Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 37 The Murderer's Trick

"call!"

When Zhan Zhao spoke, everyone present looked relieved.

Apart from Granny Jiang frowning slightly but not daring to object, even the dazed Shen Lan's eyes flickered.

But they couldn't make the decision, so they all looked at Madam Yun.

After a brief silence, Madam Yun calmly extended an invitation: "Young hero, please help us find out the truth and the murderer."

"it is good!"

Zhan Zhao didn't mince words and asked directly, "May I ask if Madam Yun was meditating and practicing her internal energy when the case occurred?"

Madam Yun replied, "Yes."

Zhan Zhao then asked, "Is it like this tonight, or is it often like this?"

Madam Yun said, "Every night at midnight, I practice my internal energy for an hour."

"Wait a minute!"

Granny Jiang's eyes suddenly turned cold, and her tone became sharp: "Young Master Zhan, Madam entrusted the case to you out of trust, not because she wanted you to ask about everything..."

The conversation just now did seem like they were trying to find out the truth about each other's martial arts skills, which is something that people in the martial arts world are very wary of, especially this kind of specific training routine.

But Zhan Zhao had to ask: "Tonight's case can actually be divided into two parts—"

"First, Brother Tang was murdered."

"Secondly, Miss Lin was robbed."

"And these two events happened almost simultaneously, both precisely at midnight when Madam Yun was practicing her internal energy. Don't you all think it's too much of a coincidence?"

Granny Jiang's expression changed again: "Young master, do you mean that the murderer deliberately chose this time?"

"Not bad!"

Even if Tang Lei hadn't revealed that information beforehand, Zhan Zhao had already sensed the threat posed by Madam Yun from her aura.

Without a doubt, Gu Menglai's daughter, the "Heart Swordsman," is the most skilled fighter in the Gu family mansion.

And he was far ahead of the others.

This is also why Zhan Zhao didn't act immediately before.

The host can handle it, so as a guest, there's no need to step in.

However, the murderer chose a good time.

Just as the attackers were about to commit their crime, Madam Yun was inside the room practicing her internal energy and was unable to move.

Was this an accident?
If Madam Yun only practices her internal energy at this time tonight, then she might have run into this.

But she used her internal energy at midnight every night, and the murderer killed "Angry Cloud" Tang Lei and kidnapped "Weaving Cloud" Lin Yuxian at that very hour. This is hardly a coincidence!

Upon hearing this analysis, everyone's expressions turned serious.

As they looked at each other in bewilderment, the youngest, Lian Caiyun, spoke up: "Could it be... that the murderer is among us?"

There's no need to rush to a judgment.

Zhan Zhao asked in a calm tone, "Who are the people who know about Madam Yun's meditation and internal energy cultivation habits?"

Granny Jiang said slowly, "The servants in the house know this. I specifically instructed them not to come to the inner quarters to disturb Madam at this time."

Lin Yuxian said in a low voice, "We, the senior and junior brothers and sisters, all know about our mistress's habit..."

Zhan Zhao then asked, "Where are the outsiders?"

"The Six Doors!"

Chu Zhirou's tone suddenly rose: "Back when we were still at the manor, Pei Handeng led the constables to investigate. At that time, Master was missing, and they wanted to find Master's wife. We mentioned that Master's wife had a habit of practicing martial arts at night and never saw outsiders!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned fierce.

They came to the capital from Jiangnan to avenge their senior brother Gu Lin, even going so far as to appeal to the emperor. One can imagine the hostility and hatred they harbored towards the Six Doors.

Now that something has happened, of course, the first thing to suspect is this.

Zhan Zhao also included him in the list of suspects.

The Six Doors have indeed been acting strangely lately; the poisoning incident during morning prayers at the Great Xiangguo Temple is a prime example. It's not impossible for members of the Six Doors to commit murder. However, given that the black-clad man who abducted Lin Yuxian used a movement technique reminiscent of the Cloud Crane Ascending to Immortality Step, Zhan Zhao's greater suspicion lies with the people present.

So after confirming that the murderer knew the time when Madam Yun was practicing her powers, Zhan Zhao returned to the crime scene and continued to ask, "Granny Jiang, when you heard shouts coming from inside the house, telling you to stay close to the window, can you be sure that the voice came from the deceased?"

