You looked at seven companies, why did you choose her?"
"That's because I can sense that her life force is very strong, while the others are barely perceptible. After all, some life forces have already dissipated before they have fully condensed."
Chen Cheng replied.
"Did she tell you who the murderer was?"
The "she" Zhang Qian was referring to was Cao Jiao'e, or more accurately, Cao Jiao'e's soul.
"Hehe, don't misunderstand. The so-called living soul is just a weak electromagnetic wave, and also a kind of negative electron aggregate. If we were to compare it to an adult, it would be a dull and stupid person. This is because it has just arrived in another world and is still in a state of confusion and bewilderment. It doesn't even know what kind of medium it is. With my guidance, it can briefly recall things before leaving its body. I can only guess some of it by analogy. As for the specifics, we will discuss them with Captain He tomorrow morning!"
"Um".
Zhang Qian had something on her mind, so she stopped asking.
"Little sister Sisi, it's still a long way from dawn. We can't just sit here all night, can we?"
"Ugh, ah, pshaw, who's your sister? You're not even older than me, God, shameless!"
After realizing what he meant, Zhang Qian rolled her eyes at him. She had initially wanted to call him a charlatan, but then changed her mind.
"It's not as big as yours!"
Chen Cheng looked down at his chest and said with a grin.
"Bastard, scoundrel, shameless!"
Zhang Qian shouted, grabbing a handful of edamame and throwing it at Chen Cheng.
"Hey, what are you doing? You're the one who said I'm not as big as you! Women's hearts are not only poisonous but also as sharp as needles in the ocean!"
"You still dare to talk back!"
The two left the food stall while playfully bickering.
Back in the police station's task force office, Zhang Qian angrily pointed at the sofa: "You'll be sleeping here tonight!"
After saying that, he turned around and was about to go back to his single dormitory when he suddenly remembered what had happened at Cao Jiao'e's house. He stopped in his tracks, grabbed Chen Cheng who was about to lie down on the sofa, and pulled him aside, saying, "You sleep here!"
After saying that, he lay down on the sofa and let out a comfortable sigh.
Chen Cheng looked at the single sofa with a dissatisfied expression: "What are you doing? Why don't you go back to sleep? What are you doing here? It's not good for a man and a woman to be seen like this!"
Zhang Qian was already immune to his shamelessness. She closed her eyes and said, "It's almost dawn. Going back will only cause trouble. If you want to sleep, go to sleep. If you don't want to sleep, go out and play!"
Chen Cheng sat helplessly on the single sofa, took out a cigarette and was about to light it, "If you want to smoke, go outside. Smoking is not allowed in public places. Making others inhale secondhand smoke is unacceptable. Don't you have any manners?"
Seeing Zhang Qian's arrogant expression, Chen Cheng didn't argue with her and silently put the cigarette back into the cigarette pack.
Lying on the sofa, Zhang Qian saw Chen Cheng's bitter face and was secretly delighted. This annoying guy, she had finally turned the tables! Thinking about it, she felt sleepy and fell asleep.
At seven o'clock in the morning, He Wenhui and a team member pushed open the door of the task force office. The scene in front of him made him pause for a moment. Zhang Qian, a policewoman who was usually very tasteful, was lying on the sofa and fast asleep. On the single sofa opposite, Chen Cheng was curled up and also fast asleep. However, he was very alert and woke up as soon as he heard the door open.
"Oh, Captain He, so early! Did you bring breakfast?"
"He opens his fluffy eyes and immediately wants to eat. This guy is something else," He Wenhui and his team members thought to themselves.
His words startled Zhang Qian. Seeing Captain He, she hurriedly got up, said "Good morning, Captain He," and ran out.
"Comrade Chen Cheng, you must be back very late. You must have had a hard time. A colleague will bring breakfast over in a bit. By the way, did you have any results last night?"
"Wait a minute, I need to use the restroom!" Then he jogged out the door. He had eaten a lot of meat that night, so it was no wonder he needed to pee. He left He Wenhui and the other team member looking at each other in bewilderment!
A dozen minutes later, Chen Cheng walked back feeling refreshed. Most of the team members had already arrived at the office. There was soy milk and several bags of steamed buns on the table, each containing about a dozen buns.
When He Wenhui saw him return, he invited him to have some breakfast. Chen Cheng didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a bag of steamed buns and ate them one by one, leaving everyone in awe. He Wenhui knew he could eat a lot, so he had someone prepare two more bags.
When everyone had almost finished eating, Zhang Qian came in. Chen Cheng noticed that her hair was still wet, so she must have just taken a shower. She had also changed into a refreshing summer outfit. She had a small appetite, eating only one steamed bun and drinking a cup of soy milk.
After a quick tidying up, the six core members of the task force sat around a desk. He Wenhui asked, "Comrade Chen Cheng, Zhang Qian, did you get anything last night?"
Zhang Qian nodded, then shook her head and looked at Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng, abandoning his usual carefree demeanor, cleared his throat and said seriously, "Captain He, last night Comrade Zhang Qian and I went to each crime scene again to investigate carefully. We discovered a few details and some ideas, which I will explain one by one, and then we can discuss them together."
"Okay, you can start now, Gao Yang. You take notes."
"OK"!
One of the team members placed his hands on the keyboard of the laptop that had already been prepared.
"Last night, Comrade Zhang Qian and I went to the morgue to examine the victims. Just like the autopsy report, their bodies were covered with needle marks. The victims died in excruciating pain, which shows that the murderer was an extremely perverted person."
"We've already reached a conclusion on what you're saying!"
"Zhang Qian, please let Chen Cheng finish speaking first!"
He Wenhui spoke up.
Zhang Qian glared at Chen Cheng and then stopped talking.
"Next, I'll share my thoughts. First, the victims were all middle-aged women. Second, the murderer must have been someone who frequently used embroidery needles. Third, the victims were women who liked to wear handmade cheongsams, which can be confirmed by the wardrobes in their homes. Fourth, the murderer may not necessarily be a man!"
I've summarized a few points for your reference. Of course, I'm not a police officer, so the final decision is up to you.
A solemn silence fell over the office. After a long while, He Wenhui asked, "Comrade Chen Cheng, why did you say that the murderer used an embroidery needle instead of some other kind of needle?"
