"A young woman was found stabbed to death in her home." The TV news showed a close-up of the corpse. She was very young, and her death was horrifying. I sighed, "How tragic."
"What's so tragic?" my friend asked, looking up from the map of Yunnan.
"The girl. She was so young and died so horribly." I pointed at the TV.
"It's indeed tragic, but if you were a forensic doctor or a police officer handling the scene, you shouldn't say such things," he said meaningfully. I knew he was about to tell a story, so I teased him, "What's the big deal? It's just a comment."
"Heh, you'll understand once you hear my story."
"Once, I was staying at a hotel, and a murder occurred. At first, I didn't know what happened, but everyone in the building was woken up, and a bunch of police officers arrived and sealed off the area. Then, we were questioned one by one. Later, I found out that a guest had discovered a woman's body nailed inside the floor.
When the body was brought out, it hadn't decomposed yet. She was very young, but I couldn't see clearly because the guests were crowded around. The hotel owner, a woman in her forties, sat on the floor, crying loudly, saying it wasn't her fault. Regardless of her involvement, the hotel was definitely going to be shut down.
I remember a very young police officer there, in uniform, who looked quite clean-cut, almost like a Hong Kong movie star. When he saw the girl's body, he said, 'It's so tragic.' Just as he finished, an older officer pulled him aside and scolded him. I don't remember exactly what was said.
Then came the routine procedures. Coincidentally, the young officer took my statement. I told him everything in detail. He recorded it very seriously, like a student still in school. I guessed he hadn't been on the job long; otherwise, he would've known not to say such things. After the statement, as he was about to leave, I handed him a cigarette. He hesitated but accepted it. As we smoked, we had a brief chat.
'You're new to this, right?' I asked.
'Yeah. It's my first case. I hadn't even had a chance to shower after getting home before I got the call. But this case is really gruesome,' he said, still a bit shaken.
'What did that officer say to you earlier?'
He hesitated but eventually told me, revealing he wasn't good at lying.
'He's my mentor, almost like a father to me. He often says he wants to treat me like his own son. He scolded me for saying such things at the scene and told me to go home and burn incense for Buddha and take a hot shower. It's really an overreaction. I only said it was tragic.'
I looked at him, realizing he truly didn't understand. At a crime scene, especially a murder scene, there's an unwritten rule: never express sympathy for the victim or talk about avenging them. Just do your job.
'What's your name?' I asked, wanting to keep in touch.
'Zhang Wei. Wei as in greatness.' He showed me the characters. 'I'm with the criminal police. Here's my number.' He handed me a note, and I gave him one of mine. He looked at my card, surprised. 'It's you! I've heard about your vast experience.' I wasn't much older than him, but I felt much older. Young people are easy to get along with, but who knows if he'll be as amiable in a few years.
The hotel was uninhabitable, so I found another place. The murder had given me a fear of wooden rooms. I stayed in the city for a few more days because Zhang Wei said it would be best if I stayed nearby for questioning within 48 hours.
The first day was uneventful, but the next morning, I got a call from Zhang Wei. He sounded like he was almost in tears.
'Is that you? It's Zhang Wei.'
'What's wrong? Why are you crying? You were fine the other day.' I had a bad feeling as soon as he called.
'I'm desperate. Only you can help me. I know you can help me,' he cried harder. Without another word, I packed my things and rushed to the meeting place he mentioned.
It was a local café I'd been to recently, so I knew it well. As soon as I walked in, I saw Zhang Wei sitting in a corner, holding a cup with both hands, looking terrified.
I quickly walked over. Seeing me, he grabbed my hand like a lifeline, holding it painfully tight. I finally pried his hand off.
'Calm down. It's safe here. Tell me what happened.' He was sweating profusely, his face pale, looking nothing like his usual self.
'Something happened. First, it was Captain Li, and soon it'll be me.' He held his head, speaking in a low voice. 'After we parted, Captain Li and I finished handling the case and planned to drive back to the station for a late-night snack and continue the investigation. It was already 3 AM. The hotel where the crime happened is about a 15-minute drive from the station. Captain Li was driving. We were both a bit tired, but staying up late is routine for criminal police, so we were very alert. I almost wish I had fallen asleep; it might have been better.'
