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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 149: Days Like Years
At the Fourth Detention Center, during dusk.
Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao signed their names on the visitation register, accompanied by personnel from the municipal prosecutor's office and prison administration, following the footsteps of the prison guards toward the high-security cell block.
It was once again a matter concerning Nie Qifeng, who had surprisingly requested to see him. Normally, such individuals could be ignored, but due to Xiao Mu's involvement, the situation had become somewhat delicate. Regardless of how it was handled, they certainly could not turn a blind eye. Shen Lingchen found it hard to understand what this Death Row Inmate wanted to discuss with him. Was it similar to You Bisheng, who would bring up a case every few days and then delay his execution?
Speaking of which, that individual had already passed away; he was executed at the end of last year, dying in utter desolation, with no family members even coming to collect his ashes.
Having spent so much time in this line of work, Shen Lingchen had grown numb to such matters. He had witnessed many faces of death; now, the once formidable Brother Five, Xiao Zhuoli, was in prison obsessively writing his confession day and night, listing his contributions to the country and pleading for leniency.
This was nothing but a delusion; he probably wouldn’t even get a chance for a public trial.
The group hurried along; the rules were strict—both the prosecutor and prison administration had to be present, and everything needed to be documented. To strip someone of their life is one of the most severe aspects of criminal law. Even for someone as heinous as a murderer, it evokes solemnity in observers—not out of sympathy for these criminals but rather for the ruthlessness of the law.
"Has he appealed?" Shen Lingchen casually asked the prison official.
"No," came the uniform response from the prison administration.
Shen Lingchen was slightly taken aback and asked, "Then what could this be about? His case has already concluded; could it be that he's trying to delay his execution?"
Suspects are not foolish; sometimes they can drag things out longer than relevant departments. They can stretch things out for years without fully confessing. However, Nie Qifeng didn’t seem like that type. Lin Qizhao interjected, "That’s unlikely; he’s the kind who won’t turn back now. Besides, he’s disabled now—living would be worse than death."
"Most people tend to get cowardly when facing their end. Even ants strive to survive; how much more so for a human?" remarked the prosecutor. He wasn’t surprised by the suspect's unexpected request; many realize their fear of death only when they are close to it.
"Heh... perhaps our judgments are all wrong. People with antisocial personalities are not so easily understood," Shen Lingchen said, yet he received no resonance from his companions. Deep down, he felt there must be something significant going on—most likely related to Rong Ying—but he had no way of knowing how deep this connection with Rong Ying truly was.
Upon arriving at their destination, the heavy door swung open with a clang. The four stood in two pairs at the entrance—two in front and two behind—dressed in different styles of police uniforms. The prison guards stood inside on one side while armed police on the roof stood guard—not out of concern that such a disabled person could escape but as part of routine procedure.
"Did you hear? You want to see me?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"Yes," Nie Qifeng replied lightly, sitting up on the bed and opening his eyes.
Shen Lingchen noticed a bright suit laid out beside him. This guy seemed to be reminiscing about his youthful days.
"I’m here. Is there anything else you need to tell me?" Shen Lingchen asked directly.
"I’ve already told you everything. I’ve confessed to the murder and the disposal of the body. What else is there to hide?" Nie Qifeng said nonchalantly, as if he were discussing something trivial.
Judging by the situation, Shen Lingchen reminded him, "I’m only responsible for assessing your criminal liability. Beyond that, I can’t help you."
"You should know that I’m not someone who causes trouble for others," Nie Qifeng said, handing over a piece of paper. The handcuffs clinked as he did so. This paper had been checked by the prison guards and reviewed by the prosecutor before it reached Shen Lingchen's hands. The two who had seen it earlier wore solemn expressions. Shen Lingchen glanced at it and asked in surprise, "You want to... donate your organs?"
"Yes, I can publicly donate them; interviews are fine too. I will confess as you instructed... Isn’t this what you want to see? A Death Row Inmate repenting before death, willing to leave a final bit of warmth for society with his sinful body... Heh, something like that. My education isn’t high, so I’m not sure if I’m saying it right," Nie Qifeng suddenly laughed, looking quite pleased.
Lin Qizhao glanced over, stunned. This was a perfect example for external promotion; no wonder the prison was fully supportive.
But... how could this antisocial guy do such a thing? He looked at Shen Lingchen in confusion.
