Chapter 6: The Great Chaos of Dark Forces

  "There was a 15 or 16-year-old girl, gentle and lovely, with a playful mushroom-shaped haircut, as pure and beautiful as an ice crystal flower. She was like the most mischievous little star in the night sky, blinking her big beautiful eyes, staring blankly at the small world in front of her."

  Bang! Lin Zhen lost his patience: "Your story is so boring."

  "Wait~" I hurriedly continued: "This little girl, she's as pure and beautiful as an angel, but she has a bumpy life story and a strange illness, so she can't come into contact with the whole world. If she touches the world, she'll die. So, she can only live in this small mole hole forever and ever."

  "Hmm, go on." Lin Zhen became slightly interested now.

  I sighed: "The father of this young girl is a wealthy, flirtatious uncle. In an unexpected coincidence, he had a daughter with a woman who was destined to be lonely her whole life. This little girl inherited her mother's illness and is severely allergic to ultraviolet light. That means in her world, she can never touch sunlight and will have to live in darkness for the rest of her life."

  "Ultraviolet allergy, what a strange disease, poor fate!" Lin Zhen shook his head and sighed.

  I gently coaxed her: "Right, then that young girl wasn't born for long when, due to her father's irresponsible philandering, her mother became depressed and passed away. When her father returned, he felt deeply guilty, so that philandering father spent a large sum of money to buy a utopian paradise, this..."

  "It's just a ghost market, let's continue." Lin Zhenhe is so clever that when I say one sentence, he can come up with several interpretations in his mind.

  I smiled and said, "This is how the Ghost Market was formed. Her father painstakingly created a bustling dark world for her, but he couldn't stay with her forever. The woman in charge of the Ghost Market was his mistress, and because of her mother's sake, they never recognized each other as father and daughter. So she lived alone like that, quietly."

  Lin Zhen furrowed his brow and said, "Is there such a person in the Ghost Market? On that day, apart from Xu Na, Xu Jie, Kong Xiangdong, Yan Feng, and Captain Wang, I didn't notice anyone else. The people there are all crazy, talking to one of them can blow your head off."

  I couldn't help but laugh: "This lovely little girl, although her fate is pitiful, her heart remains full of hope and sunshine. She's like a cute little mole, running around here and there, wandering around everyone's side. Just when she was still naive and innocent, she suddenly met a handsome policeman."

  "Isn't that person you?" Lin Zhen's face was filled with disgust.

  "It's a secret." I deliberately added some suspense: "That cute little mole was infatuated with him, her little mole 'den' was full of photos of that handsome policeman. During their days in the Ghost Market, the little mole quietly watched over him, loving and liking him in her heart, but never dared to approach him, not even daring to say a word to him."

  "Coward?" Lin Zhen's suspicious gaze was on me, his mind must have had a thought that said, "You've already got Zhang Meng, and you're still not satisfied, humph!"

  I ignored him: "That little mole wanted to rush over and tell her loved one all about it, but she couldn't, because she could only live in the dark forever. She couldn't let that sunny person lose his light from then on. She couldn't bear it, so she could only stay alone in the mole's 'cave' forever, quietly watching people, things and matters outside, hoping that one day he would appear again, even if it was just a glance, just one glance."

  After listening, Lin Zhen was accustomed to being suspicious:

  "You intentionally told me this story, does it have something to do with me?"

  "It doesn't matter, I just wanted to tell you that there are girls like the kind you mentioned in the world, and many people share your thoughts, so don't be too pessimistic." Before going to college, Lin Zhen had practiced martial arts for two years, so at 24 or 25 years old, he was in his prime. I think it's better not to mention Bai Yang's affair to him for now, after all, Lin Zhen is outstanding in every aspect, and the girls who pursue him are countless.

  Lin Zhen waved his hand and said, "I'm not doing anything, but you're in the limelight lately. Be careful not to fall into the 'peach blossom' ditch, hum ~ remember, my cousin is not easy to mess with."

  "What's that supposed to mean?!" I suddenly became anxious, wasn't Lin Zhen's cousin Lin Ruoyin? Weren't we just innocent brothers?!

