Dark Light Chaser.

Chapter 160 Unable to understand
"messenger?"

Jin Ping'an tugged at the messenger's clothes, waking him from his reverie.

The messenger handed An Sien's suicide note back to Jin Ping'an: "Wang Sheng was active in the vicinity three months ago. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and continue my investigation."

This is essential to proving that Anssen committed suicide.

After leaving those words, the messenger went straight downstairs and left.

Jin Ping'an reached out his hand towards the messenger's retreating figure, as if he wanted to say something.

But he couldn't say a word.

Ansien was a stranger to both him and the messenger; at most, the messenger had more interaction with her.

Hearing that someone wanted to commit suicide, it was already quite humane for the messenger to come.

Moreover, Jin Ping'an could sense that An Si'en's death was not a trivial matter for the messenger.

At least when he looked at Ansien's body, his face no longer had its usual coldness.

Half an hour later.

Jiang Kaiji led a group of people to pull up the yellow banner.

However, no one spoke at this moment; they were all quietly watching Ansien's video comments.

Ansene recorded two short videos before she died.

One segment documented an issue of inheritance, in which she stated that all her property would be inherited by the messenger.

The other segment details her suicide by poisoning, ruling out homicide as a possibility for the police.

She had long considered that her death might cause trouble for the police, so like a mother, she made clear and detailed arrangements for her own funeral.

With these two videos, the police will find it much easier to handle the case, saving at least 70% of the trouble.

After watching the two videos, they also saw the bankbook left by Ansien's mother, all neatly arranged on the coffee table.

Especially after watching the video of Ansien's mother's last words.

Many officers were unable to hold back their emotions, and their eyes began to turn red.

It is something no one wanted to see: a girl who carried her mother's expectations, thought of others, and was in the prime of her life chose to end her own life.

Jin Ping'an, who has a strong sense of empathy, was already in tears.

After taking photos and collecting evidence, Ansien's body was placed in a body bag and sent for autopsy.

Only Tian Hao, Jin Pingan, Jiang Kaiji, and another recorder remained at the scene.

As the first person to discover the murder, Tian Hao will not be expelled from the crime scene even if he is suspended from his duties.

However, having checked almost everything that needed to be checked inside the house, the four of them crossed the seal and entered the stairwell.

"You're a real troublemaker. You just got the information this morning, and this afternoon you're embroiled in a murder case."

Jiang Kaiji sighed helplessly, "Based on the time of death, the deceased died in his own home not long after handing you the suicide note..."

"Pretty much. Ping An has been with me the whole time. After seeing the suicide note, he asked me to bring him here. The preliminary conclusion is that the deceased committed suicide by taking methamidophos."

Tian Haozi added from the side.

Even with conclusive evidence, the two did not bring the case to a conclusion at this stage.

Everything still needs to be done according to the procedure before we talk about anything else, so as not to give others a reason to find fault.

"why."

Jin Ping'an wiped away his tears and asked, "An Si'en... what exactly did she go through to become like this?"
Even though I don't know her, judging from her demeanor when we met this morning and from the video, a cheerful person like her wouldn't choose suicide.

Tian Hao and Jiang Kaiji exchanged a glance.

The two exchanged glances for about ten seconds before Tian Hao finally spoke first.

The messenger's words in the hospital room made him see Jin Ping'an in a new light; this young man was actually much stronger than he had imagined.

Tian Hao decided to expose Jin Ping'an to some negative information, instead of hiding it from him as before.

“I should have told you before you came that Ansien was one of the victims who was forced into becoming a prostitute.”

"Mm," Jin Pingan replied.

"Do you know what she went through at the villa?"

Tian Hao asked a question in return.

"I...you didn't show me the interrogation records."

Jin Pingan said in a low voice.

"Of those arrested, besides Wang Youcai who has already been released, do you know who received the heaviest sentence?"

Tian Hao continued to ask questions, but he gave his answer before Jin Ping'an could respond.

"He is a trainer."

Jin Ping'an was a little confused. He had overlooked the seemingly insignificant role of the trainer from the very beginning.

He had assumed that the salespeople or the thugs would be the ones to receive heavy sentences.

Because one of them involves having someone humiliate the victim, while the other uses violence to threaten and imprison the victim.

