"Instructor Fang, it's the organs!"
Fang Xiao turned his head and saw several severely rotting organs stuck to the ground, evidence that they had been placed there for some time.
After a glance, he moved his gaze to the corpse.
Face terrified, bloodstains at the corner of the mouth... and rotting flesh!
Fang Xiao's eyes focused as he continued to investigate.
The chest cavity was collapsed, ribs mostly broken, and internal organs shattered.
Instant death!
He picked up a wooden stick nearby, broke off a piece, and pried open Yuan Chengji's mouth.
The mouth, throat, and even the nasal cavity were filled with shattered organs and chewed rotting flesh.
It can be basically confirmed that Yuan Chengji had chewed on rotten organs before his death.
Shao Pengshu checked the hidden pit and then examined the room again.
"Instructor Fang, the room has been searched. Apart from the bodies and organs mentioned on the paper, no further usable evidence was found."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiao gently nodded, "This is Yuan Chengji's residence. The rotting organs were placed in the pit for quite some time. He has chewed rotting flesh in his mouth and stomach... Yuan Chengji might be the internal mole we designed to lure out."
He and Shao Pengshu always suspected there was a culprit's spy within the Arresting Office, so they set up a secret design.
A mysterious stranger suddenly appeared, and he naturally wouldn't believe it blindly, thus bringing Shao Pengshu to investigate.
From the current evidence, the mysterious person's message is most likely true.
"Swallowing organs," Shao Pengshu's pupils narrowed as he also saw the substance in the corpse's mouth, "and they're rotting—what kind of perversion is this!"
"It may not be perversion. It seems like it's for cultivating a certain technique."
"What kind of technique requires human organs... The Blood Refining Technique mentioned in the mysterious person's papers?!" He suddenly thought of something.
"Not impossible." Fang Xiao held the wooden stick and lifted the sleeve on Yuan Chengji's arm. "This person is merely a constable, yet he has already condensed Qi and blood. The color of his blood is dark."
"Do you think it's normal, Captain Shao?"
Shao Pengshu chuckled softly, "Instructor Fang indeed has keen observations."
"Getting old and losing my touch," Fang Xiao sighed and continued inspecting along Yuan Chengji's arm.
When he uncovered the clothes over the collapsed spot of the corpse's chest cavity, his eyes suddenly contracted.
Shao Pengshu did not notice Fang Xiao's change, continuing to speak, "Instructor Fang, if you're old, then what am I—a living dead? A Blood Circulation Realm expert with ten Qi and Blood can kill me with a slap..."
"It's Palm Technique," Fang Xiao muttered.
"Huh?" Shao Pengshu froze, "Palm Technique, Instructor Fang, don't! I'm just joking. My small physique can't withstand your Palm Technique."
He thought Fang Xiao was about to use the Palm Technique instead of just a slap.
Fang Xiao seemed as if he hadn't heard, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, staring at the handprint on Yuan Chengji's chest.
Palm Technique, martial arts, fragrance of ink... Young Master!
He instinctively thought of the wooden stake Fang Ming split open and the formidable Palm Technique he practiced days ago.
"The size of the handprint is the same, and the damage caused by the Palm Technique is similar..."
Fang Xiao recalled Chu Ming's Palm Technique in his mind and compared it with the handprint on the corpse, a fact he couldn't ignore surfaced in his mind.
Similar Palm Techniques, familiar fragrance of ink...
One coincidence can be accidental, but two coincidences occurring simultaneously are not coincidences!
"Young Master is the mysterious stranger!"
Fang Xiao's heart trembled.
Immediately, several suspicions emerged in his mind.
"Though Young Master is incredibly talented, condensing four Qi and Blood power in a short time and understanding the Palm Technique on his own, could he kill with one strike..."
"The mysterious stranger's Body Technique and Stealth Techniques are so advanced that not only can he find my hiding spot but also elude my pursuit. Does Young Master possess such ability?"
"Moreover, the handwriting on the paper is not Young Master's handwriting."
During contemplation, he suddenly recalled the unknown tea stall owner mentioned in the papers and the young girl referred to as 'Young Mistress.'
But soon, he felt a sense of worry.
