The street was bleak, the wind scraping at exposedskin.
There was no one around, only Bai Huo waswalking on the road. The thick scarf in front of him inexplicably shook, then afat palm sized bird dropped out.
This bird was covered in fluffy golden feathers,who knew what kind of diet it was on, but it was extraordinarily portly, twobulging cheeks framing two small round eyes. At first glance, it looked like agolden creampuff, decorated with two sesame seeds. Although he’d been with himfor so many years, Bai Huo had to admit that every time he looked at it, he feltthat this thing really resembled… a chicken.
The fat bird was apparently quite dissatisfiedwith the sudden drop from its car, it irritably fanned its small wings,surprisingly rising up when it was about to touch the ground. It folded its wings,and arrogantly landed on Bai Huo’s shoulder.
Bai Huo obliquely glanced at it inschadenfreude, asking: “Oh, you can still fly?”
The arrogant bird glared at him and unexpectedlyopened its mouth to speak: “Didn’t I just eat a few of your peas, whythe fuss?“
”You didn’t have to bring that up again, butthose were the fairy peas I’d cultivated for eighteen years.” Mentioning this, BaiHuo’s expression immediately looked pained, “In the end, only one pod grew, allof which entered into your fat chicken belly. “
Fairy peas were extraordinary plants, it wasextremely difficult to get it to flower and bear fruit. But the resulting pods hadmiraculous effects, and were rare drugs for the dragon race.
When the arrogant bird heard this, it blew up:“Who’s a fat chicken?! I’m a Dapeng, a Dapeng alright! Stupiddragon!”
Bai Huo was covered in bird feathers becauseof his fluttering about, smiling faintly, he raised his hand and plugged thefat bird back into his scarf with lightning speed, saying quietly: “Quietdown, someone’s coming.”
The fat bird rolled twice in the scarf beforebecoming motionless.
”Even the black needle couldn’t point tothe murderer huh.” A long while later, the scarf faintly spoke.
Bai Huo thought about the compass’ strange behaviorand sighed: “Yeah, something even more troublesome than the murderer seemsto have appeared.”
*
It was already past midnight, but the Xi City bureauwas still brightly lit.
When Ji Bei entered the reception room, he sawa young man lying askew on the sofa, one hand in his pocket, the other handholding up a document that he was apparently reading. The man was wearing along trench coat, two long legs arbitrarily crossed, reclining lazily. Thewindbreaker was open, revealing a thin waist properly wrapped in a shirt. This unconventionalposture that seemed to be a bit half dead was the essence of the “Beijingslouch“.
Ji Bei stood dazed for a second, thinking thathe had walked through the wrong door, then he asked doubtfully: “Are you…Director Bai?”
The young man’s “paralysis” wasunfortunately heading towards the late stage, hearing a voice, he barely twitched,only peaking slightly over the document: “Hmm? Officer Luo?” afterasking this, he unconcernedly put down the document and got up to shake hands.
Bai Huo’s hand was very cold, Ji Bei feltuncomfortable. He briefly shook it and quickly withdrew: “Nice to meet you,my surname is Ji. I didn’t expect Director Bai to be so young.”
“Same to you.” Bai Huo pushed up hisglasses, beaming: “Officer Ji is also a young talent, a model detective. I’veheard so much about you from Old Yang, and today we can finally meet.”
Ji Bei almost stumbled. This “OldYang” was the old director of their office, even older than Ji Bei’sfather. This Bai Huo was obviously in his early twenties, where did he get offcalling Yang Ju “Old Yang”.
”Let’s get down to business.” Ji Beiturned over a paper cup and poured a cup of hot water for Bai Huo. “Did DirectorBai specifically come here for this matter?”
“Yup.” Bai Huo seemed to be very pleasedwith the sofa in the reception room, he returned to slouching on it as he lazilyspoke, “To be honest, I’m an old friend of the provincial office’s Deputy DirectorQin. Although they couldn’t come, they were very concerned about the situation inXi City. So, they sent me over to see if there’s any place I can help.”
