Chapter 23: Murder Case

Monday, clear skies.

In a city like Songhai, the morning rush hour is always a headache. Whether on elevated roads or surface streets, the heavy traffic is enough to make anyone's blood pressure rise.

Ordinary office workers who take the subway don't have to worry about traffic jams, but they must endure being packed like sardines.

Bathed in the morning sunlight, Zhang Yuanqing rode a shared bicycle through the bustling streets of Songhai, a breakfast pancake in his mouth.

He effortlessly overtook one private car after another, passing business vehicles and buses. The youthful energy in him soared, just like his windswept bangs.

Songhai University was about five or six kilometers from his grandmother's house, and it only took 15 minutes to get there by bike. That was why he didn't live on campus.

Thanks to his recent promotion to "Night Wanderer," what used to be an exhausting bike ride now felt effortless. He pedaled all the way to the university gates in just ten minutes. If it weren't for the electric bikes crowding the cycle lane, he could have been even faster.

Founded in the early 20th century, Songhai University had a history of 120 years and ranked among the top universities in the country.

Beyond its excellent faculty, the university was particularly known for two things: "Beautiful flowers find worthy suitors," and "Warriors dare to wield swords."

His grandmother used to warn his aunt to protect herself at school. Now that she was older, she felt the need to warn her grandson—this time, to protect himself.

His grandmother was quite dissatisfied with the way the world had become.

Entering the campus, he passed the main axis where a statue of the university's founder stood, then rode down a tree-lined path filled with plane trees toward the academic buildings.

The college environment was elegant and tranquil. Some students were filming short videos, others sat on benches chatting, while a few clutched textbooks, hurrying to class.

The wide, clean streets, the lush green lawns, and the aged dormitory buildings made the university look more like a peaceful, upscale residential community rather than a traditional school.

Zhang Yuanqing parked his bike outside the building, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and entered the complex.

Upon arriving at the tiered lecture hall, he scanned the room. Students sat scattered in small groups—many had skipped class.

He picked a random seat and sat down, just as he overheard two male students behind him whispering:

"I just saw Xu Yingying at the school gate again, waiting for her sugar daddy."

"Stop talking nonsense! My goddess would never be a kept woman."

"I swear! Every Monday, a man comes to pick her up in a luxury car worth tens of thousands. I saw it myself last Monday."

"Are you sure? Maybe it was just a rideshare."

"Would you kiss a rideshare driver?"

"...Damn it! In high school, girls liked straight-A students. Now in college, they like rich men from outside. When will ordinary guys ever have a chance?"

Xu Yingying was a classmate of theirs—a beautiful girl and their class belle.

Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but turn around, teasing them with a grin.

"The only thing helping you 'stand up' is your hard drive full of waifus."

The two guys were stunned, not expecting him to chime in.

Li Lesheng, one of them, huffed. "What's up with you today, Zhang Yuanqing? You seem different."

Zhang Yuanqing blinked. "Why do you say that?"

Before Li Lesheng could respond, the professor—wearing black-rimmed glasses and carrying a stack of books—walked into the room. The once-chattering lecture hall immediately fell silent.

---

Kangyang District, Maile Hotel.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened on the 16th floor.

Dressed in a formal suit, a black vest over a white shirt, Li Dongze stepped out of the elevator, leaning on his cane. His thin face was grave. Behind him followed Guan Ya, her high heels clicking crisply against the polished floor.

The entire floor had been cleared of guests. A police cordon was set up at the corridor entrance, guarded by two security officers.

Guan Ya stepped forward, flashing her badge.

The guards immediately stepped aside.

Inside the hallway, several uniformed officers were busy—taking photographs, collecting fingerprints and hair samples.

Li Dongze swept past them and entered the hotel room. A strong scent of blood filled the air.

His gaze swept over the hotel suite. On the bed lay two bodies, covered by white sheets. The once-pristine bed sheets were now stained dark red with blood.

Li Dongze tapped his cane and lifted the sheet. A man and a woman lay naked beneath it.

He was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "It's definitely Zhao Yingjun."

Meanwhile, Guan Ya carefully examined every corner of the room. Wisps of white mist swirled in her pupils as she surveyed the scene.

After a while, she said, "There are no signs of struggle, no attempts to clean up the crime scene… The trash bin contains two used condoms, but the box is missing three…"

She glanced sympathetically at the female victim.

Li Dongze covered the bodies again and said grimly, "Guan Ya, stay here and assist the forensics team. Gather fingerprints and hair samples, check surveillance footage. I need to contact Fu Bai and the team leaders—we might need to hold a meeting."

Guan Ya nodded. "I'll send you all the crime scene details and background information on the victims shortly."

Zhao Yingjun was a consultant at the Xiangshui Road Security Bureau, a member of the White Tiger Troop, and a Level 2 Scout.

A member of the Five Elements League had been murdered. This was a major incident.

---

Private Villa, Second Floor Conference Room.

The conference room was elegantly decorated. Plush wool carpets covered the floor, and in the center stood a solid wood conference table.

The table was laid with exquisite fruit platters, translucent slices of ham, expensive imported wine, boxes of cigars, and delicate desserts.

At the far end of the table, a white projection screen displayed a hotel surveillance video.

On-screen, a man in a baseball cap and face mask walked down the hallway, stopping in front of a room. He took out a key card, unlocked the door, and entered.

Forty minutes later, the same man exited the room, hands in his pockets, head down, and left.

The video paused. Li Dongze turned to the assembled team leaders and said,

"This morning, the hotel staff called the police after finding the victims. The room service attendant knocked but received no response, so they entered and discovered the bodies.

"Zhao Yingjun was tortured before he died—his body covered in knife wounds, his hands and feet showed signs of being bound. The fatal wound was a stab through the heart.

"The female victim, Liu Xiao'e, was also stabbed in the heart. Based on the missing condoms, we suspect she was assaulted before death.

"We checked their phones—Liu Xiao'e was Zhao Yingjun's mistress.

"We also reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel's exits but found no sign of the suspect leaving. He likely used a special method to evade detection.

"Preliminary analysis suggests the killer is a Spirit Realm Walker."

There were six people at the table.

At the head sat a young man in a white suit, exuding the noble arrogance of an aristocrat. His dark brown eyes were calm and unreadable.

On his right, a woman in a silk cheongsam cradled an orange cat. She had the elegant demeanor of a well-maintained mature woman.

Next to her, a middle-aged man in a miner's helmet and work clothes sat with a stern expression. His tanned skin bore the marks of years of labor.

Across from them, a fitness instructor with a fierce gaze and bulging muscles scowled impatiently.

Beside him, a woman in a white racing suit and tight black leather pants, her wavy black hair cascading over her shoulders, exuded a sharp and commanding presence.

These five were team leaders of Kangyang District's Spirit Realm Walkers.

The man in the white suit glanced around and said indifferently,

"What do you all think? Qing Teng, you go first."