Chapter 1143: Chapter 1143: Old Tricks Repeated 8

He Teng didn’t respond to the jokes made by Chen Yun and the others. Instead, he turned and started talking to Xing Ye, as Xing Ye had also retired from the army and could understand matters related to the military.

“By the way, someone in Lan Li’s unit has suddenly insisted on applying for resignation at this time,” He Teng said. “Although this time of year is about right for resignations, this soldier under Lan Li is a bit unusual. Do you remember the incident when Lan Song from S Province was shot and killed? The one who fired the shot was this very soldier.”

“I heard about it later on. After the soldier returned to the unit, he was given a formal reprimand. Even though firing the shot was necessary to protect the hostages and prevent the criminal from escaping, the act of killing was still too extreme,” Xing Ye nodded. “Could it be that he holds a grudge about being reprimanded and feels dissatisfied, which is why he’s opting for resignation? After all, Lan Song’s crime was drug trafficking; even without being killed on the spot, Lan Song would have been sentenced to death upon capture.”

“Everyone knows the outcome. A reprimand from the army was appropriate, but it didn’t hinder his personal career. At the end of last year, he was even commended and earned a promotion in rank,” He Teng said. “He’s still young and with his current accomplishments, his future looks bright. Lan Li has been repeatedly advising him not to act impulsively, but he insists on resigning—even refusing to participate in the military parade.”

For some reason, upon hearing this, a phrase suddenly surfaced in Xing Ye’s mind: abnormal behavior signals hidden trouble.

Participation in a military parade is not an opportunity afforded to every soldier, nor is it an annual event. For a soldier, it represents honor, and almost everyone would overcome any challenge just to have the chance to march. Normally, someone who has already trained for over half a month wouldn’t insist on resigning and withdrawing from the parade.

“But the army has its rules. It’s not a matter of wanting to participate or not at will,” He Teng said. “Lan Li wouldn’t agree and has been suppressing this matter, without reporting it. I only learned about it by chance during a discussion with others.”

Xing Ye acknowledged it with a sound and understood that this was something beyond his or He Teng’s purview. Lan Li’s direct responsibilities wouldn’t fall under their jurisdiction. However, it didn’t stop Xing Ye from privately seeking someone to investigate this anomalous soldier.

Unexpectedly, while Xing Ye and He Teng casually brought up this person, He Teng returned to his unit that evening, only to call Xing Ye the next day, informing him that the young soldier had been murdered the previous night in the capital’s outskirts.

Even Lan Li himself began to grow suspicious.

Investigations in the capital—especially cases of this nature—would naturally fall under Chen Yun’s jurisdiction with just a word from him.

After receiving Xing Ye’s news, Chen Yun promptly took charge of the case. Furthermore, the soldier’s death caught significant attention from the military.

“Lan Li, it’s been a while since we last met~” Chen Yun greeted, bringing his team back to the station, where Lan Li was being questioned by investigators. Lan Li had been the eyewitness to the young soldier’s murder.

Chen Yun’s opening remark, “It’s been a while,” was clearly laced with mockery. Even a fool could pick up on the sarcasm, recalling the farewell gathering for He Zhilan, where the two had last crossed paths.

“Lan Li, I’m very curious. Late at night, how is it that you and your soldier coincidentally decided to visit the outskirts of the capital one after the other? And coincidentally, you ended up witnessing your comrade’s murder firsthand?” Chen Yun, with the grin of a sly fox, asked while pretending to smile gently, glancing at Lan Li’s expression before casually flipping through the case notes in his hands.