Special Forces Medic

Chapter 954 923: Hidden Ghost (Part 2)

A new eerie figure appeared where someone had just been standing. The tall, burly body stood like a statue, arms crossed over the chest, and a pair of eagle eyes firmly locked onto the lake surface, standing silently and motionlessly.

A sense of pressure seeped down from above, pressing onto the wet rock face, breath held without daring to move. The exchange of glances lasted only a few seconds before a splash was heard; something fell into the lake. At this moment, a person pushed open the others and dove into the water. The person who was pushed aside immediately returned to the rock surface and retreated into the forest.

In the pitch-black waters, nothing was visible, as if plunged into a black hole, unable to see anything at all. The person who fell into the water seemed to sink directly to the bottom and lost all responsiveness. This breath-holding was astonishing. Suddenly, a figure leapt from the water onto the big rock, droplets of water falling on the stone, black eyes fixed on the lake surface, unmoving.

After a long time, small ripples appeared on the lake surface; at this moment, the statue-like figure moved, rushing towards the emerging head. In mid-air, with a spin, his right hand slapped down at the rising head. With a splash of water, the figure vanished from the lake surface.

Missing the hit, the figure in the air dashed towards the forest on one side. In the distance, lights were brightly lit, and the originally quiet village became lively, with raised torches illuminating inside and outside the village thoroughly. The figure crouched in the bushes, observing the scene inside.

A corpse still bleeding was laid flat on the ground, with expressions of grief and anger on every face. The village head, holding a torch, swept across all the villagers finally resting on the body. "Who did this?" he shouted loudly; fresh blood continued to flow. Everyone was awakened by a scream and discovered the night watchman stabbed to death beneath the watchtower, with a knife thrust into his chest, killing him instantly.

No one dared to speak, looking at each other. The deceased, Nan Qi, was a simple and honest person who seldom spoke but worked diligently. Everyone in the village liked this young man. A year ago, his wife ran off with someone from out of town, leaving behind a child for the two of them to live. The villagers pitied him, and many old and young women helped look after the child. Grateful Nan Qi was always the best hunter, giving the game he caught to the villagers. Now, his inexplicable death left not only sadness but also great anger in the village.

"Nan Qi shouldn't have died!" Someone in the back shouted, rousing the villagers to demand the village head find the killer.

"Village head, I think it wasn't one of us who did this to Nan Qi; it must've been those outsiders. They come, and people die." An older man came forward with a cigarette in his mouth, speaking persuasively. "Our village has always been peaceful, but it became restless ever since outsiders came. I've said something would happen, and now Nan Qi is dead. We don't know who might be next. We can't let them stay."

"Yes, village head, it must be those few people who killed Nan Qi."

Calls echoed in the air; the village head suddenly raised his torch, demanding everyone to quiet down. He walked to the speechless Miao Shaoqing. "Now they've killed, and you still want to protect them?"

Miao Shaoqing walked to the corpse; the single lethal stab was quite ruthless, with no other traces, anyone was suspicious. "Village head, it couldn't be them."

"Miao Shaoqing, you shouldn't protect them, just because they came, it happened. Earlier, that person wanted out, you were present too, weren't you? That's the motive." Someone protested loudly.

"Village head, why did you have me bring back those two? Can you explain it here? They came looking for Elder Miao, and no one else knew about it. How did you all know?"

"Well… don't concern yourself with this. Now that someone's dead, the pressing issue is to find the killer."

"Village head, this person is injured." Someone dragged Yelu Shou out of Xiao Lin's room, bandages showing blood stains. "I think he did it."

"Hey! Be gentle, I'm a patient!" Yelu Shou waved off the man grabbing his hand, descending the stairs step by step. "What's all this commotion about, stirring in the middle of the night?"

"Tie him up!" The village head shouted loudly, a few people rushed forward.

"Don't touch me!" Yelu Shou kicked them over one by one, glancing sideways at the fallen men. "I'm not in the mood today, you better not offend me."

"This brat's too arrogant, killing and still shouting about it." Someone shouted from the crowd, fuelling more anger, threatening to kill him to seek revenge.

"Kill?" Yelu Shou walked in front of Nan Qi. "Is it this person you're talking about?"

