Chapter 140

Since the notebook was dropped by the killer, and he is also a person of Fan Wuchang. No need to reason, the mastermind behind the murder case is already apparent.

I pulled Pangzi and Yuan Qiu into a taxi, my mood still very anxious. I really wished the taxi would go faster, silently praying for Chen Mo in my heart, hoping she hasn't yet fallen victim to foul play.

On the way, Pangzi stared at me, bewildered, asking why I was rushing so urgently to Chen Mo's place, and why I would say Chen Mo might be in danger.

I didn't explain anything, just handed the notebook in my hand to Pangzi. When Pangzi took the notebook with a doubtful expression, after a clear look, he immediately shouted at the driver: 'Hurry up, you bastard, drive faster!'

Not only Pangzi was anxious; I was equally worried. Who could believe that the mastermind behind all this would be Fan Wuchang, Dongbei Hu, and that he was actually killed by Fan Wuchang? That snake infant was also controlled by Fan Wuchang.

So far eleven people have been killed, Chen Mo is the last one. The notebook records Chen Mo's situation dated today. That is to say, before assassinating us, the killer had been investigating Chen Mo all along.

According to common sense, Fan Wuchang should choose to act tonight. However, exactly what time he will act is something we cannot predict.

Pangzi's face turned pale as he repeatedly shook his head, muttering: 'Impossible, it should be impossible.'

I thought he was worried about Chen Mo, so I didn't ask him. And Yuan Qiu, who had been aware of the seriousness and kept his mouth shut, now couldn't help but ask Pangzi: 'Qiang Ge, what are you saying that's impossible?'

Pangzi didn't answer Yuan Qiu, but turned his head to me: 'Hai Sheng, do you think this matter might be related to the Nine Yin Formation I set up?'

I was startled, saying 'That can't be right...' But as soon as I finished saying that, my heart couldn't help but jolt violently. Because I recalled that in the Nine Yin Formation, aside from the gloomy pillars representing the nine utmost yin stars, there are also twelve banners representing the twelve earthly branches.

And the number on the list happens to be twelve people. Without exception, they are all yin-wood of the dark, rat people born at the zi hour.

, all are of the Seven Killings entering the palace, a fate of excessive yin and deficient yang.

If, the twelve earthly branches were all to become yin branches…… then the consequences would truly be unimaginable.

Pangzi calculated with his five fingers, then said: 'I've calculated it; the position where I set up the formation is the Kan position, because the ancestral home's previous incarnation was a Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth residence, so I am also situated at the Dragon's Head Rising spot in Aomen's terrain. This year is the wood phase; aside from the appearance of the Great Yin Star, there is also a hidden star that lies dormant, concealed among the heavenly stars. If no external force stirs it, the star remains unseen; if an external force stirs it, this star will appear before the heavenly stars and swallow up the Great Yin Star.'

Swallowing up the Great Yin Star…… Pangzi's words made my heart tighten instantly. Among the heavenly stars, the only star that seems able to swallow up the Great Yin Star is…… the Demon Star-Rahu.

Rahu Star is one of the malevolent stars among the Nine Luminaries, but when Rahu Star appears hidden, it will swallow the sun and moon, causing solar and lunar eclipses. When the sun and moon pass through its open throat, the eclipse ends. During this process, the sky bereft of sun and moon will fall into boundless darkness.

This year's guardian star is the Great Yin Star; according to ancient texts and mythology, the guardian star bears the duty of overseeing the human world and patrolling heaven and earth. But unfortunately, there is a malevolent star that does not follow its orbit.

This malevolent star is Rahu Star; legend says it is the transformation of the Asura Demon King. As long as this malevolent star appears hidden, all guardian stars must avoid its brilliance. This period is like a full moon, with demons dancing chaotically and yin energy flourishing.

According to Pangzi's speculation, Fan Wuchang uses the souls of the twelve yin-wood of the dark as assistance, with the Nine Yin as the main, setting up a formation underground at the Dragon's Head Rising feng shui spot, whose purpose is to lure Rahu Star into manifestation.

People of the Daoist Sect all know that sacrificing and refining evil objects, or sacrificing to harm heaven and reason, things that heaven cannot tolerate, are most likely to incur heavenly punishment. At this time, evil masters will try every means to avoid the wrath of the Heavenly Father's thunder. When Rahu Star appears, it shrouds the sky, causing the sun, moon, and stars to dim and become irrelevant; undoubtedly, this is the best opportunity to deceive heavenly secrets.

Fan Wuchang's purpose is very likely, as Murong Jia Jia said, to artificially sacrifice and refine a Nine Heavens Maiden. Murong Jia Jia once said that the Chu Yu of the Nine Heavens Sect is a Nine Heavens Maiden refined during the time when the stars conceal themselves. Although the process wasn't detailed, there are few factors that can cause the stars to conceal themselves, and Rahu is one of them.

