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Fang Zigui took a small sample of blood from the edge of the wound and sniffed it in his palm. Then, he retrieved a small porcelain vial from his pocket, poured out a few grains of powder, and sprinkled it over the blood. The moment the powder touched the blood, it turned a dark green.
His brow furrowed deeper. "Liu, Lin Mingchang, there is an ancient paralyzing drug in the wound of the deceased. This drug contracts the skin upon exposure to air, preventing blood from flowing out, which is why there are almost no traces of blood at the scene. I once encountered this substance in an ancient text; it was commonly used in the past to execute noble prisoners to minimize the bloodshed. After the Ming Dynasty, it has nearly vanished."
Liu looked at Fang Zigui in surprise. "Doctor Fang, your keen eye and knowledge are impressive! I sensed something unusual about the wound earlier but couldn't pinpoint why."
Fang Zigui continued, "I suspect that the murderer used this drug to seal the deceased's wound to ensure they wouldn’t get any blood on themselves. Either the murderer has some sort of obsession with cleanliness, or they needed to attend an event shortly after committing the murder and were worried about being discovered. Considering that the victim died in the dead of night, I believe the likelihood of a cleanliness obsession is greater."
Lin Mingchang took note of Liu and Fang Zigui's findings before heading to the back compartment of the shop where Han Mingshan's body was discovered; this compartment was also wide open at that time.
According to the deceased's family, this compartment served as Han Mingshan's workspace where he usually kept accounts and sometimes repaired antiques himself.
Before Lin Mingchang entered, Xiaoshuang had already been searching for clues here. Lin Mingchang did not disturb her and instead examined every corner of the compartment. It was quite spacious, lined with several rows of shelves against the wall, holding antiques that were far more valuable than those displayed in the front shop.
Inside, cabinets meant for storing important items had been violently pried open, but Han Mingshan's son had already checked—nothing was missing from the shelves, and all silver dollars and receipts remained intact... It seemed that robbery was not the motive for this crime.
Lin Mingchang approached Han Mingshan's desk and found a red-covered ledger sitting atop it. He flipped open to the last few pages.
"The deceased acquired a precious antique just two days ago, marked as 'Fragments of Ancient Konghou,' priced at five hundred taels, but there’s no mention of who sold it."
Xiaoshuang walked over curiously and peered at the ledger. "Konghou? What is that?"
"I know about Konghou," Shen Tong entered the compartment just in time to hear Lin Mingchang and Xiaoshuang's conversation. "It’s an ancient plucked string instrument that dates back to the Spring and Autumn period. It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty and held a significant position in court music at that time. It is said that Konghou's sound can communicate with spirits and influence yin and yang. However, it gradually fell into obscurity after the Ming Dynasty."
Lin Mingchang nodded and moved closer to Shen Tong. "Did you find anything?"
"The Death Qi here... is quite unusual," Shen Tong said softly. "It exhibits a rare wave-like flow with distinct rhythmic qualities, almost like... like a musical beat."
"And," Shen Tong continued thoughtfully, "this rhythm resembles the breath fluctuations I sensed last night..."
Lin Mingchang suddenly turned to Shen Tong with a hint of reproach in his voice. "You sensed strange breath fluctuations last night? Did you feel unwell? Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I thought it was just an illusion from drinking," Shen Tong gently shook her head. "Besides, that feeling was very faint, like distant music; I assumed someone was hosting a performance for a festival..."
Noticing Lin Mingchang's concern, Shen Tong quickly changed the subject. "By the way, I came in to find you because I made a discovery."
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