Xie Chongyang and Cui Renwang exchanged a look. Xie Chongyang mused, “Try to start a business?”
Cui Renwang asked, “And the capital?”
Xie Chongyang seriously considered the feasibility. “Various startup subsidies and commercial loans. If you have the right academic background, you can also look into talent support policies. You start with what you can do, then expand production, taking it one step at a time.” He looked at Cui. “What about you? What do you think?”
Cui Renwang lowered his gaze. “Wait to be born into a billionaire family in the next life.”
Xie Chongyang said, “Is that not a bit too pessimistic?”
“Ahem,” Old Zhang said solemnly. “That is right! Success depends on human effort. Little Xie is right; you cannot be that pessimistic.”
Cui Renwang glanced at him sideways. “Then what do you suggest?”
“If the mountain will not come to me, I must go to the mountain.” Old Zhang let out a couple of chuckles. “The most important thing in life is to break one’s obsessions. Since he wanted to be a billionaire so badly, I would just change my name to ‘Billionaire’!”
“You say I am not a billionaire, but I am already Billionaire.”
Old Zhang shook his head as he finished his sentence, took a sip of cola, and turned serious again. “But Luo Feng’s ‘Mentor’ taught him to kill a billionaire instead.”
Xie Chongyang raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“In this era where money can be traced, killing a billionaire will not let you take his estate.” Old Zhang’s face stiffened slightly. “Xiao Zijie’s current inheritance has nothing to do with Luo Feng. But he firmly believes he has completed the ritual.”
Xie Chongyang pressed further, “The ritual?”
“A ritual to plunder destiny.” Old Zhang was now likely the person who understood this mysterious destiny cult best, second only to Luo Feng. He spoke with authority. “He said that mortals are burdened by unchangeable destinies, but only the followers of destiny possess the privilege to plunder it. This is the opportunity granted to them by the deity.”
“It sounds mysterious, but in simple terms, it is just borrowing luck. Folk traditions and religions in many places have similar methods, such as raising ‘little ghosts’ or throwing a sick person’s money on the road for others to pick up to pass on the illness. It is the same principle.”
Old Zhang waved his hand in disgust, clearly looking down on such lowly tactics. “If it were not for the sake of understanding his thought process, I would not bother repeating that whole load of nonsense.”
“So, Luo Feng’s motive for murder was because he wanted Xiao Zijie’s destiny?” Cui Renwang looked thoughtful. “Was his luck that good?”
“I asked that too.” Old Zhang pulled his chair closer. “There were many people coming and going on that show, and several were richer than Xiao Zijie. I was curious why he picked him.”
“According to him, destiny does not allow for picking and choosing. He wanted Xiao Zijie’s destiny, which meant he had to inherit it exactly as it was, in its entirety. Therefore, it required careful consideration.”
“This kid even had a little black notebook specifically to analyze and compare the strengths and weaknesses of these wealthy young men.”
“He felt Xiao Zijie had three core advantages. First, his career was just starting and clearly improving with a promising future. Second, he once had an accident while a designated driver was taking him home after he had too much to drink; the driver ended up in the emergency room, but he was completely unharmed, without even a scratch. Luo Feng felt this proved he was truly favored by destiny. Third,” Old Zhang raised his eyebrows mysteriously. “He said this one was not important, but I think it might be more important than we imagine. He knew Gu Jiayi.”
“Huh?” Xie Chongyang sat up straight. “That is impossible. When we screened their social connections, the two of them,”
“It was over ten years ago!” Old Zhang grinned. “What is the rush? I did not say you guys were not working hard.”
“He and Gu Jiayi were in the same junior high school. They were not in the same grade, but Gu Jiayi was famous; she was the school belle back then.”
“It is just unclear whether he wanted the destiny of being able to marry the school belle, or if he still had some lingering feelings for Gu Jiayi.”
Xie Chongyang knitted his brows. “So that was his motive. But how did he actually carry it out?”
“Spells.” Old Zhang purposely told the truth. “Their Mentor does not just pull anyone into the group. This Luo Feng’s birth chart, or Bazi, is quite significant; in metaphysics, he has some talent. His Mentor taught him some techniques and then sent him the cinerary urn containing Li Cheng’s resentful ghost via express delivery.”
