When Yang Wenqing arrived at the precinct, he first went to the forensics lab, where he nearly ran into Ding Lang, who was just on his way out.

"Perfect timing. The preliminary autopsy results are in."

Ding Lang took out a lab report and said to Yang Wenqing, "Based on the body’s state of decomposition, analysis of the stomach contents, and a reconstruction from the residual consciousness in his brain, the victim’s time of death was approximately seven days ago, with a margin of error of no more than one day. There are ligature marks on his neck, but the actual cause of death was his heart being pierced by a sharp object with a yin-cold attribute. This is consistent with the residual Spiritual Qi we found in the wooden box.

"Also, the victim’s final residual consciousness was filled with regret and despair. Ninety percent of the Spiritual Attribute in his flesh and blood was stripped away through a sacrificial Array." He paused for a moment. "What I’m about to say next is just my personal speculation. Whether it’s correct or not is for you to decide."

He handed the file to Yang Wenqing. "You were at the Police Academy. You must have heard of the organization called the Yellow Springs Guide, right? They’re particularly fond of collecting memories rich with consciousness."

Yang Wenqing’s brow furrowed slightly. ’Of course I know about the Yellow Springs Guide.’ The organization’s age was impossible to determine. They were known for luring all sorts of people into performing evil sacrificial rites. A wealthy individual nearing the end of their life might be tempted by them, with both parties getting what they wanted from the deal.

However, Yang Wenqing didn’t want to pursue this as a lead, because he wasn’t powerful enough. After carefully reading the lab report from Ding Lang, he said, "Thank you for your hard work, Forensic Doctor Ding."

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

After he left, a young medical examiner walked over to Ding Lang and asked in a low voice, "Looks like this new captain is a smart one."

Ding Lang chuckled. "Self-awareness is a precious quality. Only those who clearly understand themselves can go far. And you... you’re a long way from Captain Yang’s level. For starters, you have no self-awareness at all!"

「Elsewhere.」

Back in his office, Yang Wenqing immediately used his badge to contact Yan Kuan at the Port District’s public security station. "Captain Yan, this is Yang Wenqing. Forensics just confirmed that yesterday’s victim died seven days ago. I think we can mobilize the militia to investigate for any potential witnesses from that time."

"No problem. I’ll go make the arrangements right away."

After agreeing, Yan Kuan added with a chuckle, "I was just about to contact you, actually. We have a lead on the victim’s identity. We compared his bloodline aura against the missing persons database and have a preliminary match: a fisherman from Linhai Village named Chen Dayong. He’s forty-two, married, with one son. Do you want to come over? We can take his wife’s statement together."

"Okay, we’re on our way!" Yang Wenqing immediately accepted.

He cut the signal from the Communication Array and gave orders to Wu Yan and Liu Qin, who were already on duty. "Old Wu, you’re with me. We’re going to Linhai Village. Xiaoxian, you stay here and keep an eye out for any further reports from forensics."

"Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.

Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan once again boarded the old ’Wind-Runner Model B’ Flying Shuttle and sped off toward Linhai Village, located on the west side of the Port District.

Before long, a fishing village built against a small hill appeared in their field of view.

This was Linhai Village.

The village wasn’t large. Most of the houses were built of stacked stone, their roofs covered with thick layers of seaweed to protect against the wind and rain. The air was thick with the smell of fish. The village paths were narrow and muddy, with fishing nets laid out to dry in many places. A few villagers looked up, their gazes curious, as the Flying Shuttle flew low overhead.

The Flying Shuttle landed in the village’s central square, where Yan Kuan was already waiting with two officers.

"Captain Yang, over here."

Yan Kuan came to greet them. Without wasting time on pleasantries, he led the two men deeper into the village.

They walked along a stone-paved path leading up the hillside, eventually stopping in front of a small, separate courtyard halfway up. The yard was small, as was the house—likely just big enough for a family of three. A simple wooden fence served as the gate.

In the middle of the yard, a young man who looked to be in his early twenties stood beside a pretty woman. They were arguing with a woman in her forties.

Yang Wenqing immediately used his Tracking Technique. He quickly found a bloodline aura that matched the victim, Chen Dayong—and it was radiating from the young man.

’Their bloodlines share the same source, with a resonance unique to a father and son.’ This confirmed Chen Dayong’s identity.

