If this ancient instrument of punishment had absorbed the resentment of its victims, it was entirely plausible that it could transform into a murderous cursed object.
Executioners' ghost-head sabers were the best-known example of such a phenomenon.
Lu Fei studied the photos closely.
They depicted the knife from various angles, but he shook his head.
"I can't tell from the photos alone. I'd need to see the actual object to be certain. Where is the knife now?"
"The knife was sold years ago, passing through several hands," Liang Ge said, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Luckily, I had friends help me track the buyers, and I've located the last owner. I've already arranged to meet them today."
"If this knife is responsible for the flaying murders, and if this year marks the seventh anniversary, then the latest owner could very well become the next victim," Lu Fei noted.
"Exactly," Liang Ge agreed, exhaling a puff of smoke. "This knife is considered a niche collectible. Some knife enthusiasts buy items like this to add to their collections."
"These obscure collectibles are prime candidates for turning into cursed objects," Lu Fei said.
"At first, I didn't suspect the knife because the murder weapon wasn't found with the victims. It wasn't until the mass murder case on Antique Street that it occurred to me—the real weapon might not be the one the victims were holding."
Liang Ge's face lit up with excitement. After years of dead ends, the prospect of a breakthrough in the unsolved case thrilled him.
He glanced at his watch.
"It's almost time. Let's head out. Shopkeeper Lu—or can I just call you Lu Fei? It's easier. When we see the knife, I'll need you to confirm if it's the real deal."
"Of course," Lu Fei said without hesitation.
Liang Ge packed up his laptop and slung his backpack over his shoulder. Without bothering to lock his office door, he led the way downstairs.
At the teahouse.
"Mr. Xu, we're here," Liang Ge said, pushing open the teahouse door. His unkempt appearance and disheveled hair drew attention as he scanned the room.
He quickly spotted his target.
"Xu Sixian, Mr. Xu."
He gestured for Lu Fei and Tiger to follow as he approached a window-side table.
"Are you the buyer interested in my knife?"
A well-dressed man wearing gold-rimmed glasses rose from his seat, eyeing Liang Ge with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
He appeared to be in his early thirties, refined and seemingly well-off.
"That's me," Liang Ge said with a casual grin, seemingly unbothered by his own scruffy appearance. "Mr. Xu, did you bring the knife?"
"I did…" Xu Sixian hesitated, his hand resting protectively on a small leather case. His gaze flickered uncertainly between the trio.
They were an odd group:
- Liang Ge looked like a worn-out detective who'd seen better days.
- Tiger was a towering, muscular figure who could easily be mistaken for a bodyguard.
- Lu Fei, clean and composed, looked like a university student out of place.
Together, they didn't resemble knife enthusiasts at all.
"Mr. Xu, don't worry. We're not here to scam you," Liang Ge said, his sharp eyes cutting through Xu's doubts. "With so many people around, do you think we could grab your knife and run? The streets are full of surveillance cameras—where could we go?"
"You're right. I apologize for being overly cautious," Xu Sixian said, smiling awkwardly.
He placed the leather case on the table and unlocked it with a twist of the combination dial.
As he opened it, he turned the case toward them.
Lu Fei, Tiger, and Liang Ge leaned in, their eyes immediately drawn to the object nestled within.
Inside the padded black lining was a small knife, about ten centimeters long. It matched the flaying knife in the photos exactly—only now, it looked even colder and more real.
The blade gleamed with a frosty silver light, immaculately polished. It was evident that Mr. Xu had taken great care of it.
"Lu Fei, is it the one?" Liang Ge asked, his voice tense.
"One moment," Lu Fei said calmly, slipping on gloves. "Mr. Xu, may I examine it more closely?"
Xu hesitated but nodded after seeing Lu Fei's professional demeanor. "Go ahead."
Carefully, Lu Fei picked up the knife and turned it over in his gloved hands, inspecting it thoroughly.
"Well? What do you think?" Liang Ge couldn't contain his impatience. Tiger watched closely, equally curious.
"Liang Ge, I'm afraid this isn't the knife we're looking for," Lu Fei said, shaking his head and placing the knife back in the case.
"What? It's not?" Liang Ge's eyes widened in disbelief. His usual sleepy expression was replaced with shock.
"This knife was designed for flaying criminals in ancient times—how can it not be the one? Look again!"
"I've examined it thoroughly," Lu Fei said firmly. "There's no trace of malevolent energy on this knife."
When it came to identifying cursed objects, he trusted his judgment.
"All the clues fit. How can it not be…" Liang Ge deflated, slumping in his seat like a punctured balloon. His face was a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
"Excuse me, but what are you talking about?" Xu Sixian asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What flaying knife? What malevolent energy?"
Liang Ge, disheartened, said nothing, while Lu Fei stepped in to explain.
"Apologies, Mr. Xu. We're searching for a very specific knife. We thought it might be yours, but it seems that's not the case."
"You mentioned this was a flaying knife. What does that mean?" Xu asked, his curiosity piqued.
"You didn't know?" Lu Fei asked, surprised. "This type of knife was used in ancient times for flaying criminals. Such tools are considered highly inauspicious and not ideal for collecting."
"A flaying knife?!" Xu Sixian was stunned. "You must be mistaken! The seller told me this was a general's personal dagger from ancient times. It was supposedly a gift from the emperor after a victorious battle—highly valuable!"
Lu Fei and Tiger exchanged knowing looks.
That sales pitch was a common scam on Antique Street.
"Mr. Xu, you might have been misled. You can research it yourself if you don't believe me," Lu Fei said.
"What?!"
Xu Sixian's face turned dark as he clenched his fists in frustration.
"Those Antique Street vendors are outrageous! They lied straight to my face just to make a sale!"
"You bought this on Antique Street?" Lu Fei's brow furrowed as a thought struck him.
"Liang Ge, open your laptop. Let's compare the photos again."
"You already checked it," Liang Ge grumbled but complied, pulling up the images.
Lu Fei picked up the knife again and meticulously compared it to the photos from different angles.
"Wait. This isn't the same knife!"
After a few moments, his eyes lit up. Pointing to a subtle notch on the knife in the photo, he said excitedly, "Look! The knife in the photo has this flaw, but this one doesn't!"