Breakthrough Point

Inside the room, three individuals were fixated on the swirling smoke.

Outside the window, Lin Mo watched the trio intently.

"It seems that Liu Guixiang is indeed involved, but where is she hiding? Why can’t we find her?" Liu Zheng stubbed out his cigarette underfoot, and the smoke gradually dissipated.

Old Bai frowned. "Don’t disturb the scene."

"You’re treating this like a homicide, but the coroner’s report will only confirm it as a straightforward suicide."

Liu Zheng shook his head. "We still need to find Liu Guixiang at all costs. Once we locate her, we can resolve this cursecraft issue."

Liu Zheng stretched out his hand, sensing the fluctuations of energy in the air.

"Let’s go. At least she’s shown herself now. We’ll find her."

The three left the room, while Lin Mo remained hovering outside the window.

"The Liu Guixiang they mentioned must be the spirit medium. But I suspect that the so-called spirit medium isn’t really the spirit medium at all."

Ever since the "Meng Tou" technique failed, Lin Mo had known one thing for certain:

The spirit medium was already dead—or rather, had been dead for a long time.

But it didn’t matter. Even if you’re dead, I’ll drag you out!

"Tong You!"

After a flash of light and shadow, Lin Mo seemed to grasp something.

—System: "The Buddha is the Dao"—that’s what the Primordial System told me—

The next day.

New District.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The dull knocking echoed through the empty hallway.

After a long pause, the sound of slippers shuffling against the floor finally came from inside, slow and hesitant.

"Who is it?" A woman’s voice called through the door, laced with wariness.

The wooden door inside creaked open a crack, and an overpowering smell of herbal medicine instantly seeped through the gaps of the metal security gate, nearly suffocating.

A middle-aged woman with a pallid complexion stood behind the door, peering through the silver bars as she scrutinized the three visitors.

In Guangdong, it was common to have two doors—an outer metal gate and an inner wooden one—for both ventilation and security. Now, the metal gate served as a clear barrier.

Opening the door this way allowed her to observe outsiders without much risk.

Her eyes darted between the three, brimming with suspicion.

"Who are you looking for?"

Liu Zheng pulled out his badge and held it up for her to see through the gate.

"Hello, is this Ms. Qian’s residence? We’re from the Yangcheng Criminal Investigation Division."

The woman flinched at the word "criminal investigation."

"Criminal police?" She recoiled half a step, as if pricked by a needle, her voice tinged with panic.

"Officers, what’s this about? I haven’t done anything wrong. My family’s always been law-abiding."

Liu Zheng wore a professional smile, but his tone left no room for argument.

"Ms. Qian, may we come in? It’s about your mother, Liu Guixiang."

At the mention of her mother’s name, Ms. Qian froze.

She hesitated, studying Liu Zheng for a few seconds, before finally unbolting the metal gate.

"Please, come in." Her demeanor shifted to one of nervous deference. "My mother… I haven’t seen her in a while."

She ushered them inside. The living room was small but tidy, though the herbal scent permeated the air, making it hard to breathe.

Quickly, she fetched three cups of water from the dispenser and handed them over.

"Please, have a seat, officers. Drink some water."

She perched on the edge of a small stool across from them, leaning forward slightly, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap.

Liu Zheng didn’t touch the water, nor did he answer her question directly.

Instead, his gaze swept the room before settling on the kitchen. Casually, he asked,

"Ms. Qian, the herbal smell is quite strong. Is someone unwell?"

Ms. Qian sighed, as if relieved to have something to explain.

"Ah, it’s my son. He suddenly developed asthma out of nowhere.

We found an old Chinese doctor who prescribed some remedies, said drinking them for a few months could cure it for good."

She pulled out a bundle of herbs wrapped in brown paper from under the coffee table. "This is it. We have to brew it every day."

Liu Zheng gave the herbs a cursory glance before steering the conversation back, his expression sharpening.

"Ms. Qian, when was the last time you saw Liu Guixiang?"

Ms. Qian paused, then recalled, "Last year, I think."

"Oh? Last year? Not even during the New Year?"

She shook her head. "We planned to visit on the fourth day of the New Year, but my son had an asthma attack on New Year’s Eve. My husband and I spent the entire holiday between the hospital and home, so we never made it."

Only then did she muster the courage to ask,

"Officer, what’s happened to my mother? She’s just a fortune-teller at the market, making a little money from incense offerings. She’s always been timid—surely she couldn’t have gotten mixed up in anything… deadly?"

Her tone carried a faint note of distancing.

Liu Zheng shook his head.

"Liu Guixiang hasn’t committed any crime. We’re here because someone reported her missing."

"What?! My mother’s missing?!" Ms. Qian’s eyes widened in shock.

She immediately pulled out an old flip phone and dialed a number.

But the call wouldn’t connect.

Frustrated, she tried again—still nothing.

Only then did she truly believe her mother had vanished.

"How… how could her phone be off…?"

"Ms. Qian, please stay calm."

Liu Zheng’s voice was steady.

"We need you to provide any places your mother frequented or people she associated with—any lead could help us find her faster."

Ms. Qian shook her head helplessly.

"My parents divorced when I was young. I stayed with my father.

My mother was always… mysterious. I only found out later she dabbled in fortune-telling.

My father didn’t want me around her, said it was all scams.

So we’ve never been close. Just the occasional holiday visit—drop off some gifts, exchange a few words, then leave.

I don’t know who she associated with, but I do know where she lived—in the apartment next to the market where she ran her incense shop."

Liu Zheng listened quietly and nodded.

Before coming, they’d checked the records. Ms. Qian’s father had passed away years ago from illness.

Her account matched the files perfectly—including Liu Guixiang’s residence. But they’d already searched her place and confirmed it had been vacant for some time.

Then, Ms. Qian suddenly remembered something.

"Wait—my mother used to have a place near Sunlight Amusement Park. She lived there after the divorce, before moving to the market."

Liu Zheng’s head snapped up.

This wasn’t in the records.

They’d found their breakthrough.