458: Chapter 458 The Manpower Provider, the Old House is in Turmoil

Those were some very faint fingerprints, their contours already extremely blurry.

At the tips of the fingerprints, there were also several hair-thin scratches.

It looked as though someone had reached out to touch the wall, and their nails had inadvertently scraped across it, leaving them behind.

This was simply because the wall surface used high-end artistic paint and had undergone a matte finish process, greatly reducing light reflection.

As a result, these traces appeared exceptionally subtle to the naked eye, almost blending completely with the wall.

Even within the vision of the Scavengers Eye, the corresponding auras they produced were extremely dim.

Of course, part of the reason for this was definitely that too much time had passed.

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately walked over to the wall by the head of the bed, slowly extending his right index finger.

Amidst the uncomprehending gazes of Lin Chuqiao and the others, he focused his mental energy and gently pressed his fingertip against one of the scratches where the aura was brightest.

"Trace Retrospection!"

The moment he silently chanted in his heart, his fingertip touched the cold wall, and a faint energy sensation traveled up his arm into his brain.

The next second, a silent, black-and-white residual image emerged out of thin air in Fang Cheng's mind.

In the imagery, a translucent male silhouette was lying on the bed.

It was precisely the deceased Chen Shaoze.

He suddenly sat up, his body stiff, facing the wall like a sleepwalker.

Then, he stretched out both hands, his fingertips sliding back and forth across that section of the wall.

The force applied in that movement was very small.

It did not look like scratching out of fear, but rather like gently stroking something.

Chen Shaoze's figure wore an expression bordering on infatuation, rubbing the wall over and over again.

As if standing there was an unreachable yet deeply beloved lover.

Right at this moment, Fang Cheng's pupils shrank abruptly.

He unexpectedly saw that on the stroked wall, an even blurier and fainter humanoid silhouette quietly emerged.

That figure had no physical form, seeming to be composed of countless drifting black smokes.

"It"... unexpectedly also stretched out a "hand," gently touching Chen Shaoze's fingers from opposite sides of the wall.

"Captain, what did you discover?"

A soft voice suddenly sounded at the doorway, pulling Fang Cheng back to reality from this bizarre retrospection.

Seeing Fang Cheng standing motionless in front of the wall, his eyes staring straight at the wall surface with a somewhat unusual expression, Lin Chuqiao harbored worries and could not help speaking up to remind him.

Fang Cheng did not answer, only silently turning his head and scanning the entire room once more.

When his gaze fell on the floor, his heart stirred, and he immediately squatted down, gently tapping his right index finger one by one on several long-faded footprints.

One after another, black-and-white residual images belonging to the police and previous investigators flashed and swept across his mind.

In the images, they walked around, took photos for evidence, and conducted routine crime scene investigations.

But amidst these chaotic residual images, silhouettes resembling his uncle and the professor never appeared.

"It seems Second Young Master Chen Xuan didn't lie..."

Fang Cheng stood up and thought to himself.

His uncle and the others truly had not accepted missions through Naihe Bridge.

At least, they had never entered this mansion in the capacity of investigators.

Yet since their purpose this trip was not commissioned by the Chen family, why did they travel thousands of miles to the remote Tiannan Province?

Furthermore, how could they have suddenly lost contact?

Fang Cheng strode over to the window and pushed open the dust-covered window.

A gentle breeze brushed against his face, dispersing a little of the stuffiness inside the room.

Outside the window was the Chen family's neatly trimmed courtyard, where sunlight cast long shadows on the lawn.

In the distance was the manor wall equipped with monitoring devices, about three meters high, its surface crawling with vines.

Outside the wall was a quiet road where a sports car occasionally drove past, the sound of its engine vanishing in a flash.

Fang Cheng's gaze flickered slightly as he carefully scanned the surrounding streets and luxurious mansions.

According to Second Young Master Chen Xuan's description, his uncle seemed to have appeared near Chen Family Manor before.

If they weren't here for the mission bounty, could they have come for the murderer who created the homicide cases?

