Station Chief Liu nodded: "That's right! That's why it's so scary! Five people died at the same time, as if they were asleep. Do you think that's normal?"

The monkey lit a cigarette and asked, "What did the police station say?"

"The police station had never seen a murder case like this before. They told us to protect the scene and then called the county bureau! That's why the county sent criminal police over!"

Station Chief Liu paused for a moment: "After the criminal police arrived, the leader said it was definitely murder, so he had Old Wu, the prime suspect, taken into custody. Then the forensic doctor conducted an on-site examination, and the criminal police asked us to leave! After a while, the police station asked us to help carry the body, and I went into the room to help."

At the time, I overheard people from the criminal investigation team and the local police station talking, saying that there were no signs of external injury on the bodies, and the specifics would only be clear after the autopsy report came out! While I was moving the bodies, I noticed a red spot on the sole of one of the corpses, which looked like a wound, and I told the officers from the criminal investigation team about it.

I pressed further, "And then?"

"The criminal investigation team said they had discovered this situation. All five bodies had this kind of wound on the soles of their feet. However, the wounds were so small that they should not be fatal. They also said that this was a confidential case and that I was not allowed to tell anyone!"

Station Chief Liu lowered his voice: "Secretary Niu learned that there had been a murder in town, so he asked me to come back and tell you not to wander around, lest you encounter danger. That's why I told you about this! Boss Duan, you absolutely must not tell anyone about this!"

When I was little, I heard a legend that there used to be a cemetery in Qingyun Town. The residents who moved there leveled the cemetery to build a village. From then on, the village was haunted. The ghost would use a hammer and nails to drill a hole in the sole of a person's foot after they fell asleep, and then drink all their blood!

When I was little, I heard this legend and was so scared that I wouldn't even stick my feet out of the window while sleeping. But today, seeing the wounds on those corpses, I immediately remembered the legend I heard as a child! My grandfather told me that when he was young, people in our town died like that!

"Don't worry, I'm not that gossipy."

I smiled at Station Chief Liu and continued, "However, I'll have to trouble you to inform Secretary Niu that we came here for an inspection, so we can't stay here. We have to continue into the mountains today!"

"Boss Duan, why don't you personally speak to Secretary Niu about this?"

Station Chief Liu looked at me with some difficulty: "You are an investor whom the county leaders have instructed to take good care of. If something goes wrong with me, I won't be able to explain it to Secretary Niu! Please don't put me in a difficult position, okay?"

"Okay, I'll go talk to Secretary Niu about this!"

Seeing how humble Station Chief Liu was, I nodded and walked towards the row of bungalows where the offices were located.

When we arrived at the office, Secretary Niu was talking to a man in a police uniform. Seeing me standing at the door, he smiled and stood up: "Captain Ma, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Duan, sent by Jintu Mining to Qingyun Town for poverty alleviation inspection! Mr. Duan, this is Deputy Captain Ma of the County Criminal Investigation Brigade!"

After listening to Secretary Niu's introduction, I nodded to Captain Ma: "Yes, hello!"

"Hello!"

Captain Ma smiled at me: "To become a cadre in Jintu Mining at such a young age, no wonder your company has been able to grow so big!"

Secretary Niu then asked, "Mr. Duan, what brings you here to discuss something?"

I nodded: "Secretary Niu, we still have to go into the mountains! The purpose of my trip here is to help Qingyun Town with poverty alleviation, so we need to submit the plan to the head office as soon as possible. Time is tight and the task is heavy, so we really can't afford to delay!"

"Mr. Duan, it was my decision not to let you into the mountains!"

Captain Ma said, "Secretary Niu has already introduced your identities to me. To be honest, a major homicide has occurred in Qingyun Town. We have basically determined that the victim was murdered. After the murder, the suspect is likely to hide in the deep mountains. Going into the mountains at this time is too dangerous for you!"

I nodded: "Captain Ma, I appreciate your concern, but poverty alleviation is my job. After completing the inspection in Qingyun Town, I have to go to other places, so I can't stay here for a long time. Please understand!"

"I personally admire your willingness to come to Qingyun Town for poverty alleviation, and that's precisely why we must protect your safety!"

Captain Ma paused for a moment: "If you insist on going into the mountains, I have no right to stop you, but you must protect your personal safety and report any suspicious activity..."

Before Captain Ma could finish speaking, a policeman rushed to the door and said with a serious expression, "Captain Ma, something has happened again in Qingyun Town!"

"Excuse me, gentlemen!"

After listening to his subordinate's report, Captain Ma greeted us and hurriedly got up to leave. However, less than thirty seconds later, he returned: "Secretary Niu, could you please come out with me... By the way, Mr. Duan, I'm afraid you can't go into the mountains! A forest ranger just found a body in the mountains, and we need to block all roads leading into the mountains!"

"People have died in the mountains too?"

Upon hearing Captain Ma's words, I instinctively asked, "How many died?"

Captain Ma shook his head: "I'm sorry, this is confidential and I cannot disclose it."

Secretary Niu also spoke up, "Mr. Duan, you heard what Captain Ma said. Too many things happened in our town today, and you are the people that the county leaders repeatedly instructed me to take good care of. If anything happens to you, I will be held responsible. So let's listen to Captain Ma on this matter!"

"Alright, in that case, I'll go back to the company to handle some business first, and then come back to work when I'm done!"

Seeing that Secretary Niu and Captain Ma were adamant, I didn't insist any further.

When I went out, Jiang Man also arrived with her people: "I heard there was a murder in town, what happened?"

I shook my head: "I don't know the specifics, I just heard it from others. I only know that five people died in the town and more bodies were found in the mountains."

Jiang Man raised an eyebrow: "Have the other teams started killing each other in order to compete?"

I lit a cigarette: "It doesn't seem like it. I heard that the few who died in the town didn't have any external injuries, only a small wound on the sole of their foot!"

"Doesn't this sound so similar to how Uncle Qi from Ping'an Village died?"

The monkey scratched his head: "Young Master Duan, do you think it might be the people from Ping'an Village who have arrived?"

"After hearing about how those people died, I also felt as if they had been cursed."

I paused for a moment: "After the body was found in the mountains, the police had to block the mountain roads for investigation. It would be difficult for us to get in using legitimate means, so I have already told Secretary Niu that we should leave Qingyun Town temporarily. Actually, it's to take a detour into the mountains!"