Xu Jiang pointed at the report. “Look at it yourself. Speak to me after you’re done.”

Xiao Yuan picked up the few sheets of paper—it was a DNA comparison. The front pages were densely packed with data and the testing process. Flipping to the last page and seeing the result, he immediately frowned.

Xie Qing walked over and also looked at the line of text at the bottom, his pupils constricting. “This is…”

“In the basement of the Jade Face Sighing Song villa, we found very comprehensive medical care equipment and a large amount of unused medicine. It’s judged that an injured person unable to care for themselves once lived there, and when ‘Floating Light’ evacuated, he was still alive.”

Xu Jiang’s face was livid. “In the basement and other parts of the villa, we collected some DNA samples. The comparison for the ones from the basement was just completed. The result is right in front of you!”

The DNA matched the missing Ning Xiechen. The patient lying in the basement was likely Ning Xiechen!

Ning Xiechen wasn’t dead!

“But Ling Lie said ‘Grey Peacock’ killed Ning Xiechen five years ago,” Xu Jiang said. “Isn’t this lying?”

Even though Xie Qing tried his best to force himself to calm down, the news that his mentor and old captain might still be alive churned inside him, making rational judgment difficult. Captain Ning was still alive? Why did Ling Lie say he was dead?

Xiao Yuan put down the report and said steadily, “Captain Ning being alive is a good thing. ‘Floating Light’ didn’t kill him back then, perhaps causing him severe injury, and has been nursing him all these years. Taking him away this time shows his life isn’t in immediate danger. We have a chance to rescue him.”

Xu Jiang said, “Director Xiao, did you misunderstand my meaning? Now is not the time to discuss whether Ning Xiechen is alive. It’s about Ling Lie lying about this matter!”

When Ning Xiechen and Yan Xi disappeared together back then, it caused an uproar in the Xiarong City police force. Although doubts were suppressed by Xie Qing and higher-ups, quite a few people believed Ning Xiechen wasn’t clean. Xu Jiang was one of them.

After hearing Ling Lie mention Ning Xiechen, Xiao Yuan had looked into that past event and quickly understood the core of Xu Jiang’s attack.

He said, “Why must it be Ling Lie lying? Ling Lie was in a very passive position at the time. Bo Lingxue told him something, and he had absolutely no means to verify it. He stated very clearly in the interrogation that Bo Lingxue told him Ning Xiechen was killed, and he was merely relaying that. Captain Xu, using this point to claim Ling Lie lied—isn’t that inappropriate?”

Xu Jiang said, “But Ning Xiechen simply isn’t dead. How can you prove Ling Lie isn’t plotting something with ‘Floating Light’ to deliberately confuse the police? By Bo Lingxue’s logic, if Ning Xiechen discovered his disguise, he had to silence him. Then why keep Ning Xiechen alive? And take care of him with such meticulous attention? Can you determine Ning Xiechen is clean? Is there no other possibility—that Ning Xiechen was injured while working for ‘Floating Light,’ that he had long become one of ‘Floating Light’s’ people! That’s why Bo Lingxue would use that equipment to sustain him. And have Ling Lie pass on the false information that Ning Xiechen is dead!”

The meeting room fell silent. Xie Qing slumped into a chair; he needed all his strength to restrain himself from punching Xu Jiang in the face.

Xiao Yuan walked past him, gently pressing his right hand on his shoulder. When he spoke again, his tone was still unhurried. “Inspector Xu, you are currently emotional and biased. Your judgment is inevitably skewed. You say Ning Xiechen might be one of ‘Floating Light’s’ people—where is the evidence?”

Xu Jiang: “You!”

“You have no evidence. It’s just that over the years, there have been voices within your department believing Ning Xiechen was problematic. So when you got this report, your first thought was that Ling Lie lied, and that both Ling Lie and Ning Xiechen are ‘Floating Light’s’ people.” Xiao Yuan said, “But logically, this doesn’t hold up in an investigation.”

“Furthermore, this report cannot prove Ling Lie lied. Objectively, he had no means to know whether Ning Xiechen was dead or alive. Bo Lingxue told him Ning Xiechen was dead; he merely relayed it. How this information is utilized in the future, and whether it should be believed, is the Major Crimes Unit’s business.”

Xu Jiang was rendered speechless.

Xiao Yuan said, “The Internal Affairs Division did well on this point. You didn’t blindly trust a lead after receiving it but found evidence to prove it was false information. Inspector Xu, thank you for your hard work.”

Then, Xiao Yuan changed the topic again. “One thing is one thing. As the person in charge of this investigation, I do not believe this comparison report proves Ling Lie lied. Inspector Xu, if you can find more substantial evidence, come find me anytime.”

Xiao Yuan was reasonable but forceful in attitude. Plus, not being from the Xiarong City police force, Xu Jiang had to give him some face. With things said to this extent, Xu Jiang also calmed down and took the way out. “This lead needs to be added to the investigation report.”

Xiao Yuan said, “No problem.”

After Xu Jiang left, Xie Qing sighed. “Director Xiao, thanks to you this time.”

