Chapter 138: The Butterfly
Chapter 138: The Butterfly
When Chen Chuan arrived at the company, he was greeted by a man in his thirties wearing the official uniform of the administrative department. Upon seeing Chen Chuan, the man's eyes lit up, and he eagerly approached to shake his hand.
"You must be Expert Chen, I presume. I'm Wang Bian from the Jiaxian Government Office. You can call me Officer Wang, or just Wang," he introduced himself with great enthusiasm, devoid of any bureaucratic arrogance, and instead, exuding a deliberate attempt to ingratiate himself.
Chen Chuan shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Officer Wang."
After the initial greetings, they both sat down, and Officer Wang sighed, "This Monster Tale has been causing quite a stir, and we're at our wit's end. So, a colleague from the Government Hall in Yangzhi City recommended your company to us. Oh, I heard that your company successfully dealt with the Flying Head Monster incident. That was truly remarkable!"
Chen Chuan listened attentively and asked, "I've heard a rough outline, but could you provide more details, Officer Wang?"
Officer Wang, looking troubled, began his narrative, "Well, it's like this..."
Through his account, Chen Chuan and Ren Shu gradually understood the situation.
Due to the local customs in Jiaxian, many young people in the county had tattoos, and recently, some had discovered an additional butterfly-shaped tattoo on their bodies, which seemed to appear out of nowhere and couldn't be washed off.
The tattoo was incredibly beautiful and lifelike, and as the person moved, it seemed to dance gracefully on their skin. Those with the tattoo proudly displayed it to others, but when asked about its origin, no one could provide a clear answer.
However, these young people soon realized something was amiss. The tattoos seemed to multiply daily, and within just a few days, they covered their entire bodies.
The most terrifying aspect was that these tattoos would overlap and intertwine, and once there was no more space on the body, they would transform into real butterflies and fly away. This wasn't limited to the surface of the skin; even internal organs would release butterflies.
It was then that people realized the tattoos existed within the body, hidden from view. In the end, all that remained of the victims were piles of bones and flesh riddled with holes.
As Officer Wang reached this part of the story, his eyes widened with shock. He had seen the corpse himself and had vomited on the spot. Upon returning, he endured several nights of nightmares, and the first thing he did each morning was to check his body for similar butterfly tattoos.
In just ten days, the local Government Office had received over a dozen similar reports, and who knows how many more went unreported.
If it were only the common folk affected, it might have been tolerable. But even the officials at the Government Office were concerned about themselves and their relatives and friends becoming infected. They ordered the victims to be arrested, but this only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause, and the incidents continued to occur.
The most vexing aspect was that some people, for reasons unknown, deliberately got themselves tattooed after hearing about the incidents, making the situation more challenging to handle. This forced them to seek experts from all over to deal with the problem.
After hearing the story, Chen Chuan's expression turned serious. He thought for a moment, "I understand the situation. I'll need to gather some information, and I'll get back to you this afternoon."
Officer Wang replied, "That's great. I'll be waiting here at your company for your response, Expert Chen."
After Chen Chuan returned, he reviewed the Monster Tale materials that Cheng Zitong had given him. Every night during his free time, he would peruse these documents to broaden his knowledge, but due to the vast number, he hadn't finished them yet.
He checked the summarized index and confirmed that the butterfly tattoo incident was not among the recorded Monster Tales. This meant that Cheng Zitong had neither seen nor heard of this particular tale.
With such a low chance of success, he could have easily declined the commission. However, after careful consideration, he decided to give it a try.
Having encountered numerous Monster Tales and witnessed various examples, he had gained some experience in this field.
Most of the tales he had come across, including those mentioned in the documents, were usually confined to a specific location, and the impact was generally limited. They might cause chaos in a particular area, but unless there was human involvement, like with the Flying Head Cult, they rarely escalated to a societal level.
Tales like this one, which could spread, often had a root cause. By eliminating the source, the issue could be resolved.
In the past, the tales he had dealt with were well-documented, and he could follow the steps taken by his predecessors. But for tales he had never encountered, he had no prior experience to rely on.
As he took on more commissions in this field, he realized he would inevitably encounter similar tales. This time, instead of avoiding them, he decided to take the initiative.
However, despite his determination, he maintained a sense of caution. He called Cheng Zitong and sought his advice on the matter, sharing his analysis.
After listening, Cheng Zitong said, "Little Chuan, your approach is correct, and the initial information is accurate. Sometimes, it's not the tale itself that influences your judgment but the people involved."
Chen Chuan replied, "Teacher, I understand what you mean. Since tales affect people, the solution often lies in managing human affairs, which can be more complex than the tale itself."
"Indeed," Cheng Zitong affirmed. "So, you must be prepared psychologically. Dealing with tales is not just about the tale itself, especially when you're outside Yangzhi City. You need to be extra cautious."
Chen Chuan acknowledged, "Teacher, I understand."
Cheng Zitong nodded, "If you need anything, just give me a call."
Chen Chuan hung up the call, pondered for a moment, and then phoned the company, informing them that he had accepted the assignment and needed to head to Jiaxian immediately.
