Chapter 299: Summary

Autopsied the corpse until just after four in the morning; while the yin energy was still strong, everyone sewed the body back together, placed it in an ice coffin, then went home to bathe and change clothes.

After completing the entire procedure, they left the funeral parlor just as the first wave of mourners arrived.

Citizens climbed up into the building while Jiang Yuan and the others descended out; if not for the police car following them, the group would have triggered dozens of WeChat Moments posts from sheer fright.

Jiang Yuan returned to his small apartment and slept through the entire day, only waking up when his phone rang in the afternoon.

"Jiang Yuan, I'll send someone to pick you up—let's have dinner together," Yu Wenshu invited him with a cheerful tone.

Jiang Yuan checked the time and realized it was already five o'clock; he asked, "Did you catch the suspect? Did he confess?"

"Hahaha, you ask the exact same question the chief asked me," Yu Wenshu laughed, then said, "We caught him. I'll tell you all the details over dinner."

He couldn't refuse now. Jiang Yuan replied, took a one-minute quick shower, changed into a plain outfit without logos, and went downstairs. Yu Wenshu's car was already waiting.

The restaurant they met at was also one without any logos.

Few people had arrived; Yu Wenshu sat at the head of the table, Wan Baoming beside him, and Ma Jiyang seated directly in front.

If not for the round table, this setup would have felt to Jiang Yuan like an case analysis meeting.

In fact, it was nearly the same.

Yu Wenshu spotted Jiang Yuan and waved him over, excitedly saying, "Old Ma, start from the beginning—tell Jiang Yuan about our brigade's arduous, heroic, and tireless spirit and efforts."

Jiang Yuan immediately understood: they hadn't caught the suspect at first, but later probably did—though someone might have been injured. Ma Jiyang indeed began in a somber tone: "The suspect is Xie Hongsheng. He prepared thoroughly. He's an engineer from a local construction company, early thirties, whom the victim met during her cosplaying days. He enjoys photography, fitness, and anime, has some money, and isn't stingy spending on women."

"After meeting the victim, Liu Meiyan, the suspect dated her for over a year. They broke up and got back together several times; in recent months, Liu Meiyan demanded they become a proper couple, but Xie Hongsheng refused, and their relationship began to deteriorate."

"Liu Meiyan showed him old videos and photos, demanding he take responsibility while threatening to destroy them both. Xie Hongsheng's company was doing well—he had a state-owned enterprise position, was a local, and had many family members, relatives, and classmates; he didn't want their relationship exposed, so he became somewhat controlled by Liu Meiyan."

After multiple failed attempts at communication, Liu Meiyan issued him a final ultimatum, and Xie Hongsheng ultimately resorted to extreme measures.

Perhaps because the background had already been explained, Ma Jiyang delivered this part quickly.

After finishing, Ma Jiyang tapped his head and said, "This Xie Hongsheng takes performance-enhancing drugs for fitness, has a violent temper, and knows some martial arts. When we arrived, he bolted for the exit. It was my fault—I didn't control the scene well. Several of us got thrown around pretty hard during the arrest."

"One guy tore a ligament, the rest are just bruising and cuts," Ma Jiyang said helplessly. "Criminals who try to outsmart the system usually don't resist much when caught. This guy was different—he kept running and dodging—but once captured, he was cooperative and confessed quickly." At this, Ma Jiyang glanced at Jiang Yuan and added, "According to the suspect's confession, his exact time of killing was around 10: 5. Your estimation of the time of death was spot on." Jiang Yuan smiled faintly.

"One guy tore a ligament; the rest just had bruises and scrapes," Ma Jiyang said helplessly. "Criminals who think they're clever usually don't resist much during arrest. This guy was different—he ran and dodged everywhere. But once we brought him back, he was cooperative and confessed quickly." At this, Ma Jiyang glanced at Jiang Yuan and added, "According to the suspect's confession, his exact time of murder was around 10: 5 p. . Your determination of the time of death was spot-on." Jiang Yuan smiled faintly.

Level 6's time-of-death appraisal came with other related skills; accuracy in current-case judgment was only natural.

Still, Jiang Yuan offered a modest remark: "The killer mainly interfered with the corpse's temperature. Of course, our current cases rely primarily on corpse temperature for judgment—so he guessed correctly."

"A mystery enthusiast," Ma Jiyang said.

Wan Baoming chuckled: "This guy's got a lot of hobbies."

"A man in his thirties, unmarried, no steady girlfriend—he can naturally develop all kinds of hobbies." Ma Jiyang added, with a hint of envy: "Besides, he's got money and free time."

"Aren't engineers busy?"

"The kind with connections—his whole family works in state-owned enterprises."

"So we don't know how good his engineering skills are, but he's picked up some murder techniques," Wan Baoming said, shaking his head as he began pouring wine for everyone.

Ma Jiyang nodded: "His technical skills were average. But he had plenty of ideas. From our search, it's clear he'd been planning the murder for days, even weeks—and he had multiple methods in mind. We found a large pot in his home—the kind used in rural areas—and camping gear."

"He liked camping?" Wan Baoming asked.

"Not yet. His original plan was to take Liu Meiyan camping, boil her in the pot, then bury her." Ma Jiyang added, apologetically: "Sorry, that's a bit gruesome."

"No problem—we don't shy away from this. Come, have a drink," Yu Wenshu raised his glass and clinked it with everyone's, then said, "Keep going—was his murder plan still unexecuted?"

"Yes. This kid had second thoughts. He asked me if this kind of crime could go undetected, and whether his method was feasible."

"Boiling a human body requires enormous fuel, and too remote a location risks being spotted; too close, and someone might notice," Wan Baoming said with experience. "I've handled similar cases before—it didn't help. Once you find the body, you find the killer."

This is a common fear among all who dispose of or bury bodies. Because murder usually involves strong financial or emotional entanglements, meticulously planned killings often leave traces in interpersonal relationships—and that's precisely what traditional detectives excel at.

As for those with no connection or only a superficial one, the killer doesn't need to dispose of or bury the body at all—that's robbery-murder, which rarely involves such methods.

Beyond that, humans, as descendants of terrifying upright apes, have large bodies and dense bones.

Especially modern humans: women's meat yield exceeds that of sheep and dogs; men's exceeds that of pigs. Fresh long bones are harder than ordinary firewood.

Handling such a corpse without leaving a trace is unimaginably difficult.

"The victim's husband is also suspicious," Wan Baoming went on enthusiastically: "Who runs out to call for help when their own wife is hanging? He could've just taken her down. If she really hanged herself, timely removal might still have saved her." Ma Jiyang clinked his glass with Wan Baoming's, took a sip, and said, "The husband knew his wife was cheating—he'd have preferred to kill her himself. Why would he try to save her?"

Wan Baoming blinked: "Really?"

"Yes—he knew, but didn't confront her."

"There are men like that?"

"Some men are like that," Ma Jiyang said quietly, pouring himself another glass, downing it in one gulp, and grimacing as the liquor burned.

Yu Wenshu then said, "We can't interfere in others' family matters, but murder is unacceptable. The case is solved—that's our greatest victory. I propose a toast—let's drink another round."

After several rounds, everyone was slightly tipsy; Yu Wenshu turned to Jiang Yuan and smiled: "Speaking of victory—it's year-end. Our brigade's tradition is to hold a major awards ceremony at year-end. This year, Jiang Yuan, you're the star."

-- to be reviewed