The Stone Hut on the Back Hill

A faint tremor passed through the corner of Huo Xuan's eye. His left eyelid flickered as his gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, once again capturing that shadowy figure opening the gas valve. In the darkness, the triangular eyes gleamed with malice and greed.

Then he saw it—a palm-sized red birthmark covered in coarse black hair on the killer's neck, impossible to miss.

Slowly, Huo Xuan closed his eyes. When they reopened, a cold glint flashed within them.

"Murder," he murmured, lighting another cigarette as he mentally reconstructed the crime.

Clearly, the old man had bitten off his own finger in a desperate bid for survival. Yet somehow, that fragment of bone had ended up encased in concrete—only to be discovered by Huo Xuan.

Is this fate at work? A chill ran down his spine. He took a deep drag before returning to the surface via the shuddering elevator.

Tong Haichuan was pacing impatiently. "Well? Find anything?"

Huo Xuan ignored the question. "Can you mobilize Tianyun County's police force?"

"Absolutely." Tong Haichuan nodded. "The Political and Legal Affairs Committee head here is my high school buddy—we're thick as thieves. He'll back me 100%."

"Good. Let's pay your old classmate a visit."

Their car pulled up to the Tianyun County Public Security Bureau, where Director Zhuo Bin—forewarned by Tong Haichuan's call—had sent subordinates to greet them.

Zhuo Bin matched Tong Haichuan in age but stood taller, with thick brows and an imposing presence that commanded respect. A hearty laugh escaped him as they entered the conference room. "Old Tong! What brings you here?"

"Can't I visit an old friend?" Tong Haichuan grinned before introducing Huo Xuan. "This is Investigator Huo, a top-tier specialist I brought in from above."

As fellow officers, Zhuo Bin treated Huo Xuan with casual respect. "Old Tong rarely praises anyone. If he calls you an expert, you must be the real deal."

Huo Xuan cut to the chase. "Director Zhuo, we need your help cracking a case."

Zhuo Bin's expression shifted as he glanced at Tong Haichuan. "That cold case again?"

Tong Haichuan's jaw tightened. "I can't rest until it's solved."

"These things are near impossible to crack!" Zhuo Bin sighed. "I've helped before—got nowhere. Let it go."

Huo Xuan interjected, "We have leads. With your support, we can identify both the killer and whoever hired him."

Skepticism flashed across Zhuo Bin's face, but he relented. "Fine. But Old Tong—last time. No more after this."

Huo Xuan directed the investigation along two tracks:

​Suspect Profile: A locksmith with a distinctive red, hairy neck birthmark.​Medical Records: Screening dermatology patients county-wide for matching birthmarks.

With ample manpower, results came swiftly—by the next afternoon, both avenues had yielded hits.

Meanwhile, Deputy Captain Lian Fang of the Criminal Investigation Team slipped into a restroom to make a hushed call. "Boss, Old Tong's back with some hotshot investigator. They've zeroed in on Mao Er."

A cold voice responded after a pause: "Two tasks. First, eliminate Mao Er. Second, dig up everything on Tong's expert."

Lian Fang hesitated. "Couldn't we just have Mao Er lay low—"

"Do it!" The voice snapped. "If they traced Mao Er, he's compromised. ​Terminate him."

Gritting his teeth, Lian Fang agreed.

The moment Huo Xuan saw Mao Er's ID photo, he knew—this was the killer. Without explanation, he dragged Tong Haichuan toward Mao Er's residence.

They arrived to find only Mao Er's wife at home. "He left half an hour ago after a call," she said.

Huo Xuan's face darkened. "We're late."

Tong Haichuan frowned. "How did you ID him as the killer? And why would someone tip him off?"

"No time." Huo Xuan's eyes narrowed. "Mao Er can't have gone far. I'll track him. You return to headquarters—have Zhuo Bin monitor any officers leaving abruptly."

Alone at Mao Er's doorstep, Huo Xuan closed his eyes briefly before striding left into an alley. He alternated between walking and bus rides, stopping at a supermarket and fruit stall before reaching the county's western outskirts.

Sunset painted the hills crimson as Huo Xuan inhaled deeply—then vanished in a blur of speed toward the summit.

Ten minutes later, he spotted a crude stone hut, its low silhouette barely visible against the darkening sky.

Huo Xuan didn't charge in. Instead, he melted into the shadows behind a boulder, watching. Waiting.