Chapter 28: Peril at Every Turn

After returning home, Li Yiting dared not disclose these matters to anyone else in Beiting. After all, this was a family affair, and his eldest uncle had strictly instructed him not to reveal it to anyone. For the sake of caution, Li Yiting would never be careless unless he was certain it pertained to the case. This was precisely what set Li Yiting apart.

Ever since Li Qisi confided the secret of the Fish-Gut Sword to him, Li Yiting had a bold suspicion: could the murders in Li Village be connected to the Fish-Gut Sword? Although the clues currently in hand did not strongly suggest such a link, it was certainly possible that someone, driven by ulterior motives, might commit murder to obtain the sword.

He could hardly imagine the fortune the Fish-Gut Sword would fetch on the black market—enough to drive most of the world mad with greed!

As a seasoned detective, he would never naïvely believe in the inherent goodness of human nature.

While he pursued his secret investigation, the others in Beiting were not idle either. With a tacit understanding, each took up their respective roles and began their own inquiries. Among them, Kuang Suo was the most anxious. He had intended to search for physical evidence in Luoshui Village, but his efforts yielded nothing. Hesitant, he finally expanded the scope to the entire village. This, however, proved a daunting task beyond his expectations: to compare the movements and attire of thousands without gathering them publicly was an immense challenge, not to mention the role luck played. This pushed him to his limits, but pressure bred potential. Today, he finally spotted his target—he was ecstatic.

But when this person swaggered past him, Kuang Suo could hardly trust his own eyes. Thus, he followed the suspect discreetly, repeatedly confirming until the person suddenly realized and recognized him instantly. Kuang Suo could no longer feign ignorance; after a few hasty, offhand remarks, he rushed off to report to Chen Tianyu.

Upon hearing Kuang Suo’s report, everyone in Beiting was shocked!

That button found in the trap—could it really be his?

Kuang Suo spoke with conviction: “In all of Luoshui Village, only this person has exactly the same button. I’m not mistaken.”

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The sixth day of the lunar New Year—the first market day of the year.

Since becoming the guardian of the Fish-Gut Sword, Li Fuqi felt enormous pressure. He constantly sensed a pair of malicious eyes covertly watching him, waiting for the slightest lapse to snatch the sword away. This fear clung to him, leaving him haggard. Though he was the village secretary, he had never faced such a crisis.

Now, his knowledge had become a burden: if the genuine Fish-Gut Sword were to be priced on the market, it might easily be worth hundreds of millions. The very thought of this astronomical figure made even his worldly self shudder. But could the sword in the ancestral hall truly be genuine? Was it possible that a relic missing for thousands of years would be so casually kept in a small village like Li’s? It was inconceivable! He recalled that even his eldest uncle merely called it the Iris. Rural folk often muddle things, treating valuable items as trash and elevating ordinary things as totems.

Could the so-called treasure of the village be just another case of this? Would he, a respectable intellectual, become a laughingstock? Was all this anxiety even worthwhile?

He had once gently asked Qiu Xi about how ancient bronzes were authenticated, what procedures were required to distinguish real from fake. Qiu Xi could not answer—he lacked any experience. But one thing Qiu Xi said did remind Li Fuqi: perhaps only the older, more knowledgeable generation truly understood such matters.

Yet Li Fuqi dared not ask his eldest uncle, Li Qisi, again.

Many times, he wanted to confide his inner torment to someone, but such a secret could only be buried within himself. With hardly any living family, the loneliness was all the more acute. Lost in thought, he wandered the bustling market and suddenly encountered his second uncle, Li Qihuai.

The urge to confide grew stronger!

From childhood, he had the closest relationship with the father of Li Yiting. During the years Li Yiting was away, Li Qihuai treated Li Fuqi like his own son, always the first to lend support in times of trouble. Thinking of this, Li Fuqi’s nose stung with emotion.

He suddenly recalled that, besides his eldest uncle, his second uncle, Li Qihuai, had dabbled in antiques when he was young. Moreover, the two uncles were full brothers. A subtle inquiry should do no harm, and Li Fuqi found the perfect excuse for his nervousness.

“What’s wrong, Fuqi?” Li Qihuai was the first to notice Li Fuqi’s distracted expression.

“Uh…” Li Fuqi hesitated. “I’m fine, Second Uncle.” His words belied his feelings.

Li Qihuai smiled gently; Li Fuqi’s abnormal behavior could hardly escape his notice.