"Captain He, the needle marks left on a person by an embroidery needle are usually tiny, sharp, round dots. Due to the fineness of the embroidery needle, they are relatively small, with a diameter of only a few millimeters. The needle will protrude slightly at these marks, the surrounding skin will be slightly red and swollen, and the color of the needle mark will be slightly red. This is because of the stimulation and inflammatory reaction caused by the needle piercing the skin, and it is extremely painful. Other larger needles do not match the needle marks on the victim's body, so I believe it is a small embroidery needle."
"You mentioned a third point, that the victim likes to wear cheongsams, is that...?"
"I asked Gao Yang, a member of the group."
"Comrade Zhang Qian and I went from the first to the seventh house and found cheongsams hanging in the closets of the victims' homes. The stitching was all the same, so they must have been handmade!"
Chen Cheng, one last point, and the most important one, you said the murderer might not necessarily be a man, what do you mean?"
He Wenhui lit a cigarette and asked.
"Regarding this point, I think everyone has been biased by the forensic report. The report states that the victims had sexual intercourse before their deaths, but no male characteristics were left behind. You might think the murderer used a condom, but you've overlooked this characteristic. If the murderer were male, he would definitely leave marks on the victims' bodies when he assaulted them, even the slightest physical contact. Obviously, there were none on these eight bodies. My guess is that the murderer used some kind of male adult toy for two reasons: first, to distract the police; second, the murderer is an extreme psychopath with dissociative identity disorder! It is precisely because of this that the investigation has been successfully misled, leading to a desperate search without a single clue!"
Upon hearing this, the key members of the task force gasped and began whispering among themselves.
"No way? There are actually people like that..."
Several team members, including He Wenhui, were stunned by Chen Cheng's analysis of the case and looked at each other in bewilderment. He Wenhui rubbed his head and said, "Comrade Chen Cheng, then according to your line of thinking, what is the next direction of the investigation?"
"Captain He, I think we should check all the handmade clothing shops in the city first. Although this idea sounds a bit impractical, there aren't many people making handmade clothing now, especially those who are good at making cheongsams. This might provide us with some key clues to solve the case."
Chen Cheng looked at Captain He with a serious expression, his eyes revealing a firmness and confidence. However, his true thoughts went far beyond that. In fact, the information and analysis he possessed were far more complex than he had revealed to everyone. His explanation for the deduction that the murderer was not male was also somewhat vague. After all, such a statement was difficult for others to believe. But in reality, he already knew more of the truth, but he couldn't tell everyone these things. Should he say that his investigation was led by Cao Jiao'e's soul?
Upon hearing Chen Cheng's suggestion, the other team members murmured amongst themselves. This idea was indeed beyond their comprehension. In their minds, it was almost impossible for a woman to murder another woman, especially using such cruel methods. However, with the deadline for solving the case approaching, they had to explore all possibilities. Despite their doubts, they decided to adopt Chen Cheng's suggestion. After all, they needed to seize every possible clue, even the slightest glimmer of hope, and pursue it with all their might!
Seeing that none of his team members raised any objections, He Wenhui finally felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. At that moment, he had no choice but to silently pray that Chen Cheng's prediction was accurate. His expression was solemn, and his tone serious as he began to deploy the work: "Alright, since everyone has no objections, let's proceed according to Comrade Chen Cheng's plan!"
Then, the team members were systematically assigned the visitation tasks to the police officers in their respective jurisdictions, and they were instructed to carry them out diligently.
Meeting adjourned!
He Wenhui, looking distressed, announced the end of the meeting in a low voice.
Once on the street, Zhang Qian followed closely behind Chen Cheng. She felt that Chen Cheng must have gotten some information from Cao Jiao'e last night, and eager to solve the case, she didn't want to miss any opportunity.
"Why are you following me instead of going to visit people?"
"I'll solve the case with you. Didn't you realize that Captain He has placed all his hopes on you?"
Zhang Qian pouted.
"I'm here to assist you, not to be the vanguard. Don't waste your time, hurry up and go conduct your investigations. You might even be able to make a great contribution!"
Chen Cheng reverted to his carefree and nonchalant demeanor, speaking with a grin.
Zhang Qian was clearly used to his arrogant attitude, and rolled her eyes at him: "You get a fee for helping out, what? You just want money and don't want to do anything?"
"I've already given the task force the direction. Now it's up to you guys. If it's not my business, then I'll do my job."
"Hmph, I'll follow you until you solve the case, and see if you, this charlatan, can solve it within the time limit!"
Looking at the beautiful policewoman with her arrogant and unreasonable expression, Chen Cheng smiled mischievously: "You really want to follow me all the time?"
"Well, that's just my personality. Once I've decided on something, I'll see it through to the end!"
"Okay, let's go then."
Where to go?
"Book a hotel room to sleep!"
"Bastard, shameless, pervert!"
Zhang Qian, stunned for a moment, reacted with shame and anger and shouted, wishing she could pick up her small handbag and hit him a couple of times, attracting the attention of several passersby.
"Isn't this what you said about insisting on being with me? You were up all night last night, and at least you got to sleep for a few hours on the sofa. What about me? I'm exhausted and sleepy. The police station doesn't have a dormitory for me. Am I supposed to sleep on the street if I don't go to a hotel? I'm your hired consultant, not a donkey pulling a millstone!"
Seeing Zhang Qian's furious outburst, Chen Cheng responded seriously, then asked with that sly smile, "Little Qianqian, are you still coming with me?"
"Get out! Get as far away as you can! And don't you dare call me 'sister'!"
Although Zhang Qian had a bad temper, she was also very reasonable. She knew that although what Chen Cheng said was vulgar and rude, it was the truth. She glared at him, turned around and walked towards the police station. After taking two steps, she turned back to look at Chen Cheng and asked, "Phone number!"
Fearing he might misunderstand, she quickly added, "Let's keep in touch if anything comes up!"
"Okay, Sisi, do you want my WeChat?"
"Fuck you!"
Zhang Qian blushed after speaking. Although she had a bad temper, she was well-mannered and had never used such vulgar language before. She didn't know why, but she couldn't help but want to curse Chen Cheng in front of him!
"But I don't have a younger sister, Sisi!"
Zhang Qian was speechless. Not wanting to get entangled with him any longer, she quickly exchanged phone numbers, glared at him, and left.
Chen Cheng smiled and shook his head, then turned and walked towards the bustling street.
I found a small hotel, took a nice and refreshing shower, dried myself off, and then happily threw myself onto the bed. Before long, I was fast asleep.
