QT- I’m Almost Died
Chapter 223. The Worst-Case Scenario Has Occurred
TN:- Senior Officer and Chief Yan is same person and these titles may appear more often. Don’t get confused.
Seeing the messy and empty room, Meng Zhong was so angry he almost kicked over the coffee table. Fortunately, he still retained a sliver of reason and knew he had to protect the crime scene.
Zhuang Zhen picked up the still-warm instant noodle and said confidently, “He just left not long ago.”
“Left in such a hurry, it seems he sensed something. We certainly wouldn’t have leaked anything, so could there be something wrong with the elevator?” Song Rui analyzed.
“I’ll make a call and ask.” Meng Zhong slammed his phone screen, his tense face filled with resentment.
Fan Jialuo paced around the room, then slowly walked to Ma You’s bedside.
Seeing his serious expression, Song Rui immediately asked, “Did you find something?”
“There’s a lot of yin qi here.” Fan Jialuo raised his chin.
Song Rui put on gloves and began searching the bed, eventually finding a black plastic bag under the mattress.
“What is this?” The task force members immediately gathered around.
Song Rui didn’t answer, but slowly untied the knot in the plastic bag, revealing its contents to the light. An extremely strong, fishy stench assaulted their nostrils, almost suffocating the task force members. They all turned their heads away to gasp, then turned back to examine it closely, their expressions a mixture of horror and anger.
The bag was filled with bloodstained fingernails. That beast Ma You actually took them home as trophies and slept with them every day. Is he even human?
As everyone was gripped by unspeakable anger, Meng Zhong, who was on the phone with his superior, walked over and was stunned when he saw what was in the bag.
Senior Officer repeatedly asked, “Are you sure Ma You is the murderer? Do you have any evidence?”
Meng Zhong decisively ended the call and switched to video, and said coldly, “See for yourself!”
The camera was pressed against those bloodstained fingernails by Meng Zhong. Some fingernails were painted with nail polish and studded with small diamonds, clearly showing how wonderful their owners had once lived, others had some dried bits of flesh stuck to them, obviously pulled off the body with pliers, and it was not hard to imagine the pain their owners had suffered.
Seeing this, Senior Officer, who had initially clung to a sliver of hope, was suddenly left utterly speechless. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then a wave of regret choked him. He never imagined that in the blink of an eye, those Taoist priests would have sabotaged the police’s plans to such an extent!
“Chief Yan, did you see that? We were just one step away from catching him, really just one step away!” Meng Zhong was so angry that his voice became hoarse.
After a long silence, the person on the other end asked in a similarly hoarse voice, “Is it possible to catch him again?”
Meng Zhong couldn’t answer this question, but Fan Jialuo spoke for him, “We can’t catch him, he and we exist in two different spaces.”
This statement is clear enough, unless the police can break down the dimensional barrier, catching the killer will remain a dream. The murderer can freely enter and exit two dimensions, appearing and disappearing wherever he wants, killing whomever he pleases, he is utterly unrestrained. Even if a police bullet were fired, he could vanish the instant he is hit. He has completely transformed from a human into a ghost, he can be omnipresent!
Realizing the consequences, Senior Officer felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Behind him, Wang Wan and her parents embraced and wept, this heartwarming scene of reunion now chilled him to the bone. Just ten more minutes, and the murderer would have been caught. Only ten minutes!
Senior Officer walked to a more distant corner and asked in a deep voice, “Teacher Fan, what will the murderer do after he escapes?”
Fan Jialuo shook his head and said, “I said I saw death, one after another.”
Song Rui stepped into the frame and said coldly, “The situation is completely out of control, and no one knows what will happen next. But the only thing I’m sure of is that Ma You won’t stop, he’ll only kill more people.”
Fan Jialuo added, “You should have seen Xiao Yanling’s secret file, right? Ma You and she are the same kind of people. The more people they kill, the stronger they become. In other words, right now he can only trap and kill one person at a time, but in the future he may be able to trap and kill multiple people at a time.”
Song Rui continued, “He may have already discovered this secret, so in the future, he will not only treat killing as a pleasure, but also as a necessity. He is an extremely insecure person, and the more insecure a person is, the more they crave power. So you should be mentally prepared, because he will go on a killing spree next.”
Upon hearing these words, Senior Officer collapsed onto the steps.
