(Warning⚠️: This chapter contains murder, blood, etc. So if you are not into it, don't read the lines where I'll put a reminder.
Thank you.)
Hen Meng Cliff was one of the most beautiful, yet dangerous places in Ji Tian City. Its height was over 80 m. So when Ye Xiao Xie and his group reached it, it was truly hard for them to go down all the way to inspect the corpse that was below.
Qian Deming was asked to stay inside Ye Xiao Xie's car and not to get out at all. Therefore, he only kept watching the numerous parked police cars around him calmly. He leaned comfortably on the seat as he took out his pocket watch and kept watching it arrogantly for a long while.
"That was a piece of cake…" He said to himself proudly.
On the other hand, Ye Xiao Xie squatted next to the corpse and examined it for a long while just to declare in the end, "There is a high possibility that he died instantly because of the strong impact after falling off this cliff. This must have died 3 hours ago." He raised his head towards the massive rock above them and added, "He fell after losing consciousness because of the great blood loss that was caused by the cut of his Radial Artery with that knife next to him. There is enough blood up there that indicates that he didn't fall only after losing a huge quantity of blood."
In fact, those were not the only details that Ye Xiao Xie detected. He also noticed some scratches on both sides of his neck and the bad state of his man shirt. Therefore, he narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long while. Unexpectedly, Mei Han's voice interrupted his reflection.
"So, It might be suicide, right?"
Ye Xiao Xie stood up without removing his eyes from the corpse's neck and replied calmly, "No. It was not."
"How? It truly seems to be suicide." Mei Han stopped for a while and added, "He must have cut off his Artery with that knife. Is there something that made you think the opposite?"
Ye Xiao Xie walked towards the blood-stained knife and explained calmly, "First of all. If it was truly suicide. His Radial Artery shouldn't be cut off completely." He took from one of the men a bottle of water and washed off the blood from the corpse's wrist as he added, "What made me assume that it is fully damaged is the deepness of this cut. Normally, any human being wouldn't be able to take the pain of cutting his flesh. Let alone cutting one of his Arteries with this blunt knife. If he was able to do that without hesitation, then he must be a stone…" He stopped for a long while and added, "Second of all, this knife shouldn't be here either." He pointed up with his index finger and added, "It should have remained there."
"How?" One of the police officers around him asked.
"I'll explain more of course" Ye Xiao Xie stopped for a while and then continued, "As we saw there earlier. The victim started bleeding 50 meters away from the cliff. Which means that that's where his wrist was cut. If he walked from there then it would take him at least 40 seconds to reach it. However, the bleeding caused by cutting a Radial Artery will only take 30 minutes to make a human pass out and almost 2 minutes for him to die. That's the main reason why I assumed that there is a very big chance that this man has died instantly because of the great impact as well."
Mei Han gave it a thought and said, "So you're trying to say that if it was suicide, he must've let go of the knife at least after 20 seconds of his injury, right?"
Ye Xiao Xie snapped his fingers and declared, "Exactly. Now let me show you something else." He summoned one of the police officers and pointed at the knife. He asked, "Lao Hen, could you look a little closer here?"
Lao Hen watched the knife for some minutes before his eyes widened. He said, "This knife is already used! There are old blood spots on it!"
Even though blood made Mei Han always sick. He stepped forward fast and took a fast look as well, he said, "Yes… it's already used…"
Ye Xiao Xie stood up and declared, "Now half of the story is a little clear, but it won't be complete only after the scientific police do their work. We need to know the identity of the owner of the old blood. And have more info about this man's death… what I said earlier is not enough."
The police officers around him all became speechless.
Didn't you just say everything? They all thought simultaneously.
Ye Xiao Xie was about to add something when Ying Yang Ling called from the top.
"Detective Ye! We found something inside the victim's car!"
He frowned and walked back to her as he ordered, "Mei Han, please go with the rest of the officers and inspect the surroundings as well."
Mei Han nodded at him and hurried away with the rest.
