Chapter Twenty-Four: I Just Want to Be an Honest Detective

The swaying, overcrowded bus slowly made its way toward the city center. Inside, the oppressive summer heat felt even more suffocating with so many passengers packed together. Near the driver, a small fan whirred, but there was no intention of turning on the air conditioning.

At last, Li Changqing arrived at Jintian Hotel with Guan Wenyan in tow. Jintian Hotel was a high-end establishment in the city. The first four floors were reserved for banquets, the fifth held a KTV club, the sixth offered massage and wellness services, and above that were the guest rooms.

The lobby was minimalist in design, not ornate or gilded as many restaurants and hotels tended to be, yet it radiated an air of sophistication. The faint scent of perfume lingered in the air.

Upon entering the lobby, Li Changqing dialed Liang Daoyi’s number. After about three minutes, Liang Daoyi emerged from the elevator, impeccably dressed in a suit. Once in the lobby, Liang Daoyi cast a cautious glance around, making sure there were no paparazzi or anyone surreptitiously taking photos before he relaxed and said, “Detective Li, please follow me.”

They ascended to the eighteenth floor, where Liang Daoyi led them into a suite. Inside the walk-in closet, numerous costumes for performances hung, suitcases cluttered the floor, and an array of makeup products lay scattered across the table.

In the suite’s living room, Lin Zhenzhen had changed into a pure white casual outfit, holding a book and reading intently. When Li Changqing and Liang Daoyi entered, she rose gracefully and said, “Detective Li, please have a seat.”

“Hmm.” Li Changqing looked back at Guan Wenyan. “Can you tell what’s wrong?”

Since entering the suite, Guan Wenyan’s eyes hadn’t ceased their searching, darting around and scrutinizing every corner.

“The guardian—it’s the work of the Black Mansa.”

Guan Wenyan’s voice was low and his expression had turned grave. Black Mansa? To Guan Wenyan, the suite appeared utterly different. Black webs crawled along the walls, especially behind Lin Zhenzhen, where countless dark threads entwined her, seemingly siphoning the vital energy from her body.

Black Mansa was rare and formidable. Guan Wenyan furrowed his brow and said respectfully, “Detective Li, you and Mr. Liang, Miss Lin, please step outside. Once I’ve cleansed the room, you may return.”

He couldn’t let Hu Qideng see him in action, lest they discover he wasn’t a member of the Shadow Cult.

“That’s fine,” Li Changqing replied, having no interest in the room’s affairs.

Liang Daoyi and Lin Zhenzhen exchanged a glance. Lin Zhenzhen said, “Sir, I have many valuables in my room. Please take care not to damage anything.”

The three exited.

“Cough, cough.”

As soon as the door closed, Lin Zhenzhen’s complexion turned deathly pale, and inside came the sounds of thudding and crashing.

“Li Changqing, there’s a fight inside!” Tang Xiaoyu, hidden beneath the soft hat, could see what was happening and began live commentary.

“That monster has appeared—it’s a half-human, half-spider woman. Disgusting, she’s covered in slime…”

“Guan Wenyan is fighting her—oh my, he’s been entangled in her webs…”

“That monster and Guan Wenyan…”

Listening to the live updates from the hat, Li Changqing glanced anxiously toward the room.

“Detective Li, what’s happening inside?” Liang Daoyi asked, supporting Lin Zhenzhen.

“My assistant is performing an exorcism. Once it’s done, Miss Lin will be safe,” Li Changqing replied with a reassuring smile.

Bang!

A tremendous crash echoed from within, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

He pinched the soft hat, and Tang Xiaoyu reported, “Guan—Guan Wenyan and that monster are locked together, smashed through the floor-to-ceiling window, and fell out! This is the eighteenth floor! Guan Wenyan is doomed!”

“Damn,” Li Changqing hurriedly asked Liang Daoyi for the room card and burst inside. The once tidy room was now a chaotic wreck—sofa, coffee table, everything destroyed. The floor-to-ceiling windows were shattered.

But—

Li Changqing rushed to the window. Guan Wenyan, battered and bloodied, clung to the edge of the broken glass, his hand cut and bleeding profusely.

“Guardian,” Guan Wenyan gritted his teeth, looking up at Li Changqing.

Standing before the window, Li Changqing realized that if he didn’t reach out, Guan Wenyan wouldn’t last long, and would die alongside the monster.

Yet, seeing the determination in Guan Wenyan’s eyes, he reached out and hauled him back from the brink of death.

Guan Wenyan, breathing heavily, glanced nervousl