“Luo Feng did not act immediately after receiving it. He was still hesitating.”
“The ghost-sealing formation he painted with chicken blood inside the door was also taught by the Mentor; it was to prevent the resentful ghost from escaping.”
“In reality, he never fully made up his mind. It was only because he lived with the resentful ghost day and night, and that box would make noises from time to time, that he became terrified. Fearing he would be tainted by an unlucky destiny, he gritted his teeth and decided to act, driving the resentful ghost to Xiao Zijie’s house to complete the ritual.”
“The reason he chose to strike when Xiao Zijie went to his parents’ house for dinner was because the management at Fuhua Community is lax, making it easy for him to perform his spells nearby. The community where Xiao Zijie and Gu Jiayi lived required ID registration, and he did not dare go there.”
Xie Chongyang had automatically replaced the word “spells” with “conducting a series of psychological manipulation behaviors that violate the humanitarian spirit” and nodded seriously.
At this point, the case was clear, and the murderer had been brought to justice. However, none of the people present looked particularly happy.
“The case likely ends here.” Cui Renwang looked away. “The ‘Mentor’ will not be so easy to catch.”
“But at least we have cracked one of their methods.” Officer Xie was as optimistic as the sun, nearly melting Cui Renwang with his brightness. “We will just keep chasing them like this, step by step, until they are out of options and we can bring them to justice.”
Cui Renwang let out a nearly inaudible laugh and reluctantly agreed. “Mm.”
Xie Chongyang was full of fighting spirit. “Although the chance might be small, Luo Feng still needs to be interrogated thoroughly. How he was chosen, how he joined the cult, how he contacted the Mentor; if there is a loophole in any of these links, we can follow the trail.”
“By the way, Old Zhang, did he confess?”
“He admitted to everything he did, but,” Old Zhang shook his head with regret. “He still feels that his mistake was choosing Xiao Zijie.”
“He feels that after all his careful selection, he still chose wrong. He even thinks that Xiao Zijie must have been destined for prison, which is why he, having acquired Xiao Zijie’s destiny, ended up here.”
“Sigh, I see that in his mind, dogma has replaced logic. He can no longer think normally.”
Cui Renwang gave a brief evaluation, “Idiot.”
Xie Chongyang deeply agreed, feeling that Cui Renwang’s insults were both concise and hit the mark.
“In that case, there is no need for me to be here.” Cui Renwang rubbed his temples. “I am going back.”
“Hey, wait, you still have to come.” Old Zhang smiled. “Old Zhao wants to see you.”
Cui Renwang was silent.
“Oh, come on, you have to meet eventually.” Old Zhang coaxed him. “It is just to say hello.”
“That man has been a criminal investigator his whole life and has confidence in his own judgment. He needs to see you for himself before he can treat you as one of our own.”
“He is completely impartial; even my guarantee will not suffice. Just let him have a look at you!”
“I understand,” Cui Renwang agreed.
He arrived at Bureau Chief Zhao’s office as agreed, just as Xiao Tao was coming out looking pale and unsteady.
Cui Renwang asked her, “What happened?”
“Face-blindness from too many people.” Even with her eyes closed, Xiao Tao felt like facial features were spinning before her. “My toes are tired too.”
Cui Renwang blinked in confusion.
“I went to be a human facial recognition tool; I can barely distinguish features anymore.” Lin Xiatao covered her eyes. “Also, Bureau Chief Zhao said he wanted to chat. He asked me the difference between a medium and tarot. I said it was hard to explain and suggested he search the meanings online, so he asked me to look at his computer. I saw him click a webpage, and two naked women popped up! Ahhh!”
Cui Renwang said nothing.
Xiao Tao covered her face and wept silently. “I need seventy-two hours of solitude to digest this embarrassment.”
“Mm.” Cui Renwang patted her head sympathetically and knocked on the door.
Bureau Chief Zhao was holding a cup of thick, swamp-like tea and looked up at the door.
To be fair, Bureau Chief Zhao had a square face and did not look particularly fierce; his first impression was one of “generosity.” However, those eyes were too bright. Even his aging, slightly drooping eyelids could not hide the sharpness of his gaze. It was no wonder he was confident in his judgment.
