A Sword of Frost

Chapter 7: who is the murderer

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Qi Ran was also helped by Yue Zhihua, his face was pale and his knees were weak, he didn't say a word for a long time, he looked really frightened.

Yun Yifeng asked: "Where is the corpse now?"

"The firewood room in the backyard." Jin Huan replied, "There is blood all over his body. I don't know who has such a deep hatred for him. In the past few years, the devil's sect had killed people and sacrificed them, and it didn't happen like this."

Hearing him mention the sacrificial sacrifice, Liu Xianxian couldn't help but follow up: "Could it be because this house is unlucky? Yesterday I was still talking to the master of Yunmen, and I always felt that something was wrong. It was creepy and eerie, but it happened at night. thing."

"I don't believe in ghosts and gods." Jin Huan looked around, "I only believe that someone is behind the scenes!"

"But who is that person?" Liu Xianxian asked, "The silver bell didn't ring all night, but the servant died strangely. Could it be that your formation is not easy to use?"

"I checked it before I came here." Jin Huan paused, and continued: "The spider silk and the silver bell are both intact, and the reason why they didn't ring is because no one touched them at all."

These words were almost obvious, the murderer who murdered the young servant of the Qi family was here, Liu Xianxian sized up the crowd, and subconsciously took two steps back, keeping a distance from everyone.

"Ji Shaoxia." Jin Manlin suddenly pointed to the wall and asked, "What is that?"

The rest of the people looked in his direction, and saw a large pile of bedding rolled up on the ground, with faint bloodstains on it.

Yue Zhihua's expression changed: "This..."

"This is when I accidentally stepped on coal and hurt my foot when I got poisoned last night." Yun Yifeng explained, "Brother Ji bandaged my wound and healed it, and didn't rest until dawn." He was still wearing the light soft shoes he had when he went to bed, There was indeed a bandage on the foot, so it didn't look like he was lying. But the other end of Baimei Pavilion had just been killed, and the blood-stained quilt was rolled up and wanted to throw it away. No matter how you look at it, it was too much of a coincidence. Even Liu Xianxian, who often pestered him on weekdays, looked suspiciously at this moment. As if he didn't believe this statement.

The room fell into silence again. The air is like thick silk soaked in water, wrapped in dense circles, cold and suffocating and oppressive. Everyone had their own concerns and looked at each other, trying to find a trace of abnormality in each other's eyes, but they all returned in vain. The murderer was mixed in the crowd, this fact is enough to make even the calmest heart feel turbulent, obviously no one drew the knife first, but the faint sound of the weapon clanging in the hallucination was like a fine needle, piercing the pain accurately All eardrums.

Outside the window, dark clouds are overwhelming, and a storm is approaching.

In Shangxue Pavilion, which was already surrounded by fear and conspiracy, this time there was another layer of suspicion and distrust.

Ji Yanran said: "Relying on Yunmen Master's kung fu, it's easy to kill an unarmed servant, so how could he injure himself?"

Jin Huan and Jin Manlin looked at each other, and just about to speak, Qi Ran tremblingly said: "Ah Cheng knows kung fu, but he hasn't shown it on weekdays."

Yue Zhihua was taken aback for a moment: "That boy of yours can also kung fu?"

"Yes." Qi Ran said, "Not only he can, but I can too. I have been weak since I was a child. A few years ago, my mother used her private money to hire a martial artist to teach me and Ah Cheng Kung Fu without telling my family. , firstly, to keep fit, and secondly, to protect oneself in case of danger, but I didn’t expect something to happen in the end.”

Ji Yanran only knew that Qi Ran was hiding something, but he didn't expect that even the boy who fell down when he was bumped had also practiced. Yun Yifeng wrapped his cloak, and said impatiently: "Even if Ah Cheng has practiced kung fu, how is he better than me? Or take a step back, even if he is equal to me, why does he not hurt his head or body when fighting, but instead fight alone? It hurts the sole of the foot alone, what kind of evil method is this, does it mean that he likes to take off people's shoes and boots when fighting?"

Liu Xianxian laughed out loud "puchi", and after laughing, she felt that it was a matter of human life, and her attitude was too frivolous, so she also helped Yun Yifeng and said: "Jin Shaoxia, Master Yunmen is right, no matter how skilled the Qi family's martial arts are, , and will not be the opponent of Fengyumen. Besides, even if the boy really hurt the master of Yunmen, any normal person would clean up the blood before going to bed. How can there be any reason to rub the blood on the sheet first, then roll it up and throw it away?"

