Yue Zhihua disappeared.
The first person to find out about this was Aunt Yu. At noon, she hurriedly found Yun Yifeng, and said that Yue Zhihua could not be found anywhere, and the food box sent in the morning had not been opened.
The rest of the people heard the news and went to Linglong Pavilion to find out. I saw that the furnishings in the house were as usual, everything was neat and clean, without any traces of fighting or theft, only the owner of the room disappeared without a trace, as if he had evaporated on the ground.
"The spider silk and silver bell array has not been touched." Jin Huan was sure, "The person must still be in the villa."
Liu Xianxian asked, "Who was the last one to see Young Master Yue yesterday?"
"It should be me and Brother Ji." Yun Yifeng replied, "On the Zheshui Corridor, he claimed that he had just visited Guanyue Pavilion to visit Brother Qi and was about to return to his residence."
"Brother Yue did come here last night." Qi Ran said, "But he didn't show any abnormalities at that time, and he even said that he would bring tonic medicine today."
"So, he didn't run away, did he?" Liu Xianxian was suspicious, "Or did something happen again?"
"Let's look for each other first." Yun Yifeng ordered, "The Snow Pavilion is only this big in total, you must carefully turn over every place that can hide people, and come here to meet again after an hour."
The young servant died strangely on his front foot, and Yue Zhihua disappeared on his back foot for no reason. The connection of the two incidents inevitably makes people feel frightened, not knowing what secret is hidden behind it, let alone what will happen in the future. Everyone worked together to find Rimu from noon, and even Aunt Yu followed behind Liu Xianxian to help, and almost turned over the land of Shangxue Pavilion, but there was still nothing to be gained—no one was alive, no dead body was found.
Yun Yifeng squatted halfway in the bedroom of Linglong Pavilion, gently stroking the blue and black floor tiles with her fingertips.
"Have you found anything?" Ji Yanran stood behind him.
"The bed was moved." Yun Yifeng stood up, "There are very shallow scratches on the floor."
Ji Yanran motioned him to back away, and she held the bed post with one hand, and dragged it back heavily.
The big solid wood bed was pulled three feet away from the wall, and a pile of iron objects fell out with a "crash". It was a pair of sharpened steel claws, with dark flesh and blood remaining on them.
Liu Xianxian happened to pass by the door, and when she saw this scene, she screamed in shock.
"What's wrong?" The Jin family father and son also rushed over.
"I found this under the bed." Yun Yifeng pointed out, "It should be the weapon used to kill the young servant of the Qi family."
After Jin Huan stepped forward to check, he found that the flesh and blood were not completely dry, but were still fresh, and the shape of the sharp teeth of the steel claws was also consistent with the wound on the boy's body. The truth seems to have begun to emerge—after Yue Zhihua killed someone, he managed to avoid the spider silk and silver bell formation, and escaped from Shangxue Pavilion last night.
Qi Ran was dumbfounded when he heard this: "There is no grievance, no enmity, why did he kill Ah Cheng?"
Liu Xianxian was also very puzzled, if it was just killing Qi Ran, he was a rich man after all, so why kill a young servant? None of the men in the room spoke. After waiting for a long time, she still couldn't help asking: "Even if the boy was killed by Yue Zhihua, what about the Thunderbolt on the mountain road? Also, trying to lure us to Misty Peak, and what else?" The innocent woodcutter was killed as a threat, is it just to kill Ah Cheng in a mysterious way? Could it be... Could it be that Ah Cheng has some great hidden identity?"
Qi Ran shook his head: "Impossible, he is the son of two old servants of the Qi family, he was raised in a courtyard from birth, and his background is clean."
Liu Xianxian didn't understand even more: "Then what's going on?"
There was silence in the room.
No one explained it to her because no one could figure it out.
"Brother Qi." A moment later, Ji Yanran suddenly said, "How is your relationship with Ah Cheng on weekdays?"
"Me and Ah Cheng?" Qi Ran nodded, "Of course it's good, he's been by my side since childhood."
"A few days ago, Miss Liu and I met Ah Cheng in the garden." Ji Yanran said, "He was knocked down and dislocated by us at that time, but he was holding on to his trousers tightly, refusing to go to Piao Piao Pavilion to recuperate, and kept begging, Saying don't let brother Qi know, seems to be extremely scared."
