Chapter 165： A Corpse

That day,

on the coastal outskirts of Haishi, near a natural cave amidst chaotic reefs, the scene was surrounded by police tape. The area was swarming with SWAT teams, forensic experts, and even journalists, totaling dozens of people. Several police cars were parked along the distant road, their lights flashing. A body had been discovered here, lying in the cave with blood still oozing from its shoulder.

Duan Hua, the captain of the Haishi SWAT team, arrived on the scene, holding a thermos cup with a frown on his face. Unlike regular police officers, the SWAT team represented the elite forces within the police force, and Duan Hua's role as the captain underscored the team's importance. Typically, discovering an unidentified corpse wouldn't require his personal attention, but this case was different—the deceased was a modified human.

The frequency of incidents involving modified humans had left Duan Hua feeling uneasy. 

"Captain Duan, the identity has been confirmed. The deceased is a 30-year-old male with multiple fractures in his right chest and shoulder, and internal bleeding," reported a forensic expert, holding a report. "There are no signs of a struggle in the cave; the victim likely suffered severe injuries before taking refuge here, eventually succumbing to them. The injuries occurred approximately 15-20 days ago, and death occurred about three days ago."

Duan Hua nodded slightly, glancing around. Where was Liu Di? Given his usual speed, this short distance shouldn't have taken more than 20 minutes, but it had already been an hour since Duan Hua called Liu Di, after learning the deceased's identity.

The deceased was named Qiu Beiming.

The forensic expert continued, "Based on the muscle and skin condition, we can confirm that he was a modified human. The injuries suggest that he was struck by a powerful force. It's hard to imagine who could land such a blow on a modified human. Unfortunately, the body has started to decay, and much of the evidence has been lost."

Duan Hua nodded again, somewhat surprised by the turn of events. Initially, Qiu Beiming was suspected to be involved in the car accident that injured Mr. Yan, and the police were preparing to issue a warrant for his arrest. But who could have expected that within just a few days, his body would be found on the coast?

Suddenly, the sound of gravel crunching underfoot signaled Liu Di's arrival. 

Duan Hua felt a sense of relief but noticed that Liu Di's steps were unusually heavy, crushing the pebbles beneath his feet with ease. Wiping the sweat from his forehead and breathing heavily, Liu Di said, "Sorry, Captain Duan, I've been under a lot of pressure lately, so I'm a bit late."

Duan Hua scratched his head, puzzled but decided to get straight to the point. "Take a look at this body."

Liu Di shook his head and glanced at the busy officers. "No need to look. He's not Qiu Beiming."

Duan Hua stiffened, "What did you say?"

The forensic expert was confused. "We've verified his identity against the database. The facial features and fingerprints all match Qiu Beiming. What makes you say otherwise?"

"Qiu Beiming is weak but not stupid," Liu Di replied, looking at Duan Hua. "He's a man of deep scheming, always with a purpose. He's obsessed with Yan Yiwen. There's no way he'd die so easily."

Pausing for a moment, Liu Di continued, "I was wondering why he hadn't made any moves lately. Now I see—he was waiting for this moment to be revealed."

"A body double? A fake death?" Duan Hua's eyes widened.

"Exactly," Liu Di said, narrowing his eyes. "In just a few days, he found a modified human body double, altered his fingerprints and face, and inflicted serious injuries on him, trapping him here until he died."

The forensic expert was shocked. "How is that possible? The deceased wasn't an ordinary person. Why would he stay here and wait for death? There's no sign of poisoning either."

"He did it voluntarily," Liu Di said in a low voice. "More accurately, he was implanted with the 'will' to do so."

"Implanted with a will? How is that possible?" the forensic expert exclaimed, ready to argue from a scientific perspective, but Duan Hua raised a hand to stop him. "Start investigating all missing persons who match the deceased's age and build."

Duan Hua's actions demonstrated his complete trust in Liu Di. 

Liu Di sighed lightly, "To accomplish so much in such a short time, Qiu Beiming couldn't have done it alone. He must have a skilled tech team behind him. Captain Duan, this opponent is unlike any we've faced before."

Duan Hua's expression grew solemn as he looked at Liu Di, only to find a gleam of excitement in his eyes and a slight smile on his lips, not the look of someone preparing for a serious challenge.

"Why do I feel like you're excited?" Duan Hua asked, puzzled.

"Am I?" Liu Di smiled slightly. "Maybe it's because I've taken a liking to working out recently. Training the body, training the mind!"

---

At the Haishi Yingzhi Hospital, in room 305 of the special care unit, what was once a single bed had become two. Lying side by side were an elderly man, still showing traces of his former elegance, and Yan Hongxin, the old master of the Yan family. The scene, strangely enough, exuded a sense of serene tranquility.

Yan Qingwen shook her head, tears falling. She couldn't shake the feeling that her father seemed happier than usual, despite both of them being in a vegetative state.

Twenty days ago, following Liu Di's instructions, she had located a woman named Liu Manwen in Hengzhou. At 63 years old, Liu Manwen had been a vegetative state for 20 years. She had no children, and her identity was a mystery, yet her bank account held a staggering amount of money. She had collapsed in her gene research lab 20 years ago and was subsequently cared for as a permanent vegetative patient in the Hengzhou Vegetative Care Center.

Yan Qingwen's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She couldn't comprehend what had happened 20 years ago. As for Liu Di, the information he knew was terrifying—he seemed to know everything, able to predict anything.

Liu Di, with his fortune exceeding a hundred billion, his identity as the super singer "Di Yi," his powerful connections, and now his seemingly omniscient abilities, left Yan Qingwen feeling lost. She wanted to find Liu Di and demand answers, yet a deep-seated fear of meeting him held her back.

Sighing deeply, Yan Qingwen took one last look at her father, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave. Today was the day of Yingzhi Group's shareholders' meeting. The news of Yan Hongxin's vegetative state had already spread through the media. With the chairman comatose, Yingzhi Group's stock had plummeted by 30%, leaving the once-stable company in turmoil.