Fan Jialuo guessed, “Is it because the people from the Tianshui Sect took it upon themselves to rescue people, thus alerting the murderer?”
Senior Officer was filled with remorse and said dejectedly, “It was them. I just went out to make a phone call, and when I came back, they had rescued the person.”
“Then stop them and don’t let them leave.” Fan Jialuo instructed.
“What are you going to do?” Senior Officer asked, forcing himself to stay alert.
“I want them to teach me how to draw the Qiankun Shifting Array. Their spiritual power has been depleted, and they can’t save more people, but I can.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll keep them here for you. Come back quickly. No more deaths, absolutely no more deaths.” Senior Officer immediately stood up and strode towards Chang Sheng and the others. He was now filled with regret, and his expression towards these Taoist priests was anything but pleasant. If he had known that the two advisors Meng Zhong had invited were also experts in this field, he wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.
After hanging up the phone, Meng Zhong immediately assigned tasks, “Did everyone hear that? Teacher Fan is going back to learn that rescue formation. Captain Zhuang and I will take him to the apartment building first. You guys stay here and continue searching Ma You’s house to see if there is any other evidence.”
Song Rui helped Fan Jialuo walk out, reminding him, “Xiao Li, now that you have Ma You’s phone number, you can check his call history and social media to see if he has any close friends. He’s a human being, he gets thirsty and hungry. He’ll definitely come back to reality. His friends, who are keeping watch, might just manage to catch him.”
“Okay, Dr. Song.” Xiao Li immediately opened his laptop and started typing away.
The group hurried back. Meanwhile, Senior Officer had already locked Chang Sheng, Chang Zhen, Lin Nianci, and Lin Nian’en in a conference room, strictly forbidding them from leaving without permission. Normally, how could a door possibly stop them? But now, their cultivation had been completely drained by the formation, they could barely manage to sit upright, let alone muster the strength to resist.
The worst off was Lin Nianci, her jet-black hair had turned completely white, and fine lines had appeared on her face, making her look more than ten years older in an instant. She paid a very heavy price to rescue Wang Wan.
Lin Nian’en grabbed her shoulder and shouted towards the door, “What do you mean by locking us up here? Can’t you see my ShiJie is very weak and about to faint? She needs treatment!”
Chang Sheng yanked on the doorknob and shouted, “Chief Yan, this is really unfair of you! You asked us to rescue people, and we did, so why are you arresting us instead? Chief Yan, release us now, or I’ll complain to your superiors!”
Chief Yan personally stood guard outside the door, unwilling to engage in any communication with them. He repeatedly pleaded with them to wait a moment and not to be impatient, but they couldn’t even wait for a phone call. This case could have been resolved smoothly, but it has escalated into this uncontrollable situation, and the responsibility lies entirely with these Taoist priests.
How many people will die in the future? There are already six, will there be six more, then twelve more, then eighteen?
Until the murderer is caught, the entire Beijing city will be shrouded in the shadow of a serial killer.
Imagine innocent civilians happily stepping out of their homes, only to mysteriously vanish one by one, reappearing as corpses, while the police can’t even catch a glimpse of the killer. The more people he kills, the stronger the killer becomes. To achieve this goal, he will become addicted to slaughter, never stopping. He will bring endless death and terror to the city!
Chief Yan covered his face, unable to think any further. The thought of being held accountable by his superiors chilled him to the bone. He wanted nothing more than to punch his past self from two hours ago. Why couldn’t he have kept a constant eye on things instead of running out to make a phone call? It was just a momentary lapse in attention……
Chief Yan went to a secluded corner to report the situation to his superiors and took full responsibility. It was his fault, and he had to bear the consequences.
At the same time, Chang Sheng shouted through a door, “Chief Yan, did we make a mistake by saving people? What do you mean by locking us up?”
“There is nothing wrong with saving lives, but if I were to give you a choice, what would you do?” Fan Jialuo pushed open the door and entered, followed by Song Rui, Meng Zhong, and Zhuang Zhen. Hearing the noise, Chief Yan immediately ended his call with his superior and entered the conference room.
Chang Sheng was forced to retreat repeatedly by Fan Jialuo’s cold aura, and then slumped onto the sofa.
Fan Jialuo walked to the opposite side of the group, looked at them indifferently, and continued, “Now I’m giving you a choice. Here is one person, and here are a hundred people. Which side do you choose to save?” He stretched out his left and right hands.
