Good and Evil Chapter 94: The Eerie Photograph and the Scene of Death

Just as Xu Lang was about to ask Jin Enpei to contact the person associated with Tian Yang, the phone in his hand vibrated. Xu Lang glanced down and saw a message from Tian Yang.

He opened the chat window and saw that Tian Yang had sent a photograph along with a short message.

The photo depicted a man sitting in front of a computer, one hand poised over the keyboard, the other gripping the mouse. The man was intently staring at the screen, the glow from the monitor casting a faint blue hue over his face.

Xu Lang recognized the man immediately—it was Tian Yang himself. Judging by the angle, the photo was clearly taken by someone outside, shooting through an open window.

Alongside the photo, Tian Yang had sent a message explaining that Duan Yiling had once again messaged him on QQ—not with words this time, but with a photo, the very same one Tian Yang had just sent to Jin Enpei. According to Tian Yang’s message, the photo had been taken just three minutes prior, as he was currently sitting before his computer at home.

After reading this, Tian Yang sent another photo—a selfie with the time and location stamped on it.

The timestamp read: September 22, 2009, 5:24 p.m., at Mingwan Community, Fangxi Road, West District, City S.

In both photos, Tian Yang wore the same black hoodie. From the surrounding details and lighting in the images, it was clear they had been taken recently—one by someone else, one by Tian Yang himself.

As Xu Lang studied the two photos repeatedly, the chat window vibrated again. Tian Yang sent a new message—a screenshot of a chat containing a single line: “Frozen, so cold.”

Xu Lang was about to ask Tian Yang’s location when he suddenly noticed that Tian Yang’s QQ had gone offline; his avatar had turned gray. A wave of unease washed over Xu Lang.

Without hesitation, he stood up, phone in hand, and said to Jin Enpei across from him, “We need to go out—something might have happened.”

He grabbed his car keys and briskly left his office toward the exit.

Jin Enpei, confused by Xu Lang’s sudden change in demeanor, followed closely behind, asking, “Go out? Where? What happened? Who’s in trouble?”

Xu Lang didn’t respond. He continued toward the elevator, phone still in hand.

Jin Enpei returned to her desk, grabbed her bag, and followed him to the elevator, repeating her questions during the wait.

Xu Lang handed her the phone without explanation. When Jin Enpei saw the messages Tian Yang had sent, her expression shifted dramatically. She finally understood why Xu Lang was so urgent and said “something might have happened.”

From the photos and messages, it was clear someone was closely watching Tian Yang’s every move—a person nearby who had sent the photo as a warning of their presence.

Since this unknown individual sent the photo, it meant they intended to confront Tian Yang. And with Tian Yang’s QQ suddenly offline, the worst was feared: he might have been kidnapped, injured, or even worse.

Only by finding Tian Yang could they uncover the truth.

The elevator dinged open. The car was empty. Xu Lang and Jin Enpei entered.

Once the doors closed, Jin Enpei finally spoke.

“Brother Lang, you said we’re going out. Are we going to find Tian Yang?”

Xu Lang nodded gravely.

“But we don’t even know where he lives. How can we find him?” she asked.

Xu Lang turned to look at her, silent. Seeing her growing puzzled, he glanced at the phone in her hand and said slowly, “Take a good look at the selfie Tian Yang sent.”

Jin Enpei immediately flipped to the selfie, noting the timestamp and the location: Mingwan Community, Fangxi Road, West District, City S.

She brightened, realizing she now knew where Tian Yang lived. But then she frowned and looked at Xu Lang. “I’ve heard of Mingwan Community. It has several buildings. We only know he lives there, but not which building or floor.”

Xu Lang looked at her again, shook his head, sighing. Jin Enpei blushed slightly and grew curious. What method could Xu Lang possibly have to find Tian Yang's exact residence among those buildings?

The elevator arrived at the underground parking. Xu Lang led the way to a black Audi sedan, which he had purchased for the investigation agency’s use. It had been parked here, unused, since the agency’s opening due to few clients and the fact that Du Ziqiao and Shu Yue each had their own cars.

Xu Lang drove, Jin Enpei sat beside him. They fastened their seatbelts, and he took off toward Mingwan Community on Fangxi Road.

It was now six in the evening, rush hour. The streets were crowded with cars and pedestrians. Though Xu Lang was anxious, he drove cautiously.

Two hours later, they arrived at Mingwan Community. Xu Lang parked and stepped out to survey the buildings.

The community had five ten-plus story buildings arranged in a row—five units. Tian Yang’s photo only indicated the community and street, but not which building, floor, or apartment.

Jin Enpei was curious to see how Xu Lang planned to find Tian Yang’s exact dwelling with such scant information.

Without explanation, Xu Lang approached the property management office and inquired if anyone named Tian Yang lived there.

At first, the staff looked puzzled. The community wasn’t tiny but not huge either, with hundreds of households across five buildings. They couldn’t recall every resident’s name.

Seeing this, Xu Lang took the phone from Jin Enpei and showed them the selfie. The property manager’s face lit up with recognition.

“Oh, him? He lives in Unit 3, Apartment 502. Why? Are you here to see him?”

Relieved to have the precise address, Xu Lang asked, “Does he live alone or with family?”

The staff scrutinized Xu Lang and Jin Enpei carefully before asking, “What’s your business? Why are you asking?”

