Chapter 104

In the eyes of others, Ling Yue first borrowed an umbrella.

Best if it's black.

Ling Yue opened it, a chill rose on her skin; she didn't know how to describe that feeling, looking at the girl she had summoned beside her.

Shen Xinxin's soul had weakened to the point of near shattering, because she had remained here, not entering reincarnation.

"Sister, let's go." The girl laughed stiffly; only then did Ling Yue notice two small dimples on her cheeks.

In an instant, she didn't know how to describe her feelings.

Behind them, Shen Qiang leaned on his cane and followed; for some reason, looking at that umbrella, she inexplicably felt a sense of closeness; she wiped her tears—she was Xinxin's mother, and she wanted to greet her daughter in the best possible way.

Xinxin, Mom has come to pick you up and take you home.

"Playing tricks!"

Zhou Jiyao curled his lip, sneering: "How could anyone discover what he did, so flawless? As for the so-called bones—"

The boy gave a cold laugh, then suddenly burst into loud laughter; the next moment, his voice cut off abruptly.

Lin Shaoze kicked his shin; the boy fell to his knees, letting out a short, miserable howl.

Lin Shaoze: "Obstructing official duties—this is a warning."

Cheng Ziming stared at him in shock, then silently lowered his head. Yes, this is a warning; it could hardly be a case of settling personal scores under the guise of public duty.

Everyone thought the burial site should be in the wilderness, but after they followed it out, Ling Yue had taken only a few steps before her gaze fell on a cluster of blood‑red roses blooming vividly in front of the lecture building, where the sound of reading filled the air.

The pair of sparrows had already flown over, circling her: "Where is Xinxin?"

Ling Yue lowered her gaze: "You saw her."

In an instant, countless people felt their scalps tingle, their nerves tighten; an unseen chill shot up their backs—as if plunging into an ice cellar.

The principal swayed, nearly fainting, and stammered while pointing at the roses: "The flowers, the flower bed—?!"

At that moment, all the teachers froze, recalling how many times they had passed here, even praising how beautifully these roses bloomed—while other saplings were sickly, this one stood out alone.

Only now did they realize that the soil in which it grew contained a corpse serving as nourishment.

When the police arrived earlier, they had already mustered all available personnel; this flower bed, just over a foot high, was quickly dismantled. Beneath the rosebush, they expected to unearth bones, but after half a day they found only a pile of fragments.

More terrifying than seeing human bones.

Shen Yu could barely find her voice, squeezing it out from her throat bit by bit: "What is this?"

The forensic examiner concluded: "They are bone fragments."

He pinched the sharp bone fragment; even after several years, the cut remained perfectly smooth—clearly it had been sliced and shattered by a sharp instrument. Moreover, the soil in the flower bed contained a large amount of human DNA.

The closer the soil was to the rose's roots, the higher the DNA concentration.

The pair of sparrows flew onto Ling Yue's shoulder, their pea‑sized eyes blinking: "What does his words mean?"

Ling Yue startled, then after explaining, the sparrows fell silent for a moment, then began to peck at Zhou Jiyao as if gone mad; even with their dull beaks, relentless pecking could strip flesh from his body.

Zhou Jiyao's hands were already cuffed; he could only wave them incessantly, like a madman in a frenzy.

Everyone stepped back half a pace, feeling no pity, only grim satisfaction.

Is he even human? He's worse than a beast!

Perhaps sensing the contemptuous gazes around him, Zhou Jiyao burst into manic laughter: "Who let her get in my way?!"

Someone like that would probably not repent even in death.

Amid the background of wails, Ling Yue's gaze turned cold as she looked at the bone fragments, also sensing something else—a faint, damp, cold fragrance drifting into her nostrils.

Shen Xinxin looked at her: "It's incense ash."

I don't know where Zhou Jiyao heard this, but those who die violently carry furious resentment; he dared to shatter her corpse, yet feared her revenge. Later he gathered lots of incense ash from a Buddhist temple and mixed it with Shen Xinxin's corpse—no, with her bodily remains.

That incense ash had been offered before the Buddha statue, carrying a faint power of vows; wrapped around Shen Xinxin's body, it made her complexion grow ever paler.

In the fairy tale, the sea maiden's feet feel like knives with each step; Shen Xinxin, even staying in place, feels countless daggers stabbing her body every day.

No matter how much resentment she harbored, it was worn away by this pain, a hundred‑fold greater; this is also why Ling Yue did not notice the problem at first.

