Chapter 1345: Chapter 37: Viewing the Corpse (Request for Monthly Votes)
Path Origin deeply inhaled and smiled faintly: "Alright, we’re about done with our chat. You all may leave first. I’ll call for you if anything comes up later."
The Xu Zhuo and constables from Zhao Heng City hurriedly responded with an affirmative, not caring much for the mood of Path Origin from Linzi, and swiftly took their leave.
The scene in this morgue was truly unbearable to look at any longer. Not even nightmares could compare!
Path Origin steadied his emotions before calmly turning around and walking toward the autopsy table.
"What do you need help with?" he asked with a smile.
"Hold this segment of the large intestine," Lin Youxie busily replied without even lifting her head.
Path Origin, of course, was fearless.
He’d tread countless paths of carnage and left untold souls behind. Fierce Beasts, Sea Clan—who knows how many of them he had slain.
He’d seen all manner of severed limbs and mutilated remains.
A mere corpse, a simple segment of...
He gazed at it methodically.
"Uh, well..."
Finally, Path Origin asked, "Do you have gloves?"
He could use Path Origin energy to cover his hands, but it felt strange. After all, his Path Origin energy typically dwelled within Tongtian Palace...
"Oh, yes." Lin Youxie casually handed over a pair of gloves without looking up, while her other hand remained deep inside Huang Yixing’s abdominal cavity. She tilted her head sideways, frowning as she observed something within...
Jiang Wang took the semi-transparent gloves and quickly donned them.
The touch was slightly cool, a bit constricting, but thin enough not to impede finger movements.
He reached out...
And gently grasped the segment of the large intestine. His movements were as delicate as if handling a rare treasure.
"Lift it a bit higher," Lin Youxie instructed.
Jiang Wang silently lifted it higher.
"Look at this lung." Lin Youxie held an organ in her hands and brought it before Jiang Wang.
A seasoned holder of the Fourth Grade Green Badge, Path Origin remained unfazed: "What’s wrong with the lung?"
"See these bright spots at the edges of the lung’s hilum."
Only now did Jiang Wang focus his gaze: "Metallic Vitality?"
Lin Youxie replied, "The lung corresponds to metal. The residual metallic vitality in Huang Yixing’s lungs is so sharp and fierce, it’s clear he wasn’t the timid coward the rumors made him out to be."
"Of course he wasn’t cowardly. To dare risk his life before a murderer and claim the position of Town Pacifier, how could he be? But for him, bowing to authority wasn’t shameful; it was simply pragmatic," Jiang Wang commented, his expression carrying hints of a thought he couldn’t yet fully grasp.
Lin Youxie glanced at him, surprised at his understanding of Huang Yixing.
Path Origin explained calmly, "After the battle at Qi Yang, I had ambitions to contend for the Town Pacifier position myself, so I studied all of them carefully."
Unconcerned, Lin Youxie nodded briefly and placed the lung back in its original position, then continued fiddling with the remains.
"Hold the ribcage open," she instructed.
Path Origin, expressionless, complied as instructed.
Lin Youxie’s fingertips emitted a faint gleam as she swiftly ran her fingers across Huang Yixing’s left forearm and right thigh, then thrust them into a wound, seemingly sensing something within the muscle texture.
After a moment, she withdrew her fingers.
"Help me organize these," she said.
Jiang Wang looked at the tangled mess of assorted organs and couldn’t help but ask, "How should I organize them?"
"Put them back in their proper places," Lin Youxie replied casually before taking out a small wooden box. She placed it beside Huang Yixing’s corpse and opened it to reveal an assortment of tools—knives, awls, scissors, hooks... everything imaginable.
He couldn’t fathom what each was meant for.
Nor did he particularly want to find out.
Wearing the semi-transparent gloves, Jiang Wang expressionlessly restored the organs before him—the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, stomach...
His eye twitched instinctively.
Though he had never hesitated to deal with his enemies, he certainly never had a penchant for studying corpses. This was undoubtedly his first time.
