S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 5 Chapter 7

Witness of the Three Murderers 07 – Cold Weapon

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The so-called warehouse under Chao Jiu's house was actually a huge basement.

There was nothing here. The empty space was divided into square spaces with a few antique screens, the wooden floor was very thick, and next to the screens there was a shelf for swords. The only thing on the shelf was a wooden sword that was roughly one or two metres long.

The ceiling was very rustic and the lighting had a cold and icy feel to it.

When Bai Yutang walked into this space, he felt something strange, it was obviously surrounded by wooden structures, but it had a metallic smell to it.

Old man Chao Jiu stood next to the sword rack and picked up the wooden sword. When he looked back, he saw Bai Yutang with one hand in his pocket and a sword in the other, his expression relaxed as he was surveying the surroundings. The old man then couldn't help himself and frowned slightly.

Bai Ye walked over to a chair next to the screen and sat down. Chao Xia followed with a tea tray, and behind him was Eugene who had a "watch the show" expression on his face.

Chao Jiu sighed as he held the wooden sword and faintly said to Bai Ye, "Your Bai family's offspring are also inferior to the previous generation."

Bai Yutang stood opposite him, leaning on the handle of the sword with both hands and looking around, seemingly searching for something. It wasn't clear if he hadn't heard Chao Jiu's words or if he had simply ignored them.

Bai Ye was suddenly glad that he hadn't brought Zhan Zhao as well, otherwise at this moment, Zhan Zhao would have destroyed this old codger with his iron tongue.

Chao Jiu didn't know why, but he was very dissatisfied with Bai Yutang.

Eugene curiously asked Chao Xia, who was sitting with him eating peanuts, "Your grandfather hates handsome men?"

Chao Xia blinked, stroking his chin and glancing at Bai Yutang, "Serious and quite handsome... no ah, my grandfather likes this type of first-class talent the most."

Eugene was also puzzled – Bai Yutang was always handsome wherever he went, and his body and face were impeccable, so did the old man have a problem with his brain?

The old man sighed as he held his wooden sword and asked Bai Yutang, "You're someone who carries a gun, which means you're an errand boy?"

Bai Yutang felt that this old man probably lived decades ago, and there was a generation gap between them.

"I've seen quite a few when it comes to errand boys, some are righteous and some are evil. You don't have any light in your eyes." The old man looked at Bai Yutang, "Why do you work as an errand boy?"

Bai Yutang frowned slightly, finally withdrawing his eyes from surveying the area and looking back at Chao Jiu.

Their eyes met.

Bai Yutang found that the old man's gaze was stern, and thought to himself, it looks like he has a good body despite his age.

Chao Jiu was also slightly stunned, a little suspicious.

He had seen quite a few young people, including Bai Ye and Zhao Jue when they were young, each one very special.

The Bai family, no matter who they were, were all as sharp as a blade in a blazing fire. Bai Yutang and Bai Ye looked almost exactly the same when they were young, but their temperaments were completely different.

When Bai Ye was young, Chao Jiu felt at first glance that this child was simply a sword. However, now that Bai Yutang had moved in, his eyes were too calm as he looked at him, without even the slightest bit of murderous energy, like a pile of burnt out ashes, cold and serene. What is wrong with this Bai family?

Chao Jiu was originally very dissatisfied, the strongest bloodline of the Bai family was considered broken. But what made his heart doubtful was the confrontation just now. When Bai Yutang met his gaze with his own, he was still calm like a pool of water, there was no murderous aura beyond that, not to mention fear. Looking at his expression, it was almost the same as the eyes that were surveying the surroundings just now.

Chao Jiu was a bit hesitant.

Just then, he heard Bai Yutang suddenly ask, "You have iron laid under the floor?"

Chao Jiu froze.

Chao Xia also looked up.

Bai Yutang frowned, "It's rusted, isn't it, the smell is so heavy."

Eugene sniffed around and wondered, "Is there a smell?"

Looking at Chao Xia again, the teenager's mouth was open wide in surprise, while Bai Ye calmly sipped his tea on the side.

Chao Xia grew up following Chao Jiu. He always heard his grandfather say, only talent is the most extraordinary thing, learning literature and martial arts requires talent. Learning literature without talent is at most a disgrace, and learning martial arts without talent, it's going to cost you your life.

