Ashan picked up a teacup and gulped down three cups of tea, then began recounting the entire sequence of events. On the morning of the 26th of last month, a mysterious black-robed figure had snuck into Ashan’s room. The black-robed figure knew that Ashan was being pursued by the gambling den for debts with nowhere to turn. The black-robed figure said he could help Ashan, provided Ashan completed a task.

The task was to infiltrate Xiao Ning’s residence before the hour of You on the evening of the 26th, and place a walnut on the table in the third-to-last side room of the side courtyard. Ashan was terrified by the black-robed figure’s sinister tone and nodded in agreement without thinking twice. At the hour of You that evening, he followed the black-robed figure’s arrangements, infiltrated Xiao Ning’s residence, and placed the walnut. Ashan didn’t pay much attention to it because it wasn’t killing or arson, just placing a walnut.

The second night, the black-robed figure came again. He was very satisfied with the task Ashan had completed and gave Ashan one hundred taels, while explaining a second task. The black-robed figure showed Ashan a portrait and required Ashan to somehow steal the purple pouch from the man in the portrait, then place the purple pouch and a walnut in the previous elegant room.

“So the pouch was stolen by you,” Li Si shook his head. Ashan nodded. “Having fallen into wandering from childhood, I learned these kinds of sleight-of-hand tricks long ago, but later my sister forbade me from stealing anymore. That day when I passed by you, I felt around and stole the pouch, then after you left, I quickly placed the pouch and walnut back in the elegant room.”

After Ashan received the second payment, the black-robed figure never sought him out again. So the walnuts delivered to Li Si’s hands were merely the second walnut from Zheng Hounian’s case and the third walnut from Shang Yun’s case. As for the first walnut discovered at the old residence and the fourth walnut from Tao Nan’s case delivered by the black cat, it was still unknown who had done these.

After listening to Ashan’s account, Li Si asked him another question. “If you were to face the black-robed figure again, could you still recognize him?”

Ashan shook his head. “He covered his face and deliberately lowered his voice, so it would be very difficult to recognize him.”

Li Si sighed inwardly and had Xiao Ning keep Ashan under watch for now.

After Ashan left, Li Si’s gaze wandered to the main street. Suddenly, an overjoyed beggar caught Li Si’s attention.

After the hour of Shen, dark clouds once again enveloped Suishui City. A fierce wind rose on the long street, blowing passersby until they couldn’t tell east from west. Everyone clutched their heads and hurried home, as flying sand and rolling stones filled the entire world.

A shadowy figure passed through the yellow sand and came to a back alley. He quietly flipped over a high wall and with practiced ease rushed in quick steps to the side room on the left side of the residence. He knew the room’s owner was certainly not inside at this moment. After pausing briefly, he pushed the door and entered.

In the corner of the side room near the window stood a worn wooden cabinet. The black-robed figure opened the cabinet door and took out a red cloth bundle. Inside the red cloth bundle were four reddish-brown walnuts. The black-robed figure stared fixedly at the walnuts, completely unaware that another person had appeared in the side room.

His white robe fluttered loudly in the strong wind from outside the door. He had handsome features and sharp eyes, and in his hand he held a three-foot-six-inch dark iron precious sword. He was Gao Ling, a disciple of the Yanchi School. Gao Ling stared at the black-robed figure’s profile and spoke coldly, “You can’t escape. Surrender without resistance and I can spare your life.”

The black-robed figure wrapped the walnuts in the red cloth and placed them back in the cabinet, then let out a low sigh and suddenly jumped out the window.

Gao Ling moved light as a swallow and also leaped out the window in one bound.

The black-robed figure had no intention of turning back to fight and fled desperately with all his might. Gao Ling employed his lightness skills to follow closely behind the black-robed figure. After about a quarter of an hour, the black-robed figure’s speed clearly slowed down, likely from exhausted stamina. Gao Ling gradually caught up.

