Zhou Huan looked at Dongzi’s state, utterly helpless. “Alright, I’ll clean this up. If Xiao He asks about the cup later, tell her I broke it. Go wash your hands in the restroom quickly; look how much blood you’ve shed!” As he spoke, a thought suddenly struck Zhou Huan. The body of the suicidal woman had turned to blood; the bodies of the several deceased were generally shriveled, including Old Song’s hand. Could this be…? “The Corpse-Switching Blood Transformation Method?”

Dongzi ran to the restroom, leaving Zhou Huan alone in the room. He was suddenly reminded of a very old case from the Funeral Master circle: the “Corpse-Switching Blood Transformation.” In that original case, the ghoul’s methods were carved from the exact same mold as what was happening now, except that this time, the ghoul was employing the even more resentful Red Robe, Green Sleeve.

He sifted through the entire incident in his mind again. Every victim was wrapped in a Red Robe, Green Sleeve. The green sleeves were unstained by blood, but the great red coats were vibrantly red—that must be the color of the blood. Amidst the stench, half of it was the smell of decaying flesh, and that putrid scent must be the blood; the sweet fragrance of the ** was the medium the female ghost used to confuse the two.

Thinking this, Zhou Huan felt reborn, for he knew how to deal with this female ghost now. He knew how to proceed, how to dissipate the female ghost’s resentment.

Just as he had this realization, he heard a clamor outside the door: “You’ve detained my son! I won’t argue about him fighting, and I’ve paid the fine. It’s time for his release, so why isn’t my son out yet?”

“Mr. Wang, please remain calm for a moment. Our officers are currently questioning your son about another matter. He is technically free to go once our officers are finished,” an officer explained the situation to the newcomer.

But the newcomer’s tone grew louder. “What else is there to ask? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m tight with your bureau chief. I donated how many of your squad cars? And now you’re using them to arrest my son? Where is he? Take me to him!”

This man spoke while gesturing emphatically and slamming his hand on the table. Zhou Huan slowly leaned forward, standing to the side and watching.

Before long, an older officer entered from outside the precinct doors. “What wind blew Mr. Wang here? My old Chief, what has stirred up your anger?”

“Director, he…” a junior officer stepped forward, intending to say something.

The arriving Director shot him a look. “Aren’t you going to quickly bring Mr. Wang, my old Chief, a glass of water? Look at him, his voice is practically scorched from yelling!”

“Oh, it’s you, little ghost. You’ve become a Director after all these years? Then this matter will be easier to handle. Go release my son immediately; I need to take him to an opening ceremony!” Mr. Wang’s tone was much more polite now, perhaps because he recognized someone.

It turned out that Wang Qiang’s father had been a demobilized soldier, and this precinct Director had once served as one of Wang Qiang’s father’s personal guards. That’s why the Director immediately addressed him as “Chief” upon entering.

“Old Chief, you see, your son made a mistake, and we detained him so he could reflect on it!”

“I know that. He hit someone; I won’t defend him. Detaining him is a form of care, and as a Party member, that’s what should be done. However, a Party member must also protect the interests of the people. My son is one of the people, and his detention period is over; I’ve come to collect him.” Old Wang spoke with clear reason.

The Director maintained his composure. “As expected of an Old Chief, your awareness is high. You didn’t even blink when paying the fine. I must learn from a veteran Party member like you!”

“Of course. Paying the fine is because I failed to discipline my son properly and keep causing trouble for you all. Besides, the father is responsible if the son is ill-raised; I bear some responsibility, which is why I am not shielding him and accept the penalty.”

This Old Mr. Wang seized every opportunity the Director gave him, climbing higher and higher, thus tacitly buying Wang Xiaohe time to interrogate Wang Qiang and saving the Director a lot of trouble.

The junior officer brought warm water, which the Director personally handed to Mr. Wang with both hands. “Come, Old Chief, have a sip of water. We must catch up when you have time. I was a soldier you trained; I absolutely must treat you to a meal!”

