However, although Fortune Valley has been committing numerous evil deeds, the martial arts skills of its members are mostly mediocre. It is simply unbelievable that any of them could sneak into the valley undetected.
"Father, I'm going to find them right now!" Xiao Mo said, turning to leave, but Xiao Zuo called out to him, "Wait."
"But Father..."
Xiao Zuo waved his hand and said calmly, "Continue."
Jin Yidou said, "In addition, there are four other people who entered this conference without a pass: Young Master Lu Ziang, Brother Xiaojiuxian, and Miss Hefeng."
Xiao Nuo quickly said, "My sister can't be the murderer, she's been with me the whole time!"
Gong Feicui smiled and said, "No one said your sister Feng is the murderer, why are you in such a hurry?" As she spoke, she gave me a meaningful look. That look sent a shiver down my spine; I felt both ashamed and embarrassed. It was clearly the look a mother-in-law gives her daughter-in-law. What was Gong Feicui thinking?
Jin Yidou bowed and said, "That's the whole story. Your report is complete."
Just then, Cai Bo hurriedly returned and reported, "Reporting to the City Lord, we have learned the whereabouts of the Four Beauties of Huaiyang and the Butterfly Gang. The Four Beauties are tied up in a house in the East Alley of the West City. According to them, they overslept and saw the Butterfly Gang members rushing to the meeting place. They were knocked unconscious by their sleeping gas as soon as they saw them, and when they woke up, they found themselves tied up there. They saw the Butterfly Gang members at exactly 1:15 AM."
Xiao Zuo pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "It's obvious that there are two groups of people who are most suspicious right now: one is the Fortune Valley from Changbai Mountain, and the other is the Butterfly Gang, whose behavior is suspicious."
Xiao Mo said loudly, "Father, please allow me to lead men to capture them and bring them back to find out the truth!"
Xiao Zuo looked at Xiao Jian, who remained silent for a moment before bowing and saying, "I'll go."
Xiao Zuo smiled with relief and said, "Very good. The only way to clear your name is to find the real culprit. I hope you won't disappoint me." Then he glanced at Xiao Mo and said, "Mo'er, you should go too. Be careful on the road."
Xiao Mo was overjoyed and said, "Yes, Father!"
Xiao Zuo turned and left with his hands behind his back, saying as he walked, "Clean this place up. Don't make a fuss about this for now. We'll talk about everything after Mo'er and Jian'er catch up with the people from Fortune Valley and Butterfly Gang."
Cai Bo immediately obeyed the order.
Xiao Nuo stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Mo's hand, saying, "Brother, although the Butterfly Gang and the Fortune Valley people are not very skilled in martial arts, they are very proficient in unorthodox methods. Why don't you take me with you? Maybe I can be of help."
Xiao Mo laughed and said, "Don't worry, with your second brother and me here, how can we not catch up with two mere third-rate gangs? You stay at home obediently and wait for our good news."
Xiao Nuo thought for a moment, then took out a large paper package from his pocket. Inside the large package were smaller packages, and there were countless packages in total. "Big brother, second brother, these are all the magical powders I've collected over the years. This one will make you sneeze, this one will make your eyes water, this one will make you cough incessantly, this one..."
As he was engrossed in identifying the medicine packets, I tugged at his sleeve and said, "No need to take them, they've all left."
Xiao Nuo looked up and, sure enough, her two older brothers were nowhere to be seen. Her face immediately fell as she said, "But I haven't finished yet! There's also that kind of medicine here that can wake you up just by smelling it, and it's very effective against sleeping smoke and poisonous fog..."
I couldn't help but smile and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You should have confidence in their martial arts. Your second brother's swordsmanship is so high, chasing down a few clowns from Fortune Valley is a piece of cake."
However, I was wrong.
An hour later, Xiao Mo successfully caught up with the Butterfly Gang members and returned unharmed, but Xiao Jian, who returned with him, was in a very bad situation. Not only was he injured, but the entire Fortune Valley group also escaped.
To make matters worse, he couldn't even stand up and had to be carried back by two residents of Baili City who happened to be passing by.
"When we passed by, the Second Young Master was lying on the ground, convulsing. He looked terrifying," the two men said, their expressions hesitant. They nudged each other, and finally, the older one cautiously said, "In my humble opinion, he looks like he's having a drug withdrawal episode."
Family misfortune
Baili City, Xiao Mansion.
The hall was lit. Feng Chenxi counted that a total of one hundred lamps were lit, enough to illuminate the hall as brightly as day, and enough for people to see the few people sitting, standing, or lying in the hall.
Actually, including herself, there were only seven people in the hall, and it wasn't dark yet, so there was no need to waste money like this.
However, this is Xiao Zuo's home, and if he wants, he can light all the lights here even in broad daylight.
Xiao Zuo is not a wasteful person, but today he was in an extremely bad mood.
People always hope to find light from the outside world when they are in deep darkness inside.
