Bureau of Demon Affairs CH4
Chapter 4: Cold Case Reopened
Today was the Spring Equinox, but the sky was choked with thick, heavy clouds—a perfect reflection of the mood inside the Bureau.
By 8:00 AM, the staff had trickled in. Tang Na sat at her desk, her spine ramrod straight as she waited nervously. It was her first official day on the job. Rumor had it a massive case had broken in the city yesterday, and the entire department had pulled an all-nighter.
She was smoothing out her uniform for the third time when a commotion broke out at the door. Tang Na sprang to her feet.
"Good morning, Captain Du!"
The exhausted crew, battered by a night of forensic drudgery, seemed momentarily revived by her high-energy greeting. With her bright eyes and ponytail, Tang Na looked like the first fresh breeze of spring.
"Morning, Xiao Tang," Du Xingwang muttered, collapsing into his chair to catch a moment of breath.
Miao Wu followed behind, yawning as he dropped a stack of files in front of the rookie. He told her to skim them before the briefing. Du Xingwang watched Tang Na dive into the paperwork and noted, "Xiao Tang, I remember your entrance scores were exceptional."
Miao Wu looked up, his eyes gleaming with hope. Finally, someone to take my field rotations.
"Written exam, stamina, close combat, and marksmanship...All near-perfect," Du Xingwang recalled. "You were a hair’s breadth away from breaking the Bureau records." For a human, it was an incredible resume.
"A hair’s breadth?" Miao Wu asked, puzzled. "Then who holds the record?"
"Are you slow? Do you even have to ask?"
The door swung open with a bang. Zhou Xun marched in, looking remarkably crisp for someone who hadn't slept. Du Xingwang simply tilted his chin in her direction.
"Good morning, Captain Zhou!" Tang Na practically vibrated in her seat, her eyes shining.
"Ah, hello. You must be the new recruit, Tang Na?" Zhou Xun reached out to shake her hand.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Tang Na took her hand, feeling a steady warmth. The woman before her stood half a head taller, possessing a bold, almost aggressive beauty defined by her sharp, high-contrast features that would have been intimidating if not for her exhausted, deadpan expression. Her curly hair was pinned back in a messy, functional knot.
* * *
The briefing began at 9:30 AM. The hall was packed. Even Section Chief Niu Tangli of the Emergency Affairs Division had been forced to cut her honeymoon short. Chief Niu looked miserable, she and her husband had been enjoying the quiet life on a farm at Mount He, plowing fields to find their inner peace, only for a homicide to land on their doorstep.
However, if anyone’s face was darker than Chief Niu’s, it was Director Lu Dewei. He had thrown a lavish banquet last night for the Immortal Lord, only for the guest of honor and Zhou Xun to vanish. They hadn't answered their phones, leaving the Director and the Divine Envoy, Duan Zhiyan, waiting until midnight. Only then did he learn that Zhou Xun hadn't just been wandering the woods with a deity, she’d dug up a nightmare.
Zhou Xun stood by the projector, seemingly oblivious to the Director’s death glare. She opened her notebook and began.
"The first victim was discovered at 4:10 AM on March 19th in an abandoned villa on the western slope of Mount He. Name: Yang Yue, male, 34, a goat-demon. Unemployed. The autopsy puts the time of death around 1:00 AM on March 6th. Cause of death: comminuted skull fracture caused by a blunt instrument—specifically, a claw hammer. We also found traces of alcohol and sedatives in his system."
Chief Niu skimmed the file, looking at the slide of the victim's shattered horn. "Any leads on the killer?"
Captain Du’s expression soured. Zhou Xun took a breath. "The primary suspect has been identified."
"And?"
"He’s dead." Zhou Xun clicked to the next slide. "The second victim was found at 1:45 PM yesterday in a white sedan in the wild woods of Mount He, two kilometers from the first scene. Name: Zhang Guangjun, male, 39, human."
The images of Zhang’s body were chilling. Chief Niu winced.
"We identified the car yesterday and confirmed the identity with the family last night," Zhou Xun explained. "Zhang and Yang had business ties and a history of financial disputes. Based on the defensive wounds on the demon victim, we estimated the killer’s height between 170cm and 175cm. Zhang was exactly 174cm. The footprints at the disposal site match Zhang’s sneakers, and we found Yang’s blood and the murder weapon in Zhang’s trunk."
She glanced at Du Xingwang, who had processed the primary scene. He nodded in confirmation. "If Zhang wasn't the killer, he was the only one holding the hammer."
"Then what happened to Zhang?" Niu asked, staring at the screen.
