Hidden moth

Chapter 17: Wrong person
After the verdict, the criminal suspect will be transferred from the detention center to prison to serve his sentence, and the time previously detained in the detention center can also be used to offset the sentence.

Therefore, for many prisoners who cannot be sentenced severely, or even suspects who are somewhat wrongly accused, the judge often gives them a sentence equal to the time they have been detained in the detention center, and they are released directly after sentencing.

Why was this sentence imposed? A shorter sentence would have meant the suspect had been detained beyond the legal limit, raising the issue of state compensation, while a longer sentence would have been unjustifiable.

Xiao Wu felt very wronged. After he was put into the detention center, his parents tried hard to get him bail, but they were unsuccessful. The official verdict was delayed for another nine months... He estimated that the gangster's family used their connections to do something bad.

On the other hand, Xiao Wu was lucky because he met his master Zhang Yanfei in the detention center. After learning about his experience, Zhang Yanfei felt very sympathetic towards him.

Wu Yanjun was deeply depressed. Regardless, he already had a criminal record, which completely ruined his future. Many employers wouldn't hire him after his release. Had all his years of hard work been wasted simply because he'd stopped a free meal?
Zhang Yanfei advised him not to be discouraged, and told him about the existence of magic and techniques, and taught him the subtle techniques. If he could practice the techniques and become an extraordinary person, he would not be trapped by ordinary people.

Wu Yanjun asked back at that time - didn’t you come in yourself?

Zhang Yanfei predicted two things: first, he would be released soon, under the pretext of medical treatment or some other excuse, and someone would rescue him; second, Xiao Wu would just wait patiently for the court hearing, and the day of the verdict would be the day of his release.

Both of these things later came true.

The reason why Zhang Yanfei accepted Wu Yanjun as his apprentice was not only because he sympathized with his situation, but more importantly, he discovered that this young man had good qualifications and was very talented.

Zhang Yanfei had nothing to do in the detention center. How could he have had the time to teach his apprentice diligently in the past? The same situation applied to Xiao Wu. The environment in the detention center was almost enough to make people sick, so he just practiced.

In just half a year, Wu Yanjun not only mastered the art of subtlety and became a first-level imitator, but also had the conditions to be promoted to a second-level ink master. The only thing missing was the test or ceremony to pass.

Zhang Yanfei was a little puzzled. He didn't expect Xiao Wu to be able to learn so quickly. It seemed that the environment of the detention center was quite suitable for novice sorcerers to concentrate on practicing. Should the various schools of magic consider promoting it?
Zhang Yanfei only taught Xiao Wu for half a year before leaving under the pretext of medical treatment. Sure enough, someone was out there trying to rescue him. Just after he left, Wu Yanjun unexpectedly advanced to the second-level Mo Ke.

Two months later, Wu Yanjun also waited for the court verdict and was released after serving his sentence.

He Kao was puzzled and said, "You finally got out. You should either repay a favor or seek revenge. I think repaying a favor comes before revenge. Why did you find yourself here instead of looking for your master?"

Wu Yanjun's head and shoulders drooped, and he said in a low voice, "My master is no longer with us. I heard he died of illness just over a month after leaving. I couldn't make it... His case hasn't even been judged yet!"

He Kao's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Wu Yanjun changed. Sometimes, when people talk to each other, they feel nothing, but other times, a single word inexplicably touches them.

Because He Kao's father had a similar experience, he died of illness before the case was heard in court, leaving behind an unsolved mystery.

He Kao stood up and said, "It's getting late. Let's not sit in the restaurant all the time. Let's go somewhere else to chat. There's a cafe downstairs."

Wu Yanjun: "Take the pendant back, and return this badge to your colleague. How much is the meal? Add me as a friend and I'll transfer it to you, and you can transfer it to him for me."

He Kao: "Forget the money, just consider it my treat. Where did you get this pendant? Do you know the person who switched it?"

Wu Yanjun lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, it's my junior sister. My cooking skills are not very good, please forgive me!"

He Kao: "Junior sister, is she your master's daughter?"

Wu Yanjun: "No, don't ask. It's not convenient to tell you."

He Kao: "Your junior sister stole my things, why shouldn't I know about it?"

Wu Yanjun: "I'm just helping her deal with the aftermath. I'm returning it to you."

He Kao: "Thank you, let's go!"

The two left the cafeteria and walked a short distance out of the building. There was a cafe on the corner. They found a seat and sat down. He Kao said to the waiter, "Xiao Miao, give me a glass of lemonade."

Wu Yanjun lowered his voice and asked, "Are you familiar with this girl?"

He Kao: "How did you figure that out?"

Wu Yanjun: "I am not an ordinary person. I have learned a lot in there, and my master taught me even more. I do have some discernment. I can tell from your eyes and tone."

He Kao: "This is my junior sister."

Wu Yanjun: "You also have a junior sister?"

He Kao: "We're from the same school, but different majors. She's still in graduate school and is currently writing her thesis. I also worked here about half a year ago..."

He stopped talking at this point because Xiao Miao had already come over with lemonade. He Kao asked Xiao Wu again: "What do you want to drink?"

Wu Yanjun: "Give me a beer."

He Kao: "Come to the cafe for a beer?"

Wu Yanjun: "You didn't order coffee either."

He Kao: "Then we might as well go eat skewers."

Wu Yanjun looked around and said, "Let's go eat skewers. This isn't the place to talk."

He Kao: "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Wu Yanjun said, "You brought me here." He said hello to Xiao Miao, and the two of them stood up and left the cafe. It was nice to have someone you knew, so he took the untouched glass of lemonade back and confiscated the money.

