Chapter 38 – Please Examine the Corpses

Chapter 38 - Please Examine the Corpses

Jiang Yunxin entered the morgue and found two bodies lying side by side, both covered with white sheets. Approaching them, she lifted one sheet to reveal an underling of Ma Xiuneng's.

However, she couldn't identify the person.

"It's Li Lu," Long Qiao said. "The other one is Niu Xiu."

As Long Qiao had mentioned earlier, both Li Lu and Niu Xiu were stabbed to death. Everyone thought that their deaths were already gruesome enough.

But when Jiang Yunxin saw the corpses, she realized that Long Qiao's description was quite restrained.

Though they died from being stabbed, their demise was no less painful than Ma Xiuneng's.

Ma Xiuneng had suffered greatly, watching his blood drain from countless cuts while still conscious – it was practically a form of slow torture.

Li Lu's fate was slightly simpler. He had been stabbed in the chest and abdomen. The front of his upper garment was torn, and with Long Qiao's assistance, Jiang Yunxin ripped it open further, exposing the bloody wound.

The wounds were no longer fresh.

With the cool weather, the corpse hadn't decayed rapidly nor had it begun to bloat. However, the soft tissues in the mouth, nose, abdomen, and chest had already lost their natural color.

"About two days," Jiang Yunxin said. "It should be around the same time as Ma Xiuneng's death last night. But considering the murderer spent about two hours at Ma Xiuneng's residence, they likely died after him."

Long Qiao muttered, "So the killer murdered Ma Xiuneng first, then came back to kill these two?"

Where were these two when the murderer was at Ma Xiuneng's house?

They must have been restrained somehow, or else how could it be such a coincidence? After killing Ma Xiuneng, the murderer just happened to encounter his two followers and killed them?

The murderer wasn't some martial arts master; she was a woman. Even if she used some kind of mind-altering drug, it wouldn't have been easy to subdue two grown men simultaneously.

Though Niu Xiu and Li Lu appeared frail, their physical conditions were better than Ma Xiuneng's. They hadn't been drained by indulgence in wine, women, and wealth but had often followed Ma Xiuneng in his reckless pursuits, engaging in fights every year.

Jiang Yunxin took hold of Li Lu's wrist.

Deep marks from strangulation were visible on both wrists.

Jiang Yunxin examined Li Lu's mouth, noticing signs of forced opening.

Jiang Yunxin proposed, "The murderer first subdued both victims and tied them up somewhere. After killing Ma Xiuneng, they returned to eliminate the other two."

Long Qiao commented, "That does seem peculiar. Wouldn't it be troublesome to make such trips back and forth?"

Considering this, Jiang Yunxin suggested, "There's a possibility that the murderer initially had no intention of killing them. But after killing Ma Xiuneng, their mindset changed, prompting them to return and finish off the others."

That was the only plausible explanation.

As for the reason behind the change of heart, perhaps the murderer learned something from Ma Xiuneng that made them believe these two also deserved death. Alternatively, the thrill of killing might have heightened their desire, making them think that one victim was as good as three – there was no difference, so they decided to kill them all.

"I lean towards the former," Jiang Yunxin observed the mangled flesh on Li Lu's chest. "If it was a matter of silencing witnesses, the simplest method would've been preferred. There wouldn't be a need for so many stab wounds."

The blood had dried, but Jiang Yunxin rinsed the area lightly to examine the injuries on Li Lu's chest more closely.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This looks like at least seven or eight stabs," Jiang Yunxin noted. "The murderer is ruthless, no, more than that – they're a wolf in human form!"

Long Ge was puzzled. "What does that mean?"

"It means they were exceptionally ruthless," Jiang Yunxin explained. "Look at the wounds. Although there are seven knife injuries, three of them are distinct."

Each of these distinct wounds targeted vital areas – one in the chest and two in the abdomen.

Of course, the other four wounds were in the same general area, but they were different.

The four ordinary wounds were just that – ordinary. In contrast, the other three were somewhat gruesome, with flesh and blood mangled.

Could it be that the murderer used different tools?

As they were observing, someone approached from outside.

It was Fang Mingyan, accompanied by six gentlemen from Misty Rain Tower – those very same six gossipy men. They made their way over.

Jiang Yunxin pricked up her ears, catching Fang Mingyan's words: "Half an hour ago, two bodies were found in an alley. Ma Xiuneng has yet to locate two of his subordinates. You're all acquainted with him, so you must know who his associates are, right?"

The group responded in unison, "We know them, we know them."

"Very well, then I'll need your assistance with the identification."

Fang Mingyan called out, "Coroner Jiang."

The group was now on edge, failing to notice anything amiss.

Jiang Yunxin acknowledged and left the room.

Fang Mingyan continued, "Take these gentlemen to identify the bodies and see if they match Ma Xiuneng's servants."

Jiang Yunxin replied affirmatively, suddenly grasping the situation.

There was no need to confirm the identities of the two individuals; the Ma family's butler had already done so, leaving no room for error. Would the butler not recognize Ma Xiuneng's personal attendant?

Yet Fang Mingyan requested a second identification.

"Follow me, gentlemen," Jiang Yunxin said, leading them inside.

To their surprise, the Coroner from the Criminal Justice Bureau turned out to be a woman.

The six felt a twinge of unease, but before they could ponder further, they followed Jiang Yunxin into the morgue.

They couldn't help but cover their noses.

There was an odd smell in the morgue.

In reality, this morgue was very clean and well-ventilated; the two bodies hadn't started to decay, so the odor wasn't strong.

But morgues always had a certain scent – a combination of the place itself and the fear that lurked within people's hearts.

Following Jiang Yunxin, the six approached Li Lu's corpse.

Li Lu's body didn't look pleasant.

Bracing themselves, they took a glance; those with weaker constitutions immediately felt their stomachs churn.

Jiang Yunxin said expressionlessly, "Gentlemen, please confirm if this is the servant who was with Ma Xiuneng?"

They nodded repeatedly.

"Indeed, indeed, indeed."

They only wished to leave promptly.

But now that Jiang Yunxin was in her element, how could she let them leave so easily?

Jiang Yunxin said, "Take another careful look. Don't mistake him. He was hacked to death by multiple blades. Look at his chest and abdomen—there are seven wounds, with three of them right here..."

Jiang Yunxin gestured. "He was stabbed by a dagger, which wasn't immediately pulled out. Instead, it was twisted inside, tsk tsk tsk, such brutality. His intestines, stomach, liver, and lungs were all shredded..."

On its own, these words might not have been too impactful.

But coupled with the bloody, mangled corpse in the morgue, they created a chilling atmosphere.

Of the six, one had already turned to leave but found the door locked and couldn't open it in desperation.

Long Qiao stood by, his eyes lowered and face expressionless.

It seemed that the official was also displeased. How dare they slander the personnel of the Criminal Affairs Bureau with baseless accusations?