I achieved mastery of martial arts during the Republic of China era.

Chapter 54 Shadow Insects Tracking, the Dead Speak!

The morgue is a separate, single-story brick building with its doors and windows tightly closed, and a heavy cotton curtain hanging at the entrance to block out the smell.

Two team members stood guard outside the door with guns. When Zhou Tong came over, they checked Qin Lie's warrant before stepping aside.

Lifting the cotton curtain, a chilling aura mixed with the smells of blood, decay, and lime rushed out.

The room was dimly lit, with only a small oil lamp lit in the corner, its flame as small as a bean.

On a row of wooden planks against the wall, the outline of a corpse covered with a white sheet was vaguely visible.

The newest one is placed on the outermost side.

Zhou Tong carried the lantern, walked closer, and lifted the white cloth.

Diao Laoqi was about forty years old, with an ordinary face and slightly protruding cheekbones. At this moment, his face was pale and his eyes were wide open, still showing the fear and resentment he felt before his death.

There were several obvious blunt force trauma marks on his body, which were probably inflicted on him by Deputy Captain Chu after he captured him.

The fatal wound was in the chest, a narrow cut that went straight through the heart, executed cleanly and swiftly.

Zhou Tong's gaze calmly swept over the corpse's entire body, finally settling on the pair of cloth shoes covered in mud.

He crouched down, gently took off one shoe, and turned it over.

The soles of the shoes were filled with dried mud, a mottled mix of colors—yellow mud, black soil, and some fine, dark red gravel.

Zhou Tong's eyes narrowed slightly.

After hearing the whole story, he had some ideas.

During the period when this person was missing, he most likely went to opium dens or met with important people.

If we use the tracking ability of the Shadow Insects to find out where he has been before, we will surely find clues.

Thinking of this, Zhou Tong picked up the dirty cloth shoe, handed it to the Shadow Insect, and let out two strange low hums.

The Shadow Insect's blood-red eyes flashed red, and it immediately pounced on the sole of the shoe, repeatedly sniffing the mixed mud and grime, its delicate feet digging into the dirt with focused intent.

After the shadow insects emitted a low chirping sound, indicating that they had memorized the scent, they waited.

Zhou Tong issued another instruction, telling the Shadow Insects to carefully sniff the scent on Diao Laoqi's clothes and skin.

Following instructions, the shadow worms flew around the corpse.

This process was repeated until the Shadow Insect emitted a low chirp, indicating that it had firmly memorized the mixed aura, at which point Zhou Tong recalled it.

He covered Diao Laoqi with the white sheet again, tidied his clothes, and then turned and walked out of the morgue.

Outside, the sunlight was blinding.

Zhou Tong squinted and looked up at the sky.

He already had a plan in mind.

Diao Laoqi's aura was mixed, and a day had passed, making it extremely difficult to pinpoint a specific location based on that alone.

However, if we can pinpoint a general area and combine it with the scent of any "accomplices" that Diao Laoqi might have picked up or come into contact with, we might be able to find clues through this double screening.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Tong went to his office, took out a small bundle from the cabinet, tucked it under his arm, and went straight out the door.

Before long, he turned into a narrow alley.

The alley was piled with broken baskets and rotten planks, the corners of the walls were covered with damp moss, and a musty, rotten smell mixed with the stench of the nearby latrine wafted straight into my nose.

He glanced around before quickly unbuttoning the brass buttons on his police uniform.

After taking off his official uniform, he quickly changed into the clothes in his bundle: a slightly worn dark blue cotton short jacket, matching trousers, and black cloth shoes with thick soles—the typical attire of an ordinary person in Cangzhou City.

Then, he took out the thin, cicada-wing-like mask from his pocket, carefully put it on his face, and put on an old, worn-out felt hat.

When he looked up again, his face was that of a middle-aged man, sallow and sorrowful, with drooping eyes.

"go."

Zhou Tong called out softly.

The shadow insect immediately flapped its wings and flew out, circling him twice.

It instantly transformed into a gray streak and shot off towards the outside of the alley.

Zhou Tong swayed slightly and followed calmly.

The flight path of the shadow insect is not a straight line; it sometimes turns and sometimes hovers, as if it is capturing subtle breaths in the air that are imperceptible to mortals.

Zhou Tong followed behind, passing through streets and alleys of varying widths. The bluestone pavement gradually turned into gravel roads, and then into rammed dirt roads.

After an unknown amount of time, a rather secluded alley came into view.

At the corner of the alley entrance, several bundles of loose straw were piled up, and dark red bloodstains in the cracks of the bluestone slabs on the ground had not yet completely dried.

There were several fresh scratches on the wall, and brick dust was scattered around.

Zhou Tong's gaze narrowed slightly. This place should be the place where Deputy Captain Chu mentioned being ambushed this morning.

The shadow insect did not linger there for long before fluttering its wings and leaving.

