Chapter 73: Madam, Please Behave
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Only after returning to the Chen Residence did Lin Xiu learn that Liu Qingfeng had already identified the culprit behind the kidnapping. It was one of the wet nurses. Having spent considerable time in the household, she witnessed Merchant Chen’s doting affection for his son, thus hatching a plan of abduction and extortion.
She instructed a relative to kidnap the young master, intending to wait a couple of days until Merchant Chen was distraught and hopeless before having the distant relative demand the ransom. She would remain behind the scenes, reaping the benefits effortlessly. A perfect plan.
However, she never imagined the authorities would uncover her involvement. With the young master in her possession, she still had a chance to escape. Now, with the boy recovered, she had no hope of turning things around.
The wet nurse sat limply on the ground, eyes vacant, as if all the bones in her body had been removed.
Liu Qingfeng’s face was filled with astonishment. He stared intently at Lin Xiu. “Master Lin, h-how did you do it?”
If he hadn’t known Lin Xiu’s identity and the Lin family’s standing, he would have suspected this was a charade orchestrated by Lin Xiu and the wet nurse to swindle reward money from the Chen family.
This time, Lin Xiu didn’t keep him in suspense. “Master Liu, you’re aware I requested a piece of the young master’s clothing, correct?”
Liu Qingfeng nodded. “I saw that. But Master Lin, you found the young master with just a piece of clothing?”
Lin Xiu patted Big Yellow’s head. “Of course I couldn’t. But he can. A dog’s sense of smell is far superior to a human’s. I had him memorize the young master’s scent and then sniff around. Any place with that scent, besides the Chen Residence, would be where the young master was hidden.”
A dog’s superior sense of smell was common knowledge. Liu Qingfeng was aware of this. People often praised a keen sense of smell by saying, “Your nose is sharper than a dog’s.”
However, using this ability to solve a case was beyond Liu Qingfeng’s comprehension. Dogs were animals, unable to understand human language. How could they assist in investigations?
Lin Xiu, sensing Liu Qingfeng’s confusion, explained, “Actually, some animals are quite intelligent, especially dogs. Living with humans for so long, they understand human nature to some extent. With a little training, they can help us with many things. If you’re interested, Master Liu, you could try training one. Whether tracking criminals or finding people, they are far superior to humans.”
Shame crept onto the faces of the constables beside Liu Qingfeng. They were actually outdone by a dog. How embarrassing.
Having solved countless cases, Liu Qingfeng considered himself unmatched in this field. But Lin Xiu had shown him there were always greater heights to reach.
With a humbled expression, he said, “Master Lin, you’ve truly opened my eyes today. I consider myself skilled in investigations, but compared to you, I still have much to learn.”
Lin Xiu waved his hand. “Master Liu, you’re too modest. You managed to identify the culprit in such a short time. You deserve the title of ‘Divine Detective’.”
Lin Xiu wasn’t simply exchanging flattery. From their brief interactions, he recognized Liu Qingfeng’s genuine investigative talent. He himself couldn’t have pinpointed the culprit from so many servants in less than half an hour. He couldn’t even do it in a day.
Liu Qingfeng shook his head. “I relied on my Mystic Art. It can’t compare to Master Lin’s ingenious methods.”
“Mystic Art?” Lin Xiu’s eyes lit up. “What Mystic Art have you awakened, Master Liu?”
Liu Qingfeng replied, “To be honest, I rely on the Eye Mystic Art. I can see clues easily overlooked by ordinary people and discern subtle changes in expressions, allowing me to quickly identify culprits.”
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Eye Mystic Art. Lin Xiu pondered this.
Possessing several Mystic Arts himself, he understood that the established rankings didn’t tell the whole story.
In certain situations, low-rank Mystic Arts could achieve what high-rank ones couldn’t. The Ice Mystic Art was Sky rank, and the Healing Mystic Art was Earth rank. But for someone critically injured, even a ninth-awakening Ice Mystic Art master couldn’t compare to Shuangshuang with her fourth-awakening Healing Art.
Similarly, without the Animal Speech ability, even with his Sky rank Mystic Arts, Lin Xiu couldn’t have found the child.
The Eye Mystic Art was also Earth rank. However, for Lin Xiu, all Mystic Arts were potentially Sky rank. This ability granted incredible vision and perception. The abilities after the fifth awakening were unknown, but Lin Xiu fantasized about X-ray vision…
For the sake of… protecting his eyes, he needed to acquire Liu Qingfeng’s ability.
Those awakened with the Eye Mystic Art wouldn’t suffer from nearsightedness or presbyopia. Their eyes possessed telescopic and magnifying capabilities, along with auto-focus. A godsend for people like Lin Xiu and Li Bozhang. Imagine using this ability to… appreciate beautiful women.
Having just obtained the Thunder and Healing abilities, Lin Xiu had a new target.
He addressed Liu Qingfeng, “Mystic Arts are merely tools. I truly admire your investigative methods, Master Liu.”