Chen Cheng was born into a very tough life, so tough that his mother died shortly after his birth, and his father died in a car accident six months later, leaving him, who was less than a year old, to depend on his one-eyed grandmother. He cried almost every night, and no amount of coaxing from his blind grandmother could help him. This continued until he was two years old, when a person came to his family who would change his life and also determined that he would walk a different path from ordinary people.
The visitor was none other than Xiao Quansheng, the highly skilled man mentioned by Master He Wenhui. Upon seeing little Chen Cheng playing at the door, he couldn't tear himself away. After observing him closely, he went inside, found Chen Cheng's grandmother, and told her, "This child cannot survive with you!"
Grandma Chen was shocked and hurriedly asked Xiao Quansheng what was going on. He told her, "This child has a very special destiny, one in a million, and he's very stubborn. He's not good to his relatives."
This struck a chord with Grandma Chen Cheng, because her daughter-in-law died of postpartum hemorrhage shortly after giving birth to him, and her son died in a car accident six months later. The neighbors had secretly discussed that little Chen Cheng was the cause of their deaths.
Grandma Chen asked Xiao Quansheng if he had any ideas.
Xiao Quansheng told her that if she wanted her child to live, he had to stay with her because the child was born with a pair of ghost eyes that could see things that ordinary people couldn't. He was a wandering Taoist priest who could not only save the child's life but also teach him a whole set of skills so that he would never have to worry about food and drink in the future!
Grandma Chen Cheng thought about how the child cried incessantly every night. Could it be because he often saw unclean things? Although she was reluctant, she tearfully agreed to Xiao Quansheng's request for the sake of the child. She repeatedly asked him to treat him well, after all, he was the only son of the Chen family. Xiao Quansheng said that he would definitely treat him well and that when Chen Cheng grew up, he would definitely let him recognize his ancestors and come to pay respects to his parents and relatives!
Then, with his grandmother's deep reluctance, Xiao Quansheng carried the two-year-old Chen Cheng away...
Xiao Quansheng was also all alone, without a wife or children. He himself was born with the ability to see ghosts, so he treated Chen Cheng, who had a special destiny and the ability to see ghosts, as his own son. He took great care of Chen Cheng in his daily life from a young age, but he was extremely strict when it came to teaching him skills. Usually, Chen Cheng would get a beating for being playful and not wanting to study, but in the blink of an eye, Xiao Quansheng would make him chicken soup to nourish his body.
And so, under Xiao Quansheng's loving care and strict guidance, Chen Cheng grew up safely to the age of eighteen. His innate ghost eyes allowed him to see through all demons and monsters, and he learned Xiao Quansheng's skills in exorcising demons and catching ghosts. Xiao Quansheng also told him about his past. However, by this time, his grandmother had already passed away. Chen Cheng returned to his hometown, wept bitterly at the graves of his grandparents and parents, repaired several graves, and stayed there for ten days and ten nights before returning to his master, Xiao Quansheng.
The teahouse my master ran was called the Old Teahouse. People in the Fengjiang area love to drink tea, which led to the development of teahouse culture. However, with the progress of society, many small teahouses have evolved into restaurants, and tea culture has become an adjunct to drinking and eating. Only Xiao Quansheng's quaint little teahouse remains with a true teahouse cultural heritage. For decades, the teahouse's facilities have remained unchanged: two brick and tile houses, seven or eight solid wood tables and chairs with teapots and a stack of large porcelain bowls on them, and a tea table by the window with several porcelain bottles containing different types of tea. Everything here is still preserved from the 1990s.
Behind the tiled house was the second courtyard, where the master and Chen Cheng lived. Each had their own room, and in the central living room was the ancestral tablet of their master, which was constantly being burned with incense. The master told Chen Cheng that the tablet of the ancestral tablet must be properly worshipped, without any mistakes. He also told him that in their line of work, they must have reverence for ghosts and spirits. However, even ghosts and spirits have good and evil aspects, and they would occasionally have conflicts with people. Their duty was to mediate when needed by people or ghosts—for example, when a ghost possessed someone to convey an unfulfilled wish, or wanted to see a recently deceased relative, or when a house was built on a gravesite, disturbing the peace of the spirits, or when dealing with a vengeful ghost who had died with resentment. Those who had helped them respectfully called them "Ghost Eye Talkers." If this teahouse was still open and lit up in the middle of the night, it meant that negotiations between people and ghosts were taking place there!
As for some evil spirits that do not listen to advice, or those that have harmful deeds or cannot be converted, such as vengeful spirits or fierce spirits, we can only use strong Taoist methods to destroy them in order to prevent them from harming the local area!
Xiao Quansheng was not only happy but also very satisfied as he watched Chen Cheng grow up step by step. He was already over sixty years old and had a disciple who was excellent in carrying on his mantle. He could now put down his burden and continue to travel the world!
Chen Cheng tried his best to persuade him to stay, but after Xiao Quansheng persuaded him with emotion and reason, Chen Cheng also came to terms with it. His master had worked hard all his life and it was time for him to rest. So Xiao Quansheng entrusted his teahouse and house to Chen Cheng and then left to travel around. Chen Cheng became the new owner of the old teahouse and the person in charge of Ghost Eye!
When Chen Cheng woke up, he was full of energy after sleeping all day, but he kept feeling hungry. He picked up his phone and saw that it was already past six o'clock in the evening and there were still several missed calls. He had been sleeping so soundly that he hadn't heard his phone vibrate.
He called back one by one. The first one was to He Wenhui. He learned from Zhang Qian that Chen Cheng had gone to rest. However, the police officers who had conducted the investigation in the afternoon had made some discoveries and wanted to meet with him to discuss his next plan. Chen Cheng agreed on the phone to come to the police station to find him in a while before hanging up.
The second one was from Zhang Qian. When I called back, I heard her uniquely fierce voice: "You bastard, you charlatan, why didn't you answer my call?"
"I was asleep, dreaming of being intimate with a beautiful woman, so I didn't hear anything."
Chen Cheng smiled and waited for my reply.
"Shameless, pervert!"
"Are you okay? If not, I'm hanging up."
"You dare? No one has ever dared to hang up on me."
Chen Cheng decisively pressed the hang-up button, then lit a cigarette, lay down on the bed, and took a satisfying drag.
On the other end of the phone, Zhang Qian stomped her feet in anger, cursing, "That rude bastard, shameless charlatan, dared to actually hang up!" She had been pampered and adored since childhood, and the young men who pursued her as she grew up showered her with affection, always displaying gentlemanly manners. But this despicable Chen Cheng had been going against her every step of the way since yesterday, showing no chivalry whatsoever and lacking even basic manners. How could she not be furious? She even felt an urge to bite him to death.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, and I couldn't help but pick up my phone and dial again.