Old Wang took the water and drank a symbolic sip. Hearing the Director’s words, he waved his hands repeatedly. “No need for you to treat me; a Chief must treat his own brothers!” He then set down the cup. “Alright, we’ll talk about our relationship later. I’m truly anxious to take my son to the groundbreaking ceremony; this tens-of-millions project will eventually be handed over to him to manage!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Wait a moment!” The Director’s expression shifted. “Xiao Sun, go see what your Sister Wang is up to and tell her to hurry. My Old Chief is waiting downstairs. Tell her if there’s nothing major, to send Wang Qiang down quickly!”

Hearing this, Zhou Huan feared it would be awkward if Wang Qiang saw him. He turned to head toward Xiao He’s office, meeting Dongzi coming the other way.

“Brother, what’s going on?”

“Wang Qiang’s dad is here to pick him up. We’re not getting involved. Hurry into the room!” As Zhou Huan spoke, he pulled Dongzi by the collar, dragging him inside.

Dongzi kept craning his neck, trying to see what was happening, but he couldn’t resist Zhou Huan’s pull and was dragged into the room.

A moment later, through the office glass, Zhou Huan saw Old Mr. Wang leading Wang Qiang away. Wang Xiaohe exchanged a few words with the Director and then headed toward the office.

Though it was the middle of the night, the precinct was indeed busy. After the sound of a car engine starting faded, the area instantly became much quieter.

Wang Xiaohe entered the room, holding her notepad. As soon as she stepped in, her brow furrowed sharply, and her eyes widened, staring intently at the shattered cup fragments in the waste bin. A surge of hot blood rushed to her beautiful face. “Who broke my cup? I will never forgive them!”

Dongzi was stunned by Wang Xiaohe’s sudden expression, showing signs of curling up. Suddenly, he felt himself become utterly insignificant.

Zhou Huan glanced at Dongzi with his peripheral vision, then stood up and bowed deferentially toward Wang Xiaohe. “Xiao He, it’s my fault. I accidentally broke your cup!”

Seeing Zhou Huan admit it, Wang Xiaohe’s eyes erupted with flames directed at him. “The flowers painted on this cup were done by my best friend from university. I value it more than my own life, and you actually smashed it, huh! I’m going crazy!” Suddenly, Xiao He cried out, and this sound in the dead of night was like a clap of thunder.

Zhou Huan quickly covered Wang Xiaohe’s mouth with his hand. “My dearest Xiao He ancestor, don’t shout! This is a public place, and it’s so late!”

Wang Xiaohe’s hands froze, perhaps from sheer rage. With Zhou Huan covering her mouth, tears seemed to well up in her eyes. Such a outwardly strong policewoman was shedding tears over a cup. Simultaneously, a set of deep teeth marks appeared on Zhou Huan’s hand. It was likely because Zhou Huan confessed to breaking the cup that Wang Xiaohe became so agitated!

However, this was between the two of them. Dongzi was finally smart enough at this moment to slip away unnoticed while they were distracted, going back outside to chat with the junior police officers about tea and cigarettes.

Even though Wang Xiaohe had bitten Zhou Huan fiercely, Zhou Huan wasn't angry and didn't cry out in pain. Instead, a deeper, ambiguous feeling bloomed in his heart toward the beautiful policewoman, and he let out a soft laugh.

“Xiao He, look at this cup…” Zhou Huan tested Wang Xiaohe, speaking haltingly.

When Wang Xiaohe saw Zhou Huan wasn't crying out but was actually smiling, she pouted her rosy little mouth. “Fine, you’re not in pain, are you? Then I don’t want to see you anymore! You can leave!” Wang Xiaohe’s expression shifted drastically, suddenly becoming intensely serious.

“Okay, fine, I’ll go. It’s time for me to check the morgue anyway!” Zhou Huan said as he began walking toward the door.

“Whoosh!”

“Thwack!” A crumpled paper ball hit Zhou Huan’s head. He heard Wang Xiaohe’s spoiled voice from behind him: “You big blockhead! I told you to leave, and you just go? Come back here!”

This sudden action from Wang Xiaohe caught Zhou Huan off guard, leaving him slightly disoriented. But he knew this policewoman had developed feelings for him, so Zhou Huan was confident, knowing he could approach this beautiful girl boldly.