Liu Qingfeng’s eyebrows rose, pleased. “You truly think so, Master Lin?”
For a detective, what could be more satisfying than recognition from another detective? Receiving acknowledgment from a respected professional in his field was a great honor for Liu Qingfeng.
Lin Xiu smiled. “Absolutely. How about we have a drink sometime and exchange investigative experiences? Learn from each other, mutually improve. What do you say?”
Liu Qingfeng beamed. “I’d love to!”
Seeing the gleam in Liu Qingfeng’s eyes at the mention of alcohol, Lin Xiu became wary. “How is your alcohol tolerance, Master Liu?”
Liu Qingfeng chuckled. “Decent.”
Lin Xiu knew Liu Qingfeng was being modest. “Decent” meant excellent alcohol tolerance. If so, Lin Xiu needed to prepare two days in advance.
He said with a smile, “I have some matters to attend to today. I’ll host a banquet at Moon Picking Tower and treat you to a few drinks sometime soon.”
Lin Xiu still didn’t know the limit of his replication ability after the second awakening. Liu Qingfeng was readily available at the department, so there was no rush.
Liu Qingfeng shook his head. “Moon Picking Tower is too expensive. We can just have a casual drink at a roadside tavern.”
This resonated with Lin Xiu. He also found Moon Picking Tower too pricey. Even with Manager Qian’s discounted “friendship price,” he still felt the pinch. He liked Liu Qingfeng more and more. This young man was very sensible…
The constables escorted the three culprits to the department. Merchant Chen hurried out, pressing a stack of banknotes into Lin Xiu’s hands. “Thank you, Master. This is one thousand one hundred taels. Please accept it. The extra is for a meal for you and your men. This unfortunate incident caused you all much trouble…”
Lin Xiu didn’t refuse the reward. He deserved it. Although easily earned, his ability was irreplaceable. He handed one hundred taels to a constable captain. “Here, split this amongst yourselves.”
The captain hesitated, but Lin Xiu waved his hand. “You’ve all been busy all morning. Take this and buy some drinks.”
The captain accepted, and the constables thanked Lin Xiu. Divided amongst them, the sum amounted to several months’ salary.
Liu Qingfeng, eyeing the banknotes in Lin Xiu’s hand, felt a flicker of envy and longing, which quickly faded.
He cupped his hands towards Lin Xiu. “Master Lin, I’ll return to the department now.”
Lin Xiu smiled. “I also have some matters to attend to. See you in a few days.”
His cultivation had stagnated for so long. Having just earned one thousand taels, Lin Xiu was eager to exchange them for Yuan Crystals. One thousand taels could only buy ten crystals, enough for ten days of cultivation. Cultivating with Yuan Crystals was incredibly expensive. This was only the second awakening. After the next awakening, a single day of cultivation would require one thousand taels. Even the wealthiest couldn’t sustain that.
He needed a new way to earn money.
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Lin Estate, A Guest Room.
It was early autumn, and the weather still held some summer heat. However, this guest room was exceptionally cool, bordering on frigid. It was like an ice cellar.
In fact, it was an ice cellar.
The room had been emptied. Thick layers of ice covered the floor and walls. Lin Xiu sat cross-legged on the ice, a constant stream of cold air emanating from his body.
Cultivating with Yuan Crystals required depleting his Yuan Power completely, replenishing it with a crystal, then repeating the process.
Talking to animals didn’t consume much Yuan Power. This low-rank ability couldn’t even be enhanced with Yuan Crystals.
Sky rank Mystic Arts were not only powerful but could also rapidly deplete Yuan Power, demonstrating their potential. Lin Xiu’s ice creation and thunder release both consumed significant Yuan Power, but the latter was too conspicuous. He could only create a personal ice cellar.
Fresh vegetables and meat could be stored there without spoiling.
In no time, Lin Xiu depleted the ten second-order Yuan Crystals he’d just acquired. This rate of spending was truly extravagant.
However, helping Merchant Chen find his son gave Lin Xiu an idea for quick money: private investigation.
The Animal Speech ability wasn’t limited to veterinary practice. It could be used for discreet investigations.
People were wary of being followed by other people, but who would notice a dog? Or a bird? Even the most vigilant wouldn’t suspect avian surveillance.
Private investigators existed in the Great Xia, known as “Secret Investigators.” They handled everything from finding people, background checks, infidelity cases, surveillance, and protection.
The Secret Detective Agency, one of the twenty-four court agencies, performed similar tasks, but officially. The beggar and the pancake vendor outside the Lin Estate were such agents.
Hiring private investigators was expensive, as their clientele were wealthy merchants and nobles. They could procure secrets of influential families. In a sense, they were like paparazzi…
This profession required minimal capital investment, with immediate payment upon completion. It was the ideal side hustle for Lin Xiu.
With a plan forming, Lin Xiu left the estate.
He hadn’t forgotten Little Grey, the grey dog who provided the crucial clue. Having devoured two pork knuckles and five chicken legs, it now basked in the sun outside the estate walls.