Ying Yang Li welcomed him with a worried expression and handed him a sachet containing an injection.
"We found this in the trunk…"
Ye Xiao Xie took it out and inspected it well. He said, "It still has a droplet inside it.." He handed it back to her and added, "Hand it to the scientific police. We must know what this is." He got inside the car and examined it. When he got out, he declared, "There are some blood droplets under the front seat as well… they must be the same as the ones we detected on the knife earlier." He noticed the muddy wheels as well and tried to relate them to the dirt on the shirt. He said, "I think this man had some sort of interesting deal…"
Ying Yang Li kept watching him worriedly. It was as if she was waiting for him to add something else. Anyway, Ye Xiao Xie noticed her expression, so he shook his head and spoke as if he had expected her question, "We cannot say anything until we know what kind of substance was inside that injection. Nevertheless, all the shreds of evidence indicate that this man was not normal…"
Ying Yang Li was about to say something, but Ye Xiao Xie's phone suddenly rang.
It was Sing Tao.
"Any news there? Why haven't you reached the area yet?"
Sing Tao's voice was as calm as always, but when she talked, she said something that made Ye Xiao Xie's eyes narrow.
"Sorry, I wasn't able to come. I'm with Xian Wen Tian, we are in charge of another case in Yung Lu farms…"
Ye Xiao Xie moved his gaze toward Qian Deming who was sitting calmly inside his car. He frowned and asked, "What happened?"
Sing Tao was silent for a long while before she finally said, "It's XTDX again…"
Ye Xiao Xie's expression darkened as he gathered his hand into an angry fist and cut the line. Ying Yang Li was about to ask him what the matter was. However, he put his hand in front of her face as a sign to shut up and walked to his car angrily.
In the other part of the scene, Qian Deming got so bored from remaining in his place without doing anything, therefore he was re-fixing his hair for fun. Ye Xiao Xie got there fast, and as soon as he opened the door he caught him by his arm, dragged him out violently, and uttered, "Could you explain your words earlier, Professor Qian?"
When his arm was caught, Qian Deming didn't have the chance to finish gathering his hair. Therefore, his thick black strands loosened as they fell on his shoulders freely. He smiled at him and said innocently, "I have no idea what you are talking about. Could you clarify a little, Detective Ye?"
Upon seeing how the man in front of him started playing dumb, Ye Xiao Xie wasn't able to control his rage any longer. He placed Qian Deming's hands behind his back and pressed him from behind against the car.
Ying Yang Ling and the other officers didn't understand what was happening between them, but they didn't interfere either.
Qian Deming smiled despite the pain and said against the car's hood, "A-ye, that's so rude of you… pressing me down like that in front of everyone. Are you this thirsty for it?" He sighed and added, "If you want me this badly, why don't you wait until you solve all your cases and then ask me out? I'll be happy to accept you as a lover, and why not later as a husband?"
Ye Xiao Xie ignored his stupid words and kept frowning at him furiously as he uttered, "You like playing such games, don't you?" He took out the handcuffs and showed them to him as he added, "Then let's play it the way you want it." He cuffed him up and said mockingly "Our station is welcoming you to have a long day between us, Professor Qian. Please, be our good guest."
Qian Deming smiled at him and said, "Oh my god, a whole day with Detective Ye? That would be so funny."
Ye Xiao Xie gave him a mocking look and said, "You're right, especially the part where you'll get stuck behind bars for three days." He glared at Ying Yang Li and the others and ordered, "Take him to the investigation room." His serious gaze landed on Qian Deming again, "Let him wait for me until I come back. I'll investigate this sharp-tongued one personally."
"Alrighty~ Don't be late, I'll be waiting for you obediently, A-Ye."
Qian Deming stood steel and walked happily to that group. Two police officers were about to hold him. However, he glared and avoided them.
"I'll walk by myself. You are not rich enough to touch me…" His thick eyelashes moved up and down as he looked at Ye Xiao Xie who was watching him from far away and continued, "Only he is allowed."