She might have sensed something wrong with the rose, but only a faint hint; Ling Yue is more accustomed to communicating with small animals.

Even from her first encounter with Zhou Jiyao, Ling Yue sensed his hands were unclean, but investigating requires evidence; though her words might find believers, the law demands solid proof.

Beside her, Shen Xinxin's soul grew ever more faint; with the strongest yang of daytime and being at a school, she ought not to appear, yet she forced herself to do so.

Ling Yue patted her shoulder, and the girl's complexion immediately improved considerably.

At that moment, Shen Yu walked over, not knowing what was happening to herself; before she could speak, tears streamed down.

Before her unseen eyes, her daughter in school uniform looked at her, reaching out a hand; thanks to Ling Yue's help, her breath had become calm.

"Mom."

Shen Xinxin blinked; as a ghost she had no tears, yet she felt emotion, gazing at her mother's wrinkled face and flecked white hair, she slowly embraced her—only to pass through.

Yin energy drifted past like a cool breeze; Shen Yu lifted her head: "I think I heard Xinxin calling me……"

She had barely spoken when tears streamed down her face.

From the moment Ling Yue learned of Shen Xinxin's burial site, she had sensed something; only now could she be certain: "Has Xinxin come back? Has Xinxin come to find her mother?"

"Mom is here, Xinxin, Xinxin……"

Everyone thought she had gone mad; Ling Yue leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear; the woman startled, then excitedly bent her knees—as if she were about to kneel.

Ling Yue: "!!!"

"Don't kneel to me; I haven't done anything."

After much effort she persuaded Shen Yu, then spoke softly to Shen Xinxin, a voice only they could hear: "You must return by tomorrow, or else you will endanger your mother; her health is not good."

Shen Xinxin nodded vigorously, light flashing in her eyes, mostly excitement—she was going home with her mother; she could go home with her mother.

As for the chief culprit, Zhou Jiyao, he still hadn't realized what awaited him; his frenzied act of murder and burial is chilling to contemplate, and what awaits him is severe legal punishment.

However, before the death sentence is carried out, he will first receive Shen Xinxin's hospitality; the little girl will not do anything excessive, merely returning in kind whatever was done to her.

Shen Xinxin: "I will only let him suffer sleepless nights."

Just as a knife does not fall on one's own body, no one will feel pain.

Back to the main topic.

Shen Xinxin looked at the two little sparrows, her former good friends, and instinctively reached out; the sparrow couple couldn't see it, but they could feel the so‑called wind.

They heard Ling Yue's explanation, tilted their heads and pecked at their feathers: "Is it really Xinxin here?"

A gust of wind blew, leaves fell from the tree and covered the little sparrows; Huihui and Queque were stunned in an instant.

After they became familiar with Xinxin, they would sneak into the clean, bright classroom in the afternoon, hide behind Shen Xinxin's thick bookshelf, lie on the books, cover themselves with a pretty leaf‑blanket, and nap together with the girl.

That was a leisurely, tranquil afternoon in the midst of Shen Xinxin's dizzying study breaks.

"Xinxin." Queque blinked its little eyes, stupid Huihui looked at the little leaf on its head and said belatedly: "Is Xinxin back?"

Before leaving, Ling Yue glanced at the others; the principal gave a fawning smile, the rest of the teachers lowered their heads, daring not to meet her gaze.

From the principal to the teachers, which of them resembles an elder who imparts doctrine, teaches lessons, and clears up confusion?

Ling Yue furrowed her brows; Lin Shaoze spoke up, as if knowing her thought: "Maybe not long from now, things will turn around."

Ling Yue startled, caught a glimpse of the man's profile; before she could say anything, Cheng Ziming jumped up like a monkey, having just heard that, he immediately said: "A turnaround? I get it—did students earlier collude with teachers to cheat on exams? The school does nothing? I think this lot is finished; the Education Bureau will definitely issue a notice, this principal has gone too far——"

He kept chattering, wanting to say more, then suddenly stopped, covered his mouth: "Did I, say too much?"

Lin Shaoze straightened the corner of his mouth: "……"

You still know? Do you want me to praise you, saying you're great?

He turned his head, met Ling Yue's gaze, she gave him a thumbs‑up: "Awesome!"

She threw an eye‑knife at him, and Cheng Ziming was scared off directly.

Lin Shaoze remained silent.

