Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife

Chapter 355: Deathly Pale Amid the Thunderstorm

Chen Xiao was alone in Leigong Mountain.

Under the tree belonging to Qiu Tingfang.

A different possibility came to mind.

In that possibility, the people involved were the same, but the case itself was completely different.

In the original speculation, both Chen Xiao and Pan Huiping felt it was highly likely that the current Qiu Tingfang had orchestrated a grand switch, occupying someone else’s place, triggering today’s bloodshed.

But now, Chen Xiao thought perhaps the swap was a mutual agreement between two people.

Yet standing before the cenotaph, Chen Xiao’s mind was riddled with doubts, unable to explain.

Look at the depression in the ground.

Qiu Tingfang had been forced to kneel and bow.

Without coercion.

Who would bow so deeply as to form a depression in the ground?

Yet the person who called her to Leigong Mountain, their relationship was either of threat and being threatened, or of absolute trust.

Otherwise, with Qiu Tingfang’s security, why did she come here alone?

As for threats, Chen Xiao thought the likelihood was low, unless the death of the welfare institution director named Zheng Xiang was problematic and directly related to Qiu Tingfang.

Otherwise, simply switching identities wouldn’t bring Qiu Tingfang to such a perilous place.

After all, over ten years had passed, and she had long become part of the family with Qiu Huasheng and Mu Rong.

Chen Xiao looked at the cenotaph, and couldn’t help but sigh:

"Did the real Qiu Tingfang call you over, but you didn’t expect to see someone else, right?"

"But if that’s the case, upon the very first glance at that person, you should have run."

"If so, why are there no traces of struggle or pursuit in this forest?"

"I’ve interacted with Captain Pan, and I believe she is a very meticulous detective, so she wouldn’t overlook the evidence."

"She didn’t miss anything, yet I feel like I missed something tonight myself..."

Chen Xiao muttered to himself.

But even as he said the last sentence, he knocked his head hard.

"The clothes... why did I forget about the clothes?"

"Before Qiu Tingfang died, she was naked sitting on the tree!"

"This is a very important piece of information!"

Chen Xiao realized, and immediately began analyzing the reason behind the murderer’s action.

In cases featuring nudity.

Most are related to assault on women.

But not Qiu Tingfang.

In discussions with Pan Huiping regarding the case, Chen Xiao had never talked about this characteristic in the case.

Now Chen Xiao couldn’t help but ponder why the murderer would strip Qiu Tingfang after everything.

If based on the original speculation, this behavior is easy to explain.

After all, Qiu Tingfang’s clothes were very valuable.

For a murderer who was supposed to enjoy such a life but was usurped by Qiu Tingfang, the inner resentment could plausibly lead to such actions.

Now that Chen Xiao wanted to overturn the prior assumptions, the murderer’s actions became difficult to explain.

Chen Xiao contemplated.

"Boom!"

Unpredictably, a peal of thunder suddenly roared above Chen Xiao’s head.

This startled Chen Xiao to look up.

"Rumble!"

The thunder rolled again.

There was likely accompanying lightning in the distance.

However, thick tree leaves obstructed the view, allowing Chen Xiao only a slight sense of a fleeting change in nighttime brightness.

Listening to the increasingly intense thunder.

Chen Xiao knew the unpredictable changes of weather in October.

Moreover, this mountain was called Leigong Mountain.

With such a name, perhaps there was some truth to it.

He glanced again at the lonely grave.

Feeling it was time for him to leave.

Otherwise, a downpour might follow the thunder.

A drenching rain wouldn’t matter much to him, but it would inevitably stir some unease.

Chen Xiao’s concern was warranted.

When thunder repeatedly sounded over Hai City.

Pan Huiping, napping in her office, furrowed her brows deeply.

After some thought, she immediately called Chen Xiao.

But at that moment, Chen Xiao was in Leigong Mountain, with no signal whatsoever.

Pan Huiping hurriedly grabbed an umbrella and raincoat, then called Xiaoji.

"Hello, Captain Pan, what’s up?"

"I anticipate heavy rain; Chen Xiao is alone in Leigong Mountain, and I’m a bit worried. Come with me to pick him up."

After she said this, Liu Dayou on the other end replied:

"Xiaoji, you continue investigating the Sacred Heart Church; I’ll go with Captain Pan."

Upon hearing this, Pan Huiping said no more.

Carrying a raincoat and umbrella, she left the Criminal Investigation Team and drove to pick up Liu Dayou first.

But just as she stepped out, the torrential rain came crashing down fiercely.

In the woods, despite the leaves’ cover, Chen Xiao wasn’t getting much rain.

Yet the crackling above his head made him aware of the outdoor scenes.

Gazing at the cenotaph, Chen Xiao sighed.

Having come here once, he feared he might never see it intact again.

The rain came quickly and furiously.

If it lasted long, the leaves’ protection wouldn’t suffice.

Even with a sunshade over the cenotaph, rain flowing from higher ground would submerge it due to the terrain.

Chen Xiao abandoned thoughts of saving the cenotaph.

He knew Pan Huiping likely considered it before; without protection, perhaps all evidence and investigations were complete.

Chen Xiao thought no further and headed out of the mountain.

The further out he went, the more rain fell upon him.

The thunder continued.

Rumbling, as if demonstrating its might to humans.

Soon, Chen Xiao was soaked to the bone.

In the forest, rainwater quickly formed small streams within minutes.

Chen Xiao quickly proceeded.

But his mind couldn’t help but wander back to the case.

His subconscious was telling him.

Once he was out of Leigong Mountain, he would definitely see Pan Huiping the next day.

Arriving hastily at Leigong Mountain, if Chen Xiao found nothing, he felt he was causing a stir.

To overturn the previous conjecture still lacked credibility in his view.

Because it was all just imagination.

Imagination and speculation could only serve as references in a case, not factual.

Walking and thinking, the overhead thunder and distant lightning constantly interrupted his thoughts.

Halfway, Chen Xiao shook his head decisively, relinquishing all thought.

At such moments, it was better to hurry out without thinking.

Otherwise, given the rain’s intensity, he might find it hard to proceed if it continued for another ten minutes.

He was traversing downhill.

Water flowed downwards, and Chen Xiao needed to speed up.

While he might be alone on the mountain, living creatures were not just him.

The torrential rain stirred many slumbering beasts in the forest.

Every beast’s dash caught Chen Xiao’s attention.

At that moment, accompanied by a massive flash of lightning, Chen Xiao felt the night illuminated.

Out of nowhere, a rabbit or something darted past Chen Xiao’s side.

Chen Xiao instinctively looked.

And just in that glance, highlighted by the lightning, he saw a ghastly white!