Chapter 33

Ruan Mingxi leaned closer and saw that the photo Chu Liyang was pointing to was the one showing the four severed heads.

At first glance, the large objects in the photo immediately drew attention—especially with the stark contrast of black, white, and red.

But Chu Liyang was pointing to a small spot in the corner of the photo, behind the fourth head.

Because the freezer was covered in thick frost, it was something you would never notice unless you looked carefully.

“Good eyes, Captain Chu. Truly the eagle eye of the team.” Ruan Mingxi chuckled lightly, not stingy with his praise.

Chu Liyang grinned, “Of course. I’m excellent, after all.”

Ruan Mingxi retorted, “Shameless. A couple of compliments and you’re already flying high.”

Chu Liyang replied, “Praise from Captain Ruan must be taken seriously.”

Since the photo was printed, it couldn’t be magnified like a digital version. Although they could faintly make out that it was the freezer’s serial number, they couldn’t immediately identify the exact sequence of characters.

Ruan Mingxi immediately brought over the equipment to scan. Even after the photo was uploaded to the computer, it remained very blurry.

The photo was quickly sent to the technical team for clarity processing, while Ruan Mingxi and Chu Liyang continued examining the other images that had not yet been analyzed.

Household appliances, when purchased, are registered for joint warranty. Once they confirmed the serial number, they could trace the registration information and locate where the heads were hidden.

Just as they were pleased with their discovery, the conference room door was knocked on.

Both turned toward the sound as Jiang Xuzhou pushed the door open.

Jiang Xuzhou quickly walked in and handed over his phone.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?” Ruan Mingxi asked immediately after seeing him.

Before the words had even finished, he caught sight of the phone screen—and his expression darkened instantly.

Ruan Mingxi’s face sank at once. Chu Liyang sensed something was wrong and stepped forward to look.

“What happened?” Chu Liyang said, then cursed, “Damn.”

Dropping their joking demeanor, both men switched back into work mode in an instant. The seamless transition left Lin Cheng stunned.

He couldn’t help but sigh—these two were truly on the same wavelength.

At the same time, he wondered what could have happened to provoke such a strong reaction.

Chu Liyang couldn’t hold back a curse. At that moment, the social media account that had posted the crime scene photos was livestreaming.

In the video, Liang Sheng was tied to a chair, his wrists already cut open.

Blood seeped from the wounds, staining his palms and forming a small pool on the floor.

His eyes were blindfolded, and a cloth was stuffed into his mouth.

Beside him sat a small bucket. Next to it was an IV bottle, with the hanging tube dripping steadily into the bucket.

“His wrist wounds are serious. Our time is running out. If we can’t find him quickly, even if he doesn’t bleed to death, the sound of dripping water alone could scare him to death.” Jiang Xuzhou said.

When a person’s vision is blocked, their other senses become heightened.

The pain from Liang Sheng’s wrists being cut, combined with the sound of dripping water beside his ears, only intensified his fear.

At that moment, the sound of water was not just water to him, it was the sound of his life draining away, drop by drop.

“The cyber police are already assisting with the investigation. But there’s no way to locate the account. The number of viewers in the livestream keeps increasing. If we don’t find him soon, it will be very difficult to contain the aftermath.”

Ruan Mingxi’s breathing grew heavier. From the repeated posts on the social account and now this livestream, it was clear the kidnappers wanted to create a huge spectacle.

“What’s their purpose in doing this? To provoke the police?” Chu Liyang asked, unable to understand the meaning behind such actions.

“Judgment.” Jiang Xuzhou replied.

Ruan Mingxi narrowed his eyes, “Judgment?”

Jiang Xuzhou turned the phone volume to maximum. To amplify the sound of dripping water, the kidnappers had placed speakers around the room.

Underneath the cover of the water drops, faint music could be heard.

“Is that music?” Ruan Mingxi asked.

Hearing this, Chu Liyang listened carefully, “Yes… it sounds like music.”

Jiang Xuzhou immediately said, “I already recorded a segment and had the technical team run noise reduction and sound extraction. There is music.”

“The extracted track is Song of Repentance. The ropes binding Liang Sheng’s chest form a cross, symbolizing the judgment of the cross.”

Time was running out. Jiang Xuzhou described the situation as concisely as possible.

“The cross represents judgment. Song of Repentance is meant to be a hymn of repentance for past sins, but it has led to many listeners choosing to end their lives. Because of this, Song of Repentance became a banned piece.

The kidnappers’ 24-hour countdown is both a countdown on Liang Sheng’s life and a countdown for the police. They see themselves as righteous arbiters, judging Liang Sheng for causing multiple deaths. If the police cannot find him within 24 hours and bring him to justice through the law, they will enforce their own version of justice and sentence him for his crimes.”

Ruan Mingxi took a deep breath and immediately called the technical team. “Has the photo analysis been completed?”

“It’s still processing, needs two more minutes.”

Ruan Mingxi: “Hurry up.”

Liang Sheng had killed so many people. He deserved punishment—but he had to be brought back to face justice under the law, not to die in such a way.

The livestream had caused such a stir that Director Feng received word and immediately called Ruan Mingxi.

Feng Yuping: “Ruan Mingxi, at all costs, bring Liang Sheng back as quickly as possible.”

Ruan Mingxi: “Understood.”

“The provincial department is already aware of Liang Sheng’s case. For the next 24 hours, if you need anything, you can request assistance from the provincial technical team at any time. I’ll handle the paperwork.”

With Feng Yuping’s assurance, Ruan Mingxi felt more settled.

