Horror mailman

"Rumble..." In City L, a sudden heavy rain sent everyone on the streets scrambling for cover. At that moment, a line of police cars roared past, leaving the city and heading straight for the outskirts. "Captain Lei, the person who called the police seems to have been severely traumatized. They've been sent to the hospital in a state of confusion." Beside him, the forensic pathologist stepped forward and said to Lei Ke, "Preliminary judgment, the deceased's name is Yao Jiafu, 53 years old, from Xiao Li Village in City L. The relatives have been informed to identify the body. Her eyes were sewn shut with needle and thread. Beside her body, we found a file." Lei Ke took the file. Inside were details about the victim's name, family background, and some other information. "It's her!" A police officer next to Lei Ke saw the photo on the file and showed a sudden realization. "Do you know her?" Lei Ke turned back. "Captain Lei, in the case of a wife murder a while back, this old lady was a key witness. But later, we found out that it was this old lady who was gossiping behind the scenes, saying that the female victim was cheating on her husband. It started as rumors, but it spread throughout the entire neighborhood. After the incident, when we questioned her, she admitted that she had made it all up herself." At this point, the young officer felt somewhat aggrieved and muttered, "People like her deserve to die." "Shut up!" Lei Ke turned back and gave him a stern glare, then walked to the body, pulling back the shroud. The face of the corpse was contorted, and the fingers showed signs of varying degrees of distortion, indicating that she had suffered considerable torture before death. With the face already stiffened, the mouth slightly agape, Lei Ke shone his flashlight inside. At first glance, it looked dark, but upon closer inspection, Lei Ke felt that something was amiss. He called the forensic pathologist over and pointed at the mouth of the corpse. "Look... she has no tongue!" Sizzle... Fresh red meat strips, wrapped in golden-yellow fat, emanated a unique and rich aroma, causing the diners sitting nearby to start growling in hunger. This Japanese-style eatery had no tables or chairs, only a round table. Underneath the table, customers could directly observe the chef preparing the dishes. "So fragrant!" Several people stared at the bright red and juicy meat on the iron plate, unable to resist salivating. With two curved blades rubbing against each other, they made a "hiss hiss hiss..." sound. The eyes of the diners suddenly focused on the young man in his mid-twenties who seemed to be the chef. With a clean white apron and neatly trimmed short hair, he appeared sharp and capable. At this moment, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he reached into a nearby barrel. Splash! A slender and round autumn fish with a blue back was grabbed by the young man from the barrel. With a swift motion of the knife, he sliced open the scales, gutted the fish, and deboned it. With three cuts and two picks, on the table, fish bones, innards, meat, and even the scraped-off scales were neatly arranged in three rows. Focused and meticulous, with familiar techniques, but in the hands of this young man, it displayed a miraculous transformation, evolving into a unique form of art. Precise, perfect, down to every fish scale and the fish's internal organs, it was a flawless technique, turning dissection into a precise and rapid surgery. The entire process kept the diners at the table completely captivated, marveling at the worthiness of their visit. This restaurant was a private kitchen, and getting a reservation here meant waiting until next spring. Moreover, the peculiar thing was that this restaurant only opened at midnight, and the prices were steep. There was no menu; it entirely depended on the ingredients the chef procured. Yet, even so, the business of this restaurant was booming. Meanwhile, the well-fried meat on the iron plate was quickly wrapped in the freshly sliced raw fish, dabbed with a little vinegar, placed in exquisite dishes, and garnished with a sprig of mint. "Sea-fried Fish." The fresh red meat, golden on both sides, was wrapped in the flawless autumn fish slices like white jade, combining red and white, emitting a unique and tempting allure. "Mmm!" A diner took a bite and immediately lit up, trying to control the joy on their face. The silky smooth raw fish slices had no hint of fishiness, melting in the mouth, while the chopped red meat inside provided a different texture, savory and sticky, making one want to swallow their own tongue. Even the dignified female diners couldn't help but lose control of their emotions after eating it, because the taste was truly unforgettable. Multiple layers of flavors erupted on their taste buds almost simultaneously, creating an unimaginable sensation. "May I ask, what meat is this?" Finally, someone