Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 188: The Strange Case of the Withered Lotus Listening to the Rain, the Sword Shadow is Cold When the Storm Rises

At Feihu Pass, the Jinyiwei's shouts of killing shook the sky. Their figures shuttled through the camp of Xiongying Society, and engaged in a thrilling life-and-death battle with the disciples of Xiongying Society.

Blood kept splattering, staining the ground red. The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and gunpowder. The degree of tragedy was shocking.

Xiang Yushan used the "Wind Pillar Technique", and his body was surrounded by an invisible gust of wind, and his clothes rustled.

He led the masters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who were as agile as ghosts, and displayed all kinds of exquisite martial arts to engage in close combat with the disciples of the Xiongying Society.

Each of his movements was smooth and deadly, with whistling palm winds and heavy kick shadows. Wherever he passed, the disciples of the Xiongying Society were either dead or injured.

He had a cruel smile on his face, enjoying the bloody massacre.

Lu Yuan stood behind the formation, waving his hands continuously and performing the "Ice Palm".

Wherever his palm touched, the air instantly condensed and filled with coldness.

While he was freezing the disciples of the Xiongying Society, whose bodies were stiff and whose faces were filled with fear, he was also holding a long knife and madly slashing at the disciples of the Xiongying Society, with the knife flashing and blood splattering.

At the same time, he shouted loudly from time to time, commanding countless Jinyiwei, constantly adjusting tactics, like a sophisticated killing machine, and launched a ruthless massacre on the disciples of the Xiongying Society.

Although the disciples of the Xiongying Society fought bravely, each of them tried their best and showed extraordinary courage and perseverance.

But the Jinyiwei came too fiercely, it was a surprise attack, and they were too numerous and the strength disparity was huge.

In this brutal bloody battle, the disciples of the Xiongying Society gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Many disciples were injured in the bloody battle. Some of them covered their wounds and continued to fight tenaciously, while others fell in a pool of blood, groaning in pain.

A moment later, more and more disciples lost their lives, their bodies lay scattered on the ground, and blood gathered into a river.

The smoke of the bloody battle in the forest of corpses has not yet completely dissipated, and Feihu Pass has once again fallen into a sea of ​​blood. Xiongying will face an unprecedented crisis.

In this brutal and bloody battle, their fate was like a candle in the wind, shaky and hanging by a thread.

In a dark corner of the battlefield, Beggars' Sect leader Zhong Renwang, along with two other elders, Ding Hong and Wu Kui, hid there, quietly watching the bloody battle. Their eyes flashed with a cold light, and sinister smiles played across their lips.

Zhong Renwang whispered, "Hehe, now we're going to have a good show. I'm afraid the Xiongying Club is going to be in trouble this time."

Ding Hong also echoed, "That's right. Let's wait until they are both defeated, and then we can reap the benefits."

Wu Kui nodded continuously, the smile on his face becoming more and more ferocious, as if he was looking forward to a grand feast of death.

Suddenly, where Hanlu Zhenren turned into meat paste, countless blood-colored poisonous insects crawled out frantically from the bloody wreckage like a surging red tide.

Although these poisonous insects are small in size, they exude a chilling aura. They are blood red all over, as if soaked in blood, and the patterns on their bodies are strangely twisted, like mysterious runes from hell.

The poisonous insects made a slight rustling sound as they crawled, like the whisper of death.

The poisonous insects quickly rushed towards the surrounding Jinyiwei. Wherever they went, the Jinyiwei's screams instantly pierced the sky.

They gnawed at the Jinyiwei's feet, their sharp mouthparts easily penetrating their shoes and socks and piercing their skin.

The Jinyiwei who was bitten by the poisonous insect felt a sharp pain from the soles of his feet, as if thousands of steel needles were piercing him at the same time.

Then, a piercing itchy sensation came over them like a tide, making them want to scratch.

But once you reach out and touch it, the itching sensation becomes more intense, and the insect twists wildly inside your body.

