Death Notice 2 Destiny

Chapter 37

It's not that they dare not have it, but that it's simply impossible for it to happen. Just like a child would never imagine that their parents would harm them.

As Ding Ke's deputy for many years, Huang Jieyuan's admiration and trust in him were self-evident. This explains his apparent slowness in the earlier conversation: he struggled to grasp even facts that seemed obvious to Luo Fei. The core issue of that discussion had completely entered a blind spot in his mind—a blind spot shrouded in a halo of sanctity.

Even setting aside emotional barriers, Luo Fei found it difficult to connect the policeman who concealed the clues with Ding Ke. He had previously believed that Ding Ke was troubled by this case, which forced him to leave the police force. But now it seemed that the person who had troubled Ding Ke was actually himself.

This sudden shift in thinking completely threw Luo Fei into disarray. He frowned deeply, trying desperately to untangle the complex and tangled threads of thought. Huang Jieyuan, on the other hand, simply gave up on even that effort, staring blankly at Luo Fei. A heavy fog of confusion enveloped his mind, and he could only hope that the other could point him in the right direction.

Of the three people in the private room, Mu Jianyun was the youngest and not a criminal investigation professional, so Ding Ke's influence on her was relatively weaker. She was the first to grasp the situation and pondered, saying, "So, Ding Ke actually had a crucial clue about the robbery back then. If he had followed that clue, the case might have been easily solved. But why didn't he do it? To outsiders, it seemed like he was scared off by the case."

Luo Fei turned to look at Mu Jianyun, his thoughts drawn in by the other's words and drifting away. Slowly, a look of relief replaced his deep confusion, and then both Mu Jianyun and Huang Jieyuan heard him let out a soft sigh.

"What's wrong?" Mu Jianyun knew he had gained some insights, so he quickly asked.

"We underestimated Ding Ke," Luo Fei said with a sigh. "We actually believed he would be stumped by the case... In fact, he knew everything. That's why he made that choice, isn't it?"

Luo Fei's tone suggested they understood completely, but Mu Jianyun and Huang Jieyuan were still utterly confused. They asked almost simultaneously, "What choice?"

Luo Fei looked at Huang Jieyuan and asked in return, "Do you now know who committed the '47 robbery'?"

Huang Jieyuan shook his head.

Luo Fei then turned to look at Mu Jianyun, who raised an eyebrow and said, "Didn't you say it was Yuan Zhibang?"

"Yuan Zhibang?" Huang Jieyuan looked surprised. "How come he was involved in this case too?"

Luo Fei nodded and explained to the other party, "After Wen Hongbing's death, Yuan Zhibang became very close to Wen Chengyu and his mother, so he had a motive for the crime; and judging from the method and ability he used, it wasn't a case that an ordinary person could have committed; of course, there's another more important reason why I'm certain Yuan Zhibang was the robber, but that involves some private matters, so I won't go into details..."

"Is it really him?" Huang Jieyuan thought about it more and more, finding it increasingly intriguing. He sighed, "Heh heh, it's not entirely unjust that I lost to him, but..."

Although Huang Jieyuan didn't finish his sentence, his meaning was already very clear. Given Yuan Zhibang's strength, he could only swallow his pride if he lost, but what about Ding Ke? He clearly could have defeated Yuan Zhibang, so why did he choose to back down?

This question also troubled Mu Jianyun, and she urged Luo Fei again, "Alright, tell me quickly. What choice did Ding Ke make back then?"

Luo Fei remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. A troubled expression appeared on his face, and finally he sighed, as if giving up on something, his expression filled with helplessness.

Mu Jianyun and Huang Jieyuan were both looking at Luo Fei, waiting for his answer.

Luo Fei finally spoke: "Back then, Ding Ke faced two choices. One was to follow that lead and investigate to the very end. Think about it, what would be the result of doing that?"

"Hmm—" Huang Jieyuan, a policeman for over ten years, answered this question with ease. "If the case is indeed as you analyzed, then Yuan Zhibang will be arrested for robbery. Because it's burglary and the amount involved is huge, his sentence will be at least ten years. Then the stolen money will be recovered, and Wen Chengyu and her son will once again be plunged into poverty and helplessness."

