C8 The Mountain God Ate People

Tang Wan'er pondered for a moment before asking, "When did you start coming to East Mountain to chop wood?"

"A few days ago! I've been here twice, and nothing happened either time. But this time, I saw..." Liu's voice trembled with fear, and he suddenly dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together, praying fervently toward the mountain.

Tang Wan'er, her gaze sharp, crouched in front of Liu and looked him straight in the eye. "In many cases, the person who discovers the body is also the killer."

"Killer?" Liu shrieked, panicking. "I'm not the killer, I'm not! Sir, I can't even bring myself to kill a chicken, let alone a person! It's the mountain spirit, the mountain spirit devours people! It has nothing to do with me."

"The mountain spirit devours people?" Tang Wan'er looked at him skeptically. Could there be more to this story?

Tang Zhong clapped his hands together, suddenly enlightened. "It seems the mountain spirit is indeed causing trouble."

Tang Wan'er, her face darkened, said, "If you truly believe in these spirits, then go capture the mountain spirit and explain it to the people!"

"No, no! Daughter, please, forgive your old man for his loose tongue. I was wrong, can't you help analyze this further?" Tang Zhong glanced sideways at Lee Yi, who was reviewing the records, and muttered under his breath while slapping his own cheek, "Pride, pride!"

After Tang Zhong's earnest pleas and his vow on Tang Wan'er's mother's name never to believe in ghosts again, Tang Wan'er finally walked back to Liu. Tang Zhong quickly urged Lee Yi to follow, saying, "Hurry, keep track of everything."

Lee Yi raised an eyebrow in confusion but followed after Tang Zhong's repeated insistence. Tang Wan'er asked, "What's this about the mountain spirit eating people?"

Liu swallowed hard and spoke in a hushed tone, "Yesterday, I heard the sounds of the mountain spirit devouring people and the cries of tormented souls."

Tang Zhong shrank back in fear, and even Lee Yi paused his note-taking to stare at Liu, as the story was too bizarre to ignore.

Tang Wan'er frowned and asked, "Can you be more specific?"

"Yesterday, I was up the mountain chopping wood and came down just before dark. As I passed by, I heard strange noises—like thumping and wailing, as if a beast was tearing something apart and a woman was crying. It was eerie."

"You didn't go to check it out?"

"It was already dark then. If it really was a mountain spirit eating people, I wasn't about to stick around!" Liu gestured wildly, exaggerating his story. "I'm actually pretty brave, you know. I came back the next day to see what was going on."

Liu couldn't provide any more useful information, so Tang Wan'er pondered as she headed back the way she came.

"Daughter, any thoughts?"

"Not yet. We might find more useful information at the primary crime scene." This killer was extremely careful, not only tampering with the body but also altering the surrounding environment, leaving little useful evidence behind.

Lee Yi, walking behind the father and daughter, watched them whispering to each other with a thoughtful expression.

Unknowingly, they reached the road closest to the crime scene. The sun was rising, melting the thin layer of snow. The road had wide and deep tracks, clearly formed by countless vehicle wheels, as more vehicles slowly passed by on the trade route.

A carriage passed in front of Tang Wan'er, and she stared at it, lost in thought.

Lee Yi blurted out, "Miss, did you find a clue?"

"Anything done leaves a trace. Since it wasn't the work of a mountain spirit, the killer must have left some evidence when bringing the victim here."