American Zombie Detective

After leaving the hellish scene at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Qin Jin did not go home, but went straight to the Xisen Mine Pool.

As usual, after throwing the blood jade down, the paper bride emerged from the water. Before she could speak, Qin Jin threw down the towel stained with Tong Shouzhong's blood.

"Look! Another one killed. This is his blood! The body is in the police morgue. Do you need it? If so, I'll arrange for you to see it."

"No need..." The paper bride's voice carried a sharp resentment: "Since she's already dead, so be it..."

She paused briefly, a rare hint of melancholy in her voice:

"Next time, if possible, please let me do it myself. Although I can get revenge, it's rather boring having you do everything for me..."

"Okay, okay, I got it. I'll do my best!" Qin Jin agreed, then changed the subject:

"I need something cold and cooling to suppress the restlessness within me. Do you have any?"

The paper bride's empty gaze refocused on Qin Jin, carrying a deeper level of scrutiny and confusion.

"I can't see through you..." Its voice carried a hint of barely perceptible apprehension. "Your origins are shrouded in mystery, unfathomable. You are far stronger than me..."

It seemed to realize its slip of the tongue, immediately stopped, and didn't delve further into the topic. Instead, it said:

"The source of Yin and Cold does indeed exist here, but I need time to prepare. You can come back in two or three days, is that alright?"

"Okay!" Qin Jin immediately agreed, "I'll come back in two days."

The paper bride seemed to have no objection, and her figure slowly sank into the water. Qin Jin also took Alessa away from the mine, and this time they truly returned to their home in the Green Grass Community.

Back at their temporary home, the tension finally eased completely, and the first thing the two did was take a shower!

Hot water washed away the blood, gunpowder, snake odor, and cold dust from the mine, leaving Aresa's dress torn again—a routine that seemed to have become the norm.

After Qin Jin and Alessa finished their baths, the little bear cub Yuanxiao was also given a thorough scrubbing in the bathtub. It had gotten used to enjoying hot baths, and looked incredibly content with its little eyes half-closed.

Night falls.

Alessa sat on the sofa, holding the smelly, sleepy Yuanxiao, and turned on the TV. Qin Jin squeezed in, and the two of them and the bear watched a soap opera together...

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Constantine and Catherine stood outside the door. Constantine was carrying a bulging paper bag that smelled of roasted meat, and a dozen ice-cold beers in his other hand. Catherine was holding a box of exquisite desserts.

"Hey! Shall we celebrate?"

Constantine grinned, his face showing signs of fatigue, but his eyes were bright.

"We guessed you weren't in the mood to cook."

Qin Jin let them in. Catherine's gaze swept over the warm and peaceful scene inside, landing on Alessa, who was holding a teddy bear. Her eyes softened slightly.

Have you eaten yet?

"I've already eaten, but..." Qin Jin smiled and pointed to the tables and chairs in the back garden:

"I can have a drink with you!"

Qin Jin actually enjoys this lifestyle that only humans have. He used to participate occasionally when he was in Dezhou, but because of his habit of not eating much, he had many taboos. Now he doesn't have to worry about that anymore.

As for alcoholic beverages, it doesn't matter much. Both Qin Jin and Alessa can drink a little, and in human terms, they have a high alcohol tolerance.

Soon, the four of them, along with the little bear, arrived at the garden. Constanze and Catherine began eating roast meat and desserts, drinking beer, and chatting with Qin Jin.

Qin Jin, Constanze, and Catherine were drinking beer, while Alessa was drinking fruit juice. Yuanxiao seemed to be attracted by the aroma and tried to sneak a bite several times, but was eventually caught by Alessa. She then threw a tantrum and rolled on the ground, which made everyone laugh.

Constantin began recounting recent amusing anecdotes; apparently, he had just slept with another female celebrity—

Emily! She's the actress Alessa used to sneak into Howard's party, but unexpectedly, she was taken by Constanze.

Catherine's topics, however, always revolved around monsters, exorcisms, and magical artifacts. Being a newcomer, she was extremely interested in these things, but...