Ren Su promptly informed Wang Ganshi, who was overjoyed to hear of his willingness to depart right away. He repeatedly expressed his approval and assured Chen Chuan that he would come to pick him up immediately.
Half an hour later, Chen Chuan was in the back seat of Wang Ganshi's car, heading towards Jiaxian. To facilitate their investigation, they sat in the back while the driver navigated from the front. Ren Su, considering Chen Chuan's trip to the county, had arranged for an additional vehicle to follow, ensuring convenience for his travel and return.
Among the six counties of Yangzhi City, Jiaxian was located at the northernmost tip of the southwestern region and was the smallest. The county town was surrounded by mountains on three sides, making access challenging. However, a tributary of the Baihe River meandered through the area, creating a bend precisely at the exit, making navigation more convenient and not entirely secluded.
After leaving Yangzhi City, it was just over a two-hour drive before the vehicle ascended a winding mountain road. Ten minutes later, the light on both sides dimmed as they entered a canyon passage, with the walls blocking the sunlight.
Wang Ganshi pointed out their location, known as Pingkong Gorge. In the old days, it was a notoriously treacherous area, but during the great expansion era, it had been widened. If not traveling by water, this road was the only route in and out of the county.
Chen Chuan glanced upwards and noticed watchtowers and carved pathways dating back to the great expansion era on both sides.
Just then, a pair of two-wheeled motorcycles swiftly overtook their car, with one intentionally slowing down to hover in front before speeding away.
Wang Ganshi felt a bit embarrassed and explained, "They're a group of wealthy students, not just from Jiaxian but also from nearby counties. They particularly enjoy cruising around here."
After traveling for about five miles, they finally exited the canyon, and the light suddenly brightened, giving a sense of returning to the world.
On both sides, shops and residential buildings gradually appeared, perhaps due to the small county area, making the population seem dense, and the streets were bustling with pedestrians.
Wang Ganshi said, "I've arranged a place for you to stay, but it's quite basic, so please don't mind the conditions."
Chen Chuan replied, "No need to rush." He picked up the map in his hand and said, "I just checked, and the butterfly tattoo first appeared in the Chang Street area, as well as Po Street, and here..."
He circled several locations on the map, drew a large circle around them, and handed it to Wang Ganshi, saying, "Wang Ganshi, it's best to bring along some people and follow this route."
Wang Ganshi took the map, examined it, and his expression turned more serious. "I'll make a call." After the car stopped, he stepped out to a nearby phone booth and made a call. After about a quarter of an hour, two vehicles from the local Security Agency arrived, and he got back into the car. He turned to Chen Chuan and asked, "The people are here, Chen Chuan. Shall we proceed?"
Chen Chuan nodded and added, "No need to rush."
"Okay."
After driving for about ten minutes, they arrived at the outermost street marked on the map. Chen Chuan noticed colorful decorations and lanterns hanging high above the shops. People walking by had red marks on their cheeks, prompting him to ask, "Is this a celebration for a festival?"
Wang Ganshi replied, "Yes, in a couple of days, it will be the local Skillful God Festival. The custom is to create woven crafts and apply festive face paint. The Security Agency is concerned about potential incidents during this time, so they hope to resolve this matter promptly."
At that moment, Chen Chuan turned to his second self, as encountering monster tales would invariably lead to fading. He decided to use the simplest method: driving around the areas where the butterfly tattoos primarily appeared. If anyone tainted by such tales appeared, he would surely notice them.
By tracing the movements of these individuals over the past few days, he hoped to trace the source if things went smoothly.
The circled area on the map wasn't large, and it took over an hour to complete the circuit, but they found nothing. Chen Chuan instructed, "Narrow the scope and make another round."
Wang Ganshi didn't understand the purpose of this approach, but since Chen Chuan was an expert in handling monster tales, he must have had a reason. So, he instructed the driver to follow Chen Chuan's instructions.
As the vehicle continued to narrow its search, the driver remained silent, but the Security Agency officers in the back grew impatient. They grumbled a few complaints, and Wang Ganshi quickly appeased them while casting a pleading look at Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan asked, "Wang Ganshi, do you have a night market here?"
Wang Ganshi replied, "Yes, especially as the Skillful God Festival approaches. Some young people enjoy going out at night, and the night market is particularly lively these days."
Chen Chuan said, "Tell them that if we don't find any clues, we'll continue searching at night. We'd appreciate their hard work now, but we won't trouble them later."
"Okay."
After Wang Ganshi's explanation, the Security Agency officers didn't complain further. Instead, they felt sympathy for their colleagues who would have to work late, and they themselves felt fortunate to have an easier task.
By this time, the vehicle had reached the innermost street within the circled area on the map, completing the circuit of the marked locations.
Just then, Chen Chuan noticed his second self suddenly fading slightly, only to recover quickly.
He turned to look at the street, where a bald man with a dull gaze was walking. Despite his baldness, the man's muscles were exceptionally well-built. Chen Chuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Wait, stop the car, and detain that man."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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