Judge of Souls-Chapter 23 - For You

Yama couldn’t get his money, as the box was forcibly kept by Jiang Feng.

Officer Ye asked several people to sign a statement indicating that since Jiang Feng wouldn’t accept the money, he would supervise Taoist Master Xuanyi in taking the money back.

“For such a large sum, I’ll escort you back,” Officer Ye asked, “What about you, Taoist Chu? Want to come along?”

Chu Xuanliang: “No, I have other matters. I have an appointment with a client for a detailed discussion today.”

Officer Ye: “Alright then. I’ll head off first.”

“Hey, wait.” Chu Xuanliang held him back and said, “I wanted to ask you something – have you heard of someone named Ye Lin?”

“Ye Lin? Oh… you mean that writer from XX News Agency? Isn’t he at the top of our police department’s blacklist?” Officer Ye suddenly gritted his teeth, “Even if I forgot my bank card PIN, I couldn’t forget him!”

Jiang Feng: “You don’t have money in your card anyway, right?”

Officer Ye: “Go away!”

Chu Xuanliang asked. “What did he do?”

Officer Ye angrily said, “What else? He’s a media person, you know how they are. Just likes to play with public opinion. Remember that case that went viral online recently, where everyone was jumping on the bandwagon? Wasn’t it them who fanned the flames? They stirred up trouble online, saying things that seemed plausible but had no basis or evidence, claiming the prosecutors were inactive while also saying the defendant had connections and had bribed the court and police. Bah! What bribery? The defendant was just middle class, where would they get that kind of money? The public opinion nearly drove them to suicide.”

Officer Ye said irritably, “He’s young, and I’m very angry with him, but unfortunately the law can’t do anything about him. Now we have to enforce the law civilly, but why do I get more violent the more I enforce it?”

Chu Xuanliang frowned. “Why would he do this?”

“He likes playing that social justice game, challenging judicial fairness. Big guts, small conscience. Does anything for money. Even earned himself the title of justice warrior, isn’t that nice? He’s got connections and channels, making him quite formidable.” Officer Ye said through gritted teeth, “Must have been taught by his father!”

Chu Xuanliang: “You can make money from this? Who is he writing articles for?”

Officer Ye picked his ear. “What do you think? These things aren’t as simple as they seem. If public opinion can influence judicial fairness, and it’s proven effective after making a name for themselves, why would rich people fear breaking the law if they can just manipulate things? Team up with powerful lawyers to stir things up, their targets aren’t ordinary citizens like us. News these days has no authenticity, it’s all selective reporting, the more sensational it is, the less you should believe it. Except for CCTV news, be careful with all other small newspapers.”

This really wasn’t something to like.

Jiang Feng hated these unclear matters the most. It was the same with Ma Shiluo’s case. The punishment for spreading rumors was too light, while the damage was too severe.

Officer Ye finally remembered to ask, “By the way, why are you asking about him? I’ve been too busy lately with many cases not under my jurisdiction, did he cause trouble?”

Chu Xuanliang: “He might be dead.”

Officer Ye stammered. “Oh… then I won’t speak ill of the dead.”

Chu Xuanliang asked again. “What about his father?”

“His father? Ye Feng, right? His father was even worse.” Officer Ye sighed, “His father was my master’s nightmare, and he is my nightmare. Just always using those same tactics, constantly smearing our police force. The details are too numerous to list, you can look it up, just read the news in reverse. By the way, why are you asking about this?”

Chu Xuanliang “hmmed”. “My client is connected to them.”

Officer Ye: “Who’s your client?”

“A woman called Zhou Yi’an.” Chu Xuanliang continued, “Can you help me investigate her specific situation?”

Officer Ye: “Who? Can’t you check at your place?”

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“I did check, but didn’t find much, the information is incomplete.” Chu Xuanliang said, “I only know she was registered in her current household at age twelve, but what about before that?”

Officer Ye: “The system has only been complete in recent years, it’s normal not to find anything. If it’s from ten or twenty years ago, I can’t find it either. We’d need to do field visits. Is it important?”

Chu Xuanliang: “Not extremely important. Just curious.”

Zhou Yi’an’s file was too simple, and Chu Xuanliang instinctively felt something was off. But it might just be his curiosity acting up. Thinking carefully, when Zhou Yi’an was twelve, Ye Lin was even younger than her, how could that be related to his cause of death?

Officer Ye gave him a suspicious look, then urged his master, “Let’s go, Master.”

Taoist Master Xuanyi said goodbye to Yama before following Officer Ye out. He turned back and waved. “I will keep Lord for you.”

Watching them leave, Yama’s mood was quite unpleasant.

Chu Xuanliang observed his expression and asked, “So… shall we go see Zhou Yi’an now?”

Yama showed little interest, casually saying, “Fine.”

So Chu Xuanliang led them to find Zhou Yi’an.

Based on Chu Xuanliang’s description, plus the impression given by the name “Zhou Yi’an” itself, Jiang Feng had imagined a gentle, timid girl, but meeting her in person proved otherwise.