It is rare for her to say something calmly, her voice is soft and delicate, it sounds very pleasant, and what she said is indeed reasonable, so Jin Huan clasped her fists and said: "No wonder, Master Yun, brother Qi was also frightened, and he was in a hurry. I'll be thinking wildly."

"Naturally." Yun Yifeng nodded, "Let's go, take me to see the corpse first."

Fine flakes of snow are still falling from the sky, and it feels cool when it floats into the neck. Ji Yanran took two quick steps, and held up an umbrella for Yun Yifeng: "Is your poison and injury really all right?"

"After so many years, I'm used to it." Yun Yifeng looked up at the umbrella of Hanmei, and said again, "But I'd like to thank Brother Ji, except for the ordinary bandaging, everything else is very good, and the cloak is also very warm."

Ji Yanran said: "This is the best silver mink fur, if Master Yunmen likes it—"

Yun Yifeng interrupted him: "I like it."

Ji Yanran paused: "If you like it, wear it for two more days, and return it to me when we part."

Yun Yifeng pursed her lips: "Why don't you give it away this time?"

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was distressed, this time he had brought a total of four clothes, how could he survive the one after another sending them out, logically speaking, Feng Yumen is not poor, why does the majestic door owner still have a bad habit of domineering clothes.

Few people came to the backyard, and after Chai Fu was buried last time, no one was willing to come, so the snow accumulated very thick. The soles of everyone's boots stepped on the soft ice, making a dull "creak" sound. When the wooden door was pushed open, the sound was sharp and piercing. The crumbling old firewood shed looked old, and a bed was randomly put together with the door panels underneath. , the body was covered with a white cloth, with faint blood seeping out.

Jin Huan grabbed the people around him: "Girl, it's better not to look at it, the blood dripping is really scary, lest you won't be able to sleep at night."

Liu Xianxian stopped in her tracks, and asked uneasily, "Do you really not believe in ghosts and gods? I've been terrified these two days."

Jin Huan said: "I don't believe it. Besides, even if there are ghosts and gods, good and evil should be rewarded. There is no reason to kill innocent people indiscriminately. If you and I don't do anything wrong, why should we be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door in the middle of the night?"

He spoke sonorously, and Liu Xianxian nodded accordingly: "Yeah."

Yun Yifeng stretched out his hand to lift the white cloth, although he was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the bloody face. When he was in Fengyumen before, he also helped to examine many corpses, but even the corpses after being divided by five horses seemed to be much better than this Qi family boy.

Ji Yanran stood aside and guessed: "So cruel, could there really be some kind of blood feud?"

Yun Yifeng said: "He is a domestic slave, and he usually quarrels with the young master and grandma of other courtyards for the reward of monthly money at most. Where can he make such a big enmity? The fatal injury is a knife in the neck. The clothes are soaked in blood, if you want to kill someone, this is enough, there is really no reason to scratch your body and face full of horrible bloodstains."

Qi Ran's face turned pale when he heard this: "Then why do you want to do this?"

"I have to ask you, Brother Qi, to see if you have had a big feud with anyone on weekdays, so that the other party has to frustrate the bone and whip the corpse to relieve the anger." Yun Yifeng said, "If you really can't remember, then the murderer must be here. Mystery, or simply a unique taste of insanity, like such bloody horror scenes."

Liu Xianxian hesitated: "But..." She only said one word, but everyone understood what it meant, but the spider silk and silver bell array had not been triggered, which meant that this lunatic was probably mingling in the crowd in a well-dressed manner.

Yun Yifeng covered the white cloth again, and said: "Let's go back to the front hall first."

Aunt Yu soon brought Jasmine hot tea, and she also heard the news of the death of the young boy from the Qi family, but Liu Qianqian didn't mention the scene like a nightmare, only that she accidentally fell and knocked her head in the middle of the night. He lay in a coma all night and never woke up again. Although it was just as pitiful, it was finally not so scary anymore.

Jin Manlin randomly blew on the froth on the tea, took a sip that burned his mouth, and felt even more anxious, so he simply put the tea bowl back on the table: "How about this, let's talk about what we did last night."

Jin Huan was the first to say: "After playing chess with my father last night, I went to the Linglong Pavilion to chat with brother Yue, and went back to sleep."

Yue Zhihua echoed: "I did chat with Brother Jin until late at night, and I haven't left the residence since then."

Yun Yifeng asked: "Talking until late at night, what did you talk about?"

