Chapter 3, The Bizarre Blood Case (Part 1)
He Bi did not speak, but was the first to stand up. Yang Nianqing had already been yawning, and upon hearing this, she also stood up.
Who are these people here, and how could the commotion around them possibly escape their notice? He Huan's gaze flickered, and he leaped over the railing onto the eaves. In just a moment, he returned to the three individuals, completely dry and not a trace of rainwater on him.
Once again on the night of the fifteenth, will Zhang Mingchu's corpse from "One Cut to the South of the River" be hung from this tree again
Not all civil servants are responsible for the safety of the people, Yang Nianqing said with a mix of anger and amusement as she gritted her teeth and got up: "Why?"
Yang Nianqing was momentarily taken aback, then smiled helplessly: "Young Master Nangong is truly magnanimous. Could it be that he has a grudge against your family and seeks to take revenge on them, thus harming you?"
"I am not doubting you," Yang Nianqing explained, "You are truly the murderer. How could you leave the body in your own home? Attracting attention is not a good thing, and there is no need for you to create a false trail. The murderer does this to frame you, and it is very likely to be your enemy. Why not start investigating them?"
Nangong Xue smiled and said: "No matter who encounters such a situation, the first person to be suspected will definitely be me. Moreover, since the body was found in the Nangong Bieyuan, I naturally have my suspicions as well"
Raindrops flew into her neck, and Yang Nianqing felt a chill run down her spine. She shivered and tugged at Nangong Xue's sleeve: "Let's go"
Yang Nianqing nodded in acknowledgment that there was some truth to what he said
Imagining the sight of a corpse hanging from a tree, Yang Nianqing could not help but feel anxious and inched a little closer to Li You
Nangong Xue smiled without speaking
Li You looked at him sympathetically: "You are quite suitable to be a scapegoat; it seems better not to play the role of a good person."
Li Youdao: "Brother Nangong has also been this cautious the last two times, yet he still let people in on time"
If it were not for the fact that this is the Nangong Bieyuan, it is likely that those seeking revenge would have caused a great uproar by now. However, everyone knows that the number one young master of the Jianghu, Nangong Xue, would absolutely never kill anyone. Moreover, both Tang Jingfeng and the old master Situ had received his kindness during their lifetimes, so he has even less reason to kill them
Li Youdao: "That is also good"
A white shadow drifts with the wind
Nangong Xue smiled helplessly: "A few days ago, he went out to search for medicine. Moreover, you know his temperament; these corpses are clearly poisoned to any discerning eye. It would be fine for him to say that I am ignorant, but I fear it would displease him. He might also think that I underestimate him, bothering him with such trivial matters."
Two months ago, Tang Jingfeng, the lord of Tangjiabao, mysteriously disappeared. On the fifteenth night, his body was also found hanging from a tree in Nangong Bieyuan
Furthermore, he is a good person. If I were to seek a scapegoat, I would certainly choose him, " Li You said, "It is always more reassuring to pin the blame on a good person than to blame others.
Gradually, that face turned towards this side
At the beginning of this month, Zhang Mingchu from "One Cut to Jiangnan" went missing while handling affairs in Jinling
Yang Nianqing indeed could not come up with a response: "What do you mean by that?"
The chilling wind and rain, along with the bizarre bloodshed, rendered the atmosphere around mysterious and eerie
Yang Nianqing couldn't help but smile at him, diverting the topic: "It should be around eleven or twelve o'clock..." Seeing the strange expressions on the faces of the three, she quickly realized and covered up, saying: "I meant it's almost the second watch, it's so late, he shouldn't be coming, right?"
The hour of the Rat has arrived, perhaps the great hero Zhang has escaped this calamity, which is excellent. Nangong Xue let out a sigh, "I believe with the two of you here, the murderer has some reservations. I think it is better to return to our rooms to rest and discuss this further tomorrow"
This case is indeed interesting, " his eyes grew even brighter, Li You said, " why not invite Mr. Chrysanthemum to take a look? "
Li You smiled and said: "The first good person who kills someone is probably the biggest joke in the martial world"
Li Youdao: "Blaming it on Brother Nangong is just the way to avoid these troubles"
Yang Nianqing gazed at the large tree and murmured, "Their bodies were all hung on this tree on the night of the fifteenth, so today..."
The cat took advantage of He Bism's release, letting out a mournful and piercing cry, leaping down the stairs, and escaping with that strange smile on its face
Just as the words fell, a louder sound echoed from afar. The three of them exchanged glances but did not pursue the matter further
Little did anyone know, the gentle and graceful Nangong Xue remained as still as a wooden figure
Li You忍笑道: "The young lady's voice is certainly much bolder than her courage"
Yang Nianqing's heart sank, and she forced a bitter smile
Nangong Xue sighed, "I truly do not understand how he managed to get in."
Not bad! He Bi opened his eyes
"Indeed, there was someone just now," Li You suddenly said, "There are words on it."
He Bidao: "Are you sure it is poisoning?"
A cold wind swept through, causing the lanterns under the eaves to sway, and the shadows of the trees danced. Countless branches and leaves collided overhead, producing a rustling sound once again. Occasionally, branches brushed against the eaves, creating an atmosphere that was both tranquil and eerie
Yang Nianqing felt inexplicably puzzled and followed their gaze to look over
Seeing that Yang Nianqing still did not understand, Li You said: "If the blame were to be placed on you, would the relatives and friends of the deceased seek revenge on you"
A month ago, the swift sword Liu Ru went missing; on the same night of the fifteenth, his body was found in the same place
Nangong Xue said: "I have never had any grievances with anyone in my life."