Following the shadow insects, Zhou Tong gradually moved away from the north of the city and arrived in the south.

Upon arriving here, the Shadow Bugs slowed down noticeably and began to circle repeatedly in the area.

It first went into a narrow alley, at the end of which was a small, faded vermilion door with a crooked wooden plaque hanging above it, bearing the four characters "Xinglong Gambling House," the characters mottled and blurred.

A strong, pungent smell of dry tobacco wafted from under the door, along with the clattering of dice in a porcelain bowl and the low growls and curses of gamblers.

The shadow insect hovered at the door for a few breaths, then suddenly turned to Zhou Tong, emitting a short "buzzing" sound, its blood-red eyes staring at him as if asking a question.

Zhou Tong let out two strange low groans.

The shadow insect understood and immediately left, flying out of the alley and soon arriving in front of a restaurant.

A red cloth banner hung at the entrance of the restaurant, and waiters were pouring tea for guests from long-spouted copper kettles. Steam rose from the steamer, carrying the aroma of wine and meat.

The shadow worm lingered at the entrance of the restaurant for a moment, then turned to Zhou Tong and hummed the same question.

Zhou Tong shook his head slightly and responded with two low hums.

According to what Deputy Captain Chu said before, Diao Laoqi has been active in the south of the city, which should be one of these places.

The gambling den reeked of tobacco, and the restaurants were filled with the mingled smells of alcohol and food. He frequented these places, and naturally, he picked up the smells of these places.

The shadow insects detected those scents on him and memorized them.

Wherever he went, he would ask: Is this the place?

Time slips away bit by bit.

The shadow insect then directed him to two teahouses, an inn, and even a street stall selling plasters.

Zhou Tong gradually sketched out Diao Laoqi's activity patterns in the south of the city:

This person spends most of his daytime hours gambling dens, occasionally goes to restaurants for food and drink, and stays overnight at a nearby inn, which largely matches what Chu Yunhe described.

Unfortunately, this information was already within our grasp and couldn't really be considered a clue.

Just then, after Zhou Tong's denial, the Shadow Insect seemed a little impatient. It paused for a moment, then suddenly flew high, circled twice, and then changed direction. Instead of circling around this area, it flapped its wings and flew away from the place.

Zhou Tong quickly followed, and soon his heart skipped a beat, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

The shadow insects had already moved far away from the south of the city and were heading west.

West of the city?

Chu Yunhe said that Diao Laoqi's activity range had always been in the south of the city, except that he had shaken off them for a while yesterday morning and his whereabouts were unknown.

According to everyone's speculation, this person most likely went to an opium den after leaving.

Could the opium dens be in the west of the city?

Zhou Tong's eyes suddenly lit up.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Tong arrived at a dilapidated place.

Looking around, one sees a cluster of low, dilapidated buildings with roofs covered in tar paper, thatch, or even tattered mats, and walls plastered with mud and bits of straw, all crookedly crammed together.

Sewage flowed across the ground, with rotten vegetable leaves, scraps of cloth, and animal excrement mixed together, emitting a sour and putrid stench.

The place is called "Mud Loach Alley," named after an alley, but it is not actually an alley, but a maze-like shantytown with crisscrossing lanes.

The residents here are mostly dockworkers, rickshaw pullers, peddlers who travel from street to street, and some marginalized people of unknown origin who are just trying to make a living.

After the shadow worms flew into this area, their speed noticeably slowed down.

It no longer had a clear direction, but instead weaved back and forth through the intricate alleys, sometimes flying high over rooftops, sometimes flying low over sewage ditches, its bloodshot eyes flashing red frequently, and its mouth emitting intermittent, confused buzzing sounds.

After circling for about fifteen minutes, it finally landed back in Zhou Tong's outstretched palm, its slender feet gripping his fingers, its back wings trembling slightly, and it let out two tired low moans.

It means that we can only confirm that the person was here, but the exact location cannot be determined.

Zhou Tong nodded slightly and gently stroked the shadow insect's back to comfort it.

He stood at the entrance of an alley, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic area before him.

The last rays of the setting sun were fragmented by the uneven rooftops, casting messy shadows on the ground.

Several naked children chased and played by the sewage, while a woman squatted at the door washing clothes in a wooden basin. Coughing and the crying of an infant came from behind the dilapidated wooden door.

"A good place."

Zhou Tong's eyes narrowed slightly.

The area is a melting pot of people from all walks of life, so it's easy for unfamiliar faces to attract attention.

The alleyways are like a spider web, leading in all directions. If anything changes, one can slip into any corner and disappear into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

What's even more interesting is that most of the people living here are too busy taking care of themselves, and there are few close relationships between neighbors, making it an ideal place for filth and secret dealings to take place.

Although the shadow insects couldn't pinpoint a specific location, narrowing the scope to Mudfish Alley was already a pleasant surprise.

Next comes the slow and steady process.

