Chapter 144

After establishing a clear direction for the investigation, Fang Rui assigned the tasks. He and Mu Mian would investigate the source of the tung oil, Zhang and Chen Xue would look into the bagua mirror, while others would interview the schools and neighbors where Zhang Mingli's parents had worked, hoping to find a breakthrough through the victim's social connections.

Chen Xue immediately objected, "I don't want to work with him! Besides, I'm a forensic expert. I only handle autopsies, not field investigations."

Zhang's previously cheerful expression crumbled. He had been trying to talk to Chen Xue for days, but she would walk away whenever she saw him, never giving him a chance to explain.

He had a huge argument with his mother and moved out of his home into the dormitory. While he was fighting against his family's wishes, Chen Xue had already given up on him.

"Chen Xue, we're short-handed right now, so please help out. The statute of limitations for this case is approaching, and we need to find evidence to identify the killer quickly," Fang Rui tried to comfort her, "You wouldn't want the murderer to escape justice, would you?"

Chen Xue fell silent, knowing she couldn't let personal feelings affect her work. She was about to suggest teaming up with Mu Mian instead, but Mu Mian was already excitedly discussing investigation plans with Fang Rui.

What a fair-weather friend.

Chen Xue glanced at Zhang, who was looking at her hopefully, and reluctantly agreed.

Mu Mian and Fang Rui drove off to investigate the source of the tung oil.

Tung oil comes in two forms: raw and processed. Raw tung oil is used in medicine and chemical industry, and is rarely sold to individuals. Processed tung oil is refined from raw tung oil and is mainly used in varnishes and other coatings.

Twenty years ago, before online shopping existed, hardware stores and paint shops would sell tung oil.

Fang Rui and Mu Mian interviewed elderly residents near the crime scene, asking about any old shops that used to sell tung oil. They provided some shop names and addresses.

When they checked these locations, they found that the shops had either closed down or relocated. They finally found one old shop, but it had no sales records or accounting books.

This lead seemed to be a dead end.

Zhang and Chen Xue were driving aimlessly around the streets. When they passed the same intersection for the third time, Chen Xue finally spoke up.

"Zhang Qiang, weren't we supposed to be looking for the fortune teller? Why are we driving in circles?"

Zhang replied dejectedly, "I was waiting for you to tell me where we should start looking."

"Zhang Qiang, aren't you the police officer here? Why are you asking me?"

"Zhang Taotao used to live in the Jiangzhou No. 13 Middle School staff housing complex. If he was looking for a fortune teller, he probably started searching near his home. Let's start with the most famous fortune tellers."

After analyzing, Zhang paused and added, "Skilled fortune tellers are usually quite old, so they might have passed away. Even if they're still alive, they must be very elderly now."

"Then let's hurry!"

There was an old street near Jiangzhou Middle School that was home to many funeral industry workers, offering everything from feng shui and fortune-telling to burial clothes and funeral wreaths.

After asking around the shops, Zhang and Chen Xue learned about a famous fortune teller known as the "Living Immortal."

He earned this nickname not only because of his accurate predictions and great skills but also because he was over ninety years old – living so long naturally made him a "Living Immortal."

When Zhang and Chen Xue entered his shop, they saw an elderly man with white hair sitting there, looking spirited, with bubble tea on his table and a phone in his hand as he scrolled through short videos.

Hearing footsteps approach, the old man looked up and carefully observed Zhang and Chen Xue. He asked, "Young believers, are you here to learn about your love destiny? From your facial features, I can see you have a deep connection. However, your relationship path will be rocky, and might not end well..."

Chen Xue's heart skipped a beat, remembering that Zhang's mother had also said their zodiac signs were incompatible.

"Master, we're police officers, not here for relationship readings," Zhang showed his badge, "We have some questions for you."

Zhang believed fortune-telling was just feudal superstition, and that no one could predict the future. He thought the master was deliberately trying to frighten them about their relationship to scam money from them.

"Officers, I haven't broken any laws! My predictions are accurate, and I never engage in fraud. I earn my living through genuine skill!"

Zhang took out the evidence bag containing the bagua mirror and asked, "Master, do you know where this mirror was made?"

"At a mirror factory, of course."

"..."

Chen Xue asked, "Is there anything special about this bagua mirror? How can you tell which master made it?"

"Ordinary bagua mirrors are all similar, but ones that have been blessed are different. Let me take a look."

The master took the mirror and examined it carefully before saying, "This is a convex bagua mirror, used to ward off evil spirits."

Bagua mirrors come in two types: concave and convex. Concave mirrors attract wealth, while convex mirrors ward off evil. The mirror's border contains the heavenly stems and earthly branches, the Nine Star System, the Early Heaven Bagua, and the twenty-four solar terms. It must be used with a stone tablet talisman or hand seals.

Chen Xue and Zhang exchanged glances, realizing that Zhang Taotao had planned to use this mirror to ward off the victim's negative energy.

"You've come to the right person. I made this bagua mirror," the master opened his seal book, "The book contains the Nangong Jumo seal, and the person who requested this blessing must have been born in the sixth lunar month. The handwriting isn't very flowing – it must be from when I was in my seventies."

"Master, do you remember who commissioned it?"

"It's been so many years, how could I remember?" the master shrugged.

Zhang thought this lead was probably another dead end.

The master took a sip of his bubble tea and said, "But I recorded every penny I earned. I can check my records."

"Please do so right away."

The master pulled out a thick account book and started looking through it.

"Master, it should be from nineteen years ago, please look further back."

The master leisurely flipped through the account book. Zhang glanced at it and noticed the master had earned quite a lot over the years.

"Master, you even keep accounts?"

"Of course, every penny I earned was exchanged with my lifespan. I have to keep track of it."

"And you still lived to be over ninety..."

The master shot Zhang a disapproving look before continuing to flip through the book. His hand suddenly stopped, "Found it, this should be it."

The entry read: Fifth day of the sixth lunar month, 2024; two bagua mirrors, one peach wood sword; 1,000 yuan; Believer Wang.

Aliali: 6747c480c4f3f33ac46fd021

Zhang's face fell, "Are you sure it was Believer Wang, not Believer Zhang?"

"I wrote down whatever surname they gave me, I don't know if it was true or false."

"Aren't your predictions supposed to be accurate?"

"Yes, I can tell fortunes, but I'm not a mind reader."

Chen Xue said, "Master, I notice you have an excellent memory. Do you remember what this Wang Jushi looked like?"

Chen Xue had noticed that while other clients paid just a few hundred yuan, Wang Jushi had paid 1,000 yuan. With such a high price, the master must have remembered him.

"I do remember. He had a black mole at the corner of his mouth, right here. From that position, I predicted he would face imprisonment. His facial features suggested he wasn't a good person, so I demanded one thousand yuan, and he paid without hesitation."

"Is this him?" Zhang showed him Zhang Taotao's photo.

"Yes, that's him. I remember him clearly because his facial features indicated a very poisonous nature." Sёarᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Zhang's face lit up: "Master, would you be willing to testify to this?"