Director Zhao looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy. “We are already short-staffed as it is, and you still want to poach someone from my team?”
“Oh, you did not see the situation today,” Old Zhang said, slapping his thigh as he began to complain, looking very much like someone coming to beg for a favor. “Our group consists of the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, three out of the four categories. If your Little Xie had not been strong enough to hoist that poor ghost-possessed soul up with one hand, we really might not have saved him!”
“I have realized something. The few of us are more than enough to deal with ghosts, but when facing a physically strong living person,” he spread his hands, “then we are finished.”
Director Zhao: “…”
Old Zhang leaned over the desk, supporting himself with his arms. “Ordinary people might not see it, but I bet there is not a single person in these entire police station with a ‘harder’ fate or stronger Yang energy than Little Xie. He is the perfect ‘anchor’ for our upcoming Quantum Science and Technology Department.”
Director Zhao still did not respond, but he was clearly deep in thought.
Old Zhang struck while the iron was hot, switching to a heartfelt, persuasive tone. “You know this group was primarily formed for that case, right? Once it is solved, we will likely disband, and he can return to his team as usual. The higher-ups even specially approved this department, which shows how seriously they are taking this. When the time comes, will Little Xie not bring back some merit for you? He is someone you trained; it will certainly reflect well on you.”
“Ahem.” Director Zhao kept a stiff face. “Cut that out, you old fox. I am not doing this for merit. You know that as long as the case can be solved and the culprits caught, I do not care if it is science or you religious occultists. I do not mind using whatever works.” He looked conflicted. “But as for Little Xie”
“I know.” Old Zhang nodded with a grin. “Our Xiao Cui has already checked. The kid does not believe in the supernatural, right? That is exactly why he is perfect! His Tao-heart is firm, and his soul is resilient!”
Director Zhao sighed, his attitude softening considerably. “After all, we cannot openly declare your existence to the public. This matter, I still have to ask for his own opinion.”
“Help me persuade him. I can tell the kid follows orders; if you speak up, it will definitely work.” Old Zhang winked. “It is a deal then. I will treat you to tea later.”
“Tsk.” Director Zhao rolled his eyes. “Do not try to ruin me; I do not accept bribes.”
“Oh, you people in the system are so troublesome.” Old Zhang walked to the door with his hands behind his back. “I said I would give you a cup to drink, not let you take the tea leaves home! Oh, right, the spring bamboo shoots on our mountain will be ready soon. When my disciple sends them over, I will invite you for dinner. Just at home!”
Director Zhao finally showed a small smile. “Understood. Take it easy yourself. You are at retirement age; act steadily and stop rushing to the front lines.”
“I am not young anymore.” Old Zhang shook his head. “I nearly failed to hold onto someone today. But in my line of work, there is no such thing as retirement. The older you get, the more sought-after you are.” He tilted his chin up with a grin. “Just watch, I can still fight them to the bitter end.”
Director Zhao shook his head with a smile.
Xie Chongyang asked Cui Renwang and Xiao Tao to wait in the empty room from before. He personally took the unconscious courier to the infirmary, handed him over to colleagues to synchronize the situation, and then returned to find them.
He pushed the door open. Cui Renwang was sitting at the table looking at his phone, while Lin Xiatao was slumped over the table, seemingly asleep. Xie Chongyang softened his footsteps, closed the door, and whispered to Cui Renwang, “Is she asleep?”
“No.” Cui Renwang calmly exposed her. “She is pretending to sleep because she does not want to greet anyone.”
Lin Xiatao’s eyelashes flickered slightly, but she struggled to remain motionless.
“Huh?” Xie Chongyang seemed unable to understand this kind of social anxiety. “Then can I speak normally? I have something I want to ask you.”
“Yes.” Cui Renwang put down his phone. “I can answer, though you might not necessarily believe me.”
After spending some time together, Cui Renwang had roughly grasped Xie Chongyang’s personality.
“But you can still say it.” Xie Chongyang nodded seriously. “I can use it to deduce the truth.”
After their time together, Xie Chongyang also felt he had grasped Cui Renwang’s personality.
Cui Renwang: “Fine.” He wanted to see how Xie Chongyang would manage to make this story sound scientific.
Once Xie Chongyang sat down across from him, Cui Renwang summarized the case from the beginning.
“It started with Li Cheng’s suicide. Five years ago, Li Cheng was fired due to a major work error and sued by his company. He fell into massive debt, his family fell apart, and he eventually took his own life. After his suicide, his urn went unclaimed for a time and eventually disappeared mysteriously from the small funeral parlor. When it resurfaced, the urn had become a tool for sealing the ‘Vengeful Ghost Li Cheng.’ Someone was utilizing the resentment he had in life to make him possess targets, forcing them to repeat the act of suicide over and over, creating the illusion of a victim taking their own life. Back to the current suicide case of Xiao Zijie, the ‘Vengeful Ghost Li Cheng’ was the murder weapon, and Room 602 was the culprit wielding it. What we have been tracking is who exactly was the one handing this ‘weapon’ to various murderers.”
After listening, Xie Chongyang was silent for a moment before suddenly saying, “I still think this should be related to religion.”
Cui Renwang raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“In foreign criminal psychology research, many serial killers obsessed with fixed symbols have unique religious beliefs,” Xie Chongyang analyzed seriously. “Some are cults, others are twisted versions of normal religions. Regardless, this belief helps them accept their abnormal behavior and provides them with a self-consistent logic for their actions. Many bizarre behaviors make sense when viewed through the lens of a corresponding religious ideology. In other words, when thinking about this type of case, one cannot use ordinary logic. No wonder you were brought in as special consultants.”
