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Fang Zigui took a small sample of blood from the edge of the wound and smelled it in his palm. Then, he retrieved a small Porcelain Bottle from his pocket, poured out a few grains of powder, and sprinkled it over the blood. As soon as the powder touched the blood, it turned a dark green.
His brow furrowed even deeper. "Liu, Lin Mingchang, there is an ancient paralyzing drug in the victim's wound. This drug contracts the skin upon exposure to air, preventing blood from flowing out, which is why there are almost no traces of blood at the scene. I once came across this substance in an ancient text; it was commonly used in the past for executing noble prisoners to reduce the bloodshed. After the Ming Dynasty, it nearly vanished."
Liu looked at Fang Zigui in surprise. "Doctor Fang, your keen observation and knowledge are impressive! I sensed something unusual about the wound earlier but couldn't pinpoint why."
Fang Zigui continued, "I suspect that the murderer used this drug to seal the victim's wound to ensure that they wouldn't get any blood on themselves. Either the murderer has some sort of obsession with cleanliness, or they needed to attend an event shortly after committing the murder and were worried about being discovered. Considering that the victim died in the dead of night, I believe the former possibility is more likely."
Lin Mingchang noted down Liu and Fang Zigui's findings before heading to the back compartment of the shop where Han Mingshan's body was found; this compartment was also wide open at the time.
According to the victim's family, this compartment served as Han Mingshan's workspace where he usually kept accounts and sometimes repaired antiques himself.
Before Lin Mingchang entered, Xiaoshuang had already been searching for clues here. He did not disturb her but examined every corner of the compartment himself. The space was quite large, with several rows of shelves against the wall, filled with antiques that were far more valuable than those displayed in the front of the shop.
Inside, cabinets meant for storing important items had been violently pried open, but Han Mingshan's son had already checked—none of the antiques on the shelves were missing, and all the silver coins and receipts in the cabinets remained intact... It seemed that robbery was not the motive for this crime.
Lin Mingchang approached Han Mingshan's desk and noticed a red-covered ledger lying on it. He flipped to the last few pages. "The victim purchased a precious antique two days ago, marked as 'Ancient Konghou fragment,' for a considerable sum—five hundred taels—but there is no mention of who sold it."
Xiaoshuang walked over curiously and peered at the ledger. "Konghou? What is that?"
"I know what a Konghou is," Shen Tong entered just in time to hear Lin Mingchang and Xiaoshuang's conversation. "It's an ancient plucked string instrument that dates back to the Spring and Autumn period. It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty and held a significant place in court music at that time. It is said that the sound of a Konghou can communicate with spirits and influence yin and yang. However, it gradually fell into obscurity after the Ming Dynasty."
Lin Mingchang nodded and moved closer to Shen Tong. "Did you find anything?"
"The Death Qi here... is quite unusual," Shen Tong said softly. "It has a very rare wave-like flow with distinct rhythmic qualities, almost like... like a musical beat."
"Moreover," Shen Tong continued thoughtfully, "this rhythm resembles the breath fluctuations I sensed last night..."
Lin Mingchang suddenly turned to Shen Tong with a hint of reproach in his voice. "You sensed strange breath fluctuations last night? Did you feel unwell? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought it was just an illusion from having some drinks," Shen Tong gently shook her head. "Besides, that feeling was very faint, like distant sounds from a guqin; I assumed someone was hosting a troupe for their festival..."
Noticing Lin Mingchang's mood shift, Shen Tong quickly changed the subject. "By the way, I came in to find you because I have made a discovery."
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