Chapter 69: The Flying Thief
"What do you mean?" Du Yunzhang asked, scratching his head.
"I seriously suspect that this information was deliberately spread to us by someone, and they must have anticipated that we would link these two things together. So..."
"So you're saying..." Luo Mei's face changed, "You're saying that these are all traps they've set for us? They're just waiting for us to fall into them without us even realizing it?"
"Alright! So that's what's going on." Du Yunzhang clenched his fists. "Old Yin, it's a good thing you saw through their tricks. Otherwise, someone like Luo Mei would have led us into a trap."
Luo Mei glared at Du Yunzhang in dissatisfaction. Yin Chuan, however, remained calm, draining the water from his teacup in one gulp. "No, I don't think this is a trap. Instead, they're trying to lure us into their pre-arranged scheme. This scheme is likely to be the same as before, with us merely spectators. The real show is likely to be at the Lu family's magic house across the street."
"What you mean by 'good show' is, like those previous incidents related to the organization, a strange murder will happen in the Lu family?" Du Yunzhang asked. "I don't think that sounds like you. Why are you so eager for a murder in the Lu family?"
Yin Chuan shook his head. "I'm not hoping for a murder in the Lu family. Didn't you hear what Luo Mei said? A murder has already happened in the Lu family. The youngest son of the Lu family patriarch, Lu Jiye, was murdered three years ago, and his death was extremely strange. As for how strange it was, we still don't know. Perhaps this is the real opportunity for those people to guide us to intervene in the Lu family murder case."
"If that's the case..." Luo Mei pondered, "Then could the Flying Thief they were talking about in the tobacco shop be a member of the organization?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the waiter who was refilling the teapot took over the conversation: "Are you three talking about the Flying Thief?"
Du Yunzhang looked at him and asked, "You know?"
"As for the Flying Thief, although not everyone in Linqing knows him, our teahouse is so close to the Lu family, so the name of the Flying Thief is not unfamiliar to us at all."
Yin Chuan asked, "From what you said, the title of the so-called Flying Thief is closely related to the Lu family of magic?"
"Actually, the 'Flying Thief' we've known about in this area since the youngest son of the Lu family died. In the years before that incident, the neighbors had only heard of the Flying Thief Feng Shijiu, who frequented Linqing, stealing treasures and jewelry from the wealthy. Neither the Qing government nor the current Republican government could apprehend him. He often appeared at night, able to fly through the air and evade the earth, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Although the officials were helpless against him, he only stole property and never took anyone's life. But three years ago, on Mid-Autumn Festival night, at the same time he was committing his crimes, the Lu family's youngest son, Lu Jiye, was found dead in Feng Shijiu's haunts, and his death was said to be particularly strange."
"What do you mean by weird?"
"Well... I can't say for sure. I haven't seen it myself. But there's a rumor that Lü Jiye was chopped into several pieces, and the person who found the body was so frightened that he couldn't get out of bed for several days."
"Dismemberment?" Yin Chuan, Du Yunzhang, and Luo Mei were all shocked. No one had expected such brutal methods to be used in a murder case related to the organization!
"So you all think this murder case is related to Feng Shijiu?" Yin Chuan asked.
"Think about it, Feng Shijiu was the only criminal present at the time. Who else could have such a deep grudge against Lu Jiye? I guess Lu Jiye saw Feng Shijiu's true face, and the thief killed him to silence him."
"Did the Linqing government later close the case in the same way?" Du Yunzhang asked.
"What else can we do? The Lu family can't identify any other suspects, so the government has no choice but to make this ruling."
Yin Chuan muttered sullenly, "Humph, taking human life lightly."
"If you are curious about the rumors about the Flying Thief, you can ask around in the nearby restaurants and theaters, but most of them are similar to what I know. Please stay with me for a while." After the waiter said this, he went to greet other guests.
Du Yunzhang asked Yin Chuan, "From what you said, it seems that you don't agree that Lü Jiye's sudden death was related to the Flying Thief Feng Shijiu?"
"Isn't it obvious? How could a thief who has been stealing for years without killing anyone inexplicably kill and brutally dismember an innocent teenager? Even if the teenager accidentally saw his true face, he wouldn't resort to such brutal means as dismemberment, right? I have reason to suspect that there must be a deeper story behind this case, and the organization is guiding us into this to see if we can uncover the truth of this case from three years ago."
Luo Mei rubbed the rim of his teacup with his hand. After a long silence, he spoke: "Are you planning to force your way into the Lu family's house to find out the truth about Lu Jiye's murder, and then follow the clues to that organization? I don't like showing up in front of people. Let's just go our separate ways. You go your way, and I'll go mine."
Du Yunzhang frowned, "Luo Mei, why are you doing this? It would be better if we acted together so we could look after each other."
"I'm used to being alone and don't need any care. Just wait, I will be able to find out the details of that flying thief soon. Goodbye." After saying that, she stood up and left the teahouse without looking back.
"Hey!" Du Yunzhang was caught off guard. He wanted to call Luo Mei back, but how could he do that?
"Come on, she is a lone ranger, there is no need to force her to act in a unified manner." Yin Chuan advised.
"That damn bitch, I couldn't do anything to her back then, and she hasn't changed at all now." Du Yunzhang took a sip of tea dejectedly.
"That's good," Yin Chuan said with a smile, "She's in the dark and we're in the light, so it's a two-pronged approach. It's better than going down one path all the way to the end."
"I'm worried... well, she's nothing to worry about." Du Yunzhang hesitated. Yin Chuan knew that Old Du must still be thinking about his ex-lover, but he was just too embarrassed to show it in front of him.
Seeing that it was getting late, the two returned to the Cao Gang. When asked about Linlang, she said that Luo Mei had not returned, and it seemed that she had already made her own plans.
"Magic tricks? This makes me feel very familiar!" Linlang said with some emotion after hearing Yin Chuan talk about the news he and Luo Mei had found out.
"Oh yes, I remember you said you were taught overseas by a Chinese female magician named Jiang. She is also one of your benefactors."
"That's right, it's a pity that Teacher Jiang is no longer alive. So when I heard you say your target was a family of magicians, I had an indescribable feeling. This time, I must act with you, and you must not leave me behind."
Yin Chuan smiled and said, "Of course, Linlang, I think you will be of great help in investigating this case."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
