Corpse in the River

After arriving at the riverbank, Zhou Yi was already soaked through by the rain since he wasn't wearing a straw raincoat. Glancing at the increasingly gloomy sky, Zhou Yi strode towards the scene of the incident.

The restaurant patrons had already surrounded the area tightly. Zhou Yi squeezed into the crowd. When someone bumped into him, they were about to yell curses, but upon seeing the Patrol Team uniform Zhou Yi was wearing, they sheepishly closed their mouths. Zhou Yi glanced at the person but said nothing. The person immediately made way for him.

It seems this uniform is much more useful than the yamen's, Zhou Yi thought to himself. But then he remembered that joining the Patrol Team indeed meant a fearsome reputation, as it involved dealing with Weirdness.

After pushing through the crowd, Zhou Yi saw a few constables. A corpse lay at their feet.

Soaked by the river water, the corpse's face had turned a grayish-blue. Its eyes were wide open, and the blood vessels in its pupils were clearly visible, as if filled with immense hatred.

Whether it was the cold rain or the chilling river water, the female corpse's face was covered in bluish-black veins, and her lips had turned purple. Although her face was swollen from the river water, one could still vaguely make out the woman's appearance in life.

Shopkeeper Liu, standing beside the female corpse, had clearly recognized her as his daughter. He was now sitting on the ground, holding his head in his hands, muttering, "Impossible, my daughter wouldn't... impossible, this can't be real..."

At this moment, the constables nearby also spotted Zhou Yi standing at the front of the crowd. Seeing that Zhou Yi was soaked by the rain, they immediately took off their straw raincoats, intending to offer them to him.

This was a prominent figure in the Patrol Team, the personal disciple of Captain Qu Yong, and the designated future Patrol Team captain. Naturally, they wanted to curry favor.

Zhou Yi simply waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary, and then began to inquire about the situation at the scene. "Any findings?"

One of the constables replied to Zhou Yi, "Sir, after examination, we haven't found any external injuries on the surface of this corpse. For anything else, we'll need the coroner for further analysis."

Zhou Yi nodded upon hearing this. "Who reported the case?"

"It was a fisherman who usually fishes here," the constable said, pointing to a person at the scene.

Zhou Yi followed the direction the Patrol Team member was pointing. It was Master Gui, who had come to the tavern to notify Shopkeeper Liu.

Seeing Zhou Yi's gaze turn towards him, Master Gui's legs involuntarily buckled, and he clasped his hands in a salute. "Sir, this humble one only discovered the female corpse; I wouldn't dare harm anyone!"

Zhou Yi felt a flicker of doubt at Master Gui's actions but quickly understood. Master Gui was likely worried that Zhou Yi would make him a scapegoat.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi lost the inclination to ask further. After all, this wasn't his responsibility; it should be handled by the yamen.

Zhou Yi shook his head and said to the constable beside him, "Investigate as you normally would. Don't mind me."

"Understood, sir. Then I'll have someone transport the corpse back to the yamen for the coroner to examine?" the constable said, glancing at Zhou Yi's expression, afraid his handling of the matter would displease him.

In his view, Zhou Yi coming out in such heavy rain to look at the female corpse meant he was either crazy or had some connection to the woman in life. But this young sir was already a prominent figure in the Patrol Team, not seeming like the type to be crazy, so it must be the latter guess.

Then he had to handle this matter according to the sir's mood. Perhaps a few kind words from the sir could lead to a promotion.

The constable couldn't help but feel pleased with his own cleverness.

Zhou Yi looked at the constable chuckling beside him with a speechless expression. He could guess what the constable was thinking. He immediately whispered to the constable, "Brother, I have no relation to this woman. I just came to watch the commotion with the people around me."

The constable knew he had misunderstood. His face flushed and paled. Realizing he had tried to flatter the wrong person, he quickly said to Zhou Yi, "You flatter me, sir. How could I dare address you as an equal? Just call me by my name, Li Yuanfang. Since you have no connection to this woman, I will proceed with official business."

"Then is your superior named Di Renjie?" Zhou Yi asked, looking at the person who called himself Li Yuanfang with surprise.

"No, sir. My superior is Constable Li Zhengqing," Li Yuanfang replied honestly, not understanding why the sir asked that.

"Your name is truly fitting for a constable!" Zhou Yi said, patting Li Yuanfang on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your praise, sir," Li Yuanfang said, still not understanding why the sir said that.

"Alright, you should get back to work," Zhou Yi said. Seeing the crowd growing larger and the rain intensifying, he didn't want to stay any longer, so he told Li Yuanfang to handle the official business.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanfang nodded at Zhou Yi, then turned to the other constables and said, "Hurry up and transport the corpse back to the yamen."

Just then, upon hearing that his daughter's body was to be transported to the yamen, Shopkeeper Liu, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly wailed loudly, shouting, "Don't take her away! My daughter is still alive! My daughter is still alive!"

Shopkeeper Liu wailed as he tried to stop the constables carrying the corpse, but Li Yuanfang, standing there, blocked him.

Shopkeeper Liu looked at Li Yuanfang blocking his path, while his daughter's body was already being carried away. He immediately shouted, "You want money, right? I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you! Let my daughter go! Give me back my daughter..."

Li Yuanfang looked at Shopkeeper Liu before him with sympathy, but he hardened his heart and said to Shopkeeper Liu, "I'm sorry, it's official business!"

Normally, he would have returned the corpse to Shopkeeper Liu, but today, a prominent figure from the Patrol Team was standing nearby. He didn't want to ruin his future for a little money.

Hearing Li Yuanfang's words, Shopkeeper Liu seemed to suffer a severe blow. He began to lose his balance and slumped towards the ground.

Fortunately, the quick-handed Li Yuanfang caught Shopkeeper Liu before he fell. Seeing that Shopkeeper Liu had fainted, Li Yuanfang had no choice but to ask one of the constables to find a doctor. He himself supported Shopkeeper Liu, while the other constables were instructed to take the corpse back to the yamen first.

Seeing the corpse about to be taken away, Zhou Yi took an Evil Warding Talisman from his sleeve, called out to the constables carrying the corpse, and then placed the Evil Warding Talisman on the head of the female corpse. When his hand touched the corpse's body, the modifier's voice did not sound.

Looks like there's no Yin Energy, Zhou Yi thought to himself. The Evil Warding Talisman could take effect without touching Weirdness; it was just used to conceal his ability to absorb Yin Energy.

After discovering there was no Yin Energy, Zhou Yi waved his hand, signaling the constables to continue carrying the corpse.

As the female corpse was carried away, the surrounding crowd slowly began to disperse, whispering discussions about the incident.

"Sigh, poor Shopkeeper Liu!"

"Who isn't heartbroken? Raising a daughter for over ten years, only for her to be gone like this."

Listening to the crowd's discussion, Zhou Yi shook his head. He then said to Li Yuanfang, who was still supporting Shopkeeper Liu, "There's no Yin Energy on that woman. She won't undergo corpse transformation."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanfang said to Zhou Yi, "Thank you, sir."

"It's nothing. I'm heading back now," Zhou Yi said, waving goodbye to Li Yuanfang before turning and walking in the direction of his home.

"Farewell, sir," Li Yuanfang's voice came from behind.