Zhou Hong picked up his briefcase, opened it, and took out something sealed in a transparent plastic bag. He then unwrapped the bag; inside was a white jade tiger. The tiger was lifelike, but only about ten centimeters long, roughly the size of a matchbox. Fu Yuanshan looked at it and asked, "Is this tiger...that thing?"
Zhou Xuan was reading the document when he suddenly sensed a strong killing intent emanating from it. It was eerie, intensely murderous, and the stench of blood seemed overwhelming. He couldn't help but stare in surprise. The blood and killing intent both originated from the white jade tiger that Zhou Hong had taken out.
Zhou Xuan sensed the blood and killing intent because of the ice energy. He had sensed that the ice energy had the ability to warn of danger and defend itself. Now, suddenly smelling killing intent and blood, Zhou Xuan felt that something was amiss. But logically, the situation a few days ago shouldn't have posed any danger to him, right? Why did he have this feeling?
Neither Zhou Hong nor Fu Yuanshan noticed Zhou Xuan's surprised expression. Fu Yuanshan frowned and asked Zhou Hong, "Has anyone appraised this jade tiger? Is it genuine or a fake?"
Zhou Hongdao said, "Not yet. I just got back. The people involved in the transaction have been arrested, but after preliminary interrogation, it's basically certain that these people aren't really connected to the case itself. The only problem is with this jade tiger, but none of them have a direct connection to their supplier!"
After a moment of surprise, Zhou Xuan suddenly reached out and said, "Director Fu, can I take a look at this white jade tiger?" "Of course!" Although it was evidence in the case, Fu Yuanshan wouldn't mind if Zhou Xuan took a look, since he wouldn't take it away anyway.
As Zhou Xuan took the white jade tiger into his hand, the icy energy on his hand made direct contact with the white jade tiger, and suddenly some fragmented bloody images strangely surfaced in his mind!
[ .]
Volume 1, Chapter 255: west Chunhe
Zhou Xuan was also stunned by the bloody scene at that moment!
Although he had previously killed hundreds of pirates in Somalia, those places were far away overseas, and he used his ice-based supernatural abilities to kill many people, but it was bloodless and not at all gory.
But seeing these scenes in his mind now made Zhou Xuan feel nauseous. Although they were fragmented, Zhou Xuan could still piece them together. The scene showed a person holding a machete killing another person, dismembering him, putting the pieces in a sack, stuffing it into the trunk of a car, and finally throwing the sack into the river on a bridge. The sack also contained a few stones so that it would sink to the bottom and not float.
But what Zhou Xuan found strange was how he could sense such a scene. His ice energy had been growing and upgrading over time, and the power of his chambers had been increasing, but he had never been able to sense a scene from an object like this before!
Is this yet another new ability being discovered? Because the scene was too bloody, Zhou Xuan wasn't excited about the appearance of this new ability, and the ability wasn't very strong either, because Zhou Xuan couldn't clearly see the faces of the murderer with the knife and the person who was killed in the scene!
Based on Zhou Xuan's previous thinking, this should be because this new ability is not yet proficient and the ice energy is insufficient to support its strength.
Zhou Xuan struggled to recall the image in his mind before testing the authenticity of the white jade tiger again. He said, "Director Fu, this white jade tiger is fake. The jade quality isn't good; it's an inferior item passed off as superior. However, it's very well made, unlike the usual methods of counterfeiting jade. Jade pieces aren't worth the money."
It's not very valuable, but this jade tiger seems to be connected to a murder case... Zhou Xuan said this casually, but Fu Yuanshan and Zhou Hong were shocked!
Zhou Hongxian then asked, "How do you know that this jade tiger is involved in a murder case?"
Of course, Fu Yuanshan also wanted to ask this question, but Zhou Hong spoke first, so he didn't ask and just stared at Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan then realized what was happening, and after thinking for a moment, he asked, "Director Zhen, is this case of yours very important?"
"Not just important, it's extremely important!" Fu Yuanshan nodded, his face grim. "About two weeks ago, a theft and murder case occurred. The victims were a family of three: an elderly couple in their fifties and their twenty-year-old son. After our detectives examined the crime scene, we found virtually no useful clues. The murderer seemed to be a seasoned criminal, leaving no useful traces at the scene. Moreover, it didn't seem like a simple theft, because the high-end appliances and a considerable amount of cash, roughly forty or fifty thousand yuan, were all intact. Only the safe was opened, and over twenty thousand yuan in cash remained inside, untouched!"
