Chapter 13: The Supreme Art of Crushing the Heart

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Ye Sansang watched Wei Qingzheng smoking at the doorstep of her home, a mix of admiration and puzzlement stirring within her. As her current adversary, Wei Qingzheng’s keen perception was almost unsettling. There was clearly no evidence pointing to her. There were many suspects, yet he fixated solely on her.

She stepped forward and stood beside Wei Qingzheng. “Officer Wei, what brings you here? Is there a case nearby?”

They were barely acquaintances, so naturally, she greeted him—turning away would seem suspicious.

“No case nearby. I just have some questions, Master Sun. Could you help clarify them?” Wei Qingzheng looked at Ye Sansang.

She scratched her head. “What is it? If I can help, I definitely will.”

Her expression was natural and her demeanor normal.

Wei Qingzheng discarded his cigarette and looked steadily at Ye Sansang. “While investigating recently, I came across some information about you and your wife, Master Sun. I have some doubts I hope you can clear up. You’re a teacher—why resign and take up taxi driving in Jiangcheng? As for your wife, a nurse at a hospital, isn’t working as a waitress beneath her talents?”

He watched her closely, catching every flicker of emotion on her face.

Ye Sansang was momentarily surprised but then sighed. “We didn’t want this either, but the pay was too low. Being a teacher or a nurse looks good on the surface, but there’s barely anything in our pockets. While we’re still young, we wanted to make a mark in this big city.”

Starting a business back then wasn’t unusual.

She paused, then spoke of her wife with a wry smile. “As for my wife, well, she has a difficult personality and fell out with her superiors. She had no choice but to resign.”

This was the story she had confirmed with Lin Shu over the past few days. Wei Qingzheng could call the hospital to verify some of Lin Shu’s background.

There were other details.

For example, Sun Bin and Lin Shu’s daughter—they never reported her missing. The story to outsiders was that she was sent to her grandparents in the countryside.

No one knew she was already dead.

When the river near their hometown flooded, their daughter disappeared into the waters.

The grandparents loved their granddaughter deeply and would carry out the entire plan.

Having gathered this preliminary information, Ye Sansang effortlessly extracted the whole sequence of events.

When she learned all this, she felt genuine respect for the couple and the grandparents. It was rare for anyone in reality to go to such lengths for someone who had passed.

Because planning all this required immense courage.

To actually commit murder required even more—a love so deep it fermented into hatred, driving one to such extremes.

Many people only spoke of it; only those who truly understood knew how much courage, anger, and hatred it took.

Lost in these thoughts, Ye Sansang looked up and asked Wei Qingzheng, “We were forced to leave our hometown and come here.”

“Hmm…” Wei Qingzheng nodded.

At the same time, he knew the last thread of suspicion about her had vanished.

Her unusual aura, unlike a typical taxi driver, came from her prior profession.

Thinking this, a twinge of frustration welled up inside him.

Because the case had made no progress.

Jiangcheng was hosting an investment promotion event, and the city leaders wanted no mistakes, so the pressure was on the homicide squad.

His superiors had given a strict order: catch the killer within seven days.

It was already the day after Zhou Qiang’s death. Time seemed ample, but he felt uncertain.

With the pressure mounting, he sought out Sun Bin.

Ye Sansang studied him. “Officer Wei, you seem troubled! I heard from my passengers that there was another murder in Xingyuan Complex. The victim died horribly. Some say he made powerful enemies.”

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“No need to trouble you, Master Sun. I have to go,” Wei Qingzheng said hurriedly, then got into his car and left.

Ye Sansang stared after him, wondering when he would realize something was amiss.

She found herself oddly looking forward to it.

Returning to her car, she got in and drove off.

Unbeknownst to her, after she entered the car, Wei Qingzheng stopped and kept his eyes fixed on her.

“Zhao Sheng, find two colleagues unfamiliar to Sun Bin. Have them follow him closely,” his low voice ordered.

On the other end, Zhao Sheng replied, “Captain Wei, you still haven’t given up on him? We’ve traced Zhou Qiang’s social circle—he’s definitely among them.”

“Cut the nonsense. Sun Bin’s too perfect. I don’t trust him,” Wei Qingzheng said.

Zhao Sheng sighed. “Understood. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Wei Qingzheng hung up and headed back to the scene.

He refused to believe that the suspect left no trace.

Meanwhile, Ye Sansang was unaware of all this as she set off toward the area where Jiang Jiansheng was located.

From her last encounter with Zhou Qiang, she knew that being within about ten meters would trigger the game mission.

Sitting in the car, Ye Sansang lit a cigarette.