She was very energetic, with her hair tied up high, wearing a simple white T-shirt at home. There were still bruises on her lips and cheekbones, probably from the fight with Ye Lin’s parents.

The place where this rich kid who offered three million lived was quite low-key, without the rumored private elevator access, nor luxurious golden decorations, and not even a housekeeper in sight.

It was a top-floor duplex. Each floor was about 150 square meters.

Zhou Yi’an stepped aside to invite the three in.

Her boyfriend Chu Maoxian came out from behind, and seeing it was Chu Xuanliang, eagerly asked, “Did you find anything?”

After Chu Xuanliang entered and stepped to the side of the door, two more people walked out.

When Chu Maoxian saw Jiang Feng, he could maintain his expression, but when his gaze fell on Yama, he completely lost it.

“How are these two… don’t tell me they’re your assistants?” Chu Maoxian raised his hand to pat Yama’s head, “Three million yuan, and you couldn’t even find more professional actors than these?”

“Ha!” Yama jumped back a step, slapping his hand. “Insolent!”

Chu Maoxian was stunned.

Oh my.

With Yama’s thick and fluffy hair, he still wanted to pat it. Chu Xuanliang hurriedly stopped this ancestor, saying, “These two are my friends. They’re here to help.”

“Fine.” Chu Maoxian withdrew his hand reluctantly, “Come in then.”

Chu Xuanliang: “I’ll take them to look around.”

Chu Maoxian: “Feel free.”

Yama followed Chu Xuanliang to first check the haunted bathroom, while Jiang Feng sat alone on the sofa.

Zhou Yi’an stayed in the living room and asked, “You’re not going to look?”

Jiang Feng said, “I’m not a Taoist priest.”

Soon Yama and the others walked back.

Yama wore a stern face and said, “Nothing much. This place has good feng shui, even if there was yin energy, it’s been dispersed.”

Chu Maoxian: “Well well well, not a bad actor after all.”

Chu Xuanliang broke into a cold sweat. He gestured for Yama to sit in the corner of the sofa, far from Chu Maoxian.

Zhou Yi’an poured herself a glass of water and said, “You can go back now, I’m fine. Thank you for the exorcism talisman.”

Chu Maoxian: “Why not use it? What if that crazy Ye Lin comes back?”

Zhou Yi’an glanced at him. “Do you still have money?”

Chu Maoxian frowned. “Why do you care so much about how I spend my money? Just use it! Money can’t buy my happiness!”

“What are you happy about? Happy about spending everything to help them find out the truth? Do they even need it?”

“If I were really short on money, I wouldn’t have moved out! That’s just how I am! It’s my money, why can’t I spend it how I want?”

“Then move back!”

“Tch, Zhou Yi’an, when will you stop? Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

Zhou Yi’an ignored him and picked up a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table.

Chu Maoxian confronted her. “Don’t you see there’s a kid here? Want to give him secondhand smoke?”

Zhou Yi’an lit it anyway, blew out a white cloud, and raised an eyebrow at Yama. “Want to go outside to avoid it?”

Yama: “……”

The three onlookers didn’t even have a chance to interject.

Chu Xuanliang quietly pulled out a talisman paper and made hand seals.

No one could see anything, only Chu Maoxian who was nearby heard something like a whooshing sound. Then Chu Xuanliang flicked his finger, sending the fine wind toward Zhou Yi’an.

The fine wind carried the white smoke slowly upward, gathering into a small whirlwind, then heading out the window.

Zhou Yi’an: “……” What the hell?!

Chu Maoxian laughed. “Now that’s interesting!”

Zhou Yi’an took a couple puffs, feeling uncomfortable from the wind blowing. Finding it pointless, she put it out.

Chu Maoxian: “Heh.”

Zhou Yi’an: “Enough from you. Light your own fire.”

Chu Maoxian coughed and asked Chu Xuanliang, “So what’s really going on? Ye Lin’s parents also found a Taoist priest, summoning spirits and searching for the body everywhere, but nothing happened. I mean, can your profession actually do anything?”

Chu Xuanliang said, “Hmm. No rush.”

After they sat for a while, the doorbell rang again.

Chu Maoxian asked, “Who is it now? More of your friends?”

Chu Xuanliang: “Probably not.”

Zhou Yi’an went to open the door, and after seeing who it was, Chu Maoxian immediately jumped up, rushed over to pull Zhou Yi’an behind him, and warily said to the people at the door. “What are you doing here?”

At the door were Ye Lin’s parents and a young man with dyed yellow hair.

Neither side needed to maintain a friendly facade anymore. Ye Lin’s father spoke first, “I just came to ask Zhou Yi’an, when was the last time you saw my son?”

Chu Maoxian: “Uncle, if you have questions, go to the police. Why do you keep coming to harass us? I respect you as an elder and my father’s friend, but this is getting ridiculous, isn’t it?”

The yellow-haired guy suddenly pointed at Zhou Yi’an and said, “It must be her! Brother Ye told me he was going to find you after we split up at the bar.”

