Chapter 9, The Appearance of the Lost Souls

Over there by the small river bridge, there was an accident, Jin Man... I don't know if he is dead, his head is covered in blood, it's really frightening

Oh, it got dark and you left. What time will you be back

Jin Man? Isn't this the first person my mother mentioned who knows the most about snake venom and poisonous plants? I quickly asked, "When? What time did this happen?"

We will discuss it after the verification is complete. We only have two days left. If you don't want to be severely criticized by the higher-ups, we need to act quickly

More than ten days ago, I came back once, returned my money, and left when it got dark

Little Ma was shaking violently, his face a shade of blue and purple, his eyes hollow and filled with fear, his teeth chattering. After a long time, he finally managed to respond: "It... it was... it was the old lady, I... I saw... I saw the old lady."

Seeing my expression was somewhat off, Xiao Ma asked, "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"

The patriarch Jin glared at me and said: "Impossible, Eighteen is the same age as you, Aunt Zhang is in her forties, stop guessing wildly, and don't suspect Jin Man as the murderer. He is guarding a place in the county town, not at home, and has no time to commit the crime"

I asked Bai Bai to hold onto the pony, and I turned back to find Elder Jin, who had come out to watch the commotion. In a hurried tone, I said, "Uncle Yu, my colleague has been in a car accident, just over by the small river bridge. Please organize some people and come with me to take a look"

"Hehe, that makes sense." Little Horse took the evidence bag and pulled out a large brick phone from his pocket, saying, "This was applied for from the bureau; it makes it convenient for us to stay in touch. If there’s anything, just call the office phone to avoid me running around aimlessly"

Regarding the death of Zhang Jie, I have made a hypothesis. Originally, she was supposed to have an affair with Jin Man, but after Jin Man went to work in the town, she became involved with Jin Shiba. On the day when Jin Zuchang was supposed to return the money, Jin Man had not actually left; he might have taken advantage of the darkness to find Zhang Jie, intending to have an intimate encounter. Jin Shiba happened to be at Zhang Jie's house. After Jin Man arrived, Jin Shiba hid in the second-floor storage room, which is why ash was left behind. Although he discovered Jin Shiba, he did not expose him; instead, he harbored resentment in his heart. Later, when the old lady died, upon hearing the news, he devised a plan, allowing malice to take root in his heart. He seized the opportunity to kill Zhang Jie and frame it on the old lady, thereby allowing himself to escape legal consequences.

The patriarch of the Jin clan, smoking a large water pipe, said: "Didn’t you already ask yesterday?"

Last winter, at dusk

I glanced at Bai Bai and said, "Have you thought about it?"

This terrifying scene caused all the villagers behind me to scream and run back, but Bai Bai did not run. She tightly grasped my clothing, her whole body trembling violently, her teeth chattering, the sound of "da da da" was exceptionally clear.

As I approached within about ten meters, I caught sight of yellow and white paper on the ground, which was spirit paper, again spirit paper. I bent down to pick it up and handed it to Bai Bai, intending to continue walking. Suddenly, I sensed that the atmosphere was off; the environment, which had been very warm, abruptly turned icy cold, and a chilling wind howled around me. The villagers behind me let out a chorus of screams. Instinctively, I looked up towards the bonfire, and to my shock, I saw an old woman floating in mid-air above the fire. Her body was semi-transparent, her face ghostly white, and her expression was grotesque and terrifying. It seemed as if she was reaching out with claw-like hands, ready to swoop down towards us and devour us one by one.

Afternoon

So, according to you, this case will be disregarded, correct

However, it does not matter; I have already called Zhang Zichen and asked him to find out where Jin Man is working in the county town. Then I instructed Xiao Ma to locate him and bring him back to the village, as I want to interrogate him personally. I am confident that through the interrogation, I will be able to determine whether Jin Man is the murderer. However, this was merely my optimistic imagination, as the situation took a turn for the worse, and it was a terrifying change. At 8 PM, just after Bai Bai and I finished dinner, we heard a scream outside that sounded like a pig being slaughtered. Bai Bai and I rushed out and ran to the village entrance, where we saw many villagers had been startled out of their homes, all looking in the same direction. I looked over and saw Xiao Ma rushing into the village while shouting for help, stumbling and falling, in a very disheveled state.

