Chapter 117: A New Lead

At lunchtime that day, not a single person went to eat. Everyone remained at their desks in the office area. Because Fang Po had been sitting at his seat in silence, neither moving nor mentioning food, his subordinates dared not make a sound.

Fang Po was waiting—waiting for the results of the investigation Mu Jin was conducting. It wasn't just Fang Po; everyone was waiting, including Liu Sheng.

Liu Sheng emerged from his thoughts and activated his heart-linking ability, connecting to the hearts of everyone present. He wanted to hear their inner thoughts and find something useful for the case, but all he heard were complaints and stomachs growling with hunger.

He then turned his attention to Fang Po’s inner thoughts. Fang Po’s mind was entirely focused on the case, replaying it from start to finish. To Liu Sheng, listening to Fang Po’s thoughts was like watching a movie, as every detail of the case unfolded.

Liu Sheng knew how much importance Fang Po placed on this investigation, but with everyone else crying out in hunger, he stood up and said, "Food is the fuel of life. Work is important, but filling your stomach is just as critical. I'm ordering takeout for everyone—my treat!"

As soon as Liu Sheng finished, the police officers present cheered with excitement. Hearing the commotion, Fang Po emerged from his thoughts and watched the excited crowd in silence.

Noticing Fang Po’s gaze, the others stopped cheering and lowered their heads. They knew this was a critical moment and that they should be focusing on solving the case instead of clamoring for food, so they collectively fell silent.

Looking at the heads bowed in shame, Fang Po said, "It’s fine. Liu Sheng has plenty of money. Tell him whatever you want to eat; don't be shy."

Hearing this, Liu Sheng quickly looked at Fang Po, thinking to himself, "You jerk! You always find me whenever it’s time to pay!"

Despite this, Liu Sheng said aloud, "Order whatever you want. Even if it were a royal banquet, I’d find a way to get it for you."

The officers didn't hold back, telling Liu Sheng everything they usually wanted to eat but were too frugal to buy. Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong began ordering for everyone. As he helped with the orders, Ren Xiadong remarked, "What’s going on? Can’t police officers afford to eat these days?"

"I think they’re all just poor. Hurry up, don’t keep them waiting," Liu Sheng replied, teasing the staff while urging Ren Xiadong to work faster.

Shortly after Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong put down their phones, delivery staff began arriving one after another. Before long, the office area had transformed into a dining room, with every desk covered in food.

"Eat up. Don't let Mr. Liu’s kindness go to waste," Fang Po said. Following his command, everyone dove into the food like starving wolves. It wasn't just because police officers rarely ate well; it was because Fang Po had delayed lunch for so long that everyone was famished.

Liu Sheng sat across from Fang Po, eating as he said, "If you hadn't let them eat, they would have been so desperate they might have eaten you alive!"

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, Mu Jin rushed over. Standing beside Liu Sheng and facing Fang Po, he was panting heavily. Liu Sheng, seeing Mu Jin looking like an asthma patient, opened a drink and handed it to him. Mu Jin took it and gulped it down.

Only after the bottle was completely empty did Mu Jin put it down, take a deep breath, and say, "Wen Gua, 30 years old. Diagnosed with terminal cancer last month. He just returned from Jing City yesterday."

Liu Sheng snatched the file from Mu Jin’s hand, glanced at it, and said, "It seems he’s trying to cultivate immortality to extend his life! But at last, we’ve found you!"

Liu Sheng noticed it was written that Wen Gua also owned a porcelain antique shop on Antique Street.

A triumphant smile spread across Liu Sheng’s face. "Antique shop owner, terminal cancer, and he was in Jing City during the time the Bronze Vessel went missing. I’m certain he’s the killer!"

Fang Po pondered for a moment before saying, "Evidence. Your word alone isn't enough to confirm he’s the killer."

"I know. You’re the police. To avoid alerting him, I’ll go meet this Wen Gua myself," Liu Sheng replied. He then took Ren Xiadong directly to Antique Street, Number 88, Lin Chi’s antique shop.

Entering the shop, Liu Sheng saw Lin Chi sleeping soundly on a rocking chair. Liu Sheng wandered around the store, looking at various old objects; he couldn't tell if they were real or fake, but they certainly looked ancient.

"Wake up! Your antiques are being stolen!"

Lin Chi jolted awake, startled by Liu Sheng’s shout. With a dazed look in his eyes, he stared at Liu Sheng for a long while before finally recovering. "I’m not worried about theft. Who would put real items out on display?"

Lin Chi suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly shut his mouth. Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong both looked at him, and Liu Sheng remarked, "You’re quite honest."

Lin Chi gave an awkward laugh, rubbed his face to wake himself up, and asked, "Did you find the bronze vessel?"

"No, it was stolen."

"What? Stolen?"

Seeing Lin Chi’s anxiety, Liu Sheng continued, "Don't worry, I’ll definitely get it back. I need a favor from you."

Lin Chi replied immediately, "You said you’d find it! Fine, tell me, what do you need?"

"Wen Gua."

