Qin Feng searched for commonalities among the three cases, his gaze landing on the case of a female classmate who suddenly died in the lab 24 years ago. In the relevant records, there was a girl named Liu Xue who was the class monitor and had the key to the lab. His movements halted as he hurriedly looked up Lei Xiaojia's information; her mother was also named Liu Xue. Could they be the same person? Both were from Jiangcheng. A coincidence? The name wasn't that uncommon. Just as he was about to investigate further, his phone rang. Qin Feng put down the file and answered.

"Captain Qin, new evidence has been found at the scene."

Qin Feng arrived at the library at four o'clock to re-examine the scene. The evidence team found black ashes on the third floor, resembling burnt paper. Qin Feng immediately thought of a ghost-repelling talisman.

The scorched ground was not particularly noticeable. He wiped away the ashes, revealing old stains.

The investigator beside him said, "These stains were likely left before the fire and can't be cleaned off."

Qin Feng looked around. The fire originated on the second floor and hadn't reached here, so it wasn't caused by this fire. Someone had been here before? Wasn't this building sealed for a long time? Why would anyone come here? For an adventure?

"Have you checked the surveillance? Who else came here besides those students?"

"We've only checked the past week."

"Expand the time frame." Surveillance footage is the most direct way to investigate. He examined the ground, wiping away the stains to reveal an irregular circle about fifty centimeters in diameter, blackened in the center and yellowing at the edges.

Qin Feng frowned. "Someone burned something here." Nearby were black ashes, which he pinched in his palm. "It seems like paper. Who was burning paper here?"

He looked up at the ceiling. The weather outside was gloomy, and the roof was blackened by smoke, creating a sinister atmosphere. He massaged his temples. Before the students arrived, someone had burned paper here. Were they paying respects?

Two people had died here. Who were they commemorating?

Qin Feng stood up and walked around the building. According to testimonies, this was the primary crime scene of Lei Xiaojia's death. He walked down the stairs, with the sound of photographs being taken echoing in the house. He squatted at Lei Xiaojia's position on the second floor.

Closing his eyes, he thought about how Lei Xiaojia had died.

She had drunk alcohol and was holding her phone as she went upstairs, with a candle on the ground. Perhaps she was squatting and casually chatting with her mom. From this position... Qin Feng opened his eyes, seeing the third-floor location.

The phone call lasted five minutes and forty-seven seconds. Maybe she was drunk and didn't immediately return to the party. What was she thinking? The pressure of senior year was immense. No one could truly enter her world. She felt lonely, raising her head—

Qin Feng stopped. On the third-floor ceiling was a face, watching him with resentment. In a moment of silence, Qin Feng drew his gun and stood up abruptly.

"Captain Qin? What's wrong?"

Qin Feng put away his gun. There was nothing on the third floor. Why could he see it? Why could he see it? Qin Feng clenched his fist tightly, reholstered his gun, and turned to leave.

"Captain Qin?"

Qin Feng walked out the door. He had seen that face before. That morning, the sound of police sirens pierced the quiet campus, sharp and harsh. He followed and saw the girl hanging in the office. They had only exchanged one sentence. She handed Qin Feng a letter and said her name was Shen Yi.

Qin Feng walked to the playground and lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. After finishing the cigarette, he gave a few instructions and strode outside. At the school gate, he ran into Zhou Jing. Zhou Jing didn't greet him but stared at him. Qin Feng met her gaze and raised his head. "Teacher Zhou."

Zhou Jing nodded. "What are you doing here?"

"On a case." Qin Feng observed her. Zhou Jing was dressed in black, carrying a paper bag from a women's clothing brand, which contained a black plastic bag. "No classes on the weekend?"

Zhou Jing nodded and pointed towards the school. "No classes, but I live at the school, so I'm here on weekends too."

Qin Feng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Are there many teachers living at the school?"

"Not many."

"Were you at school last night?"

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"No, I went home."

"Was Lei Xiaojia your student?"

Zhou Jing nodded, then her eyes dimmed. "I don't know why such an accident happened. It's such a pity. Lei Xiaojia had excellent grades. How could this happen—"

"Yes, it's a pity." Qin Feng sighed. "I still have work to do. I'll be going."

"Goodbye."

Qin Feng took two steps and looked back. "Do you know Shen Yi?"

Zhou Jing's face changed instantly, staring at Qin Feng. "What?"

"I remember Shen Yi was also in Class 8."

Zhou Jing seemed to react slowly, nodding. "Oh, I know Shen Yi." Then her eyes darkened. "It's a pity for her too. So many years have passed, and you suddenly mention her name. It's hard for me to remember." Zhou Jing laughed dryly, averting her gaze and tucking her hair behind her ear. "Time flies."

"Yes, it does." Qin Feng took out his car keys. "I'll be going."

He had no impression of Zhou Jing, which was normal. Qin Feng's temper back then left few people in his memory. Zhou Jing seemed strange. Her reaction to the student's death was odd.

Qin Feng returned to check the surveillance. Although the pile of paper couldn't directly prove a connection to Lei Xiaojia, everything and everyone at the crime scene was suspicious.

Before he finished reviewing the footage, Old Liu called him. Qin Feng answered. "This is Qin Feng."

"Lei Xiaojia's family agreed to an autopsy to investigate the cause of death."

———

Lin Fan bought a cake near the community and was heading home when Lei Xiaojia suddenly darted more than ten meters away. Lin Fan thought Qin Feng had arrived. She turned to see a black figure moving quickly.