After Huang Jieyuan finished speaking, Luo Fei added, "Perhaps it's not just that. If Wen's wife knew where the money came from, she would also face charges of harboring a criminal or even robbery as an accomplice. Judging from her later behavior, she should be aware of the case."

"Isn't that a bit excessive?" Mu Jianyun clicked his tongue, seemingly finding it hard to accept this assumption. "It was Chen Tianqiao who owed the Wen family money in the first place. Why should we not only pay back the money to the guy who maliciously defaulted, but also sentence the creditor to prison?"

"This is the law," Luo Fei said in as calm a tone as possible. "Before the law, there are only rules, no sentimentality."

Mu Jianyun shook his head and remained silent. The reasoning Luo Fei spoke of was actually very easy to understand, but when vivid examples appeared before one's eyes, it was ultimately difficult to let go of the truth.

But Luo Fei continued, "Ding Ke's second choice is exactly the opposite: ignore this clue and let the case remain unsolved. This way, the money can stay with Wen Chengyu and his mother; the instigator, Chen Tianqiao, will be punished; and his protégé, Yuan Zhibang, won't face imprisonment. However, this is undoubtedly a violation of the duties of a criminal investigator—if you were Ding Ke, what would you choose?"

Luo Fei's final question left both Mu Jianyun and Huang Jieyuan somewhat bewildered. It was indeed a perplexing dilemma!

After a long silence, Mu Jianyun shook his head helplessly and said, "I'm afraid I'll find the first outcome very difficult to accept. That's simply putting good and evil in reverse!"

"Actually, that's not all," Huang Jieyuan added. "You know, back then, Ding Ke had high hopes for Yuan Zhibang, determined to groom him as his legendary successor. How could he bear to watch Yuan Zhibang ruin his future for a scoundrel?"

Luo Fei believed Huang Jieyuan's words. Back then, Ding Ke's recruitment of interns at the police academy had caused quite a stir among the graduating class of criminal investigation majors. Everyone knew that being chosen by Ding Ke meant becoming this legendary figure's apprentice. Luo Fei had also been a candidate, but at the time he was caught up in a sweet yet torturous romance with Meng Yun, which distracted him somewhat, so Ding Ke ultimately chose Yuan Zhibang.

One can imagine that Ding Ke would do everything in his power to care for and protect such a promising young talent, chosen from among thousands of candidates. And Yuan Zhibang's performance certainly did not disappoint him; otherwise, why would he have entrusted the crucial task of entering the scene during the "130 Hostage Crisis" to Yuan Zhibang, who was still in his internship?

Ding Ke's relationship with Yuan Zhibang was probably like that of a father to his son. Even though the other party made a mistake, he couldn't bear to let him get hurt, especially since that mistake had a very righteous reason.

Thinking about this, Luo Fei suddenly felt that his analogy was somewhat inaccurate. Because there seemed to be a deep rift between Ding Ke and his son Ding Zhen, from this perspective, for Ding Ke, the mentor-apprentice relationship they had built through work might even be closer than the relationship between father and son!

Did Ke Dingke know that from that moment on, Yuan Zhibang was already plotting a horrifying assassination plan, and that he was destined to embark on a path of no return that ran counter to his duties as a police officer?

Huang Jieyuan had no idea that his words would lead Luo Fei's thoughts so far; he was still analyzing the choice Luo Fei had posed earlier. Then he heard Luo Fei say thoughtfully, "But we have to go back to the point. Although the first option would cause Ding Ke great pain, it doesn't mean that choosing the second path would bring him relief. I think he also cannot accept the second option. Because doing so would be a complete betrayal of his duty. As Ding Ke's deputy, I know him very well. He is a person with a very strong sense of responsibility. In his career as a criminal investigator, he has given up a lot and sacrificed a lot—some sacrifices that most people would find unbearable, but he endured them all because he upheld his duty. He is the most steadfast defender of the law, and this is the bottom line he will never abandon."

"We've heard a lot about Ding Ke's dedication to his work." Mu Jianyun agreed with Huang Jieyuan's analysis. At the same time, she turned and exchanged a glance with Luo Fei. Luo Fei knew that she was probably thinking about the tense relationship between Ding Ke and his son.

