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"Thank you for your cooperation..." An Qiqi sent the video to his phone via Bluetooth, then said goodbye to the director. As he walked out of the mental hospital, he looked back at the roof of the tall building, and suddenly felt increasingly suffocated, gradually feeling like he couldn't breathe.

Chapter 127: The Doll Murder Case (127)

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When he woke up, his friend had already passed away. This blow left Song Xiaomo's nerves taut like a fully drawn bow; he could no longer withstand any further stimulation.

He told himself: Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, this is a dream. Lie down, close your eyes, close your eyes...

Why does his death appear so vividly in my dreams?

He was increasingly unsure whether the terrible dream he had was real.

If it's true, or even half true, it's terrifying.

Song Xiaomo inadvertently recalled a small detail: the text message he received had been read!

In other words, he had already read the text message before he had that strange dream.

“Why don’t I remember anything? Could it be…” In an instant, cold sweat broke out on Song Xiaomo’s back, soaking him completely. He remembered Park Eun-hee talking to him about sleepwalking: “The formal medical term for sleepwalking is ‘somniac,’ especially in people with anxiety and restlessness. Under normal circumstances, a sleepwalker’s actions are just like everyday life: turning on lights, opening doors, walking around, using some household appliances, or even doing some unexpected things. The other person you think you are is actually you in a sleepwalking state, because you don’t know it’s you doing it, so you think it’s someone else doing it.”

"Could it be that I saw Lee Jung-jin while sleepwalking?" Song Xiaomo felt like his head was about to explode. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to unconsciously become another, unfamiliar boy. He remembered that when he discussed this with Park Eun-hee, he vehemently denied ever sleepwalking. In fact, he had sleepwalked for a long time during his childhood, and even now, he often felt a shiver run down his spine. Especially the bizarre experiences he had recently had, which were particularly frequent and increasingly intense.

Suddenly, he realized that if Lee Jung-jin hadn't committed suicide, then he was very likely pushed off the building, and he had seen him while sleepwalking… Could it be… could the murderer be him? Instantly, cold sweat poured down his back. He forced himself to calm down and thought for a moment, then quickly dismissed this deduction, because if he was sleepwalking, then someone would definitely have seen him. Moreover, sleepwalking mostly happens at night.

However, he couldn't explain this bizarre incident. He recalled certain plots from horror movies: the protagonists often suffered from severe schizophrenia, had dual personalities, and when they had an episode, their primary personality was completely lost, and their minds were controlled by another mysterious personality.

“Schizophrenia? Split personality? That’s absurd!” He shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Why is the text message marked as read?

"No...it couldn't have been me! I can't think about this anymore..." Song Xiaomo kept plunging his head into cold water, but he couldn't control his wandering thoughts. In his memory, he cooked a packet of instant noodles for lunch and then lay down on the sofa to sleep. During that time, meaning he was in an unconscious state, it's highly likely he was sleepwalking!

Chapter 128: The Doll Murder Case (128)

"I received Li Zhengzhen's text message around noon. The distance from the dormitory to the mental hospital is at most a 20-minute drive. During the lunch break, I could sneak in, or even climb over the wall, go straight to the rooftop, find Li Zhengzhen, grab his legs from behind, and throw him downstairs. Then, I could escape in the chaos. Afterward, I would go back to the dormitory to sleep... When I was awakened by a nightmare, I read the text message a second time and rushed to the hospital. That way, I would create an alibi without anyone noticing..."

"No, why would I kill him?" Song Xiaomo desperately denied the thought that came to mind. He subconsciously glanced at the wall next door and seemed to see a pair of hateful eyes staring at him.

"Don't look for me, it wasn't me! You've turned into a ghost, you should be looking for the person who actually killed you!" Song Xiaomo roared irritably.

The sky outside the window gradually blurred, and an uncontrollable feeling of fear grew within him. He opened his mouth wide, trying to calm himself down, to expel the nauseating feeling, to uproot the rapidly growing seedling, but in his ears, countless war drums roared, and countless weapons clashed...

