Nightmare Apostle

"Who is that person and what crime did he commit?" Yang Xiao felt an increasingly clear sense that he was getting closer to the truth.

"He’s not an outsider, but also a worker at the factory. He..."

Chief Zhou hesitated for a moment, seemingly finding it difficult to express, but finally muttered, "It’s... it’s Hua Zui. This man took advantage of the nightfall, hiding in an isolated path to assault female workers leaving their night shift alone."

"Then he truly deserves to die, what a beast! What happened in the end, how many female workers were victimized?" Yang Xiao appeared indignant as he continued to probe for information.

This was a breakthrough. If the bodies of the victimized female workers showed similar clues—like having their facial skin cut off or severe facial damage— then it could be inferred that the killer was the ’criminal’ who died in the bungalow.

Of course, Yang Xiao was still uncertain if this so-called ’criminal’ was real or not; perhaps it was a complete wrongful accusation.

Someone might have framed him, then set a fire to murder and silence him, while the true culprit remained at large.

Chief Zhou shook his head with a wry smile, hearing this: "It’s not what you think, no one was killed. What I mean is no one died— this person committed two crimes in total, but didn’t succeed. However, two female workers he assaulted were injured, with one suffering more severe injuries."

"Could she also be injured on the face?" Yang Xiao queried tentatively.

"No, it’s more severe, it’s the back of the head— her skull was smashed with a blunt object, almost didn’t make it." At this point, Chief Zhou sighed.

This scene indeed surprised Yang Xiao. No one was killed, and the assaulted female workers weren’t had their faces wounded. Everything contradicted Yang Xiao’s guesses.

"So this guy not only failed to succeed in his crime but also didn’t kill anyone before getting caught?" Yang Xiao couldn’t help but ask.

"Yes, but fortunately he was caught early enough, or else who knows who might have been victimized next."

Chief Zhou continued, "During that time, the factory was indeed in a state of panic. Female workers didn’t dare walk alone after their night shifts, and many resisted working night shifts until the murderer was apprehended, after which everyone returned to normal production and life."

"It’s likely that person also knew, getting caught for such things meant no good; being tied up for a site identification and paraded around the factory was inevitable. A lifetime of reputation ruined; never able to lift one’s head again."

"People need dignity just like trees need bark, in the end, recklessly, he met his death cleanly. Thus it... it ended like that." Chief Zhou sighed with a regretful tone.

Suddenly, Chief Zhou looked up at Yang Xiao, somewhat peculiar between the brows: "Why, you seem quite interested in this case?"

"Could it have something to do with the recent spy case?" Chief Zhou asked further.

Yang Xiao sighed, his face anxious and helpless: "It’s because of that mysterious figure last night. You say that figure distinctly appeared near the abandoned bungalow, and in that bungalow, someone died. You say... this..."

"Don’t lose focus, concentrate your efforts on useful areas."

"However, the mysterious figure you mentioned needs to be taken seriously. Tonight I will lead the team personally to stake out in that area. If that person dares to appear again, we will be able to clarify things." Chief Zhou had already made up his mind.

"Report to Chief Zhou, I would also like to participate in tonight’s stakeout task." Yang Xiao stood up straight, showing great enthusiasm.

"Alright, I approve." Chief Zhou had always had a favorable impression of Yang Xiao, always feeling that he possessed a cleverness that most others lacked.

Seeing Chief Zhou already alerted, Yang Xiao knew it was inconvenient to ask further, so he left with Hu Weimin.

Nevertheless, his purpose for coming this time was largely achieved, as he had discovered that an incident indeed occurred at that bungalow.

"Captain Ma, what should we do next?" Hu Weimin also noticed Chief Zhou had become suspicious.

"Don’t worry, we now have a direction for investigation, be patient." Yang Xiao was fairly satisfied with Hu Weimin’s performance this time.

Hu Weimin followed up: "You mean the mysterious person who offered incense last night?"

"Think about it, who died in that house— it was an attempted rapist, a criminal despised by everyone. Who would go late at night to pay respect to such a person?" Yang Xiao asked.

"Maybe it was a friend during his lifetime, or... possibly a relative," Hu Weimin pondered after thinking.

Yang Xiao didn’t directly refute him, but offered another perspective: "Relatives are impossible. This era is different from ours; people of this time value face above all, even if that guy originally had relatives in the factory, after the incident, his relatives would no longer have the face to stay in the factory."

"As for friends, it’s even more impossible. Who the hell would come at this juncture to commemorate a rapist, especially in such a sneaky late-night manner."

"That’s just seeking trouble. If caught by factory security or reported by someone, would he still want to stay in the factory?"

Seeing Hu Weimin not catching on, Yang Xiao sighed with some helplessness: "Why do you still not understand? The person who secretly offered incense at this time is likely guilty or harboring remorse."

"He knows that ’criminal’ didn’t die normally, died wrongfully. This isn’t suicide; there’s something going on here!"

Hu Weimin paused, then immediately reacted, gasping with surprise: "You mean this is a wrongful conviction case, that person wasn’t the criminal, and those two female workers weren’t attacked by him? The so-called self-immolation confession was someone wanting to murder him to silence him?"

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