  He went back to fiddle with those small medicine bottles, and the conversation ended there.

  I'm also not in the mood to check mobile banking, so I'll just chat with Xiaomeng and listen to her interesting stories about school.

  Another day passed, and Shen Feng called: "These people didn't wait for you to take out your knife, they started fighting among themselves. In a day and a half, five municipal leaders were killed, four went missing, and the worst part is that Li Ping died."

  Something's gone wrong!

  "Li Ping is dead, so Liu Tong can rest easy and hand over the stolen money with a clear conscience?" I saw through this matter very simply.

  Shen Feng said, "That's the fact, the scene is quite 'chaotic', it seems that we need to gather our four great divine detectives together and solve the case as soon as possible within half a day. Give Liu Tong a warning shot, let him know how powerful we are, and he will hand over more stolen money."

  "Alright, Lin Zhen and I will put this behind us."

  After I and Lin Zhen arrived at the City Hall, we went up to the seventh floor and entered the mayor's office, which was grand and majestic. Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted past my nose.

  Shen Feng was examining the footprints and fingerprints in the room with a forensic light, when Yu Xiao Tian saw our expressions and smiled: "Is it the smell of silicone or is it just very low quality?"

  "I stepped inside and said: 'I heard that things made of silicone are used by the fairies, does the mayor have this hobby too?'"

  Shen Feng's solemn thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and he glared at me with a bad temper: "Can your mind be less crooked? Go to the west wall corner and take a look at that black urn."

  What's up? I went with Lin Zhen to take a look. There was a black jar that looked like pickled vegetables, about one and a half feet high, not very big.

  "Huh? It looks a bit like an old-fashioned ash can, what's it called in movies?"

  Lin Zhen's eyes were cold and cruel: "Jin Douyong, also known as Jin Ta!"

  "Right, right ~ it's just called a golden tower." I immediately thought of a ghost movie where there was this scene.

  Gathering my courage, I stepped forward and opened the black cover. We took a look inside and found five fist-sized strange little men. These five little men were made of silicone and had various ghost masks painted on them, as if they had some kind of meaning.

  Lin Zhen furrowed his brow and said: "This is the Five Ghosts' Moving Method, a 'Mistaken' belief in ghosts and gods, attempting to add wealth to one's own destiny through this ritual."

  "I sneered: 'What's the use of having a lot of money if you lose your life in the end?'"

  Lin Zhen turned back and asked: "How did Li Ping die? Has the body been examined?"

  Yu Xiao Tian waved his hand and said, "Don't look at the body anymore. He jumped to death from this office window, it's a suicidal phenomenon. What's interesting is that according to what we know, the wealth he accumulated far surpasses Liu Tong's. Originally full of confidence, yet he jumped off the building to commit suicide."

  Shen Feng said while checking, "The mobile phone, computer and the scene are all fine, the only suspicious ones are the three people who entered and exited the room, Municipal Secretary Zhao Yingxue, little secretary Liu Yuqing, and Yang Xiufang who cleaned up. However, their presence time does not match the death time of the deceased."

  I smiled and said: "Could it be that someone sent a message threatening Li Ping to commit suicide?"

  At this time, Lin Zhen looked at the window and around: "The mobile phone and computer communication are normal, there is no external viewing point on the window, and entering the mayor's 'door' has an alarm electronic dog. The only possibility is a telescope, confirming through a distance that family members are threatened, otherwise unconfirmed things cannot constitute a suicidal fact."

  Yu Xiao Tian took a deep breath and said, "Except for the interior of this office building, there are no blind spots in the surveillance outside. As soon as we arrived, we controlled the three of them while retrieving the surveillance footage of their route. Coincidentally, none of the three had left the video coverage area. We let the female police officer search their bodies thoroughly, but there was no evidence found. Moreover, there were no binoculars in this office either."

  Shen Feng's face was gloomy: "We've checked all the surveillance cameras downstairs and at the entrance, but there are no clues. He just killed himself like that."

  "Alright," I said with a wave of my hand; "Bring them over one by one, and I'll interrogate them."

  The first to arrive was Secretary-General Zhao Yingxue, a woman in her early thirties who was very beautiful and elegant.

