Chapter 3

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

After finding out why the girl had died, Chen Hao sighed again.

She was a pitiful girl. She was young and didn’t have a chance to fully enjoy life. Instead, she fell into the clutches of the devil and had been tortured greatly. She hadn’t even turned 30 when she died.

If Brother Tiger were to die, nobody would care too.

It might sound like a simple task, but it surely wouldn’t be an easy feat.

Chen Hao hesitated before replying, “Are you saying that he must pay for your life with his? That’s reasonable. However, I’m merely a priest and I’m human too. I have to abide by the laws. I can’t just kill anyone. If I do, how different would I be from this Brother Tiger?”

Liu Yue’e grew unhappy and her resentment engulfed her slowly. “Reverend, you just said that you’ll help me.”

Chen Hao felt a cold breeze piercing through his skin, making him utterly uncomfortable. Thus, he hurriedly clarified. “I’m not saying I won’t help you, but we have to come up with another method. I can’t kill someone for you. Do you have any evidence against Brother Tiger? As the saying goes, ‘Should you have any issues, look for the police’. What do you think?”

“The police?” Liu Yue’e scoffed. “I’ve been staying by Brother Tiger’s side for the past three years. He’s committed countless sins, but he also made powerful connections. He’s even acquainted with some police officers too. They frequently get together to drink and sleep with women.”

Chen Hao chuckled. “Haven’t you seen how cats and mice can get along well too? They’re merely doing it for mutual benefits. Moreover, there may be rotten police officers, but most of them are still morally upright. You have to trust that our laws are fair. As long as everything goes well, Brother Tiger will definitely be sanctioned. Of course, we need adequate proof.”

Liu Yue’e hesitated for a moment and answered, “I have the evidence. Brother Tiger has harmed many girls before and has filmed the entire process in order to threaten them. In addition, I also know where he keeps his bribery ledger. He’s also a drug dealer. Last night, Brother Tiger and a foreigner just imported a huge amount of drugs. They’re all stashed away in a secret room in one of his nightclubs.”

Chen Hao’s eyes lit up. “With that much evidence, he’ll definitely be punished severely. Liu Yue’e, if you trust me, you should leave with me. I’ll follow the laws and help you accordingly. You’ll definitely be satisfied with the outcome. What do you say?”

Liu Yue’e fell silent, as though she was considering his offer.

Chen Hao continued, “Of course, it’s fine if you don’t trust me. However, it’s been three years. Have you met anyone who could see you? It’s not easy to carry out religious practices nowadays. It’s fate that allowed us to meet. Otherwise, you can only wait till Brother Tiger gets punished by the Heavens if you want revenge.”

Liu Yue’e answered miserably, “I have no choice but to trust you. I hope that you won’t deceive me.”

Chen Hao heaved a sigh of relief and laughed. “Don’t worry. I left the mountains precisely for spiritual practice. I can gain merit for helping you, also helping myself in the process. I won’t miss such a good opportunity.”

Listening to Chen Hao’s words, the look in Liu Yue’e’s eyes turned gentler.

Clearly, this priest who had appeared out of the blue had chosen to help her because he could also reap benefits. This made him even more reliable than someone offering to help her for no rhyme or reason.

Chen Hao and Liu Yue’e made some plans and left the abandoned house.

As they arrived at an internet cafe, Chen Hao searched for the police force from Stone City. Within a short period of time, Chen Hao identified someone.

Zhou Gang.

He was the second marshal of the police force in Stone City. He was reputable as a strong and formidable officer. Having served for over a decade, he had cracked more than ten tough cases, capturing numerous villains.

The most well-known case he dealt with was about the doll murderer. The case had shaken up the entire Stone City. The day before the suspect was convicted, Zhou Gang found the real culprit and cleared the initial suspect of all charges.

Chen Hao wanted to use these examples to show Liu Yue’e that they just needed to identify a police officer whom they could trust. Otherwise, their plans would be revealed to the entire force.

After confirming their intended partner, Chen Hao rushed to the police station the next morning. After offering the officers a pack of cigarettes, he found out from them Zhou Gang’s residential address. Coincidentally, he was off-duty today.

