Chapter 26: Uncovering Clues

Outer City Workshop District—here, too, one finds many small eateries. Their main patrons are the workers earning meager wages in the surrounding workshops. It was midday, and the three entered a modest restaurant. Dense steam drifted in waves from the kitchen, carrying with it the aroma of ingredients and seasonings seared over high heat. The owner, a middle-aged, robust man with dark skin, greeted them warmly, scrubbing the table with a rough hand clutching a rag.

Chen Bingfeng ordered several stir-fried dishes with practiced ease and requested a large bowl of rice, enough for the three to share. Xu Fan was about to ask for a round of drinks, but seeing a certain someone’s brooding, commanding gaze from above, he quickly reconsidered. It was clear Chen Bingfeng intended to pay for lunch today. If Xu Fan dared to order alcohol, he was certain the other two would devour their meal at lightning speed, leaving him to foot the bill alone.

The owner’s skill with the wok was impeccable. Although the ingredients weren’t necessarily top-notch, the flavors were excellent, prompting Ye Chen to praise the food several times. Not long after, four more people entered and took seats at the table behind Ye Chen. Occasionally, a familiar and unpleasant odor wafted over. Ye Chen frowned slightly.

Then, an excited male voice rang out: “We did well last night. Let’s eat something nice for lunch.” Ye Chen didn’t turn around, but the voice and the smell made it unmistakable—it was Scarface. There had been bad blood between them before; Ye Chen had even broken Scarface’s wrist. He hadn’t expected their paths to cross again so soon, though on second thought, this was Scarface’s territory—meeting him here was only natural.

As for the “harvest” Scarface mentioned, Ye Chen was certain in his heart... Hah, likely more petty theft and skulking about last night, and yet he boasted openly. Scarface’s voice continued: “Mouse, what’s with you today? You’ve been off ever since you got back last night—still sluggish and out of it. Why are you spacing out? Aren’t you usually the first to order? If you don’t want to eat, get out!”

Scarface was clearly annoyed that Mouse was dampening his mood. Second Fool nodded. “B-b-boss, listen to me—I really saw a g-g-ghost last night.”

Mouse, aside from stammering more than usual, sounded genuinely shaken.

It was the kind of fear that comes from being truly frightened. “Ghosts? I sent you out to keep watch and you run into a ghost? You must be frozen stupid. Second Fool and I didn’t see anything.” Scarface looked at his subordinate with disdain, about to scold him further when another henchman discreetly nudged Scarface’s leg, signaling him to look up—there were Patrol Bureau officers eating in the restaurant, so it was best not to speak too loudly on sensitive matters.

Scarface nodded, though his expression remained scornful. In his mind, Patrol Bureau officers weren’t much better than himself. As long as he didn’t get caught in the act, they rarely bothered with his petty crimes.

“Fine, fine, let’s say you met a ghost. Describe it—was it a male or female ghost, huh?” Another henchman chimed in, treating Mouse’s story as idle entertainment while they waited for food.

Second Fool chuckled foolishly, “I... I didn’t see it, I heard it.” Thinking of the previous night, Mouse shuddered involuntarily, his stammer worsening. “It kept crying, crying—so mournfully. From one end of the alley to the other, and it passed right behind me.”

The more Mouse spoke, the more goosebumps he felt rising all over his body.

Scarface burst out laughing. “What a lame story! Look at you, such a coward. That’s just the wind—late at night, the wind whips through the alley, making that wailing sound. I knew you were timid, but now you’re clueless too—how do you expect to get anywhere? If you keep this up, I’ll find someone else next time. It’s nothing! For a moment, I thought you’d run into the ghost of Cao Yang’s wife. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be scared, I’d still give her a shove!”

Scarface wore a fearless expression. Having found some good loot during last night’s search, he was in high spirits and more talkative than usual.

Ye Chen, at the next table, began listening closely when Mouse mentioned the ghost, and kept his ear tuned to their conversation. When he heard Scarface bring up Cao Yang’s wife, he was startled. So Scarface and his crew had visited Cao Yang’s house last night—how despicable. It was no different from robbing the dead. Worse, they’d trashed the scene. Truly sinful.

Yet when Mouse spoke of the crying, a strange sense of unease crept into Ye Chen’s heart.

This made him recall the last time, after investigating Cao Yang’s house, when he’d felt someone watching him with malice from behind. It seemed he needed to return to the Seventh Residential District, and tonight was the time.

He felt compelled to verify whether the “wailing” Mouse had described was really just the wind, as Scarface claimed, or something else entirely. Perhaps he and his companions would discover something significant.

...

After the three finished their meal and settled the bill, they rose to leave. Ye Chen made a point of straightening his uniform. As they passed Scarface’s table, Scarface looked up, staring at Ye Chen in surprise that soon turned to hostility. Ye Chen shot him a warning look.

Scarface glanced over Ye Chen from head to toe. Seeing the Patrol Bureau uniform, he paused in confusion, then sneered. Ye Chen, meanwhile, lingered for a few extra seconds on Scarface’s right hand—so it was true, the severed limb had regenerated.

By the time the three had finished circling the latter half of the Outer City, dusk was setting in. Xu Fan plopped down on the ground, rubbing his thighs, his expression aggrieved and full of indignation.

Ye Chen gazed at the sinking sun, then turned to Chen Bingfeng and said seriously, “You both heard the conversation between Mouse and Scarface in the restaurant. I’ve considered it deeply along the way, but for now it’s only a theory. Tonight, I intend to investigate further. If you trust me, let’s go together.” He paused. “But this isn’t part of our official duties. Participation is entirely up to you. I’ll say this up front—there may be danger.”

Chen Bingfeng pondered for a moment, then declared firmly, “I’ll go with you. We’re a team, and I won’t let you face risk alone!”

Xu Fan stepped back, lips quivering. “Can I not go?”

“You can!” the other two replied in unison.

The next moment, watching his teammates walk away, Xu Fan gritted his teeth and shouted, “Wait for me!”