Qi Ran was puzzled: "What is he holding his trousers for? Also, brother Ji asked, could it be that he suspected that I abused the servants and injured me all over?"
"There are no injuries all over the body." Ji Yanran said, "I checked, and it's frostbite all over my legs."
Jin Huan was wondering: "Frostbite? It shouldn't be. Ah Cheng wears good clothes on weekdays. Brother Qi also rewarded him with a lot of heaters and fur knee pads. How could there be so many frostbite?"
Things sound strange, but Qi Ran sighed: "If you have chilblains on your legs, I know what's going on. Ah Cheng is young and has never seen the world. He was taken out by his cousin half a year ago, and he learned how to gamble. I gave him a hard lesson, I thought I had quit completely, but half a month ago, I heard rumors that he was still participating in the game outside, lost all his private money in the cold winter months, and was kicked out of the casino by thugs. , walked back to the Qi Mansion barefoot, maybe it was frostbitten at that time, so naturally I didn't dare to let me see it."
Liu Xianxian came to a sudden: "No wonder he wants to cover it desperately."
"So that's how it is." Ji Yanran said, "I was thinking too much, please don't blame Brother Qi."
Qi Ran shook his head: "The more you think about the situation now, the better. How can I blame Brother Ji? It's just that Ah Cheng died strangely. Even if I found the steel claw in Linglong Pavilion, I really can't figure it out. Why on earth did the members of the Yue family want to kill him, plus there was another living person missing for no reason, it's really... oh."
"Yue Zhihua also participated in the formation of spider silk and silver bells." Liu Xianxian said, "If he had made up his mind to run away at that time, it would not be impossible for him to secretly learn how to disassemble it. Besides, he is still from the Yue family, so he naturally knew Which road is not thunderous."
If this explanation is taken separately, it is indeed reasonable, but if it is analyzed in the whole matter, it seems too far-fetched and inexplicable, making people confused. But no matter what, since the murder has already happened, we can only redouble our precautions in the future. In order to avoid further accidents, Jin Huan personally took all the people, and checked the spider silk and silver bell array again carefully, and did not leave until he ensured that there was nothing missing.
At least I can change a little more peace of mind.
During dinner, there were only Yun Yifeng and Ji Yanran in the dining room, it was very quiet. On the way back, Yun Yifeng put his hands into the sleeves and asked the people around him: "Do you think what Qi Ran said during the day is credible?"
"The part about gamblers?" Ji Yanran held the lantern, "I don't care whether it's credible or not, at least it's reasonable."
"But I always feel a little strange." Yun Yifeng frowned slightly, "The disappearance of Yue Zhihua is also very strange."
Ji Yanran smiled: "Since you can't figure it out, just continue to wait patiently. You and I know in our hearts that Yue Zhihua's disappearance will definitely not be the end of the whole thing, on the contrary, it is very likely to be just the beginning."
"So there will be more conspiracies and murders in the future?" Yun Yifeng glanced at him, "My lord is in a good mood."
"Otherwise? Be in a state of anxiety all day?" Ji Yanran put his arms around his shoulders, "Don't worry, since I brought you up the mountain, I will definitely protect you."
Yun Yifeng looked him up and down, as if trying to calculate the credibility of his words. The two of them turned another corner, but suddenly there was a rush of footsteps on the eaves, very light and fast, like a fleeting wind and lightning, and before the sound disappeared, Ji Yanran had turned over and landed on the roof , with a figure like a desert hawk in the twilight, and its black wings are enough to make all weak animals tremble—including this white ferret, which is squatting in the snow, raising its paws to lick the unlicked, frightened face.
Ji Yanran didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and carried the hair from the back of its neck back to the corridor.
Yun Yifeng received it in his arms with a smile: "So it is it."
The ferret is very obedient, and also likes the fragrant medicine on Yun Yifeng's body very much. When he lay down, he remained motionless, with his head resting on the gentle palm, like a fluffy nap. Ji Yanran watched it amusingly from the side, bent her fingers and flicked its bulging buttocks, probably because she didn't control the force well and hurt the little thing, the ferret immediately flicked its tail in dissatisfaction, jumped forward vigorously, and drifted away with four claws disappeared without a trace.
