The next day arrived, bathed in the soft glow of dawn as Li Lianhua and Fang Duobing stood before the assembled disciples and seniors, their faces set with determination. With all eyes upon them, they recounted the communication with Leader Wang's spirit and the task set forth to identify the true descendant.
As each participant penned their response on the paper provided, a hushed anticipation filled the air, the tension palpable as they awaited the revelation of the truth. When the time came to unveil the answers, Fang Duobing stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the gathered participants.
"The correct answer is Helan, and you wrote it correctly," he declared, his voice steady and resolute as he stood in front of a participant named Happy.
Happy trembled with fear and looked towards his father, "My father told me to write this."
"It's just a name, what proof do you have that I had anything to do with Leader Wang's death?" Happy's father chuckled, "Don't insult me with baseless accusations."
"Shall I address you as Happy's father? Or perhaps Xin Lei, the Thunder Chaser of the Jinyuan Alliance?" Li Lianhua's laughter echoed softly, his words laden with accusation.
"There is a black palm on his back which was caused by the skill that made the Thunder Chaser famous. I guess that Leader Wang had an affair with a girl named Helan Yan. Later, they had an illegitimate son."
Fang Duobing took up the thread of the conversation, his tone cold and calculated. "Because he wasn't allowed to get married and have children, Helan Yan threatened to leave. But Leader Wang didn't want to abandon his child, so he decided to put on a show. You found out his plan by chance. You also discovered that Leader Wang had noticed the remnants of the Jinyuan Alliance in Jia Province. So you decided to get rid of him by giving him this idea."
Li Lianhua nodded in agreement, his eyes piercing as he continued, "Leader Wang wanted both the assets and his son. So he colluded with you to use the mirrors to fake his death in front of everyone. Three days later, instead of waking him up, you gave him a fatal blow. After that, you covered his body with gold to conceal the print left by your Five Poison Palm."
"Why do you believe them so easily? Let me tell you. It's all just their imagination," Xin Lei scoffed, his voice laced with mockery.
A heavy silence settled over the room as Xin Lei's words hung in the air, casting doubt upon the accusations that had been leveled against him. Li Lianhua struggled to formulate a response, his mind racing to counter Xin Lei's dismissive remarks.
Breaking the silence, Fang Duobing stepped forward, his gaze unwavering as he addressed Xin Lei with steely resolve. "After seeing the surname Helan last night, you were worried that your cover might be blown," he stated, his voice firm and unwavering. "So you went to her house in the middle of the night to kill the mother and son. But we had smeared Baihong juice on their quilt. If you wash your hands, they'll turn black. Why don't you show us your hands?"
As Xin Lei reluctantly revealed his stained hands, a murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Fang Duobing, whose quick thinking and cunning deduction had exposed the truth. In that moment, a newfound respect blossomed for the Baichuan Academy detective, his intellect and resourcefulness leaving a lasting impression on all who bore witness to his actions.
But just as the atmosphere began to settle, Xin Lei's demeanor shifted, his expression twisting with rage and desperation. With a sudden lunge, he drew his sword and launched himself at Fang Duobing, his movements fueled by a desperate fury.
Reacting swiftly, Fang Duobing unsheathed his own sword, meeting Xin Lei's attack with a deft and practiced skill. But before he could strike back, Xin Lei seized the opportunity to launch another assault, this time targeting Li Lianhua with a deadly blow from his Five Poison Palm.
With lightning speed, Fang Duobing intervened, his blade intercepting Xin Lei's attack and deflecting the deadly strike away from its intended target. In a swift and decisive motion, he disarmed Xin Lei, sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
The guards moved in quickly, their training taking over as they subdued Xin Lei and bound him securely. With a grim determination, they escorted him away, his fate now sealed within the confines of the prison walls.
"You both make a great team in solving cases. I am impressed," Wei Bai remarked, bowing respectfully to Fang Duobing and Li Lianhua.
