On that afternoon, Li Xuan's attendant Li Shu, as the discoverer of the murder scene, was summoned to the government office.
The Government Officials all knew that this kid was the attendant of the Eldest Young Master Li, who was the nephew of their own boss. Besides, during festivals, the Li family often sent them food and gifts through the boss, truly treating them well.
Severe interrogation was certainly out of the question, and the Government Officials indeed believed this was just Eldest Young Master Li's idle wandering, accidentally sniffing the strange odor, leading to the unexpected discovery of such a horrifying death scene.
"Smelled the strange odor, went to check, found the corpse, and fled in panic," this was the slightly modified statement given by Li Shu upon Li Xuan's instruction. Of course, even if Li Xuan hadn't said so, Li Shu wouldn't be foolish enough to claim that the Eldest Young Master deliberately went there.
Li Shu completed recording his testimony and returned to the Li family without any trouble.
In the evening, County Captain Shan Jian directly came to the Li family.
Li Xuan was informed by a servant rushing over and met him straightforwardly.
At that moment, Shan Jian was in Master Li's study, sipping tea while chatting about family matters.
Master Li saw his son enter, motioned with his hand, and said, "Xiaoxuan, discuss the matter with your uncle, I'll go prepare a banquet."
Shan Jian quickly waved his hand, saying, "Brother, you're too kind, really, you don't have to."
Master Li feigned anger, "We must!"
Shan Jian smiled wryly, "My wife keeps a close watch."
Master Li laughed, "I'll send a carriage to bring my second sister over, together!"
Saying this, as he saw Shan Jian about to stand, Master Li went over to press him into the chair, laughing, "Ask Xiaoxuan properly, that stinky kid has been thinking about learning martial arts these days, roaming around aimlessly, and has gotten into trouble, hasn't he?"
Shan Jian quickly replied, "No, no, it has nothing to do with your nephew, I'm just here to understand the situation."
Master Li patted his shoulder and then walked out.
The door was open, dusk had already fallen, and even the winter plum blossoms in the courtyard were darkening.
Li Xuan sat down casually next to Shan Jian, saying, "Uncle."
Shan Jian asked, "Nephew, tell me, what actually happened?"
Statements are statements.
But the real situation is always discussed after the statement is recorded.
As the County Captain, Shan Jian naturally protects his own, acknowledging whatever is said as fact, just going through formalities. However, he also needed to know what truly happened, for this was an exceptionally cruel and terrifying murder case.
He had already reviewed the household registry in the afternoon and understood that the deceased was a solitary elderly individual who grew some vegetables in his garden, bought only necessary food, and seldom went out.
No money, no apparent grudges, so why would anyone want to kill him?
And why employ such a terrifying means of dismemberment?
More chillingly, when inspecting the scene, he tried to find other body parts besides the head, only to discover bones already stained with dirt in the corner.
Those bones were clearly human bones, with the flesh either decayed or gnawed completely clean, an eerie sight.
Li Xuan had made up his mind on what to say, speaking in a tone of lingering fear, "Uncle, you know I've recently been searching for a Martial Artist to learn martial arts without success.
Yesterday, my attendant Li Shu mentioned that there might be a hidden martial artist in the alley west of the county, based on seeing the elderly man's speed walking down the street previously, leading to such a belief.
I listened, thinking it might be worth a try, and brought gifts to pay a visit, hoping I could learn some skills.
However, when I arrived at the door and knocked, there was no response. I then had Li Shu climb over the wall to open the door, and upon entering, we smelled the foul odor and discovered the head in the dining room."
Shan Jian listened quietly; everything Li Xuan said matched the truth of the scene, whether it was the shoeprints on the wall, the tiles disturbed on the wall top, or why the door was open, they all aligned.
He indeed believed that this matter had nothing to do with Li Xuan; after all, the head had been in the pot rotting for god knows how long, resulting in the proliferation of white fat maggots.
"Nephew, did you notice any suspicious people, or... suspect anyone?"
Shan Jian suddenly asked.
Li Xuan shook his head.
He had already learned from Rose, or rather Su Qiang, that the elderly was a Grandmaster. As for the rest... Su Qiang was evasive in her words, and he didn't force an answer.
A Grandmaster hidden in Xiongshan County could certainly be considered a reclusive old monster.
Such a reclusive monster, however, was mercilessly killed, dying in his own home.