Xiao Yuan shook his head. “Inspector Xu and the others were also following procedures. The fact that Captain Ning is still alive is likely another trap ‘Floating Light’ set for Ling Lie.”

Xie Qing had mixed feelings. Ning Xiechen’s fate was uncertain, and “Floating Light” had taken sowing discord to the extreme. Whether a person was dead or alive could be used as a ploy, yet Internal Affairs had to investigate it.

Xiao Yuan said, “Captain Xie, Ling Lie might need to be restricted for a while longer. I’ll issue a report for Captain Ji first; the subsequent investigation needs him.”

Two days later, faced with an investigation report where no flaws could be picked, Internal Affairs agreed to lift the restrictions on Ji Chenjiao’s movements.

Ji Chenjiao returned to the Major Crimes Unit. The team members were all waiting for him. Shen Qi ran up with red eyes. “Brother, you are still my brother. I won’t call you Captain-Brother anymore!”

Ji Chenjiao hugged Shen Qi briefly and said softly, “I’m fine.”

He said that, but his condition really couldn’t be called good. His eyes were full of red blood vessels, and stubble had emerged, giving him a look of decadence after severe exhaustion of energy and emotion.

Liang Wenxian pointed to the thermos on the table. “Xi Wan brought you chicken soup. Hurry up and drink some. She went out on field duty and told me to watch you finish it.”

Ji Chenjiao nodded. He didn’t have much appetite, but the chicken soup was a colleague’s kind intention, and tough battles awaited him; he couldn’t let his body collapse.

After finishing the chicken soup, Ji Chenjiao took a towel to shower. When he returned to the office, Ming Shu was already waiting by his desk.

“Captain Ming.”

“Captain Ji, now that you’ve resumed work, Director Xiao wants to touch base with you.”

“Alright, give me another five minutes.”

In the Major Crimes Unit meeting room, Xiao Yuan stood before a whiteboard filled with leads, written successively by other members of the unit while Ji Chenjiao’s movements were restricted.

Ji Chenjiao arrived at the meeting room. After greeting them, he asked urgently, “How is Ling Lie now?”

“Don’t worry, his spirit and mindset are quite good. Just now, upon learning your restrictions were lifted, he asked me to bring you a message.”

“What is it?”

Xiao Yuan smiled. “Xia Chengshi, work hard. Want to eat McDonald’s tonight.”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

Xiao Yuan pointed to a chair. “Sit. I know you’re most worried about Ling Lie, but at this stage, the Major Crimes Unit, or even Captain Xie, might not be able to help. Ling Lie has known one of ‘Floating Light’s’ leaders since childhood, and the other party let him live. Objectively speaking, he was saved from Sha Man’s hands and over ten people including Sha Man were killed. It’s understandable that Internal Affairs thinks there was an exchange of interests between Ling Lie and ‘Floating Light.'”

Ji Chenjiao frowned, remaining silent for a while before saying, “But Ling Lie is a member of the Special Action Team. His past passed the Special Action Team’s strict review.”

Xiao Yuan nodded. “Fortunately, Ling Lie has this identity and actual past merits. I’ve already negotiated with Xu Jiang. Their attitude is rather tough, so I will apply to the Special Action Team to go through special channels.”

Ji Chenjiao asked, “What special channels?”

“Shen Xun, the current head of the Special Action Team; Fu Zhong, the old captain who recruited Ling Lie back then; and I will sign an endorsement,” Xiao Yuan said. “Additionally, we need to provide Ling Lie’s past merit records and the reasons for his recruitment by the Special Action Team. However, the latter part involves confidentiality rules, and a city-level Internal Affairs Division doesn’t have the clearance to view it.”

Ji Chenjiao’s eyes swelled, and his voice was a bit hoarse. “What can I do?”

Xiao Yuan paused, his gaze meeting Ji Chenjiao’s for a moment. “Among the leads Ling Lie brought back this time, one concerns you.”

“Concerns me?”

“The one responsible for your mentor Ning Xiechen’s disappearance is precisely ‘Floating Light.’ His informant at the time, Yan Xi, was Bo Lingxue in disguise.”

A tremor rang in Ji Chenjiao’s ears. This news was even more horrifying than learning he was the real Yu Ge. His eyes didn’t move, and his brain stopped functioning for a moment. A few seconds later, he said mechanically, “Yan Xi… is Bo Lingxue?”

In an instant, it seemed all doubts had explanations.

Back at Fengyi Mountain Villa, when he first met Bo Lingxue, he felt the person seemed familiar, but he was certain he had never met him.

It turned out that familiarity didn’t come from appearance, but from the inner self that appearance couldn’t hide.

Also, when he first met Ling Lie, Ling Lie often proposed strange ideas. Looking at Ling Lie, he would occasionally think of Yan Xi, feeling the two had similarities.

Yan Xi was Bo Lingxue, the A-Xue Ling Lie had mentioned a few times. These two had the exact same living environment in childhood; of course their ways of thinking would be similar!

Ji Chenjiao pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his stomach churning. Xie Qing had always held prejudice against Yan Xi, and many in the bureau believed Yan Xi corrupted Ning Xiechen, yet he constantly found reasons to exonerate Yan Xi.

