Chai Jie let Gao Xiaoliu and Duan San into the courtyard, poking his head out to look around for a moment before closing the main gate. He turned back to the two and asked, "Which constable was it who questioned you?"

Gao Xiaoliu pretended to think for a moment. "He was a big guy, well-built, looked like he was under twenty. I’d never seen him before, so he must be new."

Duan San, trying to claim credit, said, "That guy was real fierce. Asked me a whole bunch of questions. Good thing I remembered what you told me, or I’m afraid I would’ve slipped up." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Chai Jie frowned. "What did he ask?"

Gao Xiaoliu rubbed his temples and cried out, "Ouch, my head hurts a little. I can’t seem to remember."

Chai Jie’s gaze shifted to Duan San.

Duan San scratched his head. "Look at this memory of mine. It’s only been one night, and I’ve already forgotten everything."

Chai Jie took a deep breath, pulled two silver ingots from his robe, and gave one to each of them. "Remember now?"

"You catch on quick!"

Gao Xiaoliu chuckled. "He asked if you were at the casino the whole night, and whether you ever left in the middle."

"What did you say?"

"I said you were at the casino, of course. We brothers keep our word."

"You think he believed you?"

"Probably not. He also asked me what clothes you were wearing when you arrived, what you were wearing when you left, and if there was any blood on you."

Hearing this, Chai Jie’s voice clearly faltered. "And... how did you answer?"

Gao Xiaoliu spread his hands. "I just said it was too long ago, and I forgot."

Duan San suddenly chimed in, "Younger Brother Chai, you’re not actually involved in your old man’s case, are you?"

Chai Jie cursed, "Bullshit! No matter how much of a scumbag I am, I’d never do something like that! I just ate something bad and was stuck on the shitter for a while."

"You know what those constables are like. If they can’t find the real killer, they’ll just grab someone to take the fall. I have to be careful."

Duan San said, "Oh. Well, that’s good then."

"Listen up, you two. This is the last time. Don’t come looking for money from me again. Now, please leave."

Chai Jie bluntly showed them the door.

"Alright, alright. See you around..."

Unbothered, Gao Xiaoliu and Duan San swaggered out of the Chai family home.

Chai Jie slammed the gate shut with a BANG and turned to go back inside.

Zhao Lin stood at the window, his ears following Chai Jie’s footsteps as if they had wings.

Liang Song and He Qingquan, seeing Zhao Lin fall into one of his "trances" again, were unfazed and continued eating and drinking.

The rooms blocked the sound, so Zhao Lin couldn’t pinpoint Chai Jie’s exact location, but he could hear the continuous footsteps and slightly heavy breathing.

Chai Jie was in turmoil!

After a while, Zhao Lin heard Chai Jie muttering to himself, "This shouldn’t be happening. How could they possibly suspect me?"

"No, that’s not right. The constables must have gone to see my older brothers too. They can’t be watching only me."

After a moment of silence, Chai Jie said in frustration, "Damn my cowardice. I should have gotten rid of those things long ago. Keeping them in the house is just asking for trouble."

’Those things?’

Zhao Lin’s brow twitched. His larynx vibrated at high speed as he cranked his "reception power" to maximum, focusing on the sounds coming from the direction of the Chai family home.

Soon, the sound of a heavy object being moved echoed from the house.

The sound was muffled, like a piece of furniture.

’The classic hiding spots haven’t changed much over the years. It’s either under the bed or inside a wall.’

Zhao Lin guessed, hearing Chai Jie pant for a couple of breaths, rest for a moment, and then move something aside.

Zhao Lin was very familiar with that sound—it was the scrape of stone on stone, followed by a rustling noise.

’Clothing?’

Zhao Lin sensed the evidence was about to appear. He shot a hand signal back to his men, casually placed a small piece of silver on the table, and strode out of the tavern.

Having worked with Zhao Lin for a long time, Liang Song knew he had some secret skills and was used to it.

Tao Erleng was simple-minded and just did as Zhao Lin instructed, leaving only He Qingquan completely baffled.

Zhao Lin led his men toward the Chai family home. As they passed a street corner, they saw Gao Xiaoliu and Duan San waiting for them.

Gao Xiaoliu and Duan San said in unison, "Officer."

"Not a word. Just follow me."

Zhao Lin gave the order, listening to the sounds from the house as he walked.

In no time, the group arrived in front of the Chai family’s gate.

Just then, a series of footsteps sounded from within the house. Based on the number of steps, Zhao Lin estimated the distance: Chai Jie had walked at least twenty meters, passing through several rooms.

’Where is he going?’

Doubt rose in Zhao Lin’s mind. It was broad daylight; surely Chai Jie wouldn’t take the items outside right now?

He closed his eyes, trying to trace Chai Jie’s path of movement.

A moment later, the footsteps stopped.

Then, Zhao Lin heard a CRACKLING sound.

He snapped his head up and saw a wisp of black smoke rising from the Chai family’s courtyard.

It was noon, and many families were cooking. White smoke from their cooking fires rose from the rooftops, but only the smoke from the Chai home was black.

’He’s burning the clothes!’

The thought flashed through Zhao Lin’s mind, and he kicked at the main gate.

Unexpectedly, the Chai family’s gate was extremely sturdy and didn’t break open.

"Who’s there? Who dares to force their way into a private residence in broad daylight!" Chai Jie shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

"Checking the water meter!"

Zhao Lin put all his strength into it and kicked the gate open with one blow.

"What are you doing?"

Chai Jie stood in the main hall, his face filled with rage. But when he saw Gao Xiaoliu and Duan San behind Zhao Lin and the others, his expression changed instantly.

"Tie him up!"

Zhao Lin glanced at Chai Jie’s soot-stained palms and ran straight for the smoky room.

The kitchen was filled with black smoke and a burnt smell.

Holding his breath, Zhao Lin grabbed a fire poker from beside the door and pulled the clothes and shoes out of the stove.

The clothes were half-burnt, but the boots were mostly intact, covered in a large amount of blood.

Zhao Lin felt a wave of relief. With these two items, he basically had enough to secure a conviction.

But to be safe, he still needed to find the murder weapon.

When he came out of the kitchen, Liang Song and the others had also caught up.

A rope had been looped around Chai Jie’s neck, his arms were twisted behind his back, and he was tied up securely.

Zhao Lin threw the clothes on the ground. "Where did you hide the knife?"

Chai Jie stuck his neck out and retorted, "What knife?"

"Still playing tough."

Zhao Lin sneered, scanned the surroundings, and strode toward the east wing, recalling the number of steps Chai Jie had taken earlier.

He stopped when he passed a side room.

The side room wasn’t large. It was filled with miscellaneous items, and a mahogany cabinet with peeling lacquer stood in the corner.

There were drag marks on the floor near the cabinet.

Zhao Lin walked over and dragged the cabinet to one side.

Underneath were several foot-square bluestone tiles. He pressed on them one by one, and when he reached the innermost tile, it shifted noticeably.

Zhao Lin took a step back, drew the iron ruler from his waist, inserted it into the crack between the tiles, and pried the bluestone tile up, revealing a small, rough hole dug into the earth.

After turning over some of the dirt, a hilt slowly came into view.

Zhao Lin reached down, grabbed the hilt, and pulled. A gleaming steel knife appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Chai Jie’s body swayed, and all the color drained from his face.

A collective gasp filled the air. Gao Xiaoliu, Duan San, and even He Qingquan were all completely dumbfounded.