Seeing Gao Ming's abnormal expression, Ling Han quietly stood behind him, ensuring she could control him the moment he "went mad."
Leng Ningyue and the others shielded Lin Qingge, standing ready.
Gao Ming grabbed the dagger Jian Xing had dropped and plunged it straight into his own chest!
Gao Ming's action completely surprised everyone.
Lin Qingge, who hadn't expected Gao Ming to commit suicide, hurriedly instructed Murong Bai:
"Quick, save him!"
But Gao Ming shook his head and said weakly:
"Lord Lin, there's no need to waste your efforts.
Although I was mentally prepared from the very beginning of my revenge, harming others truly brings retribution..."
Gao Ming spat out a mouthful of blood and forced himself to continue:
"Back then, our family of four fell from a suspension bridge into a mountain ravine.
Though we miraculously survived, our parents broke an arm and a leg protecting us.
Unable to work and without any skills, they had no choice but to beg on the streets to barely keep our family of four alive.
Living like that, with one meal a day, exposed to the elements, and never enough to eat, was incredibly bitter. It was an ordeal just to be alive.
Perhaps to have a reason to live.
At some point, the desire to avenge became a frequent refrain from my parents' lips.
They said that those five wicked hearts, in their greed for Jinsha Village's gold mine, had massacred all eighty-one villagers.
They said that when we grew up, we had to avenge the elders and kinsmen of the village, because my brother and I were the only hope for all the wronged souls of Jinsha Village.
They also said that the leader of those five villains was surnamed Long.
But even with the belief in revenge as a pillar to survive, my mother couldn't endure the fourth year and died of freezing to death one harsh winter.
My father, while trying to get food for my brother and me, unfortunately hit his head during a scuffle with other beggars.
Fortunately, my brother Xing'er was clever.
He discovered that people disguised as little girls were much more lenient, giving him better food, and occasionally even old clothes others didn't want.
However, because they were all girls' clothes, over time, he began to identify as female.
Two years later, he even disguised himself as a girl and worked as a menial servant in a wealthy household.
But no matter what we did, we always kept our parents' dying wish in our hearts.
Because the surname 'Long' is quite rare, I didn't have much trouble finding out that Long Xiaotian of Wolong Villa had gone to the Jinsha Village area years ago with some of his brothers.
It happened that Wolong Villa was recruiting disciples, so I signed up, and to my surprise, I was chosen as an入門 (entry-level) disciple.
Thinking back now, being chosen by Master as a beggar was likely due to the secret assistance of my senior brother..."
Gao Ming coughed up more blood, his breath weakening. "One time, I hid under the table in Master's reception hall and happened to overhear the confrontation when Feng Wuying, the great hero Feng, came to argue with Master.
I told Xing'er about this, which made Xing'er believe our parents' words even more firmly."
Lin Qingge sighed upon hearing this:
"Hearing is not necessarily believing.
The truth is, your Master didn't imprison Feng Wuying out of fear of exposure. It was because, during the fight, he discovered signs of self-harm on Great Hero Feng. To preserve his old friend's life, he had to find an excuse to imprison Great Hero Feng, who had developed a mental disorder.
Your Master firmly believed there would be a day when he could resolve Great Hero Feng's inner turmoil, and even sought out renowned physicians from the surrounding areas for him.
But you, blinded by hatred, refused to see any of this."
The blood beneath Gao Ming flowed more and more, quickly forming a pool. He weakly gripped his brother Jian Xing's hand and managed to twitch the corner of his lips:
"Indeed, we were short-sighted.
Since we made mistakes, someone must bear the consequences.
I promised my parents I would take good care of my brother. The path to the underworld is so desolate; I cannot let my brother go alone.
Besides, it was both of us who made the mistakes; I can't let Xing'er bear everything.
Therefore, I implore Lord Lin, out of our acquaintance, to place all the blame upon me alone, so that Xing'er may depart with a clean slate.
Gao Ming thanks Lord Lin..."
Before he could finish the last word, Gao Ming's hand fell limply. The brothers, who had been leaning on each other, both toppled to the side, only to be caught by Ling Han.
Lin Qingge, accompanied by Leng Ningyue, walked closer. Although she knew the other party could no longer hear, she solemnly nodded, "Alright, I promise you."
The serial murder case that shook the entire Jianghu, the Wolong Villa murders, came to a close with the deaths of brothers Gao Ming and Jian Xing.
Although the case had reached a conclusion, Lin Qingge and the others felt no joy of solving the crime; they seemed to have a dark cloud hanging over them.
Only Hua Jinrong, who remained relatively normal, entered, fanning himself. "My lord, the Villa Master Long wishes to host us tonight. I have accepted on your behalf."
"Master Hua, when did you start making decisions for me?"
"My lord, Villa Master Long said you worked hard to solve the case and has prepared a generous gift as thanks."
"Master Hua, from now on, you can accept such matters directly on my behalf without needing to ask my opinion. It would be a shame if Villa Master Long changed his mind."
"Yes, my lord~"
Seeing his lord change his mind faster than flipping a book, Yan Tinghao scratched his head and secretly took note of his lord's words.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingge, now free, watched Lin Zimo practice horse stance in the courtyard for a while before returning to her room. Leng Ningyue followed with a pot of jujube water.
"What, still thinking about the Jian Xing brothers?"
"Just some lament. If their parents had been more reasonable and hadn't planted the seeds of hatred in their children's hearts with their own misfortunes, would all of this have happened?"
"Facing difficulties is for the few; avoidance is the instinctive response of the majority. So, even if their parents hadn't done this, they would have concocted another self-deceiving reason."
Comforted by his wife once again, Lin Qingge stroked her chin and analyzed,
"The fact that Gao Ming and Jian Xing remained in Wolong Villa for so long without acting suggests that they initially didn't want to.
However, someone instigated, or perhaps manipulated, Jian Xing, even planting a psychological suggestion in him that revenge was unavoidable.
As the elder brother, Gao Ming would naturally protect his younger brother, so he would inevitably be involved.
If that's truly the case, then the Jian Xing brothers were both perpetrators and victims."
Leng Ningyue's lowered gaze flickered slightly, and she said softly,
"That may be so, but the Jian Xing brothers are dead, and there are no witnesses."
However, Lin Qingge shook her head upon hearing this, "No, the suspects can still be broadly identified."