”So, it’s like that.” Ji Bei exposedan expression of understanding, “Xi City is a small town, there’s neverbeen such a case before. Our staff have limited experience, we haven’t found anybig leads at the moment. You’ve come at the right time. Yang Ju told me that you’rean expert in this field. I hope you can give us some guidance during this time.”
These were just words of politeness. Ji Bei clearlyknew that although this expert was sent by the provincial office, the procedurewas incomplete, and an introduction letter with a red stamp wasn’t handed over.Besides, if Yang Ju really thought that this person could be useful, he’d have comedown to host the reception, he wouldn’t have just thrown him at him. Looking athis dress, this surname Bai Huo was most likely a slacker trust fund baby. Whoknew which muscle got pulled in his brain to make him think it was a good ideato run to the police station to pretend to solve a case. However, since he wasalready here, Ji Bei had no choice but to give him face and take him throughthe crime scenes. Then they could all put in a good report.
Ji Bei had just blurted these things outwithout much thought, he’d never expect that Bai Huo was very pleased to hearthese compliments. Without further demur, he dragged Xiao Bei to go survey thecrime scenes, even his late stage paralysis was spontaneously cured.
”So late, will you be able to see clearly?How about we go take a look when it’s bright tomorrow?” After suddenlyleaving the hall, Xiao Bei was still dazed.
Bai Huo said compassionately: “All thiswork can’t be delayed. Let’s go now, early to go and early to come back.”
Ji Bei was about to say something but hesitated,not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. If he had known this would happen, hewouldn’t have flattered the other man so much.
The two walked out in tandem, intending to pickup the car in the parking lot, when they met a plainclothes officer that wasjust coming back. A glance was all it took to recognize this person as anofficer, because his way of walking was very unique: his back was ramrod straight,his gaze fixed forward, with each step, he swung out his arms at the same heightlevel. If this person didn’t have severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, thenthis behavior was trained.
“Xiao Bei?” Luo Wen Xu looked up, his eyesvery sharp. He analyzed the two people like a scanner, then frowned unhappily.“Why are you going out so late?”
“Right, this is the zoologist recommended by YangJu. Surnamed Bai, Director Bai. I’m taking him to survey the crime scenes.” XiaoBei said, “Were you able to make any headway with that thing?”
The other man just hmm’d, his eyes fixed on BaiHuo.
Luo Wen Xu’s gaze was very intense. Towardspeople he meets for the first time, he really was not friendly. But Bai Huo wasnot angry, he shoved both hands into his coat pockets and smiled at him.
“This is our captain, Luo Wen Xu.”
Xiao Bei introduced them, but neither spoke,the atmosphere suddenly becoming awkward.
Ji Bei was at a total loss, he didn’t knowwhere this inexplicable hostility came from, but he still tried to break thesilence: “I’ll go start the car.”
”Xiao Bei.” Luo Wen Xu called out toXiao Bei, “You haven’t walked your golden retriever in two days. You shouldgo home, I’ll take care of this.”
“But…”
“I’m just going to turn over the crime scenes.”Luo Wen Xu took the car keys from Ji Bei and stood by the car door. He squintedat Bai Huo, “Does Director Bai mind a change in driver?”
Bai Huo smiled and shrugged: “Of coursenot.”
Ji Bei stood to the side, watching the twopeople seemingly politely get in the car and close the doors. Until the policecar disappeared, he stood still in the car exhaust fumes, thoroughly confused:“What the….”
The road leading to Xi City University wasnewly renovated. In recent years, the country had advocated for energyconservation and emission reduction. All the roads were equipped withintelligent sensor lights, which adjusted the brightness according to thetraffic flow. When no one was on the road at night, it was as dark as a horrorfilm.
Luo Wen Xu had no choice but to turn on theheadlights while heading down the winding road, the car swayed, tilting Bai Huo’s,who was next to him, head side to side. He glanced at him obliquely, the otherman had his arms crossed and his eyes closed, his body sinking into thepassenger seat. He’d actually fallen asleep. This police car had carried many acolleague and criminal, it’d even carried injured people, but this really wasthe first time someone had the balls to treat a police car like a spring mattress.
