C7 The Eyewitnesses

The deceased's hands were smooth and delicate, with friction marks on the arms, and an X was carved into the left palm.

"What does this mean?"

"Not sure. It could be a mark from the killer or maybe some kind of ritual. But it might help us find the original crime scene," Tang Wan'er said as she opened a small wooden box she carried. Using tweezers, she carefully extracted a dark green fragment from the wound.

"What is that?"

"A piece of maidenhair fern."

"What does a piece of maidenhair fern signify?"

Tang Wan'er placed it into a small porcelain bottle. "Maidenhair fern typically grows on limestone near streams or in limestone caves with dripping water. It's sensitive to extreme temperatures, thriving on rocks by the water. Given the cold weather, there aren't many places where it can grow. This helps narrow down our search. We should focus on riverbanks or nearby caves where this fern might grow. That's where the first crime scene is likely located."

Tang Waner's logical deduction was impressive, leaving the post-mortem examiner feeling overshadowed and eager to find flaws in her reasoning.

"That doesn't necessarily mean there was animosity between the deceased and the killer. It could have been a sexual assault."

"Are you really a post-mortem examiner?" Tang Wan'er had already instructed for the body to be laid flat, but due to severe rigor mortis, the legs remained in a kneeling position, which helped determine the time of death. Moreover, there were no signs of sexual assault on the victim.

"The killer skinned the face and disemboweled the victim. Was the old man jealous of the young woman's beauty?" Tang Zhong muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.

His daughter, Wan'er, rolled her eyes at his nonsensical comment and replied, "Crimes usually have a purpose, with clear or hidden motives. Once we understand why the killer acted, we'll have the key to solving the case."

"The killer posed the body in a kneeling position, clearly as part of some revenge ritual. This murder was highly targeted. He wanted the victim to atone."

Lee Yi suddenly understood. "So, the motive is revenge."

Wan'er nodded, removing her gloves. "First, we need to identify the victim and find her friends and enemies. Then, locate the original crime scene for more clues."

Wan'er had already pointed out the killer and the first crime scene. Now, it was up to the officers to act. Everyone sprang into action immediately.

Only the post-mortem examiner scoffed at them, muttering, "Fools solving a case? They'll never find the killer. Forget it."

It wasn't until he left that Tang Zhong suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! I should have asked for the rest of the money back."

Wan'er packed up the wooden box and instructed someone to take the body to the mortuary.

"Who discovered the body?"

Tang Zhong snapped his fingers and called over Liu, who was waiting in the distance. "It's Liu, the woodcutter."

"County Magistrate, sir... I'm here," Liu replied. He appeared to be in his early forties, with a face weathered by time. Years of carrying firewood had left him with a hunched back. Nervously rubbing his rough hands together, he approached Tang Zhong.

"Ahem! Liu, tell us how you discovered the body," Tang Zhong ordered, coughing lightly and assuming a stern, authoritative demeanor.

Liu began his story. It was the dead of winter, and fewer people were venturing into the mountains to chop wood. To ensure a decent New Year, Liu had been making the trek every few days. Initially, he went to the western hills, but there were some young, strong men there. Being older and not as quick, he couldn't compete with them and was soon driven away. The eastern hills, however, were shrouded in eerie tales. Even in summer, no one dared to venture there, let alone in the depths of winter. But for the sake of his livelihood, Liu had no choice but to head to the eastern hills to gather wood.