C4 The Fish Has Taken the Bait

Chen Fan smiled subtly, the fish had taken the bait.

His tone was remarkably calm as he replied,

"Indeed, Officer Lu. If you're curious, come find me at Abrakding University tomorrow."

"It must be just you, or you'll forever miss the clue."

He ended the call without waiting for a response.

Chen Fan didn't glance at his phone again; instead, he stood up and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

He wasn't concerned about Lu Xuanxin in the slightest.

According to her character in the original story, she was the type who wouldn't stop until she reached a dead end.

She wouldn't pass up any clue within her grasp!

After his shower, Chen Fan lay in bed and drifted into a deep sleep.

The stage was set for an intriguing show, and he needed ample rest to face the upcoming challenges.

The following morning, Chen Fan sipped his milk and savored a sandwich.

Then, there was a sudden knock on the door!

With a knowing smile, Chen Fan rose to answer it.

A striking woman in uniform strode in confidently.

Her attractive features were marked by a brisk, efficient air, and her eyes sparkled with intensity.

Beneath her military green coat, light blue jeans hugged her lean, toned legs.

This woman's allure was understated yet distinct.

"Officer Lu?" Chen Fan asked with a knowing smile.

Lu Xuanxin nodded, not bothering to wait for an invitation before taking a seat on the sofa.

She then snapped her credentials onto the table.

"I've come alone, as you asked," she stated.

"Let's have the clues, and quickly."

Lu Xuanxin's gaze was piercing, as if trying to see right through Chen Fan.

She harbored little fondness for Prof. Wang before her.

She was overwhelmed with the tunnel case, her days a whirlwind of activity.

Meanwhile, he could have easily shared the clues over the phone but instead insisted on this unnecessary private meeting.

Was he sincerely interested in assisting the police with their investigation? It seemed more like he had a hidden agenda!

Had she not verified Chen Fan's identity beforehand, she would have handcuffed him on the spot!

"Officer Lu, rest assured..."

"I'm not playing games with the clues."

Chen Fan carried two cups of coffee from the kitchen and offered one to Lu Xuanxin with a smile.

Unfazed by her probing look, Chen Fan understood her nature.

In the original story, Lu Xuanxin was depicted as a woman prone to suspicion, her detective instincts so ingrained that she viewed everyone as a potential fugitive.

"My apologies, Prof. Wang."

Lu Xuanxin's brows knitted together as she declined the coffee.

"My visit today isn't for the pleasure of drinking your coffee."

"What can you tell me about the tunnel case? I need you to be completely forthcoming."

It's essential to note that the incident occurred on Chinatown Chinabiri Road!

A critical artery in the heart of Abrakding!

Moreover, the case was complex, involving gunfire, drugs, murder, and more, sparking significant public outcry.

The Governor of Abrakding issued an overnight directive for the police to crack the case swiftly or face accountability—the pressure was immense.

"Very well..."

Chen Fan lifted his cup, sipping with poise.

He embodied the scholar's refined ease and calm.

"Surely, Officer Lu, you've researched my background before coming here?"

"My field of study is Chinese Martial Arts. The victim in this tunnel murder case was the renowned South Fist King, Mairong..."

"Mairong was a martial arts master, skilled with firearms, yet he died in a physical altercation. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

A shadow crossed Lu Xuanxin's face as she asked, puzzled,

"Prof. Wang, what exactly are you getting at?"

"Mairong, a martial arts luminary, would naturally have enemies seeking revenge. A fight between them... isn't that quite ordinary?"

Chen Fan offered a cryptic smile, choosing not to address her question directly.

Instead, he began to recite a mantra in an even tone:

"Shoulder aligns with hip, elbow with knee, hand with foot. In capture, death; in seizing, life. Mastery of grappling precedes the weapon, for the weapon is but an extension of limb. The unity of person and tool is paramount."

"Mind merges with intent, intent with energy, energy with strength. Inner yin complements outer yang, together forming a singular force. Without harmony in one aspect, mastery of others remains elusive."

These were the lines exchanged between Xiahou Wu and Lu Xuanxin upon their first meeting.

Chen Fan, claiming to be a professor well-versed in martial arts, needed to demonstrate some expertise to further bamboozle Lu Xuanxin.

Sure enough, she took the bait.

"What... What did you just say?" she stammered.

Every word from Chen Fan was crystal clear to her.

Yet strung together, they became as elusive as clouds masking the sun, utterly baffling.

"It's a mnemonic chant..."

Chen Fan, with a supremely confident air, raised his index finger and intoned with professional gravitas,

"First the punch, then the kick, followed by grappling, and finally weaponry, from the external to the internal, uniting the five elements!"

"This represents the training method of a clandestine martial art. I have every reason to believe that the killer is systematically targeting the martial arts masters of Abrakding in this manner!"

"Mairong was acclaimed as the island's top boxing expert!"

"Hence, he was slain by the murderer with a devastating punch..."

"And next in line will surely be a martial arts master skilled in leg techniques!"

"Believe me, Miss Lu, Mairong was the first, but he will certainly not be the last!"

"The killer will undoubtedly strike again!"

Lu Xuanxin's complexion blanched at these chilling words.

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck her from a clear sky!

More killings?

If the situation escalated further, the entire island might succumb to terror.

The potential fallout was too dire to contemplate!

Lu Xuanxin inhaled deeply, striving for composure.

"Then, Prof. Wang, who do you suspect will be the murderer's next victim?"

"Currently, who is considered the foremost expert in leg techniques in Abrakding's martial arts community?"

Her words were now tinged with a newfound respect, devoid of any previous condescension.

The prospect of the killer striking again was a significant revelation for the police.

If the intelligence was accurate, setting a trap in advance could exponentially increase the chances of apprehending the culprit.

Chen Fan smiled, deftly steering the conversation in a new direction, and queried:

"Officer Lu, I can assist you in cracking this case."

"However, I have one condition: I must be personally involved in every aspect of the investigation."

Upon hearing his words, Lu Xuanxin's face immediately darkened.

"No way!"

"Absolutely not! That's non-negotiable!"

"You're not law enforcement, you have no authority to meddle in this matter!"

Her response was exactly what Chen Fan had anticipated.

If she had acquiesced that easily, she wouldn't be Lu Xuanxin.

"Well then, I apologize, but I'm unable to assist you."

Chen Fan rose to his feet, gesturing towards the door with an air of nonchalance, seemingly unconcerned.

Unbeknownst to her, this was a strategic retreat he had planned all along.

Pressing the issue would only raise Lu Xuanxin's suspicions.

Instead, he chose to feign indifference, setting the stage for Lu Xuanxin to walk right into his trap.