Both men looked at Ye Xiao Xie for a long while and then at Qian Deming who had already reached the car. After seeing how none of them was able to understand the mood between those two, they only walked to that arrogant man silently.
After making sure that that man left with the two officers peacefully. Ye Xiao Xie finally talked to Ying Yang Li.
"Sing Tao said that XTDX killed another person again. This time the victim was found at Yung Lu farms. We must go there immediately." He moved his eyes towards the dirty wheels as he listened to Ying Yang Li who spoke hesitatingly, "So… is there any chance for him to be cupid?"
Ye Xiao Xie didn't turn back to her as he took a deep breath and said indifferently, "I can say nothing before we get there. XTDX can be anyone, even him…"
Actually, the taxi driver was someone Ying Yang Li had met before. He was her friend's boyfriend. Therefore, she was thinking about how she could tell her bestie that he was killed and at the same time suspected to be involved with the XTDX group. However, she had nothing to do but get with Ye Xiao Xie in his car and roll fast to the farms.
In the police station, Qian Deming was sitting in the investigation room alone quietly while playing with his pocket watch and smiling cunningly.
////
4 hours ago…
When he got in the taxi, Qian Deming noticed immediately through the mirror that the driver's gaze landed on his right side. Therefore, he knew that something was off. Anyway, he didn't do anything about it. After some time, he noticed that the driver took a road that was completely different from the one he was supposed to follow. He only smiled at him gently and said, "Mr. Driver, I'm afraid that you might've missed the route…"
The driver didn't spare him a single look as he said calmly, "No. That's the right path. It's just that I'm taking another route, I have something urgent to attend to if you don't mind. Do you have any problems with it, sir?"
Qian Deming maintained his smile as he said, "Oh, no, no. I really don't mind. It's okay. I'm not in a rush. Whenever I'll be there it will be fine."
He waited for a long while before he took out his phone and wrote a message to Shen Yuan, "After a half hour, I want you to bring me another seat of clothes. I want something simple. Come with the black Buggati. I'm in a good mood to ride today." he sent the first message and then added after looking at the driver through the mirror playfully.
"Also, the plan has succeeded. You may leave that place now and go complete the second task. I'm with XTDX."
Shen Yuan was placing a knife around the neck of the Taxi cab's top manager. As soon as he read his master's messages, he let go of him and placed a bunch of money on his desk. He said while maintaining his cold indifferent expression, "Thank you for your collaboration, sir." He turned around to leave, but he halted in front of the door for a second before he gave him a side gaze and added coldly, "Mr. Fao, please keep in mind that our deal should remain here. If you dared to play the hero, we won't show kindness anymore."
The man's face was colorless. He put his hand on his neck as if he was making sure that it was still in one piece and nodded at him fearfully.
Shen Yuan walked out of there and got in the back seat of his car. So Liu Yie rolled away immediately.
Qian Deming turned off his phone and started looking through the glass calmly. When the taxi suddenly stopped.
"Why did we stop here?" Qian Deming asked as he got out of the car calmly. He added, "Is something wrong?"
The driver smiled cunningly and got out of the car as well.
"Yes, I think I don't have enough fuel"
Qian Deming observed his surroundings, and after a while of silence, he said, "But why did you take me to Hen Meng Cliff? Isn't this place far from the police station by thirty kilometers? What kind of urgent matters do you have here?"
"Oh, that… yes it's far from here, indeed." The driver took out an injection from the trunk and hid it in his pocket. He added as he opened the front door, "if I told you about my urgent matter, you won't…" he wasn't able to complete his words as his eyes widened. He looked at Qian Deming who was standing far away from him while playing with a blood-stained knife.
"Do you want to say that your urgent matter is to kill me?" He showed him the saber and asked calmly, "Are you searching for this?"
The driver's face changed immediately as he walked fast toward him and muttered angrily, "You! Give it back!"
Qian Deming dodged him while smiling.
