Chapter 220

Chapter 220

◎ The Incense Snuffed Out ◎

A nearly decade-old case involving the murder and dismemberment of a wife was exposed, instantly drawing widespread attention.

The way this incident came to light was nothing short of dramatic. The Pan family, whose fortunes had been declining due to their failure to adapt to modern times, were known to many. It was rumored that they had already started consolidating assets and selling real estate, planning to settle in Australia.

Among their properties was a villa where Pan Xu, the only son of the Pan family, had lived. It was Pan Xu's marital home. Even after his wife was rumored to have eloped with someone, Pan Xu couldn't bring himself to sell the house and continued to live there until he was kidnapped and brutally murdered, after which the house remained vacant.

Now, the house was put up for sale. When a family went to view the property, their mischievous younger son ran around and found a meat grinder in the kitchen storage room that had been there for who knows how long.

A friend who accompanied the family, an experienced police officer, noticed some unusual splatter marks in the storage room, resembling long-dried bloodstains, as well as suspected blood residues in hard-to-reach areas under the door frames. He temporarily sealed off the house and called for an investigation.

Human blood and tissue were subsequently found in the brick crevices and the dismantled meat grinder. Investigations confirmed that the victim was Shen Yushan, who had been rumored to have eloped, and the likely murderer was her husband, Pan Xu.

Although many years had passed, the house had remained unchanged and had not undergone major renovations, preserving much evidence. It was almost certain that Pan Xu had murdered Shen Yushan, and there were accomplices at the time. Although Zhao Chen did not commit the murder, he assisted Pan Xu in dismembering and disposing of the body, which was a heinous act.

The trial results were not yet in, but resourceful netizens began uncovering clues and details. The Pan family's unsold shares almost hit the limit down due to this incident.

"The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine. The young girl who endured nearly a decade of infamy has finally been vindicated."

"Seeing what netizens have dug up, she scored over 700 on the college entrance exam but was bound by the name of marriage. For the 108th time, I question what marriage truly offers."

"Reply to the above: endless housework and endless quarrels. If you're lucky, you face domestic violence; if you're unlucky, you meet a gruesome end."

"Too terrifying. I heard about their family when I was a kid. My mom even pitied Pan Xu, treating his wife so well, and after she ran away, he remained unmarried and continued to live in their marital home, saying such a good man didn't know how to cherish."

"After going through what netizens have pieced together, it's just chilling. The girl who was vilified for so long had already been dead, and so brutally murdered. The man lived in that house for so many years. Just the thought of it is horrifying."

"Is it a coincidence? Pan Xu died four years ago, reportedly dismembered, with his body parts incomplete. The news caused quite a sensation at time, and his parents mourned deeply."

"He got what he deserved. Their son died, and they mourned. What about the parents of the girl their son murdered? They didn't even know their daughter was dead and had to bear the stigma of her elopement for so long."

"I now firmly believe in karma. How he killed back then is how he was killed now. It's all karma!"

Netizens primarily focused their judgment on the Pan family, but they didn't spare the Zhao family either.

Zhao Chen had already been condemned. In recent years, due to Zhao Chen's outstanding abilities and being the eldest in the family, the Zhao family's business had gradually been handed over to him. But now, with this incident and the previous elevator death in the mall, the Zhao family's company also faced a crisis of trust.

Zhao Yu had no choice. With the unresolved Grudge still lingering, he had to work tirelessly for the company.

After Zhao Chen's incident, the Zhao family's patriarch also ended up in intensive care. Already old, he was burdened with the Grudge from the ancestral hall incident and suffered a heart attack due to his grandson's troubles. It's uncertain if he will recover.

In just two days, Zhao Yu's eyes were dark and bloodshot, his beard unshaven, and his belly seemed to have shrunk a bit.

Looking at the still youthful and vibrant Ji Nanxing, he swallowed a bitter double espresso: "Where are we going now?"

Ji Nanxing: "To the Zhou family's cemetery, to check the situation at his grave first."

Zhao Yu nodded, opened the car door for Ji Nanxing and Xiao Ye, who followed him like a bodyguard, and sat in the passenger seat.

As the car started, Zhao Yu said, "My brother has already been taken away. I asked the lawyer, and his situation won't result in a heavy sentence, but three to five years are possible. If public opinion is strong, the punishment could be harsher."

Ji Nanxing: "What's done must be paid for."

Thinking of his cousin who couldn't even walk and had to use a wheelchair: "Nan Xing, can I ask, how long does my brother have to live?"

It feels like he could die at any moment.

Ji Nanxing: "He won't live long, but he won't die soon either."

Thinking of his cousin, Zhao Yu couldn't help but sigh. Living like that seems worse than death. His cousin, the eldest in their generation, has always been competitive, always striving to be the best.

He never thought about inheriting anything. As long as the Zhao family business didn't collapse, there would always be a meal for him. So, he used to focus on art.

He wanted to shine in the field of art, but unfortunately, success in art is fueled by money. His family's assets were severely depleted after being messed around by the Zhou family, and there were no longer good conditions for him to shine. His father pushed him into the company, not expecting profits, but at least not to lose money or ruin the family.

He's been coasting along, delegating tasks to capable subordinates. He still gets bonuses and rewards, enjoying the ease while others make money. Everyone knows he's just an assistant; the company will never be handed over to him in his lifetime. With no responsibilities above him and no pressure below, life was easy.

