As Li Zhuoyuan gently twisted the bottle of soy milk in his hand, he couldn't help but think of Qiu Minmin.
Was she coming back from the underworld to demand his life? The thought was almost amusing but carried a deeper shade of warning.
If one viewed things from a normal person's perspective, it was hard to understand why Shi Yuqing would choose to stay with an old professor, fully aware that he had taken a life and even pushed for a divorce to marry him.
Yet, across history and cultures, myriad examples existed where men teamed up with mistresses to kill their wives or women with their lovers.
Such occurrences were so prevalent that they filled novels, dramas, and films.
Once one realized this, what initially seemed baffling suddenly felt entirely rational.
Lowering his head, Li Zhuoyuan quietly sipped his soy milk through the straw.
In this moment, he felt a growing necessity to write down his experiences.
After every tumultuous wave, there should be an account of events to summarize the lessons—much more effective than mere lectures.
Soon, the old professor began to demonstrate the art of persuasion that came with age.
Using a method of retreat to advance, he first helped the woman vent her frustrations.
Building on that, he began to reflect on the beautiful moments they shared in the past, the connections, the mental resonance.
Then he cast his eyes toward the future, speaking of current obstacles and hoping she would grant him more time.
Despite making a full circle back to the initial issue, accomplishing nothing, the woman nestled into the old man's embrace, tears welling up in her eyes as soft whispers and gentle words filled the air.
As they prepared to leave, the old professor exited first to avoid drawing attention.
After a brief pause, Shi Yuqing followed suit.
The two passed by Li Zhuoyuan’s open room, and he caught a glimpse of the old professor.
Age had indeed caught up with him; his neck and face bore marks of age, spots that were hard to disguise.
Shi Yuqing, by contrast, seemed youthful, appearing to be just over thirty, exuding an intellectual beauty.
Li Zhuoyuan noticed a glint of menace in the old professor’s eyes as he walked by.
Having killed once, could he do it again? After all, Qiu Minmin had never been satisfied, persistently demanding things from him until her demise.
In contrast, Shi Yuqing’s eyes reflected a sense of emotional fulfillment; she seemed quite pleased.
“Brother Yuan, should we follow them?” Tan Wenbin, who had sensed the importance of the moment, leaned closer.
He hadn’t heard their conversation but felt that whatever transpired held significance.
Li Zhuoyuan shook his head. “Bingbing, let’s call the police.”
Tan Yunlong sat at his desk, puffing on a cigarette, ash accumulating in the overflowing ashtray.
Wang Chaonan confessed without hesitation to murdering Tang Qiuying, explaining that a minor incident years ago resulted in a heated argument.
He had accidentally dirtied her blanket while tending to the flowerbeds.
It should have been a trivial quarrel; it was commonplace in life.
It wasn't even serious enough for the police to respond.
The dormitory matron calmed them down, and life went on without much thought of it.
Later, when Tang Qiuying went missing, neither the police nor the school even considered that argument as a lead.
It was like when someone walked by and splashed mud on your shoes; you might mutter, “What a jerk!” But Tang Qiuying had cursed, “May you have no descendants.” The irony was, prior to this, she had never interacted with Wang Chaonan and wasn’t aware that he was in his thirties and childless.
Her curse came as an impulsive reaction and, had she chosen a different phrase, it would have meant nothing.
Yet, that particular phrase etched itself into Wang Chaonan's heart.
He began to stalk Tang Qiuying, observing her movements.
Four months later, under the guise of tree planting along the boulevard, he seized his moment, killing her during a solitary moment and hiding her body in a tree pit.
Such killers were particularly vexing for the police; they were elusive, leaving no traces.
No matter how thoroughly they investigated, they couldn’t catch him.
The pressing issue was, Wang Chaonan held a firm conviction regarding a child named Beibei and refused to disclose any details.
He clung to the belief that even if he were executed, as long as the child couldn't find their biological parents, they would still be his.
His wife shared the same mindset—if Wang's views were obsessive, hers bordered on madness.
“Brother Tan, colleagues from that side have responded. Take a look,” someone said.
“So many?” Tan Yunlong inquired.
Parents would file reports at the local police station about their missing children, and when notified, they would conduct checks and inform parents of any matches.
Despair was painful, but what inflicted deeper wounds was the cruel cycle of hope followed by shattering disappointment.
Many parents would set off repeatedly to investigate leads, only to find out the children were not theirs, witnessing joyous reunions of others.
“Isn’t there a birthmark?”
“The mark is small.”
Tan Yunlong sighed. “Brother Tan, don’t fret. Now that we have defined our search area, we should be able to find the child's parents. Perhaps the real parents are already on their way.”
“Xiao Zhou, you’re not married yet, are you?”
“Not yet.”
“Once you have your own children, you’ll understand.”
“Right, I get you, Brother Tan. But it’s time you treated us, right?”
“Huh?”
“This case from so many years ago, you cracked it open and even rescued a kidnapped child. Shouldn’t you buy us all a round?”
All of them were eager to learn from him, but they needed to probe how he came to discover the buried body.
