Chapter 388

Chapter 388

◎The Third Victim◎

Li Rong's family was fairly well-off. They ran a chain of budget-friendly department stores—not large or upscale, just affordable retail. However, as online shopping grew more popular, many physical stores were affected, and their business was no exception.

At its peak, the chain had at least ten locations, but in recent years, business declined, leading to yearly losses. The Li family had no choice but to close a few stores. Later, though, their luck changed. They revamped the remaining stores, upgraded their brand’s image, landed deals with several luxury brands, and often ran collaboration events.

Though they didn’t expand further, their profits clearly rebounded, effectively saving their business from collapse.

The Li family consisted of five people—not counting extended relatives—two sons and one daughter. The daughter studied abroad at an art university, while the eldest son took over the family business.

As for Li Rong, the second son, the family had made it clear: the company wouldn’t be split. Only one son could inherit the business; the other would receive an annual share of the profits to prevent fights over shares and preserve brotherly relations.

Ji Nanxing skimmed Li Rong’s file. “All these changes happened four years ago. That’s when the Li family restructured their business, suddenly gaining many new partners. Their stores began turning profits again, and Li Rong started acting recklessly.”

Lanzhou University was a prestigious institution with high admission standards. No slacker would get in—Li Rong’s academic performance had always been strong, his high school scores never fell below 600.

From what others said about him, he could be described as polite, kind, respectful, and humble—traits that sharply contrasted with the Li Rong who fought with Xiao Ye over the contest. What caused such a drastic change?

Xiao Ye analyzed, “Look at how the timing lines up. Their business improved, he worked hard and got into Lanzhou University, but after enrollment, he started losing control. Maybe around then, his family told him outright that the company would go to his older brother, leaving him with nothing. That might’ve driven him to seek other means, leading him down a dark path.”

Ji Nanxing: “But what did he stand to gain? His brother is alive and still running the company. Did Li Rong even benefit? From this angle, it looks like he gained nothing.”

Xiao Ye: “It is strange. Now his father is dead too. I think the ghost might be linked to their sudden revival. But since the company went to his brother, why was Li Rong the first to die?”

That was the part neither of them could figure out.

Ji Nanxing closed the file. “Let’s visit their home first. This case is handled by He Long. Two people from the Li family have died already, so the rest may be in danger too. If we can spot the ghost responsible, that’ll save us time.”

As for Xiao Ye—if only Li Rong had died, he’d naturally be questioned due to their past conflict. But now that Li Rong’s father was also dead, it suggested the problem stemmed from the Li family itself, meaning Xiao Ye was likely not involved.

When He Long arrived with his team, Li Heng reacted indifferently. “My father and brother both died of heart attacks. Our family has a history of heart conditions. My father was shocked by my brother’s death and suffered a heart attack soon after. I don’t see why their deaths warrant an investigation. Is this how you misuse taxpayer money—ignoring real crimes for this nonsense?”

He Long showed his badge. “We’re from the Special Affairs Bureau—also known as the Supernatural Incident Division. Your brother and father died under unnatural circumstances. First your brother, then your father. You might be next.”

Li Heng glanced at the badge, his eyes flickered darkly. “Sorry, but we don’t believe in such things. You claim their deaths were unnatural—do you have proof?”

Standing behind He Long, Ji Nanxing caught sight of a faint glow coming from something hidden in Li Heng’s clothes—a spirit-charged protective charm. Claiming not to believe in the supernatural while wearing such a thing meant the Li family definitely had secrets.

Though He Long had the ability to see spirits, he couldn’t perceive spiritual energy. When Li Heng demanded evidence, He Long simply laid it out.

He placed photos of Li Rong and his father’s bodies on the table. “They were both attacked by ghosts before they died.”

Li Heng barely glanced at the images before meeting He Long’s gaze again. “Who knows how those marks got there? I’ve seen their autopsy reports—those weren’t present before. Look, I don’t believe their deaths were unusual, and I don’t need your so-called ‘special division’ investigating. Please leave.”

Unlike the gentle Mu Chun, He Long wasn’t one to back down. He smirked. “Fine. If you refuse to cooperate, that’s your choice.”

Then he pulled out his phone and made a call. “We suspect the Li family’s company has been profiting through illicit means. Issue an order to shut down all seven of their department stores immediately. We’ll inspect each one thoroughly. To prevent casualties, none will reopen until we give the green light.”

He turned back to Li Heng, whose face had paled, and smiled. “Mr. Li, we’ll be waiting whenever you’re ready to talk.”

Li Heng wasn’t sure if they really had that authority, but he couldn’t risk it. Closing all seven stores for even a single day would mean massive losses. If they dragged this out, his family might go bankrupt.

As He Long and his team turned to leave, Li Heng called out, “Wait!”

He Long looked back, still smiling. “Changed your mind?”

Li Heng took a deep breath. “My father had already semi-retired. I handle most company matters now. His life mostly revolved around tea and fishing. My brother never made enemies at school either. That’s why I found your claims about unnatural deaths hard to believe. It’s not that I don’t want to cooperate—I just don’t have anything useful to offer.”

Ji Nanxing spoke up, "Is that so? Then where did the thing around your neck come from?"

