C18 Another Person Died!

Tang Wan'er had just stepped outside when she noticed the officers, swords at their sides, preparing to leave. She quickly approached one of them and asked, "What's going on?"

"Miss, there was another murder last night. We're heading to the scene now."

Tang Wan'er furrowed her brow. "Another murder?"

"Yes, the chief and Officer Zhang are already there. We need to get going. Goodbye!"

The situation was urgent, and the officers were eager to leave. Just as one took a step, Tang Wan'er pulled him back. "Where is it?"

"At West Firewood Academy."

Tang Wan'er watched them depart, deep in thought, before turning back inside.

---

In front of the old scholar's statue at West Firewood Academy, a woman lay kneeling, long since deceased.

"Father, what's going on?" Tang Wan'er hurried over, a sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Tang Zhong stood a short distance from the body, sighing and shaking his head. "See for yourself."

Tang Wan'er moved to the front of the body, and her eyes widened in shock. "How could this be..."

Tang Zhong helplessly patted his head. "What a mess! Our county has always been peaceful, and now this."

"Father, this isn't something you can control. What we need to do now is solve the case and find the real culprit." Tang Wan'er tried to comfort him, but it was clear his spirits remained low. She sighed inwardly and asked, "Who is this woman? Do you have any leads?"

Tang Zhong shook his head. "We've already looked into it. Judging by the attire, they must be from the academy."

"Okay."

Just as Tang Wan'er was about to examine further, a sudden wail erupted from behind. A woman stumbled forward, throwing herself onto the body, crying out, "My daughter, my poor daughter!"

A middle-aged man followed closely, looking as if he was about to collapse onto the body as well.

Tang Wan'er shouted in alarm, "Someone, pull them away quickly!"

Zhang Baigui, who had arrived just in time, managed to separate the two, but the woman struggled fiercely. It took four or five officers to hold them back.

"Let go, give me back my daughter, give her back!" Their heart-wrenching cries stirred sympathy among the onlookers, almost causing them to release the couple.

Tang Wan'er sternly reprimanded, "If you want to find the person who killed your daughter, you shouldn't disturb the evidence left by the murderer. Otherwise, your daughter will never rest in peace."

The couple abruptly stopped struggling. The woman clasped her hands to her chest, pale and sitting on the ground, mouth open but unable to cry anymore. The man's eyes were bloodshot, his tightly clenched fists showing veins that seemed ready to burst.

It was a state of extreme repression, their grief over losing their daughter so intense it had stifled their tears.

Seeing that they finally listened, Tang Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, though she still felt a pang of sympathy. Anger alone won't bring the killer to justice; they need to catch the culprit quickly to bring peace to the deceased and closure to the living.

After some questioning, they learned the victim was Nianqiu, the daughter of the local seamstress and a student at West Firewood Academy.

With experience from the first crime scene, the evidence collection proceeded smoothly. However, Tang Zhong sighed heavily as he looked at the body, the grieving couple, and even the busy investigators at the scene. His worry seemed to age him overnight.

Tang Wan'er offered a few comforting words before surveying the surroundings. Unexpectedly, Tang Zhong fixed his gaze on her, his eyes bright with determination, and said earnestly, "Daughter, this time, I'm counting on you."