At that moment, Ling Yue suddenly startled, hearing the system's voice: 【The sparrow's wish has been fulfilled, reward issued: 4/6 Detective's Eye Fragments.】

By the way, Ling Yue checked that boy's class—Grade One Class—his name is Lin Yang; next year he will take the college entrance exam, his grades are excellent, and the teachers have high hopes for him.

He also has a good nature; even if life is impoverished, he would take out all his spare change for a little cat, and Ling Yue still keeps it to this day.

Ling Yue didn't expect that after she finished everything, it was already afternoon dismissal. She sent the little sparrows to find Lin Yang, but didn't get word from the sparrows; instead she first saw him at the school gate.

The boy walked a few steps; a good‑looking middle‑aged woman stood at the doorway, and the moment she saw him she launched into a tirade.

"Why are you so slow? Don't you have legs? Are you dawdling again? At home they're waiting for you to cook—you'll starve your mother to death!!"

Ling Yue wasn't eavesdropping, but her voice was really loud—hard not to hear.

Even as an outsider, hearing those words made her uncomfortable; she furrowed her brows at the male student, her gaze darting between the two, growing graver the more she looked.

At that moment, the woman's sharp, nasty words had already drawn countless gazes; Lin Yang's lips twitched, and his smile vanished completely.

He wanted to say, I didn't dawdle or delay; it was the teacher who dragged out the lesson and assigned homework; after noting it down, I immediately ran over……

The male student's face flushed, his breathing slightly ragged—any passerby could see it, yet the person who should have noticed seemed completely unaware.

In the end, he slumped his head down.

Ling Yue's five senses are keen; hearing the whispers around, it's obvious that the handsome, cheerful Lin Yang is popular among the students, and many feel indignant for him.

"Why is it like this? Senior Lin is so miserable; why can't we speak nicely, instead scolding him right at the school gate!"

"Are you a new transfer student?"

"Eh, how do you know?"

"Senior Lin's matter has been going on at school for years; every time after school he goes home, his mother gives him a good scolding; I heard that one year someone saw Senior Lin at a construction site."

"Ah? Why?"

"Supposedly, his mother directly told him the family has no money, he must quit school to work, and later that year's tuition was earned by him working at the construction site."

"Damn! Is she his birth mother or stepmother? Could Senior Lin have been picked up? Why treat him like this?"

Hearing this question, the students shook their heads one after another; they also didn't know.

Ling Yue pressed her lips together; she knew the answer to this question.

She isn't his birth mother, nor is there any blood relation; his and the woman's physiognomies show their fortunes are like water and fire, destined to be incompatible.

Moreover, judging by the situation, the woman owes Lin Yang karmic debt; his fate shouldn't be like this, but her interference has caused his fate line to deviate—yet he has one chance to return to the right path, and that is this year.

Who will help him?

Ling Yue froze for a moment, then immediately thought of herself.

She covered her forehead with her hand—this is too much of a coincidence.

However, Lin Yang's future ought to be bright and splendid; Ling Yue also feels he shouldn't be stalled in life by an accident.

Ling Yue walked over; the male student obviously still remembered her, and the moment he saw her he blurted: "Are those few little cats still okay?"

Ling Yue smiled: "They've already been sent to the hospital, their condition is gradually improving, thanks for your earlier help!"

Lin Yang scratched his head, smiling brightly: "Actually I didn't do anything——"

"Lin Yang, who is she?" the woman beside him interrupted his words, giving Ling Yue a vicious look.

Ling Yue noticed that the moment she spoke, Lin Yang's smile froze, fatigue gathering in his brows and eyes.

She stared deeply at the woman; her cold gaze seemed to see straight through her—the guiltier the woman felt, the harder she hardened, as if whoever spoke louder was right.

"What are you looking at?"

Ling Yue: "I see you're going to be unlucky today—offending the mouth, entering the door you'll see blood!"

The woman's face instantly darkened: "You're cursing——"

Before she could finish, a flying sparrow dropped a lump of dung straight into her mouth.

The students who saw it all felt disgusted; she kept spitting "pei pei pei" without stop.

Ling Yue handed the male student a business card: "I know you're called Lin Yang; I am Ling Yue; this is my card."

She said this, her eyes dark with surging thoughts—previously she had looked at the future, now she looked at the past.

She said this, her eyes dark with surging thoughts—previously she had looked at the future, now she looked at the past.

The weather was clear.

Under an osmanthus tree so thick that two people could encircle it, rustling blossoms and leaves drifted down; in the small cradle below, a baby a few months old suddenly wailed loudly.

