Chapter 11, The Land of Peach Blossoms

Christophe Scott: Alright, there's a new case now.

Philip Sofia: What?

Christophe Scott: One person is dead, a homicide.

Matt: Boss, our Special Case Team only takes on major cases.

Christophe Scott said something that made everyone fall silent: Compared to this murderer, the ten most brutal serial killers in New York's history are like primary school students.

Amy picked up the case file, stared at it for a while, and was so scared that she dropped it on the ground.

Professor Liang wheeled his wheelchair over, picked up the file, put on his reading glasses, and after reading a few pages, the expression of this knowledgeable and kind - looking old man suddenly became solemn. He said in a shocked tone, "This deceased was skinned and made into a scarecrow?"

In 2007, a major homicide occurred in Wuling County.

On the day of the incident, the mountain village was shrouded in a thick morning mist. The sound of a tofu peddler's clapper could be heard in the distance. The mountain road was rugged and difficult to walk on. The tofu peddler put down his load to rest for a while. He went to the peach orchard by the roadside to urinate. At that time, the thick fog filled the air, and the flat peaches bent the branches into a bright arc. The leaves were dripping with water, and a scarecrow stood quietly in the orchard.

The peddler felt very strange. When he got closer, he was scared out of his wits. The head of the scarecrow was a human head, and straw was stuffed inside the skin...

Professor Liang introduced that in the history of crime, two murderers were the most notorious. One was known as "the primordial serial killer who disappeared like mist - Jack the Ripper" by media around the world, and the other was "the celebrity serial killer - Edward Gein". Jack the Ripper's method of killing was to slit the throat and then dismember the body. Edward Gein's method was to shoot, dismember, and skin the victims, and make handicrafts out of their body parts. He had a terrifying nickname: Buffalo Bill. Many famous movies were based on these two people, such as "Hellraiser", "The Silence of the Lambs", and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".

Christophe Scott said that if the media knew about it, this "Buffalo Bill" in China would also be enough to cause a worldwide sensation.

After receiving the report, the Taoyuan Township Police Station was extremely shocked. The case was complex and could be said to be a very rare major criminal case since the founding of the People's Republic of China. After preliminary investigation, the deceased was Youngy from the Tourism Bureau of Wuling County. The local police, on the one hand, blocked the news to prevent panic among the local people, and on the other hand, reported it to the superior and requested the help of the Special Case Team. The four members of the Special Case Team immediately set off. They first took a plane to the provincial capital, then borrowed a car from the Provincial Public Security Department. Without a moment's rest, they drove towards the Wuling County Public Security Bureau with the siren blaring.

The building of the Wuling County Public Security Bureau looked very luxurious. Although it was a county - level public security bureau, its luxury was comparable to that of the White House. There were shady trees and gardens downstairs. The entrance was heavily guarded, and the sentinels were imposing. Looking up, one could see five glittering characters on the office building - "Serve the People".

In front of the Public Security Bureau, it was in a mess, with garbage everywhere. This formed a sharp contrast with the luxurious office building.

Philip Sofia looked at the cigarette butts, mineral water bottles, steamed buns, and bloodstains on the ground. He analyzed and said, "There were just some people petitioning here."

Matt said, "Petitioning? They should go to the county government. This is the Public Security Bureau."

Professor Liang said, "They must have gone to the county government first and were forcefully dispersed by the police. Several leaders of the petition were also arrested. Then the others came to sit in front of the Public Security Bureau, demanding the release of those people."

Inside the Public Security Bureau building, no one received the Special Case Team. Everyone's attitude was cold, and they even looked at the four members of the Special Case Team with strange eyes. After asking around, they learned that the bureau chief was on a business trip, and the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee had also gone to a meeting in another place. This made the members of the Special Case Team feel strange. There was an eerie atmosphere in the building.

Matt muttered, "What was it said? The local police would line up to welcome us, and the bureau chief would see us as saviors. Where are they?"

A police officer peeked around. When he saw the four members of the Special Case Team, he put on a big smile and invited them into the office. He introduced himself as a publicity officer and then took out a document, saying, "I'm really sorry..."

Professor Liang said, "What's going on?"

Publicity Officer: "There's no major homicide case here."

Matt said, "Are you kidding, right?"

Publicity Officer: "Sorry to have you come all the way for nothing. You'd better go back."

The publicity officer explained that it was a prank. There was no major homicide case in the local area. The Taoyuan Township Police Station had reported a false case, and the station chief had already been given a demerit. The scarecrow was just a mannequin, a prank by a local villager. The publicity officer showed the Special Case Team the forensic results, interrogation records, and handling results in the document.

Amy said angrily, "Called here at a moment's notice and sent away just as easily. I'm starving, and I didn't even have time to eat. It turns out to be a prank?"

Publicity Officer: "Now the Wuling County Public Security Bureau revokes the request for the Special Case Team's help. We can reimburse your air tickets and pay for your travel expenses..."

Matt slapped the table and cursed. Then, the four members of the Special Case Team left the room and the Wuling County Public Security Bureau. Matt started the car. When the car reached an intersection and stopped at a red light, Philip Sofia, with his head down, looking at the criminal investigation file, said, "They're lying!"

The on - site photos in the criminal investigation file were taken unprofessionally. Since the township police station usually dealt with some public security cases, such as family - planning enforcement, mediating fights, and occasionally even helping villagers find their lost cows, the police officer who took the photos at the township police station was probably very scared at that time, with his hands shaking. Coupled with the thick fog at the time of the incident, it was difficult to tell from the photos whether the scarecrow was a model or a real person.

The photos showed a very blurry face. The entire head was cut off neatly from under the chin, but there was still a piece of skin attached. Straw was stuffed bulgingly inside the skin. The body was naked, and the hands and feet were made of bundled straw. It seemed that the murderer only cut off the head and skinned the torso. At the position of the neck, a rope mark could be seen.