“Still trying to hide something from me?” He paused. “Here, have a flatbread…” He took a steaming flatbread from his basket and handed it to Li Fuqi.

Li Fuqi said nothing, silently accepting it. As he bit into the fragrant, soft bread, his eyes reddened involuntarily, tears almost spilling forth.

“You, child, always so thoughtful,” Li Qihuai said affectionately. “Come, walk with me.”

“Alright.” Li Fuqi did not refuse and followed Li Qihuai, walking slowly ahead.

Li Qihuai considered for a moment, then led Li Fuqi toward the outskirts of the market, seeking a quiet place to talk. He knew that, as village secretary, Fuqi carried tremendous psychological burdens, and his calm facade was merely an act.

They reached a stone bridge, far from the market, nearly deserted—a perfect spot for conversation.

The bridge was ancient, its surface scarred, mottled with moss, and the railings crumbling in places. The construction was evidently poor, the bridge now unsafe. Beneath it flowed the only river in Mutu Village—nameless, so let us call it Mutu River. Not deep, its calmest stretches barely two or three meters, yet, like most mountain streams, it was strewn with jagged rocks and turbulent currents.

Listening to the rushing water below, Li Qihuai lit a cigarette, pondering how to console his troubled nephew.

“Second Uncle…” Li Fuqi called softly.

“Hmm.” Li Qihuai gazed into the distance. “With all that’s happened in the village, your heart must be heavy.”

Li Fuqi nodded. “I’ve been in office less than a year, and already we’ve had thefts, murders—it’s all my responsibility. I know too little about Luoshui Village.”

Seeing his nephew’s self-reproach, Li Qihuai patted his shoulder to comfort him. “Don’t panic, young man. Luoshui Village may be small, but it’s a mix of all sorts, far from simple. Remember, when you gave up your city job to serve your hometown, I warned you: the village secretary’s position may not be lofty, but it’s a tough job. You’ve spent years away, living and learning elsewhere—it’s natural not to know the village well. Your youthful idealism is understandable.”

“Our village has its share of bad habits. Everyone gambles, steals, drinks. If we followed the law strictly, most would end up behind bars. In past years, when city folk seldom visited, it was just petty amusements—gambling for fun, stealing for profit, drinking for pleasure. But times have changed… Think: how valuable is yew wood nowadays? Even those old jars and bottles we used to ignore are worth money. I’ve heard those discarded copper coins, old bills, silver dollars can fetch a good price. Can people’s hearts not change? It’s hard.”

Li Fuqi nodded in sympathy. “I was too young, grew up here and took it all for granted, never paid much attention.”

“Don’t say that. You’ve always been loyal and caring—rare qualities. Who else would voluntarily come back to our village? I’m not senile; you’re doing this for the villagers, hoping for a better future. I understand your heart!”

Li Fuqi’s tears burst forth. With no one around, he no longer tried to suppress them.

Choking, he said, “Second Uncle, you’re right… but how many can truly understand?”

Li Qihuai sighed, taking a deep drag on his cigarette. “Don’t worry, child. Someone will understand, don’t lose heart. As the saying goes: what goes around comes around, good and evil reap their rewards…”

“There’s something I’ve kept inside for years…” Li Fuqi wiped his eyes, regaining his usual strength.

“Speak. If I know, I won’t hide it from you,” said Li Qihuai.

Slowly, Li Fuqi said, “Second Uncle, I want to know how my parents died.”

Li Qihuai stiffened, startled that Fuqi was troubled by this. “Uh…”

“It’s a long story…” he hesitated.

Li Fuqi pressed urgently, “I know it’s complicated, but after all these years of bearing it alone, I can’t sleep. As their child, I deserve to know.”

“Of course… Of course.” Li Qihuai was still hesitant. “It’s not that we, your elders, deliberately kept it from you, but you were young, and some matters… we feared you’d take it too hard. I always wanted to tell you, but…”

Li Fuqi shook his head resolutely. “A few days ago, I wouldn’t have brought it up—but now it’s different. Eldest Uncle has clearly asked me to succeed him as clan leader. I have to understand the whole story.”

“What?!…” Li Qihuai was astonished. “Eldest Brother has suddenly stepped down? He didn’t tell me anything.”

“I dare not speculate about his reasons, but it’s true,” said Li Fuqi, omitting Li Yiting’s presence, since Li Qihuai was his father.

