Chapter 1 Suspect, Bizarre Cause of Death_2

"But..." Wang Chunming, seeing Chief Yao's displeased expression, quickly tried to defend himself.

"But what? If you suspect Zhou Ping'an, can I not suspect you? Wang Chunming, come with me for a thorough interrogation, to see if you're the murderer.

Don't you know the principle of innocence until proven guilty? Or else, let's report this and everyone can be punished together..."

"Inspector Tang, we can't be unreasonable about this, no matter what you say, the suspicions concerning Zhou Ping'an..."

Chief Yao's expression darkened, and he rose to intervene.

"Stop, you know I am Inspector Tang?" The woman gently patted her epaulette, chuckling lightly, "Since when, Chief Yao, do you have the authority to manage my Third Group's personnel? Get lost..."

Having said that, Tang Tang grabbed Zhou Ping'an and left the room without looking back.

Behind them, a clanging sound of objects being thrown could be heard.

Clearly, Chief Yao was furious and vented his anger by throwing things around.

...

"Chief Yao is impatient and eager for quick results. In his efforts to solve the Wenshan case and claim credit, he is capable of anything. Be careful these days not to fall into his traps."

Once they were off the First Group's turf and into the Third Group, Tang Tang frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "It's good to be loyal, but you also don't want to give people something to talk about.

For instance, the calligraphy in the study, the scarecrow in the rice field, the fishing nets by the river, in the eyes of an interested party, these are all evidence."

"Master Dong is not a bad person."

Zhou Ping'an shook his head and sighed.

"I know, in the Wenshan case, those who died at the hands of Dong Qingshan were basically involved in criminal cases, and were also related to several cases of smuggling cultural relics out of the country.

Speaking of which, Master Dong also acted to eliminate harm for the people...

But from a legal standpoint, he had no authority to enforce the law; having killed people, he can't escape responsibility..."

As she spoke, thinking of Dong Qingshan's death, Tang Tang's mood became melancholy, and she sighed and changed the subject.

"The antiques unearthed that day, it's suspected that Dong Qingshan got his hands on something very important. Otherwise, it's completely inexplicable how his martial arts could have progressed so rapidly into the legendary realms of Dragon's Chant and Tiger's Roar and Five Organs Thunder."

Zhou Ping'an understood what she meant.

Dong Qingshan was already over fifty. If he really was a natural genius at cultivating Xingyi Boxing to the legendary realms, he wouldn't have spent half his life languishing in a small martial arts school.

By merely participating in competitions and teaching his disciples genuine skills, he could have made a big name for himself.

Therefore, it was certain that his body had suddenly become extremely powerful, and the reason behind this was very suspicious.

This was also why the Dongjiang Official Government had laid a dragnet, relentlessly pursuing him.

And, in the shadows, who knows how many secretive organizations were watching.

It was not only Dong Qingshan himself, but some people who had learned martial arts from him also inevitably caught the eye of interested parties and were re-examined...

That's why Zhou Ping'an was under strict "review."

Suspected of "tipping off" was one reason, another more important reason was that he had once learned martial arts from Dong Qingshan, which made him a close associate.

Where Dong Qingshan died was unfavorable; he died near Zhou Ping'an, and when he died, he had three fatal wounds from knife slashes across his chest and back. He was wearing boxer shorts and had no other belongings.

Who killed him?

Where did the stuff go?

The problem was severe.

If it weren't for Inspector Tang of the Third Group, who had a hidden background, standing in front, the matter might not have been resolved so easily.

"Thank you, senior sister."

Zhou Ping'an sincerely thanked her.

"That time, you took a bullet for me; I was in the hospital for half a month, and I never thanked you."

Tang Tang shook her head, dismissively chuckling, and took out her cell phone and tapped a few times.

"Ding-dong..."

Zhou Ping'an's mobile phone rang, and he looked up in surprise.

The screen lit up, showing a transfer of fifty thousand yuan.

"Keep it."

"You called so many people to borrow money, why didn't you ask me? Do you look down on your senior sister?" Tang Tang asked with a smile, "Your mother's illness is serious, don't refuse. I'm giving you a half-month leave; you don't need to rush back to work, go on."