“My son studies at that university.”
“Everyone already knows that.”
“One day, while visiting him, I noticed the largest tree near the dorm and felt something was off.”
“Is that all?”
“Otherwise, would I have summoned Tang Qiuying's ghost to find her body?”
“Hahaha, Brother Tan, you always joke!”
“Seriously, your insight is impressive.”
Tan Yunlong coughed lightly and took a sip from his cup of tea just then someone called out, “Brother Tan, your phone.”
Leaning against the car door, he answered, “Hello, this is Tan Yunlong.”
“Hello, I’m Tan Wenbin.”
“Spit it out.”
“Watch your tone!”
“Kid, do you want me to come find you at school?”
“Come on, try it! Hit me if you dare!”
Taking a deep breath, Tan Yunlong reviewed his feelings after interacting with Li Zhuoyuan and then visiting his son; they were conflicted.
“Dad, we found the real killer of Qiu Minmin.”
Late at night, police cars rolled onto campus once more, and the arrests went smoothly.
Tan Yunlong leaned against his car door, watching as his colleagues escorted the old professor Chen Deliang.
On the other side, Shi Yuqing had already been caught and was in the midst of interrogation.
Through the radio, he learned that the woman was breaking down easily, trying her best to untangle herself from the situation and claiming to be merely an informant.
The case had remained unresolved for seven years, and the recent disappearance of key witnesses had complicated the investigation.
Yet unexpectedly, clarity began to unfold.
On the return journey, the younger officers regarded Tan Yunlong with newfound adoration, their admiration evident.
Xiao Zhou asked the burning question, “Where did your latest tip come from, Brother Tan?”
He hadn’t desired to share this but recognized its importance for the case file. “My son studies at this school.”
The other officers leaned in closer; only Xiao Zhou found the beginning somewhat familiar.
“There’s a La Sichuan near the north gate where I’ve taken you all before. One night, while visiting my son, I overheard two suspects arguing next door while dining.”
“I did some digging and uncovered some extra clues, leading me to close in.”
Tan Yunlong’s account had its flaws—as it turned out, Shi Yuqing and the old professor may not frequently visit that restaurant or might have been there for the first time.
This detail, if probed, could unravel.
Yet, he didn’t wish to disclose that his son had overheard them, as it could complicate matters, and Li Zhuoyuan was someone who preferred to avoid complications.
Furthermore, as long as the evidence confirmed guilt, the exact means of its discovery became less relevant.
Police sometimes intentionally obscured the identities of informants to protect them.
In one case, a victim's family member had a dream of where a loved one was buried, leading detectives to the body, which subsequently unveiled the real killer from the same village.
It was evident that such cases often involved someone witnessing the act and seeking to hide their own identity.
While others admired Tan Yunlong’s seemingly fortunate intuition, Xiao Zhou remarked, “Brother Tan, your son really brings you good luck.”
“Ah, this feels great,” Tan Wenbin stretched lazily on his bed.
Having been possessed by a spirit the night before, he was well-fed and refreshed, feeling as if he had come back to life.
“Hey, Brother Yuan, what are you doing here?”
Tan Wenbin rubbed his eyes.
Typically, during this time, Li Zhuoyuan would be with Liu Yumei and A Li.
“Bingbing, don’t you see what time it is?”
Tan Wenbin peered at the clock; it was already eleven in the morning.
They were supposed to leave at noon for Tong'an to find the circus troupe.
“Oh no!” Tan Wenbin sprang from his bed, grabbing a basin to wash up.
When he returned to gather his things, he was surprised to find everything arranged by the young man.
“Brother Yuan, why didn’t you wake me?”
“You had time to sleep a little longer.”
Tan Wenbin leaned against the desk and spotted a set of talismans laid out.
Li Zhuoyuan had tied together a spirit-repelling talisman, a clear mind talisman, and a binding talisman, all with red thread.
“Brother Yuan, is this for triggering?” Tan Wenbin gestured as if tossing a needle.
Li Zhuoyuan shook his head. “This is for Lin Shuyou. Inspired by my understanding of divination from the Ksitigarbha Sutra, I came up with a straightforward amplification method.”
“A-You will be very touched.”
Tan Wenbin understood that this set of talismans was merely something Li Zhuoyuan had quickly assembled.
In reality, he had designed a series of intriguing things for Lin Shuyou.
After this incident, Lin Shuyou's knowledge of spiritual matters would undoubtedly grow tremendously, giving him the confidence to challenge his master and grandfather upon returning.
Of course, this was assuming Li Zhuoyuan didn't inadvertently end his budding potential.
“Time to go. Let’s move!”
“Dragon King departs!”
Tan Wenbin slung the mountain backpack over his shoulders and followed Li Zhuoyuan out of the dormitory.
As they passed by the entrance of Lu Yi, Tan Wenbin chanted melodically, “Even if there are countless people, I shall proceed!”
Then they paused at the corner of the staircase.
Moments later, the door to Lu Yi’s dormitory opened, and Lin Shuyou cautiously walked out, his backpack slung over his shoulder.
