Chapter 83: [Human~ You Smell So Good~~]
From the Western Qiang airport to a guesthouse near their originally booked hotel, even by car it took nearly two hours.
Because they hadn’t expected there would be two big dogs, Shang Fuyan and Lin Jiangye didn’t ride in the local officers’ car. Instead, they hired a small cargo van themselves and headed out.
Watching them leave so directly, the few officers’ expressions turned complicated.
First, guilt—because they truly hadn’t known these animals had helped the police before, and not in small ways, but in huge ways.
Second, anxiety—because they hadn’t successfully “received” the visitors, and they’d completely pissed them off. Their own superiors were definitely going to be questioned by the other side’s superiors.
If the raven were a police dog, then once it retired it would unquestionably be a meritorious service dog, with the state guaranteeing its standard of living and medical care.
No matter what, after helping the police so many times, even if regulations couldn’t formally cover a raven, as police officers they should still treat those animals with the same respect they’d give a police dog.
“I told you—your mouth was going to cause a big problem sooner or later.” The older officer, Sangjie, lit a cigarette and spoke slowly.
Hu Wen—the one who’d blurted out “beasts”—was silent for a while, then muttered in a low voice, “I didn’t know…”
He knew the black bird was a raven, but he didn’t believe a raven could actually be useful.
The other two scratched their heads. The moment they saw the raven, they hadn’t dared speak. Hu Wen was Han Chinese—maybe more influenced by Western ideas, thinking crows were unlucky.
But on Western Qiang soil, crows were sacred birds.
And besides, the fact that those two could bring wolves, an eagle, and a falcon out on operations—just that alone proved the young man wasn’t some helpless pretty face.
Hu Wen irritably clawed at his hair, still unconvinced.
So what if it really was like a police dog? It was still just a dog, wasn’t it?
His frustration wasn’t only because he’d angered them—he also felt the task his leaders gave him hadn’t been completed, and he couldn’t shake off that responsibility.
In the van, Lin Jiangye was still puffed up with anger. Shang Fuyan rubbed his head—and suddenly laughed.
Lin Jiangye shot him a fierce glare. “And you can still laugh?!”
Even if he wasn’t Bixi’s owner, they were all so close now—how could Shang Fuyan laugh after someone insulted the cubs?!
Shang Fuyan stroked the little raven in his arms. Ever since Shang Fuyan had said it could at minimum be a Police Superintendent, the little fellow had been acting like it was tipsy—dizzy and floaty.
“But this might actually be a good thing. Do you know what a meritorious service dog is?” Shang Fuyan quickly threw out a new question before Lin Jiangye could explode again.
Meritorious service dog? Lin Jiangye shook his head. He didn’t actually know much about police dogs.
After giving a brief explanation, Shang Fuyan pointed at Bixi.
“Given enough time, with the merits Bixi keeps accumulating, it’ll be enough for it to become a ‘meritorious service dog’ too.”
So far, no other animal had ever received that level of commendation—but maybe that was simply because no other animal had provided the police with sustained help.
Before Lin Jiangye, nobody had imagined that birds—free in the sky—could become the police’s eyes and ears.
But now it was different.
Not only Bixi—other little cubs might also, sooner or later, reach that level of merit.
“When this mission ends, I’ll need to write a detailed report for Director Zhou. What those people said—I’ll record truthfully. So… what I said just now can’t be left out either. By then, Director Zhou will probably start thinking about it.”
So, in a sense, it really was a good thing.
Lin Jiangye frowned slightly, about to speak, only to have Shang Fuyan cover his mouth again.
“I know what you want to say,” Shang Fuyan said. “You want to say you have money and don’t need the police to provide anything, right? But you can’t calculate it like that.”
Even for humans—even if Lin Jiangye wasn’t an official officer—society had ways to reward contributions: honorary titles, bonuses, and certain internal privileges.
So what about animals?
They couldn’t just work for the police for free.
