Murder Case

Dusk gathered on all sides, and the setting sun was like blood, dyeing the streets of Cloudmist Prefecture a dark, muted orange-red.

The bustling marketplace of daylight gradually lost its liveliness. Street vendors began packing up their stalls, while passing pedestrians hurried along, all hoping to return home before nightfall.

Lin Qing and the others had been patrolling the streets for quite some time. According to their planned route, today's patrol was nearly over, and everyone had relaxed slightly.

Who would have thought that, at this final moment, a panicked figure suddenly rushed out from a street corner? Tears and snot streamed down his face. He stumbled and nearly fell, yet still scrambled and crawled his way before Shen Lie. "Sir! Sir! Something terrible has happened! Someone's dead!"

Shen Lie's expression immediately darkened. Encountering a murder case while on patrol was no small matter. He sternly demanded, "What are you panicking for? Speak slowly. Which household had an incident? Who is the deceased?"

"It's the Wang Lineage! It's the Wang Lineage's eldest young master! Young Master Wang Xiaolong... he... he's gone!" As soon as the servant finished speaking, he collapsed limply to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

At those words, Lin Qing's heart stirred slightly.

Although he had always devoted himself to cultivation and rarely concerned himself with outside affairs, he had still heard of the Wang Lineage. Just a few days ago, he had attached himself to the Wang Lineage's merchant caravan and traveled all the way to Cloudmist Prefecture City.

Meanwhile, Shen Lie's expression changed drastically.

The Wang Lineage's eldest young master was no ordinary rich man's son. He was the legitimate eldest son of the Wang Lineage, one of Cloudmist Prefecture's foremost martial families, and the heir they had poured countless efforts into nurturing!

Shen Lie did not dare delay. He abruptly turned to Lin Qing beside him, his tone urgent and beyond question:

"Xie Chen, this matter is of great importance. Return to the Martial Suppression Office immediately and report to Lord Zhao Feng. Tell him to bring men here at once!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xuan, who stood on the other side, immediately stepped forward. "Chief Banner Shen, it is already late. Lord Zhao Feng may not be at the Martial Suppression Office. Xie Chen has only been in Cloudmist Prefecture for a few days and may not be able to find him anytime soon. I should go instead."

Shen Lie immediately nodded in approval.

"Good. Go quickly and return quickly."

Lu Xuan answered, turned, and activated his movement technique, racing toward the Martial Suppression Office before swiftly vanishing at the end of the street.

Once everything had been arranged, Shen Lie waved to Lin Qing and the other three.

"You will come with me to seal off the scene first and await Lord Zhao Feng's arrival and handling!"

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison. Then, following the Wang Lineage servant who had reported the case, they hurried toward the Wang residence.

Along the way, Shi Man sidled up to Lin Qing and quickly introduced him to the Wang Lineage's circumstances.

The Wang Lineage was one of Cloudmist Prefecture's foremost martial families, with deep foundations. Its clan head was a Third-Tier Peak expert.

The Wang Lineage's trading houses were spread throughout the entire prefecture, and its business was enormous. Its wealth and connections were countless. In Cloudmist Prefecture, even the government had to show the Wang Lineage some respect.

The deceased, Wang Xiaolong, was an exceptional genius rarely seen in the Wang Lineage for a century. Only just over twenty, he had already entered the Mid-Third Tier. His future had seemed limitless, and he was the Wang Lineage's designated next clan head.

Hearing their quiet conversation, Shen Lie, who was walking ahead, also cautioned them:

"Given our status, we are not qualified to investigate Wang Xiaolong's death at all. At the very least, we must wait for a Hundred-Household Officer to arrive in person. That is why I had Lu Xuan fetch Lord Zhao Feng."

"When we get there, we only need to guard the scene. Do not speak recklessly, and do not touch anything at will, lest you set yourself on fire."

Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Their faces remained calm, but they quickened their pace.

They had already been assigned to patrol this district, and the Wang residence was not far away. In just a short while, a grand estate with vermilion gates and high walls appeared before them.

The moment they arrived at the entrance, someone from the Wang residence came forward with a grief-stricken face. After briefly offering a salute, he led them directly into the depths of the estate.

After passing through courtyard after courtyard, the group was finally brought to an exceptionally secluded and tranquil courtyard.

This was not where Wang Xiaolong usually lived. As the Wang Lineage's eldest young master, his living quarters were attended by servants as numerous as clouds, but they were far too noisy to suit quiet cultivation.

This secluded courtyard had a serene environment and was specially used by Wang Xiaolong for cultivation. Ordinarily, without his permission, the household servants were forbidden from approaching it casually.

Even with such an illustrious family background, he had been able to cast aside restlessness and devote himself to arduous cultivation. Wang Xiaolong had indeed deserved the title of a young genius.

