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"Brother Yang Dui!" Ye Xiao was stunned for a long time, then suddenly cried out loudly, pushing and pinching him in disbelief, as if trying to wake him up.

Luo Qingcheng quickly regained his senses and carefully looked around again, but saw no one. He then examined Yang Dui's body closely and exclaimed, "Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm!"

"Wh...what?" Ye Xiao asked, sobbing desperately.

"No flesh wounds, only all the ribs in his chest are broken, a typical injury from the Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm. Could it be that the same murderer killed Uncle Shen?"

Ye Xiao gradually calmed down: "That person... came here?"

Luo Qingcheng continued, "Brother Yang was poisoned in the apricot grove, so why did he use his last bit of strength to crawl here?"

Ye Xiao slowly raised his head: "...He wanted to ask for help, perhaps he..." He suddenly looked at Yang Dui's clenched fists, "...Perhaps he knows we live here and wants to tell us something..."

Luo Qingcheng slowly pried open his tightly clenched hands and suddenly felt an icy chill to the bone.

Yang Dui held a few small flowers hidden in his left hand, which were the night-blooming jasmine flowers in front of him. In his other hand, he held a silk handkerchief, which was torn and tattered at the edges, with a few long strands hanging from the fragrant night-blooming jasmine flowers next to him, fluttering in the morning breeze.

Ye Xiao silently put the items away, stood up, and wiped away her tears. "I will definitely avenge Brother Yang... No one can stop me!"

Luo Qingcheng opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

When Luo Qingcheng carried Yang Dui's body back into the inn, the waiter was terrified. "This...this is..."

"Are these guests staying here? We found them in the apricot grove..." Luo Qingcheng asked in a low voice.

"What...what happened? I'll go call our boss, Mr. Zhou, down here..." Perhaps due to shock, the waiter was already slurring his words and speaking incoherently.

"What's going on?" a shrill voice rang out, and a man with graying hair and a goatee entered from the inner room, disheveled and looking as if he had just woken up. "What's all this noise outside so early in the morning?"

"Mr. Zhou... Mr. Zhou, it seems a customer died in the apricot grove in front of our shop..." Upon seeing his boss, the waiter finally found his backbone and spoke more fluently.

"Dead...dead? A guest? Our guest? Report to the authorities! Report to the authorities quickly! Ah...wait, who exactly is this guest?" Now it was Boss Zhou's turn to be incoherent.

"Boss Zhou?" Ye Xiao asked expressionlessly, "My older brother died in your shop! As the owner, you are culpable. Tell me, who killed him?"

"I...Miss, what's this to me? I was just sleeping in bed when you woke me up and I had to come downstairs. Is this your older brother? Uh, could you come with me to the yamen?"

Ye Xiao's gaze swept over Boss Zhou's entire body, and tears slowly streamed down her face: "Reporting to the authorities is of course necessary... but I'll find a coffin first and bury him properly."

The two found a coffin shop in town, found a good coffin, and buried Yang Dui. They hired a few people to guard the coffin and then returned to Fallen Leaf Manor. Ye Xiao remained silent the whole way, and Luo Qingcheng's mind was racing, but he didn't say a word.

Upon arriving at Fallen Leaf Manor, Feng Sihai saw the two first and exclaimed, "Oh my! Miss Ye, you're back? I thought the young master was too soft-hearted and let you escape... Now I don't know who will be responsible for solving all these mysteries... I never expected..."

Ye Xiao said coldly, "King Feng... I can't be sure who the murderer is yet, but I know very well how Wan San died... I've already had someone prepare the medicine, and I'll demonstrate it to you in a bit." With that, he left in a cold voice.

"Decoct medicine?" Feng Sihai looked at Ye Xiao's retreating figure with some suspicion. "What kind of medicine? Medicine that could poison Wan San?"

