He then added, “We have already gone underground down here, let alone an exit, there is not even a single window facing the outside.”
Yu Qing did not know if what he said was true or false, nor did he bother to question the other party. He simply pulled out a stick of incense from his sleeve, lit it in front of everyone, and observed the changes in the curling smoke.
Almost no one present understood what this meant. Wu Heyun asked suspiciously, “Brother Lin, what are you doing?”
Nan Zhu explained from the side, “Whenever he has incense on hand, he lights a stick in places where people have died to seek peace of mind. It is just his habit, he is kind-hearted.”
What else could he say? He could not exactly say that Old Fifteen was summoning spirits to ask for directions, could he? He and Mu Aotie could tell at a glance that Old Fifteen was using this to search for secret passages or the like. If he actually said it out loud, it would probably only add to the misunderstanding, and they might not believe it anyway.
After observing in silence in place for a while, Yu Qing walked into a storeroom again and stared at the rising smoke in his hand to observe for a while longer.
After coming out of the storeroom, he walked into another one.
Just like this, he re-entered all the storerooms in this place, but did not find any anomalies.
According to his interpretation using the Guan character technique, this situation meant either there really was no secret passage, or the passage was sealed so tightly that air could not circulate.
He was just giving it a try. Seeing that he could not discover anything, he casually stuck the incense into a crack in the wall left by the fight, turned back and asked, “At the time of the incident, apart from the two of us not being here, is it confirmed that those three groups of people never left?”
Wu Heyun gestured towards Nan Zhu and Qiao Qie’er, “Including the two of them, they all ran over to join the fun when they heard the noise of the fight. Everyone is here, except for the two of you.”
Yu Qing looked at them with inquiring eyes. Nan Zhu and Qiao Qie’er both nodded, indicating that it was indeed the case.
After pondering for a moment, he asked again, “In the past, has there ever been a situation here where demons killed people one after another? Just like now, killing that young man yesterday, and seven guards today.”
Wu Heyun thought for a while and nodded, “Similar things have happened before, but rarely.”
Yu Qing asked again, “Since that is the case, and the condition of the dead is exactly the same as the work of a demon, why would you still suspect that we outsiders did it?”
Wu Heyun hurriedly raised his hand to explain, “Brother Lin, please do not misunderstand. Because we did not see the murderer, and because the murderer disappeared mysteriously, it is normal for us to be suspicious of everyone. At present, we are even checking our own internal people, and we have not ruled out the possibility that the murderer is not a demon.”
Since the other party explained it like this, Yu Qing had no good reason to question anything further. Seeing no clues here, he had to go back.
After walking a few steps together, Wu Heyun said again, “All who come are guests. Brother Lin need not take the doubts of those few to heart. At least I do not believe Brother Lin would do such a thing. But then again, those few are not easy to deal with. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I suggest Brother Lin might as well avoid them for the time being.”
Yu Qing stopped walking. “What do you mean? Are you telling us to leave?”
Wu Heyun pressed his hands together and persuaded, “No, Rift Valley Manor absolutely has no intention of driving guests away. Moreover, Brother Lin came with good intentions, so our manor is even less likely to do such an ungrateful thing. It is just that both sides are guests, and it is really unnecessary if any conflict occurs. So it is better to avoid it for now, and you can come back another day.”
Yu Qing waved his hand. “Third Manor Master, that is not the same. If I leave now, it will be impossible to clear my name. Until this matter is thoroughly investigated, we cannot leave.”
Nan Zhu nodded repeatedly from the side. “Exactly. If we leave, it will look like a guilty conscience!”
Wu Heyun hesitated to speak, and a trace of impatience even flashed in his eyes, but he ultimately held it back. Stopping the nonsense, he gestured for them to go back and rest…
The four of them arrived at their quarters and went back to their rooms in pairs. As soon as they were inside, Nan Zhu immediately pulled Mu Aotie to ask how the investigation with Old Fifteen went. Mu Aotie naturally informed him of the situation in secret.
Nan Zhu was terrified listening to it, not expecting that Rift Valley Manor actually hid a terrifying old monster.
In another room, Qiao Qie’er had the same question.
Yu Qing thought for a moment and replied, “Found it. It is confirmed that Rift Valley Manor indeed has that ‘halberd’ in their hands.”
He did not want to say more, mainly afraid of making her worry. He then placed both hands on her shoulders and persuaded, “Qie’er, you leave first, get away from here first. It will not be too late to meet again after things here are settled.”