This is a subconscious reaction, which is perfectly normal. What's abnormal is that everyone here is in a bad mood today.
Cai Bo stood behind Xiao Zuo, Yu Cui stood behind Gong Feicui, and Xiao Nuo and Feng Chenxi sat at the lower end.
Besides them, there was a stretcher on the ground, and a person was lying on the stretcher.
This person is none other than Xiao Jian.
His face was as pale as a sheet of paper, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were closed; he was already delirious. However, whenever a gust of wind blew by, his body would tremble violently as if being torn apart by a thousand knives.
"well……"
Gong Feicui let out what seemed to be her hundredth sigh, followed closely by Yu Cui, then Cai Bo, and then Xiao Nuo. Xiao Zuo, though not sighing, looked even more worried than the others. Feng Chenxi looked at him, her eyes involuntarily showing concern.
"Second brother... second brother..."
Shouts and footsteps echoed outside the hall, and then Xiao Mo rushed in in a flurry of activity.
Upon seeing Xiao Jian on the ground, his eyes turned red. He rushed forward, knelt beside his younger brother, and hissed, "Second brother, what's wrong? Second brother, say something!"
“He can’t hear you,” Xiao Zuo said slowly. “No matter how loudly you shout, he won’t hear you.”
"Father!" Xiao Mo raised his head in grief and indignation, "Who harmed my second brother like this? Who was it?"
Xiao Zuo was silent for a moment, then said, "No one else, it was himself—he took the Cold Medicine Powder and his addiction kicked in."
"Cold-Covering Powder?" Xiao Mo exclaimed in disbelief, "This is impossible, I don't believe it!"
“I also think it’s impossible.” Xiao Zuo sneered, “It’s a pity that when Doctor Yu diagnosed him just now, he shouted those three words even louder than you. I think it would be hard for me not to hear them.”
Yu Langzhong is none other than Yu Yinhuai, the number one doctor in Baili City. If he says that Xiao Jian is addicted to the Cold-Taking Powder, then it is absolutely true.
Xiao Mo was completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.
"Mo'er?" Gong Feicui called out to him with concern. Of her three sons, this eldest son was the one who valued sibling affection the most. He had always been very protective and caring towards his two younger brothers since they were young. Now, upon hearing this terrible news, he was probably even more unable to accept it than she and Xiao Zuo, his parents.
Xiao Mo knelt on the ground in a daze for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped the unconscious Xiao Jian hard. He pounced on him, grabbed his collar and shook him violently, and said sternly, "Why did you do this? Why did you eat that kind of thing? You not only ruined yourself, but you also ruined our family. Do you understand?"
Feng Chenxi couldn't help but sigh: Indeed, since the Cold Clothes Powder entered the world three dynasties ago, it has ruined countless people and families. The Xiao Zuogong and Fei Cui couple were outstanding individuals, a perfect couple. It was already a tragedy to have a son like Xiao Nuo. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jian, who was regarded by the people of the martial arts world as the next successor of Baili City, had become addicted to drugs. There was really nothing more shameful and disgraceful than this... In a flash, she vaguely felt that she had just thought of something very important, but when she tried to grasp it, she couldn't remember what it was at all.
Just then, Xiao Zuo suddenly said in a deep voice, "Calm down, Mo'er, I still have something to ask you."
Xiao Mo let go of his hand in despair, stared blankly at Xiao Jian for a long while, and then got up and walked to his father, standing with his head bowed.
Xiao Zuo took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over the man's face, and said, "You've already interrogated the Butterfly Gang members. If I'm not mistaken, this matter shouldn't have anything to do with them, right?"
"Yes. The Butterfly Gang has confessed honestly. They brought seven people this time, but only managed to kidnap the four beauties of Huaiyang. They felt... felt unsatisfied, so they wandered around the city, intending to find a few more girls, so that... so that..." Xiao Mo stammered for a long time, but ultimately couldn't continue. Not only that, but his face even seemed to be slightly flushed.
He came from a prestigious family and was known for his integrity, so it was indeed difficult for him to verbatim repeat the offensive words spoken by the Butterfly Gang.
Xiao Zuo nodded and said, "Just as I expected. They appeared in the city in broad daylight, so there must have been quite a few people who saw them. You must have questioned them all, right?"
"Yes. I asked more than twenty people, and they all said they had seen them before."
Xiao Zuo nodded again and said calmly, "Since they didn't have the time to commit the crime, they're cleared of suspicion... Uncle Cai?"
"This old servant is here."
"The Butterfly Gang members are now in your hands. I only have one thing to say..."
"Listen, old servant."
"Since they like women so much, let them be half a woman."
"This old servant understands." Uncle Cai bowed and left.
The hall fell silent. Xiao Mo stood for a while, then took out a snow-white handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it in some tea, and gently applied it to Xiao Jian's chapped lips... once, twice, three times, until Xiao Jian's lips were completely moist.
