The Fragility of Humanity

"You damn fatty! Is this your brilliant plan?"

Lan Mu was almost speechless. Early this morning, he rushed to a camera equipment store and bought a spy camera, the size of a ping pong ball, easy to hold or hide in a pocket, and very inconspicuous.

Ma Xiang had asked him to bring this yesterday, telling him to pretend to be a bystander watching the commotion and secretly film from the side.

This was because the place they were going to today was where the deceased had gone missing, and it was highly likely the killer had kidnapped the victim there.

Such a scene was actually useless to the police. After so much time had passed, any clues would have long since disappeared.

This was why such matters were handed over to the police station for assistance in the investigation, and there was no need to seal off the scene.

After learning this, Ma Xiang thought that since the scene wasn't sealed off, as long as no one saw Lan Mu filming, Lan Mu could completely pretend to be a passerby and film secretly.

Even if he couldn't capture any major news, once the case was exposed in the future, the footage of the police investigating the victim's disappearance today, paired with subtitles, could be used as a gimmick like "Police Investigating Case" or "The Fourth Victim's Disappearance Location..."

Moreover, Ma Xiang was eager to make a contribution, and perhaps there were still traces of the killer left at the scene!

It was now the second morning. Ma Xiang and a few police officers were working on a small street outside a residential complex.

Seeing Lan Mu arrive with that speechless expression, Ma Xiang went up to him with a smile.

"I'm helping you, aren't you here anyway?"

"You already know about this case, so there's no need to keep it secret from you. My future wife's dowry depends on you helping me earn it!"

Lan Mu secretly turned on the spy camera and said, "This lousy footage, how much can it earn! You guys better solve the case quickly! I don't want anyone targeting me."

Ma Xiang smiled, "I want to solve the case quickly too!"

"Once this case is closed, I can get married."

Lan Mu snorted, "You traitor! You'll definitely be henpecked in the future."

Ma Xiang had a look of jealousy on his face and didn't say much more, continuing his work.

This small street was quite remote. If it were night, it would be very dark, so people would generally try to walk under the streetlights.

The police were focusing their search around the streetlights for any clues.

In reality, this was just a routine sweep. The bureau didn't hold out much hope for this location; the killer was simply too cunning, having left no trace so far.

During the day, there were quite a few pedestrians here. Seeing the police at work, some walked by indifferently, while others might gather to watch for a moment, but they would soon leave.

Only Lan Mu seemed to have nothing better to do, looking around everywhere and lingering in front of the police.

Some pedestrians also wanted to take out their phones to film, but they were stopped by the police and driven away.

Lan Mu secretly thought, It seems the police want to keep this under wraps. If this case is exposed, the police will be under immense pressure, right?

But if it's not exposed, the police won't find any clues. This is truly...

If the killer stops now and flees the country, this case might become a cold case, right?

Lan Mu was secretly filming everywhere. A few police officers glared at him, but seeing that Ma Xiang knew him, they didn't say anything further.

Everyone at the station knew Ma Xiang's father was the chief, so they gave him some face.

Seeing the police's bored and lax work, Lan Mu also became listless. He looked around and suddenly, he inadvertently sensed something unusual.

He quietly shifted his gaze and saw a young man, still with a youthful face, who looked like he had only recently entered society.

Like him, the young man was watching the police work, but Lan Mu's senses were sharp, and his intuition also keenly felt that he was being watched.

Lan Mu narrowed his eyes and quickly saw what was wrong.

The young man had a peculiar button on his chest. Lan Mu's eyesight was extremely sharp, and after looking closely, he suddenly smiled.

Because it was a button camera, specifically for spy photography!

Ha... have I run into a colleague?

This case is already in my bag...

Lan Mu, without changing his expression, ambled over to Ma Xiang and nudged him.

Ma Xiang turned his head and asked, "What's up?"

Lan Mu secretly pointed at the young man and whispered, "He's using a button camera to spy on you. He should be a colleague of mine."

Ma Xiang took a look and saw that the person had also been loitering for a while. He immediately understood Lan Mu's meaning.

As the saying goes, rivals in trade. When it comes to news footage, the fewer people who have it, the better.

"I'll do it!"

Ma Xiang nodded at Lan Mu, then waddled over, his fat belly swaying.

The young man was startled when he saw Ma Xiang approaching, then heard Ma Xiang say, "Hey! Stop filming! Hand over the button..."

Lan Mu followed behind Ma Xiang. Hearing Ma Xiang's overbearing tone, he grinned wryly.

As long as this fellow reporter handed over the button camera, and the police deleted the content, he would be the only one with the footage of the police handling the murder case.

But what happened next was an extreme reaction.

