Zhang Hemei surprisingly offered no objection. She stood up, walking as she spoke, "I don't want to stay here either; it's too gloomy."

I let out a cold chuckle internally. "Keep up the act. We’ll see how long you can keep it up once I find your accomplice."

Just in case, I positioned the blade of the shovel across my chest, covering my heart, and then strode quickly into the woods. I heard Zhang Hemei calling from behind, "Don't walk so fast, wait for me!"

Entering the thicket, I became like a beast with a keen sense of smell, immediately scanning the area for the fellow lurking in the shadows and spying on me. The woods were choked with dense vines, like an inescapable spider’s web. Wielding the shovel, I relentlessly hacked down the trailing vines ahead, carving a path forward.

Zhang Hemei followed closely behind me, terrified I might abandon her, but I knew it was all a performance. If I hadn’t made that phone call, she would have undoubtedly brought a club down on my head from behind and then drawn a woman’s nail file to delicately sever my trachea.

“Since this woman has killed so many people alongside You Qiaolin,” I mused silently, “her knife skills must be decent, at least enough to recognize the carotid artery.”

I circled aimlessly for a long time but found nothing, save for some bizarre-looking birds and small, black, furry creatures scuttling through the decaying leaf litter.

My entire body was soaked, and my strength was gradually ebbing. If I continued this frantic hacking, I’d surely collapse from exhaustion. I leaned against a massive tree to catch my breath. Zhang Hemei soon trailed up behind me, feigning exasperation, "Are you trying to leave me out here alone?"

I offered a deceitful smile. "Someone has to stay, which is exactly what you’ve been hoping for."

Zhang Hemei’s delicate eyebrows shot up. "Nonsense! What are you talking about? If anyone stays, it’ll be you. I am certainly not staying."

By this point, Zhang Hemei was also thoroughly exhausted. Sweat traced a path down her fair neck and disappeared beneath her clothing. Her already prominent chest rose and fell with her labored breathing, and coupled with her alluring face, it was enough to dry out any man’s mouth. I thought that what Kang Youjia must have seen in the model company’s underground warehouse was probably even more ** than this, leading him to meet his end so muddled and confused.

A cool mountain breeze swept through, clearing my mind somewhat. I wiped the sweat from my eyes, and my vision sharpened instantly. Through the flickering leaves, I caught the briefest glimpse of a human silhouette flashing by.

I sprang up immediately, chasing after the figure with the shovel raised, never considering that even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone that this person might possess a firearm capable of delivering a fatal blow!

Was this reckless pursuit, this utter disregard for my own life, merely to prove that Zhang Hemei wanted me dead, to prove she was You Qiaolin’s accomplice? I suspected not. The reason I acted this way was to validate myself—to prove I was not mistaken, that I was a clear-headed detective who missed nothing, that no criminal could escape my grasp!

I chased onward relentlessly, completely deaf to Zhang Hemei’s calls from behind. Branches whipped against my face, yet I felt nothing. I simply kept lifting my knee and bringing it down, lifting and bringing it down… At that moment, even if the entrance to hell lay directly ahead, I would have pursued without hesitation.

Ah!

A terrifying, shuddering shriek ripped through the forest, a sound like a sharp blade slicing through layers of obstruction to lodge directly in my ear.

I stopped abruptly, momentarily stunned, unsure of what had happened. The sound had come from behind me, and only Zhang Hemei was behind me. What was she screaming about?

Was it to stop me from chasing further?

But the sound I’d heard carried an extreme terror—the kind of sound a person makes when encountering something far exceeding their psychological limits, so much so that it hardly sounded like Zhang Hemei at all.

Ah!

The scream echoed again. I spun around and raced toward the source, swinging the shovel up and down like a cutting machine.

But then, silence. The entire wood was still, devoid of any sound. I lost my bearings, looking around wildly, having no idea where Zhang Hemei was.

"Zhang Hemei, Zhang Hemei!"

The sound traveled through the woods only to be swallowed by the dense branches and leaves, returning no echo.

My heart gave a sudden lurch: Could the killer’s target have been Zhang Hemei?

Yet, I couldn't fathom a reason why she would be hunted. It couldn't be that her ‘secret lover’ had discovered her affair with You Qiaolin and sent someone to assassinate her, could it?

If that wasn't the case, why had she gone silent?

I knew that if I failed to find her today, she would remain in this place forever, until she was nothing but a pile of dry bones.

Regardless of her connection to You Qiaolin now, I had to find her first.

I weaved through the labyrinthine thicket, shouting Zhang Hemei’s name, but received no reply. The sky was slowly darkening, making the already dim woods feel even more oppressive and heart-pounding.

Suddenly, I spotted a patch of pale yellow amidst the thick layer of fallen leaves and rushed forward. Clearing the debris, I found the shoe that Zhang Hemei had been wearing.