Yue Zhihua hesitated for a moment, but answered honestly: "Among the people on the mountain, I have the closest relationship with Brother Jin, so I want to ask him to see what's going on with Hong Tianlei, and I want them to trust me more. "

"So that's how it is." Yun Yifeng understood clearly, "Did the conversation come to fruition?"

Yue Zhihua sighed: "If there is anything to gain, we should have come to find the Cloud Gate Master earlier in the morning, but this time we are really at a loss, the more we talk, the more chaotic we get." It sounds like it would be better not to talk.

"I always go to bed early." Liu Xianxian answered, "When it was dark this morning, I heard that Aunt Yu was going to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, so I followed. I'm helping steam the buns."

Qi Ran said: "I am also like Miss Liu. I am used to going to bed early and sleep deeply. I was not woken up by the sound of the wind until this morning."

Yun Yifeng asked: "Then you found the boy's body?"

Qi Ran nodded: "Usually when I open my eyes, he should come with the prepared medicine, but this time he has not seen him for a long time. I thought it was because I was sleepy or caught a cold, so I wanted to go to the next door to have a look, but it turned out As soon as I left the house, I saw him lying in the yard." At the end of the sentence, his voice choked up again.

Liu Xianxian comforted: "Young Master Qi, don't be too sad, leave all the medicines you need to drink in the future to me, and I will prepare them for you and bring them to you."

Yun Yifeng said: "Miss Liu is really warm-hearted and chivalrous."

"If I were really a chivalrous woman, I would have found out the murderer behind the scenes and led everyone down the mountain together." Unwilling, Liu Xianxian held the hilt of her sword and continued, "You and Ji Shaoxia were healing last night, so it shouldn't be possible to see Who is the murderer? It's good now, everyone sounds like they don't have time to go out, they are so innocent, it's really haunted."

Yun Yifeng shook his head: "As brother Jin said, I don't believe in ghosts and gods either. There are experts in the Pavilion of Appreciating Snow. No matter who makes trouble, the truth will always come to light in the end. Don't worry, girl."

Liu Xianxian was still worried: "That's right, what should we do now?"

"The mountain is covered by heavy snow and it is difficult to walk. What else can I do?" Yun Yifeng said, "Save yourself first. No matter what you do in the future, you must be more careful, and remember not to give the gangsters an opportunity."

Liu Xianxian agreed: "Okay, I will write it down."

"Master Yunmen." Jin Huan reminded, "We are suspicious of each other here, but there is clearly a master living in the Xinuang Pavilion."

"Mu Chengxue?" Yun Yifeng put down the teacup, "He wants to kill you and me, but he can figure it out, but why kill a servant?"

Jin Huan asked back: "Then you, me, Brother Qi, Brother Yue, plus Ji Shaoxia and Miss Liu, why did these people attack a young servant?"

Yun Yifeng seemed to be questioned by him, and after thinking for a while, he said: "It seems reasonable to say so. But if Mu Chengxue did it, what should we do next? Find the door to settle the score, and let him pay blood for blood pay?"

"Ahem!" Ji Yanran hurriedly said, "I heard that the killer is extremely vicious. If you don't have a 100% chance of winning, don't act rashly. Even if you are really rash, don't pull me. Live a few more years of luxurious life."

"Ji Shaoxia doesn't have to worry, he won't go now." Jin Huan comforted, "But as the master of Yunmen said, we must pay more attention in the future. In short, before leaving Misty Peak, any one of us, Nothing can happen again."

What he said was sincere, but no matter how sincere it was, it could only be a sentence of light care, not as heavy as a willow leaf falling into a pond. Everyone knew in their hearts that if the shocking explosion last time was a warning not to leave Misty Peak easily, then the tragic death of the Qi family boy this time was another signal from the manipulator behind the scenes, which was even crueler and more shocking. It's frightening—because it means that even if you stay in the Snow Pavilion, you will be killed at any time.

Liu Xianxian was restless, and finally couldn't help asking: "Will he kill us all?"

As soon as the words fell, the teacup in Qi Ran's hand fell to the ground, the clear cracking sound and the heavy black clouds outside the window added to the horror, and even Yun Yifeng's fingers trembled slightly.

Ji Yanran glimpsed it out of the corner of his eye, and called Aunt Yu to replace him with a cup of slightly hot calming tea.

Jin Huan said: "This thing is weird, there is no guarantee that there is some secret hidden behind it. There has just been an accident in Baimei Pavilion, if brother Qi can trust me, why don't you move to live in Guanyue Pavilion."

