March 11, 2006. Arrived at the client's residence. Video file 03120060311.avi.
The video came to life. The first thing to appear on screen was a door.
A hand pressed the doorbell. Wu Ling's voice came from offscreen.
"Mr. Qin, we're at the door."
After a long while, footsteps finally sounded from behind the door. They were faint and weak, as if someone gravely ill were dragging his feet toward the entrance.
The door opened. The lights inside were off, and a man's face appeared in the gap. His complexion was pale, his eyes bulged, and they were streaked with bloodshot veins. He looked terrifying.
His body trembled. His eyes darted around their sockets, unable to focus.
"Mr. Qin," Wu Ling called.
Qin Kai's hand gripped the doorframe. There were bloodstains on his fingers.
Wu Ling called again, her voice gentler this time.
Qin Kai lowered his head and opened the door.
"May we turn on the lights?" Wu Ling asked.
Qin Kai said nothing.
Wu Ling had already stepped into the entryway.
The lights suddenly came on. Ye Qing or Liu Miao had probably switched them on.
The living room looked completely normal, with no signs of a struggle, and only a faint trace of yin energy. There were just a few scattered spots of blood along the path from the bedroom to the entryway.
The camera turned toward Qin Kai.
There was blood on his hands and sleeves. He seemed to have been sweating heavily; his clothes clung to him, and his hair was a mess.
"Is your wife still alive?" Wu Ling asked, somewhat cruelly.
Qin Kai began to tremble.
With a bang, the front door shut.
Qin Kai jumped in fright.
"Is your wife in the bedroom?" Wu Ling asked, heading straight for it.
The camera followed.