Uncanny Valley - Chapter 40
Luo Fei put the medicine bottle away; it would be evidence in the future court trial. Then, he stroked his chin and said, "Ever since Liu Yun's body was found, I realized that Bai Jian'e was likely involved, and one of you two was also a suspect. So I was cautious in everything I did. When I was on night duty that night, I made arrangements specifically for this situation. I also considered the dangers of food and drink when we arrived at Qingfengkou, but I still ended up being poisoned. If I had to say who had the opportunity to do it, it would only be Professor Zhou."
Zhou Liwei shook his head, puzzled: "The food is in your hands, and everyone fetched their own water. How am I supposed to help?"
"Poisoning the dry rations is unlikely; the problem must lie in the drinking water. Everyone was getting water from the river puddles, but only Mr. Yue and I showed symptoms of poisoning. We happened to be the last two people to get water, so the people who got water before us are very suspicious."
"Yes, yes, that person was you." Yue Dongbei pointed at Zhou Liwei and said angrily, "You put the poison in your water bottle and dissolved it into the puddle while you were getting water!"
Zhou Liwei immediately retorted without hesitation: "Mr. Yue, with your academic attitude, is it acceptable to draw conclusions based solely on speculation?!"
"Guess?" Luo Fei smiled and looked at Zhou Liwei. "Yes, and I have even more guesses. For example, regarding Dilga's death, the person who framed me should be you, am I right?"
Zhou Liwei responded with a smile: "I'd love to hear your guessing process; it's like an interesting intellectual game."
Luo Fei cooperated readily, beginning his methodical analysis: "I initially thought one of you killed Dilga to frame me. However, after seeing Dilga's body, I realized that the method of killing was beyond your capabilities. Later, further evidence proved that Li Yanhui was the one who killed Dilga. Yet, my hiking knife was found on the body, which clearly couldn't have been Li Yanhui's doing. Therefore, I deduce that one of you, while following me, happened to witness Dilga's murder and thus came up with this method to frame me. If that's the case, then this person has no reason to have my hiking knife with them from the start; they must have gone back to their residence to retrieve it after witnessing the murder. Professor Zhou, you yourself said that after the three of you separated, you went back to your house midway."
"Hmm, okay, that makes some sense." Zhou Liwei nodded, but then his eyes flashed. "But is that all?"
"Shoes." Luo Fei suddenly changed the subject. "Your shoes."
Zhou Liwei frowned and looked at his feet with some confusion. They were the hiking boots he had bought before setting off. Although he had been hiking for several days, there was nothing special about them.
Yue Dongbei scratched his head in confusion: "What's wrong with the shoes?"
“It’s not just these shoes, but also the old shoes you wore when you set off.” Luo Fei guided Zhou Liwei’s thoughts. “Of the three of us, only you brought two pairs of shoes, and your old shoes were inexplicably ruined by the heat. Isn’t that a bit too much of a coincidence?”
Zhou Liwei chuckled wryly: "But what does that prove? Did I throw my old shoes into the fire so I could wear new ones?"
"Your focus on the shoes doesn't prove anything, but connecting it to other things, it's quite intriguing. As I gradually began to suspect your collusion with Bai Jian'e, one thing puzzled me. You hid it very well; even Mr. Yue and I couldn't tell you and Bai Jian'e knew each other beforehand. How could Liu Yun know this secret?" Luo Fei paused slightly, seemingly allowing the two beside him to consider, before continuing, "Now let's revisit the events that occurred at Mi Hong Village in chronological order. Liu Yun arrived at Mi Hong Village at noon on the day of the rain god's sacrifice. In the afternoon, we were 'invited' by Bai Jian'e, and Liu Yun took the opportunity to come to our room. What did he do? That evening, Professor Zhou's old shoes were ruined by the heat, so he had to change into new ones." The next morning, I went to find Liu Yun, while Professor Zhou went to Bai Jian'e's place to 'discuss the trip.' Liu Yun was still avoiding me then, because I missed him, but as I walked back, he followed me from behind, seemingly trying to catch up. At that moment, Professor Zhou, we happened to meet at the intersection. Liu Yun immediately left and then tried every means to arrange a private meeting with me. It seems highly likely that your conversation with Bai Jian'e that morning leaked some secrets—I imagine the content of your conversation was nothing more than how to attack me and Mr. Yue on the road? But how could Liu Yun have overheard your conversation? This question has been troubling me. After returning to Kunming, my mind cleared considerably, and then I suddenly thought of your shoes. That very night, I indeed found this thing inside the tongue of the left shoe.”
Luo Fei extended his right hand, pinching a small, button-battery-like disc between his index finger and thumb: "It's a Japanese-made audio receiving device, what we usually call a bugging device. It can effectively monitor within a two-kilometer range. Liu Yun originally wanted to eavesdrop on our conversation to obtain some secrets related to the Longzhou Madness case, but unexpectedly, he discovered a secret that even he himself finds frightening. You are very vigilant. When Liu Yun asked to meet me alone, you immediately realized something was amiss, so you seemed somewhat flustered when Bai Jian'e wanted to postpone his trip. You didn't know at the time that Liu Yun had perished in a flash flood the night before, while being chased by Bai Jian'e on his way to the appointment."
