Otherworldly Merchant

Chapter 54: An Ancient Painting

Actually, I was curious. Through which channel had Li Yuntian discovered that I was an otherworldly item merchant? 

And, how much headway had he made in this horrible homicide case to guess that it was related to an otherworldly item? 

Right from the start, I doubted that Yin Xinyue had disclosed my occupation to Li Yuntian. Anyway, Yin Xinyue shook her head like a rattle drum, resolutely confirming that she hadnt said anything.

Then, it was too strange! 

Afterward, I discovered the truth. 

Li Yuntian told me that when he was still an intern at the Criminal Police Department, hed seen my father assisting the police before. That was when he found out about the otherworldly item merchants and this business.

Of course, at first, Li Yuntian and many other people had thought that otherworldly merchants were some sort of ancient and superstitious hoaxers. They didnt have any real skills. In short, Li Yuntian disdained them, and hed even thought that his leaders were ignorant as theyd invited those with the lowest profession to assist in solving cases.

And today, as hed become a leader himself, he finally understood the difficulties of being a leader. 

Hed used all of his sources, and there was still no progress in the case. And now, even the corpse wasnt intact. 

His superior was so angry that his face had turned purple, and hed even slapped the table in front of his colleagues, causing Li Yuntian to be backed in a corner. That was why hed come to me, an otherworldly merchant, for help.

Of course, it wasnt that hed only come to me as one of his options in a desperate situation. Hed heard about me when I helped the Hong Kong Police solve a serial suicidal case. At that time, the Hong Kong Police had posted a letter of gratitude to me on their website. 

Although the letter didnt mention any special tricks of mine, as Li Yuntian was a smart guy, he could guess how Id helped them. 

In this moment, Li Yuntian eyed me with a bright look, waiting for my answer. 

As things had come to this, I could only reluctantly agree. 

Li Yuntian was very excited, but what he said later displeased me. It was about my identity in this case. He could only make me an enthusiastic citizen as it was the way to save him and me from public critique. 

I was irritated, but I didn't have any other option. Growing up under the big system, we must obey the arrangements from the superiors. 

Then, I asked him to take me to the murder scene to check. First, I wanted to know or at least guess, the origin of that otherworldly item! 

Li Yuntian said no more and directly drove me to the scene. 

The crime scene was barricaded, and there was no longer any family staying on the third floor. Since an evil and horrible homicide had happened nearby, even if they were braver, no one dared to stay! 

Li Yuntian told me, Because of the special nature of this case, the victims remains are still preserved on the scene. We have two policemen watching, and weve installed more cameras.

Hurriedly, I asked Li Yuntian, The hands of the corpse disappeared yesterday? Did the cameras capture it?

Li Yuntian nodded. Yeah, both of the hands were cut neatly and no traces were left. The officers on duty last night insisted that nothing had happened last night. I checked the cameras. Everything was normal.

I suddenly asked, Why did you want to install cameras at the crime scene?

Li Yuntian awkwardly scratched his head. I guessed pretty quickly that it wasnt a case related to humans. I wanted to capture the evidence to show my superiors how evil and strange it is, so that we could make better progress. Anyway, I havent recorded anything useful. Thats why I had to find you personally

I understood his moves. This case was like a double-edged sword. If he solved it well, the water would rise and push the boats together. If the case failed, his career would be affected greatly. 

The scene of the murder was indeed not ordinary. An appallingly large streak of blood stretched from the room to the stairs. Except for that, nothing else looked strange. 

Because, even the table in the room was clean and neat. 

And, at the spot where the blood streak started, I saw the ancient calligraphy painting that Yin Xinyue had mentioned. 

That ancient calligraphy painting was hung on the wall, and beneath it was a sandalwood table with an arrangement of apples, bananas, candles, and all kinds of tributes. 

When the victim was still alive, shed worshipped this calligraphy painting!

It seemed that the girl had some strange thoughts and wanted to achieve something through this painting. 

Immediately, I studied the painting. 

