[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner":3,"chapter-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-113":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Nation's Forensic Medical Examiner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2326808,4551,"Chapter 113: The Trap","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-113",113,"\u003Cp>Rustle, rustle, rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan walked down the hotel corridor, beneath his feet a soft blue-patterned shag carpet, beside him floor-to-ceiling glass windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corridor was lined with antique shelves holding authentic Guiguzi descending the mountain blue-and-white porcelain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls hung a row of Western oil paintings, revealing flesh, bathed in divine light, with inscriptions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window, the scenery was immersive beauty: lush green trees, distant towering peaks of Wu Long Mountain stretching endlessly, and nearby meticulously landscaped gardens with layered ridges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most exquisite was the swift, ever-flowing stream encircling the hotel, its light water sounds bringing a sense of comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing ahead, admiring the view while lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had come with Team Leader Huang Qiangmin to inspect the on-site layout of the Xin Hong Hotel, his heart both excited and uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know what kind of opponent they were facing, but he had seen those incomplete corpses and bones—he could already imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internally, he feared the killer might come here, yet also hoped he would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingye Town, due to its proximity to Wu Long Mountain, was a key passage to the mountain, home to many Chinese herbal medicine processing plants, claiming to be the region’s hub for processing and distribution. But after becoming familiar with the surrounding cities, one realized every township, county, and city nearby claimed the same title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the herb collectors inside Wu Long Mountain couldn’t match that volume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some backpackers specifically rested in Jingye Town to prepare for upcoming hiking or exploration trips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xin Hong Hotel wasn’t the best in Jingye Town, but because it kept a dragon, it offered karaoke, card games, foot baths, massages, hot springs, meals…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hotel was perfect for staying days on end, lost in haze, without needing to step outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what Chen Fan had instructed—the hotel the five-man team frequented most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing there, Jiang Yuan’s mind conjured a scene: two drunken men stumbling toward him from across the corridor, faces dark, necks sunburnt red, followed by three others—two side by side, the last walking slowly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the five-man hunting team, Guo and Liu loved gambling, prostitution, smoking, and strong liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Fan’s uncle, Chen Deling, liked hoarding money and was stingy—he never paid much when they went out to eat, drink, or play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head of the Hu family’s group had simple tastes: only hunting. He came here only to eat, rest, train, and did nothing extra—always the one pushing them into the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also a Wang who gambled, prostituted, smoked, drank, was stingy, and loved hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s marksmanship was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the special investigation team, there was some disagreement about this hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some suspected the five-man team likely had multiple residences but only conducted transactions here with Chen Fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin, responsible for the Jingye Town scene, did not agree—he always disliked overestimating the opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overestimation meant overinvestment; once or twice was fine, but too many times, the police budget would rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although these five hunters were indeed formidable, and the murder methods in the case report were truly shocking, Huang Qiangmin still viewed them as common criminals—their ferocity in the mountains didn’t equate to the caution of spy handoffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changing residences occasionally was already meticulous; to think they’d switch hotels in such a small town like Jingye to host different guests was stretching too thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving at the Xin Hong Hotel, Jiang Yuan agreed with Huang Qiangmin’s view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambushing a hotel and ambushing a town were two different concepts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter involved far more work and far greater risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the five-man team hadn’t actually checked into the Xin Hong Hotel, they’d have to reconfigure their deployment—right now, they didn’t even know if they had a second hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan had thoroughly scouted the Xin Hong Hotel multiple times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His scouting wasn’t just casual—he used Sun Jingyi’s legacy, his Level 2 sketching skill, to recreate every location he’d scouted as detailed sketches on paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the hotel’s own floor plan, the police team could more easily arrange and discuss tactics on paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly discussed tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the police team, this was an extremely serious matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past arrests, though plans and strategies were discussed, the focus was mostly on success rates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for drug busts, most arrest operations used a three-to-one or four-to-one manpower ratio as a redundant safety measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, over 80% of suspects surrendered without resistance; even when some ran, pursuit was the main focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Active resistance was something the police saw only once every year or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with guns, everything changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A double-barreled shotgun, with index and middle fingers squeezing together through a door, could turn the person on the other side into a sieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, none of them had experience dealing with firearms—even Huang Qiangmin’s generation, when they became police, had seen very few guns on the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was truly the most critical point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest advantage police held over criminals