Chapter 524: Is This the Killer

Han Fei, who has always strongly agreed with Xu Mo's views, for the first time thought that Xu Mo's judgment might be wrong.

He always felt that Xu Mo's inference was off in some way, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where.

But after thinking it over repeatedly, he still decided to try it according to Xu Mo's suggestion.

After all, if Xu Mo is right, we'll know whether it works by trying, a case of treating a dead horse as if it were alive.

Thinking that, Han Fei immediately stood up, took the file, and walked out of the office.

Xu Mo followed right behind.

At this moment, the officers in the office area were still discussing the scene they had just seen earlier, when Han Fei called Xu Mo into the office early in the morning.

No one knew what kind of medicine Han Fei was selling in his gourd, nor why he had summoned Xu Mo so early.

"They're out, Han Team and Team Leader Xu are out."

Someone shouted, and everyone looked up toward Han Fei and the Xu Mo beside him.

In the next second, Han Fei raised the file in his hand.

"Everyone, pause the work in your hands for a moment; I have something to say."

Hearing that, the officers' confusion deepened; it seemed Han Team really did have something.

"Three years ago the Police Station had a case that still hasn't been solved, sealed away until now. I just discussed it with Team Leader Xu, and he offered some ideas… I need you to check whether, in our precinct three years ago, there was a person over thirty years old who also suffered a serious illness."

The condition is rather vague: it doesn't specify gender, exact age, or any physical description—almost everything is unknown, making the search somewhat difficult.

There are plenty of people over thirty in the jurisdiction, and many who were already seriously ill three years ago.

Without any precise information, sifting through everyone in the jurisdiction would be a huge task, so Han Fei didn't work alone at his computer; instead, he rallied the officers together, speeding things up a bit.

Upon learning it was a case investigation, the officers immediately opened their computers and began searching.

Any officer who had been at the Police Station for more than three years knew that unsolved case and how tricky it was; when Han Fei mentioned it, those long‑tenured officers instantly recalled it.

The case had originally been temporarily sealed because of too many doubts, but Han Fei unexpectedly dug it up again to continue the investigation.

But resurrecting it for further inquiry is one thing; whether they can solve it is another matter.

Nevertheless, the officers were puzzled by Han Fei's request to find a person who, three years ago, lived in this precinct, was over thirty, and suffered a serious illness.

Is this the killer's profile from that old case? Why would they make such a profile of the murderer?

Of course, despite the doubts, the officers didn't slow down at all; they kept searching for people who matched Han Fei's criteria.

With many hands, after only five minutes, an officer had filtered out the first person who fit the condition.

"Han Team, we found one. This person is Tang Xingteng, male, who was diagnosed with late‑stage liver cancer three years ago, but he died three years ago; he was sixty‑four at the time."

Having seen the little note in the brocade pouch, Xu Mo knew the killer's identity, but he couldn't tell Han Fei directly.

Xu Mo was certain that the elderly man named Tang Xingteng was not the murderer.

At that moment, Han Fei also looked at Xu Mo.

Xu Mo shook his head outright: "It couldn't be him."

The reason he gave was also very simple.

"Three years ago Tang Xingteng was sixty‑four and had liver cancer. At that age, just being able to get out of bed is good enough; let alone murder—he didn't have that capability."

Han Fei thought the same after hearing it, so he simply shook his head at the officer.

"Not this one, keep searching, see if there are other people who meet the criteria."

Three minutes later, another officer found a second person who fit the criteria.

"Han Team, I've also found one here: she's Dan Langli, female, with congenital heart disease, forty years old this year."

This time, Han Fei also shook his head. ωωw.. net

"Not this one either, keep looking."

He knew a bit about heart disease; patients with it can't tolerate stress, or they might relapse, and any emotional fluctuation could endanger their lives.

Someone who kills for the first time cannot have a completely calm heart; their emotions will surge—fear or excitement—and a heart‑disease patient simply couldn't endure such swings.

No heart‑disease patient would deliberately seek stimulation for themselves.

Moreover, heart‑disease patients basically can't engage in intense exercise or heavy labor.

And murder and cleaning a crime scene are clearly not easy tasks; a normal person can barely manage them, let alone someone with heart disease.

Next, the officers filtered out more than ten people matching the condition, but Xu Mo found an excuse to clear each of them of suspicion.

None of them were the murderer from the case three years ago.

Until…

"Han Team, Team Leader Xu, I've found another one. This person is Qiu Yuanhang, who was diagnosed with liver cancer three years ago, but it turned out to be a misdiagnosis by the hospital. In anger he sued the hospital, then used the tens of thousands of yuan compensation to start a business; he apparently made money from it, and thereafter he occasionally donates some money to charity."

After speaking, the officer added, "Han Team, the person you're looking for probably isn't this one either; I get the sense he's a good person—made money and still does charity—so I don't think he was the murderer in that old case."

All the people previously identified weren't the ones Han Fei was after, and since Qiu Yuanhang frequently donates, the officer's impression of him was also positive, so he instinctively thought Qiu Yuanhang wasn't the target.

However, unexpectedly, as soon as the words finished, Xu Mo "excitedly" said.

"No, Qiu Yuanhang is a suspect, a big suspect!"

"Han Team, I just recalled a gap in my earlier reasoning."

"Do you remember what I just told you in the office, that the killer, because he was seriously ill, would become angry when he saw those young people who were perfectly healthy yet kept shouting they didn't want to live, and thus wanted to kill those who constantly said 'I don't want to live.'"

"Got it," Han Fei nodded.

Xu Mo continued.

"But there are countless healthy people who constantly say 'I don't want to live'; certainly more than nine. Why did the killer only kill nine people?"

Hearing this, Han Fei roughly understood Xu Mo's point.

"So you mean… the killer didn't actually have a serious illness; he was misdiagnosed? He only killed nine because he realized the misdiagnosis and stopped?"

"Exactly," Xu Mo nodded. "Of course there's another possibility…"