A perfect crime? To me, it's full of flaws!

When they were almost in the provincial capital, Qi Feng's phone rang.

Caller ID: Father-in-law.

On the phone, he only said three words: "Go home and have dinner."

Half an hour later, at the Gong family's dining table.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Contrary to his usual behavior, Director Gong personally took out a bottle of Moutai with a yellowed label from the wine cabinet and, without saying a word, poured it to the brim of the glass in front of Qi.

While leaning to one side, he was also blinking frantically at Qi Feng, the implication in his eyes almost overflowing.

The meaning was clear: Kid, I've already opened the bottle, you know what I mean.

Qi Feng picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and then frowned. What kind of rubbish is this? It's so spicy and pungent, not as good as cola!

So he began to concentrate on the braised pork in front of him, completely ignoring his father-in-law's twitching eyelids.

This really worried Director Gong.

Is this kid trying to renege on his promise? Is he just trying to fool this old man?

This won't do! This is a huge deal; he's already bragged about it to those old folks!

Director Gong could no longer hold back. Ignoring his wife sitting beside him and Qi Feng's beloved daughter, he asked directly, "Xiao Qi, what you said on the phone before, is it true? You're not lying to me, are you?"

"What is it?"

A gentle yet slightly authoritative female voice rang out.

Ms. Lin, the prospective mother-in-law, put down her chopsticks and looked at her husband with a puzzled expression.

Just as Qi Feng was about to speak, his calf was kicked hard under the table.

"Hiss..." He gasped.

"Mom, it's nothing, they're just playing around." Lin Haitang said with a sweet smile, but quickly added that she had to put down her foot.

"What do you mean, 'joking'? This is no joke!" Director Gong immediately became agitated upon hearing this.

Good heavens! It turns out it wasn't the brat trying to renege on his debt; it was this young couple who teamed up to do so!

Can this be tolerated?

"You're hiding something from me."

Ms. Lin's voice calmed down, but the temperature on the dinner table seemed to drop ten degrees.

She slowly put down her chopsticks, crossed her arms, leaned back in her chair, and calmly glanced at her husband, daughter, and prospective son-in-law.

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire venue.

Under this overwhelming aura of dominance, the three of them couldn't last more than three seconds before spilling the beans, explaining the case in H City and Qi Feng's promise that "a child would take his surname" in detail.

Director Gong added, somewhat aggrieved, "Now they're trying to deny everything! They're showing no sportsmanship and trying to fool this old comrade!"

After listening, Ms. Lin turned her head expressionlessly and looked at her husband.

"You're willing to trade provincial resources for your child's sake? You're really something, Gong Changchuan!"

Anyone who gets beaten up often knows that when someone who always beats you starts calling you by your full name, you're not far from getting beaten up again.

Director Gong's back was instantly covered in cold sweat, and he hurriedly waved his hands.

"No...it wasn't me! It was Xiao Qi! Xiao Qi suggested it!"

"Oh?" Ms. Lin raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring her husband, and instantly changed her expression, looking at Qi Feng with gentle warmth like a spring breeze.

"Xiao Qi, don't listen to him. I think the surname Gong is bad; it has too many strokes, making it difficult for the child to write their name. Look at the surname Lin, it's different. It's simple, easy to write, and easy to choose a name for; everything sounds good. What do you think?"

What could Qi Feng say?

He glanced at his future father-in-law, whose face had turned ashen and who was desperately trying to signal him for help.

Qi Feng nodded decisively, his face sincere: "Auntie is right! Lin's voice is still the best!"

Director Gong nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. His mind raced, and he realized that if he continued this topic, he would become a sinner against the Gong family, and the matter might fall apart completely!

We must change the subject!

"Ahem! Um... Xiao Qi, you've been on the road all day, so you might not be too familiar with the latest developments in H City." Director Gong forcefully steered the conversation back to work.

"Hmm? What's going on over there?" Sure enough, Lin Haitang was immediately drawn to the question and asked with concern.

"The illness of that man named Kui Su has been diagnosed." Director Gong's expression turned serious. "The reason for the continued dwindling population in his village and the abnormal changes in his body has also been found."

"The main reason is the long-term isolation and inbreeding, which led to severe genetic defects. But that alone wouldn't cause those rotten-looking patches. After research by forensic and biological experts, it was discovered that their ancestors likely engaged in cannibalism to survive famine years."

"When people eat each other, they get infected with something called a prion, which can remain dormant for decades. Genetic defects, combined with this, have led to their current inhuman, ghost-like state."

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng and Lin Haitang both suddenly realized what was going on.

After all that fuss, the so-called mountain god curse actually originated from their own actions.

Heaven's sins may be avoided, but self-inflicted sins cannot be escaped.

"Dad, what about that village? Have you found it?" Lin Haitang was more concerned about this.

"The approximate location has been pinpointed," Director Gong sighed. "But according to information from the armed police on the front lines, it's a bit troublesome. A massive mudslide occurred in that valley a few days ago, and the entire village was basically submerged. We expect to get a detailed report back tomorrow."

mudslide....

Qi Feng and Lin Haitang both fell silent.

While everyone in the village deserves to die, no one can be sure whether there are other innocent victims like Wu Yue who have been abducted.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat heavy for a moment.

Director Gong looked at the two of them, stood up, took out a document from his briefcase, and handed it to Qi Feng.

"Take a look."

"The case that happened in the provincial capital two days ago is very complicated."

"Your master specifically requested that you return to the team."

Qi Feng took the document bag; it felt slightly heavy in his hand.

He opened the seal and pulled out the files inside.

A murder case that could never have happened.