"Because the case was quite serious, our branch immediately established a special task force. After technical examination, we determined that there was another stolen item in the safe, which might be the key to the case. Since the entire family of three had been murdered, we didn't know what else had been stolen from their home, or what had triggered this tragedy. We contacted their eldest daughter, who was studying abroad. Through her account, we learned that their family possessed a very valuable collectible: a complete set of twelve exquisite jade zodiac animal portraits, priceless!"
Zhou Xuan then understood, but asked in surprise, "If this white jade tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals, why is there only one? And why is it fake!"
Fu Yuanshan frowned and said, "This case has a huge impact. It's a case that the department has given a strict order to handle. If it can't be solved before the end of the year, it's not just a minor issue of not being able to explain to the higher-ups, but it will have a huge impact on the people. However, after investigating for half a month, there hasn't been a single clue. The progress of the case is practically zero. The white jade tiger that appeared today might be a coincidence, and it probably has little to do with that case. Also, Mr. Zhou, are you very knowledgeable about antiques and jade? You sound like you're quite an expert!"
"I don't know much about it either, just a little bit!" Zhou Xuan replied casually, then turned to Fu Yuanshan and said, "Director Fu, I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately. A few minutes will be enough, Director Fu, is that alright?"
Fu Yuanshan naturally agreed. He had been hoping that Zhou Xuan wouldn't pursue their responsibility too much. Besides, Zhou Xuan had a close relationship with both the Li and Wei families, and Fu Yuanshan wanted to cultivate a good relationship with him. He didn't expect to make any private deals, but such a relationship would be a welcome one! "Zhou Hong, wait for me in your office. I'll call a meeting with the special task force as soon as I'm done here!" Fu Yuanshan immediately ordered Zhou Hong to come downstairs and wait. He needed to give Zhou Xuan some time.
Zhou Hong nodded and reached for the white jade tiger on the table, but Zhou Xuan stopped him, saying, "Officer Zhou, let me take another look at this white jade tiger. Your Director Fu will give it to you later, okay?" Zhou Hong was taken aback, looked up at Fu Yuanshan, who nodded and waved him away. Zhou Hong withdrew his hand and left Fu Yuanshan's office, puzzled. After Zhou Hong left, Fu Yuanshan asked, "Mr. Zhou, is there anything else you need to know or request?"
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "It's not that I want to know or come here, it's that I want to do Director Fu a favor!" "Mr. Zhou wants me to do a favor?" Fu Yuanshan asked in surprise. What favor did Zhou Xuan want to do for him? Did he want to help him get promoted and transferred, or something else? Could Zhou Xuan really do that? "What favor do you want to do for me?" Fu Yuanshan asked doubtfully.
Zhou Shi pondered for a while before saying, "Director Fu, I'm afraid you might find it hard to believe, and even I find it hard to believe myself. That's why I'm asking you to keep this a secret. Besides, I'm not sure if we can solve the case. I've only been able to find the body of one murdered victim. As for whether there will be more discoveries later, I'm not sure!"
Fu Yuanshan was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Xuan to say that. After a moment of surprise, he asked in confusion, "Which case do you know about? How do you know?"
Zhou Shi said calmly, "This is one of the conditions I want to discuss with Director Fu. Director Fu, you have to find a way to keep this a secret for me. I'll help you investigate the case, and all the credit will go to you. Just don't let it fall on me!" This condition was practically a way to give Fu the credit!
Whether or not the case is solved, Fu Yuanshan will only benefit, because finding the victim's body is also progress. However, Fu Yuanshan doesn't know what case Zhou Xuan is talking about, or which victim's body.
Zhou Xuan stretched out his left hand, took the white jade tiger back into his hand, and said to Fu Yuanshan, "Director Fu, let me tell you the truth. I am from a village at the foot of Wudang Mountain in Hubei. I have been practicing Qi cultivation and medicine with an old Taoist priest from Wudang Mountain since I was a child. I cured the terminal illness of the old men of the Li Lei and Wei Haifeng families, so I have a good relationship with the Li and Wei families. This is something you want to know. Secondly, the Qi cultivation I practice is a bit strange. I can get some scenes of the case from an object left behind in a case. I don't know why. I think Director Fu understands what I mean?"