Qiao Qie’er gazed at him quietly for a while, then shook her head. “Wherever you are, I will be. We will not separate. If anything truly goes wrong, let me die together with you.”
Yu Qing was deeply moved, his heart surging with emotion, and he could not help but embrace her.
Meeting such a woman willing to live and die with him gave him a sense of complete fulfilment…
In the stone chamber enshrining a statue of an old man, the Third Manor Master arrived in a hurry, meeting up with the First and Second Manor Masters once again.
The oil lamps around were burning brightly. The First Manor Master, Wu Dao, stood with his hands behind his back, facing the statue.
“Did that Lin Erqing figure out anything just now?”
The Second Manor Master, Wu Xieshan, asked Wu Heyun.
Wu Heyun shook his head. “We have turned the place upside down and found not a single clue. What could he possibly see?”
Wu Dao, with his back turned, spoke up. “Those two did not know where they were at the time. Could it be the two of them?”
Wu Heyun said, “Cannot be certain. In any case, the murderer could not have vanished into thin air, unless the art of invisibility truly exists in this world. The only reason the murderer is not seen is simply one possibility, they had already run away before our people arrived.”
Wu Xieshan stroked his beard and pondered. “That is impossible. As soon as we heard the noise of the fight, our people rushed over. When the noise of the second fight rang out, the follow-up forces were already on their way and had blocked the only exit. It is impossible for a living person to go in and out without being seen. Could it be done by our own people? Even our own people could not avoid the scene.”
The First Manor Master Wu Dao said lightly, “If an insider did this, they would have a more appropriate method. They would not cause such a huge commotion, nor would they have a reason to do so. An insider with this kind of strength knows what is kept there, and there is no need to run to that place to kill people.”
Wu Heyun shook his head in puzzlement. “This matter is indeed very strange, simply unimaginable.”
Wu Dao stared at the statue and said, “We all know in our hearts that this was not done by any demon. Trouble did not happen early or late, but as soon as those ten people arrived. No need to guess, the murderer is among those ten, even though we do not know what method they used to do it.”
Wu Heyun crossed his arms and stroked his chin with one hand. “The things in the storeroom have been inventoried, and nothing is missing. Why did they come and cause this scene after all?”
The golden hoop on Wu Dao’s head shone brightly under the lamplight. “Coming to take some advantage and making us suffer a loss, that is nothing. We can treat them to good food and drink and put on a good face. What I worry about most is why they came for this.”
Both Wu Xieshan and Wu Heyun were shocked. The former said in a deep voice, “Do you suspect they are here for that secret?”
Wu Dao said, “That is exactly what I am afraid of.”
Wu Heyun said, “That is unlikely, is it not? For thousands of years, no one has come to ask about it. How could they suddenly appear now?”
Wu Dao said, “It has been thousands of years, but that is because we strictly guard it and do not leak it. Just because we do not leak it here does not mean it has not been leaked elsewhere.”
Wu Heyun said in surprise, “Are you suspecting that Da Heizi’s side leaked the news?”
Wu Dao said, “It is not to that extent. We are afraid people will rob this secret, while their side does not want anyone to enter. The two of us have been fighting, and neither dares to let outsiders know the slightest wind, nor dares to borrow the slightest external force. We both know very well in our hearts that once external forces get involved, our fate will be very miserable. Actually, before these people came, I had already started worrying these past two years.”
Did he foresee it these past two years? Wu Xieshan and Wu Heyun looked at each other, both full of surprise. The latter asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Wu Dao said, “You both know the news of the opening of Little Cloud Realm. Who dares to guarantee that there are no clues leading here inside Little Cloud Realm?”
The expressions of the two Wus instantly became solemn. Wu Xieshan tugged at his beard and said, “If those major forces really found out the clues and came looking, any one of them could easily wipe us out. Would they need to be so sneaky?”
Wu Dao said, “I comfort myself with that thought too. Also, Little Cloud Realm has already opened three times. If those major forces knew the news, how could they endure until now to make a move? Could it be that they only discovered the clues on the third time? Even if so, with their strength, they would not slowly circle around like this, they would take control of this place at the first opportunity. After the incident tonight, I thought about it for a long time, only hoping I am overthinking it. Otherwise, I am afraid we will not be able to get over this hurdle.”
