Chapter 10: A Premeditated Murder

In April 1998, the provincial capital was rocked by the audacious case of the notorious criminal Huang Jinbao. The higher authorities issued the highest directive, demanding that all the provincial police forces be mobilized immediately to capture this ruthless bandit at any cost—even authorizing lethal force if necessary.

On the very night Huang Jinbao fled to Baicheng, he was unexpectedly confronted by Chen Yan.

The exact details of the encounter remain unknown to Zhou Yi, but the outcome was clear: in order to protect innocent civilians, Chen Yan was heroically struck by three bullets and sacrificed his life.

Before dying, Chen Yan managed to fire a shot that struck Huang Jinbao’s thigh, a wound that ultimately became the pivotal clue leading to the bandit’s capture.

Without Chen Yan’s final shot, countless more innocent lives might have been lost.

Zhou Yi vividly recalls the day the police department circulated Chen Yan’s obituary internally—every colleague was burdened with profound grief.

At Chen Yan’s funeral, nearly every officer in Baicheng came to pay their respects, saluting this young hero.

Zhou Yi also clearly remembers Chen Yan’s mother, her hair completely white, clutching her son’s portrait with hollow, vacant eyes, as if her heart had died along with him.

Never had Zhou Yi imagined that the young man before him was that very hero who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhou Yi respectfully extended his hand. “Comrade Chen Yan, it’s an honor to meet you.”

This gesture left Chen Yan momentarily bewildered, and even Wu Yongcheng appeared surprised—what was this performance about?

Realizing his misstep, Zhou Yi quickly added, “Being appointed a detective at such a young age is truly exemplary. I look up to you.”

Chen Yan smiled sheepishly and shook Zhou Yi’s hand, about to respond politely.

But Wu Yongcheng laughed heartily, “Come on, a role model? Let’s talk again in ten or eight years.”

“Zhou Yi, do you know why I called you here?” Wu Yongcheng’s smile faded as he asked.

Zhou Yi nodded, “Yes, I do.”

“Then go ahead and tell me.”

Zhou Yi understood that he had successfully captured Wu Yongcheng’s attention; now was his chance to prove himself.

“Captain Wu, I’d like to share my thoughts on this case, especially since I had direct contact with the suspect. You’ve probably gathered many conventional clues from the crime scene. I want to offer some different deductions.”

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

“I’m almost certain this was a crime committed by someone familiar to the victim.”

“Why do you think so?”

“First, consider the six stab wounds on Du Xiaolin. If this were a robbery, homicide, or sexual assault by a stranger, it’s unlikely the attacker would stab six times. Even if multiple stabs occurred, the wounds would typically be clustered.”

“What if the victim resisted fiercely?” Chen Yan asked.

“That’s possible,” Zhou Yi replied. “But if multiple wounds resulted from intense resistance, then the fatal stab to the carotid artery would be even less likely to be the first.”

“Why is that?”

“Because a victim’s fierce resistance tends to provoke the assailant’s emotions, leading to frenzied attacks. In such cases, larger areas like the chest and abdomen are most likely targeted repeatedly.”

“The weapon was a dagger, which suits stabbing attacks. Only a machete or similar would be used for slashing. But a slashing weapon couldn’t cause the carotid artery wound; those wounds are deeper and longer.”

Chen Yan glanced at Zhou Yi in surprise, while Wu Yongcheng remained impassive.

“Go on,” Wu Yongcheng gestured.

Zhou Yi nodded. “This suggests the assailant deliberately inflicted six stab wounds to simulate a robbery scenario where the victim fought back violently. I even suspect the first wound—the carotid artery stab—was the fatal one, with the subsequent five inflicted after the victim lost the ability to resist.”

Wu Yongcheng’s eyes brightened. According to the crime scene analysis, the victim showed signs of escape and struggle after being stabbed, but quickly collapsed due to blood loss.

Yet, no one had considered the possibility that the first stab was the lethal one.

Because unless there is a clear time difference between wounds, even forensic experts cannot determine the sequence—only which wound was fatal.

Thus, investigators often develop a fixed impression: the victim was stabbed multiple times, struggled, and finally succumbed to the last wound to the neck artery.

A logical conclusion, but one that can mislead the subsequent investigation.

When Zhou Yi reviewed the San Yi Liu case files, he had similar doubts.

But those were mere speculations until a reincarnation granted him access to information previously impossible to know.

“Now, here’s the crucial point that fully proves the assailant’s intention to mislead the police,” Zhou Yi said.

“What is it?”

“The killer returned to the scene after the attack.”

“Captain Wu, if a stranger committed a robbery and stabbing, inflicting six wounds and causing the victim to collapse from blood loss, would they return to the scene after fleeing?”

Chen Yan immediately shook his head. “Generally, a killer returns only for two reasons: first, to retrieve or destroy vital evidence accidentally left behind; second, to confirm whether the victim is dead.”

Zhou Yi nodded in agreement. “At that time, the assailant didn’t have the opportunity to take anything.”

So only the second reason remained—the killer returned merely to confirm the victim’s death.

Wu Yongcheng then spoke, “It’s also possible the killer was about to leave but encountered you, an uninvited guest, forcing him to come back.”

He patted Zhou Yi’s shoulder. “Kid, you’re lucky—that’s good fortune. In this line of work, luck is everything.”

Zhou Yi smiled wryly. He wouldn’t deny feeling fear, but more than that, he felt a long-lost courage rekindled.

Before his reincarnation, years of sidelining had nearly extinguished all his passion and spirit.

At the moment he fought the killer to the death, he seemed to reclaim something lost.

“Captain Wu, this killer is cold and calculating. I believe this is not only a crime committed by someone acquainted with the victim but a premeditated murder!”