Luo Baomei was dead!

The moment Yan Qing heard the news, a chill shot up from the soles of her feet.

She would have preferred the truth to be that Luo Baomei and Qiao Guang had killed Leng Yu and Fan Dongping — at least that would have guaranteed no more victims. But in reality, Luo Baomei had merely been another piece on the killer’s chessboard, and in the end she could not escape being taken off the board.

Yan Qing arrived at the Military Police Bureau and could immediately sense the heavy, oppressive atmosphere. Two female students had already been murdered, leaving the bureau overwhelmed. Now a teacher had died as well. Even though everyone at the bureau knew this was a serial killing case, the rumors of ghostly killings had been spreading through the school like wildfire, and by now the story had become widely known throughout the city.

The entrance to the Military Police Bureau was packed with reporters from various newspapers, surrounding it so tightly that even a minor officer stepping in or out would be encircled and peppered with questions.

“That’s Director Shi’s car,” someone among the reporters suddenly called out, and as if responding to some summons, the crowd surged toward the approaching police vehicle.

The moment the reporters shifted over, Shi Ting and Zheng Yun had already entered through a different gate, effortlessly shaking off the trailing pack.

“Has Qiao Guang still not returned?” Shi Ting strode forward with long, rapid strides, removing his police cap and holding it in his hand.

“I’ve already deployed men at the train station. The moment Qiao Guang steps off the train, they’ll arrest him immediately,” Zheng Yun replied. “Earlier, a call came from the Commander’s office saying this incident has had a damaging effect on the educational community and urging us to resolve it as quickly as possible.”

Shi Ting pushed open the door to the autopsy room and immediately spotted Yan Qing seated at the table, performing an autopsy on a body.

She had her head lowered, her gaze focused intently, the light above casting its glow across her face, making her complexion appear even paler.

“Cough, cough.” Yan Qing set down the scalpel and turned her head to cough a few times before looking up to find Shi Ting standing there.

“Who summoned Miss Yan?” Whether it was the pressure of the case or something else, his voice carried a low, barely perceptible note of dissatisfaction.

E’Yuan, standing nearby, pushed up his glasses and answered carefully. “I did.”

Shi Ting’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce straight through him, his voice dropping even lower. “You’ve been with the Military Police Bureau for nearly a year now — are you still not capable of handling things on your own? Miss Yan is not on the bureau’s staff. She has no obligation to come at our beck and call.”

E’Yuan was scolded into silence and stood with his head bowed, looking thoroughly deflated.

“Director Shi.” Yan Qing was also startled by Shi Ting’s sudden sternness and quickly moved to smooth things over. “Medical Examiner E’Yuan didn’t ask me to come. He only asked me a few questions over the phone. I came on my own initiative because I couldn’t set my mind at ease. Please don’t blame him.”

E’Yuan cast Yan Qing a grateful glance.

“You don’t need to push yourself.” Shi Ting’s tone softened somewhat. “This isn’t something you’re obligated to do.”

“I came of my own free will,” Yan Qing replied. “If anything, I should worry about whether my constant presence here is getting in the way of your work.”

She set down the scalpel. “Medical Examiner E’Yuan already gave me a general overview of the deceased’s situation over the phone. The deceased has swelling to the face but no open wounds on the body and no signs of poisoning whatsoever. The cause of death cannot be determined at this time.”

Zheng Yun couldn’t help but mutter, “Another one with an unknown cause of death.”

“Facial swelling?” Shi Ting seized on the key detail in Yan Qing’s words. “Is there a connection to the previous two cases?”

Leng Yu and Fan Dongping had been forced to swallow cotton and thumbtacks, yet Luo Baomei’s stomach was completely clean.

“Yes.” Yan Qing’s answer was certain.

—