Chapter 116: The Search for the Bronze Vessel

Early the next morning, Yusuke arrived at the library building ahead of time. By coincidence, Fang Po and Mu Jin had just arrived as well.

“Hopefully, we’ll make a breakthrough today!” Fang Po said as they walked inside, addressing Yusuke and Mu Jin who followed behind.

Just as Si Ren entered the building, a man of about thirty, dressed casually and wearing a string of beads on his wrist, approached the three.

“I heard two men and a woman were looking for me, and it has something to do with the Bronze Vessel. My name is Lin Chi,” the man said bluntly.

Yusuke pondered for a moment and then asked, “What do you need our help with?”

Fang Po and Mu Jin were once again puzzled by Yusuke’s words, so they asked, “Are we supposed to help him?”

“Since he knows about the Bronze Vessel, that means he’s also aware of the pattern and the Three Corpses Life Extension ritual. I don’t believe he hasn’t seen the news. When it comes to a murder case, who’d want to get involved unless there’s a strong reason?” Yusuke explained to Fang Po and Mu Jin, then turned back to Lin Chi and asked, “Nothing worthwhile is done early in the morning — what do you want?”

Lin Chi pointed toward the table, signaling them to sit down and talk.

“Little brothers, let me first tell you about this Three Corpses Life Extension,” Lin Chi began.

From Lin Chi’s introduction, they learned:

In ancient times, the emperor sought immortality and summoned all the skilled practitioners and mystics across the land in hopes of obtaining the secret to eternal life. The sorcerers displayed their powers one after another, yet none of their methods worked. The emperor, enraged, ordered the execution of all sorcerers.

At that moment, to save the mystics, a sorcerer named Xu Feng presented the emperor with the Three Corpses Life Extension ritual and was commanded to personally perform the sacrifice.

The emperor’s harem, including the empress and two noble consorts, manipulated him into making many wrong decisions, plunging the people into misery. Xu Feng’s intent was twofold: to save the mystics and to use this opportunity to eliminate the empress and the two consorts. Since the emperor was desperate for immortality, he believed anything he was told.

Xu Feng told the emperor that the Three Corpses Life Extension required the brains and bones of three specific people to be ground into powder and placed into a special bronze vessel to be refined into a pill. Consuming this pill would grant immortality, but only one pill could be made to prevent others from testing or using it.

The three corpses had to be: a drowning victim who could not swim, a starvation victim who could eat, and a half-dead victim. They had to be women related to the emperor, allowed to decay naturally so their brain bones could be harvested.

Xu Feng claimed he had already found the ideal candidates: the empress as the drowning corpse, Noble Consort Xiao as the starvation corpse, and Noble Consort Wang, who had recently fallen from a horse and was bedridden, fitting the half-dead corpse.

Though furious, the emperor followed Xu Feng’s method in pursuit of immortality. Only one pill was made; unwilling to let others try it, the emperor consumed the pill himself and died soon after.

When the new emperor ascended, he knew Xu Feng’s intentions were noble but still executed him. To honor Xu Feng’s efforts, he released all the captured mystics.

After returning home, the mystics recorded the Three Corpses Life Extension in a book. Originally a method of killing, over time, some began to believe it was a sacred ritual for longevity.

When Lin Chi finished, Yusuke said, “People still believe in this? There really are all kinds of people!”

“Why not try if your time is near?” Lin Chi replied.

Looking thoughtfully at Yusuke, Lin Chi continued, “I heard the Bronze Vessel recently appeared at an auction in the capital city and was bought at a high price by an old man named Jin. I can give you the address.”

After speaking, Lin Chi stood up, took a sip from his water bottle retrieved from his backpack, and said again, “You’re right—nothing worthwhile is done early. If this succeeds, I want the Bronze Vessel.”

“Do you want immortality too?” Fang Po asked, confused.

Yusuke laughed and said, “He’s sick, but not in need of immortality. His ailment is poverty.”

“Ha! Clever. The Bronze Vessel is an ancient relic, and with the legend of the Three Corpses Life Extension, it must be priceless. I’m an antique shop owner. If you need help, come find me at Antique Street, Number 88!” Lin Chi said, leaving his contact information with Yusuke before departing the library.

Soon after, Yusuke received an address in the capital city on his phone. He thought it best to bring Ren Xiadong with him since both were northerners and somewhat familiar with the city.

That afternoon, as they were leaving, Yusuke suddenly thought, “Youyou is the drowning corpse, Lei Jie the starvation corpse... but who is the half-dead corpse?”

Lost in thought, Yusuke told Fang Po, who was driving them to the airport, “Check the list of all terminally ill patients admitted in the past month.”

Yusuke reasoned that if someone was performing this ritual, they’d need a dying person as the half-dead corpse, so collecting data on eligible patients might bait the perpetrator.

After a two-hour flight, Yusuke and Ren Xiadong stepped out of the capital city airport at four in the afternoon.