Living room. Feng Sihai, Yuan Ruxuan, and Luo Qingcheng were all present. Ye Xiaoqing cleared his throat and said, "As you all know, I actually brought Wan San a late-night snack and talked to him for a while the night before he died. After I left, I felt something was off. Later, I remembered what it was. When he heard my name, he said something."

Looking around at everyone, she continued, "He said, 'The hardest thing is for an old friend to come through wind and rain.' But that night, it was a clear day with a full moon."

"Not bad," Luo Qingcheng said dryly. Recalling the alluring moonlight of that night, he suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Is it true that some things, once missed, are a lifelong regret?

"This shows that Wan San thought it was raining outside. Why? Wan San was blind and hard of hearing, so how could he be sure it was raining outside? Later, I saw the beams of light leaking from the roof and suddenly remembered that there must have been some liquid that leaked from the roof that night and dripped onto Wan San, making him think it was raining."

"What liquid? Is it poison? If it's dripped on him, he'll die?" Feng Sihai asked anxiously.

Ye Xiao shook his head: "No, if we do that, the poison will remain on his body or on the ground, making it easy for someone to discover. I remember seeing a book in the news tower that recorded a poisonous creature. It's a special kind of beetle from the Western Regions, extremely poisonous; one bite is enough to kill a cow. It's a very rare little insect."

"Beetle?" Luo Qingcheng's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

“The locals figured out the insect’s temperament and concocted a potion that could attract the insect from miles away. So I remembered that Wan San might have been bitten by this beetle. I also remembered that the doctor who performed the autopsy that day thought he died from some kind of poison from the Western Regions. I examined Wan San’s body again and found a very tiny red dot on his neck, which should be the place where the beetle bit him.”

Feng Sihai nodded: "That's right, I noticed it too. I thought it was a mosquito bite."

"So, the murderer managed to pour the insecticide that attracts beetles onto Wan San through a hole in the roof, then released the poisonous insects he carried at night, ultimately killing Wan San." Ye Xiao let out a long sigh, then suddenly picked up a bowl of medicine from the table and poured it onto a dog she had specially brought into the room. The yellow dog, unaware of its impending doom, whimpered in dissatisfaction, shaking its fur in an attempt to clean itself.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a dark brown beetle flew in from nowhere. Under the tense gaze of everyone, it circled once, found its target, and quickly flew to the yellow dog. It crawled there for a while, then suddenly stopped. The yellow dog twitched violently, collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few more times, and died.

Before the beetle could take flight again, a small net swooped down and caught it. Ye Xiao put away the net, placed the insect in a small jar, and then said, "That's the whole story."

There was not a sound from any direction; the silence was almost suffocating. Luo Qingcheng felt a chill run through him, and his hands were sweaty. After a long while, Feng Sihai finally said, "Then... how did the murderer pour the medicine on Wan San? Did he know some kind of light-footed skill and wait on the roof? It would be hard to escape the eyes of so many guards."

Ye Xiao nodded: "That's right, that's a problem. I surveyed the terrain of the cabin before. There are many large trees behind the cabin, with branches that extend all the way to the roof, densely covering the entire roof."

“That’s right,” Luo Qingcheng said again. He had also noticed it when he followed Ye Xiao up and down that day.

"After Wan San died, I went up to the roof and found some fragments of pottery on the tiles. I think the murderer must have put the potion in a pottery jar on the roof, which conveniently plugged the hole above Wan San's head. Because it was covered by tree branches, no one noticed it. That night, all the murderer had to do was pull on the tree branches and break the pottery jar, and the potion would have flowed down through the hole... right onto Wan San's body. The pottery jar breaking would have made a muffled sound at most, and the guards wouldn't have noticed it at all. Even if they had, they would have thought it was the sound of the wind blowing the tree branches."

“What a coincidence…” Feng Sihai shook his white-haired head.