Chang Sheng scoffed, “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Fan Jialuo turned to look at Chang Zhen, Lin Nian’en, and Lin Nianci. Although the three of them clearly didn’t want to talk to him, they couldn’t control their mouths. Captivated by his deep eyes, they answered in unison, “We need to save both sides!”
“It seems your thoughts are noble, but why do your actions contradict them?” Fan Jialuo slowly sat down, his voice suddenly turning cold, “When you opened the space, the murderer sensed it and escaped, while we were right outside his door, just one step away from capturing him. Do you know what the consequences of that one step are? Endless killing! The murderer will wreak havoc in this city. You saved one person, but caused the deaths of a hundred.”
Lin Nian’en and Lin Nianci’s faces turned ashen. Chang Zhen’s lips trembled slightly, unsure of what to say. They truly hadn’t expected the police to actually find the murderer, nor had they anticipated the timing would be so unfortunate.
The most stubborn Chang Sheng gritted his teeth and retorted, “A hundred lives are precious, but one life isn’t? As long as it’s a life, we must save it!”
“Well said, whether it’s one person or a hundred, I think the same way you do.” Fan Jialuo clapped lightly, his tone questioning, “But when we left, we clearly told you that if you just waited three more hours for us to catch the murderer, then this person and the hundred people who might be killed in the future would be saved. There was a perfect solution right in front of you, why did you ignore it?”
Chang Sheng was speechless.
Song Rui glanced at him, ripping off his hypocritical mask, “Because your eyes and thoughts can only reach the small area around you, you can’t see further, nor can you think of deeper realms. You can only see what’s in front of you, not the big picture. If the government hadn’t spent a lot of money to invite you, you wouldn’t have come at all. In fact, one person’s life and a hundred people’s lives are not life to you. To you, helping them is an act of grace, refusing to is your prerogative.”
Chang Sheng immediately retorted, “You’re talking nonsense! We came here specifically to rescue people!”
Chief Yan nodded and said, “Yes, you came all the way here to save people for four million. One million each, I’ve even given you the check.”
Chang Sheng’s face contorted for a moment.
Song Rui continued, “Lin Nianci and Lin Nian’en got involved in this case a long time ago. After they left, four more people were murdered. If you really wanted to get involved, you wouldn’t have waited until now. So just drop it. Don’t use the word “noble” to glorify yourselves. To you, no one’s life truly matters. You’re only in a hurry to save Wang Wan because you’re afraid of taking responsibility.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Chang Sheng was trembling with anger, unable to find a single word to refute. Yes, they knew about the case before the government came knocking, but they never considered getting involved because Fan Jialuo was a police consultant, and they didn’t want to associate with him. Their eventual arrival to rescue the people was indeed for money, they couldn’t deny that.
Seeing that her senior brother was speechless, Lin Nianci had no choice but to stand up and bow, “I thought Wang Wan was about to die, which is why I took it upon myself to rescue her. I didn’t expect the murderer to be scared away by us. I’m sorry.”
“Can an ‘I’m sorry‘ really make up for all the mistakes?” Fan Jialuo’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the much older Lin Nianci, “Looking at it this way, you really are very similar to Song Enci. Your personalities are practically identical, you both like to do evil in the name of kindness. She sows sins on earth with the delusion of becoming a god, while you, in the name of saving people, put more innocent people in danger. When the situation deteriorates to the point of being out of control, can you bear this responsibility?”
Lin Nianci’s body began to sway, and her voice became choked with sobs, “I……I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”
Fan Jialuo shook his head and said, “You didn’t fail to anticipate it, you deliberately ignored it. Because I’ve already laid out the outcome before your eyes. I clearly told you what would happen to the murderer if we acted prematurely. And it’s precisely because I showed you that outcome that you’re even more resistant. Saving lives isn’t your real purpose, opposing me is. If making you wait is gambling with one life, then your disregard for the bigger picture and reckless actions are gambling with a hundred future lives. I’m 100% certain of my bet, are you?”
Lin Nianci was rendered speechless by his interrogation, then suddenly hunched over, clutching her chest as if she were about to have a heart attack. The ugliest thoughts in her heart had been stripped away by this man and laid bare under the light of day.