"Hey, Sisi, do you know I'm hungry and want to treat me to a meal? Don't feel too pressured, I'm not picky about food, as long as I can eat my fill, hehe!"
Before Zhang Qian could even speak, she was stunned by Chen Cheng's actions. This guy was shameless! He had just hung up on her, and now he was grinning and asking her to treat him to dinner. This was just too shameless! For a moment, she forgot what she wanted to say.
"Hey, Sisi, are you excited that I asked you to treat me to dinner? I'm a very kind person; I usually don't refuse if you say you'll treat me. Don't cry, okay? Crying will ruin your makeup and take time to fix it."
The phone went dead.
"You call me but don't say anything, what does that mean!"
Chen Cheng muttered something as he placed his phone, now with the screen off, on the table.
Zhang Qian stood there, completely bewildered. What kind of weirdo was this? Her hand holding the phone trembled, and she no longer had the courage to make a call. She was afraid that this bastard Chen Cheng would make her die on the spot!
Chen Cheng ate two bowls of noodles at a noodle shop next to the hotel, then took a taxi to the city police station. When he arrived at the task force office, he saw that everyone was already seated, so he said, "Sorry, I ate two bowls of noodles, so I'm late."
He Wenhui gave a wry smile and said, "You've had a hard time these past two days."
"No trouble at all, hehe, just remember to pay me my appearance fee when the time comes!"
"Chen Cheng!"
Zhang Qian couldn't hold back any longer and threw a pen at him from a distance, but Chen Cheng caught it with lightning speed: "Thank you, Qianqian. Where's the notebook? Throw it over here too!"
The two group members couldn't help but burst out laughing. Zhang Qian's face flushed red, and she was about to retort...
"Alright! Let's get down to business!"
He Wenhui said, rubbing his throbbing temples.
Zhang Qian took several deep breaths to calm her anger.
Chapter 12 Identifying the Suspect
"Comrade Chen Cheng, we received a message from the visiting police officers this afternoon. There are 27 handmade clothing shops in the city, but only three of them make cheongsams by hand. They are Tian Min, 32 years old, single, from Xingfu Lane; Zhou Yan, 52 years old, from Jiefang Road, with her family of four (the owner, her son, and her daughter); and Xiang Huaying, 49 years old, from Renmin Road in the old city, a single parent with a son studying in another province. All three can make cheongsams, and their shops have cheongsam samples hanging in their shops. Xiang Huaying is the most suspicious because five of the eight victims' homes have cheongsams made of the exact same material as those in her shop. Of the other three, one cheongsam came from Tian Min's shop, and two came from Xiang Huaying's shop. These three suspects have been placed under surveillance, and the officers are on standby awaiting instructions."
After listening to He Wenhui's explanation, Chen Cheng secretly praised the Xijing City Police Department for its swift execution and thorough investigation, but he also chuckled to himself that He Wenhui had truly been pushed to the limit this time.
After a pause, He Wenhui continued, "Comrade Chen Cheng, according to your deduction, who should we start investigating first?"
Chen Cheng already knew what was going on, but he still pretended to be serious and said, "Captain He, how about this, if you trust me, give me the specific address, and I'll go and make contact with them individually first. I believe the murderer is among these three people, and I'm confident I can find her!"
He Wenhui was thrilled by these words and said in a trembling voice, "So you can solve the case tonight?"
"If all goes well, we can solve the case tonight!"
"Okay, okay, Gao Yang, get the car ready. Tonight you, Liu Wen, Xue Zhongchen, and Zhang Qian will work together. I'll be directing from the center in the station. The others will be on standby."
He Wenhui stood up and tapped the table as he spoke.
Everyone stood up in unison and shouted, "Yes!"
As they walked out of the police station, Zhang Qian could no longer hold a grudge against Chen Cheng and quickly followed him, asking, "Which place should we go to first?"
"Little sister Sisi, didn't you say you were going to treat me to dinner?"
Looking at Chen Cheng's grinning face, Zhang Qian gritted her teeth and said, holding back her anger, "After we solve the case tonight, I'll treat you to whatever you want to eat, all you can eat!"
Chen Cheng's eyes lit up, and he said with a grin, "Okay, it's a deal!"
Everyone ignored their conversation. As long as the case was solved tonight, Zhang Qian would treat him to dinner, and even the members of the task force would treat him to dinner one by one. For the past two months, the mission, responsibility, and superiors had been suffocating them. Gao Yang was in an even worse situation. He left his wife of three days and plunged into the case. So far, apart from making a phone call to ease his longing, he had not been home.
Xue Zhongchen was even more impatient. He couldn't solve the case, he didn't have time to go out, and his girlfriend, whom he was deeply in love with, was about to break up with him!
Each person had their own thoughts, and they got into two cars, drove out of the police station, and headed towards Happiness Lane. Chen Cheng decided not to delay any longer and to make this perverted killer show himself tonight!
Upon arriving at the Xingfu Lane residential area, the three men who were waiting there to monitor Tian Min quickly got out of their hidden car and said, "You've arrived. The suspect just closed the shop. She's staying in the shop and hasn't gone out!"
"Yes, thank you for your hard work!"
Gao Yang patted the officer's arm and said.
The police officers led several people to Tian Min's clothing store. Above the signboard was an advertisement that read "Handmade Cutting". Xue Zhongchen stepped forward and knocked on the door twice, asking, "Is anyone home?"
After a moment, just as I was about to knock again, a woman's voice came from inside: "Who is it? We're closed for the day. Come back tomorrow!"
"Ma'am, this is Officer Zhao, the local police officer. I came by this morning to check household registrations. Your name is one character different from the name on the police station's computer. We're here to verify it. Please open the door!"
The officer in charge of surveillance said it very cleverly.
"Okay, just a moment!"
The door latch clicked, and then the two small iron doors slowly opened. The woman who opened the door saw seven or eight people standing outside, some in police uniforms and some in plainclothes, but she was not surprised at all, as if it had nothing to do with her. The crowd was secretly amazed. Under normal circumstances, whether or not a crime had been committed, seeing this scene would make people panic.
Zhang Qian took out a search warrant and said, "Tian Min, we are from the Criminal Investigation Team of the Xijing City Police Department. We are now conducting a legal interrogation and searching your residence. Please cooperate!"
