Chapter One: A "Tricky" Mission

At the end of the cold-toned corridor, the acrylic doorplate of the Night Whisper Group gleamed icily under the fluorescent lights, a thin layer of dust clinging to the edges of its frosted lettering. Next door, the peeling red paint of the “Second Criminal Investigation Team” wooden plaque made for a strange contrast—like a clutch of fledgling birds thrust into a raptor’s nest.

The comparison was apt. The Night Whisper Group’s average age was no more than twenty-seven: a handful of greenhorns, fresh from school, yet handpicked by the Chief to form an independent unit reporting directly to him. It was a decision that strained belief.

Their oldest and most experienced member was the team leader, Xiao Qiu, responsible for trace evidence analysis—and he’d only been at Provincial Headquarters for a year and a half. Forensic pathologist Ye Xuan had barely been there a year and had yet to complete a solo autopsy. Sketch artist Mo Yu had been transferred from the Wutan City Police Department; nine months out of university, she’d only drawn suspects in a handful of theft cases. Wan Yi, the newly recruited criminal profiler, had been on the job for just five months, shadowing a senior profiler without handling a single case alone. Rong Qin had come from the provincial SWAT team, drafted in six months ago at the Chief’s request. The group’s IT support, Qi Tian, was their only unofficial member—he’d been caught hacking the provincial system half a year back and, to avoid detention, had joined the group at the Chief’s invitation.

A flock of rookies, yet favored by the Chief—they quickly drew resentment. Wu Lin, the Deputy Chief, was among those most displeased.

Passing the Night Whisper Group’s door, Wu Lin paused, pointing at the nameplate. “The kiddie squad’s out on a mission? Just don’t go mislabeling a regular case as a homicide.” Behind him, a few middle-aged detectives snickered, “Watch it—they’ve got connections. You’ll be out of a job before you know it.” Wu Lin stubbed out his cigarette in a flowerpot. “They wouldn’t dare. I was working cases across borders before they were even born!”

The local medical examiner was away for training, so the Night Whisper Group had been dispatched seventy kilometers away to Pingmeng County, Cixing City, to handle an unexplained death. After half a day’s work, the victim was declared dead from acute alcohol poisoning, with no companions that day—an accidental death, nothing more.

Outside the county station, Rong Qin kicked at weeds sprouting from the wall, fuming. “Damn it, another accidental death! I used to disarm bombs bare-handed in SWAT—now I’m collecting bodies of drunks for the precinct?” Instinctively, he reached for his gun, but his hand came up empty, deepening his irritation—he couldn’t even touch a firearm now.

Qi Tian fiddled with his phone, the wallpaper a photo of the national youth hacker competition trophy he’d won at fourteen. Scratching at his silver-dyed hair, he muttered, “Count yourself lucky. I hacked the provincial network, and now I’m finding lost phones for grannies and uncles.” He dove back into his game, knuckles whitening as he gripped his phone.

Ye Xuan emerged in silence, carrying a toolbox stamped “Made in 2003,” his palm raw where the handle had pressed into it. Outdated equipment and others’ contempt—these were hard to endure. He was desperate for a chance to prove himself, but reality had dealt him a harsh blow: no opportunities, only intensifying mockery.

Mo Yu scribbled furiously in her sketchbook, the chaotic black lines a mirror of her tangled thoughts. With a “snap,” her charcoal pencil tip broke. She clenched the stub. “All that bumping around, only to find out it’s an accident. Who knows what those old detectives will say about us.” She recalled her colleagues’ words: “Got promoted by the Chief right after arriving—who knows why?” “I can’t stand these ones with connections.” She crouched down, burying her face in her hands.

Wan Yi patted her on the back, trying to comfort her. “Don’t lose heart. Our chance will come, as long as we’re ready.” Even Wan Yi herself was uncertain. She suspected the Night Whisper Group would dissolve sooner or later—so few supported them that disbandment seemed inevitable.

Ye Xuan stood silent by the car. Rong Qin vented his anger at the weeds. Qi Tian, headphones on, played his game. Mo Yu had begun to weep quietly, and Wan Yi was awkwardly trying to comfort her. The group’s morale was at rock bottom.

