Chapter 141 The Search: It's Not Your Fault.
The clues provided by Jiang Ling gave Lei Xiao a new direction for his investigation.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lei Xiao immediately issued a series of orders. The entire criminal investigation team's focus shifted instantly, from the previous needle-in-a-haystack investigation and passive deployment to a clear objective: a comprehensive search for Qian Darong and strict protection of specific individuals.
"Immediately notify Wei Changfeng, the director of Jinwu Road Police Station, and have him personally lead a team to find Qian Darong's whereabouts as quickly as possible. We must dig three feet into the ground to find him!" Lei Xiao's voice was quickly transmitted back to the Criminal Investigation Detachment Command Center through the communicator.
"Technical team, immediately coordinate with all jurisdictions to retrieve surveillance footage from all areas where Qian Darong might appear, especially the vicinity of his last known location, starting from the timeframe after his release in May."
"Zheng Yu, take a team and head to Yancheng No. 1 Middle School immediately. Find Liang Qiqiao, identify yourself, and provide her with 24-hour close protection. Be careful with your methods and try not to cause panic on campus."
"Fan Wei, contact Wei Changfeng at the Jinwu Road Police Station and investigate all of Qian Darong's social connections—his cronies, fellow inmates, and even any suspicious individuals he may have come into contact with. Don't let a single one slip by! Find out what he's been doing these past few months and who he's been associating with!"
“Li Qiuyun,” Lei Xiao paused, his tone serious, “your current task is to protect Jiang Ling. She is now one of the killer’s clear targets and is in great danger. From now on, you will accompany her to and from get off work to ensure her absolute safety.”
As orders were issued one after another, the criminal investigation team, which had been somewhat anxious and dejected due to being disoriented, instantly became as energetic as if they had been injected with chicken blood and sprang into action.
Inside the Jinwu Road Police Station.
When Wei Changfeng received the call from Lei Xiao himself and heard that Qian Darong might be involved in the serial murder case, he was so shocked that he almost dropped the phone. He didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest and immediately summoned all the police officers that could be mobilized in the station.
"Listen up, everyone! Qian Darong, that incorrigible Qian Darong from our jurisdiction, is now suspected of being involved in those heinous murder cases in the city. The higher-ups have ordered us to find him immediately!"
Wei Changfeng's face was ashen, and his tone was urgent: "Xiao Zhang, take a few men and go back to the temporary addresses he registered before to check again, ask the neighbors and landlords; Xiao Wang, you come with me to the places he frequents, the billiard hall, the arcade, and the homes of those thugs; the rest of you, visit all the shops along the street, especially the convenience stores and food stalls, and ask if you've seen him recently. We need to be quick, we can't let the Municipal Bureau down!"
Police cars sped out, shattering the tranquility around Jinwu Road.
Wei Changfeng personally led the team straight to the temporary residence that Qian Darong had registered when he reported to the community. It was a rented room on the first floor of an old residential area. No one answered the door when they knocked, and a strong smell of smoke, alcohol, and mildew could be smelled through the window.
"Pry it open!" Wei Changfeng decided immediately.
The door was forced open, and the scene inside made all the police officers frown. The floor was a mess, with cigarette butts, bottles, and leftover fast food containers scattered everywhere, and a nauseating smell filled the air.
But that's not the point.
The key point is that on that old wooden cabinet against the wall, there are two whole stacks of videotapes piled up! There's also a dilapidated VCR next to it.
Wei Changfeng put on gloves and carefully picked up a videotape. The cover was in English, but the bloody, nude images and horrifying title fonts clearly indicated that it was an R-rated film from overseas. He flipped through a few more tapes: "The Silence of the Lambs," "Basic Instinct," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"... all American crime dramas, pornographic films, or horror films filled with violence and crime elements.
"Pah! So that's where it was." Wei Changfeng spat. "We've practically turned every single audio-visual store in the city upside down, but we never expected the source to be this kid!"
Soon, they found a crumpled address book under a pile of dirty clothes by the bedside. Based on the information in it, they located a clothing vendor who frequently went to Shenzhen to buy goods. After questioning, the vendor admitted that Qian Darong had indeed asked him to help bring back several "exciting" foreign videotapes from Shenzhen in exchange for a small fee.