He took a large gulp of coffee with trembling hands and seemed a bit calmer. After a moment, he continued.
'Captain Li and I were joking as we drove. About ten minutes in, the tire suddenly blew. The tire was new, changed that morning. I had no choice but to check it out. The road was deserted, and it was cold.
I soon found a large, rusty nail in the tire, about three inches long. I struggled to pull it out and prepared to change the tire.
At that moment, Captain Li asked what happened. I told him about the nail, and he went silent.
As I changed the tire, I felt increasingly cold, which was strange for that time of year, especially in a good-quality police uniform. I hurried to finish and got back in the car.
But Captain Li was gone. The keys were still in the ignition, but he had vanished. I called for him, but there was no response. I thought he might be relieving himself, but an hour passed, and he didn't return. I started to panic and called his phone, but it was out of service. I had no choice but to drive back to the station and spend the night there.'
'That was yesterday, but why didn't you contact me then?' I asked.
'Because Captain Li was back at work the next morning. He said he had an urgent matter and left. I was a bit annoyed he left me alone, but I was relieved he was okay. We continued investigating the case.
The victim was young and beautiful but likely involved in sex work. The autopsy revealed she had a sexually transmitted disease and had engaged in sexual activity before her death. The strangest part was her death. She was nailed to death with nails in her mouth, hands, and feet, likely to prevent screaming. The most fatal nail was in her forehead. Afterward, her body was placed back on the floor.'
'Don't you think that's a cumbersome way to kill someone? The more elaborate the murder, the more likely it will leave traces,' I couldn't help but ask. Killing someone on the street randomly is the hardest to solve.
'Yes, we also found it strange. We concluded the killer was a psychopath,' Zhang Wei said.
'Nothing unusual happened until noon,' he continued, his voice trembling. 'I went to buy lunch. When I returned, Captain Li was holding his hand, screaming in pain. I rushed over and saw him sweating profusely. I turned his hand over, but there was no visible injury.
But he kept screaming about the pain, describing it as needle pricks. He's a tough guy, so I knew it wasn't a minor injury. I took him to the hospital, but the tests showed nothing. I could only watch him in pain.'
'You said his hand, like being pricked by needles?' I felt a vague familiarity but couldn't place it.
'Yes, that's how he described it. When the pain subsided a bit, we discussed the case. His son was there too, urging him to rest. But that night, I was called back to the hospital. Captain Li had passed out from the pain in his left foot, with the same needle-like symptoms but no visible injury.'
'Wait, do you remember the times this happened?' I asked, recalling something.
'Yes, the first time was around 11:30 AM, the second was near midnight, around 11:30,' Zhang Wei confirmed.
'11:30?' I thought for a moment. The body was found at 11:30 too! I was getting closer but couldn't quite grasp it. Zhang Wei saw my frown and thought I was unwell.
'I can't let Captain Li die in pain. My father was murdered, and Captain Li led the team that solved the case, helping me become a police officer. I see him as my father.' The young man cried openly, causing curious glances from the café patrons, making me quite uncomfortable.
At that moment, Zhang Wei's phone rang again. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he almost didn't hear it, but he answered after my prompt. After a few words, his face changed. He grabbed his coat and pulled me outside. "Quick, to the hospital! Captain Li's condition has worsened." I glanced at my watch; it was exactly 11:30.
When we arrived, Captain Li was barely recognizable. Just two days ago, he had been a robust and imposing figure. Now, he looked gaunt and frail, like a pile of sticks on the bed, his skin a sallow color.
"Is it his right hand?" I asked as soon as I saw him. A tall, young man around Zhang Wei's age looked at me with displeasure, then at Zhang Wei as if to say, "Who is this guy barging in and speaking out of turn?"
Zhang Wei had gone to check on Captain Li first and hadn't introduced me. Realizing this, he quickly pulled me aside. "This is Li Zheng, Captain Li's son. He's a few years older than me and is a graduate student studying sociology or something like that."
