Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 40 Clarifying Motivation
"This item is woven from silkworm silk mixed with black iron. It is said in the martial arts world that it is as thin as a hair, yet it is indestructible and can cut iron like mud. In reality, it is not that exaggerated."

As Su Wuqing explained, a barely perceptible strange glint flashed in his eyes as he watched Zhan Zhao take the Panlong Silk.

Zhan Zhao wrapped the coiled dragon silk around his fingertip and gently twisted it, and he understood.

The conductivity of this silver thread was unexpectedly good.

The internal energy is transmitted to the silk thread, making it flexible and adaptable, as if it were an extension of one's own arm. Combined with the material itself, this makes the cutting sharpness even more pronounced.

But then again, it depends on who is using it.

If one possesses exceptional skill, it can be like adding wings to a tiger, allowing one to kill without leaving a trace.

If an ordinary martial artist were to use it, it wouldn't be anything special.

'Could it really not be Su Wuqing?'

Seeing Su Wuqing readily hand over the "Panlong Silk," Lian Caiyun was surprised, yet still somewhat unwilling to give up: 'Was he just pretending to be honest?'

Just as she hesitated, Zhan Zhao's voice came from beside her ear: "Miss Caiyun, when you just displayed 'Bright Moon', did you consider that the strings inside, combined with your light-footed skills, might make you a suspect in murder?"

"what?"

Lian Caiyun subconsciously shook her head: "No."

"This is the behavior of a person with an open and honest heart."

Zhan Zhao said, "So I believe you are not the one who committed the crime. Su Wuqing did not need to prove himself, but he still did so, which greatly reduced the suspicion. This is undeniable."

There were some things he didn't say.

That wasn't just a test.

In fact, as soon as he entered the torture chamber, Zhan Zhao sent a telepathic message to Su Wuqing, roughly explaining his purpose.

The two sides did not even exchange blows; Su Wuqing did not resist, yet her men got close to her.

Even though Zhan Zhao vaguely sensed that Su Wuqing was not without power if he really wanted to make trouble, this frankness was truly rare.

Trust is mutual.

Su Wuqing believed him, and he believed Su Wuqing.

"Brother Zhan is right! But...but..."

Lian Caiyun was persuaded, but her expression darkened.

If Su Wuqing isn't the real culprit.

Then.

The murderer is among the members of Yunqi Manor!

"Excuse me! Goodbye!"

Zhan Zhao then prepared to leave.

He had already judged that the possibility of the Six Doors members committing the crime was extremely low, and he came here to meet the expectations of Yunqi Manor.

Bringing Lian Caiyun along serves two purposes: to provide a witness and to protect the closest person from potential serial murders within the house.

Now that we've investigated the Six Doors at night and cleared their name, the next step of investigating the members inside Yunqi Manor will face much less resistance.

"Wait a minute!"

However, just as the two were about to leave, Su Wuqing spoke up to stop them.

Zhan Zhao and Lian Caiyun turned around and saw the famous constable say, "The patient does not know who killed Young Master Tang or how the secret room was set up, but the reason for Young Master Tang's death may be related to something."

"What?"

"Letters from over there."

"Tang Lei's letter?"

Zhan Zhao picked up the letter and noticed Lian Caiyun staring at it expectantly, so he handed it to her.

"It's my second senior brother's handwriting!"

Lian Caiyun took the unfolded document, glanced at it, and confirmed it immediately. But after she finished reading, her pretty face changed color: "Second Senior Brother... is secretly contacting the Six Doors?"

'Could Tang Lei also be a spy for the Six Doors?'

Zhan Zhao was startled.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Fortunately, things didn't turn out the same way. Su Wuqing slowly said, "When Young Master Tang sent the message, the patient was also very surprised. However, he spoke with certainty, saying that he had a major secret he was willing to tell the patient, which could resolve the dispute between the two parties. Perhaps it was because of this that he was brought to his death."

This news is truly astonishing.

Tang Lei has been going out frequently these past few days, supposedly to prepare for filing a lawsuit with the emperor, but it turns out he was secretly colluding with the Six Doors?
Zhan Zhao had a sudden thought, and he recalled the day he was talking with Lin Yuxian. They were at a crucial point when Granny Jiang interrupted them. After Granny Jiang left, he noticed Tang Lei's body circling outside the house.

Could it be that Tang Lei already realized something at that time, but only didn't communicate with him because he noticed that Granny Jiang was watching him very closely?

"It is indeed my second senior brother's handwriting, and it's also his usual way of writing letters..."

Even though Lian Caiyun wasn't giving up, she watched it several more times.

Finally, despair set in. While handwriting can be forged, the habits of word choice and sentence structure are much harder to imitate.

