Upside Down Grocery Shop - Chapter 12

Xiao Ling was shocked, having never heard of the Bear-taming Clan before. Fang Yuan said it dated back to the Han Dynasty, but there wasn’t a trace of it in any history book. If this cult truly caused such a catastrophe to the nation back then, there ought to be some record, right? Yet, there was absolutely nothing.

Fang Yuan continued, “After that, for reasons unknown, the Bear-taming Clan was completely destroyed. Their cult was wiped out, with every demon and cultist killed. Not a trace was left in history. It’s astonishing how quickly the Bear-taming Clan rose and fell.”

Su Ran nodded. “No matter what happened back then, that led to their sudden obliteration. The Bear-taming Clan should have been eradicated for good. But now, nearly two thousand years later, they’re resurfacing. Something strange is definitely going on.”

Fang Yuan agreed, “Exactly. Even if some remnants survived back then, how could they have lasted this long? How did their demon-rearing methods get passed down to the present day?”

Xiao Ling looked at Su Ran and Fang Yuan and asked, “Su Ran, could this Bear-taming Clan be the same as that circus?”

Fang Yuan nodded, “Exactly!”

“Then what’s there to think about? If we know where they’re hiding, let’s just arrest them and interrogate them. We can get all the answers that way,” Xiao Ling felt Su Ran and Fang Yuan were overthinking things.

Fang Yuan just smiled.

Su Ran sighed, “They’re a legitimate circus, with proper permits and everything. What grounds do you have to arrest them? And even if you do, how do you plan to make them confess the secrets of the Bear-taming Clan? How will you convince your colleagues and superiors that the Bear-taming Clan even exists, or that this Upside Down Grocery Shop does?”

Uh…

Xiao Ling was speechless.

“Then what do you suggest? Are we just supposed to let them roam free?” Xiao Ling was indignant; as a police officer, she couldn’t bear seeing criminals go unpunished.

Su Ran thought for a moment, “Think about it: why did the Bear-taming Clan target Zhang Tingting and Zhang Haisheng? They wanted the candle. The candle’s purpose is to allow a final meeting with the deceased. So, their aim must also be tied to that.”

Fang Yuan speculated with a fearful expression, “You’re saying…?”

“What is it?” Xiao Ling was about to go crazy with impatience as the two kept playing guessing games.

Su Ran replied solemnly, “With this candle, all the previous mysteries make sense. It allows them to converse with the dead members of the Bear-taming Clan, explaining how they managed to revive despite being wiped out. They must’ve used this method to rediscover the demon-rearing techniques.”

“Oh, I get it now!” Xiao Ling finally grasped the idea. “Someone used the candle’s power to talk with the dead, reigniting the cult. Su Ran, does this mean that the candle of yours is basically a murder weapon?”

“Murder weapon, my foot!” Su Ran scoffed. “A sword is a double-edged tool; whether it’s harmful depends on who wields it. It has nothing to do with the sword itself.”

“Hehe, I was just saying,” Xiao Ling chuckled sheepishly.

“Fang Yuan, can we keep an eye on that circus?”

“Already on it. Whatever they’re up to, they won’t escape our grasp!” Fang Yuan said confidently.

“Call it off!”

“What? What did you just say? Call it off?” Fang Yuan thought Su Ran must’ve lost his mind. “Say that again.”

“Dummy, if you keep such a close watch, they’ll never make a move,” Su Ran looked at him with an exasperated expression. “Or are you just hoping to watch their legit circus show?”

“But… but,” Fang Yuan stammered. “If they slip away, you and I will both be held accountable.”

“If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up!”

“Forget it,” Fang Yuan looked at Su Ran. “I don’t need anyone to take the fall for me. If things go south, I’ll take my punishment right alongside you. Consider it my thanks for helping me find the Bear-taming Clan this time.”

“Haha,” Su Ran laughed heartily, throwing an arm around Fang Yuan’s shoulders, “Who knew you had such a sense of loyalty. From now on, stick with me!”

“Yeah, right,” Fang Yuan rolled his eyes. “You’re barely keeping yourself afloat. If you keep stirring things up like this, you’d better go out at noon.”

“Why noon?” Su Ran looked puzzled.

“Because sooner or later, something will happen to you!” Fang Yuan and Xiao Ling shouted in unison.

Su Ran forced a smile.

“Xiao Ling, don’t you have a circus ticket left? Don’t waste it.”

Xiao Ling nodded, “You want me to go as bait, don’t you? I’ll do it.”

“Just be careful,” Su Ran warned, “They already noticed you last time. Don’t alert them again; your safety comes first!”

“I know, I’m a police officer.”

“Fang Yuan and I will head straight to find the circus’s black bear.”

Fang Yuan seemed hesitant. “Isn’t that a bit too direct?”

“We’ll rattle the mountain to shake the tiger!”

With the plan set, Su Ran, Xiao Ling, and Fang Yuan headed toward the circus. Who would’ve thought that a place meant to bring joy would be a front for a cult that devours people, bones and all?

After what happened with Zhang Haisheng, Xiao Ling truly understood the sinister meaning of “cult harm.” A family that was once innocent and happy—now torn apart and destroyed!

Standing again at the circus entrance, there was still that deafening music, the laughing crowd, and the clown selling balloons.

The clown approached her again, “Miss, would you like to buy a balloon?”

Xiao Ling glanced at him, “Got any bears?”

The clown glanced back, “Sorry, no. How about this Peppa Pig?”

Xiao Ling just smiled and walked away. The clown slinked off, a little disappointed.

Xiao Ling shot a cold look at the clown, thinking, “If I don’t catch all of you in one go, I’ll have failed my duty to the people and let down Su Ran.”

Entering the main hall, everything was just as before. The crowd quickly took their seats, eagerly awaiting the show to begin.

“I heard there’s a new big gray bear this time.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. It’s even bigger than that black bear from last time and knows way more tricks.”

“Ha! That last little black bear hardly counted as a bear; it was practically a puppy.”

“I also heard that to celebrate the new gray bear, the circus is giving out gifts today.”

“Yeah, I heard that too! My son’s classmate brought one home last time, and now my kid’s been begging for one. That’s why I made sure to bring him here; we’re getting one of those gifts today no matter what.”

“It’s just a little bear doll, but kids love them, so what can we do?”

…

Listening to the people around her, Xiao Ling felt an increasing sense of unease. She couldn’t explain it, but her heart was pounding with dread, as if something terrible was about to happen.