Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Jiang Li watched the scene unfold in the private room: Jiang Sheng was making a deal. Then, several women were led inside, and among them was a familiar face from a picture.

"This batch is fresh. We’ve even got one with ’panda blood.’"

Jiang Sheng stepped forward to size up the women. Nodding in satisfaction, he had someone open a nearby case.

"Here’s the payment for this time. Next time..."

’Jiang Sheng is connected to this case!’

"Captain Zhou." Zhao Shuo turned his head to look at Zhou Tiancheng. The question was whether to arrest the man for a harsh interrogation or to play the long game.

Zhou Tiancheng looked at the evidence on the screen. ’Arresting Jiang Sheng alone would completely blow our cover.’

"Have our people tail them for now. It’s best if we can get them all in one fell swoop."

Zhao Shuo went to arrange for a team to tail Jiang Sheng.

Ever since Jiang Shuran’s death, Jiang Sheng had been like a firecracker with a short fuse, ready to go off at the slightest provocation.

"President Jiang, a batch is scheduled for transaction today."

Jiang Sheng, feeling irritable, glanced over and said dismissively, "I know. You’re dismissed."

Jiang Sheng got up and stared outside. Ever since he’d returned from the police station, he’d felt completely on edge, a persistent unease churning in his gut.

’Is it because of what happened to Shuran, or is there another reason?’

Smoking his cigarette, Jiang Sheng squinted at the view before him. For safety’s sake, he decided to call someone in.

"Ah Long, go and double-check everything. This transaction must succeed. Failure is not an option."

"Yes, President Jiang."

Jiang Sheng then summoned the others who were preparing to leave with him. "All of you, be extra careful this time."

"Yes, sir!"

When Zhou Tiancheng and his team received news that Jiang Sheng was planning another transaction, they immediately confirmed the time and location.

The location had changed, but the deal was still going down at a KTV.

Zhou Tiancheng’s team had also figured out how Du Xueqing got her information. Their investigation revealed that she worked part-time at a KTV and had stumbled upon it by chance.

"Do we need Du Xueqing to help us again?" Zhao Shuo asked, looking up at Zhou Tiancheng.

Zhou Tiancheng shook his head. "Let’s arrange for someone else."

At Jiang Li’s house, Wu Ming noticed that Jiang Li was now watching gory videos every day. Every time she passed by the room, she would grimace and hurry away a little faster.

Jiang Li had just found an autopsy video and was about to watch it when Wu Ming suddenly snatched the remote from her hand.

"Jiang Li, if you keep watching this stuff, you’re going to mess up your head. Stop it, okay? Be good."

Wu Ming turned off the television as she spoke.

"But I feel like I’m too mentally fragile," Jiang Li said, looking at Wu Ming. She felt that if she didn’t do this, she’d be scared to death one of these days.

Wu Ming propped her chin on her hand. "Facing your fears head-on isn’t always the answer, you know."

"If you’re really set on this, how about you come with me on a job? Toughen you up a bit. And if that’s not enough, you could always go spend a few days with Forensic Doctor Qin."

Jiang Li immediately shook her head so fast it was a blur. Being around Qin Shu was scarier than any horror movie.

Wu Ming pulled out her phone to show her. "I just got a case. The client says her daughter, who has ALS, has suddenly become pregnant."

"She suspects it’s a ghost fetus, so I’m going to check it out."

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Jiang Li said, "I’m in!"

Wu Ming drove, and with Jiang Li in tow, they reached their destination in the neighboring city two hours later.

Wu Ming led her out of the car. The moment they stepped out, they saw a couple waiting for them up ahead.

"You must be Master Wu! Please, hurry inside."

With a perfectly serious expression on her chubby, round face, Wu Ming headed inside. She held a Compass in her hand, her feet seeming to glide across the floor.

Seeing this impressive display, the couple felt certain they had hired the right person.

The pair led Wu Ming and Jiang Li to Liu Xuyan’s room, which featured an enormous floor-to-ceiling window.

