Unorthodox Paths: Cultivating Immortality by Relying on a Rich Woman

Chapter 27: The Murderer’s Identity

Zhao Xuliang had only spent two days to find the suspect in the throat-slitting case.

This speed was already quite efficient, yet Shen Qingzhou did not find it surprising.

Because ghosts without physical bodies were far more convenient than humans in certain matters.

“The one who perfectly matched the characteristics you described is a man named Ma Yong. But he isn’t a fish vendor, nor a seafood stall owner—he’s a worker at a nearby seafood processing factory…” Zhao Xuliang said.

Shen Qingzhou was greatly surprised upon hearing this. Huinan City was close to the Yangtze River, so there were quite a few small seafood processing factories. Their business mainly involved processing and selling aquatic products and semi-finished goods.

These workers handled seafood for long periods. Even if they wore rubber gloves, over time, the fishy smell would seep into them.

“I really hadn’t thought of that before,” Shen Qingzhou exclaimed.

“In fact, a characteristic like a fishy smell is still too vague. Seafood vendors, factory workers, fishermen on the water, chefs in kitchens, and even some workers in chemical plants may all carry a fishy odor. The scope is too broad…”

“Wait, you said chemical plant workers? Why would they smell like fish?”

“Because chemical plants produce a type of amine compound, such as trimethylamine, whose odor is almost identical to that of fish.”

Shen Qingzhou suddenly understood. “You really know a lot. Since that’s the case, how did you find him? With such a wide range, even with the convenience of your status, it couldn’t have been that easy, right?”

“That’s because I didn’t search based on the fishy smell clue at all. I went to the crime scene and asked around along the way…” Zhao Xuliang said with a hint of pride.

Clearly, the “people” Zhao Xuliang referred to were actually ghosts.

This was the same principle as when Shen Qingzhou had used “Soul-Attracting Incense” that day to summon the old woman and ask about the situation at the time of the incident.

These ghosts lingering in the human world wandered everywhere. Since Ma Yong couldn’t see them, he naturally had no guard against them.

“Uncle Zhao, that’s really impressive. You considered things much more thoroughly than I did.”

In order to make them genuinely work for him, Shen Qingzhou never hesitated to provide enough emotional value—after all, it cost him nothing.

However, Wu Suyun, who had been sitting to the side listening silently, seemed somewhat unconvinced.

“Xiao Shen, you can leave matters like this to me in the future. I guarantee I’ll handle them more properly,” Wu Suyun said.

“Aunt Wu, Uncle Zhao already handled this very well.”

Shen Qingzhou believed that even if it were him, he would have done no better.

But upon hearing this, Wu Suyun remained unimpressed and instead asked, “Oh? Very well? What exactly was well done? Let me ask him—aside from knowing the murderer is called Ma Yong, how many people are in his family? Is he local or from out of town? Is he married? Does he have children? Even why he committed the murder, and where the weapon is hidden—did he investigate any of these?”

Zhao Xuliang defended himself, “What’s the use of knowing those things? As long as we catch the murderer, that’s enough. The rest is the police’s job.”

“Exactly,” Shen Qingzhou agreed.

“How could it be useless? With that information, it would make it easier for the police to apprehend him, create a more detailed profile, and reduce the risk of resistance during the arrest.”

Zhao Xuliang fell silent. Shen Qingzhou also fell silent.

“Xiao Shen is still young, but at your age, how can you still be so careless?” Wu Suyun said.

Zhao Xuliang looked embarrassed but did not dare to argue further.

Wu Suyun had always looked down on Zhao Xuliang, thinking he was irresponsible. Back when he went bankrupt, his understanding wife, in order to ease his financial burden, had directly abandoned him and their daughter to run off with someone else.

And instead of taking responsibility to care for his daughter, he chose suicide, leaving her alone and helpless.

Wu Suyun’s situation had actually been quite similar to Zhao Xuliang’s, but she was far more formidable.

In her early years, she had been a magazine editor. Later, she resigned and entered the business world, enduring ups and downs and multiple bankruptcies. During that time, she also divorced her husband and raised two daughters alone.

Yet none of this defeated her. She even established her own fashion brand. Although she passed away from illness in her forties, she left behind a substantial fortune for her two daughters, ensuring they would live without worry.

“For this payment, I’ll have the accountant transfer it to your daughter’s account.”

Shen Qingzhou naturally would not go back on what he had promised.

Zhao Xuliang was also very reassured about this, after all, it was not their first time working together.

This was also why Shen Qingzhou had asked Zhao Xuliang to handle this matter—Zhao Xuliang’s daughter was living in hardship, while Wu Suyun’s two daughters lacked nothing.

Now that the murderer had been identified, Shen Qingzhou did not delay in the slightest and directly sent Ma Yong’s information to Chang Shengli.

The reason he used WeChat instead of calling was because this would serve as evidence that he had provided a clue to the police. It would make the process of claiming the reward later much simpler.

“Confirmed?” Chang Shengli quickly replied.

“When I handle things, you can rest assured.” Shen Qingzhou even added an “OK” emoji.

“Then wait for my good news.”

Chang Shengli said no more, presumably arranging personnel to arrest the suspect.

With the matter handled, Shen Qingzhou decided to go for dinner. Although it was still early, the ritual in the afternoon had consumed a great deal of his energy, and his stomach was already unbearably hungry.

Wu Suyun and Zhao Xuliang naturally went downstairs with him. Seeing that she was the only one left in the room, Xiao Qiu quickly rode Wu Ying and followed after them.

After arriving downstairs, Zhao Xuliang left first—he was going to check on his daughter.

Once he left, Shen Qingzhou turned to Wu Suyun and said, “Now tell me, what do you need from me?”

“You’re so sure I came to you for something?” Wu Suyun smiled.

Judging from her relaxed expression, it didn’t seem to be anything urgent.

“Unless I come looking for you, when have you ever come to me without a reason?” Shen Qingzhou said.

Wu Suyun laughed upon hearing this, then said, “There really is something I need your help with. You still remember my younger daughter, Lu Yunyun, right?”

“I remember. She should be in her sophomore year now, right? What about her?”

Wu Suyun sighed. “Sigh, even after death, she still makes me worry. She used to do livestreaming and short videos, trying to be some kind of internet celebrity—twisting her waist and sticking out her backside all day, really unbearable to watch. But she had quite a lot of followers. Recently, she met some wealthy patron, and they arranged to meet. I’m really worried, so I’d like you to accompany me on this trip.”

“An internet celebrity, huh? Sure, I’ll go with you when the time comes,” Shen Qingzhou agreed without hesitation.

This wasn’t just a meeting—this was practically walking into danger.

“Logically speaking, she shouldn’t be lacking money. Why would she want to become an internet celebrity?”

“Exactly.”

…

The two chatted as they walked, while Xiao Qiu rode Wu Ying, running back and forth around them.

“Oh right, Xiao Shen, have you ever considered getting a girlfriend?”

Shen Qingzhou immediately shot her a sideways glance. Good grief—she was trying to take advantage of him for free and make him her son-in-law.