He turned on the showerhead, and the water gushed out. He stood there, fully clothed, letting the cold water drench his entire body again and again. He wanted to clear his head, to wake himself up.

"Hehehehe...hehehehe..."

The rushing water was mixed with a series of familiar yet chilling laughs, making Song Xiaomo shiver. He had just looked up when a blurry face floated past the bathroom mirror.

Who? Song Xiaomo wondered, running out of the bathroom and looking around the living room. There was nothing there, which reassured him a little. Suddenly, his neck felt itchy. He scratched it, only to find a large clump of long, thin hair—clearly not his!

There was someone on the ceiling. He looked up, but the person was gone.

The lights in the room flickered suddenly, as if the power was about to go out, but then returned to normal.

Suddenly, he heard a strange sound, faintly coming from next door. The sound was like footsteps, or perhaps a heartbeat; each sound made Song Xiaomo's heart tremble.

Could it be that Lee Jung-jin has returned?

His body was trembling uncontrollably. He listened intently for a while and felt that the sound was coming from the bathroom.

"Strange, I just came out of there, and there was nothing there!" The feeling of fear gradually intensified, making it hard for him to breathe.

He deliberately coughed loudly and gently opened the bathroom door. The room was dimly lit, but empty; even the strange noises had disappeared.

Has the storm passed, or is an even bigger storm on the horizon?

He checked the bathtub and then lifted the toilet lid; everything seemed normal.

However, just as he was about to leave, he couldn't open the bathroom door.

He was very surprised to notice that all the lights had started to flicker on and off!

Chapter 129: The Doll Murder Case (129)

"Squeak... squeak... squeak..."

Song Xiaomo was horrified.

In a moment of quick thinking, he grabbed the toilet seat, smashed the glass door, and climbed out of the bathroom.

However, things gradually became restless in the living room.

Every piece of furniture and every appliance in front of him seemed to have grown eyes, staring coldly at him.

He also heard the doors of the closet in the bedroom open and close, open and close...

"Waaah...waaah..." Someone was crying behind me.

He whirled around and saw Li Zhengzhen holding a gleaming curved blade, staring blankly at him. Before he could utter a sound, a flash of cold light, and a spurt of blood erupted…

A sharp crack of shattering glass followed by deathly silence...

Chapter 130: The Doll Murder Case (130)

Three consecutive deaths at HY University swept through the city like a storm. Reporters flocked to the campus, and major media outlets published numerous reports, reaching a fever pitch especially after Lee Jung-jin's "jump." University students faced unprecedented panic. Furthermore, many websites and forums discussed these perplexing and terrifying events, with many speculating about the next victim. Some even believed online that it was a summoning—that the owner of the ghost doll was too lonely in the underworld and needed companionship, thus using his undying consciousness to create these three "paranormal" events.

"This is utter nonsense!" An Qiqi clicked on the forum posts with his mouse, a wry smile on his face. What particularly worried him was that not only were there no progress on the three tragic cases, but there was also no news about He Zhiying's disappearance. It was as if He Zhiying had vanished into thin air during this period of time.

He returned to his desk, his mind uneasy, and buried himself in the case files from two years ago, hoping to find any overlooked clues.

The victim, Kim In-hyun, was poisoned. According to information obtained by An Qiqi, this poison, called "CMK2," is extremely rare, originating from India. It is colorless and odorless, extracted from cobra venom, and generally causes immediate death. However, if used properly, the time of death can be precisely controlled. While the perpetrator, Shin Mi-hyun, certainly had a motive, why did she enter Kim In-hyun's room after poisoning him?

An Qiqi initially thought Shen Meixuan might want to verify Jin Renxuan's life or death. But was it really necessary to go in person? Was it necessary to hide the unused poison at home? Of course, incompetent assassins have never gone extinct. But a certain intuition told him that there must be something wrong with the case.

At 2 PM, An Qiqi received a call from Xiao Nan from outside.

"Qiqi, I found some information about Li Zhengzhen that might be helpful to you!" Xiao Nan's excited voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Speak quickly!" An Qiqi suddenly stood up.

