Chapter 1120 - 1051: Kill
Ningtai County’s nights remained fairly humid. Though the streets and alleys were kept reasonably clean, it was hard to achieve the spotless perfection of a major metropolitan area.
Especially in places seldom walked by people, like rooftops or the corners of alleyways, there was more dust or grime left behind. Under a car’s headlights, an ordinary person could spot faint traces of footprints.
But in Jiang Yuan’s eyes, footprints conveyed a wealth of information.
For example, footprints with a faint bluish-green tinge indicated either prolonged walking on grass or contact with moss-like surfaces. Moreover, it had to be nearby; if the person had gone far, the green traces would have long disappeared.
The way someone walked was equally intriguing. Strides laden with force differed distinctly from relaxed ones in their gait. For instance, forceful steps often involved the body’s center of gravity shifting forward, whereas casual strides typically had the heel touch the ground first, and so forth.
Internationally, even in Great America, footprint analysis often focused solely on the prints themselves. However, thanks to figures like Ma Yulin, Chinese footprint analysis had incorporated gait studies several decades earlier. This wasn’t merely about identifying matches; in certain respects, it was akin to profiling a person.
As Jiang Yuan approached, the bluish-green, firm and resolute steps in front of the scattered iron caltrops instinctively caught his attention.
Under the car’s headlights, the footprint was clearly visible. Jiang Yuan furrowed his brow and called over some people. "Bring a few more tactical flashlights over."
Mu Zhiyang immediately pulled a tactical flashlight from his belt, while Wang Chuanxing and Wen Ming turned back to the car to retrieve flashlights from their backpacks.
Mu Zhiyang activated the tactical flashlight first and shone it onto the footprint as per Jiang Yuan’s instructions.