Chapter 23 - A Work of Art
The poems discovered in the hidden compartment showed the depth of Scholar Wen's affection for Wen Jin Er.
It was also understandable why he would ruin his own future to avenge her.
"Tell us about Lin Jiao Yue."
Li Nan Ke asked while scribbling on the paper.
Leng Xinnan leaned closer to see what he was writing. She was curious. After staring for a while, although she recognized the characters, she couldn't quite understand the content, finding it rather messy.
However, what attracted her more was his handwriting.
Unlike other calligraphy styles, it was exceptionally beautiful.
Especially considering that she had given him a special charcoal pen made from fire spirit stone, not an ordinary brush. It was even more impressive that he could write such novel and beautiful characters with it.
Scholar Wen said with a complex expression.
"Although Lin Jiao Yue is also spoiled and has the temper of a young miss, she's relatively innocent compared to Wan Ying Ying. Sometimes, she can be a bit two-faced.”
“Also, that girl is very ambitious. Among her peers, she wants much more than others.”
“I remember when she was twelve, a fortune teller said that she had a noble destiny and might become a princess. If she took the right path, she would become a phoenix. But if she took the wrong path, she would fall into the abyss.”
“Since then, she has always considered herself a future princess and looked down on any man."
"Sounds naive."
Leng Xinnan couldn't help but comment.
Scholar Wen shook his head.
"No, it's not naivety, it's her ideal.”
“The year before last, when the new emperor ascended the throne, we went to the capital and witnessed the Empress's coronation ceremony. You should have seen the look in her eyes. It was a look of yearning and ambition.”
“After returning, she told my sister that she would become the Empress in the future, the most powerful woman in the world.”
“So in my eyes, Lin Jiao Yue is a very ambitious woman. She even looks down on Wan Ying Ying. They only play together because of the Wan family's connections in the government."
Scholar Wen's assessment was also quite fair.
Although he hated Lin Jiao Yue, objectively speaking, he believed that the young miss wasn't inherently bad, just too fixated on an unrealistic ideal.
"Interesting."
Li Nan Ke murmured, stroking his chin, lost in thought.
Now the case seemed to be quite clear.
Old Qin, while recuperating, accidentally overdosed on medicine containing 'Red Rain' and transformed into a Demonic Creature obsessed with revenge. He then attacked Lin Jiao Yue and her friends on Cuihong Mountain, resulting in one death and two injuries.
Scholar Wen, to avenge Wen Jin Er, gave the other two girls 'Red Rain.'
This led to Wan Ying Ying's death.
As for the murderer of He Qing Yu, they also had an answer.
Now that the culprits had surfaced, all that remained was to find the Grave People He Qing Yu, Mei Xing Er, and the Demonic Creature.
However, Li Nan Ke still sensed something amiss.
Although these so-called truths didn't seem to have any major issues upon closer examination, when put together, they felt somewhat forced and pieced together.
"I'd like to examine Wen Jin Er's body again, is that alright?"
Li Nan Ke requested.
He had initially thought that Scholar Wen wouldn't refuse, but the man hesitated, his expression reluctant.
"Wasn't the autopsy already done? She's already in her coffin now."
"Then we'll open the coffin again."
Li Nan Ke keenly sensed that Scholar Wen was hiding something.
Leng Xinnan also noticed Scholar Wen's unusual behavior. Her beautiful eyes flashed with a cold light like the winter moon, and she said coldly,
"I don't need your consent. I have the authority to forcibly open the coffin for examination, even if it's buried in the ground!"
The cold beauty's assertiveness forced Scholar Wen to yield.
"Alright, I'll take you there," Scholar Wen said with a hint of pleading in his voice.
"But no matter what you see, you must keep it a secret for me."
‘So there really is a secret.’
A knowing smile appeared on Li Nan Ke's lips.
However, when they opened Wen Jin Er's coffin, Li Nan Ke finally understood why Scholar Wen was reluctant to have the body examined.
It left him speechless.
Because inside the coffin, there was more than just Wen Jin Er's body.