In Jin Ping'an's view, these two are the key to the entire industry chain.

"Do you think Wang Youcai's trainers only teach those girls how to solicit clients?"

At this point, Tian Hao reached into his pocket and lit a cigarette: "What they did can no longer be called human; to call them beasts would be an insult to the very name of beasts."

Jin Ping'an didn't speak, but he could vaguely sense that what was about to be said would definitely shatter his worldview.

His fists clenched unconsciously as he quietly awaited what would happen next.

"The trainer's job is not only to teach the girls how to please the customers, but also to discipline those who are disobedient."

“The victims were lured to them, so naturally they wouldn’t obey these people. That’s when the trainers come in.”

“For those victims who do not cooperate, they will first subject them to physical torture. The torture methods they choose are mostly water dungeons, electric chairs, drugs, etc., which will not damage the value of the ‘commodity’.”

"After the physical torture is over, the next thing to do is mental torture."

Having finished explaining, Tian Hao took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"They chained the victims and displayed them, crushing their self-esteem. If the victims still didn't submit, the trainers would go to the final step, paralyzing them and drugging them..."

Tian Hao tore off the cigarette butt and held it in his hand, as if using the burning pain to soothe his negative emotions.

“After doing all this, the trainers will brainwash the victims a second time, completely erasing their sense of self and turning them into qualified ‘products’.”

Tian Hao had only heard about such a thing from other colleagues before; this was the first time he had personally experienced it.

After hearing Jiang Kaiji's account a few days ago, he felt an urge to rush into the detention center and tear that trainer to pieces.

"Among the victims we rescued a few days ago, there was one who had been taken to the extreme. She was recently sent to a mental hospital for psychological treatment, and the doctor said that the hope of recovery is very slim."

As he spoke those words, Tian Hao involuntarily pictured the girl with vacant eyes and a smiling face.

He pinched his thigh hard, forcing himself to calm down.

If even veteran detective Tian Hao is like this, then Jin Ping'an is even more so.

Jin Ping'an, standing before him, had eyes that were bloodshot and bulging with rage.

This time, however, he didn't fly into a rage like before; instead, he silently swallowed his anger.

From this perspective, Jin Ping'an is indeed much more mature than he was when he was a minor.

"Let's go back."

Jin Pingan said, slowly and deliberately, "Le Jia can't handle it all by himself."

Tian Hao nodded, turned around and patted Jiang Kaiji on the shoulder: "I'll leave this to you."

Jiang Kaiji waved his hand impatiently: "I know, you're a suspended guy, don't give orders here... Keep an eye on him, don't let him do anything stupid."

The second half of the sentence was spoken so softly that only Tian Hao could hear it.

"I know it without you having to tell me."

Tian Hao replied in a low voice, then quickly went downstairs to catch up with Jin Ping'an.

…………

Dusk fell, and the setting sun shone like blood.

As the sun sets nears the western mountains, the distant horizon turns a deep crimson.

After a long day of hard work, white-collar workers, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, either board buses to go home or head to restaurants in groups, ready to enjoy a drink.

Many students who had finished their after-school tutoring gathered in twos and threes, looking with envy at their peers who had nothing to show for it.

Sunset signifies the end of the day, and for most people, it marks the most relaxing moment of the day.

Only one lone boy was walking against the flow of people.

His eyes were vacant, and he looked as if he was deep in thought. His appearance made people hold their breath, fearing that he might accidentally bump into a telephone pole or a trash can.

But whenever someone is about to collide with him head-on, he always manages to nimbly dodge.

One can't help but wonder if the so-called lifeless eyes are just a figment of one's imagination.

Ai Liangnian walked away from the commercial street and came to Garden Road.

He spent the entire afternoon thinking about one question.

What kind of mindset leads a person to choose to end their own life?

They had already avenged their great grievances; they were no longer burdened with financial worries; and they wanted the people they cared about most to live well and start new lives.

Why would they do something that contradicts the expectations of the deceased?

Shouldn't we, like in the book, step out of the shadows and face a completely new life?

Ai Liang tried to understand their feelings back then, but found that she couldn't understand them at all.

Even if he had experienced the death of his parents in his previous life, he still couldn't understand it.

