Three Ghosts of the City

Chapter 13

I walked over and saw a white cloth covering something, with Chen Kai standing beside it.

"You're here, take a look!" Chen Kai said, pointing to the white cloth.

I nodded, crouched down, and carefully lifted the white sheet. A skull jumped out at me, accompanied by the stench of a rotting corpse. I immediately frowned. It was a skull because the bone was exposed, yet it resembled a human head because some soft tissue remained, yellowish-white and streaked with blood. What surprised me even more was that all the parts that could be called a face were gone. The eye sockets were empty, the nose had been removed, and even the teeth were missing. Some yellowish-white liquid was oozing out; it must have been brain matter.

"That's really thorough!" I turned the skull over and saw a clear knife mark on the skullcap, and several pieces of scalp stuck together also had file marks, obviously left by a file when the scalp was scraped off.

"How is it?" Chen Kai asked.

“The time of death should not be long, but the exact time will need further testing.” I stood up and asked Xiao Ren next to me for a plastic bag. “However, it is obviously a heinous crime. The murderer dismembered and disposed of the body, which clearly shows that he has some professional knowledge.”

"How so?"

"The knife mark on the back of his head is very deep, and there are file marks. His teeth, eyes, and nose were deliberately shaved off. Moreover, the separation between the skull and neck is very smooth, obviously chopped off with a knife in one clean and neat motion!" I made a chopping gesture with my hand. It seems that this murderer has a real talent for being an executioner.

"What about the rest of the body?"

“Then you should ask the murderer, not me.” I shrugged, squatted down again, carefully placed the skull into the plastic bag, and said to Xiao Ren, “Take this.”

"Huh? Me?" Xiao Ren looked at the bag with a strange expression, turning pale and then flushed.

"What's wrong? Just grab it!" I said impatiently.

Xiao Ren glanced at me with difficulty, then carefully moved a step and reached out his hand, but just as he was about to touch the bag, he suddenly screamed and rushed towards the lake.

"No way, he's so useless!" I chuckled as I looked at Xiao Ren, who was vomiting uncontrollably. Seeing him like that reminded me of myself when I first entered university and took anatomy class—I was just like that! Shaking my head, I walked over and shoved a plastic bag into Xiao Ren's hand, who had already finished vomiting, comforting him, "You'll get used to it after you keep vomiting!"

Poor Ren, after vomiting up his lunch, started vomiting up his snacks. He probably won't stop until he vomits up all his stomach acid, and he doesn't even dare to throw up what he's holding.

"You little rascal, you're quite the troublemaker!" Chen Kai stepped forward and patted my shoulder with a smile.

"That's how it's always been! Old Cao did the same thing to me back then!" I replied casually, but my heart jumped again when I mentioned Old Cao. His case was in limbo, and Cao Ying was nowhere to be found. It was a complete mess.

Chen Kai clearly noticed my disappointment, patted me on the shoulder, and said, "Work hard, that's the only way now."

I nodded, looking at Chen Kai's earnest face, and suddenly realized that he was actually a good person too!

※※※

"What, are you used to it?" I asked Xiao Ren, standing in front of the lab table and looking at the skull in front of me.

"I'm trying," Xiao Ren replied, but her weak voice suggested that she must have vomited quite a bit earlier.

I smiled but said nothing more. The skull before me made me too depressed to tease Xiao Ren anymore. The stark white of the bone, the dark eye sockets—everything seemed to tell a tragic and cruel story. It turned out that people could treat another person this way; even a corpse shouldn't be desecrated like this. Especially in our country, there's a sense of reverence and tolerance towards corpses. Even the most cruel person would show some leniency towards a dead body. A complete corpse was usually the best mercy a ruler could show a criminal. To die without a complete body was a great taboo in our culture. And this skull—not only was it without a complete body, but it had been mutilated like this. What kind of hatred could drive someone to such a state?