"Come in."
Tian Min said casually, as if it really had nothing to do with her!
Zhang Qian and Chen Cheng exchanged a glance. Chen Cheng went in first, and since the room was too small, Zhang Qian and Gao Yang followed, while the others waited at the door.
The storefront is not large, about 30 square meters, and there is a small suite inside, with a tiny bathroom inside. This is the environment where Zhou Yan lives.
As soon as Chen Cheng entered, he smelled the odor of alcohol. Upon entering the suite, he saw a small dish and a bottle of strong liquor on a small square table. The pungent smell of alcohol made Zhang Qian cover her nose.
The suite was small and could be seen at a glance. Apart from a small bed, a simple cloth wardrobe, a small table, and a floor fan, there was nothing else. However, Tian Min's outfit seemed strange, but it was hard to put one's finger on what was different. In the middle of summer, it was too formal for someone to be home alone, with long sleeves and trousers, and the buttons were fastened tightly.
"Tian Min, where were you on May 17th, more than two months ago?"
"Take off your shirt!"
Zhang Qian had just finished asking a question when she heard Chen Cheng say to Tian Min.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
Zhang Qian glared at Chen Cheng.
"Take off your shirt or pants, and we'll know if you've committed a crime!"
Chen Cheng ignored Zhang Qian and glared at Tian Min, scolding her again.
"Are you crazy? How can you be so violent!"
"Comrade Zhang Qian, please put away your saintly heart now. The eight victims who were brutally murdered are still dying with their eyes wide open in the morgue!"
Chen Cheng, abandoning his usual playful demeanor, replied seriously and earnestly.
Zhang Qian was also intimidated by his imposing manner. Her lips moved, but she didn't say anything more.
Upon hearing Chen Cheng's words, Tian Min trembled slightly, a subtle movement that did not escape the notice of those present.
"You two go out first, I'll check!"
Zhang Qian, abandoning her usual fiery temper, spoke in a soft voice.
Chen Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Alright, be careful!"
Then he and Gao Yang walked out of the suite and came to the door. He took the cigarette that Gao Yang handed him and lit it.
Two minutes later, Zhang Qian's scream suddenly came from inside. Chen Cheng rushed in, followed by Gao Yang, Xue Zhongchen, and several police officers on surveillance. Chen Cheng was the first to rush into the suite. He saw that Tian Min's long dress was torn, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were wide open, and she was roaring like a wild beast. She was holding a sharp pair of sewing scissors in her hand. Zhang Qian had a long wound on her fair, snow-white arm, and blood was flowing down her arm onto the floor.
When Chen Cheng rushed in, Tian Min had already raised the scissors to stab Zhang Qian again, but Chen Cheng kicked her, sending her staggering back several steps and crashing heavily into the wall, causing the scissors to fall to the ground!
Gao Yang and a police officer quickly stepped forward, took out handcuffs, and handcuffed Tian Min's hands behind her back.
"They deserve to die, they deserve to die, hahahaha, they all deserve to die, hahaha, they deserve to die..."
At this moment, Tian Min looked like a demon from hell, her hair disheveled, and although she was handcuffed, she was still struggling violently and shouting.
"Gao Yang, take her back to the station for questioning!"
After Chen Cheng finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Qian and said, "Come on, I'll go to the hospital with you. You need to stitch up your wound and get an anti-inflammatory injection to prevent tetanus infection!"
Gao Yang said, "Zhang Qian, let's take Tian Min back first, and let Chen Cheng accompany you to the hospital!"
At this moment, Tian Min was still screaming and cursing wildly.
Zhang Qian gritted her teeth and nodded at him.
After the officers left, Chen Cheng tore off a large piece of clean cloth with his bare hands and gently wrapped it around Zhang Qian's wound.
While Zhang Qian was surprised by the force he used, seeing his serious expression warmed her heart. This guy didn't seem so bad after all.Chapter 13 Zhang Qian's Boyfriend
Xue Zhongchen thoughtfully left a car for the two of them. Chen Cheng opened the driver's side door, and Zhang Qian asked, "Can you drive?"
"Who do you think you are? Get in the car now, the longer you delay healing your wound, the harder it will be to heal!"
Zhang Qian chuckled and sat in the passenger seat. As soon as she closed the door, a strong push came from behind her, and the car shot forward like an arrow.
Twenty minutes later, under Zhang Qian's direction, the car arrived at Xijing People's Hospital. The two went to the emergency room and were met by a middle-aged woman in her fifties wearing a white coat.
"Sissi, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Aunt Mei, it's you! It's nothing, I just hurt myself by accident!"
Looking at her guiltily, Zhang Qian said that Aunt Mei was Zhang Qian's mother's best friend and the wife of a high-ranking official in Xijing City. She was the chief physician of the emergency department at this hospital. Moreover, with the intention of the two families to matchmake, Qiao Hui, the high-ranking official's nephew, was also one of Zhang Qian's ardent suitors.
"Oh dear, what happened? There's so much blood on your arm! Let's get to the treatment room right away, I want to see the wound!"
"No need, Aunt Mei. Just find me a regular surgeon. Also, please don't tell my mom about this. If she finds out, I don't know how she'll scold me!"
"You silly child, your parents didn't want you to go to the criminal investigation team because they were afraid you, a girl, would get hurt. Sigh!"
"It's really nothing, Aunt Mei. This is my colleague, Chen Cheng."
Seeing Aunt Mei scrutinizing Chen Cheng, she quickly spoke up.
Chen Cheng met Aunt Mei's scrutinizing gaze and smiled and nodded at her.
"Okay, come with me to the treatment room first. I'll find a deputy chief surgeon to take a look at you. If that doesn't work, we'll get an X-ray."
"No need, Aunt Mei, it was just an accidental cut from the scissors."
The three walked and talked. Aunt Mei led her to a treatment room, gave her a few instructions, and then went out to find a doctor.
"Thank you".
Only then did Zhang Qian have time to thank Chen Cheng. If it weren't for his timely intervention, she might have been injured again by the crazed Tian Min. Moreover, he had helped treat her wounds.
"Don't mention it. If you hurt anyone, you'll have to treat me to a meal."
Chen Cheng reverted to his carefree and irreverent demeanor.
"You, hmph!"
Zhang Qian knew him a little bit, so she only got angry symbolically.
Aunt Mei then walked in quickly with a male doctor. The doctor looked at her and said, "Young lady, let me remove the cloth first and check the wound."