"You've seen it, pretending still? Your wound is the best evidence." Village head snorted coldly. "We treated you as guests, yet you are so violent, why did you kill? Where's the other one?"

"Miao Shaoqing, come over here." Yelu Shou beckoned to Miao Shaoqing. "Translate what I say now in their language word for word."

"What trick do you want?" Miao Shaoqing knew provoking the villagers like this, anyone would act, with many against few, especially in the woods.

"The lethal weapon entered the chest from the front and pierced the heart causing death." Yelu Shou ignored Miao Shaoqing's warning, looking up at the tall watchtower. "I'd like to ask all of you, who could possibly fly in the air and shoot a weapon like that? Do you think I'm Superman?"

"What does this mean?" The village head asked.

"Nan Qi's death was caused by someone from the outside shooting a weapon into his heart, which means the murderer is from outside, not within."

"How is that possible? We've all been here. What about that guy, Xiao Lin?"

"Is the village chief looking for me?" Xiao Lin emerged from the village chief's bamboo house, holding a wolf cub. "This little guy ran around. Sorry about that. It seems he was so eager to get into the village chief's room that he wouldn't come out. I sneaked in to catch him. You all know how much I treasure this little guy. Just this afternoon, I got into some friction with a few brothers in the village because he was running around."

"You…"

"Me, what?" Xiao Lin smiled slyly and walked up to the village chief, holding a cute toy in his hand. "A person died in the village, and we should investigate thoroughly. This was brought back by the little guy. You should see if it belongs to someone from your village."

"This is a clown, not one of ours." A few brave men stepped forward to take a closer look.

"Village chief, there are other people here too. You can't just put all the blame on us. I am determined to get to the bottom of this. Until the murderer is found, everyone here is a suspect." Xiao Lin picked up the toy and held it up in the air. "The person is among us. Don't let me find out who it is, or else…"

"Why should we believe you? Just because you say so? For all we know, you brought this in to frame us. And wasn't your companion injured? How do you explain that?"

"Ah! You reminded me." Xiao Lin pushed through the crowd to stand in front of the speaker. "Hmm, you've been stirring up trouble. What's your name?"

"What's it to you what my name is? If you don't explain it clearly, we won't let your partner go."

"Shaoqing!"

"Young Master Xiao!"

"Is this person from Miao Family Village? He looks so much like a Han to me."

"I picked this person up from outside the village. He's a mountaineer who got separated from his group. Once his injuries heal, we'll send him out," the village chief stepped forward. "Nan Qi died wrongfully, but we cannot wrongly accuse innocent people because of it. I will thoroughly investigate this. First, let's bury Nan Qi and then discuss the matter."

"The village chief is a sensible person." Xiao Lin stroked the wolf cub's head. "I hope you won't oppose me joining the investigation. The matter isn't trivial since my person was also injured."

The village chief let out a cold snort, then led a few people to wrap Nan Qi's body in a grass mat and placed it aside, weighted down by some unrecognizable plants and animal bones, seemingly meant to ward off evil spirits.

"Was it you who killed my dad?" A small boy approached the three adults, his head lifted and eyes brimming with tears.

"No!"

"But they all say it was you. My dad shouldn't have been on duty today. It was the village chief who…"

"Nankong, come back. They're bad people. Don't get too close to them." A woman called out his name, and he responded with an "oh," kicking Yelu Shou in the leg with force. "Bad people." Then he ran off.

"An innocent person is dead. Did you notice? That child said today wasn't his dad's shift; the village chief switched people. Miao Shaoqing, how long are you going to play dumb here?"

"Young Master Xiao!" Miao Shaoqing showed a helpless expression.

"Fine, you have your reasons for not speaking, and I have mine for not caring. How many more people must die in Miao Family Village is your business, but I can tell you who the opponent is. If you think you can handle the 'Black Crow', we'll just be observers. It was you who lured me here, wasn't it!"

Xiao Lin stepped forward, staring intently at Miao Shaoqing. "Before the situation becomes unmanageable, take me to see Elder Miao."

"No, I can't." Miao Shaoqing backed away a step. "Now is not the time."

Dealing with a stubborn person can sometimes be so frustrating one wants to kill them. Xiao Lin felt exactly that way now. Miao Shaoqing was not just stubborn; he was as obstinate as a bull that ten oxen couldn't pull back. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with your recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)