Was Chen Xiao trying to relieve stress?

Of course not.

The reason he was interested in the slaughterhouse where Xiong Nan apprenticed was entirely because Xiong Nan’s pig dismemberment actions were clean and efficient.

The way Jiao Guoxuan and the two others were killed had similar characteristics.

Besides, Chen Xiao also wondered if people with years of slaughtering experience would find it easier to commit such a crime?

With these doubts, Chen Xiao went with Xiong Nan to the slaughterhouse.

Inside the slaughterhouse.

The butchers were all busy with their work.

Some looked at Chen Xiao and Xiong Nan, and some nodded in greeting to Xiong Nan.

But most were still focused on their own work.

Xiong Nan brought Chen Xiao to a middle-aged man in his forties.

"Master, this is the Advisor Chen I mentioned on the phone just now!"

"Hello Advisor Chen." The man said as he removed his gloves, but just as he was about to shake hands, he awkwardly retracted his hand:

"I’m sorry, Advisor Chen, my hands are really dirty."

Chen Xiao shook his head with a smile, "It’s fine, Master Zhuang, I’m just here to take a look while you do your work."

"Alright, feel free to look around."

Master Zhuang continued with his work.

Chen Xiao was also observing carefully.

But as time went on, a look of confusion appeared on Xiong Nan’s face.

"Advisor Chen, are you really interested in pig slaughtering?"

Chen Xiao nodded with a smile, and Xiong Nan scratched his head and muttered, "Do all you investigators have quirks?"

That question reached Chen Xiao’s ears, prompting him to subconsciously ask back, "Have quirks? Have you met many investigators?"

"No, I got into trouble and ended up in the detention center, where I met lots of fellow inmates. In our free time, we’d sit and chat about our lives. Some would talk about the officers who caught them."

"One inmate said the officer who caught him was a heavy smoker, only needing to light the first cigarette when working a case, with the rest following one after another."

"Someone else said their arresting officer was always eating noodles, just plain noodles in broth."

"Now Advisor Chen is also a bit strange. I’ve never heard of an investigator who likes watching pig slaughtering." Xiong Nan said with a laugh, then asked:

"Watching pig slaughtering, does it help you think, Advisor Chen?"

Chen Xiao chuckled, "I’m not sure, but you know investigators are very stressed. Sometimes you just need a way to relieve some of that pressure."

"That’s true."

Xiong Nan agreed and didn’t speak further.

But then Chen Xiao engaged the conversation: "Where do you think Madman Zhang might have gone?"

"I have no idea. When Officer Lin summoned me yesterday, I was completely stunned. Besides, with his unstable mind, it’s hard to guess where he’d go."

"Hasn’t Officer Lin mentioned that we found his backpack fished out of the water?" Chen Xiao said, looking at Xiong Nan.

Xiong Nan’s eyes widened in surprise, "He fell into the water?!"

"We can’t be certain yet; only the backpack was retrieved, but he hasn’t been found."

Xiong Nan was taken aback and, after several seconds, said, "That backpack is his life. He’d never throw it into the river on his own."

"So you think he might have fallen into the water as well?"

"I don’t know, but from my interactions with him over the last two months, he never took off that backpack."

"If that’s so, if Madman Zhang fell into the water, how would the backpack alone end up on the river surface without him unlatching it?"

Xiong Nan was stumped again.

Seemingly puzzled by the question. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Yes, the backpack is small, making it hard to remove under normal conditions. How did it end up floating on the river?"

Xiong Nan was puzzled.

Chen Xiao decided against watching more pig slaughtering and said,

"Let me drive you back."

"Not watching anymore?"

"No more watching, both you and I have our own things to do."

Xiong Nan nodded, told Master Zhuang, and then took Chen Xiao’s car back to the market.

After dropping off Xiong Nan, Chen Xiao sat in his car, momentarily uncertain of his next destination.

Eventually, he drove to the bridge.

Standing on the bridge, Chen Xiao observed the flow and direction of the river, then got back in the car and drove upstream along the riverbank.

He hadn’t driven far when he spotted Han Zai by the side of the riverbank.

Han was seated on the riverbank, eyes fixed on the water, seemingly deep in thought.

Chen Xiao got out of the car and called out, "Teacher Han."

Han Zai turned, surprisingly said, "I didn’t expect to run into you here."

"I was hoping to find where Madman Zhang might have fallen into the water."

Han Zai nodded, "Xiaoxi has been sharing information with me. She mentioned suspecting Madman Zhang’s disappearance is a diversion."

"Indeed, but such a diversion isn’t easily executed. First, Madman Zhang would have to trust someone completely; otherwise, a person in his state wouldn’t leave without me noticing. Furthermore, Madman Zhang’s disappearance is quite an extreme move, making it difficult to discern the real from the fake."

"Yes, sitting here on the riverbank, I’ve been questioning myself whether Madman Zhang’s disappearance is related to the case. One voice tells me no, while another tells me yes."

Saying this, Han Zai turned to Chen Xiao, "Do you think Madman Zhang is still alive?"

"That’s another question I can’t answer."

Han Zai sighed deeply, "Finding Madman Zhang now would improve things greatly."

"Rather than finding him, Teacher Han, have you considered who could cause a madman’s disappearance? And as for Madman Zhang’s mental state, has any hospital provided a diagnosis for him, determining whether he’s completely insane or intermittently so?"

"He’s had no family since a few years ago, so no one has taken him to a hospital." Han Zai replied, then frowned and said,

"However, you’re right. Identifying who caused Madman Zhang’s disappearance is crucial. Persuading a madman to avoid your sight in such a coincidental manner resembles someone’s capabilities."

"You mean Xiong Nan, don’t you?"

"Yes, he showed kindness to Madman Zhang, who liked to follow him around. If he spoke, Madman Zhang would definitely listen. But why would Xiong Nan do it? Even if the entire case lacks any semblance of vengeance, passion, or financial motive, nearly wiping out a family requires a reason."

Han Zai furrowed his brows.

Chen Xiao calmly replied, "The perpetrator’s biggest advantage is having a wealth of information, and having more people who are kind to Madman Zhang than just Xiong Nan."

"You’re right, he does have a lot of information. And I heard Xiaoxi mention Madman Zhang’s side profile resembles Qiao Zhiyuan’s a bit, right?"

"Yes," Chen Xiao nodded, then added, "I have a growing suspicion that Madman Zhang could be a tool."

"A tool? Are you suggesting someone used Madman Zhang’s hand? But he’s insane, unless you’re considering the intermittent insanity theory?"

Before Han Zai could finish, Chen Xiao’s phone rang.

It was Lin Xi calling.

"Chen Xiao, the bloodstain analysis on the suit is out!"