Then gently unwrap the cloth around the wound. The wound wasn't very deep, but it was quite long, at least ten centimeters. Due to the pressure from the cloth, the bleeding had stopped.
"My God, how did you get so badly injured? Were you slashed by bad guys?"
Aunt Mei covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise.
"No, I was cut by a sharp blade while rescuing a girl who was jumping off a building!"
Chen Cheng tried to defend her.
Zhang Qian gave him a grateful look. If Aunt Mei knew that she had been attacked by the suspect and then told her parents, she could forget about working in the criminal investigation team.
Aunt Mei glanced at Chen Cheng but didn't say anything.
"Young lady, your wound needs stitches and an anti-inflammatory injection. It's so hot, and you'll need to change the dressing frequently. If it gets infected, it will be a real problem!"
"That's what the male doctor said after the examination."
"Old Ma, let's do as you say and get it done quickly!"
Aunt Mei said to the male doctor.
"Okay, Director Liu, I'll go prepare an anesthetic first, and then I'll suture it once the anesthesia takes effect."
Just as the anesthetic injection was administered and we were waiting for it to take effect, a young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in designer clothes and with his leather shoes polished to a shine, rushed into the treatment room.
"Sisi, are you alright? My aunt told me and I rushed over. How could you be so careless?"
After the man finished speaking, he glanced at Chen Cheng casually.
"It's nothing, just a minor injury!"
"It's just a minor injury, look at this wound," he said, and then grabbed her small hand.
Zhang Qian quickly pulled her hand back and looked at Chen Cheng: "This is my friend Qiao Hui," and then said to Qiao Hui: "This is my colleague Chen Cheng!"
"Oh, thank you for taking my girlfriend to the hospital!"
Qiao Hui extended his hand and shook hands with him, but Chen Cheng frowned slightly, then smiled and said:
"It's nothing. We're working on a case together. She was injured, so it's only right that we take her to the hospital. If you feel bad about it, just treat me to a meal later. I've been so busy tonight that I haven't eaten anything yet!"
Zhang Qian was annoyed that Qiao Hui was holding her hand. He boasted that they were old friends and told everyone that she was his girlfriend. In fact, she had no feelings for Qiao Hui at all. Hearing Chen Cheng say such a shameless thing made her furious, but she didn't lash out on the spot because Aunt Mei and Qiao Hui were there.
Qiao Hui was also taken aback, then laughed and said, "Brother Chen Cheng is a man of great character, I will definitely treat you later!"
He looked at Chen Cheng, who was wearing a T-shirt, capri pants, and flip-flops, with a look of disdain in his eyes.
Half an hour later, the group walked out of the emergency room. Qiao Hui and Zhang Qian walked side by side in front. She had a bitter face, and the wound on her arm was tightly wrapped in white gauze. The doctor had also exaggeratedly wrapped a bandage around her neck and crossed her injured arm across her chest. This strange sight made Chen Cheng behind her laugh.
Zhang Qian turned her head and glared at him fiercely: "Laugh again, and I'll sew your mouth shut too!"
"I warned you to be careful back then, but you still bit Lü Dongbin and kicked me out."
"You still dare to talk back!"
Zhang Qian couldn't help but raise her leg to kick him, but he nimbly dodged it, but how could she possibly kick him?
Qiao Hui quickly helped her up and said, "Qianqian, stop making a fuss. The doctor said you need to rest for a few days. How about I take a few days off and spend some time with you?"
Zhang Qian shook off his hand and glared at him: "You don't need to worry about me!"
Then he walked on by himself.
Qiao Hui quickly chased after him.
When they arrived at the car, Qiao Hui saw that she wanted to ride in the car that Chen Cheng had driven, so he stepped forward and said, "Qianqian, ride in my car, my car is more comfortable!"
"It doesn't matter what kind of car it is to me."
While Qiao Hui was still in a daze, Chen Cheng came up to him and said, "Handsome, didn't you say you'd treat us to dinner? Look, it's almost ten o'clock, and Zhang Qian and I are still starving!"
Zhang Qian was furious: "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Hurry up and drive back to the police station to see how far Captain He has gone in the interrogation!"
"Sisi, Brother Chen Cheng is right. No matter how busy you are with work, you still need to eat, right?"
Qiao Hui looked at Zhang Qian with expectant eyes.
"You two go eat together, I'll take a taxi back to the police station!"
She made a move to leave after saying that, but Chen Cheng's words made her so angry that her wound almost burst open!
"Hey handsome, she's not eating. Why don't you treat me to something to eat?"
In Qiao Hui's eyes, he was nothing without Zhang Qian, so he didn't say anything. Instead, Zhang Qian came back, grabbed Chen Cheng's ear, and dragged him to the car: "Back to the police station!"
Seeing that she really didn't want to eat and was in a hurry to go back to the police station, Qiao Hui said helplessly, "Okay, Qianqian, I know you love your work, so let's leave it at that for tonight, I'll come see you tomorrow!"
"No need, you should go about your business. We're swamped with work here, I don't have time!"
After saying that, Chen Cheng opened the car door and got in. He gave Qiao Hui a helpless wry smile, then started the car and drove away.
Qiao Hui watched the departing black Volkswagen and said hatefully, "One day I will conquer you and make you beg for mercy under me!"
In the car, Zhang Qian stared out the window, too angry to say a word. She was annoyed by Qiao Hui's persistent pestering, worried that Aunt Mei would tell her parents about her injury, and also by this hateful oddball who looked like a starving ghost.Chapter 14 A Dark Childhood
"That little sister Xixi, not to be nosy, but Qiao Hui is currently suffering from karmic retribution. You'd better not have too much contact with him!"
As the person in charge of Ghost Eye, Chen Cheng could tell at a glance that Qiao Hui had been haunted by something unclean recently. However, he was in his prime and the thing was not very powerful, so it didn't have a big impact on him now. But as time went on, he would eventually run into trouble because of this.
"Mind your own business!"
Zhang Qian retorted irritably, then suddenly a thought struck her. Could it be that Qiao Hui's appearance made him uncomfortable, which was why he was slandering Qiao Hui? But that didn't seem like it. What kind of person was he anyway? That despicable bastard!
"Hehe, don't think I'm talking badly about him. Once the case is solved tonight, I'll have to go back to Fengjiang tomorrow. I can't eat or sleep well here, and I'm constantly being looked down upon by someone. What's the point?"
