Insights Chapter 137: Skeletons

Chapter 137: Skeletons

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Fifteen years ago, on the night of July 22nd, it was a rainy night. The rain started around 8 p.m. The rain was particularly heavy beneath Luming Mountain. In this pitch-black night, only the sound of thunder and rain could be heard, as if everything in the world, every living creature, was submerged in the rain. Then came the fierce rumbling of the earth, every few minutes.

Young Wang Huishi wore a raincoat and walked to the village entrance, tossing a coin into a nearby cardboard box. Seeing the old man at the convenience store dozing off, his head nodding, not even opening his eyes despite the sounds earlier, Wang Huishi took out a piece of paper and made a call.

“Hello…” A girl’s tender voice came through the phone line, “Are you the reporter who came last time? You asked me to notify you if there’s an occurrence of earth rumbling. It’s raining tonight, and the earth is rumbling.”

The person on the other end thanked her and said they would come right away. Like a domino being knocked over, the girl was completely unaware that this phone call might change the fate of several people in the years to come.

Wang Huishi hung up the phone and headed home. As she reached the door, a dull rumbling came from the mountains, shaking the entire Wangshe Village.

The girl was startled. The earth was particularly turbulent tonight. But all of this would soon become irrelevant to her, as she was about to leave here and go to town to attend high school. Wang Huishi looked towards the pitch-black mountains and returned home.

Thirty minutes later, Yu Chang’en and Pan Xiaolin arrived at the foot of Luming Mountain. They received the call and hurriedly drove from their home. The car stopped at the foot of the mountain, and as the thunderstorm continued, they climbed up wearing dark raincoats. The rain had lessened, and the thunder had stopped.

“We’re almost there!” Yu Chang’en used both hands and feet to climb, pulling his wife behind him. Then the two of them struggled to climb together.

“It seems to have stopped shaking, could it have stopped?” Pan Xiaolin was a bit worried.

The rain had diminished, and the thunder had ceased.

“We’re almost there!” Yu Chang’en used both hands and feet to climb, “We’re not too late.”

He had a premonition that they would have a big scoop tonight. They had worked hard for this special report for a long time. Initially, they planned to do a feature on folklore, focusing on the earth rumblings of Luming Mountain. But as they delved into the investigation, they felt that things were getting more and more unusual.

They had climbed this mountain several times, always hearing strange noises halfway up. It seemed like there were people inside the mountain, coming and going. Their sensitivity as reporters made them increasingly certain that it might not be some so-called earth rumbling, but rather someone meddling.

What were those people doing in the mountain? As journalists, the couple excelled at investigation. They were ready to secretly investigate, uncover the truth, and break this news story.

Tonight, they received a call and left their young son at home, just to find out what was going on. The two climbed halfway up the mountain, and the rain, though still falling, had lessened somewhat.

Pan Xiaolin suddenly grabbed her husband and signaled for silence. Yu Chang’en also stopped and looked, in the pitch-black rainy night halfway up the mountain, where several men in raincoats stood less than ten meters away from them.

As media reporters, they recognized the person in the center of the group. Sensing that something was amiss, the couple crouched down, hiding in the darkness, listening to their conversation.

Yu Chang’en picked up his camera and started recording. What they saw was Zhen Jiaxu and several of his men. One person standing beside him was nervously stuttering as he reported to Zhen Jiaxu. The couple was a bit far away, coupled with the sound of rain, they could only intermittently catch snippets of the conversation.

“When it explodes… the collapse of the mine… flooding… people are still wiping rain from their faces, their expressions almost in tears.”

Zhen Jiaxu’s expression became serious, he furrowed his brows, then shook his head, “No, this can’t be known by anyone else, otherwise, we… will all die.”

Yu Chang’en and Pan Xiaolin whispered quietly, “It seems like they’ve been mining illegally here and encountered a flooding accident. There are people trapped inside.”

His wife frowned, “This is a matter of life and death… we have to find a way to call the police. We can’t just let those people die like this.”