In the blink of an eye, countless Jinyiwei wailed in pain, their bodies twisted, and fell in a pool of blood.

Their faces turned as pale as paper due to severe pain and fear, beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads, and their eyes were full of despair and horror.

Some Jinyiwei tried to struggle to escape, but found that their legs were numb and weak, and they could only roll helplessly on the ground.

The poison of the insect quickly spread through their bodies, and their bodies began to lose vitality, their skin turned dull and gray, and their muscles began to atrophy. At this time, the three great masters of the capital, Kang Gongsheng, Xiang Yushan, and Lu Yuan, saw this and their faces suddenly changed.

Kang Fusheng quickly crossed his palms, and the energy in his body surged, and he displayed the "Fossil Magic Skill".

A faint grey light appeared on the palms of his hands, and he slapped them fiercely in the direction where the poisonous insects were coming from. The wind from his palms was whistling, and wherever they went, deep cracks were instantly created on the ground, and the surrounding air was also solidified.

However, the poisonous insects were not afraid of the powerful palm force and continued to rush forward.

Xiang Yushan used the "Wind Pillar Technique" and was surrounded by an invisible gust of wind, making his clothes rustle.

He danced his hands quickly, and columns of wind whizzed out from his hands and swept towards the poisonous insects.

Wherever the wind column passed, the poisonous insects were blown to and fro, but they soon gathered together again and continued to move forward.

Lu Yuan used the "Ice Palm". Wherever his palm went, the air instantly condensed and filled with coldness.

He kept waving his hands, and pieces of ice flew towards the insect, trying to freeze it.

After the poisonous insects were hit by the ice, a layer of frost instantly formed on the surface of their bodies, and their movements became slow.

But some poisonous insects still broke free from the shackles of ice and crawled stubbornly towards the Jinyiwei.

The three masters were secretly anxious when they saw this.

They looked at each other, then joined forces tacitly, blending the three different martial arts powers together and attacking the poisonous insect with all their might.

With their joint attack, the offensive of the poisonous insects was finally curbed and gradually eliminated.

After everything calmed down, Kangfusheng and his men began to count the bodies. The over ten thousand Jinyiwei they had led were now lying in a chaotic mess all over the ground. After a closer inspection, they were shocked to find that over seven thousand of them had been reduced to piles of bones.

There are still traces of poisonous insects gnawing on these bones, making them look particularly eerie and terrifying.

The scene was filled with a strong smell of blood and decay, which almost suffocated people.

The few remaining disciples of the Xiongying Club took advantage of the chaos caused by the poisonous insects attacking the Jinyiwei to escape.

Their figures quickly disappeared in the chaos, leaving only the three great masters of the capital and a group of frightened Jinyiwei facing this tragic cemetery.

Zhong Renwang and Ding Hong were so frightened that their faces turned pale and their legs went weak. At this moment, they no longer had the dignity of the Beggar Gang leader and elders. They were like dogs that had lost their homes, fleeing for their lives in fear.

However, Wu Kui, the elder of the Beggar Gang, was not so lucky and was instantly overwhelmed by the terrifying blood parasite.

The blood parasites gnawed at his body frantically, and he let out shrill screams, which echoed in the dead air, making people shudder.

But in a moment, Wu Kui stopped moving, leaving only debris on the ground, revealing the cruel scene that had just happened.

In mid-autumn in Bozhou, the cold wind is like a roaring beast, sweeping across the earth wantonly.

The sky was as gloomy as a heavy sheet of lead, weighing down the air and making it hard to breathe. The withered yellow leaves trembled in the wind and fluttered down one by one.

In front of the corpse-driving inn, a bloody smell filled the air and lingered for a long time, intertwined with the solemn autumn atmosphere, adding a bit of sadness.

In the corpse-driving inn, Shi Feiyang, Yili, and Baizhi led a group of heroes in a desperate fight with the Five Poison Sect followers.

