Chapter 444: Slaughtering The Chicken (1/2)

”He’s laughing! What a cold-blooded monster!” yelled a villager.

Song Jie shook my arm, ”Song Yang-gege, what's wrong with you?”

”It's really fascinating,” I sneered. “There weren't any clues before but now there is one.”

”I have a message for one of you,” I said, scanning the crowd. “I already know your identity and purpose and I’m coming for you!”

My threat was half bluff but I observed each and every person’s microexpressions. Someone quietly left quietly as if guilty. Unfortunately, I didn't catch who it was.

The village chief interrupted, “Young man, this has just gotten more complicated. I'm afraid you’ll have to explain yourself.”

”We should ask the elders to preside over the matter!” suggested a villager.

”No, no,” the villager waved his hand. “We will handle the matter ourselves. We shouldn’t disturb the elders.”

Walking up to me, the village chief tried to remove the iron walnut from my hand. Since I was afraid of leaving fingerprints, I asked Song Jie for a handkerchief and carefully wrapped the evidence.

A bunch of villagers surrounded us for fear that I would flee.

”Where are we going?” I whispered to Song Jie.

”The ceremonial hall is the place where the village decides on internal affairs.” Song Jie frowned and anxiously muttered, ”Why hasn't my mother come forward?”

”And what will that do?” I asked.

”Are you silly? My mother is the current head of the martial Songs. If she’s here, we won't have to be so passive,” explained Song Jie.

”Song Xingchen, you don't have to come with us. Find out who slaughtered chickens tonight!” I instructed.

In fact, the blood on the iron walnut wasn’t human but chicken blood which wasn’t a smart idea. Since the entire village would gather in the ceremonial hall, it was the perfect time to look for clues.

Song Xingchen agreed to check the village while I followed the village chief and the others to a simple, unadorned two-story building. As soon as I entered, I saw the plaque ”Leaving A Good Reputation For Generations To Come” hung on the wall. The village chief sat at the top while the other Song family descendants stood on both sides.

”Song Yang, tell me what you did today. Why were you there when the fire started? How did the iron walnut get into your pocket?” the village chief interrogated.

”I visited Granny Yan with Song Jie and Song Xingchen in the morning to inquire about a murder that happened in the village eight years ago.”

”What murder?” asked the village chief.

”Eight years ago, a man faked his death in this village. He was probably trying to avoid something,” I began. “When he came back, the person who knew of the truth killed him and hid his body in the banyan tree. Granny Yan has a certain relationship with the murderer so she did two things–piece together a skeleton and declare the banyan tree sacred so people would be afraid to get too close.”

”That’s just speculation,” said the village chief. ”Why do you think it’s murder?”

”If it wasn't so, the murderer wouldn’t have to go to such lengths! Additionally, the corpse in the banyan tree shows signs of struggle, indicating that the victim was still alive when he was stuffed inside.”

The elders ordered me to investigate the case, yet Song Heting never showed up even after such a huge commotion. My intuition told me that the elders and Song Heting were well aware of the facts of the case but couldn’t come forward due to certain reasons. Thus, they needed an outsider to reveal the truth.

There must be secrets hidden within this village!

As the village chief hesitated, another villager standing next to him said, ”Don't change the subject. Where’s Granny Yan?”

”I don't know, but if I’m allowed to investigate, I’ll be able to find her!” I replied.