Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Director Li continued, as if talking to himself, or as if trying to convince himself: "You can't blame us. If you have to blame someone, blame the evil spirits for being too powerful, blame Xu Damao for his bad luck, blame him for doing something wrong."

He patted Xiao Wang on the shoulder: "Tomorrow, go and tell Xu Fugui that his son may be dead. Tell him the truth."

Xiao Wang stared wide-eyed at Director Li's retreating figure as he turned and left down to the second floor, his mind buzzing.

The director really nailed that blame-shifting move!

No, it's shameless!

But why…

Why does it seem to make some sense?

Director Zhao's brows furrowed deeper, his eyes darting back and forth between Chief Li and Xiao Wang. "Xiao Wang, what did you just shout? 'Director, something bad has happened!'"

Xiao Wang jumped in surprise and quickly waved his hands, whispering, "No, no, I meant to shout 'Chief, something bad has happened!' You must have misheard me, Chief."

He dared not admit it.

Director Zhao stared at Xiao Wang for a few seconds, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions.

"Go ahead and get busy. I know about Xu Damao's disappearance."

"Yes, Chief."

Xiao Wang quickly went downstairs and chased after Director Li.

"Chief, wait for me."

Director Li frowned. "Why did you follow me?"

Xiao Wang asked in a low voice, "Chief, are we... are we really unable to deal with that thing?"

Director Li looked out the window.

It's very good to be pitch black.

In the courtyard, several policemen were patrolling, their steps were orderly, and their expressions were serious.

Everything seems normal.

But only they know how terrifying the darkness is hidden beneath this night.

"Deal with it?"

Director Li gave a wry smile. "We don't even know where it is, how are we supposed to deal with it?"

He patted Xiao Wang on the shoulder again: "Go do your job. Continue guarding the detention center. Don't let anyone else disappear into thin air. Remember, don't tell anyone about tonight's events."

"Yes!" Xiao Wang saluted and turned to leave.

"By the way," Director Li called him again, "in the future... don't keep shouting 'It's bad,' it sounds unlucky."

Xiao Wang opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but in the end he nodded: "I understand, Director."

I thought to myself: I'll try my best!

At this moment, Lin Tian had already set his sights on Yu Li.

Who told her to shout like that?

The saying goes, "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."

Inside the detention center.

More than twenty people stared wide-eyed; no one dared to sleep, or even close their eyes.

The sudden disappearance of yet another Xu Damao has not stirred up ripples, but rather a tsunami.

Right under their noses, right beside them, a perfectly healthy person was snoring one second, and the next second, the person and the straw mat disappeared.

There was no sound, no movement, not even a breeze.

This is more terrifying than seeing a corpse directly.

Because the unknown is always the best source of nourishment for fear.

"Sister-in-law...I'm scared..."

Yan Jiedi nestled in Yu Li's arms, her voice barely audible.

She was still a child.

They should be in school, studying and playing hopscotch with their classmates, instead of being locked up in this place waiting to die.

Yu Li held her tightly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the little girl's hair, as if trying to hide her own fear, or perhaps to comfort her.

"Don't be afraid, we'll be fine. The police will protect us."

She didn't even believe it herself when she said that.

But she's an adult, the eldest sister-in-law, so she can't panic.

If she panics, Yan Jiedi will be even more afraid.

"Protect?"

Li Tiezhu, in the front yard, suddenly spoke up, both angry and terrified, "What are they protecting us with? I think they're in cahoots with evil spirits, locking us up so the evil spirits can come and kill us at any time!"

These words were like a fire, igniting the long-suppressed fear in the room.

Lin Feng, the bachelor in the front yard, was the first to chime in: "Uncle Li is right. Who are we protecting? Aren't there plenty of people who disappear into thin air or vanish inexplicably?"

Who didn't die a tragic death?

They failed to protect a single one of us. What else can they do besides lock us up here to die?

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, standing up and pointing outside the iron gate: "What a bunch of useless trash!"

Since he was going to be killed by evil spirits sooner or later anyway, he wasn't afraid of breaking the law.

"that is!"

Another young man named Zhang San also stood up. "If we want to live, we must save ourselves and leave this place. Otherwise, we'll be like pigs for the New Year, at the mercy of others."

Looking around, "Everyone, look at Xu Damao. He was just lying here snoring a moment ago, but now? He's gone!"

Not a single hair remained; without a doubt, his fate was tragic, just like Jia Zhangshi's.

"We need to get out!"

Li Tiezhu shouted first, "Let us out! We don't want to die!"

"Let us out!"

"We need to live!"

The detention center was in an uproar.

More than twenty people shouted in unison, some punched the wall, some kicked the door, and some screamed hysterically.

The situation was completely out of control.

Xiao Wang stood at the door, his face ashen. He had just finished reporting on Xu Damao's matter when he returned and heard the commotion inside.

"What's all this commotion about?"

Xiao Wang roared, his voice drowning out the clamor of everyone else.

The detention center fell silent instantly.

Everyone was looking at him, their eyes filled with anger, fear, and pleading.

Xiao Wang walked in, looked around, and his gaze swept across everyone's face like a knife.

"You think you can get out of here? Do you really think we police are just sitting around doing nothing? Do you really think we can't find out the truth about the deaths of Lin Jianshe and his wife?"

While you were being interrogated one by one, some of you confessed. They all confessed.

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Now, all of you shut up. Anyone who causes trouble again will be locked up in a cell. When evil spirits come, there won't even be anyone to warn them."

silence!

Some people lowered their heads quietly, not daring to look Xiao Wang in the eye. Others had shifty eyes and nervously twisted the hem of their clothes.

Others, such as Li Tiezhu and Lin Feng, still held their necks straight, but their momentum had weakened by three points.

But Zhang San disagreed.

"Officer, Yi Zhonghai and his gang were the masterminds behind the deaths of Lin Tian's parents. We are at most accomplices."

Besides, regarding that matter... we only attended the banquets for a few days and received a little... a little benefit.

We're innocent! We're truly innocent!

Besides, the law doesn't punish everyone; you can't just lock us all up here to die, can you?

Seeing that someone was taking the lead, Li Tiezhu quickly chimed in: "Young police officer, I know you're in a difficult position. We did make some...minor mistakes."

We can change it, we really can change it!

But can you save us?

Xu Damao…Xu Damao was just lying next to me. Such a big, healthy person, just vanished into thin air! We don't want to die!

This isn't an act; I'm genuinely scared.

Lin Feng joined in, his tone almost pleading: "Officer, we won't make things difficult for you. If you can't make the decision, you can go to your superiors."

Are you just going to watch us all get wiped out by evil spirits?

Putting the law aside, don't you bear any responsibility for those of us who were detained in your detention centers and then vanished or died tragically?

"Don't you have done anything wrong?"

Xiao Wang was stunned.

Speechless for a moment.

Yes, the duty of the police is to protect the people.

People are now being detained in police stations, disappearing and dying one after another. Although the police didn't kill them, they certainly failed to protect them.

This dereliction of duty cannot be escaped.

……