Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 582 Superstition
Following Nie Guoqiang's deduction, Liu Yuan and Ma Shun gathered the on-site investigation team and conducted a thorough inspection of the cliff where the incident occurred.

Sure enough, finding things is different when you have a target. They quickly found trampling marks in a patch of grass not far from the crime scene and determined that it was not an accident when the police came to investigate.

The good news didn't stop there. The following afternoon, the technical center even determined the rare data of a size 44 foot from a fragmented footprint they collected. This shoe size data alone was enough to form a strong clue.

It's important to understand that even in a single city, there aren't many men with size 44 feet. Although screening and investigating footprints based on shoe size is still a very complex and easily overlooked task, having more clues is always better than having none.

At most, it just means the unfortunate police officers have to work a little harder. Why should the animals complain about doing a little work?

The only pity was that the soles were so worn that the shoe prints were incomplete, making it impossible to determine the brand of the shoes; otherwise, the task would have been much simpler.

Of course, none of these things have anything to do with Lingo.

Having uncovered so many clues on its own, it's fair to say that its mission to assist in Baiyan City has been more than accomplished. The police couldn't possibly entrust everything to a cat, so after all that, Lin Ge finally got a chance to go down the mountain and rest.

Incidentally, Li Siyu no longer needs to feed mosquitoes on the mountain. The only downside is that Li Yiduo still has to keep working with Nie Guoqiang, which is a pity that Li Siyu has to be separated from him.

However... this is Li Siyu's first time in Baiyan City, so it's good to treat it as a relaxing vacation.

Despite the pressure of the case, Li Siyu quickly adjusted her mood and took Lin Ge to the town at the foot of Wudong Mountain Scenic Area to appreciate the beautiful scenery of this famous mountain with a history of thousands of years.

To be honest, Lin Ge loathed mountain climbing. Even scenery, after seeing so many places that were all pretty much the same, had lost much of his interest.

However, the food at the guesthouses at the foot of Wudong Mountain was quite good. The tens of millions of tourists visiting Wudong Mountain every year bring prosperity and a variety of businesses, both large and small. Besides some fleeting internet-famous products, many of these businesses are long-established brands that have earned praise from tourists. The food at these established eateries each has its own unique characteristics, leaving Li Siyu and Lin Ge full of praise.

The two strolled around the food street, eating and drinking, circling it several times. Besides enjoying the food and drinks, they also leisurely admired the young women taking photos of the beautiful scenery, making it a very satisfying trip.

Unfortunately, her short day of rest ended quickly. In the afternoon, Li Siyu received a call from Nie Guoqiang, instructing her to take Mimi to the Baiyan City Public Security Bureau the next day to cooperate with the local police station and community workers in conducting a door-to-door search of residents in the area. So far, no direct evidence has been found in this case, so the only option now is a large-scale investigation, using every possible means possible.

To be honest, this kind of thing might not need the help of Li Siyu, an outside support police officer, but who can blame her when she has a police cat with her, the famous police cat Mimi?

Nie Guoqiang's attention to and trust in Mimi was beyond what other police officers could achieve. He even fantasized that Mimi might find unexpected clues while making interviews, a thought that Liu Yuan could only laugh at while patting him on the shoulder.

Of course, he wouldn't refuse free cattle and horses.

"Mimi, Director Nie really trusts you!"

On the bus back to Baiyan City, Li Siyu held Lin Ge in her arms as they sat in the last row.

The main reason is that bringing pets on a bus is not something that everyone accepts, and Li Siyu is used to being considerate of other people's opinions, so she chose to sit in a less conspicuous place.

She was just quite pretty and had a unique air about her, so even though she was sitting at the back, she was often secretly stared at. There was no way to avoid this, so Li Siyu could only pretend not to notice and keep her head down as she chatted quietly with Lin Ge.

"I really have to thank Nie Guoqiang for valuing me. The more he values ​​me, the more work I get to do, which isn't a good thing."

Lin Ge sighed lazily and slowly digested his food while lying on Li Siyu's lap.

