Chapter 1: Strange Phenomena in the Underworld

  Everyone was eating happily and vigorously, Lan Jingqiu and others were secretly laughing at Secretary Huang's embarrassment. Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew in, causing everyone present to shiver. Lan Jingqiu, Chen Zhenhua, and others immediately realized that something had happened. This cold wind did not come out of nowhere. The dead people who had experienced being summoned by the Black and White Impermanence understood that they were "working" again. This also explains that wherever the Black and White Impermanence appears, there must be a dead person present.

  So several people suddenly became alert, and they didn't know who would be so unlucky in such a situation.

  They glanced around at the people present, wondering who was the most frightened, when suddenly a shrill cry pierced the air. The crowd followed the sound and saw someone leaning out of a window on the second floor of the villa, shouting down at the people in the courtyard: "Something's wrong! Someone's dead!" The voice was mournful and piercing, with a tone of despair amidst the fear.

  Chen Zhenhua and Huang Aiguo heard that someone had died, so they hastily stood up, preparing to rush upstairs. However, Huo Jucui, who was sitting nearby, quickly blocked their way, sneering coldly, "Wait!"

  While the people present, except for the women who were screaming and hastily hiding behind the men, the younger guests and the police chief rushed upstairs. Soon after they entered, the municipal government leaders and Secretary Huang also went in with a forced calmness.

  "Now we can go in." Huo Jucai waved at Chen Zhenhua and Huang Aiguo, and several people rushed in.

  On the second floor, in Mr. He's study, lay a corpse, that of a man in his mid-thirties with long hair and wearing a black cloak and short boots. Judging from his attire, he was unlikely to be someone invited by the He family, as no matter how one looked at him, it was impossible to tell that the deceased was a wealthy person or an official.

  "Who is this person?" Yan Song pretended to be investigating the scene, frowning and squatting on the ground to carefully examine the body. He looked at it for a long time with an air of importance, then stroked his chin thoughtfully with his left hand, and continued to check the ground around the body. Watching him move, those who didn't understand might have thought that Sherlock Holmes had come back to life.

  "This is an opportunity!" The director whispered to him, "Everyone present is a government leader. If you show off in front of them and make a good impression, who knows, maybe one day you'll be promoted."

  Yan Song received this reminder and expressed his gratitude to the director. He nodded and became more careful, like Conan.

  "Ran Jiaolü's case, Captain Yan is quite impressive. Can you find out the cause of death?" Huo Jucai squeezed into the crowd and smiled at Yan Song.

  "The cause of death is not difficult," said Yan Song, "You see the seven orifices of the deceased are bleeding, the lips are purple, and even the fingernails have turned purple, it can be seen that the deceased died from poisoning."

  "Poisoned?!" The crowd was shocked, their faces changed color, and they suddenly felt nauseous. Secretary Huang was no longer pretending to be a gentleman, he hastily stretched out his hand to stick his fingers down his throat and retched continuously, vomiting all over the floor.

  Huo Lao Ye was even more shocked, he had been in this Hai Feng City for decades, from having nothing to having a family of hundreds of millions, from being humble to being respected by everyone, even the leaders of the municipal government would give him some face, who dared to poison his birthday banquet?

  "Is the kitchen staff here?" Yan Song stood up and asked, his expression serious, as if he had already found evidence.

  "I'm here!" A middle-aged man stepped forward, wearing a white high hat and a white coat. He was also very nervous when he heard that the deceased had died of poisoning, and even sweated on his forehead.

  His tense expression only made the people present even more suspicious, so Yan Song stepped forward, took out a pair of handcuffs from behind his back and suddenly cuffed the cook. He shouted loudly: "Speak! Why did you want to poison someone? Fortunately, it was just an unimportant person who died. Do you know what kind of people are here today? If any harm comes to our leaders, you'll die a hundred times over and still not make up for it."

  "It's a miscarriage of justice!" the cook shouted, "I've been working as a cook at the Huo family for five or six years, I didn't think about harming anyone, I have no grudges against anyone, why would I put poison in the food? Besides, if I had poisoned it, could I still be standing here waiting to be caught by you? I would have run away long ago."