Pan Xiaolin’s heart was pounding, the people in front of her not only showed no intention of rescuing, but also wanted to cover up the accident. It was too dangerous here, they had to find a way to get out. Pan Xiaolin made a gesture to her husband to retreat. Yu Chang’en nodded.

They carefully took steps, preparing to leave, but Yu Chang’en accidentally stepped on a branch, making a slight noise.

Both of their faces changed, this was bad! They quickly got up and ran down the mountain.

The movement of the branch also alerted Zhen Jiaxu and his men, “Someone!”

“Get them!”

“Don’t let them escape.”

Several of his men dashed out, heading towards the corner where Yu Chang’en and his wife were hiding.

On the pitch-black mountain road, Yu Chang’en wanted to protect his wife, but the other side had the advantage in numbers. They had expended too much energy climbing up the mountain. In no time, Pan Xiaolin was caught.

Yu Chang’en turned back to save his wife but was also captured by those people. Several of Zhen’s men searched them and found the press passes they were carrying.

“They’re journalists! How did they find their way here?”

One of the men handed the two press passes to Zhen Jiaxu and asked him, “Boss Zhen, what should we do now?”

Zhen Jiaxu lowered his head in thought. This illegal gold mine had been operating here for years, and they had extracted nearly ninety percent of the gold from the mine. This place would soon become an abandoned mine. Before this, he had considered how to deal with the disabled workers who had been mining here.

Those people were all imprisoned here, living and eating in the mountains. Some of them were mute and could hear sounds, while others were just physically disabled but mentally normal. If these people were to leave, the secret of the private mine would be discovered.

Today’s flooding accident had trapped those people in the mine, and now, with these two journalists who had stumbled upon the truth, things had become more complicated.

Over the past few years, the profits from mining gold have been continuous. Zhen Jiaxu has become a wealthy businessman in Penang through money laundering, and now it’s time to call it quits. He must handle this matter cleanly and efficiently to ensure that such a lifestyle can continue.

With this in mind, Zhen Jiaxu decided, “Throw them into the mine pit. Then, blow this place up.”

“Blow this place up?!” exclaimed his henchmen, realizing that there were still over twenty lives below in the mine.

“Blame it on their bad luck,” Zhen Jiaxu’s face twisted with a cruel expression. “You all just do as I say. If anything happens, I’ll take care of it. No one will discover anything.”

Pan Xiaolin, who overheard the conversation, felt hopeless as she realized what these people were planning to do.

She cried and pleaded with them, “Please, spare us…”

But Yu Chang’en interjected, “Don’t plead with them! Someone will find out!”

Unbeknownst to them, the camera hanging from his chest was still recording, capturing everything. These henchmen, who had been loyal to Zhen Jiaxu for many years, knocked out the couple and dragged them into the mine pit several meters deep.

Ten minutes later, with a loud bang, another violent earthquake occurred. The mine shaft was destroyed by the explosion, and rocks covered everything completely. Later, they disposed of the car driven by Yu Chang’en and his wife, eliminating all traces.

As the storm gradually subsided, everything returned to calm. Years passed, and the mine entrance was buried, with green trees planted over it. The lush greenery covered up these atrocities. Those lives disappeared in the Luming Mountain, becoming a secret known to no one.

Fifteen years later, on the Luming Mountain. After a loud noise, the demons dispersed, and the long-sealed mine was finally reopened. A hole appeared in front of everyone, emitting white smoke.

To prevent toxic gasses underground, the first to enter were several evidence technicians wearing gas masks, along with geological experts familiar with the mine structure. Led by Gu Haiyi, they explored the path. After about ten minutes, Gu Haiyi emerged from the mine.

Gu Haiyi took off his gas mask and breathed in the fresh air, then the first thing he said was, “Secretary Cui, is it confirmed that it’s a gold mine? What did you discover?”

Gu Haiyi replied, “It’s a waste mine.”

The geological expert added, “The groundwater has receded recently, and the mine’s water permeation has long since disappeared. The mine structure is relatively stable, so it’s safe to enter for search.”