Yet, as a dignified holder of the Grade-4 Green Badge, he could not afford to falter now.
Especially not in front of Lin Youxie, this woman.
Thus, he still managed to complete the task well.
Lin Youxie, with a composed demeanor and unhurried movements, went about her work with tranquil focus. Her appearance suggested it was no different than a cook preparing a meal—a routine activity repeated daily.
Jiang Wang observed her using various tools, completely absorbed in examining Huang Yixing’s corpse...
Unable to resist, he commented to fill the silence: "Your gloves are quite something. Can we requisition them from the Patrol Inspection Bureau?"
"Oh, the gloves? I made them myself," Lin Youxie replied offhandedly. "They’re corpse membrane gloves."
Jiang Wang suddenly had a bad feeling.
Lin Youxie elaborated, "A corpse is composed of countless clues, and there’s an intricate harmony among them that often points toward the solution. However, any external interference can disrupt or even destroy this harmony. Corpse membrane gloves can eliminate such interference."
She paused and added, "These gloves are made with decayed flesh as the base, infused with death energy as branches, and refined with corpse oil through Secret Techniques. They naturally blend with the dead and don’t interfere with the corpse’s essence."
Jiang Wang decided he no longer wanted to engage in conversation.
All he could feel was the slimy, repulsive sensation on his fingertips.
Yet he couldn’t immediately remove the gloves, lest he lose face before Lin Youxie. How could he, the dignified Jiang Someone, maintain his pride?
One word: "Patience!"
He began silently reciting the Flame Flower Burning City Enlightenment in his mind.
The passage of time felt unbearably long!
After what seemed like an hour, Lin Youxie finally began collecting her tools.
"Next, we’ll head to the site of his fall," she remarked casually.
"Alright." Jiang Wang said calmly as he slowly removed the gloves and set them on the table: "Your gloves, back to you."
"Thanks," he said, very politely.
"You’re welcome," replied Lin Youxie.
Lin Youxie carefully packed her small wooden box and then began retouching Huang Yixing’s corpse.
Her tools for this were entirely separate, contained in a small cloth pouch that, when unfolded, revealed a dazzling array of instruments—silver threads, fine brushes, bovine hair needles...
She worked meticulously, almost as if beautifying her own face.
Noticing the slight curiosity in Jiang Wang’s gaze, she explained casually, "Since I’ve disrupted the clues, it’s only proper for me to restore them. That way, should I fail to uncover anything—whether due to limitations in ability or a sudden demise—another arrest officer taking over the case can continue with the investigation."
The statement was delivered with absolute tranquility.
It seemed utterly natural.
Almost as if she was born to handle cases, as if she were but a component within this investigative process. Just like the tools she carried, with fixed purposes, capable of being replaced at any time.
"Do you need help?" Jiang Wang asked with a conscientious demeanor.
"No, this is detailed work," Lin Youxie replied.
Though slightly underestimated, Jiang Wang wasn’t offended; instead, he felt relieved.
"Alright," Jiang Wang said. "I’ll go outside and take a look around."
Without lifting her head, Lin Youxie answered, "Feel free."
Jiang Wang calmly stepped out of the morgue into the night-shrouded street.
Tonight, Zhao Heng City was silent.
Even though Path Origin wanted to shout a few times.
Streams of water surged between his fingers as he thoroughly washed his hands several times over.
After dispersing the water created by condensed Path Origin energy and swirling in some strands of wind to clean his hands repeatedly, he eventually got rid of the lingering discomfort.
Among Lin Youxie’s earlier comments, the one that left the deepest impression was—
"A corpse is composed of clues."
This was an extraordinarily chilling observation.
Path Origin couldn’t help but wonder if this woman truly saw no flesh, no blood, no viscerality?
What kind of person was Lin Kuang, the renowned arrest officer? What sort of upbringing could have led his daughter to develop such a perception of the world?