Zhang Wei then introduced me to Li Zheng, who dismissed me with a snort and walked out, cigarette in hand. Although he was handsome, his demeanor was off-putting. Despite his father's critical condition, he seemed indifferent, while Zhang Wei acted more like a concerned son. I found it odd but decided not to dwell on it.
"Is the pain in your right hand again?" I asked Captain Li softly.
"Mm-hmm." The sound dragged out, showing how much effort it took for him to speak. I called Zhang Wei outside, and of course, Li Zheng followed, smoking and glaring at me.
"If I'm not mistaken, Captain Li is suffering from a crucifixion curse," I said deliberately. Zhang Wei was shocked, but Li Zheng, expressionless, asked, "Do you even know what a crucifixion curse is? Don't spout nonsense."
"Of course, I know. The crucifixion curse originated in Rome, initially used by the clergy to punish traitors or deserters. It became famous through the Bible; Jesus was crucified. However, the earliest forms were not cross-shaped but T-shaped or X-shaped," I said, taking a drag from my cigarette.
"So what? What does this have to do with my father?" Li Zheng sneered at me, full of defiance. Honestly, there are people you want to punch on the first meeting; Li Zheng was one of them. I continued, keeping my composure.
"The main feature of the crucifixion curse is that it causes immense pain, and the nails can pin the victim's soul. However, if the victim has intense resentment, the body should be buried face down. If it's flipped over, the victim's pain will be transferred to someone else, not necessarily the killer, but randomly. Each nail causes pain every 12 hours. Captain Li's pain occurred at 11:30, right?" I finished in one breath, leaving Zhang Wei puzzled.
"Ridiculous! My father has been a policeman all his life; why should he suffer this curse and not the real culprit?" Li Zheng shouted.
"Yes, I hope it's the real culprit too," I said casually. Li Zheng suddenly yelled at Zhang Wei, "Get this lunatic out of here!" He stormed back into the room. Zhang Wei looked at me helplessly. I patted his shoulder and suggested we leave.
Outside the hospital, I explained to Zhang Wei, "Captain Li's condition is dire. You said the victim had five nails? Three have already caused pain. We have less than 24 hours to find the real killer. If we don't, the nail in the forehead will kill Captain Li!" I didn't want to scare Zhang Wei but needed him to understand the gravity of the situation.
Predictably, Zhang Wei looked distressed and grabbed my hand, pleading, "What should we do? How can we solve this case in less than a day? You must help me, or Captain Li is doomed!" He even tried to kneel before me. I quickly helped him up, touched by his deep emotions.
"I'm no shaman and know nothing about magic, but we have to try. Some things turn around if you don't give up. Let's start by examining the victim's body. Can you arrange that?" I steadied Zhang Wei. A crying police officer was not a good look. Zhang Wei composed himself.
"I'll make it happen, even if I have to threaten the coroner." He drove us straight to the morgue. On the way, I had my doubts. I had only heard of the crucifixion curse from others; there was no written record. If we couldn't save Captain Li, our lives might also be at risk.
When we arrived, after some negotiation, we were allowed to examine the body. It was already afternoon, and time was running short.
The victim was indeed young and beautiful, without the vulgarity often associated with sex workers. But the sinister aura after death was chilling, so I covered her head. I wondered when motel standards had risen so high. However, there was no time for distractions. I examined her five wounds, each caused by nails, with binding marks on her hands, feet, and neck, suggesting she was tied up during the crucifixion. Zhang Wei mentioned she had likely died not long ago and that her body had no dirt or external elements, indicating she was killed in the motel room. In such motels, as long as you paid, no one cared what you did inside.
Zhang Wei couldn't handle it and waited outside. I hoped to find more clues on the body.
I reviewed Zhang Wei's notes. Based on the victim's time of death and the motel records, only two people had stayed in the room during the relevant period. One checked in the morning and left that night, while another arrived a few hours later, specifically requesting the same room. Both wore masks and hats, making identification difficult. The motel owner didn't recognize the victim, nor did the local prostitutes.
