Volume One, Chapter 131: The Final Farewell

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Qin Yu arranged to meet Ye Puming at a teahouse.
As soon as Qin Yu arrived, Ye Puming quickly stood up to greet her.
“Master!”
Excitedly, Ye Puming stretched out both hands, wanting to shake Qin Yu’s hand.
Then he suddenly realized and quickly retracted one hand.
Since drones were not allowed inside the teahouse, this moment was not broadcast live.
“Master, this is the material you asked me to investigate.”
Ye Puming respectfully handed over two or three sheets of paper.
Qin Yu: ???
Embarrassed, Ye Puming explained, “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to explain clearly in person, so I stayed up all night writing this report! Don’t worry, Master! I checked it three times—nothing’s missing!”
Qin Yu’s mouth twitched slightly.
Was it really necessary to be so serious?
She lowered her head to carefully examine the materials, her expression gradually turning solemn.
“By the way, Master, there’s one more thing. The person who killed and dismembered Luo Tianshang has been caught.”
“Hm?”
“It’s a convicted rapist. He admitted that he’d been drinking that day. Seeing Luo Tianshang well-dressed, he tried to rob him, but Luo Tianshang refused to hand over any money. The man lost control under the influence of alcohol and accidentally killed him. The dismemberment was to hide the body.”
Qin Yu didn’t look up, casually asking, “What do you think?”
“It’s hard to say.”
That sounded like there was more to the story.
After finishing the last line, Qin Yu closed the file, “Go on.”
“Because I didn’t see Luo Tianshang’s body, it’s hard to analyze, but according to the first witness, their dog brought out the severed head. Dogs are very sensitive; they can see things humans cannot. So, I think this rapist might have been possessed by something.”
As he spoke, Ye Puming seemed to feel his theory was not rigorous enough and quickly added, “This is just my personal guess. If it’s wrong, just consider it my wild speculation.”
“Your analysis isn’t wrong. But that criminal is not innocent either. He was greedy and thus manipulated.”
Ye Puming was a bit confused, “But didn’t Luo Tianshang already squander all his family’s money? Where would the money come from to tempt someone so?”

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Qin Yu only smiled faintly and did not answer his question.
“Xiao Ye, this case has troubled you. Here, this is a talisman I drew myself; it will help with your cultivation. Consider it a token of my gratitude.”
Seeing such a precious gift, Ye Puming took it with both hands, his eyes shining brightly.
“To assist the Master is my honor! Master, please don’t hesitate to give me any tasks next time! I’m always available!”
—
After leaving the teahouse, the drone had already powered down automatically.
Qin Yu checked and realized the battery was dead. She then posted a status update on Douya’s backend explaining the situation.
Her phone kept pushing news about someone jumping off a building and committing suicide that afternoon. Qin Yu frowned.
The image of that mangled corpse flashed through her mind; the loss of an innocent life unsettled her somewhat.
She sighed deeply, “Sigh! Old man, I’ve experienced so many separations between life and death, yet I still can’t help but feel sorrow. Maybe I’m not cut out for this line of work?”
“Bah! If not you, then who? You are the most formidable practitioner of the occult I’ve ever met!”
Unwilling to see Qin Yu belittle herself, Mu Ling was the first to retort.
Qin Yu glanced at her lightly, “How many years have you been flattering me with those rainbow farts? Aren’t you tired of it?”
“I’m not flattering! It’s the truth!”
Qin Yu didn’t want to waste time arguing and stretched lazily as the sunset’s afterglow bathed her, languid and relaxed.
—
Around midnight.
A shadow drifted into a farmhouse.
“Mom, did you forget to close the window again?”
Lo Yiyi was woken by the cold wind blowing in. She got up to close the window with a slight reproach but then heard soft sobbing.
Knowing her mother was missing her father, Lo Yiyi paused her hand on the window.
“Yiyi, maybe leave a little gap? I’m afraid your dad might come back and can’t get in.”
Lo Yiyi’s eyes stung, “Okay. But Mom, don’t stay up too late. We have farm work early tomorrow!”
Zhang Wanwan mumbled a vague reply.

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After Lo Yiyi left, Zhang Wanwan turned the light back on alone.
The yellow bulb hurt her eyes, making her tear up continuously.
She gently touched the man’s face on the photo in her arms, tears streaming down her cheeks and falling onto the man’s chest in the picture.
“Luo Tianshang, how could you be so heartless! You just abandoned me and our daughter!”
“Don’t let me meet you down there! Otherwise, I will never forgive you!”
“...”
*Creak~*
The unlatched window was pushed open by the cold wind.
A wisp of darkness slipped inside.
The chill made Zhang Wanwan uncomfortable. She coughed twice and got up to close the window. “You always come back so late! Remember to come home earlier tomorrow.”
Muttering, she shut the window, but when she turned, she saw a white figure flickering before her eyes.
She thought she must have been mistaken and rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
“Could it be another hallucination?”
She questioned.
But no matter how many times she rubbed her eyes, the “hallucination” didn’t disappear.
“Sorry, Wanwan, I’m late.”
The “hallucination” spoke.
It was that irresponsible man who abandoned his wife and daughter!
Tears uncontrollably fell all at once.
“Luo Tianshang, why? Why did you leave just the two of us?”