Sitting next to him was a middle-aged woman from the countryside with a rather strong body odor, which made Lin Ge feel slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't that he was discriminating against rural people or anything, but the woman probably had some kind of skin condition, and the smell of the medicine she was applying was indeed pungent.

Seeing that Lin Ge was ignoring her, Li Siyu turned to look at the middle-aged woman beside her who was constantly moaning softly.

"Auntie, are you alright?"

"Me? Oh! It's nothing, I'm fine, nothing's wrong."

The woman paused for a moment before realizing that the pretty girl was talking to her, and quickly shook her head to indicate that she didn't need to worry.

"Where are you going to see a doctor? Why didn't you leave earlier? The hospital departments are probably almost closed by now."

"Oh, it's okay, I'm not going to see a doctor."

"Then you are..."

“I’m going home to my son and daughter-in-law’s. They work in the city and are quite busy every day, so I’m going to help them take care of the kids. But I’m a bit late today, so I hope Dongdong won’t get out of school early. Sigh, it’s all because Auntie was slow with her rituals today.”

The older woman seemed to like Li Siyu quite a bit, and as they chatted, she gradually lowered her guard. Seeing that Li Siyu didn't know who "Grandma Ba" was, she proactively explained, "Grandma Ba is a Taoist nun from Jingyue Temple on Wudong Mountain. The temple enshrines He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals. Let me tell you, Grandma Ba's skills in blessing and performing rituals are exceptionally powerful. Normally, not only people from Baiyan City, but many wealthy people from all over the country come specifically to have her perform rituals. Last year, a billionaire from Fujian Province even hired Grandma Ba to consecrate and assess the feng shui of his newly purchased villa! It's said that he spent a fortune just on the travel expenses to invite Grandma Ba. Of course, Grandma Ba is very kind to us locals; her fees for blessing are very reasonable."

"Oh! Praying for blessings and peace? Then you really shouldn't charge extra."

Li Siyu nodded, but didn't say anything more.

Wudong Mountain is a sacred site of Taoism, and she didn't say much about the various superstitious practices that were rampant there.

I can only say that faith has its pros and cons; I certainly don't believe in it myself.

It's not that I'm seeking peace.

The aunt smiled shyly, looked around, and whispered to Li Siyu, "I have a problem that hasn't gotten better in the last few decades. I've been to every hospital in the city, but nothing has helped. My son and daughter-in-law advised me to go to a big city for treatment. But medical care in big cities is so expensive! My son and daughter-in-law work hard to earn money, how can I spend their money? So I came to ask Aunt Gossip for help, to see if I can get some talisman water to drive away the evil spirits."

"what?"

Li Siyu was stunned for a moment, and even Lin Ge, who was dozing off, turned his head in surprise.

Talismanic Water?

Do people still believe in this stuff these days?
What era are we living in?! When you get sick, instead of seeking treatment, you think that you're just infected by evil spirits and can be cured by using talisman water?
No!

If you believe in this stuff, then why are you putting this cream on your body? I noticed the smell was off earlier, so even the stuff you're using on your body isn't exactly legitimate, right?
Lin Ge stared at the auntie speechlessly.

"Oh! Little girl, your cat is so intelligent; its eyes seem to speak volumes."

The older woman didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said, and continued with a smile, "Young lady, don't disbelieve me. Everyone around here knows about Aunt Ba's abilities! For this little problem I had, Aunt Ba cast a spell on me and applied some of her herbal medicine, and I felt instantly refreshed. Don't think of this as superstition; I'm not ignorant. You know Traditional Chinese Medicine, right? Exorcising evil spirits and using medicinal ingredients are traditional Chinese medicine methods. They're always mentioned in TV dramas, aren't they? The talisman water offered to He Xiangu is the medicinal ingredient, and combined with the herbal medicine from the temple, it can cure any illness, and even prolong life!"

"How...how is this related to Traditional Chinese Medicine again?"

Li Siyu became increasingly confused, feeling that the things the aunt believed in were somewhat of a mixed bag. Or perhaps that woman called "Gossip Girl" was quite trendy, linking traditional Chinese medicine with feudal superstition; her methods of deception were quite impressive, leaving people completely bewildered.

