As Lin Qingge spoke, she chuckled and surveyed the surroundings. The onlookers who had gathered outside to watch the excitement couldn't help but shiver and disperse like startled birds.
They had previously thought that 'Special Envoy Lin's' idea of reporting all wanted martial artists to the authorities was already quite insane.
But now, it seemed that 'Special Envoy Lin' had actually shown them mercy!
After all, they could have been apprehended directly, but instead, they were merely reported to the authorities!
However,臥龍山莊 (Wòlóng Shānzhuāng) could absolutely not be left standing. Perhaps they would be the next ones dragged away to do hard labor!
Hadn't the sect leader of the formidable Xuánmíng Sect, whose name alone was enough to inspire fear, become a prisoner awaiting execution?
"Young General Lian, since a murder has occurred here, everyone present is a suspect. I'll have to trouble you to have your men guard the entrance to the mountain villa, and no one is to leave this place, not even half a step."
Though a fleeting hint of displeasure crossed Lian Cheng'yi's eyes as he was assigned his task.
Considering that 臥龍山莊 (Wòlóng Shānzhuāng) was actually within the jurisdiction of Fengtian Prefecture, his unauthorized presence with troops was already irregular. He reluctantly nodded:
"Lord Lin, rest assured, this general will instruct his men to carry out your orders."
"By the way, where is the body of Master Huichong? Please take me to see it?"
Lin Qingge asked this, but her feet didn't hesitate as she stepped inside, heading straight for the main building in the courtyard.
However, just as she reached the doorway, she quickly called out:
"Constable Yan, remain outside!"
Unfortunately, Yan Tinghao, who had vowed to be his lord's right-hand man, followed closely behind Lin Qingge and had already glimpsed the tragic scene within the room.
His face instantly turned as pale as paper, and his body began to sway precariously.
"Gag—gag—"
Unsurprisingly, the simpleton vomited again.
Feeling that this oaf's martial arts were a complete waste, Lin Qingge, unable to bear looking, shifted her gaze back to the room.
"Tsk tsk, a fatal blow, blood splattered three feet high, the killer's skills must be considerable~
However, there's no shortage of skilled individuals in 臥龍山莊 (Wòlóng Shānzhuāng).
Of course, that excludes you, my lord~"
Feeling somewhat offended, Lin Qingge narrowed her eyes and said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes:
"This official may not possess much martial skill, but if Advisor Hua is willing, this official can use you to practice, to see if I can make you bleed three feet high?"
"My lord, you're speaking of—"
Before Hua Jinrong could finish his sentence, Murong Bai, who had walked over, kicked him away. "Enough. If you two aren't investigating the case, don't hinder others from earning a living."
With that, Murong Bai took out the sheep intestine gloves he wore and slowly put them on.
"Based on the initial rigor mortis, the deceased likely died around the hour of Chou (1 AM to 3 AM) last night. The cause of death was a fatal stab to the carotid artery. The weapon was likely a sharp instrument like a saber or sword, though a dagger is also a possibility.
The deceased bore no other obvious external injuries, nor any signs of a violent struggle.
However, one point is rather peculiar. Since the deceased was killed in a very short period, if no one else had touched the body, their expression would likely have remained frozen in the moment of death.
But look at Master Huichong; not only are his eyes closed, but his face is also remarkably serene. It's less like a sudden assassination and more like a peaceful passing in seated meditation."
At this moment, Lu Mingxuan entered from outside, cupping his fist and said:
"My lord, I just questioned the young monk who first discovered Master Huichong's death.
According to the young monk, he prepared tea as usual this morning, but no matter how he knocked, there was no response.
The young monk waited outside for about fifteen minutes before he couldn't help but push the door open a crack.
As an aside, Master Huichong's door was usually unlocked.
Seeing the situation inside through the crack, the young monk was instantly terrified and began calling for help in a daze.
Before long, Manor Lord Long arrived with his men.
Then, Young General Lian also came with his soldiers, but both groups merely stood outside the room, with no one stepping foot inside."
"Good, you can be taught well~"
"Advisor Hua, this official thinks that if you don't show any more of your residual value, this official will arrange for you to take care of Constable Yan!"
Hua Jinrong, who received a dagger-like glare from his lord, leaned lazily against the doorframe, fanning himself, with no intention of moving.
"My lord, Constable Yan is already being looked after by Ye Shengxiao, isn't that right, Ye Shengxiao~"
Ye Shengxiao, whose name was suddenly called, felt his hair stand on end, and his body reacted before his brain could. "Don't worry, taking care of people is my specialty! Oh no, it's this junior's specialty!
This junior will certainly take good care of Constable Yan, just like a young maiden!"
Lin Qingge, feeling that the innocent Constable Yan's purity might be in jeopardy, waved her hand, telling Ye Shengxiao to hurry up and drag away the nauseatingly retching fellow.
As Lin Qingge's gaze swept from the doorway into the room, she seemed to suddenly discover something. She quickly pushed aside Hua Jinrong, who was fanning himself, and then closed the somewhat heavy wooden door.
Behind the door, a large character '金' (Jīn) was clearly written in blood!
"Gold?
That's quite an uncommon surname. Could the killer be surnamed 'Jin'?"
Murong Bai, having finished examining the body, stood behind Lin Qingge, also staring at the character '金' (Jīn), but then he shook his head:
"Let's not forget that Master Huichong was killed with a single blow. If he had the strength to write on the door, he would have long since run out to call for help!"
At the same time, Hua Jinrong's teasing voice from the other side of the door could be heard:
"My lord, why did you suddenly close the door?
Could it be that you've finally grown tired of Madam Lin and are planning to make a move on the Coroner Murong~"
"Enough of that. If you keep blabbering, this official will have Madam sew up that annoying mouth of yours when we get back!"
Lin Qingge reopened the door, and after informing Long Xiaotian and the others of her discovery, she meticulously searched the room again.
It could be said that as a monk, his personal belongings were extremely scarce.
"Huh, what is this?"
Lin Qingge found what appeared to be a child's tiger-head shoe in Master Huichong's small bundle of belongings.
Why would a monk carry a child's shoe with him?
Puzzled, Lin Qingge wrapped the small tiger-head shoe in a handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve. She then left Ling Han to guard the scene and departed with Hua Jinrong and the others.
Along the way, Lin Qingge asked casually:
"Advisor Hua, what were Master Huichong's martial arts skills like?"
"Replying to my lord, since Master Huichong was an elder of Shaolin, his martial arts were naturally not low.
And as for who could so easily deliver a fatal blow to Master Huichong, as far as this student knows, there are likely no more than five people in the entire 臥龍山莊 (Wòlóng Shānzhuāng)."
Seeing that Hua Jinrong was finally willing to be productive, Lin Qingge nodded, gesturing for him to continue.
"First, of course, is Madam Lin. Secondly, there's Ling Han, the sect leader of the Xuánmíng Sect. Then there's Manor Lord Long Xiaotian and Elder Leng Shuang of the Jade Maiden Sect. As for the last one..."