As they approached the prison gates, Zhu Yan and Lu Chuichui encountered Chief Jiang Ming on the way.
“Officer Zhu, Officer Lu, where are you two headed?” Jiang Ming asked.
“We’re going to visit Madam Tang in prison. Chief Jiang, please lead the way,” Lu Chuichui replied.
Hearing this, Jiang Ming’s face fell. “Do you two think the new case is related to her again?”
The two frowned, and Jiang Ming continued, “I’ve been guarding her all this time. I can assure you, she’s never left the prison. Recently, she’s been quiet and well-behaved, not acting crazy at all. The killer can’t be her.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan’s frown deepened. “Has she shown any unusual behavior lately?”
Jiang Ming pondered. “Unusual behavior… not unusual. When someone’s been locked up for a long time, their mental state naturally becomes a bit abnormal. She talks to herself every day, or sits quietly in meditation, reciting strange incantations. Sometimes her hands make odd gestures. I think she might be going a bit mad from being isolated for so long.”
Zhu Yan said no more, and Lu Chuichui looked puzzled.
It was as if a thick cloud of doubt hung over everyone’s heads, refusing to dissipate, leaving them perplexed.
Zhu Yan turned away, deep in thought. Although the serial killer case had been solved, fire moths kept appearing in the new cases. Madam Tang also had a fire moth on her. There must be some connection. Add to that Madam Tang’s strange behavior, and it was truly baffling.
It was as if Madam Tang’s case wasn’t over, or perhaps this was all part of a grand conspiracy, with Madam Tang’s case being just the beginning…
Thinking this way, Zhu Yan felt a chill spread from her heart throughout her body. It all felt like Tang Sanzang’s journey to retrieve the scriptures – they had only reached Five Finger Mountain, with clouds and mist obscuring everything ahead.
Zhu Yan rubbed her forehead, feeling the case growing increasingly complex. Even with Shen Du by her side, she felt somewhat powerless and helpless.
At this moment, a yamen runner came hurrying over. “Officers, General Xu has arrived with his men.”
“He must have heard you’ve come to the Ministry of Justice and couldn’t wait to discuss the case with you,” Lu Chuichui remarked.
Zhu Yan said nothing, just giving a pale smile before walking with Lu Chuichui to the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.
“Madam Shen.”
Accompanying Xu Xiangren was Jiang Langxing of the Local Constable. Although he bowed politely to Zhu Yan, his eyes never left Lu Chuichui.
Lu Chuichui didn’t notice, smiling warmly at General Xu Xiangren of the Local Constable.
Zhu Yan nodded slightly, ordered tea to be served, and they sat down to discuss the case.
“Second Brother Xu, do you have any other clues about this case?” Zhu Yan asked.
Xu Xiangren furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and then shook his head slightly. “I’ve written all the clues I’ve found in the case files. I’m sure you’ve reviewed them. As for new clues, I haven’t discovered any yet. However, fire moths have appeared in some old cases from years ago. I’ve brought Jiang Langxing to explain this to you.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan quickly turned her gaze to Jiang Langxing. He stood up, bowed to them, and began speaking:
“In the Chen Firemoth murder case years ago, I was still young. But because one of the victims was my relative, I still remember that case vividly, especially that fire moth. I can’t forget it.
The killer’s methods were extremely cruel, but they were brought to justice. Now, with the case reappearing, it’s almost identical to the old one. If it’s the same killer, it’s simply unbelievable. You must know, that hunchbacked killer was already dealt with back then.”
Jiang Langxing’s words plunged everyone present into deep thought.
His point was clear: the new case and the old one were likely committed by the same person.
But this was indeed hard to believe. The real culprit had already been punished. Could they have come back to life to kill again?
It was simply fantastical!
General Xu Xiangren of the Local Constable found this particularly strange. Under his furrowed brows, his eyes were very dark, and his fists were clenched. “Before investigating this case, we must first clarify whether someone is behind this, or if it’s really as Chen Firemoth said before her death – that she would be reborn.”
“Did she say before her death that she would come back to life?” Zhu Yan was surprised. She felt she had heard such words somewhere before.
Jiang Langxing nodded quickly. “Yes, but no one believed her. They thought it was just the ravings of a mad woman on her deathbed.”
“But now that the case has reappeared, you can’t help but focus your suspicions on Chen Firemoth, who was already punished.”
Jiang Langxing nodded again, confirming Zhu Yan’s guess.
Zhu Yan frowned deeply. She never believed in ghosts or spirits, much less that someone could come back to life.
Then she remembered that Madam Tang had also said she wouldn’t die, and even if she did, she could be reborn.
Chen Firemoth had said similar things years ago. What connection was there between them?
Madam Tang was fond of mysticism, like when she made corpses sit up.
But at least then, with her master’s help, they proved it was all man-made.
It was all just smoke and mirrors. How could dead people come back to life?
Zhu Yan firmed her resolve. This must all be a smokescreen deliberately set up by the killer to confuse their investigation.
Seeing Zhu Yan lost in thought, Xu Xiangren asked, “Have you thought of something?”
Zhu Yan snapped back to reality and shook her head slightly. “This case seems confusing, with many strange aspects. But no matter what, I’ll never believe a person can come back to life. There must be some trick to it.”
“I won’t believe in resurrection either,” Xu Xiangren continued. “So we need to investigate and find out what methods they’re using to make a case from years ago reappear so identically.”
Despite these words, everyone still felt uneasy.
Although no one believed in resurrection, the two cases’ methods were indeed as if committed by the same person.
This cast a shadow over everyone’s hearts – visible, yet intangible.
“There’s one more thing I don’t understand,” Zhu Yan suddenly stood up, her almond eyes full of darkness. “Since we know this is the killer’s trick, but we have no way to counter it, we can only follow the killer’s rhythm. But…”
“But even so, we still can’t follow the clues to find solid evidence,” Xu Xiangren continued. “Thinking this way, it’s extremely dangerous. It’s as if the killer always knows our every move. They’re in the shadows, we’re in the light. We can’t see them, but they can see us.”
Zhu Yan nodded. The two agreed.