"I replied then, 'Whatever you say, thank you. Could you send a few people to escort us back?'"
"Director Li quickly agreed, then suddenly asked about my grandfather. That's when I told him Grandpa was gone. Director Li seemed unaware of how my grandfather died, but I didn't elaborate at the time. He could tell I didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't press. I was discharged from the hospital soon after, and he arranged a car for me. Alright, are you all clear now? That's the whole story. Don't worry about me anymore, I'll be perfectly fine!"
"You're really not afraid of death, facing the assailant alone. What if he had killed you right then and there?" Liu Yuning asked, looking at me with extreme anger.
I shook my head, "I only found out later that he was digging a pit to bury me. That guy was truly audacious, daring to kill even a police officer. Now, as for why he targeted his own brother, you should take a look at this document!"
As I spoke, I handed Liu Yuning a file. Her eyes widened as she read it, "You suspected this all along?"
"Yes, both of them are Bian Dalong's illegitimate sons. Bian Dalong is in his final days, and Bian Ruixi and Bian Ruifeng must have had their sights set on the family fortune."
"The Bian Dalong you mentioned isn't the biggest real estate magnate in Hengyang, is he? And his sons lived in a place like that?"
"Director Li investigated. Bian Dalong initially didn't want to acknowledge these two children, but as he has no other heirs, he had no choice but to find them at this stage. However, for specifics, I suggest you interrogate Bian Ruixi with me. Perhaps we can then uncover if this case is connected to the death live stream."
We sat in the interrogation room together. Seeing me again, Bian Ruixi became furious, "It's all your fault for ruining my plan! I was almost there, waiting for that old man to kick the bucket. How did you find me?"
"Ever since I discovered your connection to Bian Dalong, I had this suspicion. Can you tell me, who taught you that punishment method, 'Ice Mountain Hell'?" I asked probing.
"No one taught me, I thought of it myself. Wasn't it perfect for dealing with someone like Bian Ruifeng? If you investigate, you'll find he's a gambler, disrespectful to his parents, and utterly unrighteous! He deserved such punishment!"
Gao Mingqiang had previously investigated Bian Ruifeng's character and found it to be as Bian Ruixi described. I said, "Your goal was simply to swallow the inheritance. Why go through all this trouble? Why not just kill him and be done with it? Why make it so complicated? It doesn't benefit you, does it?"
"Actually, it was because... I originally wanted to frame those live streamers. I thought that by staging the scene this way, you wouldn't suspect me."
"So you intended to commit a crime by imitation to evade responsibility?" Liu Yuning stated.
Bian Ruixi nodded vigorously. He appeared normal, as if he were telling the truth, but I saw through him at a glance. I slammed my fist on the table, a move that even made Liu Yuning beside me turn in surprise.
The moment he nodded, his jaw muscles twitched unnaturally.
"Bian Ruixi, you can fool others, but you'll never fool me. Was someone threatening you to say this? Tell me quickly!"
"I really didn't! Detective He, I've been caught by you, and I accept my fate. Otherwise, I wouldn't have confessed so quickly!"
"Is that considered confessing? Were you deceived by someone?"
"No!" Bian Ruixi shook his head forcefully, like a rattle drum.
"Really not? Or did someone threaten you, or give you something in return? If you don't confess now, you'll truly have no chance!" I roared, my eyes blazing with anger, staring intently at Bian Ruixi. Of course, this was all to scare him. Yet, he seemed unfazed and stuck to his previous answer, "Absolutely not! My answer is the same as before. No matter how many times you ask, I will answer this way."
Seeing that Bian Ruixi wasn't going to confess further, I stood up. He didn't know what I was about to do, but with astonishing speed, I was beside him, "Are you sure you won't say more?"
"I've told you everything I can. What else do you want me to say?" Bian Ruixi deliberately retorted.
I punched the interrogation table in front of him. Liu Yuning had seen my capabilities before and knew that while my combat skills might not match those of special forces or armed police, I could handle one or two ordinary individuals. Fearing I might harm Bian Ruixi, she quickly came over and pulled me, "Is the surveillance still on?"
"Turn it off, and turn off the audio too!" I instructed.
Upon hearing this, Bian Ruixi immediately became tense, "What are you going to do?"
"Don't you know?" I quickly pulled out a scalpel and waved it in front of him, "See this? What is it?"
"Ah! Team Leader He, don't be rash!"
Ignoring Liu Yuning, I wanted to plunge the knife in. Bian Ruixi didn't know how long we had been struggling with this case, nor the pressure from above. Now that we had caught a key suspect, if he still refused to reveal anything, I truly feared I might lose control.
I traced the scalpel lightly along his neck, then deliberately applied pressure, staring at Bian Ruixi with a stern and oppressive gaze, "I'm not afraid to die for this case. Do you think I'm incapable of doing this? You're just a petty suspect. I can absolutely kill you and then clear myself of any charges!"
Bian Ruixi immediately became terrified, his pupils dilating, his lips trembling violently. "Don't stare at me like that. I told you, I told you, alright? The reason I did it is because my wife was captured. I don't know where she's being held, and I dare not tell you because 'Jile Feng Man Lou' said that if I reveal this, my wife won't survive."
"Jile Feng Man Lou? Who is that?"
"He's the one who commanded me to kill. I didn't have this plan originally. One day, he suddenly contacted me. He seemed to understand my current predicament and devised a thorough plan for me, telling me exactly what to do to kill my brother without being discovered. I was very scared then, because murder is no small matter. Of course, I dared not do such a thing, but that guy captured my wife and sent me some photos to prove it!"
"Aren't you single?"
"No, we aren't married. We're just dating. Perhaps we didn't meet often, maybe you couldn't find out!"