Do You Dare to Bet

I wasn't deliberately trying to conceal anything. After all, I didn't want to show off in front of these policemen, because my grandfather often taught me to keep a low profile when out.

But since she had asked me straight out, I had no choice but to reveal a little: "Actually, my family has been in the profession of ritual specialists for generations, which were known as coroners in ancient times."

"Are you saying you used techniques passed down by ritual specialists?" Huang Xiaotao cleverly asked.

"That's right. What else did you think? This wasn't something I came up with on a whim. It's the wisdom of my ancestors." I replied.

Through TV shows and movies, most people have some idea of the profession of ritual specialist, but few really understand how they examine corpses. Because it's such a mysterious profession, even more obscure than monks and daoist priests.

Huang Xiaotao murmured: "Looks like ancient people weren't stupid!"

I laughed. "What are you saying? Did you think people lived like gorillas during those thousands of years without cellphones and TVs? In fact, many of China's technologies were ahead of the world until they gradually declined starting in the Qing dynasty. The spiritual wealth left behind by the ancients, like the I Ching and Huangdi Neijing, contains great learning that even many experts today can't fully comprehend."

Huang Xiaotao shook her head. "That mystical stuff is just feudal superstition. I don't understand it and don't really believe in it."

"Then just now when you saw me examine the corpse, did you think it was feudal superstition? But why did I provide a scientific explanation for every step, forcing you to believe it?" I asked.

"Alright, I admit you do have some skills." Huang Xiaotao conceded helplessly.

I laughed to myself. From what she said, it seemed she only admitted that I had some skills, rather than admitting ancient people were amazing. People nowadays are raised in modern civilization since childhood, and have always felt superior with airplanes and cars. This kind of mindset can't be changed overnight.

So I was too lazy to say anything more.

"Do we need to keep examining the corpse?" Huang Xiaotao asked.

"There's not much left to examine. It's still early, let's go investigate some things." I said, clapping my hands.

"Okay!" Huang Xiaotao nodded.

Just then, an old man in a white lab coat holding a box, followed by two policemen, strode importantly into the room.

I took one look and realized it was Forensic Doctor Qin. I thought to myself that this old guy had announced he was withdrawing from the case, so how could he be back again? His skin must be pretty thick!

"Nothing left to examine?" Forensic Doctor Qin said coldly with a sneer. He glanced around the scene and said, "Pretending to be mystical, acting like ritual specialists are amazing. Can you examine DNA? Can you examine fingerprints? You've made a mess of the perfectly good corpse. Huang Xiaotao, do you think a crime scene is a kindergarten, bringing this unknown kid here to mess around? Just wait until you have to explain this to your superior when you get back."

It seemed he had overheard our earlier conversation. Huang Xiaotao furrowed her brows and said, "Forensic Doctor Qin, didn't you say you were withdrawing from this case? How did you come back again?"

"Yes, I did say I was withdrawing, but that was from the hanging suicide case, not this decapitation case." Forensic Doctor Qin said stiffly.

"Please, it's obvious these two cases were done by the same murderer!" Huang Xiaotao said helplessly.

"Telling me is useless. If you have anything to say, go explain it to Team Leader Lin. Team Leader Lin called me just now asking why I wasn't at the scene. I told him you didn't ask me to investigate and brought some unknown college student to mess around instead. Team Leader Lin was furious. Your team leader has been removed. I'm now fully in charge of this task force. If you don't believe me you can call him!" Forensic Doctor Qin said smugly, looking very much like someone petty who had gotten their way.

Huang Xiaotao was so angry her eyes were wide and round, and her petite fists clenched tightly.

I thought to myself that this Forensic Doctor Qin really was sly and cunning. He must have secretly gone to his superiors and told tales after losing face here. And when tattling he probably exaggerated and added details, recklessly slandering the two of us.

That's why he immediately found a new arrow once the old one missed, and couldn't wait to come back to regain face!

Forensic Doctor Qin took out his phone and coldly said to Huang Xiaotao, "You should hurry up and call Team Leader Lin to explain! Beg for leniency, and maybe you can still contribute a little on my task force."

He deliberately emphasized "my" to slap us in the face!

Huang Xiaotao didn't take the phone. Forensic Doctor Qin put his phone away and casually glanced at me, "Kid, do you know what the crime is for desecrating a corpse?"

"Desecrating a corpse? With which eye did you see me desecrating a corpse? I was examining it!" I shot back without politeness. Originally, considering his age and seniority, I had left him some leeway. But now it seemed unnecessary.

"Humph. You call this examining a corpse? Do you have a forensic doctor's qualification certificate? I see you're just messing around recklessly." Forensic Doctor Qin said angrily.

"If I was really messing around recklessly but still cracked the case, wouldn't you as a professional forensic doctor be useless?" I retorted.

"Ridiculous. With just your bizarre tricks you think you can crack the case? Do you really think that the police and forensic doctors together still can't match up to you alone? When you have time, come over to my house and sit a while. I think you and my grandson will have a lot in common. He loves watching childish cartoons like Detective Conan the most." Forensic Doctor Qin walked up to me and said derisively.

I wasn't provoked by his taunts. On the contrary, my expression was exceptionally calm. "Forensic Doctor Qin, you mean Huang Xiaotao has been kicked off the task force?"

"That's right! She should really thank you properly." Forensic Doctor Qin said.

"So she can act independently now?" I continued asking.

Forensic Doctor Qin laughed loudly. "Kid, don't get cocky. Let me make this clear right now. Whether or not you have the ability, not following orders and acting alone will result in punishment."

"Cut the crap. What if I crack the case?" I immediately followed up.

"If you crack the case..." Forensic Doctor Qin suddenly paused. I could see he was hesitating. He had just stumbled here before me, so didn't dare brag now.

I deliberately provoked him, "Saying so much, deep down you actually have no confidence and don't dare to bet against me, this young nobody. How about I share some intel with you? I remember you said earlier that if I cracked the case, you would resign voluntarily. Do you still stand by that?"

Forensic Doctor Qin angrily said, "Kid, don't get arrogant. I'll lay it out right here. If you can crack the case, I'll resign immediately! But don't get cocky, what if I crack the case before you?"

I asked Huang Xiaotao, "How many years do you get for desecrating a corpse?"

"Less than 3 years imprisonment."

"Fine. If you crack the case before me, then arrest me for desecrating a corpse. I promise I won't get a lawyer and will accept whatever judgement!" I said.

"Hey!" Huang Xiaotao cried out, "Song Yang, you can't say things like this lightly. Desecrating a corpse is a serious crime. You can't be so rash! If you don't investigate then don't investigate, it's no big deal."

Forensic Doctor Qin interrupted her, "Good. A real man's word is as weighty as nine tripod cauldrons. We'll do as you say!"

"Then let's wait and see!" I smiled slightly.

"Humph, wait and see!" Forensic Doctor Qin said with a dark expression.

While speaking earlier, I had kept my hand in my pocket, using my phone to record the conversation, in case the old guy went back on his word later.

I'm a low-key person, but Forensic Doctor Qin was taking advantage of his seniority to shamelessly bully Huang Xiaotao and me.

This was intolerable, and I wouldn't let it go until his old face swelled to three feet tall. I wasn't named Song for nothing!

"Xiaotao, let's go. Hurry and find those two eyewitnesses!"

After speaking, I walked outside. Huang Xiaotao glared fiercely at Forensic Doctor Qin before following me out.