Neither Constanze nor Catherine inquired about Qin Jin's whereabouts, nor did they ask him what he had done after chasing after him, why the Tong family had appeared, or what had happened between him and Alessa in the hospital room...

Everyone is tacit.

Just then, the doorbell rang a second time. It was Johnny the Gecko, summoned by Constance Dante, because—

He was left unattended at the police station and dared not call Qin Jin, so he called Constanze instead. That's how he was summoned. Constanze would never do something like pay Qin Jin's money.

Qin Jin generously handed over 10,000 dollars to Johnny and told them about the reward for solving the case.

When they heard that they were about to receive $300 million, Constanze and Catherine were stunned, and Johnny next to them also gaped, his face full of disbelief.

Qin Jin recounted the events in detail, and everyone then realized that it was mainly Qin Jin's doing that had helped.

Subsequently, the distribution of the prize money was put on the agenda. As usual, Qin Jin and his team would divide it in a 5:2.5:2.5 ratio, but Qin Jin waved his hand and directly divided it in a 4:3:3 ratio, which caused another gasp from the two of them!

That night, after experiencing the baptism of blood and fire and the chilling transactions in the deep pool, the second group finally returned to a brief, tiring but comfortable peace.

However, as the ancients said, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease," their peace was only temporary...

Downtown Los Angeles, a house with an unassuming exterior but a luxurious interior.

Tong Zhenjiang's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

He was dressed in an elegant Tang suit, his fingers unconsciously twirling a string of shiny Buddhist prayer beads, but his eyes held no compassion, only cold calculation and suppressed anger.

Sitting next to him was an arrogant young man, Tong Jizu, a fourth-generation descendant of the Tong family, and the younger brother of Tong Jiye, the paper bride that Qin Jin had given to him.

There were seven or eight gunmen in the living room, all holding their breath and listening quietly to the report from the person in front of them.

"Fourth Master, this is the situation. Young Master Shouzhong... he's probably... gone..."

The gunman's voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear:

"They, they all say it's a monster... I don't know if it's true or not... Herman... Herman is definitely dead..."

Tong Zhenjiang fell silent. The only sounds in the private room were the soft rustling of prayer beads and the suppressed breathing of the others.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice like the flicking of a viper's tongue:

"The ghost...it seems we can't find it. Or perhaps, this ghost was just bait from the very beginning."

He raised his eyelids, a sinister glint flashing in his cloudy eyes:

"Since we can't find any fish biting, let's just break this damn fishing rod! This policeman surnamed Qin... he's weird in every way. We have to get to the bottom of Jiye's matter!"

Excitement ignited in Tong Jizu's eyes: "Uncle, what do you suggest? I'll take the brothers and get him!"

Tong Zhenjiang shook his head slightly, revealing a shrewd and calculating smirk:

"Ruthless action is the worst strategy. This is Los Angeles, not our San Francisco. He's a cop, he has authority, he has territory. If we confront him head-on, we'll be the ones who suffer." He paused, his fingers, which had been fiddling with his prayer beads, stopped.

"Ji Zu," he looked at the young man, his voice carrying an undeniable command:

"Go to the safe and take out 20 yuan, pack it up, and get the car ready to leave with me."

Tong Jizu was stunned: "Two hundred thousand? Uncle, what do you mean...?"

Tong Zhenjiang's lips curled into a meaningful smile, his eyes gleaming with a venomous light.

"I'm going to visit a guest. He can help us peel back the layers of this Detective Qin, and then, whether we mold him into a ball or flat, it'll be much easier!"

The air inside the private room instantly became colder and thicker.

Although Tong Jizu didn't understand what he meant, seeing the familiar, chilling glint of calculation in his uncle's eyes, he immediately straightened his back:

"Yes, Uncle! I'll take care of it right away!"

He got up and quickly went upstairs.

Tong Zhenjiang closed his eyes again and slowly twirled the prayer beads, as if the murderous conversation had never happened. Only the lingering cold smile on his lips indicated that a storm was silently brewing.