Philip Sofia wondered, "Who would hang a mannequin?"

Amy said, "This must be a person. This person should have been hanged first, then skinned, and finally inserted into the peach orchard."

Professor Liang said, "This is strange. Matt, let's go to the Taoyuan Township Police Station!"

The Taoyuan Township Police Station was located at the foot of a mountain. The mountain was covered with green grass and peach trees. A small stream flowed by, with weeping willows on both banks. A water - wheel was turning slowly. In the distance, the mountains were green, and nearby, a market was bustling. Only peaches were sold in the market, the local specialty flat peaches. As they were on the market around the Mid - Autumn Festival, fruit vendors from all over were attracted here.

The Special Case Team drove through the market and arrived at the Taoyuan Township Police Station.

However, strangely, the gate was closed, and there was not a single police officer in the police station.

The Special Case Team wandered around the market, planning to eat something first and then go to the crime scene on the mountain. The crime scene recorded in the criminal investigation file was in the orchard by the roadside in Taohua Village, Taoyuan Township, and the first murder scene was in a pavilion in the Taohuayuan Scenic Area. The group came to the foot of the mountain. There was a simple restaurant built of wood at the foot of the mountain. An old man wearing an apron was washing dishes in the hall. The stew in the pot was boiling gurglingly. A waiter was sharpening a kitchen knife. There was a bandage on his head, as if he had just been injured. The four members of the Special Case Team entered and sat down at a table.

Philip Sofia asked, "Uncle, is this the Taohuayuan Scenic Area?"

The old man replied, "Yes, this is that damned Taohuayuan!"

Philip Sofia asked again, "Why are there no police officers in the township police station during the day?"

The old man said angrily, "Those damned guys, they're all dead, all dead."

Matt asked, "Did a murder happen here?"

The old man asked cautiously, "What are you guys here for?"

Philip Sofia replied, "We're also police officers..."

As soon as the old man heard the words "police officers", he gritted his teeth, suddenly threw the plate in his hand on the ground, and pointed at the door, saying, "Get out, get out. The store is closed. I'd rather feed the meat to the dogs than sell it to you cops."

Hearing the word "get out", a surge of anger rose in Matt's heart. When the Special Case Team was handling the first two cases, they were so glorious. But now, they were first coldly received at the county public security bureau, then turned away at the township police station, and now humiliated by the restaurant owner. Matt stood up, about to flare up, when suddenly a group of fierce - looking people rushed in. They started smashing things as soon as they entered. They overturned the big stew pot, and the fire in the stove immediately ignited the curtains. The waiter in the restaurant, who was sharpening the knife, was so frightened that he stared blankly at them. Those people rushed up and punched and kicked the waiter. Soon, the bandage on the waiter's head was soaked red with blood again.

Philip Sofia and Matt didn't figure out what was going on. The wooden - built small restaurant was already on fire. There was chaos in the restaurant. The two quickly pushed Professor Liang's wheelchair, pulled Amy, and ran outside to a safe place.

The old man's neck veins bulged, and he shouted curses at the top of his voice. Several people carried him and the waiter out.

The wooden - built small restaurant was ablaze. Some villagers and passers - by wanted to put out the fire. Then a pot - bellied middle - aged man put his hands on his hips and shouted sternly, "I'm Township Head Wu. Whoever dares to put out the fire will be taken to the township government and locked up for 15 days. Pouring a ladle of water will be fined 300 yuan!"

The old man stiffened his body and shouted hoarsely, "Township Head Wu, you burned down my house. I'll fight you. I'll kill you."

Township Head Wu sneered and said, "Nonsense. It's an illegal building. I told you to move earlier, but you didn't listen. You choose to drink the penalty instead of the toast. Lock him up."

The small restaurant was ablaze, and soon it was reduced to ruins. The charred bricks and tiles made the white character "Demolish" on the wall more eye - catching. The old man's cursing voice grew weaker and weaker, gradually turning into sobs, and finally fading away. By the roadside at the foot of the mountain, there was a stone engraved with the cursive script of "The Peach Blossom Spring". "During the Taiyuan reign of the Jin Dynasty, a man from Wuling made a living by fishing. He rowed along the stream, forgetting how far he had gone. Suddenly, he came across a forest of peach blossoms..."

This violent demolition method gave Amy a bit of a shock. It was the first time she had seen such a brutal act. Matt sighed and also understood why the restaurant owner hated the police so much. The four members of the Special Case Team didn't have the mood to eat. They drove to the Taohuayuan Scenic Area on the mountain. Although the scenery along the way was beautiful, they really didn't have the mood to appreciate it. They were silent all the way. The car stopped in front of a small pavilion. There was a man sitting in the pavilion, reading a chess manual.

There was an antique wooden plaque hanging on the pavilion, inscribed with "Lanke Pavilion". This should be the murder scene recorded in the file. However, there was no blood on the pavilion pillars or the ground, and no warning signs were set up. It didn't seem like a place where a homicide had occurred. But Philip Sofia could already smell the blood in the pavilion.

Amy pushed Professor Liang in the wheelchair into the pavilion and stopped in front of the chessboard.

Professor Liang said to the man sitting in the pavilion, "How about a game of chess?"

The man smiled slightly and said, "Sure."

Professor Liang made the first move of "Cannon Two to Five", choosing an offensive opening.

The man was a bit nervous. He originally wanted to defend with the Screen Horse formation, but he moved the knight to the position of the elephant. Then he awkwardly corrected it.

Professor Liang pretended not to notice and asked in a chatting tone, "I want to ask about someone. Youngy from the Tourism Bureau who was killed. Have you heard of him?"

The man made another move and said, "That's me."