Corpse Retriever

Li Zhuiyuan had nothing but contempt for that senior student. As a malevolent spirit, it would’ve been understandable if she’d forgotten who she was after being dead for so long. But even as a ghost, her behavior and logic were unbearable.

Runsheng had made a mistake and gotten scolded. Yet even then, he still had to tolerate her.

Li Zhuiyuan had carried those high heels this whole time, not daring to throw them away, afraid that if the matter wasn’t resolved, discarding them might entangle new karmic threads.

There was no joy in “avenging the dead” or “doing a good deed.” Just the relief of finally shaking off this fool.

In contrast, he far preferred the black cat from the case with the Cat-faced Granny. That cat had been clever, and more importantly—obedient.

That’s why, that night, he’d been willing to cradle it and keep it company until it faded away.

Tan Yunlong had just pulled out a cigarette and lit it when he saw the boy walking toward him.

Yu Shu had once asked if he believed in fate. Later, he changed the question—did he believe his son brought him luck? But back then, the person in Tan Yunlong’s mind hadn’t been his own son, but Li Zhuiyuan.

And it all went back to the day a ten-year-old boy pushed open his office door and spoke to him about a case. Tan Yunlong had listened seriously, without posturing or dismissiveness.

Trust was mutual. If he’d brushed the kid off as just another child, shown impatience or disbelief, maybe he’d never have transferred to the provincial capital. More importantly, his son would’ve lost the top scorer in the college entrance exams as his study partner.“Little Yuan, thank you again.”

“Police and civilians, like fish and water.”

“Cough—” Tan Yunlong choked on smoke. “Yes, right, that’s exactly it. Police and civilians should work hand in hand, fight crime together, and build a harmonious society.”

He didn’t understand everything, but he knew how to play along.

“Uncle Tan, may I borrow your lighter?”

“Here. Your aunt bought this for me—it wasn’t cheap. You can have it.”

“No need. I don’t smoke.”

“You can still use it. I saw on TV they use them to light candles, incense, or that yellow paper stuff.”

Click.

Li Zhuiyuan held the high heels to the flame. The soles blackened, but they refused to burn.

“Uncle Tan, here.”

Tan Yunlong took back the lighter. Then Li Zhuiyuan pulled a yellow talisman from his pocket. With a flick of his wrist, it ignited by itself.

It was a Dissolution of Evil talisman, drawn by Ah Li. A bit overkill for this, but Li Zhuiyuan didn’t feel it was a waste. He was severing a thread.

He stuffed the burning talisman into one shoe, which immediately caught fire. The other, untouched, ignited as well.

Plop.

He tossed both shoes into the field, watching them burn to ash.

When it was done, he dusted off his hands and met Tan Yunlong’s eyes.

“Uncle Tan, sleight of hand. White phosphorus.”

“A brilliant trick. Can Binbin do that too?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, cut him some slack. He’s a bit slow, and his heart’s not always in his studies.”

“Binbin’s helped me a lot.”

Li Zhuiyuan knew Tan Wenbin had been down lately, feeling useless.

But the truth was—just like how you couldn’t always explain what Zhuangzhuang’s role was, yet knew he was indispensable—some people had value that couldn’t be measured.

Liu Yumei had said the cries from the bow of the boat might not just be summoning people, but calling forth events as well.

“Officer Tan, I want to report something.”

Tan Yunlong immediately put his cap back on. “Go ahead, comrade.”

“I suspect that the child in this household was… illegally adopted.”

“Bought?”

“You can start by checking if they have legal adoption paperwork.”

“I understand. I’ll investigate right away.”

Tan Yunlong consulted with his team. Under normal circumstances, since the child was still young and needed care, they’d just bring the suspect Wang Chaonan in for questioning. But now, officers were dispatched to question the woman too.

The moment they approached, she went feral—like a hen guarding her chick. She screamed at the top of her lungs:

“He’s my son! My own flesh and blood! No one’s taking him from me! I’ll kill him before I let you!”

She raised the boy, ready to hurl him. Officers rushed in, shielding the child and subduing her.

Soon, another team was dispatched to question nearby villagers and the village chief.

Usually, with all the hush-hush kinship in the countryside, even if people knew a child’s origin was shady, they wouldn’t talk. Not even the village chief.

But once word got out that Wang Chaonan was suspected of murder and hiding a corpse, tongues loosened.

Turned out the child had been bought from a trafficker. Everyone knew. The couple was old, couldn’t conceive, so they purchased a child.

The woman was also taken away.

Tan Yunlong had arrived on a motorcycle. He told a colleague to ride it back to campus and sort out fuel and wear costs with the owner.

As for himself, he took Yongyong by the hand and led him to the police car.

“Little Yuan, want a ride back to school?”

“Uncle Tan, Binbin says he misses you and wants to have late-night snacks together.”

“Then come with me to the station. I’ll take you back later so we can all eat.”

“Okay.”

Li Zhuiyuan sat in the backseat with Yongyong.

The boy wasn’t scared—he was thrilled.

“A police car! A police car! Wee-ooo wee-ooo!”

“Uncle Tan, do you have pen and paper?”

“Sure thing.” Tan Yunlong passed it back from the front seat.

Li Zhuiyuan took the pen and started drawing.

Gradually, Yongyong’s attention shifted. He leaned in curiously.

“Big brother, what are you drawing?”

“You’ll see soon. If you guess right, I’ll buy you candy.”

“Yay!”

As the image of a water tank, stilts, a tall hat, and two lanterns took shape, Yongyong’s excitement faded. A strange fear—long forgotten but deeply buried—rose in its place.

Li Zhuiyuan finished the drawing and propped it up in front of the boy.

“Aaah!”

Yongyong screamed, then burst into sobs.

“Waaah… Beibei’s a good boy… don’t hit me, Granny Yu…”

Li Zhuiyuan capped the pen and flipped the drawing face-down.

In his mind, a scene surfaced from Ah Li’s “sight”—Granny Yu standing just outside the threshold, two lanterns glowing with insults carved specifically for her:

Cursed to Orphanhood, Whore by Fate

Very well.

I’ve come for you.

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