Cat 251: Which Grave

Chapter 251: Which Grave

If the deceased isn’t Wei Liu, then the clue of the treasure map is temporarily cut off.

The quest stated that finding the treasure map would trigger a mysterious side quest—why hasn’t it activated?

Could it be necessary to first confirm the identity of the male deceased before the side quest will be triggered?

Then, who is the male deceased?

Yan Jiyun jumped off Ninth Master’s lap and ran out—he had questions for Captain Hu, but it was extremely inconvenient being a cat. He also had a strong intuition that this would be the key step to completing Quest Four.

Ninth Master shook his head helplessly at Caramel, who couldn’t stay still for a moment. Still, he glanced toward the door—Yan Jiyun had been in the restroom for quite a while without returning, and he had wanted to introduce his remarkably clever cat to him.

Strange—why had Yan Jiyun and Caramel never appeared together? Did they simply lack fate?

After rushing out, Yan Jiyun gave no thought to Ninth Master’s intention of “introducing” him to Caramel. He slipped back into the restroom and used his Human Experience Card. To his embarrassment, when he turned back into a human, he found his clothing had changed—a forensic examiner’s white lab coat. Even police uniform would have been preferable. He seriously suspected that the game catered to cosplayers.

After removing the white coat, only a shirt and trousers remained; looking at himself in the mirror, he did indeed have the look of a refined scoundrel.

Yan Jiyun went straight to Ninth Master in Captain Hu’s office—he needed answers to his questions.

“Not feeling well?” Ninth Master, finally seeing Yan Jiyun approach, asked about his health at once.

“No. What were you talking about?” Yan Jiyun deftly skipped the subject, which was really too embarrassing. “Any progress on the case?”

Ninth Master patiently recounted their recent findings, giving Yan Jiyun the chance to voice his concerns.

“No one knows who threw Wei Liu’s wife and the unknown man down there. So who is this stranger? Was there ever any rumor, back then, about Wei Liu’s wife disappearing?”

Though Captain Hu looked rough, he had a meticulous mind. He flipped through the file. “According to the records at the time, someone said Wei Liu’s wife was very close to a university professor before marriage. After she disappeared, that professor vanished as well. There were rumors they eloped.”

Yan Jiyun: “Does Captain Hu suspect that man is the teacher from back then?”

The situation was becoming clearer.

Captain Hu, prompted by the reminder, asked, “So was it Wei Liu who killed these two? Did he then go underground after the murders and disappear?”

Yan Jiyun considered more than Captain Hu—who drew the treasure map?

The Liu, Cheng, Chen, and Lin families probably didn’t know what was really buried under Liu’s restaurant. They hadn’t killed Wei Liu; perhaps it was Wei Liu who deceived them.

Who would knowingly mark the burial site of murdered victims? Since those two had little to do with the four, that left only Wei Liu. Perhaps the map was a ruse, and all four families were deceived.

Captain Hu said, “It seems Old Cheng is hiding a lot.”

Given his age, and the shock of nearly dying the night before, it was natural he’d be unwilling to revisit old memories.

Under what circumstances had Wei Liu vanished all those years ago? Was the treasure map his invention, given to the other four families?

But since they’d already reasoned this far, there was no need to question Old Cheng further. The treasure map was merely a diversion; it simply covered up the truth about his wife and the “elopement.” In a small town, any gossip would spread by the next day.

Captain Hu was preparing to continue his investigation; Ninth Master and Yan Jiyun also prepared to leave.

Before they could get in the car, Yan Jiyun saw Gu Wenzhu and He Yuanle drive hurriedly into the station. Seeing Yan Jiyun, their faces eased in relief.

Gu Wenzhu jumped out ahead of He Yuanle and said, “It’s a relief you’re all right.”

“What’s happened?” Yan Jiyun, safe beside Ninth Master, sensed the urgency. “Is it…”

Gu Wenzhu understood at once. “Yes. Several have been burned to death since last night!” He meant players had died by fire.

Yan Jiyun pondered this. “Burned alive?”

He’d suspected that the NPCs were all paper figures, but didn’t realize players were as well. So were all the players actually paper men too?

He Yuanle added, “Yes. All burned, not even bones left.”

Yan Jiyun accepted this theory readily.

The three stood together. Ninth Master returned to his car first, face showing faint displeasure but not objecting to Yan Jiyun’s contact with the others. He knew Yan Jiyun was no mere country boy; he had secrets—but he wasn’t in a hurry. Uncovering the truth bit by bit was far more interesting.

Yan Jiyun told them, “I’ve discovered that both Jiangnan Town’s NPCs and players may be made of paper. We mustn’t get wet or get near fire for long, or we’re doomed.”

Gu Wenzhu took this in stride. “No wonder—I thought this instance was odd.”

