Chapter 383: Yin Wood, the Zi‑Hour Rat of the Twelve Double‑Hours

Pangzi, come take a look at their four pillars… I who had spotted this common point didn't dare hesitate, and called Pangzi over.

What's the matter? Pangzi frowned, moved his face closer, then used the Zi Ping prediction method to write out the eight characters of the victims listed above.

Huh, how come all ten people have the Rat zodiac and were born at the zi hour? Pangzi muttered in surprise: No, no, it's not just that they're Rats.

Yin wood, weak yang, strong yin… Pangzi reckoned on his fingers for a while, then gasped, eyes wide in disbelief: They all have a mulberry‑wood destiny, and their eight characters show the Seven Kill entering the palace—strong kill, weak body, born with excessive yin and deficient yang.

So what then? I asked, bewildered. I only know a little about fortune‑telling, and all I could see was that these people's eight characters were largely alike—except for their weak bodies, I couldn't discern anything else. Seeing Pangzi's over‑the‑top reaction, I also felt a bit nervous.

Nothing much—just that their eight characters are similar, all belonging to yin wood; they won't fly heavenward or escape earthward or anything. Pangzi rubbed his nose, curled his lip, and said.

Just like that? I asked.

Just like that… Pangzi nodded, as if it were obvious.

Just like that, you're making a big deal out of nothing, and you've made me tense too.

I thought you were trying to set the mood, so I went along with it. Pangzi shrugged, pursed his lips, and said.

I: …………

Right, let me see your eight characters. I turned to ask Chen Mo, recalling clearly that the Snake Infant had once hunted her as well.

Chen Mo let out an "ah," stared blankly for a moment, then asked me bewilderedly: What are the eight characters?

I felt a pang of defeat; in the end I could only plainly ask her for her birth year, month, day, and hour, and then she suddenly understood and told me her eight characters.

After she gave her eight characters, I silently thought, indeed it was no mistake. Her eight characters were also a mulberry‑wood destiny, with the Seven Kill entering the palace—strong kill, weak body, and excessive yin, deficient yang.

Your eight characters are the same as theirs: your body is weak, and your yin energy is relatively strong.

Chen Mo is sharp; even without me spelling it out, she immediately caught the point.

You mean the monster specifically targets people with this eight‑character trait, Chen Mo frowned, pondered for a moment, then asked: So why is the monster killing these people?

I and Pangzi each shook our heads in bewilderment; this world has nothing special or exotic—only what is useful to oneself.

For example, the Twelve‑Hour Dragon People have no special eight‑character traits, yet in Henan's history there once occurred a strange affair of mass‑capturing Twelve‑Hour Dragon People, because at the time an evil master needed their blood to practice dark arts.

Thus, any eight characters are not extraordinary in themselves; they become special only when useful to someone, which leads ordinary folk to think such a destiny must be out of the ordinary.

Be careful these days; I'm afraid the Snake Infant will come after you again. I warned Chen Mo.

This affair is eerie throughout; although I don't know why the Snake Infant wants to collect the souls of those with Seven‑Kill wood destiny, I'm sure it will strike again. Even though it's now been wounded by Little Fat, once its injuries heal—who knows if it will come out to harm people again?

So I've already prepared, Chen Mo's eyes flashed with a hint of slyness.

Prepared… prepared what? I didn't understand what she meant.

Whoosh, Chen Mo darted into Pangzi's room, and a few minutes later she came out of his room carrying a suitcase.

Actually I've felt strange for a while; that monster ignores so many people but singles me out. Although I don't know what's special about me, for my own safety I think I should come stay with you and endure a bit. Chen Mo gloated over her own foresight, then put her hands on her hips and said in a tone of "you're taking advantage of me": I'll put up with this for a while, but you don't have to be too formal—I'm an easygoing person.

I: ………… Are you still easygoing? You're being overbearing.

Upon hearing that Chen Mo would move in, Yuan Qiu, who was sitting on the sofa rubbing on liniment, instantly gaped his mouth wide, not even noticing the liniment fall to the floor.

And Pangzi immediately sprang up with a whoop in opposition.

No, absolutely not—you're a cop and you're afraid of death; wouldn't you be laughed at if you said that? Besides, we're all big guys; if a woman moves in, how are we guys supposed to live? Pangzi crossed his arms, face flushed, and instantly vetoed Chen Mo.

Pangzi, don't get worked up—getting worked up won't help! You're suspects in the alley homicide case; as an officer I'm moving in to supervise you, which is only natural. Chen Mo paused, then smiled at Pangzi, pointing at me and Yuan Qiu, and said: Besides, is this house only yours? Does your solo veto even count?

Chen Mo's meaning was naturally to let the brothers vote to decide.

Pangzi glanced at me and Yuan Qiu, then gave a hehe smile, raised his eyebrows at Chen Mo: Officer Chen Mo, do you know what mistake you've made?

Chen Mo looked left and right, puzzled, turned around, pointed at his own nose, and asked Pangzi bewilderedly: What mistake have I made?

Pangzi leaned close to Chen Mo, lowered his voice: Your mistake is……

You damn well underestimated us, underestimated our brothers' unity—you don't know I'm their boss? Our unity is beyond your imagination. Having said that, Pangzi laughed loudly and arrogantly, looking down at Chen Mo from on high.

I have no objection.

Pangzi's laughter cut off abruptly; he stared at me with wide eyes, incredulous.

At the same time, Chen Mo turned his gaze to Yuan Qiu; Yuan Qiu, who had been badly beaten by him earlier, felt his heart pound as Chen Mo's eyes locked on him.

Under Chen Mo's oppressive stare, Yuan Qiu weakly raised his hand: I… I also have no objection.

