Pan Ya’s gaze darted away, but he still stated firmly, "It's just as I said!"
"I hate being lied to!" As she spoke, Xing Yuan produced the wisp of soul that had been extracted from Pan Ya, toying with it in her hand, her gaze threatening Pan Ya.
A flicker of panic crossed the boy's face, but he stubbornly insisted, "Everything I said is true!"
Xing Yuan appreciated such stubbornness, so she unhesitatingly squeezed what she held.
Pan Ya let out a pained howl, clutching his head on the ground, his expression filled with agony. After a long while, Pan Ya's pain subsided. He stood up, his face pale, and before Xing Yuan could act again, he quickly said, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Xing Yuan smiled, her expression seemingly disappointed, "You really want to talk? Abandoning your integrity?"
"I'm just a child, what integrity do I need?" Pan Ya’s cowardly stance was justified. When he was human, he had never lived a good life. He couldn't possibly endure soul torment for the rest of his existence! He might as well have died then and there!
Xing Yuan's expression held a hint of post-catharsis pleasure, "Good, you can speak now!"
Pan Ya resignedly recounted the entire incident. "After I left the abyss, I just wanted to visit home! Who knew, soon after arriving, I discovered a man who wanted to sell his wife and children. Although I died in a similar way, I didn't intend to interfere in others' affairs."
"As you know, sir, due to the way I died, I have an extraordinary talent for concealing my presence! But just as I was about to leave, that little one hugged me and begged me to save them! My heart softened, and I helped them kill the man." Pan Ya’s expression was guilty. He didn't know what he was thinking. Perhaps it was because the child reminded him so much of his past self!
In his most desperate moments, he had also hoped that someone would become a light in his dark world, breaking his chains for him! So, he wanted to be that light that shattered the darkness.
"And then? You just continued killing? You should know the rules of this world! With your hands stained with blood, even if the world order is reshaped, you will never be reincarnated again." Xing Yuan was somewhat disappointed, not because she felt those people didn't deserve to die, but because Pan Ya had tainted his reincarnation path for the sake of these few individuals.
"I know, but I don't regret it! You must have come with the person you sent me to find, right? I know her! That's why I hid it from you before. My hands are already stained with blood, but I hope those children can have new lives! So, can you pin all the blame on me?" Pan Ya pleaded.
"Yes!" Xing Yuan agreed. "In that case, do one thing for me!"
"Wang Yuan, he's a friend of the man you killed first! You know him, right? Let him be your perfect finale! You'll be exposed naturally then! Don't worry, I'll spare your life!" Xing Yuan promised.
"Is that the one who always hangs around gambling dens? I've seen him. We really have a tacit understanding! He was already the next person I had chosen." Pan Ya was surprised and delighted. He had thought he would be captured immediately and wouldn't be able to kill his next target!
"Then that's perfect! But I hope you'll weave him a nightmare! I don't want him to die peacefully."
Pan Ya looked troubled and lowered his head in disappointment, "I can't do it! Weaving a nightmare isn't difficult! But my abilities aren't strong enough to trap him, otherwise, I wouldn't have been so gentle with them."
"Just do as I say, I have my ways to make him sink into it! Also, for the next few days, stay away from the gambling dens. I will bring the person to you!" Xing Yuan warned, not wanting him to be found before he could kill for her.
"Yes, I understand." Pan Ya nodded. The only reason he was staying there was because he could easily find the person he wanted to kill. With the most crucial issue resolved, why would he come here to throw himself into a trap?
Having delivered the message, Xing Yuan's consciousness returned to the gambling den, continuing to follow Hu Bing in her search for clues. The black mist paused for a moment in front of Pan Ya before灵性地 (ling xing de - intelligently) retraced its steps to find its master.
Hu Bing searched the gambling den without finding any connection between the victims. Xing Yuan, who had been expecting her to make some moves, followed her closely without any suspicious behavior. This made her doubt if she had indeed misunderstood Xing Yuan.
After the two found no clues and returned, they continued to investigate the case by reviewing documents and visiting the victims' families. These individuals had poor reputations among their neighbors, and they couldn't get any results even when asking slightly personal questions.
The families were uncooperative. In their eyes, his death was the greatest contribution to the family!
After enduring the resistance of countless people, the group finally found a clue on the sixth day. Su Yue called everyone over and analyzed seriously, "I think the killer is randomly selecting victims! The ones she chooses often appear in casinos and taverns, and they all have wives and children. But there are too many such people, and we can't determine how he chooses the order of his crimes."
"The traces at the crime scenes were also wiped clean, except for the first one! So, I infer that the first incident was carried out by the killer without preparation, and his seven-day interval might also be for preparation! Therefore, let's go back to the first victim's home again. His family might know something." Kuai Shu Ge
This was the conclusion Su Yue reached after much thought, and it was already close to the truth.
As the group knocked on the door, they saw a little boy holding a broom, trying to chase them away.
"You're not allowed to come to my house again! I'm telling you, I'm very strong! If you don't leave, I'll hit you!" The boy puffed out his cheeks indignantly. Brother Xiao Ya said they were all bad people who would bully his mother! Just like that man, so they weren't allowed in.
As the group stood at the door in a stalemate, a few coughs were heard from inside, and a weak female voice asked, "Adi, who's here?"
Adi's face immediately tensed, and he quickly replied, "No one, just some people who knocked on the wrong door."
Just then, their neighbor, Sister-in-law Wang, came out to buy groceries. She turned and saw this scene of official personnel being refused entry. Fearing a misunderstanding, she called out as she walked, "Child, how can you chase people away! How did your mother teach you? Don't you know the principle of treating guests with respect!"
She then called into the house, "Li Shi! People from the Ghost Extermination Division are here to understand the situation, aren't you coming out to greet them!"
Adi's face turned red with anxiety, and he pushed the group with a tearful voice, "Mother is sick, and the wind will make it worse. You all leave, you're not welcome at my house!"
"Adi, how can you be rude to guests? How have I always taught you?" Li Yu, wrapped in a thick coat, came out from inside, looking sickly. Her tone was stern as she reprimanded Adi.