Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 44

“Extra! Extra! General Gu Mingxuan of the Tianjin Police Bureau, while investigating the serial murder true culprit, unfortunately encountered evil and was abducted by a demon! His whereabouts are currently unknown!”

“Tianjin God of War mysteriously disappears! City plunged into further terrifying mystery! Who can guarantee the safety of the populace?!”

That afternoon, the front pages of major newspapers in Tianjin were dominated by such shocking headlines. In an instant, the entire city of Tianjin exploded like cold water poured into a boiling oil pot!

Who was Gu Mingxuan? He was a renowned figure in Tianjin! Young in age, he had repeatedly solved bizarre cases and was deeply beloved by the populace. Moreover, not long ago on the Shanghai-Nanjing front, he had led his soldiers in bloody combat, repelling the Japanese invaders, earning him the titles of “Tianjin God of War” and “National Protector Hero”!

Such a formidable figure, like a stabilizing needle in the sea, had actually… been captured by a demon?! This news, for the people of Tianjin, who were already panic-stricken by the successive strange murders, was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire, a fatal blow!

“Oh my heavens! Even General Gu has been captured by a demon? Then… what about us ordinary folk?”

“Exactly! If even General Gu, such a powerful figure, couldn’t resist that demon, then… don’t we have even less hope of survival?”

“Tianjin is probably going to descend into chaos! No, no, I need to pack my things quickly and hide in the countryside!”

“Hide? Where can you hide? I heard that demon specifically drains human vital essence; there’s no escape, even to the ends of the earth!”

Panic, like a plague, rapidly spread within Tianjin. The once bustling streets became desolate and quiet in just half a day. Shops closed their doors, and every household tightly shut their doors and windows; people didn’t even dare to go out during the day. Children were watched closely by adults, forbidden from playing in the streets. The entire city of Tianjin was shrouded in a cloud of gloom and despair, filled with alarm and suspicion. Fear and hopelessness were etched on people’s faces.

They didn’t know who the demon, rumored to drain human vital essence, would target next. They also didn’t know if this prosperous city, without General Gu’s protection, could withstand this unknown terror.

Meanwhile, the Tianjin Police Bureau, at the center of this storm, was in utter chaos. The usually capable police officers, upon learning that their pillar of strength had been “captured by a demon,” were all like souls without bodies, utterly lost and bewildered. Some sighed, believing Tianjin was doomed. Some were indignant, clamoring to organize a force to fight the demon to the death. Others… had already started secretly packing their bags, preparing to make a quick escape.

Only one person remained calm and composed in the “locked” reception room, as if the city-wide panic had nothing to do with her. It was Su Mingyue. After Gu Mingxuan left, she leisurely “settled in” this reception room. The door, which Gu Mingxuan had specifically ordered to be locked, was practically nonexistent to her. She simply didn’t want to leave rashly and cause unnecessary trouble before things were clear. Moreover, she also wanted to see if the Tianjin Police Bureau could uncover anything useful.

Just this afternoon, she heard the clamor and discussions outside about “General Gu being captured by a demon.” She merely smiled faintly, noncommittally. A demon? Perhaps. But she believed even more that the most terrifying things in this world were often not green-faced, fanged demons, but… human hearts.

“Miss Su, you… you heard it all, didn’t you?”

A young police officer, carrying a cup of hot tea, carefully pushed open the reception room door (Su Mingyue had long picked the lock with a silver needle; she was just putting on a show), his face showing some apprehension and… a hint of imperceptible anticipation, as he looked at Su Mingyue. This young police officer was the one who had spoken rudely to Su Mingyue in the alley yesterday. But now, his attitude towards Su Mingyue had undergone a complete 180-degree turn. After all, the incident of Su Mingyue openly fighting that strange person yesterday had already spread within the police bureau. To these ordinary police officers, this Miss Su, perhaps… truly possessed some unknown “divine power.” Now that General Gu was in trouble, they, as his subordinates, were naturally burning with anxiety, desperately seeking any help, and wanted to hear what this “Miss Su” had to say.