After hearing what he said, Zhang Qian felt a sudden tightness in her heart, but she didn't know why. As the numbing effect on her arm gradually wore off, she began to feel a slight pain, so she didn't bother to pay attention to it.
The two returned to the police station's special task force office, which was empty. Zhang Qian turned and walked towards the interrogation room, while Chen Cheng casually lay down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and enjoyed smoking it.
Next to the interrogation room was a monitoring room, separated from the interrogation room by a thick glass wall. This type of glass is often seen in movies and TV shows. People in the monitoring room can see everything in the interrogation room, but people in the interrogation room cannot see the monitoring room. At this moment, He Wenhui, the captain of the criminal investigation team, and Du Haoyu, the police chief, were watching the interrogation of Tian Min in the monitoring room and remotely directing the interrogation personnel.
Tian Min continued crying and making a scene at the police station until two female officers took forceful measures and removed her outer clothing, which calmed her down slightly. However, when the officers saw the dense clusters of dot-like scars on her body, they were stunned. An examination revealed that these scars were marks left by needle pricks, covering her entire body. They weren't from a single incident, but rather from new wounds layered on top of old ones, forming over a long period.
Tian Min's psychological defenses finally collapsed. Before the interrogators could even ask her any questions, she confessed to murdering eight middle-aged women. However, when the interrogators pressed her about her motives, she suddenly fell silent and then began to tell her story.
Tian Min's mother became pregnant out of wedlock, and no one knows who the father of the child is to this day. In that era, this situation was unacceptable. Helpless, she left her hometown and married a bachelor who was more than ten years older than her. Later, she gave birth to Tian Min. When Tian Min was young, her mother suffered from mental illness due to years of domestic violence from her alcoholic father. She fell off a bridge and died when she was six years old, leaving poor little Tian Min to live with her stepfather.
Later, her stepfather met a prostitute, and the two began living together. This woman always wore a tattered cheongsam and was a severe psychopath. She abused little Tianmin in various ways. The stepfather, of course, felt no pity for this burden; in fact, at the woman's instigation, he also preyed on the seven-year-old Tianmin. This wicked woman became even more perverse, frequently pricking little Tianmin with embroidery needles and using unspeakable methods and tools to torture her for pleasure. This nightmarish childhood continued until she was ten years old. By then, Tianmin's psychological state... Completely tormented and twisted into a numb, twisted state by the wicked woman, that night, after her stepfather fell into a deep sleep from drinking, the wicked woman, having finished tormenting Xiaotian Min, accidentally knocked over a kerosene can on the table, causing a fire. The flames set the wicked woman's clothes ablaze. She desperately ran towards the door, but Xiaotian Min, who had already run out, slammed the wooden door shut and used a sickle from the doorway to firmly stab the lock's iron ring. No matter how much the wicked woman pleaded or pounded on the door, she remained unmoved until there was no more sound from inside, until the fire engulfed the simple tile-roofed house, until the villagers arrived…
Later, Tian Min became an orphan, frequently being taken to and from various shelters until she was fifteen, when she was adopted by a kind-hearted family who had no children. She attended school peacefully for two years before dropping out and working as an apprentice in a tailor shop. After the elderly couple passed away, she sold her possessions and came to Xi'an alone. She had one relationship during this time, but due to her irritable, violent, and erratic personality, coupled with the trauma of her childhood, her boyfriend couldn't take it anymore and broke up with her. This made her hate the unjust society even more, hating her deceased stepfather and that vicious woman in the cheongsam.
From then on, she never contacted men again, instead opening a tailor shop. She managed to make a living using her newly acquired skills. One day, a middle-aged woman wearing a cheongsam came to the shop and asked if she could make cheongsams. The woman noticed the numerous needle marks on Tian Min's arms and joked about them. Looking at the woman before her, who resembled the vicious woman who had died, Tian Min's twisted and perverse demonic nature was fully awakened. From then on, she wore long sleeves and long clothes regardless of the season, and constantly looked for single middle-aged women who liked to wear cheongsams. She had already chosen several targets. Then, two months ago, her first victim asked her to come to her home on a rainy day to have a cheongsam custom-made. Sensing an opportunity, she suddenly attacked while measuring the victim's back, subduing the middle-aged woman. Then, amidst the woman's terrified gaze, she took out a pre-prepared male toy and, mimicking the cruel treatment the woman had inflicted on her as a child, tortured the victim to satisfy her perverse pleasure. She meticulously stabbed the victim's body with embroidery needles, row upon row, for three or four hours until the victim suffered cardiac arrest due to excessive pain—essentially, she made the victim die in agony. She tortured and killed several others using the same methods. If the police hadn't intervened tonight, she would have already arranged another target for tomorrow!
"That was close!"
He Wenhui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If it weren't for Chen Cheng, tomorrow would have been another tragedy. And as he said, the police had been led astray from the very beginning of the investigation, never even considering the possibility of women. So they selectively avoided women in their surveillance footage. It was all thanks to his insistence on bringing in Chen Cheng. Otherwise, not only would he have been removed from his position as captain, but he would also have let down the hundreds of thousands of people in Xijing, the eight victims, and their families!
At this moment, Zhang Qian knocked on the door and came in. Director Du Haoyu already knew about her injury, but he hadn't had time to ask her about it yet. Don't underestimate Zhang Qian just because she's a junior police officer; her family background is quite extraordinary!
"Comrade Zhang Qian, how badly are you injured? Are you alright?"
"Thank you for your concern, Director Du. It's just a minor injury. Has Tian Min confessed?"
She was also overwhelmed by the case. Although she could go home to rest at any time, she had a strong sense of mission and did not make an exception because of her family background!
"He's already confessed. Here's the interrogation record. Take a look."
Although He Wenhui was exhausted, he said with a happy expression that he could finally get a good night's sleep tonight.Chapter 15 There's a lot of this stuff.
Zhang Qian carefully reviewed the interrogation transcript. Tian Min's unfortunate childhood made her sigh. But no matter what, she had committed murder, and the impact was extremely bad. The rest was up to the court. The police had done what they needed to do. All that was left was to secure the physical evidence and conduct a scene identification. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. If it weren't for Chen Cheng, thinking of him would make her feel uneasy, and she didn't know why!
The group returned to the task force office. Chen Cheng was so bored he was almost asleep. When he saw them come in, especially the one in front who looked very official, he quickly stood up.
"You must be Comrade Chen Cheng. I really have to thank you this time. If it weren't for you, our investigation would still be off track, haha!"
