Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 154 The Xiao Sisters' Farewell Dinner!

Xiao Zhanbai's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling, but he could only take the jade slip and probe it with his divine sense.

A moment later, she clenched her fist tightly, the jade slip cracking in her hand, and the veins on the back of her hand bulging.

The contents of the jade slip were very simple.

Elder Jian, the law enforcement elder, relieved her of her position as the person in charge of this case, and the subsequent investigation will be taken over by another senior brother from the law enforcement hall.

Why?
Why should I be removed from my position when it's not time yet?

Xiao Zhanbai felt a deep sense of humiliation and resentment.

The disciple who came to deliver the order lowered his head and didn't dare to breathe.

He knew that Senior Sister Xiao was like a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

Everyone in the courtyard felt the chilling sword intent emanating from Xiao Zhanbai, and they all fell silent and kept their distance.

Just as she was feeling troubled, a voice carrying a hint of teasing and warmth suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

"Hey, who made my little white dog angry? Its face is so stern, you could scrape off a layer of frost."

Upon hearing this voice, Xiao Zhanbai shuddered and abruptly looked up at the doorway.

A tall woman dressed in a red outfit was leaning against the door frame, smiling as she looked at her.

The woman's smile was warm, and her eyes were full of doting affection.

"Sister...sister?"

Xiao Zhanbai's cold expression melted instantly, replaced by a complex look that mixed surprise, grievance, and dependence.

If Chen Ye were here, he would definitely recognize this woman, because she is none other than Xiao Hongye.

"Sister, why are you here?"

Xiao Zhanbai strode forward to greet her. His cold and aloof demeanor vanished the moment he saw Xiao Hongye, replaced by the dependence and affection a little girl shows when meeting a relative.

The disciples of Tianjian Manor nearby quickly moved away.

After all, it's really inconsiderate of for sisters to stand by and poke at each other when they're meeting.

"If I hadn't come, our little swordsman might have gotten himself into internal injuries from anger." Xiao Hongye reached out and affectionately pinched Xiao Zhanbai's nose, saying with a smile.

This intimate gesture made Xiao Zhanbai's pretty face blush slightly, and she shyly dodged away.

"Sister, you're making fun of me again." She muttered softly, her words carrying a hint of coquetry, completely different from the ruthless and decisive elite of the Enforcement Hall she usually was.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Xiao Hongye took her hand and led her to sit on the stone bench in the courtyard. Then she looked her up and down and said with some heartache.

"Your dark circles are so bad, have you not slept for days again?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Zhanbai shook his head, but his eyes were slightly red.

She lost both her parents at a young age and was raised by her older sister, Xiao Hongye.

Therefore, for Xiao Zhanbai, his sister was both a relative and a mother figure.

No matter how strong she appears in public, in front of her older sister, she will always be the little sister who needs to be taken care of.

"You still say nothing's wrong?" Xiao Hongye glared at her reproachfully. "I heard everything at the door just now. Tell me, what exactly happened? What kind of case is so difficult that it's stumping you?"

When the case was mentioned, Xiao Zhanbai's expression, which had just calmed down, turned ugly again.

She bit her lip and recounted to Xiao Hongye everything that had happened in the past few days and the predicament she was facing.

From discovering the murder of the demon from White Bone Mountain, to the young master ordering the case to be solved within a time limit, to finding nothing and ultimately being dismissed from his post.

By the end, her voice was filled with grievance and resentment.

"This murderer is too cunning. Apart from the fact that he was a knife expert, there were no other useful clues left at the scene. Qingzhou City is so big and there are so many people. In three days, where am I supposed to find someone who deliberately hides?"

Xiao Hongye listened quietly to her sister's complaints without interrupting.

After she finished speaking, he reached out and patted the back of her hand, gently comforting her, "Alright, I know you feel wronged, but the elders must have their reasons for doing this. After all, it's during the trade fair, and such a big incident has challenged the prestige of the manor. They are under a lot of pressure and need to give an explanation to all parties as soon as possible."