curiously asked, because the red meat was so tender and flavorful, but it didn't seem like beef, lamb chops, or pork. "It's beef tongue!" Without looking back, the young man said, carefully wiping clean the steel knife he had used to cut the fish, wrapping the blade with tape, and throwing it into a separate trash can nearby. The knife had already absorbed the fish's scent, and even if it was cleaned thoroughly, it would definitely not affect other ingredients. However, for his overly sensitive sense of smell, it was still unbearable to have such a scent on the blade. Opening a nearby drawer, all he saw inside were brand new blades, neatly arranged. Each one reflected a cold light, with unique patterns. On the market, such a set of knives would definitely not be cheap. But for Zhao Ke, all these knives were disposable items; they couldn't be considered true blades. Perhaps for him, this was a regret, because so far, he hadn't found a blade that he could truly call perfect. The dinner lasted only two hours. The diners sat up satisfied, each with a different color on their faces, but with one commonality: after eating, they immediately made reservations for next year. Casually placing the used utensils into a nearby wooden barrel, they would be collected and handled by someone early the next morning. "Rumble..." The rain outside grew heavier and heavier. The raindrops pattered loudly on the roof tiles, emitting a chaotic yet emotional sound, a kind of sentiment not often heard in big cities. Standing by the window, undoing his apron and wiping off the dust from the silver cross pendant on his chest, Zhao Ke closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the rhythmic patter of the rain, as if listening to a concert. Of course, there was another reason; heavy rain would wash away everything covered by dust, whether it was traces or odors, a thorough cleansing, leaving no trace behind. Taking out a silver cigarette case from his pocket, he pulled out a cigarette and held it under his nose. Ding dong... At this moment, Zhao Ke's ears twitched, and a bell rang from inside the door. It was the bell hanging outside the door, which only rang when the door was opened. However, strangely, the door remained closed. "Is it broken?" The bell kept ringing, not the usual calm sound, but a frantic ringing, as if someone was deliberately shaking it. The rapid and urgent ringing made people feel very uneasy. Frowning, Zhao Ke casually slipped a fruit knife into his hand and strode towards the door. Standing next to the door, he gently pulled it open a crack with his finger. A quick glance upward revealed that the bell on the door had stopped ringing and stood quietly there, as if it hadn't made any sound at all. "Was it the wind?" With doubts, Zhao Ke glanced around, then suddenly his gaze froze. Somehow, a box had appeared under his feet, similar to a courier package, but instead of a delivery slip, there was a stamp on it. "A delivery?" Furrowing his brows slightly, Zhao Ke's eyes suddenly became serious. He never shopped online, and although he ran a restaurant, the people who came here, apart from those customers who only knew the name of the restaurant, could truly be counted on one hand. "Could it be him?" After much thought, Zhao Ke dismissed this possibility. With his caution, he would never accept such a package in this manner. Carefully picking up the package, it was light, and shaking it gently, it didn't seem like there was anything inside. Upon closer inspection, the stamp on it was also strange. A 7-cent stamp with an antique bronze border, appearing intricate and dense. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the finely carved texture on it. The pattern on the stamp was a very abstract eye, but no matter from which angle it was viewed, this eye seemed to silently stare at you. Zhao Ke stared at the stamp, feeling a sense of oppression from the elaborate and intricate patterns on it. He couldn't help but exhale deeply, but just as Zhao Ke lowered his head, the eye on the stamp suddenly blinked towards him. A chill ran down his spine, as if a centipede crawled up his back, making Zhao Ke shudder. Shaking his head vigorously, he took another careful look, only to find that the eye on the stamp was still the same as before. "Did I see it wrong?" Zhao Ke shook his head, self-mockingly thinking, "Geez, too many guilty conscience? Since when did I become so jumpy?" Putting away the package, Zhao Ke casually opened the door, preparing to go inside and open the package to see what was inside. However, just as he opened the door, Zhao Ke's pupils suddenly constricted, and a familiar face quietly appeared in front of him. The eyes, sewn shut with needle and thread, slowly opened, the threads tearing the eyelids apart, revealing empty eye sockets. Opening her mouth, she pointed to her empty oral cavity and said, "Where is my tongue?"