"He said he just loves watching this..." the vendor said tremblingly. "I, I just make a little money. I really didn't know he would do something bad, officer!" Although he didn't know what bad things Qian Darong had done, the police had come to his door, so it must be something serious. At this moment, the vendor just wanted to clear himself of any wrongdoing.
Now we know how the perpetrator watched violent foreign films and television shows. No wonder our previous investigations were fruitless; Qian Darong didn't rent them from a local video store at all!
However, Qian Darong himself seemed to have vanished into thin air. His friends also said they hadn't seen him in the past few days, and he didn't answer their pagers.
Looking at the dirty and messy rented room, Wei Changfeng felt a mix of emotions.
Six years ago, Qian Darong was not yet 16 years old. He was fat and strong. When he was mediating at the police station, he looked up and glanced at Wei Changfeng: "Officer Wei, this time it was Liang Jiushan who provoked us. He started the fight!" He was as difficult as a piece of meat.
Four years ago, he returned from the juvenile detention center. He had lost some weight, but had grown very tall. His former ferocity had been replaced by a kind of numbness. When he heard that his father, Qian Jianshe, had been imprisoned and his mother, Zhao Yanhong, had remarried and moved far away, he looked blankly at Wei Changfeng, burst into tears, and said that he regretted it and wanted to go back to school to continue his studies.
Three years ago, after getting drunk at a late-night snack, he got into a fight. Seeing the victim lying motionless on the ground with a bloody head, he was so frightened that he sat down on the ground. He looked up at Wei Changfeng, who had come after receiving the report, and pleaded: I was just angry for a moment. I didn't mean to kill him. Don't arrest me. I don't want to go to jail!
Four months ago, Qian Darong, after being released from prison, returned to his numb state, only his eyes had become more fierce. He would report to the designated community every month, and although he sometimes did it perfunctorily, he always followed the rules.
Because the municipal bureau's data center required the compilation of information on released prisoners, Wei Changfeng had been keeping a close eye on Qian Darong. He knew that Qian Darong was using the government's resettlement allowance to rent this simple room. He also heard that Qian Darong had initially tried to find legitimate work, but because he hadn't even finished junior high school and had a criminal record, he faced setbacks everywhere. Perhaps due to being spoiled since childhood, even in such dire straits, Qian Darong remained lazy and unwilling to work. He quit after three days at a construction site because he found it too tiring, and he quit washing dishes at a restaurant because he thought the pay was too low and he was mistreated. This caused the community cadre who had introduced him to jobs a great deal of trouble. Later, he heard that Qian Darong was doing odd jobs on the street, sometimes running errands and carrying heavy loads, sometimes going hungry.
The hardships of life and social rejection might have caused Qian Darong's resentment to fester and grow. Wei Changfeng looked around and could almost imagine Qian Darong's current situation.
Qian Darong wanted to escape reality and became obsessed with the violent videotapes he brought from Shenzhen. The images of "strongmen" in the videos, who acted swiftly and ruthlessly, contrasted sharply with his own cowardly and humble situation in reality. A distorted desire to worship and imitate him grew in his heart.
Then... he started killing people?
How come after so many lessons, he still hasn't changed his bad habits? In fact, it has even caused hatred to grow in his heart, turning him into a vicious killer who seeks revenge on society?
Where exactly did things go wrong?
Without time to think too much, Wei Changfeng immediately reported the discovery of the videotape.
The clues were there, but Qian Darong's whereabouts remained a mystery.
The pressure has returned to tracking their social relationships and monitoring them.
Fan Wei intensified his investigation into Qian Darong's relationships with his fellow inmates. Soon, a man nicknamed "Mad Dog" came into the police's sights.
This man, named Tu Jianxiong, was a truly dangerous individual. Seven or eight years older than Qian Darong, he suffered from severe antisocial personality disorder. A troubled youth since childhood, he was violent and cruel, taking pleasure in tormenting the weak. Visits to detention centers and prisons were commonplace for him; his last imprisonment was for seriously injuring someone. In prison, he was a notorious bully, a ruthless individual who deeply revered violence and possessed a meticulous yet twisted mind.