Lin Fan's mind raced. She swiped her card and rushed into the community. He walked inside without a care. Lin Fan hadn't even entered the building when she was stopped. She stepped back two paces and stared at Ouyang Yu. "What are you doing?"

Ouyang Yu was even more heavily covered this time, with only his eyes visible.

Lin Fan was on guard. "What are you doing?"

Ouyang Yu covered his mouth and coughed. When he coughed, it was as if the mountains were crumbling and the earth was splitting. He coughed for a full minute, and Lin Fan worried that he might cough himself to death.

Ouyang Yu was still wearing his black down jacket, black hat, and mask. He seemed even thinner, looking frail. Lin Fan was a bit suspicious, unsure of why he had come to see her.

"Did you come just to cough?"

Ouyang Yu paused for a few seconds, covering his face with his hand and closing his eyes to stop coughing. "No."

Was he here to take her life?

Lin Fan's eyes flickered as she thought about finding a chance to run. "So—what's the matter?"

Ouyang Yu approached, and Lin Fan immediately pointed at him, "Step back."

Ouyang Yu stopped and stepped back, still looking at Lin Fan, "Be careful of that old Taoist surnamed Chen."

After saying that, he started coughing again. Lin Fan's mind raced as she asked, "What do you mean? What's wrong with Mr. Chen? What should I be careful of?"

Ouyang Yu's gaze suddenly changed, becoming sinister. He raised his hand and attacked toward the exit. The speed was too fast, and Lin Fan immediately looked toward the exit. A flash of sword light, and Ouyang Yu said darkly, "Old man, do you want to die?"

Lin Fan quickly ran over. The soft sword in Mr. Chen's hand changed direction and slashed toward Ouyang Yu. Lin Fan's eyes widened, and she shouted, "Watch out!"

Ouyang Yu grunted, and then he was gone.

Mr. Chen retracted his sword, turning it back into a cane, and looked up in Lin Fan's direction, "Miss Lin."

Lin Fan pressed her lips together, observing the surroundings. She noticed that the passersby didn't seem to see the recent fight. She felt puzzled, but remembering the fight they had at the hospital entrance last time that no one saw either, she wondered if it was a duel between masters. She walked over, "Where's Ouyang Yu?"

"He ran away."

Be careful of Mr. Chen? Could Ouyang Yu's words be trusted? Ouyang Yu had tried to take Lin Fan's life, but Mr. Chen had saved her. Lin Fan had just instinctively warned Ouyang Yu to be careful, and now she felt a bit guilty facing Mr. Chen. "Mr. Chen, why are you here?"

"I was looking for Mr. Qin and happened to run into Ouyang Yu. Are you okay?"

Lin Fan shook her head, "I'm fine."

"He has an obsession with you." Mr. Chen's piercing gaze fell on Lin Fan, "He has been chasing you from your past life to this one, but there is no fate between you. I fear he might harm you."

"Thank you, sir." Lin Fan said, "Sir, if you don't mind, would you like to come upstairs to talk?"

"Is Mr. Qin here?"

"He's not."

"Then I won't go." Mr. Chen suddenly turned, his eyes looking in the direction of Lei Xiaojia, "There's a ghost following you. She died not long ago, quite young, right?"

"Yes." Lin Fan said, "She's my friend."

Mr. Chen turned back to her, "What a pity, but that was her fate, and fate is hard to change."

Lin Fan looked at Lei Xiaojia, who was huddled in the corner, trembling and seemingly very scared.

"She means no harm. Please don't hurt her."

Mr. Chen smiled kindly, "Miss Lin, your nature is yin. It's best not to associate too much with these evil spirits. It will affect you and Mr. Qin."

Affecting Lin Fan was one thing, but how could it affect Qin Feng?

"It will affect Qin Feng?"

"You share the same fate." Mr. Chen said, "Your fate is his fate."

Could that be why the ghost in the library wasn't afraid of Qin Feng? Lin Fan felt a bit scared, a chill running down her spine. Her memories of being saved by Mr. Chen were scattered. She frowned, thinking for a moment, "Then how long can Qin Feng live?"

"I've said enough. If I reveal any more of the secrets of heaven, I will face retribution."

Lin Fan quickly apologized, "I'm sorry."

Mr. Chen said, "Since I couldn't meet Mr. Qin, it seems it wasn't meant to be. I will leave now."

"Mr. Chen." Lin Fan called after him, "If you have any message for Qin Feng, you can tell me, and I will relay it."

"No need."

Lin Fan looked at Lei Xiaojia in the corner, thinking of another question, "Can you see how this girl died?"

"I can."

He said only that one word, turned, and walked away quickly, disappearing in no time. Lin Fan looked at the exit, lost in thought. She grabbed her bag and went upstairs. Lei Xiaojia then followed, clutching her chest, "That scared me to death."

"Are you afraid of that gentleman?"

Lei Xiaojia nodded, "He can see me."

"He's blind." Lin Fan said.

"Huh? No way? He can really see me." Lei Xiaojia was anxious, "The way he looked at me just now, there's no way he's blind. He can see me."

Lin Fan didn't know what was going on. She drank a glass of water before calling Qin Feng, who answered quickly.

"Lin Fan?"

"Qin Feng." What had just happened was too strange. She had to tell Qin Feng. "I just saw Ouyang Yu again. He came looking for me."

Qin Feng seemed to be walking. There was the sound of a door closing on the phone, and then Qin Feng's voice became serious, "What did he want?"

"I didn't get to ask before Mr. Chen arrived. Mr. Chen said he wanted to find you."