Su Mingyue took the teacup, took a light sip, then unhurriedly asked: “Oh? Heard what? Are you saying your brilliant and mighty Captain Gu was captured by a demon to be his mountain stronghold chief’s wife?” Her words were light, yet carried a hint of teasing.

The young police officer was choked by her words, then said with a bitter face: “Miss Su, please… please don’t make fun of us! We’re all practically dying of anxiety now! General Gu… he was really captured by a demon! Now the entire city of Tianjin is in chaos! You… you are so skilled and knowledgeable, tell us… what should we do?” His words were sincere and heartfelt.

Su Mingyue looked at his anxious expression, her heart stirred slightly. It seemed this Gu Mingxuan held considerable prestige in the hearts of his subordinates.

“What’s the rush?” Su Mingyue said lightly. “Before things are clear, getting flustered like this, what kind of decorum is that? Is this how your Captain Gu usually teaches you to handle cases?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a convincing steadiness.

The young police officer’s face reddened a little. He scratched his head and said, “Miss Su is right to reprimand me. But… but now it’s spread everywhere outside, saying General Gu was abducted by an extremely powerful demon, even… even Old Master Du witnessed it! You know Old Master Du, don’t you? He’s that great philanthropist in Tianjin! He surely wouldn’t lie, would he?”

“Old Master Du?” Su Mingyue’s eyes flickered slightly. “He personally saw Captain Gu being captured by a demon?”

“Yes!” The young police officer nodded repeatedly. “I heard that last night, General Gu was investigating the case of the Du mansion’s concubine, and he chased the culprit to the abandoned forest behind the Du mansion, and then… then he encountered that ferocious demon! Old Master Du was terrified at the time; he even scrambled back to report the case!” He embellished the “case details” he had heard from others, recounting them again.

Su Mingyue listened quietly, not interrupting him. After he finished, Su Mingyue unhurriedly asked: “Then… in your opinion, what did that so-called ‘demon’ look like? What were its characteristics? Did Old Master Du describe it?”

“This…” The young police officer was momentarily stunned by the question. He thought carefully for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, “It seemed… Old Master Du said the demon had a green face and fangs, immense strength, and could even breathe fire… In… in short, it was the terrifying kind!”

“Green face and fangs? And breathes fire?” Su Mingyue’s lips curved into an imperceptible cold smile. This description was a bit too… stereotypical for a demon in folk legends, wasn’t it? It sounded more like… someone had deliberately fabricated it. Her suspicion of that “great philanthropist” Old Master Du deepened a few points.

“Miss Su,” the young police officer looked at Su Mingyue’s thoughtful expression, and couldn’t help but ask again, “Did you… did you see something? Do you think… General Gu… can still be saved?” His eyes were full of anticipation.

Su Mingyue glanced at him and said lightly: “A virtuous person naturally has divine protection. Whether your Captain Gu was truly captured by a demon is hard to say right now. However…” She paused, then changed the subject: “I think, instead of sighing and worrying needlessly here, you should… thoroughly investigate that so-called ‘crime scene,’ and… that Old Master Du who ‘personally witnessed’ Captain Gu being captured by a demon.” Her words were meaningful.

The young police officer was startled at first, then a flicker of understanding appeared in his eyes. Although he was young, he was not a foolish person. Miss Su’s words meant… Old Master Du was problematic? But… Old Master Du was a famous great philanthropist in Tianjin! How could he… But then he reconsidered, his own General Gu’s disappearance was indeed strange, and… seemed a bit too coincidental. Could it be…

“Thank you for your guidance, Miss Su!” The young police officer clasped his hands together, his face showing gratitude. “I… I’ll go discuss this with Deputy Captain Zhang and the others right away!” With that, he hurried out.

Su Mingyue watched his retreating figure, and gently shook her head. It seemed this Tianjin Police Bureau was not entirely without capable people. However, relying solely on them, they probably wouldn’t be able to handle that cunning Old Master Du. It seemed… it was time for her to act. She certainly didn’t want to be a “squatter,” just drinking tea in this reception room. Moreover, she was becoming more and more interested in that Captain Gu, whose behavior was growing increasingly strange, and the familiar yet peculiar aura about him.