Coming to Myself

You Mingxu said, "Right now we're investigating seven suspicious points simultaneously."

As soon as she spoke, Yin Feng understood which seven she meant. He nodded and said, "There will always be one or two that hit the mark."

You Mingxu laughed, surprised he'd say something that sounded like relying on luck. But Yin Feng instantly understood why she was laughing and said, "Behavioral analysis is essentially deducing the most psychologically probable conclusion. Have you heard about that American criminal psychology expert who even predicted the killer would be wearing a double-breasted suit when caught? How would you explain that? The guy really was arrested wearing exactly that kind of suit."

You Mingxu touched his forehead and said, "Alright, I know you make sense."

He said, "Treating me like You Yingjun again? Petting a dog?"

You Mingxu laughed heartily, only to be flipped over and thoroughly dealt with by him once more.

...

Afterward, Yin Feng held her in his arms. Both were breathing heavily and feeling somewhat distracted. Yin Feng suddenly grasped her hand and said, "I have a feeling the Apprentice Killer will soon reveal his true form. We're getting close to him."

"Mhm."

Yin Feng said, "If we catch him, the Punisher might also show himself. That person—we don't know who they are. This time, they might go all out to achieve their goal. We're all obstacles in their path, and I'm probably the biggest stumbling block."

You Mingxu's heart tightened, wondering why he was saying this.

Yet Yin Feng recalled those fragmented memories from Guizhou, the torment they had put him through, and the fear, hatred, and madness that had nearly destroyed him... He suddenly realized he didn't know how to describe such feelings to You Mingxu. Some evils, some obsessions, perhaps even You Mingxu couldn't imagine. And he, who was originally similar to them, now stood on the opposite side. He had no doubt they wanted to drag him down with them. It was like when several people fall into hell together, and one escapes—the remaining ones would desperately try to pull you back. Especially Yin Chen, who loved him, hated him, wanted to possess him, and wanted to destroy him. If given the chance to perish together, Yin Feng believed Yin Chen wouldn't hesitate. Because someone like Yin Chen had long been seeking release.

And that person was someone he knew, perhaps even close by. Yet he couldn't bring himself to suspect anyone around him. Doing so would mean the collapse of his beliefs. In this regard, he and Yin Chen were the same. Death was acceptable, but beliefs must not crumble. If they did, all his resistance until now would be meaningless.

The other side must have calculated this too, right?

So... walking this path of confronting evil, he himself didn't know what would happen in the future? Were they still plotting against him? And would he accidentally fall again, like when Xing Yanjun attacked him in Guizhou, falling right before her eyes? Of course, he would fight back with everything he had. But what if something unexpected happened again?In the past, Yin Feng had never pondered such questions. For that dissolute, self-resisting version of himself, life and death were merely a joke. Just as Chen Feng had once succumbed to the temptation of suicide, just as Xiao Yan always pessimistically believed she would die in a pool of blood, he too felt that death held no real terror. He even wished for a death that would be extraordinary, memorable—anything but mundane and boring.

But now, things were different. He still did not fear death, but he wanted to be with You Mingxu. He even felt that time was insufficient; sometimes he thought that even if he lived to a hundred, with seventy years left, it still felt too short, still finite. He sometimes wondered, why must life have an end? Human desires, his desires for A Xu, knew no bounds.

But what if something happened to him in this battle?

At this thought, he suddenly laughed mockingly at himself. Was he actually becoming apprehensive about gains and losses?

"What are you thinking about?" You Mingxu asked.

Yin Feng looked down at her and asked, "A Xu, if I were to die one day, what would you do?"

You Mingxu was taken aback, puzzled by his question, and replied, "What could I do if you died?"

Yin Feng imagined it and realized that if he died and she followed him in suicide, his heart would not feel satisfaction but pain and reluctance. He didn't want that.

However, this woman hadn't even mentioned burial with the deceased. On the night they confessed their feelings, in the heat of emotion, he had clearly bared his heart to her. Had she not taken it to heart at all?

So he pinched her hard and said, "If something happens to me one day, you have to remember me, always remember me."

But You Mingxu turned away, her back to him, and after a moment said, "If something happens to you, I won't forgive you. I won't commit suicide either; I'm not living for you. But from then on, I won't think of you again, I won't see Chen Feng or the others, I won't go to the villa. I won't even mention you. Any conclusions from criminal psychology behavioral analysis, I'll never listen to again. If I see anyone with the surname Yin, I'll steer clear."

Hearing this, Yin Feng knew she understood what he was worried about. He stayed quiet for a while, then held her tightly from behind and said, "How petty."

But You Mingxu turned her head, pressed down on his straight nose bridge until his handsome face was distorted, and said, "You dare let something happen? Make sure Guan Jun and the others protect you properly, don't make me worry! What nonsense is this? Yin Feng, you're actually worrying unnecessarily. As long as I'm here, that day will never come. You Yingjun, don't forget I'm your imperial sword, capable of warding off all demons and monsters. With me here, you have nothing to fear."

Yin Feng's eyes grew unexpectedly warm, and he could no longer distinguish whether the emotions surging within him belonged to the former You Yingjun or his current self. He pressed her tightly against his chest and said, "Who said I'm afraid? I'll deal with them harshly, for my A Xu to see."

——

Investigations on all fronts were making progress.

First, news came from Xu Mengshan. He had gone to great lengths to track down two veteran detectives who had handled the case back in the day. When Xu Baping's case was mentioned, their memories were vivid. Over the years, countless people had discussed this case with them.However, under Xu Mengshan's patient guidance, one of the veteran detectives recalled a young man who had left an unusual impression on him.

The retired detective remembered that once, while drinking at a restaurant downstairs, he had gotten quite intoxicated and was fumbling for his wallet. A particularly refined young man at the neighboring table poured tea for him, helped call the waiter to settle the bill, and chatted with him.

Being open-minded and straightforward by nature, the old detective found the young man handsome and resembling a freshly graduated college student, which made him feel rather fond of him. The two ended up drinking together.