few times without cause; now he wanted to take me to the training ground to beat me up properly and legitimately. But I couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him and continued walking straight ahead.

"Don't think you're so pitiable. You are a damned fool. You knew Xiao Xuan was in danger, but what did you ever do?" Zhang Jiewei's words pierced my heart like daggers.

My heart, which shouldn't have felt anything, was wounded again. I slowly turned around, staring fixedly at him, and articulated every word: "Say that again, if you have the guts!" Zhang Jiewei’s face was grim: "It's a shame Xiao Xuan misjudged you. You don't deserve her." Without another word, I spun around and headed toward the training ground.

Zhang Jiewei followed behind me silently, occasionally the sound of his wrist joints clicking could be heard. It seemed this guy had wanted to fight me for more than a day or two, but he certainly hadn't expected that I was just as desperate. On the training ground, the sorrow accumulated over many days finally erupted.

I attacked Zhang Jiewei in wave after wave, like a rabid wolf. But this guy was truly something; his combat skill was high. While not matching Lord Jiang, he was definitely stronger than me.

If not for my courage born of desperation, I would have been defeated by him long ago. With a heavy boom, Zhang Jiewei's right fist struck my cheek violently, knocking me down onto the soft mat. "Get up, you spineless wretch!" Zhang Jiewei gasped, speaking through gritted teeth.

I scrambled back up quickly, but my strength was already depleted from the previous frantic assault, and I was soon knocked back to the ground. "Xiao Xuan died because of you! You’re a damn bastard!" Lying on the ground, tears streamed silently down my face.

Yes, Xiao Xuan died because of me. If I hadn't approached the truth of the matter, if I had accompanied Xiao Xuan to work that morning, none of this would have happened. "What are you crying for?

Are you even a man? How could Xiao Xuan ever fall for a weakling like you!" Zhang Jiewei’s words were as merciless as his face, continuing to whip my soul. "Do you think crying now will let Xiao Xuan rest in peace, or that sinking into apathy will earn her forgiveness?

I'm telling you, you are wrong! Xiao Xuan was murdered by criminals. If you want her forgiveness, you should work hard and bring every criminal to justice.

That is the only path." I suddenly lifted my head and declared, "I don't believe You Qiaolin killed Xiao Xuan." Zhang Jiewei froze, clearly surprised by my sudden statement. But his mind was as quick as his actions: "I can help you, but you have to agree to one condition." "What condition?" "Become the person you used to be." Looking at Zhang Jiewei's irritatingly stone-like face, for some reason, a sliver of emotion touched my heart. It wasn't gratitude for him physically shaking me awake, but for the fact that he could bury his love for Xiao Xuan deep inside and express it only through silent action, even after her death.

And what about me? I truly felt unworthy of Xiao Xuan. Perhaps in another life, I would choose to let her go.

But I wouldn't tell him any of this. I silently got up from the floor, straightened my police uniform, readjusted my slightly crooked badge, and then turned to leave. That afternoon, I began investigating the deceased’s personal connections.

Zhang Jiewei’s words that morning had merit: even if a 'Grim Reaper' truly existed, there had to be a human element involved, because the 'Grim Reaper' was an intangible thing; it couldn't actively kill people. Otherwise, humanity would likely have gone extinct long ago. The deceased was Ji Chenglin, male, forty-three years old, owner of a private enterprise.

His social circle was complex, but he had no vices, at least according to his family. His relatives also stated that Ji Chenglin showed no unusual behavior before his murder, though they heard someone had asked him for money, which Ji Chenglin refused. Ji Chenglin's wife mentioned the borrower was named Liu Songlin, not a local, and had no regular dealings with Ji Chenglin; she hadn't seen this person for several years.

According to Gao Jianning's database search, there was an out-of-towner named Liu Songlin registered at the Mingzhu Hotel in Anyin City, likely the person who borrowed money from Ji Chenglin. So, I drove there. The Mingzhu Hotel was an ordinary establishment, though its location was decent, situated in the city center, albeit down a back street.

When I arrived, I saw two rows of tall funeral wreaths placed in front of the hotel. Judging by the flowers' color, they had been there for over ten days—it was a newly opened hotel. I went to the front desk, presented my credentials, and stated my purpose.