  "Why did Mayor Li Ping die?" At this time, I waved my hand and went forward alone.

  Zhao Yingxue's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and then she smiled and said: "I don't know about this, maybe he is afraid of your Fourth Master's reputation."

  "Hmm, just looking at you makes me highly suspicious!" I sneered, my voice icy cold: "Shifting the focus, spewing dirty water, not caring about factual evidence, in short, you have so many loopholes, it seems that Li Ping's death was caused by your meddling, and he was framed by you."

  Zhao Yingxue took a deep breath and hastily said, "Fourth Master, when speaking, we must consider the facts and evidence. I didn't do anything, and I really don't know how Mayor Li died."

  "You are the mayor's secretary, and also the head of many secretaries. The mayor has made such a big deal, but you don't know anything about it? You think I'm a fool? Don't blame me for being ruthless, let me show you my skills!" My face was stern and fierce, with a loud crackling sound from my iron fist, which was particularly intimidating!

  I was just in front of her, drawing a picture. Zhao Yingxue hastily said: "I really don't know, I also think this matter is very strange. Li Ping has already raised 20 billion yuan, according to reason, he shouldn't have any problems, but he actually committed suicide, which is simply unbelievable."

  "It doesn't matter if you don't understand, as long as you confess." I had a nonchalant expression: "I just want to hurry back to the provincial hall and live a comfortable life. Anyway, no one will believe that you're not suspicious, so you might as well admit it. Let's wrap up the case quickly, and after I'm done extorting Liu Tong, I can go back and sleep soundly."

  "What!" Zhao Yingxue was exasperated: "Fourth Master, the people of Lujiang City regard you as a fair and just official, how can you be so rash in making a verdict? I refuse to accept it."

  "You can be indignant, but as long as you confess and accept punishment, that's all that matters. Bring him in, take him away, and subject him to severe torture until he admits to the crime." At my shout, dozens of police officers rushed over and instantly slapped handcuffs on Zhao Yingxue, the once sacred and untouchable municipal secretary.

  "What are you doing?!" Zhao Yingxue suddenly became anxious, handcuffs made her fall into a state of endless despair: "I really don't know what's going on, oh~right, not only have I seen the mayor, but also little secretary Liu Yuqing and cleaning aunt Yang Xiufang, maybe they know something."

  "They are all small employees, even if caught, it's not believable, but catching you, this tigress, is more convincing. This way, I will have more prestige in the hearts of the people of Lujiang City." My face revealed a self-interested expression, what principle, don't talk to me, Xiao Siye, about these unprofitable words.

  Finally, Zhao Yingxue said helplessly: "Maybe it's Liu Yuqing, that little girl has a 'leg' with Mayor Li, in terms of relationship, they are closer."

  "If you say so, I will naturally investigate. But why didn't you tell us it was her earlier? Were you forced to and now have a guilty conscience?" I pressed on with my questioning.

  Zhao Yingxue hastily said: "Liu Yuqing was introduced by Yang Xu, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission. I don't want to offend her. If I really offended her, I will definitely be laid off in the future."

  I laughed gloomily: "You're thinking of quitting now, but it's probably too late. Next, I'll meet with Liu Yuqing. If nothing comes out of this, or if we can't find anything, humph! Then that's on you, the Municipal Secretary-General. Who cares about your high position and big salary? You're in a position of power, so you have to take responsibility!"

  Zhao Yingxue's face was gloomy: "Officer, please take a good look at our current situation. No one dares to make a move."

  "I don't care, anyway I'm out of time, if you can't find it then you'll have to take the blame for me." I started to get fierce, looking like a desperate man.

  Zhao Yingxue suddenly said: "There is, some time ago, Li Ping learned that Liu Yuqing had an affair, as the mayor's vinegar was strong, he disguised himself and went to find the young man to fight, only to discover after the fight that the young man and Liu Yuqing were three-year-old 'boy' friends, while he himself had only known Liu Yuqing for half a year. Who is the young third, it's hard to say... Recently, Li Ping has been making things difficult for Liu Yuqing..."

  Is there also relevant evidence? I don't know, pass it on...