Zhou Xun swapped the slide. "Zhang was killed after disposing of the body. Time of death: 6:00 PM on March 7th. Blood splatter patterns indicate he was murdered inside the vehicle. He was dismembered. The face and two internal organs are missing. The autopsy shows multiple bite marks and indicates the cause of death was exsanguination (fatal loss of blood). In short: he was being torn apart while he was still alive."
A cold shiver sweeps through the room. For the veteran officers, this modus operandi is a nightmare resurfacing from thirteen years ago.
The room erupts into whispers. One name hangs in the air: "Leatherface."
Thirteen years ago, that was the moniker given to a serial killer who targeted human males. He left dismembered remains in public spaces, removed organs to incite panic, and most infamously, peeled off his victims' faces to transform into them and approach their grieving families. Back then, the Bureau didn't exist. It was a young police woman who eventually cornered the killer. She landed several shots, but he managed to vanish into the night. That officer went on to lead the creation of the Bureau of Demon Affairs.
"A copycat?" Chief Niu asked sharply.
"We can't rule it out," Zhou Xun replied. She then informed the room of the Immortal Lord's discovery of demon traces in the villa and their failed pursuit the previous night.
As the room descended into anxious chatter, Zhou Xun felt a momentary lapse in focus. Memories flickered: falling snow, torn winterbreak workbook, a childhood friend, and the mangled remains of that friend’s father...
"Xiao Zhou." Chief Niu’s voice pulled her back. "You and Captain Du will lead the investigation. You have full departmental cooperation. Until we confirm the link, keep this quiet. We cannot afford a public panic or a breakdown in human-demon relations."
* * *
When Zhou Xun finally tracked down Shen Gongbao, he was hovering several feet off the ground, refusing to come down. Duan Zhiyan stood below him, looking helpless.
"He doesn't seem to like you very much," Zhou Xun says, holding a plastic bag of food and staring up at the black shadow.
Duan Zhiyan gave a pained smile. Still blunt as ever, Xun. The Bureau was in a state of chaos so Duan had tried to take the deity back to the guest house, but the moment they met, Shen Gongbao had simply taken flight in a display of pure disdain.
"The Venerable Lord didn't like the guesthouse," Duan explains. "So, I’ve worked it out with Director Lu. We’ve arranged an apartment for him in the Bureau's staff housing complex."
Zhou Xun’s brow furrows. She lives in that complex. No more personal space, even after work?
"Are you serious?"
"Don't worry," Duan assured her. "The Venerable Lord is actually quite easy to get along with."
Is he? Zhou Xun looked up. Shen Gongbao was looking down at them with narrowed eyes, radiating pure, unadulterated arrogance.
Around them, the plum blossoms and magnolias in the courtyard were in full bloom, their fragrance thick on the breeze.
"I remember a plum grove near our university library," Duan said suddenly, drifting into nostalgia.
"Mmm, I think I remember too," Zhou Xun says. She remembers the white blossoms, the tulips, the 65 steps to the library entrance, the left-handed security guard with the tea-stained thermos...
"Since graduation, we haven't really caught up, aside from that time I gave a speech at the school. We should grab dinner sometime. Nothing formal, just old classmates—"
Before he could finish, Shen Gongbao drifted down. He had somehow changed clothes again in a single day. Cream robes, a wide black belt, and a deep crimson bixi sash. He wore shimmering white jade earrings and had added intricate braids to his hair. Zhou Xun didn't ask how; she just assumed it was one of his spells.
"Are you not due to go back to report your mission?" Shen Gongbao said, effectively dismissing Duan. In the bright sunlight, his eyes were a pale amber, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits like a serpent's.
Despite the snub, Duan’s expression remained professional. Emotional stability was a requirement in his line of work. He bid them a swift farewell.
Once Duan was gone, Shen Gongbao looked satisfied. His body had fully adjusted to the local spiritual density. He turned his gaze to the weary, sleep-deprived woman beside him—his "Divine Envoy."
Ha! What a joke.
After observing her closely, he was certain: this woman has zero spiritual power and not a shred of talent for cultivation. To think the Divine Realm sent this shrimp to monitor him... it’s an insult to the name Shen Gongbao!
He gritted his teeth.
On the other hand, he thinks, feeling a spark of his old mischief as a wicked light danced in his emerald eyes, is this not a godsend? He’s finally out, and with only this mortal to "guard" him, he has the perfect chance to throw the Three Realms into chaos once again.
Translator's Note:
Today was the Spring Equinox, but the sky was choked with thick, heavy clouds—a perfect reflection of the mood inside the Bureau.
