Chapter 252: The Lunatic (1/2)
The sky gradually turned brighter, a tinge of orange seeping through the clouds. Xiaotao ordered us to go home and rest, which I gladly obeyed. Tiredness had slowly crept up on me and I was ready to pass out. After a direct confrontation with the murderer, we each sustained our own losses, but one thing was certain: he wouldn’t act for the time being.
Just as I was about to leave, I remembered that Lao Yao and Bingxin were still at the station. The two had fallen asleep on the table after collapsing from exhaustion.
When I shook Bingxin’s shoulder, she opened her bleary eyes, voice thick with sleepiness as she asked, ”Did we get the murderer?”
”He got away but we managed to save a few of the hostages,” I said. “I'll take you home now.”
Dali pointed to Lao Yao and then at himself, his crestfallen eyes seemed to say, If you’re taking Bingxin home, does that mean I have to go with Lao Yao?
Muddled from the sleepiness, Bingxin sleepwalked out of the station, almost leaning her body on me entirely. I quickly hailed a cab and told the driver to make a short detour to her home. On the way, Bingxin muttered, ”I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help much. Song Yang-gege, can you persuade Xiaotao-jiejie to allow me to join you guys at night?”
”So what if you were with us? At the time, even the SWAT team might not have done any good,” I argued.
”But I just want to be with you!” pouted Bingxin.
I cajoled her by explaining we needed someone in the rear to offer support, much like the strategies we applied in Battle City back when we were still playing with our Nintendos. In a war, protecting our base was of utmost importance. Otherwise, how could us “soldiers” go out to battle at ease?
”Song Yang-gege, don't worry!” Bingxin obediently nodded. “We’ll never lose our base with me around!”
I turned around and found Dali lazily sprawled on the passenger seat, allowing displeasure to do the talking.
In front of Bingxin’s home, she threw a huge fuss, insisting I walk her to the door but I refused. How could I sell Dali out and leave him alone with that sleazebag?
”Exactly!” interjected Dali. “Isn’t there a saying that buddies are just as important as one’s hands and feet?!”
Bingxin snapped her head around and yelled, ”Would you like to finish the rest of that sentence? If you dare, I'll kill you!”
”Don't listen to his nonsense!” I urged. “Liu Bei was obviously gay. Why would any straight man take that to be true?”
”Pay attention to what you say in the future!” Bingxin snorted, casting a dissatisfied look towards Dali.
Dali wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, flustered as he coaxed, ”Bingxin-meimei, I like how sassy you are!”
After she left, Lao Yao’s previously closed eyes snapped wide open and an accusatory glare shot in my direction. ”Xiao Song-song, you seem to be prejudiced against gay men. Come over here so we can have a good talk!”
On the way back to the university, I was tempted to jump out of the car several times.
Upon returning to my dormitory, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow but it was restless sleep that awaited me; I slept for five hours and had a terrible nightmare. I dreamt Storm Punisher trapped me in a contraption, and darkness engulfed my surroundings. ”Song Yang, I want to play a game with you!” his cold-blooded voice filled my ears.
When I awoke from my dream, my body was damp and sticky with sweat. A quick glance at my phone told me it was already two in the afternoon.
There was a notification on my phone alerting me of the discussion group Xiaotao had set up for our task force, so anyone who discovered clues could inform the others.
There were a few new notifications in the group. Officers who investigated the components of the contraption traced their purchase to an online transaction. Because we already knew Storm Punisher’s real identity, following this lead hardly posed a predicament.
The technical team found evidence from the murderer's home that could be used in court but was of little help to our current situation.
Xiaotao sent a team of officers to conduct a blanket search within ten kilometers of the murderers’ former place of residence but there was still no clue about their whereabouts. The escape planned by Storm Punisher last night suggested that he had a powerful backer assisting him, most likely the people behind the website.