Chapter 112 Haunted house (ETL) Part 1
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Chapter 112: Everyone is a Murderer
Gu Ye and Xie Cheng followed both policemen upstairs to the house where the fire had broken out. The area had been cordoned off, and some policemen were checking the scene. Upon entering, they discovered that the scene wasn’t the devastating mess they’d imagined. Only the balcony had been burned, but the fire had been extinguished. There were still water marks on the ground, and the body was gone.
Standing on the balcony, Gu Ye said, “It seems like the ghost deliberately let people know the house was on fire.”
Xiao Zhang wondered, “It’s so strange that they could kill a person without burning anything around them. Everything in the house is in working order.”
Gu Ye tsk-ed and shook his head. Inside, he wanted to say that this wasn’t human work.
Xie Cheng walked around the house and walked to the balcony. “Where’s the body?”
“The body has been taken back for an autopsy.”
Seeing the other officers busy with their own tasks, Xiao Wang whispered to Gu Ye and Xie Cheng, “Previous autopsies showed the victim was burned alive or died from smoke inhalation. How could such a small fire have killed or choked someone? You two came here because you also think this case is unusual?”
Gu Ye smiled. “We’re still investigating. We’re not sure yet. At the moment, we suspected that ghosts are involved.”
By this time, the others had almost finished their examinations, so Xiao Wang went to inquire. “It was indeed a 50-year-old woman who died in a rather gruesome manner. She wrapped herself in garbage bags, poured half a bucket of cooking oil over her head, and then set herself on fire. The strangest thing is, despite such a painful death, she didn’t struggle at all after being set on fire. She lay motionless on the ground.”
Hearing that, Xie Cheng’s scalp tingled. “Was she still alive when she was burned?”
“The autopsy report hasn’t come out yet, so I don’t know the details. However, based on the previous autopsy reports, she should have been alive.”
The question made Gu Ye look at Xie Cheng speechlessly. “The ghost was clearly seeking revenge. How could they burn her after she died? They must have burned her alive.”
Xie Cheng rubbed his arms. This way of dying was chilling.
After the other policemen left, Xiao Wang suggested, “Do you want to use special methods to investigate?”
Gu Ye shook his head. “It’s useless. The soul has been eaten.”
“Who ate it?”
Gu Ye smiled. “It’s hard to say for now. You guys investigate yours, and we’ll investigate ours. Later, we’ll compare the clues. We might find something unexpected. I can’t say for sure.”
“Alright, that’s very thoughtful.”
Xie Cheng asked, “Do you have any suspects?”
Xiao Zhang said, “We initially identified the male of the first fire as a suspect, but we just got word that he’s been in the hospital and wouldn’t have had time to commit the crime.”
Hearing that, Xie Cheng asked in surprise. “We heard he’s missing.”
Xiao Wang said helplessly, “Who told you that? He’s not missing. He’s in the hospital. He was so traumatized that a relative took him away for treatment, and he hasn’t returned since. To this day, the bodies of the mother and her two children are still at the police station, unclaimed.”
Xie Cheng nodded. “We also think the first case is different from the others.”
Xie Cheng and Gu Ye and Xie Cheng exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts. If that man didn’t have the time to commit the crime, then the possibility of a human cooperating with a ghost was ruled out. The ghost was most likely the first woman to be burned to death. However, since she couldn’t be found, there was no way to confirm.
As they were talking, Xiao Wang’s phone rang. After answering, his expression suddenly changed. “What? Another self-immolation!”
This statement drew everyone’s attention to the situation. “Okay, I understand. We’ll go right over there to maintain order and secure the scene.” Xiao Wang hung up the phone, his expression grim. “Let’s go to the basement parking.”
Xiao Wang ran ahead, followed by everyone behind. After entering the elevator, Xiao Wang said grimly, “In the underground parking of the residential complex across the street, someone has set themselves on fire in a car.”
“Underground?”
“Yes, this complex is connected to the building across the street via underground parking. There’s not only the parking lot, but also a haunted house. The crime scene is right next to that haunted house.”
Gu Ye and Xie Cheng exchanged glances, both grim. The divination indicated at least 2 more deaths—this was the first, and there was still one to go.
By the time a few people arrived at the scene, the situation was already out of control. There were too many onlookers. It was supposed to be time for elderly people to square dance at the plaza. But upon hearing that a car was on fire downstairs, everyone rushed to watch the excitement. The fire has now been put out, and the body is inside the car.
The management staff of the residential property also arrived at the scene and were maintaining order. Xiao Wang went up to inquire about the situation and learned that a security guard had discovered the car on fire while on patrol. After using a fire extinguisher in the hallway to put it out, they discovered someone inside and quickly called the police. As for how the onlookers knew about this, they had no idea.
A review of the surveillance footage revealed no other person at the scene. Xiao Zhang and Xiao Wang were both scratching their heads, wondering if this was another suicide.