"Isn't this just the feudal superstition of the old society? Even saving people and curing diseases has to be associated with evil spirits and ghosts, and people are deceived into believing it by talking nonsense."

Lin Ge muttered to himself, considering whether to secretly report this Jingyue Nunnery. "Young lady, you're not married yet, are you? But... do you have a boyfriend?"

The auntie was unpredictable, and suddenly changed the subject.

Li Siyu blushed and shyly hummed in agreement.

The auntie nodded, then became interested and leaned closer to whisper, "Let me tell you a secret, and you might not believe it. When you're planning to have a child, secretly go to Jingyue Nunnery behind your boyfriend's back. The gossipy old woman has a special ability to guarantee you'll have a son! Think about it, the importance of having a son versus a daughter is completely different in a man's eyes. If you have a son, your position in the family will be more secure. It's just a matter of spending some money and having the gossipy old woman pray for your blessing! Tsk! Why are you looking at me like that? Don't believe me! I've personally seen wealthy people from other places come specifically to the gossipy old woman to pray for a son. They believe it, so how could it be false?"

"But... He Xiangu, does she not care whether you have a son or a daughter? She's not the Goddess of Mercy who grants children."

Li Siyu could only mumble an excuse, feeling increasingly helpless about the old woman's situation. Wasn't China supposed to be breaking with feudal superstitions? Why were these wealthy people, as the old woman claimed, constantly flocking to temples and monasteries to pray for blessings and divine intervention?
"Does He Xiangu not concern herself with this?"

The aunt was taken aback by Li Siyu's question.

But now that she'd finally found someone willing to listen, the aunt slapped her thigh and whispered, "Even if He Xiangu doesn't care, Gossip Auntie has some tricks up her sleeve! Let me tell you, Gossip Auntie has amazing methods for summoning gods! Whatever god is in charge, she can summon that god to possess her! I'm not kidding, I saw it with my own eyes! On the fifteenth of the first lunar month, at the Jingyue Temple, they performed a ritual to summon gods, and the Yellow Turban Warrior wrapped hundreds of thousands of firecrackers around his body. Then Gossip Auntie summoned heavenly soldiers and generals to possess him, and he became invulnerable to swords and spears, remaining unharmed even after all the firecrackers exploded! She can even summon the judge of the underworld, allowing people to meet and speak with their deceased relatives!"

It's getting more and more mysterious.

Li Siyu frowned slightly, unsure how to persuade the older woman.

Even Lin Ge was speechless as she looked at this person. She had actually been fooled to this extent by this gossipy old woman, to the point that even the Yellow Turban Warriors had come. It was truly outrageous.

How can they believe everything? Do they have any common sense? Even if this place is a Taoist holy site, it doesn't mean there are gods in the world! It's been proven long ago that there is no Chang'e on the moon, so how can these people still believe in gods?

"You don't believe in gods?"

The aunt raised an eyebrow, questioning with dissatisfaction, "The state hides the existence of deities to maintain its rule! How can you not understand such common sense? The universe is so vast, just as no one dares to say there are no aliens, who can prove that deities don't exist? I think it was fifteen years ago that I personally witnessed Aunt Gossip bring a dead person back to life. Can such a thing be faked? That person was even the son of a wealthy man in my Baiyan City. He died unexpectedly, leaving the wealthy man without an heir. Then he begged Aunt Gossip to help him return to life. Aunt Gossip initially refused, but later, unable to resist the wealthy man's request, she spent eighty-one days performing a ritual, bringing the dead man back to life! Although his soul was incomplete and he lost his memory after being resurrected, he's alive and kicking, and now he's inherited the wealthy man's fortune!"

"..."

Li Siyu and Lin Ge exchanged a glance, increasingly suspicious of the matter as they listened.

But the woman described it so vividly, claiming she witnessed it herself, which makes things rather strange.

Either... this gossipy old woman deliberately put on this show in public to attract followers; or... that tycoon must have been fooled and handed over his fortune to someone else.

and……

The fifteen-year mark also gave Lin Ge some ideas.

