Volume One, Chapter Four: The Occurrence of a Murder

Xiang Jinlong pulled the handkerchief from Yang Huifang’s mouth, eager to savor her. But Yang Huifang, feeling a spark of renewed hope, began to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Help! Help me!"

Xiang Jinlong slapped her across the face. "Shut your mouth, damn you!"

"Wuu-wuu..."

Yang Zhigang, who had been on the verge of leaving, froze in his tracks. That voice... it sounded so much like Huifang’s.

His heart hammered against his ribs, and a surge of adrenaline flooded his limbs. He clicked off his flashlight, gripped his kitchen knife, and headed toward the shack.

Xiang Jinlong, completely immersed in his actions, had no idea anyone had approached.

The moment Yang Zhigang clicked his flashlight back on, he witnessed a sight that would haunt him for the rest of his life. His daughter lay half-naked on a table, tears streaking her face. Yang Zhigang trembled violently as a wave of blood rushed to his head. He lunged at Xiang Jinlong, slashing with the kitchen knife, blow after brutal blow, his eyes bloodshot and his lips sealed in grim silence.

Xiang Jinlong shrieked in agony, but Yang Zhigang’s movements were too swift, rendering Xiang Jinlong powerless to fight back.

Even long after Xiang Jinlong had breathed his last, Yang Zhigang did not stop. His face and body were splattered with steaming, fresh blood. It was only when Yang Huifang let out a choked, tearful cry of "Dad!" that he gradually regained his senses.

Yang Zhigang dropped the knife, used his remaining strength to take off his coat and drape it over his daughter, and collapsed onto the ground, muttering incessantly, "A sin of one's own making... there is no escape!"

Sirens wailed in the distance. Yang Zhigang, still dazed, wondered how the police could have arrived so quickly.

He stumbled to his feet, but before he could take his daughter out, the police had already swarmed the area.

The two thugs had confessed everything under interrogation and led the police straight to the scene. Yet, no one had expected to find such a gruesome sight.

Among those who arrived with the police were Sun Yaqin and Qin Xiangdong. Standing in the back, Sun Yaqin caught a glimpse of the bloody corpse on the floor. Terrified, she spun around and buried herself in Qin Xiangdong’s embrace.

Sun Yaqin knew that such intimacy upon a first meeting was abrupt, but given the circumstances, it was perfectly logical. She was merely an eighteen-year-old girl who had seen little of the world, and she was genuinely frightened. Her second uncle was a minor official at the Finance Bureau, and her third aunt’s father-in-law was a veteran local leader. If she didn’t cling tightly to a man like Qin Xiangdong, how would she ever seek justice for her family?

To Qin Xiangdong, Sun Yaqin’s reaction seemed normal, yet it set his heart racing.

Sun Yaqin’s head rested against his chest. She looked up, her large, watery eyes meeting his, then gently pushed him away—a classic display of "hard to get."

Yes, exactly like that. It was just like in the television dramas.

"I... I’m sorry..."

Qin Xiangdong hesitated, then stammered, "It’s... it’s alright..." Driven by an inexplicable impulse, he pressed her head back against his chest.

The chief of the local police station, who had arrived with the group, gave a light cough upon seeing this.

Qin Xiangdong said awkwardly, "The girl is young; she’s been badly frightened."

Chief Lin nodded solemnly. "Brother Qin, a murder has occurred here, and these two cases are linked. I’ll need both of you to accompany us to the station. We need to secure the scene; please wait outside for a moment."

"Understood!"

"Chief, my sister is waiting for me at home. She must be worried sick. May I go back and let her know?"

Chief Lin looked troubled. "This..."

"Chief Lin, it will take you a while to process the scene anyway. How about I escort the young lady home first? I will personally bring her to the station shortly."

"Since Brother Qin has spoken, I naturally trust you." The implication was clear: if anything went wrong, it was Qin Xiangdong’s responsibility.

Sun Yaqin’s mind was still filled with the bloody scene on the floor. Even though she had been some distance away, the thick, metallic scent of blood seemed to linger in her nostrils. She desperately wanted to know what had happened, but right now, nothing was more important than her second sister. If she didn't return, her sister would surely worry, and if she went out searching for her and met with an accident... she dared not think of it.

Noticing the girl’s dazed expression, Qin Xiangdong assumed she was still terrified. He pulled his hand into his sleeve and offered the cuff to Sun Yaqin.

"Don’t be afraid. I’m here." Qin Xiangdong’s words made Sun Yaqin pause for a moment. His cheeks were flushed red, and it was hard to tell if it was from the cold or from shyness.

"That... don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything else by that," Qin Xiangdong explained, though he immediately regretted saying it.

"Mm! Thank you!" Sun Yaqin held his sleeve, and the two walked forward one after the other.

Noticing that his strides might be too long for the girl who was trotting along while holding his sleeve, Qin Xiangdong gradually slowed his pace.

After ten minutes, they reached the courtyard of Sun Yaqin’s home. The warm, yellow light from the tungsten bulb spilled out through the frost-covered window, where a silhouette could be seen pacing back and forth.

Sun Yaqin let go of Qin Xiangdong’s sleeve and ran to the door.

"Second Sister! Second Sister!"

Hearing her voice, Sun Yalin hurried out of the room. "Yaqin! You’re finally back. You worried me to death!"

Sun Yalin was about to say more when she noticed the tall figure standing behind her sister. She immediately pulled her sister behind her. "Who are you? Why are you with my sister at such a late hour?"

Qin Xiangdong, usually so composed, felt a sudden sense of guilt, as if he had been caught red-handed stealing someone’s daughter. It was bizarre; he had never feared facing ten men on the battlefield, yet here he was, struck dumb.

"Second Sister! This is Qin Xiangdong. I owe my life to Captain Qin today."

Sun Yalin’s expression darkened further. "Saved you? What happened? Let me see!"

Sun Yalin spun her sister around, and upon finding no injuries, she let out a sigh of relief. Sun Yaqin briefly explained the day's events. Sun Yalin realized the situation and guessed why her sister had urged her to go straight home earlier. But with Qin Xiangdong still present, she didn't press for details.

"Captain Qin, I’m truly sorry. I misunderstood you earlier."

"It’s alright, Second Sister!" Qin Xiangdong quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, while Sun Yaqin stood by, head bowed, stifling a laugh. She thought to herself that this Qin Xiangdong was actually quite interesting.

Fortunately, Sun Yalin was too anxious to notice his slip of the tongue. "Yaqin, wait while I put on a coat, and we’ll go to the station together."

Knowing her sister’s stubborn nature, Sun Yaqin didn't object, and the three of them headed toward the police station.

The interrogation room was dimly lit, with a worn-out table standing in the center. Yang Zhigang was handcuffed to a metal chair. The bloodstains were still fresh, and he looked both dejected and terrifying.

"Yang Zhigang! Speak! Why did you kill Xiang Jinlong?"

Yang Zhigang, usually a man who wore a smile, could no longer muster one. He stared coldly, the memory of what he had seen making his entire body tremble.

"Xiang Jinlong raped my daughter!" he roared like a madman.

"Did you know Xiang Jinlong before today?"

"Yes!"

"Then do you know why Xiang Jinlong was lying in wait at the abandoned factory behind your restaurant today?"

A silence filled the room. "I don't know! Officer, I am a father. No one could remain indifferent if they saw their daughter being raped. I had my reasons for killing him today!"

"Yang Zhigang! Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist! If you don't tell the truth, don't blame us for being harsh!"

Yang Zhigang seemed to have made up his mind; no matter what, he would not reveal the full truth.