Chapter 92: Stitching the Corpse
"Yes." Jiang Li clutched her bag, her gaze fixed on the mayor walking toward her.
Zhou Tiancheng and Ji Qinghe glanced at each other, unable to keep themselves from growing tense.
Zhou Fuhai frowned as he looked at Jiang Li. ’What on earth is her background? Why are so many influential people asking about her all of a sudden?’
’And before them, Wang Xiangming and Xu Yongkang were also trying to win her over.’
’As for their motive, everyone says Jiang Li has some kind of miraculous ability, but isn’t that just nonsense?’
’That’s the kind of thing you only dream about. How could it possibly happen in this day and age?’
Seeing her guarded posture, Zhang Hongzhi offered a smile. "Ms. Jiang, don’t be nervous. I just didn’t expect to run into you here.
I thought I’d come over and say hello."
Jiang Li forced a stiff smile. It was hard not to be nervous when the mayor himself came to greet her.
"Director Zhang, I hear that the truth about my son’s case is finally coming to light, all thanks to Miss Jiang. Your eye for talent is getting sharper and sharper."
Gu Huacheng glanced at Jiang Li before looking at Zhang Hongzhi with a smile. He had sought out Zhang Hongzhi today specifically to use his connections to take Li Ergou away.
Zhang Hongzhi cut in with a laugh. "Now, that’s an overstatement. Ms. Jiang is simply a kind and public-spirited citizen. Though, it would be even better if she could become a colleague."
Gu Huacheng smiled and nodded without saying more. He wasn’t particularly interested in their business.
Zhang Hongzhi gave Jiang Li one last look, then called for Zhou Tiancheng and Zhou Fuhai to leave with him.
As their figures receded, Lu Xingye turned to Jiang Li.
"Jiang Li, there are a few things I want to ask you."
Jiang Li nodded at Lu Xingye and followed him outside.
Lu Xingye scanned their surroundings before turning back to her. "Jiang Li, do you remember the name of that research institute?"
Afraid she might misunderstand, Lu Xingye quickly explained about Zhou Fuhai. "Jiang Li, I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to help you. You, Yu Huannian, and the others should be extra careful for a while."
"I... I don’t know. I was already inside when I woke up. I was in such a panic when I escaped that I didn’t pay attention."
Jiang Li’s expression darkened. ’Zhou Fuhai... I never thought his influence was so great that he could get a director to fish for information.’
Hearing this, Lu Xingye realized that finding the place wouldn’t be a simple task.
"Officer Lu, thank you. Do you know much about the mayor?" Jiang Li asked, her head lowered. An idea was already forming in her mind.
"I don’t know the specifics, but during his years in office, Mayor Zhang has done a pretty good job. There haven’t been any major scandals about his competence."
Lu Xingye looked at Jiang Li.
"Mm, thank you, Officer Lu." Jiang Li looked at Lu Xingye, not really wanting him and his people to get involved.
If something were to happen, she couldn’t bear the responsibility.
"Jiang Li! I can’t believe you’re really here!"
Wu Ming stopped her car as soon as she saw the two of them by the entrance and happily hopped out.
"Jiang Li, it’s so great to see you’re okay! I missed you like crazy!"
Wu Ming threw her arms around her in a happy hug, but a second later, her ear was being twisted.
"I brought you here on official business, not for a reunion."
"OW! Master!" Wu Ming swatted Cao Kun’s hand away, her eyes watering. "Jiang Li, I’ll come find you when I’m finished!"
Cao Kun led Wu Ming inside.
Jiang Li glanced after them curiously. ’What did Master Cao bring Wu Ming here for?’
"Want to go take a look?" Lu Xingye asked Jiang Li.
Jiang Li nodded and walked inside.
Liu Ting was waiting off to the side, her eyes red and swollen. When she saw the two of them enter, she rushed to greet them. "Master Cao, my son is in there. I’m begging you."
"Mrs. Gu, rest assured. We will be sure to return your son’s body to you completely intact."
Jiang Li watched Cao Kun and Wu Ming in astonishment. She never expected them to be corpse stitchers.
Just as Jiang Li assumed Cao Kun would be the one performing the procedure, Wu Ming took a tool kit from her bag and laid it out. She then lit a candle, burned some paper money, and began to chant under her breath as she picked up a needle and started to sew.
