After arriving at the riverbank, Zhou Yi was already soaked through by the rain, having not worn a rain cape. He glanced at the increasingly gloomy sky, then headed toward the scene of the incident.
The tavern's patrons had long since surrounded the scene so tightly that not even water could pass through. Zhou Yi squeezed into the crowd. The people beside him were about to curse when they felt themselves being shoved aside, but upon seeing the Patrol Team uniform draped over Zhou Yi, they shut their mouths with unhappy looks. Zhou Yi merely glanced at the man without saying a word, and the man gave up his spot on his own.
This uniform of mine is far more useful than the yamen's! Zhou Yi thought. But then he remembered that the Patrol Team did indeed have a fierce reputation. After all, it was work that dealt with the uncanny.
After squeezing through the crowd, Zhou Yi saw several constables. A corpse lay at their feet.
After being soaked in river water, the corpse's face had turned bluish-gray. Her eyes were wide open, and the bloodshot veins in her pupils were clearly visible, as if she bore immense hatred.
Whether from the chill of the rain or the bone-piercing cold of the river, bluish-black veins covered the female corpse's face, and her lips had turned purple. Though her features had been badly swollen by the river water, one could still vaguely make out how she had looked in life.
Shopkeeper Liu beside the corpse had clearly recognized her as his own daughter. He was sitting flat on the ground, clutching his head in both hands and muttering endlessly, "Impossible... My daughter wouldn't... Impossible... This can't be real..."
At that moment, several constables nearby noticed Zhou Yi standing at the edge of the crowd. Seeing that he was drenched by the rain, they immediately took off their own rain capes, intending to drape them over him.
This was the Patrol Team's rising star, Captain Qu Yong's personal disciple, the Patrol Team's future designated captain. Naturally, they wanted to curry favor with him.
Zhou Yi merely waved his hand to decline, then began asking about the scene. "Did you find anything?"
One of the constables said to Zhou Yi, "Sir, after inspection, we have found no external injuries on the corpse for now. As for the rest, we will need a coroner to conduct a further examination."
Zhou Yi nodded. "Who reported the case?"
"A fisherman who usually catches fish here." After speaking, the constable pointed at someone nearby.
Following the direction of the Patrol Team member's finger, Zhou Yi saw Master Gui—the very man who had gone to the tavern to notify Shopkeeper Liu.
When Master Gui saw Zhou Yi looking at him, his legs buckled involuntarily, and he dropped to his knees. With his hands clasped in salute, he said, "Sir, this commoner only discovered the female corpse. I would never have the nerve to harm anyone!"
Seeing Master Gui's reaction, Zhou Yi grew suspicious, but quickly understood. Master Gui was probably afraid Zhou Yi intended to make him a scapegoat.
Zhou Yi no longer felt like questioning him. This was not something he was supposed to handle anyway; it was better left to the yamen.
After shaking his head, Zhou Yi said to the constables beside him, "Investigate however you should. Don't worry about me."
"Yes, sir. Then shall this humble one have the body transported back to the yamen first, and have the coroner examine it?" The constable spoke while watching Zhou Yi's expression, afraid that his handling of the matter might displease him.
In his eyes, Zhou Yi had come to see a female corpse in such heavy rain. Either the man had something wrong with his head, or he had some connection to the corpse in life. But this lord was so young and already a favorite within the Patrol Team; he did not look like someone with something wrong with his head. That meant it had to be the second possibility.
Then he had to act according to this lord's expression. Perhaps if this lord put in a good word for him, he might even get promoted.
The constable could not help feeling delighted by his own cleverness.
Zhou Yi looked speechlessly at the constable grinning foolishly beside him. Of course, he could guess what the man was thinking. He immediately lowered his voice and said, "Brother, I have nothing to do with this woman. I just came over with the people beside me to watch the excitement."
Realizing he had misunderstood, the constable's face went pale, then red. He knew he had tried to flatter a horse and ended up patting its hoof. He hurriedly said to Zhou Yi, "Sir, you flatter this humble one too much. How would I dare call myself your brother? You may simply call this humble one Li Yuanfang. Since you have no connection with this woman, then this humble one will handle the matter impartially."
"Is your superior named Di Renjie?" Zhou Yi looked at the man calling himself Li Yuanfang in astonishment.
"No, sir. This humble one's superior is Constable Li Zhengqing," Li Yuanfang answered honestly, though he did not understand why this lord had asked.
"Your name really makes you born to be a constable!" Zhou Yi said, patting Li Yuanfang on the shoulder.
"Thank you for the praise, sir." Li Yuanfang did not know why the lord said that, but he still thanked Zhou Yi.
"All right, get back to work." Seeing more and more people gathering while the rain grew heavier, Zhou Yi no longer wished to stay and told Li Yuanfang to handle the proper business first.
Li Yuanfang nodded at Zhou Yi, then turned to the other constables. "Hurry up and transport the corpse back to the yamen."
Just then, upon hearing that her daughter's body was to be taken back to the yamen, Shopkeeper Liu, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly burst into wailing. He shouted, "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, who was standing nearby, stopped him.
Shopkeeper Liu looked at Li Yuanfang blocking his way as his daughter's corpse was lifted up. He immediately cried out, "You want money, is that it? I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you! Let my daughter go! Give my daughter back to me..."
Li Yuanfang could not bear to see Shopkeeper Liu like this, but he still hardened his heart and said, "I'm sorry. Official business must be handled impartially!"
Under normal circumstances, he might have returned the corpse to Shopkeeper Liu. But today, a major figure from the Patrol Team was standing right beside them. He did not want to ruin his future for a little money.
Hearing Li Yuanfang's words, Shopkeeper Liu seemed to suffer a tremendous blow. His entire body became unsteady, and he toppled toward the ground.
Fortunately, Li Yuanfang caught Shopkeeper Liu before he fell. Seeing that Shopkeeper Liu had already fainted, Li Yuanfang had no choice but to send one constable to fetch a physician while he supported Shopkeeper Liu himself. As for the other constables, he had them take the corpse back to the yamen first.
Seeing the corpse about to be taken away, Zhou Yi pulled out an Evil Warding Talisman from his sleeve and called out to the constables carrying it. He then raised the talisman and pasted it onto the female corpse's forehead. When his hand touched her body, the modifier's voice did not sound.
Looks like there's no Yin Energy. Zhou Yi thought silently. The Evil Warding Talisman could take effect without touching the uncanny; it was merely being used to conceal his ability to absorb Yin Energy.
After discovering there was no Yin Energy, Zhou Yi waved his hand and let the constables continue carrying the corpse away.
Once the female corpse had been taken away, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed as well, murmuring about the incident in low voices.
"Ah, Shopkeeper Liu is truly pitiful!"
"Isn't that the truth? He raised his daughter for more than ten years, and now she's gone just like that. Who wouldn't be heartbroken?"
Listening to the crowd's discussion, Zhou Yi shook his head. Then he said to Li Yuanfang, who was still supporting Shopkeeper Liu, "There's no Yin Energy on that woman's body. She won't turn into a corpse."
After hearing this, Li Yuanfang said to Zhou Yi, "Thank you, sir."
"It's nothing. I'm heading back first." Zhou Yi waved to Li Yuanfang, then turned and walked toward home.
"Farewell, sir," Li Yuanfang's voice came from behind him.
Before you continue