"How's it going? Any progress?" Chen Kai asked, pushing open the door.

“The killer must have spent a lot of time dealing with this skull,” I replied. “Obviously, the killer held the skull down with one hand and used a knife in the other, then processed it very carefully. That’s why there are many knife marks on the skull, and it’s clear that more than one knife was used. Come and take a look.” I beckoned to Chen Kai, who walked closer.

“This was clearly made with a sharp, large knife.” I pointed to a clear knife mark on the back of the head. “It was obviously this knife that severed the victim’s neck.” I turned the skull over again, and the cut at the neck was very smooth, clearly indicating that the head was severed in one stroke.

"Then they used a file to scrape away the scalp and the surface skin of the face, which is why these rows of fine marks are left." I pointed to the scalp and continued, "As for the flesh on the cheeks, it was cut off directly with a slightly smaller meat cleaver, see?"

"Please, don't look so excited!" Chen Kai looked at me like I was a monster. I was obviously talking too excitedly, practically spitting as I spoke! But what could I do? What could excite a forensic doctor like that, of course, was finding out how the victim died!

"This isn't excitement, this is rage!" I quickly explained. "The victim's eyes and nose were gouged out with a knife, and even his teeth were forcibly pulled out, as can be seen from the fractured roots of his upper teeth. Furthermore, the murderer used a sharp awl to shove the victim's brains out. This murderer spent a considerable amount of time and effort to disfigure the skull beyond recognition for only one purpose: to conceal the victim's identity."

"And he did a great job, because we still don't know the identity of the deceased. It would be even more difficult to find out what he looked like." Chen Kai sighed. The recent cases hadn't been solved yet, and now there was another one. The pressure from above was getting heavier and heavier, and he was almost going crazy.

“However, I can at least tell you now that the deceased was under thirty-five years old,” I reassured him. “The sutures in the skull hadn’t closed yet.” Sutures are fibrous joints, which are actually a very thin layer of fibrous connective tissue tightly bound together, preventing the two halves of the skull from shifting. As people age, these sutures gradually close.

"Really? At least that's good news. But it's not enough, Xiao Lin!" Chen Kai looked at me helplessly, the wrinkles on his face and the white hair on his head revealing the anxiety and unease of this criminal investigation captain.

"I'll figure something out." I don't know why, but whenever I encounter a difficult case, I get more excited and motivated. Every corpse has its injustice, and every corpse is the best evidence. Who says corpses are useless? They can speak and expose all the evil. The truth is always hidden in every corpse.

And now, I have no idea that this skull, this seemingly unrelated case to the other Heart Lake murders, has opened up a new path for the Heart Lake murders, made the subsequent investigation more dramatic, and gradually brought the evil behind the scenes to the surface.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Science vs. Magic

"How's your skull?" Fang Lei suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blurted out this question, making me almost spit out the water in my mouth.

After calming myself down, I replied, "Please, my skull is perfectly fine! Don't say that, okay?"

A mischievous glint flashed in Fang Lei's eyes. She shrugged and said, "What I mean is, have you made any progress? Do you need my help?"

"How can you help?" I put down my cup and glanced at the computer screen next to me.

"I'll use magic to restore your skull to its original state." Fang Lei's words surprised me greatly. I didn't expect magic to have such benefits. In that case, wouldn't all forensic identification become a burden?

"Don't believe me? Actually, this is a spell developed from restoration magic, and I invented it!" Fang Lei's tone was very proud, like a proud princess.

"Oh? Really?" I find it hard to believe that Fang Lei, a forensic doctor and a practitioner of magic, possesses such abilities. Clearly, this heroine Fang is not to be underestimated!

"Don't forget, although I know magic, I'm also a forensic pathologist. I've been researching how to apply magic to forensic identification," Fang Lei replied seriously, indicating that she wasn't just saying it casually.

