Lingering eyes swept towards the person lazily leaning by the doorway, fanning themselves, and Leng Ningyue stated plainly:
"You've arrived at a good time. I'll leave this to you, I'm going to chase her."
"Tsk tsk, Madam Lin, you truly are exceptionally kind to Master Lin~"
Leng Ningyue glanced at Hua Jinrong without a word and left like a gust of wind.
Watching the retreating water-blue figure disappear in an instant, Hua Jinrong couldn't help but sigh:
"Alas~
When will I ever meet a woman as devoted to her husband as Madam Lin is to Master Lin~"
"In your dreams."
Two words drifted from a distance, callously shattering the rare romantic sentiment he had brewed. Hua Jinrong immediately shot a piercing glare, "I say, Bai Er, you're not sleeping in the middle of the night, running out to make fun of me, is that interesting?"
Murong Bai's handsome brows flickered with displeasure, "Rong San, that's a question I should be asking you. Not sleeping in the middle of the night, running around, do you get extra pay?"
"Talking about money is too formal?"
Hua Jinrong fanned himself, his peripheral vision sweeping past the adjacent room, a self-mocking curve lifting his lips, "Given the importance of everyone in this courtyard, I'd work even if I had to pay extra, wouldn't I?"
Murong Bai, who had walked to the door, gestured towards Wu Suowei, who remained in a kneeling position, "What's the situation with this guy?"
"If I recall correctly, he should be that 'Number One Thief Under Heaven' whose invitation Master stole?"
???
Wu Suowei, feeling like he might have hallucinated, opened his mouth wide, displaying an exaggerated look of shock.
"So ugly, and you dare to call yourself the Number One Thief Under Heaven?"
Murong Bai said, then moved back slightly with a look of disdain, "Oh right, I've been studying my father's notes recently and happened to be researching the art of transformation. But I've been short on practice materials. Master Lin likely wouldn't mind if I used this rare material that's delivered itself to my doorstep, would he?"
"Our Master is very easy-going, as long as he can keep his breath. Moreover, it's his tenth lifetime's fortune to have Second Bai help him transform. He should be eternally grateful, even if he offered all his possessions, it wouldn't be too much~"
"Finally, Rong San, you've said something human."
Murong Bai cast a look of approval at Hua Jinrong, then unhurriedly walked into the room and smiled at the bewildered Wu Suowei, "Be good, hand over all your valuables!"
Wu Suowei: !!!
Let's not dwell on how much Wu Suowei regretted his failed attempt to steal the chicken, which resulted in the loss of his own bait. Meanwhile, Lin Qingge, after repeated inquiries, finally arrived at the bedroom of Lan Yishi, Long Xiaotian's eldest disciple.
Unfortunately, it was still a step too late.
Looking at the scene of the crime splattered with blood, Lin Qingge was so angry she wanted to slap herself.
Leng Ningyue, who arrived a moment later, crouched beside Lan Yishi's corpse, "The bloodstains are still very fresh, indicating the killer acted not long ago. And the killer's blade was not steady or precise enough, causing a lot of splashing. Besides this spot, the killer themselves should also be splashed with a considerable amount of blood."
"Yes, the killer just committed the crime, and in their haste, they're likely to have left flaws!"
With that, Lin Qingge rushed into the adjacent courtyard. As registered disciples of the Manor Lord, their treatment was naturally much better than other disciples. Not only did each person have their own independent courtyard, but their courtyards were also adjacent to each other.
"Master Lin, what business do you have with me at this late hour?"
Lin Qingge looked at Gao Ming, who was bare-chested and covered in sweat, and her lips twitched, "Brother Gao, what are you doing?"
"Oh, there have been continuous major events in the manor recently, and I've been feeling unsettled, unable to sleep. So I've been practicing martial arts in the courtyard."
"Then did you hear any unusual noises from the neighboring courtyard?"
"The neighboring courtyard? Senior Brother?"
Gao Ming scratched his head and said, "Senior Brother helps Master manage the manor, and even late at night, stewards often come to see Senior Brother, so I didn't pay much attention. It's not that... Did something happen to Senior Brother, judging by your tone, Master Lin?"
After speaking, Gao Ming was about to rush out but noticed someone standing not far outside the door, "Madam Lin is here too!"
With that, he was so startled that he immediately closed the door.
At this moment, Liu Chenfei, who had also heard the commotion, came out of his courtyard wearing an outer robe. However, he wasn't much better off than Gao Ming, because he was completely naked underneath.
"Master Lin, Madam Lin?!"
The sleepiness instantly vanished, and Liu Chenfei also slammed his courtyard door shut with a 'bang'.
After seeing the two of them, Lin Qingge was about to head towards the courtyard where the fourth disciple, Su Mo, lived, but was stopped by Leng Ningyue, "He's not here."
???
As if Lin Qingge's confused gaze was too obvious, Leng Ningyue explained further, "He left Wolong Mountain Villa yesterday."
Although Lin Qingge didn't know how Leng Ningyue knew Su Mo, seeing that the latter was unwilling to say more, Lin Qingge didn't press further and went to the last courtyard instead. Since Lin Qingge's apparent gender was male, the task of knocking fell upon Leng Ningyue's shoulders.
Just as Lin Qingge stopped about ten feet away, Leng Ningyue had already kicked open Jian Xing's courtyard gate with a single foot?!
...
Feeling that her wife's demeanor had become increasingly unusual since participating in the martial arts大会, Lin Qingge swallowed with difficulty, looking down at her own limbs that could probably not even withstand one move from her wife. All she felt was envy and resignation.
Not long after, Leng Ningyue walked out of the courtyard.
"She's taking a bath."
"Bathing? So late?"
"She said she'd experienced too much shock today, and when she was bathing at night, she cried herself to sleep. She just woke up upon hearing the noise. I tested the water in her basin, and it was indeed completely cold."
Lin Qingge heard this and her eyes widened, "No, Madam, you... you barged into someone's room to watch them bathe?"
"I went in, but she was sitting in a bathtub filled with flower petals, with only her head exposed. Also, I searched her room and didn't find any bloodstained clothes."
"Oh."
Lin Qingge, surprised that her wife's case investigation methods were so simple and crude, let out a slow sigh and turned to leave, but was pulled back by the former.
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"Don't wander off, wait here for me."
After Leng Ningyue said this, she slipped into the adjacent courtyard and returned shortly, holding an outer robe.
"Put this robe on over your clothes."
Instantly understanding, Lin Qingge remembered that after a night of turmoil, she hadn't thought of changing her menstrual supplies. It was likely her 'hemorrhoids' were acting up again... But just as she was about to go back, feeling the urge to urinate from drinking too much porridge before bed. Fortunately, Leng Ningyue had an extra menstrual supply with her. She took it, gave a token gesture of thanks, and headed straight for the outhouse in Jian Xing's courtyard. After tidying up, she'd just scattered lime to destroy the evidence, and as she pushed open the door, she bumped right into Jian Xing, who was walking towards her.
"W-what a coincidence! That, that official drank too much soup and water tonight, so..." Although ancient outhouses didn't distinguish between genders, it was still somewhat impolite to use a maiden's courtyard outhouse.
"It's alright, Achoo—" Jian Xing, who seemed to have caught a cold, nodded and bowed. Lin Qingge hurriedly put on her clothes and left. But as she reached the courtyard entrance, she subconsciously looked back and froze.