“Shiny things aren’t impossible either. Lab-grown diamonds aren’t expensive. If you want natural ones, they probably wouldn’t buy directly—they’d just give you a big bonus. As for other things like reimbursing food and medical expenses, the bureau can definitely do that.”
Lin Jiangye listened quietly.
Not just him—even Bixi in his arms, and the other cubs sprawled around them, were listening quietly too.
They didn’t understand the latter part, of course—but one thing they understood very clearly:
This man who often came to their home was fighting to get them benefits.
Bixi was even more moved now. It clung to Shang Fuyan and rubbed against him nonstop, its voice becoming even softer than usual—sweet and syrupy, the kind people call a “baby voice.”
The other cubs piled in too, kissing and rubbing.
The two grey wolves even tried to lick Shang Fuyan.
By the time they reached their destination, Shang Fuyan had to forcibly peel the little cubs off his body, then took Lin Jiangye to the guesthouse entrance.
The guesthouse was originally a small two-story courtyard with more than ten rooms. Now, Shang Fuyan and Lin Jiangye had booked the entire place.
The landlord was so happy his gums were showing. When he saw them bringing in three birds and two canines, he didn’t show the slightest disgust—instead, he warmly asked if they needed help.
Later, once he got a clear look at what species the three birds were, his eyes immediately turned into high-watt lightbulbs—so bright it actually made Lin Jiangye a little scared.
After sending him off, the two of them exchanged a look and let out a deep breath.
“Who knows if those guys will go back and file a petty report,” Lin Jiangye said, still dissatisfied—especially with that young officer who spoke without thinking.
Shang Fuyan opened his map app, checked the area nearby, then let out a soft laugh.
“I think instead of worrying about that, we should think about what they actually want us to do.”
Lin Jiangye turned to look at him. Shang Fuyan tapped a spot on the map—right on a nearby temple.
“The Holy Spirit Cult’s main base should be here.”
Lin Jiangye leaned in. Even from their lodging, the straight-line distance to the temple was nearly a kilometer.
And their place wasn’t at the temple entrance, nor near any exit routes. No matter which exit they wanted to rush to, it would take time.
So was the local police meaning to keep them obediently at the hotel and not move?
Soon, Shang Fuyan’s phone rang. It was the local police.
He exchanged a few simple lines, hung up, and shrugged.
“Let’s go. The car is waiting outside. We’ll go to the bureau first and hear what their plan is.”
Lin Jiangye clicked his tongue. He still had a little resentment, but he also knew this wasn’t the right moment to throw a tantrum.
Everything could wait until they caught people.
The one who came to pick them up was a familiar face—one of the four-man reception group from the airport, the oldest one.
“Captain Shang, I’m really sorry,” Sangjie said with an awkward smile. “Hu Wen is young and doesn’t know better—he just runs his mouth like that. After the team lead heard about it, he already punished him.”
Lin Jiangye remained expressionless. Shang Fuyan wasn’t scowling, but there wasn’t the slightest smile on his face either.
Seeing that, Sangjie’s smile gradually faded too.
They rode in silence to the police bureau in the city.
In the meeting room, only two people were waiting for them.
Lin Jiangye looked at their casual attitude.
A map was projected on the screen—the same temple near their lodging. Their task was to go to a specific street at an agreed time; if any cult followers tried to flee from there, they were to arrest them.
Looking at the point assigned to them and the temple’s exits… Lin Jiangye genuinely didn’t understand why he’d been placed there.
Still, the other side was at least somewhat competent: they provided a list of suspects and an outline of the police action plan.
If they hadn’t even provided a list, Lin Jiangye felt he truly wouldn’t have been able to hold back from punching someone.
Honestly, he already wanted to turn around and leave.
“Alright. We understand,” Shang Fuyan asked calmly. “That’s it, right? Nothing else?”
The other man was surprised by Shang Fuyan’s attitude.
He’d just heard about the conflict from Hu Wen and Sangjie. He’d assumed these two would explode after seeing the assignments—he’d even prepared a whole speech.
He hadn’t expected this.
Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to think they were genuinely willing.