Granny Jiang thought carefully for a moment, then frowned: "The voice was very rough, it sounded like the second young master, but I'm not sure if it really is him..."

"Grandma Jiang!!"

Shen Lan suddenly spoke, her bloodshot eyes wide: "You clearly said he was the second senior brother back then, so why are you suddenly saying you're not sure now?"

Grandma Jiang was somewhat bewildered by this question: "I...I heard it was..."

"Brother Shen."

Zhan Zhao spoke gently, his voice as deep and warm as the morning bell of an ancient temple, soothing the listener's turbulent emotions: "Compared to Qi Yun, who grew up with him, Granny Jiang had been living in the Gu family mansion in the capital for a few days at most. And when people are nervous, their voices are bound to be distorted, so it is perfectly normal that I cannot confirm it."

Soothed by the Six Hearts Clarity Technique, Shen Lan swayed violently, covered his eyes with his hands, and burst into tears: "We...we brothers grew up together since childhood...in such a short time...eldest brother is gone...second brother is gone...all gone...all gone!!"

Men don't easily shed tears, and for those in the martial arts world to shed tears is a sign of weakness.

Even if one must cry, one must first kill the enemy before grieving at the graves of loved ones.

However, when Shen Lan first appeared at the Xiangguo Temple, he looked somewhat haggard and depressed, which showed that the days of running around, coupled with the pressure of opposing the Six Doors, had made his heartstrings taut.

Tonight, I have encountered this calamity again, and I witnessed the tragic death of my fellow disciples. I have collapsed. If I cannot deal with it in time, it will surely fester in my heart, and I may never recover.

Of course, all of this is based on the premise that Shen Lan is not pretending.

However, before obtaining concrete evidence, Zhan Zhao suspected everyone, but he would not treat anyone as a suspect.

That's why the Six Hearts Clarity Technique was used to enlighten him. Seeing Shen Lan crying, the people around him didn't show any disgust. Several junior brothers and sisters hugged him, their eyes moist.

Lady Yun glanced at her sideways.

But the object of her attention was not her disciple, but Zhan Zhao's Six Hearts Clarity Technique.

This was the first time she had shown a clear outward reaction, giving a deep, lingering look.

Of course, Zhan Zhao's understanding of the Six Minds Clarity Technique wasn't specifically for guiding people's emotions. Seeing that Shen Lan was able to communicate normally, he immediately began to ask, "Brother Shen, could you tell us about the process of the case?"

Shen Lan wiped away her tears, and apart from her hoarse voice, she had basically returned to normal: "I first saw Granny Jiang guarding outside the window, then I went around to the door. At that time, the door was indeed blocked by my second senior brother, and I could hear him shouting, so I shouted 'I'm here to help you,' and pushed the door open..."

Zhan Zhao asked, "You heard the sound back then? Was it really Tang Lei who made it?"

Shen Lan frowned: "If it's not Second Senior Brother, then who could it be?"

"It's the murderer!"

Zhan Zhao said directly, "Tang Lei was already dead at the time. The one who shouted and told Granny Jiang not to come in was the real murderer!"

Grandma Jiang objected: "But what if I ignore you and go straight into the house?"

Zhan Zhao calmly said, "Then Granny Jiang will also be in danger."

Killing one is the same as killing two!

"Hmph! I do regret it now; I should have learned a thing or two from their superior skills back then!"

A sharp glint flashed in Granny Jiang's eyes, but she did not refute the speculation.

Shen Lan refuted this, shaking his head: "No! No! The scream I heard was from my second senior brother. He was still screaming when he fell down!"

Zhan Zhao immediately pressed on, "What were his last words after he collapsed?"

Shen Lan said sadly, "My second senior brother was cut in half at the waist. What could he possibly say as his last words? I reached out to support him, but he was already dead!"

"Oh?"

Zhan Zhao was not surprised but delighted, and said confidently, "This confirms it. The shouts and screams were the murderer's trick! This person wanted to confuse your judgment on the time of Tang Lei's death. In fact, Tang Lei was already dead before you broke into the scene!"

"Why?"

Facing the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Zhan Zhao said, "This actually involves two counterintuitive questions—"

How long can a person live after being cut in half at the waist?

"After being cut in half at the waist, will all the internal organs spill out in a short period of time?"

(End of this chapter)