I immediately began a systematic, grid-search of the surroundings, leaving no corner or tree trunk unchecked. Finally, I found her beneath a large oak.

I kept most of my body concealed behind the tree and whispered her name, but she showed no reaction. I surveyed the area carefully; seeing nothing amiss, I stepped out from behind the trunk and slowly approached her, tightening my grip on the shovel. I still couldn't be certain what kind of person she was, or whether she was involved in You Qiaolin’s string of murders, so I couldn't rule out that she was feigning unconsciousness, perhaps plotting another, more insidious way to deal with me.

As I neared Zhang Hemei, I nudged her body with the tip of the shovel. She felt soft and limp, completely unresponsive. I bent down, reaching out to turn her face toward me, when I suddenly noticed a shadow in my peripheral vision.

Because I had been hiding behind the tree, this person was perfectly positioned in my blind spot, unseen until I exposed myself by stepping out.

I moved with lightning speed, shielding myself with the shovel, and barked coldly, "Who’s there?"

An eerie gust of wind blew through, and the figure suddenly moved. I turned my head and saw only a back. The dim forest light made the silhouette slightly indistinct, but the height was definitely short—like a child. Images from horror films featuring figures like Sadako flashed through my mind, and things I didn't believe in began to prickle my skin in this spectral environment.

Holding the shovel, I slowly stood upright, only to realize the figure hadn't moved at all; the wind had merely billowed its clothing.

I walked toward it step by step. If it truly were a ghost infant, I wouldn't hesitate to cleave it with the shovel.

"Who are you?"

I heard my own voice trembling, thick with palpable fear.

Then I noticed that what the 'ghost infant' wore was not clothing, but a plastic-like sheet bearing a pattern that seemed vaguely familiar, though the darkness made accurate identification impossible.

The distance closed, and my heartbeat quickened.

Suddenly, a violent mountain gust blew through. The 'ghost infant' let out a sharp shriek and lunged toward me.

Clang! My shovel finally struck out at the last second, connecting squarely with the 'ghost infant’s' shoulder. There was a brittle crack, like bone snapping, followed by a round head tumbling down.

Beneath the plastic covering was nothing but animal bones, propped up by a bamboo stick. The strong wind had knocked the stick over, causing the skeleton structure to fall toward me.

I cursed loudly and turned back toward Zhang Hemei. The mountain wind rose again, catching the plastic sheet and lifting it into the air. I froze.

Catching the ambient light from the sky, I clearly saw the pattern on the plastic: it was undeniably a police uniform!

Suddenly, my heart felt struck by lightning; my entire body began to tremble, the shaking growing more violent until my hand could no longer grip the shovel, which fell to the ground with a clang.

A wild cry escaped me, and I began scrambling through the dead leaves and rotting wood like a madman, searching for the head I had just severed.

When I finally recovered it from the detritus, it lay there silently, coated in some pieces of undecomposed black matter that emitted a noxious stench.

My tears burst forth like a torrential downpour, splashing onto the skull and washing away the grime.

In that moment, my heart flowed out with the tears, never to return.

I took off my outer jacket and carefully wrapped the object within. For nearly ten minutes, I couldn't hold it steady with both hands.

After returning from Willow Island, I fell seriously ill and remained in the hospital for over a week. Doctors couldn't diagnose what was wrong, but my vital signs remained at their lowest levels, and my consciousness was clouded; I didn't recognize Xiao Cuo or Gao Jianning.

It wasn't until a week later that my condition showed slight improvement, allowing me to get out of bed and walk around. But I couldn't allow myself to think about what happened that day. Even though I knew the memory existed, I simply couldn't recall a single detail—not even a falling leaf.

I desperately wished I could forget everything, but I couldn't.

During this time, everyone who knew me—friends and casual colleagues alike—came to visit. But the one person I desperately wanted to see never came: Chen Yujia.

I wanted to thank him properly; without him, I could never have done what I did.

Though the experience left me utterly broken, I harbored no resentment. If I were given the chance to do it again, I would unhesitatingly repeat the action, then slip into unconsciousness, or even pay with my life.

On this day, Xiao Cuo had just left, and I was preparing to lie down when the door pushed open. I nodded deeply to the newcomer and said, "Yujia, meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life!"

Chen Yujia had finally arrived. He looked apologetic. "There were several patients in urgent need of treatment these past few days, so I could only come today. I hope you don't mind."

I smiled faintly, my voice weak. "Even if you never came, I would be grateful to you for life."

"Don't put it so dramatically. I was merely fulfilling a friend’s duty."

Hearing that warmed my heart. In this world, what could be luckier than having a friend like him?

Two weeks later, I returned to the police station, and life resumed its normal course. I could finally step out from the shadows of the past and live normally under the sun and rain.

