Chapter 387: Murder

Translator: Lonelytree

Qin Xuan really didn’t see anything wrong. There was no fracture or bleeding. What did Mo Li mean?

Mo Li glanced at Qin Xuan. He is still inexperienced so he doesn’t understand many things. She pointed at the base of the skull and said, “Do you see the protrusions on both sides of the base? They are called petrosal bone.”

Mo Li used a clamp to point at the petrosal bone. Mo Li added, “This bone is connected to our inner ear. If one drowned or died from lung failure, the inner pressure will change and the petrosal bone will not bleed.”

Qin Xuan nodded. He was first in class and he did know the theory behind this petrosal bone. When he saw the victim’s blackened petrosal bone, he came to the epiphany. “If the victim did die from natural death, then her petrosal bone wouldn’t have turned black.”

Mo Li nodded. “That’s right, so the only explanation is that this is murder.”

“But how can this be murder? There is no injury in her mouth cavity.” Based on what Qin Xuan learned from the textbook if the victim died from having their mouth covered, then it would leave behind bruises on the gums.

“Didn’t you notice the many soft things in the victim’s room? The killer could have used a cushion.”

Qin Xuan nodded. “Or a pillow. But it is still little evidence to determine this is a murder.”

“Hence, we shall move to the pale spot on her chest. Go on.” Mo Li lifted her chin. Qin Xuan was so nervous. He started the incision but when he reached the pale white spot, he was stuck. He only completed it with Mo Li’s encouragement.

After the victim was cut open, they could see that there was no blood in the victim’s subcutaneous capillaries. Even the subcutaneous muscles were showing obvious signs of ischemia.

“What does this mean?” Mo Li turned to Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan felt like he was in class. And he was asked to answer the question by the teacher. When he shook his head with puzzlement, Mo Li explained, “When one is alive, there will be fresh blood flowing through one’s capillaries. When a part of the body was pressed by a heavy object, the blood in the capillaries and subcutaneous tissue will be squeezed to the sides. The part which is subjected to the extra force will appear ischemic.” Mo Li demonstrated with Qin Xuan’s arm. Qin Xuan blushed when he felt Mo Li’s gentle touch. “If a person dies during this process, the blood will not have the chance to flow back to the affected area. Even after the pressure is released, the blood will not flow back to the affected area because the person is already dead.”

Qin Xuan nodded. “Since the blood can’t flow back, so the color of the affected area will be white!”

“Yes, this means that during the victim’s time of death, there was a heavy object pressing down her chest. That should be our killer!” Mo Li pointed at the white area on the chest. “Plus, does this not look like the shape of a knee to you?”

Qin Xuan spotted it immediately after Mo Li said that. He could even imagine the murder process. The killer kneed the girl on her chest and then used the pillow to press on the girl’s face.

This was the perfect way to control the victim from fighting back.

Qin Xuan took a deep breath as they continued the autopsy. The victim had serious blood congestion in her internal organs, this proved that she died by mechanical asphyxiation. She was murdered.

“Since no one has left the crime scene, the killer has to be the other tenants.”

The two walked out of the morgue. Xiao Rui returned with the victim’s info. “The victim’s name is Liao Yao. Based on the almanac, she has the element of Wood.”

Mo Li nodded. The victims were killed according to the order of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. She refused to believe this had nothing to do with Flower Appraisal. She tried to parse through the information but she could not make sense of anything.

“Is there a problem?” Xiao Rui glanced at Qin Xuan.

“It’s nothing serious. But after the autopsy proves the real cause of death, many details that look so innocent now appear very suspicious…”

“That’s normal. Many things are not as they seem.” Xiao Rui answered.

“But didn’t the officer tell us the couple is a loving couple? And they treated Liao Yao as their own daughter.”