Chapter 110

Master Huiquan is formidable; with just a person's birthdate and eight characters, he can determine life and death.

"Master, your calculations are spot on." I sincerely praised, "Then I know what to do next."

Master Huiquan laughed and said, "Little girl, being able to help you is also an honor for me."

I thanked him, and after hanging up the phone, Li Qingying's side had already reported to the police.

Wufu Town is not big; the police station personnel will arrive soon.

The two of us stood by Chen Tao's corpse, waited a while longer, and then saw a police car pull up, from which two officers stepped out.

They walked over, showed us their identification, and then began questioning the situation.

The older officer is in his fifties, named Zhang Qiang; the younger one is under forty, named Lu Qiu sheng.

Zhang Qiang handles the questioning, while Lu Qiu sheng takes notes.

Until I handed over that silver needle, Lu Qiu sheng visibly froze.

His eyes were almost glued to the silver needle, and the hand holding the pen trembled slightly.

Zhang Qiang asked, "Xiao Lu, what's wrong?"

Lu Qiu sheng snapped back, scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, and said, "I just ate a steamed bun and felt a bit light-headed from carbon monoxide."

Speaking, he skillfully put on gloves, took the silver needle, and placed it in the evidence bag.

When the routine questioning ended, Chen's father also hurried over.

There was nothing else for us here; I and Li Qingying were about to leave when Lu Qiu sheng called out to me: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, leave a phone number; don't leave Wufu Town for now, as we may need to call you back for a supplementary statement."

I agreed to all, and wrote down my phone number for Lu Qiu sheng.

Back at the pawnshop, Li Qingying whispered to me: "Xiao Jiu, do you think they can follow the vine to catch Bai Jingmo?"

Obviously, she had a little hope.

I gave a wry smile and shook my head: "Perhaps Bai Jingmo didn't expect Chen Tao's corpse to be fished out of the Zhu Pan River when he did this, but he is very cautious, and it's not impossible that he never intended to pull out; no one in Wufu Town can shake the Bai family's position."

"Is that so." Li Qingying sounded disappointed, "Truly a calamity that lasts a thousand years."

She then added, "However, Zhao Zixun tonight was also quite strange; he actually helped us."

Yes, Zhao Zixun has indeed changed somewhat.

When Chen Tao was flayed, her soul was also taken away.

She was dumped into the Zhu Pan River; if not for Zhao Zixun, she would have long been swallowed by fish, leaving no remains.

However, such a Zhao Zixun will not last long.

The fact that the warhorse's hooves can be repaired shows that his environment can sustain corpses; Zhao Zixun, in such an environment, the coffin nail seal between his brows will eventually re-solidify, at which point he will become once again a complete killing puppet.

I shook my head, refusing to let my thoughts run wild; right now there are more important things to do.

I raised my hand and patted Li Qingying's shoulder, saying, "Sister Li Qingying, I have an important task to entrust to you."

Li Qingying asked, "What?"

"Help me keep a close watch on the Huang and Dou families lately," I said, "especially the Dou family."

Li Qingying furrowed her brows: "Xiao Jiu, what are you suspecting?"

"I suspect Bai Jingmo will make a big move soon," I said, "the Huang and Dou families could both aid him."

Li Qingying immediately perked up: "Xiao Jiu, don't worry, I'll handle this."

The night had grown deep, yet she couldn't wait to go out; I washed up, went to bed, and leaned against the headboard thinking.

Too many things have happened lately; I need to sort out the clues properly.

Bai Jingmo leaving behind that silver needle always feels off to me.

But I just can't figure it out.

Without realizing it, I fell asleep just like that.

At breakfast the next day, Li Qingying told me that last night she had made a round of the town chief's house and the Dou family, finding nothing abnormal.

I reminded her to avoid arrogance and restlessness, and to keep watch for a couple more days.

In the afternoon, I received a call from Lu Qiu sheng, asking us to go to the police station for a supplementary statement.

When Li Qingying and I arrived there, we happened to see Bai Jingmo walking out from inside, smiling narrowly as he said something.

Seeing me, he immediately greeted, "Xiao Jiu, are you also here for the flaying case?"

Li Qingying snorted, pulled me past Bai Jingmo, and we entered the police station.

As we passed Bai Jingmo, I noticed his brow was dark, the corners of his eyes slightly bluish, his lips a dull color—he looked lacking in vigor.

Could it be due to excessive grief over the death of Madame Bai?

Or perhaps something else?

At that moment, I heard Li Qingying mutter softly, "You really hit the mark; even the evidence can't do anything to him."

I patted her hand to soothe her emotions.

The supplementary statement wasn't long; Lu Qiu sheng focused on asking how I found the silver needle.

Finally, he said, "This silver needle resembles Mr. Bai's, but after investigation it's definitely not his; each of Mr. Bai's silver needles bears a tiny steel stamp representing his identity, hard to notice. The investigation will continue; if you have any leads, you can call or come to the police station to find me."

I nodded in agreement.

On the way back, I kept thinking about this matter.

Could it be that my speculation was wrong, and this matter has nothing to do with Bai Jingmo?

But it's strange that, as an officer, Lu Qiu sheng shouldn't have proactively brought up Bai Jingmo to us.

Even if he's an acquaintance, confidentiality should be his professional duty.

Yet he did bring it up voluntarily—why?

Could I have missed some detail?

Now, whenever I think things through, I unconsciously reach to touch the scale patch on the inner side of my left arm; only it can promptly soothe my restless heart.

Li Qingying had a mission and was often not in the shop.

I sat alone behind the counter, holding a pen and doodling on paper, trying to connect everything and find a breakthrough.

But... I just couldn't find it.

I always felt like a link was missing.

Without realizing it, it was already late at night; Li Qingying still hadn't returned, I was a bit worried, so I got up to go check.

Sister Qingying couldn't have run into trouble, could she?

My legs had gone numb from sitting too long, so I moved a bit, bracing my hands on the counter's edge.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside; shortly after, a tall man dressed in all‑black sportswear, wearing a black baseball cap pulled low, entered and shut the little door of Nan Shu Fang behind him.

His action startled me; I opened my mouth to stop him, but he had already bolted the door, turned, and made a silencing gesture at me.

I was a bit nervous, eyes fixed on the newcomer without blinking.

Until the man came to the counter, took off his cap, and revealed his face did the heart I had been holding in my throat finally drop; I whispered, "Officer Lu, what brings you here?"

The visitor was none other than Lu Qiu Sheng, whom I had just seen earlier that day.

Lu Qiu Sheng pulled a bag from his clothing, placed it on the counter, and said solemnly, "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, I've come to pick up something..."