Ye Xiao glared at him coldly and said in a hoarse voice, "You think these are all coincidences? It was all planned. Wan San was crippled and couldn't move freely. The murderer knew his exact location in the house, calculated the distance, and even removed half a roof tile from his head. On sunny days, the murderer went inside to confirm that the beam of sunlight was directly above his head before placing the ceramic jar back on. The murderer did all these things in full view of everyone, and you're all blind and deaf, knowing nothing!"

"You!" Feng Sihai roared, leaping up and lunging at Ye Xiao. Luo Qingcheng stood up to stop him, "Grandpa Feng, Yang Dui, the Golden Armor Guard of Guyun Fortress, is dead. Xiao Xiao... is heartbroken, and her words may have been a bit harsh. Please forgive her... don't hold it against her..."

Feng Sihai, nearing seventy, had always been highly respected. When had he ever been mocked by a teenage girl? Yet, he couldn't refuse Luo Qingcheng's request. Frustrated, he snorted and sneered, "Dead? It wasn't one of our men who killed him, was it? He was outmatched, so he deserved to die. If you're so capable, go find the murderer and settle the score. Don't take it out on an old man like me!"

Ye Xiao glared at him, pressing his advantage relentlessly: "Whether it was one of your men or not is not for you to decide, but you have said it, King Feng. I am going to settle accounts with the murderer, and you cannot protect your own!"

A sense of foreboding suddenly gripped Feng Sihai's heart. He slowly looked at Luo Qingcheng, whose face was deathly pale, and who was biting his lip, remaining silent. After a moment's hesitation, he finally said, "If he is the murderer, of course we cannot tolerate him... However, Miss Ye, you must have solid evidence; you cannot speak recklessly!"

"It's a deal! I'll give you solid evidence, and maybe even some extra surprises!" Ye Xiao turned around, his long braid suddenly flying up, his face resolute.

Who is the murderer?

Ye Xiao pushed open the door, and Shen Wan looked up from the table, slightly taken aback: "Miss Ye, you're back?"

Ye Xiao glanced at her coldly and said slowly, "Miss Shen, I have found the murderer who killed your father."

With a crash, the teacup on the table tipped over. Shen Wan suddenly stood up, her face pale: "Really... who... is it?"

Ye Xiao looked away, her voice filled with icy coldness: "I will show you his true colors. As long as you listen to me."

Several young men carried a coffin and walked straight to the entrance of Xingyu Tower. With a loud bang, they slammed the coffin down, blocking the doorway. They then lined up behind the coffin, remaining silent. Ye Xiao, along with Shen Wan, Luo Qingcheng, Feng Sihai, and others, stood behind them, also saying nothing. This display immediately alerted the diners inside; someone was looking for trouble. They quickly paid their bills and scattered like birds.

Looking completely innocent, Boss Zhou quickly came out of the building after receiving the news. Seeing Luo Qingcheng and the others standing behind a row of young men, he seemed to understand. He immediately said in his distinctively sharp and grating voice, "Oh dear... it's Miss Ye. Your elder brother was indeed a guest of our inn, and unfortunately, he passed away here. Our inn also bears some responsibility, and we are willing to compensate you for part of your losses. We can discuss a price; let's talk this out. Miss, placing your brother's coffin at the door is disrespectful to the deceased, and secondly... I can no longer do business..."

Ye Xiao remained silent, staring intently at Boss Zhou. After a long while, seeing no fear or unease in him, Ye Xiao felt a sense of admiration and slowly but clearly spoke: "Boss Zhou. Although Guyun Fortress does not concern itself with worldly affairs, it has always been about repaying kindness and settling scores. The dead are gone, but the murderer cannot be allowed to go unpunished."

Boss Zhou said in a shrill voice, "What you say is absolutely right, young lady... but where can we find the murderer in such a short time?"

"Though far away, it is right before my eyes. I already know the murderer who killed my elder brother. Today I have come to apprehend the murderer and comfort my elder brother's soul in heaven."

Mr. Zhou was somewhat doubtful: "Uh? Miss, what do you mean?"

