Chapter 39 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

They left the room of the tiny apartment.

Zhang Yuchou didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he knocked on the opposite door.

The door opened to reveal a tanned man. He took a quick look at the surroundings before his gaze lingered on Tang Luo’s face. Then, he asked, “What is it?”

“We’re going out for a meal. Does Officer Tan want to join us?” asked Zhang Yuchou.

Officer Tan frowned. “I’ll pass. Come back soon after the meal. Also, I told you not to expose my identity.”

He was probably protecting him secretly. Whether or not this was in line with the rules, when it came to serial murder cases like this, extraordinary circumstances demanded extraordinary arrangements.

There were only two remaining survivors. Thus, setting aside a bit of manpower to protect him might lead to new discoveries.

Since the murderer knew the victims’ whereabouts like the back of their hand, they needed to scout the area beforehand.

“My friend visited me… So I poured my woes to him, that’s all. I didn’t say anything that I shouldn’t,” said Zhang Yuchou. He looked somewhat embarrassed.

“Yes, I don’t know anything at all,” said a smiling Tang Luo.

Tan Song almost wanted to facepalm himself. He could only say, “Mister—”

“I get it. I’ll keep it a secret. I won’t reveal anything to others at all.” Tang Luo nodded.

“Come back early,” said Tan Song to Zhang Yuchou again.

Although he was protecting him, he didn’t need to follow him around the clock.

Judging from the murderer’s modus operandi, it was only relatively more dangerous when they were alone at home at night.

After the third victim had met with danger, Zhang Yuchou and the two remaining survivors had stayed at a hotel for a period.

This could be considered as open protection. In comparison, what they were doing this time was secret protection. Surveillance cameras were also installed in Zhang Yuchou’s rented apartment.

In Zhang Yuchou’s words, this form of protection would probably continue for roughly half a month to a month, or until the murderer was caught.

Slightly over a month later also happened to be when Zhang Yuchou’s apartment lease would be up. When that time came, he intended to return home for the time being. Not for marriage but just purely going back, nothing more.

He mustn’t set a death flag1.

Zhang Yuchou gulped alcohol and asked, “Do you think the Dish God or things like ghosts really exist in this world?” The mental pressure was pretty bad for him too.

“Yes,” replied Tang Luo, very affirmatively.

“F*ck! Why did it come after me of all people?” Zhang Yuchou swore. “Didn’t they say that spirits are forbidden after the founding of the country1?”

Rather than saying that he agreed with Tang Luo, it was more like he was just venting his emotions.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already blessed you,” said Tang Luo, smilingly. “Demons and evil spirits won’t be able to harm you.”

“That would be for the best. Cheers.” Zhang Yuchou downed his glass of alcohol. “No, wait. I’ll drink, you can take it easy.”

He remembered that Tang Luo was a teetotaller. There was no special reason behind it. He simply didn’t like the taste of alcohol, that was all.

After the meal, Tang Luo sent Zhang Yuchou, who was already somewhat drunk, back to his apartment.

“Go and enjoy your big bed in the hotel,” said Zhang Yuchou.

“Alright. I’ve already told you, but I’m staying at Hotel XX. My reservation is for seven days,” said Tang Luo. “Call me if anything comes up.”

“‘kay, I’ll contact you again tomorrow afternoon. Let’s go out and hang out,” replied Zhang Yuchou.

Why specifically the afternoon? Because back in their university days, if there weren’t any classes in the morning, there was basically no such thing as the morning.

And now, on a rare day off, mornings similarly didn’t exist.

The door closed.

However, before he left, Tan Song opened the door at the other side and invited Tang Luo in.

There wasn’t anything in particular.

He merely wanted Tang Luo to keep the case a secret as far as possible and that as someone unrelated to the case, he hoped that he could stay away.

Tang Luo took on a Buddha-style attitude of Yes, of course, you’re right.

As for what he would do, that depended on Tang Luo’s will.

After walking down the bustling streets, Tang Luo took in the boisterous and lively nightlife that he hadn’t seen in a long time. He then arrived at his hotel.

After checking in, he went up the floors and entered his room.

The vital energy in the real world was as thin as ever, meaning it wasn’t of any help to the recovery of Tang Luo’s injuries.

‘I didn’t expect that there would still be something in the real world that’s in such a state,’ thought Tang Luo.

When he was blessing Zhang Yuchou earlier, he had intentionally suppressed every visible external sign.

Otherwise, a flickering light enshrouding Zhang Yuchou would have become visible.

Then, something attached to him was dispelled.

Initially, Tang Luo had been under the impression that there weren’t any demons or monsters in the real world. However, his speculation seemed wrong.

“Dish God? Is it a vengeful spirit attached to the dish?”

When looking at things from a different perspective, frequently, it would result in entirely different outcomes.

When the police looked at it from a world perspective that they had built over the years since they were young, the so-called Dish God case was undoubtedly a malicious serial killer case caused by human factors.

However, in Tang Luo’s eyes, that was not necessarily the case.

Honestly speaking, vengeful spirits and whatnot were actually easier to resolve.

What Tang Luo was skilled in were demon subduing and vanquishing techniques, not chanting sutras.

Destroying vengeful ghosts that hurt people and enlightening them was Master Xuanzang’s forte.

Except that he had a problem… He was skilled at enlightening them but unskilled at finding them.

During the journey to the west, Sun Wukong’s eyes would brighten. “Master! That’s the demon/monster/ghost!”

“Oh? Then step back and leave it to Master here.”

Then, Tang Luo’s eyes would light up too, and with a chuckle, he would charge right toward it.

But now…

“Wukong, Master misses you so much.”

Being too overly proficient in one aspect wasn’t a good thing. But Tang Luo didn’t wish for this either.

If he hadn’t become overly proficient in one aspect and madly upgraded his ability of direct confrontational combat wholeheartedly, how would he have been supposed to get through the journey to the west that had been fraught with danger?