Chapter Fifty-Three: The Murderer's Identity

Liang Shaoyun’s legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground, shaking his head desperately. “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me. I know you died an unjust death, but it has nothing to do with me. Blame me, I didn’t help you, but…” The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, until suddenly his eyes rolled back and he fainted from fright.

“Is he really that easily scared?”

‘Wang Dafu’ frowned, then called out behind her, “Hey, Li Changqing, he just fainted from my scare.” The voice belonged to Tang Xiaoyu. With a snap of her fingers, she instantly transformed from the ghostly figure back into the beautiful young woman.

Li Changqing hurried over, glancing at the unconscious Liang Shaoyun. He had heard everything. The killer was probably not Liang Shaoyun, but he admitted to not saving the victim? Did he know who the real murderer was?

Li Changqing took out his phone and dialed Kelly Losedy. “Come over. We’re at Container Area B. Bring Boss Huang with you.” Since Tang Xiaoyu was about to scare someone as a ghost, and Kelly didn’t know her real identity, Li Changqing had sent Kelly away for the time being.

He crouched beside Liang Shaoyun and pressed his thumb hard against the man’s philtrum.

“Ah.” Liang Shaoyun jerked upright, gasping for air, his eyes darting anxiously around.

“Who killed Wang Dafu and the others?” Li Changqing asked.

Liang Shaoyun shook his head at once. “I—I don’t know…”

Noticing the sinister energy about him, Li Changqing suddenly realized it emanated from Liang Shaoyun’s pocket. Reaching in, he found an exquisite jade pendant. It was valuable and of excellent quality, but a chill and dark aura radiated from it. Holding it, he could feel the icy sensation.

“Who are you?” Liang Shaoyun tried to suppress his terror, taking a deep breath. “I know nothing.”

He stood up, attempting to leave, but Li Changqing grabbed his arm. “I recorded what you said just now.” With that, he played the recording on his phone, Liang Shaoyun’s voice echoing: “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me. I know you died unjustly, but it has nothing to do with me. Blame me, I didn’t help you, but…”

“I’m a private detective. Are you going to tell me now, or do you want the Federal Police to investigate and force your hand?”

Liang Shaoyun hadn’t expected his words to be recorded. Embarrassed, he clenched his fists but stubbornly remained silent.

Li Changqing said, “Think carefully. If you refuse to provide information about the killer, I have reason to suspect you’re an accomplice. You’ll be prosecuted.”

Liang Shaoyun, already anxious these past few days, clenched his fists tighter. “I—I—I didn’t do anything. I just saw him kill Wang and the other man, then he noticed me.”

“He threatened me: if I didn’t cooperate, he’d kill me too. He made me move the bodies and dump them in the river, and afterward gave me this jade pendant as a reward.”

“Who is he?” Li Changqing pressed.

Just as Liang Shaoyun was about to answer, Kelly Losedy and Huang Chao hurried over. He lowered his head, refusing to speak.

Li Changqing quietly glanced at the dock owner, Huang Chao.

Could it be him? What motive? No, after the murders, he claimed he didn’t want to report to the police for fear of affecting business, and instead hired a private detective. After Liang Shaoyun witnessed the crime, Huang Chao didn’t kill him—perhaps intending to frame him as the scapegoat.

Li Changqing quickly formed his own theory.

“Xiao Liang, are you alright?” Huang Chao approached, concern in his voice.

“I—I’m fine,” Liang Shaoyun responded, forcing a bitter smile.

Huang Chao looked at Li Changqing, as if asking if he’d found anything.

Li Changqing replied, “Boss Huang, Liang Shaoyun is a major suspect. If we find his fingerprints on the burlap bag, that’s solid evidence.”

A trace of relief flickered across Huang Chao’s face—so subtle it was barely noticeable.

“It wasn’t me, it has nothing to do with me.” Liang Shaoyun hurriedly protested, his anxiety evident, wanting to explain but too afraid to speak.

Huang Chao paced back and forth, eyeing Liang Shaoyun. “I can’t believe it’s you. I’ve always thought you were honest and upright, never the type to kill. Detective Li, could we be mistaken?”

“I’ve already identified the killer. There’s no mistake,” Li Changqing replied calmly. “But when I questioned him, he claimed you were the murderer, and produced this jade pendant, saying you gave it to him as a reward.”

Liang Shaoyun trembled. He could expose Huang Chao as the killer, wanted to defend himself, but didn’t know where to begin—after all, it was Huang Chao who committed murder.

“Nonsense! Why would I kill anyone?” Huang Chao’s expression didn’t change. He shot Liang Shaoyun a cold glare. “Looks like you’re the killer. Since the evidence is clear, I’ll call the Federal Police right now.”

He picked up his phone to dial.

Li Changqing nodded, appearing casual. “That jade pendant—he claims you gave it to him. But your fingerprints aren’t on it, right?”

Huang Chao’s pupils contracted slightly, and his hand, originally holding the phone, slowly lowered.

Of course his fingerprints were on the jade pendant.

“If your fingerprints are on the pendant, then Liang Shaoyun’s story holds up. While I know you’re innocent, the Federal Police won’t take our word for it. That could cause a lot of trouble.”

“In the past few days, did Liang Shaoyun deliberately get you to handle the pendant?”

Huang Chao’s mind worked quickly. He glared fiercely at Liang Shaoyun. “I remember now, a few days ago he brought a jade pendant to me, said he’d bought it and wanted my opinion on its quality. Turns out it was a trap.”

“No, it wasn’t like that!” Liang Shaoyun was panicking. Fearing Huang Chao’s threats, he hadn’t wanted to reveal the truth, but now, if he stayed silent, he’d be branded the murderer.

“The killer is Boss Huang. The night before last, when I was on patrol, I saw him bring two cups of coffee to Wang Dafu and the other man. After they drank it, they both passed out.”

“Boss Huang suffocated them with plastic bags. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“But then he saw me, threatened me to dispose of the bodies or he’d kill me, too.”

A smile appeared on Li Changqing’s face. If he hadn’t pushed, Liang Shaoyun really wouldn’t have spoken.