Zhou Huan continued to smile, slowly moving back toward Xiao He, drawing closer and closer; he gently placed both hands on Xiao He’s waist, and their bodies pressed tightly together. Zhou Huan’s eyes shot out beams of high-voltage energy, his lips moving toward Xiao He’s.

At this moment, all Xiao He felt was tension and rapid, shallow breaths. Her eyes, electrified by Zhou Huan, stared blankly at his, but instinctively, she tilted her head backward. Conflicting emotions warred within her: the constraints of traditional values on one side, and the man she liked in her heart, someone who at least stirred the impulse of desire, on the other.

But something happened that Zhou Huan never expected. Wang Xiaohe’s lips met Zhou Huan’s in a successful kiss, but just as their kiss began, Wang Xiaohe, for some unknown reason, raised her hand and slapped Zhou Huan hard across the face. Then she looked at Zhou Huan nervously, immediately followed by a bright smile. This woman was truly captivating when she smiled; even Zhou Huan, who had just been sharply struck, felt no trace of anger.

The two stood smiling, looking at each other, as if a channel for communication had opened between their hearts.

“I’ll go with you. I know you have a new plan,” Xiao He said, putting on her cap and picking up the car keys from the desk.

Zhou Huan spoke with great confidence: “We might subdue that female ghost in less than three days. I already know the technique she’s using. I must have experienced this method in a past life. While solving it presents a challenge, it’s better than being completely helpless like before!”

“That’s great. Let’s go!” Xiao He walked ahead, out the main door. A few junior officers from the precinct also followed out. Wang Xiaohe gave instructions: “Xiao Li, take one person and go find Wang Qiang. Once you find him, follow him, because too many uncleared aspects of this case are connected to him right now. Dongzi, you ride with us to the morgue.”

When Dongzi heard he had to go to the morgue again, the fragile peace he had finally achieved shattered completely. “Can I not go?”

“No. If you follow me, you have to go. Watch this; once this case is closed, I’m going to cure this fear of death in you!” Zhou Huan’s voice was firm, and he reached out, grabbing Dongzi by the scruff of his neck, and got into the car.

Xiao He drove, speeding toward the funeral home morgue. The attendant opened the door. The three bodies were placed in the innermost stalls. The trio walked quietly toward the three corpses. Dongzi hid behind Zhou Huan, trembling and silent, while Zhou Huan stood before the bodies. Wang Xiaohe started to lift the white sheet covering the deceased, but Zhou Huan stopped her with a hand.

At that moment, the morgue fell deathly silent, save for gusts of eerie wind and the occasional crackle of electricity from the fluorescent light bulbs. Hanging on the side wall was a quartz clock the size of a basin rim, but the sound of its hands turning seemed to have vanished, transporting the three into the stroke of midnight!

Zhou Huan instinctively glanced at the clock on the wall; he understood deeply that the plan he had formulated had entered its execution phase. He pressed his palms together and began chanting the Six-Syllable Great Bright Mantra: “Om Mani Padme Hum.” Immediately after, he slowly lifted the white cloth covering the taxi driver’s body.

Dongzi’s heartbeat had reached a speed of eighty miles per hour; his cheeks were flushed red, and a light sweat beaded on his forehead. Even Wang Xiaohe, a police officer accustomed to dealing with the dead, began to feel tense, as she had no idea what Zhou Huan was about to do and knew this female ghost was not as safe as an ordinary deceased person. She stared wide-eyed at the driver’s corpse.

Everyone still remembered his deathly appearance vividly. His left eye, pierced by the green sleeve, was blackened and deeply sunken. The tongue sticking out was dried down to just a layer of skin. The lower half of the ** had desiccated, but the rotten outer skin clung tightly to the fleshless bones. Pungent waves of cadaverous stench washed over them, forcing Dongzi and Xiao He to stumble back a couple of steps. Looking at the red coat on the body, despite being stored in the morgue for so many days, its redness remained incredibly vibrant, and the green sleeves were still eerily luminous.