When he was a child, Chao Xia said he wanted to learn the art of the blade from his grandfather, and his grandfather brought him here and asked him, "What can you smell?"

Chao Xia thought it was strange at the time, there was wood everywhere, so naturally it smelled like wood.

But Chao Jiu concluded that he didn't have the talent to learn how to use a sword, if he had the talent, he would be able to smell metal.

This metallic smell was formed not because of the metal hidden under the wood, but because of the source of this wood.

These wooden boards were not just ordinary decorative materials, but antiques. It was said that it was once a very famous martial arts stage, and many people had died on this stage. His grandfather bought all the wood at a high price and dismantled it to pave the basement. This so-called metallic smell was actually the smell created by mixing the smell of solid wood with the smell of blood. It's not a good nose that can smell it, but rather someone who is born with the ability to sense the presence of danger... can feel it.

Unfortunately, no one has been able to smell this so-called "metal" odour. Previously, Chao Xia thought that his grandfather made it up, in order to prevent him from learning to use a sword, it was not until he met Bai Yutang today that he understood – It turns out that there really is ah! The so-called talent!

Chao Jiu reached out and gently stroked his beard, glancing at Bai Ye... Could it be that his eyes were mistaken?

Bai Yutang walked over to the old man, reached out and took the wooden sword, and weighed it in his hand for a moment before asking, "What kind of wood is it? Quite heavy."

"Ebony." Chao Xia answered helpfully.

Bai Yutang nodded.

The old man frowned as he looked at Bai Yutang, who was weighing the wooden sword calmly beside him, and asked, "Boy, why did you become a cop?"

Bai Yutang said indifferently, "My family has been doing this for generations."

"That's it?" Chao Jiu frowned, "What about your own will?"

"I never thought of doing anything else." Bai Yutang returned the wooden sword to him and asked, "How shall we compete? Your wooden sword and my real sword, aren't you at a disadvantage?"

"Hehe." Chao Jiu laughed, "This sword has been with me for decades, not to mention real swords, it's not afraid of guns."

"You only have one?" Bai Yutang was suddenly quite interested in this wooden sword. He thought that it looked quite nice, perhaps Zhan Zhao would like it, so he asked, "Are there any more of them? Do you have one to sell?"

"Pfft..." Eugene didn't hold back and spewed out a mouthful of tea.

Bai Ye also choked on his tea, he cleared his throat and shook his head – Bai Yutang was definitely thinking of Zhan Zhao just now...

Chao Jiu took the wooden sword back and suddenly whipped it over with a backhanded slash at Bai Yutang's neck.

Eugene raised an eyebrow, "Wow! The old man's strike is really shady."

Bai Yutang barely even reacted when his sword reached his eyes. The old man was slightly stunned for a split second as he thought about whether or not to put back his sword... Could it be that he was really a layman? He's a descendant of the Bai family at least, let's not kill him!

But just in the moment he was ready to withdraw the sword, Bai Yutang slightly tilted his head.

Almost as if he didn't move... the sword swept past Bai Yutang's eyes, not touching his skin at all.

Chao Jiu froze.

Bai Yutang reached out and pointed at the old man, signalling that he was dishonest enough to actually attack him secretly.

Chao Jiu then saw Bai Yutang turn around and walk towards the centre of the room, and was somewhat baffled – He was actually exposing his entire back?

Thinking of this, the old man narrowed his eyes and took three steps forward, raising his wooden blade without saying a word.

The corner of Eugene's mouth twitched – This old man was slightly dirty.

In fact, Chao Jiu's all-out slash this time was not for a sneak attack, but to confirm something.

Sure enough, Bai Yutang remained unresponsive until the sword was about to slash his shoulder. He took a slight step to the side and easily avoided the sword, still almost unmoving. The quickness of his reaction and the coordination of his body left Chao Jiu stunned.

Bai Yutang kept walking to the centre of the room. Looking back, he saw that the old man was still standing not far away, and was somewhat amused, this old man's temperament was quite anxious.

Chao Jiu withdrew the sword in his hand and began to look at Bai Yutang directly.

However... the young man opposite him was still calm and drew out the sword in his hand.

Seeing the way he drew the sword, Chao Jiu felt a slight desire to vomit blood. With such a good sword and such good physical fitness, it was just like drawing a toy sword, casually drawing it out.