How could a tough guy who can ignore even family ties for the sake of work easily give up his professional ethics?

"In that case, it really is a difficult situation!" Mu Jianyun spread his hands again, concluding his statement. "If I were in that situation, I really wouldn't know what to choose. Alright, Captain Luo, please don't make things difficult for us anymore. Tell us your analysis of this matter."

Luo Fei narrowed his eyes—an expression that usually indicated he was entering a state of deep thought. After a moment, he sighed softly and said, "Indeed, there was no choice. So Ding Ke didn't choose either of those paths; he chose... escape."

As if a word had awakened them from a dream, Mu Jianyun and Huang Jieyuan both showed expressions of sudden realization.

"So that's how it is... Ding Ke resigned not because he was hindered by the robbery, but because he couldn't make the only choice between human sentiment and legal principles. That's why he left the police force, so that he could be true to his conscience and preserve his career, thus leaving no stain on his professional ethics." Mu Jianyun said, shaking his head, seemingly quite regretful about this outcome.

The person most emotionally affected at this moment was undoubtedly Huang Jieyuan. In just a few tens of minutes, he not only uncovered all the secrets of the robbery eighteen years ago, but also learned for the first time the real reason for Ding Ke's retirement. He felt a sense of loss, and even more so, a pang of bitterness: if it weren't for this incident, he could still be working under Ding Ke's guidance, and would so many changes have occurred in the provincial police force later? How could he have suffered that unforgettable workplace humiliation ten years ago?

For Ding Ke, it was indeed an impossible choice. Whichever path he chose, it would leave an indelible shadow on his future career as a criminal investigator. Therefore, his choice to escape was understandable. However, while he gained relief, he remained unaware of the situation, bearing the pressure alone for over a decade. Didn't he ever consider that he too could be crushed by such pressure?

Huang Jieyuan's mind was surging with emotions that he could hardly contain. He picked up his teacup again and took a big gulp. Whether it was because he was not drinking the tea properly or because the taste came from his heart, the originally fragrant and pleasant green tea tasted unusually bitter this time.

Mu Jianyun noticed the change in Huang Jieyuan's mood. She reached out and took his teacup, saying, "This tea has gone cold; we need to add some hot water."

The hot water splashed into the teacup, releasing a delicate fragrance that filled the air. Huang Jieyuan felt a warmth spread through his heart.

"Such a truth is indeed disheartening." Luo Fei was also caught up in a sense of melancholy. He pushed his teacup towards Mu Jianyun, "Please add some hot water for me too."

Mu Jianyun held the kettle in her right hand and supported her right wrist with her left. In the dim light of the private room, her hands appeared even more fair and delicate. She poured the tea with focused concentration, and judging from her meticulous manner, Luo Fei was certain the tea would be sweet and fragrant.

As Huang Jieyuan and Luo Fei picked up their teacups one after the other, a moment of tranquility descended upon the private room. The three sipped their tea, each seemingly lost in thought. But this silence was ultimately broken by Luo Fei.

"Life is often like this." He tilted his head slightly, his gaze somewhat distant. "Once a situation has already formed, no matter how hard you try, it's futile. All you can do is minimize the damage. But outsiders don't understand. They see you make a bad choice, so they complain and are disappointed, not realizing that this choice is actually the best possible outcome."

Luo Fei's words carried a didactic tone, which Huang Jieyuan, a man of many experiences, naturally understood. He smiled wryly, "Yes. I shouldn't have complained about Ding Ke. Even if I were in his position, I wouldn't have made a better choice. Like you said, the situation was already beyond repair at that point."

"If someone has to be held responsible for this situation, then it should be Yuan Zhibang. When he committed the 'Four-Seven Robbery,' he put Ding Ke in a dilemma." Mu Jianyun said with indignation.

Luo Fei turned to look at Mu Jianyun, his eyes dark and gleaming. The latter shrugged: "What's wrong? Just say what you want to say."

"Alright." Luo Fei no longer hesitated and said directly, "You now believe that the 'April 7th Robbery' is the root cause of Ding Ke's retirement. But have you ever considered that when Yuan Zhibang committed the robbery, he might have also made a helpless choice under similar circumstances?"