“Interesting, very interesting.” Zhou Liwei stared intently at the bugging device. “As far as I know, this kind of bugging device can only receive audio in real time, it doesn’t have a recording function, right?”
Luo Fei nodded frankly: "You're right."
“That’s why I’m very disgusted by your speculations,” Zhou Liwei retorted calmly. “There is no substantial evidence for anything you’ve said.”
Yue Dongbei felt the same way. He looked at Luo Fei with expectant eyes, hoping that the other party would reveal a more powerful weapon.
“Evidence, yes, what we need now is evidence… Then I’ll show it to you first.” Luo Fei stood up, took his backpack from the luggage rack, pulled out an envelope, and sat down, saying, “Six months ago, Li Yanhui learned about all your plans from Bai Jian’e and the others’ conversation. The first thing he did after leaving the Kunming Mental Hospital was to write down your entire plan—it’s in this envelope. Mr. Yue, you must be completely confused right now, so let me explain the plan from beginning to end. A certain expert in the field of psychiatry, a renowned professor… actually… a year ago…” He had already been following your academic work, but what attracted him wasn't the mystery of Li Dingguo's life or death, but rather the legendary 'power of the devil'. Driven by professional instinct, he immediately realized that the source of this power was likely a psychoactive biological extract. So he traveled to the Yunnan border region to search, where he met Bai Jian'e, a descendant of the Bai family who had been pursuing this power for generations. Bai Jian'e took him to the Valley of the Uncanny, and the two finally found the creature; its extract could stimulate the mind, producing extreme excitement and pleasure. The professor then conceived the idea of using it to develop a new type of... The drug dealers, relying on Bai Jian'e's influence, sought to gain a share of the existing drug trafficking market in Yunnan. The only problem was that the extract had a certain potential to induce fear in people, necessitating research and development. The professor collected samples of the extract and returned to Longzhou for research. According to the plan, he returned to the Valley of Terror in February of this year, a secluded place, to conduct small-scale human trials using the Hamo people. In August, the professor conducted a larger-scale trial in Longzhou using the first upgraded product. He distributed the drug in public places such as schools and restaurants, reaching a very wide audience, but the vast majority... Most people only felt a certain excitement and pleasure; only a very few with sensitive constitutions developed symptoms of terror. These individuals naturally became the professor's patients, and in fact, his research subjects. Oh, and I forgot to mention the blood vial. Li Yanhui was captured by Bai Jian'e and his gang, and the blood vial fell into their hands. Wasn't it this professor who brought the blood vial to Longzhou and then sold it to an antique dealer? When we followed the clues from the blood vial to investigate the Valley of Terror, the professor accompanied us, his purpose being to cover up the truth. Along the way, he didn't hesitate to use any means necessary, including ultimately killing his ally—Bai Jian'e.
Yue Dongbei was stunned by Luo Fei's words. Although he had no good feelings towards Zhou Liwei, he never expected that this whole thing was a conspiracy planned by the other party. He stared at Zhou Liwei, and for the first time, a look of fear and lingering apprehension appeared in his eyes.
Zhou Liwei stared coldly at Luo Fei, and after a long silence, he asked, "Excuse me, did my name, Zhou Liwei, appear in that letter?"
Luo Fei and Zhou Liwei exchanged glances: "No, Li Yanhui doesn't know that professor's name, so he couldn't possibly have mentioned you."
"Then how can you prove that this professor is me?"
“As soon as I arrived in Kunming yesterday, I called the criminal police in the team. They searched your laboratory and found some suspicious biological extracts. Animal experiments showed that these extracts contain both psychiatric and stimulant chemical factors.”
“Heh.” Zhou Liwei shook his head with a cold laugh. “I’m a psychiatry expert. It’s perfectly normal for me to find something like this in a lab. You can’t prove that this is the ‘power’ from the uncanny valley that Li Yanhui mentioned in his letter. Officer Luo, your chain of evidence is missing a very important link.”
"So, with this added, is the chain of evidence complete?" Luo Fei's left hand, which had been inside his backpack, was now pulled out, revealing a small, dark, round object about the size of a bull's eye, still covered in dirt.
Zhou Liwei's expression changed drastically in an instant. Although he tried his best to hide his emotions, sweat still streamed down his forehead.
Seeing the other party's appearance, Luo Fei was certain that he had won the battle, and that the sphere was indeed the source of the "mysterious power" that had been passed down for hundreds of years.
“If the bio-extracts in your lab happen to match the components in this sphere, I think the presiding judge will understand what that means.”
Luo Fei's calm words completely devastated Zhou Liwei. He smiled bitterly in despair and could no longer utter a word.
"What, what is this thing?" Yue Dongbei curiously touched the sphere with his hand, and it felt very hard.