But now, with this incident, his father talked to him last night. The Zhao family will either be handed over to professionals to manage, or he will take over. Otherwise, while still young, he should quickly have a child and cultivate an outstanding next generation.

Suddenly, the responsibilities above and the pressure below have arrived. Thinking of the heavy burden, Zhao Yu couldn't help but take another sip of coffee. A double espresso isn't as bitter as his fate.

After the bitterness in his mouth faded, Zhao Yu asked somewhat unwillingly, "Is there no solution to my brother's situation?"

Ji Nanxing: "Before asking that, put yourself in Shen Yushan's place."

Zhao Yu fell silent. Even without considering Shen Yushan's perspective, he couldn't claim his brother was innocent or coerced by Pan Xu.

If his brother had reported to the police afterward, the law could have treated him leniently. But he didn't turn himself in. Even if hoping for the best is an instinct, the moment he hoped for the best, he was no longer innocent.

One misstep leads to another, and greed will leave you with nothing.

Reflecting all the way to the cemetery, they got out of the car and came to Zhou Yucheng's grave. The tomb was newly erected, and the surrounding flowers appeared freshly placed. The photo on the tombstone depicted a young man, clearly embodying a flirtatious yet ruthless nature.

Looking at the photo on the tombstone, Zhao Yu whispered to Ji Nanxing, "Previously, my grandfather insisted on making a scene, unable to settle down. But now, given our family's circumstances, we can't afford it anymore. Can you see how to resolve this? If an apology can resolve this, I'll apologize on behalf of our entire family."

Despite their anger, the Zhao family hadn't wronged the Zhou family, yet they were plotted against, nearly losing control of their family business.

If it were before, they would have had the energy to argue with the Zhou family, to debate right and wrong. But now, they are really overwhelmed. As long as this issue can be resolved, they can swallow their pride.

Ji Nanxing looked at Zhao Yu, whose attitude had changed before and after this matter: "If it can be resolved, are you willing to take a step back?"

If the living are willing to yield, the matter can be resolved, as the living's obsessions pale in comparison to those of lingering ghosts.

He once dealt with a haunted village case where two people died. He assumed such cruelty arose from deep-seated hatred, but it was due to a cheap white funeral banner instead of the gold and silver one for the deceased elder, leading to unrest and tragedy.

This is obsession, something the living can't dispute with the dead, as the living have endless possibilities and needn't cling to one thing. But the dead are different—they have no other options and can only cling to their past obsessions.

Zhao Yu sighed and nodded: "Willing. What else can I do?"

Can the living contend with the dead? They can only console themselves by silently accepting that the dead are greater.

Ji Nanxing stepped forward and instructed Xiao Ye to set up the items they brought: an incense burner, refined millet, and a thick incense.

Xiao Ye held a small dish of dark red cinnabar in one hand and a writing board with blank talisman paper in the other. Now, he assists Ji Nanxing seamlessly, ensuring Ji Naonao can focus on handling lingering ghosts without distractions.

Ji Nanxing glanced at the deceased's birth and death dates on the tombstone and inscribed a resentment-summoning rune on the blank talisman paper. Only he could inscribe this rune, as it required yin energy.

He didn't see any spirit at Zhou Yucheng's tombstone. When a lingering ghost can't be found, a resentment-summoning talisman can be used near the grave to test if the ghost remains and if there are unresolved obsessions. If the spirit hasn't descended to the underworld and has strong obsessions, then a soul-summoning talisman can be used to call the spirit.

Zhao Yu clung tighter to Xiao Ye, nearly climbing onto him, fearing a female ghost like Shen Yushan might appear and strangle him as she did his brother.

Ji Nanxing frowned slightly as he watched the erratic smoke from the thick incense, feeling that something was off.

As soon as he thought this, the wind stopped, the incense snapped, and the ashes from the burned talisman were blown away by the last gust of wind.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu, clutching Xiao Ye's arm tightly, asked Ji Nanxing, "So? Did he show up?"

Ji Nanxing looked at the broken incense on the ground and turned to Zhao Yu, "Are you sure this is Zhou Yucheng's grave?"

Zhao Yu let out a puzzled "Huh?" and glanced at the tombstone, "It is! His name is written here, and there's even a photo!"

Xiao Ye also frowned, "What's wrong? Is there something off?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "I can't summon the Grudge. Even if the birth date is wrong, the name should be correct, especially at the gravesite. If Zhou Yucheng's resentment hadn't dissipated, it wouldn't manifest like this."

If the Grudge couldn't be summoned, at worst, nothing would happen, and the incense wouldn't break. A broken incense signifies dissatisfaction or extreme misfortune from the one being worshipped, yet no Grudge was summoned—this just doesn't add up.

Unless the ashes were buried in the wrong grave, and it's not Zhou Yucheng in the tomb, but that possibility is too low. How could the Zhou family have buried the wrong ashes? It's too absurd. Still, Ji Nanxing decided to check it out, since the world is full of weird stuff.

After hearing his analysis, Xiao Ye asked, "If the ashes aren't buried wrong, what else could be going on here?"

Ji Nanxing looked at the tombstone, "There's another possibility—the person who died isn't Zhou Yucheng."