"Chen Cheng, this is Chief Du from our police station."
"Director Du, you're joking. Even without me, I believe the police station, under your and Captain He's leadership, will find the right direction to solve the case."
"Haha, not bad, not bad, young and promising, and not arrogant or impatient. Would you like to join our police force?"
Zhang Qian was overjoyed upon hearing this, but Chen Cheng's subsequent words made her both disappointed and angry.
"Thank you for your recognition, Director Du. I'm naturally free-spirited and not suited to stay in a formal place like yours. I'd better go back to my little teahouse. But if needed, I'll come running again as soon as you or Captain He gives the order. As for the reward for helping to solve the case, hehe."
"Comrade Chen Cheng, Captain He told me about this matter. The notices posted by our police station are true and valid. After the evidence is secured, the scene is identified, and the case is handed over to the court, the police station will allocate special funds to reward you meritorious people!"
"Thank you, Director Du, haha."
Seeing Chen Cheng's greedy expression, Zhang Qian felt like biting him.
As Chen Cheng walked out of the police station, he thought to himself that he hadn't gotten any food tonight. Oh well, he'd find somewhere to eat something and head back to Fengjiang tomorrow. Anyway, Director Du had already agreed, and he'd given He Wenhui his bank account number, so the bonus would be deposited directly into his account.
While waiting for a taxi at the intersection, Zhang Qian's voice came from behind: "Hey, you miser, are you still going to eat?"
Eat!
Chen Cheng suddenly turned around and said in surprise.
"Okay, but you have to treat me tonight!"
Zhang Qian said with a proud smile.
"Huh? You change your attitude faster than turning the pages of a book. Before the case was solved, you were calling me Brother Cheng and inviting me to dinner. But now that the case is solved, you've changed your tune? This is called discarding someone after they've served their purpose, or denying everything after you've done your bidding. And what else is it called...!"
"Pah! You lecherous scoundrel, shameless! What do you mean by 'backing down'? The line of men wanting to treat me to dinner could stretch all the way to France. This is me giving you face!"
"Stop! I'd rather lose face like that. You should find someone in line."
"Hmph, Captain He will definitely leave the matter of transferring money to you to me. Are you going to treat me or not? If you don't, don't blame me if you lose ten or twenty thousand!"
"You dare threaten me? Humph, a real man can't even afford to treat his little sister to a meal? Come on, little sister Qianqian, what do you want to eat? Brother Cheng will let you eat your fill!"
Upon hearing that she was going to deduct money from his pay, Chen Cheng immediately backed down.
"Haha, alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll give you face. Let's go to the seafood market in the city center. King crab, lobster, and whatever else you like will do."
Zhang Qian was inexplicably happy; she was happy as long as Chen Cheng suffered a setback.
Chen Cheng was startled. Eating these things would probably cost at least a thousand or two. So, with a bitter face, he said, "Little sister Qianqian, you can't eat seafood because you're injured. It's not good for your wound healing. How about this, you should eat what you need to replenish. I'll be generous today and treat you to a lamb leg. It's tender, juicy, and nutritious, perfect for someone like you who's injured."
"I don't want lamb leg, I want seafood!"
"Seafood isn't nutritious, lamb leg is much better!"
"I want to eat seafood!"
The two bickered as they got into a taxi and arrived at the same food stall from the previous night. Looking at Zhang Qian, who was pouting in anger, Chen Cheng said with a grin, "Qianqian, this place is still the best. After all, you hosted a welcome dinner for me here yesterday. Now that I'm leaving tomorrow, consider this a farewell dinner for me. How about it? This place is meaningful, a way to finish what you started!"
"You stingy wretch, you miser!"
Although Zhang Qian said it, she realized that this place was indeed meaningful, so she pulled up a stool and sat down.
"Boss, thirty skewers and a pitcher of beer!"
"No meat skewers, give me a roasted lamb leg!"
Zhang Qian yelled at the boss, then glared at Chen Cheng with dissatisfaction: "Didn't you say you wanted roasted lamb leg? Thirty skewers aren't enough to fill your teeth. You're not being sincere. Do you want me to deduct your bonus?"
"I haven't finished explaining yet. I'm sincere, Sisi, so eat and drink to your heart's content tonight!"
Although it hurts, what can you do when someone has your weakness in their grasp?
"That's more like it!"
Zhang Qian smiled smugly.
"Hey, last night when you made Tian Min take off her clothes, did you already know she was the murderer? And you were so sure, did she tell you that?"
"Which 'her'?"
Chen Cheng asked the question knowing the answer already.
"That's her, Cao, the soul of Cao Jiao'e, isn't it?"
"Hmm, you're so smart. You answered all those difficult questions right away."
Seeing Chen Cheng jokingly teasing her, she picked up a chopstick and threw it at him.
"Oh my, with a violent policewoman like you, who would dare to marry you in the future!"
Chen Cheng pretended to be in pain.
"Mind your own business!"
Zhang Qian rolled her eyes at him, then leaned closer to the table and whispered, "Hey, what do ghosts look like? What do they look like when they're alive, or what do they look like after they're dead?"
"First of all, I'm not called 'Hey.' Also, the soul after death is the same as it was in life, but..."
"But what?"
"Tell me quickly, but what is it?"
Zhang Qian asked urgently, both afraid and curious about these unknown things.
"Call me Brother Cheng and I'll tell you!"
Chen Cheng said with a mischievous grin.
"You, I'm clearly older than you, no, I'm older than you, so why do you make me call you brother? Humph!"
"Who told you to call me 'brother' last night? It felt really good to hear, so from now on, whenever you ask me anything, you have to call me 'Brother Cheng' first!"
Thinking back to how she had called Chen Cheng "Brother Cheng" in a soft, affected tone last night in order to ignite the conflict, Zhang Qian felt embarrassed and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Brother Cheng, tell me."
The sound was so soft and sweet that it gave Chen Cheng goosebumps.
"The soul and the living soul are basically the same, both being semi-transparent in their previous state. However, when they become ghosts, they become almost tangible, and they can sense your inner fears and transform into something that frightens you!"
Zhang Qian felt a chill run down her spine, but she couldn't help but ask, "Brother Chengcheng, are there a lot of these things?"
"There are many, especially in hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, mass graves, and any place with heavy yin energy!"
"Oh! Are they on the street?"
"Yes, look, there's one over there!"
Chen Cheng pointed in a direction on the street with a grin and said.