Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 85 The University

Chapter 85: Chapter 85 The University

"What about the identity of the deceased?"

Mr. Bai suddenly asked.

Yang Wanlong’s face looked a bit grim as he said, "She’s lost her head, and there’s nothing on her body that can confirm her identity. Aside from knowing that she’s female, we don’t know anything else at the moment."

"No." Gao Fei interrupted Yang Wanlong, speaking earnestly, "The deceased is a female, aged between 19 to 23. A bone age test could be more accurate. As for her occupation... she’s probably still a student."

Everyone looked at him in surprise. Gao Fei was a new forensic expert who had only been in the field for a short time. He usually seemed not-so-steady in character, so although he worked earnestly, he inevitably left some unreliable impressions on others.

However, this time, his performance was quite striking.

"If she’s between 19 to 23, then she’s a university student." Yang Wanlong glanced at Gao Fei without getting angry for being interrupted and instead frowned and said, "There are five universities in the city and about a dozen more in the suburbs. And the most crucial point is, it’s currently the holiday season..."

At this moment, Gao Fei raised his hand again and said, "Um... as for the school, it should be Ye City Medical University in Jiangnan District."

"How exactly did you figure that out?" Lin Wan finally voiced the question she had been holding back. This young forensic scientist apparently knew quite a bit in this area.

Everyone was quite curious as well.

Gao Fei pointed to a crescent-shaped pendant on the deceased’s clothing and said, "This item is a souvenir issued by Ye City Medical University, and only those who return to school early during the holidays receive one..."

Upon saying this, Gao Fei took out a set of keys, and there was also a crescent-shaped pendant attached, as he said somewhat sheepishly, "Actually... I graduated from Ye City Medical University."

So that’s how it is...

So, the deceased was a student who returned to Ye City Medical University early during the winter break?

Yang Wanlong immediately decided:

"Lin Wan, Gao Fei, go to Ye City Medical University and make sure to determine the identity of the deceased!"

Then he looked at Mr. Bai, saying kindly: "Yanliang, you go too, by the way..."

He gestured towards Mr. Bai, seemingly wanting to convey something else.

Mr. Bai leaned in, hearing Yang Wanlong say: "...and while you’re at it, check on Zhirong for your Uncle Yang, my eldest daughter; she also returned to school early, right there at Ye City Medical University..."

Yang Yiyi’s sister? Yang Zhirong?

So she’s studying at Ye City Medical University...

Mr. Bai nodded and agreed, saying, "But I’ve never met Yang Zhirong."

Yang Wanlong patted his shoulder and said, "No problem! I’ll send you a photo later."

With that said, Mr. Bai naturally had no issues.

Yang Wanlong clapped his hands and said loudly, "Team one, continue visiting the surroundings and retrieve surveillance footage! Team two, keep searching the street park, try to find clues! Everyone else... dismiss!"

...

Mr. Bai once again experienced the feeling of sitting in a police car.

The last time was ten years ago, and that time he was handcuffed tightly, with a piece of clothing covering his head.

"Bai, what exactly do you do?" Gao Fei, sitting in the front passenger seat, suddenly asked. Today, Mr. Bai being invited to the scene by Captain Yang really shocked him. He just realized he’s been living under the same roof with Mr. Bai for a month and still doesn’t know his profession.

Though Lin Wan, who was driving, didn’t speak, she glanced at the rearview mirror, looking at Mr. Bai.

Mr. Bai thought for a moment and said, "Criminal... and... private detective perhaps."

Mr. Bai is generally straightforward and doesn’t lie, though his truth is rarely believed by others.

For example, now, Gao Fei doesn’t believe it, and neither does Lin Wan.

Would Yang Wanlong find a criminal to assist? The police can’t possibly be doing that...

Both of them assumed Mr. Bai was joking, but strictly speaking, Mr. Bai, the "juvenile offender," was indeed a criminal.

"Mr. Bai, I heard you were quite helpful in Captain Wang’s last case?" Lin Wan suddenly asked.

"Just lucky." Mr. Bai looked out the window, answering calmly.

Lin Wan was a bit taken aback and couldn’t help feeling a little frustrated. She sensed that Mr. Bai seemed uninterested in talking to her, which put her in a bad mood.

Although she didn’t know where Mr. Bai learned it from, Lin Wan had to admit that his description of her family was quite accurate, as both her parents were local officials, granting her special treatment wherever she went.

Except... here with Mr. Bai, who seemed to have a poor impression of her. In terms of figure, looks, abilities, and character, Lin Wan considered herself quite outstanding. Could he be mad just because of her previous attitude towards him?

Lin Wan was overthinking it; the reason Mr. Bai was indifferent was because he was pondering something else.

It was something Gao Fei had mentioned before... ritualistic crime.

Crimes filled with ritualistic elements seldom happen just once. He was now worried that there might be more victims in this city.

...

The "Fog Gathering" group, which Mr. Bai didn’t particularly care for, was unusually quiet today.

In fact, everyone was discussing the previous incident until two-thirty, like whether Yu Wenxuan’s actions were justifiable or if people from the past world actually existed. Another topic was how Lu Guo’s team survived, bringing a glimmer of hope to the increasingly desperate "Fog Gathering."

But everything fell silent after a comprehensive 3,000-word document titled "Sacrificial Blood Village Compilation" was released.

Everyone was meticulously reading the document that Mr. Bai sent before leaving, and the more they read, the more startled they became, feeling incredulous about the seemingly low-key man.

"Lu Rendong’s heart is on the right, the ritual failed, and the fierce ghost awoke..."

"...The deceased of Sacrificial Blood Village were all killed twice: once when alive, once as ghosts, and repeatedly so, all due to the killer being both a ghost and Sun Wenbin..."

"...Besides, there are other clues. Lu Rendong’s disability makes it impossible for him to leave Sacrificial Blood Village even if he survived. The ones assisting him were the ’body collectors,’ the Sun father and son, Sun Liang and Sun Wenbin. Therefore, from the very beginning, Sun Wenbin knew Lu Rendong was not dead, having no actual motive to seek revenge against the villagers. Thus, it can be inferred that Sun Wenbin may be problematic."

"...The solution is hidden within the ancestral teachings of Sacrificial Blood Village; its people can never leave, evidenced by Sun Liang and previous couriers. Once they leave the village, they will be killed by some presence. The Homecoming Festival, Homecoming Festival... Can’t leave, so how to return? Therefore, Homecoming Festival should have been a ritual to guide those who died outside the village back home. The Sun Liang we saw on the bus was already turned ghost, drawn back by the Homecoming Festival."

"Sun Wenbin embodies both human and ghost. As a Sacrificial Blood Villager, he bears the curse of being unable to leave. I presume... the fierce ghost sharing his body would also have this curse, hence the risky trial."

Mr. Bai’s writing was subtle, but those who read it thoroughly had only one thought in their minds:

How could this person remain so composed?

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