”Officer Luo, if you stare at me muchlonger, I’m gonna start doubting if you’ve fallen for me.” Bai Huo half-liftedhis left eye-lid, his expression mocking.
”Ha!” Luo Wen Xu seemed to haveheard a big joke, turning the car and stopping in a parking spot. “Wereyou even comfortable sleeping in here?”
”It’s alright, but the cushion’s a littletoo hard.” Bai Huo stretched, a bit of a frown in his tone, “My joints hurt.”
Luo Wen Xu smiled sarcastically: “DirectorBai is really carefree.”
”Of course, it’s only natural. I’m a modelcitizen with a clear conscience.” Bai Huo calmly pushed open the door andgot out.
This was a residential building near Xi City University.There were seven floors, divided into two units, a typical building. Theexterior had been refurbished, so it didn’t look too old, but the internalfacilities still revealed its outdatedness. There was an unidentifiable smellnear the entrance of the corridor, and the power meter box on the wall wasrusted.
Every university had some low-rent housing nearby,all basically single rooms. Most of them were rented to students who werestudying in the university or cohabiting couples. Xi City University’s managementwasn’t very strict. Students renting a house outside was not uncommon. From acertain point of view, it was fortunate that this girl wasn’t attacked in the schooldormitory, otherwise, this case would be even more of an unbearable mess.
The incident occurred in the basement, which wasnow quarantined. Luo Wen Xu flashed his ID and walked in with Bai Huo.
”Officer Luo, did the murdered girl havea boyfriend?” Bai Huo took off his glasses and dropped it into his coatpocket, then he pulled on a pair of white gloves.
”No.” Luo Wen Xu shone hisflashlight and walked forward. “We checked Lin Nian’s social circle andfound nothing suspicious. Lin Nian was the backbone of the school’s art department;she was also her band’s bass player. With all these social activities, shereturned home late quite often. Perhaps she was afraid of disturbing her dormmates,so she moved out in her sophomore year and lived alone. She rented the basementbecause it was soundproof, more convenient for band practice.”
“Oh…” Bai Huo nodded lightly, “She seemed tobe quite an empathetic girl, what a pity.”
Luo Wen turned his head at those words.
Bai Huo’s head was lowered, adjusting his gloves.He obviously didn’t wear this kind of medical gloves often. He adjusted the glovesfor a long time, walking carelessly, also not looking where he was going,almost stepping into a hole. Luo Wen Xu had no choice but to stop and wait forhim to get a move on.
”Excuse me for asking Director Bai, but youdon’t seem like you’re very experienced in criminal investigation. Why were youonly interested in this case?” While asking this, Luo Wen Xu stared fixedlyat Bai Huo’s face, not willing to let go of the slightest change in expression.
Bai Huo looked up. When he wasn’t wearing his glasses,his frivolous atmosphere was reduced by half, and he looked like a very seriousperson.
”Ah, I also can’t do anything about it.”Bai Huo spread his hands and unhurriedly said, “I was entrusted by someone.”
”Entrusted by someone?” Luo Wen Xulaughed in spite of himself. “Does ‘entrusted by someone’ mean stealsomeone’s identity?”
Bai Huo’s expression turned inscrutable for asplit second, then he tilted his head and smiled, his amber eyes lookingstraight at Luo Wen Xu: “Officer Luo, have I offended you somewhere? Usresearchers don’t have much courage; all this intimidation is scaring me.”
Luo Wen Xu stopped sounding him out, forciblypressing down his doubts. He single-handedly pushed open the door and said:“Prepare yourself mentally, don’t vomit on the scene.”
It turns out that Luo Wen Xu’s reminder wasvery necessary. In the small room, although the body had already been removed, thedark red blood stains and suffocating bloody smell would greatly impact anyoneentering the scene for the first time.
Bai Huo stood at the door, unable to help afrown. Almost as soon as the door opened, the compass in his pocket had vibratedagain. He reached into his pocket and touched the black needle with his indexfinger.
Still couldn’t figure out the direction.
”What, too scared to enter?” Luo WenXu had looked over this crime scene too many times. Now he could only act as anartificial light, sweeping his flashlight beam over Bai Huo’s face while talking.