"I've been an old friend for many years, so I can trust Brother Jin." Qi Ran hurriedly said as if grasping at a straw, "Okay, then I'll pack up and move here in the afternoon."

Liu Xianxian curled her lips and complained: "What about old friends for many years, that Yue Mingwei is still a few uncles, why not trick us to the top of this snow-capped mountain and kill one after another inexplicably."

Yue Zhihua: "..."

Perhaps it was because of the anxiety in her heart, Liu Xianxian's voice was unconsciously sharp, which seemed to vent her anger. Naturally, Jin Huan would ignore her nonsense, and just said: "Since I invited Brother Qi to live in Guanyue Pavilion, I will definitely protect him with all my might. Now that the rumors are turbulent, of course the girl can be suspicious, but Brother Qi can also trust me." , until the truth is unsolved, everything can only be done according to one's heart."

Yun Yifeng nodded: "I also agree with Brother Jin's words, life and death have their own destiny, and you can do whatever you want."

"It's life and death, I don't want to die on this snow mountain!" Liu Qianxian picked up the sword on the table, "Since it's a mess to untie it, I won't talk to you, it makes people angry .”

After she finished speaking, she flicked her braids and ran out. When she opened the door curtain, she almost tore off the entire door frame with such strength.

The cold wind blew in, Yun Yifeng sighed: "With this temper, I'm afraid I won't be able to get married in the future."

Ji Yanran patted him on the shoulder.

Don't worry about this kind of thing.

That afternoon, Jin Huan and Qi Ran moved all the luggage to Guanyue Pavilion.

A big lock was hung on the gate of Baimei Pavilion with a "boom". Liu Xianxian also deliberately found a few red ropes, and wrapped the lock again and again. Both the ghost and the unknown are locked in the courtyard, leaving the heart-digging ghost with no way out. Naturally, several big men didn't believe the witch's words, but none of them made a sarcasm. Instead, they chatted with her for a few words.

The boy was buried next to Chai Fu. At this time, the sky was already dark, and Yun Yifeng stood under the dilapidated firewood shed with a lamp in his hand, his fingers showing his armholes were white and thin, and in the cold air, they looked more and more like jade carvings that had been frozen to the point of transparency. There was a light snowfall, occasionally one or two pieces of ice crystals hung on his long eyelashes, and they stopped motionless, blurring his vision and the world.

Ji Yanran asked: "What are you thinking?"

"It's nothing." Yun Yifeng came back to his senses, "I just feel that in just a few days, there are two more corpses in the Snow Appreciation Pavilion. I don't know what kind of trouble will happen in the future, and people are panicked."

"I checked just now, and the Qi family boy has a lot of chilblains on his legs and hands. He clutched his trouser legs that day, probably to cover up this." Ji Yanran said, "But look at his daily food and clothing. It doesn't look like he can do rough work, at most he can serve the young master's daily life, there is no reason to have these scars."

Yun Yifeng guessed: "You mean, Qi Ran abused him, or simply said that Qi Ran killed him? What's the motive?"

"At least one of them must be hiding a secret." Ji Yanran took the lantern from him: "Let's go, it's too cold, go back to Piao Piao Pavilion first."

The road was quiet, windy and snowy. The flowers and plants in the garden have withered long ago, and the pool is also covered with thick ice. There are no more lotus leaf fields and swaying koi in summer. Everything is lifeless, there is not even a half inch of life in such a huge courtyard. Yun Yifeng thought to himself, even if there is enough food in the future, even if there are no more assassinations and death in vain, just living in this ruined place day after day, I am afraid that I will be depressed and suffocated, crazy and stupid.

Ji Yanran held his arm: "Be careful of the steps."

"Actually, apart from the servant, there is one more thing I haven't figured out." Yun Yifeng looked at him, "What does the person behind the scenes want from the prince? He wants his heart if he doesn't want his life? Or does he want to cooperate? ? Want something?"

Ji Yanran said: "If I say, I don't know?"

Yun Yifeng didn't believe it: "I don't know anything, unlike the rumored King Xiao."

Ji Yanran smiled: "It's not like King Xiao was born knowing everything and seeing people's hearts. This time I really don't know, so I have to wait."

"After talking for a long time, it turned out that my fate was not good." Yun Yifeng retracted his hands into the cloak, "I didn't catch up with the good time for the prince to gain insight into the world and plan his strategies, but he plunged into the whirlpool of the muddy water."