"Young Master has only condensed four Qi and Blood; if he truly is the mysterious stranger, he's acting too recklessly."
At this point, Shao Pengshu also saw the deadly handprint and crouched down, "Is Instructor Fang talking about the Palm Technique that killed Yuan Chengji?"
"Yes." Fang Xiao stood up, "Collect the evidence, go to Wheat Alley and wait for me."
"Instructor Fang?"
"I'll return in two hours."
Fang Xiao walked lightly, left Shao Pengshu behind, and went straight away.
He needed to go back and check.
...
Liuu Town, West Street.
Little Shan was in the kitchen washing dishes when she suddenly heard the courtyard gate open.
"Who?" The Young Master was still reading and shouldn't be disturbed, so Little Shan mustered her courage and went out.
"It's Grandpa Fang." Fang Xiao entered the yard, first taking off his coat, and said to Little Shan, "Is there any food left?"
"Yes, I saved some for Grandpa Fang."
Seeing Fang Xiao return, Little Shan happily ran back to the kitchen and came out with the food she kept warm in the pot.
Not knowing when Grandpa Fang would return, she kept warming the portion of food.
Fang Xiao took the big bowl and sat on the stone stool in the yard to eat, but his gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept towards Chu Ming's room.
The dim candlelight cast Chu Ming's shadow and the towering piles of books.
After a few bites, he quietly asked Little Shan, "Why hasn't the Young Master slept yet?"
Little Shan shook her head, "I cannot interfere with the Young Master's affairs."
The reply sounded slightly aggrieved.
Fang Xiao's eyebrows twitched as he continued, "Did the Young Master go out today?"
"He went out for a while."
Fang Xiao's hand holding the bowl and chopsticks suddenly froze, his tone turned slightly urgent, "When did he go out and return?"
"He went out shortly after having lunch at noon, returned... probably an hour before Grandpa Fang," Little Shan replied truthfully.
The timing matched perfectly!
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiao's expression shifted repeatedly.
Time, fragrance of ink, Palm Technique—three coincidences... No, not coincidences.
The Young Master very likely is the mysterious stranger!
After a short emotional turmoil, he ate a few more mouthfuls and gradually calmed down, "Little Shan, Grandpa Fang is full, go wash the dishes."
"Okay." Little Shan obediently retreated.
Fang Xiao sat on the stone stool, his gaze fixed on Chu Ming's room door.
He took a deep breath, stood up slowly, and walked to the door, "Young Master, are you asleep?"
Inside, Chu Ming raised his head wearily.
With his keen perception, he had heard the entire conversation between Little Shan and the housekeeper Fang just now.
This housekeeper suddenly returned in the middle of the night and questioned whether he went out today—he probably had guessed something.
He glanced at the books on his desk, closed them slowly, as the lamplight brushed across, revealing the title 'Blood Evil Body Refining Technique' on the cover.
This book, taken from Yuan Chengji, was the upper half of the Blood Refining Technique.
After flipping through a few pages, he was amazed by the content of the cultivation technique.
Unlike the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique, which uses medicinal baths and other methods to refine the body, the Blood Evil Body Refining Technique is a very sinister technique requiring the consumption of organs to enhance cultivation.
Chu Ming lifted the heavy 'Poetry, Politics, and Military', pressed the Blood Evil Body Refining Technique underneath, then got up to open the door, "Housekeeper Fang, is there something?"
"Did the Young Master go out today?" Fang Xiao asked directly.
"Yes."
"Were you hurt?" Fang Xiao scrutinized Chu Ming with concern.
"Just went out for a walk, relaxed. Why would I be hurt?" Chu Ming replied calmly.
"That's good." Fang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, truly seeing no wounds on Chu Ming, "Thank you, Young Master."
"I'm tired, Housekeeper Fang, have an early rest."
The door closed, and Chu Ming returned to his desk, his eyes profound.
He understood what the housekeeper meant by 'thanks'.
But some matters are better left unsaid, as everyone is aware.
Fang Xiao lingered at the door, contemplated for a moment, then entered his room, changed into clean clothes, and after instructing Little Shan a few things, proceeded to Wheat Alley.