"But……."

"No buts." Xiao Hongye interrupted her. "The path of cultivation is never smooth sailing. It's normal to encounter setbacks and suffer some grievances. If you can't even withstand these blows, how will you face stronger enemies in the future, and how will you break through to higher realms?"

Although her voice was gentle, the logic in her words was very clear.

Xiao Zhanbai remained silent.

She knew her sister was right; she had been having too much success lately and had become too arrogant, which was why she couldn't accept this failure.

"Don't worry, sister, I won't let you down!" Her eyes blazed with renewed determination. "Even if I'm no longer in charge of this case, I will get to the bottom of it! I will find the murderer!"

Seeing her younger sister cheer up again, Xiao Hongye smiled with relief.

“Having the will to fight isn’t enough; you also need the methods,” Xiao Hongye said with a smile.

Although her cultivation level was not as high as Xiao Zhanbai's, only at the Unobstructed Realm, she had been wandering the martial world for many years and had a wealth of experience in handling all kinds of troubles, which was much richer than Xiao Zhanbai's, who had been cultivating in seclusion in the mountain sect.

“Bring me the case file,” Xiao Hongye said. “An outsider’s perspective is often clearer; perhaps I can help you discover some details you’ve overlooked.”

"Hmm." Xiao Zhanbai nodded. Although she didn't think her sister could be of much help, after all, even she, an elite disciple of the Sea Condensation Realm, was helpless, so what could her sister possibly see?

But she didn't want to disappoint her sister, so she turned around and went into the house, carrying out a thick stack of files.

These files contain detailed records of all the investigations since the incident.

This includes the on-site investigation report, the autopsy results of the deceased Li Gu, the statements and alibis of the registered swordsmen in the city, and the interrogation records of the evil cultivators and sorcerers captured in the past few days.

Xiao Hongye picked up the topmost on-site investigation report and began to read it carefully.

She reads very quickly, but very carefully, paying attention to every word and every detail.

Xiao Zhanbai sat quietly to the side, watching.

As she watched, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

There was a time when it was the same. When she was young, whenever she encountered a cultivation problem that she couldn't solve, her older sister would stay by her side like this, helping her to look through various books and find a solution.

Although her older sister's talent was not as good as hers, and she couldn't understand many of the profound techniques and incantations, she always patiently found some key points that her sister had overlooked in the most basic classics, and then used the simplest and most straightforward language to help her clarify her thoughts.

So many years have passed, and she has grown from a little girl who needed to be taken care of into an elite disciple of Tianjian Manor, while her older sister seems to have not changed at all.

"Ok?"

Xiao Hongye suddenly let out a soft moan, put down the investigation report in her hand, and picked up the autopsy file about the deceased.

"The deceased was Li Gu, an elder of White Bone Mountain. His cultivation level was unknown, but judging from his ability to set up such a profound spell as White Bone Transformation, his soul cultivation was at least at the mid-stage of the Sea Condensation Realm."

"The fatal wound was a clean cleavage from the forehead to the lower abdomen by a sharp blade. The wound was smooth, without any unnecessary tears, indicating that the sharpness of the weapon and the strength of the person who wielded it were both extremely terrifying."

"A faint trace of sword intent remained at the scene; it was sharp, refined, and possessed extremely strong penetrating power."

As Xiao Hongye read, she read aloud the key information.

She looked up at Xiao Zhanbai and asked, "You personally felt that trace of sword intent, how did it feel?"

Xiao Zhanbai recalled for a moment and said, "It's very strong. That sword intent concentrates all the power into one point, pursuing the ultimate penetration and destruction. The person who can make such a cut must have a profound understanding of the way of the sword and is a true master."

“A master of the sword killed a wicked cultivator who was proficient in sorcery.” Xiao Hongye stroked her chin and began to analyze. “Judging from the fact that there were almost no signs of a struggle at the scene, it should have been an ambush or a crushing defeat. After the murderer found Li Gu’s hiding place, he did not give him any chance to use his sorcery and killed him with a single blow.”

