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The Burial
墨書 Inktalez
In the early morning, the market of Jinyang County still held a hint of chill, appearing somewhat desolate. A misty rain hung in the air, as if draping the entire world in a thin veil.
The mournful sound of the suona drifted far away, carrying an endless sorrow that seemed to penetrate deep into one's heart.
Light yellow paper money, dampened by the rain, became heavy and fell like broken yellow butterflies, swaying gently as they descended.
In the funeral procession, those dressed in mourning attire wore solemn expressions. The Eight Immortals Carrying the Coffin stood starkly against the white mourning headbands and the somber attire of the mourners.
At the other end of the long street, a figure clad in deep blue was approaching slowly with an eerie gait.
With each step he took, his joints seemed too stiff to bend, moving rigidly as if every stride required all his strength. His movements were mechanical and sluggish, and his blue clothing appeared particularly strange.
"He's wearing a Shroud!" A passerby exclaimed in shock.
The street fell into a sudden silence; even the musicians playing the suona stared in astonishment at the man struggling through the mist.
Yet he seemed oblivious to their gazes, plodding stubbornly toward the coffin that glistened in the rain, as if it held an irresistible allure for him.
"Da Tou!" A woman from the funeral procession suddenly threw down her spirit tablet and rushed toward him without hesitation.
Her voice was hoarse from grief, filled with endless affection and reluctance in that single call.
At that moment, as if comforted that his wife had finally recognized him, the man in the Shroud slowly lifted his head.
His movements were painstakingly slow, as if his neck were too stiff to turn. A strange smile flickered across his pale face, but it vanished almost instantly, collapsing like a broken dam onto the ground.
The woman was heartbroken, clutching her husband's corpse as her wails echoed painfully.
Her cries reverberated through the misty rain, as if her desperate lament could somehow bring back to life her husband who had once died and was now inexplicably returned to stand before his own coffin.
"Is she still not willing to say anything?" Li Zimu looked at An Siyang, who had just come out of the Interrogation Chamber, shaking his head as he walked. With a mischievous grin, he lightly nudged He Xinluo's shoulder. "Don't say I'm trying to stir up trouble! Your Brother Si Yang is clearly showing favoritism towards that Che Xi Girl! Otherwise, with his skills, it’s quite suspicious that he hasn't been able to extract any information after so many days!"
He Xinluo, without lifting her head, replied, "You're overthinking it. Brother Si Yang never resorts to torture!"
Her tone was firm, suggesting she had absolute trust in An Siyang.
As soon as she finished speaking, Inspector Lin and others helped Che Xi out, and there was a noticeable trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.
The blood stood out starkly against her pale face, evoking a sense of pity in those who saw it.
An Siyang sat down at a stone table nearby. Noticing the surprised looks from Li Zimu and He Xinluo, he sighed softly. "She confessed to killing Wang Wu and that maid, but when it comes to The Shape-Shifting Silver Wolf, she remains tight-lipped. I pressed her a bit more, and she bit her tongue. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I can only imagine..."
A hint of helplessness crossed his face.
"No need to imagine; she knows for sure you won't let anything happen to her!" He Xinluo said with certainty. "She doesn't seem like the type to take her own life. Biting her tongue was entirely to make you give up on questioning her about The Shape-Shifting Silver Wolf." As she spoke, she slightly furrowed her brow, seemingly deep in thought.
"By the way, when did Lao Lin start smoking water pipes?" Li Zimu mused, observing Inspector Lin's back. The pipe tucked under his arm was too conspicuous. His eyes were filled with confusion.
"You should ask him about that!" An Siyang smirked but seemed unwilling to elaborate further. His expression held an air of mystery that was hard to decipher.
Li Zimu was not ready to give up and wanted to ask more when a constable rushed in with a rather pale face. "Boss An, there's a case outside!"
His voice trembled with tension.
"Why are you so scared about a case?" He Xinluo chuckled.
Her smile carried a hint of ease, as if she didn't take the case seriously.
"That's not it, Miss He! It's Aunt Li from town; her husband Li Da Tou died from a snake bite while working in the fields two days ago. Today is the funeral, but during the burial, Li Da Tou—who was supposed to be sealed in his coffin—actually came back to life!"
The constable spoke while his legs trembled uncontrollably. "Boss An, our office is for investigating cases; it’s not a place for judging life and death..." Fear was etched across his face.
Li Zimu, upon hearing this, sprayed out the mouthful of Ginseng Tea he had just taken. "Zha Shi?"
"Yes! And he walked all the way from East Street to his coffin, only dying again after Aunt Li recognized him!"
The constable continued, "Boss An, our office is for investigating cases, not for judging life and death like the underworld..."
As he spoke, his feet couldn't help but tremble. "Boss An, our office is for investigating cases, not for judging life and death like the underworld..."
"Then why did Aunt Li come to see the officials?"
"She said that after Li Da Tou came back to life, she discovered that all the burial items in the coffin were missing. So she wants Master He to seek justice for her; she can't let Li Da Tou rest in peace..."
An Siyang nodded. "Where is she now?"
"Right outside the office, bringing along thirty or so members of the Li Family, young and old. She said if Master He doesn't investigate this clearly, her family will sit here in the office and not leave!"
"This Aunt Li, is she the same one from next door to Wang Wu's Family?" He Xinluo suddenly recalled the loud woman she had encountered last time.
Seeing the constable nod, she couldn't help but feel sympathy. "When I asked her about Wang Wu's Family last time, I thought she was just a bit greedy for small gains. I didn't expect her family would get into such trouble." A hint of pity flickered in her eyes.
An Siyang pondered for a moment before softly saying, "Regardless, we should go take a look. After all, the deceased deserves respect!"
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