But Shang Fuyan was too calm, and it made him uneasy.
Then he thought again: this nest was something Western Qiang police had spent nearly two months mapping out inch by inch. Their contribution was the biggest; naturally, they didn’t want outsiders “picking the fruit.”
Anyway, those two were just here to get “gilded,” to be counted among the participants. Whatever work they did was all the same.
He muttered internally, convincing himself over and over that this arrangement was right, and he gave a simple “mm” in response to Shang Fuyan.
Just as he was about to explain further, Shang Fuyan turned to Lin Jiangye.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Jiangye stood up decisively and left. As he passed those two, he gave them a long look.
There was no obvious emotion in that glance—yet the ones being stared at felt a cold draft run through them.
They’d entered the bureau for less than ten minutes, and they were already out.
Lin Jiangye took a deep breath, looked up at the clear blue sky, then turned to the man beside him.
“Do you have a plan?”
Shang Fuyan looked at him in surprise. “Why do you think that?”
“I don’t think you’re the kind of person who’d swallow this.” Lin Jiangye could guess what those officers were thinking—so of course Shang Fuyan could too.
And honestly, that thinking wasn’t wrong.
But had they forgotten something?
The first people to provide the lead and key evidence were the Yue City police.
If Yue City hadn’t found evidence first and pinned down those Holy Spirit Cult fugitives, these people might still not even know a cult was entrenched here.
If they were worried Shang Fuyan and Lin Jiangye would steal credit, fine—but they could at least keep up appearances.
Instead, they didn’t. Arrogant for no reason.
Watching Lin Jiangye mutter with a dissatisfied face, Shang Fuyan actually felt much better inside.
“Western Qiang’s social environment is complicated,” Shang Fuyan said. “Historically, this place was governed through religion. And because it’s near the border, things were pretty chaotic in the earlier years.”
Later, it absorbed and merged with other regions as well. The local situation wasn’t something you could explain in a sentence or two.
And once people were assigned here, no one could be sure what it had turned into now.
“But even if they assign things this way, we don’t have to cooperate completely.”
Lin Jiangye tilted his head. Was Shang Fuyan about to start stealing credit?
“Of course not.” Shang Fuyan tapped his forehead lightly, hooked an arm around his shoulders, and pulled him along. “I just think there’s a flaw in their plan. Come with me for a quick look.”
Behind them, Sangjie watched those two leave and frowned deeply.
“Is it really okay for us to do this?” he said. “If Yue City hadn’t provided the information, we still wouldn’t know the cult’s base was here.”
The other two sighed and shrugged. “Don’t tell us that. Tell the team lead. He’s the one who arranged it.”
It wasn’t like nobody brought it up—but the team lead had pressed it all down. Hadn’t they also been forcing themselves to accept it?
Sangjie sighed again, feeling helpless.
Meanwhile, Shang Fuyan brought Lin Jiangye to a street behind the temple.
“What are we doing here?” Lin Jiangye asked.
“Taking you out to clear your head.”
Lin Jiangye, who had been looking at the roadside stalls, shot him a dark, lingering side-eye from under his lashes—so chilling it felt like a cold draft. Shang Fuyan immediately burst out laughing.
“Be serious.”
Shang Fuyan copied Lin Jiangye’s earlier shrug, spreading his hands. “I’m very serious. Not joking.”
Lin Jiangye felt like elbowing him, then throwing him over a shoulder, then planting a punch right on that smiling face.
Maybe sensing the faint killing intent, Shang Fuyan finally stated his real purpose.
“When I listened to their plan, I noticed a problem. I’m not sure if it’s their loophole—or if someone is deliberately using it as bait.”
With one arm half around Lin Jiangye’s shoulders, Shang Fuyan led him into a café and chose a seat facing the street.
“I told you before—people in that cult have tied themselves to a lot of connections. One of them is local police.” Lin Jiangye knew that.
Shang Fuyan’s long-fingered hand cradled a warm latte and placed it in front of Lin Jiangye.
