Chapter Eighty-One: The True Cause of Death

The appearance of that insect was truly peculiar. It looked somewhat like an ant, yet it was much larger than any common ant she had ever seen, and its form was quite different as well. This large ant measured nearly two centimeters in length, with a massive head bearing a pair of sharp, serrated mandibles that gave it an intimidating look. Behind the oversized head was an absurdly thin midsection, followed by a round abdomen.

Ning Shuyi tried her best to search her memory for any information about such a strange ant, but unfortunately, her knowledge did not extend much into the realm of insects. At a loss, she could only give up.

“Forensic Zhang, this is a kind of ant, isn't it?” She felt as if she had asked a foolish question, but she had no other choice. The creature appeared to be an ant, yet looked so different from any she knew that she could not be certain.

Forensic Zhang smiled wryly and spread his hands. “I can't say for sure either. I've never seen anything like this before.”

Huo Yan pointed to the dead cat’s paw. “There’s a tiny wound on the pad—perhaps this dead insect caused it.”

Following his gesture, Forensic Zhang and Ning Shuyi examined the cat's paw and found, near the fur at the edge of a pad, a small wound. Judging by its shape and depth, it did indeed seem as though the strange insect had made it.

“Young man, you have sharp eyes!” Forensic Zhang, no longer young, required his glasses to make out the tiny wound. He glanced at Huo Yan and remarked with some admiration, “Back in the day, I had keen eyesight too—my mentor used to say my eyes were built-in magnifiers.”

“The shape of the wound exactly matches the insect's mandibles. If the wound was indeed caused by this creature, then this insect is no ordinary thing!”

“The cat’s posture clearly suggests poisoning. With the insect caught between its claws and the wound along the edge of the pad and fur, it’s likely that while trying to catch the insect, the cat pressed it beneath its paw, was bitten, and died from the poison. Because the cat died so soon after being bitten, its paw clenched, trapping the insect between its claws. The insect couldn’t escape and died there as well.”

Ning Shuyi was startled. “Doesn’t that mean this insect is extremely venomous? Such a creature is definitely not common here. In W City, especially at this time of year, even ordinary insects have yet to emerge. So how could such a large, bizarre, and poisonous insect appear out of nowhere in a movie theater on the upper floors of a bustling downtown mall?”

She looked over at Huo Yan, having clearly begun to draw certain conclusions. Huo Yan met her gaze, understanding perfectly.

With his wealth of experience, Forensic Zhang had already thought of everything the two young detectives were considering. “I’ll conduct a more thorough examination of Wang Yuluo’s body to see if there are any similar wounds.” He took out his phone, snapped a photo of the wound on the cat’s paw, told the two of them, and hurried out, leaving Ning Shuyi and Huo Yan in the office.

Soon after, Forensic Zhang returned, his face alight with excitement. “I found it!” he announced, nodding at them. “There’s a tiny wound under Wang Yuluo’s fingernail. I compared it just now—it looks almost identical to the wound on the cat’s paw. So it’s very likely that Wang Yuluo’s death is connected to this strange insect! Now we need to determine what species this creature is, whether it’s venomous, and if so, what rare toxin it might possess. Once we know that, and the autopsy report from the provincial department comes back, we’ll be able to reach a clear conclusion!”

“But who can help us identify the species?” Ning Shuyi fretted.

Forensic Zhang slapped his forehead. “Look at me, almost forgot! Are you familiar with Ji Yuan from your team? He once consulted insect experts at the Agricultural University for a case. Perhaps he has a way to get an expert to identify this insect.”

“All right! I know him well. Let me take the insect back—I’ll hand it to him and ask for his help in confirming what it is!” Ning Shuyi agreed at once.

Forensic Zhang took a transparent specimen box, carefully placed the strange insect inside, and handed it to her, unable to resist adding, “Ji Yuan has changed a lot in the past year—he seems much more at ease now, not nearly as burdened as before. He’s almost like he was when he first joined the bureau!”

Ning Shuyi smiled and nodded. “All thanks to Xia Qing!”

After thanking Forensic Zhang and leaving the dead cat behind, Ning Shuyi and Huo Yan took the specimen box with the insect and returned to the team to find Ji Yuan.

When they arrived, Ji Yuan and Xia Qing happened to still be there. Upon seeing both of them, Ning Shuyi quickly waved, signaling them to wait.

“Ji Yuan, we need your help with something,” she said as she motioned for Huo Yan to pass over the specimen box. “I heard you’ve previously worked with insect experts at the Agricultural University? Could you please help us find someone to identify this insect and determine if it’s venomous?”

Ji Yuan accepted the box from Huo Yan and nodded in acknowledgment. “Of course. I’ll go to the Agricultural University first thing tomorrow and get back to you as soon as I have an answer.”

Xia Qing smiled at Huo Yan as well. During a previous case, she had been taken hostage. The situation was perilous, and it was Huo Yan—recently transferred to the city’s criminal investigation team—who, together with Ji Yuan, had acted decisively, eliminated the suspect, and saved her life. Although she had little interaction with this somewhat aloof colleague thereafter, she always remained grateful.

After handing the insect to Ji Yuan, Ning Shuyi and Huo Yan returned to their own work. Ji Yuan’s gaze lingered on Huo Yan’s departing figure until he disappeared from view.

“What is it?” Xia Qing asked Ji Yuan, puzzled.

With his partner and most intimate companion, Ji Yuan never concealed his thoughts. “I think he’s a bit like me.”

“You two? I don’t see it,” Xia Qing replied, perplexed, finding no resemblance between the two men.

Ji Yuan shook his head. “Not now—before. When I was full of self-doubt, self-denial, and even closed myself off. The aura Huo Yan gives off now is exactly what I felt like back then.”

Xia Qing raised her brows. “I thought he was just introverted. If you’re right, then he’s someone with a story too!”