A fellow inmate of Qian Darong reported that Tu Jianxiong and Qian Darong had a good relationship in prison. Tu Jianxiong was released six months earlier than Qian Darong and boasted that he would "do a few big heists" and "make everyone remember me." He also once told Qian Darong, "Kid, if you have nowhere to go when you get out, come find me, I'll show you what real fun is."
After being released from prison, Qian Darong would go to Tu Jianxiong when he had nothing to eat, and he both feared and admired him.
When Tu Jianxiong came into the police's sights, everyone gasped.
—There are very likely two murderers!
Only a footprint belonging to a size 44 sneaker was found at the scene, and the incomplete palm print and fingerprints did not point to multiple perpetrators. Therefore, based on their previous criminal investigation experience, Lei Xiao and his team determined that there was only one perpetrator.
However, traces were also left at the scene indicating that the murderer was not alone.
—The murderer skinned, disemboweled, and beheaded the victim; his methods were cruel and cold-blooded. Ironically, vomit was found in the second case.
—The first two cases did not leave any symbols, but in the third case, the numbers 0, 7, and 9 were left at the scene.
—In the fourth case, the victim described the killer as having unsteady steps, being flustered, and being an idiot, which is somewhat inconsistent with the psychological profile of the killer.
Once Tu Jianxiong and Qian Darong's personal information and photos were retrieved, all the inconsistencies became clear!
The two people were similar in build, had the same shoe size, appeared wearing the same shoes, and their footprints were almost identical.
Tu Jianxiong, with his distinct antisocial personality and ruthless methods, was the mastermind behind the murders. Qian Darong, driven by curiosity, acted as Tu Jianxiong's henchman in prison, but he was also unstable, cowardly, and prone to vomiting at the sight of blood. He panicked when faced with a girl who dared to resist, making him a follower in the murders.
Lei Xiao offered his deductions in this regard.
After his release from prison, Qian Darong fell into poverty and sought refuge with Tu Jianxiong. Tu Jianxiong, the real devil, was the mastermind behind the series of cases.
In the first case, Tu Jianxiong carried out the crime alone, first imprisoning and skinning the victim, and then dumping the body at a garbage dump;
In the second case, Tu Jianxiong pulled Qian Darong to watch. When he cut open Qian Darong's abdomen to remove his internal organs, Qian Darong was so shocked that he vomited.
In the third case, Tu Jianxiong continued to involve Qian Darong, and used his hatred for Jiang Ling and the Liang siblings as a starting point, making him write the numbers 0, 7, and 9 in blood to satisfy Qian Darong's obsession with revenge.
The fourth attack in the south of the city was likely caused by Qian Darong, who, after getting drunk, attempted to imitate Jack the Ripper but failed. This failure and near capture likely terrified Qian Darong, causing him to flee in panic and miss his community reporting.
Tu Jianxiong is a shrewd executioner; he's trying to cultivate a second one!
This greatly increased the pressure on the entire criminal investigation team.
At that moment, Zheng Yu successfully entered Yancheng No. 1 Middle School and met Liang Qiqiao, the first-year high school Chinese teacher, in a quiet conference room. Liang Qiqiao had just finished class.
Six years have passed, and the once frail girl has blossomed into a graceful young woman with a gentle demeanor. Dressed in a well-fitting shirt and skirt, she exudes a scholarly air. When Zheng Yu tactfully explained her purpose and mentioned Qian Darong's name, Liang Qiqiao's face turned deathly pale, and the lesson plan slipped from her hands and fell to the ground.
She instinctively hugged her arms tightly, her body trembling slightly, as if she had instantly transformed back into the helpless and terrified girl who had been cornered by Qian Darong in the alley six years ago.
"What...what does he want to do?" Liang Qiqiao's voice trembled noticeably.