Bathed in sunlight, the girl in the wheelchair, dressed in white, resembled a withered balloon flower. Up close, the sight of her swollen belly seemed exceptionally cruel.

Jiang Li’s eyes scanned the room. Everyone around the girl was female. Besides her father, there wasn’t a single other man in the entire house.

Wu Ming circled the room with her equipment before walking back to the girl. The young woman’s eyes, which should have been bright and full of life, were now utterly dead, shutting them all out.

Wiping away tears, Liu Xuyan’s mother said, "Ever since our child was diagnosed with ALS, we’ve kept her completely isolated from all men, just as a precaution."

"But now..."

Cao Yan looked at her daughter’s swollen belly, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. ’What more does this cruel heaven want? How else will it torture our family?’

Jiang Li stepped closer to look at Liu Xuyan. Her gaze was vacant, completely devoid of spirit.

Noticing Jiang Li’s prolonged stare, the girl’s eyes flickered, meeting hers for a bare second before darting away.

Wu Ming went to the window and performed some calculations. After a moment, she looked back, walked over to Liu Xuyan, and reached out to touch her stomach.

Liu Xuyan, who until now had been as still and silent as a porcelain doll, suddenly became agitated and started crying out.

Startled, Cao Yan rushed forward to hug her, comforting her, "Yanyan, don’t be afraid. They’re good people. Mama’s right here, don’t be afraid!"

Wu Ming stood up and looked at Cao Yan and Liu Yan. "What’s in your daughter’s stomach is not a ghost fetus, as you suspected. My advice is to call the police."

"What? But..." Cao Yan looked at her in shock, holding Liu Xuyan tightly.

But Jiang Li, who had been staring at Liu Xuyan the whole time, saw a flicker of light in her eyes. ’So there really is something more to this,’ she thought.

Upon hearing Wu Ming’s words, Liu Yan immediately took out his phone to call the police. All this time, they had just assumed their daughter’s appetite had increased, until a doctor told them it looked like she was pregnant.

Cao Yan couldn’t accept that explanation. She had personally hired all the maids and caregivers in the house; there was no way something like that could have happened. That was why, in her panic, her mind had jumped to the supernatural.

"No one in this house is to leave," Jiang Li announced, getting to her feet and surveying the room.

The local police arrived shortly after and began their routine questioning.

Heartbroken, Cao Yan could only wipe away her tears, her lips trembling too much to form words. In the end, it was Liu Yan who stepped forward to speak with the officers.

"Officers," he began, "it’s like this... I suspect my daughter has been... been raped."

As he choked out that last word, Liu Yan’s voice broke, and tears streamed down his face.

An officer stepped forward to look at Liu Xuyan. After he was made aware of her condition, his expression grew grim.

Cao Yan pleaded with Wu Ming and Jiang Li to stay the night.

"Master Wu, Miss Jiang, I’m sorry to trouble you. If there really is something else going on, I beg you to help. Please, rest assured, we will not be stingy with your payment."

"Mrs. Liu, you’re being too kind," Wu Ming replied. "This isn’t about money. Your daughter’s safety is what matters. Until this is resolved, I hope you’ll keep a close eye on everyone in the household."

Hearing Wu Ming’s words, Cao Yan was so moved she could have cried. ’I really did find the right person,’ she thought.

"Yes, thank you." After having a room prepared for the two of them, Cao Yan left with Liu Yan to cooperate with the police investigation.

That night, Jiang Li and Wu Ming shared a room. After washing up, Jiang Li had barely lain down before she was fast asleep.

When Wu Ming came out from her own wash-up, she couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at the scene.

’Jiang Li really can sleep anywhere!’

Wu Ming expertly arranged her belongings before settling down to sleep on the other side of the room.

A heart-wrenching whimper reached Jiang Li’s ears. The sound was faint, yet filled with bleak and utter helplessness.

She opened her eyes to the scene before her. She was back in Liu Xuyan’s room, right by the window.

Liu Xuyan was in her wheelchair, having been thrown toward the window. Then came the sound of tearing fabric...