I looked at Fang Lei's face. The afternoon sun streamed in through the window, illuminating her beautiful features. The golden sunlight bathed her fair skin, giving it a shimmering, golden glow. She looked like an angel. Once upon a time, I too had an angel, but I failed to hold onto her, and she vanished before my eyes. I wonder if this angel will stay for me this time?

Shaking my head, I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled as I asked the angel before me, "Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful?"

Fang Lei was taken aback for a moment, and a blush appeared on her face. She said in a coquettish tone, like a little girl, "I'm talking to you about serious business!"

I chuckled awkwardly a few times, and to avoid leaving a bad impression of being irresponsible in the eyes of the beautiful woman, I quickly replied in a serious tone, "Okay, let's talk business! Do you really have such magic?"

"Yes, would you like to try it?"

I tilted my head and thought for a while. It is indeed a very useful method nowadays, but unfortunately, no matter how effective it is, it cannot become a result of forensic examination, let alone evidence. Should I tell the police or judge that this is the original shape of the skull, and that it was created using magic? I'd probably be considered superstitious or crazy!

"It's a method, but unfortunately it's useless and can't be used as evidence!" I shrugged, looking helpless.

"I didn't ask you to use it as evidence; it's just for reference," Fang Lei replied.

"Let's wait a bit, because I'm using another method, a scientific one." I smiled and pointed to the computer screen next to me. "Come and take a look."

Fang Lei walked over and sat down next to me, leaning over the computer screen. When I turned my head, I saw her neck; her delicate skin had a healthy pinkish hue, and her smooth neck made me want to touch it. A faint fragrance wafted from her, the subtle scent of a virgin that sent a surge of heat through my lower abdomen. Good heavens! It was truly tempting! I swallowed hard, struggling to shift my gaze back to the computer screen, but my mind was still filled with the image of Fang Lei's silky skin.

"What is this?" Fang Lei's words immediately snapped me out of my bad thoughts.

“This is craniotomy,” I replied, pointing to the skull image on the computer screen.

"Is it really craniotomy? I didn't expect the technology to be so advanced!" Fang Lei said excitedly. After all, as a forensic doctor, she was very interested in this high-tech thing.

I smiled. Her reaction was the same as when Lao Cao told me he had secured the equipment—the same joy and excitement. This technology is widely used in forensic medicine abroad, but in my country, it's still in its infancy. Many components still need to be imported, and at considerable cost. Lao Cao had submitted countless reports to his superiors to obtain this equipment, but unfortunately, by the time it was needed, he was already gone.

Cranial superposition is a technique developed based on the experience of countless forensic pioneers and the principles of forensic anthropology. By taking data from various points on the skull based on factors such as race and gender—essentially computer-generated muscle thickness values—it's possible to roughly superimpose a person's skull image. However, currently, the available data is limited. I can only determine that the skull belonged to a woman under thirty of Asian descent. I hope this cranial superposition technique will lead to a breakthrough. I have some confidence in this new technology because there have been several successful cases solved using cranial superposition in forensic history. But it requires time and patience. I have the patience, but time is a major headache; the higher-ups want to solve the case as quickly as possible. It seems that using magic might be a shortcut. Thinking this, I sighed and said to Fang Lei, "This technique takes a long time, so perhaps we can try the magic you mentioned first. As for evidence, we can discuss that after the technical analysis is complete, how about that?"

"I have no problem. The problem is, even if we get the results, what are you going to do? Tell Chen Kai? Do you think he'll believe it?" Fang Lei frowned and asked.

“That is indeed a problem.” I straightened up and thought for a moment. “But it’s better than waiting. We need to solve the problem as quickly as possible.” Now is not the time to discuss whether Chen Kai will believe it. At worst, I can just tell him that this is the result of the craniotomy. The real problem is whether Fang Lei’s method is reliable. I don’t want to give Chen Kai one answer and then another; he’d probably kill me.

Perhaps Fang Lei sensed my concerns, because she said, "Don't worry, I'm still confident about this."