“Teacher Liang, don’t be afraid.” Zheng Yu tried to make her voice sound gentle yet firm. “We just suspected he might be dangerous based on some clues, so we came to protect you in advance. From now on, our female police officers will be near you 24 hours a day, and will pick you up and drop you off to ensure your safety. You just need to go about your work and life as usual, and leave the rest to us.”
Zheng Yu arranged for a capable policewoman to change into plainclothes and enter the school as a student teacher to provide close protection for Liang Qiqiao. Another officer was stationed outside the school to monitor suspicious individuals in the surrounding area. School leaders were also secretly informed of the situation and expressed their full cooperation.
Liang Qiqiao tried to calm her breathing: "Does my younger brother know about this?"
Zheng Yu hummed in agreement. "The clue was discovered by Jiang Ling, and she has already notified Liang Jiushan. Liang Jiushan is currently in Kyoto, while the murderer is mostly active in Yancheng. Kyoto is safer."
Upon hearing the name "Jiang Ling," Liang Qiqiao finally felt a little calmer and said in a trembling voice, "Sister Ling knows too? Then I'm not afraid! With Sister Ling here, I'm not afraid."
Jiang Ling, who was on Liang Qiqiao's mind, was currently working quickly in front of the computer, cooperating with the technical team to filter surveillance footage and information that might be related to Qian Darong.
Seeing Li Qiuyun, whom Lei Xiao had assigned to protect her, Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Captain Lei, and thank you, Qiuyun. I'm fine. I live right across from the Municipal Bureau. I usually just go between two points; there are no dark corners on my commute, so I don't need to..."
"Director Jiang, Captain Lei asked me to be your temporary bodyguard; it's a mission." Li Qiuyun's tone was very serious. She had always been grateful to Jiang Ling, knowing that her entry into the Criminal Investigation Division and her becoming Zheng Yu's apprentice were all thanks to Jiang Ling's promotion and cultivation. Hearing that Jiang Ling was in danger, Li Qiuyun was very nervous.
Jiang Ling's face was still somewhat pale, and even with a smile, she still revealed a vulnerability that was different from usual: "Alright then. Thank you for your hard work, Qiu Yun. I still have some finishing touches to complete, it'll be done soon."
Jiang Ling knew that now was not the time to wallow in self-blame and wavering.
The most important thing right now is to catch Qian Darong, catch his potentially more dangerous accomplice Tu Jianxiong, stop them from committing further crimes, and protect more people.
She forced herself to suppress her chaotic and heavy thoughts, focusing on the screen in front of her. However, the images of the three innocent women's tragic deaths, and the appearance of the name "Mad Dog" Tu Jianxiong, still disturbed her heart.
Crime warning systems are not a panacea.
This feeling of powerlessness weighed heavily on her heart.
It's time to leave work.
Li Qiuyun accompanied Jiang Ling out of the Municipal Bureau building, across the road, and into Ping'anli.
Throughout the journey, Li Qiuyun remained highly vigilant, constantly scanning pedestrians and vehicles, not missing any suspicious signs.
Jiang Ling remained silent, watching the familiar street scene and the afterglow of the setting sun gilding the buildings in Ping An Li with a layer of gold, but the gloom in her heart could not be dispelled.
Where are Qian Darong and Tu Jianxiong hiding like rats in some dark corner right now? The "0, 7, 9" written in blood by Qian Darong represents the childish and vicious hatred in his heart; Tu Jianxiong is a truly terrifying killer, with outstanding physical strength and a cruel nature. The existence of these two dangerous individuals truly threatens Jiang Ling's life!
The two arrived at Jiang Ling's apartment building without incident. Ping An Li seemed no different from any other day, with elderly people taking walks and children playing, peaceful and serene.
Li Qiuyun first carefully observed the surrounding environment, including the stairwell, the green belt, and the parking spaces, leaving no corner unchecked if someone might be hiding. Only after confirming that there was nothing unusual did she signal Jiang Ling to walk into the stairwell with her.
Just as they were about to step onto the third-floor platform, Li Qiuyun suddenly stopped, her body instantly going into a state of alert, her hand instinctively pressing against her lower back.
A tall figure sat against the wall next to Jiang Ling's door, with a large travel backpack beside him. His head was drooping and buried in his knees, as if he were asleep.