Mu Jianyun paused for a moment, then shook her head: "Officer Luo, according to your logic, everyone's choices may be out of helplessness or coercion. Shouldn't we show sympathy and understanding to everyone?"

Luo Fei's eyes narrowed again.

"There's always a starting point—" he said quietly, "the initial starting point. It's just that we can't see the full picture of that point yet."

"Are you talking about the '130 hostage situation'?" Huang Jieyuan asked back, while pondering as if he had just realized something.

Mu Jianyun understood Luo Fei's meaning. It was after the "130" case that Yuan Zhibang began to grow closer to Wen Chengyu and his mother, and ultimately carried out the "47 robbery" in order to seek justice for the Wen family. Therefore, if we were to find a point of reference for Yuan Zhibang's actions, that point would obviously fall on January 30, 1984.

"Perhaps we should really think carefully about the circumstances under which Yuan Zhibang shot and killed Wen Hongbing," Huang Jieyuan said, bringing up his own thought and hoping to get everyone to discuss it. "Judging from his subsequent behavior, his concern for Wen Hongbing's wife and children went beyond what is normal."

Luo Fei immediately nodded in agreement. From a police perspective, it's normal to feel sympathy for the perpetrator, and it's not uncommon for them to even provide financial assistance to the perpetrator's family. However, for someone like Yuan Zhibang to go so far as to cross legal boundaries for this purpose is illogical.

"His behavior seems more like he's paying off a debt," Mu Jianyun attempted to offer some analysis from a psychological perspective. "It seems that Yuan Zhibang harbors a strong sense of guilt towards the Wen family."

Luo Fei's eyes flickered, and he asked further, "Then what is he feeling guilty about?"

Even if a police officer shoots and kills a criminal who is strapped with explosives and taking hostages at the scene, it shouldn't make the officer feel guilty, even if the criminal is exonerated.

Therefore, there must be other hidden secrets influencing this policeman's emotions.

Faced with Luo Fei's question, Mu Jianyun could only give a vague answer: "I don't know the specifics, but I'm certain that this matter is related to the process of Yuan Zhibang shooting Wen Hongbing—the most likely explanation is that some kind of accident occurred at the scene, and this accident was due to Yuan Zhibang's mistake."

"That's right," Huang Jieyuan echoed, "That's what I think too."

Luo Fei's eyes slowly moved, and his gaze grew increasingly bright. It seemed that some excitement was hidden within them, ready to burst forth.

"What are you thinking about now?" Mu Jianyun was an expert at reading people's expressions, but she was also an impatient person and couldn't help but urge the other person.

"If it's really as you analyze it—" Luo Fei's gaze swept across his two companions' faces one after the other, and he said in a deliberately suppressed voice, "then we might have another way to defeat Eumenides, a gentler, yet more effective, approach!"

Huang Jieyuan blinked, seemingly not understanding. Mu Jianyun, however, immediately grasped the point: "Yes, we can completely destroy Eumenides's morale."

Huang Jieyuan frowned, looking quite troubled: "You two, stop using sign language and just speak clearly, okay?"

Luo Fei smiled slightly and explained to Huang Jieyuan in detail: "We already know that the current Eumenides is Wen Chengyu, the orphan from back then. The reason he became the assassin he is today is entirely due to Yuan Zhibang's guidance and training over the years. In his heart, Yuan Zhibang is his mentor, guiding the direction of his life, and he has never questioned this direction. But if he knew that Yuan Zhibang's path to Eumenides started with his father's death, and that Yuan Zhibang himself is responsible for his father's death, how would he feel?"

Huang Jieyuan clapped his hands in sudden realization: "Then the foundation of his faith will be shaken! He will not only feel that Yuan Zhibang is using him, but he will also feel that Yuan Zhibang is the one who harmed him! Because all of this is Yuan Zhibang's design, and he is just a link in the chain, appearing to make up for Yuan Zhibang's mistakes and alleviate Yuan Zhibang's guilt... That feeling must be both innocent and helpless. Once this emotion arises, he will begin to hate everything that Yuan Zhibang imposed on him, including Eumenides' identity as an assassin."

"By then, we will be able to subdue the enemy without a fight," Mu Jianyun said with a smile, summarizing Huang Jieyuan's victory with an idiom.

