Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Two days later, Bailing City, Nanjiang Province.
It was drizzling south of the Yangtze River. Despite people holding umbrellas, the mist still managed to wet their clothes. At a cemetery on the northern outskirts of the city, a funeral was taking place. It was especially sad due to how simple the ceremony was. There were no instruments playing, people singing, firecrackers, or even guests.
Technically speaking there was someone there, because Zhao Yu was standing in front of the grave in a black dress. However, his relationship with the deceased was difficult to define. The one laying underground was a prisoner who had been caught by Zhao Yu. It was Tao Xiang, the king of thieves!
Before Zhao Yu had gone to investigate Wu Fangfang’s murder, the doctor had let them know that Tao Xiang was dangerously ill. It was because Cui Lizhu had been off taking care of Tao Xiang that she did not participate in the subsequent work. Tao Xiang’s condition had been deteriorating. During the Spring Festival, Tao Xiang underwent two operations. Although the doctors had done their best, Tao Xiang died the night before last. This was the final curtain call for the king of thieves!
When Cui Lizhu told Zhao Yu the other night that Tao Xiang had gone, Zhao Yu was shocked. He initially thought that ‘gone’ meant that Tao Xiang had fled. Later, when he heard Cui Lizhu cry so dejectedly, he realized that what she meant when she said, “Tao Xiang has gone,” was that he was never coming back.
Coincidentally, when Zhao Yu received the news, his Qian Li hexagram had ended. He was awarded for 230% completion and given several devices. Because of this, Zhao Yu had turned his attention to Tao Xiang. Just after Tao Xiang died, the hexagram ended immediately. Was he what ‘Li’ referred to? A policeman and a thief were never friends. This translation confused Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu wondered, because of the ‘Li’, if Tao Xiang’s death would have any other implications. Of course, for Cui Lizhu’s sake, he had to go to Bailing in person to see off the king of thieves. At that moment, watching the simple funeral ceremony, Zhao Yu felt sad for Tao Xiang. Tao Xiang had no family, no children, and no friends. He had no idea how he came to be in this world, and despite having stolen numerous treasures, he had ended up with an illness.
The only good thing he had was Cui Lizhu, a daughter who he had by mistake. Although they had no blood relationship, Cui Lizhu was the only one who was closely related to Tao Xiang. If Cui Lizhu hadn’t taken good care of him after he was stricken with his illness, he would not have survived for so long.
And also, thanks to this daughter, Tao Xiang’s last worry was taken care of. Cui Lizhu gave Tao Xiang the ability to be buried next to her mother Du Manting and her father Cui Fangyu’s graves. In some way, this allowed Tao Xiang to rest with the students of his tutor. Tao Xiang couldn’t see them a lot when he was alive because he was a thief. Staying together in the underworld was at least a small consolation for him.
The people who helped bury Tao Xiang’s coffin were hired by Cui Lizhu. As the rain poured down, they quickened their pace to finish. Seeing her father buried in the earth, Cui Lizhu cried, shaking. She was the only one in mourning. “Dad… I have no one who cares about me now in this world…” Cui Lizhu was so sad that she knelt helplessly on the muddy ground.
Zhao Yu saw this and hurried to hold her. He comforted her, saying, “Don’t cry, Lizhu, you still have us!” Hearing what Zhao Yu said, Cui Lizhu cried harder. The sky seemed to share her feelings, and the rain was getting heavier.
Later that night, after Zhao Yu helped Cui Lizhu wrap up the funeral, they came to a quiet western food restaurant for dinner. Cui Lizhu was wearing a black dress, and she was in a better mood. Maybe it was because she had not yet recovered from her grief, or because it began raining heavier outside, that she held a cup of hot water in her hands and her body was still shaking slightly. Zhao Yu pointed to the steak on the table, saying to her, “Um… Have some. That will make you warm.”
Cui Lizhu sighed. She picked up the knife and fork, but she still had no appetite. Zhao Yu really did not know how to comfort people. It took him a long time before he thought of a few words to say. “Lizhu, it’s all over. You must move on.”
“I’m so grateful for you. What would I do without you?” Cui Lizhu’s eyes turned red again as she spoke.
“Don’t say that,” Zhao Yu said. “We are families! I think your father would be very happy to see you as a special investigator!”
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Cui Lizhu took a sip of hot water and said slowly, “Yes, when he found out what I did, he was really very happy. He wanted to thank you face to face. It’s a pity that…”
“What do you mean, Tao Xiang…? He…” Zhao Yu asked, realizing something.
Cui Lizhu nodded and said, “Ten minutes before my father died, he had suddenly woken up and remembered everything. I was very happy at that time, but I didn’t realize that it was related to what people often said about having a clear head before death.”
Zhao Yu was a little surprised. After thinking about it he asked, “Oh… Unexpectedly… So… Did he mention Li Fei, the gemstone case, and the headless women case?” Zhao Yu asked to make sure Li Fei’s confession was true.
Cui Lizhu shook her head and said, “Yes, but only a little… he didn’t mention the headless women, but he mentioned Li Fei and the gemstones. He said Li Fei had the gemstones. But it was so hard for him to speak at that moment that I gave up asking for details… I’m sorry…”
“I’m just asking. It’s not your fault!” Zhao Yu said as he handed the steak to Cui Lizhu.
“Um…” Cui Lizhu suddenly raised her head as if she wanted to say something. She hesitated.
“Oh? What’s wrong?” Zhao Yu asked, immediately realizing something was wrong.
Cui Lizhu bowed her head again and thought for several seconds. Then, as if making up her mind, she said, “My father talked about three wills before he was gone! Um…”
What? Three wills? Zhao Yu frowned, but his eyes showed a tinge of excitement.
“His first will, obviously, is no longer important!” Cui Lizhu said. “He told me the location of his stolen treasures. He said that he had buried all of them under Du Manting’s grave and asked me to get them out. He then told me that Du Manting was my biological mother and Cui Fangyu was my biological father!” Zhao Yu nodded. He had already known this.
Cui Lizhu hesitated for a moment, then said, “The second will is not an actual will, but something he wanted to tell me. More like a confession! He said that he had killed a man!”
Zhao Yu was shocked. “Who did he kill?” he asked.
“His tutor,” Cui Lizhu said, sounding relieved to tell someone. “In his early years, Li Fei and my mother Du Manting killed their tutor’s wife by mistake. After that, their tutor was trying to kill Li Fei out of a need for revenge. Du Manting told their tutor that she was the only one responsible for his wife’s death.”
Then, Cui Lizhu said, “Tao Xiang strangled his tutor on the spot in order to save Du Manting from punishment! Later, because Li Fei was not there, Tao Xiang handled everything for Du Manting. Tao Xiang lied to the public, saying that the couple died of a sudden illness and he buried them in a hurry!”
Zhao Yu nodded, saying, “I didn’t expect there to be so many secrets behind this case. It’s really…” Just then, Zhao Yu asked, “Well…What about the third will? The last will – what is it?”