Chapter Fourteen: Let Us Take Matters Into Our Own Hands

Shen Nanxiang asked in confusion, “Do you know someone?”

“Mei Kaihan.”

“Of course, he’s the gravekeeper.”

Lu Qingfei smiled without pressing further. She glanced down at her phone, her long black lashes casting a faint shadow over her eyelids.

Shen Nanxiang had changed into a long, ancient-style dress in a greenish hue. Her gaze lingered playfully on Lu Qingfei before she suddenly remarked, “You’re as elegant as a cat, with the temperament of rosemary.”

Lu Qingfei looked up. “What?”

She couldn’t quite follow the train of thought of the Princess of Rui.

Crossing the intersection and rounding a corner, they soon arrived at the Yun City Sub-bureau.

“Miss Lu!”

A surprised male voice called out from behind.

Lu Qingfei turned and, unexpectedly, saw Wei Ze. Dressed not in uniform but in a well-known brand’s sportswear, he appeared more casual than usual.

“We bumped into each other this morning, and here we are meeting again,” Wei Ze said with a sheepish grin, scratching his face. “Isn’t that a bit of a coincidence?”

“Officer Wei.”

Lu Qingfei greeted him simply. Before she could say anything else, Wei Ze enthusiastically continued, “I just saw Mr. Mei. He went to scatter his mother’s ashes at sea and is leaving tonight.”

Lu Qingfei’s gaze sharpened. “Mei Kaihan is leaving?”

“Yes,” Wei Ze confirmed.

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingfei’s brow furrowed slightly as she changed her mind.

“Officer Wei, Master Liu Guanyun has found the person who stole the relics. Please come with me.”

Again? Wei Ze was bewildered, but before he could process it, Lu Qingfei was already some distance ahead.

He pointed to the parking lot. “I drove here—we can take the car.”

Lu Qingfei replied, “It’s rush hour. Traffic’s bad. Walking will be faster.”

“True.” Without hesitation, Wei Ze abandoned his car and caught up to her.

Forget leaving the Maybach behind. He’d race to rescue the relics even if he had to carry a rocket on his back.

“Why are you so concerned about the porcelain?” Wei Ze asked as he walked beside her.

“Protecting cultural relics is everyone’s responsibility,” Lu Qingfei replied earnestly. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Inspired by her answer, Wei Ze straightened up. “Your sense of duty is admirable!”

Those who steal relics deserve justice at the hands of people like us.

“Who did Master Liu say stole the porcelain from the ancient tomb?” Wei Ze asked as they walked.

“We’re here,” Lu Qingfei indicated the villa ahead.

Wei Ze followed her gesture and was stunned. Wasn’t this Mei Kaihan’s house?

Had she gone mad, sending the gravekeeper straight to his doom?

“Master Liu didn’t say this morning that Mr. Mei was the thief,” Wei Ze said in disbelief. “Did you misunderstand?”

“You’ll know once we go inside,” Lu Qingfei replied.

As they spoke, Lu Qingfei raised her hand and pressed the doorbell.

After three chimes, the door finally opened.

Mei Kaihan had dismissed all the servants, so he answered the door himself. When he saw Lu Qingfei, a shadow flickered in his eyes.

“Mr. Mei, there are some matters I’d like to ask you about,” Wei Ze said politely. “Is now a good time?”

Given his status as the “negligent gravekeeper,” Mei Kaihan wouldn’t refuse.

That was exactly why Lu Qingfei insisted on bringing Wei Ze—when out in the world, one must know how to use others’ identities.

Wei Ze started to wonder if he’d acted too rashly. Granted, Liu Guanyun and Lu Qingfei seemed friendly, and it was reasonable for her to deliver a message, even having received a talisman from him.

But what if Lu Qingfei misheard? If Mei Kaihan complained and his probation failed, he’d have to go home and inherit the family business—that would be tragic.

Wei Ze felt a rising panic, as if nowhere to hide.

Lu Qingfei, however, remained composed, her gaze quietly assessing the surroundings. Throughout, she was calm and unhurried.

Wei Ze began to doubt himself—why was she so unflappable? It only made his own nerves seem all the more fragile.

Shen Nanxiang’s voice, now airy and dreamlike, whispered in Lu Qingfei’s ear: “He hid the porcelain in the urn.”

Lu Qingfei nodded almost imperceptibly.

The villa’s living room was spotless.

Mei Kaihan’s tone was apologetic, “The servants have gone home, so there’s no good tea to offer. Please forgive me.”

“No need to host us. We just have a few questions,” Wei Ze said, scanning the room before settling his gaze on Mei Kaihan. “Mr. Mei, you said the replica was bought at the antique market for a large sum?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, it was a cash transaction in person, so there are no leads,” Mei Kaihan answered.

“We checked the surveillance at the antique market but didn’t see you there,” Wei Ze pressed.

Mei Kaihan replied smoothly, “The suspect was cunning and chose a blind spot for the cameras.”

That explanation sounded watertight to Wei Ze.

He didn’t suspect Mei Kaihan—after all, the man was a Buddhist devotee, having stayed in the ancient tomb for seven years. If he had wanted to steal relics, he would have done so long ago.

From the moment they entered, Mei Kaihan had been watching Lu Qingfei closely.

She stood quietly by, listening to their conversation, her fingers tapping her phone in a display of leisure.

Perhaps sensing his scrutiny, Lu Qingfei suddenly turned her head, her gaze colliding directly with Mei Kaihan’s.

Click.

It was as if something in the air had broken.

A sudden jolt ran through Mei Kaihan’s heart.

This woman had probably been watching him since the police station. And Wei Ze was definitely brought by her.

His instincts told him Lu Qingfei would not be easy to deal with.

Suppressing his unease, he looked away. “I have something to take care of. Please wait here for a moment.”

“Go ahead. Don’t worry about us.”

After Mei Kaihan left, Wei Ze glanced at Lu Qingfei, who stood at the foot of the stairs, more confused than ever.

Why did it feel like she was here to search the place? Was he helping the wrong side?

Nervously, Wei Ze asked, “Did Master Liu really say that Mr. Mei is the suspect?”

“He’s not a suspect,” Lu Qingfei said firmly. “He’s the one who stole the relics.”

“How do you know?” Wei Ze was baffled. Were all mystics so cryptic?

The more mysterious she sounded, the more anxious he became.

Lu Qingfei tilted her head, brows gently knit, then suddenly said, “Don’t move.”

Wei Ze, halfway through stretching his neck, froze. “Why?”

“Look up.”

Wei Ze did as told, only to see a massive shadow lurking in the corner of the ceiling.

The room was brightly lit with nothing in the way—so why the shadow? And it was oddly indistinct.

A chill ran down Wei Ze’s spine.

An evil entity!

Holding his breath, he instinctively gripped the golf club leaning nearby.

“Didn’t Master Liu mention there’d be something evil here?” he asked.

Though inexperienced, frequent interactions with Liu Guanyun had taught Wei Ze that such supernatural matters were not to be taken lightly.

Lu Qingfei’s lips curled. “This is no ordinary evil.”

Wei Ze pressed on, “What, is it from Class Two or something?”

Do evil spirits go to school now, divided by class? Are there honors classes, fast-track groups, innovation teams, too?

It belongs to my third senior brother, Lu Qingfei thought.

The shadow on the ceiling moved, like an inky fish swimming freely in the sea.

Lu Qingfei followed its motion with her gaze, instructing, “I’ll count to three. When I do, run out and stop Mei Kaihan.”

“What about you?” Wei Ze asked.