Shi Feiyang brandished the Sky Frost Blade, the blade flashed, and cold air filled the air. Wherever he went, the Five Poison Sect followers fell down one after another.

Ellie's swordsmanship was sharp and her body was agile. Wherever her sword passed, blood splattered.

Bai Zhi uses her exquisite witchcraft skills to protect the heroes of the Xiongying Society.

They fought bravely, killing countless Five Poison Sect followers, and corpses were everywhere.

However, at this moment, a carrier pigeon flapped its wings and flew over, bringing the bad news from Feihu Pass.

A carrier pigeon sent by a disciple of the Xiongying Society informed the heroes that the three great masters of the capital were leading their troops to raid Feihu Pass.

When everyone opened the letter and saw its contents, their eyes widened in anger, with rage burning in their hearts.

Shi Feiyang, Yili, Baizhi and the other heroes were extremely anxious and immediately rushed back to Feihu Pass.

Along the way, the autumn wind howled, making their clothes rustle, but it could not extinguish the anger in their hearts.

When they approached Feihu Pass, they met a group of escaped disciples of the Xiongying Society.

I learned from the disciples that Gong Simeng and others had escaped from Feihu Pass.

The heroes did not dare to delay and hurriedly rode their horses to chase after Gong Simeng's cavalry.

The sound of horse hooves broke the silence of autumn and raised a cloud of dust.

About thirty miles south of Feihu Pass, they finally caught up with Gong Simeng's cavalry.

When everyone saw each other, they were overwhelmed with sadness and tears welled up in their eyes, rolling down like beads from a broken string.

Shi Feiyang's eyes were red as he roared angrily, "What is the purpose of our Xiongying Society?"

The heroes and disciples of the Xiongying Society raised their arms and shouted in unison: "Good deeds must be repaid! Hatred must be avenged! Revenge is a joy!"

The sound resounded through the sky, echoing between heaven and earth for a long time, as if it was going to break through the oppressive sky.

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong's face was filled with anxiety. He turned to look at his wife, "Double-Edged Blade" Xiao Lingling, and asked with concern, "Lingling, are you okay? It was so dangerous just now. I've been worried about you."

A touch of emotion flashed in Xiao Lingling's eyes. She shook her head gently and said, "I'm fine. How about you? Are you hurt?"

Wu Zhong patted his chest and said, "My iron palm is not vegetarian. Those enemies can't hurt me. As long as you are safe, that's all that matters."

Xiang Kun, the "Iron Flute Scholar," Miao Menlong, the "Archer," and Shan Zhi, the "Plum Blossom Dart," gathered around the Xiongying Society elders Liao Pei and Lie Quan, their faces filled with worry. Xiang Kun softly asked, "Elder Liao, Elder Lie, how are your injuries?"

Liao Pei's face was pale. He forced a smile and said, "It's okay. I won't die. Thanks to you for arriving in time."

Miao Menlong frowned and said, "No, we have to find a place to get treated properly. This injury can't be delayed."

Shan Zhi also echoed, "Yeah, we have to heal our wounds. We still have to settle accounts with those Jinyiwei!"

Shi Feiyang quickly walked over to his beloved wife Gong Simeng and Qi Meizhen, his eyes full of concern. He said softly, "Simeng, Meizhen, you're scared. Are you hurt? Are the children okay?"

Gong Simeng, with tears in her eyes, shook her head and said, "We are fine, we are just worried about you."

Maggie Cheung also said: "Yes, we are relieved to see that you are safe."

Seeing that Qi Meizhen and Gong Simeng looked tired and worried, Yi Li took the initiative to walk over and comforted them softly: "Si Meng, Meizhen, don't worry too much. Your husband is back, and everything will be fine."

Gong Simeng looked at Yi Li gratefully and said, "Thank you, Yi Li. This time it's all thanks to you and everyone else." Qi Meizhen also nodded and said, "Yes, we will be a family from now on and we must face difficulties together."

