The Dead Man's Identity

After arriving at the branch office, Yang Wenqing first headed to the morgue and nearly collided head-on with Ding Lang, who was just about to leave.

"You came at the right time. The preliminary autopsy results are out."

Ding Lang took out the examination report and said to Yang Wenqing, "Based on the degree of decomposition and an analysis of the stomach contents, along with deductions from the residual consciousness in his brain, the victim likely died seven days ago, with a margin of error of no more than one day. There were strangulation marks on the deceased's neck, but the true cause of death was his heart being pierced by a sharp weapon with a yin-cold attribute. That matches the residual spiritual power found in the wooden box."

"Additionally, the victim's final lingering consciousness was filled with regret and despair. Ninety percent of the spiritual vitality in his flesh and blood was stripped away through the Sacrificial Formation." He paused here. "What I'm about to say is merely my personal speculation. Whether it is correct is for you to judge."

He handed the file to Yang Wenqing. "You attended the Security Academy. You should have heard of the organization called Yellow Springs Guide, right? They particularly enjoy collecting memories rich in consciousness."

Yang Wenqing's brows furrowed slightly. Of course he knew of Yellow Springs Guide. No one could determine how long the organization had existed. They delighted in tempting all kinds of people into evil sacrifices. Some wealthy household whose lifespan was nearing its end could easily fall prey to their seduction, leaving both sides to take what they needed.

Yet Yang Wenqing did not wish to treat that as a lead in the case, because his strength did not permit it. After carefully reading the examination report Ding Lang had handed over, he said, "Thank you for your hard work, Forensic Doctor Ding."

With that, he took the report and headed for the Third Squad's office.

After he left, a young forensic examiner walked up to Ding Lang and asked quietly, "Looks like this new captain is a smart man too."

Ding Lang chuckled. "A person's greatest virtue is knowing their own limits. Only by seeing oneself clearly can one walk farther. Compared with Captain Yang, you are still far behind. First of all, you lack all self-awareness!"

Elsewhere.

The moment Yang Wenqing returned to the office, he connected through his badge to Yan Kuan at the Port Security Office. "Captain Yan, this is Yang Wenqing. The forensic department has just confirmed that yesterday's victim died seven days ago. I think we can mobilize the militia to investigate whether there were any witnesses during that period."

"No problem. I'll arrange it immediately."

After agreeing, Yan Kuan said with a chuckle, "I was just about to contact you. We have a lead on the victim's identity. We compared his bloodline aura against missing-person records and preliminarily identified him as a fisherman from Seaside Village named Chen Dayong, forty-two years old, married, with one son. Would you like to come over and take a statement from his wife together?"

"Alright, we'll be there right away!" Yang Wenqing immediately agreed.

He cut off the Communication Formation signal and instructed Wu Yan and Liu Qin, who had already reported for duty, "Old Wu, come with me to Seaside Village. Xiao Qin, stay here and keep an eye on the forensic department's examination reports."

"Yes!" the two answered in unison.

Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan boarded that old Windrunner-III Flying Shuttle again and sped toward Seaside Village on the western side of the Port District.

Before long, a fishing village built against a small hillside came into view.

This was Seaside Village.

The village was small. Most of its houses were built from stacked stone, their roofs covered with thick layers of seaweed to shield them from wind and rain. The air was thick with the smell of fish. The village paths were narrow and muddy, with fishing nets hung out to dry in many places. Quite a few villagers looked curiously at the Flying Shuttle passing overhead at low altitude.

The Flying Shuttle landed in the gathering square at the center of the village, where Yan Kuan was already waiting with two security officers.

"Captain Yang, this way."

Yan Kuan came forward. Without wasting words on pleasantries, he directly led the two of them into the village.

They walked along a stone-paved path that climbed up the hillside, eventually stopping before a secluded courtyard halfway up the slope. The courtyard was tiny, and so was the house. It was probably only large enough for a family of three. Its gate was nothing more than a crude wooden fence.

In the middle of the courtyard stood a young man who appeared to be around twenty, with a pretty woman beside him. The two were arguing with a woman in her forties.

Yang Wenqing immediately used the Tracking Technique and quickly detected a bloodline aura matching the deceased, Chen Dayong. That aura was coming from the young man.

Their bloodlines shared the same origin, and the resonance could only exist between father and son. Chen Dayong's identity was therefore confirmed.

And Chen Dayong's biological son was currently quarreling with that woman. From the looks of it, she was most likely Chen Dayong's wife—the young man's mother.