Blue bricks and dark tiles, the deep courtyard, a soft Wu-dialect female voice rang out: "Cen Ma, should Jin Yu be fed now?"

"Yes, madam, I'll bring the young master over right away." The speaker was the gorgeous woman just seen; she gazed delightedly at the baby, eyes full of envy: "My goodness, what a cutie—if only he were my son!"

Is she this family's maid?

The scene shifted; Ling Yue saw a crowded train platform, a woman hurriedly boarded the train holding a baby, she happily told her husband: "When we get back, just tell everyone this is the son I bore for you—name him Lin Yang."

"Will that work?"

"Why wouldn't it? We've been out for years with no kid—when we go back, how will the neighbors look? Not to mention me, you'll be laughed to death!"

The train whistled woo-woo-woo, accompanied by clatter-clatter, like a long dragon swaying its tail; in the blink of an eye, only an empty stretch of rails remained.

Soon after, a woman in a qipao stumbled over, hair disheveled, eyes red and swollen: "Jin Yu? My Jin Yu! Where are you?"

Someone knocked her flat to the ground; her fair-as-snow wrist instantly turned bruised, and her jade bracelet shattered everywhere.

"My Jin Yu… my child…" Tears wet the dirty ground as the woman's mournful sobs tore at the heart.

"What are you saying?" Lin Yang's voice interrupted her thoughts, but Ling Yue had already finished watching.

"You were snatched by her; your mother couldn't catch up, and she's still waiting for you to come home."

Lin Yang's face darkened; he immediately retorted fiercely: "Impossible! What are you trying to scam? I have no money."

Ling Yue: "I don't want money."

"As for whether my calculation is accurate, check tonight; don't tell her about this, protect yourself, remember to contact me, and don't throw away my business card!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman turned back, grabbed Lin Yang and pulled him forward: "What are you talking about? Bewitched by a lowly wretch? Look at yourself—do you even deserve her?"

Lin Yang lowered his lashes, for some unknown reason slowly slipping the thin name card into his pants pocket.

Ling Yue sighed; suddenly a voice came from behind: "Ling Yue?"

She turned her head and saw a tall man looking at her.

Lin Shaoze: "Shall we go to the police station together?"

Ling Yue blinked slightly, then heard him continue: "Dahei should be off work now."

She nodded; she had originally come this way, the car parked in the lot outside the shop—whether to go home and wait for Dahei or to fetch him herself, Ling Yue needed no hesitation, she decided outright.

Dahei is so well-behaved; she will definitely go herself, and give him a surprise along the way!

The next day, the sun rose.

The little animals in the villa had packed their things, taken essential supplies and a big bag of pet food, and got into the small car.

Dahei lowered the window, his whole dog head sticking out, excitedly howling: "I'm going out! Dahei wants to go play with his owner!"

The rest of the dog's lovable half kept wriggling, so excited you couldn't hold it back.

Ling Yue opened her phone navigation; a sweet female voice announced: "Destination—Jiangkou of the Yangtze River."

Yes, this time they planned to go to the riverside for fun, no longer the mu of suburban land near Jing Shi, but the Yangtze itself.

The Yangtze, of "The great river flows east, waves wash away the heroes of ages past"!

Inside the car, Xunbao Shu Duo Duo subtly shifted his hips, leaning little by little toward the Xuan Cat Queen: "Honey, I heard there are tons of fish by the river; watch me show off my skills—I'll catch you a big fat fish!"

Xuan Cat Queen: "???"

Its pale yellow cat eyes glanced at the dainty Xunbao Shu Duo Duo, then it leaned forward, pressing its paw on the mouse's head: "I also have a good method—guaranteed to catch lots of fish."

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo, dazed, held his face; because of its sudden intimate gesture, the whole mouse felt blissfully dizzy, his round eyes gazing up: "H-honey, what's your good method?"

The Xuan Cat Queen snatched it up with one paw, eyes on its swinging bow-tie tail: "You—such a long tail, it's a waste not to use it for fishing."

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo: "QAQ"

"Pfft-hahaha!" Dahei finally couldn't hold back, laughing so hard his face ached.

"Duoduo, are you going to laugh me to death, inheriting my meat bones?"

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo: "... Pah!"

Before the queen it's a scheming little licking mouse; toward other animals, the mouse king's dignity must not be violated!

Ling Yue heard the giggles from behind, curled her lips, glanced at the passenger seat—the Feng Shui Turtle Master lay in his prepared little nook, rubbing against the coral-fleece blanket, truly comfortable.