“What are you pointing at?” Chu Maoxian’s eyes turned cold, “I wasn’t even there, why would he look for my girlfriend? In the middle of the night! What was he planning?!”

The yellow-haired guy swallowed and looked timidly at Chu Maoxian, but fell silent.

Zhou Yi’an sneered. “Looks like he deserved to die.”

Chu Maoxian finally understood everything and exploded in anger. “F*ck! You knew he had feelings for you?”

Zhou Yi’an said, “Wasn’t he your friend? You introduced him!”

“I introduced him to give you more options, you should have told me if he was like this!” Chu Maoxian said, “How was I supposed to know this beast was such an animal!”

Zhou Yi’an: “You made friends with that kind of trash and you’re blaming me?”

Ye Lin’s mother angrily said, “Show some respect for the dead!”

Chu Maoxian: “Shut your mouth!”

Ye Lin’s father was a balding man wearing glasses. He spoke slowly but couldn’t hide the sharpness in his eyes. “Young man, always leave room for maneuver.”

Chu Maoxian sneered. “Uncle, I gave you room, but did you give me any? Going around telling people my girlfriend killed Ye Lin, could you be any more unreasonable?”

Ye Lin’s father said, “I’m just here to get clarity today. Maoxian, I watched you grow up. Who you date is your freedom. But Ye Lin was my only son, and now he’s dead. I come to ask about what happened, and you won’t even tell me?”

Chu Maoxian turned back. “Wife, tell him!”

“In the dung pit!” Zhou Yi’an shouted angrily, “Who does he think he is that I should keep him in my thoughts? I told you I haven’t seen him in a month!”

Chu Maoxian just stood there facing the door, both sides at an impasse.

Chu Xuanliang stood behind them, but was holding a talisman. If a fight broke out, he could tie them up and throw them out.

Ye Lin’s father was much more experienced, maintaining his composure as he broke the deadlock. “Alright. Uncle just came to ask. Let’s go.”

Ye Lin’s mother’s eyes were red, and she wanted to speak, but was pulled by her husband by the clothes and given a glare, so she closed her mouth dejectedly.

Chu Maoxian directly closed the door, out of sight, out of mind.

Chu Maoxian grabbed Zhou Yi’an’s hand. “The day Ye Lin went missing, you really didn’t see him?”

Zhou Yi’an said: “No! How annoying can you be?”

Chu Maoxian: “Why are you being so unreasonable? I’m worried about you!”

Zhou Yi’an: “I’ve always been like this, if you can’t stand it then break up.”

“What can’t I give you? Can you stop mentioning breaking up? If there’s anything, just tell me, I’ve got your back, what are you afraid of?”

“I want peace and quiet! Right now I just want to be alone, can you give me that?”

Chu Maoxian was driven mad. “Fine! Fine! I’ll leave, okay?”

He stood at the door, but spinelessly stopped, turning back to look at Zhou Yi’an. “Before I walk out this door, if you apologize to me, I’ll forgive you.”

Zhou Yi’an shouted. “Get out!”

Chu Maoxian cursed “Damn” and left without looking back.

Chu Xuanliang: Witnessed the brilliant moment of a couple’s breakup. Somehow feeling complicated about it.

Jiang Feng and Yama remained sitting steadily, showing no reaction.

Yama thought to himself, mortal love is truly… ephemeral.

Zhou Yi’an walked back, turned on the TV. She ran her hand through her hair and sat down as if nothing had happened.

She pressed buttons on the remote control with one hand, switching from the web interface to TV broadcast, watching absent-mindedly.

No one spoke, only the sound of the TV program could be heard.

When she jumped to one channel, she suddenly stopped. She kept turning up the volume, then threw away the remote.

The familiar face inside made even Jiang Feng start.

The person who had appeared at the door and engaged in a shouting match just ten minutes ago suddenly appeared on TV, creating a very strange feeling.

At this moment, he wore a grief-stricken expression, with downturned eyes, looking more tired and weathered than in person.

The top right corner of the TV screen had vertical text that read: [The Undying Warrior, The Lonely War Wolf].

Jiang Feng: “……”

Thinking of what Officer Ye had said, he felt uncomfortable.

The host asked: “Ye Lin was like a fearless newborn calf, exposing so many social dark sides, did he encounter any dangers?”

Ye Lin’s father: “Yes, always. Things like threat letters. For example, after exposing a company, he was beaten up and hospitalized on his way home. I was abroad at the time and didn’t know. He only told me after he recovered.”

Host: “Did it hurt you?”

Mr. Ye sighed: “Of course it did. But there’s nothing we can do. How he acts, it’s all what his parents taught him. I can’t tell him now not to do this. I think it’s good for young people to have some edge, maybe when they’re old they won’t anymore.”

“He’s been missing for ten days now.”

“Yes…” Ye Lin’s father choked up, “Missing is still good news, what I fear most is that something terrible has happened to him. This child was too honest.”