Pristine Darkness Chapter 7

I love how sweet Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan are now haha! ❤ The case is definitely developing! Bo Jinyan admires Fang Qing over a dog lmao.

Thank you Walter and Trivial King for helping out on this chapter, and many many thanks to Advy for literally going over every single sentence in this chapter haha!

Chapter 7

They both remained silent for a little while. Jian Yao had brought Fang Qing a cup of tea. Fang Qing thanked her before slowly taking a sip. "Professor Bo, forgive me for being blunt, but my colleagues and I have been feeling extremely confounded ever since you brought up that psychological sketch of the criminal. When we solve cases, we always follow the clues, and take reasonable steps to find out the relations.h.i.+p between the victim and the suspect. We carefully examine each and every aspect of the case, including the motive behind the crime, the events leading up to the crime, and the different emotions and logic that may have contributed to a certain decision. We also look into the instruments that were used, the traces left behind at the crime scene as well as the technique that the criminal had used to outmaneuver us. This process may be taxing but our police department has always firmly believed in solving our cases through this process.

"I'll admit, these type of cases are hard to crack and the deadlines that the Leader has set for us makes our schedules very tight. We haven't been able to learn anything about the relations.h.i.+p between the victim and suspect, or anything about the suspect's motive or the suspect's logic behind all this. Our investigations has lead us nowhere for the moment. We understand the profiling you've given us. Everything in your profiling process is extremely logical, and it makes one feel as if they had just peeled away the clouds that were blocking the sun.

"However, the type of sketch that you've provided us with doesn't adhere with our typical procedures; simply put, it cannot be counted as actual evidence. We've all taken the Psychological Criminal Course in Police Academy before, and I'm pretty sure that the conclusion you've reached is a general verdict based off of the criminal's behavior, but it's nothing but speculation. And now, if I were to put all my eggs into the basket- if… I mean, if I were to use your sketch and still come up short, then what shall I do?"

Jian Yao heard what Fang Qing had said, and glanced up to stare at Bo Jinyan. He was silent for a moment and only smiled faintly.

"You're not the first person to question the means of criminal psychology," Bo Jinyan said, "I presume you've heard of Han Chen, he's a detective who is situated in Jiangchen. Han Chen works in the criminal investigative field, same as yourself. He has also dealt with similar prejudices and suspicions- And, by the way, he has spent five years looking for his wife, whereas I only had to spend one month looking for Jian Yao. Anyways, I understand your concerns even if you don't understand the nature of criminal psychology."

Fang Qing didn't get angry. He just smiled as he listened. Jian Yao gave Bo Jinyan an approving look. After all, he was confronting the questions that were being shot at him. There wasn't any sneering or mockery on his part, but only a sincere smile, as he answered the questions. If this was the him of the past, he would be laughing in ridicule internally. He has already matured quite a bit, alright?

Sigh…She seemed a bit too biased towards him.

"Criminal psychology and traditional detective work have never had anything against each other. Neither of which held any superiority over the other at any given point. It's just that you guys think that evidence consists of concrete objects while I think that the evidence lies within how someone conducts themselves. Moreover, in my profile, did I ever neglect the logic behind the suspect's criminal offenses or any concrete evidence?" Bo Jinyan took a sip of tea, and continued indifferently. "Normally, using traditional criminal investigation means would be sufficient, but there have inevitably been some cases over the years where no traces of concrete evidence could be found. The connection between the victim and the murderer can be blocked by someone, be it an accident or the pa.s.sing of time. The same could be said about organized serial killings. Would the perpetrator go unpunished simply because the detectives are unable to find any incriminating clues?

"Of course in such an instance, the traditional criminal investigation squad would be rendered incapable, and specialists in criminal psychology would have to bravely step forward with their investigations."

Jian Yao's heart jumped as Fang Qing's face suddenly sank.

"My many conjectures are indeed completely based off of psychological speculation. I will hereby temporarily set aside the misleading cause of the case, and the erroneous process of the system and take advantage of the criminal's behavior to a.n.a.lyze the case, to further eliminate suspects. You guys are in the middle of an investigation, so I will watch on from a distance. As long as there is speculation, precise questions will arise. So what we do is riskier than what you guys take on. It's not like nothing like this hasn't happened before. A mistake in the criminal profiling prevented the criminal investigative team from catching the criminal. But could it be that because of the possible risks, we shouldn't take on the things we are responsible for? Is handing over our authority over the case the last choice we should resort to? No, there isn't one capable criminal psychologist who would give up while they're still ahead. Even if there is only the tiniest possibility, we also have to make an effort to make sure that the innocent people who have died can properly rest in peace."

