A photograph, the size of a B4 sheet, was crowded with people. Center stage was Director Li of the local Public Security Bureau, to his right was the supposed master of the Song lineage, Suixi, and to his left was Director Li’s daughter, the clerk from the archives room. The back row held four police officers. Written in the white space beneath the photo were several large characters: "Photographers Present—Zhou Huan, Wang Xiaohe, Lin Dongzi."

Upon seeing these words, Zhou Huan was instantly startled. When had he participated in photography? He nervously stuffed the photo inside his jacket, glancing around furtively as he did so, afraid someone might be watching him. Only when he confirmed he was alone did he let out a long sigh of relief.

“Nonsense,” he muttered to himself, turning to leave the restroom. “If anyone else saw this, I wouldn’t be able to explain myself. This whole thing really needs another investigation.”

As he stepped out, a face as stiff as dead wood stood directly in front of him.

“Master Zhou, who were you just talking to?” It was Director Li, his usual cunning expression suddenly replaced by a startling, vacant numbness.

Zhou Huan suppressed the brief spike of tension in his chest and managed a placating smile. “Director Li, apologies. I was pursuing that soul with a magnetic field, but it got away from me here. Zhou Huan was not skilled enough to catch it.”

“Oh, hehe, that’s nothing. We’ve finished processing the scene; we just needed one last photo for the evidence record.” Director Li’s face broke into a sly grin, the momentary blankness vanishing without a trace.

As the two were speaking, a large, oil-stained hand shot out from behind Director Li, shoving him aside. “Move over! Don’t block the doorway!”

For some inexplicable reason, Director Li offered a token step aside, revealing Dongzi’s head.

“Brother Huan, those lonely spirits have already escorted two souls down to the Underworld. I saw several of the great generals from the lower realms arrive,” Dongzi reported to Zhou Huan, flashing his teeth. He then glanced back at Director Li with disdain. “Damn blockhead, seriously in the way. Where else could he stand?” With that, Dongzi turned and walked away.

As Zhou Huan watched Director Li, the Director’s face turned dark purple, like a freshly roasted sweet potato.

“You bastard, I’ll stand in your way today, see if I don’t!” No sooner had Director Li spoken than he lunged two steps forward, reaching out to block Dongzi’s path.

Zhou Huan quickly intervened. “Excuse us, Director Li, this is Zhou Huan’s apprentice. He’s ignorant.” Zhou Huan then pointed vaguely to his own head and leaned close to Director Li’s ear, whispering, “This kid has problems; we all say he’s mentally unstable. Don't stoop to his level.”

“What? If he’s sick, he should be in a hospital! Why is he running around aimlessly?” Director Li was furious, watching Dongzi’s restless movements.

“Brother, stop talking back to him! Let me beat him up!” Dongzi moved faster than he spoke, grabbing Director Li’s shoulder insignia. The moment his fingers closed around the metal, he suddenly felt something was wrong, and his grip slowly loosened.

“Police?” Dongzi seemed to realize something, then abruptly turned and fled, his speed like an arrow loosed from a bow. In the blink of an eye, he was back in the room, door shut tight.

Zhou Huan watched Dongzi depart, then resumed his apologetic tone. “Director Li, you see… this kid really is sick.”

“Forget it. I won’t lower myself to his level today.” Just as he finished speaking, Director Li’s face shifted; he offered a forced, cheerful smile. “Master Zhou, we’ll be on our way then. Please continue to handle this matter with care. If more people die, I won’t be able to explain myself to my superiors.”

“Certainly, certainly. I’ll go back and prepare my tools right away. Daybreak is coming soon. I’ll swing by your bureau later to look at the materials. This afternoon, I’ll need your Suixi Master to accompany me to the morgue to properly examine that corpse that jumped from the building.”

“No problem. All the bodies have been moved. Officer Wang initially wouldn’t let us touch them, but then Suixi arrived and took them away after handling the situation. I figured your methods aren't that different from ours, so I didn't make them linger too long, lest it affect the hotel’s business. Being a police officer for the people is not easy; a single oversight can cause trouble,” Director Li said with deep sincerity, his expression conveying genuine hardship.