The clan leader Jin and the onlookers, not being too close, did not hear what the young horse said to me, so they were not afraid and agreed to my proposal. Clan leader Jin quickly made arrangements on the spot, urging everyone to hurry back to get flashlights and tools, and to follow me and Bai Bai to the small river bridge two kilometers away. I entrusted the young horse to clan leader Jin for care, and before leaving, I instructed him not to speak carelessly, especially not to mention seeing the old lady, as that would be too frightening; I feared the villagers would not be able to handle it.

The clan leader waved his hand, and I quickly went out to ask Bai Bai for her phone to call the technical department, requesting the forensic department to analyze the mat retrieved from Zhang Jie to see if there were any remaining traces of semen or other fluids, and to determine to whom they belonged. Then I joined the search for cigarette butts, but unfortunately, we did not find any. As it was getting dark, I had no choice but to let everyone go home. Bai Bai and I returned to my house to cook. This woman is quite skilled in the kitchen, so she took charge of cooking while I assisted her. We talked about the case as we cooked. Then I joined the search for cigarette butts, but unfortunately, we did not find any. As it was getting dark, I had no choice but to let everyone go home. Bai Bai and I returned to my house to cook. This woman is quite skilled in the kitchen, so she took charge of cooking while I assisted her. We talked about the case as we cooked.

I was startled and felt something was amiss: "How is that possible? Do you know her? You haven't seen her, have you?"

While conversing, we had already walked halfway when we saw a large fire burning in the direction of the small river bridge. My first thought was that a vehicle might be on fire. As we approached, it became clear that it was indeed a vehicle burning, along with a half-dead tree. The location was right at the bridgehead, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day, allowing us to see clearly even in the middle and at the end of the bridge. Analyzing the skid marks, it appeared that the incident occurred when the driver, Xiao Ma, was crossing the bridge and reached the middle section. The vehicle lost control, veered off course, and crashed into the dead tree at the bridgehead. The impact was severe; the tree, about the thickness of a half-arm, had been knocked askew, and half of the front of the vehicle was crushed in. As we got closer, it was indeed confirmed that the burning object was a vehicle, along with a half-dead tree, located right at the bridgehead, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day, making the middle and end of the bridge clearly visible. From the analysis of the skid marks, it was evident that the incident occurred when Xiao Ma was driving across the bridge to the middle section, losing control and crashing into the dead tree at the bridgehead, resulting in a severe collision that had bent the tree and crushed half of the vehicle's front.

I have seen her come out disheveled from the room filled with gold

How to deal with a ghost? Are you looking for trouble?

It will be me, and only after https://m.hetushu.com will it reach you. If something happens to me, you can stop then. I will be here to take the brunt of it, so rest assured.

This bridge is built over the riverbed, but the river channel is particularly deep, and both upstream and downstream are steep cliffs. To fetch water for firefighting, one must descend one hundred meters to find a relatively lower area, which is quite troublesome. Even more problematic is that we did not bring any water-fetching tools, as we never anticipated that the vehicle would catch fire. Xiao Ma did not mention it, and perhaps he himself was unaware. Additionally, we had to worry about the possibility of the vehicle exploding, so for the safety of the villagers, I instructed them to stop and not proceed further. Bai Bai and I moved forward, and I shielded Bai Bai behind me, hoping to retrieve Jin Man's body if possible.

The shock on the little horse's face turned into surprise: "Found it? But what is this piece of paper?"

I actually am not much better, and I am very scared. My scalp tingles, and my legs feel weak; I want to run but cannot move, so I can only stand there like a fool. After about five or six seconds, suddenly the car made a few crackling sounds, then it exploded with a loud bang, and a powerful gust of air rushed towards me. In the moment I fell to the ground, I heard a sound, "Wow..." It was very piercing and terrifying, a chilling and hair-raising scream, seemingly emitted by an elderly woman. After about five or six seconds, suddenly the car made a few crackling sounds, then it exploded with a loud bang, and a powerful gust of air rushed towards me. In the moment I fell to the ground, I heard a sound, "Wow..." It was very piercing and terrifying, a chilling and hair-raising scream, seemingly emitted by an elderly woman.

"Jin Man has seen it, Jin Man said it is her, she... she... can fly..."

I have finished asking, I will go out to take a look

There is a new discovery, so I need to ask again

No, I just... still care about appearances, not daring to say the word 'fear.' First it was Cheng Huaihuo, then it was Xiao Ma, and then will it be...

Bai Bai nodded slightly, conveying to Xiao Ma that she thought exactly the same as I did. This woman is indeed more reliable than Cheng Huaihuo and Xiao Ma. If she hadn't joined the Criminal Investigation Department later than I did, and had the time to solve major cases, the position of acting team leader would likely belong to her, rather than to me.