"This suggests that the killer likely knew Li Gu's background, that he was physically weak and not good at close combat, which is why he chose this most direct and effective method of assassination."

"Yes, that's what I think too." Xiao Zhanbai nodded; his sister's analysis was basically the same as his judgment.

"So here's the question," Xiao Hongye tapped her fingers lightly on the table, "why would a master of the sword kill an elder of White Bone Mountain? Was it revenge? To silence him? Or... to steal something?"

She picked up another file, which contained a list of all the items in the secret room. "The magic array materials are all there, as are some valuable evil artifacts. The murderer left in a great hurry after the killing, without even having time to loot the spoils, so it's unlikely that he was after the treasure."

"Then all that's left is revenge and silencing them."

Xiao Hongye's thinking was very clear; in just a few words, she simplified the complex case into two most likely directions.

“If it was to silence him, it means that Li Gu came to Qingzhou City to carry out a secret mission, and the murderer was trying to stop the mission. If it was revenge, then it’s even simpler; it’s just a personal grudge.”

She put down the file, picked up her teacup, took a sip to moisten her throat, and then picked up the last file, which was also the thickest.

"Now let's see who in Qingzhou City has the ability and the motive to kill an elder from White Bone Mountain?"

This file contains a detailed list of the 137 registered swordsmen.

Xiao Hongye flipped through the pages one by one, her eyes quickly scanning over the names and biographical sketches.

Xue Shan, the Mad Saber, is at the peak of the Sea Condensation Realm. He is eccentric and both righteous and evil...

Liu Meng, the Black Wind Blade, is in the late stage of the Sea Condensation Realm and has a history of conflict with evil cultivators...

One name after another flashed through Xiao Hongye's eyes.

However, they didn't find anything after reading it. After all, Xiao Zhanbai and Constable Wang had already gone through the list more than once, and there were no useful clues at all.

But Xiao Hongye did not give up. Instead, she picked up the book next to her that contained all the registered swordsmen in the city and continued to read it.

Xiao Zhanbai watched from the side. Although he still felt that his sister was unlikely to make any amazing discoveries, he had to admit that his sister's analysis of the case was indeed clear and logical.

Just then, Xiao Hongye suddenly stopped flipping through the pages.

Her gaze lingered on a particular page of the list.

"What's wrong, sister?"

When Xiao Zhanbai noticed Xiao Hongye's unusual behavior, he immediately came over and his gaze fell on the list.

It was a register of the outside cultivators who had recently entered Qingzhou City. It must be said that Tianjian Manor and Qingzhou City were indeed very strict in their management of the population.

The name, origin, cultivation level, and time of arrival of every visiting cultivator, as well as the inn where they stayed, were all recorded in detail.

The place where Xiao Hongye's finger stopped was an inconspicuous name.

"Chen Ye, from Yu Huo County, cultivation level... Unobstructed Realm? Traveler: Su Yuan, temporary residence: Yue Lai Inn."

Upon seeing the name and the cultivation level listed below, Xiao Zhanbai immediately frowned, his face showing a mixture of confusion and doubt.

"Sister, why are you looking at this person?" she asked, puzzled. "He's just a minor cultivator in the Unimpeded Realm. This Chen Ye... doesn't even qualify to be investigated."

In her view, this Chen Ye could not possibly have any connection with this case.

"Hehe, it's not that he's a suspect." Xiao Hongye looked at the name, a hint of nostalgia and amusement on her face. "It's just that I happen to know this person, so it was a bit of a surprise."

"I still remember when he was only at the Qi Nourishing Realm, how long has it been and he has already reached the Unimpeded Realm? He really does have some talent."

Xiao Zhanbai became even more curious, "Sister, do you know him?"

"Well, I guess we know each other." Xiao Hongye nodded, and then briefly recounted her experiences in Yuhuo County to Xiao Zhanbai.