Both Jian Yao and Fang Qing were silent. Bo Jinyan took this opportunity to smile again and speak, "What's more, from the start of my career to today, I have never made a single mistake. During my second time meeting An Yan, he had described that moment to be "the start of my career".”

Everyone: “…”

"What do you plan to do next?" Fang Qing asked.

Bo Jinyan glanced at the distant courtyard and meaningfully said, "We have decided to make an informal visit to the Yao family."

Jian Yao's eyes widened. "You're going to intrude on people's privacy?"

Fang Qing, however, smiled and said, "You guys are on vacation, and you weren't born here. Going in by mistake can't be considered intruding on privacy."

Jian Yao looked at Bo Jinyan. These were all methods that ruffians like Han Chen and Fang Qing used. When did her sweet and simple Bo Jinyan learn to do this too? He had always disdained at the thought of using them, but after being with police officers all his life, when had he been led astray?

Fang Qing spoke again, "I had met Yao Yuange beforehand and I've cross-examined quite a few of the inn's staff members. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go. However, I can go take a look on your behalf."

"Let's go then," Bo Jinyan said, standing up while holding onto Jian Yao's hand. "Honey, I'll show you what a suspect's house looks like."

Jian Yao calmly put her hand in Bo Jinyan's palm.

Fang Qing watched the two of them and thought about how incredibly corny their actions was, but at the same time, he felt indescribably envious.

Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao walked in front while Fang Qing followed behind them from a distance.

Jian Yao asked in a low voice, "I still don't understand. You want to take a close look at the Yao family's house simply because they were within the vicinity of the crime? You aren't even going to take a look at any other homes other than this one."

Bo Jinyan smiled. "Sure enough, you understand me the most out of everyone. Actually…" He glanced at Fang Qing behind him, leaned close to her ear, and whispered to her, "I had also made another discovery yesterday, one that I kept to myself."

Jian Yao felt that it was odd. "Why didn't you bring it up?"

Bo Jinyan smiled. "It's because those speculations are based off of my intuition. Fang Qing and the others didn't pay enough attention to this but in the investigation notes, there are a few fine details that reveal a hidden pattern in all this, which means that there's a connection. This may be exactly what the police are trying to find. I feel like all of these truths that have been concealed by time and death, are taunting me with ridiculing laughter."

That was such an exceptional metaphor. Jian Yao really didn't understand. "Oh ……"

Bo Jinyan glanced at her, "I have never told anyone about the thoughts that I'm still unsure of. But, now you're the exception because I have already considered you as apart of myself."

Jian Yao smiled. "Alright."

The outside of the Yao's family courtyard had short walls, a garden and a fence. Because there was a sign outside the courtyard that read "Private Courtyard, Forbidden Entry to Strangers" which was a distance from a small path so the guests from the inn generally wouldn't come over here.

The three of them managed to elude the workers outside, and soon arrived at the outside of the courtyard. Originally, they could have gotten in by flipping over the wall, but there was a huge black dog that was stationed just outside the door, glaring at the intruders like a tiger watching its prey.

No one could have expected that Fang Qing would be the one to make a move at this moment. They only saw him make a gesture towards the two of them and then he bent down whilst moving closer towards the hound. He somehow teased the dog a bit which caused the vicious dog to become quiet and lie down motionlessly on his stomach.

Bo Jinyan was greatly amazed. Jian Yao also thought that he was very magical. Fang Qing smiled and said, "I'm used to the fiercest canines in the police department. They always give me the worst ones to take care of."

Even after making their way into the Yao's courtyard, Bo Jinyan was still awed by Fang Qing, "This Fang Qing is skilled at too many things."

Jian Yao thought that it was laughable. Fang Qing was acute and tenacious. He had managed the entire case investigation and he also knows how to flip a person onto the ground. He never took compliments, but after he teased a dog, he made someone else stare at him in admiration.

At this time, someone walked out of the the front corridor. His or her appearance had startled Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan upon clearly seeing that person's face.

Translated by: Ting

TLCed by Tranzgeek

Edited by Advy

Proofed by Libramuse, Walter