She didn’t smoke—this was Sun Bin’s habit.

Also, it helped conceal the fact she was deliberately waiting there.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jiansheng approached her.

“Ah? Jiang Jiansheng actually came to her?”

“Is he going to take a ride? But if she lets him in, it’ll be harder to shake off the police.”

“By the way, Jiang Jiansheng looks quite refined.”

The chatroom buzzed excitedly, and Ye Sansang glanced at the man approaching.

Unlike Zhou Qiang or Wang Shun, obvious villains, Jiang Jiansheng had a kind, gentle appearance, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and resembling a cultured businessman.

In truth, he was cunning—a con artist who made his start in Lin City.

Many wealthy Lin City residents had been scammed by him.

According to special channels, he was bored with Lin City, found no challenges there, and because some rich people paid handsomely to have him killed, he joined three others in coming to Jiangcheng.

Ye Sansang watched him approach, her mind racing, but her expression held just the right amount of curiosity.

“Sir, are you leaving?” she asked, pretending to put out her cigarette, inviting him to get in.

To any onlooker, it looked like a chance encounter.

Multitasking, she checked the game mission triggered.

Good—just as she wished, the path was bitter before sweet.

Good things must be saved for last.

Her mood lifted, and she looked at Jiang Jiansheng more kindly.

“Buddy, just borrowing your lighter for a moment. I was in a rush and forgot mine,” Jiang Jiansheng chuckled lightly.

Ye Sansang nodded, glanced at the lighter, then towards the street surveillance, and handed it over. “You can keep it—I picked up a few extras earlier.”

“Thanks, then,” Jiang Jiansheng smiled gratefully.

Ye Sansang nodded, watched him walk away, then leisurely finished her cigarette before driving off.

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After picking up a passenger ahead, she began her day’s work.

Everything was calm, as the time jumps indicated.

Killing Jiang Jiansheng would be difficult—a recurring problem.

Ye Sansang’s stamina.

With only three stamina points, breaking an adult man’s limbs was the toughest part of this murder.

Human bones were much tougher than one imagined.

Ye Sansang pondered this, while the chatroom discussed the game mission.

“You have to quickly knock the target out on the road the day after tomorrow afternoon, break his legs, then make him crawl two kilometers. Let him think he’s escaped the demon, then reappear and deliver a fatal blow. Breaking bones and crawling two kilometers unnoticed is no easy feat!”

“True, it’s tough, but I’m sure Sansang has a plan.”

“I only feel sorry for Sun Bin. He’s the kind who gives as good as he gets, proving his daughter was probably tortured the same way!”

At this point, the chatroom’s atmosphere grew heavy.

Without witnessing the minor girl’s ordeal, they might have thought this was just a dark, twisted game.

But knowing the truth, they felt genuine sorrow for the girl’s fate.

Though Sun Bin avenged his daughter by killing those who harmed her, she would never return—forever lost on that rainy night.

Watching all this, they felt no joy—only an ever-growing anger.

If only this were all fiction.

Ye Sansang was unaware of the chatroom mood. She returned home and rummaged through her room, finding a sledgehammer.

Also, Lin Shu’s long-prepared anesthetics, along with new gloves and masks.

According to the game’s case description, Sun Bin contacted the casino through friends of friends.

They knew Jiang Jiansheng’s whereabouts and sold the information to Sun Bin.

He followed Jiang Jiansheng by car, took him by surprise, quickly knocked him out, and took him to an abandoned factory in the southern suburbs to carry out his plan.

Ye Sansang looked at the items in her hand, her eyes darting about, then turned to Lin Shu, who was packing up to leave for work.

“I remember you’re off the day after tomorrow afternoon. I have a plan…” Ye Sansang began but then whispered the rest into Lin Shu’s ear. The livestream’s system cleverly muted this part, leaving viewers in suspense.

As Ye Sansang outlined the plan, Lin Shu’s expression gradually changed—her pupils constricted, showing surprise and desire.

When Ye Sansang finished, she wore a polite smile, her eyes free of malice.

“...Is that okay?” Lin Shu hesitated for two seconds, then spoke with difficulty.

Ye Sansang’s expression was complex. “When the heart harbors resentment, it needs an outlet.”

Lin Shu said nothing, merely nodded solemnly and turned to leave.

But her steps were noticeably lighter than before.

Ye Sansang watched her retreating figure. Even though Lin Shu was just an NPC in this game, she inexplicably wished to lift her spirits.

That plan was not only a psychological strike against Jiang Jiansheng but also a release for Lin Shu’s emotions.

Ye Sansang’s eyes brimmed with a smile.

Beyond the game’s missions, she was free to improvise.