The victim had only five wounds. The coroner hadn't performed an autopsy yet, but the preliminary report matched what I observed. Without any leads, finding the real killer by 11:30 AM the next day seemed impossible. It appeared Captain Li was targeted because Zhang Wei had expressed sympathy at the crime scene. The most crucial moment was when the victim's body was flipped over. Zhang Wei mentioned her eyes were open, and the first person she saw was Captain Li.
I decided to leave with Zhang Wei, realizing we needed the victim herself to speak if we were to solve the case. Just then, Zhang Wei came in, looking shocked and unable to speak. He pointed behind me, and I turned to see the victim's body bleeding.
It was like being struck by lightning. I froze, thinking why such things always happened to me. But I had experience. I signaled Zhang Wei to stay calm and slowly move toward the door, ready to run if necessary.
Blood spurted from the body like a fountain, filling the room with a strong metallic smell.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "We are here to find the real killer and hope you stop tormenting Captain Li." There was no response, so I repeated, my voice trembling.
Eventually, the bleeding stopped. Zhang Wei and I could finally stand without shaking. Looking at the blood-soaked floor, I wondered if she was trying to hint at something. Suddenly, I realized—it was the nails!
"Where are the nails? Where are they now?" I yelled at Zhang Wei, who was still in a daze.
"In the evidence room, why?" Zhang Wei was almost scared by my urgency.
"Quick, we need to go there," I said, pulling Zhang Wei. As we left, we heard the terrified screams of the staff. Seeing so much blood, who could blame them?
It was nearly 3 PM when we reached the evidence room. Fortunately, the officer in charge was someone Captain Li had trained. Hearing we were there to help Captain Li, he let us in but warned we couldn't take anything.
I examined the nails in their plastic bags, still stained with dried blood. Each nail was three inches long with a round head and threaded shank. These nails seemed common enough. I scrutinized all five nails but found nothing special. Had I misunderstood the victim's hint?
Threaded? Wait! The autopsy report didn't mention spiral wounds. These aren't the real nails that killed her!
So, where were the real nails? If the killer wanted to pin the victim's soul, they would use peach wood nails, which are rare.
Just then, Zhang Wei got a call. After speaking briefly, he excitedly told me they had identified the victim as a local university student.
I was still examining the nails and barely registered what Zhang Wei said. "A university student? Wasn't she a prostitute?"
"That was Captain Li's assumption. He said most young women in the area were likely involved in such activities."
No wonder no one recognized her. But what was she doing there, and why hadn't the owner seen her?
By 4 PM, we were at the university, hoping to learn more about the girl.
We soon discovered that the girl's name was Qiu Xuan, a senior in the sociology department. She had a questionable reputation and many friends. She had been missing for days. She had a boyfriend, but they had been arguing about her post-graduation plans.
We found her boyfriend, who looked honest but meek. There was no way he could wield a hammer, let alone use crucifixion nails.
With no leads, we left, disheartened. As we were leaving, I spotted someone.
Li Zheng! He was hurrying out of the library with a book. Why was he here instead of at the hospital? I asked Zhang Wei, who said Li Zheng was known for being a diligent student. But was that the real reason?
We returned to the library to check what book Li Zheng had borrowed. Initially, the librarian was reluctant to help, but after seeing Zhang Wei, she smiled and searched.
"It's 'Sealing Ghosts,' an old book almost falling apart," she said softly.
Why did he borrow this book? Thanking her, we hurried back to the hospital. With no other leads, we needed to see Captain Li.
By 4 PM, we were back. Captain Li looked slightly better; his colleagues and leaders had visited him. Li Zheng had likely slipped out during that time.
After some comforting words to Zhang Wei, I went to research "Sealing Ghosts."
It wasn't easy to find information, not because it was rare but because there was so much. Finally, I found details on how to handle a crucifixion curse.
Exhausted from a day of running around, Zhang Wei and I grabbed a quick bite before heading back to the motel, which was still sealed off. Li Zheng joined us, glaring coldly. Zhang Wei instructed him to stay with Captain Li and call if anything happened. Li Zheng retorted, "He's my father, not yours!" Zhang Wei was left speechless, his face red with frustration. I quickly pulled him away.
