Chapter 1: A Shocking Tragedy

Da Meng was a bit unhappy: "Am I discussing the case with you? Why are you in a daze?"

I nodded slightly and asked, "What case is it? Could you please explain it briefly?"

As soon as I heard it, I was taken aback. Is there really such a thing? Isn't it just like the case I saw earlier in the "Records of Cases from the Republic of China"? Seeing me in a daze, Da Meng thought that this case had shocked me. He continued, "At that time, the room was filled with the smell of blood! Two female colleagues who had just been transferred in couldn't help but vomit. They couldn't stop no matter what. They didn't even have lunch. Ah! Lu Long, Lu Long!"

Da Meng chuckled as he tucked the cigarette into his pocket. Looking at the book in my hand, he asked, "Why do you keep reading this 'Records of Cases from the Republic of China'?"

I nodded slightly: "Yes, that's me. Please come in."

I shook my head: "This is a homicide case; it is the responsibility of your criminal investigation team. I am not capable of handling this. To be honest, if you weren't here, I would have vomited just looking at the photos."

Da Meng observed me intently, remaining silent as he stood by the door smoking. It was only when he saw me lift my head that he asked, "How is it? What do you feel?"

Da Meng looked at me shaking my head, wearing a thoughtful expression, as if he believed I had some clues. He patted my shoulder and said, "Hey! Your thinking is broad; help me think of something."

It must be acknowledged that those photographs are extremely gruesome. I also feel pity for the two girls who have just been transferred. Even I feel uncomfortable looking at such photos. Although I was just examining a similar case, the scenes I imagined in my mind pale in comparison to the shocking imagery in the photographs. The flayed corpse lies there, with muscles and anatomical lines, blood vessels, and fat all clearly visible. Moreover, as Da Meng said, there are no traces of any knife marks at all. The flayed corpse lies there, with muscles and anatomical lines, blood vessels, and fat all clearly visible. Moreover, as Da Meng said, there are no traces of any knife marks at all. I can be certain that the skin was removed without a knife; it seems more like it was forcibly torn off.

Da Meng nodded, took out a stack of photographs from his pocket, and placed them in front of me. I began to examine them carefully, one by one.

I smiled at him and said, "Hello!"

I shook my head: "Don't you have any ambition? What we do is different; what you do is called serving the people. Naturally, you cannot demand so much. What I do is called individual economy, bearing my own profits and losses. Of course, it must be primarily based on economic interests."

I shook my head and said with a smile, "It's nothing, he is a staff member here. Please feel free to speak if you have any questions, don't hesitate."

I sat back at my desk. I took out a cigarette, placed it in my mouth, but did not light it. I asked Da Meng, "What is the situation on site?"

Da Meng snorted, "Don't start with that. Do you have any suggestions? We have been in meetings all morning and still haven't figured anything out. Huang Xiaobin's social connections are quite simple. He doesn't have much money, nor has he lost anything. We really can't find a reason for his murder. Please help me think about it."

Da Meng took a deep drag and said, "Of course not, but your cigarette is truly enjoyable. You tell me, I am also investigating a case, and you are investigating a case as well, so why is it that you can smoke such good cigarettes?"

Da Meng smiled and said, "By the way, I almost forgot. We have taken on a strange case. I specifically came to talk to you about it"

He also smiled politely at me: "Hello! May I ask if you are Mr. Lu Long, the private detective?" and * picture * book

I looked up at Da Meng and said, "Buddy, I have no leads on your case. Let me think it over. However, this case seems straightforward, and the methods you usually employ may not be effective."

After pondering for a while, I asked, "Are there any photos from the scene?"

I shrugged my shoulders, indicating indifference

I placed the book on the table: "You like it! Stop interrupting, I haven't asked why you hurriedly came here yet"

Upon hearing that there was a case, I became intrigued and urged Da Meng, saying, "Oh? There is a case. Quickly tell me about it, quickly!"

At that moment, the doorbell rang. I stood up and walked towards the door. Halfway there, I stopped and said to Da Meng: "It might be a business matter, take off your uniform so you don't scare my guests."

I invited the elderly man in and sat back down in the large chair behind my desk, asking him to take a seat opposite me. The elderly man politely nodded and, noticing the large Meng beside me, said to me, "Do you have a guest here?"

I shook my head; I was certainly well aware of these matters. However, as a police officer, investigating a case requires understanding the motive. Generally, there are only a few types of murder cases: either for money, for love, or in a fit of passion, or committed by someone with a mental illness, or as a result of a terrorist attack. Clearly, this case does not fall into any of those categories. At that moment, I was at a loss, yet I vaguely felt that this case was somehow related to one I had read about in "Records of Cases from the Republic of China." Generally, there are only a few types of murder cases: either for money, for love, or in a fit of passion, or committed by someone with a mental illness, or as a result of a terrorist attack. Clearly, this case does not fall into any of those categories. At that moment, I was at a loss, yet I vaguely felt that this case was somehow related to one I had read about in "Records of Cases from the Republic of China." But what kind of connection could there be between two cases separated by several decades? I could not be certain, and naturally, I could not speak recklessly.

