One story originates from foreign lands, involving the art of corpse walking. In a monastery, all the orphans were struck by a strange virus, transforming them into bizarre walking corpses. In reality, they were merely afflicted by a peculiar hysteria. Interestingly, this inspired the popular game The Walking Dead.
Another tale, also foreign, comes from the Eden Valley. At that time, many people mistakenly consumed a strange food, contracted an unusual skin disease, and became mentally disoriented. They would wander outside at night, frequently passing by graves. This later evolved into plot elements of the Resident Evil movie franchise. Ultimately, such occurrences of corpse walking or reanimation are likely the result of human actions or diseases.
While I was pondering these stories, Zhao Simeng took out a "bone-listening wood" and an "yin-yang pillow" to examine Huo Hong's body. She then squeezed the eggplant I had brought back, dripping its juice onto Huo Hong's body. Afterward, she instructed me to place the eggplant pulp into his mouth.
She said, "Go find a bottle, preferably the kind used for cupping therapy."
Cupping therapy?
I almost spat out a mouthful of blood at the absurdity of it. However, knowing Zhao Simeng wouldn't make baseless requests, I hurried to comply. Thankfully, such tools were easily found in nearby stores, and I soon returned. By then, some officers had dispersed the onlookers, leaving the surroundings much quieter.
Honestly, I felt Zhao Simeng could have brought the corpse back to the station for further investigation, but her impatience seemed to get the better of her.
After I handed over the bottles, Zhao Simeng lit an alcohol lamp and heated several cupping jars. She began by gently applying a warm towel to the deceased's body multiple times before placing the heated jars on his back and abdomen.
Next, she asked me to crush the eggplant further, mix it with some salt, and apply the paste to the deceased's abdomen after removing the cups.
She explained, "Eggplants can relax the dead body's muscles, helping expel accumulated fluids inside. With the added effects of salt and heat, the results are even better."
I gave her a thumbs-up, marveling at her expertise. At this moment, Zhao Simeng inserted a silver needle into Huo Hong's jaw. To our astonishment, the corpse sat upright, spewing a mouthful of stomach fluid with a loud "Wah!"
"Ahhh! The corpse has come alive! Run!" Several officers cried out in alarm at the sight.
Zhao Simeng sneered, "Relax. This is just what Huo Hong drank earlier. Smell it for yourself!"
Following her suggestion, I sniffed the puddle on the ground. Sure enough, a strong aroma of red wine wafted up, reminding me of the odd, almost robotic behavior of the man who had been drinking with Huo Hong earlier.
I asked Xiao Yuande, "What do you think happens when someone drinks alcohol?"
"They get drunk!" he replied. I rolled my eyes at him. Quickly, Zhao Simeng added, "Their heart rate accelerates, their face flushes, and their mood becomes elated."
"Exactly. But do you think a dead person would still react to alcohol?" I asked, puzzled.
Perhaps making them drink was a ploy to conceal something. If those stiff and awkward individuals simply sat there, their oddness would have been obvious long ago.
Among the fluids Huo Hong expelled, I noticed remnants of white, aluminum-like material resembling capsule shells. My keen sense of smell also detected not just red wine but also distilled spirits and rice wine in his stomach. My goodness, it was all alcohol!
However, none of this was the real issue. What truly baffled me was the absence of stomach acid in the mixture.
This confirmed that Huo Hong had been dead for a while. A corpse's stomach wouldn't produce gastric acid, validating Zhao Simeng's claim.
At this point, Xiao Yuande, who had just arrived, wrinkled his nose and asked, "What are you sniffing? That's disgusting."
"Wine tasting, of course. First, you observe, then you sniff, and finally, you savor." I teased him on purpose.
"I can't take it anymore!" Xiao Yuande covered his mouth and dashed to the hotel restroom. Zhao Simeng laughed at my antics, "Do you have to mess with him?"
"His nerves are a bit fragile," I joked.
Meanwhile, forensic expert Huang and Simachao were diligently analyzing the corpse using advanced instruments. They seemed quite serious about their work.
Zhao Simeng remarked, "Fresh eggplant can swiftly induce the expulsion of stomach contents. My earlier test revealed that while the internal organs were decaying, the stomach remained somewhat active."
Huang scoffed, "Your conclusions are quick, aren't they? Not even a dissection and you're so sure?"
"There's no need for dissection when I have my bone-listening wood!" Zhao Simeng retorted while putting away her tools.
Huang dismissed her methods with disdain. "Those mystical gadgets again? We've already analyzed the alcohol in the stomach. What's your explanation for their deaths, then?"
Huang himself seemed unsure, as his tone lacked confidence. He suggested taking the corpse back for a full autopsy. However, Zhao Simeng insisted on flipping Huo Hong's body to examine it further. Sure enough, she discovered a tiny puncture wound on his back. Using my enhanced vision, I examined it closely and said, "This puncture was made about three hours ago."
"Exactly," Zhao Simeng confirmed.
Could it have been caused by some kind of drug? As we pondered this, Huang and Simachao flipped over another corpse. Surprisingly, it also bore a similar puncture wound on its back.
Was the perpetrator targeting the wealthy businessman Xuan Xingchang, taking out two individuals in the process to manipulate their corpses? What level of hatred would drive someone to such extremes?
As of now, Xuan Xingchang's potential enemies remained unclear. The police had found no leads during their investigation, leaving me no choice but to dig deeper.
Just as we were about to return to the station, my phone rang. It was Xiao Yuande calling from the hospital. "Captain He, I'm at the hospital. Another person just died!"
What? I hadn't expected tragedy to strike again so soon. Without delay, we rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival, Xiao Yuande, waiting outside, informed us, "The businessman's secretary is dead!"
Shocked, we entered Xuan Xingchang's hospital room only to find it empty. His secretary was seated upright on the windowsill, her eyes wide open and limbs stiff.
Approaching the deceased, I helped Zhao Simeng lower the body for examination. As we moved her, we noticed shards of glass embedded in the back of her skull.