Chapter 3 (1/2)
FRS: Chapter 3 – Unknown Murderer (3)
Translator: Momoe Pom
TLC: Puissansa
Editor: Isabelle
First Published on Ainus.h.i.+.
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Right after Fan JiJing and the others had been attacked, Hua HuaiXiu came to visit. It was such a coincidence that Song BoLin could not help but suspect a connection between them.
He pondered for a moment, then sent out a trusted disciple to lead Hua HuaiXiu to the hall while randomly bringing Fan JiJing and the others into a guest room.
Since his mind was loaded with thoughts, he failed to notice the others' expressions when he pushed open the door until the powder fragrance caught his attention. His embarra.s.sment burst out in the form of anger as he raised his head and was struck by the sight of two dudou [1] hanging over the screen. ”Whose room is this?!”
ShangGuan DingNing was utterly embarra.s.sed that she almost cried. However, she had to hold it back and force herself to reply: ”s.h.i.+shu, it's my room.”
”Your room, your room…” Song BoLin wanted to scold her, but after a few deep breaths he could not think of an excuse, so he only said angrily, ”Why don't you close the door?”
ShangGuan DingNing answered, ”It was closed,” feeling wronged.
”Then how come it…” Song BoLin lowered his head and looked at the latch on ground that he had forcefully broke. ”Why is the latch so weak?”
Everyone stared at the ground.
Song BoLin also found himself acting unreasonably, so he ferociously said to ShangGuan DingNing, ”Next time, don't choose a room that can be found this easily!”
”Yes, s.h.i.+shu.” ShangGuan DingNing responded through her clenched teeth.
Song BoLin angrily turned around and asked Zhu LiaoDa: ”Where is your room?”
Of course there was no dudou in Zhu LiaoDa's room, but there were socks and shoes. Very stinky socks and shoes.
As Song BoLin entered the room, he immediately felt that it was hard to breathe, as if someone had covered his mouth and nose.
”This…” He opened his mouth, which only caused him to suck in more of the stink. Seeing Song BoLin was about to roll his eyes and faint, Fan JiJing and Guan Xing instantly opened windows and doors to let the smell dissipate.
”s.h.i.+shu.” Zhu LiaoDa was already prepared for rebukes, seeing how livid Song BoLin was.
Song BoLin glared at him bitterly, then spoke despite the stuffiness in his chest: ”The fact that Zhangmen was killed on Mount Jiuhua is a shame to the entire Jiuhua Sect. Until the murderer is caught, no one is allowed to leak a word to anyone! If someone asks about it, just tell them Zhangmen is in seclusion [2].”
Fan JiJing looked reluctant.
Song BoLin's words were originally addressed to him, so he further supplemented: ”Cousins [3] included.”
Fan JiJing said, ”Then I'll enter seclusion too.”
”…” Song BoLin was so angry his clenched teeth creaked. ”Entering seclusion right after you come back to Jiuhua, aren't you simply telling others that unspeakable things have happened in the Jiuhua Sect?”
Fan JiJing replied, ”Of all things I've done in life, there is nothing that is inconceivable.”
”But you didn't kill Zhangmen s.h.i.+xiong! How does it even concern you? Why do you need to inform others about it?”
”'Truth is the beginning and end of existence. Without truth there is no existence. It is for this reason that the moral man values truth. [4] ' ” Fan JiJing responded, ”Cousin has always treated me like his sibling, how could I have the heart to lie to him?”
Song BoLin wanted to crack open his head with a hammer to see if it was filled with wood. ”You…”
Nonetheless, Fan JiJing gazed back with even bigger and wider eyes than him.
Fortunately, most of the smells inside the room had dissipated, allowing him to regain a bit of his better mood. ”Forget it. Hua HuaiXiu might not even ask about Zhangmen.”
The sound of rapid footsteps came from outside, followed by a disciple's voice coming from outside the door: ”Master.”
”What's the matter?” asked Song BoLin.
”Third Hua Gongzi would like to meet with Zhangmen.”
”…” Song BoLin looked towards Fan JiJing.
The determination on Fan JiJing's face did not change.
”Let him wait there for now.” He let out a breath, as if he had made a very important decision. ”If this is what you insist, then I'm afraid that I have to…”
”s.h.i.+shu, please have mercy on him.” s.h.i.+ JiZhong frowned.
Guan Xing subtly took half a step forward.
Zhu LiaoDa hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
ShangGuan DingNing's face had been pale for a while, and now she was on the verge of screaming.
”Have mercy?” Song BoLin stared at them coldly: ”What do you think I was going to do?”
Fan JiJing stepped out from behind Guan Xing, looked at him sincerely and said, ”It is I who disobeyed s.h.i.+shu's order. Even if s.h.i.+shu decides to punish me, I will have no word against it.”
”Then you better atone for what you did.” Song BoLin said, ”I'll give you half a month to find out who the murderer is. Otherwise, it won't be as simple a wrong as disobeying my orders.”
Fan JiJing responded solemnly, ”Even if s.h.i.+shu doesn't ask me, I would never have allowed the murderer to go unpunished.”
”Also,” So BoLin continued, ”within this half month, your cousin is not allowed to leave Mount Jiuhua even half a step, nor is he allowed to use mailing pigeons or write letters. Basically, don't let the news leave here.”
Fan JiJing opened his mouth.
Song BoLin cut him off immediately. ”If you still take me as your s.h.i.+shu, then do it as I said.”
”But cousin and the Hua Family…” Fan JiJing knew how many rules the Hua Family had, so he was reluctant to give his cousin a hard time.
”Do you think that just because you don't lie, no one else in this world lies? ” Song BoLin let out a sigh. ”Nevermind, I'll go talk to him.”
Fan JiJing felt relieved.
If Song BoLin had really asked him to say it, he would not know how to even start.
Song BoLin glanced at the others and said, ”Since you all kept saying that it was some other person who killed your master, you should have clear consciences then. a.s.sist him with all you have to solve the case as soon as possible.”
Zhu LiaoDa considered the matter quickly as he said, ”But that person is so skilled in martial arts…”
Song BoLin said, ”Why not just say that you are unskilled?”
Zhu LiaoDa did not dare to say anything else.
”I'll go meet Hua HuaiXiu.” Song BoLin swung his sleeve and left.
Everyone else was left inside the room, each occupied with their own thoughts.
Zhu LiaoDa could not resist and spoke first: ”Where is third s.h.i.+di going to start from?”
Fan JiJing answered, ”I want to ask s.h.i.+shu for permission to see Master's remains.”