Chapter 99: Clues

A welcoming banquet lasted until late at night.

Zhang Yuelu drank several cups of rice wine, but she didn't get drunk.

It's not because of her high cultivation, but because of her amazing alcohol tolerance. And she didn't drink much, but she couldn't refuse, so she drank a few cups. It's true that she likes the things in the cup, but she also knows the occasion and won't put her own preferences above official business.

Of course, she can ignore Pan Cuiqing's face and ask him to remove the banquet and take her to see the body now. She is right, and Pan Cuiqing can only do it. But the result is that she made an enemy unnecessarily. Others will also think that she is too self-righteous and unreasonable, and then her future will be difficult.

Some people will even see the shadow of the fifth generation of the headmaster in her, suppressing and guarding against her.

If she wants to go further, she must learn to be patient, conceal some of her intentions, and even sometimes have to be in the same dust with the light.

At midnight, the rain stopped.

Zhang Yuelu walked out of the pleasure boat. In the darkness, she could only see the stars in the sky and the lights in the distance reflected on the surface of Qujiang Lake. It was really a river of stars in the sky and on the water.

Beautiful scenery.

It is also a scene that can only be seen in a prosperous and flourishing era.

However, after the prosperity, there are also undercurrents.

The majestic Shengqi is the best precedent.

At this time, Yue Liuli also walked out of the boat building and came not far from Zhang Yuelu.

At the banquet, Pan Cuiqing tried to find out Zhang Yuelu's intentions several times but failed. There was no way, so he could only let Yue Liuli come forward, thinking that as a woman, he might be able to gain something. Yue Liuli felt weak in her heart, but she had to bite the bullet and face Zhang Yuelu alone.

"Miss Yue." Zhang Yuelu spoke first, using a very unrighteous title.

Yue Liuli used the standard Taoist address: "Deputy Hall Master Zhang."

Zhang Yuelu glanced behind Yue Liuli: "Three months have passed since we parted at the Qing Palace on Yunjin Mountain. I didn't expect so many things to happen. I hope Miss Yue will be more considerate."

"Thank you for your concern, Deputy Hall Master Zhang." Yue Liuli was far inferior to Zhang Yuelu in terms of Taoist rank, position, and origin, so he kept a low profile.

Zhang Yuelu then asked, "Miss Yue, is there anything wrong?"

Yue Liuli said softly, "I just didn't expect that Deputy Hall Master Zhang would come here in person. I am flattered and came here specially to thank you."

"So that's the case." Zhang Yuelu nodded, and suddenly changed the subject, "Just now at the banquet, I saw that Miss Yue and Assistant Manager Pan seemed to have a somewhat unusual relationship."

Yue Liuli was startled, a trace of panic flashed across his face, and he forced a smile and said, "Assistant Manager Pan is my senior brother after all, and he also took care of Senior Brother Wan's funeral, so during this period, I have had more contact with Senior Brother Pan."

Zhang Yuelu smiled and did not comment.

Qi Xuansu was able to deceive Zhang Yuelu several times, firstly because Qi Xuansu was a disciple of Qi Niang, and he was indeed good at pretending, and secondly because Zhang Yuelu rarely thought about Qi Xuansu's words and deeds. But Yue Liuli was different. She didn't have Qi Xuansu's ability, and she couldn't let Zhang Yuelu not think about her, so some tricks could not be hidden immediately.

In fact, Zhang Yuelu, through the experience accumulated in Beichen Hall, is most suspicious of Yue Liuli and Pan Cuiqing. Since ancient times, adultery and murder have never been a rare thing, and they can all be classified as murders of love. In Zhang Yuelu's view, Yue Liuli is undoubtedly the most suspicious. However, Zhang Yuelu is just suspicious, and will not jump to conclusions and slander people's innocence. The specific situation needs to be seen after seeing the body.

Yue Liuli was defeated by Zhang Yuelu's words, and he was confused. He could only say a few insignificant words and retreated in embarrassment.

Compared with Zhang Yuelu, who has experienced all kinds of storms, Yue Liuli is a little immature. After all, the calculations of children in Wanxiang Dao Palace are far from being comparable to the real internal struggles of Daomen. Zhang Yuelu has seen and personally experienced the Jiangnan case, and can be said to have rich experience in struggle.

Just like Wan Xiuwu and Qi Xuansu, when they were in Wanxiang Dao Palace, Qi Xuansu was indeed not Wan Xiuwu's opponent. But after leaving Wanxiang Taoist Palace, Qi Xuansu first followed Qi Niang in the martial arts world, and then followed Zhang Yuelu to face various evil cults and monsters, and had rich combat experience. Wan Xiuwu lived a comfortable life in Wuxu Palace. When the two fought again, Wan Xiuwu was naturally easily defeated by Qi Xuansu, even though Wan Xiuwu had a certain advantage in realm cultivation.

