Chapter 319: Not the Same Group

Five corpses, five body bags.

The Provincial Department arrived, the Municipal Bureau arrived, and the area outside the small mountain village was packed with police cars.

Even more people came from Beijing: forensic doctors, trace evidence experts, technical examiners, crime scene investigators... each department was methodical and systematic.

Wang Qi Zhi was bored and looked around. When he saw a familiar figure, his eyelids couldn't stop twitching: "That's the Tang girl, isn't it? Why is she here?"

Lin Sicheng glanced over: "Teacher, the police are handling a case, isn't that normal?"

"Nonsense, this is a homicide case. If anyone comes, it should be forensic doctors. She's in the technical inspection division; why is she joining in the fun?"

Lin Sicheng didn't make a sound: You don't even know, how would I know?

"Lin Sicheng, stop playing dead!" Wang Qi Zhi poked him, "Ye Anning is incredibly confident and won't say anything. But your teacher's wife is neurotic and worried to death. If she finds out, she'll pester me to death."

"Teacher, I have a clear conscience!"

"Bullshit, am I asking if you have a clear conscience?" Wang Qi Zhi glared at him, "If you actually felt guilty, I wouldn't be worried at all."

What kind of logic is that?

While he was wondering, the Person in Charge of the forensic department came over to report: "All five victims are male; three have sharp-force injuries, and two have gunshot wounds. The bullets are 7.62×25mm pistol rounds, and the murder weapon is a Five-One Type Pistol..."

"The stomach contents of all five individuals contain residues of Organic Phosphorus Poison. Preliminary prediction: they died from excessive blood loss after suffering defensive wounds following poisoning. Estimated time of death: four months to half a year..."

Those from Beijing were fine, as they had been mentally prepared. A group of local leaders from the Cultural Relics Bureau and the Public Security Bureau were shocked, sweat breaking out on their foreheads.

The forensic doctor only provided objective descriptions and was cautious about making too many speculative statements, but the leaders would fill in the blanks themselves. Besides, it didn't require very sophisticated logic, let alone professional deductive skills.

First poison them, then have a shootout: isn't this exactly what Lin Sicheng said—an internal conflict caused by an uneven split of the loot, followed by murder to silence the witnesses?

Li Zhijie's eyelids twitched: "Is Zhang Xiao among them?"

"Yes, confirmed by family members; clothing and height both match. The burial site was at the very bottom of the Tomb Tunnel, gunshot wound to the head, estimated time of death is the earliest..."

"Good, that's troublesome!"

After that polite remark, He Cong'an and Li Zhijie exchanged a look, then looked at the cordoned-off scene.

The cattle shed had long been dismantled, revealing a large pit ten meters wide and seven or eight meters deep in the ground.

It was half-filled with water. It wasn't clear how large the tomb below was, but looking at the Luan birds on the salvaged silk fabrics, it was clear: the tomb owner was of a very high rank, at least at the Concubine level, and the burial goods must be numerous.

Thinking back to Lin Sicheng's previous deductions: Red Luan Heaven Joy, Jade Mirror Dressing, Mao Xu Mutual Seeing, Zi Wu Opposite Clash... Concubine!

They no longer had time to wonder why a Concubine wasn't buried within the mausoleum but here instead. Instead, they were preoccupied with the fact that such a large tomb, with such a high water table and such difficulty in excavation, had been robbed right under the noses of the Lingguan Office, and so many people had died.

Furthermore, in such a large village, how could so few people have known?

How did the Lingguan Office conduct its daily management, patrols, investigations, and visits?

If it had been discovered by local departments, that would be one thing, but the problem was that the clue was found by the Beijing Public Security Bureau, far away in another province.

The key was that when they first arrived, the Beijing police were also completely in the dark, knowing only that a tomb associated with the Mu Mausoleum had been robbed, but not which one. They were even just guessing, not certain.

Think back to before: What, a Grave-robbing case? Impossible.

The mausoleum area has 24-hour surveillance, irregular patrols outside the mausoleum, regular visits to the surrounding area, and deep-rooted public awareness campaigns. If a Grave-robbing case occurred, the Lingguan Office couldn't possibly not know.

Think back to that time: The young man took a Compass, stood there turning it, pinching his fingers, acting like a Daoist performing a ritual, and it felt both ridiculous and laughable.

And now, looking at this pit, looking at the salvaged Enamel Porcelain, the Luan bird phoenix robe, and looking at the five body bags being hauled away.