The two Wus understood his meaning. None of those major forces were ones they could block. Once they came knocking, it would be hard to avoid honestly confessing some things, which was also the reason they strictly guarded the secret.
Wu Heyun was silent for a while and suddenly said, “Maybe we really are overthinking it. Look at the way the murderer committed the crime. Could it be that they wanted to steal something from the storeroom, were afraid of being discovered, and thus framed the demon? If those people really came because they knew something, they would not need to do this, would they?”
Wu Dao nodded slightly. “Makes sense, I hope it is like that.”
Wu Xieshan said, “Since things have escalated to this, as long as they do not leave for a day, we will not be at ease for a day. We might as well persuade that Lin Erqing, saying we are afraid others will misunderstand, and urge them to leave. Once they leave, losing the most likely murderer, the others will no longer have an excuse to insist on staying.”
Wu Heyun sneered. “Do you think I did not persuade them? They will not leave. They said they will not take the blame for this, and they must investigate this matter to the very bottom.”
Wu Dao slowly turned around. “Do not argue with them anymore. Old rules, let us hush it up and give them an explanation.”
The two Wus nodded silently.
Just then, a bell hanging in the room rang with a “clink”.
Wu Heyun walked to the stone pillar and pulled the rope in response.
Shortly after, Wu An arrived quickly, cupping his hands and saluting the three, “Manor Masters.”
Wu Heyun asked, “How is the search for those two going?”
During the day, after discovering that Yu Qing and Mu Aotie disappeared via the grape fields, although Nan Zhu explained something about going to find the demon’s tracks, this side still conducted a pursuit. Wu An personally led a group of people to search.
Wu An shook his head. “The situation is not good, we lost them. We searched all the way to the entrance of the underground water vein but found nothing. Third Manor Master, you know that the underground water vein is too long. Once they dive in, it is very hard to keep searching without changing breath with our cultivation. Later, having no choice, we guarded the only return path in the dark channel. We did not see them come back, so they must have returned from the surface, not taking the underground route.”
Wu Heyun said in a deep voice, “Did we not give you the ‘Wine Fox’ carefully trained by the manor? Those two fellows drank our wine, and within three days, their bodies will emit a special smell. The ‘Wine Fox’ could not possibly fail to smell it, unless they are dead. How could you lose them?”
Wu An immediately defended himself, “Third Manor Master, I was just about to say this. The sense of smell of the ‘Wine Fox’ seems to have failed. Regarding the tracking of those two, the ‘Wine Fox’ did not play any role from beginning to end, as if those two fellows did not emit any abnormal smell at all.” As he spoke, he untied a cloth bag from his waist and presented it with both hands.
Wu Heyun immediately took the bag and opened it, revealing a small animal with dark fur curled up in a ball, seemingly in a deep sleep, and only the size of three fists when curled up. Frowning, Wu Heyun woke it up, grabbed the fur on the back of its neck and held it up to observe. Besides its head looking like a fox, other aspects were actually not very similar. After spreading its four limbs under its belly, there were also membrane wings, obviously possessing a certain ability to fly.
Its big, dark eyes stared at Wu Heyun without moving.
Wu Heyun muttered to himself, “How could it fail when it is perfectly fine? This has never happened before…”
Wu Dao said, “Take it down and test it later, then we will know.”
Wu Heyun hummed in agreement, then said to Wu An, “So you mean, those two fellows might not have gone underground, but later popped out from the grape fields and took the ground route?”
Wu An said hesitantly, “They had already run to the end of the fields. It is possible that no one saw them climb out from the end. When I came back and brought people to chase again… we might have chased in the wrong direction from the very beginning.”
Wu Dao slowly turned around, looked up at the statue sitting high above, and seemed to talk to himself. “Strange things are beginning to emerge one after another. I hope I am just overthinking it.”
Wu Xieshan said, “If that is the case, the group surnamed Lin has the most suspicious points and is the biggest suspect.”
Wu Dao said, “Let us all perk up.”
Wu Heyun said, “Rest assured, I will strengthen the surveillance.”
…
Early the next morning, Wu Heyun pushed open a room at the corner of the corridor and bumped right into Wu An, who was just about to go out.
Wu Heyun looked at the corridor outside, waved his hand to signal Wu An to go back in, then went in himself. After closing the door, he asked, “How was the situation last night?”