"...I don't care. I'm putting my foot down here. By the eighth of next month, the money has to be ready. A-Li's family has already taken a step back. If you still can't come up with it, I'll jump from here. At least then I won't keep being an eyesore to you!"

The young man said this with an especially vile attitude.

The prettily dressed woman beside him also frowned, her voice shrill. "Auntie, we aren't trying to force you. But my parents need an explanation too. Your family agreed to this without hesitation back then."

The woman—Chen Dayong's wife—twisted the corner of her apron tightly in both hands. Her face was ashen, and her lips trembled. "The family... the family truly has nothing left. Your father has been missing for days. Can't you just..."

"Wait for him? If he dies somewhere outside, does that mean you won't pay us?"

The young man cut her off without thinking.

The woman shuddered all over. She raised her hand as if to strike him, only for it to fall weakly back down.

"Creak—"

Yan Kuan pushed open the wooden fence gate.

The three people in the courtyard turned their heads at the same time.

When Chen Xiaohai saw Yan Kuan's security uniform, his momentum faltered, and his words caught in his throat. A-Li instinctively shrank behind him.

When the woman saw Yan Kuan, as well as Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan behind him with their cold, stern temperaments, her pupils suddenly constricted. It was as though a tremendous terror had suddenly gripped her, making her legs go weak. She nearly lost her footing.

Yang Wenqing immediately caught the woman's reaction. It was highly abnormal. He looked at Wu Yan and ordered, "Take those two young people aside and question them."

Yan Kuan then told the two security officers beside him, "You two go as well."

Wu Yan moved with practiced efficiency. A Clear Mind Spell talisman activated soundlessly, and a gentle light enveloped the young man and the woman beside him. The agitation and irritation on their faces visibly subsided. Wu Yan and the two port security officers then took the opportunity to lead them to a corner of the courtyard for questioning.

The courtyard instantly fell quiet, leaving only the woman's suppressed sobbing.

Yang Wenqing stepped forward and took out a Clear Mind Spell talisman as well. With a slight release of spiritual power, the talisman's script transformed into a cool breath that entered the woman's body. Her violent emotional turmoil eased somewhat.

Yan Kuan had plenty of experience with this sort of thing. He softened his voice and said, "Sister-in-law Chen, steady yourself first. We came this time because of Chen Dayong."

At the sound of her husband's name, the woman abruptly raised her head. Cloudy tears welled up uncontrollably again. She seemed to have already sensed something. Clutching Yan Kuan's sleeve tightly with both hands, her nails nearly digging into flesh, she asked, "Dayong... Dayong, did he... did something happen to him?"

Yan Kuan nodded heavily. "We found his body at the port... He was murdered."

The woman jerked her head up, her body swaying as all color drained from her face in an instant. This was clearly far beyond what she had anticipated. After a long while, she finally squeezed out a hoarse whisper from her throat. "He's... gone?"

"My condolences," Yan Kuan said quietly.

The woman suddenly reached out and gripped Yan Kuan's sleeve with all her strength, her knuckles turning white. Her empty eyes stared fixedly at the ground, and her lips trembled. It was as if she were talking to herself, yet also questioning the fickle cruelty of fate:

"Gone? How could he be gone? When he left, he said that once he came back from this trip, he'd have enough money for Xiaohai to marry..." Her voice was hoarse, carrying a numbness that made one's heart tighten.

"He said... he said it was a huge sum. Enough to marry A-Li into the family in grand style. The girl's family was waiting; they couldn't delay any longer..."

Tears silently ran down her deeply lined cheeks, but she seemed unable to feel them.

"The family had truly been drained dry. The fishing boat was old, and it could barely bring in any fish. Xiaohai was such a worry too, always knowing only how to press him, forcing his father..."

Her voice suddenly broke into a sob, mixed with endless regret and despair:

"His father had no choice. He said... he said he had taken a 'black job,' helping someone bring things that couldn't see the light of day ashore from a large ship. Not through the proper docks, but silently, without a god knowing or a ghost noticing. Just this one job, and then he'd never touch it again..."

She suddenly lifted her head, her cloudy eyes bloodshot:

"Did he... did he die because of that 'black job'? Which damned bastard killed him?"

At last, she broke down and wailed aloud. Within that crying was a woman's despair at losing the person she depended on, a mother's helplessness at her disappointing son, and the boundless sorrow of her husband walking down a road with no return.