This painting had been made quite a long time ago as the surface was now yellowed with many damaged spots. I wanted to check the luokuan [1] to see who the author of this painting was. 

However, it seemed that the painter didnt want to reveal his or her identity because the luokuan only read: Tang, Greater China, year 16.

No wonder, this painting had come from the Tang Dynasty, which was the peak period in Chinese ancient calligraphy paintings. Many famous painters had emerged at that time! For example, the Sage Painter Wu Daozi and Yan Liben. 

The topics of paintings during that period mainly focused on customs, mountains or rivers, or traveling. However, the painting hung in front of me was bizarre as it didnt depict ancient customs or any mountains or rivers. At first glance, it looked like a scene from an execution!

The painting depicted a poor, disheveled prisoner kneeling on a scaffold. His hands and legs were tied as he was waiting for the executioner to end his life. Standing behind him was a thick bearded executioner wearing red clothes. He was lifting a huge machete, his expression fierce and malicious. 

The executioners facial details were so vivid that people could see that he was gritting his teeth in hate. 

Next to the scaffold, an officer sat lazily, watching the execution. Many people surrounded the place, watching the scene with numb faces. They had no intent to stop it; it was as if they were just there to watch the fun. 

I took a deep breath. Although I havent been in this business for a long time, Id studied antiques since I was pretty young. 

Even if the number of ancient calligraphy paintings Id seen wasnt one thousand, it still wouldnt be less than several hundred!

However, Id never seen such a decapitation painting like this. 

This piece could be said to be unique in its kind with great value in terms of art. I thought that it couldnt be bought with money alone. My heart thumped as I felt the urge to take the painting and put it in my pocket. 

Of course, before putting it into my pocket, I must eliminate the evilness in it. Otherwise, it wouldnt be different from inviting a murderous spirit to my house. 

Li Yuntian asked me, Mister Zhang, do you have any ideas?

I shook my head. Nothing yet. But, Officer Li, I need to make this clear first. Will this painting become government property in the future?

Understanding me, Li Yuntian smiled. No worries! I understand the rules in your business. As long as you help me solve the case, you can take the painting

I told him, Good, Ill come up with a solution soon. However, the urgent matter now is to find the hands of the deceased. Otherwise, I think you cant report it to your superior.

Li Yuntian paled. So, you must know where the hands are?

I nodded. Well, naturally, those hands are right in the police station.

Li Yuntian was dumbstruck. The police station is further than ten kilometers away from the crime scene. How could the deceaseds hands run to the police station? You should know that the police station is well protected. Theres no chance a stranger could just enter.

I said with a smile, Well, youre wrong. Did you forget what kind of case were having here? When it comes to otherworldly items, how can we use normal reasoning? I know words alone wont be enough. Okay, lets go to the police station.

Li Yuntian energetically nodded and drove us to the police station. 

I asked him to take me to where the deceaseds mobile phone was kept, which was at the Evidence Unit. 

The moment I told Li Yuntian that I wanted to see the victims phone, he looked at me oddly. Mister Zhang, arent we going to find the victims hands? Why do you want to see the phone?

I answered mysteriously, The hands are near the phone.

"Are you sure?

The deceased used her hands to text Yin Xinyue a short message. Then, I asked Yin Xinyue to show Li Yuntian the text message. 

When Li Yuntian saw the text, he paled and started trembling. W-Whats happening? How could a dead person send a text message?

I told him that it was related to magical items and that logical reasoning couldnt be applied. 

Li Yuntian didnt ask further. He contacted the officer in charge of the Evidence Unit and asked him to open the locker containing the phone. 

The moment the locker was opened, two things fell out. People were startled as a pair of gory hands hit the floor!

The hands were cut at the wrists, so well-performed that the bones, and even the veins, were visible and neat. One of the hands was still tightly gripping a phone.

The phone screen was stuck on the SMS interface, which showed that a text message had recently been sent. This was truly shocking! 

1. Inscription with name, date, or a short sentence found on a gift, painting, or letter.