Chapter One: The Master's Chair

  What is this world like, after all?

  The path says: This is the world of humans.

  The Buddha said: This is one of the six paths.

  God said: This is the battlefield between heaven and hell.

  It seems that this world is an irregular polyhedron with countless faces...

  Before graduating from police school, I, a forensic major, wrote a thesis on the structure of the world. My classmates around me were extremely puzzled: Are you crazy?

  I know that few people have thought about this kind of problem, and even fewer people face this kind of problem. Everyone is too busy; after graduation, each person is looking for a way out, getting promoted, making money, marrying a wife.

  Just as I was about to become a local auxiliary police officer and deal with trivial civil disputes, Zhao Yong came to me.

  "Follow Brother Yong, get a free graduate student title, exempt from one year of internship, skip the third-level police officer, directly become a second-level police officer, wear a first-class and second-class epaulette, have a car assigned, and enjoy preferential treatment."

  Under a gaze of surprise and admiration, it seems I have no reason to refuse.

  After joining the provincial heavy case team, I spent two months eating idle rice and receiving high salaries, and then I took over a case.

  To be exact, it is one link in a case.

  In the ancient town of Longxi, Xiangjiang River, a bizarre murder case occurred. The deceased was named Liu Yi, female, 22 years old. Before her death, she had a clean face and a slender figure, but she married Wang Cheng, a middle-aged man with a lame leg, who was a bricklayer in the small town.

  After the arrival of Team 4 of the Major Crimes Unit, team leader Zhao Yong held a notebook and spoke in the car:

  "The first suspect is the victim's husband, Wang Cheng. He is a middle-aged youth, twelve years older than Liu Yi, with a crippled leg, from a poor family and in very bad condition, yet he married the beautiful young woman Liu Yi. The hidden story behind their marriage may be the key to cracking the case."

  Deputy Captain Luo Sansi was an old hand, nicknamed Luo Lao Gui: "Zhao team, you go investigate, I'll head back to the forensic doctor's office to get the autopsy report, and then arrange meals for everyone."

  Zhao Yong glanced at him: "Old slippery head, don't think you can just slip away with something on your mind. This time is different from usual, when would it be that all four of you are present at the same time?"

  Cheng Long, who had been transferred from the special forces and was strong and robust, patted his sturdy chest: "Brother Yong, whatever arrangements you have, just give the order. We brothers will brave boiling water and walk through fire without hesitation."

  In the end, I just nodded, after all, this was my first time on a police mission, and with shallow experience, I should have kept a humble attitude to learn from my seniors.

  Zhao Yong thought for a moment and said, "I and Lao Luo went to investigate. Ah Long, your counter-surveillance ability is strong, always hiding and being vigilant near Wang Cheng's house. Everyone worked together, striving to crack the case as soon as possible."

  Having said that, I'm embarrassed now, can't even help with anything?

  Zhao Yong suddenly patted my shoulder and said, "Later, a female police academy student will come over with an autopsy report. Tong Jie, your task is to assist her in doing a good job."

  "I understand." I replied without thinking, and then felt a bit puzzled. The homicide team was made up of professors, so what students were they talking about?

  Zhao Yong led the way, and several people got off the bus.

  Then, Old Slickhead Luo Sansi turned around and came back: "Captain Zhao didn't make it clear, don't pretend you didn't hear, remember, your task is to protect that 'female' trainee well, but whatever you do, don't touch her, or we'll all get punished!"

  "What more can I say?"

  After the three people left, about 40 minutes later, a white Jetta came speeding over, and a female student in police uniform got out of the car.

  This female student is elegant and beautiful, with fair and tender skin, painted eyebrows, big eyes like a galaxy of stars, a small nose that is very cute, and a pink mouth that is extremely tempting. She is also tall and slender, with a graceful figure, obviously a soft girl who has practiced dance.

  Look at this broken car, look at the almost negligible lineup, deny that she is a child or mistress of some high-ranking official, and then look at her plain face but extremely stunning appearance. As a police officer, I am used to analyzing, he is Yong Ge's lover.

  "Are you Ren Chuanjie?" The silvery voice came from that 'female' student.

  "Yes, the team leader asked me to assist you with your work." I subconsciously glanced at her epaulets, which were the same as mine, one stripe and two.

  The female student stretched out her hand frankly: "Partner, hello, I'm Lin Ruoyin."

  "Hello." Thinking that she might be Yong Ge's 'girlfriend', the hand I was holding felt somewhat unnatural, but the softness of it was truly unforgettable.

  Lin Ruoyin took out a blue notebook and a plastic bag, her pretty face full of spirit: "Chuan Jie, let's go crack the case, we must surpass Zhao Lao Da and Luo Lao Gui."

  "This idea isn't bad." After all, I'm a man, and if I can even think of winning against a weak 'woman', then I definitely can't fall behind.

