Chapter 382

Thud. thud.

Mu Zhiyang returned to the second floor of the forensic building and gently knocked. Over the past few days, Jiang Yuan had been living at the funeral home. The funeral home was a public institution with good benefits; most staff had their own dormitories, long-term accommodations provided for employees from out of town or those without homes. But since few wanted to stay long-term, there were always empty rooms. Jiang Yuan simply asked someone, and easily got assigned one.

For him, commuting back and forth to Luyang City was worse than staying at the funeral home and doing his job as a forensic examiner properly.

These past two days, new corpses had arrived at the funeral home—Zhang Hai had also revealed the locations where he buried his victims. "Come in." Jiang Yuan's voice came through, and Mu Zhiyang gently turned the doorknob.

On the second floor of the forensic building, sunlight poured in abundantly, especially in the southern room—when the curtains were drawn back, it was as bright as a classroom. The bones, evidence samples, and scattered remains resting inside lay as quietly as a group of model students.

Mu Zhiyang pushed open the door and saw two rows of evidence cabinets against the walls, filled with bones and samples; in the center, a black yoga mat; sunlight spilling across the mat; and… Jiang Yuan in horse-riding pose!

Jiang Yuan, over 185 cm tall, his long legs raised, arms extended, facing the sunlight—his posture ancient and still as a statue…

Mu Zhiyang felt uneasy, covering his eyes as if unable to bear the intensity of the light: "Chief Jiang… I nearly got shot two days ago!"

Jiang Yuan ended the horse-riding pose, sat cross-legged on the yoga mat, and sighed softly.

Wang Leqin's legacy granted him Level 2 yoga—not especially powerful, but already at a professional level, something an ordinary person might need years, even a decade, of practice to achieve.

In this regard, Wang Leqin had talent in yoga or dance. But she likely never had the chance to display it. Perhaps, during her initial body transactions, she could have leveraged this skill—but no matter her choices, fate had treated her unfairly.

In contrast, what Jiang Yuan received was often just as unfair.

Because of this, he didn't even want to go to the police station to watch their interrogations of the three killers.

Zhang Hai and Chen Youdi were crude, lonely, stupid, greedy, lustful cowards! Tian Xiang was younger and smarter, but beyond that, he was no different in essence from the other two.

According to what they've confessed, the initial reason they banded together was to save money!

Neither Tian Xiang nor Chen Youdi was short on cash; Zhang Hai had little, but his salary was enough if he chose cheap places. Yet, to save money—and to satisfy their personal perversions—they decided to disregard other people's lives.

A sign of a civilized person isn't whether they can give up personal gain, but whether they refuse to sacrifice others' or public interests for trivial personal benefits.

"Did you find the records?" Jiang Yuan looked up at Mu Zhiyang.

"Oh, got them." Mu Zhiyang quickly handed over the printed pages. "Conditions weren't good. When we called, some wouldn't even come to collect the bodies. The worst was Cai Yan—number four. She has a child, now school-aged, raised all this time by her sister. But the sister's situation isn't good either; she divorced two years ago and has her own child. She works and cares for both kids—must be incredibly hard."

"Where is she?" Jiang Yuan asked directly. "Ah… in Miaohé County." Mu Zhiyang hurried to reply. "Not back in her hometown?"

"Rumors spread. She couldn't stay." Mu Zhiyang felt a flicker of sympathy. Her sister had been working as a prostitute; over time, whispers always reached home. She herself was divorced with two children, life in her hometown was hard, and she probably couldn't even hear kind words anymore.

"Then let's go to Miaohé County," Jiang Yuan said. Mu Zhiyang blinked: "What… what are we going there for?" "Just look around. If there's anything we can help with, help." Jiang Yuan flipped through Wang Leqin's file again. Her parents had passed away long ago; she had no other close relatives. So visiting Cai Yan's sister in Miaohé County was now the most direct option.

Though giving money directly might be simpler and cheaper, emotionally, Jiang Yuan preferred to go to Miaohé County himself.

Mu Zhiyang was at a loss. "Do we all go? Shouldn't we find a case or something? Otherwise, how do we get reimbursed…?"

