The convenience store across the street from the apartment is run by an elderly white couple. It not only sells drinks and snacks but also offers pre-processed instant rice bowls and ramen.
As night fell, Sun Yan sat by the window, engrossed in eating a serving of curry beef rice, but his eyes were fixed on the apartment building opposite.
Tonight, he would be surveilling throughout the night.
'Beep beep beep'
Sun Yan answered the phone with one hand, "Hello."
"Father Jackson, I've got the results of the investigation you asked for. I've checked all the recent deaths in Shajiao District for the past six months and looked into cases in the surrounding neighborhoods. I discovered that there are 80 forensic reports showing missing hearts, and none of these people knew each other. The only common factor is that they all joined an organization called 'Forest' before they died. The victims in that murder case on the fourth floor were also members of this organization.
And as you said, the president of the 'Forest' organization was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and has spent a lot of money over the years to no avail. He claimed the purpose of establishing the Forest charitable organization was to distribute his wealth among its members after his death, which attracted many homeless people and citizens to join. This man seems to be a wealthy businessman, but I haven't yet tracked down his identity. I'll let you know as soon as I have more information."
Sun Yan nodded with satisfaction. Based on the known clues, the president of this Forest organization seemed to be secretly collecting hearts to extend his life, carrying out heinous acts.
However, looking at North America's situation, organ trade isn't strictly regulated. As long as you have money, you can purchase organs through legal channels, eliminating the need for such drastic measures.
Suddenly, a thought came to Sun Yan's mind. Could it be that he has specific requirements for the hearts he collects? Not just anyone's heart would meet his criteria.
Henry added, "Also, this afternoon, I personally led a visit to every tenant in the apartment, checked every room, and found nothing unusual, except for an Asian elderly woman on the second floor. She had a peculiar amount of paper dolls and many plants in her apartment, with a foul smell. Also, I discovered a tenant hiding in the seventh-floor storage room, but I couldn't extract any useful information from him."
"Okay, I got it. First, find out more about the Forest organization's president, and let me know if there's any new discovery." Sun Yan silently sorted through the clues, trying to make sense of them.
It seemed that the fallen one who broke the taboo to refine the Longevity Pill could very well be this businessman with cancer.
All the clues linked closely to this person, and just by keeping a close watch on him, the truth would eventually emerge.
After hanging up the phone, Sun Yan gazed across the street at the apartment building, his expression growing serious. This is the real danger he needed to confront.
In the daytime, he used the General Sun Mask to eliminate an Evil Spirit, showcasing the power of this magical artifact, making the potential night operation at the apartment a bit safer.
Time passed slowly, and the street was devoid of pedestrians and vehicles, leaving only the street lamps casting their lonely glow.
Sun Yan sat by the window, drinking a beverage, intently watching the seventh floor of the apartment. The moment any red light appeared, he would act immediately.
At this moment, a Mercedes-Benz sedan suddenly drove from the corner of the street. Instead of passing by, it slowly stopped at the apartment entrance.
Two white men stepped out of the Mercedes. They wore priestly robes, each carrying two boxes. After exchanging a glance, they entered the apartment.
First floor, second floor, third floor... The lights in the apartment's hallway illuminated one after another as the two priests marched directly to the seventh floor.
"Why are they here?" Sun Yan instantly sat up straight, frowning as he wondered.
These were the two priests Sun Yan encountered earlier at the crime scene, now appearing unexpectedly, as if a deviation had occurred in the plan.
Under Sun Yan's watchful gaze, the sixth floor's hallway lights quickly turned on, followed by the seventh floor.
A few minutes later, the previously white fluorescent light flickered a few times and inexplicably turned into a bright red color.
The bright red glow in the dark night appeared startlingly out of place.
"There it is!" Sun Yan instantly got up and dashed out of the convenience store, running toward the apartment.
Though he didn't know why those two priests came to the apartment in the middle of the night, the target had appeared, and he had to go up and take a look, no matter what.
...
"Betar, are you sure this will work? Destroying someone else's property is illegal."
"We came here yesterday and found nothing. If the video from the law enforcement recorder is real, then the Evil Spirit must be hiding behind this wall. Just break it open to see. Rest assured, if there's nothing behind it, we'll pay to repair the wall for the apartment owner, and the police department will bear the costs for us."
Betar stood in the hallway, took a hammer and chisel from the box, and began chiseling the white wall.
Raine looked at the empty hallway behind, feeling inexplicably uneasy. He could only open the Bible and start reciting softly.
As fellow Spiritual Consultants, they had also watched the video from the law enforcement recorder. As priests from the only church in Shajiao District, seeing an Evil Spirit causing chaos in Shajiao was intolerable, seriously undermining God's authority.
They visited the apartment last night to investigate, but everything was normal and they didn't see the red lanterns and spring couplets depicted in the video.
So, Betar devised a plan to bring tools tonight and break open the wall.
Irregular cracks began appearing on the wall surface. The old wall plaster couldn't withstand the torment and started peeling, scattering stone debris.
Crash!
The wall collapsed, revealing a hidden redwood door within the wall.
A paper with an upside-down 'Fortune' character was pasted in the center of the door, flanked by a pair of brand-new couplets.
'Blessed with fortune and prosperity, abundantly covered under grace'
'Transcended and offered offerings, standing outside mundane affairs'
"A door! There's really a door!" Raine couldn't believe it, eyes wide in shock, his face filled with astonishment.
He was about to take out his phone to notify the police, but to his surprise, Betar took out a Bible and a Cross, and kicked open the mysterious wooden door.
A dim, deep Chinese courtyard hallway unfolded before them.
The hallway's end wasn't visible, with only paper lanterns hanging under the eaves emitting a faint glow.
"Betar, what are you doing!" Raine shouted anxiously, tugging at Betar, who was about to enter.
This scene was so eerie that even Raine, as a priest, couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
"Don't forget, God is with us, Raine."
Betar raised the Cross, "Since there are still Evil Spirits in Shajiao District, it's our responsibility to purify them all. That way, we can prevent more citizens from encountering accidents."
"But we don't know what's inside. Going in now is too dangerous. We should wait for Henry and the others to arrive," Raine hesitated, looking conflicted.
Though they were capable of exorcism by reciting the Bible and using the True Words granted by God...
The scene before them was unsettling enough to shake Raine's confidence. The unseen unknown was far more terrifying than visible Evil Spirits, for the greatest fear stemmed from one's imagination.
"Then you wait here while I go in first." Betar puffed up his chest, dismissing his companion's advice, and stepped through the door, walking toward the room at the end of the corridor.
"Wait for me; I'll come with you." Raine, suddenly resolute, couldn't bear to see his companion act alone, steeling himself as he followed.