The moss that the two people brushed off was extremely fresh.

It was evident that the roof had constant water runoff for years without anyone cleaning it, and the moss had accumulated in thick layers.

But it was quite different from the moss typically found on regular roof tiles!

It was green tinged with yellow, non-reflective, presenting a matte color.

Ji Yinshu still remembered that she had once encountered a tomb with seven burial chambers filled with moss. To prevent moss infection from affecting the coffin opening, everyone at the research institute had studied everything about moss thoroughly.

As a result, Ji Yinshu had also recorded it in detail.

There were fourteen types of moss—seven were aquatic plants, three were heliophilic, four were thermophilic, and generally, moss with a matte color was heliophilic. However, heliophilic moss grew on rocks and smooth ground surfaces and wouldn’t grow on rooftops.

The kind of heliophilic moss that grew on rooftops belonged to another type outside these fourteen categories.

Hermaphroditic moss!

So her gaze quickly and precisely swept over everyone present, examining their hands, faces…

She felt goosebumps rising all over her body.

Her mind was also racing at high speed!

Meanwhile, Zhao Huai maintained a questioning demeanor and said, “No one came in at all.” He turned to Ji Yinshu, “From beginning to end, only you and that fool were inside. You’re the only one who had contact with this skeleton. I think you clearly destroyed it. Even if it wasn’t you, it must have been that fool.”

And that so-called fool was still fast asleep nearby!

All the commotion around hadn’t awakened Wei Yi. He turned over and twisted his head to the other side.

Ji Yinshu retorted, “If I destroyed this skeleton, what benefit would it bring me?”

“But besides you, who else could it be?”

“Then perhaps the Chief should consider who would benefit most from destroying this skeleton?”

Who?

Zhao Huai’s heart wavered as he turned away.

“What do you mean?”

Ji Yinshu said, “Who else but the murderer who killed the deceased would destroy this skeleton? And if the murderer could slip past the people outside to enter and silently pulverize the bones without my knowledge, there are only two explanations. First, the two people guarding the door are lying. Second…”

Before she could finish.

The two who had been guarding outside hurried to explain.

“Chief, we two were outside the whole time. We didn’t even dare close our eyes! Really, no one came in. We’re not lying, and besides, there was no movement inside at all. In the dead of night, if there were any disturbance, we couldn’t possibly not know.”

“That’s right, Chief, you must believe us!”

The two explained urgently, not seeming to be lying.

Zhao Huai nodded, trusting them completely, and said definitively to Ji Yinshu, “I know my people. They couldn’t possibly lie.”

“Then there’s only the second possibility—someone with excellent qinggong skills went up on the roof and silently pulverized the bones.”

Zhao Huai snapped, “Nonsense! There are wooden stakes nailed on the roof. How could anyone enter from the rooftop?”

“As the Chief of High Mountain Stronghold, you must have destroyed evidence countless times. Surely you know there’s something in this world called bone-crushing powder? It’s the same as corpse-dissolving powder.”

“…”

Zhao Huai remained silent.

Zhao Qing, who had been silent on the side, looked puzzled, “So you’re saying that if the person who destroyed this skeleton is the one who threw the body into the jar back then, that person might still be in the stronghold now?”

“Yes!” Ji Yinshu said.

Zhao Qing then said to Zhao Huai, “Since the murderer is still in the stronghold, you should immediately order everyone to seal the place and investigate thoroughly. We absolutely cannot let the murderer escape.”

Who would have known—

Zhao Huai’s temperament changed drastically as he bellowed fiercely, “We’re not investigating anymore! It’s just a corpse, isn’t it? I’ll just consider it my bad luck that it ruined my jar of good wine.”

Ji Yinshu questioned, “Since the murderer is in the stronghold, why not investigate?”

“I think you’re just spouting nonsense. What bone-crushing powder—it’s all your one-sided claim.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can have someone bring a bowl of soy sauce. Put these crushed bones in it. If there are suspended red substances on top, it will prove that bone-crushing powder was indeed sprinkled on these bones.”

After hearing this, Zhao Huai was half-believing, half-doubting.

But he still ordered someone to bring a bowl of soy sauce.

They followed Ji Yinshu’s instructions.

Sure enough, some viscous red substances actually floated on top of the soy sauce.

Ji Yinshu also explained, “When bone-crushing powder pulverizes bones, it merges into the crushed bones. But if you soak them in soy sauce, it separates the human bones from the bone-crushing powder. The separated powder will form a layer of red viscous chunks on the soy sauce. Most likely, the murderer leaped onto the roof, lifted the tiles, and sprinkled the bone-crushing powder down.”

Everyone craned their necks, staring wide-eyed into the bowl.

The evidence was clearly conclusive!

Yet…

Zhao Huai reached out and knocked the bowl of soy sauce over onto the ground.

Crash!

The sound startled Wei Yi, who was nearby.

He rubbed his eyes, looking drowsily toward the source of the sound, and only then realized this small room was packed with people. He immediately shuffled with small steps behind Ji Yinshu and tugged at the corner of her garment.

Ji Yinshu patted the back of his hand in comfort.

Zhao Huai’s furious eyes slowly moved from the overturned bowl on the ground up to meet Ji Yinshu’s gaze.

He gave a cold laugh, his words sharp, “So what if there’s bone-crushing powder in there? You could have put it there.” Zhao Huai insisted stubbornly, “Clearly you couldn’t determine the truth about the skeleton, so you wanted to destroy it and incite internal strife among my stronghold members so you could find a way to escape.”

Ji Yinshu felt helpless.

“I’m confined here with countless eyes watching me. How could I escape? Moreover, I have no need to do such a thing. Since I said I could uncover the truth, I naturally will.”

“I don’t care what you say. In any case, we’re not investigating the skeleton matter anymore.”

He waved his hand!

Not investigating anymore, not investigating.

How annoying!

Zhao Huai immediately ordered, “Someone come! Seize this young scholar and that fool. If they don’t behave, kill them for me.”

“Yes!”

Several fierce-looking men stepped forward and seized Ji Yinshu and Wei Yi.

Wei Yi grew anxious, calling out “Shu’er.”

Ji Yinshu struggled a few times while saying, “Now the murderer has destroyed this skeleton. Who’s to say he won’t kill people? As the Chief, the matter is clearly suspicious and the evidence is right before your eyes. Why are you letting it go?”

“Stop your alarmist talk.” He rebuked, “Take them away now!”

Ji Yinshu had no chance to continue arguing before she was dragged away.

Along with Wei Yi, they were locked in that cold firewood shed from before!

Wei Yi threw himself into Ji Yinshu’s arms.

“Shu’er, will we never be able to go back? Why hasn’t Brother Jingrong come to take us back yet?”

Ji Yinshu comforted him while deep in thought!