After a moment of thought, Shen Lingchen understood and asked directly, "Do you have any other conditions?"
"No, but I want to know how much my family would receive from the donation," Nie Qifeng inquired.
Shen Lingchen wasn’t sure about that, so a prison official answered, "Not much; the matching surgery hospital will pay between 100,000 to 300,000."
"That’s enough; just a little is fine," Nie Qifeng sighed in relief.
This seemed like a good thing—whether donating organs to save lives or showing remorse—it was something the police would be glad to see. However, this strange change left Shen Lingchen and the prosecutors puzzled; such things could happen to anyone but shouldn’t occur with someone of such an antisocial character.
"This matter doesn’t require my assistance at all; the prison will arrange everything for you," Shen Lingchen said in surprise, speaking softly. At this moment, he found that Nie Qifeng didn’t seem so detestable anymore.
"I will designate you as the handler. Please give the money you can get to someone..." Nie Qifeng said with a beaming smile.
"Rong Ying," Shen Lingchen blurted out.
"That's right," Nie Qifeng laughed, his smile radiant like spring sunshine.
"I personally caught you and interrogated you. Do you trust me?" Shen Lingchen was taken aback.
"Of course, you would only want my life; you definitely wouldn't embezzle my money, heh heh," Nie Qifeng replied, providing an impeccable reason.
Shen Lingchen responded sternly, "Thank you. That's the best compliment for me. I will definitely make it happen."
"Thank you," Nie Qifeng nodded slightly.
In his memory, this was the first time he had bowed his head. Even when identifying someone at the scene, he had always acted like a hero in shackles. Lin Qizhao hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "I remember you have family?"
"Yes, I've been married twice. The first time ended in divorce due to personality clashes... Actually, it wasn't really personality clashes; I was expelled from the provincial sports team. It was unfortunate, so I got divorced... The second time I married someone younger. When I got into trouble, she left me. Damn it, she took quite a bit of money with her... Do you think that's family?" Nie Qifeng asked nonchalantly.
"Rong Ying... I think she's Rong Wu's sister?" Shen Lingchen stated the obvious.
"Right. When Rong Wu brought her over, she was so thin and hungry that her face looked pale. She didn't dare speak to anyone. Honestly, I never gave her much; I just took her to the cafeteria for a good meal. She always regarded me as her older brother... After I got expelled, I fought in underground boxing matches and was beaten to the point of vomiting blood and breaking bones more than once. Those two siblings would bring me tea and medicine; they always treated me like family... It's a pity that I ruined her life later on. I gave her money and bought her things, but it only made her more like a little delinquent... Heh heh, she is the most innocent one. You guys must have investigated her quite a bit over this past year?" Nie Qifeng said, his joyful expression slowly turning sorrowful.
"Fortunately, she managed to pull through," Shen Lingchen offered a weak explanation.
"Yes, seeing her like this makes me happy... Can I ask you for one thing?" Nie Qifeng said, looking at Shen Lingchen with pleading eyes.
Shen Lingchen felt a pang of sympathy and replied, "Please go ahead."
At some point, the address had changed to "you."
Just then, an unexpected event occurred. Nie Qifeng struggled to rise, startling the prison guard who shouted for him to sit still. The armed police above were taken aback and ordered him to sit properly; however, Nie Qifeng disregarded them entirely and forced himself up. The clanking of his restraints echoed loudly as he dragged his injured leg and knelt heavily on the bed before Shen Lingchen and the others, bowing deeply three times. The prison guard was momentarily stunned.
Shen Lingchen was also taken aback, urgently saying, "Get up, just tell me what's on your mind."
"I don't want to trouble you any further. I won't appeal... My only request is to let me die quickly, so that Yingzi won't have to worry anymore... As long as I'm alive, she won't find peace. She will desperately seek someone to appeal for me... I'm not asking for your pity; please have some compassion for that child... Her father is a Death Row Inmate, and she has been abused by her stepfather since she was little. Rong Wu had no choice but to take her away... Rong Wu deserves his fate, and my death is insignificant, but please don't let her bear our sins... I'm begging you, I won't appeal; I confess... Just don't let the child suffer any longer. She barely makes any money and still has to save up to send me things... Please."
