Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Deciding the corridor was unsuitable, Director Song led the three into a conference room and tossed down a stack of photographs.

“This is the crime scene: an abandoned equipment room at No. 4 High School. The victim was a senior. This is the school’s third murder.”

Shang Yan lazily sifted through the photographs. The victim had died horribly. A sharp awl pierced the crown of her skull, while a hemp rope around her neck hung from an iron hook used for punching bags. Her tongue protruded far from her mouth.

“Our initial judgment is that the killer hanged her, then struck the crown of her head.”

Kong Xianya had learned her lesson. Her pen flew across the notebook while she kept her head down and said nothing unnecessary.

Too lazy to trouble her further, Shang Yan narrowed his eyes. “Did the previous two victims die the same way?”

Director Song nodded. “Yes, and both were girls. These are the murder weapons recovered at the scenes.”

He produced three transparent bags containing bloodied ropes and awls.

The ropes were identical. So were the awls. They looked mass-produced.

“All girls? That’s normal.”

As Director Song struggled, Qiao Yu suddenly interjected. “Do you know why most malicious ghosts are women?”

Director Song instinctively looked over. The young man had lowered his head, his overlong bangs covering his black eyes while an unapproachable aura surrounded him.

The next second, Director Song lightly slapped the back of his head. “Speak properly. Stop pretending to be profound. It doesn’t suit you!”

Qiao Yu covered his head and looked up, aggrieved. His eyes were black and bright as he rapidly explained, “Because social systems or circumstances often place women in relatively vulnerable positions. The humiliation they suffer while alive produces greater resentment after death. And this awl… a Soul-Locking Nail? An earthbound spirit?”

It truly resembled the Soul-Locking Nails from the previous Instance.

Qiao Yu no longer wanted to speak. He could have looked impressive, but Director Song’s slap destroyed ninety-nine percent of his gravitas.

“How do you know this?” Unable to resist, Kong Xianya stared at him in disbelief.

Director Song glanced at Shang Yan. Before Qiao Yu could answer, Shang Yan hummed. “Who in the bureau doesn’t know more than you?”

Kong Xianya: ??

Why was Director Shang so petty?

She had only gossiped about his love life. Did he have to hold a grudge this long?

Little Qiao Yu had learned many things through her. What, had he secretly studied behind her back too?!

Feeling betrayed, Kong Xianya accused Qiao-the-Traitor-Yu with her eyes.

Qiao Yu wagged his head smugly and stuck out his tongue. “Bleh, bleh. Hit me.”

Kong Xianya: “…”

Her heart condition was about to flare.

Seeing the subject drift, Director Song hurriedly continued. “No. 4 High School has long had a campus ghost story-Xiao Dai’s Noose. According to legend, three years ago, a female student named Cheng Dai suddenly died in the school’s sports equipment room shortly before the college entrance examination. She was hanged with a hemp rope.

“Since then, people who visit the equipment room claim a bloodstained noose inexplicably appears ahead as they walk. If it catches their neck, Cheng Dai, who died there, will take their life…

“Everyone treated it as a joke. But recently… three female students have been hanged in that room within one month. The school hired Taoist priests and sealed the room, but nothing helped. Many still claim to have seen a bloodstained noose.”
Shang Yan rested one elbow on the table and rhythmically tapped his long fingers. “Is Cheng Dai truly dead?”

Director Song nodded. “Definitely.”

“Did a Taoist priest summon her soul?”

“They’re trying. The priests are still at the school. It’s been two days, and they haven’t summoned anything.”

“Where did you find them?”

“Mount Mao.”

Shang Yan frowned. “That shouldn’t happen… Has No. 4 High School suspended classes?”

Director Song looked deeply troubled. “The freshmen and sophomores are still off, but the seniors returned yesterday. Sigh. We had no choice. They have the college entrance examination. Classes can’t remain suspended forever…”

“Let’s go.” Shang Yan dropped his crossed leg and walked lazily toward the door.

“Where?”

Shang Yan looked back at Director Song and casually wrapped a long arm around Qiao Yu. “The scene. The police tape has been removed, right?”

Director Song nodded. “Yesterday, before the students returned.”

“Good. Give me a copy of the case file. I’ll study it on the way…”

Shang Yan left. Kong Xianya packed her notebook and smilingly held out a hand to Director Song. “Give it to me. I’ll bring up the rear.”

After repeated beatings from “society,” Kong Xianya had decided to become a qualified lackey and stop running her mouth.

Work more, talk less, and strive to earn back that week’s pay!

She had barely handed them the file when her lazy, overpaid boss sped away in his sports car.

Bathed in exhaust, she received the cold order: “Take a taxi. Expense it later.”

In the passenger seat, Qiao Yu opened the file and chattered beside Shang Yan’s ear. “All three girls died at nine p.m. during Sunday evening self-study.

“We can’t rule out someone skilled in occult arts using supernatural methods. Their motive is still unknown.”

Shang Yan watched the road but patiently hummed to show he was listening.

Encouraged, Qiao Yu continued, clearly interested. “This victim was Ding Ying. She was close friends with the previous victim, An Yaoqing. And the second victim was the maternal half-sister of the first, Bai Panpan.

“As for Cheng Dai three years ago… no connection to these murders has been found. The only similarity is the method.

“All were hanged in the equipment room, then had their skulls pierced with an awl.

“Oh, right. There’s another key figure-the school heartthrob, Xi Qiu.”

The light ahead turned green. Shang Yan pressed the accelerator and asked evenly, “Explain.”

“Xi Qiu originally dated the first victim, Bai Panpan. After they broke up, he started dating her maternal half-sister, An Yaoqing. An Yaoqing and the third victim, Ding Ying, were both friends and romantic rivals. Ding Ying once confessed to Xi Qiu in private.”

Seeing No. 4 High School ahead, Shang Yan executed a smooth drift, then frowned. “Kids these days. Instead of studying, they get into premature relationships. What a mess.”

Qiao Yu turned expressionlessly. “You have the nerve to criticize them?”

Shang Yan felt no shame and smiled beautifully. “I’m different. I met true love.”

Qiao Yu gave a humorless laugh. “You’re incredibly lucky to still be alive when you’re this shamelessly horny.”

Shang Yan: “…”