Was there something sentient stirring in the church attic, something that would take flight out of the window the moment we arrived, only to watch our every move from the distant horizon, and then, upon our departure, use the most brutal methods to eliminate anyone we had encountered?

I ascended the wooden ladder step by step, drawing closer to the trapdoor, faintly hearing slight movements above. My blood instantly surged, leaving me momentarily dizzy. I quickly urged Xiao Cuo, "Hurry, there seems to be activity up there."

It wasn't that I feared death, but rather that I had never dealt with such entities before; I wouldn't even know how to dodge an attack from it. Under such circumstances, if I were to stubbornly pretend to be in charge, it would simply be a case of courting death.

Hearing my words, Xiao Cuo acted without the slightest hesitation, immediately deploying his extraordinary agility. I saw a blur where he had been, felt something brush past me, and then heard the trapdoor snap open with a pa.

Xiao Cuo’s speed was astonishing; at the very instant the sound registered, my head craned upward, yet I couldn't catch sight of him.

I certainly wouldn't let him face the enemy alone, and I genuinely wished to see something I had anticipated, dreaded, and yet never witnessed for decades. I scrambled up three steps in two, lunging upward. Through the swirling dust, I saw Xiao Cuo grappling with a massive, dark silhouette.

Was this a ghost?

A cold sweat broke out from sheer terror. I quickly pulled out my police-issue pistol and shouted fiercely at the shadow, "Freeze!"

Only after shouting did I realize how ridiculous I sounded. These tools of humanity were utterly useless against aberrations like them—not even worth biting my finger or sprinkling a bit of blood to ward off.

Just as I prepared to bite my finger, Xiao Cuo yelled out, "Brother Lei, don't shoot! That thing isn't a ghost; it’s a giant eagle!"

At his words, I quickly lowered the gun and focused my gaze. What Xiao Cuo was struggling with was an enormous Golden Eagle.

The Golden Eagle is a large bird of prey commonly found in northern regions. Its body length usually reaches one meter, and its wingspan exceeds two meters. Its feathers are typically dark brown, and it primarily inhabits mountainous and hilly areas, feeding on birds and small mammals.

This particular Golden Eagle was at least a meter and a half long, standing as tall as a person. Its two colossal wings, when fully spread, resembled a dark parachute, with the tips spanning nearly three meters. In my momentary panic, only seeing its dark back, I had mistaken it for a ghoul—truly embarrassing.

It is said that an adult Golden Eagle can effortlessly carry off a sheep. Judging by the sheer size of this one, in an open space, Xiao Cuo’s slight frame could easily have been snatched away.

Seeing a second person enter the room, the Golden Eagle knew its claws couldn't contend with four hands. It released Xiao Cuo, flapped its wings once, and whooshed out of the attic window, vanishing into the vast sky in the blink of an eye.

I rushed over and saw that Xiao Cuo was covered in blood marks on his body and neck. His already rumpled police uniform was a sorry sight. It seemed if I had been any later, that eagle might have truly mistaken Xiao Cuo for a lamb and flown off with him.

Looking at the wounded Xiao Cuo, I finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked him, "Are you alright?"

Xiao Cuo gasped for breath, "I'm okay. That fellow was too ferocious. If I hadn't had a few tricks of my own, I would have been done for."

"Eat more often in the future. That way, it couldn't carry you off even if it wanted to," I quipped.

The danger had just passed, and we were already trading jests. But isn't life just like this—either bitter moments leading to sweetness, or sweetness preceding bitterness? A person cannot constantly dwell in the shadow of suffering.

In that moment, I suddenly realized I had finally stepped out of that terrifying shadow, leaving it behind, unable to capture me anymore. I was like a Golden Eagle that had regained its freedom, soaring wantonly across the boundless sky.

However, I quickly adjusted my mood. After all, this was a crime scene, not my idyllic, pastoral retreat.

This Golden Eagle must have taken this place as its city villa. The imprints we saw on the window last time were probably left by it—certainly not a ghost, I thought to myself, but I kept it silent. Since Xiao Cuo specialized in studying these things, saying so would be like slapping his livelihood in the face.

Having processed these details, my mind settled on a judgment: the mysterious case in Wangli Alley wasn't a supernatural killing at all, but a horrifying case of dismemberment—only more thoroughly done than usual.

If that were true, then the bizarre case Old Fatty Yao encountered forty years ago should likewise be a case of dismemberment. Could the murderer from that time have found a successor, or was someone merely imitating the past modus operandi?

If that were the case, that person must have originated from the southern town where Old Fatty Yao was once stationed!

Through a brief yet rigorous line of deduction, I rapidly narrowed the suspects in the ‘Grim Reaper’ murders down to a precise point. From this specific point, we could launch a city-wide investigation, dramatically increasing the clearance rate.

But if this was truly man-made, why did the priest have to die?

We came to the church suspecting the case was the eerie 'Grim Reaper' killing. So why didn't the killer let us continue down the wrong path? Why reveal himself and kill the priest using ordinary, brutal methods?

