Final Civilization

Chapter 32: Jiang Xing

As soon as Han Ming got home, he received a call from Sun Lulu. He immediately opened his email, only to find that this batch of information had an additional secondary password.

"Why so complicated?"

"Security measure. The password is 658291. I need to confirm you personally received it."

Han Ming opened the email content and began flipping through it, but soon, his browsing speed became faster and faster. Only after finishing it all did he frown and say,

"All of them disappeared?"

"Correct." Sun Lulu's voice came through the phone. "As per your request, we investigated these eight truck drivers. We found they were all temporary workers who uniformly vanished after the car accident. This is all we can find for now. A deeper investigation would likely take considerable time, and honestly, it's been three years already. Finding them will be extremely difficult."

"Also..."

As soon as Sun Lulu finished speaking, a second email arrived.

"That man standing by the roadside in the intersection surveillance footage, we spent a lot of effort and finally managed to identify this person."

On the computer screen, a blurry figure appeared before Han Ming, accompanied by clear identification information.Han Ming immediately asked, "And then? Does finding this person require a separate fee?"

"No need to look. This person is dead. The time was one week after the car accident. The information was found from the crematorium."

Upon hearing this, Han Ming's expression darkened.

"This case of yours is no small matter. It's far more vicious than the Tianzhou car accident." Sun Lulu's tone was subtly meaningful.

Han Ming picked up his phone and said to the other end, "Did I say this was a case?"

"Tch..."

Sun Lulu sounded utterly speechless on the other end. "I'm not an idiot. Looking at these circumstances, it's clearly premeditated murder."

Han Ming promptly replied, "Doesn't your line of work emphasize not saying what shouldn't be said, not asking what shouldn't be asked? Random speculation seems rather unprofessional, doesn't it?"

"Did I ask anything?" Sun Lulu chuckled.

"Of course, I wouldn't be curious about what I shouldn't be. However, when hiring us, clients must be prepared for the fact that we will come to understand the truth of the matter. You're a lawyer, you understand this principle best, don't you?"

Hearing this, Han Ming nodded. "Seems like a valid point."

"Anyone who could orchestrate such a horrific incident in Jinghai must have significant backing. Now you know why I set up a secondary password." Sun Lulu said.

"Professional." Han Ming quickly completed the transfer on his phone. "The final payment has been sent."

"Thank you. So, Mr. Lawyer... now can I ask? What's the big case? Do you need our help?" Sun Lulu asked seriously.

"I'll contact you if I need to." With that, he prepared to hang up.

"Hey, wait."

"Something else?"

Sun Lulu said with keen interest, "I'm very interested in that deduction method and criminal psychology you mentioned the other day. Would you consider collaborating with us?"

"Collaborate on what?" Han Ming asked.

"Of course, as a detective consultant. What else? Don't worry, the compensation is generous, and you'd get a discount on using our investigative resources."

"I'll consider it."

After hanging up, Han Ming's expression turned grave.

"So it was indeed a calculated, premeditated murder. Spending such a huge price, just to kill one Chen Yufeng?"

Han Ming was inwardly shocked, faintly sensing a dangerous feeling of suffocation rising in his heart.

Currently, the closest clue regarding the Wallfacer and the world's destruction was Tao Jie, but he couldn't actively go and ask her, which left Han Ming feeling somewhat agitated and restless.

He looked at the night scene outside the window and took a deep breath.

Tonight, there would be another round of interrogation dreams.

...

"Don't cause trouble at the police station for no reason. Coming to report because you had a dream? Let me tell you, if it weren't almost New Year, detaining you for a few days wouldn't be unjustified!"

"Thank you, officer."

Familiar dialogue. Han Ming was once again released from the police station.

This time, he didn't give himself any psychological hints. Instead, he strode directly out with large, swift steps.

Stepping out through the glass door of the police station, sunlight poured down like scalding boiling water, blindingly white.

Han Ming squinted, raising a hand to shield his eyes. He felt the light penetrate straight through the gaps between his fingers, searing onto his skin with the scorching heat of early summer.

The breeze was light, carrying the sweet fragrance of locust blossoms from the roadside.