That is, the bizarre humanoid figure composed of black smoke that appeared during the retrospection just now?

Many thoughts flashed through Fang Cheng's mind, and he suddenly recalled what Bailing had relayed.

During a gathering, his uncle had discussed the "Chen Family Curse Case" that happened in Tiannan with the professor, and had even specially mentioned "that person's methods."

Perhaps... their target from the very beginning was this sorcerer hiding in the dark?

Fang Cheng's gaze gradually grew sharp, and he already had a plan in mind.

He turned around, his expression returning to calm, and looked at Second Young Master Chen Xuan who was standing outside the door with a puzzled expression:

"Mr. Chen, I just found a crucial clue. If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to lock down the murderer's identity very soon."

Hearing this, Second Young Master Chen Xuan was slightly stunned, a trace of joy immediately welling up on his face as he hurriedly pursued the question:

"What clue?"

Fang Cheng shook his head:

"Sorry, please forgive me for not being able to state it clearly for the time being."

"That sorcerer's methods are bizarre and unfathomable; every word and action of ours is very likely under the other party's surveillance."

"Once exposed, I'm afraid the other party will immediately be alerted, either destroying evidence or fleeing far away."

Seeing Second Young Master Chen Xuan furrow his brows slightly with lingering doubts, Fang Cheng continued to add:

"Around the Acquired morning, our team's reinforcements will arrive in Cui City, and by then with full manpower, we can use this clue to drag out the rat hiding in the dark in one fell swoop."

He paused, the corners of his mouth curling into an arc.

"Then, we will let the murderer pay the price they deserve for the bloodshed they once committed."

Fang Cheng's tone was filled with confidence, as if that sorcerer who left the Chen family helpless was already in the bag.

"Reinforcements? Are they Dachui and Monkey?"

Bailing subconsciously raised her doubt: "Aren't they in..."

Halfway through her words, she was interrupted by a gentle cough from Lin Chuqiao.

Bailing turned her head to look at her, and seeing Lin Chuqiao winking at her, she instantly woke up to reality.

"Oh! Sister Xiaochu, so the secret phone call you made at noon today was planning to call them to Tiannan Province as well?"

She hastily changed her words, her voice carrying a hint of just-right surprise.

"Mn."

Lin Chuqiao nodded with a smile, naturally taking up the conversation:

"All three of us lean towards spiritual perception-type abilities. To deal with this kind of enemy who has mastered bizarre evil arts, relying just on this is not safe enough; we still need formidable muscle and brawn."

"I knew it!"

Bailing immediately nodded in agreement, full of jubilation:

"The manpower for this operation is truly too sparse. If Dachui and Monkey were here, no matter what sorcerer or iron-head master he is, I guarantee we'll twist his head off and kick it like a ball!"

Although she didn't share the tacit understanding with Fang Cheng like Lin Chuqiao did, she was also ice-smart.

After understanding the two's intentions, she immediately played this act airtightly.

Fang Cheng's expression remained as usual, noncommittal to the tacit cooperation of his two companions, and instead said to Second Young Master Chen Xuan:

"Mr. Chen, if it's convenient, we would like to stay overnight at your esteemed residence tonight."

"Firstly to familiarize ourselves with the environment here, and secondly to make it convenient for us to arrange things in advance and prepare for the action two days later."

Second Young Master Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and nodded in response:

"No problem. Since you have already found the crucial clue, I will cooperate fully until your reinforcements arrive."

"As for the lodging and meals of the three of you, I will have the housekeeper arrange them properly."

After inspecting the crime scene, the group returned to the downstairs living room.

Second Young Master Chen Xuan accompanied Fang Cheng and the others for a chat for a while longer.

The topic mainly revolved around the status of the victims before their deaths and whether the Chen family had made enemies with anyone recently.

But this exchange did not yield any valuable new clues.

"Mr. Bai."

Second Young Master Chen Xuan pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his expression slightly hesitant:

"Pardon my bluntness, how much certainty do you have in finding that murderer and pacifying the Chen family's crisis?"

