Chapter 314: Excavated from the Western Qing Tombs

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

On the operating table, sterile instruments were laid out neatly, and two nurses slowly peeled back the gauze.

The wound was fresh and pink, with blood scabs forming at the sutures; dense, intricate stitches snaked upward, looking like several baring-fanged, claw-waving centipedes crawling there.

A nurse dipped a swab in iodine and wiped it gently, the liquid seeping into the flesh along the gaps. Afterward, the doctor took scissors and tweezers to pull out the threads.

With a "Click," a "Zip," a thread end was pulled out. Then another "Click," another "Zip," and another thread end was pulled out.

With every thread pulled, the veins on Lin Sicheng's forehead jumped once.

Separated by a pane of glass, Jing Zeyang felt it as if it were his own; he bared his teeth and grimaced, his skin crawling with goosebumps.

He subconsciously imagined: if he were being tormented like this, what would he look like?

Even if he didn't cry out in pain, he would definitely scream, yet Lin Sicheng didn't even hum a sound?

No... buddy, are your bones made of iron?

Tang Nan Yan stood to the side, her eyes flickering, her fists clenched tightly.

After about twenty minutes, all the threads were removed, and the doctor gave careful instructions: "It's recovering well; don't get it wet after you go back, and don't do any strenuous exercise!"

Lin Sicheng agreed, and Ye Anning helped him stand up.

Tang Nan Yan seemed to wake from a dream and secretly curled her lip: from childhood to now, Ye Anning was the best at putting on an act!

Lin Sicheng's injury was to his shoulder and arm, and besides, it had already been eight days, so why would he need her help?

Thinking this to herself, the two of them left the dressing room, and several people walked over to meet them.

Jing Zeyang, Tang Nan Yan, Xu Qin, and a Branch Captain from the General Team.

Jing Zeyang had been called over by Lin Sicheng, Tang Nan Yan had come uninvited, and Xu Qin was only there because she was relatively close to Lin Sicheng and had been brought along by the branch leadership to smooth things over.

After they introduced each other and mentioned that they were responsible for the investigation of Cultural Relics at the Municipal Bureau, Lin Sicheng knew that this person was Yan Wenjing's direct superior.

They were very polite, even carrying a hint of embarrassment.

Putting himself in their shoes: given the situation on the first day, with not only leaders from the Ministry but also leaders from the direct agency present, and Yan Wenjing's responsibility being as clear as could be, the pressure on a direct superior was imaginable.

And after a week had passed, with the case dragging on, anyone would feel a jolt of anxiety.

But Lin Sicheng expressed his understanding: Police are also human, not supermen; if this gang were so easy to investigate and catch, they wouldn't have been able to run rampant for so many years.

The Branch Captain thanked him repeatedly; he truly hadn't expected Lin Sicheng to be so reasonable.

After a few polite exchanges, Zhao Xiuneng helped Lin Sicheng see the Branch Captain off.

Xu Qin didn't move, looking at Tang Nan Yan, implying: aren't you leaving yet?

Tang Nan Yan acted as if she didn't see it, staring at Lin Sicheng. Ye Anning was expressionless, staring back at Tang Nan Yan.

Just like that, no one spoke, and Jing Zeyang felt itchy all over.

Lin Sicheng broke the silence: "It's Monday today, Officer Tang, you must be at work. You could have just let Brother Jing bring you; there was no need to make a special trip!"

Tang Nan Yan was straightforward, without the slightest bit of shyness: "I just wanted to come see you, but my mom wouldn't let me! Knowing I was coming to bring you things, she even specifically made Sister Xu follow me!"

That was direct enough, wasn't it?

Lin Sicheng smiled slightly, "Auntie is afraid you'll feel awkward!"

Awkward about what, because of Ye Anning?

It's not like it's the first day they've known each other...

Tang Nan Yan shook her head: "I won't!"

As she spoke, she took out a box: "Where will you live after you're discharged?"

Lin Sicheng took it: "I'm staying at my teacher's house!"

"Oh, at Wang Sanshu's house... I'll come see you on the weekend!"

Straightforward and direct; for an average person, they really wouldn't be able to handle it.

But Lin Sicheng had seen things even more direct than this: "I'm already mostly recovered; in a couple of days, I might be going out of town!"

Tang Nan Yan caught the keyword: it was going out of town, not returning to Xijing.

"Don't be afraid!" She looked at Ye Anning, "Don't worry, I won't bully her!"

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment, then let out a "Heh."

Jing Zeyang felt his scalp tingle: was this something he was supposed to hear?