"Hello!" The warmth in his arms suddenly disappeared, Yun Yifeng wanted to catch it but he didn't catch it, and watched it disappear on the wall.
Ji Yanran: "..."
Yun Yifeng curled his mouth, his dislike was completely silent.
Ji Yanran was quite innocent, so he had no choice but to say: "If I see you again next time, I will definitely catch you and hold you for as long as you want."
Yun Yifeng picked up the lantern and handed it to him: "What if Jin Huan refuses?"
Ji Yanran said sternly: "It's up to him not to, since you want it, even if this king knocks someone out, he still wants to snatch the ferret."
Yun Yifeng's eyebrows fluttered: "Really?"
Ji Yanran deserved no pressure: "Really."
Yun Yifeng smiled: "Okay, then I will write it down."
Ji Yanran pulled up his cloak with one hand, and wrapped him tightly again, first to express concern, and second, to cover most of those star-like eyes - otherwise, if you look at it for a long time, you will probably think of the blood ganoderma again, Now I have to add another ferret. I owe more and more things, all of which are rare goods, but I don’t know when and when I will be able to pay them off. I am extremely distressed.
And God also intends to oppose him, the two of them haven't walked back to the Piao Piao Pavilion, they only walked through the garden, and saw Jin Huanzheng sitting alone on the roof, with a pure white ball beside him, it was the ferret just now.
Ji Yanran: "..."
Yun Yifeng stopped as expected, what he said just now, let's go.
"Master Yunmen, Ji Shaoxia." Jin Huan also saw the two of them and greeted them, "Are you going back?"
Yun Yifeng nodded, puzzled and said: "It's freezing and snowy, why does Brother Jin sit on the roof?"
"I'm upset, so come out and be quiet for a while." Jin Huan jumped into the courtyard with a ferret in his arms, sighed and said, "One after another, it's really frightening to think about it."
Yun Yifeng asked: "How is Brother Qi?"
"He's still thinking about the boy, and he doesn't understand why Yue Zhihua wanted to kill someone." Mentioning this matter, Jin Huan's face became more worried, "He's been in a trance all the time, and doesn't listen to what he says."
Yun Yifeng reminded: "Since Brother Qi lives in Guanyue Pavilion now, I still have to trouble Brother Jin to persuade him a few more words in his spare time, so as not to feel depressed and fall into the root of the disease."
"That's natural." Jin Huan promised, and said again, "It's getting late, then I'll go back and see Brother Qi, you two can do whatever you want."
Seeing that he turned to leave, and the people around him still looked narrow-minded, Ji Yanran had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "I wonder if Brother Jin's ferret can be borrowed for the next night?"
Jin Huan was taken aback when he heard the words: "Borrow a ferret?"
Ji Yanran explained: "It looks clever and cute, and I want to take it back to play."
"That's it." Jin Huan said briskly, "Of course it can, but this little thing is so delicate, please don't feed it to Ji Shaoxia."
As he spoke, he handed over the white dumpling in his hand. Yun Yifeng wanted to pick it up, but the ferret was uncharacteristically, his neck hair stood up as if he had eaten dynamite, his eyes flashed fiercely, and his front paw hooked fiercely, leaving three deep blood marks on the back of his hand immediately.
"Hiss!" Unprepared, Yun Yifeng suddenly suffered from pain, Ji Yanran hurriedly pulled him behind him, and looked at the ferret, who had already climbed up the roof quickly and ran all the way to the distance.
"This..." Jin Huan panicked when his pet got into trouble, apologized repeatedly, and said he was going to Guanyue Pavilion to get the wound medicine. Yun Yifeng waved his hand feebly: "No, I brought medicine up the mountain this time, and I will deal with it myself when I go back."
