Lin Feng could only get into Xia Xue’s car due to her insistence.
They arrived at the moat, which was already cordoned off by a police line. A crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the line, covering their mouths and noses, disgusted by the scene before them.
"Captain Xia, the bodies have been retrieved, and the forensic examiner is investigating the cause of death," Chu He reported.
"I know. Lin, could you identify them? Are these the two people?" Xia Xue brought Lin Feng to the crime scene.
The two corpses had no visible injuries, giving the initial impression that they had drowned.
"It's them." Lin Feng recognized the two after a single glance.
"Captain Xia, various pieces of evidence at the scene suggest these two accidentally fell into the water. There are scuff marks from footprints by the riverbank, looking like they slipped and drowned," Chu He gave his initial analysis based on the details at the scene.
"Has the forensic examiner's result come out yet?" Xia Xue didn't believe two living adults would accidentally fall into the water. She trusted her experience and intuition more than the evidence.
"It has. They drowned, approximately two hours ago." A member of the Dark Team brought over the examination report.
Upon seeing the report, Xia Xue frowned. "How could they have drowned?"
"Check again thoroughly. Are there any traces of a third person?" Xia Xue found the situation somewhat absurd.
"Captain Xia, we've checked everywhere. There are no traces of a third person. It should just be the two culprits," Chu He also found the result unbelievable, but in the face of evidence, he had to accept it.
"How could this happen? Two grown men just drowned?" Xia Xue looked at the two corpses, utterly perplexed.
"Captain Xia, I actually find these two deaths very peculiar. Even someone who can't swim would take some self-rescue measures when drowning."
"But look, their expressions are very natural, without the fear and panic of drowning. Their mouths and noses are also free of mud and sand. What does that tell you?" Lin Feng asked with a smile.
"Tell us what?" Xia Xue was curious.
"It tells us that they were likely dead before they fell into the water." Lin Feng's words attracted the attention of many members of the Dark Team.
"Continue!" Xia Xue's eyes lit up. Looking at Lin Feng, who was earnestly analyzing the case, she suddenly found him less annoying when he was serious.
"You see, when a normal person drowns, their breathing becomes rapid. With rapid breathing, they inhale water into their mouths, leading to their lungs filling with water."
"But these two have very clean mouths and noses. Therefore, when they fell into the water, these two were either already dead or had been drugged."
"The latter can be basically ruled out. If they were drugged, the forensic examiner would have easily detected it." Lin Feng, wearing gloves, opened the mouths of the deceased and analyzed.
"If what you say is true, that these two were dead before falling into the water, then how do you explain the scuff marks by the river?" Xia Xue questioned.
"It's very simple. They were manipulated by an external force, like puppets, to walk to the riverbank and slide in." Lin Feng walked to the edge of the river where the deceased had fallen and pointed to the footprints. "Look, these footprints are very shallow and only found by the riverbank, not elsewhere. This indicates that they were placed by the riverbank from a height, and then the external force was removed, causing them to slide into the water."
"You mean the killer used a helicopter for the towing? If that were the case, wouldn't they have left traces on their bodies?" Xia Xue couldn't comprehend Lin Feng's deduction. The others were also confused.
"It doesn't have to be a helicopter; it could be human manipulation," Lin Feng said with a mysterious smile.
"Human manipulation? According to you, someone carried them from a height and then placed them by the river?"
"The killer would have to be Superman!" Xia Xue scoffed, feeling Lin Feng was becoming more and more ridiculous.
"Captain Xia, you're actually right. That's exactly what I'm thinking, and it's not that difficult to achieve," Lin Feng said with an indifferent smile.
"Lin, are you joking with me? What person can carry two people as heavy as these from a height? Even ancient Qinggong couldn't do that!" Xia Xue retorted, displeased. Everyone else also thought Lin Feng's words were far-fetched.
"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist." Lin Feng picked up a sandbag used for flood control by the river and walked towards the moat's railing. Holding one sandbag in each hand, each weighing over a hundred pounds, he threw them forcefully. The two sandbags zipped through the air and landed by the riverbank, then slid into the water, much to the bewilderment of Xia Xue and the others.
The scene stunned many people present.
"Captain Xia, your boyfriend has too much strength! Has he practiced shot put?" The members of the Dark Team were dumbfounded, all astonished by Lin Feng's divine strength. Xia Xue was also surprised by Lin Feng's strength, but when everyone called Lin Feng her boyfriend, her face turned red, and she didn't know how to explain. More importantly, she couldn't explain it now, as Yang Ming would then know what was happening. So, she could only let them misunderstand.
"You see? What I demonstrated is just one of many methods. It doesn't rule out the possibility that the killer possesses extraordinary Qinggong," Lin Feng said with a smile as he walked over. The response he received was a round of admiring thumbs-ups.
"Alright, even if all your analyses are correct, how do you explain the actual cause of death for these two people?" Xia Xue raised another question.
"Yes, Mr. Lin. If they were murdered before falling into the water, then how exactly did they die?" Chu He was also very curious about this. The deceased had no signs of external violence. They couldn't have just dropped dead for no reason.
Lin Feng didn't answer, he was also trying to figure out their true cause of death. He then approached the two bodies and examined them meticulously. Soon, Lin Feng noticed a subtle, easily overlooked detail: there were some powdery substances inside the deceased's mouths.
"What is this?" Chu He also noticed the powder.
"Datura pollen. But the toxicity of Datura flowers is mainly in their roots, stems, and fruits. Pollen alone shouldn't be potent enough to cause death!" Xia Xue recognized the powdery substance.
"Captain Xia, you're referring to ordinary Datura pollen. As far as I know, there's a type of Datura flower that grows in caves. Its pollen, when ingested, can cause a deep coma, and when it comes into contact with water, it can cause death without any warning."
"Therefore, the cause of death for these two is very clear: poisoning by this type of Datura flower." Lin Feng stood up. After helping Xia Xue analyze the case, he intended to leave.
"Wait! Based on your analysis, who do you think the killer is?" Xia Xue asked with a hint of hesitation. Lin Feng's displayed insight and other abilities had deeply impressed Xia Xue.
"Captain Xia, I've already done enough by helping you sort out the case. You can't expect me to help you find the killer too, can you?" Lin Feng smiled.
"Say it or don't. I can figure it out even if you don't say it!" Xia Xue frowned unhappily and stopped asking Lin Feng.
"Captain Xia, I think Mr. Lin is very much like my former captain. Even if he's not, his abilities are very impressive. Should we recruit him into our Dark Team?" Chu He suggested.
"He's not worthy! Get back to work!" Xia Xue said dismissively and began to re-examine the case based on Lin Feng's analysis.