Was he afraid we were chasing the wrong lead, deliberately pointing us in the right direction, just to play a game of cat and mouse?

The thought of a game made my body suddenly stiffen, as I recalled the twisted game enthusiast who had lured me to Shiliu Bay. In that insane game, I was the sole participant, and the wager was Xiao Xuan’s life.

Though Xiao Xuan was gone now, the memory of those outrageous, perverse actions still sent shivers down my spine.

According to the current conclusion, You Qiaolin was the one who killed Xiao Xuan. Therefore, the person who forced me into the game should be You Qiaolin. Yet, all I saw in You Qiaolin was cruelty and meticulous methods of murder. Games were not his preferred style; he likely favored researching how to divide a body more finely, how to wield a knife faster, or how to torment the woman he desired more intensely, absolutely not gaining pleasure from rampaging against the innocent.

I stood on the attic windowsill, looking into the distance, then slowly closed my eyes:

If the person who killed Xiao Xuan wasn't You Qiaolin, then this person must have known both me and Xiao Xuan intimately, because only then could they manipulate us so easily. But I truly couldn't think of anyone who knew both me and Xiao Xuan well. Aside from our colleagues at the Special Investigation Office, Xiao Xuan and I had no mutual friends, let alone close confidants, so this possibility could be entirely ruled out, unless it truly was You Qiaolin.

Given You Qiaolin’s unique position, he knew the entire progression of the case. He wouldn't need intimate knowledge of Xiao Xuan and me; he would only need to refine certain elements during the case development to orchestrate the desired games. Take Shiliu Bay, for instance: he knew about Xiao Xuan’s disappearance, knew I had experienced a 'hallucination' in an email, and knew I was already forced onto leave. Thus, it would be easy for him to lure me into the game without arousing suspicion.

Could the game master really be You Qiaolin? Was he the one who murdered Xiao Xuan?

My mind was a haze, where right and wrong mixed like egg yolk and albumen, stirred into an inseparable whole.

"Brother Lei, Brother Lei, what are you thinking about?"

Xiao Cuo's voice shattered my concentration. I turned to him and sighed.

"Don't be like that. You just got over it two days ago."

"Get lost. What do you think is wrong with me now? Let me tell you, the 'Grim Reaper' case in Wangli Alley might not be supernatural killing at all—the human element is highly likely."

It slipped out, but I immediately negated it. The murderer wouldn't point us in the right direction; he'd prefer us to stay lost forever. That was an unbending rule, unless he was tired of living and wanted to die himself, but there were no current indications of that.

Xiao Cuo simply shrugged, unconcerned, "Isn't that better? That way we can bring the killer to justice."

"Sigh, my head is spinning right now. Let's just leave this place."

On the way down, the priest's body had already been loaded onto a police car for further autopsy at the forensic office. I told Xiao Cuo to drive while I leaned back, sitting quietly, watching the scenery speed by, meticulously sorting out what needed sorting.

After repeating the process several times, I finally realized the critical point still revolved around You Qiaolin. Nothing would be answered until I saw him.

I pulled out my mobile phone and called Elder Jiang.

"Elder Jiang, what about that application I submitted last time?"

"That guy hasn't recovered yet. If you want to see him now, you can, but it won't be for long."

I paused. The application process was complicated enough. If this visit only lasted ten minutes, it wouldn't be very meaningful. So I asked, "How many more days?"

"Wang Lei, I know you still have many doubts. There are things we don't fully understand, so to let you completely put your burden down, I'm currently applying for a formal interrogation warrant. Say he's connected to the current case, and then you can question him repeatedly. But I must warn you beforehand: he is currently a prisoner on death row. Until his execution, his right to life is protected. You must not harm him, understood?"

Hearing Elder Jiang’s words, I immediately shouted back, "Yes, mission guaranteed!"

Xiao Cuo, driving ahead, was startled by my outburst, then commented, "Brother Lei, why are you suddenly sounding just like Squad Leader Zhang?"

"Go to hell, aren't you the same? You look the same too," I retorted.

My spirits immediately lifted. The thought of seeing You Qiaolin in a few days made my hands tremble involuntarily.

No, I must prepare properly. I must use every means, every cost, to extract what I need from his mouth. But how do you make a death row inmate talk, especially one who is cold-blooded, ruthless, and determined to stay silent?

Thinking of this, I knew the road ahead was fraught with difficulty. If I didn't prepare well, even meeting You Qiaolin would be fruitless.

I must win this battle, I kept cheering myself on internally. But then, the image of that mirror-bright, cold lens pierced my heart like a knife, leaving me uneasy and tense.

I found it strange that I would feel this way. You Qiaolin was nothing more than a fierce beast locked in an iron cage; his teeth and claws were secured, unable to harm anyone further. Yet, I was still afraid. Why?

Was I afraid because I thought of his horrifying murder methods? But he could never kill again, except perhaps himself.

His life was nearing its end; why should I fear a man destined to die?

My self-analysis was like You Qiaolin's scalpel, mercilessly dissecting me piece by piece:

I wasn't afraid of him, I was afraid of death—not only my own death but the death of others!