Hearing this, Secretary Cui frowned tightly and quickly made a call to the leaders of the province. After the communication, he said to Gu Yanchen, “The leaders take this case extremely seriously and demand a thorough investigation.”

After the air inside slightly cleared and was confirmed safe for human exposure, the medical examiner and detectives entered.

Gu Yanchen, Yu Shen and Lu Ying went into the cave, clearing the way for the medical examiner.

Shen Junci, Liu Shurong, Wen Wan, Cheng Gong, and Song Qiancheng, along with several medical examiners wearing protective suits, descended. They used flashlights and spotlights.

The mine tunnel was sloping downward. As they walked, they arrived at a platform and saw several bodies lying in the corner wearing miner’s clothes. Not far ahead, they found more corpses, and further ahead, there were even more…

Some corpses were curled up in the corners of the mine.

Among them, one corpse had a few words written on a nearby rock, “My name is Lu **. Help!”

After the mining accident, many people were still alive. Seeing the tragic scenes before them, all the medical examiners and detectives clenched their teeth. Due to the long passage of time, most of the corpses had completely skeletonized. This gruesome scene painted a vivid picture of the immense suffering those people endured before their deaths. Despite the heartbreaking scene, the medical examiners and evidence technicians began their work.

The first step of the medical examiner’s work was to mark all the remains.

In the darkness of the mine, Shen Junci couldn’t make detailed records, so he had to record them with a voice recorder first. Qi Yi’an kept taking photos with his camera, documenting the condition of each corpse. Then, the corpses were numbered according to their positions, placed in body bags, and transported to the mouth of the mine.

“Unidentified skeletonized corpse number one, male, with obvious signs of soaking on the bones and clothing, died in a coal mine water seepage accident, estimated to be around 25 years old. The time of death is 15 years ago.”

…

“Skeletonized corpse number five, male, with skull fractures, buried under rocks in the mine, died in a mine collapse caused by underground blasting, estimated to be around 32 years old.” Shen Junci discovered two corpses wearing raincoats in the corner, which stood out among the other corpses wearing miner’s clothes. “Skeletonized corpses number 16 and 17, one male, one female…”

Shen Junci suddenly stopped. Instead of continuing his examination, he called out, “Yu Shen!”

Yu Shen, who was working, hurried over. Shen Junci pointed to the bones in front of him, patted his shoulder, and said, “I’ll check the other corpses first.”

Yu Shen realized what was happening. With trembling hands, he lifted the corner of the raincoat, and even though he wasn’t a professional medical examiner, he could tell that one of the corpses was a woman with long hair. The other was a male corpse.

Yu Shen noticed a watch on the wrist of the male corpse. Then, at the neckline of the female corpse, he saw a familiar red scarf. It was the same one his mother wore around her neck that night.

Fifteen years ago, he stood on tiptoes to help his mother adjust the scarf, leaving a kiss on her cheek. He remembered his mother telling him to take care of the house, saying she and his father would be back soon. But they never returned.

Fifteen years later, this reunion was different. He was no longer the boy he was back then. Although he had anticipated it, seeing it with his own eyes still hurt. He found that his parents had stayed together until the end. Tears welled up in Yu Shen’s eyes. He fought back the tears and softly said, “Mom, Dad, I’ve finally found you. I’ll take you home.”

Evidence technicians and medical examiners came to help collect the bodies. When they moved the woman’s hand, they found a note, “Yu Shen, Dad passed away from injuries, and Mom will join him soon. I don’t know if you’ll ever see these words. Remember, Mom and Dad will always love you. You’re a strong child, and we’ll watch over you from heaven. All the truth is in the camera. Farewell.”

Over the years, the bloodstains had turned into old red marks, imprinted on the stones. After reading the note, Yu Shen couldn’t hold back his tears any longer, and they streamed down his face.

Lu Ying stood beside him, giving him a comforting pat on the back, letting him lean on her shoulder. He said, “It’s okay to cry now. It’s not shameful.”

