Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Solving a Case with Mystic Arts? Not Even a Dog Would Believe It

Watching Yu Zhi Yi’s back as she left, Lord Sun thought for a moment, then followed. He wanted to see what tricks Yu Zhi Yi would try. Mystic Arts to solve a case? [Whoever wants to believe that can believe it. I don’t.]

Yu Zhi Yi read through the case file, then asked for Old Man Wang’s birth date and eight characters. After she calculated, her face sank.

Lord Sun mocked her: “What’s wrong? The more you calculate, the worse you look. Is it that you can’t figure anything out?”

Yu Zhi Yi ignored him and turned to Lord Peng: “I know who the killer is, and I have already found the evidence.”

About ten li away from Old Man Wang’s small home, in another household, a young man held a handkerchief in his hands. The handkerchief was yellowed and stained, so dirty it looked disgusting. Most people would gag or look away. The young man didn’t seem to feel disgust at all. He rubbed his face against it again and again, grinning with a creepy smile.

“Juan’er, I already killed that meddlesome old man,” he whispered. “You will come back to me, right? Don’t worry, I’ll come get you very soon.”

Old Man Wang’s two daughters had both married and lived in the capital, one in the east of the city and one in the west. The one in the west was the younger daughter, Wang Chun Juan. She married three years ago and now had two children. Her husband’s family treated her well, and after she gave birth to a baby boy, they spoiled her even more. For the last two years she hardly did any chores, other than caring for the children. Life was much better than in her maiden home.

Back then, her father didn’t work. She and her older sister did all the chores. After her sister married, everything fell on Wang Chun Juan alone. Her father was a scoundrel who wore a mask outside. Neighbors thought he was a good man. Only the three women at home knew the truth: after he drank every day, he would beat them. Their yard was big, and the house stood in the center. Once the gate was closed and her mother’s mouth was gagged, even if her mother was beaten half to death, the neighbors never knew. They would only notice that her mother didn’t go out to buy vegetables for a few days, and instead her father carried the basket to the market. If asked, he said he pitied his wife for working so hard and wanted to share the load. The neighbors praised him as a good husband and a good father.

No one knew that this “good husband” and “good father” was a devil. He beat her mother to death.

At that time both sisters were still young. Their father threatened to kill them if they dared report him. The girls were heartbroken and afraid, so they told no one. After the older sister married, Wang Chun Juan lived in deep misery for two full years. Thankfully, it was finally over. Her father was dead.

Just then, a familiar sound called from outside the yard. It was a strange sound, like a bird call, but rough and harsh instead of clear and sweet. Wang Chun Juan’s face changed a little. She looked at her daughter playing nearby and her son in the cradle. Seeing no danger and that her daughter had noticed nothing, she stepped toward the gate.

“Juan’er, come with me,” Li Guang Zhu said as he stepped out from the corner and pulled Wang Chun Juan into his arms.

She pushed at him hard and said: “Guang Zhu, are you crazy?”

Li Guang Zhu’s eyes looked wild as he said: “Juan’er, your father is dead. No one can stop us anymore.”

Wang Chun Juan’s expression turned sad as she said: “Guang Zhu… we can’t. We can’t.”

Li Guang Zhu’s face went stiff: “Why? Didn’t you say that as long as your father didn’t oppose us, you would leave with me? He is dead now. He can’t oppose us anymore.” His eyes suddenly turned mad. “Did you lie to me? Or are you backing out?”

“It’s not that,” Wang Chun Juan shook her head, pained. “I didn’t lie, and I’m not backing out. But I’m still my father’s daughter. He died. I must keep mourning for him. At least three years.”

“If I leave right now, he will never forgive me,” she said softly. “Also, the killer hasn’t been caught. I want this case solved soon to comfort his spirit in heaven.”

Li Guang Zhu stared at her, unsure whether to believe her. His eyes looked frightening. She felt afraid. Just then, her husband came home, calling her name from outside: “Juan’er? Juan’er?”

Wang Chun Juan felt rescued. She shoved Li Guang Zhu and said: “Go for now. Tonight, after I settle everything at home, I’ll leave with you, all right?”

“Really?” The moment he heard she would go with him, the vicious look on Li Guang Zhu’s face faded, leaving only joy.

Wang Chun Juan forced herself not to show her disgust and took his hand as she said sweetly: “We grew up together. Don’t you trust me? Tonight, I will leave with you.” She added in a low voice: “We need money to live away from Capital City. I have to go back and get silver.”

“All right, I’ll wait for you,” Li Guang Zhu said, staring at her. “Juan’er, don’t let me down.”

“I won’t.”

Night fell quickly.

Before dawn, Wang Chun Juan nudged her husband and saw he was fast asleep. A sharp light flashed in her eyes. She got out of bed, dressed, and took a bundle from the wardrobe. She didn’t open it to check, showing it had been prepared long ago.

In the deep dark, she pushed open the gate and soon found Li Guang Zhu hiding in the shadows. He also carried a bundle, but its shape was strange. It didn’t look like clothes inside. It looked more like something long and narrow. Wang Chun Juan didn’t think about it. She took his hand happily and said: “Guang Zhu, let’s go.”

Before she came out, Li Guang Zhu’s face was gloomy and hard. Only when he saw her did the chilling look fade. He smiled: “I knew you wouldn’t lie to me.”

Wang Chun Juan smiled sweetly and said: “Silly, why would I lie to you?”

They wanted to leave the city under cover of night, but the first problem was the curfew. Capital Halberd Guards patrol the capital. If anyone wanders during curfew, at best they spend a few days in jail; in serious cases, they can be shot on the spot. To avoid dying because of the curfew, they chose to find a nearby place to hide until morning, then leave the city.

Li Guang Zhu agreed. They found an empty house close by. After sitting down, Wang Chun Juan took out two cakes from her bundle, handed one to him, and said: “You waited for me so long. You must be hungry. Here, eat something.”

As she spoke, she took a bite of her own cake. Li Guang Zhu didn’t suspect anything and opened his mouth.

“I advise you not to eat,” a woman’s voice said suddenly.

The two of them jumped in fright.