He sighed: "Alas, since the spiritual energy depleted, my cultivation has waned day by day; I haven't left Jing Shi for decades."

Ling Yue curled her lips: "Now that I'm here, Master, where would you like to go? I could take you on a world tour."

"Or rather, no—hearing that foreign demons and monsters are more plentiful, let's first set a modest goal: travel across the whole nation."

Ling Yue heard this and raised her brows—this really is a hundred million small goals.

At that moment, the white plush tiger hanging in the car twitched; Jun Jun just woke up, ears perking: "Travel? Whatever travel, I want to go too!"

Just as Ling Yue was about to answer, a dark mass suddenly appeared on the windshield, smacking onto the wiper with a pa-pa sound; she jerked her hand, the car on the highway drifted, and the black mass emitted a ga-ga-ga cry.

Ya Ya: "Ow-ow-ow, so exciting, so exciting!"

"Yueyue, do you want to come up?"

Ling Yue: "..."

These lively rascals completely flustered her.

She regretted Ya Ya's suggestion even more; had she known to stuff it into the car, it would have been better than now, where, relying on a rope on its feet, it flies about haphazardly.

Do they think she's blowing up a balloon?

Finally, they arrived at the destination unscathed despite the fright.

Ling Yue first opened the trunk; the new car's trunk was huge, and instead of her prepared items lay a small sealed aquarium—inside, the dragonfish Jin Jin swam about, idly blowing a stream of bubbles, then upon seeing her, leapt up excitedly.

Then, with a bang.

The dragonfish Jin Jin burst into tears, wailing while sobbing: "Yueyue, am I going to die?"

Ling Yue was momentarily speechless.

She again heard it say: "Maybe need Yue Yue's little milk curd to cure it, eh, I feel so dizzy~~"

A bowl‑sized crimson‑purple dragon fish floated in the water, its belly slightly upturned; this performance certainly showed effort, and Ling Yue almost cried, moved.

She opened the lid, and as Goldy swam over in a cheap manner, she gave it a ** pocket.

"Still dizzy or not?"

Goldy: "TVT"

"Not dizzy anymore, not dizzy anymore, I feel suddenly better."

Ling Yue: )

From experience, when a child doesn't listen, it's usually because they're itching for a spanking.

The cold wind by the river swished over; anyone else would have already put on a thick cotton coat, after all it's deep autumn.

Ling Yue was calm and unafraid, wearing casual clothes, with several frolicking animals beside her—perhaps because they regularly get pet food, they don't feel the cold at all.

Ling Yue faintly sensed some changes; since they weren't obvious, she just quietly noted them in her heart.

They stood on a slightly elevated Yangtze River Observation Point; even though it was still nearly a hundred meters away, far off they could already feel the spray drifting over.

Big Black's fur rustled in the river wind, the dog's eyes wide open; obviously, it was seeing such a grand, expansive scene for the first time, gazing at the opposite bank's rushing river, the splashing water sounds immensely grand.

A surge of courage rose from its chest; it stood up, shook its fur, and let out a loud cry from its mouth: "Aoo~~"

Crow felt for the first time how vast the sky was, flapped its wings excitedly and soared high, its confidence swelling; it thought it was now even mightier than an eagle.

"Ah ah ah, Yue Yue, save me!"

Ling Yue was admiring the scene when she suddenly heard a cry for help; she turned her head and nearly laughed herself to death.

The wind was too strong; the tiny treasure‑seeking rat stretched out its limbs and was actually blown straight up into the sky by the strong wind!

Ling Yue: "Hahahaha!"

Smiling, she still hurried over, about to grab it, but realized it wasn't quite that, so she stopped her motion.

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo: "Hurry and grab me down! Ah ah ah, I'm afraid of heights, I'm afraid of heights!"

Ling Yue: "Try again."

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo: "Is this 'try' the kind that gets you killed?"

Suddenly, it sensed a subtle feeling, as if it could fly.

Xunbao Shu Duo Duo thought, then clenched its paws tight; in an instant, with a "chu" sound, the rat‑rat cannon fired!

"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"

This scene happened to be seen by the Feng Shui Turtle, which stared wide‑eyed in shock and exclaimed: "Duo Duo, it actually flew up in place?!"

"A heavenly‑gifted rat talent!"

"I am far inferior to it."

"Huh?" the goldfish Goldy said blankly from the aquarium: "Feng Shui Turtle Grandpa, I feel like it was just blown away by the wind,",,.