The cold facts were laid before him; he was the one who was wrong. He had once treated Yan Xi as a junior mentor.

Xiao Yuan said, “Two pieces of good news, one piece of bad news.”

Ji Chenjiao forced himself to cheer up.

Xiao Yuan first explained Bo Lingxue’s reasons for approaching Ning Xiechen, then said, “The good news is, Ning Xiechen never betrayed his police uniform from start to finish. He survived until ‘Floating Light’ evacuated from Jade Face Sighing Song, and he is very likely still alive now. The bad news is, he may be severely injured and unable to care for himself, a result of harm inflicted by Bo Lingxue when he discovered Bo Lingxue’s true identity.”

Ji Chenjiao’s eyes reddened. “My mentor was imprisoned by ‘Floating Light’ for five years!”

“Captain Ning didn’t give up.” Xiao Yuan said, “Bo Lingxue completed his revenge on Sha Man. ‘Floating Light’ seemingly withdrew from Xiarong City, but they definitely have big moves planned later. Captain Ji, as long as they haven’t killed Captain Ning, we have hope of rescuing him.”

After Xiao Yuan left, Ji Chenjiao sat alone in the meeting room, looking at the whiteboard not far away, but his eyes were somewhat empty.

The scenes of investigating cases with Yan Xi back then were vivid in his mind. Every time Captain Ning mentioned Yan Xi, he was full of praise, saying how much Yan Xi’s unconstrained ideas helped solve cases.

At that time, he was a novice, deeply influenced by Ning Xiechen, and held nearly absolute trust in Yan Xi.

Over the years, he grew constantly, seeing more clearly how childish his past self was, and even considered accepting Xie Qing’s view—that Yan Xi wasn’t on the side of justice.

But even so, he never imagined Yan Xi was actually the leader of “Floating Light,” the A-Xue who grew up with A-Dou.

This person hadn’t stopped; he was brewing an even bigger conspiracy.

Xie Qing knocked on the meeting room door. Ji Chenjiao turned around, saw it was Xie Qing, and hurriedly stood up. “Captain Xie.”

Xie Qing said, “You know about Master and Yan Xi?”

Ji Chenjiao nodded.

“The Yu family has requested to see you, hoping you can acknowledge your ancestors and return to the clan,” Xie Qing said. “Yu Qianming and Sha Man’s issues won’t affect you. What do you plan to do?”

Ji Chenjiao was silent for a moment, then straightened his back. “Even if Yu family blood flows in me, I am not a member of the Yu family. I cannot return to the Yu family. I need to avoid conflict of interest in the subsequent investigation of the Yu family. Since there’s no opportunity for contact in official business, there’s even less need for private matters.”

Xie Qing sighed. “I respect your choice. Wait until this series of cases is completely settled, then seriously consider matters of identity and family.”

Saying this, Xie Qing smiled. “You just suffered grievances at Xu Jiang’s place and took successive shocks. Is it inhumane for me to assign you a task now?”

Ji Chenjiao said seriously, “Captain Xie, didn’t you and Director Xiao rush to fish me out just so I could participate in the investigation as soon as possible?”

“Haha, you caught me.” Xie Qing handed a tablet to Ji Chenjiao. “Based on the talisman lead these past few days, we found a victim prior to Yong Huihao.”

This case was discovered by the Nancheng District Sub-bureau while screening old cases.

On January 16th of this year, a suicide case occurred in Nancheng District. The deceased was Tang Qi. The investigation record showed a peace talisman was found at the scene.

Tang Qi was thirty-two when he died, a consultant at a study abroad agency. He recorded himself on his phone tidying up his workstation, saying goodbye to several colleagues, then resolutely walking to the office building platform and leaping from the thirtieth floor.

The location of the office building wasn’t bustling. It was near the Spring Festival then, so there weren’t many pedestrians. Some passersby saw him fall from the high building, smashing into a pile of flesh on the cold, hard pavement.

The responding police station investigated and found Tang Qi’s suicide was work-related. The study abroad business was very difficult. As a team leader, Tang Qi was pressured by the company with impossible tasks.

In the year-end assessment, Tang Qi’s team didn’t even reach a quarter of the target, and all bonuses were deducted. In this industry, relying solely on base salary couldn’t meet living needs at all.

Tang Qi’s family also had an incident at this critical juncture. His wife gave birth prematurely, and the child’s care and treatment had already cost over 300,000 yuan, basically their entire family savings. If it could be cured, there would be hope, but the child had cerebral palsy. The long life ahead was a bottomless pit for Tang Qi.

Thus, with no way out, he chose to end his life.

The peace talisman was found in his jacket. Before committing suicide, he took off his jacket and left it on the platform. The police asked his wife about the origin of the talisman. Unable to accept the reality of her husband’s departure, she was mentally disordered, at one moment saying she sought it for him, the next saying he bought it himself.

The facts of this case were clear. With video and numerous colleagues testifying, homicide was ruled out, and the case was closed as suicide.

After watching, Ji Chenjiao said, “Something’s wrong. In this video before Tang Qi’s suicide, his mental state is very abnormal.”

Xie Qing said, “He reminds me of Dan Jin.”