At that time, there were a total of eight disciples patrolling and guarding by the river. They were all interrogated before dawn.

In the Muxue Hall where the morning colors were just emerging, the corpse covered in white cloth lay in the center of the room. The three family leaders were seated according to their age and seniority, with Zhu Mingxing sitting in the highest position above Hua Ruohong, their husband and wife status clearly distinguished.

Facing the corpse, Feng Rugu took a light sip of tea and let out a satisfied "hmm" sound: "This deep water can not only be used to refine pills and tools, but also makes quite a good tea."

Hua Ruohong leaned in closer, with a sense of urgency: "Lord Yunzhong has worked hard all night, did you find out anything?"

"Master Ruyi and I took a trip to Qingping Prefecture." Feng Rugu also imitated his posture and leaned towards Hua Ruohong, "Guess what, Sect Leader Hua? That family letter notifying Su Ping that his father's condition was critical was forged."

Yan Wufu saw his frivolous behavior and said coldly: "Lord Yunzhong, this is the mourning hall for my disciple, not the back courtyard of your 'Still Water Runs Deep'. Please be more solemn."

"Forged?"

As soon as he heard this keyword, Hua Ruohong's eyes lit up. He even forgot to stop Yan Wufu from being rude to Lord Yunzhong: "Well, it really is this Su Ping, colluding inside and out, conspiring with that Tang saber swordsman. Seeing the river sealed, he can't escape, so that Tang saber swordsman thought of this trick to take him out..."

Feng Rugu retorted: "If Sect Leader Hua were that Tang saber swordsman and used this trick to take him out, would it be better to kill him immediately and throw him into the deep water nearby, or wait a day to kill him, and make a show of placing the corpse by the Jianchuan, waiting for everyone to come hunt him down?"

Hearing this, the expressions of the people present changed in unison.

Zhu Mingxing put down the teacup that had already reached her lips and took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

Feng Rugu, on the other hand, drank another mouthful of tea without any qualms.

Hua Ruohong stammered: "This... this is a show of force ah, he's threatening Lord Yunzhong, the three Jianchuan families..."

"Hmm. Makes sense." Feng Rugu suddenly said, "Then when Sect Leader Yan's disciple was killed, you happened to go out to patrol the river. Did you see the person making this show of force?"

Hua Ruohong's body tensed up for an instant, but quickly relaxed: "Yes, I did go out to patrol at that time, but only did a rough circle around and didn't investigate deeply."

Feng Rugu confirmed: "When passing by the woods, you didn't even go in to take a look?"

Hua Ruohong coughed: "Yes."

Yan Wufu angrily said: "Then what patrol did you do? You just went out for a stroll because you were bored after eating your fill."

Before Hua Ruohong could angrily retort, Feng Rugu waved his hand: "Hey, Sect Leader Hua may not have been bored after eating his fill. According to that disciple, before Leader Hua went out to patrol, he even invited me to dinner... Come to think of it, it's strange. Sect Leader Hua, people always say the host follows the guest's convenience. Yesterday I investigated for a whole day and was extremely tired. I'm also not one to humor people for the sake of politeness. You had lunch with me before, so you should know this. I already told the disciple I didn't want to go, but you insisted on forcing me. You're really enthusiastic."

Hua Ruohong's face gradually turned ugly: "Lord Yunzhong, what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean?"

"You..." Hua Ruohong's voice rose, but feeling it was inappropriate, he lowered it a bit, "This is a case of human life, a matter of life and death! Why are you making veiled accusations and targeting me at every turn? If there's something, just say it directly, no need to beat around the bush!"

Who would have thought, Feng Rugu placed the tea lid on the tea cup, the edges clinking together, making a crisp porcelain sound: "Alright, since Sect Leader Hua requests it this way, I'll speak frankly then."

"As soon as the body was brought back, I ordered all the disciples who were patrolling outside the river at the time to be detained separately. I left them alone for three reasons. One was to let them ponder wildly, making it easier for me to interrogate them; second, the three families have grudges, if detained together, in that oppressive environment, emotions pent up while in the same room as their enemies, it would inevitably stir up their protectiveness. When the time comes, each family would protect their own, afraid the truth wouldn't come out; third... I was waiting for someone to come visit them."

Hua Ruohong's face changed dramatically.

Feng Rugu lightly tapped a soft silk fan against his palm: "I've said before, this Jianchuan location is quite marvelous. To the outside world, it is a completely closed off place. Not to mention why that Tang saber swordsman's brain is waterlogged, insisting on risking everything to kill someone here. Every person entering and exiting Jianchuan must come and go via the bridge. Like a wild goose flying by, it leaves traces that cannot be denied."

"When I ordered the detention of those disciples on duty by the river at the time of the incident, Sect Leader Hua had the biggest reaction. First asking if I suspected the disciples committed the crime, then suggesting I leave Jianchuan to chase after that Tang saber swordsman. After the disciples were detained, Leader Zhu sent disciples to inquire, which is understandable; but you actually came in person, even asking where the people were being held, saying you wanted to personally ask about the situation at the time. — Of course, we borrowed Feihua Sect's grounds to detain those disciples. You personally coming over shows you attach importance to it, so that's not an issue. — But later, when my Fuchun asked Sect Leader Hua which one he wanted to find, as soon as he heard all the disciples were being held separately, Sect Leader Hua sheepishly left."