Is it a major Grave-robbing case, and is it still funny?

The group of people was both shocked and felt strange, staring at Lin Sicheng not far away.

Compass divination, a Yin-Yang master?

That was, of course, nonsense.

But thinking about it from the beginning, it felt too incredible, even impossible to explain with common sense.

Using a Compass to find a tomb could be explained by Wind and water (Feng Shui). But he accurately deduced the internal conflict of the grave-robbing gang, that there were dead bodies buried in the tomb passage, and even deduced that close relatives had turned against each other—how could this be explained?

Not to mention anything else: both brothers were not at home, only the old father and mother, and the two daughters-in-law. Why couldn't it be the younger brother killing the older brother, but the older brother killing the younger brother?

Li Zhijie thought for a long time: "It must be observing colors and expressions, deducing through facial expressions and body language: for example, the two old people, just to move a pile of corn, the old man was willing to threaten the lives of the whole family. Or the two women, the sister-in-law putting on an act, the younger sister-in-law heartbroken..."

"It's also possible he had already learned some Information, such as knowing that the grave-robbing gang had a shootout and people died, and even more likely guessed that after the killing, they were buried in the Tomb Tunnel. Then he made a bold hypothesis and carefully sought verification... and the key is that he really understands Wind and water, and understands psychology even better..."

Li Zhijie sighed: "The two old people came late and didn't see it, but the two daughters-in-law came early and saw him holding the Compass, walking around the cattle shed. The key is that so many of us were all respectful and polite to him..."

Nonsense, he was playing with the Compass, pinching and calculating, acting like a ghost-chaser, marking twelve points on the map, yet finding eleven tombs—who wouldn't be shocked?

Putting aside what method he used, just for this level of professionalism, who wouldn't be impressed?

Others might not know, but the two women certainly knew the leaders of the Lingguan Office and the town. Seeing them being so polite to him, while he was so young but had such a grand air, they naturally made a preconceived judgment.

After that, when he played the role of a Yin-Yang master, even if the women didn't believe it entirely, they would believe it fifty or sixty percent. More importantly, his deductions: accurate to a fault, not missing a single detail.

Plus, having just lost their men, and seeing that the men's blood money couldn't be kept, the younger sister-in-law was overly agitated; under such emotional turmoil, emotion outweighed reason.

She simply gave up and let it all out.

The group suddenly realized: wasn't this just a bluff, just a trick?

While they were stunned, someone muttered to themselves: "It feels... not that hard?"

Not hard?

Come on, here's a Compass, you try it?

He Cong'an frowned, looked back, and then felt relieved.

It was a young comrade, about thirty years old, who probably hadn't been working for many years and lacked experience; it was understandable.

He Cong'an secretly changed his train of thought, his gaze lingering on Lin Sicheng's face a few times: "Department Head Wu, is this person really an Expert from the Cultural Relics Research Institute? Why does he look more like a Police officer to me..."

You don't say?

"He has indeed been helping the Police during this time. But don't doubt it, he is a legitimate archaeology and cultural heritage research Expert, and also a famous appraisal Expert..."

Wu Hui pointed to his eyes: "Eyes like torches, discerning the finest details!"

He Cong'an was stunned, remembering what Li Zhijie had just said about "observing colors and expressions": No wonder?

Without a keen eye, it would be impossible to observe key Information from subtle facial expressions.

"So young, why haven't I heard of them before?"

"Temporarily seconded from the local level!"

Wu Hui gave an ambiguous reply, not mentioning where they were seconded from, nor mentioning their name.

He Cong'an was very tactful and did not press for details; he had no time for that anyway.

After a brief thought, he looked left and right, then lowered his voice: "Department Head Wu, for this case, I still have to ask for your help?"

Wu Hui sighed: How to help?

"Director He, to be honest: we are just tagging along; the key lies not with the Cultural Relics Bureau, but with the Public Security Bureau!"

As he spoke, he looked at Li Zhijie, "If you don't believe me, ask Director Li!"

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; once he did, Li Zhijie's heart sank straight down.

He had felt before that his counterparts in Beijing were overreaching and the Ministry was being too controlling: for just one cultural relic case, where was the need for such a massive display?

Now looking at it: five human lives, involving drugs and guns, did the Ministry really have such damn foresight, as if they could divine the future?

At the mention of divination, his eyes rolled uncontrollably and landed on Lin Sicheng's face again. Li Zhijie sighed: "Director He, don't worry, even if the sky falls, we in the police will hold it up first!"