Little Ma asked me: "Xiao Yu, do you have anything to say? If not, I'm leaving."

www.hetushu.com.com Bai Bai feels a bit discouraged: "What should I do? I have gained nothing, and this third day is about to pass."

Regardless of Xiao Ma's shocked expression, Bai Bai handed over the evidence bag and said: "We found two pieces of burned paper. You need to return to the bureau for a moment to conduct tests to see if they are of the same material and produced at the same time as the previously found paper pieces. Also, examine these organ tissues to determine if they belong to the deceased Lin Weiye. If they do belong to Lin Weiye, this is indeed the primary crime scene."

The patriarch Jin spoke very subtly, but I have roughly understood the implication, which is that Zhang Jie is not honorable in matters between men and women. His testimony last night did not include this aspect, but I can understand his concealment. I continued to ask, "Uncle Yu, you need to clarify this point; it will help in solving the case."

I rushed over and supported Xiao Ma, asking, "What happened?"

"All right, let's go."

After listening to my hypothesis, Bai Bai raised three questions: first, the intelligence level of Jin Man; second, the time the ash fell; and third, the witness's description of the murderer. Then he refuted my hypothesis, saying that I also believe Jin Man does not possess such a high level of intelligence. Even if he could concoct such a poison, why did all the witnesses see the murderer as an old lady? Moreover, the time the ash fell does not seem to be that long. But what if he discovered that Zhang Jie and Jin Shiba were having an affair not on the day he was still the village chief, but one or two days before the incident? Then he refuted my hypothesis again, saying that I also believe Jin Man does not possess such a high level of intelligence. Even if he could concoct such a poison, why did all the witnesses see the murderer as an old lady? Moreover, the time the ash fell does not seem to be that long. But what if he discovered that Zhang Jie and Jin Shiba were having an affair not on the day he was still the village chief, but one or two days before the incident? And what if there was an accomplice involved in the crime? Unfortunately, I have not yet thought of any evidence to support my speculation.

Is it possible for someone in their twenties or forties to have an affair? Well, I’m just asking casually, not out of suspicion. Has he not returned recently?

After Xiao Ma left, I returned to the village with Bai Bai. We went to Zhang Jie’s house to investigate and found a corner with ash. I really cannot understand, if the ash was left before Zhang Jie died, why are there no other traces? If it was not premeditated murder, there would have been no need to carefully scatter the ash and erase the footprints. But if it was indeed premeditated murder, we are back to the same topic: we have miscalculated the time of Zhang Jie’s death, which is truly absurd

I said: "Let them re-examine the time of Zhang Jie's death; there may be an error. Bai Jie just mentioned that they are unwilling, so you should repeat Bai Jie's speculation to them."

"Can she fly?" I glanced at Bai Bai, both of us somewhat at a loss for words. "Where did you see that?"

Carefully and cautiously putting away the phone, in that era, it was a high-tech product that ordinary people could not afford, and it had to be treated as a treasure

I said: "Let us find Chief Jin and have him organize personnel to search in every possible direction from the door of this house. We will look for cigarette butts; if we are fortunate, a cigarette butt thrown under the eaves should yield saliva for testing."

Is it just Uncle Jinman? Are there no others? For example, Eighteen?

Upon arriving at the home of Clan Leader Jin, I had just stated my purpose when he immediately summoned someone. Soon, he arranged for more than thirty people to search for cigarette butts, supervising them in vain while I conversed with Clan Leader Jin. I said, "Uncle Yu, I would like to hear about Aunt Zhang from you. What kind of person is she? What is her character like?"

I comforted Baibai, saying: "Think positively; the more frequently it appears, the more clues we will have. Whether it is a person or a ghost, we will uncover her."

On the road, the girl in front of me, Bai Bai, kept saying: "Is this for real? Has the old lady appeared again?" Her tone revealed a mix of panic, tension, and fear, a complex combination of emotions. After all, she is a girl, but even I, as a boy, felt scared. However, this is my job, and no matter how afraid I am, I must face it head-on.

Zhang Jie is quite a good person, not one to argue or quarrel with others, and is relatively easy to manage. Her personality is somewhat similar to your mother's, both being of a gentler disposition. However..." At this point, the clan leader Jin's expression became slightly awkward, "She can joke around quite a bit, after all, she became a widow at the age of thirty-two.