Yan Qing nodded. “The laryngeal edema and the discoloration of the respiratory tract both confirm that the deceased inhaled a large volume of intensely hot air in his final moments. To verify this, I specifically asked Dr. Chen at Taishan Hospital to run a laboratory analysis. The report shows pronounced cerebral lesions, severe and irreversible neuronal damage, cerebellar cell degeneration, and in some areas, complete dissolution and disappearance of tissue — all of which are characteristic symptoms of heatstroke.”

“Heatstroke?”

“It is one of the clinical manifestations of severe heat exposure.” Yan Qing explained patiently.

“Excellent.” Inspector Li slapped his knee. “Now that we have a confirmed cause of death, we have a new lead.”

Yan Qing glanced at Dr. Ren, who had lowered his head. The back of his neck had gone red.

“This conclusion was not mine alone. It was Dr. Ren’s observations that first pointed me in the right direction.” Yan Qing smiled in his direction.

At the sound of his name, Dr. Ren looked up. His bewildered gaze met her clear, steady eyes. He thought of all his doubts and dismissals of this young woman, and was overcome with shame. Yet Yan Qing had not used this moment to humiliate him — she had given half the credit to him. The grace and generosity of that gesture inspired in him a sincere and wholehearted respect.

Dr. Ren gave her a quiet nod, and in his eyes was a gratitude only she could read.

Yan Qing had no interest in stealing the spotlight. Once the case was solved, she would step back and walk away — but Dr. Ren would have to face the precinct’s criticism. There was simply no need to make his situation worse.

“If Mo Xiangrong was in a hot environment — where would that have been?” someone muttered.

“A public bathhouse,” Shi Ting answered. “In winter, the only establishments capable of generating that kind of heat are public bathhouses. That is the primary crime scene.”

“But there are quite a few public bathhouses in Taishan County. Would we have to check them one by one?”

Inspector Li’s tone became decisive. “We check them. Every last one. We will find the primary crime scene. I want every available officer deployed.”

“How many people went to Catfish Lane to look for Xiang Lan?” Shi Ting asked suddenly.

Bai Jin replied, “They were sent by the madam. Five people in total.”

“Go to the Yanque House. Bring those five in for individual questioning.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once the assignments had been issued, Shi Ting turned to Yan Qing. “Do you want to head back, or stay?”

“I’ll stay. I might be useful.”

“You’ve already been more than useful.” Shi Ting pressed her hand briefly. “Thank you.”

“Since when are you so formal with me?”

“If I don’t say thank you, I’m afraid I’ll do something else entirely.” He murmured this close to her ear — to anyone watching, it would have looked like nothing more than a quiet word of instruction.

But Yan Qing heard it, and the tips of her ears turned pink. She gave him a small push. “Director Shi, please — go.”

After the others had filed out, Dr. Ren came over, looking somewhat abashed. “Miss Yan, I owe you an apology for my attitude earlier. I had always assumed you were someone who talked a good game but lacked the substance — that any cases you’d solved were more luck than skill.”

Yan Qing smiled. Most people who didn’t know her thought the same. She didn’t take it to heart.

“Miss Yan, about the heatstroke you described — there are aspects I still don’t fully understand. Would you be willing to teach me?”

This was knowledge he had never encountered in any textbook. Without having seen it, no amount of thinking would have led him there on his own.

Cases were growing more complex, and the role of forensic examination was becoming increasingly vital. If he did not accelerate his learning and broaden his experience, he would fall behind the times — and more cases would go unsolved.

Yan Qing wrote a line on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “This is my address in Shun Cheng. If Dr. Ren has any questions, you’re welcome to write to me. As for the heatstroke we discussed today, I’ve summarized the key points in this document — feel free to refer to it whenever you like.”

Dr. Ren was briefly stunned, then broke into quiet admiration. “I’ve heard that a forensic examiner named E’Yuan at the military-police directorate calls Miss Yan his mentor. When I first heard this, I assumed it was simply out of deference to Director Shi. I see now that I misjudged you entirely. Miss Yan’s expertise is nothing short of extraordinary, and the manner in which she conducts herself is equally admirable.”

He paused, then bowed to her deeply. “Thank you, Miss Yan.”

While Dr. Ren was still expressing his gratitude, the military-police directorate’s investigation had already been launched on a sweeping scale.

People from Bei Di had a distinctive custom: they loved the bathhouse. As a result, public bathhouses could be found in every town and city across the region. These establishments varied widely — the most basic consisted of a single large open room, a communal soaking pool of hot water in the center, and rows of showerheads along the walls. Patrons bathed openly together, often gathering in small groups to scrub each other’s backs and chat. In many ways, these places were a beloved venue for relaxation and easy camaraderie.

But there were also the upscale establishments. The premium bathhouses offered not only communal shower and soaking areas but also private rooms, each with its own specialized experiences: the fire-dragon bath, the dry-timber bath, the ceramic vat steam bath.

These were a paradise for those with money to spend.

Given Mo Xiangrong’s character, the basic communal bathhouses could be ruled out immediately. That man, though often short on funds, would not lower himself to mingle with the poor. Even without money, he would gladly run up a tab at the finest establishment in town just to maintain his air of ease.

As Shi Ting and Bai Jin emerged from one bathhouse, Bai Jin crossed its name off a list.

“Seventh Brother, do you think Mo Xiangrong came alone, or with someone?”

“He very likely came with the suspect.” Shi Ting got into the car. “Mo Xiangrong had sold those cigars and tobacco at a good price. By convention, he would have wanted to treat the intermediary who had made the deal possible. If the intermediary had suggested visiting a bathhouse to celebrate, the pleasure-seeking Mo Xiangrong would certainly have agreed.”

“If that’s the case, once we find the bathhouse, we’ll find a lead on the suspect.” Bai Jin rubbed his hands together eagerly. “And all of this is thanks to our sister-in-law. Without her working out the cause of death, we’d still be stumbling around like headless flies.”

A flicker of pride passed through Shi Ting’s eyes — the quiet satisfaction of a man basking in reflected glory. When others praised Yan Qing, it was no different from praising him.

“Let’s go. Next one.”

Bai Jin glanced at the name on his list. “Da Run Fa Bathhouse… with a name like that, does going there make your hair grow back?”

Bai Jin had underestimated the Da Run Fa Bathhouse. In Taishan, it ranked among the finest establishments of its kind.

—