"Hmm."

Zhou Ping'an nodded heavily, "I will repay it as soon as possible."

He knew what Tang Tang meant by letting him take a leave. In fact, it was just an unfinished investigation, temporarily suspending him and also to avoid the limelight.

...

Hurriedly arriving at Dongjiang First People's Hospital, he went up to the fifth floor of the inpatient department. Before he reached room 511, he saw his younger sister Zhou Lan pacing anxiously at the door of the ward.

The girl was wearing a blue and white school uniform from Second Middle School, looking somewhat gaunt. Her large eyes were slightly swollen, as if she had been crying. Seeing Zhou Ping'an, she immediately sprinted over.

"Brother."

"Did you borrow the money, how's mom?"

Zhou Ping'an touched the girl's head and glanced at the book in her hand, frowning, "Why don't we hire a nurse? The doctor said mom's illness requires at least ten to twenty days in the hospital, it's holding back your studies."

"No need, they haven't started new lessons yet, mainly revision, and I can study anywhere. I ranked first in my class at the last mock exam, I can manage any exam. Also, I don't want someone else taking care of our mom, I don't feel assured."

Xiao Lan was always so well-behaved and sensible, it was heartbreaking.

Zhou Ping'an knew she was reluctant to spend money on hiring a nurse; such services were not something their poor family could afford. It was too expensive.

The two of them went to pay for the hospital and medication fees. Just as they returned to the fifth floor of the inpatient department and were about to step into room 511, a uniquely foul stench hit their noses.

They heard a voice cursing.

"Don't the nurses care at all? If there are no family members, do you just let the elderly die in the ward unattended?"

"Keep calling, call back the soul..."

Looking up, he saw a nurse holding her nose, her expression unpleasant and silent, while a short and plump middle-aged woman was cursing and cleaning.

The ward was small, two hospital beds squeezed close together, his mother lay on the right side, her face pale and eyes closed...

On the left was a chubby old man, his eyes wide open staring at the ceiling, motionless, looking just like a corpse.

Crucially, the old man's blanket was pulled away, revealing a lump of yellow-orange feces, still steaming.

Gross...

Zhou Ping'an and his sister's faces turned pale, almost throwing up.

Listening to the middle-aged woman continuing to curse, Zhou Ping'an didn't try to squeeze into the ward but turned and went to the medical staff room.

"Doctor, you see, that ward is too small, the environment isn't good, it affects the patient's rest and recovery, could we change to a better room, I can pay extra."

Zhou Ping'an said softly.

He could only complain about the poor environment, he certainly couldn't mention that the old man next door might die at any moment, which was inauspicious.

Moreover, the man was immobile, often incontinent, and it stank to death...

His mother was a strong and clean person, it was distressing to stay in such a poor condition, could she even recover from her illness here?

"It's not a matter of money, the hospital beds are in high demand, this is what we have available. If it's really unworkable, we can place her in the hallway."

The doctor, looking impatient, continued writing something in his notebook, not even looking up.

"Then, move her to the hallway."

They would find extra blankets to cover his mother; the beginning of May was cool, and the breeze in the hallway was strong, but in any case, it was better than that foul-smelling ward.

"Oh, Wang Ke, what are you doing here, you should have called."

The doctor, who was just scribbling away, squeezed a smile across his face, took three steps in two, greeted him, and took over the bed being pushed forward, saying hurriedly, "Let's go to the private room up front, it's fully equipped, care has been arranged, the old man can recuperate at ease."

A crowd rushed toward the east end, several ward doors opened, Wang Ke chose one, "This side, quite nice."

"..."

...

That evening, after buying dinner and spending time with his mother and sister in the hospital, Zhou Ping'an returned to his rented room. Sitting at the desk, he gently touched the mark on his left arm.

"This is half a mirror, Master Dong's change, and even his death, must be related to this item."

"How should I use it? It's deep in my arm, I can't touch it, nor can I take it out."

Zhou Ping'an stared hard at the mark, the light in front of him seemed to twist and change, his mind spinning.

"Whoosh."

He disappeared completely.

Only a twenty-square-meter rented room remained, curtains drawn, desk lamp shining, casting an empty glow on the chair.