If there had been a crack in the floor, he definitely would have crawled into it.

Tang Nan Yan was really good at bragging: with your IQ, if Ye Anning didn't rub you into the ground, you'd have to burn incense; you, bullying her?

Lin Sicheng couldn't help but laugh or cry: "I really am going out of town!"

"Fine!" Tang Nan Yan nodded, "Then when the holiday comes, I'll go to Xijing to see you!"

As she spoke, she waved her hand: "Then I'm leaving; if I don't leave now, Ye Anning might use her eyes to gouge a few holes in me. And Sister Xu, I bet her heart is about to jump out!"

Xu Qin smiled awkwardly and glared at Tang Nan Yan.

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Alright!"

Jing Zeyang volunteered: "I'll go see Section Chief Xu off..."

Before he could finish speaking, the moment he lifted his foot, he met Ye Anning's gaze and pulled it back.

With Zhao Xiuneng there, and Zhao Da and Zhao Er too, where would he be needed to see anyone off?

Watching the group enter the elevator, hearing the elevator doors close, and seeing General Manager Zhao return, Jing Zeyang finally let out half a breath.

Damn it, just watching them made his heart tremble. How could Lin Sicheng be so calm?

Immediately, he shrank his head and held up three fingers: "Sister Anning, I swear, she wanted to come herself; I really didn't bring her here."

Ye Anning narrowed her eyes: "Jing Zeyang, you're doing this on purpose, right?"

It's a good thing Lin Sicheng knows me well enough, otherwise, looking at Jing Zeyang's appearance, it makes it seem like I was a she-devil before?

It's not like it's the first time Tang Nan Yan has come?

She claimed it was her mother who wouldn't let her come, but ever since the day her stitches were finished, which day did she not run over at least three times?

No one knows who gave her the advice, but she only said Lin Sicheng saved her and didn't mention anything else.

But Ye Anning didn't take it seriously at all: to be honest, she wasn't even as much of a threat as Li Zhen!

Jing Zeyang lowered his hand in frustration: "Know how to act like a lady now?"

If you annoy Tang Nan Yan, at most you'll get a beating, and it's over once you've taken it. But if you annoy Ye Anning, you'll have nightmares every single night.

Because you never know when she will deal with you, or what kind of method she will use...

Thinking secretly to himself, Lin Sicheng pointed at the elevator: "Let's go!"

Zhao Da took two quick steps and pressed the elevator button. Zhao Er supported his arm, being extremely careful.

Zhao Xiuneng opened the box and looked at the copper coins inside: "Is this the bait that woman left that day? Junior brother, what do you want this for?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Just pondering it!"

A copper coin, what is there to ponder?

It must be that the Police hadn't found the woman's roots, and Lin Sicheng wanted to investigate it himself.

Thinking secretly to himself, they went downstairs together and reached the parking lot; Lin Sicheng didn't rush to get in the car, but instead called Jing Zeyang to the side.

"Before I came, I went to find Brother Yan, wanting to come with him. But he said that since he couldn't find the people behind this, he had no face to see you!"

"That's not necessary!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "How is the investigation going?"

"We caught most of them that night, and by the third day, we had basically caught everyone we could... including the thugs who ran away that day, Maguan who ordered the thugs to kidnap you, Ma Shan and his men who blocked us that day, as well as the mole..."

Yan Wenjing had already mentioned these things; he had made a special trip to the hospital the day after they caught the people, and Lin Sicheng knew all of it.

What Lin Sicheng found strange was that if the case was proceeding smoothly, there was no need for the detachment leaders to bring Section Chief Xu along to make a special trip to explain things.

"Is it hard to interrogate them?"

"It's not just hard to interrogate, it's extremely difficult!" Jing Zeyang let out a breath, "The others are fine; for example, those thugs, Jiu Gui, the leader of the thugs, that Inspector, and Ma Shan's men all confessed quite readily."

"But the mole and Ma Shan are like having iron mouths and copper teeth! Especially that Ma Shan; he didn't utter a single word after going in. Brother Yan wore him down for three days, and he did talk later, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he started biting everyone indiscriminately—there wasn't a single word of truth in what he said!"

Lin Sicheng exhaled: how could it be so easy to confess?

Someone like Ma Shan definitely had murder cases on his hands, and more than one; once mentioned, it meant a death sentence, and even his family would suffer along with him.

As long as he holds out, if he holds out for ten years, and if things are managed well, he could probably get out in six or seven years. And he would definitely be able to eat and drink well inside, acting like a king.

As for those other few, based on what has been verified now, it's at most three to five years.

