Paintings of Terror

Chapter 163: Living Beast

“I think it’s a waste of time.” Xiao Qinxian didn’t have the heart to recall everything about the book and the title page. Her expression at this time seemed to display some kind of bitter anguish. “Our mission has already been clarified, which is to find the scarlet beast! Now the answer has been revealed and those beasts are in the body of the deceased. I think we should hold a meeting to vote as soon as possible! Maybe…”

Xiao Qinxian couldn’t say the following words in front of Zhao Yanbao: Maybe Chi Lei and Zhi Chun’s beasts would add up to 13 kilograms.

Lion also said, “I agree with Xiao’s suggestion. We should gather to discuss this matter.”

Mu Yiran drew a circle around the word “title page” on the paper, and then said, “Let’s wait for the police officers to arrive first. Someone needs to guard the body here.”

Xiao Qinxian opened her mouth but said nothing in the end.

Lion said, “When they arrive, let’s rush to the hospital to discuss this matter.”

Ke Xun patted Luo Wei’s shoulder. “I have to go down to meet the two policemen and drink a glass of water.”

When they went downstairs, Wei Dong and Zhu Haowen followed.

The first floor had huge floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors, showing the eucalyptus trees with gray-green leaves outside.

Ke Xun pulled up a chair and sat in front of the glass window. “I discussed it with Yiran just now, and we think everything should be disclosed to everyone. Although it’s a bit risky, at least it’s fair to all those who entered the painting.”

Luo Wei said, “I’ve already said last night that you can decide on this matter.”

Zhu Haowen said, “Okay, we can talk about it at the meeting later. Anyway, everyone will know sooner or later.”

Wei Dong said, “You can announce it to me first…”

So Luo Wei told Wei Dong in simple terms that he could see the red marks on everyone’s faces. When he heard this, Wei Dong’s eyes reddened.

“So you’re saying that you could see the red marks that would only appear after people die? Haowen’er and Old Qin have it, and Old Qin has the largest and most obvious mark? The forensic doctor said that this mark indicates that there is a beast in the body, does this mean that there are beasts in their bodies?”

Zhu Haowen nodded: “I think that should be the case.”

Wei Dong stared at Zhu Haowen’s forehead carefully. “Haowen, why is your heart so big? Luo Wei has seen your beast with his yang and yin eyes, just by looking at the red mark right there!”

Zhu Haowen said that he knew this. Then he turned to Ke Xun and said, “Is the mark on Chi Lei’s body the same as Luo Wei described?”

“Go in and see for yourself.”

Luo Wei said, “I just recently discovered something new.”

“What?” The others asked in unison.

Luo Wei lowered his voice. “The mark has also appeared on Zhao Yanbao’s forehead, just earlier.”

“When?”

“When she discovered that Chi Lei had committed suicide, she let out a cry. When we rushed upstairs, I saw that there is now a large red mark on her forehead.”

Everyone was a little horrified. How could these terrifying red marks still appear?

“Zhao Yanbao’s change must have something to do with her emotions. The death of her friend was a big shock to her. After all, suicide is very different from dying from illness. Zhao Yanbao seems to be very concerned about this,” Ke Xun analyzed.

Zhu Haowen said, “It’s no wonder that when Mu Yiran asked a question just now, he observed Zhao Yanbao so seriously.”

As they were talking, two police officers came to the courtyard.

With these two legal “body guards,” everyone left the detective office more at ease.

“It’s really strange. This is a suicide case, not a criminal case. Why do we still need to call the police to guard?” Wei Dong was puzzled.

Ke Xun explained, “When we called the police station earlier to ask for instructions, Old Chu said that all bodies with beasts should be strictly guarded to prevent them from being stolen by criminals.”

Wei Dong heard this, and from his heart surfaced an inappropriate analogy: In this city, the beasts in people’s bodies were as valuable as bezoars…

The central hospital was very close. After walking out of this small street, the hospital could be seen at the intersection of the street ahead.

Everyone walked forward in twos and threes. Xiao Qinxian walked the fastest. Probably afraid that the others would think she was too eager, she pulled Lion and walked with him as her companion.

Zhao Yanbao still looked lost, and so Zhu Haowen walked with her as her “colleague”.

Ke Xun and Mu Yiran walked at the back of the group. There was a horse chestnut tree with new leaves on the side of the road, like a newly sprouted Chinese toon.

Mu Yiran asked, “Has Luo Wei made a new discovery?”

Ke Xun was no longer surprised by his lover’s logical thinking. “Did you realize it?”

Mu Yiran said, “Mmn, I discovered that he has been observing Zhao Yanbao since then. But in my opinion, beasts are not only related to human emotions. It’s not that simple.”

After entering the hospital, all 11 members were able to see Zhi Chun’s body.

The body was placed behind a glass wall, and everyone looked at Zhi Chun through the glass. The blood stains seemed to have been cleaned up, but the white sheets and the red mark of the beast on the deceased’s forehead still formed a striking contrast.

Through the cold glass, everyone stared at their companion’s corpse for a moment.