Ye laughed and said, "I've examined the scene. At the time, my elder brother was fighting someone in the apricot grove and was seriously injured. Yet he insisted on crawling a long way and died outside the grove. Why was that?"

Mr. Zhou said "Oh," and lowered his head in thought: "Could it be the result of too much pain and struggle?"

Ye Xiao gave him a meaningful look: "Brother Yang is a true man, loyal and resolute. He was clear-headed before he died. His actions were all well thought out and not a last-ditch struggle. He did this just to point out the murderer to me. He believed that with my intelligence, I should be able to understand his meaning."

Boss Zhou gave another doubtful "oh".

"At the time, Brother Yang was holding a torn silk handkerchief tightly in his hand. Several threads had been pulled out from the side. I looked at it carefully and it was deliberately damaged. I guessed that Brother Yang deliberately damaged the handkerchief to imply something."

"What?" Boss Zhou's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"A silk handkerchief with unraveling threads. What character is formed by removing the silk radical from the character '绸' (chou)? The character '周' (Zhou). Boss Zhou, my elder brother hinted that the murderer's surname is Zhou."

"Oh? Then the girl will have to look carefully; there are many people in the world with the surname Zhou."

Ye Xiao gave a soft hum: "You're still so calm at this point, it's truly admirable. I was at a loss at first, but I didn't expect Brother Yang to be watching over me from heaven. That day, when I brought his body back to the inn, I immediately met a man surnamed Zhou."

"Hehe, are you referring to me, young lady? You don't have enough evidence, young lady, just a tattered handkerchief."

"So I tested you again, and sure enough, you lied and gave yourself away."

"oh?"

"You said you had just woken up, but your shoes and socks were wet. I suppose they got wet from the dew on your way from the apricot grove to the inn?"

"Young lady, you are very observant, but the crucial point is, why? I have no grudge against your elder brother, so why would I kill him?"

“That’s right, that’s the key. Guyun Fort was originally peaceful and uncontested. Brother Yang was only wandering the world to protect me. Why did he fall victim to such a vicious attack? This is related to something else he was hiding: a few night-blooming jasmine flowers.”

"Night-blooming jasmine? He hid this too? He didn't just grab it by accident?" Although Boss Zhou was somewhat surprised, his voice was very calm.

"The torn handkerchief alludes to the character 'Zhou,' and the night-blooming jasmine, also known as tuberose, likely alludes to the character 'wan' (late). This makes the events of that night easily explainable. Brother Yang, who had been secretly protecting me, also stayed at Xingyu Tower. Boss Zhou didn't know Brother Yang, so he wasn't wary of him. That night, past midnight, an uninvited guest arrived at Xingyu Tower. This person urgently requested a meeting with Boss Zhou, and the two went to the apricot grove for a private conversation, which Brother Yang witnessed. Brother Yang happened to recognize the uninvited guest and, becoming suspicious, secretly followed them, overhearing their conversation and understanding their true identities. However, he inadvertently revealed his presence and started fighting with Boss Zhou. Unexpectedly, Boss Zhou's martial arts were exceptional; Brother Yang was no match for him, was at a disadvantage, and ultimately lost his life."

"Is that so?" A smile slowly appeared in Boss Zhou's eyes. "So that's how it is."

Ye Xiao glared at him resentfully: "At the time, Brother Yang knew that he was in grave danger. In order to warn me, he secretly tore up the handkerchief he was carrying, implying that the murderer was a person surnamed Zhou."

"Hehe." Boss Zhou stopped trying to deny it and laughed, "It's a pity, but he is also a man who remains calm in the face of danger."

"Later, he was seriously injured, but he dragged himself out of the forest following the scent of the night-blooming jasmine. He plucked a night-blooming jasmine stalk, told me the name of the uninvited guest, and gave me another warning."

"oh?"

