Chapter 188 - 186: So That’s It, So That’s It!

Chapter 188: Chapter 186: So That’s It, So That’s It!

Zhou Qi was recently busy selecting a location for a store in the Western Capital and allocating staff for the branch there. Since these were internal matters of Tianyi Hall, Xu Jing was rarely involved. Now seeing Zhou Qi calling her, she couldn’t help but slightly raise her eyebrows and look over.

Zhou Qi chuckled softly, gestured to the men behind him, and said: "These are the managers of the merchant caravans that the Zhou Family maintains. Our family operates three caravans in total. One caravan exclusively travels to the outer regions to purchase medicinal herbs for us. The other two caravans, one focuses on routes to the south and southwest, and the other on routes to the northwest.

They just brought back a new batch of goods a few days ago, so I invited them over, planning to let them procure more rare medicinal herbs for the branch in the Western Capital. Miss Xu, if there’s any herb you need them to purchase, feel free to mention it."

In the Western Capital, they undoubtedly mainly conducted business with wealthy families, so the more rare medicinal herbs, the better.

Zhou Qi had clearly mentioned her identity to the men behind him. One of the men, with a rough appearance and a full beard, laughed heartily and said: "She must be the Miss Xu that Mr. Zhou has praised endlessly! I heard it’s thanks to Miss Xu’s help that our Tianyi Hall’s Western Capital branch could reopen. My name is Hu Da. I specialize in leading teams on the outer regions route. Whatever medicinal herbs from the outer regions Miss Xu wants, just say the word! I would brave mountains of swords and seas of flames to bring them back for Miss Xu!"

The other men also greeted Xu Jing one after another.

Xu Jing looked at them, but was momentarily stunned and said: "You are in merchant caravans traveling different routes, and the time taken for each route differs, doesn’t it? How is it that you all returned at the same time?"

Hu Da was taken aback and said: "Miss Xu is correct. It’s usually hard for us all to be back like this at once. But now it’s already August, the weather is gradually getting colder, and in winter, the caravans generally do not continue to travel; they each return home and find their wives. Some other caravans with short routes or southern routes might manage another trip before the year’s end, like Liu Dazhi, hahaha, he specializes in leading teams to the south and southwest. In a few days, he will set off again."

Saying this, he vigorously slapped a tall, thin, dark-skinned man beside him, laughing heartily.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Xu Jing’s mind, and she fixed a firm gaze at Hu Da: "Are you saying that any caravan traveling the northwest or outer regions does not go out again after returning in July or August?"

Hu Da was intimidated by Xu Jing’s inexplicably serious gaze, and after a while, he said: "Generally, yes. The northwest and outer regions usually start snowing around October; sometimes it’s even earlier in the outer regions. A trip to the outer regions takes at least half a year, and a trip to the northwest takes at least three or four months. If you travel at this time, you might easily get stuck by snow-covered roads when returning. Not being able to return home is one thing, but the danger is the main concern. Of course, some people are willing to take risks and make another trip, hoping for fortune amidst danger, but such people are rare.

However, not all caravans return in July or August. Generally, caravans set off at the beginning of spring, and from July to September, caravans will be returning one after another."

I see, I see!

Xu Jing suppressed her somewhat excited state, continuing to ask: "The outer regions are to the north, so when the caravans set off from the Western Capital, do they usually leave through the North Gate? As for going to the northwest, is it more common to go through the West Gate or the North Gate?"

Hu Da became even more confused about why Miss Xu was asking these questions, scratching his cheek and saying: "Caravans traveling to the northwest generally set off from the West Gate because there is a main road that leads directly to Dan State, an important town in the northwest. Is it possible that Miss Xu also has an interest in operating merchant caravans?"

Xu Jing, with the corner of her mouth already lifted, shook her head upon hearing this and said: "No, I’m asking these questions for another purpose, thank you, Mr. Hu. Mr. Zhou, I urgently need to go out now. I will list the medicinal herbs I need tonight and hand them over to you, excuse me."

With that, Xu Jing paid no heed to everyone’s bewildered expressions and quickly headed toward the door.