  "Get all the kitchen staff, including those servants who can get in touch with wine and dishes," Yan Song shouted loudly like a temporary commander, pointing at the people on the scene. "To commit crimes in Mr. Huo's house without considering whether I, Yan Song, am present or not is simply arrogant."

  "Deputy Director Yan," several police officers rushed up, each taking out the handcuffs from their bodies and hastily putting them on the chef's hands. A few police officers were momentarily flustered, seeing that they had handcuffs in their hands but couldn't find anyone to cuff, so as long as they saw people dressed like helpers, they cuffed them all. When there weren't enough handcuffs, Yan Song asked Old Master Huo to bring over a few ropes and tie up all the helpers or those who looked like helpers together. Seeing this scene, the leaders were also at a loss, unable to do anything but stand far away and watch Yan Song's brilliant performance.

  Fortunately, those who were tied up were in a state of panic, so they didn't even have time to shout grievances or make a fuss, and could only cower in the corner.

  Yan Song saw his orders being executed so quickly, those so-called leaders with big eyes that had become red and swollen due to the invasion of alcohol, now filled with bloodshot eyeballs staring at him. So he became even more majestic, standing up straight, raising his head to look at the sky, his round eyes glaring at those cooks with a fierce aura.

  "There must be one of you who is the poisoner, or perhaps you are all accomplices. If no one speaks up or comes forward to confess, you will all go to jail." Yan Song's voice was loud and shrill, almost a roar, as he sprayed saliva everywhere when he opened his mouth. One drop landed on the corner of the director's mouth, but the director was too excited to notice, and it burst and formed a small water circle before disappearing.

  "We are innocent," a chef still looked helpless, he dejectedly looked at Yan Song.

  "No lawbreaker ever says they deserve the punishment, are you wrongly accused? Who else could it be besides you? Don't deny it anymore, nowadays the police department emphasizes human rights, we absolutely forbid coercive confessions, but if we encounter an unrepentant criminal, using a bit of force is not impossible." Yan Song looked at the chef with a cold smile, trying to intimidate him into confessing.

  Everyone present just watched him perform from a distance, even Old Man Huo didn't say a word. He hoped that his family's chef wasn't the murderer. If it was really someone from his own household who did it, how could he still mix in Haiyue City in the future? But if it wasn't the chef or the servant, who would have the heart to poison people? Moreover, they all ate the dishes and wine, so if there was poisoning, why didn't any of them get poisoned?

  Huò Jùcái clasped his hands to his chest, tilted his head and gazed at Yàn Sōng with a smile on his face. He didn't say a word, just kept staring. Seeing Yàn Sōng yelling and intimidating the cook to confess, his facial muscles were already exposed. Huò Jùcái couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

  "Why is Mr. Huo laughing for no reason?" Yan Song heard the sound of Huo Jucai's laughter and turned his head to look at him with some dissatisfaction. He knew that this laugh was a naked mockery, and he was very angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to make a scene, after all, the Huo family still had some connections in this city.

  "Arresting so many people at once without a single normal interrogation process, is this what you call cracking the case?" He Zucai said with a smile.

  "What do you think should be done?" Yan Song got even angrier, with a burning fire already ignited in his heart, but he was trying to restrain himself. Although he spoke softly, there was no sign of anger, but he was gritting his teeth.

  What Hozhucai said would normally not make Yan Songxing angry, but the situation is different now. With so many leaders watching him, he hopes to solve this poisoning case perfectly and leave a deep impression on the leaders. How can he let Hozhucai ruin his carefully planned image?

  "There was no poisoning at all!" Chen Zhenhua stepped forward, looking at Yan Song with a firm gaze that reflected his confidence in his judgment.

  "Nobody poisoned him?" Yan Song sneered, "Look at the symptoms of this corpse, any police officer with a bit of detective experience can tell that you're saying nobody poisoned him?!"

  "Yes," said the municipal party secretary, "if he wasn't poisoned, then how did he die? And you're just a policeman, it's not your turn to speak here."

  "It's simply self-inflicted humiliation," said Yan Song with a pout, "If you don't know, then don't speak nonsense."

  "Shut up!" Huo Jucai couldn't stand those who only cared about their status, and he said with hatred, "Let my brother finish speaking."

  Chen Zhenhua took a step forward, looked around at the furnishings in the room, and then smiled and said: "I know how the deceased died."

