"Oh! It's the forensic expert's resting room, he stays at the police department."

"Hmm!" Xiao Lin stared at the room with the lights on, then entered the office at Wu Shuang's urging.

After the footage was pulled up, Wu Shuang set the time to two hours prior, which was eight in the evening.

The footage stayed on one scene for a long time, with Liu Sheng lying motionless on the single bed, not even turning over. Moving the camera to an earlier time revealed the scene where Xiao Lin was pinpointing his acupuncture points. This indicated that the only person who moved Liu Sheng from the footage was Xiao Lin.

Wu Shuang looked up at him with a strange and complex expression.

"Did you offend someone?" With her keen intuition, she sensed a trap, and the person being set up was the guy in front of her. "This footage could serve as evidence that you killed Liu Sheng."

No need for Wu Shuang to explain, Xiao Lin also understood the issue. The traffic accident was just a small part of this trap, and during the time when Qing Yi went to get his needle and the young officer returned to the station, about fifteen minutes, the footage showed precisely when he pinpointed Liu Sheng's acupuncture points. "There's a segment missing where I was administering acupuncture."

"Tampered with?" Wu Shuang rewound and fast-forwarded repeatedly, with no discrepancy in time. What was going on?

"Could you pass me this video?" Wu Shuang shook her head, as it would violate protocols from her position. "Okay, then I'll copy and send it right here, that should be fine!"

Wu Shuang hesitated for a moment but finally agreed to Xiao Lin's request.

Hong was still swimming in the game, when a cute dialogue box jumped out, Xiao Lin's handsome face appeared in a small frame to one side. "Young Master Xiao!" Xiao Lin's appearance saved the old monster in the game, causing it to flee in panic.

"I have a video to send you. It's been edited. Can you find out how?"

"Oh, if it's spliced footage, it'll be a bit tricky and requires the original tape. If it's erased, restoration technology takes longer and might not fully recreate it. Professional tools are needed for image editing." Hong stealthily slipped the help candy into the coursekeeper's hands.

"I'll send it to you first, take a look and then contact me." Xiao Lin clicked to send the file to Hong's dialogue box. "Don't think I didn't see you eating candy."

Hong stuck her tongue out at the screen, happily greeting Wing beside her. "Got it! Oh, wait a minute, the keeper has something important to tell you."

"Here at the police department, I'll come over tomorrow..."

"Oh, okay then! Bye-bye." The screen was closed after the file was sent. Wu Shuang had never seen such a chat tool, not needing any software installed to conduct video calls and send files; wasn't this technology too advanced?

"What software did you just use, can I get one too?" The police department couldn't use QQ, at best MSN in a small local network range.

"It's a secret." Xiao Lin took a turn around the office and came to a pot of green plants, lighting a cigarette. "From when Zhang Teng escaped from the police department, to the second incident where the Liger Gang's assassin was killed inside the department, thirdly when you received the human skin mask, and lastly, Liu Sheng dying in the cell. Among these, only you received a mask in the morning, all other incidents occurred at night."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing, just considering that not many people would have such free time."

"You're suspecting the forensic expert?" Xiao Lin nodded; this person was indeed suspicious.

"Impossible. Before I came to the city bureau, he was already working here and had helped solve many cases with the department, and received commendations from the city, Director Lin values him highly."

"The forensic expert contacted me tonight." Wing, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "However, he didn't enter the detention center, just casually asked me about your techniques during acupuncture. Now thinking back, it's puzzling how he knew you were giving Liu Sheng acupuncture."

"Hmm, Chief Wu, do you remember when you received the human skin mask, you said you checked all surveillance footage and questioned the guards, but the outcome was unexpectedly normal. The person who sent you the mask is likely one of your own, and the forensic expert is the most suitable candidate. He has a good political background and is regarded as an excellent officer in your eyes, freely entering any office; even carrying something wouldn't be out of the ordinary, right?"

Wu Shuang was rendered speechless, unable to find a point to refute. In fact, she was starting to waver. Could someone they had checked so thoroughly and couldn't find be the forensic expert?

"I still can't believe it would be him."

"It doesn't matter, believe it or not." Xiao Lin squinted his eyes, with a trace of killing intent emanating from his dark pupils. Wu Shuang had only seen that look once before, not remembering what for, but it seemed like it was after he returned from the Middle East on a certain day, she had experienced that terrifying aura emanating from deep within his body.