She understood! Why the murderer always committed crimes in January, February, and July, and why the victim killed in January and February was usually found on the west side of the Western Capital while Qian Honglian, killed at the end of July, was found in the north!

She got into the carriage and once again went to Xiao Yi’s house, telling Xiao Yi’s servant that she had urgent business to discuss with Xiao Yi.

She didn’t wait long in the room before Xiao Yi hurried in. Xu Jing had no time to speak before watching Xiao Yi with a calm face saying, "Miss Xu, I was just about to send someone to find you. A new victim has been discovered."

Xu Jing was taken aback, "A new victim, wouldn’t it have been discovered north of the Western Capital?"

Xiao Yi was stunned, looking incredulous, "How did you know? The new victim, like Qian Honglian, was found near Famen Temple."

Just as expected!

Xu Jing took a deep breath and said, "I understand now. Let me go with you, and I’ll tell you on the way how I know about this."

While traveling by carriage to the outskirts, Xu Jing relayed the intelligence she had obtained from Hu Da to Xiao Yi. As Xiao Yi listened, his expression grew increasingly solemn. Finally, in contemplation, he said, "In other words, the murderer is highly likely to be someone from the merchant caravans, specifically those operating in the northwest. He usually completes his year-round activities by returning to the Western Capital in July or August, going home via the Western Capital, and returns from home to the Western Capital around January or February, setting out for the northwest from there.

Each time he returns to the Western Capital, he habitually kills someone."

"That’s right, he goes home through the North Gate, indicating that his home might be in a town or province to the north."

Xu Jing said, "Finding a person matching these traits shouldn’t be difficult, right?"

Xiao Yi regained his composure, looking at Xu Jing with a slight smile, "Not difficult, all merchant caravans operating in the Western Capital are required to register with the Commerce Department, and their travel documents need to be stamped by the Commerce Department. At registration, each caravan must report all their personnel details."

Xu Jing’s face brightened, finally seeing the dawn of solving the case, and her tone naturally grew more cheerful, "That’s great."

Xiao Yi couldn’t help but slightly shake his head, laughing, "I just didn’t expect you to find a breakthrough in this case so quickly; something the Ministry of Justice couldn’t achieve in five years."

Xu Jing just smiled faintly, "It was merely good luck on my part."

While ordinary people might not be particularly informed about the operating patterns of caravans, if the Ministry of Justice spent a bit more effort, they might not necessarily have failed to uncover this.

Moreover, truthfully, the pattern of a serial killer’s crimes generally becomes clearer as he commits more, so in the earliest years when he hadn’t committed many crimes, finding a pattern wasn’t easy.

It took quite a while to travel from the city to the outskirts; the carriage traveled for more than half an hour before finally arriving at the crime scene.

It was a small forest at the foot of the mountain near Famen Temple. Xiao Yi led her deep into it, where about a dozen government officials were gathered near a bush, along with a middle-aged man in a crimson official robe. Upon seeing Xiao Yi approaching, he hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Vice Minister Xiao is here."

In doing so, he also saw Xu Jing, who was following Xiao Yi, and was slightly taken aback, "This lady is..."

"Greetings, Mr. Yao, she is a forensic doctor I’ve specifically invited."

Xiao Yi said this calmly, as if he didn’t notice the surprised expressions of the surrounding people, and asked, "Where’s the victim?"

Mr. Yao could only temporarily suppress his curiosity, gesturing for the officials beside him to make way, saying, "The victim was hidden in the bush and was discovered by a farmer who had been gathering herbs in the mountain this morning. Frightened, he went straight to the government office in the Western Capital to report the case. Upon seeing it, I knew immediately that it was linked to the Smiling Killer case. Though the Holy Emperor has entrusted this case to Vice Minister Xiao, if there’s anything the Western Capital’s government office can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Xiao Yi nodded in thanks and walked over.

Xu Jing followed closely behind him, and upon seeing the victim lying in the bush, even though she was mentally prepared, she couldn’t help but gasp in shock.