At this time, Bai Zhi's face was filled with sorrow because of the loss of her master, Hanlu Zhenren.

Gong Simeng, Maggie Cheung, and Yi Li all came over to comfort her.

Gong Simeng gently hugged Bai Zhi and said, "Bai Zhi, don't be too sad. Master Hanlu would definitely not want to see you like this. She sacrificed herself to protect everyone. She is a hero."

Maggie Cheung also said: "Yes, we will always remember her. You still have us, we are all your family."

Yili held Baizhi's hand and said, "Baizhi, cry if you want to. It will make you feel better. We will be with you."

Bai Zhi raised her head, looked at them, her eyes full of emotion, and nodded.

After this ordeal, the four Mrs. Shi, Maggie Cheung, Gong Simeng, Bai Zhi and Yi Li, finally put aside their grudges, got along with each other in a friendly manner, and no longer felt jealous of each other.

Shi Feiyang looked at everyone, took a deep breath, and said loudly: "Alright! Now, we are a tired army. Let's go back to Jiangnan first and take revenge later!"

Everyone responded and immediately led the heroes and disciples on their journey home.

In this bleak autumn wind, their figures appear a little tired, yet extremely determined.

Their fire of revenge will never be extinguished.

Suzhou in mid-autumn is like a beautiful painting that slowly unfolds.

In the jewel-blue sky, a few white cotton candy-like clouds are floating slowly.

The sunlight is soft and warm, like a golden veil, gently falling on the ancient streets and pavilions.

The leaves of the ginkgo trees on the street have turned yellow and are swaying gracefully in the breeze. From time to time, a few leaves fall, like golden butterflies dancing, covering the ground with a thick golden carpet.

The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, which is rich and fragrant. It penetrates into people's nostrils and makes people unable to help but indulge in it.

The streets and alleys are filled with various autumn specialties, steaming hot, and laughter is heard one after another, and the air is filled with the unique warmth and comfort of mid-autumn season.

The Shi Mansion, a mansion that is famous in Suzhou Prefecture, is even more magnificent and huge.

The vermilion gate is tall and majestic, and the golden door nails on it sparkle brightly under the sunlight, highlighting the owner's noble status.

The stone lion at the door is majestic, with its mouth wide open, guarding the peace of the mansion.

As you step into the mansion, what comes into view is a vast courtyard with many rockeries and rocks in various shapes. Some look like immortals pointing the way, and some look like cows lying down and drinking water.

Between the rockery, gurgling water meanders through the water, crystal clear and the fish swim freely in the water, sometimes shuttling between the water plants, and sometimes floating to the surface to spit bubbles.

All around the courtyard, various exotic flowers and plants were planted. Chrysanthemums competed for beauty, some red like fire, some white like snow, some pink like clouds, decorating the courtyard with a riot of color. When the news came that Shi Feiyang had returned with the ladies, the maids and servants of the Shi Mansion were instantly excited.

Their faces were filled with excitement and joy, their eyes sparkling with joy.

The old butler hurried out with a pleased smile on his face. While directing the servants to greet him, he quickly stepped forward and saluted Shi Feiyang.

The maids gathered around the ladies, their eyes full of respect and concern.

Some maids hurriedly took the items from the ladies' hands, while others were busy teasing the children, and laughter echoed in the mansion.

The servants acted quickly and worked diligently to arrange everything.

They cleaned the courtyard spotlessly, replaced the bedding in each room with new ones, and lit incense that emitted a faint fragrance.

In the kitchen, the chefs were busy preparing sumptuous meals. One dish after another, delicious in appearance, aroma and taste, was boiling in the pot. Soon, the whole stone mansion was filled with tempting aroma.

The layout of the stone mansion is exquisite. Yili, Gong Simeng, Baizhi and Qi Meizhen brought their children to live in the courtyards and rooms in the east, south, west and north respectively.