“Oh! Feels so good to be back in the north. This smell of haze and car exhaust—ah! The scent of home,” Ren Xiadong said, arms wide and eyes closed as she inhaled deeply.

Yusuke said nothing, his mind focused on solving the case. Though not his duty, this matter intrigued him greatly. No matter what, he wanted to uncover the truth and ease Liu Jing’s mind. Of course, Ren Xiadong was just there for leisure.

They took a taxi straight to Old Jin’s place, located in a hutong filled with traditional courtyard homes, where the wealthy lived. Residents here often strolled with their birds or tinkered with antiques.

At the doorstep of Old Jin’s house, Yusuke noticed the door was unlocked but wouldn’t budge. Ren Xiadong knocked several times, but there was no response. Knowing that delaying could lead to more victims, Yusuke, frustrated, raised his leg to kick the door open.

Just as he lifted his leg, an elderly voice called from behind, “Young man, be careful! This door is carved from precious wood.”

Yusuke and Ren Xiadong both turned to see the old man. His hair was white, he wore a traditional Tang suit, a string of Tibetan prayer beads hung around his neck, and he carried a birdcage. Despite his age, he looked vigorous.

Ren Xiadong pointed at the door and asked, “Is anyone home?”

Yusuke pulled her back and said, “No need to ask. He’s the one.”

He then looked at the old man and said, “I’m here about the Bronze Vessel.”

Since the old man cared so deeply about the door, Yusuke was certain this was Old Jin.

Old Jin didn’t hesitate but said, “Come inside.”

He gently turned the handle, and the door opened. He led Yusuke and Ren Xiadong into the living room, pouring each a cup of tea.

Before Yusuke could speak, Old Jin said, “I did buy the Bronze Vessel at auction recently, but a few days ago, someone climbed over the wall and stole it.”

“Stolen? Why didn’t you call the police?” Yusuke asked urgently, suspecting the old man was lying. It seemed unlikely he’d be so calm after losing a high-priced item.

Old Jin smiled without a hint of annoyance and said, “Look around—none of these treasures are less valuable than the Bronze Vessel. The thief only took the vessel, which means he wanted only that. If I reported it and angered him, he might come back for revenge. It’s not worth it. I’m actually grateful he didn’t touch anything else.”

Yusuke found the reasoning plausible and glanced at the surveillance cameras. “I’ll need to see the footage from that day.”

Old Jin sipped his tea, waved his hand, and said, “We never had thieves before, so there were no cameras. After the theft, I installed them. I’m being polite with you because I fear what you might do to my collection if you came here with other intentions.”

Seeing no hostility in them and knowing they sought only the Bronze Vessel, Old Jin asked, “Are you here to cure someone?”

“We’re investigating a case related to the Bronze Vessel,” Yusuke replied.

He then recounted everything to Old Jin, who admitted he was powerless—the item was gone.

Yusuke knew the item would resurface in Chong City since the crimes happened there; the culprit would likely remain nearby.

On the flight back, Ren Xiadong sighed, “Feels like this trip was for nothing.”

“Not wasted. At least we know the culprit was here. Even if they’re not the murderer, they’re an accomplice,” Yusuke said, narrowing his eyes.

By the time they returned to Chong City, it was midnight. After a night’s rest, Yusuke took Ren Xiadong to the police station early the next morning. They ate pancakes while waiting for the busy officers to arrive.

As the officers trickled in, Fang Po asked anxiously, “Any leads?”

Yusuke shook his head—no progress. Fang Po frowned; the trail was growing colder. What began as a suspected suicide had become increasingly perplexing.

“Yusuke! Here’s the list of terminally ill patients you asked for—ten people, eight elderly. Who do you think is the culprit?” Mu Jin handed Yusuke a stack of files.

Without looking, Yusuke said, “Check who among these ten visited the capital city two days ago. If none, then check their families.”

Mu Jin complied, knowing no other options existed. The entire police force was at a loss; the killer was cunning with no clues. All hope rested on Yusuke.

Yusuke himself felt uneasy. If none of these ten fit the profile, they’d have no leads at all. Chong City was vast; finding one person without evidence was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Just as silence fell, officers sent to question tattoo artists returned. “We’ve asked every tattoo artist in Chong City—no one has ever inked this pattern, or even seen it,” they reported.

At that, Fang Po slammed his cup on the ground and shouted, “The killer is too sly! I won’t let them strike again in my jurisdiction! If I catch them, I’ll tear them to pieces!”

Everyone present understood Fang Po’s frustration. This was the biggest case Chong City had seen in years, yet the police were helpless. Fang Po’s pride suffered, and he began doubting his own ability as an officer.

Meanwhile, Yusuke sat quietly, hands propping his head, eyes closed, pondering the recent events.

“Youyou wasn’t suicide; it’s linked to the Three Corpses Life Extension. The killer wants to extend life, so they need Youyou and Lei Jie as ingredients, plus the Bronze Vessel. The culprit must have a seriously ill family member. But what about the half-dead corpse? Could there be another victim we haven’t discovered yet?”