Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Secret Arrest (Part Three)

After locking up the thieves again, Chen Tianyu and Li Yiting sat in the interrogation room, silently smoking their cigarettes.

Li Yiting glanced at Chen Tianyu several times, but saw no reaction from him. The quiet of the early hours unsettled him.

“Fourth Brother, do you still have doubts?” Li Yiting finally couldn’t hold back and spoke. “Should we interrogate them again? I have a feeling there’s something fishy going on.”

Chen Tianyu waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not much use. Right now, the key figure in this whole affair is Mute. As long as Mute is brought in, I believe we’ll be very close to the truth.”

“As long as Mute is still in Drowning Village, he won’t escape.” Li Yiting pounded the desk in anger.

He voiced his concern, “I wonder how things are going on Jiudao’s end. Fourth Brother, should I go support him? I heard Mute is quite skilled, even Yongkun isn’t his match.”

“Wait until dawn. Jiudao isn’t as reckless as Yongkun, so there shouldn’t be much danger. But whether he can actually bring Mute back is uncertain. My legs are bad, so it’ll have to be you.” Chen Tianyu said calmly.

Li Yiting was impatient. “Why don’t I set out now? There’s nothing to do here anyway.”

Chen Tianyu chuckled. “Are you the master going to avenge your disciple?”

Li Yiting couldn’t help but laugh. “I might not be a match for this qigong master myself—I wouldn’t dare overestimate my abilities.”

Suddenly, Chen Tianyu grew serious. He spoke slowly, “Capturing Mute is imperative, but there’s another matter we need to discuss thoroughly.”

“What is it?” Li Yiting asked, puzzled.

Chen Tianyu pondered for a moment. “Yiting, tell me honestly, do you really believe Fuqi is the murderer?”

“Uh… well.” Clearly, this touched a nerve for Li Yiting. He hesitated for a long time before replying, “I trust the evidence. There’s so much pointing to Fuqi now, my feelings can’t interfere.”

Chen Tianyu shook his head. “Emotion is a clue, too—don’t forget that. In court, evidence is king, but in the process of solving a case, emotional factors often lead us toward the truth. Don’t you agree?”

“If you say that, some experts will accuse you of idealism.” Li Yiting said, helpless.

Chen Tianyu cut straight to the heart of it. “I have no kinship or connection with Fuqi, so I’m not swayed by outside influences. But you’re different. You and Fuqi are like brothers. Are you sure your emotions aren’t affecting you?”

Li Yiting was a bit annoyed. “Fourth Brother, you’re underestimating me. I’ve worked criminal investigations for over ten years—I have basic integrity.”

“Don’t get worked up.” Chen Tianyu remained calm. “I’m not worried about your lack of principles; on the contrary, I’m worried you have too much.”

Li Yiting paused, as if something dawned on him.

“Being too sentimental is wrong, but being completely unsentimental isn’t right either—too much or too little is a problem.” Chen Tianyu said coolly.

Li Yiting wasn’t confused. “Fourth Brother, you mean someone’s trying to exploit my principles—to use me as a weapon?”

“That possibility can’t be ruled out.” Chen Tianyu nodded. “If that’s true, then whoever’s behind this must know you well—your strengths, your weaknesses.”

Suddenly, Li Yiting thought of someone, but he didn’t dare say it aloud. His respect for that person far outweighed reason.

“Fourth Brother, do you have any proof?” he asked urgently.

Chen Tianyu shook his head. “None at all.”

“Wow, you speak so convincingly just on intuition. You scared me.” Li Yiting forced a smile.

Chen Tianyu spoke unhurriedly. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re hiding something from me. And I’m certain it happened after you returned to Li Village.”

Li Yiting was inwardly startled. This uncanny fellow was not easy to fool.

“All right, I can tell you this: I do know a family secret, but it’s unrelated to the case, so I can’t share it.” Li Yiting said helplessly.

Chen Tianyu nodded expressionlessly. “I could guess as much. And I suspect that the secret you’re keeping is also related to Li Fuqi.”

A flicker of surprise flashed in Li Yiting’s eyes. He was silent.

“You must be curious how I guessed so accurately. Actually, it’s simple. Since I arrived in Li Village, it’s seemed like a hidden world. The people here are honest and upright, but at the same time, they all stick stubbornly to tradition.”

Chen Tianyu paused. “Everyone in the village seems to have secrets—whether your uncles or random bystanders. They act indifferent to everything and unruffled by any change. That’s not normal.”

“I thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out. I even believed it was caused by isolation. Until your suspicions toward Li Fuqi became apparent, then I finally understood.”

“It turns out that no one in Li Village trusts each other!” Chen Tianyu concluded.

Li Yiting said in surprise, “Really? I never felt that way.”

“You wouldn’t notice—you’re part of it. Having grown up here, your elders have subtly instilled all sorts of ideas in you. You unconsciously follow certain unwritten rules—it’s inevitable.”

“But what does that prove? Are you trying to warn me about something?”

Chen Tianyu smiled. “That’s why people say those involved can’t see clearly. You just gave me the answer yourself: you’re all guarding a tremendous family secret. Everyone is. That steadfastness is in your blood, and you don't even realize it.”

“All these twists and turns have made me dizzy!” Li Yiting laughed wryly.

Chen Tianyu didn’t laugh. He spoke calmly, “As an investigator, my view remains unchanged—everyone can be a suspect, regardless of status.” There was another meaning in his words, but it was unclear if Li Yiting caught it.

“I agree. Your words have cleared up years of confusion for me. Now I see why I’m so stubborn—it’s in the family genes.” Li Yiting was candid. “You’re right—there’s always a cause. All right, I can tell you everything, but you have to keep it secret.”

“You can choose not to say anything,” Chen Tianyu glanced at him.

“Our Li family has a thousand-year promise—to guard a priceless artifact for generations. I can’t tell you what it is exactly, but it’s hidden in the ancestral shrine, and nobody can steal it.” Li Yiting paused. “Li Fuqi and I are the new guardians.”

He briefly recounted what Li Qisi had entrusted to him, omitting only a few confidential details.

Chen Tianyu nodded. “Let me remind you: it’s not the theft that’s scary, it’s the thief’s obsession. You understand? That Guanyin statue drove these men to scheming, so how much more for a treasure hundreds of times more valuable? This could be a massive conspiracy.”

“By your reasoning, the village murder might be connected to the artifact? We might not even be on the right track.” Li Yiting understood at once.

Chen Tianyu sighed and gently patted Li Yiting’s shoulder.

“I know you—as much as you’re eager to convict Li Fuqi, you’re more desperate to clear your brother’s name.”

Li Yiting awkwardly rubbed his chin and said nothing.

“I should recuse myself from this case,” he muttered.

Chen Tianyu shook his head decisively. “On the contrary—perhaps only you can uncover the truth here. Just follow your own path; we’re still here with you.”

Li Yiting looked at him gratefully. “Fourth Brother…”

“No need for sentimentality. Our only job is to stop you from making mistakes.” Chen Tianyu replied without expression.

Li Yiting couldn’t help but laugh. “You crippled old fool! Is that any way to talk to someone?”