’And Chen Dayong’s son is arguing with that woman... who is most likely Chen Dayong’s wife, the young man’s mother.’

"...I don’t care! I’m laying it on the line: the money has to be here by the eighth of next month. Ah Li’s family already made a concession. If you can’t come up with it, I’ll just jump from here and stop being a bother to you all!"

The young man spat the words out, his attitude appalling.

The pretty young woman beside him also frowned, her voice sharp and thin. "Auntie, it’s not that we’re trying to pressure you, but I have to answer to my parents. Your family was the one who agreed to it in the first place."

The woman—Chen Dayong’s wife—twisted the corners of her apron, her face ashen and her lips trembling. "We... we really have nothing left. Your father... he’s been gone for days. Can’t you just..."

"Wait for him? So if he’s dead somewhere, we don’t get the money, is that it?"

the young man cut in callously.

The woman trembled, raising her hand as if to slap him, only to let it fall limply to her side.

"CREAK—"

Yan Kuan pushed the wooden gate open.

The three people in the yard turned their heads in unison.

When Chen Xiaohai saw Yan Kuan’s police uniform, his aggressive demeanor faltered, the words catching in his throat. Ah Li instinctively shrank behind him.

When the woman saw Yan Kuan, and then the stern-faced Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan behind him, her pupils contracted violently. A sudden, immense panic seemed to grip her, making her knees buckle. She nearly lost her footing.

Yang Wenqing immediately noticed the woman’s reaction. ’That’s not normal.’ He looked at Wu Yan and ordered, "Take those two to the other side and question them."

Yan Kuan then said to the two officers with him, "You two go as well."

Wu Yan acted swiftly. He silently activated a Purifying Heart Spell rune paper. A soft light enveloped the young man and the woman, and the agitation and annoyance on their faces visibly subsided. Wu Yan and the two Port District officers then smoothly led them to a corner of the yard to be questioned.

The yard fell silent, leaving only the sound of the woman’s suppressed sobs.

Yang Wenqing stepped forward and also took out a Purifying Heart Spell rune paper. With a small breath of Spiritual Qi, the rune dissolved into a cool stream of energy that entered the woman’s body. Her violent emotional turmoil subsided slightly.

Yan Kuan, experienced in these situations, spoke in a gentle voice. "Mrs. Chen, please try to calm down. We’re here about Chen Dayong."

Hearing her husband’s name, the woman’s head snapped up. Murky tears welled in her eyes once more. She seemed to sense what was coming. Her hands shot out and gripped Yan Kuan’s sleeves, her nails digging into his arm. "Dayong... did something... happen to Dayong?"

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

The woman’s head shot up again and her body swayed, the color draining from her face in an instant. This was clearly far worse than what she had anticipated. After a long moment, she managed to squeeze a hoarse, breathy sound from her throat. "Gone?"

"My condolences."

Yan Kuan said softly.

The woman lunged forward, clutching Yan Kuan’s sleeve so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her vacant eyes stared at the ground, her lips trembling, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps questioning the cruelty of fate.

"Gone... How can he be gone? When he left, he said... he said that when he came back from this trip, he’d have enough money for Xiaohai’s wedding..." Her voice was hoarse, laced with a heart-wrenching numbness.

"He said it was a lot of money. Enough to give Ah Li a grand wedding and bring her into our family properly. Her family is waiting, he said. We couldn’t delay any longer..."

Tears streamed silently down her deeply lined cheeks, but she seemed not to feel them.

"We’d spent everything we had... The fishing boat is old, it doesn’t bring in much fish anymore. And that boy, Xiaohai... he’s nothing but trouble. All day long, he just pressures and badgers his father..."

Her voice suddenly broke into a sob, thick with endless regret and despair.

"His father had no other choice! He said... he said he took a shady job. Helping someone bring something illicit ashore from a big ship, avoiding the official docks... He said it would be completely secret, just this one time, and he’d never do it again..."

She jerked her head up, her cloudy eyes bloodshot.

"Did he... did he die because of that shady job? Which goddamned bastard killed him?!"

She finally broke down, wailing. Her cries held the despair of a woman who had lost her provider, the helplessness of a mother with a good-for-nothing son, and the infinite, desolate sorrow for a husband forced down a dead-end path.