He Kao was very familiar with the area and found a busy barbecue restaurant within walking distance. It was the place where he had eaten skewers with Qian Guran and Huang Xiaopang last time. After sitting down, they ordered a beer skewers set meal.

The coffee shop we were in wasn't a good place for conversation, as there were quite a few other customers and the environment was too quiet. Although Xiao Wu spoke in a low voice, he sometimes spoke loudly without realizing it.

The environment at the barbecue stall was very noisy, and few people could hear the two people chatting there.

Clinking their large glasses of draft beer, Wu Yanjun drank half of it in one gulp, then stared at He Kao and said, "There's something wrong with you!"

He Kao's heart tightened: "What's wrong with me?"

Wu Yanjun: "You're quite remarkable. You're very calm and sharp! Most people would be surprised or unbelievable by what I tell you today."

He Kao: "I'm also very surprised!"

Wu Yanjun: "But your reaction is unusual. Not only do you believe what I say, but you can also help me analyze it."

He Kao took a sip of wine and said, “I’ve been through that stage since I was a child. When being afraid and crying is useless, being calm is the only thing that can help me.

As for sharpness, maybe, simply being calm is useless. The purpose of being calm is to be more sharp."

Wu Yanjun: "You are not a simple person, but in fact, I am not a simple person either. When I was in the detention center, my master saw me and saw that I had the potential to practice magic..."

He Kao couldn't help but interrupt him and said, "Mr. Wu Yan, can I ask you a question?"

Wu Yanjun spread his hands and said, "Just call me Xiao Wu! I know you have a lot of questions, so just ask whatever you want. I'll tell you everything I can, but there are some things I can't tell you yet."

He Kao: "You masters of magic, the eccentrics of modern society, are you so careless in your actions? You suspect I'm some hidden moth, and that my pendant is some hidden moth thing. You've got the wrong person!

But what if you're not looking for the wrong person? I'm the Yin Moth, and this pendant belongs to the Yin Moth. So, what gives you the right to do this? This is clearly theft!
If you really want this thing, you can come to me directly and make an offer to see if I am willing to transfer it. This is the normal way of doing things. Is this how you usually do things? Is there no one to supervise you?"

Xiao Wu's face flushed red, perhaps because of the alcohol or something else. He held it in for a long time before speaking, "The Shu sect also has its own rules, and of course there are people in charge. So you see, they didn't dare to openly rob.

But people, since they have the ability, will inevitably think of ways to take shortcuts, as long as no one finds out. After all, the temptation to become a hidden moth is still very great, and more importantly, they don't want to expose themselves.

Imagine you're really a Hidden Moth, and someone comes directly to you and buys your Hidden Moth belongings. Wouldn't that expose them? That would also be a problem.

Of course, I'm talking about them, I'm not that kind of person!"

He Kao: "Then why did you come here to look for the hidden moth?"

Wu Yanjun sighed: "Because of the case two years ago, I want to know the truth. My master is no longer here, and I don't know what else I can do for him, so I want to find out - what exactly happened two years ago?
I first heard about the hidden moth incident from my master, and after I was released, my uncle also explained some of the circumstances. They all believed that the swapping of works at the art exhibition was most likely the work of the hidden moth, otherwise there was no explanation.

If that incident hadn't happened, my master wouldn't have gone in, and he wouldn't have died so early."

He Kao shook his head repeatedly and said, "I completely agree with your desire to do what you can for Master, but I cannot agree with your specific approach.

Let's make another assumption. Let's assume that the painting was indeed swapped by the so-called hidden moth during the exhibition, leading to your master's imprisonment. Even if that were the case, was your master imprisoned because of the hidden moth?

People should be reasonable. The police arrested your master because he really made a mistake and they found evidence. If he had never done those things, even if the painting was switched at the exhibition, he would not be traced back to him.

It's like a thief who stole something and was caught while selling it. Is the person who found it wrong? The police arrested him just because he stole something. Following this clue, they found more stolen goods, and finally the evidence was conclusive!

Wu Yanjun slammed his wine glass on the table: "Don't you dare say that about my master!"

He Kao: "I'm sorry, I didn't want to say that. You are an upright person. My junior sister stole my things, and you knew to return them. But you also know that your master really made a mistake. He didn't need to do those things.

How did your master end up like this? Who was it that forced him to do that in the first place? If you really want to investigate the so-called truth, you should look not for the hidden moth, but for those people.

Wu Yanjun had almost calmed down and lowered his voice, "You mean the people from Danding Sect?"

He Kao didn't say anything, but shook his head.

Wu Yanjun said anxiously, "Isn't it them? They were the ones who found my master and switched the ancient painting, and then my master was blackmailed."

He Kao: "This is what your master told you. But there are many things that he doesn't want to tell you and can't tell you, because knowing too much will not do you any good." This is what Xiao Wu once said to He Kao, and he returned it to him now.

Wu Yanjun leaned over and asked, "What's the matter?"

He Kao: "The relationship between your master and Dan Ding Sect is more like a mutually beneficial transaction. Even if you come to them, I'm afraid there won't be much to say. They will just say that it was all voluntary and then fight you back.

Besides, you alone might be able to defeat three little hooligans, but can you handle the entire Danding Sect? Actually, there are two other things that are more important.

"First, what was the reason that made your master agree to Danding Sect's request? If he agreed on his own initiative, then there's nothing to say, but what if there's something else going on?"

**
(End of this chapter)