But if he doesn't hold out, by the time he gets out, his beard will probably be white.

Seeing Lin Sicheng not speaking, Jing Zeyang explained: "Brother Yan said to let you rest assured; even if they don't confess, we can still find out!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: of course.

To be so arrogant even in Beijing—this kind of arrogance and this kind of nerve were definitely not practiced overnight; they must have committed quite a few crimes.

As the saying goes, when the wind blows, it leaves a sound; when a wild goose flies, it leaves a trail. As long as one investigates with care, clues can be dug up sooner or later.

But it will probably be limited to these people who have been caught; by the time they sort out the leads and find the clues behind them, Ma Shan's boss will have long since run off to who knows where.

Just because he intercepted the goods, he dared to take a life. Now that such a big business has been ruined, could he just laugh it off and bury the hatchet?

Strike first to gain the advantage, strike later and suffer the consequences...

"Brother Jing, where is that Ma Shan being held?"

"Right at the General Team!"

"Captain Yan is in charge of the case, right?"

"Right, the leaders are letting him redeem his faults through service!"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and took out his phone; it was answered after just one ring.

He got straight to the point: "Captain Yan, can I see that Ma Shan?"

Yan Wenjing didn't hesitate for even half a second and agreed clearly and decisively.

Jing Zeyang was shocked: "No... Cousin Lin, what are you trying to do?"

Ye Anning was not far away, staring at him fixedly. It was as if she were saying: You promised that day, was that the last time?

Seeing what she was thinking, Lin Sicheng smiled: "Just to ask a few questions!"

The person is locked inside, and he is going to the Public Security Bureau, so of course there won't be any danger. But Lin Sicheng's nerve is not ordinary; if he happens to ask something, will it be like last time in Xijing: he disguised himself as some Cultural Relics dealer and made contact with this gang.

No need to guess, one hundred percent!

She pursed her lips: "Why don't you ask Uncle first?"

Lin Sicheng paused: "Cousin Ye, you are truly filial."

Ye Anning huffed: "See, I knew it."

With Uncle's personality, he would definitely follow Lin Sicheng wherever he goes. Lin Sicheng, you aren't afraid of death yourself, fine, but are you going to ignore your teacher's life?

She took out her phone and handed it forward: "Here!"

Lin Sicheng sighed and took it.

Upon hearing that Lin Sicheng was going to the Public Security Bureau, Wang Qi Zhi acted as if he had been struck by lightning; in less than half an hour, he arrived at the hospital entrance.

Besides him, there was also Dan Wangshu, who said she came to pick up Ye Anning.

But just before getting in the car, she first looked at Wang Qi Zhi, then looked at Lin Sicheng: "Lin Sicheng, this is your teacher, you handle it..."

Lin Sicheng hurriedly smiled: "Teacher's wife, don't worry!"

The two got in the car, and watching the receding taillights, Wang Qi Zhi patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder: "This little life of your teacher is now in your hands!"

Lin Sicheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Teacher, I'm just going to the Public Security Bureau to take a look, just to ask two questions!"

Wang Qi Zhi squinted his eyes: "Just this one time today, and besides the Public Security Bureau, you won't go anywhere else?"

Lin Sicheng didn't make a sound: how could it be that easy?

Wang Qi Zhi let out a "Ha": "Lin Sicheng, your teacher's wife and Ye Anning both understand you better than you do yourself..."

Lin Sicheng was speechless...

The table was wide and heavy; the stainless steel surface was pitted and scarred, shimmering with clusters of fine, hair-like scratches.

The interrogation room was wide and bright, with surveillance cameras covering the corners.

Ma Shan peered through the bars, his eyes full of vigilance.

Today, there were two fewer people than yesterday?

There was no chief interrogator or deputy interrogator, only Yan Wenjing and a clerk.

"Captain Yan, don't waste your energy. I've already confessed everything I should. No matter how high-ranking the leaders you bring in, or how badass the experts are, this is all I know..."

Ma Shan leaned his upper body forward, his wrist shackles clinking with a crisp sound, "If you insist on not believing me, then I can only make things up!"

Having drifted through the underworld for decades, he had committed crimes, been inside the station, sat on the tiger bench, and even endured electric batons.

After a week of interrogations, Ma Shan was absolutely certain that the reason the police were so fast and their actions so large-scale was not because a life had been lost.

So, what was there to be afraid of?

"It doesn't matter, Ma Shan, go ahead and make things up!" Yan Wenjing looked at him coldly, "If I can't handle you, I'll just have to keep you company. Wherever you go, I go. We'll take our time with this!"