"First stitch to draw the soul and bind the broken spirit. Second stitch to mend the body and make it whole... Fill the gaps with straw, sculpt the features with paste. Run the thread without a trace, as if by nature’s grace. In this trade of the netherworld, one must show respect. Only when stitched whole can the departed find their rest..."
Jiang Li’s mouth fell open in astonishment. ’This...’
Wu Ming handled the mangled corpse before her with solemn focus. The smoke from the burning paper money drifted through the air, making one feel groggy.
Liu Ting watched from outside. The longer she watched, the more she cried.
"It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who caused Zisheng’s death."
Wiping at her endless tears, the sorrow in her voice carried into the room with every sob.
Jiang Li watched for a few more moments before turning away to sit down.
Yu Huannian and Miao Anji emerged from another room, each holding several books. As soon as they saw Jiang Li, they hurried over to her.
Miao Anji glanced inside the room, his expression tightening as he shot a glare at the jar in the back-basket.
"Sister, let’s go home," Miao Anji said to Jiang Li with a smile.
Jiang Li glanced at the books in their hands—they were all about basic law. "Alright, let’s go."
Jiang Li led the group out.
Cao Kun frowned at her retreating figure. "Say, Officer Xiao Lu, do you happen to know that kid Jiang Li’s eight characters of birth?"
Lu Xingye gave him a helpless look. "Master Cao, didn’t I already tell you last time? I don’t know."
It was only then that Lu Xingye belatedly realized Jiang Li had completely sidetracked him. He hadn’t managed to ask her anything he’d wanted to.
Cao Kun muttered in confusion, "Strange. It’s only been a few months, but the aura around that kid has changed."
Wu Ming is a Yin-born Child. For years, she’s been a master of all her arts, not just fortune-telling. But ever since meeting Jiang Li, her own fate has shifted. According to her, her divinations are only accurate when she’s by Jiang Li’s side.
Cao Kun’s brow furrowed. He walked outside and began making calculations with his fingers. The more he calculated, the deeper his frown became. ’It’s a mess, a complete mess. It’s like everything is shrouded in cloth, I can’t see a thing.’
Cao Kun looked in the direction Jiang Li had disappeared and sighed helplessly. ’Perhaps this is just how it has to be.’
After finishing the stitching, Wu Ming informed Liu Ting and went to look for Jiang Li. But by then, there was no trace of her in the police station. Wu Ming sighed in resignation.
"Wu Ming, didn’t you want to find Jiang Li? Go on. Your master is heading off to do some wandering. We’ll meet again if fate wills it."
Wu Ming’s mouth twitched at Cao Kun’s words. "If you just want to go live the good life, just say so. ’Wandering’? I’ve never seen anyone ’wander’ off to a beach to sunbathe."
"Hah! I’m blocking you right now!" Cao Kun pulled out his phone to hide his social media posts from her.
"Hmph. You can wrap things up with Mrs. Gu yourself." Wu Ming took out her Compass and started walking toward Jiang Li’s house.
Meanwhile, when Ning Sinian heard that Jiang Li was back, he and his sister also rushed over.
"Brother, you’re not lying to me, are you? They’re really not dead?" Ning Rou asked, her face pale as she stared out the window.
Since leaving Zhaozi Village, she had completely lost her appetite for food and drink, losing a significant amount of weight in just a few short months.
"Little Rou, they’re fine." Ning Sinian looked at his sister and sighed. "Little Rou, I know we owe a great debt to Yu Huannian and his family.
But there are many ways to repay that debt. I don’t want you to throw your entire life away for it."
’They’re good people, but everyone is selfish at heart. I can’t agree to let my sister get together with Yu Huannian.’
"Brother, if it weren’t for Aunt Yu and Huan Nian I would have died long ago! Besides, my feelings for him are more than just gratitude. He’s a good person, and I really like him."
Ning Sinian frowned. Seeing Ning Rou’s pallid complexion, he decided not to argue with her any further.
Following the address, Ning Sinian had just pulled up to Jiang Li’s house when he spotted Wu Ming nearby, spinning in circles.
"Hiss... This Compass must be broken." Wu Ming gave it a couple of sharp taps, and the needle finally settled.
Wu Ming turned and her eyes met Ning Sinian’s. "Hey, it’s you! Are you here to find Jiang Li, too? What a coincidence!"
As she spoke, Wu Ming put her things away. It seemed this was Jiang Li’s house after all.
Ning Sinian stepped forward and rang the doorbell.