Chapter 7: The Test

The sudden question from the other party caught Zhou Yi off guard for a moment. But he quickly replied, “Provincial Judicial Police Senior Vocational School.”

“Oh, the Provincial Police Academy? What do you study there?” The old policeman’s tone was casual, completely different from before, as if he already believed Zhou Yi’s identity.

Yet Zhou Yi immediately grew cautious. When things are amiss, there must be something suspicious.

“Criminal investigation.”

“Is that so? Hey, I have a classmate teaching at your Provincial Police Academy, named Xing Jian. Do you know him?”

Zhou Yi nodded promptly, curious to see what trick was up his sleeve.

“We haven’t seen each other for years. Is he still teaching criminology? How’s his relationship with his wife? He used to be muttering about divorce when we drank together.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yi finally understood—it was a test.

He calmly said, “You must be mistaken. Professor Xing teaches criminal law, not criminology.”

“Oh? Looks like I got it wrong,” the old policeman feigned surprise.

“There’s one more thing—you might also be mistaken about this. Professor Xing is a woman. As for her relationship with her spouse, we students wouldn’t know.”

This time the old policeman responded plainly, took a drag from his cigarette, and said softly, “Is that so? What a memory I have.”

Zhou Yi knew he had passed the identity test.

Such information wasn’t easily obtained by just anyone.

However, Zhou Yi suspected the other party wouldn’t dismiss him as a murder suspect so easily. The veteran detective’s investigative instincts were sharp.

Sure enough, the old policeman spoke again: “Since you’re also a cop, you know the regulations. Even if your identity is verified, we have to detain you for twenty-four hours. Afterward, you won’t be allowed to leave Baicheng, since you appeared at the crime scene.”

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi replied directly, “I understand the regulations, but usually the reason for a twenty-four-hour detention is the lack of clear evidence to exclude criminal suspicion.”

“We will verify what you said. But even if your family and hospital can confirm your story, that doesn’t mean you’re cleared.”

“Remember, you were caught near the crime scene with a lot of blood on you. Most importantly, no one can corroborate your claim about what happened there.”

“No witness, your words are just one side of the story.”

The old policeman’s tone turned serious again, just as before.

“No witnesses, but what if there’s physical evidence?”

“What?” Zhou Yi’s words made the old policeman pause.

At that moment, a knock came on the interrogation room door.

“Captain Wu, this is Xiao Xu from the forensic department.”

A young woman’s voice sounded outside.

Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Zhou Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be…

The old policeman rose and opened the door. The warm yellow corridor light fell on the young woman’s clean white coat.

If Zhou Yi hadn’t been restrained, he would have leapt up in excitement.

Xu Nian, the bureau’s youngest forensic pathologist—his first love.

Xu Nian tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and handed over a file.

“Captain Wu, here is the preliminary autopsy report. Please take a look.”

Hearing her call him that, Zhou Yi finally realized who this astute old policeman was.

Wu Yongcheng, deputy captain of the Baicheng Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Unit.

When Zhou Yi was a junior officer, he had heard of this man—an untouchable figure to him then.

Later, when Zhou Yi was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Unit, Wu Yongcheng had already been reassigned to another city.

So before his rebirth, the two had never met.

However, Zhou Yi had seen Wu Yongcheng’s name many times in the files of the 316 case, since he had led the investigation into that unsolved mystery.

Wu Yongcheng thanked Xu Nian and began reading the report she handed him.

Xu Nian glanced into the interrogation room and met Zhou Yi’s eyes.

She had only looked casually but was surprised to find the suspect staring back at her.

Zhou Yi seized the moment and called out, “Captain Wu, this autopsy report is the physical evidence that proves I am not the murderer.”

His words immediately caught the attention of both.

Wu Yongcheng looked back with a cold gaze. “Where? I don’t see it.”

“Why don’t you show me the report? I can explain it to you.”

Of course, Zhou Yi had read this report before—in a cramped archive room more than twenty years later.

But now he couldn’t reveal any details from it; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself.

So he needed the others to reveal the report’s contents first.

“Are you joking? Can I show the case files to a suspect?”

“That’s not necessary. I only need to ask four questions to prove my innocence.”

Zhou Yi spoke confidently. Xu Nian, who had been about to leave, stopped, curious to see how he would use her own autopsy report to prove his innocence.

Before Wu Yongcheng could respond, Zhou Yi asked his first question.

“How did the victim die?”

Wu Yongcheng hesitated briefly and answered, “Stab wounds.”

He too wanted to see what trick Zhou Yi was playing.

“How many stab wounds?”

“Six.”

“Which one was fatal?”

Both Wu Yongcheng and Xu Nian’s hearts skipped a beat—such a question was highly professional.

Xu Nian glanced at Wu Yongcheng. Seeing his slight nod, she spoke:

“The wound to the left carotid artery was fatal. It measured 6.4 centimeters in length, 2.7 centimeters deep, with a 45-degree angled thrust.”

Zhou Yi nodded but said nothing further.

Wu Yongcheng waited a moment. Seeing no reaction, he asked, “What about the fourth question?”

“No need. This forensic colleague just answered what would have been my fourth question.”

“So where’s your proof of innocence?” Wu Yongcheng frowned.

“The human carotid artery is under high pressure. When ruptured by trauma, blood spurts out in a jet.”

Xu Nian nodded. A ruptured carotid artery can spray blood over a meter.

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