Chapter 32: Forensic Proficiency, Tian Zhuang Grows Increasingly Wary of Chu Feng

The entire mountain range was a vast, blinding expanse of white. People who frequently live in snowy terrain often suffer from snow blindness—a condition where the sheer glare renders everything an indistinct, ghostly haze. While Chu Feng had not fallen victim to this ailment, the constant exposure to the brilliant snow had begun to blur his vision.

That was precisely why the sudden flash of red appeared so jarringly vivid.

Tian Zhuang quickly noticed the bloodstains ahead. He strode past Chu Feng and stood beside the patch of crimson. After a cursory glance, he shook his head and remarked, "It’s already frozen. Hard to say how long it’s been here."

"You’re a bit amateurish, aren't you?"

"What did you say?" Tian Zhuang asked, looking puzzled. He truly did not understand what Chu Feng meant, though he certainly caught the note of mockery in his tone.

Chu Feng ignored him, staring intently at the blood on the ground. Before he had retired from the military in his previous life, his captain had asked if he wanted to join the police force, specifically because of his exceptional forensic skills. It was that very aptitude that had earned him first place in a tactical exercise and a second-class merit.

"These stains were left within the last hour. Any longer, and they would have been buried by the heavy snowfall," Chu Feng said, circling the bloodstain and a nearby tree. "Someone was either injured or killed. It’s hard to tell if it was human or animal, but the wound is large. The blood sprayed over two meters, indicating high pressure. The footprints here are chaotic—there must have been a fierce skirmish, and quite a few people were involved."

Initially, Tian Zhuang had been dismissive. As a yamen runner, he considered himself far superior to a mere mountain ranger when it came to investigative work; he had seen plenty of murder cases in his time. However, as Chu Feng continued, Tian Zhuang’s eyes widened. The disdain in his gaze vanished, replaced by a growing sense of wariness.

Once he finished his assessment, Chu Feng turned to Tian Zhuang. "Judging by the tracks, they headed north."

This realization made the situation tricky. To the east lay the path back to Yulong Village, and to the west was Taoyuan Village. If these were indeed the kidnappers who had taken Miss Tian, finding them would be manageable regardless of whether they had gone east or west. But the north—the north led deep into the heart of the Yulong Mountains.

"Who did you learn this from?" Tian Zhuang asked, his gaze profound.

"I grew up in these mountains. I can tell how long ago a pig or a sheep passed by just by looking at a footprint, which direction it was headed, and how far it had traveled. I’m just swapping the animals for people," Chu Feng replied, his expression utterly nonchalant.

Tian Zhuang nodded, offering a sincere compliment. "With a talent like this, you’d be highly valued as a constable."

"Forget it. I don't have the connections for that."

Tian Zhuang fell silent, watching Chu Feng in quiet contemplation.

"Are you sure we should keep going?" Chu Feng asked. "It could get very dangerous."

"You have no choice!" Tian Zhuang said firmly, his hand already gripping the hilt of his blade.

"If that’s the case, let’s move."

The dense forest they were currently in required them to cross the first peak, a place already teeming with dangerous beasts. Based on the tracks, the group had likely headed toward the second peak of Yulong Mountain. The second peak was higher, reaching five hundred meters, and the temperatures there would be even more brutal. While the number of beasts decreased, those that remained were far more ferocious.

Yet, the greatest danger was not the wildlife, but the soldiers of the Great Xia Empire who might appear at any moment. Although the Yulong mountain range served as a natural barrier between the Great Qian and Great Xia empires, Great Xia scouts often favored taking long, circuitous routes to enter the second peak, crossing the first to infiltrate Great Qian territory. If they encountered a band of those scouts, the two of them might not be a match.

The three men Chu Feng had dealt with earlier had been a result of catching them off guard. Had they been alert and not drawn away by his feint, it would have been questionable whether he could have saved Wang Wei and Sun Can.

The occasional howl of wolves echoed through the mountains. There were certainly packs here, though they rarely ventured onto the first peak. The dense forest between the first and second peaks was the territory of a massive black bear. However, Chu Feng and Tian Zhuang had already left that territory behind. If they ran into a wolf pack now, they would be in serious trouble.

Chu Feng wasn’t worried, though. Tian Zhuang was not from his village; if danger arose, he certainly wouldn't sacrifice himself to save the man.

The snow was difficult to traverse, forcing them to trudge along with uneven steps. The heavy snowfall over the past few days had created a layer of ice beneath a soft, powdery surface. Anyone walking on it for the first time would struggle to maintain their balance. Tian Zhuang, for instance, had already tripped several times.

"Have you yamen runners never been into the mountains?" Chu Feng asked, amused.

"We don't need to enter the mountains to make a living, so why would we? You, on the other hand—if I recall correctly, the imperial court forbids climbing these mountains. Looking at you, you’ve broken that law plenty of times."

"If I didn't break it, I’d starve to death. You officials collect grain every half month—isn't that just sucking the blood of the common people?"

"That’s because of the war on the front lines. If we lose, the entire Great Qian will be finished. Do you think you’d be able to live peacefully in your village then?"

"So what? We’re supposed to just sit here and starve without trying to find a way to survive?" Chu Feng didn't give him a pleasant look. Out here in the wild, if they fought, Chu Feng had a hundred ways to dispose of him.

"You still shouldn't defy the imperial decree! You must understand that the soldiers on the front lines are protecting you; you owe them that grain!"

"If everyone is dead, who exactly are you protecting?"

Tian Zhuang went silent at that. He stopped arguing and followed behind Chu Feng in silence, focusing on his footing to avoid another fall. The path up the mountain wasn't difficult, but it was exhausting. The second peak was steep, and with the snow, one slip could send them tumbling down.

"Why are you walking diagonally? Can't you just climb straight up?" Tian Zhuang complained, watching Chu Feng zigzagging left and right.

"It reduces the resistance... forget it. Walk however you want. You could fly up for all I care—if you fall, it’s got nothing to do with me."

No sooner had he spoken than Tian Zhuang nearly slipped, barely catching himself on a rock. Seeing this, he had no choice but to obediently follow in Chu Feng’s tracks.

Finally, they reached the summit of the second peak. It wasn't a sharp peak, but a vast, flat plateau—a plain covered entirely in stones. There wasn't a single tree, not even a blade of grass. Everything was white; even the sky seemed devoid of any other color.

And there, at last, Chu Feng saw the group.

"Why did you stop again?"

Before Tian Zhuang could finish his sentence, Chu Feng shoved his head down, pinning him flat into the snow.