Nie Qifeng spoke through gritted teeth, tears streaming down his face, overwhelmed with sorrow and pain, unable to maintain his composure, no longer the fierce and wicked figure he once was.
Yet in the hearts of the police officers present, there was a sense of respect.
He knocked his head several times in desperation, pleading, "I know you want to protect Mulin Shen... I can no longer seek revenge, but please don’t let him harm Yingzi again... I beg you, let Yingzi get far away from here. Please?"
As he spoke, tears flowed freely. The prison guard helped him up and assisted him in sitting down, softly comforting him for the first time: "Don't worry; we will find a way."
"Thank you... Thank you... I'm sorry for losing my composure..." Nie Qifeng wiped his tears and repeatedly nodded at the officers. At that moment, Lin Qizhao noticed that the armed police above had lowered their guns; one of them was just a young boy who also seemed a bit out of sorts as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Suddenly realizing he too had lost his composure, Lin Qizhao felt a tear escape from his own eye.
"I understand now; leave it to me and go in peace."
However, Shen Lingchen remained as unyielding as stone, uttering those words before turning to leave.
As the iron door clanged shut behind him, Lin Qizhao noticed Master Shen Lingchen hiding in a corner, covering his face with both hands, clearly unable to suppress a sob...
...
...
It was dusk when he entered, but now it was bright with stars as he emerged. The disgust he felt upon entering faded away after the outpouring of grief and anger; Lin Qizhao inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
After bidding farewell to the prison administration and prosecutors, he got into the car and opened the door for Master Shen Lingchen. The latter smiled awkwardly; he didn't dare acknowledge this disciple openly, yet this disciple served him without hesitation.
"Master, why do I feel like he's not someone with antisocial tendencies?" Lin Qizhao suddenly remarked while driving.
"Heh heh, Western human rights advocates still believe that the death penalty is against humanity," Shen Lingchen replied.
"What does that mean? Is there a necessary connection?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"Different situations require different treatments. We can't ignore the danger of a man-eating crocodile just because of a few drops of its tears," Shen Lingchen replied.
Therefore, showing sympathy to such a person is not worth it. Lin Qizhao countered, "But he has also earned your sympathy."
"Yes, as a person, he deserves sympathy; as a suspect, the law shows no mercy," Shen Lingchen said.
"Your words always have a striking effect on me. You understand the law and emotions better than anyone," Lin Qizhao complimented, then curiously asked, "What about that couple? With such a knot between them, it seems impossible to untangle."
This was precisely what Shen Lingchen was worried about. He asked with more curiosity, "How deep is their relationship?"
"Well, I think you can use your imagination. The more they hate, the deeper their love must be. I believe Rong Ying is even angrier because Xiao Mu has been deceiving her all along," Lin Qizhao replied.
The hatred must be intense if she wished to take a knife to him. Shen Lingchen sighed for a while but found no solution. Dealing with suspects required cleverness, but handling women was clearly outside his expertise.
After quite some time, he asked, "Where did that kid go?"
"He was taken away by Aeming. He probably went after Trafficker King. A person like him can't suppress his curiosity. On the surface, Aeming seems like a big fool, but he’s quite clever and has been waiting for an opportunity to take him away," Lin Qizhao explained.
"That's fine; let him stay with Aeming. It's better than being with Big Gourd and his group," Shen Lingchen said helplessly.
Lin Qizhao then asked, "So what do we do about this situation?"
"You should explain the situation to Guo Wei and Yi Qing and let them interact. Young people tend to have common ground," Shen Lingchen suggested.
"Alright, I'm thinking along the same lines as my master," Lin Qizhao smiled. This kind of meddling was better handled by others. He teased, "It's all so tangled up—Xiao Guo likes Yi Qing, Yi Qing has some feelings for Xiao Mu, and now Xiao Mu has fallen for Rong Ying, while Rong Ying despises him deeply. It feels like a plot from a Korean drama—love in chaos."
"No, it's the lack of love that causes chaos. This complicated emotional entanglement is just concern. Not only normal people but even those with antisocial traits can't cut through it," Shen Lingchen laughed. Seeing Nie Qifeng like this made him feel inexplicably lighter after his initial sadness.
"Do you think that kid can catch Trafficker King? He's wanted across two provinces and has been on the run for years, committing crimes cleverly and disappearing right after. If it weren't for the counterfeit money case, I doubt Anhui Province would put in so much effort to pursue him," Lin Qizhao casually asked as they returned to discussing the case situation.