At such a sensitive time, any suspicious person is enough to alert the already tense police officers.
Jiang Ling also saw the figure. Her heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down her spine. Her hand instinctively reached for her lower back. Because of the special circumstances, the team had given her special permission to carry a gun, which was tucked into her waistband.
Just then, seemingly startled by the footsteps, the figure moved and slowly raised its head.
The dim light of the streetlights outlined his sharply defined features. His face bore the weariness of a long journey, with stubble on his chin and his hair somewhat disheveled. But when he saw Jiang Ling appear, his eyes suddenly lit up, shining like starlight.
It is Liang Jiushan.
Judging by the time, he should have immediately taken a plane from Kyoto to the provincial capital after receiving Jiang Ling's call, and then taken a bus back to Yan City.
He appeared at Jiang Ling's doorstep without warning, almost in a disheveled state.
Why didn't you say anything beforehand? Why didn't you call? Why were you sleeping by the door?
Jiang Ling was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. She hadn't expected him to return so quickly, much less that he would appear in this way, stubbornly waiting for her like a lost child. A surge of emotion welled up in her eyes, but she forcefully suppressed it.
When Liang Jiushan saw Jiang Ling and Li Qiuyun, especially Li Qiuyun's wary posture, he immediately understood. He stood up, leaning against the wall, and stretched his legs, which were a little numb from sitting for a long time. However, his gaze never left Jiang Ling, as if he was checking to make sure she was alright.
He didn't explain why he was there or ask what had happened. Instead, he walked straight toward Jiang Ling, his steps slightly unsteady due to numbness in his legs, but unusually firm.
Under Li Qiuyun's still wary gaze, Liang Jiushan stopped in front of Jiang Ling. His eyes were deep, fixed on Jiang Ling with unwavering tenderness. That gaze pierced through her feigned composure and calm, revealing the turbulent waves, heavy burdens, and barely perceptible fears deep within her heart.
Then, he made an unexpected yet seemingly natural action.
He opened his arms and gently, yet with an irresistible strength and an indescribable tenderness, embraced Jiang Ling completely.
This was an embrace devoid of any ambiguity, yet brimming with comfort, support, and absolute trust. His embrace was broad and warm, carrying the dust of the journey, yet strangely giving Jiang Ling an indescribable sense of solidity and reliability, as if all the storms, conspiracies, and dangers of the outside world could be temporarily shut out.
Jiang Ling's body stiffened instantly, and she subconsciously tried to break free from this sudden intimacy. But Liang Jiushan's arms tightened slightly, and his voice sounded above her head, deep and gentle, with a magical power to soothe all anxiety.
"Don't be afraid, it's not your fault. Never!"
Liang Jiushan paused, his tone becoming even more resolute, each word clearly reaching Jiang Ling's ears, as well as Li Qiuyun's ears, who had slightly relaxed her guard.
“Even if you hadn’t stood up six years ago and hadn’t sent Qian Darong to a juvenile detention center, his parents would still be by his side. They didn’t divorce or go to jail… Qian Darong would still be a bad person! His inherent selfishness, violence, and cruelty wouldn’t disappear because of the change of environment. They would only be hidden and then, in a certain situation, erupt in a more concealed and cunning way.”
“You did nothing wrong. You protected my sister, you protected me, and you prevented Qian Darong from causing even greater harm. You established the early warning system to protect more people, but not everyone! Now that he has committed another crime, it is his choice, his sins have nothing to do with you. Don’t take on the sins of others.”
Liang Jiushan's voice wasn't loud, and it was a little hoarse. But his words were like a clear, flowing stream, gradually washing away and dissolving the cold, heavy sense of guilt, self-doubt, and powerlessness in Jiang Ling's heart.
He didn't make any grand pronouncements like "I will protect you," because he knew that Jiang Ling didn't need such empty promises right now. What she needed was affirmation and support for the concept of crime prevention.
Jiang Ling's stiff body slowly relaxed, and the strong shell she had been maintaining seemed to melt away quietly in a warm embrace. An indescribable mix of bitterness, grievance, and immense warmth welled up in her heart, her nose tingled, and her eyes uncontrollably moistened.