“According to what those people said, if the cult has colluded with certain people, who can guarantee this plan hasn’t already reached their ears? This case has already been reported up to the central level. Even if local police were idiots, do you think the center is?”
So Shang Fuyan leaned toward the idea that the “loophole” was intentionally left by higher-ups—meant to fish out who was dirty.
Lin Jiangye half understood. After a while, he asked, “Then our task is bait too?”
“No. We’re just being pushed out.”
Alright then!
They sat quietly drinking coffee for a while. Suddenly, they heard loud cawing from above.
Looking up, they saw a red-billed crow standing on a rooftop across the street.
[Warm, warm! Crow likes it!] Apparently it was a little crow that loved sunbathing.
Lin Jiangye happened to have some peanuts, so he waved at it. “Want some?”
At first the crow hadn’t noticed them. But as it looked around, it spotted the human waving.
It flew over to Lin Jiangye, landed in front of him, and stared, studying him intensely.
[Human, you smell kind of good~]
Hearing such a shamelessly flirty voice after so long, Lin Jiangye instantly laughed.
He shelled a fresh peanut and placed it in front of the crow, lowering his head slightly and asking softly, “Want to eat? It’s peanuts.”
The crow still hadn’t realized anything. It pecked at it, then let out an excited caw.
[What is this? Tasty!]
“It’s peanuts—human food.”
The red-billed crow was immersed in the deliciousness. Then, mid-chew, it suddenly froze, snapped its head up, and stared at Lin Jiangye.
[You… you can understand what crow is saying?!] Every feather on its body puffed up.
Even though he couldn’t understand their exact words, Shang Fuyan could guess why the crow was exploding.
Sure enough, Lin Jiangye said next, “Yeah. I can understand. What about it?”
Pure terror burst in those little black-bean eyes. The crow didn’t even care about the tasty food anymore—it flapped away at top speed.
Watching the black down feathers drift to the ground, Lin Jiangye clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“What’s there to make such a fuss about?”
Shang Fuyan’s mouth twitched slightly. He remembered that a lot of animals had been terrified the first time they realized Lin Jiangye could understand beast language.
At first he didn’t get it—until Yan Keke translated it like this:
“Boss, if one day you saw a weasel open its mouth and speak human language, you’d be shocked too.”
That line happened to be overheard by Qi Gaoyang, who instantly got goosebumps. “In broad daylight, don’t say such scary stuff!”
Back then he’d even asked, “Then why can you get along afterward?”
Yan Keke thought for a moment and explained, “It’s like how our culture has spirits and yaoguai. If it’s the kind that’s friendly to humans, once you accept that such beings exist, you won’t be shocked anymore.”
And honestly, she felt the bigger reason was that those little cubs had tiny brains and couldn’t think that deeply. Lin Jiangye didn’t hurt them, and he always produced all kinds of delicious snacks… it was hard to stay afraid.
Just as Lin Jiangye was sighing that the little crow was too timid, the sound of wings whoosh-whoosh came again from above.
One red-billed crow left.
A whole flock of red-billed crows came back.
[Look, look! This is the human who can understand crows!]
[This human… wow. So fragrant~]
Lin Jiangye, in the middle of drinking coffee, nearly choked on that rippling, flirtatious voice. He lifted his head to stare at the little brats chattering.
Did they not consider that he could hear them too?!
He let out a sigh and waved at them. “Come over and eat some peanuts.”
The very first crow immediately swooped down again, landing on the table and stuffing the peanuts it had left behind into its beak one by one.
[Tasty, tasty! Crow likes!]
Seeing how happily it ate, Lin Jiangye casually reached out and patted its head. The red-billed crow didn’t mind at all—after finishing the peanuts, it squatted down like a hen brooding on eggs, eyes narrowing into blissful slits as it got petted.
Once the other red-billed crows saw there was no danger, they landed one after another in front of Lin Jiangye, lifting their heads to stare at the human.
Maybe because it was closer now, the crow that had made that flirtatious voice earlier hopped to his leg and deliberately rubbed against his calf.
