(Yes, the grand finale has arrived!)
Is Mr. Ke, who had been hiding in the shadows, finally making his appearance?
Is the mastermind, who had been pursued for years, finally facing the final showdown?
The night was desolate. Ping An stood in the dilapidated courtyard, gazing quietly at the night sky in the distance.
He knew that the perplexing case that had haunted him like a curse for many years was finally about to be brought to light.
Over the years, countless investigations, countless twists and turns, countless failures followed by resurgence, he had been hurt, exhausted, and had even considered giving up. But—after all, he had experienced so many cases, like jigsaw puzzle pieces, and now, the true ending had been pieced together.
However, in this final conclusion, could he still escape misfortune and win as he had before?
Returning home, everyone was already asleep. Ping An did not turn on the living room light, tiptoeing to go upstairs. Unexpectedly, he found someone sitting in the living room.
"Xiao Ao?" Ping An looked for a long time before he could see clearly. It turned out to be his foolish disciple.
"Oh, Master, I couldn't sleep, so I got up to sit for a while and listen to some music." Zhang Xiao Ao also saw Ping An, took off his headphones, and said with a chuckle.
"Why can't you sleep? Don't you usually fall asleep as soon as you get into bed?" Ping An asked.
"Alas, I was practicing shooting just now and sprained my arm. I can't get the strength back for a while," Zhang Xiao Ao said helplessly.
"Oh, let me see." Hearing that his disciple was injured, Ping An turned on the living room light and carefully brought over the first-aid kit.
He opened his foolish disciple's sleeve and indeed saw a mark of a sprain on his arm.
The experienced Ping An immediately guessed how this had happened.
"You started drawing the bow without warming up?" Ping An said, "Are you getting worse with your training?"
"Heh, Master, I'll be careful next time." Zhang Xiao Ao said, "Little Mistress has a baby, and I was so happy that I forgot to warm up."
"I'm happy too, and I hope your Mistress is really pregnant. If so, it will save me the trouble of proposing," Ping An said with a proud smile.
"By the way, Master, if the Mistress has a little Junior Brother, what name are you planning to give him?" Zhang Xiao Ao asked.
"Hmm, my grandfather was called Ping Chang, my father was called Ping Fan, I am called Ping An, so my son, alas, let's call him Ping Deng," Ping An said thoughtfully.
"Hmm, I don't think that's good," Zhang Xiao Ao said. "Master, I'll be honest with you. Grandpa was called Ping Chang, but his life was anything but ordinary. He killed bandits and Japanese invaders, a resounding influence! Grandpa Ping was called Ping Fan, but he was also extraordinary, a world champion! And my idol...."
"Finish what you were saying." Ping An gave Zhang Xiao Ao a sidelong glance. "Don't you just want to say that I'm called Ping An, but my life has been anything but peaceful, adventuring everywhere, and I almost lost my life."
"Master, since you already know, why are you asking? So, if the little Junior Brother is called Ping Deng, then he will be destined to strive for equality throughout his life," Zhang Xiao Ao said.
"Let's call him Ping Ding! How imposing!" Zhang Xiao Ao said.
"Alas, let's talk about it when the child is born!" Ping An yawned and said, "Go to bed early. Remember, Su Tang will be testing your English tomorrow."
Ping An stretched and went upstairs. Zhang Xiao Ao rubbed his injured arm, still muttering—Ping Ding sounds better.
Having encountered the mysterious archer twice, Ping An dared not be reckless. The next morning, he told Gao Xiaofei about the previous night's encounter. After enduring countless scoldings from Gao Xiaofei, he finally persuaded him to openly visit the paparazzi's home.
"What the hell are you doing up late at night?" Gao Xiaofei clearly didn't want to come, but he had no choice.
"Xiao Fei, I can basically confirm that only my father could have shot those two long arrows at me last night," Ping An said, biting his lip. "So, my old man seems to be alive, or his clone is alive."
"Those who have undergone clone surgery have all been detained. Do you have any evidence to say the shooter was your father?" Gao Xiaofei asked.
"No!" Ping An said crisply.
"Then why are you being so suspicious?" Gao Xiaofei said. "Don't forget, your father died in court, and his body was directly handled by the police afterward. Do you think in that situation, your father still had a chance to undergo such an operation?"
Gao Xiaofei's words left Ping An speechless.
"Don't worry, I anticipated your concerns. I interrogated all those Mr. Ke one by one, and they all said your father died long ago," Gao Xiaofei said. "Brother, you shouldn't overthink things. Deduction is important, but evidence is even more important."
Just like the scene Ping An had swept through the night before, the police found no relevant evidence. After a busy morning, they returned home.
Every morning is the busiest time for Gao Da's steamed bun shop. If you arrive late, you won't even get a seat. You can only squat on the steps, gobbling down steamed buns with one hand and drinking a bowl of rice soup with the other to wash it down.