Lin Nian’en grabbed her shoulders and roared, “What do you mean if one person lives, a hundred people will die? Don’t exaggerate! My ShiJie saved people, and that merit is real. And no one has died yet, that’s a fact too. Even if someone does die in the future, it has nothing to do with her, it’s the murderer’s fault.”
“This is very significant. You are cultivators, yet you don’t even understand cause and effect. You saved Wang Wan, scared away the murderer, and allowed him to escape a calamity. You have thus created a karmic connection with him, and you will certainly share in the evil consequences he sows. Each of you must bear his sins.”
Fan Jialuo looked around at everyone and abruptly changed the subject, “Do you know why Song Enci fell halfway to godhood?”
His words froze the faces of the furious Chang Sheng and the others, who then stared intently at him. As cultivators, defying the heavens and becoming gods was the dream of every one of them.
“Because she has saved too many heinous people, directly or indirectly. Their sins have piled up on her head, exhausting her merits.” Fan Jialuo said, word by word, “She thinks she is doing good, but in reality she is creating evil. If she doesn’t die, who will? The so-called Holy Maiden of Zezhou is nothing but a mortal with no wisdom, utterly foolish, and ignorant. If she can become a god, it would be a joke to the whole world.”
“Stop talking! My mother wasn’t like that!” Lin Nianci swayed, nearly fainting from the shock. Her mother’s image in her heart was incredibly revered. In the sect, everyone told her how great her mother was, a being worthy of the name of a god, a flawless perfection.
She was immensely proud of her mother, but at this moment, Fan Jialuo shattered that pride completely. He brutally tore away her backbone, turning her, and even her mother, into pathetic wretches.
Lin Nianci’s vision went black from the shock, and she felt a dull pain in her chest and abdomen, which had caused serious internal injuries.
Chang Sheng slammed his fist on the table and roared, “Fan Jialuo, you’re spouting nonsense!”
Fan Jialuo glanced at him and slowly said, “Whether I’m making false accusations or not, the truth will come out once I find Song Enci. You can leave, but please hand over the Qiankun Shifting Formation. The murderer has been enraged by you and will kill more people in the future. I can use the formation to rescue these people and alleviate your sins.”
Chang Sheng was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, “So, after all that you’ve said, you just want to steal our Tianshui Sect’s inherited formation! You wish! We will never teach it to you!”
“Even if many people die outside, you still won’t teach?” Fan Jialuo coldly pressed.
Chang Sheng hesitated for a moment, then said decisively, “I won’t teach it. That formation can reverse yin and yang. Who knows how many people it will kill if it falls into your hands.”
“Whether I would harm anyone is uncertain, but many lives are already hanging over your heads. It seems that human lives are indeed not worth much in your hearts.”
“You say the murderer will kill many people, but does he really kill? I could say he’ll stop! Don’t exaggerate. I will never pass on the Tianshui Sect’s legacy to you! Our Shizu didn’t even teach you the basics back then, precisely because you were too wicked, and he was deliberately keeping an eye on you. It turns out he was right. You can even kill your Shishu, who was like a father to you, what else are you incapable of doing?”
Upon hearing him mention his martial uncle, Fan Jialuo’s calm face twisted for a moment. For a split second, he couldn’t suppress the surging emotions within him, causing his magnetic field to erupt violently, nearly crushing everyone. Apart from Song Rui, no one perceived the deadly threat emanating from him.
Song Rui grasped his hand and said in a barely audible voice, “No matter what others say, I will believe you unconditionally.”
Fan Jialuo gripped Dr. Song’s hand tightly, his voice hoarse, “When I joined the sect, Shifu told me that as a disciple of the Tianshui Sect, it was my inescapable responsibility to help the world, uphold justice, and vanquish demons. If I disregarded this responsibility, I would not deserve to be called a Tianshui disciple. Now, only a hundred years later, you can treat human life like dirt. This has truly opened my eyes. Did I betray the sect, or did the sect betray me?”
He opened his eyes and pressed again, “Can you really turn a blind eye to the victims in the future? If so, please leave, I won’t stop you.” He pointed to the open door.
Chang Sheng helped Lin Nianci up and left without hesitation. Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en immediately followed without looking back.
Fan Jialuo slowly walked to the door, looked at their backs, and said in a cold tone, “The Tianshui Sect has fallen this low. Is there any point in its continued existence?”
Chang Sheng paused, feeling a chill run down his spine.
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