At the table not far away, Bai Ye was still calmly drinking tea.

Eugene, on the other hand, was looking at Bai Yutang with his chin in the air and lamenting – It's good to be handsome, being handsome while doing anything, even being a layman.

On the other hand, Chao Xia on the side was tilting his head in some confusion – Why did his grandfather fail to hit Bai Yutang with both of his strikes? If the first one was reserved, the second one was full strength. In other words, Bai Yutang would definitely have been injured if he couldn't avoid it, but he didn't have eyes on the back of his head, so how did he dodge it?

Eugene let out a dry laugh. He could at least be counted as someone who had been beaten up by Bai Yutang, and probably knew the feeling. The scary thing about Bai Yutang were his reactions, he was able to strike at the first moment and dodge at the last moment, he was a monster-like existence.

Chao Jiu walked two steps forward and stood straight, holding the sword sideways with both hands. With the sword in a horizontal position in front of his body, he looked at Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang pulled the sword out at the same time as he saw Chao Jiu's posture. He nodded, thinking that his posture was good, worthy of being a professional. Then he raised his hand, putting the sword aside, and walked over with the sheath in his hand.

Chao Jiu frowned, "What are you doing?"

Bai Yutang shook the sheath, "This is a bit more convenient."

Chao Jiu was dissatisfied, "Are you thinking I'm old and want to give in?"

Bai Yutang frowned, but it wasn't like he was like Zhan Zhao who would take the opportunity to spout a few words, he was usually used to being cool so he wasn't good at being cheeky. But the old man across from him looked quite concerned, so Captain Bai explained in a very concise manner, "It's more profitable for me to use a sheath than a sword."

Chao Jiu was stunned.

"I don't have to think about controlling my strength." Bai Yutang held the sheath in his right hand, gently turned it sideways at his side, and raised his eyes to Chao Jiu, which meant – hurry up and do it.

Chao Jiu accepted his statement. Indeed... for a layman, using a sharp sword with some reservations to fight is not as effective as taking a stick with no reservations to fight.

Chao Jiu began to observe Bai Yutang – Why was this young man so calm? If you said he was confident, it didn't seem right. He looked like he should be good at fighting, but he didn't seem to have much of a desire to win or lose. Confronting him face to face with a cold weapon, but there was no killing aura at all... Was this person really surnamed Bai?

Bai Yutang adapted to the feel of the sword sheath in his hand and raised his head to lock eyes with the old man, waiting to go through the motions with him. In fact, Bai Yutang can be said to have grown up "fighting" because of various reasons, but this was the first time that he had sparred with a sword master, and he found it quite refreshing. Although Chao Jiu was not young, from the two moves he made just now to sneak up on him, it was more or less a test. At least now Chao Jiu should have adapted to his reactions and speed, so... it wouldn't be difficult to win against him.

"Don't you have a desire to win?" Chao Jiu asked, "It doesn't matter if you lose?"

Bai Yutang shook his head, "Everyone hates losing."

"But you don't have a killing spirit in your eyes, how can you compete?" Chao Jiu wondered.

Bai Yutang frowned, "Do you think you're acting in a martial arts movie? What kind of killing aura is needed when there's no injustice or hatred?"

Chao Jiu looked at Bai Yutang for a while and finally nodded, "No injustice and no hatred ah... so that's how it is."

Bai Ye put down his teacup and raised his eyes to look at Bai Yutang who was holding the sheath of his sword, and then looked at the unsheathed sword lying not far away, the sharp blade carrying the calmness of an ancient sword. Although he didn't know which era this sword came from and who had once used it, it should be something that had taken someone's life. No matter what, this sword seemed to be nothing more than a murder weapon in Bai Yutang's eyes. The Bai family had been in a strange circle that they hadn't been able to escape from for generations, and he wondered if Bai Yutang would be able to break out of it.

Just as he was thinking, he saw Chao Xia's hand suddenly shaking at the side, and the tea almost spilled.

Bai Ye raised his eyes, Bai Yutang was already fighting with Chao Jiu.

Chao Xia held his teacup and watched as the two fought, his mouth wide open as he asked Eugene, "Is he really a layman?"

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, "Your grandfather is serious about using his sword skills."

