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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.

“It feels like something is off with the teacher today.” Li Xue patted her senior’s shoulder. “How is teacher’s 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.”

“He’s not too great but too bad either.” Li Xue’s senior said. His expression didn’t change but his eyes dimmed. “Xiao Xue, do you remember how you were sent to the station in the old city due to disciplinary action?”

“That was so long ago. Why do you bring it up now?” Compared to before, Li Xue had changed a lot. “Actually, if not for that, I wouldn’t have met Han Fei.”

“Your transfer was teacher’s idea. Your arrival time and location were obtained after many simulations.” Li Xue’s senior didn’t hide anything. “From the start, your mission was to meet him.” Every coincidence was arranged.

“Teacher knew Han Fei before this?” Li Xue was not a kid. She was not angry, just shocked. “I don’t know.” Li Xue’s senior looked deep into the file room. The elder kicked everyone but Han Fei out.

Han Fei didn’t know what happened outside. He skimmed through all the cases.

“Found it!”

“The 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 Pig’s 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 didn’t know the identity of the Gourmet. He only knew that the Gourmet was rich.”

There was a case within a case. Han Fei lost a lot of time studying.

“The 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 Card…”

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.

“Are you tired? Get something to drink.” The elder’s voice came from behind Han Fei. The Xin Lu legend handed a glass of water to Han Fei.

“Thank you.” Han Fei accepted the glass and suddenly realized there was only himself and Li Xue’s teacher in the large file room. He sniffed and noted a strange fragrance in the water. When the rim touched his lips, he paused, “Where is everyone else?”

“I told them to leave so that you wouldn’t be disturbed.” The elder noticed Han Fei’s action and smiled. He rarely smiled. “Drink. The water is not poisoned.”

“Sir, don’t it the wrong way. Why would I suspect you?” Han Fei put the glass down and continued to read.

“I’m curious. What’s your motivation to look into these cases?” The elder sat in the wheelchair. His loose clothes covered up his atrophied extremities.

“I just want to live.” 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 hadn’t been found.

“Live…” When the elder heard that, he was reminded of something, “If one day, your death can save many innocent people, will you sacrifice yourself?”

“It depends. After all, I’m just a normal comedy actor.”

“In other words, you might choose to sacrifice yourself, right?” The elder had a faint smile. “It’s very lucky that I met a child like you at the twilight of my life.”

“Lucky? Then you don’t know me that well. Many people don’t want to work with me. I am bad at handling interpersonal relationships.” Han Fei was telling the truth. He often ended up working alone.

“Are you talking about the other actors that envy your skills?” The elder narrowed his eyes, “Or the other butchers and killers?”

Han Fei paused. He turned around. “Sir, have you misunderstood something?”

“If I had a misunderstanding against you, I wouldn’t have told everyone that you’re my student.” The elder leaned against the wheelchair. “There are many things that I want to do still, but time is running out. I don’t ask that you sacrifice yourself, but I hope that you will never change.”

“Why are you bringing these up?” Han Fei felt that the elder was acting very strangely. Ever since he told Han Fei about the garden owner, his condition worsened.

“People like to talk when they’re old.” The elder took out an old document from his pocket. There was a black wristband inside. “I can’t 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.” The elder touched the band with difficulty. There was one last message on it, if you think he’s not suitable, kill him. Remember, you have to kill him no matter the price!

“Who sent this message? Who is him in question?” 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.

“It’s not important.” The elder handed the document to Han Fei too. “Take this band. If it lights up again, remember to greet him for me.” The elder felt like he was giving his last words. He patted Han Fei’s hands. “Walk down the path you think is right. Don’t stop and don’t turn back.” Holding the document, Han Fei didn’t know what to think. He wanted to say something when the file room door opened. “It’s time for lunch.” The manager came in with the food. He saw the elder and Han Fei standing there among the shelves. “You two are very alike.” 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 everyone’s history, he could deal with them easier.

“It’s time to go.” Han Fei’s 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 couldn’t 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 didn’t walk towards the room. The police trusted him deeply and he didn’t want to disappoint them. He worked his kinks and left the headquarters with Li Xue.

About ten minutes later, Li Xue’s senior and the manager entered the file room. They stopped before the confidential room. “Teacher, Han Fei has left.”

“I know. You can leave now. I wish to stay here alone.” The door closed. The elder locked himself in the room. He was familiar with everything inside that room because he built this room himself. “Since he has chosen trust, then I’ll keep this secret forever.” 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.

“Before Fu Tian passed away, he had tried to come in here. However, I have a feeling it’s not him who told me to protect Han Fei. Unfortunately, I don’t have time anymore. I can’t give the child a real answer behind the Bloodred Night at the orphanage.”

The elder shredded all the documents. He flicked a button on the wall. Then, all the documents inside the shelf were decimated.

“The forgotten person wants me to look after him but also told me to kill him if he’s not suitable. This forgotten person is cruel.” Li Xue’s teacher’s era was ending. He shook his head. “How could I ever kill the main character I’ve chosen?”

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 elder’s skin. The number of names was about ten times of Ji Zheng’s. The murderers’ names overlapped together.

“The criminals will never be fully exterminated. Perhaps justice doesn’t really exist. The so-called justice is only there because some people are willing to uphold it with their lives.

“These people are dumb, but I have no regrets.”