"The fruit of 'Undead Blood,' however, grows from the roots. According to Li Yanhui, the source of that mysterious power is in the ancient cemetery, where the only noteworthy species is 'Undead Blood.' However, Professor Zhou's eagerness to cut off the plant's stems and branches for us to bring back for research aroused my suspicion. Considering the scattered skeletons in the cemetery, it was clear that someone had dug something here. So, the day before I left, I went to the cemetery and dug these things out from the roots of those plants." Luo Fei paused here, turning to look out the window.
The plane has landed and is taxiing slowly.
"Professor Zhou, please get ready. Someone is here to pick you up," Luo Fei said, pointing to a spot not far ahead.
Those were his assistants, Xiao Liu and others. They were dressed in crisp police uniforms, their black attire gleaming with a solemn and dignified light in the sunlight.
Epilogue
Yue Dongbei sat opposite Luo Fei, his expression one of astonishment. He had just heard the other recount the entire truth about the holy war and Li Yanhui's revenge. For a long time afterward, his eyes remained unblinking, an expression of utter disbelief on his face. Luo Fei was already used to Yue Dongbei's boisterous personality. He waited quietly, anticipating Yue Dongbei's passionate and hindsight-driven ramblings once his mind had cleared.
But when the other party spoke this time, what they said was completely unexpected by Luo Fei.
"Why don't you take her with you?" Yue Dongbei blurted out.
"What?" Luo Fei didn't react for a moment.
"That girl, Xu Xiaowen, why didn't you take her away?" Yue Dongbei's tone completely turned accusatory. "You already knew it was a fake scam, why didn't you expose it? How could you bear to let such a kind girl suffer like that? And Li Dingguo and Li Yanhui, how long will they have to bear that unjust reputation?"
“I’m telling you everything in the hope that you can rewrite the history related to Li Dingguo, so that the world can truly understand a hero—this was also Li Yanhui’s wish before his death. However, you must keep your promise and conceal the Hamo village in the book, so that the world will not disturb their lives, including yourself.” After a moment of silence, Luo Fei continued, “As for Xu Xiaowen, staying in the village to keep that secret is her own choice. The blood of the Hamo people flows in her veins; she cannot disregard the joys and sorrows of her people…”
“She can’t do it, but you can!” Yue Dongbei’s face flushed red as he interrupted the other person without any politeness. “As long as you tell the truth, everything will be over, and no innocent and kind person will have to bear that heavy shackle anymore. That girl trusts you, she likes you. If you know how to make her happy, why don’t you do it? Of course, if you do it, maybe she will resent you, but so what? You should help her! I really can’t understand how you could leave her there alone!”
Yue Dongbei's words struck a nerve with Luo Fei, leaving him speechless. After a long while, he managed a bitter smile: "I understand what you mean, but... I can't do it. Believe me, my desire to take her away is much stronger than yours. If she gave me even the slightest hint, I would do it without hesitation; but her attitude is so resolute. It's a choice without right or wrong, and what right do I have to affect someone else's life because of my own selfish desires?"
"You'll regret this." Yue Dongbei reprimanded Luo Fei for the first time in an elder's tone. "When you reach my age, maybe not so long, you'll regret it. There was such a wonderful girl, and you had the chance to decide the trajectory of her life, but you made the wrong choice. You'll mutter to yourself when you're drunk, making meaningless assumptions, cowardly and pathetic—no matter how glorious your past experiences have been, it'll all be the same!"
Cowardly and servile? This was the first time Luo Fei had heard such an adjective describe himself. His mind was in a mess, and his eyes became blank.
"Alright. I will completely rewrite the character analysis of Li Dingguo, and I will keep my promise. But Officer Luo, today I have changed my opinion of you. You have disappointed me greatly." Yue Dongbei said angrily, then turned and left Luo Fei's office.
After sitting there for a while, Luo Fei got up and went to the window, letting the breeze brush against his face, which cleared his mind slightly. The day before he left Hamo Village, he had also tried to persuade Xu Xiaowen, and the conversation seemed to still echo in his ears.
"Is it worth it for you to do this for a lie?"
"If I only think of myself, of course it's not worth it... But what if I think of my sister, Li Yanhui, and my people? Do you think it's just a lie, even hypocritical and ugly? That's because you don't understand our village. Have you seen Mengsha lying under the bridge in the county town? Have you seen the miserable state of those people who fled their villages when their faith wavered? We are different from you. In the outside world, many people don't have faith, and you can still survive. But for the Hamo people, besides that faith, we have nothing else to be proud of. Even if that faith is just an illusion, it's still something our people need. If that pillar collapses, an unimaginable and tragic fate awaits us."
When Xu Xiaowen said "you" and "we," her tone was so resolute, as if drawing an insurmountable chasm between the two of them. Even after many days, recalling it still caused Luo Fei a pang of pain in his heart.
Luo Fei took a deep breath and looked up at the distant horizon. Under this bright blue sky, how many people are still living by relying on the power of lies?
(over)