Xu Lang pulled out his administrative consultant ID issued by Lu Ye, flashed it briefly, then put it away. “We’re police, here to inquire about Tian Yang.”

Though the staff didn’t read the ID closely, the official police markings were clear. Upon hearing Xu Lang’s explanation, the staff smiled and said, “He lives alone.”

“Has Tian Yang always lived alone?” Xu Lang pressed.

“No,” the staff replied after thinking. “About two years ago, a girl lived with him. But more than a year ago, she died in a car accident. Since then, he’s been living alone.”

Having gathered this, Xu Lang thanked the staff and headed straight for Unit 3, Apartment 502 with Jin Enpei.

At the door, Xu Lang raised his hand to knock but stopped, frowning. The door was ajar, not fully closed. After a moment’s hesitation, he pushed it open.

Immediately, a strong metallic scent filled the air—an unmistakable smell of blood. The familiar odor sank deep into Xu Lang’s senses, intensifying his sense of foreboding.

“Stay outside. Don’t move. I’ll take a look inside,” he instructed.

He pulled a pair of pristine white gloves from his pocket, donned them, and stepped inside.

The apartment was a two-bedroom with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. At the entrance stood a shoe cabinet holding several pairs of men’s shoes—dress shoes, sneakers, trendy shoes—but no slippers.

Beyond the entrance lay the living room with two sofas facing a television, which was off. In front of the sofas sat a glass coffee table cluttered with a few magazines, the TV remote, and a transparent glass half-filled with water.

On one side were two bedrooms, one large and one small, both doors open. The blood scent emanated from the smaller room, which upon closer inspection, was not a bedroom but a study converted from one.

The study’s furnishings were simple: two bookshelves, a desk, and a small sofa. On the desk sat a computer, behind which was a boss chair. A man slumped in the chair, eyes wide open, mouth agape, fresh blood dripping from his lips. He wore a black hoodie soaked in blood, a sharp single-edged kitchen knife embedded in his chest.

One hand gripped the knife’s handle tightly, the other clutched a computer mouse. Blood streamed down his torso, staining the chair and dripping onto the floor, where a large pool had begun to coagulate.

Xu Lang approached, placed his hand under the man’s nose for a moment—no breath. He then felt the neck—no pulse. The man was dead.

Looking at the lifeless face, eyes staring unblinkingly in eternal unrest, Xu Lang sighed.

The deceased was none other than Tian Yang, who had messaged Jin Enpei just seventy-two hours earlier.

Confirming the death, Xu Lang scanned the study.

The bookshelves held many volumes in Chinese and English, along with a small globe and several photo frames. The pictures showed Tian Yang with a young woman—not particularly beautiful, wearing glasses, delicate and quiet.

On the desk was another photo frame, now overturned. Xu Lang carefully set it upright. It too showed Tian Yang and the same girl.

He recognized the girl from the photos: Duan Yiling, who had died in a car accident over a year ago.

The study’s window was open, matching exactly the scene in the photo Tian Yang had sent to Jin Enpei just hours earlier.

Having surveyed the scene, Xu Lang left the room and called Ning Yanran, instructing her to bring a team immediately to the homicide at Unit 3, Apartment 502, Mingwan Community.

Ning Yanran responded promptly, instructing Xu Lang to preserve the scene while she assembled the Criminal Investigation Unit and rushed over.

After the call, Xu Lang told Jin Enpei to wait outside and prevent anyone from entering. He then re-entered the apartment.

This time, he avoided the study and inspected the other rooms.

The bedroom was simple: a double bed, large wardrobe, two bedside tables, and a cabinet covered in white cloth—unknown contents. The bed covers were rumpled, as if left unmade after waking.

Xu Lang uncovered the cabinet to find a dressing table with a mirror and several used cosmetics and makeup tools. The table was spotless, carefully cleaned—likely by Tian Yang after Duan Yiling’s death.

After replacing the cloth, Xu Lang moved to the kitchen.

The kitchen was immaculate, with neatly arranged pots, pans, condiments, and utensils. Opening cabinets revealed nothing unusual.

However, the knife rack was missing a kitchen knife—the same kind used to stab Tian Yang.

Whether this was definitive evidence awaited the arrival of Ning Yanran’s team for thorough examination.

He opened the double-door refrigerator near the kitchen entrance, finding only a few drinks, leftovers, and some meat.

Next, Xu Lang checked the bathroom.

Small but tidy, it contained a sink, a small washing machine, two plastic buckets, a red basin, a toilet, and various toiletries.

On the sink sat facial cleanser, shampoo, body wash, soap, hand sanitizer, a razor, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and towels—all jasmine-scented.

The toothbrushes came in a matching set, appearing to be a couple’s pair.

On the towel rack hung five towels: two for face-washing, two bath towels, and one long towel likely for wrapping hair. Except for the long towel, the others were couple-themed, which puzzled Xu Lang.

He lifted the washing machine lid, finding several washed clothes inside—unfolded and not hung to dry. He glanced briefly but did not disturb them.

Near the toilet, he found a box containing a roll of toilet paper and several unopened sanitary pads, which made his brow furrow again. He checked the trash bin but found no used pads.

After a moment’s reflection, Xu Lang surveyed the bathroom once more before leaving and returning to the living room.

At that moment, footsteps and voices approached—Ning Yanran and Jin Enpei had arrived.

Xu Lang moved toward the door, ready to brief them.