At 7:30, we arrived at the crime scene. It was my first time inside. Zhang Wei's colleagues were on duty. Zhang Wei introduced me as a criminal psychology expert, and we got in.
The room was chaotic, evidence of the earlier commotion. A chalk outline marked where the body had been. I realized the floor was hollow, which explained how the body had been hidden. The police had already combed through the room, so I didn't expect to find anything new.
My purpose was to understand the scene, to think like the killer.
I closed my eyes and sat on the bed, trying to imagine myself as the killer. Zhang Wei watched silently.
On the day of the murder, two people entered the room. They didn't carry bags or suitcases, so one must have been the victim, the other the killer. They wore disguises to avoid recognition. A university student wouldn't normally need such precautions, but the victim had a sexually transmitted disease and a bad reputation. Was the killer angry over a deal gone wrong? Such a complex murder method seemed excessive.
I envisioned a scenario where the killer knew the victim and planned her murder, using the crucifixion curse to prevent her spirit from seeking revenge. But why use the crucifixion curse?
I remembered reading that the crucifixion curse was used to punish promiscuity and infidelity in women.
At 8:17, we left the scene with no new leads. We needed to investigate the girl's background further.
Back at the university, we found one of her few friends.
The girl was Qiu Xuan's roommate. She was stylish and attractive, a stark contrast to my college days.
"The last time I saw her was a week ago. She borrowed money from me," she said, chewing gum nonchalantly.
"Why did she need money?" Zhang Wei asked.
The girl rolled her eyes. "How should I know? Maybe for an abortion or medical bills. It wasn't the first time. Her boyfriend didn't care, but they never broke up. She was also close with a sociology graduate student recently. Maybe you should ask him."
"What's his name?" Zhang Wei asked, notebook ready.
"Li Zheng, Li as in plum, Zheng as in correct. He's quite handsome," she said before running off with a playful wink.
Zhang Wei and I stood there. Zhang Wei looked at me, "What now?"
"What else? We go find Li Zheng," I replied.
At 9:10, we were back at the hospital.
Captain Li was asleep, looking exhausted. In two hours, the pain would return.
Zhang Wei, Li Zheng, and I stood in the hallway, silent.
"If you don't want your father to suffer, tell us everything you know. As a folklore student, you should understand the severity of the crucifixion curse. You don't want to watch your father die in pain, do you?" I broke the silence. Li Zheng smirked.
"This has nothing to do with you. You're not a cop, so why are you involved?" he taunted.
"He's my friend. I asked for his help," Zhang Wei said sternly before I could respond.
"If you're really Captain Li's son, tell us what you know so we can save him."
"He's my father. Do you think I want to see him suffer?" Li Zheng almost shouted.
"We don't have much time. Briefly, what's your relationship with Qiu Xuan? Why did you borrow 'Sealing Ghosts'? And where were you during the crime?" Zhang Wei asked in one breath.
Li Zheng was furious, but he answered. He said Qiu Xuan was just a junior he met in the library. He initially liked her but distanced himself after hearing about her reputation. He borrowed the book to understand the crucifixion curse. He claimed he was at home watching TV with his father during the crime.
After an unproductive argument, we left, frustrated. Outside, we smoked in silence, watching time slip away.
Captain Li was resting, so we didn't disturb him. With no leads, our only option was to find the missing nail. It was obvious someone had switched the evidence. Zhang Wei told me that only he and Captain Li had handled the evidence, including the victim's money, the nails, and a hammer with no fingerprints.
"Did Captain Li disappear after you got out of the car?"
"Yes, but you don't suspect him, do you? We were together the whole time," Zhang Wei replied.
"You saw the nails in the evidence room. They weren't the ones from the body. Only Captain Li could have switched them."
"Why would he take such a risk? He didn't kill anyone and wouldn't bother with the crucifixion curse," Zhang Wei said, looking at Captain Li through the glass. Li Zheng was sitting nearby, reading.