The eastern courtyard is full of green bamboos. When the breeze blows, the bamboo leaves rustle, just like playing a melodious piece of music. Yili and Shi Yuyan, the sister adopted by Shi Feiyang, feel the tranquility and elegance here.

In the southern courtyard, there is a small garden with flowers all year round. At this moment, the autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom, colorful. Gong Simeng and her two children are enjoying the beauty of the fragrance of flowers here.

The western courtyard has an exquisite study room with shelves full of books exuding the fragrance of ink. Baizhi and her children can immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge here.

In the northern courtyard, there is a spacious martial arts training ground where Maggie Cheung and her children can feel the passion and vitality.

Their husband, Shi Feiyang, lives in the picturesque house in the middle of the lake.

The house is surrounded by water. The lake is clear and calm, like a huge mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and the surrounding pavilions and towers.

The architectural style of the house is elegant, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, full of ancient charm.

The interior of the house is warm and luxurious. The furniture is made of high-quality wood and is decorated with various precious antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

Standing in front of the window, you can take in the beautiful scenery of the stone mansion. The breeze blows by, bringing a hint of coolness, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Shi Feiyang looked at all these familiar things, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart. This is his home, a safe haven for him and his family.

In mid-autumn in Suzhou, the drizzle was as fine as silk, floating down gently and covering the entire Humble Administrator's Garden.

The drizzle was like silver threads hanging between heaven and earth, falling on the well-arranged pavilions, towers, and sparkling lakes and lotus ponds in the Humble Administrator's Garden.

The raindrops created tiny ripples on the lake surface, which spread out layer by layer, adding a touch of hazy poetry to this famous garden in the south of the Yangtze River, but also inexplicably tinged it with a touch of inexplicable sadness.

The Liuting Pavilion in the Humble Administrator's Garden appears even more desolate in this misty drizzle.

The vermilion window frames became darker in color as the rain fell, like the heavy marks left by the years.

However, at this moment, Liuting Pavilion was tightly wrapped in a strange and bloody atmosphere, which made people shudder.

As you step into Liuting Pavilion, you can see five bodies lying on the ground in the shape of a plum blossom.

Rainwater flowed in through the open window frames, soaking the corpse and the ground.

The cold rain and warm blood mixed together, spreading on the ground and forming a dark red puddle.

The corpses all had tubes made of dried lotus stems inserted into their throats. The withered yellow lotus leaves remaining on the lotus stems trembled slightly in the breeze, as if whispering about the bizarreness and horror of the tragedy.

Just when everyone was still immersed in shock and fear, unable to extricate themselves, Shi Feiyang, the leader of the Xiongying Society, hurried over with a group of heroes.

In the mid-autumn drizzle of Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden, Liuting Pavilion was shrouded in a strange and bloody atmosphere. Five corpses lay in the shape of plum blossoms, and rain and blood mixed together.

The first person to see Shi Feiyang was a young knight-errant. His face turned pale and his lips trembled slightly because of the tragic scene before him.

At this moment, his eyes widened, filled with surprise and awe. His fingers, which had been tightly gripping the hilt of the sword and had turned white with tension, unconsciously loosened their grip and murmured, "Chief Shi is here. We're saved now!"

Although the man's voice was not loud, it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing ripples among the crowd.

A white-haired old man, wearing a gray robe and holding a bamboo stick, his originally sunken eyes were full of worry and confusion.

Upon hearing Shi Feiyang's arrival, his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up. His slightly hunched body straightened up with all his strength. He slammed the bamboo stick in his hand onto the ground and said excitedly, "Chief Shi is renowned far and wide. He will surely uncover the truth of this tragedy and seek justice for the deceased!"

His words were full of trust and expectations for Shi Feiyang.

In the crowd, several young disciples who had just started their studies were so excited that their faces flushed. They looked at each other with admiration shining in their eyes.

