Crossgate Seal Chapter 305

“Takeuchi Mingmei?”
Lu Zheng let out a low exclamation, “Didn’t we just drop her off this afternoon?”
“Not long after getting off the plane, she was found dead in the airport bathroom,” Lin Wan’s eyes hardened, “The locked case she carried was opened, and the evidence documents are gone.”
“Damn!” Lu Zheng couldn’t help but swear, feeling like he was in a movie.
Lin Wan nodded, “Tokyo airport is already pulling surveillance footage, but I doubt they’ll find anything.”
Lu Zheng nodded. Obviously, an airport is one of the most surveilled places in the world. If someone dared to act there, they wouldn’t fear being caught on camera.
“Mingmei was an Interpol officer, so besides the Japanese police, Interpol has stepped in,” Lin Wan said, “The suspect in Japan will be handled there. We’ll take on the follow-up investigation here to see if we can uncover new evidence.”
“It’s not cleaned up domestically yet?”
Lin Wan nodded, “Corruption and money laundering case, Japanese mafia. The money flowed into China, involving some grey industries and financial crimes here.”
“Don’t get it,” Lu Zheng shook his head.
Lin Wan smiled, “Basically, there’s still evidence to dig up domestically.”
“Got it,” Lu Zheng nodded.
“The evidence Mingmei had, do you know what it was?” Lu Zheng looked at Lin Wan.
Lin Wan nodded, “I do, but don’t worry. It’s not just me. A few people at the liaison office and the Chinese police know some of it too. Without physical documents, though, it doesn’t count as evidence.”
“Oh, right,” Lu Zheng nodded.
“I might have to go on another trip,” Lin Wan said, “The money in this case mostly moved through the southeast, not Haicheng.”
“Be careful,” Lu Zheng said.
“Don’t worry,” Lin Wan smiled, “This isn’t the main battlefield. That’s in Japan.”
Lu Zheng rolled his eyes, “Then how did you find the key evidence?”
Lin Wan, “…”
“Maybe… they didn’t take us seriously.”
“You don’t have to report back right away?” Lu Zheng asked. In the past, cases usually required Lin Wan to return immediately to discuss details.
“No need. The Japan branch is just starting their investigation,” Lin Wan said, “Going back now wouldn’t help. I’ll check in tomorrow to see if there’s any progress.”
“Let’s go home…” Lin Wan sighed, losing her appetite for dinner.
Lu Zheng nodded, and they drove home together, sleeping soundly for the night.
…
The next morning, Lin Wan headed to the office to continue the case. Lu Zheng returned to his rental, changed, and crossed back to the ancient world.
His eyes opened to a lush, green ancient forest.
“Meow—”
A cat’s cry rang out, and a grey-yellow mountain cat leapt three feet high beside Lu Zheng, then darted to a nearby treetop, vanishing into the forest.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, unfazed, jumped down from the tree, and continued forward.
…
A few days later…
Lingbei Circuit, Yizhou, Tonglin County.
“Young master, you’re back?”
As Lu Zheng entered, Uncle Li, Aunt Liu, and Old Huang greeted him, intending to take his bags, only to find him empty-handed.
“Young master, rest a bit. I’ll fetch water for you to wash up,” Uncle Li hurried back.
“I’ll start cooking!” Aunt Liu rushed to the kitchen.
Old Huang blinked, standing there awkwardly.
“Alright, go on,” Lu Zheng waved, “Taking good care of the horse is your biggest contribution.”
Old Huang nodded repeatedly, “Don’t worry, it’s fat and strong. I take it out for a run twice a day!”
Good, everything at home was in order.
…
After lunch at home, Lu Zheng visited next door, bringing some local specialties from Jizhou Prefecture and Jinhua County. He learned it was a rest day, and Liu Qingyan had taken Liu Qingcuan to Peach Blossom Meadow to play.
No question about it, join them!
Lu Zheng rubbed his hands, but when he arrived at Peach Blossom Meadow, he was momentarily stunned.
Shen Ying, Liu Qingyan, Liu Qingcuan.
Xiaocui, the eighteen Peach Blossom celestial maidens.
The five sisters of Wuxiu Manor.
The River Goddess, Li Hanyu.
Thankfully, Zhu Yushan was there, or Lu Zheng would have turned and left.
“Brother Lu!”
Seeing Lu Zheng, Zhu Yushan acted like he’d seen a saviour, grabbing him tightly, refusing to let go, “Brother Lu, we were just talking about you. You’re finally here!”
“Let go! Let go! Grown men don’t cling like that.”
“I saw you about to leave!”
Just as Lu Zheng saw the scene and instinctively turned to go, Zhu Yushan dashed over in two steps and grabbed him.
“No way!” Lu Zheng said righteously, “I saw so many guests and thought to go back and prepare some food.”
“Fairy Shen has prepared plenty. Everything’s covered, no need for more,” Zhu Yushan said.
Then Zhu Yushan dragged Lu Zheng back.
It was early spring, still cool. Though the women weren’t bothered by the cold, they hadn’t dressed lightly either, wearing cotton skirts and fluffy capes.
Even so, their natural beauty shone through, each uniquely stunning, like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each excelling in their own way.
“Lu Lang~”
“Young Master Lu!”
“Brother-in-law!”
Lu Zheng returned their greetings, his face stiff from smiling.
Getting closer, he realized that despite the crowd, there were plenty of activities.
Shen Ying was playing mahjong with Li Hanyu, flanked by Hu Caina and Lin Jing’er. The four outgoing women were lively, shouting and laughing.
Liu Qingyan was playing chess with the River Goddess, with a few Peach Blossom maidens watching, serving tea and water.
Xiaocui, Liu Qingcuan, and some maidens were listening to Hua Yixing tell stories. As the eldest of Wuxiu Manor, she had plenty of tales from her adventures.
Bai Ting’er, skilled with instruments, played with a few Peach Blossom maidens, the zither ringing, the jade flute humming, and melodious music drifting through the forest. Yu Mingxin occasionally sang, her voice clear and uplifting.
Looking left and right, Lu Zheng felt there was nowhere to fit in. No wonder Zhu Yushan saw him as a saviour.
“How about we play a game of chess…”
Before Zhu Yushan could finish, Yu Mingxin called to Lu Zheng, “Young Master Lu, Sister Shen says you’re a master at the zither. Can you show us today?”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, seeing Bai Ting’er, seated at the zither, looking at him expectantly.
Her shy nature made that hopeful look her limit.
Lu Zheng nodded with a smile, “Sure, let’s play a piece together. What tune?”
As he spoke, he uncorked the gourd at his waist, gave it a light tap, and a zither case flew out.
“…”
Zhu Yushan’s hand froze mid-reach, speechless.