He paused, then revealed an apologetic expression and explained:

"I am not doubting the three of you's strength, it's just that my experiences a few times before truly left me not daring to hold too high of expectations anymore."

"I cannot say one hundred percent."

Fang Cheng smiled indifferently, his tone steady:

"But there is at least ninety percent. What your esteemed residence needs to do is maintain vigilance just like usual, and then quietly await the good news."

Looking at his calm and confident gaze, Second Young Master Chen Xuan's doubts lessened slightly, and he finally nodded.

Subsequently, Housekeeper Li respectfully led Fang Cheng and the others to arrange rooms for them in the second-floor guest room area.

Not long after, the sun slanted westward, and the sky gradually darkened.

The dinner banquet hosted by the Chen family was prepared quite sumptuously, the table full of delicacies from land and sea.

But after hearing that bloody and terrifying description earlier, especially remembering the victim whose internal organs were cooked while drinking soup, it inevitably made people psychologically uncomfortable.

Both Lin Chuqiao and Bailing found it hard to swallow, putting down their chopsticks after moving them only a few times.

Fang Cheng's expression, however, remained as usual, and his appetite was exceptionally good, as if he hadn't been affected by the matter at all.

He ate ravenously, almost completely wiping out the large fish and meat dishes on the table by himself.

After dinner, night had completely enshrouded the manor located halfway up the mountain.

Fang Cheng returned to his room, didn't turn on the lights, and just casually pulled open the heavy curtains.

No matter where he was, he was more accustomed to staying in the dark; this would make him feel more at ease.

After all, to monsters different from ordinary people, darkness was the best disguise.

And within this mansion, another monster accustomed to darkness was likely still lurking.

Perhaps at this moment, the other party was hiding in some corner, using a pair of cold eyes to silently peer at uninvited guests like them.

Fang Cheng gazed at the scenery outside the window.

Under the veil of night, Chen Family Manor shed its daytime luxury, appearing exceptionally tranquil.

The contours of the distant mountains were pitch-black, resembling dormant Dragons and snakes.

This wealthy district was already sparsely populated, and at night it was even more completely silent.

Only a few sporadic lights flickered in the dark night, looking like ghost fires.

Lin Chuqiao and Bailing were arranged in the adjacent room.

Fang Cheng had previously instructed them to immediately call him if there was any situation.

The time was still early at the moment, and he had completely no sleepiness.

After gazing into the distance by the window for a moment, he turned around and sat cross-legged on the carpet in the center of the room, beginning Meditation to Cultivate.

His eyes closed lightly, and his breathing gradually grew long and deep.

Not knowing how long had passed, just as his mind and spirit were immersed in the Inner Scene World.

"Dong, dong."

A burst of knocking suddenly sounded, gently passing into his ears.

Fang Cheng opened his eyelids, a flash of bright light passing through the depths of his pupils, and immediately got up to open the door.

Standing outside the door were Lin Chuqiao, whose expression was somewhat awkward, and Bailing, whose face was still shaken.

"Um... sorry, to disturb you."

Lin Chuqiao somewhat helplessly pointed at Bailing beside her:

"This girl said she was scared, didn't dare sleep alone, and insisted on coming to find you."

"That's not it!"

Bailing immediately retorted, but her pale cheeks and the hand tightly grasping Lin Chuqiao's arm betrayed her stubbornness:

"I just... had some things I wanted to ask the big shot..."

She stammered for a long time, seeming to organize her words, or perhaps lingering over some terrifying matter.

"Speak, what is it?"

Fang Cheng's gaze fell calmly upon her.

Seeing Fang Cheng in person, Bailing seemed to have finally found her backbone, and then said at a rapid pace:

"Just now my stomach was too hungry, and I couldn't help it, wanting to go to the downstairs kitchen to find something to eat."

"As a result, the entire first floor was pitch black, not even a servant's shadow was around."