"Who said your fate is bad." Ji Yanran coaxed patiently, "Think about it, there are countless young girls in the Northwest who are now envious of the head of the sect, who can eat, live, live, and die with this king. This fate can be described as It could not be better."

Yun Yifeng felt a tightness in his chest when he heard it, and thought to himself that it's better for you to keep your mouth shut, if you say a few more words, I'm afraid I won't be able to help but want to hit someone's hand.

The two walked through the long corridor, and happened to bump into Yue Zhihua who was walking in a hurry. The other party was thinking about something with his head down, when he was suddenly stopped by someone, he took two steps back in shock, and was about to draw his sword.

Yun Yifeng hurriedly said: "It's me."

"So it's Master Yunmen and Ji Shaoxia." After seeing the person in front of him, Yue Zhihua was obviously relieved, "I was shocked."

Yun Yifeng asked: "It's dark and cold outside, where is Brother Yue going?"

"I just came out of Guanyue Pavilion." Mentioning this matter, Yue Zhihua wanted to sigh again, "Brother Qi's servant lost his life on Misty Peak. As a half-landlord, I have to go and see." Although This "landlord" is really not embarrassed, he is not a human being inside and out, but since "Yue" is in his name, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and try to comfort him.

"Brother Yue, don't get too angry, the so-called clean is self-cleaning." Yun Yifeng found a place to shelter from the wind, and asked, "Before going up the mountain, did Master Yue behave abnormally?"

"Really not." Yue Zhihua said bitterly, "Since Hong Tianlei, I have thought about it carefully, but there is really nothing different. The way my uncle treats me is the same as what I explained that day. "

Yun Yifeng continued to ask: "Then what is the relationship between the Jin family, the Qi family, and the Yue family's bodyguard bureau?"

"It's all very good." Yue Zhihua replied. The Jin family relies on the Yue family for food, so they are naturally respectful on weekdays, and the Qi family also relies on the Yue family's escort agency to secure goods when they go out of customs. plot against each other. Before Yun Yifeng could ask after finishing speaking, he took the initiative to add another sentence, Qi Ran and the servant also got along well, at least every time he saw each other, they were very close, Qi Ran was soft-hearted and easy to talk, The usual rewards are also generous.

Yun Yifeng touched his chin: "Is that so..."

"That's why I said that this whole thing is simply inexplicable." Yue Zhihua said with a sad face, but unwillingly, "Could it be someone else's work, and it has nothing to do with uncle at all?"

"It's also possible." Yun Yifeng said, "So Brother Yue doesn't need to blame himself and worry too much, let's go back to Linglong Pavilion first."

"Okay, the two of you should also rest early." Yue Zhihua cupped his fists, "Farewell."

Yun Yifeng watched him leave, then elbowed him: "What do you think?"

Ji Yanran reminded: "You are the master of Fengyumen." So, shouldn't I ask you about these affairs in Jianghu

"The relationship between these three families is indeed true." Yun Yifeng glanced at him, "Since they depend on each other, there is no need to kill each other, so no matter who dies this time, the final goal is probably you, the prince."

And I, who was coaxed by the blood ganoderma to come to the Northeast, was innocent.

Ji Yanran stroked his hair, and said brazenly: "Go, go back, Aunt Yu said there is chicken soup to drink."

On the other side, Yue Zhihua stayed alone in Linglong Pavilion, but he couldn't calm down all the time, he just walked around the room like ants on a hot pot. After killing the boy with steel claws last night, he was immersed in the pleasure of being able to control other people's lives with ease. He couldn't extricate himself for a long time. He only felt that even the blood on the palm of his hand was extraordinarily warm and sweet. He thought he would wait for the next one soon. The task, but who knows that there is no agreed instruction note on the table, and no one to explain, who is responsible for the booming thunder on the mountain road? Could it be that uncle is secretly playing tricks? So... does he have a relationship with the master? If it's relevant, why didn't you tell me in advance, wouldn't it be more convenient to do so, but if it's not relevant, why did you send yourself up the mountain this time

The piles of past events are like floods that have opened the floodgates, rushing my brain into a mess, causing cramps, and my heart becomes more irritable. He suddenly opened the window, intending to take a breath of cold air, but bumped into a pair of black pupils unexpectedly.

"How could it be you?" He looked at the other party in astonishment.

The person who came was wrapped in a strange black and red cloak, the hat covered most of his face, and his voice was hoarse like cracked earth.

"follow me."