[Fragrant~]
Lin Jiangye had Shang Fuyan peel all the peanuts, then scattered the kernels onto the ground. Very quickly, the crows started pecking at them like chicks, du-du-du nonstop.
Only after the crows relaxed did Lin Jiangye ask where they came from.
Their answer surprised him.
“They flew out from the temple up ahead.” The moment those words came out, Shang Fuyan lowered the coffee cup he’d just lifted.
That temple in front of them—wasn’t it the cult’s nest?!
So these crows were raised by the cultists?
[There! Every day people give food! Crow likes!]
Lin Jiangye rubbed their little heads, asked a few more questions, then shook his head.
“They’re not being raised by cultists. They’re being fed by tourists who come to worship.”
“Raised” wasn’t quite the right word—more like: visitors saw crows and brought nuts, seeds, and the like, tossing them food while touring the temple.
So these red-billed crows weren’t afraid of humans at all.
“A temple…” The two of them exchanged a look, a flash of delight passing through their eyes.
The red-billed crows didn’t understand what these two humans were happy about. Was it because the crows were too handsome, and the humans were delighted to see them?
Mm! That must be it!
Lin Jiangye petted their heads for a while, and only after he was satisfied did he lower his voice and ask, “When you’re in the temple, have you seen anything strange?”
The crows didn’t understand what he meant. What counted as “strange”?
“Like… people in the temple sneaking off somewhere in secret…”
As soon as he said that, one crow suddenly jerked its head up and started cawing loudly at Lin Jiangye.
[Yes, yes! Humans said they were having an affair!]
“???” Lin Jiangye almost choked on his own saliva. “An… an affair? Having an affair?!”
Even Shang Fuyan, who’d just taken a sip of coffee, nearly spat it out. “What? Who’s having an affair?”
Was it monks in the temple? Cultists? Or worshipping tourists?
Whether the temple was proper or not, the moment the word “affair” came out of a crow’s mouth, it instantly became improper.
But the crows didn’t understand why the humans were so shocked. They tilted their heads and asked:
[Yeah! They have affairs every day. What’s the problem?]
What’s the problem?! Of course there’s a problem!
Lin Jiangye had only wanted information about the cultists. Instead, he’d dug up a scandalous piece of gossip—
Wait. No, that wasn’t right. How would crows even know what “having an affair” meant?!
“You lot—do you even know what ‘having an affair’ means?” The young man’s face flushed slightly as he pointed at the little brats in front of him.
That did it. The crows immediately got indignant.
[Crow of course knows!]
Crow is so smart! How could crow not know? It’s just… mating, isn’t it?!
Eager to prove themselves, the crows started babbling and cawing, spilling out everything they “knew.”
After listening, Lin Jiangye felt slightly dazed.
Good news… uh, not sure if it was good news: the ones “having affairs” were cultists and believers.
Bad news: they were doing it in a hidden chamber.
“A hidden chamber… then it’s not strange at all. Remember that church on the island?” Shang Fuyan suddenly asked, hand under his chin.
Lin Jiangye nodded. After they found the bodies, he hadn’t been back to the island again—so what about the church?
“Under the church, there was a hidden room—full of money and valuables. So tell me—does the local police know there’s a hidden chamber in that temple?”
Shang Fuyan shot Lin Jiangye a sidelong glance, brows lifting slightly, the expression of someone ready to watch a show.
Even the calmest man was still human. And humans had emotions. Being excluded for no reason—who wouldn’t be angry?
On Lin Jiangye’s calm face, a slow, mischievous smile spread. He leaned over, bumped Shang Fuyan’s shoulder, and chuckled low into his ear:
“Captain Shang… you’re so bad.”
Shang Fuyan’s hand tightened around the cup. His throat bobbed once, and his eyes flicked toward the young man on instinct.
But then he saw a whole group of crows staring with black-bean eyes—
And the little flame in his chest went pfft and died.
Fine, fine. There are kids here!