On my first day back at work, Elder Jiang was waiting for me in his office. First, he offered his welcome, followed by commendation. Finding the scattered remains of Xiao Xuan near You Qiaolin's cabin had brought the You Qiaolin case to a definitive close.

What surprised me even more was that Zhang Jiewei voluntarily requested to step down as team leader, asking me to resume the position.

At first, I thought I must have misheard. Wasn't Zhang Jiewei someone who worshipped power as if it were his own father? How could he do something so sensible?

Zhang Jiewei’s face was set. "I have no choice. You found the victim's body in the rental building case, and you've scored successive major successes in the You Qiaolin case. If I didn't step down voluntarily, I wouldn't be able to convince myself."

I chuckled. "So you're afraid my achievements will overshadow yours? You've come to your senses. But you should keep the team leader role; I truly have no interest."

Wang Xuyang seized the opportunity to chime in, "Team Leader Zhang, it’s better to accept the kind offer. Brother Lei is an almost divine figure; he wouldn't care about such a minor position. Please don't force him."

I knew this kid was worried I’d target him if I became the leader, so I smiled coldly at him. "Hearing you say that, I might just change my mind."

Wang Xuyang quickly slapped his own cheeks. "I misspoke, Brother Lei, please don't be angry."

Xiao Cuo suddenly piped up, "Brother Lei is magnanimous; why bother arguing with him? Though, changing his mind is possible."

Gao Jianning quickly fanned the flames, sighing dramatically, "Alas, when the people demand it, some things cannot be controlled by individual will."

The only one silent was Feng Siyan, sitting there as cool and aloof as ever. Seeing himself isolated, Wang Xuyang turned to her. "What you all say doesn't count. The beauty holds the most power to speak, don't you agree, Gao Jianning?"

Huh? This punk actually had some maneuvering skills, shutting Gao Jianning down with one move. It seemed I’d have to step in to keep things under control.

Just then, Elder Jiang snorted coldly from the side, and everyone immediately noticed his presence, falling silent.

"The matter is settled. Wang Lei will resume the position of team leader of the Special Investigations Office."

It then occurred to me that Zhang Jiewei always reported decisions upward before notifying subordinates. The verdict was final, and I was once again slated to work like a beast of burden.

With the final word spoken, there was a bang as Elder Jiang slammed the door shut, as if the door owed him money.

The office immediately erupted in lively chaos. Because Xiao Cuo and the others knew my temperament, they began rushing around the office like a brood of large crabs, speaking and acting without restraint.

Zhang Jiewei showed no expression, but I knew he must have felt a degree of dejection. So I spoke to him privately. "We are brothers now. Keep doing things as you were. If you have an opinion, voice it directly, just like before."

Zhang Jiewei looked at me, then suddenly said, "Thank you!" With that, he retreated into the smaller office to pack his things.

I stood there, momentarily puzzled by what his thanks were for. Perhaps there were many things, but the matter of Xiao Xuan was undoubtedly the most significant.

I turned back and saw Wang Xuyang looking at me guiltily. I shot him a sinister smile, a grin so unsettling that the boy nearly fell off his chair and quickly shuffled out of my line of sight.

Soon, the exchange of roles between Zhang Jiewei and me was complete, and all operations continued on their established tracks. The burden that had rested on Zhang Jiewei's shoulders now settled entirely on mine.

I made almost no changes to Zhang Jiewei's previous arrangements. Xiao Cuo and Wang Xuyang remained in charge of the two 'Grim Reaper' cases, while Zhang Jiewei took over the rental building homicide. Gao Jianning and Feng Siyan provided technical support. I was a poor soul—nominally the leader, but in reality, I was the utility player, the brick to be placed wherever needed.

I considered the current situation. The three ongoing cases looked like they would be a long road ahead. The first, the Changqing Road case, was still stuck at the stage of being suspected 'Grim Reaper' activity. If the suspicion rested on a living person, many strategies could be employed, but since the suspect was the 'Grim Reaper,' I truly had no immediate solutions; everything depended on Xiao Cuo.

The second case was the rental building murder. There were two current suspects: the victim’s boyfriend, Jiang Bo, and the strange figure seen by the witness, Xu Jinping. The figure seen by Xu Jinping was highly suspect. This case had the highest probability of being solved first, but that wasn't guaranteed, as we still didn't know if that person was actually pursuing the victim, He Shuhua, that day.

The third case was the murder of the church priest. This case had a tight connection to the first; the priest was killed the day after we finished our initial inquiries, suggesting a direct link, although coincidence couldn't be ruled out. However, lacking any physical evidence, the two cases shared an inseparable thread. Therefore, I believed that solving this case, much like the 'Grim Reaper' case, would result in either both being cracked wide open or neither being solved at all.