Chapter Twenty-Two: The Third Murderer

Liu Haoyu sat up in bed.

He hadn't yet recovered from the strange dream.

With a dazed look, he glanced at the half-burnt firewood by his bedside, then stood up and went outside to fetch a basin of water.

The cold water splashed onto Liu Haoyu's face, gradually clearing his mind.

Everything in the dream had felt far too real.

That rusty iron gate alone made his heart pound just thinking about it now.

Liu Haoyu carefully replayed the dream he had just had.

After thinking it over again and again, he couldn't help but wonder.

Could that rusty iron gate be the entrance to the basement?

Realizing this possibility, Liu Haoyu returned inside.

He tried to find a similar door in this haunted house.

But after searching for a full hour, he still found nothing.

Seeing that the sun had reached its zenith, Liu Haoyu finally gave up on his search.

Perhaps the iron gate could only be seen during a specific supernatural hour.

It might not even be inside this house.

But regardless, it was still a useful clue.

Speaking of which, that red-clothed Fierce Ghost must have entered the room.

The nightmare he had must definitely be related to this Fierce Ghost.

Her letting him live must have had some other intention.

Coupled with how incredibly real the dream was, it was highly likely that this Fierce Ghost wanted him to investigate the situation in the basement.

But the problem was...

"You could at least tell me where the basement is."

Liu Haoyu sighed helplessly. Today, he still had to go to the city center police station to give a statement to the police.

Also, he had to deliver that last strand of black hair to the third prisoner.

After roughly packing the items he might need, Liu Haoyu went downstairs.

However, the moment he stepped out the door, he immediately turned back.

Even if the Red Jade might not be necessary, it was safer to bring it along.

Liu Haoyu put the three pieces of Red Jade into his backpack, one by one.

It was only when he was putting in the last one that he remembered this piece of Red Jade was broken.

Even though there was nothing inside, the Red Jade had inexplicably lost its function.

Liu Haoyu held it in his hand, examining it repeatedly.

Compared to the other two, this piece of Red Jade was much duller in color, as if a bit of ink had been spilled inside, and it was heavier.

But Liu Haoyu clearly remembered that when he first got them, all three pieces of Red Jade were identical.

Since he couldn't figure it out, he might as well ask Elder Deng about it.

Liu Haoyu finally put the piece of Red Jade into his backpack, then went downstairs. He twisted the throttle of his motorcycle, and with the roar of the engine, Liu Haoyu left the haunted house.

By the time Liu Haoyu arrived at the city center police station, it was only 1 PM.

The police station hadn't even opened yet. He called Officer Li Rongjun, who asked Liu Haoyu to wait a moment, saying he would be there soon.

Liu Haoyu didn't just sit around. He ordered a bowl of noodles at a noodle shop near the police station and ate while he waited.

"Did you hear?"

A young man sitting next to Liu Haoyu spoke to his companion.

"That relatively well-known internet celebrity who went missing a few months ago, Liu Xiaoxiao? Her body was found last night."

So the white-clothed female ghost's real name was Liu Xiaoxiao?

But it couldn't be denied that when facing such a major case, the police were efficient.

While Liu Haoyu was thinking, the two men continued their conversation.

"It was truly brutal. I heard that the young internet celebrity was dismembered into countless pieces with a cleaver and a saw and dumped into the reservoir. They haven't even recovered all the remains yet!"

"That's terrifying?"

The person next to him gasped.

"Fortunately, the killer has been caught. But you know, after they were apprehended by the police, they acted as if they were possessed, babbling out their crimes and how they committed them."

The "possessed" state the two men spoke of was naturally the result of the strand of black hair Liu Haoyu had left on them.

"You don't know this, but after the murderer confessed, when the police went to the detention center the next day, they saw..."

"Saw what?"

His companion leaned in, a bit curious.

The man spoke mysteriously.

"The murderer was found hanged in the detention center. He was soaking wet, covered in water weeds, as if he'd been drowned. But the thing is, there's no river or lake anywhere near the detention center. It's incredibly strange."

After saying this, the two couldn't help but shiver.

After ten seconds of silence, one of them spoke again.

"Hahaha, how could that happen? It's probably just some spooky story someone made up because they had nothing better to do."

"Exactly, exactly," his companion nodded repeatedly. "There are surveillance cameras in the detention center. How could someone die in there for no reason? Hahaha..."

For others, these were just after-dinner chats, idle gossip for amusement.

But Liu Haoyu knew very well that this might be a true occurrence.

The tragically deceased White-clothed Fierce Ghost would certainly not let these two go.

However, there was still one person whose whereabouts Liu Haoyu didn't know for sure.

Just then, Liu Haoyu's phone rang.

It was Officer Li Rongjun.

"Little brother, I've arrived. You can come over."

Even through the phone, Liu Haoyu could hear the slight weariness in his voice.

"I'll be there right away."

He quickly finished the noodles in his bowl and walked into the Public Security Bureau.

Following Officer Li Rongjun's directions, Liu Haoyu soon found the location of the interrogation room.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Please come in."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Liu Haoyu pushed the door open and entered.

"Sit down."

Li Rongjun took a sip of Blue Bull, rubbed his temples, and said.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, little brother. I won't beat around the bush. You remember what happened last night, right?"

"Of course, I remember. What's wrong, officer?"

Liu Haoyu looked at Li Rongjun.

The latter sighed and said.

"The murderers have been found, but... they died in the detention center."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haoyu's body involuntarily leaned back slightly.

"Something like that happened?"

"I shouldn't really be telling you this, but it's just too bizarre. So, I wanted to ask if you have any leads on your end.

Did you know about Liu Xiaoxiao's disappearance case a few months ago? The head you fished up was Liu Xiaoxiao's head.

According to the confession, there were three perpetrators. Two of them surrendered, and they ended up dead in the detention center..."

The death of someone in a detention center is a very serious matter, which is why Li Rongjun made an exception to tell Liu Haoyu about it.

"As for the last murderer, he died a week ago. His entire family of three died at home. The chests of the three victims were cut open, and their hearts and lungs were all dug out. And... the perpetrator still hasn't been found."