  The two of us walked into Longxi Ancient Town and exchanged information orally along the way.

  I briefed him on the initial situation and Yong Ge's judgment and deployment, and then Lin Ruoyin also talked about the autopsy report.

  "The deceased was in good physical health before death, she was killed by a sharp blade, the wound is very strange, like the claw of a wild beast, three 'wave' lines evenly scratched, cut open the neck and bled to death, it's hard to imagine what kind of tool the murderer used, it can be confirmed that his psychology is extremely distorted."

  The two of us naturally thought of Wang Cheng, whose crippled leg led to psychological distortion. As a bricklayer, he had access to all sorts of tools on the construction site. The large age gap between him and his wife could have also led to marital discord, making him highly suspicious.

  However, when we arrived at Wang Cheng's home, Cheng Long, who was lurking nearby, denied this suspicion again: "Wang Cheng is a simple and honest bricklayer, he loves his wife Liu Yi very much, now he is extremely sad, Brother Yong didn't even finish speaking before leaving, you all shouldn't disturb him."

  "He's gone, where did Zhao Lao Da go?" Lin Ruo Yin wanted more clues.

  Cheng Long furrowed his thick eyebrows: "Yong Ge and Lao Luo went to find Sun De Shun and Lu Mei Lian. According to Wang Cheng, there are rumors in the small town that Sun De Shun likes Liu Yi, while Lu Mei Lian often curses her as a 'fox spirit'. Compared to Wang Cheng, those two seem more like the culprits."

  "You're wrong." Lin Ruoyin was very stubborn: "The more you look at him not being the murderer, the more likely he is to be the murderer. Wang Cheng, I want to interrogate him again."

  Two consecutive interrogations, a bit unreasonable, but Wang Cheng didn't say the whole thing to Zhao Yong, there was still a reason for it. Looking at Lin Ruoyin's aggressive posture, she might have gone even if there was no reason.

  In the old town's wooden structure house, a worn-out Wang Cheng received me and Lin Ruoyin, while Cheng Long did not appear, he chose to continue hiding and being on guard in accordance with his superior's orders.

  Wang Cheng's legs were inconvenient, so his old mother Xu gave us tea. Old Mrs. Xu was already advanced in years, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

  "Wang Cheng, we know you're not in a good mood right now, but as professional police officers, we must seize every lead within the 48-hour golden period and crack the case as soon as possible." Lin Ruoyin's style was that of a student who had just graduated and hadn't experienced much of human relationships, and she belonged to the more "aggressive" type.

  "Alas~~~" Wang Cheng let out a deep sigh, he gave me the impression of being honest and simple-minded with a common face, lacking some confidence in his eyes, the old wound on his palm must have been left from his work as a laborer, it's not easy for migrant workers to earn a hard-earned penny.

  "You won't be able to find out anything."

  "Mom, we know what happened, just tell the police." Wang Cheng muttered, as if he was going through the motions.

  "Excuse me, when did you and your wife get to know each other? We need to understand the whole thing from start to finish." Lin Ruoyin's blue notebook in her hand was still blank, and she was a bit anxious to crack the case.

  At this time, I observed that Mrs. Xu was pacing back and forth in front of the master's chair, with a strange expression on her face, revealing a hint of shock, fear, and a sense of helplessness and repression.

  "My wife and I met two years ago..."

  Wang Cheng spoke up, and in his subsequent conversation with us, we grasped the background of the case.

  Two years ago, 32-year-old Wang Cheng was introduced by matchmaker Jiang to 20-year-old Liu Yi, who had a beautiful face.

  One was a crippled-legged, impoverished old man, the other a young and beautiful girl. One lived in a small county town, the other in the provincial capital. One was a migrant worker, the other a university student. Originally thought to be an impossible match, but Liu Yi didn't ask for anything and directly married over. A year later, she even gave birth to a son for Wang Cheng.

  During their marriage, Wang Cheng treated Liu Yi with great care and pampering because he was an older husband with a younger wife who had better conditions than him. He spoiled her so much that it seemed like she would melt in his mouth or drop from his hands if he wasn't careful. He took care of her every day as if she were a treasure, especially after Liu Yi gave birth to their son.

  However, Liu Yi seems to have some past experiences. She rarely smiles and never argues or quarrels with others. She is used to being alone quietly, which makes her reputation in the small town not very good due to her strange habits.

  "Those people just can't stand that I married a beautiful wife, and they've been spreading rumors about my wife's past, saying all sorts of things." Wang Cheng said this with great indignation.

  I was on my guard against Mrs. Xu at all times, and in my heart, I suspected that those rumors were true to some extent, saying that Liu Yi had been promiscuous in the past and could only marry a simple person in the end. Moreover, on the way to Guzhen, I vaguely heard the term "broken pot".

  "Please describe in detail what happened before and after your wife's accident." Lin Ruoyin asked, circling a name on the notebook with her pen, which was none other than "Jiang Matchmaker".

