With the ostentatious peacock as a contrast, Lin Qingge found Yan Tinghao's loud voice less annoying. For once, she didn't lose her temper, only asking in a perfunctory manner:
"What is it now?"
After a slight moment of discomfort from being treated so 'gently' by surprise, Yan Tinghao immediately said with a serious expression:
"Reporting to you, sir, we just received word that dead bodies were discovered in the pond and the forbidden area of Wolong Mountain Villa's back mountain respectively."
"The pond and the forbidden area?"
Lin Qingge turned her gaze to Hua Jinrong by the table. The latter's hand, which was fanning himself, paused, then he gave a sheepish laugh:
"Sir, why are you looking at your student like that? Your student is only responsible for gathering information, not their personal safety. Wolong Mountain Villa is heavily guarded, so I only brought An Yi and An Er with me on this outing. But you, sir, sent them both out to work, so where would I find any other idle individuals as useless as Officer Yan~"
Yan Tinghao: ???
"Aren't there people from Tianji Pavilion too?"
Upon hearing Lin Qingge's question, Hua Jinrong shook his head:
"What the Villa Master of Wolong previously said has some truth to it. My friend Ye Buqun is just a messenger, with no martial arts skills whatsoever. As for the others from Tianji Pavilion, their skills are mediocre, making them incapable of tracking Liu Jinxiang, known as the Golden Saber Hero."
Although his reasoning was sound, Lin Qingge, feeling inexplicably annoyed, shot him a glare. She was about to get out of bed when she felt a surge of movement below.
...
Recalling that it was the second day and her period was heavy, and that her menstrual cloth might not be able to contain it, possibly even leaking, Lin Qingge, with a dark expression, ordered people out:
"This official needs to change, all irrelevant personnel, get out!"
"Sir, your subordinate is best at dressing, allow me to help you!"
As Yan Tinghao was about to rush in, he was stopped by Hua Jinrong, who had risen and paced to the doorway, wielding his fan.
"Officer Yan, if you don't want your next year's birthday to be your death anniversary, I suggest you wait outside the door."
Finally, Hua Jinrong thoughtfully closed the door. Yan Tinghao, though not understanding the reason, had a gut feeling that Master Hua's words were correct.
When Lin Qingge emerged after changing, everyone was present, except for Ling Han, who was left to guard the scene of Master Hui Chong's demise. Including Murong Bai.
Just as Lin Qingge was pondering how to arrange Lin Zimo, Leng Ningyue, who had disappeared all afternoon, walked in from outside.
"Perfect, Madam, you're back, I'll hand Mo'er over to you."
With that, Lin Qingge led everyone straight to the nearest crime scene. Lian Chengyi's people were a step ahead of them, but the advantage was that they had timely protected the bodies and the crime scene. The floating body in the pond had been retrieved. Unsurprisingly, it was the previously deranged Golden Saber Hero, Liu Jinxiang.
"Sir, the deceased died from drowning, but it was not an accidental fall into the water. He was likely drugged, knocked unconscious, and then pushed into the water to drown. The best evidence is that the deceased shows no signs of struggling. As for whether he was truly drugged, further autopsy is required."
"Sir, your subordinate has found something!"
Lin Qingge walked over to Yan Tinghao's side and saw, besides a very obvious drag mark from a heavy object at his feet, a large character 'Cun' on the ground.
"Jin Cun?"
Lin Qingge raised an eyebrow, "This is less like a name and more like a place name, and one with a missing character..."
Having said that, Lin Qingge instructed:
"Lu Mingxuan, go ask around nearby if there are any witnesses? Ye Shengxiao is responsible for staying to guard Liu Jinxiang's body and the scene. Master Hua, you will accompany this official to take a look at the forbidden area of Wolong Mountain Villa, and Officer Yan, you wait for Assistant Coroner Murong to finish before coming over with him."
"Yes!"
Everyone acknowledged their orders. Lin Qingge, led by Hua Jinrong, arrived at the forbidden area. Long Xiaotian had already arrived with his disciples and was waiting there.
"Villa Master Long, I heard a murder occurred here, so I have come to investigate."
"Lord Prefect, you exaggerate. What murder? It's merely a disciple of the villa who accidentally went berserk during cultivation, leading to death from bleeding from all seven orifices."
"Oh, since when did Great Hero Feng Wuying, known as 'Grasshopper on the Wind', become a disciple under Wolong Mountain Villa?"
As if surprised that Hua Jinrong could immediately identify the person in question, Long Xiaotian's expression changed, then he quickly recovered and said:
"Lord Prefect, since you already know, I will no longer hide it. I and Feng Wuying have been friends for many years. Unfortunately, during his cultivation, he went berserk. To prevent him from harming others, he voluntarily asked me to find a secluded place for him. As his symptoms worsened, I had no choice but to confine him to prevent him from harming my disciples. Over time, this place became the forbidden area of Wolong Mountain Villa."
"I see. However, it is still a life, and the deceased should be respected. It would be best for this official to take a look."
Lin Qingge finished speaking and gave Hua Jinrong a look. The latter, understanding, moved to go around Long Xiaotian but was blocked by several of his disciples.
"Sir, they have more people than us."
Hua Jinrong complained verbally but showed no fear on his face.
"Villa Master Long, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to obstruct this official's investigation? Or perhaps, Villa Master Long, are you intending to lead the entire martial arts world in open defiance of the imperial court and declare yourself king?"
"Lord Prefect, mind your words!"
Hearing the crime that could lead to the extermination of his entire clan, Long Xiaotian's face trembled with fear. Seeing that the other party was determined to force his way into the forbidden area today, his eyes darkened, and he menacingly said:
"Lord Prefect, do you know the rest of the saying 'When a person is under someone else's roof'?"
"I do, 'When a person is under someone else's roof, they have no worries about food and drink'!"
...
Everyone's mouth twitched upon hearing that perfectly reasonable statement. At this moment, a hearty female voice echoed from a distance:
"Hahaha, well said, 'When a person is under someone else's roof, they have no worries about food and drink'!"
Long Xiaotian frowned as he looked at the approaching figures and let out a displeased snort, "Elder Leng and Elder Qin, why are you two here?"
"Nothing much. We were full from dinner and came out to digest. We happened to pass by and saw that Villa Master Long, at your age, shamelessly troubling two juniors, one of whom is our Jade Maiden Sect's son-in-law. How could I, Leng Shuang, stand by and do nothing?"
Although Lin Qingge didn't know when she became the Jade Maiden Sect's son-in-law, having someone to back her up was always good. She immediately called out with a beaming smile:
"Auntie, Uncle!"
"Who's your aunt?! No, who's your uncle?!"
"I felt before that Young Hero Lin had a full forehead, a square jaw, and handsome features, truly a face of great fortune and prosperity. Now it seems, Young Hero Lin, you are also a rare person of insight!"
"Qin Ming, are you looking for death?!"