Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Qin Ming investigated the courtyard for a long time, but found nothing.

Under the crooked tree where Liu Guangfu hanged himself, there were messy footprints, but they were all left by police officers and people in the yard, and no suspicious traces were found.

There were no signs of climbing on the tree trunk. How did a fifteen-year-old boy manage to hang himself more than two meters up in a tree?

The courtyard wall is intact, with no signs of being climbed over.

There were no witnesses in the alley—how did he just vanish into thin air inside the house?

One problem after another arose.

All leads have gone cold.

Standing in the courtyard, Qin Ming looked at the gloomy old locust tree and for the first time, his beliefs began to waver.

Could it be... really, as the people in the compound say, that it was the work of evil spirits?

The thought made him uneasy.

He shook his head vigorously, trying to banish the absurd idea from his mind.

We must not act rashly.

He's a police officer; he has to stay alert.

But the reality is staring us in the face—five lives lost, each death more bizarre than the last, yet no evidence of foul play can be found.

Qin Ming took a deep breath and turned back to the Lin family home.

Inside the house, Lin Tian and Tangtang had just finished breakfast, and Xiao Han was cleaning up the dishes.

Seeing Qin Ming enter, Xiao Han immediately asked, "Captain, have you found any clues?"

Qin Ming remained silent for a moment, then changed the subject instead of answering directly: "Have the two children eaten enough?"

"I'm full," Xiao Han nodded.

"Alright then."

Qin Ming looked at Lin Tian and Tangtang, trying to be as gentle as possible, "It's very dangerous in the yard right now, the murderer hasn't been caught yet."

"Xiao Han, these next few days you'll protect them well during the day, and we'll keep watch together at night."

He paused, then added, "Try not to leave them alone. It's dangerous in the yard; the killer hasn't been found yet."

"Yes, Captain," Xiao Han replied.

These words were spoken politely, but Lin Tian understood the unspoken meaning: this was actually a form of surveillance.

As the case becomes increasingly bizarre, Qin Ming's suspicions about everyone deepen.

Especially Lin Tian, ​​since all the dead people had a grudge against him.

Qin Ming would not overlook any possibility.

"Uncle Qin..." Lin Tian looked up, his eyes reddening again, "Do you...do you also suspect me?"

Qin Ming looked at him with a complicated expression: "Lin Tian, ​​your uncle is a policeman. To find out the truth, everyone must cooperate with the investigation until the murderer is caught."

He put it tactfully, but his meaning was clear.

Lin Tian lowered his head and said softly, "I understand... I will cooperate..."

"Good boy." Qin Ming patted his head and turned to leave.

Only three people remained in the room.

Seeing Lin Tian's dejected look, Xiao Han felt a pang of pity.

She crouched down and said softly, "Xiao Tian, ​​don't overthink it. Uncle Qin is doing this to protect you and also to investigate the case."

"I know..." Lin Tian nodded, but tears still streamed down his face. "But...but everyone says I'm an evil spirit...that I killed them..."

"That's nonsense!"

Xiao Han said angrily, "What can an eight-year-old child like you do? Don't listen to their nonsense. Besides, you're a living, breathing human being, how can you be an evil spirit?"

She pulled Lin Tian into her arms and gently comforted him.

Lin Tian leaned against her chest, feeling the warmth, and felt a surge of joy in his heart. He nuzzled her chest tightly.

I'm going to marry Sister Han in the future, so what's wrong with experiencing my wife's warmth in advance?

As for surveillance...

Yeah.

In this way, his suspicions can be cleared even more.

……

Inside the Yi family's house.

The deaf old lady, Qin Huairu, Wang Cuilan and others gathered together, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Yi Zhonghai hasn't returned yet, but everyone knows that the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous.

"Another one died..." Wang Cuilan's voice trembled. "It's only the second day... and five people have already died..."

"Who's next...who will be next?"

Qin Huairu was pale and held Xiao Dang tightly, as if this would protect her daughter from harm.

The deaf old woman, leaning on her cane, sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), her eyes filled with malice: "We can't wait any longer... we must act as soon as possible."