  Wang Cheng's face was filled with pain: "She just said she was going to the city to buy some things and would be back in the evening, but ended up dying at the entrance of Gǔzhènzhài. I'm so angry with myself for not doing anything, I should have gone to wait for her at the entrance, if I had, she wouldn't have died, waaah~"

  A big and tall old man actually cried, this is a heart-wrenching scene.

  "Son, don't blame yourself." Old Mrs. Xu tearfully advised: "She was guilty of offending the ancestors and got what she deserved. Even if nothing had happened that day, it would have happened sooner or later anyway."

  "Wang Cheng, who were you helping with chores that day? Did their family have any grudges against yours?" Lin Ruoyin's pen moved swiftly as she recorded the conversation, completely disregarding the old man's superstitions.

  "It's not their fault." Wang Cheng replied firmly: "That day I was helping Wu Tao, the brother of the 'door', do some work. The two families have always had a good relationship, and even my wife, who doesn't like to talk, has a good relationship with Wu Tao's wife Jiang Yi. The two women often chat together."

  "Why did he choose to find you on that particular night?" Lin Ruoyin asked bluntly.

  Wang Cheng sighed: "In the old town, there's a legend that says if you don't fill in the hole before nightfall, the evil spirit will escape and the Eight Trigrams Array won't be able to hold it back. Actually, our village is called Linshui Ancient Town, and the terrain is quite humid and cool, so I have to finish laying bricks and applying plaster before dark. Who knew their house had such a humid terrain? I thought that since we're fellow villagers, I should do a good job, so I decided to add an extra layer of waterproofing, which ended up delaying me. Otherwise, I would have had enough time to pick her up."

  "Tile paste grey, double waterproof?" Lin Ruoyin furrowed her brow, somewhat perplexed.

  The female student finally ran out of words, and I took the stage: "Being a bricklayer is hard work, with a daily income of 300 to 500 yuan. But if you're laying ceramic tiles, the labor cost can be as high as 500 to 700 yuan. Who would have thought that Brother Wang was also a skilled craftsman? This is an enviable job on construction sites."

  As soon as I finished speaking, Lin Ruoyin's suspicious gaze turned over here, and her beautiful eyes still had a few hints of dissatisfaction. Maybe this follower of mine stole the spotlight from her.

  Wang Cheng nodded and said, "The police comrade is right, we make 500 a day working in the old town and 700 a day working in the city. Although there are four mouths to feed at home, we're still quite well off. Our family has never had any conflicts with that household, so why did my wife get harmed?"

  Lin Ruo Yin's big eyes slanted in discontent, "You think you've won, huh? Let's see what you do next."

  You've given me the right to speak, but now except for digging up Liu Yi's past, investigating Wu Jia 'door', finding Sun De Shun and Lu Mei Lian couple, there is no other good way.

  This murder case is really tricky, at the scene except for the victim's wound, there are no clues, and the interpersonal relationships are all normal. The local police can't investigate it, and because of some special reasons, we must crack the case as soon as possible, otherwise our provincial major crimes unit wouldn't have taken over.

  "By the way, Auntie Xu, what's this ancestral curse you were just talking about?" As soon as I finished asking this question, Lin Ruoyin gave me a look of disdain from head to toe.

  Old Mrs. Xu's face was pale and wrinkled as she spoke: "Our Longxi Ancient Town is the descendant of a branch of the last imperial family, in the past when the Eight-Power Allied Forces came, we hid many treasures, later the news leaked out and attracted the Japanese devils, they attacked our town, killing and looting, so many people died!"

  I'm really speechless, discussing a murder case in the 21st century, how did it get dragged to the Anti-Japanese War period? Lin Ruoyin on the other side had completely lost her patience and started packing up her notes.

  "Mrs. Xu, is what happened in the past related to this case?" I could only kindly remind her.

  "Of course, it's true. In the old days when Japanese people invaded, Old Master Wang sat in this very chair and cursed towards heaven, vowing that those who polluted Longxi Ancient Town would die unnatural deaths. Little Liu didn't listen to advice and often sat in this chair... look what happened to her!" Xu Bao said, and only then did I notice something was off.

  I, Lin Ruoyin, Wang Cheng and Xu's wife sat in the chairs on both sides of the hall, while the wooden armchair with a classic pattern in the center remained untouched.

  "Hmm, comfortable." Suddenly, Lin Ruoyin walked over with a big stride and sat down in the middle of the Taishi chair.

  "Ah! Sua~~~!" Wang Cheng and Xu Baozu seemed to have seen something most terrifying, and they loudly shouted: "Police comrades don't sit down, that chair is really evil, miss quickly get down, it's over, it's all over ah!"

  Lin Ruo Yin was very obedient, after getting up, she pulled my collar and walked out: "After visiting, we will break the case as soon as possible, bye ~~"