Chapter Six: The Old Man's Case

Mo Lan found the remark rather amusing. In official matters, where is there any room for saving face? Whoever can handle the situation best is in charge. Once she learned where An Feng was, Mo Lan drove herself to find him. After all, she had only heard of the illustrious Officer An Feng by reputation, never having met him in person.

Liu Fei hadn’t received orders to accompany her, so he remained in the office, sullenly assisting with other cases. When Mo Lan left, chaos erupted once more; many people began discussing what would happen next.

“You’ve all heard the news, haven’t you?”

“Heard what?”

“That the captain might be transferred elsewhere.”

A few idle team members gossiped as they worked. Though their hands didn't stop, such behavior was unbecoming if seen by others.

Liu Fei didn’t bother to intervene—after all, he was just another subordinate, their equal. Still, deep down, he felt uneasy. After working together for so long, these people seemed utterly cold-blooded.

It seemed the captain had been too good to them; they’d never suffered a setback. Someday, a new captain would come, and their fate wouldn’t be much better. They rarely achieved anything on their own; the captain handled everything, and they were content to bask in the glory.

The more Liu Fei thought about it, the angrier he became. He buried himself in work, unwilling to speak to any of them.

An Feng was at the spot where the old man had collapsed. Mo Lan parked far away, not wanting to disturb his investigation. She approached quietly. An Feng, who had been standing with his eyes closed, suddenly turned. When he saw Mo Lan, the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile.

“Did I interrupt your investigation?” Mo Lan asked, ever cautious, knowing it was impolite to break someone’s concentration. So this was the legendary expert—handsome, yet seemingly a bit aloof.

“That night at the crime scene, did you see the license plate? Was there any evidence left behind?” An Feng did not answer directly but leaned casually against the railing, gazing at the scenery beyond.

“It was a van. From a distance, it had already been approaching, but the tail and license plate were always obscured—I couldn’t see them clearly at all. I also checked the nearby roads; very few people pass through, and the cameras captured nothing.” Mo Lan spoke honestly, knowing the truth would help solve the case.

Though the area was rarely visited, all traces had been meticulously cleaned: the blood on the ground, the mud from the tires—gone. She blamed herself for this oversight, but it was impossible to seal off such a place.

“The vehicle didn’t leave by the main road but took a side path. That means they’re still on the mountain. Mobilize the team: search the mountain and take the side road!” When An Feng worked, he wore an unremarkable red ring—like a ring, but oddly distinctive. He spun it habitually, his gaze sharp as he scanned his surroundings.

Each turn of the ring seemed to clarify the case further. Mo Lan watched, fascinated by the curious ring.

An Feng’s deduction surprised her; she had never considered that the culprits would take a side path. The mountain trails were treacherous, full of rocks and mud. Had the van been covered in mud that day? She had overlooked such a detail.

Indeed, those involved often fail to see the situation’s depths, while outsiders can perceive the murky waters within. Mo Lan sighed deeply, then focused on the task at hand.

She immediately phoned for backup, instructing officers and police dogs to come quickly. The dogs, following the scent of blood, soon found the path and led some officers on foot, others by car.

These officers were still Mo Lan’s subordinates, but Liu Fei did not come along. When they saw An Feng, admiration shone in their eyes like stars.

Mo Lan merely twitched her lips and returned to her work, uninterested in basking in the celebrity-like aura that surrounded him.

After a day and night of searching, they finally located the site atop a mountain: a temple.

They’d thought the place too remote for visitors, yet the temple was new and well-maintained. It was a strange place; standing amid the wilderness, it exuded an air of lofty grandeur.

After a day and night of exhaustion, Mo Lan forced herself to accompany An Feng there.

Officer Xiao Lin, their photographer, documented everything in both video and photos. Upon arrival, he was struck by the temple’s mysterious atmosphere.

Mo Lan was never quite satisfied with Xiao Lin, often wishing to transfer him elsewhere, yet for various reasons, he remained.

Even sunlight on the temple roof couldn’t dispel the sense of evil emanating from it. Such a strange place, hidden deep in the wilderness, was easily forgotten by the world.

Suddenly, the door banged open, and two men emerged, wearing masks and sunglasses, guns in hand—panic obvious in their rushed movements.

The barking of the police dogs must have startled them into such confusion.

It was understandable; who would expect anyone to find such a desolate spot? Mo Lan had to concede that her perceptions had been far off. The gap between her and An Feng was glaringly clear.

These men had already committed one crime and, even after a second, had not been detected by the regular police. Clearly, they never imagined anyone would come.

“Don’t move! You’re surrounded. If you want to die, just fire your guns.” An Feng’s cold gaze swept over them. In that moment, he seemed more demon than officer, righteous yet exuding menace.

His eyes were not those of an ordinary man—piercing, as though punishing the criminals already. If looks could kill, perhaps even the temple itself would collapse.

Mo Lan said nothing but raised her own gun. She kept her eyes fixed on the temple door, knowing the real leader was inside; these two were merely lackeys.

Sure enough, the two men lowered their weapons, casting uneasy glances toward the temple, scanning around as if counting the opposition, still searching for a way out.

“Since our guests have arrived, please come in. There’s no need to treat visitors so rudely.” An elderly woman’s voice called from within.

A woman’s voice! Mo Lan felt a pang—such a kind old man, murdered by a wicked woman.