Chapter 24: Arriving At Xishan Village

Currently, we need to go and check the graveyard of Liu Youde’s son.

Second Uncle hesitated for a moment before saying this, as such matters require personal observation to be certain.

Captain Zhao nodded upon hearing Second Uncle’s words, while Snakehead directly asked:

Captain Zhao, Dao Ye, are we going directly to Liu Youde’s son’s graveyard?

Yes, let’s check the graveyard first.

Okay.

The atmosphere on the way seemed a bit heavy. I didn’t know why Snakehead was silent, but it was normal for Second Uncle not to talk much, as he generally doesn’t speak much when he’s in a car. In any case, the car fell silent, with no one speaking.

It’s about two hundred kilometers from Taiyuan to Xishan Village in Huozhou City, and driving there takes some time.

It took almost three hours to reach Xishan Village, and it was already past six in the evening.

Seeing how late it was, Captain Zhao hesitated and then advised Second Uncle:

It’s too late today, how about we go to Liu Youde’s son’s graveyard tomorrow?

Second Uncle didn’t refuse, and then Captain Zhao asked Snakehead to drive the three of us to Xishan Police Station.

Because the village is remote and there aren’t even any apartment hotels for lodging, we had to stay the night at the police station.

When Snakehead dropped us off at the Xishan Village police station, he bid farewell and left. Fixers like him are only responsible for introductions and contacts; they don’t get involved in anything else.

Captain Zhao led us into the police station, where two officers were on duty in the office. Captain Zhao introduced us to their identities.

One, a younger officer, was named Xiao Lin. The other shared the same surname as Captain Zhao, and appeared to be around the same age, so we all called him Old Zhao.

After the introductions, Captain Zhao took us to a room. Since it was a village police station, there weren’t many rooms available for guests, so Second Uncle and I shared one.

There were other rooms, specifically the cells for detaining criminals, but we were guests, and they couldn’t possibly have us stay in a cell. Although we could have made do, there has never been a tradition of guests staying in cells.

Old Zhao and Xiao Lin had to be on duty, while Captain Zhao would use another room.

After being led to the resting house by Captain Zhao, Second Uncle and I took a short rest. Captain Zhao then knocked on the door holding three lunch boxes and a file bag.

We knew it was Captain Zhao, so Second Uncle went to open the door and invited Captain Zhao in.

This file contains the cases of Liu Youde and Zhang Quan’s families, as well as crime scene photos of the young man’s demise. The two Masters can take a look.

Captain Zhao placed the lunch boxes on the table and handed the file bag to Second Uncle.

Second Uncle took the file bag, opened it, and took out over ten photos.

The manner of death of the people in these photos was the same as Captain Zhao described: their hearts seemed to have been dug out by something. Captain Zhao also mentioned that the victim’s heart was not found at the scene.

The wounds where the hearts were dug out from the victims in the photos were very strange, with not much blood flowing out. The victims’ blood was flowing from their excavated eyes. These photos were taken very clearly.

As Second Uncle looked at each photo and switched to the next, he casually handed the one he had looked at to me.

I looked at the photos with a frown; the scenes in the photos made me feel uncomfortable, while Second Uncle’s expression was quite natural.

Captain Zhao was eating his meal and, seeing us looking at the photos, said:

Let’s eat first, or the food will get cold.

Second Uncle looked at the photos, seeming to want to speak but hesitating, as if he had something to say.

Captain Zhao, having been a police officer for so many years, couldn’t help but notice and asked Second Uncle:

Master Blade, do you have something to say?

Second Uncle took the photos from my hand, looked deeply at Captain Zhao, and did not answer him at that moment.

After looking through the photos several times, Second Uncle finally spoke:

Captain Zhao, as per regulations, police officers usually dispatch in pairs. I didn’t see your partner here. What’s going on?

Although Captain Zhao didn’t know why Second Uncle asked, he smiled and replied, since Second Uncle had asked:

Master Blade, you seem to be quite familiar with some of our police regulations. I had my partner send the backup files for this case back to the Provincial Bureau a few days ago. He’ll be back in a few days, and the local police officers will assist me in solving this case. Do you have any doubts about this matter?

Second Uncle frowned and, puzzled, asked Captain Zhao: Captain Zhao, don’t you find it strange? Two families were massacred, and the Provincial Bureau only sent the two of you to solve the case? This is no longer an ordinary murder case, is it?

Upon Second Uncle’s remark, Captain Zhao stopped eating and looked at Second Uncle. His expression clearly showed he had realized it too. Logically, the Provincial Bureau should have dispatched more police force, so why only Captain Zhao and his partner?

Captain Zhao rubbed his chin, seemingly pondering something.

Second Uncle took two other lunch boxes, handed one to me, and I started eating.

At that moment, I realized one thing: police officers must operate in pairs; otherwise, it’s a violation of procedure.

Second Uncle continued, eating his boxed meal:

The village police officers are completely different from the police officers in the Provincial Bureau. Of course, I’m just speaking the truth, and it might sound harsh, but I believe Captain Zhao is aware of this.

Captain Zhao’s eyes gradually became sharp. This matter was clearly not simple.

However, the matters concerning the Provincial Bureau probably have little to do with this case. As for this case, Captain Zhao, as a police officer, do you believe in the existence of ghosts?

Second Uncle said seriously, looking at Captain Zhao.

Captain Zhao looked at Second Uncle, his eyes sharp, but he remained silent, not answering Second Uncle’s question.

I could feel that Captain Zhao most likely already believed that this case was not the work of a human. However, because he was a police officer, if he said he believed, he would be letting down his uniform. If he said he didn’t believe, then this case truly didn’t seem like something a human could do. Therefore, Captain Zhao found it difficult to answer Second Uncle’s question.

As for the situation at the Provincial Bureau, there were definitely issues, but what those issues were, only Captain Zhao could find out.

Second Uncle also saw Captain Zhao’s predicament. He took out a cigarette and offered one to Captain Zhao, then lit one for himself. After taking a deep puff, he slowly said:

It’s too late to go to Liu Youde’s son’s graveyard tomorrow. We’ll go now; perhaps I can discern something. Captain Zhao, would you like to join us?

Go now?

Captain Zhao hesitated and asked uncertainly.

I could clearly sense that Captain Zhao, with over twenty years on the force, sounded a bit timid.

However, this couldn’t be blamed on him. If he were facing a desperate villain, Captain Zhao would never be afraid. But this was something beyond scientific explanation, and anyone would be scared, including police officers.

Yes, if Captain Zhao is afraid to go at night, then my nephew and I will go. You’ll need to give us the specific location. If I find any clues, I’ll come back and tell you.

Second Uncle also understood. It was normal for people outside their circle to be afraid of such matters. Regardless of their status in society, Captain Zhao, despite trying to appear calm, was bound to be afraid. It was just that because he was a police officer and was assigned to handle this matter, he had to face it head-on.