"This little guy named Chen Ye is very interesting. He didn't talk much along the way and seemed ordinary, but in reality, he was very thoughtful and his strength was far greater than he showed. Especially his swordsmanship, although his cultivation level was not high, the angle and timing of his strikes were very tricky and quite skillful."

Then, she talked about the conflict between Chen Ye and Lu Song, a disciple of White Bone Mountain.

"That Lü Song, relying on being a disciple of White Bone Mountain, was arrogant and domineering, looking down on Chen Ye. As a result, Chen Ye shaved off his sideburns with one stroke, and he immediately lost his temper. I can tell that the two of them have formed a grudge."

After listening to his sister's story, Xiao Zhanbai's expression remained uninterested.

In her view, this was nothing more than a minor squabble between a few low-level cultivators.

Even if a mere youth at the Unobstructed Realm has some skill with his swordsmanship, how powerful can he be? At best, he's only slightly stronger than those second-rate rogue cultivators; he doesn't even deserve her attention.

"Sister, what do you mean by all this? What does it have to do with the case?" she asked impatiently.

In her opinion, her sister was wasting her time focusing on meaningless trifles.

"It's not directly related." Xiao Hongye smiled. She knew that her younger sister had high standards and looked down on these low-level cultivators. "I just mentioned it to you casually because I saw the name of an acquaintance."

As she spoke, she prepared to turn the page and continue looking at the list below.

However, just as her fingers were about to turn the pages, Xiao Zhanbai suddenly reached out and pressed her hand down.

"and many more!"

Xiao Zhanbai's voice suddenly became somewhat serious.

"Sister, what did you just say? That Lü Song is from White Bone Mountain?"

“Yes.” Xiao Hongye nodded. “He admitted it himself, and the methods he used, such as consuming bone ashes and manipulating yin energy, are clearly the methods of White Bone Mountain, there’s no mistake.”

Xiao Zhanbai frowned and pondered. Although he didn't think this matter had anything to do with Chen Ye, since it involved disciples of White Bone Mountain, it would be good to go and take a look. In case he could find more clues.

"elder sister!"

"Ok?"

"How about we go see this Chen Ye tomorrow?"

“Okay!” Xiao Hongye nodded with a smile.

Meanwhile, at the inn, Chen Ye took stock of his gains over the past few days.

After deducting the initial investment, the net profit was as high as 3,120 taels of silver.

Without further ado, Chen Ye gave Yun Heqing and Su Yuan a sum of money each.

Yun Heqing received two hundred taels of silver, which made him very satisfied, because with what he had received before, he now had several hundred taels of silver, which was no small amount for him.

Su Yuan was no exception. Although she was not short of money, spending money she earned herself felt different, and even candied hawthorns tasted sweeter.

After the money was divided, there were still more than 2,800 taels of silver left on the table.

Looking at the money, Chen Ye didn't feel much excitement. In fact, he knew very well that this kind of bargain-hunting business was destined to be short-lived.

Even if no one from the Seven Star Pavilion came looking for him, this business wouldn't last more than a few days.

Taking profits now is a wise choice.

"Now that the money's been divided, we're officially parting ways. Let's go, let's have one last farewell dinner," Chen Ye said.

Upon hearing this, even though she was somewhat prepared, Su Yuan still lowered her head sadly.

Yun Heqing, on the other hand, appeared more composed, sighing softly and saying, "Retiring at the height of one's career is a wise move."

The farewell dinner was naturally held at Zuixianlou again, and this time Chen Ye generously ordered a whole table of food and drinks.

After finishing their meal, Yun Heqing took his leave, and Chen Ye and Su Yuan returned to the inn.

It was getting dark, and Chen Ye stopped in his tracks as soon as he returned to the inn.

Because he saw two people sitting in the hall.

One of them, dressed in red and smiling, was Xiao Hongye.

A young woman was sitting next to her.

Although the woman was dressed plainly, she had an upright posture, a cool and aloof demeanor, and strikingly bright eyes.

Chen Ye's gaze swept over the woman, and then his heart skipped a beat.

Master!

This woman is definitely a master!
(End of this chapter)