He Cong'an was stunned for a moment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The words were crude but the point was sound; these five human lives alone were enough to keep the Provincial Department and the Municipal Bureau busy for a while.

Compared to this, looting a Concubine's tomb was merely a minor issue.

No, he had to think of a way. Not to mention shirking responsibility, at the very least he had to secure the lead in the investigation. If nothing else, he had to conduct a joint investigation with the Beijing Municipal Bureau.

Otherwise, not only would he be criticized and implicated, but he would also lose face.

The problem was, it was useless for just the Beijing counterparts to agree; it would inevitably have to go through the Ministry, and he would need to find connections to smooth things over.

Hesitating inwardly, Li Zhijie scanned the area, looking at Director Chen from the Municipal Bureau, then at Vice President Sun of the General Team.

Just as he was thinking about who to sound out first, he paused and subconsciously narrowed his eyes.

After staring for a long time, Li Zhijie looked suspicious: "Department Head Wu, what is that female comrade's name, the one standing next to Director Chen and Vice President Sun?"

How novel, I'm not a police officer, why are you asking me the name of a female police officer?

Secretly suspicious, Wu Hui took a look and was also stunned: come to think of it, he actually knew.

Last time he went to the hospital to see Lin Sicheng, this girl was standing outside the ward, crying her eyes out, tears streaming down her face.

Later he found out that half of the stabs Lin Sicheng took were for her. He also learned that the girl's family background was not simple: her uncle was in the Security Unit, and her father was in the Ministry.

But these were secondary.

They were all experienced people who had lived half a lifetime; they still had some discernment.

Whether it was Wu Hui or Dan Guoqiang, or even Lv Chenglong, the old Dean, or even Deputy Director Ma—who only had research in his mind and whose IQ and EQ were inversely proportional—all could see: the way this girl looked at Lin Sicheng was not quite right.

Just like now.

Thinking this over, Wu Hui shook his head: "I don't know her!"

Assuming he really didn't know, Li Zhijie didn't ask further, speaking almost to himself: "I feel like I've seen this girl before, seems her surname is Tang?"

Tang Dingping was in the Ministry, Li Zhijie was in the Provincial Department, and since he was in charge of the office, perhaps he had been to Tang Nan Yan's home.

But Wu Hui didn't make a sound.

Compared to this, he was more worried about Lin Sicheng right now...

Tang Nan Yan was poised and graceful, first respectfully greeting everyone: Director Chen, Vice President Sun, Branch Captain Yu, and she didn't even leave out Yan Wenjing.

Then, she handed over a thermal food jar: "When I came, Branch Captain Yan specifically instructed that since you've been at the scene, you've only chewed on a couple of biscuits. I thought the food in the team is too salty, oily, and heavily seasoned, and there wasn't time to buy anything on the street, so I had the auntie at home make a little something. Don't worry, it absolutely didn't delay the mission, I just picked it up on the way..."

What do I have to worry about?

With this thought, Lin Sicheng reached out to take it: "Thank you, Officer Tang!"

"Don't move, let Assistant Fang hold it, it's not busy right now, you go to the car to eat..."

Yan Wenjing tried hard to recall: when did he ever give such instructions?

He only remembered Tang Nan Yan calling to ask what they were eating at the scene, and he had said the case was so big, there was no time to eat, so he just chewed on a few biscuits.

He hadn't mentioned Lin Sicheng at all.

But he still needed Department Head Tang to save his life, so Yan Wenjing nodded without hesitation: "Right, I instructed it!"

The Branch Captain sighed inwardly: You instructed my ass? If you, Yan Fangjing, were this attentive, would you be able to make me constantly clean up your messes?

But then again, they really had forgotten: Lin Sicheng had just been injured and hadn't been out of the hospital long.

And he was injured because their work wasn't up to par; more importantly, Lin Sicheng didn't want a single cent of pay and was dragging his injury to work the scene for them.

And in the end, he had just chewed on a couple of biscuits too?

The three leaders looked at each other and silently gave Tang Nan Yan a mental thumbs-up.

The Branch Captain smiled: "Little Tang is good!"

"Thank you, Branch Captain, it's only right!"

As she spoke, she looked at Wang Qi Zhi again, "Uncle Wang San, look, I'm doing this for work!"

Wang Qi Zhi twisted his face, grinding his teeth, neither angry nor amused.

A man of his age, could he really lower himself to the level of a little girl?