After this heavy fall, Yang Nianqing, who was supposed to lose consciousness, instead became alert. How could she fall to the ground when He Bi was clearly standing right beside her
Ah—" a scream, accompanied by the sound of "bang".
Yang Nianqing realized: "If I die at their hands, the murderer will have to find a scapegoat the next time they kill. The more complicated a matter becomes, the easier it is to make mistakes, leave clues, and the greater the risk of being exposed."
Nangong Xue smiled faintly: "In this world, there must always be kind-hearted people, and I am not the only one."
Everyone was taken aback, and He Bi's expression was not very pleasant either. The one known as the number one divine catcher actually mistook a cat for his target!
Li You set down his wine cup: "The reason is quite simple, the murderer has framed this matter on Brother Nangong. The first person you would suspect is his enemy, yet he has no enemies."
Yang Nianqing nodded and looked at him with suspicion, saying: "Why are all the dead people found in your house?"
He Bi Lian also closed his eyes
The four individuals were once again rendered speechless
It is precisely the fifteenth
Yang Nianqing gasped and took two steps back
He Bi immediately turned the cat over, and indeed, on the snow-white belly of the black cat, there was a blood-red mark painted with some kind of pigment— not a word, but a face.
The bloodshed at Nangong Bieyuan has recently become widely known, with no one unaware of it.
Suspended in mid-air like a ghostly apparition, swaying back and forth as if on a swing, it appears particularly eerie and terrifying under the cover of the shadows cast by the trees, yet it is strikingly real
He Bi and Li You exchanged a glance; regarding poison, Nangong Xue's knowledge would certainly not be inferior to that of a master of poison.
Yang Nianqing said: "What has been concluded?"
Looking again at He Bi and Li You, they too were frozen like Nangong Xue, with three pairs of eyes fixed intently on the same spot
He Bi nodded in silence
That is a black cat
A face was unexpectedly drawn on the cat's belly! It has eyebrows, eyes, and a mouth, all complete, clearly smiling. However, upon closer inspection, that smile appears quite distorted, tinged with sarcasm, as if mocking everyone.
Having witnessed true lightness of skill, Yang Nianqing was momentarily stunned. When she regained her composure, she finally noticed a black object in his hand
At that very moment, a shadow silently passed overhead
A trace of confusion flickered in Feng Mu's eyes as Nangong Xue pondered: "The peculiarity lies here. I have tried many methods, yet I have not discovered any poison within their bodies. However, if they were not poisoned, how could the corpses have taken on such a state? What, then, is the true cause of their death?"
Nangong Xue said: "It should be poisoning"
Yang Nianqing nodded gratefully, quietly exhaling. After all, she had never been exposed to such homicide cases before, having only watched detective dramas at most. Now, experiencing it firsthand, it was inevitable that she felt a sense of unease.
Li You's handsome face also appeared above her, looking at her with sympathy: "Miss, next time you faint, be sure to remember, it is better to fall onto Nan Gong's body than to fall onto him."
Nangong Xue's voice carried concern: "Miss Yang, have you fallen?"
Three months ago, Master Situ of the Breaking Wind Sect went out to visit friends and went missing on his way back. On the night of the fifteenth of that month, his body was unexpectedly found hanging from a tree in the back garden of the Nangong Villa!
Yang Nianqing said: "So, this is not the first crime scene; they were killed first and then brought here by the murderer to be hung on the tree."
"Since he is not the enemy of the deceased, he must naturally be the enemy of the one who was killed," Li You said with a smile. "Many people will be influenced by their habits, starting their investigation from Brother Nangong. I fear this is precisely what the murderer hopes for, leading to no results at all"
Nangong Xue pondered and said: "I see that their faces are purple, their eyes are completely red, their lips are dark blue, and their nails have black spots, yet there are no other injuries on their bodies. Brother He should also know that this is clearly a sign of poisoning."
Nangong Xue furrowed her sword-like brows and said: "I have not seen them more than a few times, and I am not even clear about the appearances of two of them; I have only heard their names."
... ...
Humans are always more tender-hearted than gods, and they are more compassionate towards the weak. At the very least, the first kind-hearted person would not let you lie on the ground
Nangong Xue said: "My late father and mother passed away ten years ago, and I have no siblings."
Nangong Xue finally nodded: "He approached me from the very beginning. No one would believe that I committed murder, especially since I had helped two of the deceased. He calculated that their relatives would never seek revenge on me. When he kills again, he can safely frame me once more, leaving no flaws."
Li Youdao: "You are not foolish, it is just a pity that Brother Nangong has no enemies"
Yang Nianqing shook her head and said: "There must be a motive for murder. Could it be that... he is jealous of your family's wealth, your beauty surpassing his, and your better social connections, thus leading to a psychological distortion?"
She lay on the ground, her face contorted in pain as she searched for He Bi, only to discover that in the blink of an eye, He Bi had already reached the edge of the railing.
Seeing her fear, Nangong Xue comforted her, saying: "I have instructed someone to surround the manor, not allowing anyone to enter."
What would the world be like if no one were willing to suffer losses
It seems that these few individuals have come specifically to wait for the bodies. They say that one should wait by the tree for a hare; today, I have finally witnessed waiting by the tree for corpses.
Nangong Xue comforted: "With Brother Li here, I believe the murderer would not dare to come."
Li Youdao: "It is not an easy task for anyone to bring a living person into the Nangu Palace's separate garden"
Li You was clearly aware of Mr. Ju's temperament, and said no more, simply lost in thought