Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Mad Daoist Priest

Before Jiang Li could get a clear look, she heard the sound of a lock turning behind her. Her body tensed, and she quickly ducked inside.

"Ugh, I’m dead tired!" came Chen Xiufang’s voice.

Jiang Li heard Chen Xiufang outside. ’Wasn’t she at the hospital taking care of Qiao Siyuan and Wu Xueyan? Why is she back so early?’

Jiang Li held her breath nervously, pressing against the door, not daring to move an inch as she listened carefully for any sounds from outside.

"Sigh, where am I supposed to find a child? If I don’t get a child, Master Cao won’t help."

Jiang Li clenched her fists. Then, she heard a rustling from outside, immediately followed by the sound of a door closing.

’Is Chen Xiufang gone?’

Jiang Li listened carefully for another moment to make sure Chen Xiufang had left before opening the door and stepping out. Thinking about what Chen Xiufang was off to do, she glanced at the room behind her, gritted her teeth, and followed her out.

’The child is more important. I’ll come back for this later.’

When Jiang Li got outside, she nearly lost Chen Xiufang but was lucky enough to see her figure disappearing around a corner.

After pulling on her hat, Jiang Li followed, her mind on the Master Cao that Chen Xiufang had mentioned.

’Wu Ming’s master is also named Cao. Could they be the same person?’

Jiang Li followed Chen Xiufang from a safe distance. She watched as Chen Xiufang first searched a remote public restroom, then wandered around the university town before hailing a cab and leaving.

Jiang Li hailed a cab herself and followed. She tailed Chen Xiufang to a town on the outskirts of C-City. After getting out of her car, Chen Xiufang didn’t go anywhere specific but immediately started searching the nearby area.

Jiang Li watched from afar. ’So this is how Chen Xiufang "finds" all those children?’

’Then she gives them to this so-called Master Cao, who then does something to them?’

"How strange. My luck is terrible tonight. I’ve been out all evening and haven’t found a single one."

Chen Xiufang muttered to herself. When her luck was good, she could find three in a single night.

Jiang Li watched from a distance. In the end, Chen Xiufang had no choice but to check into a small inn in the town.

After watching Chen Xiufang go inside, Jiang Li got a room as well.

She had just sat down to rest for a bit when sounds came from the next room. A brief, awkward expression flickered across Jiang Li’s face.

She took out her phone to go over the information she had, making sure she hadn’t missed anything.

After checking, she searched for "Master Cao" on all the major online platforms.

’Judging from the actions of Chen Xiufang and the others, this definitely isn’t their first time.’

Jiang Li searched until her head was spinning. Finally, she tossed her phone aside and flopped onto the bed, playing dead.

"AH! My stomach! Stop, stop, stop, the baby! The baby!" A cry of alarm rang out from the next room.

Jiang Li shot up from the bed, went to the door, and pressed her ear against it to listen.

"Oh dear, what’s wrong, miss? Are you going into labor?"

Chen Xiufang’s voice sounded. Jiang Li listened to the commotion outside, and soon an ambulance arrived.

The group left in a hurry.

Jiang Li grabbed her backpack, opened the door, and followed.

As she stepped out, she saw Chen Xiufang still standing by the door and immediately shrank back.

The pregnant woman was clutching her stomach, grabbing the doorframe resistantly. "No, I don’t want to go to the hospital! A clinic! Take me to a clinic!"

Jiang Li clearly saw Chen Xiufang’s eyes light up.

"Hey, this is a matter of life and death! Just do what the girl says. A clinic it is, then. It’s better than just standing around here."

The man had no choice but to pick up the woman and head toward the town’s clinic.

Chen Xiufang scurried after them eagerly.

Jiang Li took out her phone, sent her location to Lu Xingye, and followed.

Lu Xingye had just gotten out of the shower when his phone went off. He walked over and picked it up.

Three in the morning. Jiang Li had sent him her location, and it was in some remote little town.

