Phi-Fic Chapter 273 Song Xiaobai Disappears? Du Xiaobing Appears at Namtso Lake
Chapter 273 Song Xiaobai Disappears? Du Xiaobing Appears at Namtso Lake
At midnight that night, the sky seemed to be dyed with ink, and dark clouds, like angry beasts, rolled and pressed down on the earth in layers.
A once-in-a-century torrential downpour, carrying a fierce momentum, poured down like a celestial river bursting its banks, heading straight for Namtso Lake.
The lake surface was instantly churned into a murky mess, with surging, muddy waves resembling ferocious beasts, churning and roaring wildly.
Amidst the raging waves, a mangled and gruesome corpse suddenly surfaced.
Upon identification, this person was none other than Song Xiaobai, the female thief from the "Song Thief Trio," who had mysteriously disappeared several months ago as if vanished into thin air. The gruesome state of her corpse sent chills down one's spine... Countless unsolved secrets lay dormant among the dossier woven from copper bells and cowhide ropes.
The news spread like wildfire to the Ministry of Justice, which was essentially the criminal investigation team of the Tang Dynasty.
Upon learning of the situation, Captain Qiu Rongmu's expression turned grave, his brows furrowed. Without hesitation, he ordered the formation of a special task force, determined to get to the bottom of the case. He tossed out a token engraved with Tibetan patterns: "Summon the three judicial departments immediately! Tonight, set up prayer flags along the shores of Lake Manasarovar to investigate the case!"
Cong Xiaoye, a rising star in the criminal investigation team of Chang'an, was sharp-eyed, meticulous, and had solved countless cases. However, since his partner and mentor, Niwan Zi, disappeared without warning a month ago, his mood has plummeted into an endless abyss of darkness. Anxiety and self-blame gnawed at his heart day and night like maggots clinging to his bones.
He gave up all his rest time, tirelessly traveling through the streets and alleys day and night, not letting go of any tiny clue, even the slightest trace that might be related to his master, Niwan Zi, he would do his best to investigate.
As the days and months passed, his hopes of finding Niwan Zi gradually shattered like bubbles, ultimately yielding nothing. This new case came out of nowhere, like a heavy hammer blow to his already weary heart.
What he found even harder to accept was that Captain Qiu Rongmu had forcibly placed Zi'an, a newly arrived intern police officer from Luoyang, next to him as his partner. Rumor had it that Zi'an had some nepotistic connection to the current royal family, and he was even arranged for Zi'an to sit opposite his master, Niwan Zi, in that empty seat filled with memories. This decision instantly ignited the long-suppressed anger within Cong Xiaoye. He was filled with resentment, his eyes bloodshot, on the verge of exploding. The veins on his neck bulged like tributaries of the Yalong River, his Tibetan boots crunching over the ghee residue scattered on the ground… But military orders were absolute, and though he was unwilling, he could only grit his teeth and helplessly accept this arrangement.
A month ago, Niwanzi mysteriously disappeared after investigating a horse theft case on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Since then, every morning when the prayer wheels turn, Cong Xiaoye wanders on the bluestone slabs of Barkhor Street. The copper bell at his waist is covered with the morning dew of Namtso Lake and the moisture of Yarlung Tsangpo River, but he can never find that familiar hem of Tibetan robe.
News of the new case came crashing down like an avalanche, shattering the last glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Meanwhile, in a remote and dilapidated rented house on the outskirts of the city, Du Xiaobing, who had been missing for many years, huddled in a dim corner like a frightened mouse, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat rolling down her forehead like broken beads, soaking her clothes.
Recalling the scene that unfolded in the alley of Zaxi Peninsula last night, her eyes were filled with fear and despair. She had witnessed Bai Cai and an old man wearing a black mask conducting a mysterious transaction in a dark corner. Both men appeared tense, and their words carried an unsettling, incomprehensible tone.
Just as Du Xiaobing was filled with doubt and wanted to get closer to investigate, a sudden change occurred. The old man suddenly revealed a fierce look and attacked ruthlessly. In an instant, Xiaobai was dead, lying in a pool of blood. Du Xiaobing was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe and hurriedly fled the scene.
At this moment, still shaken and immersed in fear, Song Daqin suddenly burst in like a whirlwind. It turned out that Daqin was actually Xiaobai's lover. Because her younger brother, Song Erjiu, was weak and couldn't find a wife, Daqin asked Baicai to be Jiucai's girlfriend.
At that moment, Celery's eyes were bloodshot, as red as blood, as if he wanted to devour someone. He took a few steps forward, grabbed Du Xiaobing by the collar, and demanded sharply, "Where's my Xiaobai? Where did you hide her?"