They used to think that only hospital visits to babies would be separated by a glass-wall, but they didn’t expect this would be the case with visiting the deceased as well.

Two young nurses passed by, and they couldn’t help but stop to watch curiously. “Look, it might be something valuable. The pattern is a bit like a fish, and the fish’s tail is violet, a rare violet.”

Another nurse ridiculed, “Haven’t you heard the phrase ‘Evil purple seized vermillion’, because red is more valuable.”

Qin Ci’s arrival caused the two nurses to leave in a huff. It seemed that the chief physician still had a certain deterrent force.

The veteran members had yet to see Qin Ci wearing a white doctor’s coat, which made him look more rigorous and majestic than usual.

“Those two nurses are new here, and they don’t understand the situation of the mark of the beast.” Qin Ci took everyone to his office, convinced that they shouldn’t remain cloistered in front of the glass room. “I found some medical books from the shelves last night, and they had information about the mark of the beast. The ‘evil purple seizing red’ they mentioned is just a rumor. The color purple is the inevitable change that the mark goes through after death, wherein it will gradually become purple as time goes on.”

When Xiao Qinxian heard this, she became anxious: “If it turns purple, will…will the beast in the body die?”

This sentence shocked everyone. They had not even imagined that the beast was alive.

Qin Ci affirmed this statement. “That’s pretty much what it means, if it remains too long in the dead body. However, Zhi Chun’s remains are placed in the freezer, and so it will be kept fresh for a long time.”

“Then let’s quickly move Chi Lei’s body over. If it can’t be used, it’ll be ruined,” Xiao Qinxian suggested.

Zhao Yanbao glanced at Xiao Qinxian coldly, but said nothing.

Ke Xun said, “Don’t worry. The people in this city won’t let that beast become stale. The two police officers guarding the corpse just now must have some measures to keep the corpse fresh.”

Xiao Qinxian was relieved and chose a bright place to sit down.

Qin Ci’s office was very big, and even with 11 people sitting in a circle, they weren’t cramped at all.

“Everyone already knows what happened today.” Qin Ci glanced at them. “The main content of our meeting is to make a decision on the Corpse Handling Determination forms. But first, before you all can express your opinions, I have something to tell you.”

First, Qin Ci announced that Luo Wei could see red marks on the faces of some members, which promptly made them panic, especially those identified to have marks on their face.

Xiao Qinxian’s reaction was the strongest. “Why didn’t you tell us this at first?! Now that some people are dead, the beasts on their faces have appeared. Suddenly some person could see those beasts on our faces?!” She added a sentence that was obviously alluding to Luo Wei. “Who knows if some outsiders are deliberately messing with us!”

Meanwhile, when Zhao Yanbao heard that there was a mark on her face and that it had recently just appeared, she remained silent and lowered her head, seemingly thinking of something.

Qin Ci explained to Xiao Qinxian, “I only found this out late last night. Because we couldn’t come up with any countermeasures at the time and to avoid unnecessary panic, we opted to wait until the morning to tell everyone. Who would have thought that our comrades would commit suicide.”

Xiao Qinxian, frightened and irritated, asked Luo Wei, “Can you really see the mark of the beast on my face? Then where is it?”

Luo Wei’s voice was cold. “Everyone has red marks on their forehead, and only yours is under the eye.”

Xiao Qinxian rolled her eyes. “I guess I am just different from everyone else. Some person sure treat me especially well.”

Luo Wei sneered, but didn’t say anything.

Yu Ji touched his forehead, tried his best to push down his uneasiness, and said, “We have limited time, so let’s discuss the major issue at hand first. What are your opinions on the Corpse Handling Determination?”

Xiao Qinxian took the lead. Leaning on Lion’s side, she said, “We are of the same opinion. Right now, we should focus objectively on the situation, and so we advocate taking the beasts out.”

Yu Ji seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and he added, “I also advocate taking the beasts out. If we can collect 13 kilograms, we can go back home as soon as possible.”

Su Benxin hadn’t spoken for a long time. But at this moment, she glanced at everyone and finally focused her attention on Zhao Yanbao. “In the end, Chi Lei is your friend. What is your opinion, Yanbao?”

It appeared that she knew them before, since they were regulars at the Benxin Art Gallery.

Zhao Yanbao hadn’t sat. Instead, she stood to the side with a straight posture. “For Zhi Chun, I have no right to speak, so I abstain. As for Chi Lei, I don’t agree to remove the beast.”

Su Benxin said, “Whether it is suitable to let the beast stay or not, none of us can tell.”

“But Chi Lei said in her last words that she wanted to seal herself in the most beautiful and best time, just like amber.” Zhao Yanbao’s voice was slightly choked. “I want her to completely retain her appearance before death.”

Xiao Qinxian wanted to refute her with a few words, but she suddenly felt that it would be a waste of time. She said, “Okay, so there’s one no and three yeses. What about the rest of you?”

With a blank face, Zhu Haowen said, “I have no right to make such a decision for the deceased, so I abstain.”

“You…” Xiao Qinxian was trembling with anger. She looked at the others for help. “What are your opinions?”