Forensic Doctor: Finding the Way Back to the Mystery of Ancient Realms

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight shone through the sparse clouds, sprinkling on the ancient stone road of S City, covering the sleeping city with a layer of mysterious silver gauze. Xu Youran and Situ Han walked side by side on the way back to the police station. Although their steps were tired, their eyes flickered with endless desire for the truth.

Xu Youran (quietly): "Situ, do you think the secrets behind 'Shadow Workshop' are really just simple clay sculpture skills?"

Situ Han (pondering for a moment): "No, I always feel that all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Those clay figures, what they carry is far more than what we see."

The next morning, a piece of news broke the peace in S City - Lao Li, a famous sugar painting master in the city, was found dead in front of his stall, with several unfinished sugar paintings scattered around him. Each piece was extremely delicate, yet exuded an indescribable weirdness.

Xu Youran and Situ Han rushed to the scene and saw colorful sugar paintings next to Lao Li's body, which seemed to contain some ominous omen. Xu Youran squatted down and carefully examined the details of the sugar paintings, and found that one of them was surprisingly similar to a symbol seen in the "Shadow House" base last night.

Aunt Li, Lao Li's wife, cried heart-wrenchingly. She told the two that Lao Li was still excitedly talking about his newly created sugar paintings before going to bed last night, saying that they could "tell stories", but he didn't have time to tell what the stories were.

As the investigation deepened, a woman named Su Wanqing came into the police's sight. She was Lao Li's apprentice and had been behaving strangely in recent days, often going out late at night and showing an unusual interest in Lao Li's sugar painting skills.

In the police station, Su Wanqing faced interrogation with a complicated expression. She admitted that she was jealous of Lao Li's sugar painting skills, but firmly denied having anything to do with Lao Li's death. However, under Xu Youran's clever guidance, she inadvertently revealed that she had heard Lao Li mention the "Shadow Workshop" and an ancient secret technique that could "give life to objects."

Xu Youran (with sharp eyes): "Su Wanqing, you seem to know more than you say. What is the connection between Lao Li's sugar painting and 'Dark Shadow Workshop'?"

Su Wanqing (hesitated for a moment, then finally relaxed): "I... I just heard Master mention it occasionally. He said that those sugar paintings contain secrets that can lead people to find the real 'Dark Shadow Workshop'. But I really don't know what this has to do with his death."

Situ Han (pondering): "It seems that Lao Li's death was not accidental. These sugar paintings may be the key to unlocking the secrets of 'Dark Shadow Workshop'."

As the investigation into the case of the sugar painting master deepens, Xu Youran and Situ Han discover that there seems to be some subtle connection between this case and the previous clay figurine case, and even the more distant S City family murder case. Each case is like a piece of a puzzle, gradually piecing together a shocking picture of the truth.

During the investigation, Zhang Wei and other police officers also discovered many clues that seemed unrelated but were actually closely related. They summarized these clues and analyzed them together with Xu Youran and Situ Han.

During the investigation, they accidentally contacted the families of several victims in other cases, who said that their relatives had also mentioned similar "secret arts" and "shadow workshops." The convergence of these clues made the outline of the truth clearer.

Xu Youran and Situ Han realize that the "Shadow House" is not just a simple secret organization, but a huge conspiracy that spans decades may be hidden behind it. This conspiracy is closely linked to the rise and fall of S City and the fate of countless people.

Just when the investigation was about to make a breakthrough, an anonymous letter quietly appeared at the door of the police station. The letter contained only one sentence: "If you want to solve the thirty-year-old mystery, please go to the old locust tree in the south of the city at midnight tomorrow night."

Xu Youran (holding the letter tightly, with a firm look): "It seems that our opponents can't wait any longer."

Situ Han (smiled slightly, with a fighting spirit flashing in his eyes): "Then let's see what is hidden behind this."

As night falls again, under the old locust tree in the south of S City, a battle between truth and justice is about to begin. And all this is just the beginning of the prelude to the serial mystery case in S City during the Republic of China...

Just as the two were about to leave the old locust tree, a breeze blew by, bringing with it a barely perceptible sweet fragrance that was surprisingly similar to the fragrance they smelled in the "Shadow House" base last night. Xu Youran and Situ Han looked at each other, with alertness and curiosity flashing in each other's eyes.

Xu Youran (quietly): "This fragrance... could it be related to 'Shadow House'?"

Situ Han (nods, his tone is solemn): "It is very likely. Moreover, this letter came too coincidentally. The person behind this is obviously guiding us."

They decided to follow the instructions in the letter and come here again at midnight tomorrow night to see what would happen. But before that, they needed to make more preparations to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

Back at the police station, Xu Youran and Situ Han immediately called together all the police officers involved in the investigation, including Zhang Wei and other representatives of the S City police, to discuss countermeasures. They decided to split into two groups, one to continue to investigate the clues of "Dark Shadow House" in depth, and the other to secretly monitor Su Wanqing and other possible suspects to prevent any accidents.

At the same time, Xu Youran had a bold guess in her mind: Perhaps, these seemingly independent cases were all set up by the "Dark Shadow Workshop" to cover up a larger conspiracy. And this conspiracy is likely to be inextricably linked to the murder case that shocked S City 30 years ago.

Xu Youran (whispering to Situ Han): "Situ, I always feel that we are getting closer and closer to the truth. But this time, what we are facing may not just be an organization, but a huge conspiracy that spans time and space."

Situ Han (clenching his fists, with a sharp gaze): "No matter what is hidden behind this, we must expose it in broad daylight. For the peace of S City and for the souls of those innocent victims to rest in peace."

In the dead of night, the police station was brightly lit. Xu Youran and Situ Han stood side by side in front of the window, looking at the deep night sky outside, their hearts filled with expectations and determination for unknown challenges. Not far away, under the old locust tree in the south of the city, a battle of love, hate, justice and evil was quietly brewing...

As midnight approached, Xu Youran and Situ Han appeared again under the old locust tree in the south of S City. There was silence all around, with only the occasional barking of dogs in the distance breaking the tranquility of the night. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the branches and leaves of the old locust tree rustled, as if whispering something.

At this moment, a figure in a black robe slowly walked out of the darkness, holding a dim lantern in his hand, illuminating the face of the person. That person was Su Wanqing, but her eyes were completely different from the past, full of determination and madness.

Su Wanqing (sneered): "You are finally here. But you should know that once you step in here, you can never turn back."

As she finished speaking, more people in black robes suddenly appeared around them. Holding sharp weapons, they surrounded Xu Youran and Situ Han. A battle between life and death, justice and truth, thus began...