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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 14: A Silent Period
"Fang... Teacher Fang... he's... dead?!"
The attacker's words, filled with shock and disbelief, struck me like a thunderclap, shattering the murderous aura that had nearly crushed me.
Dead? Fang Huai'an is dead?!
I lay on the cold ground, the sharp pain in my lower back nearly causing me to faint, but the overwhelming impact of this news instantly jolted me awake.
How could this be?! He had just called me last night! He was perfectly fine! How could he suddenly be dead?! An accident? Or... a silencing?
The man in the cap was clearly stunned by the news as well; his grip on the wooden stick slackened as he urgently questioned the person on the other end of the phone, "When did this happen? How did he die? ... An accident?!"
His last word, "accident," was laced with intense skepticism and a hint of barely concealed panic.
Seizing the moment of his distraction, my survival instinct overwhelmed everything! I summoned every last ounce of strength and leaped up from the ground, not bothering to pick up the fallen steel pipe or any of the deadly evidence scattered around. Like a crazed beast, I sprinted toward the edge of the woods!
This time, the man did not pursue me. He seemed completely thrown off by Fang Huai'an's death, standing there dazed with his phone in hand.
I dared not look back; I couldn’t afford to. I had only one thought: run! Get away from this damned place! Survive!
I have no idea how I escaped that Lin Field or how I found my battered bicycle in that overgrown area. My lower back felt like it was breaking, my face and arms were covered in cuts, and my lungs burned as if on fire; each breath tasted of blood. But I couldn’t stop, nor did I feel tired. I pedaled mechanically and frantically toward the county town.
By the time I returned to the inn, it was nearly eight in the morning. I slipped into my room like a ghost, locked the door tightly, and then collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air like a fish out of water, my body trembling uncontrollably.
Surviving against all odds.
I made it out alive.
But at what cost? The crucial evidence from Lin Field... I couldn't bring a single piece out!
A wave of immense regret and despair washed over me. The things I risked my life to find were just lost like that? What was the point of my trip to Lin Field, aside from almost getting killed?!
No, wait!
I suddenly remembered the cloth bag I had hidden in my pocket! The film! The sketches! They were still there!
I trembled as I pulled out the cloth bag, and when I saw it was intact, I let out a slight sigh of relief. Although these weren't the most direct pieces of evidence, at least... there were still clues!
And Fang Huai'an... he was dead.
The news echoed in my mind repeatedly. After the shock wore off, I felt no sense of relief or liberation; instead, a deeper chill and confusion settled in.
How did he die? Was it really an accident? Right after he called me with that warning, temptation, and "feast at Hongmen" notice, he just died "accidentally"? What are the odds of that happening?!
He was silenced! It had to be!
Was it because he knew too much? Or because he tried to pull me in and caught the attention of those behind the scenes? Or... was it because I went to Lin Field and triggered something?
I dared not think further. All I knew was that Fang Huai'an's death not only did not eliminate the danger but might mean that this dark network was larger, colder, and more ruthless than I had imagined! If they could unhesitatingly "deal with" someone like Fang Huai'an, a "comrade," then what about me, an outsider? Wasn't I even more at risk?
I had to get what I had in my hands out—quickly! Immediately!
But to whom? How?
Just when I was filled with anxiety and felt utterly helpless, my phone—the one I had almost dared not touch—suddenly rang again.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest! Who was it?! Could it be that attacker coming after me?!
I looked at the screen in terror.
What was displayed was not a familiar name, but rather a strange landline number from the provincial capital.
I hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately, I tremblingly pressed the answer button.
“Hello? Is this Comrade Qin Ming?” A calm and steady male voice came from the other end of the line, tinged with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue. This voice... sounded somewhat familiar?
“...Yes, who is this?”
“I am Li from the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission stationed at the Public Security Department,” the voice paused, as if confirming my state. “Are you... able to talk right now? Is it safe?”
The Discipline Inspection Commission?!
I felt as if I were dreaming! How could they find me?! Could it be...
“Comrade Qin Ming, please don’t be nervous.” Sensing my uncertainty, Li continued, “We have received some... well, rather special reports concerning issues within the Luoshui County Public Security Bureau. The materials mentioned you and indicated that you might possess some key information and could be in a dangerous situation.”
Reports?! Who reported this?! Could it be...
Old Wang’s silent and complex face flashed through my mind! Was it him?!
“We need your assistance.” Li’s voice turned serious. “Where are you now? Are you safe? Do you still have those materials?”
“I... I’m at the guesthouse...” My voice trembled again, but this time it was from excitement and a glimmer of hope. “I’m safe... for now... I still have some of the materials!”
