Rosen did not hesitate. He confirmed it openly. “Huo Li was admitted to our clinic for the appendectomy and stayed for ten days in total. During those ten days, she and Wang Yu became friends and could talk about almost anything.”

“Where is Wang Yu now?”

“He is still working here. He asked for a few days off — said he had an upset stomach.”

Zheng Yun’s expression lit up, and he shot to his feet.

The victim had been killed indoors, and likely knew the perpetrator. The perpetrator had an injury or disability in one hand. The perpetrator was highly likely to have a medical, butchery, or similarly related background.

Every one of Wang Yu’s circumstances matched the suspect profile that Shi Ting had laid out earlier with striking precision.

Zheng Yun immediately reported the significant development to Shi Ting. Wang Yu had registered his home address with Dr. Rosen, so the officers of the Military Police Directorate had little trouble locating him.

The address led them to a secluded residential area in the western outskirts of Shun Cheng, where the streets were so narrow that no automobile could pass. The surrounding buildings were mostly cheap mud-brick construction, many of them listing and crumbling — clearly in a state of disrepair.

Shi Ting pushed Yan Qing’s wheelchair along the uneven road, deliberately choosing the more level sections to spare her from the jolts.

As they drew nearer to Wang Yu’s home, the group’s attention was caught by something in the distance: beyond the row of low mud-brick dwellings, not far behind, stretched the vast, sweeping expanse of the Liao River.

After killing Huo Li and dismembering her body, the perpetrator had thrown the remains into the Liao River. Wang Yu’s location offered conditions almost impossibly convenient for disposing of a body.

With each step, Shi Ting grew more certain that Wang Yu was directly connected to Huo Li’s death.

Even so, the group did not approach carelessly. Zheng Yun went ahead first, and only after confirming the dwelling was unoccupied did they leave a few officers posted as lookouts, with the rest making their way inside.

The home was a three-room mud structure, standing alone along the roadside.

The outer gate had an iron door fitted with a lock, though the lock had not been fastened — apparently the occupant knew there was nothing inside worth stealing.

The yard was bare and nearly empty, with few objects accumulated anywhere. It had clearly been swept with some regularity. Against the base of the eastern wall stood an old well, beside which sat an iron bucket.

“Wang Yu apparently had money for renovations.” Bai Jin pushed open the door, and a sharp, acrid smell immediately hit them.

The three rooms consisted of a kitchen in the center, a bedroom on one side, and a storage room on the other.

The walls of the bedroom had been freshly repainted — the smell of paint had not yet fully dissipated.

“The bedding and furniture are all new.” Bai Jin ran a hand along the headboard and brought it to his nose. “It looks like Wang Yu murdered Huo Li in this room, and repainted the whole place to cover the bloodstains.”

E’Yuan frowned. “I searched the room just now. Everything is spotlessly clean — even the furniture has been replaced. If Wang Yu truly committed the crime here, the scene has been severely compromised. We may not be able to extract any useful evidence. Without evidence, there is no way to prove Wang Yu killed anyone.”

At that, Shi Ting looked over at Yan Qing, who had been silent throughout. “Didn’t you say you brought something useful?”

Yan Qing reached into the bag she always carried with her and produced a small device. It looked, on the surface, entirely ordinary — the kind of spray bottle sold at any sundry goods stall in the market.

“Deputy Chief Zheng, could you please draw the curtains and close the door?”

Zheng Yun and the others had no idea what she was getting at, but with Shi Ting as her steadfast “pillar of support,” her words carried the weight of his command.

*(Author’s note: Update complete. Wishing everyone a happy Spring Festival! Remember to wear a mask when you go out and avoid crowded places — best to stay home and read, really!)*

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