With four zhang of distance between them, Gao Ling narrowed his eyes. The precious sword in his left hand emitted a soft dragon’s roar, ready to strike at any moment. Four zhang, three zhang, two zhang… Gao Ling leaped high into the air and executed the Yanchi School’s ultimate technique—”Golden Swallow Chasing the Moon.” Like a golden swallow soaring into the sky, he charged toward the black-robed figure. From the diagonal side, another black-robed figure suddenly rushed out and forcibly blocked Gao Ling. The black-robed figure ahead quickly escaped. Gao Ling glanced sideways at the black-robed figure who had blocked him.

This black-robed figure was slightly shorter than Gao Ling, with his face hidden behind black gauze, yet his gaze seemed to be deliberately avoiding Gao Ling.

“Since you’ve blocked me, there’s no need for more words. Draw your sword,” Gao Ling’s tone was icy. The black-robed figure raised his sword and struck with a common Immortal Pointing the Way thrust toward Gao Ling’s ribs. Gao Ling sheathed his sword and only used nimble footwork to dodge. After ten moves, Gao Ling flicked his wrist and his precious sword pointed at the black-robed figure’s left hand gripping the sword. The black-robed figure’s long sword clattered to the ground.

“You deliberately use miscellaneous sword techniques to prevent me from seeing through your identity?” Gao Ling laughed coldly with contempt. “But unfortunately, from the moment you drew your sword, I saw through you, Junior Brother Meng.”

The black-robed figure pulled down his face covering. It was indeed Meng Fanchuan.

“You blocked me for his sake. He must be very important to you. Who is he?” Gao Ling asked with a stern expression. Meng Fanchuan shook his head woodenly. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t know, or don’t want to say?” Gao Ling’s gaze shot toward Meng Fanchuan like sharp swords. Meng Fanchuan’s muscles twitched, feeling like he was being stared at by a bloodthirsty leopard. Meng Fanchuan gritted his teeth and said, “Senior Brother, don’t force me!”

“So what if I force you!” Gao Ling said icily.

“I’ll…” Meng Fanchuan suddenly picked up the long sword and moved it toward his own neck. Gao Ling appeared ghost-like at Meng Fanchuan’s side and held down Meng Fanchuan’s hand. Finally, Gao Ling exhaled deeply and said, “Forget it. Even if you don’t tell me, I can still find him myself.”

“Senior Brother, can you please stop investigating? Can you just give up here? I’m begging you!” Meng Fanchuan pleaded. Gao Ling closed his eyes and soon refused Meng Fanchuan. “Even if I don’t continue investigating, there’s still Li Si. And what should happen will eventually happen.”

Gao Ling left. Meng Fanchuan gazed at his retreating back and muttered, “What should happen… will eventually happen.”

Suishui County Yamen. Meng Xiu walked out of the study and happened to encounter Li Si and Xiao Ning, with Xiao Ning carrying a bundle. Li Si smiled faintly and said, “Lord Meng, you come out at just the right time. I happened to be looking for you.”

“What do you want with me?”

“How about we talk in your study, Lord?” Li Si suggested. Meng Xiu thought for a moment and didn’t decline. The three entered Meng Xiu’s study.

“What matter could make God-Catcher Li so tense?” After Meng Xiu picked up his teacup, he discovered there was no water in it and had to put it down again. Li Si looked calmly at Meng Xiu. “I want to discuss this garment with Lord Meng.”

Xiao Ning unwrapped the bundle. Inside was a dark green thick robe. Meng Xiu’s face instantly turned deathly pale. “How did this robe end up in your hands?”

“A crazed beggar pulled this robe from a garbage pit. After I saw it, I spent three taels of silver to buy it from the beggar,” Li Si said, looking at the dark green robe. “If I remember correctly, this robe was worn by Lord Meng yesterday, correct?”

Li Si and Xiao Ning looked toward Meng Xiu. Meng Xiu’s eyelids twitched as he said, “The robe was torn, so I threw it away. I didn’t expect it would be picked up by a beggar.”

“Lord Meng is quite right. I also noticed this robe has damage, right here in the lower left corner.” Li Si pointed to the lower left corner of the robe, where there was indeed tooth-shaped damage. Meng Xiu forced a smile and said, “Exactly, which is why I threw it away.”

“Mm, I understand about the robe, but there’s another matter I’d like to ask Lord Meng about,” Li Si continued.

“What else?”