"That's a really good idea!" Huang Jieyuan said excitedly, but then seemed a little frustrated. "--It's just a pity we still don't know what exactly happened at the core scene of the '130 Case' back then."

"At least we still have a lead, and Eumenides is pursuing it relentlessly. I believe the truth about Wen Hongbing's shooting will eventually be revealed to us, and to Eumenides!"

Luo Fei's voice was strong and resonant, which boosted the confidence of his two companions. Indeed, with such a sharp and insightful fellow guiding them, what mystery couldn't be solved? Wasn't the "47 Heist," which had remained dormant for eighteen years, finally solved thanks to his analysis?

The Fate of the Death Sentence (20)

The three of them then fell silent for a short while, perhaps savoring the discussion and analysis that had just ended, or perhaps gathering their resolve and courage to continue the fight. However, the atmosphere seemed a little too quiet, so much so that after a moment, Mu Jianyun couldn't help but let out a big yawn.

Luo Fei smiled slightly at her: "Are you sleepy? It seems you're not used to staying up late."

"This timing is definitely a bit unusual," Mu Jianyun complained, pouting. "When I was in school, my daily routine was very regular. But since joining your task force, everything's been thrown into chaos."

Luo Fei spread his hands, looking quite innocent: "Don't blame me today, it was Lao Huang who arranged it."

Mu Jianyun then turned to Huang Jieyuan and said, "Hey, Lao Huang, what's so important about your performance that you had to call us over in the middle of the night?"

Her words seemed to remind Huang Jieyuan, who glanced at the monitor screen on the opposite wall and muttered to himself, "Hmm, the performance is about to start."

As seen on the screen, the bar, which was empty an hour ago, is now bustling with activity. Dazzling colored lights flash back and forth to the powerful rhythm of the music, stimulating the patrons already seated in the hall. Their figures flicker like ghosts, their cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Your bar is doing quite well," Mu Jianyun casually remarked.

"Today is performance day, most members will come," Huang Jieyuan said, calculating. "I estimate there will be two or three hundred people."

Luo Fei immediately chimed in, "So far, it's two hundred and thirty-seven people."

"Huh?" Huang Jieyuan turned his head and stared blankly at Luo Fei. "How did you know?"

"I counted them." Luo Fei shrugged, seemingly annoyed that the other person was making a fuss. "Since you installed cameras at the entrance, this job should be simple. Look, two more people have come in now. That makes a total of two hundred and thirty-nine people, one hundred and ninety-seven men and forty-two women."

Indeed, if one kept staring at that monitor screen, counting the number of patrons entering the room wouldn't be difficult. But Huang Jieyuan and Mu Jianyun exchanged a glance, still feeling somewhat incredulous.

"You've been discussing the '47 Heist' with us the whole time, and I didn't notice you staring at the monitor screen. How did you count them?" Mu Jianyun asked, her eyes wide. After a pause, she added, "And why were you counting them? What's the point?"

"You don't need to keep an eye on it all the time, just keep an eye out. As for the significance—it really doesn't matter much, it's just a habit, or you could say a kind of training. If you cultivate this habit regularly, you'll find that it seems difficult, but it's actually quite easy to do. And information that seems useless often proves to be of great significance at crucial moments." Luo Fei explained casually, as if it were perfectly normal for him.

"What a strange habit," Huang Jieyuan muttered, shaking his head. Mu Jianyun smiled, seemingly understanding something.

It was indeed a habit, a habit unique to this man. Just like that two-minute time difference back then, who else but this guy who meticulously observed every little detail of life would pay such close attention to such minute things?

As it turned out, it was this tiny detail that determined the outcome of Luo Fei's intellectual contest with Yuan Zhibang. It seemed like a very accidental factor, but this accident was actually the accumulation of thousands upon thousands of inevitable events!

"Alright, let's stop discussing Captain Luo's habits." Mu Jianyun looked at Huang Jieyuan. "Hurry up and tell us about your performance. What exactly happened?"

Huang Jieyuan still didn't give a direct answer. He checked the time: "Well, it's 1:20 AM now. The performance won't officially start for another forty minutes. There's still time to do some setup."

"Settings in?" Mu Jianyun looked puzzled. The other party was getting more and more mysterious.