This action was extremely rude, but fortunately,Bai Huo wasn’t bothered. He nonchalantly put on a mask and circled around the outlineson the ground.
Thebasement Lin Nian had rented was about 18 square meters, divided into tworooms, one with a bed and a desk, the other with a practice room. There was notmuch furniture, you could see the whole view at a glance. The girl obviouslyloved cleanliness. Everything was well organized, even the quilts on the bed wereneatly stacked, and the side wall was carefully decorated in anime posters.
”It’s quite clean…” Bai Huo pushedaside the bathroom curtain. Inside was one toothbrush and a single pair of slippers.No trace of a second person living there was found.
”We’ve already done DNA testing, she livedalone.” Luo Wen Xu said, “No traces of other people or pets. Nosuspicious items either. According to the upstairs neighbors, Lin Nian usually retreatsinto her room at the end of each month to push herself creatively. She onlygoes out once every day at noon, then she stays in her room. When Lin Niandied, there really was no third person present.”
Bai Huo: “Closed scene?”
Luo Wen Xu nodded: “Yes.”
It had been more than 80 hours since the crimewas discovered, but there was a lingering odor. The young police woman who wasguarding the scene had remained at the door, unwilling to even speak, afraidthat the scent molecules would enter her mouth.
Bai Huo walked around lightly, his head lowered,circling around the room, as if he wanted to step on every floor tile.
“Did you find anything?” Luo Wen Xu asked.
Bai Huo stared intently at the bloodstains onthe ground, his expression grave: “There’s something odd…”
”It’s too neat.” Luo Wen Xu finished.
Bai Huo looked at him: “There’s no trace of a struggle.The deceased died very neatly.”
A smart person communicates in clear words. BaiHuo knew what Luo Wen wanted to hear from him at a glance: “A one hitkill, most common wild animals wouldn’t be able to accomplish that. I need to lookat the bite marks.”
As soon as a case was involved, Luo Wen Xualways cooperated. He signaled towards the young police officer.
”I’ll take you there.” The youngpolice woman waved.
“Where?”
”The forensic lab, didn’t you want toobserve the body?”
Bai Huo’s footsteps paused: “The deceasedis a girl.”
The two looked at each other, both doubtful, BaiHuo added, slightly embarrassed: “Just the crime scene photos and theforensic report is enough.”
The young police woman reacted first, joking:“Yo, you still care about that? She’s already a corpse, she won’t mind.”
Bai Huo hadn’t spoken yet when Luo Wen Xusuddenly interjected: “Do what he says, bring both documents.”
The young police officer felt troubled: “Rightnow? It’s the middle of the night.”
Seeing that she was preparing to call Ji Bei,Luo Wen Xu impatiently said: “Your Vice-Captain’s health isn’t good, but youcan’t even let him sleep a whole night? Do you really need to bother him forsuch a little thing? Who’s that guy that was running around with breakfast thismorning? Go call him!”
The young police officer immediately shut up,scared.
The three people came out of the basement. Itwas midnight, cold moonlight pierced through the tree branches and printed anindiscernible shape of light on the ground.
”Officer Luo,” Bai Huo put hisglasses back on. “Do you have any opinions about this case?”
”I never speak opinions, only evidenceand facts.”
”Then, do you think that this world hascreatures that’re unknown to humanity?”
Luo Wen Xu stopped walking and turned back tolook at Bai Huo. His tone was unexpectedly a little earnest: “The longerthere’s no progress in this case, the more dangerous it is for the masses. Noone knows who the next victim will be. If you really know something, please letme know immediately. If you just want a little bit of excitement so you can goback and write some thesis, then I advise you to return home as soon aspossible. You don’t belong here, understand? “
Bai Huo was stunned. Who would’ve thought thathe’d fight tooth and nail to survive to a hundred years old, only to belectured by a human in his early thirties.
How novel, how unusual.
At that moment, the compass in his pocketsuddenly swiveled frantically, seemingly urging its owner to hurry up. He’dused this compass for more than 40 years, but he’d never seen it behave sostrangely.
