Seeing how urgent Han Fei was, other than Li Xueâs teacher, the other officers were confused. âLife is not easy for an actor today.â The manager and Li Xueâs senior entered the file room. They saw Han Fei run towards the section where the cases from 50 years ago were. âButterfly wasnât born 50 years ago. Why is he looking through those cases?â The group looked at each other. Only Li Xueâs teacher was silent. As he looked at Han Fei moving through the shelves, he seemed to see himself from years ago. âThe rest of you can leave. Iâll stay to accompany him.â
The elder controlled the wheelchair with difficulty. He wanted to get to the deepest cubicle in the file room. Only a handful of people had the right to go there. Not even the manager knew what was stored there.
âIt feels like something is off with the teacher today.â Li Xue patted her seniorâs shoulder. âHow is teacherâs physique lately? He used to rest a lot but ever since he got to know Han Fei, he has left the hospital multiple times already.â
âHeâs not too great but too bad either.â Li Xueâs senior said. His expression didnât change but his eyes dimmed. âXiao Xue, do you remember how you were sent to the station in the old city due to disciplinary action?â
âThat was so long ago. Why do you bring it up now?â Compared to before, Li Xue had changed a lot. âActually, if not for that, I wouldnât have met Han Fei.â
âYour transfer was teacherâs idea. Your arrival time and location were obtained after many simulations.â Li Xueâs senior didnât hide anything. âFrom the start, your mission was to meet him.â Every coincidence was arranged.
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âTeacher knew Han Fei before this?â Li Xue was not a kid. She was not angry, just shocked. âI donât know.â Li Xueâs senior looked deep into the file room. The elder kicked everyone but Han Fei out.
Han Fei didnât know what happened outside. He skimmed through all the cases.
âFound it!â
âThe case of the lamb! The killer targeted women going home late. Based on the later investigation, the meals made by the killer were given to the villagers of the Pigâs Village. This case was linked to another case, the case of the precious feast! Someone who was known as the Gourmet had booked many meals from the killer. The two enjoyed a strange balance. The killer of the first case didnât know the identity of the Gourmet. He only knew that the Gourmet was rich.â
There was a case within a case. Han Fei lost a lot of time studying.
âThe case of the Fire Torture, The Case of the Night Demon, The Case of Hypnosis, The Case of the Butterfly, the Case of the Ghost CardâŠâ
The clock on the wall ticked. Han Fei rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. He had been studying since 5 am. It was noon. Plus, he had been reading endless horrible cases.
âAre you tired? Get something to drink.â The elderâs voice came from behind Han Fei. The Xin Lu legend handed a glass of water to Han Fei.
âThank you.â Han Fei accepted the glass and suddenly realized there was only himself and Li Xueâs teacher in the large file room. He sniffed and noted a strange fragrance in the water. When the rim touched his lips, he paused, âWhere is everyone else?â
âI told them to leave so that you wouldnât be disturbed.â The elder noticed Han Feiâs action and smiled. He rarely smiled. âDrink. The water is not poisoned.â
âSir, donât it the wrong way. Why would I suspect you?â Han Fei put the glass down and continued to read.
âIâm curious. Whatâs your motivation to look into these cases?â The elder sat in the wheelchair. His loose clothes covered up his atrophied extremities.
âI just want to live.â Han Fei found a new case, the Case of the Death Building. A family of seven was killed, and until now, some of the body parts still hadnât been found.
âLiveâŠâ When the elder heard that, he was reminded of something, âIf one day, your death can save many innocent people, will you sacrifice yourself?â
âIt depends. After all, Iâm just a normal comedy actor.â
âIn other words, you might choose to sacrifice yourself, right?â The elder had a faint smile. âItâs very lucky that I met a child like you at the twilight of my life.â
âLucky? Then you donât know me that well. Many people donât want to work with me. I am bad at handling interpersonal relationships.â Han Fei was telling the truth. He often ended up working alone.
âAre you talking about the other actors that envy your skills?â The elder narrowed his eyes, âOr the other butchers and killers?â
Han Fei paused. He turned around. âSir, have you misunderstood something?â
âIf I had a misunderstanding against you, I wouldnât have told everyone that youâre my student.â The elder leaned against the wheelchair. âThere are many things that I want to do still, but time is running out. I donât ask that you sacrifice yourself, but I hope that you will never change.â
âWhy are you bringing these up?â Han Fei felt that the elder was acting very strangely. Ever since he told Han Fei about the garden owner, his condition worsened.
âPeople like to talk when theyâre old.â The elder took out an old document from his pocket. There was a black wristband inside. âI canât remember who gave me this, but I know that this is very important. In the past, I used to receive messages on this band. But one day, this band stopped lighting up again.â The elder touched the band with difficulty. There was one last message on it, if you think heâs not suitable, kill him. Remember, you have to kill him no matter the price!
âWho sent this message? Who is him in question?â Han Fei took the band from the elder. When he saw the message, he was reminded of Fu Sheng. The tone was very reminiscent of him.
âItâs not important.â The elder handed the document to Han Fei too. âTake this band. If it lights up again, remember to greet him for me.â The elder felt like he was giving his last words. He patted Han Feiâs hands. âWalk down the path you think is right. Donât stop and donât turn back.â Holding the document, Han Fei didnât know what to think. He wanted to say something when the file room door opened. âItâs time for lunch.â The manager came in with the food. He saw the elder and Han Fei standing there among the shelves. âYou two are very alike.â Reading cases was not something interesting but both the elder and Han Fei could do that for a whole day.
Han Fei spent the entire day in the file room reading all the cases that happened in Xin Lu for the past few decades. He noted down the info of the killers and victims. This would make his life easier when he returned to the skyscraper. After knowing everyoneâs history, he could deal with them easier.
âItâs time to go.â Han Feiâs brain had been running on overdrive. There was another long night waiting for him too. Han Fei closed the files and walked to the inner part of the room. Beside him was the confidential room that normal officers couldnât enter. The door was left half open and a ray of light shone out. Han Fei looked at the warning on the door and the triple lock. He didnât walk towards the room. The police trusted him deeply and he didnât want to disappoint them. He worked his kinks and left the headquarters with Li Xue.
About ten minutes later, Li Xueâs senior and the manager entered the file room. They stopped before the confidential room. âTeacher, Han Fei has left.â
âI know. You can leave now. I wish to stay here alone.â The door closed. The elder locked himself in the room. He was familiar with everything inside that room because he built this room himself. âSince he has chosen trust, then Iâll keep this secret forever.â The elder took out a key and opened a shelf. Inside the shelf was a picture of Han Fei holding a black metallic box. Other than that, there a lot of analyses on Han Fei.
âBefore Fu Tian passed away, he had tried to come in here. However, I have a feeling itâs not him who told me to protect Han Fei. Unfortunately, I donât have time anymore. I canât give the child a real answer behind the Bloodred Night at the orphanage.â
The elder shredded all the documents. He flicked a button on the wall. Then, all the documents inside the shelf were decimated.
âThe forgotten person wants me to look after him but also told me to kill him if heâs not suitable. This forgotten person is cruel.â Li Xueâs teacherâs era was ending. He shook his head. âHow could I ever kill the main character Iâve chosen?â
After the last document was destroyed, the elder seemed to have released everything. He looked at the only window in the room and his reflection.
The wind lifted up his loose shirt. Many dark sins were hidden under the elderâs skin. The number of names was about ten times of Ji Zhengâs. The murderersâ names overlapped together.
âThe criminals will never be fully exterminated. Perhaps justice doesnât really exist. The so-called justice is only there because some people are willing to uphold it with their lives.
âThese people are dumb, but I have no regrets.â