Mystery Hunter - Chapter 24: Life Hanging in the Balance

Chapter 24: Life Hanging in the Balance

Except for his own brain, which he can still control, all of his body’s functions have become unmanageable as he stumbled. Although some precautions could be taken when he landed, the train behind him would not halt due to Jiang He’s minor movements.

Despite Jiang He’s self-predicted demise, there was little movement in his heart.

Jiang He has always had this attitude concerning his own life, neither actively seeking life nor purposefully seeking death.

Jiang He dismissed the concept of destiny in this world, believing that all outcomes were the result of his own free will.

As a result, there was no movement in his heart.

The scenario Jiang He had envisioned in his mind did not materialize in the subsequent moment, though. His body sank, and he collapsed next to the train track. And the other individual who collapsed next to the train track was Feng Bin. Before being cut open by the stone and lying panting on the side of the train track, the two were tumbling around on the side of the track for a few rounds.

When the train eventually passed, a ferocious wind swept both of their hair in the air.

Jiang He analyzed what transpired almost immediately. At this crucial moment, the murderer in front of him, Feng Bin, spun back and hurled himself to the ground, rolling down to the side of the train track with him. Jiang He’s body was riddled with bumps and bruises, and Feng Bin was no better than him.

He turned to face Feng Bin, who was grinning and rolling around on the ground with his teeth open.

His upper body and arms were covered in wounds, and nearly all of his clothing was torn.

Feng Bin wouldn’t have to suffer such wounds. He could have fled after witnessing Jiang He being ripped apart by the train.

On the contrary, Feng Bin chose to turn around and save Jiang He.

Jiang He was unaware of Feng Bin’s intentions. Based on his logic, he would have died.

His body was covered in blood, yet it did not seem to be his own wounds despite his body being in agonizing anguish. Jiang He did not react to this, nevertheless. Because, based on Jianghe’s estimations, Feng Bin’s injuries are not lethal.

Furthermore, this level of pain paled in comparison to the sensations of headache and cracking.

Therefore, he approached Feng Bin and told him, “You can’t run away now.”

Feng Bin looked at Jiang He, who was condescendingly looking down at him and feeling helpless in his heart. He cast Jiang He a long look before saying, “You are a lunatic, you are insane! Do you not fear death!?”

“Yes, I am not afraid of death,” Jiang He said solemnly. “But given what is known, it appears that you have a profound fear of dying—otherwise, you wouldn’t run away after murdering someone. You won’t be able to run away, unfortunately, if you decide to save me. After that, you’re likely to face the death penalty. Why did you do this?”

“Of course I’m terrified. Who in this world is not afraid of death?” said Feng Bin in a low voice.

Notwithstanding, he did not dispel Jiang He’s doubts.

Feng Bin shifted his gaze to the sun sinking behind Jiang He. Halfway down the horizon, the sun has already lowered itself. Only a red semicircle cast a red light on the ground as if he had suddenly developed myopia. The sun made everything hazy, including Jiang He’s appearance.

Feng Bin gradually went silent as he wondered if he would ever again be able to witness such a beautiful sun.

“It’s going to be dark.” Wang Chao shifted his gaze from the setting sun in the distance to the present, and asked the criminal police on the side, “That car has been thoroughly checked?”

“It’s clear, it’s a special car driver,” the criminal policeman said, nodding.

Feng Bin pressed his ID card, wallet, and watch on the driver and promised to pay 500 RMB after the items were delivered.

The driver agreed at the time; after all, Feng Bin’s watch was not cheap; at least 10,000 RMB would suffice.

After hearing what was said, Wang Chao tapped the table dejectedly and couldn’t help but curse internally.

This Feng Bin appeared to be very smart, and he purposefully found a car to draw the attention of the police.

When the police eventually forced the car to stop in a safe location, they discovered that Feng Bin had long since vanished.

Wang Chao would still be dealing with that car if it hadn’t been for Jiang He’s text message.

The brigade’s men had already arrived at Sifeng Bridge, but the news from the front was not good. They had no idea where Feng Bin had gone after such a long time.

“Hello!”

“How is the situation?” said Wang Chao as he picked up the phone.

“Now we have arrived at Sifeng Bridge,” the microphone said, “but after searching the area, Feng Bin’s whereabouts were not discovered. Now we’re looking for surveillance from the store outside to see if anyone has located Feng Bin.”

“Good!”

“Try to be as fast as possible, it will be more difficult to see where he is going after dark,” Wang Chao sighed.

After hanging up, Wang Chao attempted to call Jiang He’s number, but the phone’s tone indicated that his phone had been switched off.