As a young police officer who had handled this missing person case years ago, Lu Ying cared deeply about this case. Finally, it was solved. He felt for the boy he had watched grow up.

Yu Shen choked up.

“You found them,” Lu Ying patted Yu Shen’s back. “Your parents saw you grow up, saw how amazing you’ve become. They would be proud of you.”

After crying for a while, Yu Shen knelt beside the corpses, bowing three times to bid a solemn farewell to his parents. Then, he put on gloves and picked up the camera held in his father’s bony hand…

Outside the mine at that moment, Shen Junci had been busy. He emerged from the mine shaft and joined Gu Yanchen in counting the bones. The corpses that had been brought out were lined up. Rows of black body bags were packed densely together. Each body bag contained a life. Sixteen corpses had been retrieved by the medical examiners, with eight more to collect. Preliminary estimates, including Yu Chang’en and his wife, totaled 24 deaths.

The ground was covered with bones.

Shen Junci checked and registered them one by one.

Gu Yanchen asked, “Can we confirm the cause of death for these people?”

Shen Junci replied, “There are signs of collapse and water seepage inside the mine. Some died in accidents, but many were trapped and struggled to the mouth of the mine, only to die there.”

With the entrance blown up, there wasn’t enough food or water, and the air became thinner. They could only despairingly perish in the dark depths of the mine. If they had called for help back then, these people might not have died. But because of those people, they slept here forever until someone blew open the mine years later, revealing the truth.

Those wealthy individuals trampled over these bones, squandering the money and lives they had gained in exchange, indulging in their extravagant lifestyles.

Thinking about this, Gu Yanchen couldn’t help but curse, “Beasts.”

Shen Junci said, “Based on the corpses, these people died underground. But now the problem is, how do we prove who caused their deaths?”

As law enforcement officers, they had to follow the chain of evidence. Every link was essential.

Over the years, Zhen Jiaxu must have done everything to erase his connection to these people and this place. The cleaner had removed the file on these missing people, but it couldn’t be used as evidence. They struggled to prove that this private mine was connected to the Hetu Trading Association and Zhen Jiaxu.

“I found evidence in the mine.” Yu Shen approached them, handing the old Sony camera to Gu Yanchen. His tears had dried, and his back straightened. At this moment, he wasn’t just a son who had found his parents’ remains; he was also a police officer of the people. He would do everything to solve this case. With his head lowered, Yu Shen said, “This was the camera my parents had with them when they died. It might have captured something.”

It was a heartening piece of news.

“I’ll find technicians to try to recover the data,” Gu Yanchen took the camera. It was old and somewhat damaged, with a broken lens, but the memory card was intact. Gu Yanchen held the camera, heavy with the weight of two lives lost, and then said, “To prevent anyone from tampering with vital evidence, I’ll handle this personally.”

They couldn’t afford any more complications.

That day, the search in the mine continued from morning till night. As the sun set, several police cars and body transport vehicles returned from Luming Mountain to the Penang City Bureau, bringing everything back. Fifteen years ago, those bloody and brutal truths would be presented before the police.

.

Night, East Penang. Inside a luxurious villa, Zhen Jiaxu finished listening to his subordinate’s report and hung up his phone. Within just one day, Zhen Jiaxu’s face had aged significantly. He remembered the words the journalist said before dying, “Someone will uncover all of this!”

Now, this event has truly occurred. The sealed secrets were being unveiled, and soon someone would discover that he was the mastermind behind it all. With things having come to this point, he could no longer stop the police investigation. Now, he only hoped to delay the inevitable as much as possible.

Until tomorrow…

At least until tomorrow night.

He walked to the villa’s terrace, from where he could see the most luxurious area of Penang. Despite the bustling scene, Zhen Jiaxu sensed a smell, the scent of impending bloodshed. He squinted his eyes and made a call, “Mu Yuwei, I’ve reviewed the plan. Execute it tomorrow night. Even if it means death, I will make sure those people accompany me to the grave!”