Especially his fawning manner. When Li Wuxing came to the manor as a guest, the second senior brother was extremely enthusiastic, always trying to get close to him. Later, when Zhan Zhao questioned the Six Doors about the crime, he was the first to jump out and his words were the most vehement.

Fortunately, when they were later blocked in front of the Six Doors, the second senior brother had the loudest voice and the most resolute attitude.

But to my utter surprise, they turned around and secretly resumed their dealings.

This is preparation...

Betting on both sides?

Lian Caiyun could no longer bear it. Her figure suddenly turned into a crimson afterimage and disappeared between the pillars of the torture chamber in an instant.

"A chance encounter led to unexpected success; it was supposed to be a process of elimination, but it unexpectedly revealed the motive."

Zhan Zhao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for informing us, Constable Su. We'll take this letter with us. Farewell!"

"I have one last thing to say..."

Su Wuqing's voice was gentle and refined, and a whisper as faint as a mosquito's buzz drifted over.

After listening, Zhan Zhao nodded slightly, and with a flick of his sleeves, he vanished out the window like a wisp of smoke.

Only a lone lamp remained on the desk, its light flickering uncertainly in the drafty passageway.

"Another death?"

Su Wuqing felt the night wind and murmured, "I hope my arrangements are still in time!"

……

In the middle of a winter night.

Two figures, one in front and one behind, swept across the continuous rooftops once again.

However, compared to their aggressive demeanor when they left, the atmosphere on their return was completely different.

Finally, Lian Caiyun stopped, her eyes glistening with tears: "Our senior brother is gentle and humble, and considerate in everything he does. Even though he's not much older than us, he's like an older brother and a father to us!"

“From childhood to adulthood, my master didn’t really care much about anything. He was only interested in traveling, having fun, making friends, and staying up all night. My master’s wife was in poor health and often stayed alone in her room. Later we found out that she was practicing her martial arts. When we wanted to keep her company, she wouldn’t let us…”

"Every time that happened, it was our eldest brother who led us. He taught us to read and write, and he taught us martial arts and rules..."

"To be honest, when Master disappeared, we were just at a loss, but when our eldest brother was killed, that was truly heartbreaking!"

Zhan Zhao stood quietly on the eaves, listening intently.

Lian Caiyun continued, "Just now everyone said that the murderer was from the Six Doors, and I thought so too, because we all grew up together, how could he kill my second senior brother?"

"But now... Second Senior Brother is actually having secret dealings with the Six Doors! Has he forgotten how Senior Brother treated us, forgotten that the Six Doors were the murderers of Senior Brother?"

Why did he betray his sect? Why did he betray us?

Zhan Zhao then stepped forward and said softly, "The truth is still unclear. Perhaps Tang Lei is truly bewitched, or perhaps he did not betray us. But in any case, do not torment yourself because of other people's mistakes."

"Woo!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Caiyun's tears flowed even more uncontrollably.

During this period, Yunqi Mountain Villa has suffered a series of misfortunes, and everyone there is feeling depressed.

Madam Yun was clearly not going to offer any comfort to these disciples, to the point that even a man like Shen Lan almost broke down.

Zhan Zhao sensed that Lian Caiyun was even more depressed.

Even if the smile is sometimes very pure and without any affectation, the negative emotions do not disappear, but rather accumulate deeply.

She was, after all, a teenage girl, younger than Zhan Zhao, and shouldn't have acted this way.

At this moment, the Six Minds Clarity Technique was used again to soothe her mind, and Lian Caiyun finally burst into tears: "Waaah...Senior Brother...Waaah..."

The crying grew louder and louder, and it was the kind of crying a child would have no regard for their appearance. Tears and snot streamed down their faces. Since they didn't have a handkerchief, they wiped their tears with their sleeves, and soon their sleeves were mostly wet.

Then a clean sleeve came into view.

She instinctively grabbed it and blew her nose.

This movement was extremely natural, just like when I was a child following behind my senior brother.

But after she finished, she suddenly realized whose sleeve it was, and exclaimed, her face turning completely red: "Brother Zhan! How could you..."

"You call me that, shouldn't you wipe away the girl's tears, as an older brother?"

Zhan Zhao couldn't help but laugh when he saw how adorable she was.

"Hmm! There's no need for that!"

Lian Caiyun turned around, her cheeks flushed.

However, after crying so much, her eyes did regain their pure, bright, and innocent look.

"Let's go!"

Zhan Zhao sensed that the other person's condition had improved considerably, nodded, and regained his serious expression: "Now that we know the motive, it's time to find out exactly what happened in this locked-room murder case!"

(End of this chapter)