Although the wound is deep, fortunately the ferret is non-toxic, so apply the wound medicine to avoid getting wet, and it will heal within a few more days. Ji Yanran took out the medicine bottle from the cabinet. She didn't know if she made a mistake this time, but seeing his brows furrowed tightly, and thin veins popping out of his arm, which seemed to be in severe pain, she had no choice but to bandage and coax: "I There is also a piece of Wang Xizhi's "Ping An Tie" in the mansion, which was sent to Fengyumen immediately after going down the mountain."
Yun Yifeng asked: "Is it the real work?"
Ji Yanran gently blew on the powder, and wrapped it carefully with a bandage: "Of course, who dares to lie to me with fake products?"
Yun Yifeng said: "Yes."
"Try not to touch the wound these two days." Ji Yanran put his hand back and asked again, "Do you want to eat candy? I'll go to Aunt Yu's to see."
Yun Yifeng raised his eyebrows: "Think of me as a baby? If I'm injured, I still need to use sugar to coax me."
Ji Yanran said with emotion: "But the sect master's attitude of eating snacks all the way is not inferior to... Hey, these are Xuanjin boots made in Jiangnan, and they are expensive."
"You have to step on it." Yun Yifeng raised his foot and said confidently, "Okay, I want to eat eight-treasure candy."
His Royal Highness Xiao Wang had a good attitude and went all the way to the kitchen.
Aunt Yu was still kneading the dough, preparing to make breakfast for the next day. After listening to him explaining his intentions, he said with a smile: "The sugar is in the cabinet, and there are sweet-scented osmanthus shortbreads, take them with you, Master Yunmen likes sweet things."
"Why didn't Miss Liu come to help Auntie?" Ji Yanran asked casually.
"She seems to have something to do, and she hasn't returned to the Meteor Pavilion after checking the spider silk and silver bell array." Aunt Yu continued, "There is still food warming on the stove, and the girl doesn't know how to take care of herself. "
"That's it." Ji Yanran glanced at the food, and packed the candy and snacks again, "Then I'll go first, thank you, auntie."
The sky outside was completely dark, with only half an inch of moonlight reflected by the thick snow, it would be better than when the wind was howling—at least there would be some sound, instead of a pool of rotten black sticky lake of death like now, Discomfort.
Ji Yanran didn't go back directly to the Piao Piao Pavilion, but seeing no one around, she took the food box and went around to the Meteor Pavilion. Yun Yifeng stayed alone in the room, bored and sleepy from waiting, propping his temple with one hand to feel drowsy. The medicine powder applied to the wound was very effective, the pain was completely numb, and the wrist was stiff. This experience of complete loss of consciousness... Complete loss of consciousness... The memory was awakened silently, and the thin thread buzzed again in my mind, It was very weak at first, but then it became more and more noisy. They crawled out densely from all directions, and immediately woven into a dirty black and burnt yellow net, wrapping themselves in it, the skin was pierced, and the nerves could clearly feel those frizzy eyes. Teeth and needles, and tentacles... wings... sickening breath and slime. The fear buried deep in the bones came out vigorously again, and the heart roared and fell into the abyss. Yun Yifeng suddenly woke up, and in panic and confusion, he slapped the square table in front of him to pieces.
"Yun... sect master?" Ji Yanran was startled when she saw this scene when she entered the door, "Are you alright?"
Yun Yifeng's heart was beating extremely fast, and there was still a layer of black mist in front of his eyes, and he looked at him for a long time before he calmed down a little: "It's okay, I'm having a nightmare."
Ji Yanran stepped forward and tried his forehead, covered in cold sweat, as cold as ice.
So I asked, "What dream?"
"Forgot." Yun Yifeng's voice was hoarse, "Why did you come back now?"
Ji Yanran patted him on the shoulder, and brought hot tea from the next room: "I went to Guanyue Pavilion."
"You went to find Jin Huan?" Yun Yifeng held the teacup in both hands, perhaps his palms felt warm, and his mood calmed down a little.
Ji Yanran shook her head: "It wasn't me looking for Jin Huan, but Liu Xianxian, who just entered Guanyue Pavilion."
Yun Yifeng frowned upon hearing the words: "What is she doing in Guanyue Pavilion?"
"It's hard to say." Ji Yanran said, "Maybe it's to comfort Qi Ran, or maybe... it's for other things."
As I said before, in the current situation, no one can be called completely innocent.