On the street, figures hurried past, weaving into a flowing tapestry. The passersby were uniformly styled in 1990s fashion: men in work jackets, blue-green shirts and trousers; women in floral print blouses, simple as silhouettes cut from old photographs.

Bicycle bells dinged and clanged. Occasionally, a car wheel rolled over the asphalt road, emitting a soft, rustling sound.

Han Ming was inwardly astonished. This dream felt as real as being there in person, as if he had returned to some mountain city over thirty years ago.

Amidst this bustle, at the edge of the roadside, a splash of bright red abruptly pinned Han Ming's gaze.

It was that woman in the long dress, the hem falling like flames, swaying slightly when the wind passed.

She stood there like a silent kapok tree. Under the sunlight, her beautiful, ethereal face seemed to belong to another world amidst the crowd of pedestrians.

She finally saw Han Ming. In that instant, her calm expression was replaced by a trace of resentment. She glared at Han Ming, then, as if in a huff, turned and walked into the crowd.

Han Ming reacted. Wasn't this his 'wife'?

He immediately followed, calling out to her, "Wait."

The woman ignored him, even quickening her pace. Seeing this, Han Ming hurried after her and grabbed her hand.

"Hold on."

The moment Han Ming grabbed the woman's hand, his expression immediately changed.

Because the sensation was far too real. It was as if he had truly grabbed a person. The warmth transmitted from the woman's wrist left Han Ming momentarily dazed.

The woman, however, was so flustered she quickly pulled her hand back. Looking around with a mix of embarrassment and urgency, she shot him a glare and said shyly,

"What are you doing!"

After saying that, she continued walking forward.

Han Ming looked at his own hand, came back to his senses, caught up with her, and said, "Can you tell me, where is this place?"

"The Public Security Bureau. Where else could it be?"

The woman spoke without turning her head.

"I mean, which province is this? What's the specific address?"

Thud.

The woman stopped walking, glancing sideways at him with resentful eyes, saying very angrily, "Jiang Xing, do you think this is funny? What script are you acting out today? Amnesia, or alien?"

Han Ming's eyes flickered slightly. Jiang Xing. This was the first time he learned his name in the dream.

And the change in the plot now felt unfamiliar to Han Ming.

But he still maintained extreme caution. The urgent task at hand was to use this rare opportunity for dialogue to obtain sufficient information.

"No, I'm serious. I know this is Taiping Town, but I suddenly can't remember the specific address. Also, your name is..."

However, before he could finish his sentence, the woman turned and stomped away angrily, her white leather shoes clicking crisply on the ground.

Realizing this mode of communication wouldn't achieve his goal, Han Ming reacted and immediately called after her,

"Hey, wife... I was just joking with you."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the woman suddenly stumbled, her ankle twisting. She let out an "aiyo" and nearly fell.

She turned back in panic, her face flushed red, and said angrily and urgently,

"Who's your wife? Are you crazy?!"

After saying that, she directly covered her face and ran off. Han Ming wanted to chase after her, but immediately discovered that as the woman moved away, the surroundings around him rapidly faded to gray and white. The dream instantly collapsed.

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

Apartment. Han Ming slowly opened his eyes and looked at the alarm clock.

6:30 AM.

A fluctuation of time flickered between his brows. He then quickly turned on the TV. After hearing the news content he had foreseen, he confirmed he had truly woken up and wasn't still in a dream.

Han Ming tried to use this method to confirm he was really awake. The dual match of his precognition ability and reality—he couldn't achieve this within the dream.

After confirming he was awake, Han Ming looked at the ceiling, recalling the dream just now, his expression complex.

"By playing dumb and not getting involved in the police's questioning about the charges, I can leave the police station."

"And the timeline seems to have changed as well. That woman... is not my wife."

"And my name is Jiang Xing. Taiping Town, April 1992."

"But the time should be before New Year."

He picked up his phone and tried searching again, still finding nothing.

Han Ming still hadn't figured out what this dream wanted him to know, or what it wanted him to find?

What does this have to do with the Wallfacer?

Haa.

Han Ming let out a long sigh, lay back, and murmured,

"At least I don't have to get my head blown off again. That's some progress, I guess."

Buzz. Buzz.

Right at that moment, his phone vibrated. Han Ming picked it up, looked, and instantly perked up.

"Han Ming, let's meet."

—Tao Jie