Special Forces Medic

Chapter 955 924: Luring the Snake Out

"This little guy seems to have taken a liking to you. It bares fangs at anyone who tries to touch it. Bringing it back won't be easy!" Yelv Shou teased, playing with the wolf cub in Xiao Lin's hands, wondering how he carried it all day without feeling the weight.

"What kind of people do you think the 'Black Crow' are?" Xiao Lin suddenly asked.

"Though we're at odds with each other, they are principled people. It's rare for them to kill innocents." Yelv Shou picked up the neglected doll from the ground. "It's finely crafted. Only a third-tier clown would carry something like this with them, so the one who injured me must have a seventh-tier code. They are inseparable."

"No one has ever seen the clown's true face. He's just like the Flame Swallow. Do you think that person who was stirring up trouble earlier might be him?"

"My info suggests this clown is about 1.7 meters tall, small and slightly thin. He's always fiddling with something in his hands. But that person earlier was about 1.78 meters tall or a bit taller, with dark skin and stubbled beard, with grimy fingers. He shouldn't be the one."

"Disguise is also a possibility."

"The clown has a severe cleanliness obsession, always appearing in a clown mask. As far as I know, this person has very fair skin, described by those who met him. Under the white greasepaint on his face, there is a slender neck, peeking through exaggerated frilled collars, with skin that appears red beneath the white translucency."

"In that sense, there's another group here." Xiao Lin continued walking, deep in thought. "Last night, Miao Shaoqing led me to the lake, pulling me down - his actions were strange. The person who appeared right after should be a seventh-tier code. Their words and actions were under surveillance, and the murder of Nan Qi happened after he went out, aiming to frame someone else. This differs from the village chief's earlier hostage claims. The chief's protection of the outsider was pretty apparent, making it hard to unearth the killer."

"Was this found in the village chief's room?"

"I don't know. The little creature came back with it in its mouth. I said that on purpose, just testing the village chief." Xiao Lin looked up at the dark, main building of the village chief. "Oh? How did I miss this person?"

"What?" Yelv Shou followed Xiao Lin to the base of the guard tower.

"This is where Nan Qi kept watch. The guard tower is over three meters high. Standing here, you can see the distance, with mountains in front and the village behind. It's impossible for someone to kill him from that direction, so it's likely from either side." Xiao Lin climbed up, looking out from the tower. At the foot of the mountains, the dense forest wasn't part of a military camp, allowing free movement. Facing the main building where they spoke, though not the closest, it stood out. "If Nan Qi stood here, an expert using the right weapon could achieve this outcome. You were injured then, and I chased Miao Shaoqing. Who else could enter this house?"

"That old woman! But she's a woman, isn't she?"

"Is there any rule that the 'Black Crow' has only one woman? The clown is a neutral character, neither male nor female." Xiao Lin frowned at the still-lit house. "Speculation remains speculation. Exposing them won't be easy. There's something I still can't figure out."

"Miao Shaoqing admitted he lured us here and initially made clear he brought us to see Elder Miao, handing us to the villagers."

"I think the village chief colluded with someone outside that frightens Elder Miao, so he hid away. Holding us here wasn't for money; it was possibly to draw out Elder Miao. Miao Shaoqing knew I'd eventually look for Elder Miao, simply going along with it. The 'Black Crow' aimed at me alone. The person who killed Nan Qi wasn't the clown. Who could scare Elder Miao like that?"

"Mu Rongyun! Over a decade ago, Elder Miao was also among those, gathering three formidable experts for Lao Long. Currently, only one remains by your side, while the other two haven't appeared yet."

"That makes sense. The 'Black Crow' reached some agreement with Mu Rongyun, each fulfilling their needs." Xiao Lin jumped down from the over three-meter-high tower, clapping his hands and walking back to the bamboo house. From above, Nan Qi's body was wrapped in layer upon layer of white cloth under the gras mat, exceptionally conspicuous in the dim light.

As dawn broke, half the village covered in fog, Yelv Shou was awakened by the sound of a gong. He poked his head out of the tower. The mountain air felt much better than the city's. Watching the gathering crowd below, there was a practice of not leaving bodies overnight. Due to the sudden incident, Nan Qi collided with a taboo, requiring rituals to transcend the soul. Today was the village's big day, each family busy with ritual preparations, completely forgetting about Xiao Lin and the others.

The old woman laid out breakfast on the dining table. Suddenly, Xiao Lin reached out and touched her chest, startling her into silent shock, mouth agape and finger pointing at him.

Xiao Lin smirked, "So, you're really a woman."

"What are you trying to do?" She shouted, but the gong was so loud that no one noticed them.

"Just now, dodging an attack like that shows you're not just an ordinary person. How could a village woman have such skill? The Miao Family Village really hides talents!" Xiao Lin poured himself a cup of tea, pointing at the seat opposite him. "Sit and have a drink with me, Mr. Clown."

"How did you see through me?" The old woman, now revealed, sat at the table.

"Bits of information, bits of deduction." Xiao Lin chuckled twice. "The seventh-tier code is nearby. He injured my people, and I must settle this score. You didn't kill Nan Qi. Such a third-rate method wouldn't make your third-tier group stoop low. Was cooperating with Mu Rongyun your idea or the whole 'Black Crow'?"

From another's perspective, Xiao Lin and the old woman were very close, face-to-face.

Raising his cup, Xiao Lin leaned on the table with one hand and suddenly lifted her chin with the other, his mischievous demeanor seeming to taunt her. "Answer this question well, as the answer will determine the outcome."

In the bustling city far away, a man more beautiful than a woman almost violently trashed the room's furnishings. (To be continued. If you like this work, visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)