The clerk checked the computer and informed me that Liu Songlin was staying in room 715. I had the clerk call up to confirm the man was in his room before taking the elevator. When I knocked and the door opened, a skinny man with a monkey-like appearance looked at me with suspicious eyes and asked, "Who are you looking for?" "Are you Liu Songlin?" "Yes.

Who are you? I don't know you." I flashed my badge and said, "I'm from the Municipal Bureau. I need to ask you a few things." The skinny man kept the door half-closed and said, "Let me see your credentials again." I handed him the identification.

He scrutinized it several times before his face broke into a smile: "Heh heh, my apologies, Officer. The world is a tricky place these days; I have to be cautious. Please, come in, come in!" It seemed this man was an old hand at navigating things, so I saw no need to beat around the bush.

I asked directly, "Do you know Ji Chenglin?" Liu Songlin nodded. "Yes, I saw him just a few days ago. What, did something happen to him?" I avoided his question and instead asked, "I heard you borrowed money from him.

Is that true?" Liu Songlin's expression suddenly grew agitated, a flush rising on his once extremely gaunt face. "What? He reported me to the police over such a small matter?

That man is too unkind! After all the care I showed him back then." I kept my voice level and followed his lead: "You took care of him back then?" "Yes. Back in the prison, he was often bullied.

If I hadn't looked out for him—just because both our names have 'Lin' in them—he might have lost limbs long ago. How could he be where he is today?" My heart secretly recoiled. So, there was a history to this.

It seemed Ji Chenglin's death was far more complex than it appeared. "Officer, I've turned over a new leaf now; I'm clean, never done anything wrong, otherwise I wouldn't be asking him for money. As for the loan, it was a promise he made back then: if he ever struck it rich, I could ask him if I needed money.

But look at him, the jerk actually reported me to you! What an ungrateful bastard. If I’d known he was such a disloyal person back then, I’d have just left him to his fate." Liu Songlin's emotions were running high; he didn't seem to be lying.

"How much did you ask him for?" "One hundred thousand. That's not a lot, is it? With his current wealth, he must have at least five or six million.

Ten thousand is nothing. Surely he wasn't accusing me of extortion?" A hint of apprehension flickered in Liu Songlin’s eyes—a common look for men who have done time. "He's dead!" I suddenly dropped the bombshell and stared intently at him.

"Ah!" Liu Songlin’s expression was one of utter shock. "Dead? How did he die?

Don't tell me you suspect me? Officer, I might cheat people out of money or charm women, but I don't have the guts to kill someone." I glanced at his skinny, monkey-like appearance and scoffed inwardly at the idea of him charming anyone. "Please don't look at me like that; it makes a person nervous." After a brief moment of surprise, Liu Songlin quickly regained his composure, his tone becoming more relaxed, though I couldn't tell if this calm was genuine or feigned.

This guy had been to prison; he certainly wasn't a good person. Looking at his current demeanor, he wasn't engaged in anything legitimate either; he was likely operating in the grey areas, even if not strictly illegal. This wasn't prejudice on my part, but experience from seeing too many repeat offenders who never reformed.

If one mistake is a wrong turn, then making the same mistake two or three times means one intends to keep going wrong forever. "I'm only here to gather some information. Tell me everything you know." I propped my leg up and pulled out my notepad.

Liu Songlin looked at the notepad with an expression as if seeing an old friend. I remarked, "What, reminiscing about those memorable old days?" Liu Songlin quickly laughed, "What are you saying, Officer? I’m a straight man now.

Besides, what’s there to reminisce about those miserable prison days? Ask me whatever you want to know, and I promise I'll tell you everything without holding back." "Start by telling me about those times. What were you and he charged with?

A brief rundown of your experiences inside, and who you associated closely with, especially anyone you still keep in contact with." The monkey's face shifted into a look of recollection, and then he slowly began, "Back then, I was in for fraud. Truthfully, I was wronged. An old lady willingly gave me money for a business venture, but her children were unfilial and insisted I return it.

Since I truly had no money to return at the time, I was sued..." So, the scamming of money and women he mentioned earlier was this situation. I smiled coldly inside and cut him off: "Skip the useless fluff. Are you trying to appeal your old case?

Stick to the important details!"