Du Xiaobing turned pale with fright and stammered, unable to speak. At this moment, Celery's withdrawal symptoms kicked in, and he began to tremble. He released Du Xiaobing and pleaded, "Give me some money, quickly give me some money to buy the antidote."
Du Xiaobing looked troubled and shook his head repeatedly in refusal. Seeing this, Qin Cai became furious and threatened viciously, "If you don't lend me the money, I'll expose all your shameful secrets with Su Song and Xiao Bai!"
Du Xiaobing was terrified, her face flushing red and then paling. In her panic, an evil thought flashed through her mind. She gritted her teeth, hastily took out paper and pen, and wrote a letter by carrier pigeon, blackmailing the mysterious person in an attempt to escape her predicament. Little did she know that at the highest peak of the snowy plateau, Lake Namtso opened its brilliant blue eye, lying silently for millennia, watching everything in silence, while Du Xiaobing was slowly approaching the abyss of darkness…
According to ancient Tibetan legend, this lake was the youngest daughter of Indra, who was fortunate enough to be betrothed to the mountain god of Nyainqêntanglha. The mountain god of Nyainqêntanglha, clad in gleaming silver armor, held a whip aloft in his right hand and lightly twirled prayer beads in his left. His white horse galloped towards them with an air of soaring power, displaying both majesty and grandeur.
The goddess of Namtso Lake rides a lithe dragon, holding a dragon-headed staff in one hand and a Buddhist mirror in the other. Her graceful posture and serene demeanor exude extraordinary beauty. In the devout faith of the Tibetan people, the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains are the faithful guardians of the vast northern territory, possessing endless treasures and immense divine power; while Namtso Lake, with its unique gentleness and ethereal beauty, adds a distinctive charm to this majestic plateau.
In ancient Tibetan legends, Mount Nyainqêntanglha and Lake Namtso are inseparable lovers, bound by life and death. The majestic Mount Nyainqêntanglha appears even more towering and precipitous in the mirror-like surface of Lake Namtso; and the shimmering waters of Lake Namtso are made even more enchanting by the loving protection of Mount Nyainqêntanglha.
However, this beautiful marriage was quietly shattered by Baojishan. Thirty miles north of Namtso Lake, Baojishan and Namtso Lake developed a secret and romantic relationship, and soon after, they had a son named Tangla Zhajie.
To avoid the gaze of Mount Nyainqêntanglha, they carefully hid the child in a dam six miles west of Mount Baoji. Strangely enough, in the vast area north of Namtso, the majestic Mount Nyainqêntanglha can be clearly seen from any vantage point; but when standing on Mount Tangla Zhajie, it is as if a mysterious barrier blocks the view, preventing one from ever witnessing the countenance of this awe-inspiring mountain god.
But secrets cannot remain hidden forever. One day, Nyainqêntanglha Mountain accidentally caught his wife having an affair with Boggishan, and was instantly enraged. Driven by rage, he didn't hesitate to swing his long knife and instantly sever Boggishan's legs. From that moment on, Boggishan could only crawl on the ground forever, silently enduring the cruel punishment of fate.
Time flowed on, and a thousand years later, on this rainy night, a sudden downpour struck Namtso Lake. Amidst the churning waters, a mutilated corpse was discovered – that of Song Xiaobai. What seemed like an ordinary murder case became strangely connected to ancient legends due to a mysterious detail. Among Song Xiaobai's belongings was a tortoise shell, engraved with images of Baoji Mountain and Tangla Zhajie.
At this moment, Du Xiaobing was hiding in an inn at Namtso Lake, recalling the terrifying scene from that night with lingering fear. At that time, Xiaobai, looking flustered, hurriedly found her, clutching the jade pendant tightly in his hand, and said in a trembling voice, "Someone wants to harm me. This jade pendant contains the secret of Namtso's treasure. It must not fall into the hands of bad people."
Before Du Xiaobing could even ask what was going on, the old man wearing a black mask appeared like a ghost. His eyes flashed with greed and murderous intent, and without saying a word, he ruthlessly attacked the unsuspecting Song Xiaobai.
Only then did Du Xiaobing realize that Xiao Bai had inadvertently discovered the secret of Namtso's treasure, and that this secret was closely connected with a myth from a thousand years ago.
Now, Du Xiaobing clutches the blackmail letter he wrote to the mysterious man, feeling both uneasy and secretly expectant, completely unaware of the bloodshed that his rash act will unleash.