But, is the mastermind behind this really Fan Wuchang?

No, Fan Wuchang doesn't yet have such ability. Moreover, if he were truly the person behind this setup, he wouldn't be in such a passive position.

Just as I was tangled up in all these messy thoughts, the big brother phone in Pangzi's pocket suddenly rang.

Pangzi took out the big brother phone and pressed the answer key.

The call seemed to be from QingSongShu; as they chatted, Pangzi's pale face suddenly flushed with a blush of joy, and he excitedly said to QingSongShu on the other end: 'Dad, wait there, I'll have Yuan Qiu come pick you up right away.'

After hanging up, Pangzi turned around and exclaimed joyfully to me: 'Hai Sheng, my dad is coming.'

I chuckled and involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief, because in this matter everyone's hearts were hanging by a thread; Pangzi and I are both newcomers just out of our humble beginnings, encountering such a major event for the first time. Even though we forced ourselves to stay calm, our hearts were inevitably invaded by panic, conflict, anxiety, and various other emotions.

QingSongShu's arrival was like giving us, who were lost in confusion, a reassurance pill; everyone's hearts involuntarily relaxed.

The driver slowly stopped the car, while Pangzi was instructing Yuan Qiu to go pick up QingSongShu.

Wait a moment.

Not long after, I stopped the Yuan Qiu who was about to leave, and said to him: 'After you pick up QingSongShu later, directly take him to Brother Zheng's ancestral home; if Pangzi and I can find Chen Mo, we will also rush there as soon as possible to meet up with you. Remember, if you arrive at Brother Zheng's ancestral home first, wait nearby; absolutely do not rashly break in.'

Fearing that Yuan Qiu would bring the unfamiliar QingSongShu straight into Brother Zheng's ancestral home, I hurriedly emphasized my warning again.

Yuan Qiu hailed a taxi from the street to go to the airport to pick up QingSongShu, while Pangzi and I continued sitting in this taxi, heading to Chen Mo's residence.

Half an hour later, in Pangzi's and my anxious wait, the taxi finally stopped at the entrance of Chen Mo's residential complex.

Entering the complex, Pangzi looked at the vast estate and asked me: 'With so many buildings, do you know which unit is Chen Mo's?'

I nodded, saying I remembered, then led Pangzi toward the northwest corner of the complex.

Although I had never been to Chen Mo's home, Chen Mo had once told me her address in a chat, and fortunately my memory was unusually good at the time, so now I can accurately find this place.

Chen Mo once said that the building she lives in is rather unique within the complex. The residents call it a single-person apartment; its size is not large, it's entirely occupied by single young people, and the architectural style leans toward Western.

Relying on my memory, I accurately found Chen Mo's residence; after pressing the doorbell several times, however, there was no response from inside.

Could it be that she hasn't gotten off work yet? I thought that, but then a second thought struck me as off! At this time, she should have already gotten off work; police are people too and need rest. It's impossible to stay fully energized 24 hours a day.

Suddenly, Pangzi shouted at me: 'Move aside.' Then he rolled up his sleeves, and with his heavy palms he slapped hard several times, the loud noise drawing curses from upstairs and downstairs.

Amid everyone's cursing, Pangzi reluctantly lowered his hands.

Pangzi pondered for a long time, gritted his teeth, and ran to the bottom of the stairs. Then, before I could react, Pangzi charged up the stairs with all his might, using the momentum of his sprint to kick the main door hard.

With a bang, the mediocre-quality wooden door gave way and fell. Immediately, the anxious Pangzi rushed into the house first.

I followed Pangzi inside; after just two steps, I noticed Pangzi frozen in place, motionless like a wooden post.

Since Pangzi is a head taller than me and also larger in build, and because the doorway is narrow, I couldn't see what was ahead; thus I instinctively thought Chen Mo had met with an accident, Pangzi's freezing perhaps because he had seen Chen Mo's corpse.

Just as I was about to push Pangzi aside and go forward, the house suddenly erupted with a sharp, panicked and angry scream.

This scream consisted of only one syllable: 'Ah……'

Drawn out with a long tail, like a high note on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it pierced the pitch-black night sky, making my eardrums tremble; I had no choice but to cover my ears.

The owner of this voice is very familiar to me—it's Chen Mo. Moreover, judging from the emotion leaking from the sound, a girl would only scream like this when encountering danger or when she has been molested.

Now, Chen Mo's forceful shout means the former can be ruled out; therefore, what remains…… is only the latter.

In an instant, I seemed to realize that Pangzi had done something foolish again…… Eh, why did I say 'again'?