Chapter Thirty: Tightly Wound Drums

The conversation between Li Yiting and his father sparked a bold idea in his mind. After discussing it with Chen Tianyu and the others, Chen Tianyu was quite supportive. Everyone agreed that the situation was urgent and that they needed to gather more physical evidence and witness testimony as soon as possible. Regardless of what role Li Fuqi played in this matter, he was at the very least a crucial figure.

Previously, they had nearly overlooked Li Fuqi’s existence—a grave oversight indeed.

Wan Yongkun volunteered eagerly, “Starting today, I’ll keep a close eye on Li Fuqi. If he truly is the culprit, I can guarantee he won’t be able to harm anyone else.”

Shen Mingyue joked, “Are you going to watch him even when he bathes? Why not just move into the village office and sleep next to him…”

“You little rascal, you really have no filter!” Wan Yongkun retorted angrily.

Shen Mingyue giggled, “You’re the one who said you’d keep a close watch. How exactly are you going to do that? If you just follow him around, with someone as shrewd as Li Fuqi, he’s bound to notice.”

“Well, crude as your words are, the reasoning isn’t wrong. Maybe your suggestion could work,” Wan Yongkun admitted, looking towards Chen Tianyu. “Fourth Brother, what do you think if I really move over there?”

Unexpectedly, Chen Tianyu shook his head. “Doing so is no different from telling him outright that we suspect him. Have you considered the consequences? Don’t just listen to Mingyue’s nonsense.”

Shen Mingyue looked displeased but said nothing. She knew she was only speaking off the cuff.

Liu Zichen laughed, “Yongkun, Tianyu has said before that we're just passing through here and will leave eventually, remember? If Li Fuqi really has some plan, and he senses our suspicion, he could simply postpone everything and wait patiently for us to leave Licun. Wouldn’t that mean we fail completely?”

“Master, what do you think? You can’t just have me waiting around,” Wan Yongkun said. He wasn’t stupid—now that there were clues pointing to Li Fuqi, he couldn’t be careless and could only seek Li Yiting’s advice.

Li Yiting had been deep in thought. He still had concerns; there was a heavy burden in his heart that he couldn’t share with the others. Just two days ago, Li Fuqi had stood with him to accept the family duty of guarding the Fish Intestine Sword, and now he had orchestrated this “farce” himself. What was his true intention? It was utterly inscrutable, shrouded in mystery.

He actually had two doubts: if Fuqi had long plotted to seize the Fish Intestine Sword, his actions now seemed oddly rushed. But then, why commit a series of murders? If killing Third and Fifth Uncle was meant to create an atmosphere of terror and use the legend of the Five Elements’ divine retribution to force his eldest uncle’s hand, then his goal should have been achieved—why target his own father as well? It made no sense, unless there was another secret or an even larger conspiracy that Beiting had not yet uncovered.

He was reminded, inexplicably, of Bai Weibie and that staged cobra attack. The thought sent a chill down his spine. But he had watched Fuqi grow up—they were as close as brothers. Did he really have the cunning for such schemes?

Moreover, considering the relationship between Fuqi and his father, it was not an exaggeration to say they were like father and son. Fuqi had lost his parents young and had always regarded their family as his own. To suspect him of plotting against his father was simply unthinkable, contrary to all reason and emotion.

But on the other hand, if Fuqi was truly innocent, then the case was even more puzzling. If he had genuinely saved his father in a moment of crisis, why was he always so close to the scene of the crimes? According to the well-known principle of hunting grounds, not suspecting him would be unscientific. Looking on the bright side, could it be that Fuqi had discovered something and inadvertently become involved? Yet his demeanor did not suggest so.

He believed every case had its logic, but he simply couldn’t unravel this one.

So he answered ambiguously, “You moving in to monitor Fuqi isn’t out of the question… If everyone genuinely suspects him, I don’t mind even detaining him for now. Lives are at stake; we can’t afford any more mistakes. But before we proceed, I suggest we inspect the stone bridge site at Mutu Village again, to confirm if anyone really tampered with it. That would be a safer approach…”

Chen Tianyu seemed to see through his hesitation. He patted Li Yiting’s shoulder, saying, “Yiting, I have no objection to you inspecting the scene, but it’s still too soon for any overt actions. In fact, I have an inkling that this whole affair is much more complex than we currently realize.”

Li Yiting’s heart trembled slightly; he felt that Chen Tianyu had somehow sensed his secret.

“Fourth Brother, my mind’s a mess right now,” he admitted.

“I know. That’s why we must stay calm and not be led by the nose,” Chen Tianyu said slowly. “The best approach is still to act discreetly. At least for now, your father is temporarily safe, so there’s no need for us to lose our composure. The situation is still under our control…”

He didn’t wait for the others to speak, but decisively added, “So, the best plan is to wait for the culprit to reveal themselves.”