  "Tell us!" Huang Aiguo said, actually asking him to tell others.

  "Huo Lao Ye," Chen Zhenhua said, "don't you usually like to drink boiled water with honeysuckle?"

  "Not bad!" Old Mr. Huo said, "When reading and during office hours, I will always soak a cup of honeysuckle tea, which can clear heat and fire, and also lower blood pressure. At my age, if I don't pay attention to my body, it won't do."

  "What does this have to do with the case? If you don't understand how to analyze a case, then don't embarrass yourself here." Yan Song sneered and said, holding his hands together, looking down on Chen Zhenhua's words.

  "No wonder, this room should be a study? There is also a cup of honeysuckle tea on the desk, I don't know what honeysuckle is, may I ask Mr. Huo, is this almost finished cup of tea honeysuckle tea?" Chen Zhenhua continued to say, he didn't even need to pay attention to Yan Song's words.

  "Yes!" Old Mr. Huo nodded and said.

  "The deceased died of poisoning, that's true," Chen Zhenhua said. "But I'd like to say this person died more from being too bold!"

  "What's going on here?" asked Du Gu Jingzhong, stepping forward.

  "The deceased was a thief and a habitual offender, who took advantage of the crowd gathering to celebrate Mr. He's birthday to sneak in and search for valuables. As a habitual offender, he had a slightly bigger nerve, thinking that everyone was chatting in the courtyard and wouldn't come into the house. So, he quietly entered the study and also snatched a plate of fish. The cook had made the fish too salty, so the deceased was thirsty and drank several mouthfuls of jasmine tea from the table, unaware that consuming jasmine tea with fish would produce severe toxicity, which ultimately led to his poisoning. Gentlemen, please take a look, on Mr. He's desk there is still a plate with half-eaten fish."

  "No wonder," said the person who discovered the body, "I was just missing a plate of fish and looking everywhere for it. I saw someone carrying something into the room and thought they had walked in by mistake, so I reminded them to go to the courtyard instead. After calling out to him, I didn't pay attention anymore, but it turns out he was a thief."

  "How dare you be so sure that the deceased ate fish and drank tea?" Yan Song saw the leaders slowly walking up to stare at Chen Zhenhua, and he felt very uncomfortable looking at Chen Zhenhua and asked. Although even the Ho family had someone who believed it was the thief's doing, Yan Song still did not believe it. He said, "Could it be that it was the helper stealing food or the cook sneaking a bite? Or maybe it was something that Old Man Ho ate before but didn't clean up?"

  "I think this thief came in to steal things, should see what to take and take it and run away, how could this thief stay in the room for so long and even dare to eat fish and drink tea. This is simply absurd." The director hastily chimed in, he didn't want his protégé Yan Song to lose to a mere civil police officer, otherwise wouldn't his promotion of Yan Song be unjustified?

  "He was so bold because someone gave him a signal, and he colluded with them. Moreover, he chose to sneak up during dinner time, which means he knew or was told that no one would come up at this hour. Because except for Mr. Huo himself, others wouldn't easily come to the study, and since Mr. Huo had to entertain the guests personally, how could he possibly leave the banquet casually? That's why the deceased was so bold." Huang Aiguo said.

  "Deputy Director Yan," Huo Jucai still looked at Yan Song with a cold expression, and sneered, "Do you think my father is an unrefined person? Eating in the study room and putting things on the table casually, isn't this saying that the Huo family is sloppy?"

  "We've been doing things for the Hos for so many years, and never once made a mistake. How could we steal food? And in Master's room, of all places?" said one of the maids.

  "Look, everyone, the house is swept so clean. We almost come to sweep every day. Even if family members eat, they will take it away immediately." Another servant said.

  "What are you talking about?" Old Master Huo snorted and said, "Director Yan!"

  This is obviously a bit dissatisfied with Deputy Director Yan. The director and Yan Song are both somewhat embarrassed at this time, casting their venomous eyes on Chen Zhenhua and Huang Aiguo.

  "But there's also a thief here," Chen Zhenhua said, "He was in cahoots with the deceased."

  "Who?!" The crowd looked at each other, but couldn't figure out who the thief was. Even He Zijun was puzzled, so everyone discussed it for a while and then clamored for Chen Zhenhua to reveal who the accomplice of the deceased was.