One of them couldn't help but jump up, waving his arms and shouting, "It's Chief Shi! It's such a blessing to see him in person!"

The other one clenched his fists and said with longing: "In the future, I want to be like Chief Shi, a chivalrous man in the world of martial arts, punishing evil and promoting good!" Everyone consciously retreated to both sides, their movements were quick and orderly, as if they were well-trained soldiers welcoming a general's inspection.

Some of their eyes showed awe, some showed expectation, and some showed fanatical worship.

Everyone held their breath, afraid of disturbing Shi Feiyang.

For a moment, outside Liuting Pavilion, apart from the sound of the dripping rain, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Shi Feiyang stepped into Liuting Pavilion with steady steps. Wherever he passed, people's eyes followed him closely, as if he was a beacon in the darkness, illuminating this place shrouded in haze.

Shi Feiyang looked solemn and stepped into Liuting Pavilion with steady steps.

His eyes were as sharp as torches, as if they could penetrate all the fog, and he quickly scanned every detail of the scene.

He squatted down, his movements gentle but revealing unquestionable professionalism, and carefully examined the condition of the deceased.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes focused on the palms of the deceased and found that both palms were filled with Siamese rice paste glued together.

These tiny grains of rice looked particularly out of place in the pale palm of the deceased, as if they were hiding an unknown secret.

This discovery made Shi Feiyang frown, and a hint of contemplation flashed in his deep eyes.

He wondered in his heart: Why did this Siamese rice crackers appear in the palm of the deceased, and what kind of connection does it have with this tragedy?
This seemingly clueless clue was like a ray of light in the darkness in his eyes, and perhaps it was the key to solving the mystery.

Shi Feiyang then stood up and paced around the pavilion. His steps were slow and firm, and each step seemed to tread on everyone's heartstrings.

He closed his eyes and listened quietly to the sound of rain. The drops struck the withered lotus leaves, creating a crisp yet chaotic sound that echoed throughout the silent pavilion. But Shi Feiyang could detect something unusual within this complex cacophony of sounds.

With his unique skill of "listening to the rain and identifying the smell of gunpowder", he noticed that there seemed to be a faint smell of gunpowder remaining in the hollow of the lotus stem.

This faint smell, covered by the rain and the smell of blood, is extremely difficult for ordinary people to detect, but it cannot escape Shi Feiyang's keen perception.

"There is a smell of gunpowder in the lotus stem. It seems that this is not an ordinary murder case." Shi Feiyang slowly opened his eyes and said solemnly.

His voice was deep and powerful, resounding in the pavilion like a huge bell, shocking all the heroes present.

Gunpowder has always been an extremely dangerous and strictly controlled substance in the underworld. Those who privately manufacture or use gunpowder will be scorned by the underworld and severely punished by the government. Now that it appears in this murder weapon, it is clear that the conspiracy behind it must be intricate and far more complex than anyone imagined.

"Master Shi, who do you think did this? Why did they use such a strange method to kill people?" A hero couldn't help but ask, his tone full of anxiety and confusion.

Shi Feiyang shook his head slightly, his eyes firm and steady as he said, "We still have few clues, so it's hard to say for sure. But these Siamese rice flakes and the smell of gunpowder in the lotus stems must be the key to solving this case. We need to start our investigation from these two aspects."

His words were like a shot in the arm, instantly calming the panicked crowd. They believed that as long as Shi Feiyang was there, there was hope for a solution, no matter how difficult the problem.

So, Shi Feiyang led the group to search for clues throughout the Humble Administrator's Garden, leaving no corner untouched, even the most inconspicuous cracks, carefully examining them.

They questioned everyone who might know the situation, from the gardeners and servants in the garden to the occasional passers-by, leaving no trace of clues.

However, as the investigation deepened, they discovered that there were many forces involved in this case, and the situation became increasingly complicated, as if they were caught in a huge mystery. They had just touched the edge of the mystery, and the truth was still hidden behind the fog.