was experience. A seasoned officer, from rookie to mature, had encountered more criminals than the national soccer team had scored goals, while suspects—especially those without prison experience—often appeared naive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most typical example was murder cases: how many believed they’d devised the perfect murder—those meticulously planning to kill, especially those targeting loved ones—how many sleepless nights did it take to make the decision? Yet over 90% of such cases were solved within 72 hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: experienced veteran cops could talk to a suspect for a few sentences, and the suspect would already be trembling. How could their “perfect murder” ever be executed perfectly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re nervous giving a speech at a company banquet or can’t relax during a class activity, then if this is your first time killing and your first time facing police, you should probably just sign up for a class first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ningtai County police force now needed a training program similar to CS.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, a squad of armed police arrived quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their commander, Zhou Gang, was under thirty—younger than most of the detectives present. He wasn’t tall, but powerfully built; his exposed arms were rock-hard. Seeing the long guns, heavy guns, and short guns carried by him and his men, everyone felt an urge to shout “Dad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t enter yet. You can enter the hotel in batches to inspect the terrain,” Huang Qiangmin said to Zhou Gang, after introducing the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gang replied, “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin added: “The suspects have weak social ties—they’ve lived in the mountains for years. But their annual spending at this hotel is high. I worry hotel staff might be tempted to leak information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a police chief, he interacted with many people and was naturally suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lock them all down. Replace them with our people?” Zhou Gang stood rigid, like a sturdy tree, his suggestion blunt and unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rookie forensic officer Jiang Yuan had never closely interacted with armed police before—he felt a pang of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which boy doesn’t dream of carrying a gun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin pondered: “We’ve already detained the owner, but they likely have favorite servers. I don’t want to arrest people right at the door—it might spook them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let the owner pick them,” Zhou Gang said. “Warn him properly—four lives are on the line. Does he dare get involved? If the people he picks turn out to be the problem, he’ll have to weigh the consequences himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gang’s second suggestion was still blunt, but Huang Qiangmin thought for a moment and nodded: “That should work…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xin Hong Hotel claimed to be a four-star hotel, but in reality, it was just a local establishment—the owner Luo Xinhong’s influence extended no further than the region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a capable man locally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fat, rustic businessman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After investigating his daily routine, they concluded he had no special connection to the five Wu Long Mountain suspects—only a regular, high-spending customer relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Xinhong had noticed these men—he had a sense they weren’t decent people; no ordinary person spent like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was a hotel owner—he wouldn’t be foolish enough to report his own guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guests spent money—he was delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they didn’t cause trouble inside his hotel, what they did outside was none of his business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Luo Xinhong was arrested, he was utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a rustic businessman, but a shrewd one—he knew what he could and couldn’t touch to sustain long-term business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He panicked, calculating his situation: would he go to jail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he served one or two years, he could barely accept it—his rival Da Hai had been in prison and came out even more formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But twenty years? That would be over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two-year sentences, with good behavior, often ended after a year and a half—with money to spend, his business could barely keep running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But twenty years? No need to calculate time—his hotel would be seized and divided, he’d be broke inside, and his wife and children would be gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew prison was where money flowed like water—even the snack bar required tens of thousands in spending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin said nothing more, and Luo Xinhong nearly wet himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever Huang Qiangmin said, he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t he see the armed police had been deployed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gang stood with his rifle, watching Huang Qiangmin negotiate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan quietly pulled out a pack of Zhonghua and passed one to each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After “calming” the owner, Huang Qiangmin came over to confirm the arrest plan with Zhou Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also took a Zhonghua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regarding the arrest, my idea is this: we let people enter the hotel first, ensuring basic area control…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, for timing: first point, one hour after they enter; second point, during their mealtime; third point, when they’re asleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still want to capture all five alive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gang listened, studying Jiang Yuan’s sketch, glanced at him oddly, then traced his fingers over the drawing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They have guns. I can’t guarantee live capture,” Zhou Gang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. First priority is everyone’s safety,” Huang Qiangmin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came stakeout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, two days, three days…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1687,"2026-06-20T18:55:00.150Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","70ab7bf599efff53c4a3e49a072957f960c3f86da7fab265a15aa6b1c61c7acd","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-114","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-112",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg"]