Following the address, Chen Hao arrived at Zhou Gang’s house.

It was located on the third floor in a small alley.

After all these years, the only interaction Chen Hao had with a police officer was to show his identification card. This was the first time Chen Hao looked for a police officer on his own accord, making him feel nervous all of a sudden.

However, thinking that this would determine his future, he had to force himself to do it even if he didn’t have the courage to.

Taking in a deep breath, Chen Hao pressed on the doorbell.

Within a short while, the door opened, revealing a lady’s pretty and gentle face. She looked rather hagged.

“You are?” she asked.

Chen Hao smiled and replied, “Hi, Madam. I’m looking for Captain Zhou Gang. Is he home?”

The woman forced a smile and answered, “He is. You may come in.”

Chen Hao entered and immediately heard a loud wail.

Pausing in shock, Chen Hao studied his surroundings.

The house wasn’t big, probably only over a hundred square meters. It was decorated in a simple yet warm manner.

Just as he was looking around for Zhou Gang, Chen Hao’s expression froze.

A burly man with masculine facial features stepped out of the bedroom with a child in his arms.

He was Zhou Gang, the man whom Chen Hao had searched for last night.

What shocked Chen Hao was the child in his arms.

She was around three years old. Donning a floral dress, her hair was tied up beautifully. Yet, she couldn’t stop bawling and tears flowed down her face incessantly. A dark aura circled her head radiating sinister coldness.

“You are?” Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao in confusion.

Chen Hao snapped out of his shock and chuckled. “Hi, Captain Zhou. I’m Chen Hao. I came uninvited, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Chen Hao?” Zhou Gang examined Chen Hao from head to toe, confirming that he had never met this man before. He looked at Chen Hao, hinting for him to continue.

Chen Hao laughed and explained, “Captain Zhou, if you trust me, you may get your wife to pluck a fresh willow branch by the river outside this alley. The child will stop crying after you caress her head with the branch.”

Oh?

Hearing Chen Hao’s words, Zhou Gang and the gentle lady turned around in shock.

Zhou Gang looked at Chen Hao doubtfully.

This unknown lad came into his house uninvited. Not only did he not explain his motive, but he even ended up talking about something seemingly superstitious. What did he want?

On the contrary, the gentle lady appeared shocked, then she hurriedly asked, “You… Did you mean my daughter?”

Chen Hao laughed. “Madam, if you trust me, you can give it a try.”

The woman glanced at her crying daughter and then at Zhou Gang before turning around to leave.

Zhou Gang didn’t stop her.

As a police officer, he trusted only proper evidence.

Their daughter had been crying since yesterday and the doctors hadn’t been able to help them. He took leave from work hoping to take her to the hospital for a check-up.

Meeting a person like Chen Hao all of a sudden and hearing such suspicious words from him, he thought that there was something strange.

After a short while, the woman returned while panting carrying a willow branch in her hands.

Hesitating for a moment, she glanced at Chen Hao before walking towards Zhou Gang. Holding up the willow branch, she waved it slowly above her daughter’s head.

Although Chen Hao was smiling, he felt nervous deep down too.

He had only given that suggestion after analyzing the little girl’s condition.

Using a willow branch to drive away spirits was a superstitious method that originated from his hometown. Placing a chopstick vertically in a bowl to call on a dead relative was also something that he had personally witnessed when he was young. Many of these had oddly led to an improvement in conditions.

However, he hadn’t tried it himself and didn’t know if it worked too.

As the three of them watched, the willow branch started swaying.

Magically, within a short while, the young girl stopped wailing and was merely sobbing quietly now. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at the willow branch curiously, even trying to reach out to grab it.

This miraculous sight caused Zhou Gang’s eyes to widen in shock. The woman also felt fearful yet pleased.

Chen Hao felt that it was interesting too.

As the willow branch swayed, the dark aura circling the little girl’s head dissipated.

He witnessed clearly that the aura had been dispersed by a green gas emanating from the black willow branch.

Indeed, the folk rumors weren’t groundless. The willow branch was truly a wonderful item.