Chapter 176: Secular Arc

The police car whistled through Nancheng urban area.

"Brother Fei, we extracted useful DNA fragments from the teeth of the white bones found in the Dongji Zhen cave. After comparing with the DNA sample provided by Chang Ying, it was confirmed that there is a kinship. In addition, the household registration information shows that Cui Nian, originally named Cui Nianbai, changed his name after Cui Zhan returned from Dongji Zhen, removing the 'Bai' character," Wu Shanqiu sat in the police car and reported the latest information received, "However, during the period when the Dongji Zhen Demon Mirror Case occurred in 1983, we found corroborating materials at the Ocean Research Institute. Cui Zhan went to Sweden for a meeting for a period of time and did not have the conditions to commit crimes continuously."

"If the real killer is Cui Zhan, we wouldn't have received that letter from the monster," Zhong Kui said leisurely, "Catching a dead person doesn't need competition, and our dangerous friend is not interested in the truth. He won't do things like tracking dead people."

"It can't be Cui Nian, according to the time of death of victim zero Bai Yunzhi, Cui Nian was only about 10 years old at that time..." Wu Shanqiu muttered.

Zhong Kui's cold eyes were reflected in the rearview mirror: "Perhaps, killing can also be inherited from father to son."

Qi Fei clearly agreed with Zhong Kui's speculation: "I went to check Cui Nian's work experience. What he did in the company was mainly environmental assessment. The environmental assessment of the renovation of Da Baoen Si and the construction of the aquatic products company building were all done by the company he worked for, which shows that he had the opportunity to get the wind bells and the time to kill in Dongji Zhen.

What is even more coincidental is that his wife Chang Rong is from Dongji Zhen. According to their own account, they met at the end of 1983. Before September 1984, the real killer of the Demon Mirror Case did not kill again. What if he fell in love and got married?

Of course, these are just my speculations. Fortunately, the sudden collapse of that passage in Dongji Zhen, in the underground cavity, in addition to well-preserved bloodstains of the victims, there are also a large number of the killer's fingerprints. As long as we find Cui Nian in a while, collect his fingerprints, plus the DNA comparison with the white bones, everything will come to light."

"Ah, it sounds like this, the possibility is indeed very high, but there is one point I don't quite understand. If Cui Nian is the real killer of the Demon Mirror Case, will such a pervert suddenly become a good person because of marriage and having children?" Wu Shanqiu said suspiciously.

"Only Cui Nian himself knows this," Zhong Kui said, "Maybe he was really cured, but this is not important, because he can't turn back anymore."

"Old Cui, today's pork is very good, do you want some!" The vendor at the vegetable market shouted enthusiastically.

"Give me some ribs," Cui Nian said with a smile.

"Oh, it seems that the precious grandson is coming again?" The vendor waved the big knife skillfully and chopped three ribs of excellent quality.

"Hehe, winter vacation is here."

"I really envy you, your children are filial, and your grandson is smart and clever. Come, I'll wipe out the zero for you!"

"Oh, no need, no need~"

The two were being polite, and Cui Nian's kind face suddenly twitched. He immediately stuffed the money into the vendor's hand, squeezed out the last trace of smile stiffly, and took the cut ribs away.

Behind him, a black shadow followed, all the way to the entrance of the residential area.

Cui Nian didn't go in and put the ribs in the security room.

"I'll see my wife in a while, let her take it back and stew soup for my grandson," he explained to the familiar security guard.

The security guard was happily watching short videos and agreed casually without noticing anything unusual.

This road away from home, Cui Nian had walked countless times, watching the ivy on the wall become denser year by year.

This was the first and last time he looked at this wall of new green. At the corner, he saw the true body of that black shadow.

The moment he saw his face, Cui Nian reacted immediately: "You are not a police officer."

The police car to arrest Cui Nian stopped downstairs at Cui Nian's house. However, when Qi Fei and the others knocked on the door, they opened the door to an uneasy Chang Rong.

"Did Yingzi call the police?" She asked immediately when she saw the police.

"She told you everything?" Qi Fei asked.

"Tell what?" Chang Rong looked at this battle, her face turned pale, "Is something wrong with Old Cui?"

Her concerned look made Qi Fei realize that what they were talking about might not be the same thing.

"Is Cui Nian here?" Qi Fei looked into the house. Chang Ying's 10-year-old son poked his head out like last time, but without the excitement of last time, as if the adult's anxiety infected him.

"Ah, didn't Yingzi tell you that Old Cui is missing?!"

"Missing?" Qi Fei tightened his brows. They asked Chang Ying to cooperate with confidentiality, but did she still tip off because of family affection?

Soon, Chang Rong's statement dispelled Qi Fei's doubts. She pointed to a bag of ribs on the table and said: "Old Cui went out to buy vegetables in the morning, put this meat at the guard room and left. He didn't answer the phone either. He never does this..."

"Left temporarily after buying only one dish? It seems it's not a planned escape."

"Escape?" Chang Rong looked directly at Qi Fei's face, becoming more and more uneasy, "After you came last time, Old Cui seemed to have something on his mind. What is going on?"

Qi Fei thought of the provocative letter signed "Monster," and felt bad. The moment his eyes met Zhong Kui's, he knew that Zhong Kui had the same idea.

"I know where he is, it just depends on whether we are fast enough," Zhong Kui said gloomily.

When Cui Nian regained consciousness, he smelled the fishy smell of moss. His cheeks were cold, and he was pressing against the damp ground.

With a "clatter," a glass marble fell on the ground in front of him, and after a few bounces, it stopped not far away. The afternoon sun refracted on the transparent sphere, and a dazzling light scattered colorful light spots in his presbyopic eyes.

A hand grabbed the back of his neck, just like catching an old cat, and made him sit up against the stone wall.

Rather than sitting up, it was better to say kneeling—he was tied up in a kneeling posture by nylon ropes.

"Don't be afraid," a man's voice came, gentle and gentle. If it weren't for this scene, it would even make people feel like a spring breeze, as if he said don't be afraid, and he really wouldn't have to be afraid.

"Who are you?" Cui Nian's dry throat surged with a bloody smell as soon as he spoke.

"I am yourself in the mirror."

His mouth began to say a passage of Sanskrit: "All phenomena are false, like dreams, like flames, like the moon in the water, like images in a mirror, born from delusions." Like a magic spell, listening to this passage, Cui Nian's eyes changed.

That is the evil hidden under the secular arc, cold and dark.

As if feeling the call, he began to follow along.

"Humph." With a sneer, the marble was picked up.