"Don't you find it suspicious? He warned you not to sympathize with the victim, probably to protect you. Then the car tire blew, and the evidence was switched. I'm not saying Captain Li did it, but he might be covering for someone, risking obstruction of justice," I pointed to Li Zheng, and Zhang Wei nodded. We just needed proof that Li Zheng was the killer.
Using a peach wood nail in the forehead was crucial to trap the victim's spirit. If Captain Li removed it and discarded it somewhere, it must have evidence linking Li Zheng to the crime!
Suddenly, a scream came from the room. Captain Li was in agony, clutching his right foot. The clock showed 11:30.
This time was worse. Captain Li was almost delirious with pain. Another nail's effect was stronger. With only 12 hours left, even without the forehead nail, Captain Li would be severely weakened. I glanced at Li Zheng, who seemed indifferent, perhaps even smug. I felt anger rise within me.
Nurses and doctors arrived, giving Captain Li a sedative to put him to sleep. I grabbed my coat and dragged Zhang Wei out of the hospital.
"Let's go. We're going to the spot where your car stopped. Even if we don't sleep, we must find that peach wood nail."
"We should call for backup. It's a vast area, and we don't know where Captain Li threw it," Zhang Wei suggested.
"No. The reason won't make sense, and we shouldn't publicize the switched evidence. We'll go first, and I have a way to locate it," I said, determined.
At 1:20 AM, we first went to the morgue. While Zhang Wei distracted the staff, I sneaked in and found Qiu Xuan's body.
I moved her head aside, pressed my right index finger on her forehead wound, and applied fresh rice water to her eyes.
I silently prayed, asking her to lend me her last bit of soul to help find the nail and clear her name.
I bit my finger to let the blood drip into the wound, then covered it.
Success depended on fate. Now, her remaining soul's essence was in the peach wood nail. My finger would resonate with it, and I could see the crime scene if I touched the nail. This method was risky. If we didn't find the nail in 12 hours, the next target would be my forehead!
After preparing, Zhang Wei and I drove to the spot where the tire blew. We arrived by 2:30.
I held up my right hand, feeling like a radar, searching for Qiu Xuan's remaining soul in the nail. But after hours of searching, my arm was numb, and we had no results.
By dawn, we were exhausted and disheartened. Only five hours remained. Zhang Wei was sitting on the ground, drained.
I began doubting my hasty decision, realizing I was overconfident in my theory. Now, I had to face the consequences.
Maybe I had missed something crucial? We decided to return to the hospital. When we arrived, the hospital was starting breakfast service, signaling it was 7:15 AM. Facing my impending fate, I felt oddly calm.
As we got out of the car, I bumped into someone. Without looking, they walked away. Suddenly, my index finger throbbed in pain.
There was a reaction! The nail must be with that person! I signaled Zhang Wei to stop him. It was a young man, about seventeen, dressed in trendy clothes. He seemed scared. Zhang Wei searched him and found the peach wood nail in his pocket.
We questioned him harshly. He stammered that he had found it a few days ago and kept it because it looked special. His description matched the area we had searched all night.
He stood there, frightened. I sternly reminded him to apologize when bumping into people, then let him go. He quickly ran off.
Holding the nail felt like a shot of adrenaline. Now, we needed to place it back into Qiu Xuan's forehead to see her final moments.
By 8:40 AM, we sneaked into the morgue. Zhang Wei stood guard.
I carefully inserted the nail and let my blood drip again. Closing my eyes, I waited, anxious to discover the killer's identity.
I saw an unfamiliar environment, not the motel room. Then, a person's back, and a document resembling a lab report. The person suddenly turned and lunged at me. Flashing images of hands strangling me made me feel like I was suffocating. Then, the vision ended.
I snapped back, feeling like I had been shocked. Despite the brief vision, I recognized the killer. Now, we just needed evidence.
At 9:30 AM, we gathered everyone at the hospital: Li Zheng, the roommate, Qiu Xuan's boyfriend. We took blood samples under the pretense of routine testing. A while later, I returned with the results.
I looked at them, taking a deep breath. I held up several test results, including theirs.