By 8:00 AM, the staff had trickled in. Tang Na sat at her desk, her spine ramrod straight as she waited nervously. It was her first official day on the job. Rumor had it a massive case had broken in the city yesterday, and the entire department had pulled an all-nighter.
She was smoothing out her uniform for the third time when a commotion broke out at the door. Tang Na sprang to her feet.
"Good morning, Captain Du!"
The exhausted crew, battered by a night of forensic drudgery, seemed momentarily revived by her high-energy greeting. With her bright eyes and ponytail, Tang Na looked like the first fresh breeze of spring.
"Morning, Xiao Tang," Du Xingwang muttered, collapsing into his chair to catch a moment of breath.
Miao Wu followed behind, yawning as he dropped a stack of files in front of the rookie. He told her to skim them before the briefing. Du Xingwang watched Tang Na dive into the paperwork and noted, "Xiao Tang, I remember your entrance scores were exceptional."
Miao Wu looked up, his eyes gleaming with hope. Finally, someone to take my field rotations.
"Written exam, stamina, close combat, and marksmanship...All near-perfect," Du Xingwang recalled. "You were a hair’s breadth away from breaking the Bureau records." For a human, it was an incredible resume.
"A hair’s breadth?" Miao Wu asked, puzzled. "Then who holds the record?"
"Are you slow? Do you even have to ask?"
The door swung open with a bang. Zhou Xun marched in, looking remarkably crisp for someone who hadn't slept. Du Xingwang simply tilted his chin in her direction.
"Good morning, Captain Zhou!" Tang Na practically vibrated in her seat, her eyes shining.
"Ah, hello. You must be the new recruit, Tang Na?" Zhou Xun reached out to shake her hand.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Tang Na took her hand, feeling a steady warmth. The woman before her stood half a head taller, possessing a bold, almost aggressive beauty defined by her sharp, high-contrast features that would have been intimidating if not for her exhausted, deadpan expression. Her curly hair was pinned back in a messy, functional knot.
* * *
The briefing began at 9:30 AM. The hall was packed. Even Section Chief Niu Tangli of the Emergency Affairs Division had been forced to cut her honeymoon short. Chief Niu looked miserable, she and her husband had been enjoying the quiet life on a farm at Mount He, plowing fields to find their inner peace, only for a homicide to land on their doorstep.
However, if anyone’s face was darker than Chief Niu’s, it was Director Lu Dewei. He had thrown a lavish banquet last night for the Immortal Lord, only for the guest of honor and Zhou Xun to vanish. They hadn't answered their phones, leaving the Director and the Divine Envoy, Duan Zhiyan, waiting until midnight. Only then did he learn that Zhou Xun hadn't just been wandering the woods with a deity, she’d dug up a nightmare.
Zhou Xun stood by the projector, seemingly oblivious to the Director’s death glare. She opened her notebook and began.
"The first victim was discovered at 4:10 AM on March 19th in an abandoned villa on the western slope of Mount He. Name: Yang Yue, male, 34, a goat-demon. Unemployed. The autopsy puts the time of death around 1:00 AM on March 6th. Cause of death: comminuted skull fracture caused by a blunt instrument—specifically, a claw hammer. We also found traces of alcohol and sedatives in his system."
Chief Niu skimmed the file, looking at the slide of the victim's shattered horn. "Any leads on the killer?"
Captain Du’s expression soured. Zhou Xun took a breath. "The primary suspect has been identified."
"And?"
"He’s dead." Zhou Xun clicked to the next slide. "The second victim was found at 1:45 PM yesterday in a white sedan in the wild woods of Mount He, two kilometers from the first scene. Name: Zhang Guangjun, male, 39, human."
The images of Zhang’s body were chilling. Chief Niu winced.
"We identified the car yesterday and confirmed the identity with the family last night," Zhou Xun explained. "Zhang and Yang had business ties and a history of financial disputes. Based on the defensive wounds on the demon victim, we estimated the killer’s height between 170cm and 175cm. Zhang was exactly 174cm. The footprints at the disposal site match Zhang’s sneakers, and we found Yang’s blood and the murder weapon in Zhang’s trunk."
She glanced at Du Xingwang, who had processed the primary scene. He nodded in confirmation. "If Zhang wasn't the killer, he was the only one holding the hammer."
"Then what happened to Zhang?" Niu asked, staring at the screen.
Zhou Xun swapped the slide. "Zhang was killed after disposing of the body. Time of death: 6:00 PM on March 7th. Blood splatter patterns indicate he was murdered inside the vehicle. He was dismembered. The face and two internal organs are missing. The autopsy shows multiple bite marks and indicates the cause of death was exsanguination (fatal loss of blood). In short: he was being torn apart while he was still alive."