He too felt fear in his heart.
If someone in Xiongshan County could kill a Grandmaster, there would be no one they couldn't kill.
"Uncle, regardless of who it is, I believe someone who employs such a brutal method to kill an elderly person must be an extremely terrifying, extremely twisted individual. Uncle, during your investigation, you must be cautious, keep people close, don't end up alone." Li Xuan advised.
Shan Jian heard the goodwill in his words, smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Here we are in Xiongshan County, not Red Flower Mountain.
The demon leopard over there is several meters long and ambushes lonely travelers at the foot of Red Flower Mountain, but such a large demon beast is quickly discovered if it approaches the village, causing little disturbance.
Inside the village, it remains safe."
Li Xuan felt helpless about revealing the old man as a Grandmaster.
But he knew in his heart: if a Grandmaster dies within the village, that's hardly safe at all!
Seeing his ongoing worry, Shan Jian smiled, "Your uncle fought the demon leopard before and learned much from it, likely being able to advance further by the end of the year, reaching the level of a first-rate expert in the martial world.
If the criminal seeks me, then it would be just perfect, aiding my breakthrough."
Li Xuan had heard of this classification of "Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Grandmaster" in the martial world, but apart from Grandmaster, the rest were vague, lacking a "fixed standard," set by battle assessments.
In simple terms, if there's a group of top experts in the martial world, defeating those people or drawing even with them means you are also considered first-rate.
Shan Jian presumably compared himself to some top expert.
Li Xuan advised gravely, "Uncle, it's best to be cautious."
Shan Jian looked at him curiously, "Nephew, do you know something?"
Li Xuan shook his head, "I'm just thinking, if that elder was truly a hidden expert, the killer who silently murdered him must be exceptionally skilled.
Moreover... previously around our county, or even within the entire realm of the Great Yin Dynasty, there hasn't been heard of a monster leopard several meters long.
Uncle, haven't you noticed?
This land is undergoing some dreadful, unknown changes."
Shan Jian, hearing this, showed a thoughtful expression, then nodded, saying, "Alright, thank you for your words, nephew, I will be careful."
Li Xuan saw that he had absorbed the advice and sighed softly.
Soon after, a servant of the Li family reported that the "feast is ready."
The two headed out together to attend the banquet.
Li Xuan's second aunt indeed came over, praising the young man repeatedly for being more handsome, naturally transitioning to talk about "there are several young ladies with good family background and looks on aunt's side, would nephew like to meet them" and such.
The Patriarch of the Li family, Master Li, had two sisters married off outside, who joined other families, yet still held a connection with the Li family incense.
Thus, whether it was Li Xuan's elder aunt or his second aunt, both were very fond of this eldest nephew who carried on the Li family legacy.
Li Xuan was quite close with them too.
The meal was joyful for both host and guests.
Everyone consciously avoided mentioning the missing Li family's eldest lady.
Even though searches continued, everyone internally was prepared for the worst.
...
...
After dinner, Li Xuan, slightly tipsy, headed towards the inner chambers, wandering towards a separate small courtyard.
This small courtyard was originally a neglected nook for storing miscellaneous items, now cleared out for Wei Yao to recuperate. The courtyard was even equipped with an elder maid tasked with caring for her, considered quite "above-standard treatment."
He knocked on the door.
The door opened, revealing the face of the elder maid.
Li Xuan asked, "Is Miss Yaohua asleep?"
The elder maid replied respectfully, "She's asleep, young master, please come back tomorrow."
Li Xuan nodded, turned, and sighed lightly as he left, unaware that the candlelight inside the courtyard room had extinguished just at the moment he knocked.
In the darkness, the girl sat in pain.
Li Xuan absorbed the demon blood from outside, yet those already infiltrated into her body could not be drawn out.
Wave after wave of scorching sensation, accompanied by scenes from the battle replayed like a lantern.
Fragmented memories kept inserting in montage fashion.
The girl was somewhat disoriented.
Her body trembled as the world before her eyes gradually dyed blood-red.
Family members died tragically, a brother died tragically, Li Xuan was knocked down.
Weak...
Too weak.
She was too weak.
If she wasn't so weak...
If, if, if...
Her breathing grew rapid, with hatred toward herself slowly transforming into a blind murderous intent.
Demon blood invaded her body, murderous aura purifying her soul, as an indescribable dark seed settled in Wei Yao's heart.