"I think the uninvited guest who came to see Boss Zhou that night was Miss Shen Wan. She has been with us for a long time and has even been to Guyun Fort. Brother Yang knows her."

"But why go through all this trouble? Couldn't he just write a few words on the ground to reveal the killer's identity?" Boss Zhou remained indifferent.

“That’s quite simple. You watched him die and cleaned up all the traces you suspected before rushing back to the inn. You hadn’t even changed your shoes and socks when we got back. Even if Brother Yang wrote something down, you had already erased it, so he could only hint at it in a subtle way… As for why Miss Shen urgently asked you out that night, I think it must be related to Brother Yang’s trip to Falling Leaf Manor the night before last. Miss Shen, don’t you think so?” Ye Xiao sighed and looked at Shen Wan.

Shen Wan's face was pale, but she did not show any panic. She smiled faintly and said, "Miss Ye, you said you found your father's killer, so I came with you. I really don't have time to talk nonsense with you."

Ye Xiao nodded: "No rush, I have no interest in being a treacherous person. Your father was injured by the Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm. As everyone knows, the Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm is a closely guarded secret of Lu Mingfei, the Lord of Netherworld City. After he disappeared, as far as I know, it seems that only Luo Qingcheng knows the Eighteen Forms of Netherworld."

Shen Wan's face grew even paler, her voice icy: "Is that so?"

"However, Brother Yang was also harmed by the Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm. At that time, I was with Qingcheng, so it couldn't have been him who did it. Therefore, there must be another person who also knows the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld. That person is Boss Zhou. It's just a pity that you don't know the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld, Miss Shen. He used this move in front of you and you didn't even know it."

"Impossible!" Shen Wan was stunned for a long time before suddenly shouting hoarsely. She could no longer maintain her composure and trembled like a leaf in the wind.

"Miss Ye, you're really spouting nonsense. What 'Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld'? I'm just an unknown nobody in the martial arts world, how could I possibly know such profound skills?" Boss Zhou smiled faintly, but his eyes flickered slightly.

Ye Xiao nodded: "That's easy. We'll know once we let Qingcheng try it. When a person's life is in danger, it's hard not to use their best martial arts... Qingcheng..."

Luo Qingcheng acted swiftly, sending a palm strike diagonally that instantly struck Boss Zhou's face.

Knowing that Luo Qingcheng's martial arts were superior to his own, Boss Zhou sighed inwardly and had no choice but to concentrate fully. He initially hesitated to use the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld, but after a few moves, he was drenched in cold sweat and struggling to keep up. He could still hear Ye Xiao's voice in his ear: "Qingcheng, we've captured this murderer alive. I want to see who he is. His eyes look familiar, his expression is very rigid, and he's probably wearing a mask. Is he someone we know?"

Boss Zhou was slightly startled, but finally cast aside all his reservations and went all out to fight Luo Qingcheng. After a few moves, Feng Sihai exclaimed in surprise, "That's right... it's the City Lord's Eighteen Netherworld Styles. How is that possible? How could anyone else in the world know this martial art?"

Shen Wan let out a cry and almost collapsed to the ground. She heard Ye Xiao's cold voice ring in her ears: "Miss Shen, the man in front of you is probably your father's killer. I know you are eager for revenge. I don't know what evil has possessed you to choose to be an accomplice to a villain?" Shen Wan remained silent, only tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

After dealing with a few moves, Boss Zhou was about to make his escape when he heard Ye Xiao's voice in his ear: "Boss Zhou, you've revealed your true strength. I'm afraid you're only thinking of running away now, right? It's a pity... I know you actually had quite a few men hidden nearby. It's a pity you didn't expect to be exposed so quickly. You didn't bring enough help. On the contrary, we brought more people today and have already surrounded this place. You can't escape today..."

He suddenly felt mocked, turned to look at Ye Xiao with burning hatred in his eyes, and with a flick of his wrist, several dark iron balls flew towards Ye Xiao.

Shen Wan's transformation