His ability to empathize began to decline. Even if he could simulate the other person's personality, as soon as he switched back to his own consciousness, those emotions would evaporate instantly, disappearing without a trace, like water poured into lava.

Ai Liang originally wanted to experience a peaceful life to return to normalcy, but now she is going further and further down a ruthless path.

He could read other people's thoughts and distinguish their joy, anger, sorrow, and fear, but he gradually lost the ability to understand what joy and sorrow were.

For example, when you see an apple, you may know the whole process from bud differentiation to flowering and fruiting, and even how to cultivate, plant and graft it, but you can't recall the taste of the apple no matter what.

Ai Liang in the past had simply become numb from seeing so much, not truly heartless.

But ever since he met the Man of a Thousand Faces, his emotional module has been infected by a virus and has gradually lost its function.

Ai Liang once suspected that her mind had been tampered with by the Thousand-Faced Man.

However, according to Gao Bin's memory of the Thousand-Faced Man's abilities, unless the Thousand-Faced Man's main consciousness descends, the single wisp of thought on Xu Zhihai's body could not possibly affect him.

After much thought, Ai Liang ultimately attributed it all to her own experiences.

While Ai Liang was still pondering the question above, a pleasant voice woke him from his reverie.

"Hey, Liang, what are you thinking about? You look so bitter and resentful."

Suddenly, Ye Qing appeared in front of him, slightly bowing as she looked him up and down.

Ai Liang snapped out of her daze and focused her gaze on the playful girl in front of her: "...Ye Qing, it's nothing."

"Hey~ really nothing? Your expression just now didn't look like 'nothing' at all. It's the first time I've ever seen that kind of expression on your usually cold face."

Ye Qing pouted, straightened up and came to Ai Liang's side. The two walked side by side towards the residential building.

"...After all, I just moved here and need some time to adapt to the unfamiliar environment of Qianhua City."

Ai Liang casually replied, "For example, the overall layout of city roads, as well as the locations of schools, shopping malls, shopping streets, cinemas, and other places, all require gradual familiarization, and it's normal to find it troublesome."

"Normal people usually follow their phone's navigation, right? Who memorizes the city's roads? Are you trying to become a part-time taxi driver?"

Ye Qing couldn't help but complain.

Ai Liang responded calmly, "It's just a personal habit, and these things are always useful sometimes, so it's better to be prepared."

"In every respect, you are so mature and composed that you don't seem like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy at all."

Ye Qing gently nudged Ai Liang's shoulder: "Well, you've finished your excuses, now for the truth?"

Ai Liang stopped and turned to look at Ye Qing.

The latter gave him a bright smile: "I used to always pour out my troubles to you, but you rarely talked about your own problems. It's okay to confide in your older sister once in a while."

Ai Liang opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to explain.

But Ye Qing seemed to know what he was going to say, and put her finger on Ai Liang's lips first.

"Don't tell me you have no worries at all. You've been leaving early and coming home late every day lately, and sometimes you even spend the night alone on the balcony. Just now you looked like you were deep in thought."

"Didn't I already say? I'm just new here and a bit..."

Ai Liang turned his head away and continued walking forward, but Ye Qing grabbed his arm.

"Ah Liang, we've known each other for five years now. Although we only met recently, we know each other pretty well."

Ai Liang turned around, while Ye Qing smiled mischievously: "Go ahead and complain to me like before. It's been so long since I've heard you pour out your troubles. It feels like I'm the only one who's having a miserable time."

"Just make me feel more comfortable, okay?"

As she was talking, Ye Qing shook Ai Liang's arm.

Looking at this woman who was like an older sister in words but a younger sister in actions, Ai Liang lowered her eyelids and led her to sit down on a nearby bench.

"I recently came across a story that made me wonder: what kind of feelings lead a person to commit suicide?"

Ai Liang looked at the sunset in the distance; the sun had completely sunk below the horizon.

"If a person suffers many hardships and loses their most cherished loved ones, but still eventually finds a bright future."

“Those hardships are gone, and his family left a message encouraging him to live happily, but he chose to commit suicide the day before he was to usher in a bright future.”

"I can't understand why he would make such a choice."

Ai Liang looked at Ye Qing, wanting to see what kind of answer she would give.

Just wondering, is it very ruthless?
_(:з」∠)_
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(End of this chapter)