"This Li Zhengzhen has no relatives. His original surname was Zhao, but for some reason he changed it to Li. Actually, he has an older brother named Zhao Zhengmin. This Zhao Zhengmin committed murder two years ago, but..."

"But what?"

"But he escaped from prison later!"

"A prison break?" An Qiqi was taken aback and asked urgently, "Have they caught them yet?"

"No, he's been on the run all this time!"

"Incredible... To be able to escape from prison, you're no ordinary person!" An Qiqi murmured, and couldn't help but think of the globally popular TV series "Prison Break".

"Also, this Zhao Zhengmin once worked as a doctor in India. After returning to China, he discovered that his wife had eloped with someone else. So, through all his efforts, he finally found his wife and poisoned her..."

India? Doctor? Poisoning?

An Qiqi's heart raced, and she tentatively asked, "Is it CMK2?"

"You mean that Indian poison? It seems to be..."

"Yes, yes, I understand!" An Qiqi almost jumped up. This seemingly hopeless case finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Chapter 131: The Doll Murder Case (131)

"Qiqi, what have you figured out?"

“I can now confirm that Shin Mi-hyun’s case is related to Lee Jung-jin, or at least he is highly suspicious. He probably provided the poisons Shin Mi-hyun used… If Shin Mi-hyun was the murderer who killed Kim In-hyun, then he might also be an accomplice! I’ve been thinking about what he meant by the text message he sent to Song Xiao-mo, ‘Remember, don’t call the police!’ Now I finally understand. He was a criminal to begin with, and he has a particular aversion to the police. Also, he may not be a real mental patient. For the past two years, he has been hiding from everyone’s sight. We were all deceived by appearances and overlooked this person from the beginning…” An Qi-qi spoke eloquently.

"He's been trying so hard to hide for so long, but you've finally seen through him!"

"No, it wasn't me! It was the person behind it!"

"The person behind it?"

"Yes, it's the culprit behind these cases—the Avenger!"

"You mean... he was murdered in a revenge killing?"

"That's the only assumption I can make for now."

"Then...why did the murderer also kill the administrator and the art teacher?" Xiao Nan asked again.

"It can't be explained in a short time; the cunning fox will soon reveal its true colors," An Qiqi said confidently.

At that moment, a police officer pushed the door open and entered.

"Seven, Li Zhengzhen had an accident in the hospital morgue!" the police officer gasped for breath.

"Isn't Li Zhengzhen already dead?" An Qiqi gripped the phone, looking utterly bewildered.

"He's dead, but... his head is missing!"

"A serial killer? Looks like he's sticking to his old style!"

Lee Jung-jin lay on his back. A forensic doctor in a white coat was squatting beside the body, examining it, while camera flashes went off incessantly.

An Qiqi walked over, greeted her colleagues, and then looked down to examine the body.

At the severed neck, white bones were hidden among the flesh and blood. In addition to the stench of blood, another chilling aura permeated the entire morgue.

An Qiqi was speechless for a long time. He felt confused. Who could hate him so much?

What evidence did the murderer leave behind?

"This is all you have!" A hand wearing a milky white plastic glove handed him a transparent bag.

A shiver ran through his entire body.

Another ghost doll!

Looking at that strange face and peculiar smile, An Qiqi felt a mix of emotions.

Apart from that, no other evidence was left at the scene.

He didn't believe this little gadget could kill people, and he found it increasingly perplexing what force was controlling the lives and deaths of so many people and what its purpose was, just as he couldn't figure out why He Zhiying had suddenly vanished.

An Qiqi glanced at his watch; it was 5:30 PM. He planned to contact Song Xiaomo to ask about Li Zhengzhen. However, he couldn't get through on his cell phone or landline for a while, so he finally dialed Park Eun-hee's number.

"Hello, is this Eun-hee?"

Chapter 132: The Doll Murder Case (132)

"Why did you suddenly think of your old classmate today, Officer?" Park Eun-hee's voice was clearly tired.

"You're so heartless to say that! You're so carefree in college now, and you don't even bother to contact me!"

Park Eun-hee chuckled: "Do you need something at this hour? It's past the time you invited me to lunch!"