What he had previously made Yingchong remember was the subtle "human scent" that clung to Diao Laoqi and that he had come into contact with.

Simply move around in this area, and once you get close to the target, the Shadow Bug will react when it smells that familiar "human scent".

……

The next morning.

Zhou Tong changed his clothes and strolled back into Mudfish Alley.

The shantytowns are more crowded and noisy during the day than at night.

The sounds and smells of people carrying water, emptying chamber pots, lighting stoves, and scolding children mingled together in a pot of boiling porridge.

Zhou Tong patiently walked from one alley to another, the shadow insects clinging to the inside of his robes, remaining unmoved.

But after all that work, they managed to get a pretty good idea of ​​the general layout of the area and its main thoroughfares.

Zhou Tong was not discouraged.

Mudfish Alley isn't very big, but it's not small either, especially with its diverse population. It's not easy to bump into someone that Diao Laoqi has previously been in contact with so quickly.

He noted down a few corners and intersections that were easy to observe, and then left.

Back at the police station.

Zhou Tong happened to see Qin Lie talking to an old man in the lobby.

The old man was wearing a faded gray cloth long gown, carrying an old leather suitcase, and had a solemn expression.

The gaunt old man shook his head at Qin Lie, his voice hoarse:

"Captain Qin, it's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility. The body is cold, the blood has dissipated, and this person has been in contact with too many people, so the aura is mixed... Ordinary tracking techniques, at this point, are like water without a source, and can no longer be continued."

Qin Lie's expression showed disappointment, but he still cupped his hands to the old man and said, "Thank you for making this trip, sir."

Just then, footsteps came from the other end.

Liu Zhenshan and Ma Biao walked over side by side, both with a half-smile on their faces.

"Hey, Captain Qin."

Liu Zhenshan spoke first, his gaze sweeping over the gaunt old man before settling on Qin Lie's face, his tone drawn out:

"This is... still not giving up, where did they find this expert to try and extract some information from the dead?"

Ma Biao crossed his arms and sneered, "If you ask me, Captain Qin, this guy is already dead, his soul has crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, do you really expect him to open up and identify his buddies?"

"Where were you all this time? If you had sent more men and protected them more closely, they wouldn't have been killed in the street. And you even lost two brothers. Tsk tsk, what a mess..."

Qin Lie's chest heaved slightly as he took a deep breath, his voice low and menacing:

"Captain Liu, Captain Ma, it's fine to make light of things. But selling opium and harming the people is a crime that is strictly prohibited by national law and intolerable to both reason and humanity!"

Although the villains managed to escape this time, now that I'm wearing this official uniform, I will never give up.

The net of heaven is vast, its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it; one day, it will surely bring them to justice!

"National law? Heavenly principles?"

Liu Zhenshan seemed to have heard something extremely funny, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips: "Captain Qin, you're a bit out of touch with reality."

Nowadays, Western experts in the newspapers all say that opium, when used in moderation, can refresh the mind, relieve pain, and calm the nerves, which is quite beneficial to the body.

The so-called harm comes from excessive consumption. It's like eating chili peppers: a little is appetizing, but too much harms the stomach. Can you blame the chili pepper itself?

"You...!" A vein throbbed on Qin Lie's forehead, clearly furious.

Ma Biao immediately chimed in, saying sarcastically:

"Brother Liu is right. Captain Qin, I heard that in your family, in your early years... it seems that a relative died because of this thing?"

Alas, that's because of a lack of self-control and a lack of self-discipline; he harmed himself.

You can't let personal feelings interfere with official business, bringing your personal grievances into official matters, and harboring any extreme views about opium.

Qin Lie clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, his nails almost digging into his palms, his face flushed red, clearly using immense willpower to suppress his rage.

His gaze was icy, fixed intently on the two of them:

"The harm caused by opium is immeasurable. Those who have lost their families, sold their children, and become emaciated are not isolated cases in Cangzhou City! This is an official decree..."

"An explicit order?" Liu Zhenshan interrupted him casually, his smile growing increasingly irritating.

"Captain Qin, how come you still don't understand the principle of 'times change'? Wasn't the Worry-Free Sect a 'cult' that was previously called to be killed?"

And now? They've received permission and are openly setting up altars to preach. Rules, after all, are always changing.

Ma Biao took another half step forward and sneered:

"Captain Qin, if you really want to arrest someone, you'd better hurry. These days, we're not the only ones who think that Western experts are right and that opium might not be unusable."

Who knows, one day this ban might be changed, and the opium trade might become a legal business. Then, wouldn't all your hard work in investigating this become a joke?

Qin Lie's face turned ashen, his lips pressed tightly together, and he stopped arguing with the two men.

Zhou Tong, who had been standing silently by the sidelines, took in all of this.

As he listened to the two men's defense of opium, his left eyelid twitched violently twice, like a ferocious centipede.

The dead cannot speak?

wait.

Soon, the dead... will speak.