Li Heng was dressed in a suit with a tie, making it impossible to see what he was wearing from the outside. But He Long knew Ji Nanxing had spiritual vision, capable of seeing far more than they could. Following Ji Nanxing's words, He Long shifted his gaze to Li Heng's chest.

"Take off whatever you're wearing."

Li Heng frowned. "I'm sorry, but this is my personal belonging and has nothing to do with my father and brother's deaths. You have no right to take it from me."

Ji Nanxing said, "Afraid that without its protection, you'll be targeted by vengeful spirits, aren't you?"

Li Heng turned to look at Ji Nanxing.

Ji Nanxing continued, "Li Rong and Li Hongjian each had a copper coin on a red string, always worn and never removed. But when they died, the bracelets were missing. What you're wearing isn't an ordinary talisman either—it's quite powerful. You don't dare take it off because you know that once you do, you'll be the next to die."

Li Heng's expression darkened. "That's ridiculous!"

Ji Nanxing replied, "Whether it's nonsense or not, you know the truth. Your father and brother's souls have already been devoured by lingering spirits. A ghost that consumes living souls becomes a Vengeful Ghost. The thing you're wearing won't protect you for much longer. If you want to live, confess everything honestly. If you want to die, we won't stop you. But your family's malls will indeed be shut down for investigation, because we suspect the abnormal shift in your family's fortune is linked to the murderous lingering spirits."

Li Heng followed them out, seemingly wanting to say something, but was blocked by He Long's team members. "We'll follow procedure to investigate the case. If you have any concerns, you can contact the relevant department."

They got into the car and drove off. As soon as they left, Li Heng received a call from his assistant, informing him that the authorities had ordered the malls to suspend operations for investigation.

The losses from daily operations alone would be substantial, not to mention the damages from the luxury brand counters.

Once they were away from the Li residence, Xiao Ye asked, "What's going on with their family?"

He Long, sitting in the passenger seat, said with a scoff. "Li Heng is the biggest problem in the Li family. Their business's sudden turn of fortune was likely achieved through some unnatural means. He showed no grief over his father and brother's deaths and kept trying to drive us away, insisting we stay out of it."

Ji Nanxing added, "The protective charm he's wearing isn't ordinary. It's not quite a ritual artifact, but it has begun emitting spiritual energy, preventing lingering spirits from getting close. That's probably why he's unafraid of the Vengeful Ghost's retaliation. He doesn't want the Bureau involved because he knows that once we step in, their family's secrets won't stay hidden. So he'll definitely find another way to deal with the Vengeful Ghost."

He Long said, "Don't worry, I've already sent people to keep an eye on him."

Xiao Ye asked, "If Li Heng is wearing something powerful enough to keep the Vengeful Ghost at bay, then who would the ghost target next...?"

Ji Nanxing answered, "Mrs. Li."

He Long said, "We've already found out that Li Hongjian's wife, Liu Qi, went abroad shopping with friends recently. After receiving news of her son's death, she booked the earliest flight back and will land at 3 PM."

He Long checked the time—it was already 1 PM. If they headed to the airport now, they could meet Liu Qi's flight.

He Long turned to Ji Nanxing. "We plan to take her directly to the Bureau from the airport. If the Vengeful Ghost is targeting the Li family, she's likely the next victim—because, like her husband and son, she wears a copper coin on a red string."

He had observed earlier that Li Heng didn't wear a copper coin on a red string on his wrist, but he wasn't sure what was around his neck. Aside from him, almost everyone in the family had one, including the daughter who had gone abroad.

Ji Nanxing said, "Then I'll wait for you at the Bureau. Just drop us off by the roadside."

There was no need for everyone to go to the airport just to pick someone up. As long as He Long could locate Liu Qi smoothly, her safety shouldn't be an immediate issue—unless she refused to cooperate.

Ji Nanxing and Xiao Ye got out of the car by the roadside. On their way to the Bureau, Xiao Ye recalled a previous encounter. "That day, after leaving the director's office, I ran into Li Rong. We had a bit of an argument, and he tried to grab me. When I pushed his hand away, my bracelet clashed against his."

It was a gift from Ji Naonao, one he treasured deeply—he had spent time and effort maintaining it, keeping the beads smooth and lustrous.

At the time of the collision, he had immediately checked the bracelet, relieved to find it undamaged.

Ji Nanxing said, "From the photos I've seen, he didn't wear any other accessories except that copper coin. If you collided with it like that, it's possible the impact broke the coin's enchantment, allowing the ghost to get close."

Xiao Ye frowned. "If that's the case, then the ghost must have been stalking the Li family all along, seizing the first chance to kill?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "Maybe not stalking them, but possibly already within the Li household. Let's see if He Long can get anything useful from Liu Qi."

Before they even reached the Bureau, He Long called, urgently instructing them to go back to the Li residence and detain Li Heng immediately.

"Liu Qi is dead—murdered mid-flight. It was brutal. I have to stay at the airport to investigate this. You take Li Heng to the Bureau and hold him in custody. This ghost is vicious. We need to find a way to draw it out. The Li family's youngest daughter is also on her way back. If we don't subdue this ghost soon, more people will die."

Despite rushing to the airport immediately, he hadn't been fast enough to stop the murder. Liu Qi hadn't died after disembarking—she had been killed in the plane's restroom, her throat pierced by a warped faucet, nailing her to the wall. Her eyes were wide with terror, staring blankly in death.