Without a word, the young man turned and ran. He was very fast, disappearing out of the small street in a flash.

"Holy crap!"

"Don't run! Hand over the camera!"

Ma Xiang and Lan Mu froze, both rushing after him.

This case was confidential. Although they didn't know why this reporter was here filming, Ma Xiang certainly didn't want outsiders taking unauthorized photos. If the case were leaked early, it would be a sign of his negligence.

As for Lan Mu, being a fellow journalist, he naturally wanted to be the sole tracker and reporter for this case once it was declassified.

The two chased after the reporter, while the other police officers didn't pay much attention.

Four officers remained at the scene, and only one was sent to jog after the reporter.

The young man was incredibly fast, his legs pumping as he ran. They chased for several hundred meters, and he was about to slip into an alley, threatening to escape.

Lan Mu couldn't afford to hold back his speed. He suddenly accelerated, chasing like the wind, and also entered the alley.

Lan Mu rapidly closed in on the man, the distance shrinking with every step.

The young man hadn't expected Lan Mu to be so fast. In a panic, he frantically pushed over objects beside him, trying to block Lan Mu.

Lan Mu smiled slightly, leaped two meters high, and cleared the obstacles, landing behind the young man.

Thump!

Lan Mu casually tripped him, and the unprepared youth fell.

Then Lan Mu rushed forward, blocking the youth's path.

Just then, Ma Xiang arrived at the alley entrance. Seeing Lan Mu blocking the youth, he burst into laughter.

"Run! Go on, run! Damn it! I'm exhausted!"

Ma Xiang panted, his fists clenching with a snap, and he approached.

"You're quite fast! Just as expected of a paparazzi!"

Lan Mu frowned; something about that statement felt wrong. He said angrily, "Don't make generalizations!"

Ma Xiang waved his hand. "I wasn't talking about you! Little punk, can you still run? You've fallen into my hands!"

Ma Xiang, ever since becoming a police officer, had never caught a thief! Given his physique, he usually just coasted along, which was why he was so eager to achieve something.

Catching this person today, though just a reporter taking unauthorized photos, could be considered obstruction of justice because he ran. Ma Xiang was overjoyed!

For Ma Xiang, this was a chance to finally make a mark!

"Brother Mu, don't interfere! Let me handle this. Film my heroic deed, and I'll be in the papers too."

Lan Mu chuckled and blocked the other end of the alley. The youth couldn't escape, so Lan Mu raised his camera and began filming properly.

However, the situation took a sudden, drastic turn. The youth suddenly exploded into action, slamming into Ma Xiang's bulky body.

Then, Lan Mu heard three consecutive thwack sounds!

It was the sound of a blade piercing flesh!

Lan Mu was shocked and threw down his camera, rushing forward.

The youth shoved the stunned Ma Xiang into Lan Mu and broke through their encirclement, rushing directly towards the alley entrance.

Lan Mu caught Ma Xiang, and a pungent smell of blood assaulted his nostrils.

Seeing Ma Xiang's chest stained with blood, he had been stabbed three times in the chest by the youth!

Blood gushed out like a fountain. Ma Xiang's pupils dilated, unable to utter a word, clearly on the verge of death.

"No! This isn't possible!"

Lan Mu, facing this sudden turn of events, felt an urge to leap forward and kill the youth.

But Ma Xiang was in his final moments, his body completely reliant on Lan Mu's embrace.

He watched the youth run out of the alley and collide with a colleague of Ma Xiang's who was rushing over. The colleague then fell to the ground, clearly having been ambushed by the youth as well.

"Ma Xiang, hang on!"

Lan Mu couldn't worry about the killer anymore. He gently laid Ma Xiang down on the ground.

Blood continued to pour from his chest. Lan Mu immediately placed his hands over the wound, frantically channeling Natural Power.

However, those three stabs had mangled Ma Xiang's heart. Although Natural Power had some restorative properties, it wasn't omnipotent. Against such a absolutely fatal wound, it was helpless.

The immense Natural Power only managed to stop the bleeding and initiate a slight healing.

But the heart had stopped beating. When the youth stabbed him, he had even twisted the blade on the final thrust, delivering a deadly blow with extreme ruthlessness!

"Damn it! Son of a bitch! Useless! Useless! Useless!"

Upon realizing his Natural Power was ineffective, Lan Mu fell into despair.

He hated himself for being so careless. He had a thousand ways to subdue the youth completely, but he hadn't.

At this moment, he was filled with extreme regret, hating that he couldn't save his brother.

The human body was too fragile, so fragile that it could easily wither away.

No matter how much more Natural Power Lan Mu poured into Ma Xiang's body, there was no response.

Because Ma Xiang was already a corpse.

His brother was dead.