In the mid-autumn of Suzhou, night falls quietly, and a layer of mysterious gauze is cast over the stone mansion.

The bright moonlight gently sprinkled on the quaint buildings of the Stone Mansion. The pavilions and towers cast hazy shadows in the moonlight, like a landscape painting in light ink. The flowers, plants and trees in the courtyard swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound.

Shi Feiyang and his four wives, Gong Simeng, Yi Li, Qi Meizhen, Bai Zhi, etc., sat in the spacious and bright restaurant. The table was filled with sumptuous dishes, steaming hot and emitting an enticing aroma.

The soft candlelight danced on the dining table, illuminating everyone's faces and creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

Shi Feiyang smiled and served each of the four ladies a bowl of soup. Then he slowly said, "Today in the Humble Administrator's Garden, we encountered a difficult case. Five corpses, with dry lotus stems inserted in their throats, Siamese rice crumbs stuck on their palms, and the lotus stems even smelled of gunpowder." His voice was steady and calm, but it was hard to hide the solemnity in his words.

Gong Simeng frowned slightly and asked with concern: "Ah, there is such a bizarre case? What is the connection between those Siamese rice pieces and the smell of gunpowder in the lotus stems?" As she spoke, she took the bowl of soup handed to her by Shi Feiyang, her eyes full of concern for her husband and curiosity about the case.

Shi Feiyang picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and placed it in Gong Simeng's bowl. He said gently, "It's not clear yet. This is exactly the key point that needs to be investigated. However, we will definitely get to the bottom of it."

Ellie put down the chopsticks in her hand and said with a firm look in her eyes: "Husband, I will go with you to investigate the case tomorrow. One more person means more strength. Maybe I can find some different clues." Her eyes revealed confidence and courage, and she was full of enthusiasm for solving the case.

Shi Feiyang looked at Yi Li with eyes full of doting, and nodded, "Okay, I feel more at ease with you by my side. However, investigating the case may be dangerous, so you must be careful."

Maggie Cheung also quickly said, "I want to go too! I don't want to stay at home and worry. My martial arts skills can also help." She patted the Miao Dao at her waist, looking anxious.

Shi Feiyang looked at Qi Meizhen with a smile and said, "Okay, then you two will go with me tomorrow. However, we must always remain vigilant and not take it lightly."

Bai Zhi listened quietly, her eyes full of worry, and her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes.

After hesitating for a moment, she spoke softly with a trembling voice: "The case is so complicated, will it be very dangerous? You must pay attention to safety." As she spoke, she raised her head slightly, staring at Shi Feiyang intently, the concern in her eyes was beyond words.

Shi Feiyang reached out and gently touched Bai Zhi's head. With a gentle smile on his face, he comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. You take good care of the children at home."

Bai Zhi bit her lower lip slightly, nodded gently, and said, "Yes, I will. You must be careful outside. If you encounter danger, don't try to be brave." Her eyes were full of reluctance and concern, fearing that Shi Feiyang would encounter something unexpected.

Shi Feiyang looked at Bai Zhi with tenderness in his eyes. He patted her shoulder again and said, "I know. Don't worry. Just stay home and wait for me to come back."

Bai Zhi raised the corner of her mouth slightly, revealing a slightly worried smile, and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

Shi Feiyang turned to look at Gong Simeng and said seriously, "Simeng, you should stay home and take good care of the children. Also, take some maids and teach Baizhi Jiangnan the Nong language. Learning Nong language will be more convenient in the future in Jiangnan."

Gong Simeng smiled and nodded: "Okay, don't worry. I will definitely take good care of the children and teach Baizhi to speak Nong language well."

The dinner continued in a warm atmosphere. Shi Feiyang picked up some dishes for the ladies from time to time, and the ladies also asked about the details of the case with concern.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, the autumn night was quiet, and the stone house was filled with a strong family atmosphere. At this moment, the chaos outside had nothing to do with this place, only this strong family affection flowed in the air.