There was another object.
To be precise, it was a life-sized doll made of an unknown material.
The doll was female, with a delicate figure and a finely crafted head. The material of its skin felt slightly elastic to the touch.
Most importantly, the doll was very realistic.
It was a true work of art.
‘I can't believe there's something like this in this era. Indeed, no matter what era, old perverts are always the most passionate driving force of productivity.’
Li Nan Ke thought to himself.
Afraid of being misunderstood, Scholar Wen explained,
"Jin Er always wanted a true friend. I was afraid she would be lonely, so I thought this would keep her company."
"I understand, brother, I understand."
Li Nan Ke patted Scholar Wen's shoulder and then lowered his voice, asking curiously,
"Where did you buy this doll?"
Scholar Wen looked embarrassed and said in a low voice.
"I bought it from a Western merchant last year."
"It seems this doll has been with you for a long time, brother. It must be your most trusted companion, so you let it accompany Miss Jin Er."
Li Nan Ke said understandingly.
"And conveniently destroy the evidence."
Scholar Wen blushed and was about to retort when Li Nan Ke waved his hand.
"Alright, no need to say more. Let's just have a tacit understanding."
Faced with Li Nan Ke's playful expression, Scholar Wen was angry but didn't dare to lose his temper.
Feeling indignant, he snorted,
"The desire for food and sex is human nature, isn't it normal? Even a monk from the Dustless Temple bought this thing from the Western merchant, let alone ordinary people."
"Disgusting!"
Leng Xinnan said, unable to hide her disgust.
Li Nan Ke frowned.
"Lord Leng, you can't say that. Compared to those gentlemen who frequent brothels, Scholar Wen is already commendable. He's truly a man of integrity."
Leng Xinnan glared at him and said coldly,
"Do the autopsy!"
Seeing that his superior was angry, Li Nan Ke didn't dare to tease her anymore. He put the doll aside and began to examine Wen Jin Er's body.
The smell of decay was already quite strong.
Her limbs were sewn together with needle and thread.
This was because when the officers and the Night Patrol found Wen Jin Er's body, the scene was horrific. She had been torn into several pieces.
They had to find someone who could sew corpses to make her whole again.
Li Nan Ke first examined the back of Wen Jin Er's head and indeed saw a wound.
From the edges of the wound, he could tell that it was caused by a sharp object. There were also small stone particles remaining on the edges, indicating that it was likely caused by a sharp stone.
Li Nan Ke then looked at the stitched areas.
From the torn edges, he could see that it wasn't a clean cut by a sharp weapon, but a violent tear.
This showed the astonishing strength of the Demonic Creature at that time.
Of course, a cultivator with strong power could also do this.
However, unless there was deep hatred involved, only a madman would use such a method to kill or vent their anger.
Wouldn't they be disgusted by getting blood all over themselves?
To obtain more information from the corpse, Li Nan Ke squatted down, getting closer, and endured the stench as he carefully examined every part of the body.
Soon, he noticed something strange.
Wen Jin Er's wrists and ankles were black and brown, with an area about the width of a palm, encircling them completely.
"What do you think caused this?"
Li Nan Ke turned and asked his superior.
Leng Xinnan bent down to examine it.
Whether due to carelessness or complete trust in Li Nan Ke, as she bent over, her collar inadvertently opened slightly, exposing her chest to his line of sight.
Her delicate collarbone, a hint of cleavage, and the elegant dark blue dudou inside...
Although the woman was wearing a close-fitting dress and not much was revealed, it was still a feast for Li Nan Ke's eyes.
"It should be bruising caused by the Demonic Creature gripping the body too tightly when tearing it apart. We've seen this on other corpses killed by Demonic Creatures before."
The woman analyzed.
Li Nan Ke quickly averted his gaze and moved his face slightly backward.
He shouldn't be looking at things he shouldn't be looking at.
Especially when it was his superior!
Staring at the black and brown marks on her wrists, Li Nan Ke pondered,
"Are they really just bruises?"