"Oh, don't rush, I'll give it back to you after we talk for a few minutes. Don't be mean, listen to me first, okay?" He placed his hand behind the man's neck and hit him firmly until this last one fell on the ground heavily.
Qian Deming started walking around him in small circles while speaking
"Let me guess… Your last victim was a woman that you killed after you raped this morning? Am I right?"
The driver's eyes widened as he looked at him surprisingly. He was about to open his mouth, but Qian Deming didn't give him the chance to talk, "Fear not, I'm just spitting a random supposition. I'm neither a detective nor a corporal. I'm just a rich man who likes to meddle in things that don't concern him"
He stood in front of him as he kept playing with the saber between his fingers with full enthusiasm and great agility.
"The reason why I presumed that she was a woman was because of the scratches I noticed on the sides of your neck. The injuries are so deep which means that her nails are long and sharp. Also, since she managed to only reach your neck, that gave me the impression that she must be shorter than you…" Qian Deming said, "Also, you lost your shirt's three first buttons. It might be because this poor woman was trying to defend herself after you pressed her down."
The driver gathered his hands into two rough fists and stood up fast. He tried to maintain his composure and not to show any signs of his great astonishment and fear as he charged toward him.
"You told me exactly what happened. Very good! But who would care when you'll follow her soon." He said.
Qian Deming kept standing in his place coldly without moving a single inch and only avoided him again.
"When I stopped your car. The first thing I noticed was the mud around the wheel disk. There are also some traces of mud in your trousers. The crime scene must be in the farms of Yung Lu, am I wrong?" He said as he trapped him by placing the head of the knife on his neck. "But I wonder why is this knife full of blood?"
He looked at the edge of the knife and added, "I mean if you're just using it to sign your group name on the victim's back, then only the edge should be blood-stained, isn't that?"
The driver's eyes narrowed in rage as he tried to catch Qian Deming's hand. However, this last one was fast beyond imagination. He laughed and stepped backward.
"No need to rush. Today I'm not the one who's destined to die. You won't change your fate darling~"
"Just what the fuck do you want from me then? Who the hell are you?" the man uttered.
"Oh, no need to ask any further, I'll tell you." Qian Deming smiled provocatively and started walking towards him again slowly. He added after putting the knife next to his cheek and removing his fake eyelids, "I am your demise. Mr. Zhangqiu"
After seeing his weird purple eyes, Zhangqiu wasn't able to contain himself any longer. He tried to drag his feet backward, but he suddenly felt some discomfort in his wrist. When he looked at it, his eyes expanded in full shock again.
The ground was full of blood, and his left wrist was its source. He caught it with his right arm as his face darkened in rage mixed with fear. Qian Deming drew the knife for him silently and the other party didn't help but watch it for a long while without moving a single inch. He was only focusing on his injured wrist and how to stop the bleeding and the intense pain.
Qian Deming raised one brow and asked, "What's wrong? Can't pick it up?"
He walked past him calmly.
"Tsk, tsk… I didn't expect you to bury your strong desire to kill me just for such a little wound. Tsk, I'm so disappointed in you."
Zhangqiu kept holding his hand as his gaze kept going back and forth between the man in front of him and the knife below him when a sudden idea flashed through his mind. He turned around and tried to run back to his car.
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME! I'M NOT DYING TODAY!!!" He cried.
Qian Deming sighed in frustration as he said, "So you want it the hard way. Okay."
Bang!
Zhangqiu fell to his knees immediately. He stole a look behind just to find Qian Deming raising a black gun toward the sky while wearing a playful expression. He pointed the gun at him and said, "Can you tell which one will be faster? Me shooting you, or you trying to get back to your car?"
Zhangqiu started shaking his head slowly. He wanted to get up but a sudden fear storm ruled all over him. Looking at that man's eyes was somehow the main reason for his unclear feeling. He tightened his hand around his injured wrist and said, "How… How did you know my name? What do you want from me?!"