Besides, even he had forgotten: the case was too big and too bizarre, he had been too busy being shocked and forgot that Lin Sicheng was a patient. As a result, he had just gnawed on two biscuits with cold water?

Thinking this over, he looked at Lin Sicheng: "It'll get cold in a moment, hurry up and eat!"

He was indeed hungry and feeling faint. Lin Sicheng nodded: "Teacher, you should eat a little too."

Wang Qi Zhi jumped, his face full of horror: Lin Sicheng, are you really that damn filial?

If I drink even one mouthful of this soup today, your teacher's wife will be able to fight with me for three months.

He glared: "No oil, no salt, bland as can be, I'm not eating it!"

Lin Sicheng realized what was happening and gave a sheepish smile.

Yan Wenjing arranged a vehicle, and fearing Fang Jin would be clumsy, Tang Nan Yan also went along.

After getting into the car, Tang Nan Yan set up a small table for Lin Sicheng, then sat quietly to the side.

Fang Jin clumsily opened the lunch box and clumsily served the soup.

Tang Nan Yan didn't move, just sighed: "Assistant Fang, I spent the whole morning simmering this box of soup, you had better not spill it..."

"Ah, wasn't it simmered by the nanny?" Fang Jin was stunned for a moment, "Oh, are you afraid of being criticized by the leaders?"

What are you talking about?

Tang Nan Yan was afraid that Wang Qi Zhi would go back and complain, making things difficult for Lin Sicheng.

With a "tsk," she narrowed her eyes again: "Assistant Fang, you won't tell Ye Anning, right?"

Fang Jin was slow to realize, and Lin Sicheng sighed: "Officer Tang, don't scare him!"

Tang Nan Yan smiled: "Okay!"

Watching Lin Sicheng's back, watching him get into the car, Director Chen sighed: "Professor Wang, thanks to little Lin today!"

Wang Qi Zhi was neither polite nor modest: standing from the perspective of the Public Security Bureau, one truly had to thank Lin Sicheng.

It was not that the Public Security Bureau was unprofessional, nor that they lacked ability, but that Lin Sicheng was comprehensive enough.

Perhaps because he had seen too much and was used to it, Wang Qi Zhi at least didn't think of Lin Sicheng as miraculous or mysterious, unlike Wu Hui, Sun Jiamu, and the leaders of the local Cultural Relics Bureau.

Using Feng Shui knowledge to find graves was merely Lin Sicheng's specialty. Like the Zhang Anshi Tomb, or the five kilns in Hejin, with such a large area and so few clues, didn't he find them all the same?

Here, at least there was the Mu Mausoleum as a coordinate; for Lin Sicheng, it was like having ready-made formulas and data, which he could plug in to calculate the most accurate answer.

Observing people's expressions and inferring the other party's psychological activities based on body language and subtle expressions was even more of Lin Sicheng's basic skill. Without this keen eye, he couldn't have picked up so many leaks or seen through so many traps.

He had also fought with wits and courage against grave-robbers. With the personal instruction of experts like Zhao Laotai and the Zhao brothers, Lin Sicheng had truly put in a lot of effort.

He wouldn't dare say he had researched it thoroughly, but he knew no less than the Public Security Bureau about these people's organizational models, methods of operation, and common routines.

Perhaps even a little more: for example, the sect signs and jargon of grave-robbing factions, or the Feng Shui knowledge for Dragon Seeking and grave-robbing; the Public Security Bureau certainly didn't know as much as he did.

That was why he could infer the case details to a T, and why he could get a hit every time he bluffed at Mashan in the Public Security Bureau, or bluffed that old couple and the daughter-in-law here today.

So, to tell the truth, Wang Qi Zhi believed: what Lin Sicheng did basically didn't stray from the scope of Cultural Relics and grave-robbing, and was basically within his capabilities.

It was just that because he was too comprehensive, what was originally 1+1+1 caused a chemical reaction when combined, achieving an effect where one plus one was greater than ten. That was why ordinary people felt it was so incredible.

Just like the Public Security Bureau, they had professional forensic experts, professional trace experts, interrogation experts specializing in psychology and micro-expressions, and reasoning experts who could perfectly reconstruct a crime scene just by looking at a corpse. These people were certainly more professional and capable than Lin Sicheng.

But the problem was, these experts only specialized in one aspect, and the case was discovered so suddenly that there was no way to gather these experts together in the shortest possible time.