She didn't cry, but gently rested her forehead on his shoulder, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, as if to expel all the pent-up emotions, heaviness, and fear that had been building up in her chest.
At this moment, my tense nerves suddenly and completely relaxed in a strange way.
Yes, Jiu Shan is right, none of this is her fault.
She really did her best to prevent crime.
No matter how vigilant you are, the perpetrators will continue. The root of evil has never been with her, but lies in the unilluminated darkness within their own hearts.
At this moment, she is not alone in facing this challenge.
Some people understand her, trust her, and are willing to share the burden with her.
Li Qiuyun stood aside, watching the two embrace. She saw Jiang Ling visibly relax, and it seemed that some of the invisible burden on her shoulders had been lifted. She breathed a sigh of relief and was deeply moved.
She quietly stepped back a few paces, scanning the dimly lit corners around her with even greater vigilance, leaving this warm and quiet moment to them, silently guarding this tranquility and warmth amidst the turmoil.
Liang Jiushan released Jiang Ling, looked down at her slightly reddened eyes and her obviously relieved expression, his gaze gentle and tender: "It's alright, it's okay. We'll face it together."
Jiang Ling looked up at Liang Jiushan.
The boy has grown up, with broad shoulders, strong arms, and a tall stature. His once stunningly beautiful eyes now reflect maturity and determination.
Although Jiang Ling had told him to stay in Kyoto, where it was safer, he still chose to return and face the unknown dangers and difficulties with Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling didn't say much, took out her keys, opened the door, and pressed the light switch in the living room.
The lights inside the room poured out, casting a warm glow on the dimly lit hallway floor.
Liang Jiushan picked up his travel backpack and went in first. His tall figure almost filled the doorway, and he stepped into the bright and clean house, looking travel-worn.
Li Qiuyun followed closely behind. As she entered, she habitually glanced quickly at the room to make sure it was safe before gently closing the door behind her.
Soon, Jiang Ling came out of the kitchen carrying two cups of freshly brewed hot tea. In the transparent glass cups, the tea leaves slowly unfurled, turning a clear, bright yellow-green color. Wisps of steam rose, carrying a faint aroma of tea that filled the air.
Liang Jiushan took the hot tea that Jiang Ling brought him, his gaze calmly falling on the tea leaves floating in the cup, and slowly said, "If we can't find Qian Darong, then why not use me as bait to lure him out?"
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This story is nearing its end. My next book will be titled "Before the Murder, I Transmigrated into a Book," so please add it to your favorites!
------Pre-order synopsis------
I am Chu Yanxi, 28 years old, chief expert of the Crisis Intervention and Negotiation Team of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.
I have terrible interpersonal relationships; even my own mother can't stand me.
Because I always get straight to the point.
—And the truth is usually unpleasant to hear.
But my professional skills are impeccable.
I can make even the most crazed criminal lay down their knife, and I can reignite the flame of life in those trapped in despair.
I thought I could control everything, until I met Zhang Ya.
The housewife who kidnapped her husband's mistress and suffered an emotional breakdown.
The price of mission failure is: I transmigrated into a book.
The pungent smell of smoke, the cacophony of voices, the sensation of the hard seat beneath me—
I was leaning weakly on the shoulder of a seemingly kind-looking woman, listening to her tell the train police officer, "My daughter is sick, I'm taking her to see a doctor..."
I instantly snapped to my senses—this was the opening tragedy of the crime thriller novel "Breaking the Cocoon," in which the girl was sold into a remote mountain village, where she suffered a fate worse than death. In a fit of rage, she poisoned her entire family of eight.
At this moment, my throat is burning with pain and I am speechless, my limbs feel heavy.
No bulletproof vests, no negotiating table
His only teammate was Lu Zhe, the annoying guy sitting next to him.
The divorce lawyer, who has never gotten along with me, had the same shock and bewilderment on his face as I did.
Before the murder occurred, I transmigrated into a book.
No system, no cheat codes
There's only one person he doesn't like, and a bunch of bloody incidents that are about to happen...
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