”Director Bai should go back first, it’svery late.”
BaiHuo calmly slipped his hand into his pocket and smiled: “Okay.”
The two men walked to the curb. Luo Wen Xu wasjust about to get the car when the sound of an approaching shrill enginedisturbed the silent night sky. Soon, a police motorcycle galloped along andstopped in front of the two.
Xiao Shu was clutching a file folder. Henervously ran over and presented it like a treasure: “I’ve picked up theinformation for Captain Luo.”
Luo Wen Xu roared as soon as he saw him:“Who let you ride the heavy motorcycle? Did you get approval? It’s themiddle of the night, don’t you know about ‘disturbing the peace’?!”
Xiao Shu looked puzzled: “No one saidanything when I drove it out.”
Bai Huo timely stepped forward to smooththings over, casually taking the file in Xiao Shu’s hand, he smiled:“Thank you little brother, I’ll take this information away first.”
Their fingertips touched, and Xiao Shu’s wholebody shook.
”Where do you live, I’ll drive you.”Luo Wen Xu restrained his anger and said.
Bai Huo smiled and waved his hand: “Pleasedon’t worry about that. Officer Luo has worked hard all day. Go home and rest.When the case is solved, why don’t the two of us go out for a drink?”
Luo Wen Xu didn’t insist: “Of course.”
“He…… Who is he?” Xiao Shu stared at Bai Huo’s back, trembling, he couldn’thelp but ask.
Luo Wen Xu didn’t have the patience to satisfythe intern’s curiosity. His rough hand slammed into the back of Xiao Shu’shead: “What a foolish question. You’re not allowed to ride the motorcycle back,start pushing.”
”…”
Even after walking several meters away, BaiHuo could still feel someone staring at him. The fat bird rolled in his scarf,and a bird head poked out from the front. It had obviously been holding back:“So… is it one of the dragon races?”
“Notsure.” Bai Huo said, “I have a guess, but I need to dig up the floor to confirm,but today …… forget it, I’ll come back at night another day.”
Turning a corner, the fat bird flew out fromthe scarf and landed on Bai Huo’s shoulder: “There’s a vision in the southwest,don’t you want to go take a look?”
”I know, that’s where I’m heading.” BaiHuo rubbed his eyes and sighed. “To tell the truth, I have a strange premonitionthat if I go now, my life will change forever.”
The fat bird sneered, “At the sacrificialceremony last year, the prophet said that you’ll face a big disaster this year,and that you should buy his giant pearl bracelet to dispel it. But in the end,not only did you not listen, you even beat him up. Whose fault is this?”
”That old man claimed that I’d violated thepeach blossom calamity’s Three Bonds and Five Constants, whywouldn’t I beat him up?” Speaking of this, Bai Huo’s hands itched, wishinghe could pull out that senile old man’s beard again.
The fat bird celebrated in schadenfreude,jumping up and down on Bai Huo’s shoulders, the shame from a few hours agofinally being wiped away.
Bai Huo glanced at him and suddenly smirked. Thenhe leapt up and turned into an imposing pure white dragon, disappearing intothe night sky, the fat bird’s curses trailing behind him.
——————————————————————————————————-
T/N:
Didn’t I just eat a few …: 不就吃你几颗豆子，至于吗？-Not sure about this one
Dapeng: A giantbird in Chinese mythology
Beijing slouch: A meme way of sitting, made popular by thisphoto of comedian Ge You
Old: Arespectful but pretty intimate way of referring to an old person.
Closed scene: 封闭现场- I think that’s what he’s askingand idk why. Most murder scenes are closed by default. Most likely he’s askingif the room was locked, making it a locked room murder.
peach blossom calamity: trouble in your love life Three Bonds and Five Constants: Teachings from Confucius about how one should act as a human being –If you guys don’t get it, the prophet said that Bai Huo has been behaving sorotten that he’ll face a disaster in his love life.
Ahahaha.. The prophet is so mean.Idk but Bai Huo seems kind of careless to me.I kinda like him.I also think close scene means murder in a closed room.Anyways, thank you for the translation.It’s nice to read some mystery sometimes.