Xie Chongyang nodded slightly in approval. “According to what you said, the person holding Li Cheng’s urn is, in a sense, a serial killer who murders by proxy. He is the planner, and 602 is the executor. He likely views himself as a ‘teacher’ to these killers, a leader in a religious sense, similar to a ‘godfather’ or ‘priest’ figure. It should be this person who guided 602 step-by-step through the mental abuse of the victim, Xiao Zijie, eventually indoctrinating Xiao Zijie with Li Cheng’s persona, leading to the suicide.”
Cui Renwang: “…”
Xie Chongyang touched his face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Cui Renwang sized him up with surprise. “That sounded quite professional.”
Xie Chongyang nearly laughed in frustration. “I graduated from a proper police academy after all! What do you take me for?”
Cui Renwang: “A dummy.”
Xie Chongyang: “Hey!”
Cui Renwang let out a low chuckle. He tapped the table lightly. “Since that is the case, let me show Officer Xie something that is even harder to explain with science. Xiao Tao, Li Cheng should have come face-to-face with the mastermind. Have him draw what that person looks like.”
Lin Xiatao pretended to have just woken up, rubbed her eyes, and whispered in agreement, “Oh.”
About ten minutes later, Old Zhang pushed the door open excitedly. “Kids, I have settled things. How is it going on your end?”
Xie Chongyang and Cui Renwang were standing behind Xiao Tao, heads nearly touching, leaning over to watch her draw. Their expressions were similarly solemn.
“What is it?” Old Zhang leaned in familiarly to look at the children’s stick figure drawing.
“Uh,” Xie Chongyang hesitated, stealing a glance at Cui Renwang, “is this what you meant by things hard to explain with science?”
Cui Renwang pointed at the upside-down mop that vaguely resembled a human figure and asked Xiao Tao, “Is this your drawing skill, or Li Cheng’s?”
Lin Xiatao lowered her head in shame, her voice as faint as a mosquito. “Neither of us knows how to draw.”
Cui Renwang: “…” Fine, he had managed to find a duo of artistic talents where zero plus zero still equaled zero. He let out a long sigh. “I should sign you up for a sketching class.”
“Is it too late for that?” Old Zhang cleared his throat. “The station should have a composite artist; let us find a professional. Xiao Tao, remember the details of the image clearly so someone can help you draw it later. Keeping a ghost on you is not a long-term solution either. I will put him away first.”
He pulled a white round jar decorated with colorful figures from his bag. He lit incense, summoned the ghost, and temporarily stored Li Cheng’s soul inside.
Xie Chongyang stared at the jar, his suspicious gaze sweeping across the three faces. He clearly had a problem with them conducting feudal superstitions inside a police station, but he eventually sighed and asked, “Do you want some tea?”
Cui Renwang explained, “This is a Soldiers and Horses jar, a ritual vessel used by Taoists to house spiritual soldiers or restrain ghosts.”
“Oh,” Xie Chongyang said half-comprehendingly. “Then do I need to pour some out for this one too?”
“Go away!” Old Zhang waved his hands while clutching the jar. “Do not mess around!”
Cui Renwang looked out the window. “It is getting late.”
Old Zhang understood his meaning. “The ghostly part of this case is done; the rest is up to you. Hey, Little Xie, you have our Xiao Cui’s contact information, right? Once the courier wakes up and 602 is interrogated, contact us again!”
“If the Captain allows it, I will contact you.” Xie Chongyang nodded, glancing at Cui Renwang again.
Cui Renwang had already stood up and adjusted his scarf. He asked Old Zhang, “Can we find the mastermind through Li Cheng?”
Old Zhang shook his head with regret. “We moved faster than usual this time, but he reacted quickly too. He likely severed the connection with Li Cheng the moment 602 sent the package. Tsk, quite decisive. This was a ghost he had nurtured for a long time, yet he let it go just like that. Quite a sacrifice. Before we go, Xiao Cui, take Xiao Tao to find the composite artist. I want to say a few more words to Little Xie.”
Lin Xiatao picked up her things and stood obediently by Cui Renwang’s side. Cui Renwang stared at him suspiciously. Old Zhang shooed the two away and then turned back to ask Xie Chongyang, “Ahem, Little Xie, you have spent quite a while with our Xiao Cui. What is your impression of him?”
“Impression?” Xie Chongyang repeated in confusion. “He” The image of Cui Renwang laughing flashed before his eyes, and his tone softened. “He is actually a pretty good person. No, I mean, he is very smart, exceptionally smart, but he just likes playing at ghosts and spirits.” He spoke quietly because the Taoist in front of him also liked playing at ghosts and spirits, even if he did not wear a topknot and looked more like an old long-haired rock star than a priest.
“It is fine.” Old Zhang smiled benevolently. “Just tell me.”
“I do not think he has bad intentions,” Xie Chongyang continued more confidently. “It is just that he enters and leaves the Public Security Bureau talking about ghosts and such; it is easy to promote feudal superstitions! That is not great. I know you are helping solve cases and are not bad people, but there are plenty of scammers out there who use these things for evil. You still need to be careful about the influence you have!”
“Mm-hmm, that makes sense.” Old Zhang’s smile deepened. “So, you still do not believe in those things, right?”
Xie Chongyang said firmly, “I do not.”
Old Zhang nodded with a smile. “Even though you do not believe, you still think our Xiao Cui is a decent person, right?”
“Yes.” Xie Chongyang nodded seriously.
Old Zhang clapped his hands. “It is you! You are perfect!”
Xie Chongyang furrowed his brows in confusion. “Huh?”
“I can see it now.” Old Zhang took on the air of a mystic. “Officer Xie, we are destined to meet again! If anything comes up, look for our Xiao Cui! He is slow to reply to messages, so just call him directly.”
Old Zhang pushed the door open and left cheerfully, leaving Xie Chongyang to watch him walk away in bewilderment.