At the same time, Chu Liyang’s phone rang. The head of the narcotics division, hearing that he was assisting here, also gave him instructions—showing how seriously the province regarded this case.

Not long after the calls ended, the technical team sent the analyzed serial number to Ruan Mingxi.

Ruan Mingxi immediately contacted the freezer brand’s representative, provided the serial number, and waited for them to trace the buyer.

In the livestream, Liang Sheng had gone from frenzied screaming to silence.

Now he sat slumped, head drooping, motionless. If not for the trembling of his body from sheer terror, they might have thought he was already dead.

Time ticked away, second by second, while the number of viewers in the livestream kept rising.

But for now, they could only wait for information. The bureau had already dispatched personnel to the freezer manufacturer.

The freezer had been purchased years ago, and early records were kept on paper. Finding the information would not be easy.

Jiang Xuzhou’s hands were ice cold. He hadn’t expected things to spiral to this point.

In his mind, he kept replaying everything, wondering if they had overlooked any detail.

When the social account first posted the 48-hour countdown image, they had been puzzled about its purpose—but they hadn’t understood its meaning.

It was their failure to realize sooner that had left them in such a passive position now.

Three full hours had passed since the livestream began, and everyone’s nerves were on edge.

Lin Peixin sat in front of the computer, watching the livestream closely, monitoring Liang Sheng’s condition at every moment.

“Still no information on the freezer? Liang Sheng’s wrist wounds are deep. Judging by the amount of blood on the floor, if this continues he’ll go into hemorrhagic shock. Worst case, he could bleed to death. He won’t last 24 hours.”

Ruan Mingxi took a deep breath, just as he picked up his phone to call again for an update.

Before his hand even touched the phone, the ringtone went off, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

All eyes turned to Ruan Mingxi, the tension in the room unbearable.

“The freezer was purchased by Gao Hai’s mother. It was custom-made, large in size, and not easy to move. It’s highly likely the final hiding place is in one of her registered properties.”

The officer reporting sounded nervous, his pace quickening as he relayed the information.

“Immediately investigate all properties under her name and Gao Hai’s name, especially those within the suspect area.”

Ruan Mingxi switched to speakerphone. As soon as the information was heard, Lin Cheng began searching property records.

With the freezer information in hand, investigating property ownership became much faster.

Because the provincial department had granted them full investigative authority, government agencies prioritized their requests, speeding up the process considerably.

As they waited for the search results, everyone grew increasingly anxious. Police cars were already prepared at the entrance, ready to depart the moment an address was confirmed.

The sound of keyboards clattering in the police bureau mixed with heavy breathing, making the atmosphere unbearably tense.

Chu Liyang couldn’t sit still any longer. He walked over behind Lin Cheng to watch him search for information.

To avoid disturbing him, he tried to minimize his presence, even softening his breathing.

“Found it!”

“There are two suspicious locations: one is Unit 701, Building 3 of Orange Garden Community, and the other is Unit 803, Building 5 of Green River Community.”

Both Orange Garden and Green River properties were under Gao Hai’s mother’s name. Since she had emigrated, the apartments had been left vacant.

Based on the calculations Ruan Mingxi and Chu Liyang had made about the angle of sunlight during the late afternoon, both communities matched the conditions.

Moreover, the handover dates of the properties coincided with the year the freezer was custom-made, making these two communities highly likely hiding places.

“Split into two teams. Ying Shi, take your men to Green River Community. Ren Xian, lead the team to Orange Garden Community. Move out!”

The two team leaders ran quickly. As soon as the first two police cars left the bureau, their sirens blared.

Ruan Mingxi contacted the traffic police unit, ensuring green lights all the way to the scene.

Jiang Xuzhou drove, with Ruan Mingxi and Chu Liyang in the car, heading toward the site.

At both Green River and Orange Garden, Jiang Xuzhou chose to follow Ren Xian’s direction.

Whether by coincidence or deliberate sabotage, the elevators in both communities had broken down at the same time.

When the teams arrived at the buildings, they rushed straight into the emergency stairwells without hesitation.

Chu Liyang turned around, about to say something, when he saw Jiang Xuzhou bend down without hesitation and lift Ruan Mingxi onto his back.

“Hey! what the hell!”

Ruan Mingxi lost his balance, crashing onto Jiang Xuzhou’s back. His tall nose hit hard, making him suck in a sharp breath from the pain.

Jiang Xuzhou adjusted his posture so Ruan Mingxi could sit more securely on his back, then looked at Chu Liyang, “Don’t just stand there. Move.”

Chu Liyang: “???”

By the time Chu Liyang reacted, Jiang Xuzhou had already carried Ruan Mingxi up to the second floor.

Not only Chu Liyang—even Ruan Mingxi himself was stunned when Jiang Xuzhou picked him up.

In Ruan Mingxi’s eyes, Jiang Xuzhou had never seemed like someone who could take care of him. His body wasn’t weak, but he didn’t appear stronger than Ruan Mingxi.

Yet here he was—the person Ruan Mingxi thought he needed to protect—effortlessly carrying him when he needed help.

The surprise lasted only a moment. Ruan Mingxi quickly refocused; this was no time for such thoughts.

Seven floors was a tough climb. Most people would be gasping for breath after rushing up, but Jiang Xuzhou, even with someone on his back, showed only slight chest heaving and a pale face—no major reaction.

Chu Liyang quickly slipped on shoe covers, then helped Ruan Mingxi, still on Jiang Xuzhou’s back, put his own covers on.

Just as everything was ready and they were about to enter the apartment, a loud crash came from inside.

Thud—

It sounded like a heavy object hitting the floor.