“Good!” A hint of relief came through in Li’s voice. “Listen carefully, the situation within Luoshui County is complicated. Our people are on their way, but before we arrive, you must ensure your own safety and trust no one! Especially not those within the County Bureau!”
“I understand! I understand!” I nodded repeatedly, my eyes beginning to well up. Finally... finally someone was coming!
"The materials in your hands are extremely important!" Leader Li emphasized. "We will rush there as quickly as possible and will contact you secretly to ensure the safe transfer of the evidence. Until then, do not act rashly! I repeat, do not trust anyone!"
"Okay! I understand! I'll wait for you!"
After hanging up the phone, I felt as if all my strength had been drained, yet a flame of hope ignited within me like never before.
Old Wang! It must be him! He didn't help me directly, but used this method instead! He might have prepared the report long ago, just waiting for the right moment, or rather, waiting for me to break the deadlock! The arrow he left at the Bicycle Shed was not just a clue for me; it was also a test of my determination and capability!
This silent old policeman was waging a secret and dangerous battle in his own way!
The next few hours were the longest and most torturous wait of my life. I hid in my room, afraid to go out or contact anyone, straining to hear any sounds from outside while tightly clutching the cloth bag as if guarding my last lifeline.
During this time, I received a call from Captain Zhao, who informed me of Fang Huai'an's sudden heart attack and death. His tone was heavy with sorrow, and he asked me to come to the bureau in the afternoon for a simple inquiry. I made up an excuse about feeling unwell to avoid it. I knew that going to the bureau now would be like walking into a trap.
Finally, in the afternoon, I received a secret contact from Leader Li. Following his instructions, I discreetly handed over the cloth bag containing the film and sketches, along with a detailed explanation I had organized from memory and professional knowledge, to the staff from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission who came to assist.
At that moment, watching them leave swiftly with the evidence, I felt half of my burden lift.
The rest was up to them.
In truth, there was no earth-shattering twist at the end; it felt more like a delayed and imperfect reckoning.
A joint investigation team composed of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission and related departments entered Luoshui County, stirring up a massive storm.
Fang Huai'an's death was ultimately classified as a "sudden heart attack," with no evidence pointing to foul play. But I knew well that this was likely another instance of "cleaning up" under the Old Rules. He held too many secrets; for some people, his death was the best outcome.
The physical evidence I discovered in Lin Field, combined with the film, sketches, and my professional testimony regarding the autopsy doubts in Zhou Dahai's case, became the breakthrough point.
As the investigation deepened, they indeed found at Fang Huai'an's extremely secret residence ledgers documenting various "transactions" and "favors," along with some key recordings accumulated over many years. These items ultimately pointed to a big fish hidden behind the scenes at City Bureau who had long been in a position of power.
Captain Zhao, Xiao Li from the Technical Department, and several others who were entangled in the "Old Rules," whether actively or passively involved, received their due consequences. Some were dismissed from their positions, some were sentenced to prison, while others received relatively lighter penalties due to "cooperating with the investigation" or "minor circumstances."
Old Wang, the silent whistleblower, retired early after the storm passed. It is said he returned to his hometown and vanished from public view. I do not know whether his fate turned out to be good or bad, but I believe he probably found what he sought. At least he upheld the bottom line of his conscience.
As for me, after cooperating with the investigation and providing all my testimony, I was swiftly reassigned back to the provincial office. The center director looked at me with a complex expression—there was fear, relief, and a hint of something indescribable. He said little, only patting my shoulder and telling me to take a good rest.
I returned to my familiar post and continued my work as a forensic expert. The scalpel remained cold, and the truth still needed to be sought.
Yet, some things had changed.
The experience in Luoshui County felt like a nightmare from which I could not awaken, leaving a deep imprint on my heart. I witnessed the darkness and complexity of human nature, the trampling of rules by power, and yet saw that there were still those willing to light a faint candle in the darkness.
Was Fang Huai'an's "Old Rules" truly his own creation? Or was it a malignant growth inevitably spawned by a certain environment and system? Was his "flexible handling" genuinely for the sake of so-called "human feelings" and "problem-solving"? Or was it merely to satisfy his personal desire for control and benefit exchange? I have no answers.
All I know is that the scalpel that should point towards the truth, once hijacked by selfish desires and "rules," can become the most terrifying weapon.
And as a survivor who has narrowly escaped, perhaps all I can do is to hold life in greater reverence, firmly uphold my principles, and strive to keep my own scalpel sharp—forever pointing towards the light.
Though I know this is difficult.
But someone must guard that little bit of light that is not consumed by darkness, right?
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