"What about Bai Yutang?" Chao Xia was curious.

"It's just an instinctive reaction." Eugene narrowed his eyes, "That speed of blocking the sword belongs to the inhuman... This guy's physical ability is simply unbelievable."

With that, the fight lasted roughly ten minutes or so.

Chao Jiu suddenly withdrew his sword and took a few steps back.

Bai Yutang, still holding the sheath in his hand, stood there looking at him without even taking a breath, seemingly having just warmed up.

Chao Xia looked around and asked Eugene, "Is it over? The winner hasn't been decided yet."

The corner of Eugene's mouth twitched slightly – It was over.

Bai Ye frowned silently.

Bai Yutang turned back to pick up the sword on the ground, ready to sheathe it, when he heard Chao Jiu speak from across the room, "That's not how to sheathe a sword."

Bai Yutang looked at him.

Chao Jiu flung the wooden sword in his hand and made a gesture of putting it away.

Bai Yutang looked at him, raised his hand and whipped the sword, using the posture Chao Jiu had taught him to store the sword.

Chao Xia, who was watching from not far away, cupped his face, "Wow! The cadence!"

Bai Ye subconsciously looked at the sword in Bai Yutang's hand, "Sure enough... he's suited for cold weapons and has an innate understanding of weapons!"

Chao Jiu put away his sword and said to the crowd, "Let’s go upstairs."

Chao Xia curiously asked Eugene, who wasn’t saying anything at the side, "Is it just over? Is Grandpa planning to teach him?"

Eugene laughed dryly, that old man probably wasn't mentally prepared and was scared by Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang also followed Chao Xia upstairs.

In the room, the old man placed the wooden sword on the sword rack, then turned back, looking at Bai Yutang's silhouette as he walked up the stairs, and couldn't help but frown – Originally, he thought that the Bai family had run out of gas in this generation, he never expected that there would still be a spark in the cold ashes of the withered wood. This wasn't the end of the Bai family's strongest lineage at all, but a brand new monster.

"Letting him off just like that?" Bai Ye walked over, his tone containing a hint of teasing.

The old man lifted up the sleeve of his shirt to show him his swollen wrist, "I'll break my arm if I keep fighting."

Bai Ye crossed his arms and looked at him, "Careless?"

Chao Jiu was helpless – He had indeed been careless, or rather, he had been outsmarted by Bai Yutang. He had established Bai Yutang's amazing reflexes as well as his speed and strength through his two sneak attacks. But he didn't expect Bai Yutang to gradually increase his strength and speed while blocking his sword, and his reactions became more and more astonishing. Everything was stronger than when he tested him. It was impossible for a person to expand their limits in a short period of time, one could only say that when he sneak attacked and Bai Yutang dodged, that kid had already thought of a way to deal with him, so he held back at that time.

That amazing talent, surprisingly, was still in a reserved state. Those calm eyes were in the state of having no injustice or hatred so there was no need to get real, there was also that sword lying on the ground... a mere layman who was just touching a cold weapon for the first time.

"What kind of people does he usually hang out with?" Chao Jiu suddenly asked Bai Ye, "Aren't all Bai family members one-dimensional? How come this kid is so calculating?"

Bai Ye suddenly let out a laugh and shook his head, "It probably has something to do with a fondness for raising cats."

"Raising cats?" Chao Jiu was puzzled and followed Bai Ye upstairs, "What kind of cat?"

Bai Ye frowned, "The kind that's similar to the breed of Zhao Jue."

Chao Jiu was shocked, "Cat demon?"

......

"Achoo..."

In the SCI office, Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue, who were watching Gongsun dissect the corpse, suddenly sneezed at the same time.

Gongsun looked at the two in disgust, pointed at the door and signalled – Those with colds should leave!

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue withdrew and bumped into Jiang Ping who came to look for Zhan Zhao, "I've found some clues."

Zhan Zhao took the information Jiang Ping handed him, opened it and had a look, then raised his eyebrows, "Oh?"

Zhao Jue was curious, "What's so interesting?"

Zhan Zhao turned back to look at the "innocent" victims lying on the autopsy table in the forensic room and sighed, "This case really isn't as simple as we thought..."

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: January 6, 2024 by Angel

Edited: March 5, 2024 by Angel