Li Si exchanged a glance with Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning took out another small wooden box from the bundle. Inside the box were several small dark green fabric pieces no bigger than soybeans. Meng Xiu sat heavily in his chair as if his soul had left him.

“These few small dark green fabric pieces were found in Tao Nan’s abdomen. But when Tao Nan died, he was only wearing an undergarment, so the dark green fabric pieces very likely belong to the murderer. What greatly puzzles me is that the fabric remnants in Tao Nan’s abdomen match exactly with the damage on Lord Meng’s thick robe.” Li Si gazed at Meng Xiu. Meng Xiu said dejectedly, “Lord Li, what are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that you may be the murderer who killed Tao Nan, Zheng Hounian, and Shang Yun.” Li Si voiced his deduction.

“Ha ha, determining I’m the murderer based on one torn garment—isn’t Lord Li being far too hasty?” Meng Xiu denied with an extremely unnatural expression.

“Since I came to find you, naturally the evidence wouldn’t be only one piece.” Li Si sighed softly. “Before Tao Nan was killed, I discovered that someone had snuck into my side room coveting the miniature carved walnuts. I very much wanted to figure out who this person was, so I set up a small trap. I coated the wooden cabinet storing the walnuts and the red cloth with fluorescent powder. The fluorescent powder shows color when reflected by firelight. As long as someone touched the walnuts, they would definitely be stained with the fluorescent powder. Besides this, I also invited a young hero with high martial arts skills to hide in Xiao Ning’s residence to monitor every movement near the side room.” Li Si called to the door. “Young Hero Gao, please come in.”

Gao Ling pushed the door open and entered. He stood behind Li Si with his arms clasped around his sword. Li Si continued, “Tonight the mysterious person coveting the walnuts appeared again. Xiao Ning!”

Xiao Ning knowingly lit an oil lamp and cast the lamp’s light onto Meng Xiu’s hands. Meng Xiu’s hands indeed showed a faint blue fluorescent glow on the back.

Xiao Ning set down the oil lamp and sighed with regret. “Lord, can you still deny it at this point?”

“It seems the evidence is ironclad already. Ha ha, so be it.” Meng Xiu exhaled a long breath and nodded. “That’s right. I am the instigator of all the murder cases.”

“No!” Meng Fanchuan rushed in. “There must be a misunderstanding! Father, how could you possibly kill people? How could you be a murderer? There must be something wrong here…”

“If you believed your father was innocent, you wouldn’t have blocked my way halfway,” Gao Ling looked at the anxious Meng Fanchuan and said, “I told you, what should happen will eventually happen.”

“Fanchuan, wrong is wrong. There’s no room for me to deny it.” Meng Xiu looked at his son, his gaze revealing a rare paternal love. Li Si asked with slight hesitation, “Was it you who bribed Ashan and instigated him to deliver the miniature carved walnuts to me?”

“Yes,” Meng Xiu admitted.

“Very well. Then please recount the process of making the deal with Ashan. It would be best not to omit any details,” Li Si made his request. Meng Xiu nodded slowly and began recounting how he bribed Ashan and instigated him to deliver the miniature carved walnuts.

What Meng Xiu recounted matched eighty or ninety percent with what Ashan had said. Li Si nodded silently.

Shortly after, Ashan was summoned by Xiao Ning to identify the person. After hearing Meng Xiu’s account, Ashan immediately nodded and said, “That’s right, the process is exactly the same. It was him.”

Ashan was then sent back to Shanliu Ju. Li Si gazed at Meng Xiu. “Lord Meng, I don’t understand why you would do this.”

“Finally this moment has arrived. Good, I can finally pour out the secrets I’ve hidden in my heart for many years.” Meng Xiu closed his eyes, as if looking back on past events. After a long while, he opened his eyes and slowly asked, “Does Lord Li still remember Budong Manor from four years ago?”

“I certainly remember.” Li Si was startled, then understood. “Could it be you are…”

“Four years ago at Budong Manor, aside from Lou Tianming and the Miao Borderland Ghost Woman, the remaining one hundred twenty-nine people all died beneath piercing steel needles. However, there was still a one hundred thirtieth person in existence. That person is me.”