Ma Shan was stunned for a moment, then let out a "Heh."

How could that be?

A Deputy Detachment Leader in his early thirties didn't get there just by having ability. Without some background or connections, he wouldn't be in line for it even after another ten years of grinding.

A person like that wouldn't lose his rank or be reduced to a prison guard just because one case didn't go well.

Besides, even if it were true, so what? Back in the day, to fight over a claim, he'd had people stick a Probe Rod into his stomach bit by bit, piercing his intestines, and he hadn't even groaned once.

These police tactics were like child's play. As for this rotten life of his, he'd let them toss it around however they wanted.

Anyway, he'd enjoyed everything he was meant to enjoy long ago. As long as he didn't die, those bastards outside would have to serve his wife and children like they were their own grandparents...

Ma Shan leaned back lazily, looking like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water.

Yan Wenjing had no time to waste on him, his mind constantly pondering: Why did Lin Sicheng want to see Ma Shan?

To take revenge and torture Ma Shan, or to show off his power and mock a fallen dog?

It didn't feel like it: Lin Sicheng didn't have that kind of personality, and certainly not that kind of style.

But it had been over three hours since the call; why weren't they here yet?

Just as he was secretly wondering, there was a "Clang, clang" sound as someone knocked on the door from the outside.

Yan Wenjing stood up and walked out.

There were several people at the door: Lin Sicheng, Wang Qi Zhi, the Branch Captain, and the Division Chief of the General Team's Personnel Department.

Yan Wenjing greeted them one by one, but Lin Sicheng, conversely, gave him a start.

His eye sockets were deeply sunken, his hair was withered, his chin was covered in stubble, and his eyes were bloodshot.

How many days had he gone without sleep?

"Teacher Lin, Professor Wang!" Yan Wenjing gave a bitter smile, "My abilities are limited; I've let you see a joke!"

It wasn't exactly a joke, but Wang Qi Zhi did have a major issue with Yan Wenjing: if he had taken it seriously at all, Lin Sicheng wouldn't have been stabbed.

Lin Sicheng was fine, remaining exactly as he had been before: "Captain Yan, you are too modest!"

Never mind Yan Wenjing, even Wang Qi Zhi couldn't tell if he blamed Yan Wenjing or held any resentment in his heart.

Afterward, the Branch Captain offered an explanation, and the Division Chief of the Personnel Department handed over a document.

Flipping it open subconsciously, Yan Wenjing suddenly realized: no wonder it took so long; they had been going through the paperwork?

General Team Consultant, Specially Appointed Expert.

Suspects weren't that easy to see; nowadays, things were becoming increasingly standardized, and the supervisory regulations were becoming more robust. Breaking the rules once required going through many channels. If anything went wrong, it would affect many people.

Therefore, it was best to have a legitimate identity and formal procedures.

Now it was just right: Lin Sicheng was already a high-tech talent and a Consultant for the Xijing City Public Security Bureau; he had even participated in cases that had made it into the Ministry of Culture's training materials.

Having him also be a Consultant for the General Team was logical and followed the natural order of things.

Thinking this over secretly, Yan Wenjing quickly signed his name.

Wang Qi Zhi was also a Consultant, but that was just incidental. He had no interest in playing mind games with criminals, though he quite liked watching Lin Sicheng play mind games with them. So he didn't go in, but went to the room next door instead.

Yan Wenjing pressed the electric switch, and with a "creak," the heavy iron door slowly slid open.

Ma Shan braced himself and looked carefully.

At the same time, he pondered: who was it this time? Probably some bullshit interrogation expert or psychology expert?

Experts were fine; they'd just talk nonsense, and he could be comfortable for one more day...

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly froze: why was a kid coming in this time?

No, that was the kid who got stabbed...

But this was the Public Security Bureau, the Major Crimes interrogation room; why was he able to get in?

Ma Shan was stunned, countless thoughts flooding his mind.

He had always assumed that the reason the police attached so much importance to this was perhaps because of the fake gun the Jiu Gui had.

Or maybe it was because those little thugs had lost their heads and hurt that young female Police officer. Or even more likely, they had hurt that young man who claimed his dad was in the Energy Bureau and his uncle was in the Ministry of Culture.

So all these days, he had been guessing how the police would cook him, and how many years he would get for these crimes.

But seeing Lin Sicheng, he knew he had guessed wrong: he had been blind to a great person and had kicked an iron plate this time.

And it wasn't just an ordinary thickness...