Even if they were gathered together, they would still need to observe, analyze, and discuss. Opportunities are fleeting; neither the old couple nor the daughter-in-law would wait for you to finish discussing before letting you bluff them.

It was indeed not that mysterious, but to say it was simple would be nonsense.

If not for Lin Sicheng's sudden inspiration, the Public Security Bureau would have had to interrogate and investigate slowly. Not to mention anything else, they would at least have had to dig up Zhang Xiao's corpse before it would be possible to make that old couple and the daughter-in-law loosen their tongues.

And it wasn't certain they could have been interrogated successfully at that time.

A white cat or a black cat, a cat that catches mice is a good cat.

Don't look at the old prescription, and don't mind that the medicine is cheap; look at the curative effect.

Wang Qi Zhi was lost in thought, and Director Chen took out a cigarette case, passed them around, and took out a lighter to light one for Wang Qi Zhi.

After taking two puffs, he said seemingly casually: "Such talent is a waste in the local area. Professor Wang, why not consider letting little Lin come to Beijing?"

The fingers holding the cigarette paused slightly, and Wang Qi Zhi sighed: Again?

You're in charge of the office, and now you're managing personnel?

Wang Qi Zhi flicked the cigarette ash: "It's too early now, wait until he finishes his postgraduate studies!"

Director Chen smiled: "It's not like he can't study in Beijing; there are many good schools, like Peking University!"

"That would be great!" Wang Qi Zhi laughed, "Then I'll trouble Director Chen to help me ask if Peking University wants me. And ask Xida if they are willing to let him go!"

Director Chen was stunned for a moment before he realized: the problem wasn't Lin Sicheng, but Wang Qi Zhi, the teacher, and the school behind him.

He smiled awkwardly: "Then we'll talk about it later!"

The two changed the subject and chatted for a while; just as they finished smoking two cigarettes, Lin Sicheng got down from the Iveco.

He looked at his watch, then looked at the chaotic scene: "Captain Yan, can you send a car to take us back first? I want to see Mashan..."

With an "ah," Yan Wenjing was stunned for a moment and looked at the Branch Captain and the Deputy Team Leader.

The two leaders looked at each other, and the Deputy Team Leader thought for a moment: "Director Chen and I will keep an eye on things here. Branch Captain Yu, you go back with Teacher Lin and little Yan, strike while the iron is hot, and strive to take them down in one fell swoop..."

Branch Captain Yu nodded, but in his heart, he was thinking: it probably won't be easy to interrogate.

Why did they run here today? It was because Mashan showed his flaws.

Recalling that day, with Mashan's deathly pale face and bulging eyes, anyone in the Criminal Investigation Division could guess: this case had the most direct connection to him.

But who could have imagined, five human lives?

If Mashan killed them all, how many times would he have to be executed?

Lin Sicheng also sighed: he had thought too simply before.

He could imagine that what could make an old hand like Mashan turn pale with fright and be deeply grieved must not just be a grave-robbing case; nine times out of ten, it also involved a homicide case. But he didn't expect that it wasn't just one person killed, but five?

Lin Sicheng even less expected that this group of people would be so bold: having robbed this one, five people had already died. Not only did Mashan not restrain himself or disappear, but he was actually eyeing the one next to it?

Putting money before life, one could call it insane.

Mashan would definitely hold out, at least he wouldn't confess so quickly. But where the wind blows, it leaves a sound; where the wild goose flies, it leaves a trace. Such a large tomb, the things stolen must be quite a lot, and definitely more than just that box of copper coins.

What about the rest?

They were all Raw Pit Goods, not so easy to sell; perhaps one or two pieces could be found. Then, following the vine to find the melon, if lucky, one might even find the shadow of the boss behind Mashan.

This was one thing; secondly, Lin Sicheng always felt something was not quite right: these people were cruel to this extent, yet that woman still dared to intercept the goods; how bold must she be?

Her influence must be quite significant; she couldn't be a nobody, so they had to find a way to look for her.

And it's even harder to say, there might be an unexpected surprise...

Secretly turning this over in his mind, the few of them walked toward the car, and Lin Sicheng suddenly remembered: "Captain Yan, has the phone number used to communicate with Ma Shan been traced yet?"

"It was traced long ago, but it's useless; it's a Singapore number!"

Huh, Singapore?

Lin Sicheng recalled for a moment: Yu Dahai, who once dominated Sanqin, seemed to be in Singapore, didn't he?

Whether there was any connection he did not know, but they were certainly not the same group of people.

(End of this chapter)