"Well... okay!" I nodded in agreement.

Fang Lei nodded and went to the lab table. The skull was lying there, its empty eye sockets seemingly telling a story of injustice, which made people feel sad. The obvious knife marks, on the other hand, made people shudder and their scalps tingle.

Fang Lei raised her hands to her chest, forming a gesture resembling a Buddha's hand mudra, and muttered incantations. She was chanting so fast I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Gradually, a green mist seemed to rise around the skull, or perhaps tiny green beads of light, forming a small vortex around it, with the skull at its center. As the green beads increased, the remaining human tissue on the skull began to move, like countless wriggling worms, and then it continued to grow. Yes, grow. I really didn't know what word to use to describe this skull; the flesh grew wildly like grass, gradually forming a human face—the face of a beautiful young woman.

"Appear!" Fang Lei suddenly shouted, and a lotus seal materialized from her hand, which was then imprinted on the skull. The skull immediately displayed an exceptionally clear human face, but unfortunately, it only lasted for a few seconds before disappearing. The skull returned to its original state, as if everything that had just happened was merely a hallucination.

Looking at Fang Lei, her face was very pale, and she was sweating profusely. She was even swaying. I rushed forward and supported her. The feeling of holding her warm and fragrant body made me feel like I was floating on air. Her soft body felt like it had no bones. What's more, she smelled so good and didn't have any sweaty smell at all.

"What's wrong?" I asked with concern.

"It's nothing, it's just that this is the first time I've used this spell, and I'm a little unfamiliar with it," Fang Lei replied weakly.

What? First time using it? I almost fainted and rolled my eyes. This time it was my turn to sweat, and I was sweating buckets.

"Um, um..." I hesitated, then stammered, "Is it only going to appear for such a short time?"

"Don't worry, I've already written it down. I'll draw it for you later!" Fang Lei broke free from my embrace and stood aside, which made me feel a sense of loss. I stared at her for a while, unwilling to give up.

"So, how are you going to thank me?" Fang Lei asked.

Thanks? I'd rather repay you with my body, I thought to myself, though of course I couldn't say that aloud. I scratched my head and said ingratiatingly, "How about I treat you to dinner?"

"Hmm?" Fang Lei tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Okay, but I want to have a good meal!"

Oh no, I've been scammed again! I touched my wallet in my pocket. Money, money, you're going to disappear again!

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Mysterious Old House

After watching Fang Lei's taxi drive away, I looked at my wallet and was overwhelmed with sorrow. I never imagined that this French meal would cost me more than two thousand yuan! More than two thousand yuan! It's all my hard-earned money! Why did those damn Frenchmen come up with such an expensive dish? I muttered to myself and kicked an empty bottle far away.

Following the bottle, I suddenly saw a woman across the street. Her light green dress accentuated her shapely figure, but what shocked me wasn't her ethereal beauty, but rather the fact that this woman was the same woman from my older sister's computer, the same woman I'd met at the Black Forest bar that day. Suddenly, the world seemed to fall silent; I could only hear my heavy breathing and my increasingly rapid heartbeat. The woman stood gracefully across the street, smiling at me, her eyes fixed on me. My palms instantly became cold and clammy; I knew it was from cold sweat. Just as I hesitated whether to cross over, the woman suddenly turned gracefully and walked forward.

There was no time to hesitate. I immediately followed. For some reason, even though it was night and we were quite a distance apart, I could see her face very clearly, even the lividity on the side of her cheek. She walked very fast, almost too fast for me to keep up. But just when I thought I was going to lose her, she suddenly slowed down. After I caught up, she deliberately kept a distance from me. I had a vague feeling that she was leading me somewhere. Sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I could feel my hands trembling uncontrollably.