Da Meng snorted: "We are all studying criminal investigation. Your grades are the best at https://www.hetushu.com. Even if you are unwilling to become a police officer, we are still classmates, right? We are buddies, can't you help me think of something?"

Looking again at the photos of human skin on the bed, it becomes even more eerie. I never thought that one could discern a person's features just by looking at their skin. The hair and eyebrows are intact on the skin. The area where the eyes should be is dark and hollow, with eyelashes still on the eyelids. It seems very profound, yet the longer I look, the more I feel a chilling sensation.

I smiled helplessly; this Da Meng is quite a persistent person. Being perfunctory is of no use at all. I had no choice but to say, "No matter what, you have to let me think about it! Even Detective Di Renjie takes two or three episodes to solve a case, let alone me."

Da Meng laughed when he heard me say: "As long as you agree to help, that's good. Attitude determines everything. Your attitude is already quite good. I have finished work, let's have dinner together. We can drink a little and also study while drinking."

Da Meng chuckled and said, "Stop putting labels on me. This box is confiscated."

Da Meng extinguished the cigarette butt and said: "The person inside is hanging from the beam of the room, and the floor is covered in fresh blood. The most terrifying thing is that the entire skin of that person has been peeled off. It is neatly placed on the bed along with the clothes. The skinless body, hanging there, sways back and forth, without a single trace of a knife. It is as if the person had shed their skin before dying, and then hanged themselves there."

Da Meng took another puff of his cigarette, paused for a moment as if organizing his thoughts, and then said: "The situation is as follows: this morning, we reported a case from our street. In a siheyuan located in Qing Shui Hutong in the eastern part of the city, an incident occurred. A foul smell of blood was coming from the home of a solitary widower, and the neighbors sensed something was amiss. When they knocked on the door, there was no response. Fearing a gas leak, they forced the door open. Guess what happened next?"

"Lulong! Lulong!" Voices called from outside. I took my eyes off the book in my hands and looked outside. Accompanied by the calls, a young man in uniform ran in.

I came to my senses and looked at Da Meng: "Ah! What happened?"

Da Meng pondered for a moment and nodded: "The methods we commonly use are just a few. One is to investigate social connections, and the other is to look into recent habitual offenders. Both are like searching for a needle in a haystack, but they are quite effective. You are right; clearly, these methods are not applicable in this case, which is why I came to ask you!"

I placed the photo on the table and let out a bitter laugh: "Brother, I am just a private detective. I am skilled at finding people, catching cheaters, or searching for items, but this is a criminal case. Are you really asking me about it?"

I stood up and said to Da Meng, "You rushed over so hastily, didn't you just come to bum a cigarette off me?"

I smiled and said, "Da Meng, can't you be a bit more composed? What are you shouting about?"

Further down are some photos of the scene. The door was kicked in by a neighbor. Inside, there is a type of iron rod latch. Although simple, it is very effective and almost impossible to secure from the outside. The door has several pieces of glass. There is a curtain inside, which prevents anyone outside from seeing in. I also carefully examined the glass; it is intact and secured from the inside with putty, which has dried and cracked, clearly not freshly applied. The condition of the windows is similar; the latch is also secured from the inside. I also carefully examined the glass; it is intact and secured from the inside with putty, which has dried and cracked, clearly not freshly applied. The condition of the windows is similar; the latch is also secured from the inside. It is simply impossible to open or secure from the outside. There are no signs of damage on the roof or the books. This is a standard "locked room murder case"

The elderly man nodded and said, "Oh, I see. My name is Qi Zhongwei. I have a case I would like to entrust to you"

Da Meng said: "That person is named Huang Xiaobin. He lived alone, with no relatives or friends. His house is a wing of a courtyard, with only one window and one door. The door and window were all secured from the inside. This is also the most puzzling aspect. It is impossible for someone to enter, commit murder, and then close the door and window. However, it is also evident that this person did not commit suicide, because no one can skin themselves. What do you think?" It is impossible for someone to enter, commit murder, and then close the door and window. However, it is also evident that this person did not commit suicide, because no one can skin themselves. What do you think?"

Qi Zhongwei nodded and said: "I am looking for someone. A woman, she is my daughter"

Da Meng nodded and quickly took off his uniform. He sat down to the side. I walked to the front door and opened it, revealing an elderly man in his sixties standing at the entrance. He was dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt underneath, complemented by a purple tie. His hair was neatly styled, slicked back without a strand out of place. The leather shoes on his feet shone brightly, almost blindingly.

Da Meng rushed to my side, reached out to grab a cigarette from the table, took one out, put it in his mouth, and lit it, taking a deep puff. I leisurely watched Da Meng, smiling without speaking. Da Meng exhaled a cloud of smoke, and for a moment, the room was filled with the aroma of tobacco. Da Meng's mood also seemed to have calmed down considerably

This person is named Meng Qingbo, who is tall and stout. We all call him Da Meng. He is my classmate and is currently an investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Municipal Public Security Bureau

I shot a glance at Da Meng: "Nonsense, I'm not a deity. How would I know what happened? Stop beating around the bush and just tell me."

I shook my head with a smile: "Take it. Otherwise, you will still be thinking about it."