Light Fortress-Chapter 71 - 69 Da Du and Black Hibiscus Flowers
71: 69 Da Du and Black Hibiscus Flowers
71: 69 Da Du and Black Hibiscus Flowers
Several more photos were passed over, all from the crime scene.
Gu Shen only glanced at them briefly before hastily putting them away…
The scene was indeed appalling, enough to provoke a visceral discomfort.
Every victim bore wounds that were uniformly clean and sharp yet deeply penetrating to the bone.
Their necks appeared as if slashed by a large knife, but oddly enough, the cuts stopped short of being fatal, leaving a thin layer of flesh connecting the head to the torso.
The methods of the out-of-control one were extremely brutal.
“This guy’s style is particularly vicious…
and he’s extremely careful, elusive like a ghost.
Deep Sea hasn’t captured any images until three days ago,” Hu Danian whispered.
“For some reason, he ventured into the most crowded part of the river bank, but he was bundled up tightly.
We only caught a blurred image.”
The last photo.
It was a screenshot from the bar’s surveillance, with crowds of people in the frame.
A marker highlighted the outline of a man hurrying by, indeed heavily cloaked, with a black hat and a black mask obscuring his face.
Tall and lean, he had a hunched back, appearing sickly thin.
Upon closer inspection, one could indeed sense that he was concealing something in his arms.
“Is this the out-of-control one carrying the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes?” Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.
“It was here…
that he had contact with Jiang Wan.”
“That’s right…
and after that, he disappeared again.
Using Deep Sea’s authority, we can accurately locate the victims influenced by the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes and thereby determine his movements.
He has always been moving around Lipu Street and the river bank.
Unfortunately, this method is always one step behind,” Hu Danian said somberly.
“The information I’ve gathered so far is just this.
However, there’s one thing worth mentioning…
I find this guy’s logic very strange.
If he’s a serial killer who randomly draws his ‘lucky’ victims, why doesn’t he unleash the full power of the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes?”
Gu Shen fell into deep thought.
Hu Danian said that so far, only twenty-four people had been affected by the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes…
That number seemed quite low.
For several days in a row, if the intent was to deliberately create chaos, the sculpture could affect hundreds, even thousands of people in a single day.
“Taking the dreams of ordinary people is not his intention…” Gu Shen murmured.
“These people are not his targets…
he is hunting for something.”
Hu Danian’s eyes brightened.
“This person has been lingering around Lipu River Beach without leaving, which means his prey is in this area,” Gu Shen said softly.
“Perhaps he is not randomly selecting, but targeting his hunting.
As for the characteristics of the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes, I have a doubt…
You said that it triggers its properties upon physical contact.
What about the carrier himself?”
“This was once an object sealed in Deep Sea’s vault, because even wearing gloves, without skin contact…
the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes would still activate its properties,” Hu Danian frowned and spoke slowly.
“The conditions to trigger the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes is not so much physical contact as satisfying ‘a certain distance’…”
Realizing something as he spoke, Hu Danian understood the purpose behind Gu Shen’s questioning.
“Are you suggesting…
that the carrier himself…
his dreams have also been taken?”
“Exactly,” Gu Shen affirmed.
“Look at this photo…
does he not look frail?
I suspect that after wandering around the river bank with the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes for so long, his sleep must have been nearly plundered as well.”
Hu Danian murmured, “That makes sense…”
“However,” he paused, “what good does knowing this do us?”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“You said before…
Deep Sea can locate those insomniacs infected by the Sculpture of Solemn Eyes…
right?” Gu Shen spoke softly.
“Send those who are still insomniac and in need of treatment to 18 Lipu Street.
I’ll take care of their treatment.”
Hu Danian paused.
His role was to liaise, to relay messages.
He had only seen the photo of the contact person and was unaware of any other information.
Following his usual practice, after giving the details…
there was nothing more to say, the mission was complete.
But this time, for the first time, he seriously regarded the young man beside him.
He had been on the job for about fifteen years, had seen all kinds of people.
Old friends, acquaintances, after awakening to Extraordinary Power, would more or less change their appearance…
Perhaps they grew accustomed to life and death, or perhaps they witnessed the fragility of life before the force of Extraordinary Power, and gradually, in the course of their missions, the lives of ordinary people were no longer given top priority.
Save them if you can.
If you can’t, then don’t.
The boy’s pupils were clear and clean, like a calm lake.
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t doubt you…”
Gu Shen calmly said, “I just feel…
given your way of doing things, these victims will be given a low priority, and there may be accidental casualties.
Of course, I know my own abilities, and I don’t see myself as a savior, but if it’s just about removing the Spiritual Infection from the stone carvings…
I can handle it, and I’d be happy to take over.”
Aside from this point…
he had another consideration.
After curing Jiang Wan last time, his Chi Huo had become stronger.
Although it was just a wisp, almost negligible…
the fact that it was stronger was the truth!
Gu Shen guessed that the enhancement of his Chi Huo was related to the removal of the Dream, and within the Spiritual Imprint provided to ordinary people by the stone carvings, there lay a trace of Extraordinary Essence.
Even a mosquito’s leg is still flesh.
At this stage, Gu Shen was not willing to give up any opportunity to enhance his strength.
“Alright.” Hu Danian said indifferently, “I will convey your willingness to Mr.
Cui.
Your readiness to take the job saves us a lot of trouble.”
Gu Shen smiled.
The conversation about the case ended here, and he was still somewhat interested in the identity of this hoodie-wearing uncle.
“May I ask who ‘we’ are referring to…?” Gu Shen rolled up his sleeve, pointed to the spot on his forearm and asked, “Some kind of gang, maybe?”
Hu Danian frowned slightly.
He didn’t try to cover up but instead slowly rolled up his sleeve to give Gu Shen a clearer view…
It was indeed a glaring tattoo, black patterns coiling and encircling to form a shattered heart.
This was a striking and bewitching flower blooming on the heart.
“Haven’t seen this tattoo before?”
Hu Danian looked at Gu Shen’s perplexed expression and suddenly laughed, patting the latter’s shoulder hard, drawing nearer and whispering, “Kid, you really are new to Da Du.
I could tell from the look in your eyes, as clean as a lamb entering a wolf’s den.
But have you really never heard of the ‘Sincere Heart Association’?”
Gu Shen shook his head.
Black Hibiscus…
sacred and bewitching.
“Stay away from it if you ever see it again.
You can’t afford to mess with that organization.” Hu Danian took a wine glass from the bar and said leisurely, “Here’s your drink…
Have a taste of the flavor of Da Du.”
Gu Shen took a sip.
He frowned slightly.
“How’s the drink?” Hu Danian spread his hands and sat back at a corner of the bar, watching the neon lights ripple across the dance floor.
Gu Shen put down the wine glass and answered honestly.
“Very sweet…
and also very strong.”