Duobing's expression hardened at the comparison, a flicker of irritation crossing his features as he glanced at Lianhua, who returned his gaze with a warm smile. "Don't compare me with Li Lianhua. He is just ..." Duobing trailed off, the words catching in his throat as he struggled to find the right phrase.
"Hff... annoying," Duobing muttered under his breath, his frustration evident in his tone. With a curt nod, he turned on his heel and strode away, his focus shifting to the group of seniors who had arrived to apprehend Xin Lei and ensure that justice was served.
Li Lianhua moved stealthily through the corridors of the palace, his footsteps soft and deliberate as he made his way to the room where Xin Lei was held captive. Slipping inside, he stood before the bound man, his gaze unwavering as he addressed him.
"Ten years ago, the Third Director of the Jinyuan Alliance killed Shan Gudao of the Sigu Sect and took away his remains. Where are his remains now? You used to work for Medicine Demon. You should know that," Li Lianhua demanded, his voice steady and resolute.
Xin Lei regarded him with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. "How did you know I used to work for Medicine Demon? Who are you?" he questioned, his tone tinged with defiance.
"You don't need to know that. Just answer my question," Li Lianhua insisted, his patience wearing thin.
But Xin Lei's gaze narrowed as he observed Li Lianhua more closely. "There are three holes in your earlobe. When I tested poisons on people for Medicine Demon, I saw the same mark on their ears. It's a mark left by Bicha Poison," he stated, a hint of recognition dawning in his eyes.
"That poison is lethal and has no cure. The victims' bones and joints will rot in one month, and their flesh will peel off until they die. Most victims will die within a month unless they can force the poison out with strong inner force. You're standing in front of me now. The only explanation is that you're him. It's been ten years. You're still alive."
Li Lianhua's expression remained impassive as Xin Lei continued to speak, his mind racing with memories of a past he had long sought to leave behind. "I don't have time to waste on you. People from the Baichuan Court should be on their way," he interjected, his voice tinged with urgency.
But Xin Lei pressed on, his words cutting through the air with chilling clarity. "It's not that you don't know martial arts. You lost all of your skills. Li Xiangyi. I guessed right. Unfortunately, I can't help you. I don't know where his remains are."
Li Lianhua's eyes narrowed at the mention of his former identity, a flicker of emotion crossing his features before he hardened his resolve. "You're dead," he stated coldly, his voice devoid of mercy.
"I'll kill you for the Director!" Xin Lei spat and lunged forward with the chain, wrapping it tightly around Li Lianhua's throat, a wave of panic surged through the room. Li Lianhua gasped for air, his hands clawing at the chain as he fought desperately against the constriction.
But before Xin Lei could tighten his grip any further, Fang Duobing burst into the room, and in one swift and decisive motion, Fang Duobing struck out, his blade slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. The sword found its mark with unerring precision, piercing Xin Lei's chest in a single, fatal blow.
A gasp echoed through the room as Xin Lei staggered backward, his grip on the chain loosening as he stumbled and fell to the ground, life draining from his body with each passing moment. With a final, ragged breath, he slumped to the ground, his threat extinguished in an instant.
"Why are you here?" Duobing questioned, his tone laced with suspicion. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, that Li Lianhua's presence in this situation was more than just a coincidence.
Li Lianhua met Duobing's gaze with a calm demeanor, his features betraying nothing as he offered a simple explanation. "I lost my way," he replied evenly, his voice devoid of any hint of deception.
"Thank you for stepping in when you did. I appreciate it."
As Li Lianhua exited the room, Fang Duobing's eyes lingered on the motionless figure sprawled before him. His mind churned with unsettling thoughts, a lingering doubt tugging at the corners of his consciousness.
"Fang Duobing muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "His strike... it wasn't meant to be fatal. But Li... he deliberately shifted his position at the last moment, didn't he? He wanted the sword to strike him."
His gaze drifted to Li Lianhua's retreating figure, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. "This man..." Fang Duobing thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched Li Lianhua recede into the distance. "He may appear innocent, but there's more to him than meets the eye."
To be continued...