Lin Xiu, accompanied by Sun Dali and Big Yellow, headed to the capital’s flower and bird market. He intended to buy a bird. While Big Yellow wasn’t usually suspicious, its size was a disadvantage. Tailing someone outdoors was fine, but it couldn’t enter residences. A bird, however, was small and inconspicuous. Well-trained, it would surpass even the most advanced drones.
Near the Lin Estate was Flower and Bird Street, catering to the wealthy. Nobles, living off their stipends, had ample leisure time. Besides oppressing commoners and harassing women, their pastimes included bird-walking, cockfighting, and cricket fighting.
Flower and Bird Street was lined with shops selling bonsai, flowers, insects, and birds. Upon entering, Lin Xiu’s head buzzed, as if it would explode. The street was already noisy, but the usual chirping and buzzing transformed into a cacophony in Lin Xiu’s ears.
“Gurgle, gurgle…”
“So hungry, I want to eat…”
“Caw, caw, anyone want to mate?”
“Me, me, me, I’m behind you…”
Lin Xiu realized not all animals possessed the intelligence of the Noble Consort’s spirit pet or Big Yellow. Most of the animals here uttered meaningless sounds. The ornamental fish only gurgled, their sounds conveying nothing. Insects, driven by instincts, repeated phrases about food and mating.
To his surprise, some birds, like the Hwamei and the Goldfinch, exhibited higher intelligence. At the first shop, he bought a Hwamei for ten taels and quickly left.
Understanding animal speech wasn’t always a blessing. The barrage of meaningless sounds in this place was a headache.
Pear Blossom Garden, A Private Room.
Caiyi, looking at the Hwamei in its cage, teased it with her finger. “This Hwamei is so beautiful…”
Lin Xiu discussed a matter with the opera house owner. He wanted to operate as a secret investigator, but he needed a storefront. A shop to receive clients. He lacked the time and energy to manage a shop full-time. He could, however, utilize Pear Blossom Garden. An additional sign at the entrance, and the staff could take on clients for him.
He offered compensation, but the owner refused. Seeing her insistence, he didn’t press the matter.
The Lin Detective Agency was thus established, but days passed without any business. This was normal. This line of work relied on reputation. Everyone sought renowned investigators. Newcomers often went unnoticed.
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One day, Lin Xiu strolled down the street, Big Yellow trailing behind, a Hwamei perched on his shoulder, drawing curious glances.
Many in the capital kept birds, but they either tied the birds’ legs with string, clipped their wings, or carried them in cages. This young master, however, had neither string nor clipped wings, yet the bird remained obediently on his shoulder. This was the epitome of bird-walking.
Several people approached, inquiring about his bird-training methods or offering to buy the bird, some bidding as high as one hundred taels. Lin Xiu had only spent ten.
He refused to sell, and they couldn’t replicate his training methods.
When Lin Xiu first opened the cage, the Hwamei intended to flee, but it was curious about the human who understood its language, so it circled above the Lin Estate. Lin Xiu spent three days conversing with it and offering food, finally winning its loyalty.
Birds differed greatly from dogs. Dogs, domesticated for ages, were inherently loyal. Lin Xiu won Big Yellow’s unwavering devotion with a pork knuckle and some chicken legs. Birds, however, craved freedom. Even with communication, they were difficult to tame.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to be an investigator. Bird training alone would make him a fortune.
Fortunately, this bird was intelligent, understanding the difference between a full meal and consistent meals. Out in the wild, it often went hungry, especially during winter. With Lin Xiu, it had three meals a day, and it could even request specific foods. Much better than catching insects…
Arriving at Pear Blossom Garden, Lin Xiu entered the main hall. The owner descended the stairs, beaming. “Master Lin, perfect timing! We have a client, a big one! Caiyi is upstairs discussing the details…”
Moments later, in a second-floor private room, Lin Xiu met the client.
It was a woman, short and stout, about five feet tall, weighing over three hundred pounds, and appearing to be in her forties. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, her appearance wasn’t flattering.
But she had one major advantage: she was wealthy.
Her head was adorned with pure gold accessories, appearing heavy to Lin Xiu. A pearl necklace, with pearls of impressive size and luster, graced her… well, not her neck, as she had no discernible neck. Her chin and chest seemed to merge. Two pure gold bracelets, one on each wrist, nearly blinded Lin Xiu.
Seeing Lin Xiu, her eyes lit up. “Are you the Secret Investigator?”
Lin Xiu nodded. “What matter would you like to entrust to me, Madam?”
She scrutinized him, her eyes gleaming with a peculiar light. The flesh where her neck should have been quivered. “How about you quit being an investigator and come work for me? I’ll pay you five hundred taels a month, spending money included. You’ll spend ten days a month with me, and the rest of the time you can do as you please…”
Lin Xiu’s face adopted a righteous expression. “Madam, please behave. I am not that kind of person…”
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