When Ping An arrived at the steamed bun shop, it was peak hour, but as a major shareholder of the steamed bun shop, Ping An naturally had a seat.
"Sauce meat, three, rice soup, large bowl!" Ping An yawned and sat in front of the cash register, a seat usually reserved for Gao Da.
"What brings you here for breakfast?" Gao Da, with his head full of white hair, personally brought over the tray and said to Ping An, "Is someone in your house not cooking for you?"
"I missed your steamed buns, and by the way, I need you to investigate something for me!" Ping An said with a smile.
"No way! I swore to my wife that I wouldn't mess around with you anymore," Gao Da said proudly, patting the counter. "I'm a man of property now."
"Thirty thousand!" Ping An squinted at Gao Da and readily took out a bundle of money from his pocket.
"It's people like you I can't stand. You get straight to the point, but why do you always bring up money?" Gao Da glanced nervously and found that his wife wasn't paying attention. He quickly tucked the money into his pocket and then leaned in to whisper to Ping An.
"Get lost! What kind of disgusting thing is it that you want me to investigate?"
Gao Da raised his head, his face flushed, and said righteously.
Ping An chuckled and then pulled Gao Da's head back down.
"Filthy! What if it's not, huh? How will I face anyone?"
This time, Gao Da's face didn't turn red, but his fists clenched.
Ping An chuckled again and forced Gao Da's head down.
"Alright, alright, just this once!"
Gao Da finally agreed. Ping An ate his breakfast contentedly and then happily left the steamed bun shop.
Da Shu wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Ping An's unhappy expression, he swallowed the words back.
Ping An naturally recognized the person in the photo.
After leaving the milk tea shop, his mind was not on "why" but on "when."
Gao Da's information would take at least three days. What should he do during these three days? Hide out as before? But he had more people around him now, a lover, a disciple. Even if he hid out, he couldn't take care of everyone.
When did it all begin?
The house was as lively as ever.
Lin Dang made Ping An's favorite pig trotters.
Su Tang was still chattering endlessly about Zhang Xiao Ao as if he were an idiot.
Zhang Xiao Ao looked at the delicious food on the table with an expression of having gotten used to it.
What a good family.
If only that matter had stopped before it ended.
"Xiao Ao, how are you preparing for the national bidding competition in the second half of the year?" Ping An asked.
"I'm all ready," Zhang Xiao Ao said. "I always feel like the national competition is harder than the global one."
"Let's go out and practice together later," Ping An said casually.
After the meal, Ping An picked up his bow and arrows, ready to go out, but saw Zhang Xiao Ao washing the dishes.
"Why are you washing the dishes?" Ping An asked curiously.
"Oh, Little Mistress said her legs were a bit swollen, so Senior Sister went up to give her a massage," Zhang Xiao Ao said while continuously rinsing the greasy plates with clean water.
"Why aren't you using dish soap?" Ping An asked with a frown.
"Mistress is pregnant, and dish soap can't be rinsed off completely. It's not good for the fetus's development," Zhang Xiao Ao said.
Zhang Xiao Ao's reasoning was perfectly sound, and Ping An nodded, saying, "I'll wait for you at the door."
Zhang Xiao Ao was not a talkative person. Usually, as soon as he heard they were going out with Ping An, he would disregard everything else.
What was going on today?
Ping An waited at the door for a long time before Zhang Xiao Ao slowly walked out.
"Why do you have the leisure to accompany me to practice archery today?" Zhang Xiao Ao looked at Ping An with a secretive smile.
"I'm afraid I won't have time when I get busy later," Ping An said. "How about we try blind shooting tonight?"
"Blind shooting? You think too highly of me," Zhang Xiao Ao said.
"Let's just have some fun, you and I. It's been a while since I last drew my bow," Ping An said, stretching his arms exaggeratedly.
Behind Ping An's house was a standard abandoned indoor basketball court. It was originally a warehouse that had been renovated by the residents of the neighborhood. The warehouse was located at the deepest part of the neighborhood, beyond the reach of developers, so it had remained untouched for many years. Now, hardly anyone came there, making it a good place for Ping An to practice archery in private.
"This cursed place has no lights, which is why I suggested blind shooting." Entering the warehouse, Ping An shook his arms and said, "Ready?"
"Wait." Zhang Xiao Ao slung his bow and arrows over his shoulder and suddenly asked, "Old Man Gao Da is missing again, isn't he?"
"Yes, I was planning to wait for him to come back," Ping An said, walking towards the depths of the warehouse, ignoring the standing Zhang Xiao Ao.
"And now?" Zhang Xiao Ao's eyes suddenly lit up. In just a breath, he drew his bow and arrow, aiming at Ping An, who was gradually walking into the darkness.
"I can't sleep without having a fight with you!" Ping An's excited voice echoed from the darkness. "I really don't know whether to call you my good disciple or my damned father!"