The door closed behind them. Captain Lin picked up a file folder from the desk containing several photographs and a preliminary report.
"Have a seat. Homicide case. Night Wanderer Bar. Three days ago around dawn, a male body was found in the alley behind the bar. Victim: Chen Wan, thirty years old, bar manager." Captain Lin pinched the bridge of his nose. "The district station is short-handed, so they've transferred it to the city bureau's Major Crimes Unit. It's yours now. See if you can spot any problems."
Yin Wuwang took the file and moved naturally to Xie Qingyan's side, shoulder pressing against shoulder as he spread the photographs before them both. Xie Qingyan's body stiffened slightly, but mindful of their "two-year relationship" persona, he suppressed the urge to create distance. He simply lowered his gaze and focused on the photos.
The top photograph showed a man lying face-down on the wet asphalt of a dark alley.
Xie Qingyan's slender finger tapped the victim's head. There was a gaping wound on the right temple, blood trailing down the cheek to pool on the ground. The wound edges showed linear contusions consistent with a heavy blow from an angular object—matching the author's second cause of death: blunt force trauma.
Yin Wuwang exchanged a glance with him that only the two of them understood, and gave a soft "Mm." His gaze followed the blood trail downward and instantly locked onto the victim's neck.
Even from the limited angle, he could make out a deep purple-red ligature mark on Chen Wan's neck, pressed deep into the flesh. The victim's face showed the cyanotic discoloration of oxygen deprivation—classic signs of asphyxiation. This was the third cause of death: strangulation.
"Look at this position." Yin Wuwang pointed to another close-up of the victim's hands, his fingertip brushing against Xie Qingyan's hand as if by accident.
In the photograph, Chen Wan's arms hung limply at his sides.
Even without forensic training, common sense dictated that a conscious person being strangled—even if pinned to the ground—would thrash wildly out of survival instinct, or claw backward at their attacker's head. But Chen Wan's hands were clean. His clothing showed no signs of violent friction against the ground. There were no scratch marks around his neck from his own desperate clawing.
"The suspect, Zhang Yunxiang, has already confessed." Captain Lin drummed the desk in frustration, his brow furrowing. "He says he was drunk that night, got into a conflict with the victim, and hit him with a bottle."
"But here's the problem—somehow there are two preliminary examination reports. One says suspected cyanide poisoning, the other says death by blunt trauma. Two completely different conclusions. I have no idea where this kind of amateur mistake came from. The prosecutor took one look and sent it straight back for reinvestigation."
When Xie Qingyan heard "two reports," something stirred in his mind.
Collapse Point Four. It was already interfering with this world's underlying logic—even official judicial documents could contradict each other because of the author's abandoned settings.
Yin Wuwang pulled out the papers beneath the photographs. One autopsy report clearly stated: "Blunt force laceration on right temple," "Purple-red ligature furrow on neck running from front upward to back." Conclusion: "Detailed cause of death pending autopsy."
But the other report contained an extra line, appearing like a ghost: "Faint bitter almond odor." Conclusion: "Suspected death by cyanide poisoning."
A glint of interest flickered in his eyes as he looked up at Captain Lin: "Is the body still at the funeral home?"
"Cold storage conditions are good, preservation is fine." Captain Lin nodded, his gaze shifting to Xie Qingyan. "Xiao Han, arrange the autopsy. Whatever it takes, get me a definitive cause of death."
Xie Qingyan's expression remained cool as he nodded slightly: "Understood. I'll go today."
Captain Lin looked at Yin Wuwang: "Zhang Yunxiang's confession doesn't sit right with me. Go talk to him."
"No problem."
Captain Lin closed the folder and was silent for two seconds: "This case looks simple on the surface, but since it was kicked back, it's not simple. Investigate carefully."
Stepping out of Captain Lin's office, Little Lu had already brewed tea and was sitting there waiting for gossip. Seeing them emerge, he immediately craned his neck: "New case? What case? Serious? Need me to—"
"Bar homicide." Yin Wuwang cut him off.
Little Lu patted his chest: "Anything you need run down, just say the word!"
"Pull the business registration for Night Wanderer Bar and the surrounding surveillance footage."
"Got it!" Little Lu perked up and dashed back to his desk, then turned back after a couple of steps: "Brother Jiang, how many days of footage?"
"Three days before and after the incident."
"Understood!" This time he really ran.
Xie Qingyan stood with his black coffee, gave Yin Wuwang a slight nod, then turned and walked toward the forensic science department at the other end of the corridor.
Yin Wuwang watched his retreating figure unblinkingly—the long coat draped over the crook of his arm, that thin, fitted white shirt revealing every line of Xie Qingyan's straight spine and lean waist. Tailored black trousers wrapped around those long legs, step by elegant step, until he disappeared around the corner.
Yin Wuwang couldn't help but snort coldly in his mind. Those layer upon layer of elaborate ceremonial robes in the cultivation world were an utter waste of fabric. If there was anything in this modern society that could possibly compare to the immortal realm, it absolutely had to be these modern clothes that so perfectly outlined every inch of Fuguang's exceptional figure. The cultivators of all the immortal sects truly had no idea what they were missing all these millennia.
He withdrew his gaze and took a sip of his latte.
Fuguang said his fried egg had nice heat control. Then this sovereign conveniently bought coffee.
Today's mission opening was nothing short of perfect.
[End of V2_Chapter 06]
Next: The Sword Sovereign picks up a scalpel—and somehow makes an autopsy look like art.