I feared the scalpel slicing through human flesh, and I feared the bullet whistling into a body. Yet, I was a detective; I had seen too much life and death. I shouldn't be afraid.

Suddenly, I realized it: I was afraid because seeing him reminded me of Xiao Xuan's head...

My vision suddenly blurred. In that dim realm of gray death and dark sin, an icy wind howled ceaselessly. All around were skeletons, invisible orifices, and countless ghosts rising and falling. Then, a blood-soaked head rose from among the corpses. It hung in the air, grinning menacingly at me, laughing until my back felt like rotten wood, ready to collapse at a breath.

I instinctively backed away, but the ugly head refused to let go, closing the distance step by step. Suddenly, it chuckled coldly, "Are you afraid of your own true appearance?"

I was horrified, then enlightened, and stopped retreating.

The ugly head suddenly cracked a smile, and red flesh rapidly grew over the brittle bones, instantly covering the entire head. As I stared at this gruesome, bloody head, it transformed as if by magic, revealing a face—and this face was Xiao Xuan's, the one I yearned for in my dreams!

I was stunned, standing motionless.

I knew this was an illusion; I wouldn't be fooled again. So, I became as still as the surrounding dead, silently observing it.

'Xiao Xuan' opened her eyes, and the subtle movement of her gaze nearly sent my heart racing wildly again.

"Senior Brother, we'll meet in the next life!"

As soon as the words faded, the 'Xiao Xuan' vanished instantly, reverting to the ugly head.

Tears streamed down my face in a sudden rush. I knelt among the fields of corpses, weeping uncontrollably.

"Brother Lei, Brother Lei..."

Xiao Cuo's anxious calls startled me awake. When I opened my eyes, my face was wet with tears.

"What's wrong?" Apparently, he had noticed my distress in the rearview mirror.

"Nothing, just thinking about Xiao Xuan."

This time I didn't hide it, because there was no need to hide it. I wasn't afraid of showing my wounds, because everyone gets hurt.

"Brother Lei, the dead cannot be brought back. Try to look on the bright side," Xiao Cuo said while steadily driving.

"I know, thank you."

"Hey, don't thank me. If you want to thank me, treat me to a meal," Xiao Cuo said with a mischievous grin.

I knew Xiao Cuo's family background wasn't great, and he was currently supporting his sister's tuition and living expenses, which is why he was always the first to 'bum' a meal. But none of us ever minded; instead, we 'invited' him to freeload whenever we had the chance.

"Alright, tonight I'm treating, but just you, don't call that kid Gao Jianning over," I concluded, proving myself to be a stingy man—a sympathetic stingy man, that is.

"He’s busy these days. Who knows what he'll be up to after work."

"Oh? When did you become omniscient?"

"Hehe, isn't that common knowledge now? That 'Leg-Shaking' kid from Criminal Investigation Team Four runs over to the Special Investigation Office whenever he has free time, and he waits outside the police station every day after work. Given this tense situation, does Gao Jianning really have time to eat with us?"

"That’s true, but we still need to pressure that guy a bit."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Think about it yourself."

Back at the station, as soon as we entered the office, Gao Jianning said, "Brother Lei, you two are back just in time. Squad Leader Zhang just notified us of a meeting. Don't go far."

I collapsed into my seat lazily, "I’ve been tired all day. Even if I wanted to leave, I wouldn't."

Xiao Cuo winked at Gao Jianning, clearly asking if Wang Xuyang had visited. Gao Jianning gritted his teeth and glared outside the door.

"Hey, beautiful, I’m here to see you again."

Speak of the devil. He arrived right on time.

Feng Siyan looked up and nodded at Wang Xuyang, a slight, unreadable smile on her face.

Seeing Gao Jianning looking angry but silenced, I sighed and barked at Wang Xuyang, "I see you have nothing better to do all day. Looks like I need to file a small report about you."

Unexpectedly, Wang Xuyang was no longer swayed by that. He chuckled, "Squad Leader Hong will be here any minute. That little report won't be filed today."

Only then did I realize that the small meeting convened by Zhang Jiewei included not only members of the Special Investigation Office but also the Criminal Investigation Team Four.

Zhang Jiewei truly possessed significant nerve to summon the infamous Criminal Investigation Team Four to the Special Investigation Office for a meeting. This would have been unimaginable before—at least, I would never have done it. I felt like I wouldn't miss seeing Hong Yang’s face for another generation, and conversely, seeing it made me want to vomit for three days straight.

Of course, Zhang Jiewei had the authority to call the meeting because the Bureau had explicitly instructed Team Four to cooperate with us on the case. Furthermore, with three consecutive murders occurring, such a meeting was necessary.

Soon, most people had arrived. The Special Investigation Office bustled with an unprecedented number of people, though the atmosphere was far from harmonious. But that didn't matter; with Zhang Jiewei’s stone face set at the front, we didn't need to worry about anything.

Hong Yang’s expression was grim. If I had to describe it, I could only use one phrase: like he had attended his own father's funeral.