“In any serial murder case, the killer won’t stop until their goal is achieved. That gives us enough opportunity. As long as we keep all suspects under watch, the culprit will eventually show their true colors. No matter how well they hide, they can’t be flawless. What we need is to catch them in the act and secure irrefutable evidence.”

Li Yiting nodded. “That makes sense… but what’s your specific plan?”

“On your end, focus on gathering evidence quickly. Investigating the stone bridge is a good idea—since the incident was recent, any traces should still be there. As for Li Fuqi, I don’t think anyone’s suitable to monitor him directly, but don’t forget, we have another ally…”

Chen Tianyu paused.

Li Yiting’s eyes lit up. “You mean Qiu Xi?”

“Exactly. Qiu Xi is an official representative and already has contact with the village leaders. It’s perfectly reasonable for him to move into the team office, and he can keep an eye on Li Fuqi’s every move. At the very least, his presence will serve as a deterrent, preventing Li Fuqi from acting recklessly. After all, ensuring the villagers’ safety is even more urgent than solving the case.”

“Agreed,” Li Yiting said approvingly.

Wan Yongkun asked anxiously, “Then what should I do?”

“Yongkun, your mention of shadowing Li Fuqi reminded me—your skills are better used tracking someone else, someone who might play a crucial role.” Seeing Wan Yongkun’s confusion, he smiled. “Remember someone not very noticeable, always in our line of sight yet often overlooked?”

He prompted, “This person often runs into the mountains, is said to be very capable, but no one knows what he’s really up to…”

Kuang Suo guessed, “You mean the Mute?”

“That’s right. Eccentric people often have eccentricities. He’s linked to the theft case and has connections with Li Qiumao. We can’t ignore him. In our years investigating crimes, we’ve learned that the most inconspicuous people are often the culprits. This time might be no exception. Think: whoever could kill Li Qiwen and Li Qiumao so easily must possess some skills. We shouldn’t rule out the possibility of accomplices.”

“In other words, the culprit is likely not acting alone, but at least has help.”

Wan Yongkun caught on, “Makes sense, Fourth Brother. Leave this to me—I’ll get to the bottom of it. Going into the mountains is my specialty, much easier than dealing with intellectuals like Li Fuqi.” He couldn’t help but poke fun at himself.

“In the mountains, there’s probably no one yet born who can match you, Yongkun. But during surveillance, be discreet and, above all, stay safe. I have a feeling the Mute is anything but simple.”

“Don’t worry, Fourth Brother.” Wan Yongkun patted his chest.

Chen Tianyu turned to Kuang Suo, “Jiudao, though you found matching buttons on Li Fuqi, that alone can’t be conclusive evidence, unless you can prove there’s absolutely no chance of finding similar buttons elsewhere in Luoshui Village…”

Kuang Suo understood at once. “Got it, I’ll continue sorting through the physical evidence.”

“It’s tough work, but I need you to give it your all. While you’re at it, keep an eye on the group of thieves cutting down yew trees—see what they’re up to lately. And watch that so-called shaman Xun Xi especially. If anything out of the ordinary happens, report it immediately.”

“Understood.”

Li Yiting joked, “When I worked in the criminal police, I dreaded canvassing and stakeouts the most. Jiudao, you’re in for a rough ride this time.”

Kuang Suo replied easily, “It’ll be good training for my eyes. I don’t mind.”

Shen Mingyue piped up, “Fourth Brother, you’re not going to leave me and Sister Zichen at home, are you? The case is urgent—we should at least do something!”

“Look at you, so impatient. I’m getting to you, aren’t I?” Chen Tianyu looked at Liu Zichen, then said seriously, “Zichen, I really didn’t want you two girls to get involved in this mess, but I remember you once said that some things can’t be done by men alone—how prophetic those words are.”

Liu Zichen, sharp as ever, smiled. “You want Mingyue and me to interact with the village women?” Before Chen Tianyu could answer, she said, “No problem.”

Chen Tianyu chuckled awkwardly, “They say women can’t keep secrets—maybe it’s the greatest universal truth.”

“Oh, you just love to talk, don’t you?” Liu Zichen spat.

Shen Mingyue chimed in, “Seriously, that’s so rude. Don’t forget we’re women too.”

Chen Tianyu laughed awkwardly but quickly said, “In any case, it’s time to broaden the scope of our investigation.” He thought for a moment, then added, “As for me, it seems necessary to pay a visit to a certain important figure…”

Li Yiting clearly guessed who he meant but only sighed softly, not saying a word.

Li Qisi was his eldest uncle and the person he had respected most since childhood.

This man knew nearly everything about Licun, and might even be aware of the whole story behind the murders. But to pry open his lips would be harder than climbing to the heavens.

“Fourth Brother, may your mission succeed at once!” Li Yiting said, patting Chen Tianyu’s shoulder anxiously.

The two exchanged a glance and smiled, understanding each other without the need for words.