Chapter 73: A Mind in Turmoil
Damn it, just as expected!
Chen Yu’s heart surged with murderous intent, the lights and shadows before his eyes shattering and then instantly reassembling into a chilling reality.
In the vision of [Rewind], the black-clad figure he hated with every fiber of his being stood like a phantom against the wall at the stairwell corner.
That was precisely where ***** had been hidden.
He’d watched the police’s copy of the surveillance footage—start to finish, aside from the investigators, there wasn’t the slightest trace of this black-clad man.
But now, under the godlike perspective of [Rewind], nothing could escape.
The black-clad man hadn’t damaged the camera. Instead, he drew a black device, about the size of a matchbox, from his pocket, aimed it toward the camera, and pressed gently.
An invisible ripple flashed by, like a wave across the water’s surface.
After finishing, the black-clad man didn’t leave. Instead, he slowly raised his head and looked precisely toward the camera’s location.
He extended his right hand and made a universal throat-slitting gesture.
That silent motion brimmed with ultimate provocation and mockery.
It seemed to say: I know you’re watching—but you are powerless.
The footage had already been tampered with!
This bastard—not only did he outmaneuver the police and Zhang Luoluo, he even anticipated that Chen Yu would, by some means, “see” this altered moment!
“Hoo—”
Chen Yu abruptly withdrew from his thoughts. The pungent scent of incense and the oppressive funeral music dragged him back from the icy murderous intent of the rewind.
He stood in a corner of the mourning hall, gazing at the enormous black-and-white memorial photo, his heart devoid of pity.
Only boundless cold remained.
This killer was not simply a deranged murderer.
He was a genius capable of anticipating Chen Yu’s every move!
...
City Investigation Unit, Interrogation Room.
It was well past mealtime, yet the air was more frozen than a cellar.
Su Qingzhu’s slender fingers struck the tabletop heavily, producing a rhythmic “thud, thud,” each beat falling like a hammer on Liu Hong’s fragile heart.
“Liu Hong, I’m asking you one last time: where were you on the night of the crime?!”
Her voice was icy and hard, her gaze sharp as a blade.
“I... I was at home...” Liu Hong’s voice was thick with sobs, her entire frame shrinking into the interrogation chair, thin shoulders trembling incessantly.
She raised her tear-swollen eyes, filled only with helplessness and confusion.
“I really haven’t been there, I don’t even know where that place is... Officer, please, believe me...”
“Believe you?”
Su Qingzhu let out a scornful laugh, her tone suddenly rising!
“The hair found at the scene—DNA results point directly to you! The physical evidence is overwhelming. How am I supposed to believe you?!”
...
“I don’t know... I really don’t know...”
Liu Hong’s mental defenses completely collapsed. She clutched her head, choking back sobs, repeating only those few desperate words.
Yan Zheng sat silently nearby, never uttering a word.
He merely smoked, one cigarette after another, the interrogation room thick with haze, blurring the stern expression on his square face.
His mind was crystal clear.
This woman was, in all likelihood, innocent.
Her eyes, her micro-expressions, the fear and confusion emanating from the depths of her soul—none of it could be faked.
But the problem was, that strand of hair...
The chain of evidence formed a flawless, airtight circle, yet everywhere it felt disturbingly strange.
Yan Zheng felt as if his head might burst from this tangled mess.
...
Meanwhile, at Jiangcheng TV Station, the live broadcast of “Reopening Old Cases” continued.
Since Zhang Fu had issued his eviction order, Lin Bing had moved the studio back to the main hall.
Now, she was interviewing the man opposite her with the most professional, charming smile.
The top detective from Sakura Country, Sanada Gouichiro.
“Mr. Sanada, all the viewers are incredibly curious—how did you manage to find that decisive piece of evidence at a scene the police had already combed multiple times? It’s simply unbelievable!”
She passed the microphone, her face radiating admiration at just the right level, though deep in her eyes lurked an almost imperceptible disgust.
Sanada Gouichiro, who had been utterly humbled before Chen Yu, was now dressed impeccably, sitting upright, his face displaying the confidence and composure of a grandmaster.
He smiled faintly at the camera, speaking in halting Xia Country language: “Actually, it’s not unbelievable. It’s based on rigorous logic.”
“I’ve studied all the Ripper cases and noticed a pattern: the killer enjoys admiring his work, and after the murder, he lingers at the scene for a long time.”
“So I believed there must be subtler clues at the scene the police missed.”
“As for the strand of hair...” He paused, feigning profundity, “I can only say—it’s my unique secret, a special observational skill exclusive to detectives of our great Sakura Empire.”
His pretentious statement instantly ignited the live chat.
[Wow! Amazing! This is true master style!]
[Details! This is what details mean! What’s that ‘Resurrected Brother’ good at? Just seducing widows! Disgusting!]
[Sakura Country detectives are forever the best! True professionals! ‘Resurrected Brother’ should leave Jiangcheng!]
[Fan for life! Master Sanada, you have my respect!]
The screen was flooded with gifts and barrage comments as public opinion swung completely in favor of this “old coin” from Sakura Country.
He had become a hero, a legendary detective.
Meanwhile, the “Resurrected Brother” Chen Yu, who had recently been placed on a pedestal, was now being trampled into the mud.
...
“Driver! Step on it!”
Inside the taxi, Chen Yu growled, urging the driver.
His mind was not chaotic, but colder than ever—so cold it burned.
Outside, city lights whizzed by, blurring into streaks of color.
In his mind, the image of the black-clad man’s throat-slitting gesture replayed endlessly.
That mysterious figure, the deranged enthusiast of death games!
He had killed Luo Xiangdong!
He was also deeply entangled in the murder case of Zhang Luoluo!
He had gone to great lengths to bring Liu Hong’s hair to the scene—not to frame an innocent woman.
His target, from start to finish, was only Chen Yu!
This was an open scheme!
He used Liu Hong as bait, forcing Chen Yu into panic, driving him to investigate madly to save her!
He wanted Chen Yu to step, step by step, into his pre-set trap!
What a vicious plan! What a terrifying adversary!
But so what?
Touch Chen Yu’s woman?
You’re dead!
“Screeeech—”
The taxi’s brakes shrieked as it halted at the entrance of the city investigation unit.
Chen Yu yanked open the door and charged into the building like a madman!
He had just reached the second-floor corridor when he heard, from the distant interrogation room, Su Qingzhu’s furious and icy roar.
“Liu Hong! This is your final warning! We already have substantive evidence against you and can convict you even without a single word from you!”
“I advise you: confess and be lenient, resist and—”
“Bang—!”
Before Su Qingzhu could finish, the heavy iron door of the interrogation room was kicked open from the outside with a violent crash!
The explosive sound reverberated along the corridor.
In the shocked eyes of everyone present, Chen Yu appeared in the doorway, wreathed in chilling aura.
“Check the surveillance!”
“There’s something wrong with the footage!”