"What does this mean?" Li Zheng asked.
"These are your test results. Among them, one person has a sexually transmitted disease matching Qiu Xuan's," I said, holding the documents. Their faces showed no reaction. It was time to reveal the truth.
"The crucifixion curse punishes the impure and the unfaithful. Qiu Xuan was promiscuous and engaged in sex work. We assumed the motel was the primary crime scene because of the blood from the nails, the hammer, and the autopsy report. But we missed a crucial detail…"
But actually, Qiu Xuan was strangled! She was only nailed after her death," I looked at Li Zheng and smiled, "Isn't that right?"
Li Zheng's face remained icy, and he did not respond.
"I don't know what method the killer used to delay the forensic analysis by two or three days, but he left his blood sample on the nail in her forehead—the peach wood nail." I took out the peach wood nail, which was a dark red color.
"There seems to be writing on it," the girl exclaimed as she looked at the nail.
"Yes, I can read it out loud: 'For the people, righteousness shall prevail.' This explains the origin of your name, Li Zheng. In other words, this peach wood nail belongs to you!" I held the nail up to Li Zheng's face. He looked at it and couldn't help but laugh.
"Just a nail to prove I'm the murderer? How ridiculous."
"Indeed, I'm not accusing you of being the murderer because the real culprit is him." I turned and pointed the nail at Qiu Xuan's seemingly feeble boyfriend. In Qiu Xuan's final memory, I saw him!
"It's not me! Don't frame an innocent person," he shouted defensively, but sweat was already pouring down his forehead.
"I don't need to frame you. The nail has Qiu Xuan's blood and yours!" I raised his hand high, revealing a fresh wound on his thumb, small but just healed.
"Don't deny it. I know about your relationship with Qiu Xuan. You both came from poor families and grew up together. Qiu Xuan did what she did to help you fulfill your dream of studying abroad. But when she was about to graduate, and your plans to go abroad were nearly complete, you intended to abandon her. That night, she came to your room, wanting to be intimate one last time. Afterward, she showed you her STD test result, mocking you. Such a disease would disqualify you from any medical exam, right? In your anger, you strangled her. Afraid of her spirit seeking revenge or perhaps feeling guilty, you sought help from someone who could use occult techniques to escape the law and the spirit's wrath." I finished and looked at Li Zheng.
"That person is well-versed in such arts. I don't know what methods he used, but in the end, you performed the nail punishment in the motel room. The crucial peach wood nail was given to you by him."
The boy collapsed as if his soul had left his body, muttering, "I'm sorry, Xuan Xuan."
I glanced at the clock; it was exactly 11 o'clock, and it seemed everything was over.
"Fool," Li Zheng's expression suddenly changed, filled with anger and irritability. He then calmed down and looked at me.
"It seems I underestimated you. I noticed you as soon as you arrived in this city. By coincidence, this fool called me and confessed he had killed Qiu Xuan. They always treated me as a so-called friend. Pretending to be dumb while interacting with them was truly painful. When you showed up, I naturally included you in my revenge plan. I knew you might disrupt my plans, but a game without changes isn't interesting.
Yes, I taught him the nail punishment. Qiu Xuan actually died two days before the time you deduced. When he found me, the body was already slightly decomposed. I used wax oil to cover her body and seal the odor. You wanted to know why there were no marks on her neck despite being strangled and why there was blood spurting even though she was already dead when nailed? It's all thanks to my invention." Li Zheng took out a small box and extracted a transparent, half-inch-long worm-like creature.
"This is a corpse-controlling worm. Once it enters a body—no, it must be a corpse that hasn't been dead for more than three days—it continuously splits, becoming smaller than a virus. Inside the corpse, they consume dead cells and can restructure them, making the blood flow again. All forensic conclusions are based on the premise that blood ceases to flow after death, causing necrosis. Of course, you were deceived.
Next, these worms can control all the muscles, bones, and nerves. I can make the corpse perform any action, even speak. Isn't it fascinating?" Li Zheng held the worm and smiled.