The next morning, as soon as the sky turned pale, Shi Feiyang hurried to the Confucian Temple Stele Forest.

The ancient trees here block out the sun, and their thick branches intertwine with each other, like a huge green dome, isolating the noise from the outside world.

There are many stone tablets in various shapes, some tall and majestic, some small and exquisite. Each stone tablet carries the vicissitudes of time and exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

However, at this moment the Forest of Steles is shrouded in a mysterious mist, as if hiding countless unknown secrets.

The murderer seemed to be deliberately creating confusion here and carefully forged the stone prophecy, hoping to disrupt the direction of everyone's investigation with these false clues.

Shi Feiyang's sharp eyesight made him realize that the murderer's actions were no accident and that there must be a deeper purpose behind them. He became increasingly cautious. He led his men in a thorough search of the stele forest, scanning every stele, leaving no corner that might hold a clue.

Everyone held their breath, the sound of footsteps was particularly clear in this silent forest of stele, and the atmosphere was tense and depressing.

Finally, they found the newly carved fragments of "The Book of Changes" at the bottom of a stone tablet carried by a bixi.

The handwriting was crooked, as if a child had scribbled it casually, yet it seemed to be hiding a hidden secret. It seemed out of place on this ancient stone tablet, yet it was particularly eye-catching.

At this time, Shi Feiyang's wife, Yi Li, the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, came in a light blue long dress, the hem of which fluttered gently in the wind. She had a graceful figure and a beautiful face, like a fairy descending to the earth. She was accompanied by heroes such as "Round Barrel" Lu De De, "Bamboo Pole" Jiang Huotian, "Centipede" Gongsun Ren, "Green-faced Beast" Yang Feng, and "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen.

Mrs. Shi, Michelle Yim, is a daughter of a general with a generous personality. Today, she is dressed in tight clothes, looking heroic and following closely beside Yi Li.

As soon as Maggie Cheung saw the fragments at the bottom of the stone tablet, a hint of excitement and sharpness flashed in her eyes.

As the daughter of a general, she had been well-read since childhood and was familiar with all kinds of ancient books and allusions. In the process of following her father in marches and battles, she developed keen observation and analytical skills.

At this moment, she lifted her skirt without hesitation, her movements were quick and decisive, without any of the shyness of an ordinary woman.

She squatted down, carefully took out the rubbing tools, and began to carefully copy the inscription with a focused and serious look.

She skillfully applied the ink, gently covering the paper. Each movement was precise and precise, showcasing the calmness and competence of a master. Once the rubbing was complete, everyone gathered around to examine it carefully.

Maggie Cheung was the first to notice something unusual. She pointed at the inscription and said with confidence and conviction, "Look, everyone, the depths of the inscriptions vary. They're definitely not random."

Shi Feiyang stared at the inscription, lost in thought. "The depths of the inscriptions vary. Could there be a hidden meaning?"

He muttered to himself, his brow furrowed, his eyes fixed on the scratches, trying to decipher the murderer's intentions from them.

Ellie frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes moving, her bright eyes revealing intelligence and calmness. She said, "Perhaps this was a deliberate hint left by the murderer, but we haven't yet grasped its meaning."

Maggie Cheung nodded vigorously in agreement and said firmly, "No matter what, this is definitely an important clue and we must not let it go. In my opinion, the depth of the carving may be related to some kind of code or secret code. We can start from this aspect and analyze it carefully."

As she spoke, she traced the rubbing paper with her fingers, trying to find a pattern between the marks.

A heated discussion ensued among the crowd surrounding this discovery.

Everyone expressed their opinions and sparks of thought collided in the air.

However, the mystery is like layers of fog, getting thicker and thicker. Although they racked their brains, they could not see the truth for a while. The secret hidden behind the marks was still like the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror, out of reach, but full of temptation, attracting them to continue exploring.

(End of this chapter)