A cold shiver sweeps through the room. For the veteran officers, this modus operandi is a nightmare resurfacing from thirteen years ago.
The room erupts into whispers. One name hangs in the air: "Leatherface."
Thirteen years ago, that was the moniker given to a serial killer who targeted human males. He left dismembered remains in public spaces, removed organs to incite panic, and most infamously, peeled off his victims' faces to transform into them and approach their grieving families. Back then, the Bureau didn't exist. It was a young police woman who eventually cornered the killer. She landed several shots, but he managed to vanish into the night. That officer went on to lead the creation of the Bureau of Demon Affairs.
"A copycat?" Chief Niu asked sharply.
"We can't rule it out," Zhou Xun replied. She then informed the room of the Immortal Lord's discovery of demon traces in the villa and their failed pursuit the previous night.
As the room descended into anxious chatter, Zhou Xun felt a momentary lapse in focus. Memories flickered: falling snow, torn winterbreak workbook, a childhood friend, and the mangled remains of that friend’s father...
"Xiao Zhou." Chief Niu’s voice pulled her back. "You and Captain Du will lead the investigation. You have full departmental cooperation. Until we confirm the link, keep this quiet. We cannot afford a public panic or a breakdown in human-demon relations."
* * *
When Zhou Xun finally tracked down Shen Gongbao, he was hovering several feet off the ground, refusing to come down. Duan Zhiyan stood below him, looking helpless.
"He doesn't seem to like you very much," Zhou Xun says, holding a plastic bag of food and staring up at the black shadow.
Duan Zhiyan gave a pained smile. Still blunt as ever, Xun. The Bureau was in a state of chaos so Duan had tried to take the deity back to the guest house, but the moment they met, Shen Gongbao had simply taken flight in a display of pure disdain.
"The Venerable Lord didn't like the guesthouse," Duan explains. "So, I’ve worked it out with Director Lu. We’ve arranged an apartment for him in the Bureau's staff housing complex."
Zhou Xun’s brow furrows. She lives in that complex. No more personal space, even after work?
"Are you serious?"
"Don't worry," Duan assured her. "The Venerable Lord is actually quite easy to get along with."
Is he? Zhou Xun looked up. Shen Gongbao was looking down at them with narrowed eyes, radiating pure, unadulterated arrogance.
Around them, the plum blossoms and magnolias in the courtyard were in full bloom, their fragrance thick on the breeze.
"I remember a plum grove near our university library," Duan said suddenly, drifting into nostalgia.
"Mmm, I think I remember too," Zhou Xun says. She remembers the white blossoms, the tulips, the 65 steps to the library entrance, the left-handed security guard with the tea-stained thermos...
"Since graduation, we haven't really caught up, aside from that time I gave a speech at the school. We should grab dinner sometime. Nothing formal, just old classmates—"
Before he could finish, Shen Gongbao drifted down. He had somehow changed clothes again in a single day. Cream robes, a wide black belt, and a deep crimson bixi sash. He wore shimmering white jade earrings and had added intricate braids to his hair. Zhou Xun didn't ask how; she just assumed it was one of his spells.
"Are you not due to go back to report your mission?" Shen Gongbao said, effectively dismissing Duan. In the bright sunlight, his eyes were a pale amber, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits like a serpent's.
Despite the snub, Duan’s expression remained professional. Emotional stability was a requirement in his line of work. He bid them a swift farewell.
Once Duan was gone, Shen Gongbao looked satisfied. His body had fully adjusted to the local spiritual density. He turned his gaze to the weary, sleep-deprived woman beside him—his "Divine Envoy."
Ha! What a joke.
After observing her closely, he was certain: this woman has zero spiritual power and not a shred of talent for cultivation. To think the Divine Realm sent this shrimp to monitor him... it’s an insult to the name Shen Gongbao!
He gritted his teeth.
On the other hand, he thinks, feeling a spark of his old mischief as a wicked light danced in his emerald eyes, is this not a godsend? He’s finally out, and with only this mortal to "guard" him, he has the perfect chance to throw the Three Realms into chaos once again.
Translator's Note:
- Spring Equinox (春分): Marks the middle of spring when day and night are of equal length
- Exsanguination: Fatal blood loss.
- Bixi (蔽膝): A traditional decorative knee-cover worn with ancient Chinese robes (Hanfu).
- Three Realms (三界 - Sānjiè): Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.
(P: It feels like a short chapter so I'll add another one.)
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