Yan Jiyun: “Have you found anything else? Any information about Wei Liu?”

Gu Wenzhu had none, but He Yuanle said, “The name’s familiar—hold on, I think I’ve seen it somewhere.”

Yan Jiyun urged, “Quick, think! Time’s really tight.”

He Yuanle pressed his fingers to his temple. “Don’t rush me, I’m thinking.”

After a few minutes, He Yuanle suddenly recalled it. “I remember now! There’s a forbidden area behind the Chen family residence. I passed it during a side quest and almost entered, but the butler chased me away. I saw a sign inside: Wei Liu’s Tomb.”

Yan Jiyun was perplexed. “That obvious?” How did it tie to the Chen family again?

Could it be that Chen Qin’s real target hadn’t been Liu Jinghao?

He Yuanle said, “Not obvious at all—you had to make eighteen turns to see it. I got lost in the Chen house; it’s really their backyard.”

Just then, Liu Jingxi quietly approached.

Wearing the face of a pampered heir, he said, “Cousin, I overheard you all—can I join you in looking for Wei Liu?”

Yan Jiyun agreed readily. “Of course. The more people, the better—welcome to our treasure-hunting team!”

Liu Jingxi grinned, “Cousin, just how many faces do you have?”

Yan Jiyun giggled shyly. “Not as many as you, cousin.”

There was no need to hide anymore.

He Yuanle said, “I’ll lead the way. We can go around the back mountain, avoid alerting the Chen family.”

Liu Jingxi asked in confusion, “But aren’t you the third son of the Chens? How…”

All the players’ identities were assigned later. He Yuanle said, “Tsk, just investigating a secret in the back hills—what’s that got to do with my family?”

Liu Jingxi: “True enough.”

Yan Jiyun was about to get in the car with them to look for Wei Liu.

Seeing their preparations, Ninth Master leaned against his car. “Yan Jiyun, get in.”

Yan Jiyun said to the others, “You take one car; I’ll ride with Ninth Master.”

He Yuanle: “I’ll lead—keep up, don’t fall behind.”

Yan Jiyun climbed in and called to Yang Er, “Drive! We’re off to investigate again!”

Yang Er started the engine, but Yan Jiyun halted him. “Wait, have you seen Caramel?”

Yang Er shook his head. “No idea where it’s gone.”

Ninth Master frowned. “Leave someone here to look for Caramel—bring it straight home if you find it.”

Yan Jiyun shrank quietly by Ninth Master’s side, keeping silent.

In fact, Caramel was right beside him—but that couldn’t be said.

He and Caramel had never appeared together. Whenever he appeared, Caramel vanished, and vice versa; on closer thought, it was an easy flaw to spot.

Yang Er shouted a few orders to the guards in the back, then drove to catch up with He Yuanle and the others.

Yan Jiyun whispered, “You can stay here to look for the cat. My friends and I can go treasure hunting.”

Ninth Master asked, “Can you be sure the Chen family’s back mountain isn’t booby-trapped? They keep Wei Liu’s tomb as a forbidden place—how do you know they don’t value him? If there’s danger, what then?”

Yan Jiyun scratched his head. “Didn’t think of that. Don’t worry; I’ll be fine. I have nine lives.”

Ninth Master placed a hand on his head. “Heartless wretch—I’m worried about you.”

Yan Jiyun looked up into Ninth Master’s dark, gentle eyes—deep-set, making his gaze seem deeper still.

Qi Feng’s gaze, too, was gentle, but toward “Yan Jiyun” it was restrained and slightly distant—not like Ninth Master, whose eyes reflected only him, making Yan Jiyun feel as if he were his whole world.

Yan Jiyun wasn’t dense; he simply thought Ninth Master’s feelings were just NPC programming, unrelated to the real Qi Feng.

Since morning, a gloomy air had hung over Jiangnan Town.

Why had players begun dying? Did it mean they were getting close to the truth behind the instance, brushing against the town’s secrets—and being killed as a result?

He Yuanle led the team, players and NPCs alike, to the forbidden zone on the Chen family’s back hill.

The back hill, blending with the overcast weather, was dark and foreboding.

After a while, He Yuanle brought them to a viewpoint of the forbidden zone.

Rows of graves stretched before them—no telling which belonged to Wei Liu.

A cold wind swept through, lifting paper money from the ground; it stung the eyes, making it hard to see.

Gu Wenzhu asked, “Which one is it? Are these the Chen family’s ancestral graves?”

He Yuanle: “I’m not mistaken.”

Liu Jingxi remained silent.

Yan Jiyun, meanwhile, edged closer to Ninth Master and poked his hand with a finger. “Are you scared? Your hand’s cold. Let me hold it—you won’t be afraid.”

Ninth Master: “…”

Who, exactly, was afraid here?