"It was Yishi’s idea. When he recognized Gao Ming as the orphan from next door, he sought me out.
After I recounted the old affair from fifteen years ago to him, he suggested I observe Gao Ming’s reaction first, as revealing the truth rashly might backfire.
At the same time, he asked me to investigate Gao Ming’s past experiences over the years.
Upon learning that the siblings had relied on each other all these years, he implored me to take Gao Ming’s sister into my tutelage as well.
After several years of close proximity, both Yishi and I assumed that the siblings had let go of their hatred, or perhaps their parents had never mentioned the matter to them at all.
If that were the case, neither I nor Yishi would proactively bring it up.
Who could have imagined it would lead to such a catastrophe…"
"Speaking of which, I still have one matter I don't understand."
Lin Qingge stood up from her seat and walked towards Gao Ming and Jian Xing, who were kneeling on the ground.
"You have been lurking in Wolong Villa for so many years. You were not just like family to Master Long and the deceased Young Hero Lan, but even closer than family. You had countless opportunities to strike, so why choose today, so many years later, to commit your crime?
Was it merely because Master Huichong and others also arrived at Wolong Villa?
But this explanation clearly doesn't hold water. The martial arts convention is held once every three years. If you had the intention, you could have acted during the previous convention.
After all, with unexpected guests like myself and General Lian joining this martial arts convention, it’s hardly an opportune moment to strike."
"Crime? Strike?"
Jian Xing tilted his head, muttering to himself. His expression suddenly turned manic.
The next moment, Jian Xing, with eyes blazing red, pulled a dagger from his懷 and lunged directly at Lin Qingge, who was only two steps away!
"My Lord, be careful—!"
The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard. No one expected Jian Xing to attack Lord Lin.
In the blink of an eye.
Two piercing sounds shot towards Jian Xing from two different directions. One slashed across Jian Xing’s wrist, while the other directly knocked the dagger from his hand.
Immediately after, Yan Tinghao, who had rushed over, pinned Jian Xing, who appeared to be in an altered state, to the ground.
As a precaution, Ling Han also restrained Gao Ming.
Because everything happened in an instant, not only Lin Qingge but almost everyone else was completely caught off guard.
Lin Qingge, who had just narrowly escaped death, had no time to berate herself for her years of training in alertness being completely wasted when a familiar, cold female voice sounded from behind her:
"Are you alright?"
"Madam!"
Lin Qingge looked at the person who had arrived with surprise. The hands that had turned cold from fear moments ago began to warm up again.
"Were you injured?"
"No."
Lin Qingge shook her head and looked back at Jian Xing, who was being held down tightly by Yan Tinghao. Before she could ask, the person beside her spoke first:
"He is being controlled."
"Controlled?"
"He must have been given a command to eliminate the person who solves the case should the matter be exposed, which is the legendary Soul Seizing technique.
And the timing of the inquiry into the motive for the crime is very likely the keyword that triggers the elimination command."
Upon hearing Leng Ningyue’s words, Murong Bai leaned down with keen interest to take Jian Xing’s pulse.
"I have heard of the Soul Seizing technique, but I always thought it was just a fabrication of the ancients. I never expected it to truly exist!
While I am unsure if this so-called Soul Seizing technique is real or not, Jian Gongzi’s pulse is erratic, and his qi and blood are turbulent. If this continues, his meridians could reverse, leading to a burst explosion.
But what is strange is that Jian Gongzi shows no signs of poisoning.
Could it be that someone can truly control a phantom soul?"
Hua Jinrong also leaned in. He habitually reached to fan himself, only to find his hand empty. He had to take out another identical folding fan from his sleeve.
"The world is vast, and there are many wonders.
Let alone controlling souls, perhaps there are even more bizarre occurrences like borrowing a corpse to house a soul~"
Unfortunately, Lin Qingge, who had transmigrated from another world, was absent-minded at the moment, or rather, she wasn't listening at all.
The recent events reminded her of an international criminal organization she had heard of in her past life.
That international criminal organization was named "Daybreak," but their domestic counterparts preferred to call them 'Po Xiao.'
The 'Po Xiao' organization was extremely mysterious, but as long as the reward was high enough, there was no mission they couldn't complete.
And one of the members of the 'Po Xiao' organization was renowned for their cunning and hypnosis.
It was said that this person particularly enjoyed plotting behind the scenes for others, claiming to be able to orchestrate perfect crimes for their employers.
However, no matter how perfect the crime plan was, it was ultimately carried out by people, and people make mistakes.
This is where hypnosis played a crucial role.
That person would hypnotize the employer without their knowledge. Once someone solved the case and exposed the killer, the employer would unhesitatingly eliminate the person who solved the case.
Although Lin Qingge had not experienced it in her past life, a colleague from the neighboring province, a veteran of criminal investigation for decades, had his carotid artery bitten open by the murderer who suddenly charged at him after a trial, ultimately dying from excessive blood loss.
She had also attended that veteran’s funeral.
He was only three months away from retirement and enjoying a peaceful life, yet he met such a tragic end. Everyone present, including herself and other colleagues, harbored deep resentment towards the mastermind.
Unfortunately, that person was too cunning. Forget their appearance; they didn't even know if the person was male or female…
Now, the same situation had occurred again.
Was it just a coincidence?
As Lin Qingge was lost in thought, Murong Bai suddenly exclaimed in a low voice:
"Not good!"
Lin Qingge, snapping back to attention from her thoughts, looked up to see Jian Xing convulsing all over and frothing at the mouth.
"What is happening?"
"Just now, his meridians reversed. He probably won't last fifteen minutes."
Hearing Murong Bai’s words, Gao Ming, with strength he didn’t know he had, broke free from Ling Han’s restraint.
He grabbed Murong Bai’s arm and said urgently:
"Brother Murong, you must save my brother!
He is only sixteen years old and has a long road ahead of him!
You must save him!"
"Brother Gao, the reversal of meridians was deliberately caused by your brother himself.
In other words, he is intentionally seeking death, so I am afraid I am powerless.
After all, no matter how miraculous my healing skills are, I cannot save someone who is determined to die."
"No, Brother Murong, you must save my brother!"
Gao Ming’s eyes turned red with anxiety, but Jian Xing’s breathing grew weaker and weaker. Before long, he slumped down like a pile of mud.
"No—!!!"
Unable to accept that his brother, who was by his side just a moment ago, was now gone, Gao Ming let out a desperate roar like a trapped beast.
But no matter how he called out, his brother in his arms would not respond in the slightest.
He sat on the ground for a long time, holding Jian Xing like a statue, tears flowing silently. But then, he suddenly smiled.