The next morning, Zhang Yuelu asked to check the body immediately.

As far as Wan Xiuwu's death was concerned, Pan Cuiqing really had a clear conscience, so he naturally did not shirk and personally led Zhang Yuelu to check the body.

Zhang Yuelu did not know how to perform an autopsy, but one of the Taoist priests in Tiangang Hall who came with her was responsible for this and went forward to check the body again.

In the end, it was concluded that Wan Xiuwu died from an ordinary armor-piercing projectile. Judging from the penetrating wound of the projectile, it can be restored that someone was holding his head against the gun and firing, which is consistent with the case file provided by Wuxu Palace.

It can be confirmed that this kind of projectile came from Tianji Hall. However, the Tianji Hall produces an unknown number of armor-piercing projectiles every year, and the origin of the projectiles cannot be confirmed, and the possibility of the projectiles flowing into the black market cannot be ruled out.

In addition, although Wan Xiuwu's body was severely burned by the fire, some traces of fighting can still be identified. The last few serious injuries were caused by fists, so Wuxu Palace determined that the murderer was a martial artist, but there were also some minor wounds that were not fatal, which were knife wounds.

The coroner said to Zhang Yuelu: "Deputy Hall Master, the body was burned beyond recognition, but the position of the knife could not be changed. Some of the wounds have injured the bones, leaving marks on the bones, which cannot be burned away by fire."

Zhang Yuelu said nothing and personally checked the wound.

The result shocked Zhang Yuelu.

This was the trace of the "Dayan Spiritual Knife".

Although the "Dayan Spiritual Knife" is said to be traceless, that is for those who face the "Dayan Spiritual Knife". In fact, any routine moves can be traced. Zhang Yuelu himself knows the "Dayan Spiritual Knife", so he can recognize it at a glance.

In Taoism, swords are the mainstream, and there are very few people who use knives, even to the same level as Qimen weapons. People have limited energy, and few people can use swords and knives at the same time. Zhang Yuelu practiced the "Dayan Spiritual Knife" because the "Wuxiang Paper" can change in a thousand ways and his own qualifications are sufficient.

In other words, there are not many people in Taoism who can use the "Dayan Spiritual Knife", and before the heavenly man, they cannot practice other magical powers on their own unless they are taught by the master. There are even fewer people who can use the "Dayan Spiritual Knife" below the heavenly man. Moreover, if it was a celestial being who attacked, Wan Xiuwu would not have resisted for such a long time, and would have been beheaded by a single blow, which is also a proof.

The murderer is suspected to be a martial artist, who can skillfully use a fire gun and the "Dayan Spiritual Knife". His realm of cultivation will not exceed that of a celestial being, and is probably between the Yuxu stage and the Guizhen stage.

The image of a person emerges.

Originally, Zhang Yuelu would not have thought of Qi Xuansu, but Pan Cuiqing mentioned the old grudge between Qi Xuansu and Wan Xiuwu in the Wanxiang Dao Palace in the case file.

Is it just a coincidence?

Zhang Yuelu forced himself to calm down.

In the eyes of others, Zhang Yuelu just kept silent and seemed to be thinking about something. But Zhang Yuelu's heart was already in turmoil, and two thoughts kept colliding.

One thought was that Qi Xuansu was not dead, he survived, killed Wan Xiuwu under the nose of Wuxu Palace, and then left.

Another thought was that someone knew that Qi Xuansu and Wan Xiuwu had an old grudge, so they pretended to be Qi Xuansu and killed Wan Xiuwu to confuse the audience. After all, she saw Qi Xuansu fall with her own eyes. She knew Qi Xuansu's realm and cultivation level very well, and there was no chance of survival.

No matter which idea it was, there was a certain possibility.

After a long time, Zhang Yuelu slowly said: "There are not many people in the Taoist sect who can use fire guns, have superb swordsmanship, and are martial artists. However, there are many people in the court, especially the Qingluan Guards and the men in black."

Pan Cuiqing whispered: "What does Deputy Hall Master Zhang mean... Is the murderer a member of the court?"

Zhang Yuelu motioned Mu Jin to take the map, pointed at the map and said: "You suspect that the murderer is a member of a secret society. It is impossible for him to escape to Xijing Prefecture and the 'Ghost Pass'. He will only escape to other directions. But if the murderer is not He is not a member of a secret society, but a member of the imperial court, who happens to have a pass token..."

"'Ghost Pass'!" Pan Cuiqing widened his eyes, "He can pass through the 'Ghost Pass' and walk away from under our noses. Even if our spiritual officers in charge of the search pass by him, they can't see anything. He can even return to Xijing Prefecture and hide under our noses, playing a trick on us."

Zhang Yuelu said in a deep voice: "Check the recent pass records of the 'Ghost Pass'."