"I shouted a few times and no one answered, so I thought I'd just turn around and go back upstairs to sleep, but... but in the living room, I felt... someone was watching me from behind!"

Speaking up to here, her voice could not help carrying a trace of a tremor:

"That feeling was particularly strange; to be precise, it wasn't seeing with the eyes, it was... it was just that the back of my neck felt chilly, like a cold wind blowing against my skin."

"Yet when I suddenly turned my head back, there was nothing behind me, the whole living room was completely empty!"

"Didn't you see anyone from the Chen family?"

Fang Cheng's gaze crossed over her, sweeping toward the dim and quiet corridor entrance.

"No, I didn't see anything, nor did I hear any sound."

Bailing shook her head vigorously:

"But that feeling was just so real, so terrifying. I'm not small-hearted, something really was following me."

"Could that sorcerer be playing tricks? Big shot, I don't dare stay in the room by myself..."

After finishing these words, she looked pitifully at Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng looked at her lingering-fear appearance, and then looked at Lin Chuqiao's expression of "I can't help it", and stepped aside to yield the doorway:

"Come in, both of you."

"How embarrassing..."

Lin Chuqiao was polite on her lips, but her body was very honest as she pulled Bailing in.

The single bed in the room was obviously not enough for three people to rest.

"You guys sleep on the bed."

Fang Cheng pointed at the bed and said to the two: "I'll just sit in Meditation."

Hearing this, Bailing sat down on the edge of the bed without any politeness, patting her chest and letting out a long sigh of relief.

Lin Chuqiao hesitated for a moment, and ultimately sat down beside her as well.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat subtle.

In the darkness, the breathing sounds of the three people were clearly audible.

"Hey, big shot."

Bailing recovered her composure and asked curiously:

"What you said during the day about having a ninety percent certainty, is that true? That... thing, is it really that easy to deal with?"

"Bailing..."

Lin Chuqiao softly stopped her.

But her gaze was also cast toward Fang Cheng.

In the darkness, those bright eyes carried a trace of obvious worry.

Fang Cheng smiled and asked in return:

"Do you guys still not believe me?"

Hearing this familiar sentence, Bailing's eyes instantly lit up, her tense face instantly relaxed, and she nodded vigorously.

The corners of Lin Chuqiao's mouth also curled into a pretty arc.

Under the faint moonlight filtering in from outside the window, she was like a flower branch quietly blooming in the night.

She gently nodded, continuing no further on this topic.

The tacit understanding between the two needed no further words.

Lin Chuqiao and Bailing quickly lay down on the bed with their clothes on.

Perhaps they were truly tired, or perhaps Fang Cheng's presence brought enough a sense of security.

Not long after, the even breathing sounds of the two came over.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged again in the center of the room, closed his eyes, and his mind and spirit sank into the Sea of Consciousness.

A scorching, brilliant great sun slowly rose within his Visualization.

Faint golden flames of light oozed out from beneath the skin all over his body, enshrouding his entire person within it.

He carefully controlled this power; the flames of light were scorching yet did not radiate outward, neither igniting his clothes nor scorching the carpet beneath him.

In the dark room, he was like a golden statue radiating a faint light.

As the Visualization deepened, Fang Cheng's perception seemed to silently extend outward along this golden light.

The subtle sound of the wind brushing against the curtains, the low chirping of night insects in the distance, the smell of dust in the air.

Even the steady heartbeats of the two girls in the room...

Everything was clearly fed back into his mind.

The night grew deeper and deeper, and the mist also gradually emerged.

The entire Chen Family Mansion, like a sleeping giant beast, sprawled across the dark mountainside.

The oppression and gloominess covered up by luxury during the day were unreservedly released at this moment.

The wind passed through the treetops in the courtyard, making a wailing sound like a woman crying.

In the corridor, the induction wall lamps flickered on and off, light and shadow stretching and transforming on the empty ground, like struggling ghost shadows.

It was as if something invisible to ordinary people was silently drifting about.

(End of Chapter)