Hearing him, Li Zhuoyuan and Tan Wenbin continued down the stairs.
The two walked ahead, while Lin Shuyou thought he was stealthy, trailing behind.
At the school gate, Li Zhuoyuan and Tan Wenbin stood apart, effective for increasing their chances of hailing a taxi.
Li Zhuoyuan successfully flagged down one first, but he didn’t rush to get in and instead discussed the fare with the driver.
Once Tan Wenbin managed to stop a taxi, Li Zhuoyuan got in, and Tan Wenbin ditched the taxi he had flagged to join him.
The rejected driver prepared to vent his frustration when suddenly, the back door swung open, and Lin Shuyou slipped inside. “Driver, quick! Follow the other taxi!”
Tomorrow would be the day of the human trafficking deal, but given the circus troupe needed to set up their venue and promote, they might have already arrived today.
Normally, arriving early to an exam had little benefit… unless the test paper was already laid out on the table.
Regarding the dossier on “Aunt Yu,” Li Zhuoyuan had skimmed through it, but it was superficial.
The police had gathered only fragments related to Aunt Yu, possibly former associates or former members who had branched out on their own.
The clay figurines made from mud seemed well-crafted, yet they were merely decorative.
Such people were peculiar; believing in the supernatural while committing heinous acts.
Tan Wenbin turned to see Li Zhuoyuan sketching in a hardback notebook, drawing two intersecting lines extending from a single endpoint, labeled “myself.”
One line traced through “dormitory,” “sound of high heels,” “Lu Yi’s possession,” “suppressing the female ghost,” “Ran Qiuping's letter,” eventually branching off to “Beibei,” and concluding with “Aunt Yu.”
The second line also emanated from “myself,” going through “discount store,” “Sun Hongxia,” “Ran Sheng’s attack,” “Faceless Dead,” “Ran Qiuping's letter,” eventually leading to both “Chen Deliang” and “Shi Yuqing.”
Chen Deliang and Shi Yuqing formed a parallel branch.
In the middle, there was a short intersection—“Ran Qiuping's letter.”
Tan Wenbin, recalling his previous discussions with Li Zhuoyuan, asked, “Brother Yuan, is this an event line, or is it a cause-and-effect line?”
“Mm, I’m trying to trace the reasoning of the original instigator.”
After confirming the emergence of the Jiang connection, Li Zhuoyuan focused on these two lines, eager to resolve them early.
Currently, both lines had yielded results.
The path of high heels led ultimately to Aunt Yu, but the line back to Qiu Minmin seemed to end here.
“Brother Yuan, besides linking back to ‘Ran Qiuping's letter,’ is there any other connection?”
“You could work backward instead of following directly.”
“Huh?”
“I feel these lines are interconnected.”
“Oh?”
“Bingbing, do you think that everything is predetermined? That what has happened must necessarily happen?”
“Brother Yuan, how else?”
“From a macro perspective, that’s accurate. But if we look at it from our individual vantage point, is it true that once something has occurred, it can’t be changed? Theoretically, right up until the moment the veil is pulled away, the sculptor can still alter their work.”
“Brother Yuan, are you suggesting we’re all being guided by unseen forces?”
“We're being carried by the waters of the Jiang. When the water pushed her toward me, from her perspective, I was being pushed toward her. However, during the actual unfolding, whoever can grasp this line first claims the narrative control through each wave.”
“Like us right now. You see, can the line back from Tang Qiuying be pushed back toward us?”
Wang Chaonan was supposed to take his fellow villager to the circus to buy a child tomorrow.
“So, if we hadn’t proactively sought out Aunt Yu by following this line, then it would have been her seeking us out along this thread? We’d be the passive ones?”
“Indeed, but…”
Li Zhuoyuan drew two circles at the junctures of Chen Deliang and Shi Yuqing, “But why doesn’t Qiu Minmin’s line lead anywhere?"
“Liangliang, come chase after dad! If you catch me, I’ll buy you a toy car!”
“I’m coming, Dad! Wait for me!”
A father and son raced playfully across a wide-open area, their laughter echoing.
As they played, they approached a tent under construction, where trucks were unloading a variety of performance props.
“Dad, I got you! I want a toy car!” the boy exclaimed.
The man bent down to ruffle his son’s hair, asking, “Liangliang, what price range are you thinking for your toy car?”
“I don’t know! Whatever you buy me is fine; I’ll like it!”
“Such a good boy, let me check how much they cost, okay?”
“Alright, Dad!”
The man raised his head to see two women approaching, one young and beautiful and the other an elderly lady, her back hunched and her face elongated, with sagging skin around her mouth.
He called out to them, “How much? What’s your asking price?”
As he asked, his eyes burned with resentment.
“Oh, Shi Yuqing, did you ever think I’d sell you and your illegitimate child?”
I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, and my eyes are starting to blur.
Tonight, I’ll keep things light and take a break to rest.
Honestly, everyone’s support with the monthly votes has been overwhelming, and I don’t want to fall short of your expectations… So bear with me, and let's hold tight together!
(End of Chapter)