Hu Qi turned his face and glanced at him, raising an eyebrow.
"What did you find?"
"Although this person concealed himself very well, as an old smoker, he was actually choked by the Baishan cigarettes I was smoking.
This type of cigarette is among the mildest, and..."
He paused there.
Xie Fei habitually pushed up his glasses, raised his right hand, and spread his index and middle fingers; the skin there was slightly yellowed.
"Long-term cigarette holding can cause harmful substances in the smoke to yellow the fingers, especially the index and middle fingers, as well as the nails.
I just observed his hands, and apart from some calluses, there were no signs of long-term smoking. Of course, there's also a possibility that he just started recently."
"However, this possibility is extremely small. In my opinion, the smell of smoke on him is more like it's covering something up."
Hu Qi's expression shifted slightly.
He looked at his somewhat socially anxious teammate with a hint of surprise.
This reminded him of a report he had once read.
It stated that some introverted people might not talk much in social interactions.
But they would listen attentively and observe people's expressions, as well as their surroundings, making it easier for them to gauge people's intentions and catch subtle details that extroverts might easily miss.
From the looks of it now, Xie Fei in front of him seemed to be exactly that type.
"You're too talented not to be a detective!"
Upon hearing this.
Xie Fei smiled somewhat sheepishly.
"Not at all, I just like reading some detective novels when I'm bored."
He said this.
In fact, he felt increasingly curious about Hu Qi.
The other party's previous actions clearly showed that he had already noticed this point.
Although he was introverted, he wasn't stupid.
"This person should have some issues, but we don't have evidence yet."
He frowned.
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Qi waved his hand.
"Evidence? Our suspicion is the most important evidence.
You go follow that old man and see where he lives and if there's anything unusual."
Xie Fei was stunned, not yet reacting.
He then saw Hu Qi stride into the cemetery.
He couldn't help but ask,
"Where are you going? Aren't you coming with me?"
"I'm going to check the places where graves were previously dug up and bodies stolen. If we divide the work, our efficiency will be faster."
"How do you know where those graves are?"
"It's recorded in this work log, specifically at 79, 169, 695..."
Hu Qi didn't turn his head, merely shaking a thick, gray-covered booklet in his hand.
Xie Fei was speechless, looking at the other party's back.
After thinking for a moment, he turned and ran towards the main gate.
The setting sun slanted westward, gradually fading away.
Like a dying ember.
The continuous grey tombstones, standing motionless, were illuminated by the slanting red light of the setting sun.
They cast distorted and elongated shadows on the ground, like shadowy tentacles reaching out from beneath the earth, trying to drag people into the darkness.
These tombstones were densely arranged, stretching endlessly, utterly devoid of any human presence.
Only black and white headshots were placed on them. Walking among them,
Gave one the feeling of being watched.
As if the people in the photos had come to life, all staring at him with dead, hollow eyes.
A gust of wind blew.
Causing the cypress leaves and weeds in the cemetery to rustle softly.
As if some unseen, intangible, eerie transparent figures were walking among them.
Thump, thump, thump...
Hu Qi quickened his pace, his expression normal.
He had even cut down Black Blood Species monsters; this was nothing to him.
Following the records in the log, he quickly arrived at the location of the previously stolen graves.
Each grave here had its own number, making it easy to find.
Not to mention the soil in these graves was softer compared to others.
Of course, within these re-filled graves,
The original occupant's body was no longer there.
This could be inferred from the tombstones, which had become nameless.
Hu Qi walked past them one by one, squatting in front of these graves and inspecting them carefully.
Afterward.
Hu Qi began to walk around the entire cemetery.
By the time it was completely dark.
Hu Qi also returned to the monitoring room at the main gate.
Here.
A figure was sitting, it was Xie Fei.
"How was it?"
Hu Qi asked.
"I've confirmed his location. It's not far, just a kilometer away in the village. I didn't see anyone at his house, so he should be living alone..."
Xie Fei said, looking at Hu Qi.
"What about you?"
"No major discoveries. Let's wait. It won't be too long."
Hu Qi seemed to have seen through the other party's confusion.
He added,
"In such hot weather, bodies cannot be preserved for too long. The most recent body was lost two days ago. Let's wait one night and see."
Xie Fei also understood.
As the frequent occurrences of bodies disappearing from graves continued,
Fewer and fewer people came here for burial.
Coupled with the hot weather, bodies would rot and stink in no time.
And as a Black Blood Species, it was impossible not to eat, as that would make it extremely weak.
"Remember, focus on observing these monitors."
Hu Qi pointed his hand at three screens next to the monitoring room's main screen.
He seemed to notice Xie Fei's somewhat puzzled gaze.
Hu Qi smiled.
"The cameras in these spots were a bit crooked, and some blind spots weren't captured. I just straightened them out."
Upon hearing this.
Xie Fei was not foolish.
He immediately understood Hu Qi's meaning.
Only cemetery staff would have the opportunity to do such a thing.
...
Afterward, the two stayed in the monitoring room.
They began to wait.
Both of them were Martial Artists who had Cultivated Qi and blood.
Their energy far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Staying up all night wouldn't cause them much drowsiness at all.
Time slowly passed.
The cemetery was backed by a large mountain and was located in a remote area.
Now that darkness had fallen, the outside was dim, with only isolated grey-white tombstones standing there, making it exceptionally quiet.
Even the chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs were much fewer.
During this time.
Hu Qi tried to chat with Xie Fei, wondering if he could unearth more information about the Snake Heart Gate.
After all, the other party had joined earlier than him, so he should know more.
However, what made Hu Qi somewhat speechless was that
The other party had been a member of the Snake Heart Gate for three years.
After the first year was up, he applied to stay and study at the school.
Most of his time was spent Cultivating in his room.
He only came out for fresh air when performing missions.
This was a true shut-in.
Hu Qi made this assessment in his mind.
"You've been a member for so long, you should be close to a Breakthrough to Martial Artist, right?"
Hu Qi said with a smile.
"Being a Martial Artist is not that simple."
Xie Fei shook his head.
"I have only Cultivated the Snake Form Stake to the seventh layer and initially completed the third transformation of Qi and blood. I am still far from being a Martial Artist."