"The first person the hotel owner saw was that fool, and the second was the corpse I controlled. After the nail punishment, I reported the crime because I knew you were inside. How could someone as curious as you not investigate such a case?"
"But I don't understand your so-called revenge. We've never met before, right?" I looked at my watch; it was 11:20.
"Hmph, you'll have to ask the old man in bed about the sins he committed twenty years ago. Although I couldn't kill him this time, he did suffer. I left the peach wood nail on purpose, hoping you'd find me through it so we could play a game of cat and mouse. Unfortunately, the old man ruined it, but a game with changes is a good game!" Li Zheng laughed maniacally. Watching this man who treated human lives so casually, I felt a chill.
"I'm leaving, but I'll come back for you. Battling with you is quite fun!" With that, Li Zheng ran towards the balcony. Zhang Wei and I hurried to stop him, but it was the 11th floor.
Li Zheng fell like a kite with a broken string, a gruesome sight. Zhang Wei and I looked at each other and returned to the ward. It was now 11:30, and Captain Li woke up, the curse seemingly lifted. Just as Zhang Wei and I were celebrating, a sudden scream came from outside. I rushed out to find Qiu Xuan's boyfriend writhing in agony on the ground. When I touched him, I felt something sharp from within his body.
The next moments are forever etched in my mind. His body turned into a pincushion, with countless nails piercing out, spraying blood and bone fragments everywhere. The girl fainted on the spot.
Zhang Wei was dumbfounded. "How could this happen?"
"It's the backlash of the nail punishment. The executioner suffers hundreds or thousands of times the pain," I sighed. Maybe if he and Qiu Xuan had talked things through, he wouldn't have turned his inner demons into real ones.
Zhang Wei handled the aftermath. However, I still had questions for Captain Li once he fully recovered.
A few days later, Zhang Wei and I went to pick up Captain Li from the hospital.
"Li Zheng wasn't my biological son." Captain Li's first words shocked us, especially Zhang Wei.
"I knew he would find out eventually. Twenty years ago, I solved a major case by coincidence. Back then, I was just a small cop like Zhang Wei now. I happened to witness the criminal committing the crime, which involved using the nail punishment. In the struggle, I shot and killed him. It was my first time firing a gun. Later, I learned the criminal had nailed his wife to death, suspecting her of infidelity. They had a young son, and I couldn't bear to leave him an orphan, so I adopted him. His father's belongings included seven peach wood nails with the words 'For the people, righteousness shall prevail.' That's how I named him Li Zheng. I thought he was destined to be with me. I knew he would eventually learn I killed his father, but I didn't expect him to plot such a revenge.
I deliberately punctured the tire and swapped the evidence. He asked me to do it, saying he killed the girl in a fit of rage and begged me to save him. I agreed to switch the nails."
"No wonder Qiu Xuan sought you out. The nail didn't have the boy's blood but yours," I said to Captain Li.
"My blood?" Captain Li was surprised.
"Yes, I set a trap to make the boy confess. The nail had your blood. I discovered it after testing everyone's samples. That's why the curse targeted you. Li Zheng intended to kill you with the nail punishment."
I expected Captain Li to be furious, but he was calm. This ordeal had aged him significantly.
"I don't blame him. It was all predestined. Though I'm a cop, I killed his father with my own hands."
Zhang Wei and I remained silent.
Zhang Wei's phone rang. After answering, his expression changed. I asked what was wrong.
"The autopsy revealed the body wasn't Li Zheng's. It was someone dead for several days." Zhang Wei replied.
As I expected, he wouldn't commit suicide so easily. He must have used the corpse-controlling worms, planning his escape in advance. Remembering his parting words sent a chill down my spine.
I looked at my thoughtful friend and reassured him, "Maybe he was just trying to scare you. Don't worry. Although, it seems Li Zheng knows more about these things than you do."
"Indeed, he might be hiding somewhere, setting another trap for me."
"What if you hadn't encountered that young man and found the peach wood nail?" I joked.
Friend shrugged helplessly, "Then it would've been over, game over." He then grinned slyly, "Luck is part of skill, you know."
We both laughed.