"Wen Gua? Turn right at the end of the street and you’ll find his shop," Lin Chi said, pointing toward the door.

Liu Sheng stared at Lin Chi with a mischievous grin, leaving Lin Chi confused. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Liu Sheng remained silent. Lin Chi instinctively crossed his arms over his chest and said, "What are you trying to do to me? My orientation is perfectly normal!"

"Don't flatter yourself! I want to meet Wen Gua, but I know nothing about antiques, so I need you to accompany me," Liu Sheng said.

After hearing this, Lin Chi straightened his clothes and walked toward the door. "I thought you were up to no good. As long as you can find that bronze vessel for me, forget just going to Wen Gua’s shop—I’d even be your tour guide if you wanted to flip the entire Antique Street upside down."

When they reached the shop at the far end, Liu Sheng scanned the porcelain on display but saw no bronze vessel. Lin Chi shouted, "Wen Gua! Big business is here! Two big bosses want to buy your Tang Sancai at a high price!"

A door inside the shop opened, and a man with long hair emerged. He was dressed in grey and looked scholarly, though his complexion was poor. Liu Sheng knew immediately this was Wen Gua. Despite his bookish air, his illness made him look pale, and his dragging gait made him seem like a walking corpse.

Liu Sheng concluded from all signs that Wen Gua was the killer. To get close to him, he only needed to find the evidence.

"Hello, I am the owner, Wen Gua. Please, feel free to look around. If you like anything, I can give you a discount since you were referred by a friend." Wen Gua’s voice was weak and hollow, yet he still managed to squeeze out an unpleasant smile.

Liu Sheng pretended to look around before saying, "I’m here to buy, but why are you showing me only fakes?"

Ren Xiadong was stunned. He hadn't expected Liu Sheng to be so knowledgeable, even about antiques.

Lin Chi was equally shocked. He found Liu Sheng incredible; despite having met only twice, Liu Sheng’s wisdom and insight deeply impressed him.

"Oh my, I apologize. I had to test you to see if you were serious. Please, follow me to the back. I guarantee everything there is authentic." Wen Gua led them toward the back door.

The room inside was small and windowless, filled with various porcelain pieces. Although Liu Sheng didn't know much about antiques, he could tell these were different from the ones outside. After pretending to inspect them, he said, "Still nothing special. If you don't have anything better, I’m not buying."

"I do! I have more at home. If you have time, I can take you there right now to see my private collection." Wen Gua concluded that Liu Sheng was an expert and a wealthy client. To avoid losing such a big customer, he went as far as inviting them to his home.

Liu Sheng smiled inwardly. He knew that if he didn't go to Wen Gua’s home, he wouldn't find any evidence related to the "Three Corpses Life Extension."

Wanting to bring Fang Po along, Liu Sheng made an excuse: "Let’s do it tomorrow. I have another friend, an expert in this field, who will be with me. If we like what we see, we’re willing to buy one or two pieces."

Wen Gua was quick to agree, hoping to profit from both of them. This confused Liu Sheng—why was Wen Gua so eager? Were the ritual items and the site not at his home? And where was the "half-dead ghost"? These questions puzzled him.

They agreed that Lin Chi would lead them to Wen Gua’s home the next morning. Afterward, Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong left the antique shop.

"How did you know the ones outside were fake?" Lin Chi finally asked.

Liu Sheng pointed at him. "You told me."

"I did?" Lin Chi recalled what he had said when Liu Sheng startled him awake: "Who would put real items out on display?" He began to laugh. "You’re very smart. Sometimes, you don't act like a police officer at all."

"How do you know I’m not?" Liu Sheng teased.

As they reached his shop, Lin Chi said, "Because police officers always show their identification. You never have."

Liu Sheng found Lin Chi increasingly interesting. Even though he loved money, he was quite open. "Does Wen Gua have any family?"

Lin Chi waved them inside. Once they were in, he explained: Wen Gua had a wife who had been in a vegetative state for two years following a car accident. He had spent all his savings on her medical care, but no doctor could cure her. Since then, Wen Gua’s life had been limited to the commute between the antique street and his home, working desperately to pay for her care.

"If it weren't for his wife's medical bills, given his prideful nature, he would have told you to get lost if you didn't want to buy anything!" Lin Chi added.

With this information, Liu Sheng left with Ren Xiadong.

On the way, Liu Sheng said to Ren Xiadong, "It seems Wen Gua is indeed the killer. He used extreme methods to save his wife. It proves that men in love are fools. Regardless, murder is wrong. There’s still the matter of the 'half-dead ghost'—I don't know if he succeeded or if he hasn't acted yet. Tomorrow, we’ll do whatever it takes to find evidence."

Ren Xiadong, who was driving, remarked, "Who can explain the affairs of the heart? Even knowing his own time is short, he’s still risking everything for his wife."

Liu Sheng sighed. Many people do foolish things for those they love; it is both tragic and detestable. From the perspective of love, Wen Gua was a good man, but from the perspective of the victims and their families, he was a monster.

Liu Sheng then took out his phone to call Fang Po and Mu Jin, filling them in on the day's events and the plan for the next morning.