Chapter 156 - 154: Request
Miao Jiangling was so incensed by what Miao Anji said that she nearly fainted from rage.
All her painstaking efforts had failed to make Miao Anji suffer, and to make matters worse, she had been humiliated like this by Jiang Li, someone of a younger generation.
The fact that even Miao Anji was now kicking her while she was down was simply infuriating!
Miao Jiangling shot Jiang Li a venomous look, ready to strike again, but Miao Anji immediately sensed something was amiss the moment she moved.
With lightning speed, Miao Anji plucked the Gu Worm from Jiang Li. Just as he was about to crush it, Luo Binglin suddenly spoke up from the side.
"Young man, could you hand that insect over to us for research?"
Miao Anji glanced at Luo Binglin, then said with mock generosity, "Are you sure?"
Luo Binglin smiled. "Rest assured, we’ll be extremely careful."
Miao Anji raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Li. "Sister, you heard him. They’re the ones who insisted on having it. If anything happens, it won’t be my fault."
Jiang Li looked at Luo Binglin. "Officer Luo, this insect is venomous. Are you certain?"
When Luo Binglin nodded again to confirm, Miao Anji didn’t press the issue and simply handed over the Gu Worm.
Luo Binglin looked at the insect, then had someone find a jar to put it in. "Thank you."
Luo Binglin’s team worked quickly. Within half a day, they had found the man from the surveillance footage.
The man arrived at the police station with a dazed look on his face.
"Officers, I honestly don’t know anything about this. If you hadn’t shown me the video, I wouldn’t have even realized that person was me."
"Just check him for any insect bites. There will definitely be residual toxins in the wound," Lu Xingye said, looking at Luo Binglin.
Luo Binglin nodded and then had the man taken for an examination.
Miao Jiangling’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she turned to look back at Jiang Li and the others.
"You knew all along?"
Jiang Li turned to face Miao Jiangling. "There’s a saying: ’The net of justice is vast, but it lets nothing slip through.’ Miao Jiangling, this isn’t your village."
Miao Jiangling was stunned by Jiang Li’s words. For a long moment, she simply stared blankly outside.
Miao Jiangling lowered her head, lost in thought. After a moment, it all clicked into place, and she let out a self-deprecating laugh.
’If only I’d known more about the outside world, perhaps I wouldn’t have given myself away.’
’I had no idea Miao Anji was even being held. If I hadn’t been so impulsive, the police wouldn’t have had any evidence, and he would be the one going to jail.’
A laugh rumbled in Miao Jiangling’s throat. Her wrinkled eyes fixed on Miao Anji. "If I had known it would come to this, I should have let you die in that poison den back then."
Miao Anji folded his arms and looked down at Miao Jiangling without saying a single word.
’If it were possible, I wish I hadn’t been the one chosen back then either.’
’I endured inhuman torture as a child, only to grow up and become a monster everyone shunned. No family, no friends.’
’Times are changing. Many people in the village want nothing to do with it anymore; they just want to live in peace. Only Miao Jiangling is so stubborn and paranoid, always trying to control my life.’
Luo Binglin came out holding the examination report, looking sternly at the decrepit Miao Jiangling.
"Miao Jiangling, you are under suspicion of intentional homicide and attempted homicide. The circumstances are heinous..."
Hearing Luo Binglin’s words, Miao Jiangling finally snapped back to reality. Her lips trembled as she stared viciously at Miao Anji and Jiang Li.
’My only regret is not taking them down with me!’
Miao Jiangling was taken into the interrogation room.
Under questioning by Luo Binglin and his team, she confessed to the entire crime, including her motive.
She knew she didn’t have long to live and had simply wanted to take Miao Anji down with her.
As for the person she killed, Miao Jiangling’s face showed no remorse. Decades ago, these were the very methods they used to cultivate Gu.
Luo Binglin collected all the evidence, had his team officially dispel the rumors about Miao Anji being the murderer, and then publicly announced the identity of the true culprit.
Jiang Li could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Miao Jiangling was imprisoned, with only a life behind bars to look forward to.
Miao Anji watched Miao Jiangling, who was still alive, and scratched his head in confusion. ’She shouldn’t have lived this long.’
As they left the police station, Jiang Li seemed to remember something. She pulled a small snake from her pocket and held it out to him.
"Xiao Ji, is it going to die? Do you think a vet could help?"
Miao Anji looked at the small snake in Jiang Li’s hand, and the corner of his mouth twitched. ’No wonder she’s still alive,’ he thought.
"Ahem, it’s fine, it’s fine. Sister, just give it to me."
Miao Anji smiled and took the snake from Jiang Li’s hand, then produced a jar and tossed the creature inside.
"Officer Zhou, are we heading back now?" Jiang Li asked, walking up to Zhou Tiancheng as he emerged.
’Kong Zhen’s case is resolved, and Xiao Ji’s matter is settled. Can we finally go back?’
Zhou Tiancheng glanced back at Luo Binglin, then at Jiang Li.
"Jiang Li, it’s like this. Kong Zhen is awake, and she wants to see you."
Luo Binglin let out a breath of relief when he saw Jiang Li hadn’t gone far. He’d only stepped inside for a moment to give some instructions, and when he came back out, their group was gone.
’If I’d really let them go, the mayor would have had my hide.’
"Okay." Jiang Li nodded.
"Miss Jiang, we were hoping to ask for your help."
Luo Binglin hurriedly interjected, afraid he would lose his chance if he didn’t speak up now.
Jiang Li turned her head to look at Luo Binglin.
"We have a case. The killer has been caught, but we can’t find the victim’s body. I heard you have some... special methods. Could you possibly help us?
The victim’s family has fallen ill from grief. If we still can’t find the body..."
Luo Binglin clenched his fists. This case was three years old. Because they hadn’t found the victim’s body, the murderer still hadn’t been executed.
The victim’s family had ruined their health over this. If they died without ever finding the body, he felt he wouldn’t have the right to wear his uniform anymore.
Jiang Li saw the anger and self-reproach on Luo Binglin’s face and nodded. "Alright. But I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to find it."
Luo Binglin’s face instantly broke into a smile. "Thank you! The mayor said that we’ll cover all your living expenses during your time in D City.
So, um... would tomorrow be okay?"
Jiang Li nodded.
"Great, then I won’t disturb you any longer. Here’s my contact information."
Luo Binglin handed a business card to Jiang Li, then stepped aside and watched them leave.
Jiang Li followed Zhou Tiancheng to the hospital. Kong Zhen was awake in her room, but she hadn’t been for long.
"She just woke up, so we haven’t asked her much about He Ming and the others. When you go in, if she doesn’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to ask. Just have a normal conversation."
After giving Jiang Li these brief instructions, Zhou Tiancheng pushed open the door to the hospital room and let her in.
Jiang Li walked in and sat down by the bed.
Hearing the movement, Kong Zhen slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to look at her.
Jiang Li didn’t know what Kong Zhen was going to say.
Kong Zhen looked at her, her chapped lips moving as tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. "Clothes... clothes."