Chapter 412

Since the notebook was dropped by the killer and he is Fan Wuchang's man, no deduction needed—the mastermind behind the murder case is already obvious.

I pulled Pangzi and Yuan Qiu into a taxi, my mood still anxious. I wished the car would go faster, silently praying for Chen Mo that she hadn't yet been harmed.

On the way, Pangzi stared at me bewildered, asking why I was rushing to Chen Mo's place so urgently and why I kept saying she was in danger.

I didn't explain anything, I 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, drive faster, damn it.'

Not only Pangzi was anxious; I was equally worried. Who could believe that the mastermind behind all this was Fan Wuchang, the Northeast Tiger, and that he really was the one killed by Fan Wuchang? That snake infant was also controlled by Fan Wuchang.

Eleven people had already been killed ahead; Chen Mo was the last. The notebook recorded Chen Mo's status date as today. That is to say, before assassinating us, this assassin had been investigating Chen Mo all along.

According to common sense, Fan Wuchang should choose to act tonight. But exactly what time he would act is not something we can 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. Meanwhile, Yuan Qiu, who had been aware of the seriousness and kept his mouth shut, couldn't help but ask Pangzi: 'Brother Qiang, what are you saying is 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's impossible...' but as soon as I finished speaking, my heart couldn't help but jolt. Because I recalled that in the Nine Yin Formation, aside from the gloomy pillars representing the nine utmost yin stars, there were also twelve banners representing the twelve earthly branches.

And the number on the list happened to be twelve people. Without exception, they were all yin-wood, zi-hour rat people.

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

If the twelve earthly branches truly all turned into yin branches…… then the consequences would truly be unimaginable.

Pangzi calculated with his fingers, then said: 'I've calculated it; the position where I set up the formation is the Kan position, because that ancestral home's previous incarnation was a Five Ghosts Wealth-Bringing residence, so it is also located at the Dragon's Head Rising spot in Aomen's terrain. This year is the wood cycle; aside from the appearance of the Taiyin star, there is also a hidden star that accumulates but does not erupt, hidden behind 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 will devour the Taiyin star.'

Devouring the Taiyin star…… Pangzi's words made my heart tighten instantly. Among the heavenly stars, the only star that seems capable of devouring the Taiyin star is…… the demon star Rahu.

Rahu star is one of the malevolent stars among the Nine Luminaries, but when Rahu 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, devoid of the sun and moon's cover, will fall into boundless darkness.

This year's guardian star is the Taiyin star; according to ancient texts and mythology, the guardian star lords bear 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, said to be 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 wildly and yin energy flourishing.

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

Daoist Sect members all know that 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 Lord's thunder. Rahu star appearing, covering the heavens, making the sun, moon, and stars dim and irrelevant, is undoubtedly the best opportunity to deceive heavenly secrets.

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

But, is the mastermind behind this really Fan Wuchang?

No, Fan Wuchang doesn't have such ability. Moreover, if he truly were 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 in Pangzi's pocket suddenly rang.

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

The call seemed to be from QingSongShu; as they chatted, Pangzi's pale face suddenly flushed with 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 also couldn't help but sigh in relief, because everyone's hearts were hanging by a thread over this matter; Pangzi and I are both newcomers, encountering such a big event for the first time. Even if we forced ourselves to stay calm, our hearts were inevitably invaded by panic, conflict, anxiety, and various emotions.

QingSongShu's arrival was like giving us, who were lost in confusion, a reassurance pill; everyone's hearts involuntarily let out a sigh of relief.

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

Wait a moment.

Before long, I called out to the departing Yuan Qiu and said: 'After you pick up QingSongShu later, directly take him to Brother Zheng's ancestral home; if Pangzi and I can find Chen Mo, we'll rush there right away to meet you. Remember, if you get to Brother Zheng's ancestral home first, just wait nearby; absolutely do not rashly rush in.'

Fearing that Yuan Qiu might bring the unaware QingSongShu straight into Brother Zheng's ancestral home, I hurriedly emphasized the 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, amid Pangzi and my anxious waiting, the taxi finally stopped at the entrance of Chen Mo's residential compound.

Entering the compound, Pangzi looked at the vast complex 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 compound.

Although I had never been to Chen Mo's home, she had once told me her address while chatting; fortunately, my memory was exceptionally good back then, so now I can accurately find this place.

Chen Mo once said that the building she lived in was relatively unique within the compound. The residents called it a single-person apartment; its area isn't large, it's all 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 huge noise drew curses from upstairs and downstairs.

Under everyone's cursing, Pangzi had no choice but to put his hands down.

Pangzi pondered for a long time, gritted his teeth, and ran to the bottom of the stairs. Then, before I could react, he 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.

Because 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 froze, perhaps because he saw 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, forcing me to cover my ears.

The voice's owner is very familiar—it's Chen Mo. Moreover, judging from the emotion leaking from the sound, a girl would only scream like that when encountering danger or being molested.

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

In an instant, I seemed to realize that Pangzi had done another foolish thing…… huh, why did I say 'again'!