Celestial Master： I Have an Otherworld-Chapter 37: Investigation

Morning.

The shrill whistle broke the long-standing peace of Phoenix Head Mountain.

Officers of the Public Security Bureau gathered at the mountain top, their blue and green uniforms flickering among the trees, cautiously searching for something with the help of instruments.

"Director."

Officer Lin quickly approached Zhou Ping and said:

"Based on the analysis of the scene left behind, the murder likely occurred between seven o’clock last night and nine-thirty at night."

"The killer’s methods are not professional."

"But..."

"Very meticulous!"

He furrowed his brows and continued:

"Every potential clue site has been handled; extensive burning ensured the smoke never cleared, which is how the patrol ranger discovered it."

The clues were completely destroyed by fire and burning.

The three wooden houses here now only have one left; the other two have been dismantled and burned, with many clues reduced to ashes.

This is also because there are few trees at the top of the mountain, and there was a heavy rain a few days ago, otherwise, a fire could have easily started.

"Hmm."

Zhou Ping nodded, pacing to the peak position.

The mountain wind here was strong, the rock surfaces even smoother and very dangerous, yet several Public Security Bureau people were busy on it.

There were obvious bloodstains on the stones, even bits of flesh.

Zhou Ping’s complexion was grave:

"Corpse disposal?"

"Yes!"

One person looked up at the sound and said:

"At least two bodies were thrown down from here; people have been notified to search the mountain, perhaps some clues can be found on the bodies."

"Director!"

From behind, someone shouted:

"A clue has been found."

"Oh!"

Zhou Ping turned back abruptly.

...

"We checked all the vehicles that passed by Phoenix Head Mountain yesterday and finally locked onto this black business car which seems to be with a license plate."

"Upon investigation..."

"Around six yesterday afternoon, this car stopped at the street intersection of East Stone Road, one person got off, possibly abducted someone into the car, and then headed straight for Phoenix Head Mountain."

The screen played the video from the East Stone Road intersection.

"Stop!"

Zhou Ping’s eyes contracted, suddenly saying:

"Enlarge that person’s face."

"Yes." The technician operated at the sound, curiously asking:

"Director knows this person?"

"..." Zhou Ping slowly nodded, a worried look on his face:

"I know."

"Director." Officer Lin waved from the back:

"The bodies were found at the mountain bottom, and we can confirm the identities of two people."

"Who?"

Zhou Ping turned back, his heart slightly tightened.

Junior brother...

Can’t be something happened, right?

"They are the two people who were locked in the bureau some time ago, named Qi Wei and Yuan Xiaolian, among which Yuan Xiaolian was shot in the head." Officer Lin lowered his head to look at the message, saying:

"They were released on bail pending trial for attempted theft; who would have thought..."

"I know them." Zhou Ping frowned tightly:

"Anyone else?"

"Yes." Officer Lin nodded:

"One of them should be Black."

"Should be?"

"The body is almost charred, with hardly any intact skin tissues left; don’t know why the killer acted so excessively."

"Maybe there’s some clue on it." Zhou Ping pondered:

"Black, Celestial Plate Mountain..."

"Could it relate to last month’s tomb attack case?"

"Very likely." Officer Lin’s eyes brightened:

"There was indeed a Black person then, and the height features match. Qu City rarely sees Black people, especially those burly ones."

"If so..."

"The identities of the other bodies can be quickly confirmed."

"Go ahead." Zhou Ping waved his hand, then thought for a while and took out his phone to call Fang Zheng, getting no response for a long time.

After waiting a bit longer.

"Director."

Officer Lin ran with a strange look, handing over the tablet:

"Have a look, does this injury seem familiar?"

Zhou Ping lowered his head, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Of course it looks familiar.

This was caused by a fierce Fist Force hitting the body, causing rib fractures. If the Xingyi Fist is well practiced, it can do this as well, but such experts are rare.

Shattering ribs with a punch is not that simple.

Looking up, Zhou Ping’s face gradually turned grim:

"Bring the photos of other corpses."

"Yes!"

Officer Lin nodded.

*

*

*

After staying up till late handling the corpses, Fang Zheng’s head was dizzy after descending the mountain, so he simply crossed back to the Otherworld to have a good sleep, and brought the possibly clue-containing packages with him.

He also got some bruising pills from the pharmacy and washed properly, returning only after a day passed.

All his things were left in the Otherworld.

Seven Miles.

Square Porcelain.

Fang Zheng stood dark-faced at the entrance of his shop, surrounded by a crowd of onlooking neighbors, whispering among themselves.

He had been robbed!

Unlike the last time when two burglars were caught breaking in.

This time, while Fang Zheng was not home, Square Porcelain was turned upside down by someone, all sorts of Jade Artifacts on the first floor were either looted or smashed to pieces.

The rolling shutter was even forcibly bent and deformed.

On the second floor...

The safe was completely empty.

"Bang!"

Fang Zheng gritted his steel teeth, slamming his palm on the solid wood round table, the immense force almost caused the table to collapse on the spot, making its four legs jump.

"Xiao Fang."

Elder Lu sighed nearby:

"Report to the police!"

"You must have offended someone; if it was just theft, it wouldn’t have come to this, smashing everything clearly shows venting anger."

"I know." Fang Zheng took a deep breath, taking out his phone.

"Fang Zheng!"

A familiar voice sounded from behind.

"Senior Brother!"

Fang Zheng turned his head:

"I was just about to find you, my place was burgled."

"Hmm." Zhou Ping glanced inside the house, slowly nodding, then said:

"Come with me to the bureau first."

"Oh!" Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow:

"A report should suffice, why go to the Public Security Bureau?"

"Yes." Zhou Ping’s face was indifferent, unfolding a document:

"We suspect you to be involved in a murder case. This is a warrant for your arrest; you can inspect it. Now please cooperate with the investigation."

"Ah!"

"What?"

"What’s going on?"

The scene was in an uproar.

The onlookers stepped back in unison; even Elder Lu looked surprised, hesitated, and asked:

"Is there a mistake?"

"Obviously its Boss Fang’s shop that was burgled, how’s it related to a murder case?"

How could such an honest person like Fang Zheng possibly kill someone?

"The burglary will be handled by someone else." Zhou Ping’s voice was calm, expressionless, akin to a robot:

"Now, come with me!"

"Wow..."

Several officers squeezed out from the crowd, surrounding Fang Zheng, ready to draw their pistols from their waists at any moment.

Among them, two young men were stern, if not somewhat nervously afraid.

The bystanders were oblivious, but they were well aware that this person before them was likely a murderous Demon, having allegedly killed six people last night with extremely brutal methods.

"Senior Brother." Fang Zheng squinted:

"Is there a misunderstanding?"

"..." Zhou Ping pursed his lips:

"I hope so."

"At the bureau, you can explain, but don’t expect me to favour you illegally."

"Senior Brother, you’ve got to be kidding." Fang Zheng raised his phone as a gesture:

"Can I make a call?"

"..." Zhou Ping thought for a moment, then nodded:

"You may, but do it here."

"Thank you."

Fang Zheng took a deep breath, dialed Guo Erqiu’s number, explained why he missed the appointment yesterday, apologized, and then hung up the phone.