Unfortunately, heaven envied talent. At such a flourishing age, he had met a violent death on the spot. It was truly lamentable.

At this moment, the tranquil cultivation courtyard was already packed with people. An indescribable deathly stillness and sorrow filled the air, broken only occasionally by muffled sobs.

At the front of the crowd stood a broad, sturdy old man with a resolute face, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a dark brocade robe, and his beard and hair were completely white. An aura of authority radiated faintly from him even in silence. He was the Wang Lineage's old clan head.

This Third-Tier Peak martial expert stared fixedly at the corpse on the ground. His cloudy eyes were bloodshot, his expression terrifyingly grim, and the pressure around him was so low that no one dared approach.

Beside the old clan head stood a woman in plain-colored robes, her face deathly pale and her body swaying as though she might collapse. She supported one another with a middle-aged woman beside her, whose expression was equally grief-stricken.

Wang Qingwan's eyes were red and swollen. Tears welled in them, yet she forced herself not to let them fall. She looked utterly bereft, clearly unable to accept the fact of her younger brother's death.

Beside them was also a young maidservant, slumped on the bluestone floor. Her shoulders shook as she wept so hard that tears clung to her face like rain on pear blossoms.

Besides them, several middle-aged elders of the Wang Lineage, women and children, and several young masters and young ladies from collateral branches stood at the scene as well. Every one of them looked grave and remained silent. The entire courtyard was quiet enough to hear a needle drop.

Noticing Shen Lie and the others' arrival, the Wang Lineage's old clan head merely swept them with an indifferent glance before returning his gaze to the corpse, offering no response.

He was a Third-Tier Peak martial artist of exalted standing in Cloudmist Prefecture, while Shen Lie was merely a Second Tier Chief Banner of the Martial Suppression Office. Ordinarily, for the Martial Suppression Office's sake, he might have exchanged a few polite words with Shen Lie.

But now that he had lost his beloved grandson, he had no mind to deal with a mere Chief Banner.

Shen Lie showed no dissatisfaction. He merely led Lin Qing and the others to stand quietly at the edge of the crowd and wait. So long as no one disturbed the scene, he would not say anything.

Before the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard, followed by a steady, forceful voice drawing nearer.

"Move aside!"

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Zhao Feng approaching the courtyard with a grave expression, accompanied by Lu Xuan and several Martial Suppression Office subordinates.

Only after this Hundred-Household Officer, Zhao Feng, arrived did the Wang Lineage members gathered in the courtyard slowly make way. Zhao Feng led Shen Lie, Lin Qing, and the others straight through the crowd to the corpse at the center of the courtyard.

Wang Xiaolong lay quietly upon the cold bluestone ground. His clothes were neat, with no signs of fighting or tearing. His skin had taken on a strange bluish-white hue, his lips were purple, and his eyes were wide open. A trace of pain and bewilderment still remained on his face.

Zhao Feng first stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute to the old Wang clan head, whose face was livid. Then he turned and signaled to a Chief Banner behind him.

This Chief Banner was an expert within the Martial Suppression Office who specialized in examining corpses and investigating cases. He was highly skilled in autopsy methods and could usually uncover some clues in ordinary murder cases.

Understanding the signal, the Chief Banner immediately stepped forward and crouched beside the corpse. He took out a pair of specially made gloves from his robes, put them on, and began the examination with great care.

His movements were meticulous. From the corpse's complexion and degree of stiffness, to the meridians and acupoints throughout the body, then its mouth, nose, and fingertips, he overlooked no detail. Only after half an incense stick's time did he slowly rise to his feet.

He walked to Zhao Feng's side, lowered his voice, and reported the autopsy findings one by one into his ear.

After hearing him out, Zhao Feng turned again and slightly cupped his hands toward the old Wang clan head.

"Old Clan Head Wang, after the Martial Suppression Office's preliminary examination, Young Master Wang has no external injuries. Though the meridians within his body are disordered, there are no traces of impact from external force. Taken together, the judgment is that he overexerted himself in cultivation, causing his heart meridians to rupture suddenly and triggering a martial backlash, ultimately resulting in his sudden death."

"Overexertion in cultivation? A martial backlash?"

The moment those words were spoken, the courtyard instantly erupted.

The old Wang clan head still said nothing. His already livid face darkened further, and the pressure radiating from him became even more oppressive, leaving people unable to breathe.

As for Wang Qingwan, a woman who had once faced savage bandits without changing expression, she could no longer hold herself together. Tears burst from her eyes as she desperately shook her head, her voice choked with sobs.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My younger brother possessed extraordinary cultivation talent, a solid foundation, and profound control over his own cultivation. How could he possibly overexert himself in cultivation and trigger a martial backlash? There must be another hidden truth! My brother did not die for nothing!"