The corridor outside the evidence room had been sealed off.
Once the ventilation grille was removed, a damp, cold smell of dust rushed out. A thin layer of black marks clung to the duct walls, as though someone had stuffed burned threads inside and pulled them out again, leaving only scrape marks behind.
Lu Wenchuan stood beneath the ladder and glanced up.
The Deputy Captain held a detector, his expression grim.
"Captain, the residual threads lead toward the Old Training Area."
Lu Wenchuan frowned. "Which room?"
"Third basement level, the Old Combat Room." The Deputy Captain paused, then added, "Where Ji Heng used to train recruits."
The corridor fell silent for a moment.
Xu Zhihan stood beside the evidence room door, still pale, holding the freshly sealed student ID and training notes. Although that thread of Ji Heng's had not pressed onto Lu Wenchuan's life, the lingering pain remained, and a little blood had seeped through the gauze around Lu Wenchuan's wrist again.
Xu Zhihan glanced at it.
As if sensing it, Lu Wenchuan lowered his head and pulled his cuff down.
"What are you hiding it for?" Xu Zhihan asked coldly.
Lu Wenchuan stopped.
"I was afraid you'd get annoyed."
Xu Zhihan walked over and reached straight out to hold the edge of his cuff. He did not touch the wound, only exposed that half section of gauze.
"I already am."
The Deputy Captain looked down at his equipment, pretending he had heard nothing.
When Song Zhixia hurried over from the Medical Room, she caught exactly that scene. She carried a medical kit, her footsteps heavier than usual.
"Lu Wenchuan, hold out your hand."
Lu Wenchuan sighed and offered her his hand.
Song Zhixia removed the gauze. At the sight of the ring of dark red marks around the