“Where the hell did Feng Bin and Jiang He go?” wondered Wang Chao.

Jiang He and Feng Bin exchanged glances at this point. As a fugitive, Feng Bin did not have a mobile phone on him, and Jiang He’s phone was broken when he fell off the train track. More importantly, neither of them had a single penny on them. Jiang He had no money at all while Feng Bin’s million dollars had been dispersed over the sky.

Any passing taxi driver would be reluctant to stop when they saw the two of them due to their scarred appearance.

It was not Jiang He’s fault. He never had any money to begin with. Jiang He had also summarized his experience. Those who asked for a few yuan to go home were all women, and the likelihood of two injured big men getting money was close to zero.

Hence, as the two headed toward the police station, they kept asking passersby to lend them their phones.

They were all avoided one by one as soon as anyone nearby noticed the two ragged and wounded people. Why would anyone hand over their phone to two men who looked like criminals?

At eight in the evening, the two finally made it to the nearby police station.

As soon as the two of them approached the police station’s front door, yellings were heard from inside.

…

When they walked in and took a look around, they noticed that a civil case was being handled in this police station. Inside, seven to eight aunts were squabbling over some household matters. Everyone in the police station was busy and was trying to calm them down but it was to no avail, and ofcourse, no one was concerned about the two people next to them.

For a while, the police station was transformed into a pot of porridge.

Jiang He came to a halt in front of an aunt and said, “Excuse me, I’ve caught a murderer.”

“You just captured a tiger and have a penny to do with me, get away, now I don’t have time to speak to you here” Auntie glared at Jiang He.

Jiang He grabbed the arm of a female police officer and said, “Excuse me, but there is a murderer here.”

“Wait by the side, don’t you see that there’s a fight now?” said the female police officer, slapping away Jiang He’s hand.

“I apprehended a murderer.” Jiang He stated once more.

“…Wait for a moment” A female police officer pulled away Jiang He and joined the current battle, making it very lively in an instant.

Jiang He helplessly shook his head, then turned to an older police officer next to him and said, “…I caught a murderer.”

At this point, the elderly police officer stopped a crowd with one hand and remarked, “This is the police station. We must all discuss evidence. Don’t bring up who is bad to whom. All of these are one-sided phrases. Is there anything that we cannot discuss? What is your name? Have you noticed how busy we are right now? Can’t you wait a little longer if you have something important?”

Jiang He nodded and added, “I apprehended a murderer and now intend to visit the main branch.”

“Can’t you see the current situation, young man? A fight is happening. You’re still discussing that kind of thing here. Isn’t it just that you apprehended the murderer? Why can’t you wait?”

Jiang He exhaled a sigh.

The elderly cop nodded in approval. After noticing a problem though, he turned around and grabbed Jiang He before inquiring, “What? What precisely did you say you caught?”

Jiang He said to the elderly cop, who was standing nearby, “He’s the one. I apprehended a murderer.”

Feng Bin was therefore arrested in this way.

Feng Bin, the murderer, was following a group of police officers to persuade them when Wang Chao rushed to the police station.

Feng Bin’s heart came to a halt. Feng Bin suddenly understood what life meant to a person from the moment he saw Jiang He desperately trying to arrest him to the moment the train roared past Jiang He. What does life mean to you? He was almost utterly ripped apart by the train, much like Jiang He.

The unknown was the source of all people’s fears. Feng Bin no longer feared death after learning about it.

Feng Bin was handcuffed and taken to an interrogation room.

He confessed to his crimes in the interrogation room.

Feng Bin ran into his high school classmate He Huijuan at the reunion two months ago.

Unlike her own wife, He Huijuan was youthful, attractive, kind, and generous.

When Feng Bin peered into He Huijuan’s eyes, they both recognized the same sentiment: Loneliness.

Alcohol is added as a combustion aid when dry wood catches fire. That night, they seemed to have returned to their idyllic high school days. He Huijuan was a class flower in high school, and Feng Bin was just a grass root at the time. How many times had he convinced himself that he could finally fulfill his long-held desire of sleeping with his class flower?

Since then, the two have met frequently, but soon after He Huijuan brought up a subject that crossed Feng Bin’s bottom line. After concluding his final love, Feng Bin grabbed a knife and stabbed He Huijuan.

It was the first and final time.

Translated By: Ca5

Edited By: MadHatter

TN: We shall be taking a pause for some time (exams and stuff), all I can suggest is to read Case Files 013, since future chapters of Mystery Hunter will spoil it’s ending.