Chapter 20: The Nacheng Case (Part Thirteen)

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Li Rui continued questioning, “How many people did you kill in total?”

“I don’t know,” Liu Meixin replied nervously.

“Count from the time you started participating in the killings.”

Liu Meixin lifted her head. “I…”

“At this point, is there any need to hide the truth?”

After a moment’s thought, Liu Meixin said, “About ten, I guess.”

“Besides you and Jia Wenming, were there any accomplices?” Wen Rou asked gently.

Liu Meixin nodded. “Yes! Besides me and Yu Meili, when we were in Nà City, Jia Wenming had two accomplices.”

According to her, Jia Wenming hunted soybean merchants while recruiting gang members. As his criminal gang grew, so did the scope of his hunting and the number of lives he took.

In July 2014, I tricked two salesmen into going to Jia Wenming’s home, where he poisoned their water with detergent, and after they passed out, he slit their throats.

In December, several migrant farmers came to Nèhé City looking for work. Jia Wenming’s accomplices lured them under the pretense of “helping find jobs.” Jia Wenming then brutally gutted them and robbed their belongings.

“The rising number of missing persons cast a shadow of fear over Nà City. Unknowingly, rumors spread among society that if you didn’t want to live, you should come to Nà City, which caught the police’s attention,” Liu Meixin recounted in detail. “But Jia Wenming was cautious by nature, his methods clean and efficient. Since gaining accomplices, he moved behind the scenes, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. He carefully directed his underlings to catch ‘prey,’ only opening his jaws to devour them once they crossed into his territory. Because of this, the police never detected his presence.”

“When did you come to Hang City? And why?” Li Rui asked.

“In 2015,” Liu Meixin answered quickly, “August 15.”

“I remember that day vividly,” she explained. “It was the day I escaped from hell, finally free from living among the dead.”

She seemed to feel a great relief as she spoke.

“Why did you leave Nà City?” Wen Rou pressed.

“Because the prey in Nà City was running out, Jia Wenming took us south,” Liu Meili said bitterly. “He even proudly said he found us a new way to make money. Ha, looking back now, it’s ridiculous.”

“What was this new way?”

“Entrapment schemes,” Liu Meixin scoffed. “In August 2015, Jia Wenming brought us south by train. We stayed in five or six places before finally choosing Hang City. Then we started running entrapment scams near the train station.”

Nearby, those overhearing Liu Meixin’s confession sighed deeply.

“Team Leader Lei, for some reason, I actually admire Liu Meixin,” Qi Wei said. “Not just sympathy for her ordeal, but for her courage to tell the truth…”

She paused. “I don’t quite know how to describe these complicated feelings. Admirable might not be the right word, but to speak out requires great bravery. She knows telling the truth leads only to a dead end, yet she does so without hesitation.”

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“Liu Meixin has been waiting a long time for this day. To tell the full story of the crime is a deep, suppressed desire within her. It is her cry for help, her redemption. It’s the only chance she has left to reclaim her humanity,” Lei Chen said. “I’ve seen many desperate criminals caught. Some seem indifferent to life and death, but when death truly comes, even they are terrified. Others have lost their way and cannot turn back. When given a chance for confession, they see it as atonement and fear death less.”

Qi Wei nodded thoughtfully. “Her heart died the moment she was pushed into the cellar; her humanity died the first time she helped Jia Wenming kill; her execution will be her third death.”

“So, she has no regrets about this outcome.”

After that, Lei Chen activated the call button. “Director Wen, Forensic Doctor Li, Jia Wenming is in custody but refuses to speak. Time is running out. What shall we do now?”

Li Rui heard the voice but did not answer, instead looking at Wen Rou.

Wen Rou exchanged a glance with him, then said to Liu Meixin, “That’s enough questioning for today. Take some time to recall if there are any clues you haven’t revealed yet. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Liu Meixin asked anxiously, “Is Jia Wenming caught?”

“Do you want him caught or not?” Wen Rou asked.

“Of course I want him caught! I wish he’d be torn apart!” Liu Meixin clenched her teeth.

Wen Rou said calmly, “Rest assured, the law’s net is wide and will catch him.”

Just outside the interrogation room, Lei Chen and Qi Wei approached.

“Forensic Doctor Li, based on Liu Meixin’s testimony and the physical evidence at the scene, we could already convict Jia Wenming,” Lei Chen said, “but…”

“But this guy won’t talk. Without his confession, it feels unsatisfying, right?” Li Rui said.

“Exactly!” Lei Chen blurted.

“Frankly, that’s your problem, Lei. As police, we value efficiency. Personal feelings shouldn’t interfere with handling the case,” Li Rui said.

“Uh…” Lei Chen was a bit stunned; he hadn’t expected Li Rui not to back him.

But Li Rui was always unpredictable, and Lei was used to it.

“Oh, Forensic Doctor Li, don’t you want justice? Jia Wenming is so hateful!” Qi Wei protested.

Wen Rou smiled. “Ignore him. That’s just how he is. If he refuses to interrogate, so be it. Do you think the case can’t be solved without him?”

Li Rui snorted coldly. “Trying to provoke me won’t work. I’m just a forensic doctor, not a detective, and certainly not a pre-trial officer. If you want Jia Wenming to confess, go ahead yourselves. I’m not interested.”

“But…”

Lei Chen wanted to say more, but Li Rui interrupted, “By the way, please tell Director Han my task here is complete. If possible, let me return to my team.”

“Ah? In such a hurry?” Lei Chen was surprised. “But there are still many details of this case unclear. At this time…”

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Wen Rou’s expression darkened upon hearing Li Rui wanted to leave. “Ahem, Forensic Doctor Li, don’t forget you’re part of the special task force now. Follow orders and remain at your post until the mission is complete.”

Li Rui glanced at her, shrugged, and said nothing more.

The night was hazy. Standing at the police station entrance, Li Rui lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, a faint smile curling his lips. He knew this was only a small victory in his career, but every victory was a stand for justice.

In the twilight, his silhouette stood tall and unshakable, like a mountain.

“Cough, cough.”

A familiar cough came from behind.

Li Rui turned to see a face exquisitely beautiful.

It was Wen Rou. He was not surprised.

“Don’t want to see me at all?” Wen Rou spoke first.

“That’s a misunderstanding,” Li Rui said. “If I didn’t want to see you, why would I join the task force?”

“Then why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

“This case is basically solved. Staying won’t do much,” Li Rui explained. “The difficulty in the Nà City case isn’t getting the culprit to confess. The ironclad evidence speaks for itself.”

“What then is the difficulty?” Wen Rou asked.

“Figuring out the exact sequence of events and identifying the number and identity of victims. The crime scene in Nà City is probably the most horrific in the Northeast in decades. The forensic team’s task of collecting, dissecting, and examining the bodies is the toughest,” Li Rui said. “As a forensic doctor, I cannot shirk this responsibility.”

“So you think your task is done because the sequence has been reconstructed?” Wen Rou asked.

“Isn’t it?” Li Rui countered.

“Absolutely not!” Wen Rou’s tone was firm. “You’re not just a forensic doctor, you’re a police officer! It’s the police’s duty to punish criminals and uphold justice. If Jia Wenming never speaks, never admits his crimes, how can we demonstrate justice?”

Li Rui faltered. “Well…”

“Is justice just a gunshot at the execution grounds?”

Wen Rou’s challenge made his face flush.