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Yuan Jun drove the car, taking everyone towards the countryside. It would take three hours to reach Zhao Xiu's village. Since Wang Yedan had gone missing, four hours had already passed. This meant that at this moment, the Criminal Consultant had likely brought Wang Yedan to the village, and whatever he intended to do, he should be preparing to act.
Wang Kun and his wife followed closely behind Yuan Jun's car.
The vehicle navigated through the congested city traffic and along roads flanked by fields. When they arrived at the village entrance, a white Hyundai appeared before them.
"The Criminal Consultant is indeed here. Get out of the car," Old Shao instructed everyone.
Jiang He opened the car door and was the first to step out. He approached the white Hyundai but refrained from making any rash moves. The Criminal Consultant was known for his penchant for explosives, and they had been humiliated by his bombs more times than they could count. Jiang He leaned against the car window, peering inside, only to find it empty.
"Where is my daughter?" Wang Kun and his wife also exited the vehicle. Madam Wang rushed towards the car, reaching out to open the door.
Yuan Jun quickly stopped Madam Wang, saying, "Don't move! This car could be dangerous."
Jiang He continued to observe the vehicle until he confirmed it posed no threat. Only then did he open the door and climb inside.
He reached for a phone lying on the seat—one he recognized from surveillance footage at school; it belonged to Wang Yedan.
At that moment, the phone suddenly vibrated, nearly causing Jiang He to drop it as he feared it might be some kind of detonator.
However, his nerves were indeed too tightly wound; it was not a bomb trigger but a WeChat message: "According to my statistics, most friends chose 'yes.' It seems everyone has long detested Wang Yedan's green tea behavior. I will fulfill my promise; await justice's retribution."
This WeChat message was text, not a video.
Just then, several phones began to ring.
Holding up his phone, Jiang He said, "Not good! The Criminal Consultant is about to act. We need to hurry into the village."
As Jiang He led everyone into the village, they could faintly hear the mournful sound of a suona playing in the distance. The sound was hauntingly sorrowful, like an old man hoarsely calling out. A few crows cawed overhead, flying past like a dark cloud.
In front of Village Path, the villagers carrying the coffin appeared in a continuous stream, numbering over a hundred. The people at the front of the procession were dressed in white, likely relatives of Luben, while those behind wore black clothing, trailing behind the main group.
Leading the procession was Zhao Xiu. Dressed in white, she held a bell in her hand and walked forward with an expressionless face. With each step she took, the bell jingled softly in rhythm with her movements. Following Zhao Xiu were the musicians, a team that included players of the suona and those striking gongs.
Behind this group of musicians was a long coffin, resting on a wooden frame. Four strong men lifted it by its poles, and the solemn black coffin swayed slightly with their steps. Despite the cold air, beads of sweat formed on the foreheads of the men.
Seven nails had been driven into the sides of the coffin, their significance unknown. Lu Wei walked alongside it, gently placing his hand on its surface.
Following behind were individuals holding yellow paper. Every few steps, they would toss some of the paper into the air, where it fluttered down slowly before landing. Behind these paper bearers was a group carrying paper figures and horses.
In their hands were various paper items—everything imaginable. In addition to paper boys and girls, there were paper cars, villas, televisions, refrigerators, hairdryers, suitcases—anything one could think of was represented among their offerings.
Members of the project team stood aside, watching as the long procession approached them.
"Where's my daughter?" Wang Kun asked as he stood beside Old Shao.
Old Shao shook his head. "We don’t know yet. Perhaps Zhao Xiu and Lu Wei might have some information, but now isn’t the right time to ask."
Wang Kun gritted his teeth. "This concerns my daughter's life; if I don't ask now, when will I?"
As they spoke, the lengthy procession drew near to them. Zhao Xiu noticed them; her brow arched slightly as she glanced at them without any sign of emotion. After a brief look at the crowd, she continued walking forward.
"Where's my daughter?" Wang Kun stepped in front of the funeral procession, blocking their path.
Zhao Xiu looked at him and said, "It's almost dark; don’t waste our time. I don’t have time for you right now."
Wang Kun stood firm. "Where's my daughter? I don't have time to waste talking to you."
"Erzi, pull him away," Zhao Xiu said.
As soon as Zhao Xiu's words fell, a rural man appeared in front of Wang Kun. Before Wang Kun could react, Erzi grabbed his collar and executed a shoulder throw, slamming Wang Kun to the ground. The funeral procession remained unaffected, continuing to move forward.