As leader, Xiao Qiu knew he couldn’t let his own disappointment infect the team. He opened the car door and twisted the key; the engine sputtered twice. The others looked up at him. He swept his gaze over them. “We can’t give up on ourselves. No matter how things turn out, we mustn’t give up. That’s the only way others will look down on us. Chin up!”

His words did little to help. On the drive back, gloom hung over them all. In the rearview mirror, Xiao Qiu saw the slumped figures—Qi Tian with his cap over his face pretending to be a corpse, Rong Qin gazing out the window, Mo Yu’s sketchbook on her knees, a broken pencil peeking out. The monotonous hum of the engine filled the empty county road, until a traffic officer in a yellow reflective vest suddenly appeared through the rain.

Xiao Qiu leaned out the window. “Officer, what’s happened?” The officer wiped rain from his face and pointed at the barricade ahead. “There’s been a landslide after the heavy rain—repairs are underway, but the road won’t reopen until tomorrow at the earliest. This is the only road in or out of Pingmeng County. You can wait here and try your luck, but I suggest you head back to town and find a place for the night.” Xiao Qiu thanked him and turned the car around.

Qi Tian perked up from the back seat, eyes shining like a husky spotting a bone. “Boss, are we getting a day off? Looks like the road won’t be fixed soon. I’m exhausted from these long days.”

Rong Qin dragged him back into his seat. “All you think about is time off. And if your so-called ‘long days’ mean gaming all night and napping in the office, then yeah, you’re working real hard.”

Mo Yu, wiping raindrops from her sketchbook, managed a faint smile. “If we really get a break, maybe I’ll wander around, clear my head.”

Ye Xuan snapped the latch of his toolbox, the repetitive “click” a steady refrain. “Might as well get a room—at least the folks at HQ won’t call us idiots for waiting here in the rain.”

As the rain intensified outside the window and their conversation drifted from “botched missions” to “tonight’s plans,” the oppressive mood began to ease, and Wan Yi relaxed. She leaned forward. “Team Leader, shouldn’t we report to the Chief?”

Xiao Qiu drove on. “Let’s find a guesthouse first, then call him.”

Inside the car, Rong Qin teased Qi Tian about his pink rabbit wallpaper; Qi Tian blushed fiercely, claiming it was his idol’s social media profile picture. Ye Xuan fanned the flames, while Mo Yu and Wan Yi huddled together—Mo Yu was sketching rabbit ears onto Qi Tian’s head.

This unexpected layover had, somehow, driven away the earlier gloom.

As dusk fell, they parked outside a guesthouse. Qi Tian leapt out, stretching. “When is the Chief going to get us a new car? This old wreck rattles me to pieces after ten minutes.”

After checking in, they retreated to their rooms to rest. Xiao Qiu called the Chief, who picked up after two rings. “Xiao Qiu, what’s up? Why aren’t you back yet?”

Xiao Qiu explained, “Heavy rain in Pingmeng County—landslide on the only road. We’d like to stay the night and reassess in the morning.”

The Chief was silent a moment. “Pingmeng County… The Cixing City Police Department is there, right? Director Wu is an old friend—I haven’t seen him in years. Pass along my regards, and while you’re at it… ask about the alternate member’s opinion.”

Xiao Qiu was surprised. “Alternate member? Chief, you’ve never mentioned this. What’s their name? I’ll make a note.”

The Chief chuckled. “Don’t rush it. Tomorrow, go see Director Wu at the police department—he’ll tell you.”

As soon as the call ended, Qi Tian sidled over, grinning wickedly. “Boss, we have a new member?”

Xiao Qiu thumped him. “Are you eavesdropping again? Next time I’ll confiscate your laptop!”

Mo Yu was excited. “Come on, forgive him just this once. Who is it—male or female? What’s their name?”

Rong Qin leaned against the wall, smirking. “Nosy as ever, Mo Yu. If you keep this up, the new member will run before they even arrive.”

Mo Yu pinched him in the side; he yelped and begged for mercy—her “Nine Yin White Bone Claw” was no joke.

Ye Xuan quietly approached Xiao Qiu. “Team Leader, they’re not listening, but I am. Did the Chief say who it was?”

Xiao Qiu shook his head helplessly. “Calm down, all of you. The Chief said to greet Director Wu tomorrow, and we’ll find out then.”