Wu An immediately showed an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Everyone else is normal, it is just those three flowers who are truly unbearable. They keep teasing and seducing our guards, using all sorts of tricks, always wanting to pull our guards to spend the night with them. No wonder they have a reputation for beauty, they must be crazy for men. Especially that Lou Yushu, she called one of our guards into her room to help, but it was fake to ask for help and real to lure him in. The guard almost could not escape the room. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and fled in time when he realised something was wrong.”
Wu Heyun’s face immediately darkened. “Are those three women to be touched casually? They are the type who catch men to suck their marrow and blood. Tell everyone to keep their hands to themselves, they must not touch them at all. Otherwise, if they come back crying and making a fuss, saying they were assaulted by our manor’s people, the trouble will be huge. Men cannot explain themselves clearly when encountering this kind of thing. Those vixens are not doing this for the first time, they are all old hands at this. It must be passed down, they are absolutely not to enter their rooms again. Also, once they come into contact with them, there must be at least two people present.”
Wu An sighed and said, “Rest assured, Third Manor Master, it has been passed down. Everyone knows their reputation. As soon as they get close, everyone is scared stiff, how would they dare to provoke them? It is just that we did not expect these women to be so shameless, and we almost fell for it. After this incident, everyone is afraid, and it is impossible to give them another chance.”
Wu Heyun took a deep breath. “These three women are plagues. By the way, is there not the slightest abnormality on Lin Erqing’s side?”
Wu An shook his head. “No, they just visited each other’s rooms, and after that, they did not go out again.”
Wu Heyun frowned and thought for a while, then took out the cloth bag from behind his back, which obviously contained the Wine Fox, and handed it to the other party. “The Wine Fox itself has been tested and has no issues. You arrange for someone to knock on their doors later and tell them to go to the reception hall. Say that I have an important announcement to make, and all guests should be ushered over. You first arrange to test the Wine Fox on the group surnamed Lin.”
Wu An immediately understood, taking the item into his hands. “Good!”
Very soon, the doors of the rooms of the four, including Yu Qing, were all knocked open, and the manor personnel notified them of the relevant situation at the door.
Since there was an important announcement, naturally there was no second word to say. They went out one after another, and the four of them grouped up and walked together.
Although they knew where the reception hall was, the manor still arranged for someone to lead the way.
Arriving at the reception hall, they found it empty. Being asked to wait a moment, they had to stand on the terrace to look at the morning scenery, which had a unique charm.
In the corridor outside the reception hall, Wu An held the Wine Fox in his hand, following the “squeak” sounds made by the Wine Fox shaking its head as a signal, and walked all the way to the door of the reception hall. He did not show his face at the door. Frowning, he stuffed the Wine Fox back into the cloth bag, then immediately turned around and left.
He did not go anywhere else, but went to a small hall nearby, where he found Wu Heyun standing with his hands behind his back waiting in the bright sunshine. He presented the cloth bag with both hands. “Third Manor Master, it has been tested, the Wine Fox has no problem.”
Wu Heyun turned around and said in confusion, “No problem? Then what was the deal with your tracking yesterday?”
Wu An could not help but spread his hands. “I do not know what is going on either. Third Manor Master, it was really used normally yesterday, but the Wine Fox just acted as if there were no traces to be found. It was taken out above ground and underground several times, and besides spinning around blindly, there was no reaction at all.”
“What is the situation? Could there be a method to conceal their aura…” Wu Heyun held the cloth bag and muttered with a frown for a while.
The two of them thought about this problem for a long time but could not figure it out. Just as the First Manor Master Wu Dao had said, strange things really seemed to be emerging one after another.
It was not until someone came to report that the other three groups of guests had also arrived at the reception hall that Wu Heyun had to temporarily put this matter aside and go to meet the guests first.
When he entered the reception hall, there were people behind him carrying a large door plank in. Lying on the door plank was the corpse of a huge wolf, with a ferocious face, sharp fangs, and covered in bloodstains. It seemed to have not been dead for long, and at a glance, one could tell it was a thing that had become a spirit.
Everyone’s eyes stared at the door plank being lowered to the ground, none of them knowing what it meant.
“I have kept you all waiting for a long time.” Wu Heyun first cupped his hands and exchanged pleasantries with everyone, then did not beat around the bush, directly pointing at the wolf corpse and saying, “The demon who committed the crime last night has been found by the manor’s search party. It is exactly this demon. We chased and killed it. On behalf of the manor, I have come specifically to inform everyone to clear up last night’s misunderstanding, please forgive us!”