Forensic Doctor: Finding the Way Back to the Mystery of Ancient Realms

Chapter 51: A Serial Mystery Case Under the Double Shadow

At dawn, the streets of S City were still immersed in tranquility, but the atmosphere in the police station was extremely tense. Xu Youran and Situ Han walked side by side in the corridor, both of them looked solemn, with heavy thoughts in their hearts.

"You Ran, what do you think the meaning behind that anonymous letter is?" Situ Han asked in a low voice, with a hint of barely perceptible worry in his voice.

Xu Youran stopped and looked out the window at the gradually brightening sky. She slowly said, "Behind the two faces, the human heart is hard to predict. This not only refers to the couple, but also is a metaphor for the entire S city, and even the unsolved mysteries of the Republic of China. I always feel that the truth we are about to touch will be more complicated than we imagined."

Situ Han nodded, a firm look flashed in his eyes: "No matter what, we must find out the truth. Let's go to the conference room. The S City police have prepared the latest information on the 'Double-Faced Lover' case."

In the conference room, Officer Zhang Wei, a representative of the S City Police, was waiting for them. On the table was a thick case file and a huge map with various clues and connections marked on it.

"You two, this is all the information we have so far," said Officer Zhang Wei. "We have discovered that there seems to be some subtle connection between the 'Two-Faced Lover' case and several other bizarre cases that have occurred recently. Each case has left clues or symbols similar to the S City family massacre during the Republic of China period."

Xu Youran flipped through the case files carefully, frowning. "These cases may seem independent, but they are actually closely linked. Solving each mystery is like opening a door to a bigger mystery."

Situ Han walked to the map, moved his finger along the clues, and suddenly stopped at a place marked "Meat Bun Shop": "This is the scene of a recent case. It is said that the victim suddenly disappeared while buying meat buns, and only a few uneaten meat buns were left at the scene."

"Meat Bun Case?" Xu Youran's eyes flashed with doubt. "This sounds like it's different from the previous case."

"It is precisely because of the difference that it seems even more bizarre." Officer Zhang Wei added, "After our initial investigation, we found that the owner of this meat bun shop is an outsider, his behavior is quite strange, and he seems to know the history of the Republic of China very well."

Deciding to start with the meat buns shop, Xu Youran and Situ Han led the police to this small shop called "Lao Li's Meat Buns". There was a long queue outside the shop, and the shop was steaming hot and fragrant.

"Is this Mr. Li?" Situ Han walked into the store and asked a middle-aged man who was busy making dumplings.

The middle-aged man looked up, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he regained his composure: "Yes, it is me. What's the matter?"

Situ Han looked around and said in a low voice: "We are the police, and we have a few questions to ask you."

Boss Li put down the dough in his hand and led them to a small house in the backyard. The house was simple but tidy, with a few yellowed photos from the Republic of China hanging on the wall.

"These photos..." Xu Youran asked, pointing at the photos.

"Oh, that's passed down from my ancestors." Boss Li looked a little unnatural, "Why, is there any problem?"

"The scenes in these photos are strikingly similar to the scenes of several recent cases." Xu Youran said bluntly, "Boss Li, do you know anything?"

Boss Li was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "Okay, I confess. I do know something about those things during the Republic of China, but I have never hurt anyone. As for those cases, I really don't know who did it."

Just when the investigation reached a deadlock, an old man who claimed to be a relative of the victim found them. The old man's name was Zhao Laohan, and his son was the missing person in the meat bun case.

"Police comrades, you must find my son!" Old man Zhao burst into tears, "He is my only relative, I can't lose him."

Xu Youran comforted Old Man Zhao and asked about his son's situation before he disappeared. Old Man Zhao mentioned that his son had mentioned a mysterious woman before he disappeared, who always appeared near the meat bun shop, wearing a cheongsam and with elegant manners.

"Woman in cheongsam?" Xu Youran and Situ Han looked at each other, and they both understood that this clue might be inextricably linked to the previous case.

Back at the police station, Xu Youran and Situ Han began to carefully analyze all the clues. They found that every scene of the case had left subtle clues related to the S City family extermination case during the Republic of China period, and these clues seemed to be leading them to a bigger secret.

"These cases are like carefully arranged schemes." Situ Han pondered, "Someone is controlling everything from behind, just to make us discover the unforgettable mystery from thirty years ago."