However, it's probably just a coincidence, right? Even if the police in Baiyan City are incompetent, they couldn't possibly be indifferent to this kind of gossip. Since they didn't say there was any criminal activity involved, it's most likely just a hoax.

What methods did this gossipy woman use to collaborate with some wealthy man and deceive these ignorant people?

Keeping the matter to herself, Li Siyu continued listening to the old woman's ramblings, but no longer took her words seriously. Even though she talked about how the gossipy old woman possessed divine power, how houses blessed by her were protected from evil spirits, and how developers who hired her to perform rituals sold houses better, Li Siyu simply listened and let it go.

Anyway, people who believe in superstitions have their own way of thinking, and it's hard for others to persuade them successfully, so there's no need to bother trying to rebuild the worldview of such an old lady.

"But... no wonder such a bizarre series of murders happened in Wudong Mountain! The locals are really superstitious. Maybe they believe in some kind of mystical stuff, which is why they did such inhumane things."

Lin Ge sighed, feeling that he also needed to tell Nie Guoqiang about this.

If this matter is indeed related to feudal superstition, then the police will need to find a way to change their approach. Alternatively, after solving this case, they may need to clean up the mystical practices in Baiyan City to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

After returning to Baiyan City, Li Siyu first registered at the Municipal Bureau and then obtained a room key for a nearby hotel.

I went to the hotel and took a shower to wash away the dust and toil of the past few days. Then, while rubbing my hair, I video chatted with Li Yiduo.

She was wrapped in a hotel bath towel, her white skin making Li Yiduo unable to look away from the video. But when he suddenly saw Li Siyu lifting Lin Ge and placing him on her bare lap, Li Yiduo couldn't help but curse out loud again.

"Siyu, this guy is a male cat!"

"Are you jealous?"

Li Siyu smiled as she watched Li Yiduo's anxious expression, but still obediently blushed and moved the camera away before getting up to change her clothes.

"Nima!"

Lin Ge quickly turned around; he didn't want to take advantage of Li Siyu and then cuckold Li Yiduo.

After the rustling sounds, Li Siyu changed into a set of shorts and a T-shirt before telling Li Yiduo about what happened in the car that day.

"You suspect that the case we're investigating might be related to this gossipy old woman?"

"It's not necessarily related, but the reasons might be similar. Look how superstitious the people here are. Maybe they listened to some unreliable Taoist priest or monk and came up with some kind of mystical ritual! Didn't Boss Nie say before that their behavior of kowtowing to the cliff was probably some kind of ritual or procedure? Such unscientific things can only be explained by superstition, right?"

Li Siyu is no longer the naive girl she was when she first arrived at the police station. Now she knows how to analyze cases and look for clues and possibilities from all aspects.

"Hmm! I'll tell Boss Nie what you've found out. If it's really because of some superstitious reason that this happened, then I really don't know whether to call it ignorance or that it deserves to die."

Li Yiduo sighed and then reminded Li Siyu, "When you go on the visits tomorrow, pay attention to whether there are any superstitious things in those people's homes, in addition to looking for suspects. To be honest, now that you mention it, I think the police and education system in Baiyan City are really worrying! They definitely bear an inescapable responsibility for allowing feudal superstition and even cult-like things to develop to this extent!"

"Cult?"

Li Siyu was stunned for a moment.

"What is this 'resurrection from the dead' thing if not a cult? Although I don't know if it's true or not, I think it needs to be investigated. That gossipy old woman prayed for blessings for 81 days, who knows if she spent that time getting plastic surgery!"

"Hehe... You think so too! When I first heard it, I thought the same thing. Amnesia and all that, it's too obvious a cover-up. But since the other party is a very wealthy person, surely they hadn't even considered this possibility?"

Li Siyu couldn't help but laugh.

"But what if the other party is very superstitious, has unwavering faith in the gossipmonger's abilities, or has been persuaded by the gossipmonger in other ways?"

Li Yiduo never believed that rich people were necessarily smart. At least based on the social circles he'd encountered since his family became wealthy, there were still quite a few idiots among them. And when they were brainwashed by superstitions, it wouldn't be surprising what they did.

(End of this chapter)