“Only the more difficult challenges can spark his curiosity, but as for where the peak lies, I truly cannot make a judgment,” Shen Lingchen said, naturally referring to Xiao Mu's pinnacle. This time, he had no way to assess it.
“It’s probably hard to track; these elusive criminals are even more cunning than fraud suspects... Oh, the phone,” Lin Qizhao remarked as his phone rang. At this moment, a ringing phone was likely not a good sign. He muttered to himself that something must be up.
After connecting to the car's hands-free system, he heard a report from the City Bureau dispatch requesting the Special Training Division to the scene. The case situation involved a car accident, and calculating the route, it wasn’t far. Lin Qizhao turned the car around and headed straight for the scene located seventeen kilometers away.
Ambulances and police cars that had rushed to the scene were already establishing a perimeter. Personnel from the City Bureau's major crimes unit were present. Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen hurried into the secured area where an officer on site reported that at 6:31 PM, which was an hour ago, there had been a rear-end collision involving a sedan that resulted in one driver dead and another passenger seriously injured. While traffic police were handling the accident scene, they discovered clues related to an ongoing investigation.
Next to the still-smoking wreckage of the car lay two boxes filled entirely with Renminbi, roughly estimated to have a value of four million.
As Lin Qizhao bent down to take a look, he noticed a familiar insignia on the banknotes: r7.
…………………………
…………………………
“What are the details?”
Zhou Qunyi got out of the car and hurried into the building, followed by several economic investigation officers. One of them reported, “A car accident occurred in Binhai City at 6:31 PM, two hours ago. The driver is deceased, and another person is seriously injured. Inside the vehicle, we found counterfeit money with a face value of four million marked with the r7 insignia, identical to what we are investigating. Section Chief Fan is currently conducting remote identification.”
As they discussed while walking, they hadn’t anticipated that information would emerge from thousands of miles away. When they returned to the task force, Fan Saili was collaborating with Binhai’s economic investigation team through microscopic magnification and mutual feature comparison. When two types of patterns magnified thirty times completely overlapped, Fan Saili smirked and said, “That’s right; they share the same source.”
“Good, good! That’s great! I was worried about not finding any leads. Who is in charge on their side?” Zhou Qunyi asked.
“They haven’t had time to organize yet; they should be working on it in economic investigations,” Fan Saili replied.
“Get in touch and see if we can collaborate on this case. Let’s sort through both sides’ findings; I’ll report back to the Provincial Department later,” Zhou Qunyi instructed as his subordinates each took on their tasks. Just as he was about to leave, he remembered something and asked Fan Saili, “Section Chief Fan, has there been any progress in tracking down Wang Shou?”
“No, the Police Force from Official Post is withdrawing; there’s nothing left to investigate there,” Fan Saili replied.
“I didn’t give any orders for that! Didn’t I tell them to search with all their might?” Zhou Qunyi fumed.
Fan Saili turned to look at him, shrugging helplessly, leaving the conversation hanging. Zhou Qunyi understood all too well; the coordination among various police departments was often lacking, primarily because those detectives frequently disregarded orders from outside. He muttered in frustration, "I get it, it's Aeming again?"
"Yes, they are doing everything they can to track down Wang Shou," Fan Saili replied.
"Pulling back resources to search for Wang Shou? Does he even understand who they are trying to catch? That’s a Trafficker King who has been on the run for years," Zhou Qunyi said, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Team Leader Zhou, I really can't command them across departments. Besides, they've hired an expert now; maybe they can actually uncover something. Since there hasn’t been any progress anyway, let them figure it out," Fan Saili said softly, defending Aeming.
"An expert?" Zhou Qunyi was puzzled and then recalled with a scoff, "Is that the one who figured out that there’s a Drug Addict Woman connected to Wang Shou in second- and third-tier cities?"
"That should be the one," Fan Saili replied weakly, feeling that it was all too absurd.
"Let them investigate then. We can't even get Xu Jian and Ren Guoliang to listen to us anymore, can we? Contact the Task Force and keep swapping personnel until we find someone who will follow orders."
Zhou Qunyi stormed off in anger, leaving Fan Saili stunned. It seemed this time he wouldn’t even give her a chance to explain…
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