Xu Youran nodded in agreement. “Moreover, this manipulator knows us very well. He/she knows how we will investigate and how we will reason. This makes every step we take extremely difficult.”

Just as the two were lost in thought, a quick phone ring broke the silence. Officer Zhang Wei's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Commander Situ, Detective Xu, there is new information! We found a secret passage in the backyard of the meat bun shop. The end of the secret passage seems to be connected to a forgotten basement, which contains a large number of documents and items related to the S City family murder case during the Republic of China period!"

Xu Youran's eyes lit up when he heard this: "This is the key! We must go to the scene immediately!"

The group quickly rushed to the meat bun shop and through the secret passage, they came to a dusty basement. Under the dim light, boxes of yellowed documents, old photos and some antique-looking objects were scattered around, and the air was filled with a heavy sense of history.

"Look here, these documents seem to record the detailed investigation process of the family murder case that year, as well as some clues that have not been made public." Xu Youran picked up a diary with a worn cover and gently opened it.

Situ Han was carefully examining an old photo. The photo showed a group of people standing in front of a luxurious mansion. The profile of one of them looked strangely familiar to him. "You Ran, look at the person in this photo. Is he..."

Xu Youran came closer upon hearing this, and their eyes were fixed on that profile face at the same time, and they couldn't help but be shocked. That outline, that temperament, was surprisingly similar to Su Wanqing!

"This... this is impossible..." Xu Youran muttered to herself, the doubts and shock in her heart intertwined into a complex web.

"Nothing has been concluded yet, but every clue must be traced down." Situ Han analyzed calmly, "Moreover, I think this is not only about the truth of a case, but also about the key to the unsolved mysteries of S City and the entire Republic of China period."

Just as they were about to investigate further, a subtle sound came from a corner of the basement. The two exchanged glances quickly and walked towards the figure cautiously.

I saw a figure huddled in a corner, holding tightly in his hand an object that looked like a jade pendant, his eyes full of fear and despair. The man slowly raised his head, and it turned out to be Zhao Qiang, the son of the old man Zhao who had been missing for many days!

"Dad...save me..." Zhao Qiang shouted weakly, his voice full of fear.

Xu Youran and Situ Han quickly stepped forward, comforting Zhao Qiang while asking him about his experience. It turned out that Zhao Qiang was lured here by the mysterious woman in cheongsam on the day he disappeared, and was then imprisoned in the basement and forced to participate in some secret rituals that could not be revealed.

"That woman...she said she was a survivor of the family massacre that year. She wanted me to help her find something that she said could reveal everything..." Zhao Qiang spoke intermittently, his eyes full of fear.

"One thing? What?" Xu Youran asked.

Zhao Qiang pointed at the jade pendant with trembling hands: "It's... this one..."

Xu Youran took the jade pendant and examined it carefully, and found a line of illegible small characters engraved on it. She felt something in her heart, as if some important clues were gradually emerging.

At this moment, there was a sudden noise outside the basement, as if someone was approaching. Xu Youran and Situ Han looked at each other and immediately realized that they had to leave here as soon as possible and protect this important clue.

"Let's go!" Situ Han shouted, and quickly led Xu Youran and Zhao Qiang back to the ground through the secret passage. As soon as they came out, they saw a group of people in black clothes rushing towards them, obviously trying to stop them.

A fierce chase broke out in the streets of S City. With their extraordinary wisdom and courage, Xu Youran and Situ Han finally got rid of the pursuers and returned to the police station safely with Zhao Qiang and the mysterious jade pendant.

And all this is just the beginning. As the investigation goes deeper, more secrets will be revealed and more mysteries will surface. Xu Youran and Situ Han know that they are standing on the edge of a huge conspiracy, and the truth is often more cruel and complicated than imagined.

Under the lights of the police station, Xu Youran stared at the jade pendant, her mind full of questions. She vaguely felt that the jade pendant was inextricably linked to the S City family massacre case in the Republic of China, and even the fate of the entire S City.

"Si Tu, do you think we are getting closer to the truth?" She turned to ask Situ Han beside her.

Situ Han smiled slightly, with a firm look in his eyes: "No matter how close or far we are, we will not give up. Because we are the guardians of this city and the spokespersons of justice."

At this moment, a dark shadow flashed outside the window, as if someone was secretly watching. Xu Youran and Situ Han looked at each other, and they both understood that a new challenge was quietly brewing in the dark...

(To be continued, the next episode of Double Lovers will be revealed soon.)