I found a small vial and collected some of Yu Jun's blood. Since he had confessed, I had to keep my promise—to make sure he wouldn't die tonight.
We headed downstairs and saw Captain Liao and a group of officers waiting. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought there was an earthquake coming. I said, "The suspect has confessed. You can go upstairs to take his statement."
Captain Liao was shocked. "Song Yang, how did you manage that?"
I smiled. "Just a little trick. It's already 11:30. I'm going to feed the spirit cat Yu Jun's blood. Nobody will be in danger now. You can all head back."
I knew it wasn't cowardice on their part; they'd seen the curse's power firsthand and didn't fully understand this creature's magnetic field. That's why Yu Jun's threats rattled them. I didn't blame them.
We loaded the "Spirit Cat" into Captain Liao's car and got the keys from him. But when we found the car in the parking lot, its window was smashed and the back seat was empty.
Huang Xiaotao's face went pale. "How is this possible? All these cars have alarms that would have gone off if the glass was broken. We're at the police station! Why didn't anyone hear a thing?"
"Unless… some supernatural force is at work…"
I took out a packet of flour and sprinkled it on the door. A tiny handprint appeared. Immediately, I thought of the little girl from that night.
...
Huang Xiaotao said, "Wasn't she picked up by relatives?"
I recalled the scene: the little girl and the spirit cat appeared at the same time. Maybe the girl had also been on the spirit cat's hunt list, but for some reason, it spared her—on the condition that she helped it escape.
These theories went beyond reality, but given the case's logic, they were plausible.
I ordered, "Split up and find the missing item. We have until midnight. We can't let the suspect die like this!"
As time ticked down, just before midnight, Huang Xiaotao called. She'd found the girl and the spirit cat on a pedestrian bridge.
I hurried there. Wang Yuanchao had arrived first. They were blocking both ends of the bridge, guns raised. The little girl stood between them, clutching the spirit cat.
"Come on, hand it over—don't make a scene," Huang Xiaotao said, reaching out.
The girl's eyes were normal, meaning she wasn't possessed by the spirit cat. She held it tightly, silent.
I tried reasoning, "Huang Yuanyuan, the man who killed your parents has confessed. He'll be sentenced to death. You don't need to punish him like this."
She ignored me, so I stepped closer. "Be good, give that to me."
Suddenly, the girl raised her hands, lifting the spirit cat over the edge of the bridge. Our hearts stopped.
She spoke softly, "After my parents died, this little cat found me. It confessed that it killed them. But I don't hate it—it wasn't acting on its own will…"
I was stunned. "You can talk to it?"
"I understand what it says," the girl nodded.
I'd heard children's eyes are pure enough to see the supernatural. It seemed true.
She continued, "I know bad people forced it to do this. It's pitiful, so I decided to help it."
I said, "The bad guys will face the law. Let us handle this."
The girl protested, "No! It's not a thing. It's just a poor little kitten! I don't trust you adults. To you, it's just a tool to make money. If you get it, you'll use it for evil."
"You're wrong. There are good and bad adults," I explained.
But she shook her head violently, her slender arms struggling to hold the heavy statue. It seemed like she was about to collapse.
Huang Xiaotao warned, "Song Yang, one minute left."
At that moment, the girl threw the spirit cat over the railing. It shattered on the road below. We all gasped.
I looked down using my "Insightful Eye" and searched the road for the cat's corpse among the broken sculpture pieces—but it was gone.
Then I heard a soft "meow." Looking up, I saw a sleek black cat perched on a tree by the roadside, gazing at us meaningfully—perhaps thanking the girl who helped it regain freedom—then it disappeared.
"It's free!" the girl jumped up happily.
"Will it go back to get revenge on Yu Jun, who enslaved it?" Huang Xiaotao asked.
"Possible."
I told Wang Yuanchao to take the girl home, and Huang Xiaotao and I rushed back to the station. On the way, we ran into a late-arriving Wang Dali.
"Found them?" he asked.
Huang Xiaotao looked at him disdainfully. "If we're counting on you, pigs could climb trees."
By the time we returned, it was past midnight. Yu Jun was still alive—he hadn't been avenged. We all breathed a sigh of relief.
The case was finally over. Next came the legal proceedings, which were beyond our concern.
That day had exhausted us all. We slept straight until 9 a.m. the next day. At noon, Huang Xiaotao treated us to a Sichuan meal, and after a satisfying lunch, we prepared to leave.
Captain Liao and the rest of the task force saw us off. Before parting, Captain Liao said, "Song Yang, this case was cracked because of you. I won't talk about credit. If this killer hadn't been caught, more people would have died, and we'd have been helpless. On behalf of Wuqü City's citizens, thank you!"
He and the officers saluted me crisply. I felt embarrassed and smiled humbly. "Captain Liao, you flatter me. I was just lucky."
He sighed, "With talent like yours, it's a shame you're not a cop."
I smiled, "Even if I'm not a cop, I can still serve society. Our goal is the same: bring criminals to justice and clear the bloodshed."
"You're welcome in Wuqü anytime. The entire criminal police department owes you a big favor. If you ever get into trouble here, we'll support you wholeheartedly!"
"Captain Liao, you're too kind. I'll visit when I have time."
I learned Yu Jun had been transferred to the detention center, and Director Cheng personally went to the provincial supreme court to study how to handle this unusual case.
I asked about Bai Yidao and Luo Weiwei. Captain Liao said, "Yidao was punished by the bureau for dereliction of duty and suspended for a year. Luo Weiwei came to work today, but she seems to have some grudge against you."
That was expected. Huang Xiaotao sneered, "Having a director for a father is nice. He makes a huge mistake but doesn't even go to jail."
I asked, "What about the little girl? Destroying evidence won't get her in trouble, right?"
"She's only twelve, so no criminal responsibility. But her relatives did pay for my car window," Captain Liao chuckled. "Song Yang, what do you think?"
"Let her go. She's right—the spirit cat is just a tool to us, but to her, it's a little kitten longing for freedom. Maybe this ending is fate."
I looked up at the blue sky.
Captain Liao nodded thoughtfully.
After saying goodbye, we drove back to Nanjiang City. Wang Dali, stuffed from lunch, slept in the back seat. Wang Yuanchao relaxed with a drink.
Huang Xiaotao and I didn't say much. At one point, she accidentally brushed my hand. We exchanged a glance and smiled, sharing an unspoken understanding.