"The forensic expert is a good person."

"I'm always ready for you to arrest me." After leaving behind these words, Xiao Lin left the police station, leaving Wu Shuang stunned and Yi silent. Wu Shuang never thought of arresting Xiao Lin, but the person had died in the station, and the video she called evidence was looping in front of her.

"You have to trust Young Master Xiao." Yi chased after Xiao Lin's figure, running out, and grabbed him in front of the QQ car.

"I told you to return to the United States, no one can touch you there. This is Yanjing, not the United States." Yi's eyes held worry and frustration beneath them.

"I have people I need to protect here, I can't go back now." Xiao Lin spoke decisively and firmly.

"This is a trap set by the Third Young Master, can't you see?" Yi pushed Xiao Lin's hand towards the car door he wanted to open. "We have no power in Yanjing, and there are people placed by him everywhere. What are you going to fight with? Using your Dragon Soul identity? You know that means nothing to the Xiao Family, relying on Hua Muyun? That's unreliable, not to mention those old men in high positions, unless you sit in that position, only then will they truly bow to you. Now it's just for the sake of the Old Master's face. You know your awkward status very well, do you still want to take risks?"

Xiao Lin leaned silent against the car, every word from Yi weighed heavily on his chest, and he could not refute it.

"Would you really act against the Third Young Master?"

"Yi, any conspiracy has its loopholes. I don't care how many traps are set; it only shows that the opponent is desperate."

"What do you care about?"

"Family loyalty." Xiao Lin convinced Yi with his wisdom, but faced with those worried eyes, Xiao Lin still felt a moment of guilt. In fact, he wasn't that confident to do his best.

The silver QQ car drove aimlessly on an empty street. He wanted to go to Xia Park, but his direction led him to the farm. Lian's left eye kept twitching, insomnia had been severe lately, and Hua Qingyi and Miao Shaoqing had gone for Dragon Soul's special training and would return on the weekend; she was the only one left at the farm.

There was nothing to fear, with protection stationed all around, danger had been nipped in the bud before it happened. She came to the basement alone, she hadn't exercised in a while, and Xiao Lin had forbidden her from any strenuous activity because he still hadn't found the source of the aura filling her body.

With boxing gloves on, she swung at the sandbag. Xiao Lin entered the farm and heard the sounds of combat coming from the basement, quietly moving behind Lian, grabbing her in a hug and burying his head in the crook of her neck. After a brief struggle, Lian slowed her breathing, allowing the person behind her to embrace her like this.

"Why come now?" The words sounded almost like a young wife, making Lian smile.

"Missed you." Xiao Lin hugged the sweat-slicked Lian, then sat with her on the boxing ring. "I'm tired."

Memories returned to Lian's mind at this moment, every time Xiao Lin faced a problem he couldn't overcome, he'd embrace her like this. Lian turned around, her beautiful eyes gazing at Xiao Lin. "What's wrong?"

"Liu Sheng is dead too."

"Hmm!" Xiao Lin used the word 'also,' and Lian understood how bad his mood was right now. "It's merely a witness who could prove Xia Yuxuan and Fatty Wang were secretly colluding; he couldn't bring you more."

"That's true, but I have a feeling of dissatisfaction. I don't like being led around like this."

"This doesn't sound like something a Xiao Family member would say." Lian fondly placed Xiao Lin on her lap, her fingers running through his hair.

"How should a Xiao Family member speak? You all take the Xiao Family too seriously." Xiao Lin pouted; why are there always people telling Xiao Family members what they should be, how to speak, what they should do?

"Xiao Family's existence isn't just your business; it affects far more aspects than you think. Its presence has surrounded you since childhood, no?"

"This time my opponent is Xiao Mu." What was initially a simple matter became complicated with Xiao Mu's involvement, and trying to eliminate the Wang Family added another layer of obstacle. "Lao Long said the old man doesn't have much time left; I don't understand what that means, but I think I also don't have much time left. I must eliminate the Wang Family within two weeks."

It's dragged on too long, long enough to put himself in a difficult position.

"Can you really eliminate all these dangers completely? The Wang Family will only be the beginning; you know that well." Lian always administered a moderate blow to Xiao Lin at the right moment.

"I know! Unless this Wang Family tree is uprooted, the small powers will grow into big forces with it, making it more difficult to handle later." (To be continued. If you like this work, you're welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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