Zhou Huan felt a wave of nausea. This person before him was utterly false; it was clear he was no good either. Zhou Huan deliberately shifted the topic. “Oh, right, I’ll be a bit late stopping by your place this morning. I need to see an old friend—he’s an actor. You know, you two actually have some things in common. Why don’t you two get some more rest; you’ve both been busy all night.”

Director Li was shrewd; there was no hint he missed the implication. Zhou Huan was plainly suggesting his acting skills were superior. But this remark struck a nerve in Li, making him suspect Zhou Huan had somehow caught onto something.

When people are preoccupied with worrisome thoughts, some trace of it invariably appears on their face—not overtly, but clear enough for a keen observer to spot. Such an expression is often sharp.

Zhou Huan smiled. “Director Li, you see…”

“Oh… alright, do as you wish. You all need rest too. We’ll head back now. We’ll send someone up later to take photos. You can keep watch at the door for now and temporarily stop anyone from entering or leaving.” As he spoke, Director Li descended the stairs, walked out the hotel entrance, and drove away.

Zhou Huan let out a suppressed laugh. “That rascal Dongzi, always stirring up trouble! This time, he actually managed to give that guy a moment of doubt.”

“Brother Huan, where were you two all night? Sister Xiaohe was with me just now, but when I woke up, she was gone,” Yang Xiaoling finally woke up. Perhaps recovering from a serious illness had drained her energy reserves completely, causing her to sleep for the entire night.

“Xiaoling, did you sleep well? You expended too much energy. You should go back and rest more. Your Sister Xiaohe is downstairs handling matters and will be back shortly.” As Zhou Huan spoke, Xiaoling threw her arms around his waist, pressing her head tightly against his back.

Dongzi quietly opened the room door, poked his head out to peek, and the moment he saw Zhou Huan and Yang Xiaoling clinging to each other, he swiftly retracted his head.

Zhou Huan turned, placing both hands on Yang Xiaoling’s head. “Be good, Xiaoling, go back to sleep. Call me if you need anything.”

This only made Yang Xiaoling cling tighter, wrapping her arms firmly around Zhou Huan and burying her head tightly against his shoulder.

Zhou Huan gently stroked her hair. “It’s alright, don’t worry. Your Brother Huan is not an irresponsible person. I will find a way to sort this whole mess out.”

Suddenly, Zhou Huan felt someone staring at his back. He spun around sharply and met the gaze of his fiancée, Xiaohe.

“You two… did I interrupt something?” As she spoke, Xiaohe seemed agitated. This usually strong woman’s eyes were suddenly brimming with tears, poised to fall.

Yang Xiaoling let go of Zhou Huan and called out to Xiaohe, “Sister Xiaohe, what’s wrong? We…”

“You don’t need to say anything. I saw everything. No wonder you suddenly started calling me ‘sister’ earlier; so, it started back then. Fine! I won't say another word. Zhou Huan, you remember this—this is all on you.” Xiaohe’s voice broke as she spoke, and she turned, running downstairs.

“Sister Xiaohe, don’t run!”

Zhou Huan froze for a moment. Faced with two women, he was completely at a loss. Dongzi threw the room door wide open, turning to launch into his critique of Zhou Huan. “Brother Huan, don’t give me that nonsense! How could you do something like this when Sister Xiaohe is so perfect?”

“Less chatter. Look after Miss Yang. I’m going after Sister Xiaohe,” Zhou Huan said, glancing at Yang Xiaoling before turning and chasing after her.

Dongzi watched Zhou Huan rush out, then looked at Yang Xiaoling. He mumbled to himself, “You’re really lucky, getting involved with my brother so easily. Come on, let’s go inside. I have to watch you carefully, or if anything happens to you, I won't be able to explain myself. Honestly, this is only because it’s my brother; if it were anyone else, I’d have beaten him up already.”

Yang Xiaoling looked at Dongzi with innocent eyes, small points of moisture gathering there too.

Dongzi grabbed Miss Yang’s hand. “Come inside; don’t stay out here.”

As soon as they entered the room, Yang Xiaoling’s tears began to flow. Her two bright eyes fixed on Dongzi. “Dongzi, do you think I’m that kind of promiscuous person?”

“Then tell me what happened between you two.”

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to insult me and your brother like that again, okay?” Yang Xiaoling then began to recount the events of the previous night…