"No need for everyone. Just you and me… hmm, bring two more for safety." Jiang Yuan arranged it, then added: "Leave a few people on the 805 case. Everyone else gets leave."

Seeing Jiang Yuan had decided, Mu Zhiyang went to relay the orders.

Two hours later.

Just as Jiang Yuan had readjusted his mood, laid out the yoga mat, and resumed the horse-riding pose, the office door opened again.

Jiang Yuan didn't even bother turning around. Forensic offices were always deserted, especially when the door was closed. Back when his master Wu Jun burned yellow paper, boiled red eggs, and worshipped Guan Yu in his office, no one ever peeked in. Now, he'd just learned yoga to calm his mind—and yet people kept interrupting him.

"Forensic Jiang!" Deputy Chief Zheng Tianxin, accompanied by Political Commissar Zhou Yuanqiang, burst into the funeral home's forensic building. They'd rehearsed many lines on the way, but seeing Jiang Yuan's posture against the setting sun, they fell silent.

"Deputy Chief Zheng…" Jiang Yuan exhaled slowly: "The case shouldn't have any issues, right?"

If there were problems, Zheng Tianxin would've called first.

Theoretically, by now, with all three killers apprehended, Jiang Yuan's work was done.

Zheng Tianxin caught Jiang Yuan's tone, looked at his appearance, and chuckled bitterly: "Forensic Jiang, my Chief Jiang… why are you leaving so suddenly? The 805 case just ended. Stay at least two more days—we've got time now, we can properly host you."

Zhou Yuanqiang added: "We've been too busy to even have a meal. Chief Jiang, stay a couple more days."

Jiang Yuan reluctantly ended his session, stood up, silently slipped on his shoes, and asked: "Do you have other cases?"

"Cases… plenty of them," Zheng Tianxin chuckled awkwardly. He hadn't expected Jiang Yuan to be so direct.

Zhou Yuanqiang chimed in: "The 805 case dragged on too long. We've got a backlog of unresolved cases. If you could lead us for a bit longer, that'd be ideal."

"I don't have the authority," Jiang Yuan said. "You need to talk to Director Huang and Director Chai. We were supposed to return to our unit after finishing the 805 case."

"Talking's no problem—we're close with Director Chai," Zheng Tianxin's awkward expression vanished instantly. "But there's no need to rush. I'll call Director Chai right now. Chief Jiang, don't leave yet. Let's have a drink tonight—celebrate the case being solved."

Jiang Yuan declined a few times, but eventually agreed. The 805 case had ended smoothly; a final gathering before departure was normal social etiquette.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn't hesitate—he urged Zheng Tianxin to make the call while arranging vehicles and a restaurant.

All members of Jiang Yuan's cold case task force attended. Aside from the slightly tedious toasting, the dinner was thoroughly satisfying.

Jiang Yuan drank half a jin of liquor, handed out several packs of Zhonghua cigarettes, and his mood lifted considerably.

Even veteran detectives who followed a case like 805 from start to finish saw their spirits drop three levels.

In comparison, Zheng Tianxin and Zhou Yuanqiang had been tied to the case longer, and their triumph outweighed its brutality.

The only thing that stirred any emotional response in them was the attitude from Ningtai County Bureau—and their invitation for Jiang Yuan to stay.

They drank more, leaning on each other, discussing. Then Mei Fang rushed over, panicked: "Bad news! Xu Xuewu and Qian Mingyu have blocked Jiang Yuan downstairs!"

"Xu Xuewu?" Zheng Tianxin straightened up instantly. Xu Xuewu was the captain of Miaohé County's criminal investigation unit—he wasn't close to Zheng, but they knew each other.

Zhou Yuanqiang asked: "Who's Qian Mingyu?" Mei Fang replied: "He's Miaohé County's fingerprint expert—he definitely knows Jiang Yuan."

Yuan certainly knows him.

"They're here to steal him!" Zheng Tianxin finally snapped out of it, slapping his thigh in anger—then winced from the pain and limped downstairs.

Others who heard the commotion followed in a swarm. Jiang Yuan's cold case task force was so useful—everyone wanted to keep using him a little longer.

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