The woman walked further and further into the secluded area, one of the few remaining old-style villas in the city. This area had once been a residential district teeming with foreigners and wealthy merchants before liberation. Now, however, it was desolate. Under the dim yellow light, the dilapidated iron gate and the rustling fallen leaves added to its bleak atmosphere. The woman's figure drifted aimlessly, and Xi Zhou remained eerily quiet. The walls of the villas on either side formed a narrow, seemingly endless path. The further I walked, the more suffocated I felt, my head spinning. The walls seemed to be constantly growing taller, imprisoning me in a confined space. Gradually, the scenery around Xi Zhou began to distort and spin. I don't know how I managed to keep going; my hands, gripping the walls, grew weaker and weaker. Finally, I saw the woman stop, standing before an iron gate that I almost thought was about to collapse. Inside the gate were tall sycamore trees, their shadows dappled in the swaying moonlight. A Western-style house was vaguely visible through the shadows of the trees, but there were too many trees, and it was nighttime, so I couldn't make out its features. I patted my chest, trying to shake off the stuffiness; my breathing was rapid, my fingers felt numb, and my legs were weak. Gritting my teeth, I looked at the address sign next to the iron gate, and could vaguely make out the following on the mottled rust: No. 77, Ancient Locust Street.

When I turned to look at the woman, I found her already inside the iron gate, standing under a large tree. I rushed over, but the iron gate, which I thought was about to collapse, was much sturdier than I had imagined; no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't open it. My strength was slowly draining from my body, and I felt as if many stars were spinning before my eyes. The woman's face gradually became blurry, but the blood flowing from her dark, empty eyes was an unusually glaring red.

※※※

"You dead pig, get up! Don't you want to go to work today?" I could almost hear my older sister yelling in my ears. I tried to open my eyes, but my splitting headache made me close them again immediately.

"Still sleeping?" My older sister seemed to be yelling right next to my ear. A chill ran down my spine as the blanket was pulled off.

I immediately jumped out of bed and found myself lying perfectly still in my own bed, with my angry older sister standing by the bed, holding my warm blanket in her hand.

"How did I get here?" I touched my forehead. Thankfully, I didn't have a fever.

"Where do you want to be? Get up, you're going to be late for work!" My older sister threw the clothes at me.

"How did I get back yesterday?" I clearly remember following that mysterious woman to a mysterious old house last night. It was No. 77, Guhuai Street. I remember it very clearly.

My older sister gave me a strange look and said, "How did you get back? You walked back, of course!"

"Am I alone?" I immediately asked.

"Yes, you're all alone!" my older sister said after thinking for a moment. "But when you came back last night, you looked terrible, so pale it was frightening. I asked you what was wrong, but you wouldn't answer me and just went straight to bed and fell asleep. I had to help you take off your clothes and cover you with the blanket!"

"Really?" I laughed awkwardly. It seemed that what happened last night wasn't a dream. But how did I end up back here? I had absolutely no recollection of it. I racked my brains but couldn't figure it out. Did I really have amnesia?

"What are you thinking about? Look at the time!" My older sister suddenly placed the alarm clock in front of me, and then I yelled "Wow!" and scrambled into the bathroom.

※※※

I sat in the taxi, gazing at the scenery outside the window, then checked my watch, hoping I wouldn't be late. 77 Guhuai Street, I silently repeated the address to myself. Although I'd only been in this city for less than three years and had traveled to quite a few places, why had I never heard of Guhuai Street before?

Looking at the taxi driver beside me, who seemed to be in his forties or fifties, I thought, "Aren't taxi drivers supposed to be living maps of the city?" Having made up my mind, I casually asked, "Sir, have you been driving a taxi for quite a few years?"

"Yes, it's been almost twenty years. I'm a veteran in this industry!" the driver said with a smug look on his face.

“Oh, then you must be very familiar with this city?” I asked.

"Of course, there's nothing in this place I don't know. In our line of work, who wouldn't know it well?"

"Yes, yes! May I ask you for directions to a place?" I said with a forced smile.