Ma Shan's heart tightened, and his two fists clenched together: but you, a damn Second Generation, why were you wandering around that shitty Panjiayuan?

The key was, what was this kid here for?

To use torture and torment him?

But looking at the surveillance, it doesn't seem to be off?

In shock and suspicion, Lin Sicheng sat down, with Yan Wenjing in the middle and the Clerk on the other side.

He raised his head, first gave a small smile, then cupped his hands together and bowed forward: "Ma Jianzuo, let me reintroduce myself, my surname is Lin!"

Watching Lin Sicheng's dazzling, yet highly methodical finger movements, Ma Shan's pupils suddenly constricted:

To hell with being a Second Generation; which Second Generation knows the Yuanliang Seal and can gesture it so fluently?

This is a damn expert, and not just an ordinary one: those who can perform this seal, which one of them isn't a major bandit leader who holds down a region and commands a crowd of thieves?

But that's not right; which bandit leader would dare to enter the Public Security Bureau openly, and even swagger into an interrogation room?

If you say it's a fake, it's not impossible. But the problem is, looking at the rust on this kid's hands, he is one hundred percent an insider...

Ma Shan was stunned for a long time: "Your Zhaoji (eyes) are not bright, your heart is clouded (confused), you don't know that Yuanliang is the leader, may I ask which mountain you hail from?"

"No such thing (I wouldn't dare), Shanshang Banchai Shanshang Shaohuo (a craft passed down from ancestors), the craftsmanship is a bit far (very high skill), just doing some Needle work."

Yan Wenjing looked as if he were stunned: How does Lin Sicheng know these things?

He had been doing Cultural Relics investigation for nearly ten years and dealt with these people every day, but he hadn't understood even half of those few sentences just now...

Ma Shan was even more stunned, his eyes narrowing sharply: How old are you, damn it, to be doing Needle work?

What is Needle work?

Take grave-robbing for example: the lowest level is the manual labor, digging holes and carrying dirt. A bit better is the foot-hooking Pole-Climber, going down into the pit to retrieve goods.

A bit better than that is the Night-Watcher (keeping watch), or handling the goods and balancing the books. Further up, there are the small leaders of organization and transport. Further up still, are the experts and the masterminds.

To put it bluntly: they are all low-lifes who live with their heads on the line, valuing money over their lives.

If they mix even better, they leave the category of grave-robbing: looking at Feng Shui, choosing burial sites, and looking at residential houses.

The so-called Yin-Yang masters and Feng Shui masters are all of this type, but to be honest, they still cannot be brought into the light.

And what do the very top ones do?

Watching Stars, Surveying Mountains, Surveying Water, building cities, and Dingling.

A step below is the Imperial Observatory, a bit better is the Grand Historian, and even better than that, damn it, is the Imperial Preceptor.

But that was in ancient times...

Ma Shan stared with his eyes wide, gritting his teeth: You don't even look at how much fuzz is on your lip?

"I don't believe it!"

Lin Sicheng wasn't prepared to make him believe, and took out that copper coin: "Ma Jianzuo, let's chat for a bit!"

Qianlong Tongbao, Xinjiang Red Coin, the batch that Wang Yaozi intercepted?

He remembered now, this was the one that the female Police officer picked up in the hallway. Ma Shan had also repeatedly reviewed the situation after coming in, only then realizing this was a trap set by Wang Yaozi.

Killing two birds with one stone, shedding the cicada's golden shell...

Ma Shan's expression was uncertain: "What do you want to talk about?"

Lin Sicheng was straightforward: "Let's talk about this copper coin: the copper color is jujube red, the diagonal stroke of the character 'Qian' is like a knife, the curved stroke of the '阝' part of the 'Long' character is like a bow, the three strokes of the '攵' part are long and short in order..."

"Few sand holes, uniform thickness, Xinjiang red copper accounts for ninety-five percent, lead and arsenic are less than half a percent. But this is a technical issue; if he could, Zhaohui would have wanted to cast it with ten-tenths pure copper...

So, this is not an ordinary Xinjiang Red Coin, but a Yarkand Tribute Coin cast after Zhaohui broke through Yili and pacified the Dzungar by melting down Dzungar copper cannons. Afterward, it was sent to the palace along with the battle report..."

"It hasn't circulated, hasn't been bestowed, and has never left the palace. The key is, why is it still so new?"

Lin Sicheng flicked it, and with a "Zheng" sound, the copper coin spun on the table.

"Just dug it out of Qing Xiling, right?"

With a "buzz," it was as if something had exploded in Ma Shan's brain...

(End of this chapter)