Fu Yuanshan was immediately stunned. Of course he understood what Zhou Xuan was saying. It was possible that folk medicine could cure the excruciating pain of two renowned old people. This was because Chinese folk medicine was unfathomable and there were many talented people. It was not surprising that such a situation existed. Moreover, he understood the reason why Zhou Xuan said this. That was, Zhou Xuan wanted to make friends with him!
Given the backgrounds of the Li and Wei families, Fu Yuanshan was grateful that Zhou Xuan was willing to confide in and help him, a director of a public security bureau. However, he was also skeptical. The ability Zhou Xuan mentioned seemed like something out of a Hollywood science fiction movie. Did such an ability really exist?
Zhou Xuan's desire to help Fu Yuanshan was not intentional, but rather a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was mainly due to the images that flashed through his mind after encountering the white jade tiger, which were too bloody and violent. He felt terrible if such a murderer were allowed to go unpunished. He wondered how many more people would be harmed by such a brutal person outside!
The reason Zhou Xuan chose Fu Yuanshan was twofold: firstly, Fu Yuanshan appeared to be quite upright; secondly, he was the head of a branch bureau in the capital, a bureau-level cadre with considerable influence. In the public security system, which directly interacts with the people, if Zhou Xuan helped him rise through the ranks, it would be like finding a strong backing for himself. The Li and Wei families, after all, held very high positions. Even if Zhou Xuan helped them, they would still feel obligated to repay the favor, but it would always feel inconvenient.
If he could cultivate a loyal follower who would need to rise through his own ranks, that would be his true source of support. Since their relationship wasn't one of bribery or corruption, he didn't need to worry about any other issues. They had no vested interests; he helped Fu Yuanshan establish himself and rise in rank, but he didn't need Fu Yuanshan's help in any schemes. He simply wanted this relationship to prevent the Zhou family from being harassed or bullied by various people. It was like having great power but not doing anything wrong, just inspiring fear in others!
Of course, Fu Yuanshan doesn't believe Zhou Xuan's words yet, but he understands the relationship between the Li and Wei families and Zhou Xuan. The friendship between a life-saving benefactor is naturally not one of formality, and Zhou Xuan has direct contact with the highest-ranking people in both families, which makes it even more remarkable!
Zhou Xuan smiled faintly again and said, "Director Fu, I know you don't believe me either, and I can't explain it, nor will I. I only hope that Director Fu will keep this a secret from me in the future. If I can help you, you will only get promoted faster. I will not ask you to do anything for personal gain or make any deals for me!" Fu Yuanshan was still dazed and couldn't react for a moment.
Zhou Shi continued, "From the remaining images on the white jade tiger, I learned that this should be the case of a taxi driver who was murdered, and his body was dismembered and thrown into... the Xichun River..." At this point, he asked Fu Yuanshan, "Where is the Xichun River?"
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Volume 1: The First Signs of Growth, Chapter 256: The New Power of Ice Qi
Fu Yuanshan knew exactly where the Xichun River was; it was located ten kilometers east of the city's moat, outside the city limits.
Fu Yuanshan couldn't figure out whether Zhou Xuan was talking nonsense or acting. In any case, he didn't believe in the abilities Zhou Xuan spoke of; they seemed too unrealistic. Of course, if what Zhou Xuan said was true, then there was another possibility: Zhou Xuan was the mastermind behind this case.
However, this possibility is too small, and what Zhou Xuan said is too inexplicable. It's just that there have indeed been several cases of taxi drivers being murdered recently, and none of them have been solved.
Zhou Shi held the white jade tiger in his hand for a while, sensing the location where the murderer had dumped the body. Then he handed the white jade tiger to Fu Yuanshan and said, "Director Fu, how about this? I'll accompany you to the Xichun River as an outsider to retrieve the body and see if we can find anything on it. If we do, we might discover something new!"
Fu Yuanshan saw that Zhou Xuan spoke with such certainty, as if he had seen it with his own eyes, and he became doubtful. He hesitated for a while, but then he thought that with Zhou Xuan's current background and status, there was no need for him to play these tricks. There was no need to try to please him. His status was not something that ordinary people could easily offend or harass. If Zhou Xuan came to cause trouble for no reason, he would only be asking for trouble!
Fu Yuanshan did find it hard to believe that Zhou Xuan would do such a thing, and from the first time he met Zhou Xuan until now, he felt that Zhou Xuan was a very honest and straightforward person!
It was this feeling that made Fu Yuanshan hesitate. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mr. Zhou, alright, I'll go with you on this trip!"