"Old Shao, what should we do?" Yuan Jun asked Old Shao from the side. "Should we stop them?"
Old Shao shook his head gently, exchanging a glance with Jiang He.
"Let's follow and see," Old Shao replied softly.
Madam Wang helped Wang Kun up, also watching the funeral procession as it moved out of the village.
Wang Kun said, "Aren't you police officers supposed to intervene?"
Old Shao looked at Wang Kun and slowly replied, "This isn't the time to startle the snake. We still don't know where your daughter is or where the murderer might be. Even if we stop them, what can we ask? I believe we need to investigate thoroughly to find out where your daughter is."
Hearing Old Shao's words, Wang Kun realized there was no other way but to wait; they couldn't do anything else. However, he had received a text message that clearly indicated his daughter was very likely already dead. No matter how composed Wang Kun usually was, he couldn't remain calm any longer.
Old Shao and the others continued to follow the funeral procession forward. The long line resembled a winding snake, making its way up the mountain. As they ascended the mountain path, they could see from a distance that halfway up the slope, a flat piece of land had been cleared for a spirit pavilion.
The funeral procession stood on the flat ground, where over a hundred people could gather.
In the center of the spirit pavilion, a grave had already been dug—a three-meter-deep pit lay before everyone. In front of the grave pit was a long table adorned with a photo of Luben, and beneath Luben's photo were various offerings.
Fixed to the table were two long candles on either side, which had yet to be lit.
"Place it down!" shouted someone resembling a Yin Yang Master from within the funeral procession.
A few pallbearers gently placed the coffin beside the Grave Pit. As the coffin touched the ground, it stirred up clouds of dust.
"The Maiden is in position," the Yin Yang Master called out again.
The villagers holding the Maiden carefully set the paper figure around the coffin, surrounding it like stars encircling the moon. The faces of these paper figures were coated in white powder, with two large red blushes on either cheek, bright and blood-like.
Their hollow, pupil-less eyes stared blankly at their surroundings. When people looked over, it felt as if those eyes were gazing back at them, sending a chill down their spines.
The others placed the paper houses, villas, cars, and television dramas on the other side of the spirit altar and stood at a distance.
"The family members will light the everlasting lamps," the Yin Yang Master intoned.
Luo Wei and Zhao Xiu stepped forward, pulling out a lighter to ignite the white candles on either side of the table.
"The flames of these two candles must not extinguish simultaneously. If they do, your family may face disaster. The vigil keepers must pay close attention; if one candle goes out, relight it immediately. Remember," warned the Yin Yang Master.
Zhao Xiu and Lu Wei nodded in understanding.
"Good. The vigil keepers will stay; everyone else can begin the feast," said the Yin Yang Master.
Lu Wei addressed the Yin Yang Master, "The banquet is already set up. Someone will call everyone to eat later; we old folks will skip it and just take one last look at our son."
The Yin Yang Master nodded. "I understand your desire to see your son, but remember not to let the sun or stars shine directly on the corpse; otherwise, it could cause an explosion."
"Understood." The couple nodded in agreement.
The funeral attendees arrived quickly and departed just as fast. The crowd that had once filled the mountainside vanished into the woods in an instant.
At that moment, Old Shao finally stepped forward and said to Lu Wei and Zhao Xiu, "Wang Kun's daughter, Wang Yedan, is missing. You must have seen the car outside when you left the village. Where did Wang Yedan go? I believe you should know."
"We don't know," Lu Wei replied, glancing at Old Shao. "I am already disappointed in your police force. We do not welcome you here; please do not disturb us. Leave."
Shao the Elder insisted, "I am asking you in the name of the police. Have you seen Wang Yedan?"
Just then, Wang Kun rushed over, moving with urgency. "Tell me where my daughter has gone! She is in this village; surely you must know!"
Wang Kun was moving too quickly; the gusts of wind created by his hurried steps blew out two candles placed on the table.
Both candles extinguished.
"You are going too far!" Lu Wei shouted as he clashed with Wang Kun.
Yuan Jun hurriedly stepped in to break up the fight. In the scuffle, several people accidentally bumped into a coffin, which tilted precariously on its wooden frame and fell heavily toward the grave pit, crashing to the ground with a loud thud that knocked the lid off.
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