Gu Ye and Xie Cheng searched the area but couldn’t find the newly deceased’s spirit. Just like before, the soul had been devoured. Then, they sensed that ghostly aura again. Xie Cheng exclaimed in surprise, “It seems a little stronger than before. Could it be with all the killing and the soul-devouring, that protective spiritual item can no longer suppress the ghost’s aura?”
Gu Ye released Gou Ya and told it to search the area. If the other party still wanted to kill, they would have to come back.
Looking at the crime scene again, Gu Ye felt a headache. There are too many people!
Xiao Zhang shouted sternly, “Don’t go in! Don’t disturb the scene.”
Some people ignored Xiao Zhang’s attempt to stop them. They curiously leaned forward to take a look, then screamed in fear. Gu Ye frowned. Why do these people still want to look at the body despite feeling scared? What was so interesting about all this excitement? Aren’t they afraid of getting nightmares after this?
Among the crowd, Gu Ye unexpectedly spotted someone familiar. It was the aunty who had told them about the gossip at the gate. Gu Ye walked over and asked helplessly, “Auntie, why are you joining in the excitement in the neighborhood next door?”
“Hey! I’m free anyway, so I just took a look.” The aunty didn’t take it seriously and whispered to Gu Ye, “It’s horrible! I just took a look, and the person inside was so burned you couldn’t even see the face. Young man, why are you here too? Are you police officers?”
Gu Ye smiled, “Underground police officers.”
The aunty couldn’t react to the answer in time and asked curiously, “What police officers?”
Xie Cheng glared at Gu Ye, motioning him to stop talking nonsense with the aunty. She might spread the word that they were part of an underground organization.
Because there were too many onlookers, Xie Cheng threatened out loud, “Everyone, get out of here! The car just turned off; it might explode soon.”
Most of the people around were elderly men and women. Upon hearing this, some who were fearful of death took a few steps back. But some just laughed, “Young man, don’t scare me! The fire’s out, how could the car possibly explode?”
Gu Ye narrowed his eyes and said seriously, “It could really explode. The engine’s still smoking. If it did explode, everyone here would die.”
This frightened the elderly crowd, and many of them left the scene, leaving the area feeling empty. However, the crime scene had been destroyed. If the ground were dirt, even if the murderer left a large footprint, it wouldn’t be detectable.
At this moment, Xiao Zhang had gotten a copy of the surveillance video. Xiao Wang called Gu Ye and Xie Cheng, and the four of them gathered to watch.
In the footage, the car drove smoothly into the parking space as usual. Next, the car stopped, and the driver opened the door to get out. But the next second, as if possessed by some force, he pulled his leg back into the car and closed the door behind him.
Because of the camera’s position, which the car was directly under it, the perspective allowed them to see a clear view of what was happening inside. Thus, what happened next felt even eerier.
The man struggled in the car for a moment, then used a lighter to ignite his clothes. He then began to struggle painfully inside, and the car quickly caught fire as he did so.
“This… is suicide again? What’s the reason?”
Gu Ye looked at the two police officers’ bewildered expressions and wanted to say, “Brothers, don’t bother trying. There’s no scientific basis for this; it’s just not done by humans.”
Many of the onlookers had already left. Gu Ye glanced around and noticed that the aunty hadn’t left yet. She was chatting with someone, her face full of excitement, as if there was nothing in the world she didn’t know.
Gu Ye frowned while looking at her face. She had been fine just a moment ago, but now he saw a hint of death in her face. Gu Ye was about to go over and see what was happening when he heard a woman’s voice coldly ask, “What are you all doing here? Do you know this is the crime scene? If you hinder the investigation, you will be arrested. Disperse immediately.”
Upon hearing this, the onlookers ran away. Before Gu Ye could call out to the aunty, she ran even faster than him with remarkable agility.
Mu Jingfei approached with a stern expression, but her expression softened upon seeing Gu Ye. “Why did you come here?”
Gu Ye said helplessly, “Actually, I didn’t want to come.”
Patting Gu Ye on the shoulder, Mu Jingfei said, “I was in a meeting when you called me, and I didn’t have time to call you back before I rushed here. Is this what you’re trying to call me about?”
Gu Ye nodded. “Pretty much.”
Mu Jingfei looked at the car. “This is the first crime scene?”
Xiao Wang quickly replied, “Yes.”
Mu Jingfei walked over to the car and glanced at the charred body. “Whoa, isn’t that horrific? What’s wrong with people lately? One couldn’t think it out and then, more followed suit.” She took the video Xiao Zhang handed her. “The incident happened right under the surveillance camera. On the surface, it looks like another suicide.”
Gu Ye reminded Mu Jingfei, “Sister, it’s not suicide, it’s homicide.”
“I know. It’s another serial killer case.”
“I made a reading. This incident is a destined fatal occurrence. The hexagram indicates that one more person will die.”
Mu Jingfei’s eyes widened. “One more death? Little brother, are you Conan? People are dying wherever you go.”
Gu Ye’s mouth twitched. “It must be… Xie Cheng who is poisonous!”
…
Raw word count: 6308 (whole chapter)
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