Qi Tian grinned, pulling out his laptop. “I’ll just hack the records tonight—there has to be a file transfer!”

Xiao Qiu snatched it away and closed it. “Don’t even think about it. The laptop’s confiscated for tonight—you want to get us all labeled as undisciplined before we even meet them? And it’s just an alternate member—there’s no file yet. Now go eat.”

Wan Yi frowned, lost in thought. After the others left, she pulled Xiao Qiu aside. “This alternate member must be complicated, or the Chief wouldn’t have mentioned them. Someone here must know them, and there’s some unresolved issue.”

Xiao Qiu considered this, face growing serious. “You’re right; something’s off. But we can’t be sure yet. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

After their exhausting day, the team went to rest after dinner—except for Qi Tian, who gamed through the night.

At eight the next morning, they gathered at the city police department entrance. Qi Tian yawned. “Isn’t this too early? We’re supposed to be on a break—why get up so soon?”

Rong Qin massaged his shoulders, shaking him hard. “It’s eight. Back in SWAT, I was up running at five.”

Mo Yu eyed him, arms folded. “Your dark circles are bigger than a panda’s. Stayed up all night again, didn’t you?”

Wan Yi’s words from yesterday still echoed in Xiao Qiu’s mind, making him increasingly uneasy. He cut off their chatter. “Enough. Let’s go in.”

Inside, after stating their purpose, Director Wu welcomed them into his office. Studying them, he smiled warmly. “Young people, full of vitality—just as I expected. It’s been years since I saw Chief Lin. Tell him we must share a drink when he visits!”

After a few polite remarks, Xiao Qiu got to the point. “Director Wu, the Chief also asked us to meet the alternate member. When would be convenient?”

Wu sipped his tea. “Ah, I forgot to tell Lin—Xiao Xing took half a day off. Come back this afternoon.”

Xiao Qiu smiled. “No rush. May I ask the member’s name, so we know how to address them?”

The moment the name “Di Xing” left Wu’s mouth, Ye Xuan nearly slammed the table and stood up. Xiao Qiu, quick as lightning, clamped a hand on his shoulder, forcing a smile. “Sorry, our team member is just a little excited.”

Director Wu nodded knowingly. “No worries. There’s a Sichuan restaurant in Yiyang Plaza downtown—their spicy hot pot is excellent. I recommend you try it.”

Xiao Qiu, still pressing Ye Xuan down, made a hasty retreat. “Thank you, Director Wu. We’ll be sure to.”

Outside, aside from Qi Tian and Rong Qin, who’d never worked at headquarters, everyone’s expression was grim.

Qi Tian sensed the tension and tugged at Xiao Qiu. “Boss, who is this person? Why does everyone look like they swallowed a bitter melon?”

Rong Qin, sensing the mood, kept silent—Qi Tian had already asked the question on his own mind.

Ye Xuan punched the wall. “Has the Chief lost his mind? He wants that person in the Night Whisper Group?”

Mo Yu stabbed holes into her sketchbook. “Is the Chief turning our group into a dumping ground? Just throwing anyone in?”

Qi Tian’s face darkened—he loathed dealing with arrogant people. “If she really joins, I won’t be able to stand it. I’m against it—I’m not here to serve some princess.”

Rong Qin slammed the car door. “Know what SWAT hates most? Lone wolves. If she talks back to her own mentor, she won’t listen to us. If she doesn’t take orders, I oppose it too.”

Wan Yi pulled Xiao Qiu aside, lowering her voice. “I don’t mean to be prejudiced, but you know our situation at headquarters. Bringing in someone this controversial will just put us even more in the spotlight. Could Wu have made a mistake?”

Xiao Qiu’s brow furrowed. “No. I just confirmed with the Chief—it’s her, no doubt. The important thing now is to steady the team.”

Back at the car, Xiao Qiu cut them off. “Calm down, everyone. We’re meeting her this afternoon—don’t embarrass the Night Whisper Group. Get in. Didn’t Director Wu say the hot pot was delicious? Let’s try it.”

With the leader’s word, the group fell silent and climbed in. In the rearview mirror, Ye Xuan gritted his teeth, clutching the dissection knife keychain his mentor had given him. The steering wheel cover bore deep finger marks from Xiao Qiu’s grip. The car started, heading toward Yiyang Plaza.