Chapter 651: Famous in the Capital
Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Ren Buqing inquired with genuine curiosity, âMiss Qingzhi, who is Da Bai?â
âDa Bai is a white tiger Iâve raised,â Chu Qingzhi explained. âTigers have a very sensitive sense of smell, and I plan to have it help us find the head of the corpse.â
Ren Buqing was astounded, âYouâve raised a white tiger?â
âYes.â Chu Qingzhi, donning gloves and a mask, began examining the body. âBy assessing the spread of livor mortis and the rigidity of the corpse, we can deduce that the victim died more than six hours ago, before midnight.â
âThe cut on the neck is smooth with signs of abrasion, indicating the head was sawed off with a tool like a saw.â
âThere are purple strangulation marks on the neck, suggesting the victim was strangled from behind before death. The pattern of the marks indicates the weapon might have been something like a hemp rope.â
âThe victimâs clothes are luxurious, embroidered with a unique technique. We can trace where these clothes were purchased to help identify the victim.â
Ren Buqing immediately ordered an investigation based on the embroidery pattern on the clothes.
Chu Qingzhi undressed the corpse, âThere are bruises on the chest, back, and limbs, indicating the victim struggled fiercely before death. From the angles of the bruises, itâs likely there was more than one assailant.â
Someone asked, âWhy would the murderer cut off his head?â
âThere are two possibilities,â Chu Qingzhi explained. âOne is out of rage, which happens when there is a significant grudge between the murderer and the victim. The other is to hide the identity, likely to keep some secrets concealed.â
âFor this corpse, I lean towards the latter. If it were out of rage, the murderer wouldnât have the patience for a meticulous act like sawing off a head. In anger, one would likely choose a cleaver or an axe for quicker, more furious action.â
Everyone nodded, agreeing with her reasoning.
Chu Qingzhi continued, âSaws arenât often used, but the other party used a saw to cut off the head. This means that it was premeditated. Why would the murderer not kill the person before, but choose to kill at this time?â
Ren Buqing pondered, âAccording to our speculation, something must have happened recently that made the murderer fear their secret was about to be exposed, leading them to silence the victim.â đłrđewđbnđveđ.cđŒđș
Chu Qingzhi nodded. âI think so too, so we can come to another conclusion. The murderer and the victim know each other.â
âRoarâ â When Da Bai saw Chu Qingzhi, it was extremely excited. Before it could even get close, it roared to express its excitement.
This roar scared everyone so much that their legs went weak. âWhite, white tigerâŠâ
âDonât be afraid, Da Bai wonât harm anyone,â Chu Qingzhi reassured as she went to greet the tiger.
Da Bai ran over, playfully rolling around and rubbing against Chu Qingzhiâs legs, acting more like a big cat than a fearsome tiger.
Seeing Da Baiâs demeanor, the crowdâs fear turned to fascination, finding the tiger quite adorable.
âWhat a remarkable young lady, not only raising a white tiger but having it so well-behaved, just like a big cat.â
âSo impressive.â
âI wonder if I could pet its head without getting bitten?â
Amid the bustling comments, Chu Qingzhi placed her hand on Da Baiâs head, subtly enhancing its sense of smell with her spiritual energy, âDa Bai, I need your help with something.â
Da Bai nuzzled her palm, eager to assist.
âThe head of that body over there has been hidden. Help me find it, or if you can track the scent to the victimâs home, that would also work.â
With a tigerâs ability to smell prey from up to five kilometers away, enhanced, reaching ten kilometers was feasible. Any clue related to the victim within this range wouldnât be missed.
Da Bai shook its head, regaining its majestic aura, and transformed from a playful cat to a dignified white tiger. With a dignified stride, it approached the corpse, sniffed it, then looked up before heading upstream along the Ruan River. After a few steps, it looked back at Chu Qingzhi.
Chu Qingzhi followed closely.
Ren Buqing instructed a few officers to transport the corpse to the mortuary while he followed to search for clues.
The crowd, curious to see if Da Bai could find the victimâs head or home, followed along, eager to witness the outcome.
Da Bai walked along the riverbank. Fortunately, there were not many people on the riverbank. Otherwise, who knew how many people would be frightened.
However, the news of Da Baiâs presence spread quickly, attracting many onlookers.
Chu Qingzhi shared her initial analysis of the victim with Chu Xujin, âThese are the only clues we have for now. Once weâre back, you can check if thereâs anything we missed.â
âOkay.â
Ahead was a riverside area long soaked by river water, covered in aquatic plants that showed signs of disturbance, forming a path like a trail.
Da Bai stopped at the beginning of this path and looked back at Chu Qingzhi.
Chu Qingzhi patted Da Baiâs head and said to Ren Buqing, âThe victimâs head is among the aquatic plants. Have someone dig it up.â
Ren Buqing promptly ordered two officers to search the area.
The crowd spread out around the riverbank, watching as the officers moved.
Soon, the officers unearthed a small square box from the mud. One of them carried it back, cleaned it off, and presented it to Ren Buqing.
Ren Buqing cautiously opened the boxâŠ
Inside was a dead rat wrapped in cloth.
âFooled!â
He said to Chu Qingzhi, âLetâs have Da Bai continue the search.â
Chu Qingzhi nodded, âLetâs go, Da Bai.â
But Da Bai refused to move, still staring at the center of the aquatic plants.
Chu Qingzhi questioned the officers, âAre you sure youâve retrieved everything?â
The officers were certain, âThere was only this box, nothing else.â
Chu Qingzhi looked down at Da Bai, âThereâs nothing left. Letâs search elsewhere.â
Da Bai, however, lay down, refusing to budge.
Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment. Da Bai wouldnât lie. âDig again, deeper this time.â
The officers went back, digging deeper, about a meter and a half down, until their shovel hit something solid. They quickly uncovered another box.
After cleaning, it was placed before Ren Buqing.
He opened the boxâŠ
It was a human head.
âThe murderer was cunning. Without Da Baiâs insistence, we might have never found the victimâs head.â
Chu Qingzhi gently patted Da Baiâs head, âWell done.â
Da Bai stood up, looking proud.
Ren Buqing smiled, âDa Bai, youâve done a great service
Admiration filled everyoneâs eyes as they looked at Da Bai, whose tale quickly spread throughout the capital, becoming a sensation.
Chu Qingzhi announced, âDa Bai, letâs find the victimâs home.â
With a majestic and dominant stride, Da Bai led them back into the city, through streets and alleys, until they arrived at the gate of a rather grand mansion.