Damn, he clearly didn't intend to take his life, avoiding vital spots to capture him for interrogation, but this shot took his life!
Duan Chen swiftly used the steel pipe as cover, turned his gun, and fired two shots towards the origin of the bullet.
Through the dust, he only saw a figure in a black robe rapidly receding.
Strange, the other party didn't seem to have any intention of attacking him.
No, that's not the point.
The point is that Zhong Xingwen had heavily booby-trapped the abandoned factory after remodeling it, leaving few paths. Duan Chen had essentially gone through all of them; there was no way an ambush could be hidden.
Yet, this person appeared and disappeared right before his eyes.
Just like Wu Suowei back then, but the aura was completely different from Wu Suowei's.
Could it be... someone from the Evil God faction?
But if that were the case, this person should be Zhong Xingwen's accomplice. That shot should have been aimed at him, so why kill Zhong Xingwen?
It was as if... to destroy some evidence, hence silencing him.
No time to think, Duan Chen wanted to give chase, but Zhong Xingwen and Li Wei's situation was more urgent. He gritted his teeth and leaped towards Zhong Xingwen.
"Ugh, ugh... I, I... I don't want to die yet..."
Zhong Xingwen held on by a thread, his eyes vacant, hand clutching his chest, the blood already soaking the ground beneath him.
"The collection, the... collection, my mission... is about to be completed..."
Duan Chen quickly checked and applied emergency bandaging, but it was too late. "Hey, a dying person speaks wisely. You should quickly undo the barrier trapping Li Wei!"
Zhong Xingwen's lips twitched into a smile, carrying his pride and dignity. His formerly clear black and white eyes were filled with black digits, "03".
He seemed to see a phantom scene.
"Evil God, Lord..."
His head lolled to the side, Zhong Xingwen breathed his last, and the numbers in his eyes vanished.
"This lunatic!"
Duan Chen was speechless. "He's facing death yet still won't change his faith. What a loyal dog!"
Activating his visual analysis again, Duan Chen found an exquisitely crafted ring on Zhong Xingwen's hand. Upon closer inspection, the inlay seemed to be a diamond, but it didn't possess the radiance of a diamond carving.
A scan from the detector confirmed it was no ordinary object—
[Name: Spatial Ring]
[Quality: Rare]
[Remark: A ring that stores items in a unique space separate from the world. It can be opened at will by injecting spiritual energy. The space size depends on the amount of spiritual energy infused. Note: Living beings cannot be placed inside.]
A personal space!
Duan Chen's eyes lit up. He put on the ring and infused it with spiritual energy. The ring immediately glowed in response.
A space of about 10 cubic meters appeared in his mind.
Good heavens!
The ring space was divided into two parts. On the left, it was stacked with gold bars. And on the right...
Were the perfectly preserved severed heads of nine young girls!
Duan Chen's heart tightened. He recalled the recent string of disappearances and murders that Gao Tiankai had been investigating. The missing girls were hidden here!
No time to ponder, he hurriedly got up and approached the large water缸. The moment he touched the barrier, his mind moved, the barrier flickered, and it was retracted into the Spatial Ring.
Splash—!
Water from the缸 gushed out. Duan Chen swam against the current and rescued Li Wei. She was ice-cold, her breathing extremely weak.
Duan Chen took off his suit, wrapped Li Wei in it, and carried her horizontally, sighing softly.
Li Wei flinched. Her faint consciousness was like a dying ember.
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Wei, I'm here to save you."
Duan Chen held her, running, and said softly.
Li Wei's lips trembled, her tightly shut eyelids quivered, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
She felt the chest embracing her, like someone walking in the snow suddenly finding a furnace.
Duan Chen...
The salty liquid trickled into her nostrils. She realized Duan Chen was injured, yet the arm holding her was so strong, filling her with a sense of security.
Li Wei silently whispered his name in her heart, immense grievance and regret washing over her.
I was so stupid.
If only I hadn't let go back then.
Duan Chen held Li Wei tighter and quickened his pace. "Xiao Wei, don't sleep, hold on a bit longer, it's okay now."
Li Wei leaned against him obediently, cherishing this warmth.
By the time they reached the hospital, Gao Tiankai and Li Wei's father were already waiting. Upon seeing the blood-stained Duan Chen holding the dying Li Wei, they were both shocked.
Li Wei's father's tears instantly streamed down his face. His legs gave out, and if Gao Tiankai hadn't supported him, he would have nearly knelt.
"Xiao Wei!!"
Medical personnel quickly rushed over, and Li Wei was pushed into the emergency room.
Duan Chen should have been pushed in as well, but he waved his hand, refusing for the moment.
He had a more important matter to discuss with Gao Tiankai.
Gao Tiankai was pulled to a corner by Duan Chen. He placed the Spatial Ring into his hand.
"Take a look yourself."
"What's this? Being so suspicious, with your injuries, if you don't get treatment, you'll kick the bucket... Holy crap!! How are there... how are there human heads in this ring!!"
"What the hell, where did you get this?"
Gao Tiankai was so shocked he stammered. He looked at Duan Chen in disbelief, then confirmed again.
"Zhong Xingwen's," Duan Chen said, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath, his expression grave.
"You're saying Zhong Xingwen is the serial killer?" Gao Tiankai became serious and examined it closely.
The cut surfaces of the girls' heads inside the space were flat, indicating extreme speed and force. Moreover, people dead for tens of days should have long since rotted, but these heads were specially preserved, looking as if they were sleeping, their complexions still rosy, lips tender, making it even more eerie.
This was the most crucial clue in recent days.
"I'm not sure. With his abilities, he doesn't seem capable of inflicting such wounds," Duan Chen sighed, picked up a cigarette, and squinted through the smoke, trying to recall.
"Before Zhong Xingwen died, he said: 'The collection, the mission, is about to be completed'... I find it very strange. If it was a mission, who gave it to him? He was most likely used as a scapegoat. They specifically shot and killed him to silence him, fearing I would capture him alive."
Gao Tiankai smacked his lips. "Good thing you went, otherwise Li Wei's head might be here too?"
This was highly possible, but Duan Chen still couldn't figure out how someone with average martial arts skills could make such cuts.
Gao Tiankai said with a solemn expression, "Can I handle these heads?"
Duan Chen nodded. "Of course, I'm showing them to you because they belong to you. After all, you're in charge of this case."
"Haha! This is a huge achievement! I thought you wouldn't bear to give me such excellent equipment. Don't worry, I'll return the ring to you immediately after dealing with these heads. When the reward money comes, I'll treat you to a drink. It's a pity Old Zhang isn't here, otherwise, the three of us could drink until we drop again."
Gao Tiankai excitedly patted Duan Chen's shoulder, as happy as a child.
Duan Chen watched him calmly.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Regretting it? Half of this credit is yours, don't worry, I won't take it all." Gao Tiankai noticed, raising an eyebrow strangely.