TGCFNM -Chapter 65 It’s Still You

Chu Ling leaned forward to look. The door of the deceased had been pushed open, and Su He was walking toward him.

“What did you find?” Chu Ling asked.

Su He spoke, “The deceased had ingested a sedative while alive; his muscles were weak and he had no ability to resist. He had two stab wounds to the chest, which were fatal. The blades were poisoned, and the flesh around the wounds curled and blackened. There was blood at the lips, indicating that the mouth had likely been forcefully covered. The killer must have been strong.”

Chu Ling nodded, scanning the crowd with her eyes.

Su He continued, “Judging by the depth of the wounds, it should be a dagger. The killer was taller than the victim, so the stab came from above. The victim struggled, which caused the second strike to miss slightly.”

Chu Ling propped her chin on her hand. “Everyone here must have known the deceased. Which of you are taller than him?”

The group exchanged glances, then each stepped back, pointing to three people in front.

It was still Yan Sheng, Cao Tong, and Bai Wuchang.

Su He scrutinized the three from head to toe, then looked at the others who had stepped back. “Based on the victim’s height, the only ones capable of this would be the three in front.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow and smiled. “So it’s still you three.”

Yan Sheng scratched his head and gritted his teeth. “Sir, I did want to kill someone and snatch the invitation, but… but I was too late.”

Cao Tong also said, “Sir, I was too late as well.”

Bai Wuchang sneered, “What does it have to do with me that they killed someone for an invitation?”

Chu Ling summoned the innkeeper. “When did the deceased come to stay here, and when did the rest of these people arrive? Apart from this group of wanderers, did anyone else come to stay?”

The innkeeper replied respectfully, “Sir, a few days ago someone had booked the inn and only left yesterday morning. The late Lord Xu came to stay yesterday at noon. After him, others gradually arrived—mostly wandering heroes. After dark, that was when you all came.”

Chu Ling snorted, looking at the crowd again. “It seems Lord Xu must have accidentally leaked information on the road, which is why everyone followed him to stay. Whoever kills him tonight, he was going to die anyway.”

Xu Jiao lowered his eyes, standing pitifully to the side—he shouldn’t have clung to hope.

Bai Wuchang finally lost his patience. He rose from his chair, steps unsteady, but suddenly lurched forward and stood right in front of Chu Ling. “Sir, you’re a government official meddling in the affairs of the jianghu, trying to judge a case. Then just judge it quickly—I have no time to waste here.”

“Why the hurry?” Chu Ling smiled. “Guilty conscience?”

“Heh. A jianghu man killing someone—what conscience is there to be guilty of?” Bai Wuchang said coldly.

Chu Ling smiled, raising a hand to point at her, and then suddenly struck.

A hidden sleeve arrow shot out with deadly precision.

Bai Wuchang’s expression changed, and he raised his hands to block it. Chu Ling used the motion to snatch his waist sash, ignoring the paper that fell to the ground, and stepped forward, releasing another arrow.

The inn’s main hall was spacious, but with so many people, the space to maneuver was small. Bai Wuchang was trapped in this tight area, barely able to move.

“Quick! Help me! Are you going to watch a government dog kill a jianghu man?” Bai Wuchang shouted.

“I suggest you rush to his room to snatch the invitation,” Chu Ling said coldly, flicking a pouch of powder toward them.

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong glanced at it and immediately leapt to the second floor. The others followed. Bai Wuchang had the invitation, as he himself had claimed.

Bai Wuchang coughed twice, eyes reddened with anger, hands forming claw-like shapes. He lunged, grabbing Chu Ling by the neck. His white cloak flared without wind, his pointed hat fell, and his matted hair spiked out like a madman. “How dare you strike me! I’ll drag your soul and claim your life!”

Chu Ling’s face flushed from holding her breath, but she didn’t care. She just smiled at him, raising an eyebrow suddenly.

Bai Wuchang shouted in rage, “I’ll kill—”

“Bang—”

A sharp pain shot through his knee, as if the bone had been shattered, and he collapsed uncontrollably to the ground.

Xiao Hua behind him was panting. Earlier, her master had forbidden her to act rashly, but just now, he had finally given her the signal.

“You bastard, how dare you touch my master!” Xiao Hua shouted angrily and swung her stick down on Bai Wuchang’s head again.

He fell with a thud, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The force of the blow and the cracking sound made Wan Sanjin and Su He instinctively cover their own heads.

“Cough, cough, cough-cough.” Chu Ling coughed, giving a thumbs-up. “As expected, we still have to rely on our Xiao Hua.”

“Master,” Zhang Dong hurried forward to support her and helped her sit down.

Chu Ling touched her neck casually. “This man’s inner strength is quite deep. If we had tried to capture him outright, he probably would have broken free immediately and escaped.” She added, “He might even have turned and killed others—there are too many ordinary people in this room.”

Zhang Dong picked up a paper strip and handed it over. Chu Ling held it casually in her hand. “Zhang Dong, see if he’s dead.”

Zhang Dong checked quickly. “Master, he’s still breathing.”

“Xiao Hua, break his limbs,” Chu Ling instructed. “Innkeeper, the rest is up to you.”

The innkeeper let out a startled sound and nervously watched as the adorable little girl with twin buns swung the stick four more times. Then, he called over his staff, tied the man up, and prepared to throw him into the woodshed.

At that moment, Yan Sheng and Cao Tong, who seemed to have reached a silent understanding, were about to go downstairs. They were caught off guard by the gruesome scene of Bai Wuchang and both jumped in fright.

Chu Ling casually wiped her hands. After Zhang Dong retrieved the hidden arrow, she spoke calmly, “From the beginning, I knew he was the murderer.”

“Wh-why?” Yan Sheng asked.

“He said he had an invitation and was drinking in the room the whole time. The lights were never turned off,” Chu Ling recounted.

“Right,” Yan Sheng nodded.

Chu Ling looked at Zhang Dong. “I remember you know how to cut paper—the paper on the county office windows was cut by you.”

“Yes, master. Just learned a little to make ends meet,” Zhang Dong said. His sister was strong and ate well, which is why he thought of capturing wild horses.

“Cut a life-sized figure, find a room, and shine an oil lamp on it,” Chu Ling instructed.

Zhang Dong immediately asked the innkeeper for paper, cut it in a few quick strokes, and, following Chu Ling’s instructions, found an empty room and positioned the oil lamp toward the paper figure.

“Adjust the position a bit to enlarge the shadow,” Chu Ling called from outside.

Zhang Dong responded and finally adjusted it to the right angle, placing the oil lamp carefully. At that moment, a human-shaped shadow suddenly appeared on the window frame.

“Th-this!” Cao Tong turned pale with shock.

Chu Ling hummed and pointed at the shadow. “The shadow drinking wine—that’s the shadow of the figure, while he himself had already taken the opportunity to kill that person.”

“Wh-why… he, he had an invitation, didn’t he?” Yan Sheng murmured, dazed.

Chu Ling sighed. “Just because someone has one invitation, doesn’t mean they can’t have another. If he doesn’t want it, he can give it away, or sell it.”