"How did I know your name? That doesn't matter. The good question is the second one." Qian Deming walked to him, "Actually, I'm a simple man who likes to give each person his reward or punishment. So basically, I'm here to give you the right price for all the victims you killed. By saying victims, I mean all the girls you raped and killed like the one of today."
Zhangqiu wanted to say something, but Qian Deming seemed as if he wasn't planning to give him even a single chance to talk.
"Your first victim was a young girl whom you threw her body in the middle of a beach like an animal…" He stood in front of him and said after wearing a piercing scary look that made the man's hair stand to the end, "You made her parents go crazy after losing their little child. She was a young girl with many dreams, but your master's greedy self-destroyed everything."
"That girl had a big brother. Do you know what he had done after hearing that his sister was raped and killed by an animal like you?" Qian Deming's tone seemed as if it was a little moved. However, he kept watching the man below him in maximum loath, "He left his high studies and joined the police just to be a simple cop. He wished to find the one who killed his sister and finish him with his own hands. Mr. Zhangqiu, do you think that your crime should be forgiven?"
"Who would get those people's rights if I don't today?"
"Mr. Zhangqiu. Mei Han will see your body in a truly bad state under this cliff today. I'll grant him his wish."
Zhangqiu wasn't able to take it anymore. He did not understand anything. He even regretted the moment he stopped his car for this devil.
"For now, I only cut one of your veins. You won't die that fast. However, do you think that the same would happen if I injured one of your arteries?" Qian Deming stood steel and watched the knife in full esteem. He smiled, "I have some good news."
"This knife needs to be sharpened which means cutting all the way to your artery will be painful beyond imagination. Congratulations."
Zhangqiu raised his head at him and started shaking it fearfully.
"P… please, don't! Just… Just tell me what you want and I'll do it!"
"How weird… You killed a lot of people, yet you're afraid of dying in such a simple way…" Qian Deming smiled at him for a long while before he caught him by his collar and gazed cruelly.
(Reminder⚠️: the scene starts here)
"Let's stop wasting each other's time and make things clear. I don't want anything from you but your soul." He snatched the knife from him and started cutting his flesh ruthlessly. The red blood started splattering everywhere as Zhangqiu started fighting him back fearfully. However, Qian Deming left him no way to move. Therefore, he started screaming, "SON OF A BITCH AHHH! LET ME GO! IT HURTS AHHHH!!!" He tried to push him away, but Qian Deming dragged him by his injured hand, took out his injection from his pocket, and said in his ear, "Sorry, but I wanted you to taste the real pain before you die."
With that, he threw him into the pool of sharp rocks so the man passed out immediately after his head hit them.
(End of the scene)
A moment of silence spread its wings around the whole place instantly.
At first, Qian Deming watched the crushed body with a neutral expression before he started laughing in pleasure.
"That's the price anyone of your likes should pay! I won't let any of them survive! ANY FUCKING SINGLE ONE OF THEM!"
He spread his hands as he looked at the blue sky, "This is the real justice! Kill and get killed! That's how it'll work from now on! Hahaha…"
"I will clean this world just like that! I'll pulverize them one by one. This is the last individual of the Qian family that everyone needs…"
After getting back to his normal state, he looked at the knife in his hand as he said playfully, "Let's make this game easier for my genius A-Ye. This should be considered murder."
He drew the knife next to Zhangqiu's body, emptied the injection inside a little bottle with him, placed it in the trunk, and left the crime scene calmly.
.
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Mini interview:
Xiao Xiao: Hello boys and girls! Today our guest is Qian Deming.
Qian Deming: it's nice to be here between you.
Xiao Xiao: So, Professor Qian. Our readers want to know more about you. Is that possible?
Qian Deming: *smiles* Sure, I'm a rich, handsome, tall, good-looking genius...
Xiao Xiao: oops... I think I shouldn't have asked this. Our ep will be over three days, so let's finish here. See you next week everyone!
Qian Deming: Hey! I didn't get to the best part yet!
Xiao Xiao: *Winks* shhh! Let them know it in the next few chapters~