16 Chapter 16
"It will be easier if we can find the ghost of a victim." Ling Min Zhe stretch his body.
"Do not curse the victim. Pray that their soul manage to reach the underworld." Li Zian still glue to the document.
Ling Min Zhe leaves the room to get some food and fresh air. He has been coped in the room for two days.
Almost all the victims are missing during daylight where the street is the most busy. While searching for food, Ling Min Zhe scan around to find any clue. During his walk, he choose a noodle stall and order a big bowl of chicken noodle. Since following Li Zian, Ling Min Zhe will occasionally eat mortal food. At first, he did not want to eat mortal food but seeing Li Zian eat with pleasure, he feel tempted and it really brings joy to him. He begin to understand, the reason he restrain himself is because he wants to avoid accumulation of impurities in his body and cut himself from mortal life but can he escape from being a mortal? Since beginning he is a mortal and no matter how high his cultivation, his root is still a mere mortal. So why run from it? Just enjoy yourself.
Ling Min Zhe goes to the dumpling stall to buy dumpling for Li Zian. While waiting he notice a shadow comes out behind him. Startled, Ling Min Zhe grabs the shadow.
"Ah! Sorry sir!" An old man carrying a basket plead.
"Why are you sneaking around behind me?"
"Sir, I am not sneaking behind you. You stand in front the alley."
Ling Min Zhe take a look at the wall that actually an alley. If the old man did not tell him, he would not notice the alley. Ling Min Zhe let the old man go and ask the stall owner about the alley.
"Oh! The alley, they actually build for our small stall. At night we can put it there. It is not a wide alley so not many notice them beside it also for a defense purpose. If enemy attacks, us civilian has many route to run or use it to confuse the enemy. Ling Min Zhe marvel with the architecture of this city.
The location of the other small alley is not even. The wall of the building also painted in black creating illusion it is a straight wall and not many people notice this alley. Paying for the dumpling Ling Min Zhe directly enter the inn.
"I know how they been kidnaped without anyone notice." Ling Min Zhe with dumpling hurriedly explain his finding. Li Zian take the dumpling and eat it while hearing Ling Min Zhe explanation.
"That means the killer is very familiar with the small alley. The alleys are like maze, only the officer will have the complete map of it."
"Does that means that our killer is an officer?"
"No. If you live long enough to explore all the alley, you do not need a map. You can create your own map."
Ling Min Zhe is speechless. He is quick to jump into conclusion. Li Zian is right, anyone can explore the alley but who is idle enough to explore it?
"Min Zhe, from now we will focus on those small business near the alley to catch our killer. Do not forget to give this information to our little officer." Ling Min Zhe nodded.
Little officer is an honest and upright officer selected by Li Zian and Ling Min Zhe because Li Zian cannot casually reveal her identity as Jiangong. Even if the little officer knows about her as a Jiangong, he will forget it after a few days.
The little officer is not a lowly officer, he at least has a say in the yamen. The officer stare at the white envelope on his desk. The first letter is asking permission for taking information regarding the serial killer. The officer also suspected that it is the killer that messing around with him. Now, a second letter appears and it contain the theory using the small alley as a kidnaping route and the suspect likely the small businessman on the street. The small officer gathers his trusted subordinate and ask for their opinion.
"Using the alley? It is impossible that nobody saw someone being dragged into the alley."
"Yeah! Beside that, everyone knows about the small alley and most of the small alley has a stall near it."
"Most alley has small stall but as an officer we know there are many secluded alley in this city. Who can guarantee that the killer did not use the alley?
Listening to his subordinate reasoning little officer makes a decision, "Alright! For now, I will assign people to monitor those small alleys. We thought it is impossible for someone be kidnaped or dragged into the alley but remember we are dealing with a killer. He must have his own trick." The little officer concluded their meeting and decided to be careful and trust the letter.
The officers start monitoring the small alley and found a lot of shady deals but not on the killer. Everyone starts to feel restless until the third letter is found on his table. He opens the letter and gasps in disbelieve before quickly send his men to capture the killer.
Li Zian and Ling Min Zhe is strolling down the street. She is buying every food or stuff that she interested in. Ling Min Zhe that beside has resigned himself as the wallet and carrying all her stuff.
"This is way too much. My hand already full anddd... We are suppose to find the killer." Ling Min Zhe bend and whisper at Li Zian.
"We are searching while shopping." Li Zian eyes glue to a hairpin.
"All the stuff here is cheap. If you wants accessory, those spirits in the Fang Valley can made it for you."
"It may be cheap but the memory is priceless." Li Zian said in a low vice and Ling Min Zhe almost did not hear it, "It is good to be able to walk freely like this." Li Zian put down the hairpin and walk away. Li Zian walk into a small alley and almost bump with a man. The man smile at her and let her pass. Ling Min Zhe already store those foods and accessory in his spatial ring and follow Li Zian into the alley. Li Zian did not enter deeper but stop after a few steps. She stand beside the wall and Ling Min Zhe just pass her thinking that she already way ahead.
"The one that build this city is a genius. Not only the alley is like a maze, the amount of light entering the alley are also controlled." Li Zian voice did not echo in the alley but because of his higher cultivation Ling Min Zhe notice Li Zian's voice.
"When did you... Wait! You never move from there, right?" Ling Min Zhe turn around and stand in front of Li Zian, "Remarkable! I thought this is the wall." Ling Min Zhe walk into the wall or you can say into the shadow. When he first enters the alley Ling Min Zhe focused on scanning the alley for suspicious person and miss the abnormality of the light in the alley.
Li Zian and Ling Min Zhe stay there for two hours and no one notice that the two are standing there. They did not use any technique to hide themselves except standing in the shadow and let it darkness to camouflage them. Sometimes, Ling Min Zhe will purposely grab people into the alley. Most of them did not realize until they enter the shadow.
After that, both of them visit different small alley to find the alley that has the same function. They also noticed peddlers are frequent visitor of the small alley. It serve as a shortcut for the peddler to go to one place to another.
Li Zian and Ling Min Zhe goes back to the inn and they start looking for the alley that being used for kidnaping from the information that has been gathered from their family and the witness.
"This alley near the restaurant and the alley between the candy stall and the accessory stall is likely to be used for kidnaping." Ling Min Zhe pointed at the map.
Li Zian suddenly lift her head, she feel the tingles from her hands, "Lets move! I think the killer is on the move. I can feel his excitement." Li Zian jumps from the window and Ling Min Zhe follows her.
Near an alley, a drunk man walk out from a restaurant. Suddenly, a hand is place on his mouth and he is dragged into the darkness. The one that holds him is very strong. The drunk man struggle to set himself free. The drunk man inhale something fragrant and passed out. The drunk man is being put into a wooden barrel and he being rolled deeper into the alley. The killer roll the barrel until it reaches his house. It only a small house with two rooms but it is fully furnished and it is warm and cozy. There are no sign that this house is where all the killing happen.