Gong Feicui stared blankly, tears streaming down her cheeks, and murmured, "Why did you do this? What kind of delicious stuff is that? You actually got addicted to it..."
Xiao Mo suddenly looked up and said, "Mother, my second brother had no choice!"
Gong Feicui was taken aback for a moment, then immediately asked, "You knew he was taking Hanfu San?"
"I don't know. But I think I know the reason. Father..." Xiao Mo looked at Xiao Zuo, his face showing a desperate expression, and said in a sorrowful voice, "Actually, my second brother did it all for our family, for you!"
"For me?" Xiao Zuo narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, for you,” Xiao Mo said firmly. “My second brother once told me that no matter how hard he tries, people in the martial arts world will still call him ‘the second young master of the Xiao family.’ No matter how hard he practices his swordsmanship, people will still attribute all his success to him being ‘Xiao Zuo’s son.’ He wants to surpass you, he doesn’t want to live in your shadow anymore, and he hopes our family can be more glorious because of him! But his swordsmanship has already reached a very high level, and it’s very difficult to make any further breakthroughs… Father, do you know? My second brother is really suffering. So I think he took the Cold-Taming Powder to seek temporary relief, but he accidentally became addicted. But Father, please give him a chance, considering his extenuating circumstances?”
By the end, not only were the listeners moved, but even Xiao Mo's own voice choked with emotion.
Only Xiao Zuo remained expressionless, coldly looking at Xiao Jian lying on the stretcher, and said coldly, "The addiction to Hanfu Powder can be quit, but murder must be punished with a life."
Xiao Mo said urgently, "There is no evidence yet to prove that Second Brother is the murderer. Aren't the people from Fortune Valley also from Changbai Mountain? As long as we ask them, Second Brother's suspicion can be cleared."
"Big brother..." Xiao Nuo cried out with a mournful face, "The people from Fortune Valley have all run away."
"What?" Xiao Mo was shocked. He looked at Xiao Jian in disbelief, then at everyone else, and murmured, "Second brother actually let them get away? Why would he do that?"
"Whether the Second Young Master deliberately let them escape is still uncertain," Feng Chenxi said calmly. "According to Doctor Yu, when the Cold Medicine Powder takes effect, one loses all martial arts skills, and the Second Young Master was injured. Therefore, there are two possibilities: First, the Second Young Master did fight with the people from Fortune Valley, but the sudden onset of the drug allowed them to escape; the second possibility..."
She smiled and didn't say anything more.
"What's the second possibility?" Xiao Mo pursed his lips unhappily and said, "Are you trying to say that because my second brother is indeed the murderer, I didn't dare to confront the people from Fortune Valley and deliberately let them go?"
Xiao Zuo looked at him thoughtfully for a while, then suddenly turned to Feng Chenxi and asked, "Miss Feng, if you were the real culprit, what would you do?"
Feng Chenxi replied without hesitation, "I will release the people from Fortune Valley and let them go as far away as possible."
"reason?"
“If I capture them alive, with Lord Xiao’s methods, he will naturally have a way to make them tell the truth. And once it is confirmed that Lei Jun was not brought from Changbai Mountain, it can only mean one thing—I am the murderer who killed Lu Shuang.”
"But you can kill them; the dead can't talk."
“We absolutely cannot kill them,” Feng Chenxi replied resolutely. “If I kill them, even a fool would know it’s an act of silencing them, wouldn’t that just make me look even more suspicious?”
Xiao Zuo nodded and said, "So you have no choice but to let them go."
“That’s right.” Feng Chenxi nodded. “Letting them go, although it’s also suspicious, is better than convicting me with solid evidence.”
“That makes sense.” Xiao Zuo laughed. “You’re very smart.”
"It was Young Master Xiao's words that gave me a little inspiration," Feng Chenxi said.
"Me?" Xiao Mo asked in surprise, "I'm still completely clueless myself, when did I give you this inspiration?"
Feng Chenxi said, "First you said, 'As long as we ask them, Second Brother's suspicion can be cleared.' Then you said, 'Second Brother actually let the person go? Why did he do that?' So I asked myself, why did Second Young Master do that? He could have cleared the suspicion, so why did he let the person go? Thinking about it, I came to the conclusion I just reached."
Xiao Mo fell silent, his gaze sharpening before he suddenly beamed with joy and exclaimed, "Second brother, you're awake!"
Everyone looked down and saw that Xiao Jian in the stretcher had sat up. Although his face was still deathly pale, he had regained consciousness.
Gong Feicui and her son were of one heart. As soon as she saw him wake up, she could no longer hold back and rushed forward, asking in a trembling voice, "Jian'er, are you... are you alright?"
Xiao Jian shook his head, stood up, and frowned, saying, "Mother, why are you crying?"
Then, Lala, with her own blood-stained clothes, comforted herself, "It's just a minor injury, don't worry."