Cui Renwang also scrutinized him, thinking that as expected of a public security bureau, it was full of powerful figures whom ghosts dared not approach.
“Cui Renwang.” Bureau Chief Zhao read his name syllable by syllable and smiled. “Little Cui, is it? Have a seat. Old Zhang is always praising you in front of me.”
Cui Renwang sat down before him with a docile attitude; he had always been respectful toward elders.
“I wanted to see you mainly to say hello.” Bureau Chief Zhao observed him. “Also, Old Zhang said you are skilled at communicating with ghosts and that it is very helpful for solving cases. Once your technical department is established, you will help with other cases as well, right?”
Cui Renwang was silent.
So that was how Old Zhang was drumming up work for him.
Cui Renwang nodded slightly. “If there is a need.”
Bureau Chief Zhao appeared much more relaxed and exchanged a few pleasantries. “I know Old Zhang. He seems all smiles and jokes on the surface, but in reality, he is full of integrity. That young girl just now, Xiao Tao, I chatted with her too. She is a good kid; her hobbies are a bit unique, but her sense of justice is simple and honest.”
He met Cui Renwang’s gaze and asked with a smile, “Little Cui, then why are you willing to get involved in this trouble?”
Cui Renwang was quiet for a moment. He said, “For,” he tilted his head in thought. “Taking a life?”
Bureau Chief Zhao frowned slightly, his sharp gaze landing on his face.
Cui Renwang let out a laugh. “Just kidding. I am not a ghost yet; taking a life is illegal. I want to seek justice.”
He raised his eyes and did not look away, meeting Bureau Chief Zhao’s gaze.
The Chief’s expression softened slightly, and he let out a soft sigh. “Yes, justice should be sought for everything.”
Cui Renwang walked to the hall, where Old Zhang and Xiao Tao were waiting at the entrance for him to leave together.
Cui Renwang glanced back, and Old Zhang came up with a smile. “Little Xie is busy organizing evidence and preparing to write a report, so he will not be seeing you off.”
“Who asked about him?” Cui Renwang’s expression remained indifferent.
“Alright, alright, I talk too much, okay?” Old Zhang followed him with his hands behind his back. “We will be staying here for a while. Have you found a place to stay? I am applying for a dormitory here, and Xiao Tao has already looked at several rental places.”
“We will see.” Cui Renwang lowered his eyes. “I will stay in a hotel for now.”
“Fine.” Old Zhang’s eyes darted around before he finally asked, “What do you think of Little Xie?”
Cui Renwang turned to look at him. “Do not think about bringing him over. This person simply does not believe in the supernatural.”
“Oh, even if he does not come over, we still have to thank him. We owe it to him this time, right?” Old Zhang was grinning.
“He will not accept anything we give him.” Cui Renwang shook his head. “If I offer to buy him milk tea, he will say it is suspected bribery.”
“Tsk, truly a little stick-in-the-mud raised by an old stick-in-the-mud.” Old Zhang rubbed his chin. “Is there nothing a policeman can accept?”
Xiao Tao suggested, “A silk banner?”
Cui Renwang looked over, thoughtful. “That could be considered.”
Inside the police station, Xie Chongyang was organizing and registering some evidence when he suddenly noticed a black-covered notebook. This must be the notebook Luo Feng used to select his targets.
Xie Chongyang flipped through a few pages out of curiosity and found a lot of information on local wealthy young men, which he found quite interesting to read. When he reached almost the last page, he was caught off guard by a familiar face.
The young man with a suitcase looked listless. In the polaroid photo with slightly distorted colors, he looked like a deep, wandering soul.
It was Cui Renwang.
There was only one advantage listed: Eldest grandson of Group C, a leading enterprise in Fengcheng.
Beside it, his weaknesses were written at length: Parents died early, lived abroad alone for many years, not favored by elders, long-term insomnia, physically weak, worrying mental state.
The more Xie Chongyang read, the more he frowned. He snapped the notebook shut with a loud pop, feeling somewhat annoyed.
He had almost become one of Luo Feng’s targets; and what did he mean by “very bad luck”?
How rude.