Li Qihuai was stunned for a moment before speaking, “Eldest Brother always acts unpredictably.”

He thought for a while. “Fuqi, your parents both died of natural causes, nothing unspeakable. It’s just… they had a rare illness…”

Li Fuqi interrupted, “What illness was so taboo?”

“We don’t really know…” Li Qihuai faltered, full of misgivings. “Folk here don’t understand strange diseases… don’t you agree?”

Li Fuqi persisted, “Medicine is so advanced now—even cancer isn’t uncommon. All the uncles kept it from me. Is there some shameful secret?”

“Fuqi, how can you think that?” Li Qihuai was shocked.

Li Fuqi’s face suddenly turned pale, quite unlike his usual self.

“I can’t think of a better explanation, so I’m bound to suspect.”

Li Qihuai was dumbstruck, and Li Fuqi continued coldly, “All these years, I’ve wondered if someone secretly harmed them, and that’s why you kept it from me.”

“Fuqi… this… this…” Li Qihuai’s lips trembled, his words incoherent.

“Who told you that? Is someone gossiping behind our backs…” Li Qihuai was flustered. “The old folks in the village spread nonsense—don’t believe them.”

“I only believe the truth. Second Uncle, tell me the truth—I’m not a child anymore.” Li Fuqi was unusually persistent.

“The… truth?” Li Qihuai gasped, remaining silent.

The two stood frozen by the bridge, the atmosphere awkward. Li Fuqi looked indifferent, but sweat beaded on Li Qihuai’s brow.

Absent-mindedly, he pushed against the bridge’s pillar; it shuddered from the force, unable to withstand much pressure, but Li Qihuai didn’t notice.

Just then, Li Fuqi urged, “Second Uncle, say something!”

Startled, Li Qihuai unconsciously pushed harder. Suddenly, the seemingly solid pillar toppled outward, plunging into the river!

Li Qihuai lost his support and pitched forward, about to follow the pillar off the bridge.

It happened so fast—by the time Li Fuqi reacted, Li Qihuai’s feet were off the ground. Li Fuqi hurried to grab him, but when his hand touched his uncle’s back, the force unexpectedly turned from pulling to pushing, accelerating Li Qihuai’s fall.

“Second Uncle! Second Uncle!” Li Fuqi shouted in anguish, nearly losing his mind.

With a thud, Li Qihuai’s body plummeted into the Mutu River, quickly swept away by the rapids and vanished.

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“Li Fuqi?!” Li Yiting could scarcely believe his ears.

He murmured, “Impossible, impossible.”

Kuang Suo’s expression was grim and stern. “There’s no mistake. I spent three days canvassing Luoshui Village. It wasn’t until I happened upon Li Fuqi before the Guanyin Temple that I found an identical button. I was afraid of a mistake, so I confirmed it repeatedly before reporting to you.”

“Don’t you believe me?” Kuang Suo was a little annoyed.

Chen Tianyu patted his shoulder. “You have sharp eyes, you wouldn’t be wrong. It’s just that Yiting can’t accept this outcome yet.”

He turned to comfort Li Yiting. “Yiting, don’t be hasty—a button alone proves nothing. We’ll need to plan carefully.”

Liu Zichen was also sympathetic. “Yiting, Tianyu is right. We mustn’t wrong anyone.”

“How could this happen?” Li Yiting was unmoved. He knew what evidence at a murder scene meant, so he squatted in agony. “How could it be Fuqi’s button at the crime scene? Fuqi, what have you done?”

Everyone looked at each other, unsure how to console him.

Finally, Shen Mingyue had a sudden idea. “I remember your father said that on New Year’s Eve, Li Fuqi led a group to search for your fifth uncle. Maybe he accidentally dropped the button while searching?” Even she didn’t believe it, but her frankness compelled her to say it.

Wan Yongkun agreed, “That’s possible.”

“Nonsense!” Li Yiting suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing coldly. “Don’t forget, you’re public officers—use your brains.”

Wan Yongkun scratched his head awkwardly. Indeed, that theory didn’t make sense. If Li Fuqi had accidentally dropped the button at the scene, he must have found Fifth Uncle’s corpse. Why would he choose not to report it?

Shen Mingyue remained indifferent.

“All right,” Li Yiting regained his composure. “Fourth Brother is right—a single button proves nothing, much less serves as core evidence.”

He continued, “Let’s go find Fuqi now and see how he explains it.”