He was about to call her but stopped himself. He typed with one hand while pulling up his pants with the other.

"[Jianbg Li, dnot make any rash moves, stay saef!]"

After sending the message, Lu Xingye tossed his phone aside, hastily threw on his pants and a shirt, and grabbed his car keys on his way out.

Jiang Li looked at the message from Lu Xingye, which was riddled with typos.

"[Okay.]"

Lu Xingye let out a sigh of relief when he saw Jiang Li’s reply. He got on his bike and sped toward the location she’d sent.

’What is she doing so far away this late at night? And all by herself!’

Jiang Li followed Chen Xiufang to the clinic.

Half an hour later, Lu Xingye found her. He’d parked his vehicle a good distance away and run over as she’d instructed.

"Jiang Li, are you okay?" Lu Xingye asked in a low voice.

Jiang Li shook her head, turning back to fix her eyes on the activity inside.

Lu Xingye saw she was only wearing a thin jacket on such a cold night and immediately took off his own to drape over her.

Jiang Li glanced up at him.

Lu Xingye’s face flushed. Before he could explain, he saw Jiang Li pull the jacket around herself, slip her arms into the sleeves, and quickly zip it up.

Lu Xingye: "..."

Jiang Li hugged herself. She was freezing.

Lu Xingye scratched his head awkwardly and followed her gaze to a small clinic.

"What’s going on?" Lu Xingye leaned closer to Jiang Li and asked quietly.

"Qiao Siyuan’s mom is ’finding’ kids everywhere and giving them to someone called Master Cao. I don’t know the specifics yet."

Jiang Li tilted her head toward him and explained simply.

Lu Xingye nodded. ’Qiao Siyuan’s mom?’

’Qiao Siyuan?’

’He seemed to recall a colleague mentioning Qiao Siyuan on his way home today—saying he’d been caught with a prostitute and was still in the hospital.’

Just as Lu Xingye was about to speak...

"They’re coming out."

Jiang Li dodged backward, bumping right into Lu Xingye’s arms.

Jiang Li frowned. ’Why is Lu Xingye just standing there like a log?’

Lu Xingye immediately took a step back.

Jiang Li watched as Chen Xiufang furtively ran out of the clinic, clutching a bundle.

Lu Xingye was about to give chase but was pulled back by Jiang Li.

"Let’s follow her and see who this Master Cao really is."

Lu Xingye nodded and led her to where he had parked. Jiang Li looked at him. "Don’t you have a quieter vehicle?"

"I’ll get a different one next time. This one’s fast and convenient."

"Hurry, hurry, she’s getting in a car!" Jiang Li grabbed a helmet, awkwardly put it on, and used him for support as she climbed on and settled in behind him.

Lu Xingye had no choice but to put on his helmet, start the engine, and chase after the car Chen Xiufang had gotten into.

Jiang Li couldn’t see clearly with the helmet on, so she simply leaned against his back and fell asleep.

Lu Xingye followed Chen Xiufang’s car to another town, where he saw her get out, stealthily clutching the baby.

"Jiang—"

Lu Xingye had just stopped the bike when he felt Jiang Li, asleep on his back, almost fall off. He quickly reached out to steady her.

Even that hadn’t woken her. Lu Xingye hesitated for a couple of seconds, then parked the bike properly, picked her up in his arms, and chased after Chen Xiufang.

In her dream, Jiang Li saw a room filled with yellow talismans. Red strings with bells tied to them crisscrossed the entire space.

Piles of urns, covered in talismans, were stacked in the corners.

The sound of a baby’s cry echoed throughout the room.

She turned her head and saw three infants wrapped in yellow cloth that was covered in drawn symbols. The babies’ little faces were flushed red, clearly from the cold.

A hideous smile twisted her lips. She picked up a nearby copper coin sword, and a hoarse voice rang out.

"Eternal life and immortality!"