Hss—— Pangzi sucked in a breath of cold air, staggered back several steps, clutched his chest, his face twitched, looking heartbroken.

You… you bunch of wolf‑hearted, dog‑gutted scum, actually betraying me at a crucial moment. With a look near tears, his eyes glistened, making it easy to suspect his heart had been stabbed by me and Yuan Qiu.

Alright, since nobody objects, I'm going to sleep! Chen Mo clapped her hands briskly, ignored Pangzi clutching his chest and looking wounded, and dragged her luggage into his room.

You… After Chen Mo went in, Pangzi clutched his heart with his right hand, made an orchid‑finger with his left, and looked anguished at us.

I'm acting from a standpoint of justice; now Chen Mo has become the Snake Infant's prey. With her among us, we can use our abilities to protect her as best we can. He clapped his hands, ignored Pangzi who was already into his role and eager to perform, and prepared to go back to his room to sleep.

Wait a minute, you two don't run off. Pangzi's loud shout came from behind, and he grabbed the corners of our clothes.

What the heck…… I and Yuan Qiu turned to look at Pangzi, asking in unison.

Pangzi glanced left and right at us, took a deep breath, then lowered his head, dejected: Alright, I admit it.

But what about my bed? Where am I supposed to sleep tonight? Pangzi's voice rose several decibels in succession.

Only then did we realize his room seemed to have been taken over by Chen Mo—no room, no bed—so tonight… the only suitable place was the sofa.

At this moment, Yuan Qiu let out a timely "aiyo" cry and crouched down.

Ai yow, my waist, my hands, this twist really hurts! he said it was his waist and hands, but he was actually clutching his stomach.

No good, no good—I was hurt too badly by that beauty just now; I need to rest, I need to rest. Yuan Qiu kept saying "no good, no good" while staggering back to his room in a sorry state.

This speed could be said to be faster than a galloping rabbit.

In my heart I muttered "fuck," and I inwardly despised Yuan Qiu fiercely—this guy… really has no class, and worse, he actually abandoned me and ran off.

Seeing Pangzi's pitiful gaze on me, clutching my sleeve, looking like someone to be pitied, a sense of guilt and compassion welled up in my heart.

I sighed and murmured softly: Ah, I guess I'll sleep in the living room after all—though I was born with a weak constitution, my health has always been poor, I've been sickly since childhood. Although I'm so thin, sleeping on the sofa might catch a chill, maybe even give me a cold…… but for your sake I almost counted on my fingers, listing all my innate shortcomings. Finally I grabbed Pangzi's shoulder hard and said: I'll just sleep in the living room.

Wu wu Pangzi sobbed quietly, flung a handful of snot, gripped my hand firmly and rubbed it: Good brother, truly a good brother! Then Pangzi, embarrassed, lowered his head and said shyly: You said that, I think I'll sleep in the living room too—you're not healthy, I've known that since I was little; now far away, if I catch a chill and get sick, the consequences could be long‑lasting.

No, I'll still sleep in the living room. I firmly gripped Pangzi's hands and refused with righteous words.

No, I'm sleeping; whoever tries to take it from me, I'll get angry at them." After saying that, Pangzi plopped onto the sofa, tightly hugging it as he fell into a deep sleep, as if afraid someone would try to take it from him.

Hurry back and sleep, I've trained martial arts all year, my body's great, don't fight me for this sofa—I've liked it since the first day I came to Aomen." The sofa‑sleeping Pangzi waved his hand at me, urging me to go back to sleep quickly.

A warm feeling welled up in my chest; this brother truly thinks of others everywhere.

After returning to my room and closing the door, with no one around, I couldn't help making a "yeah" gesture in the air. I could no longer contain the joy of victory, and I burst out laughing hehe.

If there were a camera, viewers would see this scene in the frame: a lecherous, weak young man sitting behind the door, lecherously rubbing his hands, rubbing them while smirking triumphantly.

Yes, I've tricked Pangzi…… but I think it's a good thing. As the saying goes, when great responsibilities are to be bestowed upon someone, heaven first tests their muscles and bones, starves their flesh… sleeping on the sofa is a kind of trial for him. Secondly, although Chen Mo found a perfectly reasonable excuse to stay, no matter how I look at it, I feel Chen Mo's gaze at Pangzi is strange.

Moreover, I earlier divined Chen Mo's eight characters; they form a perfect heavenly‑earthly triple harmony with Pangzi's, indicating they are definitely destined to be bound by marriage.

Although Pangzi likes Silijing, from a brother's perspective I think diversifying investments isn't bad at all; personally I think Chen Mo is a far better match for him than Silijing.

If the two of them could really get together, or even add a couple of big, fat grandsons to the Old Wang family, that would be wonderful as well.

"Achoo, achoo." A cool breeze blew, my nose itched, and I couldn't help sneezing twice.

Because elders often say, one is longing, the other is scolding. So when those two sneezes came out, I instinctively thought Pangzi had discovered my little secret, but then I immediately realized that idea was too far‑fetched; I hastily shook my head, rubbed my itchy nose, and fell into a loud sleep on the bed.

In the middle of the night I quietly got out of bed, tiptoed to the hall, saw Pangzi snoring loudly on the sofa, and carefully opened the hall door and the windows.

Hehe…… If Chen Mo sees Pangzi catching a chill when he gets up tomorrow, he'll surely feel even more sorry for him; then……

The more I thought about it, my heart felt like thousands of ants gnawing at me; I could no longer suppress my excitement, eagerly awaiting tomorrow morning's arrival.

Following Pangzi's habit, I rubbed my hands, looked at the sleeping Pangzi on the sofa, and opened the living‑room windows as wide as I could. Then…… I slipped back to my room quietly, hiding my merit and fame.

Pangzi…… I can only help you this far.