"But..." Wang Cuilan hesitated, "Captain Qin and the others are still here... and there are police officers watching..."

"We still have to do it!"

The deaf old woman shouted sternly, "Are you just waiting to die? Didn't you see how Liu Guangfu died? Hanged from a tree, just like Jia Dongxu and Yan Jiecheng!"

She paused, then lowered her voice: "I'm telling you, the calamities that claim lives follow a pattern. Four died yesterday, one died today... and today, I'm afraid three more will die!"

These words were like a block of ice, striking everyone's heart.

Three more are going to die?

Who is it?

The room was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing.

Sha Zhu spoke up at this moment, his voice somewhat rough: "Grandma, just tell us what you want us to do? I, Sha Zhu, will do whatever you say."

He looked at Qin Huairu, his eyes resolute: "Sister Qin, don't worry, with me here, I will never let anything happen to you!"

Qin Huairu looked at him, a complex emotion welling up inside her. This feeling of being protected made her feel a little more at ease.

Gratitude, dependence, and a touch of...consolation.

She knew that Sha Zhu liked her, and right now, she really needed such a powerful backer.

"Pillar..." Qin Huairu said softly, "Thank you..."

"Why are you being so polite with me!" Sha Zhu patted his chest. "Your business is my business!"

The deaf old lady watched this scene and sighed inwardly, "My silly Zhuzi," but she didn't say anything.

Now is not the time to dwell on these things.

"Wait for Xiao Yi to come back," the deaf old lady said. "He should be going to see Third Master; he should have a solution."

Just then, the door opened.

Yi Zhonghai walked in, his face solemn, but a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

"Old Yi, how's it going?" Yan Bugui was the first to ask.

"Third Master gave me this." Yi Zhonghai took out a yellow talisman from his pocket. "A method to test Lin Tian."

As for the other talisman, it's definitely for personal protection.

He repeated what Third Master had said—if Lin Tianzhen was truly in grave danger, the talisman would burn when it was pasted on.

If not, then the problem lies elsewhere, specifically with his parents.

Fortunately, there were police officers around Lin Tian. As long as he was exposed as an evil spirit, there would be no need for further investigation; the police would help suppress it.

They are also safer.

"Then...who will go and probe?" Wang Cuilan asked softly.

Everyone fell silent.

It's too dangerous to test someone who might be a "troublemaker".

What if the talisman doesn't work... what if it angers that thing...?

"I'll go," Sha Zhu suddenly said.

"Zhu Zi!" Qin Huairu exclaimed, "That's too dangerous!"

"It's alright!" Sha Zhu grinned. "I'm tough, I'm not afraid of these things. Besides, Sister Qin, you need someone to protect you, I can't let you take risks."

He spoke with great bravado, but deep down he was actually quite nervous.

But in order to impress Qin Huairu, he was willing to go all out.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at Sha Zhu and nodded: "Zhu can go. But be careful not to let Captain Qin and the others find out."

"I know." Sha Zhu took the talisman and carefully put it away.

"And also," Yi Zhonghai continued, "the suppression of this malevolent force needs to be prepared as soon as possible. I've already obtained Lin's father's clothes, and Jia Dongxu's bones must be retrieved this afternoon..."

He paused, then looked at everyone: "The sacrificial offerings... must be prepared as soon as possible tomorrow."

No one spoke.

But everyone knew that the chosen sacrifice was Jia Zhangshi, who was seriously injured and hospitalized.

It's worth sacrificing her to save your own life.

"Old Yi," Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, "so...when exactly will we begin our probing?"

"Now," Yi Zhonghai said coldly.

The room was deathly silent once again.

Now...

"Uncle, I'll head over then."

Sha Zhu casually let loose, but the way he tightly gripped the talisman betrayed his true feelings.

"Pillar, be careful. Shout if something's wrong..."

Meanwhile, inside the Lin family's house, Xiao Han was combing Tangtang's hair, while Lin Tian sat watching calmly.

Through the ghostly figure, he saw everything inside the Yi family's house.

He wanted to see what tricks these people could pull.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. These beasts are worse than animals.