Chapter 446: The Pas (1/2)
According to the size of this iron walnut, it was almost impossible for the human esophagus to swallow. Even if swallowed, a foreign object in the stomach would cause serious pathological changes!
The idea that the iron walnut chose the witch was fabricated by the first shaman because widows in ancient times had low status and no means of earning a living. The first shaman fabricated such a ritual in order to grant future shamans a means of livelihood. In fact, it was worn on them all the time, and the swallowing ritual was merely a smokescreen.
The secret was passed down by each shaman to the next one. However, outsiders thought that the iron walnut remained in the shaman’s stomach the entire time which the murderer exploited to set me up. Of course, this little trick couldn’t fool me. First of all, it was chicken blood smeared on the iron walnut. And secondly, Granny Yan’s stomach and intestines were intact.
Who could have known that the iron walnut was with Granny Yan and she had access to it? There was only one person who fit the criteria, that is, Cui Huan.
In fact, I had solved the mystery during our discussion in the ceremonial hall. At the time, I never imagined Cui Huan would kill and pin the crime on me so I had no intention of exposing the shaman’s lies. However, considering Cui Huan was the murderer, I had no qualms about letting the cat out of the bag.
Upon hearing my explanation, the villagers fixed their gaze on Cui Huan.
”Apart from this clue, I also found that Granny Yan was strangled by a hair tie and the murder weapon should still be on the murderer,” I said. “Additionally, she struggled violently before she died and scratched the murderer's arm. Cui Huan, please show us your hands! If there are no wounds, then you’re innocent.”
Cui Huan bit her lip so hard she was bleeding and deliberately covered the back of her hand with her sleeve. Her guilt was evident.
”Did you murder the man in the banyan tree as well?” I demanded.
Cui Huan vehemently shook her head, ”It wasn’t me!”
The village chief suddenly shouted, ”Cui Huan, how dare you commit such a heinous crime! Lock her up while we wait for judgement from the elders!”
”Wait a minute!” Song Xingchen strode out of the crowd with a scroll in his hand.
”That's ...” the village chief blurted in shock.
”I asked Song Xingchen to bring the Song family genealogical records!”
”You’re not allowed to take the records out of the ancestral hall! How can you...” the village chief trailed off.
”Don’t worry. I will plead my wrongdoings to Aunt Song,” I assured him.
”Cui Huan, is the man in the banyan tree your first husband, Song Qinghe?” I asked.
”Yes!” she trembled.
”The truth has been revealed,” interrupted the village chief. “What a vicious woman. She murdered her husband and Granny Yan! Take her away.”
”If I’m going down, you’re all coming with me!” Cui Huan maliciously spat, “I’ll bring the village secrets to light!”
”Enough with your lies!” roared the village chief. “Take her away!”
As two men approached Cui Huan, she suddenly turned around and kicked one of them, ferociously charging towards the village chief.
”This woman is crazy, stop her!” the village chief shouted in a panic.
Another man dashed into the scene, exchanging a few moves with Cui Huan before sending her flying with a punch. Having sustained injuries, Cui Huan vomited a mouthful blood all over her chest.