Feng Rugu looked straight into Hua Ruohong's eyes: "May I ask Sect Leader Hua, the one you went to find, was it the disciple guarding the bridge who saw you cross the river? Why were you looking for him?"

Zhu Mingxing on the side, seeing her husband being questioned until his forehead was covered in cold sweat, showed a flash of 'hating that the iron could not be forged into steel', and spoke up: "Lord Yunzhong, my husband..."

Feng Rugu pointed his fan horizontally, cutting off Zhu Mingxing's words: "I want to hear Sect Leader Hua speak. I know Madam is the one with real power in the Hua family, but irrelevant people should please shut up for now."

Zhu Mingxing gritted her teeth slightly, her expression also turning a few shades worse.

She had no idea when this useless thing ran out of the river!

Isn't this just inviting trouble for no reason?!

Hua Ruohong was not good at scheming to begin with. With Zhu Mingxing unable to help, and Zhu Mingchao and Yan Wufu staring like tigers, he was anxious and uneasy. He forced a smile: "I... indeed went out of the river at that time. Afraid it would implicate me at this juncture, I wanted to go explain a few words, telling this disciple not to confess about me, just pretend he didn't see me at that time... This is my fault, I acted out of selfish motives. Please forgive me, Lord Yunzhong."

After saying this, he let out a small sigh, as if feeling fortunate for this quick wit.

Feng Rugu closed his eyes: "Makes sense. Then..."

Just as he was about to speak, Zhu Mingchao on the side inserted blandly: "It wasn't just him. At that time, I also wasn't inside the river."

— This woman really knows how to assess the situation. Seeing things aren't looking good, she immediately admits she also went out before.\

There were indeed disciples who witnessed Zhu Mingchao going out. With her candor, she took the initiative.

Feng Rugu smiled and asked, "Did Sect Leader Zhu and Sect Leader Hua go out together to patrol the river?"

"No. I went out specifically to wait for someone." Zhu Mingchao's tone was calm, but her words were shocking. "I guessed that the letter might be fake, so I left the river in the afternoon and waited on the path Su Ping had to take. I wanted to bribe him to leave Jianchuan, change his name, and never return."

Feng Rugu raised his eyebrows and exchanged glances with Ruyi beside him.

This move was vicious enough.

If what she said was true, and the price offered was enough for Su Ping to betray Qingshuang Sect, then with this suspect who colluded with outsiders suddenly disappearing without a trace, the blame of secretly releasing him from Jianchuan would forever be pinned on Yan Wufu.

Yan Wufu sneered, "You confessed quickly."

Zhu Mingchao was unperturbed, "I have nothing to confess. The person is already dead, so my plan is useless. Of course, if he refused and insisted on going back, I wouldn't mind killing him."

Zhu Mingxing said coldly, "Killing him would achieve your goal even faster."

Looking at this sister whose elbow always pointed outward at critical moments, Zhu Mingchao didn't even blink, "As I just said, if I took action, I would do it more thoroughly, sinking him into Jianchuan, never to see the light of day again."

Feng Rugu waved his hand, signaling the others to be quiet, "Sect Leader Zhu, what happened after that?"

"Afterwards, I waited in the forest for a while. I felt that moving around there would draw too much attention. Besides, Su Ping's sword art might not be proficient, so it would take him several hours to rush back on foot. To avoid prying eyes, I hurried to the nearest Jianchuan City to wait. Who would have thought that as soon as I arrived in the city, before I could even finish a cup of tea, I saw warning fireworks launched from the direction of Jianchuan. I knew something had happened in Jianchuan, so I rushed back just now."

"Is there anyone who can testify?"

"When I was waiting in the forest, Hua Bieshuang, the third disciple of Feihua Sect, can testify." Zhu Mingchao answered fluently. "In the city, the waiter at Mingqu Pavilion can testify that when he was killed, I had ordered a pot of Yongchun Buddha's hand tea, but left in a hurry before I could even take a sip."

Sang Luojiu chuckled softly to the side.

Her third junior brother was still young, and his tricks of holding his breath and hiding were not enough in Zhu Mingchao's eyes. Instead, he was pulled in as her witness.

After casually disassociating herself from Su Ping's death, Zhu Mingchao began to defend her allies, "Why is Lord Yunzhong so certain that it wasn't that Tang saber swordsman who killed him? This person is vicious and has already wantonly killed sixteen people. No matter what he does, it's unpredictable."

She and Feihua Sect had common interests. They had already signed an agreement with Qingshuang Sect that whoever was involved in this matter and colluded with outsiders would be kicked out of Jianchuan along with their sect.

Yan Wufu, the old man, was the least suspicious. When Su Ping was killed, he was practicing evening lessons with the disciples in Qingshuang Sect, demonstrating martial arts on stage, with no less than thirty pairs of eyes witnessing him. It couldn't be faked.

If it wasn't the Tang saber swordsman, then among those capable of severing Su Ping's throat with one slash without leaving any scars, only the sect leaders of Jianchuan's three major sects remained.

Although Hua Ruohong looked very suspicious, Zhu Mingchao still wanted to protect him until the very end.

"Well..." Feng Rugu pointed at the corpse in front of him, "He told me."

Zhu Mingchao was slightly surprised, "Su Ping?"

"The cut on his neck was indeed made by a Tang saber. However, swords and sabers are ultimately different. Many habits of using a sword cannot be changed on the saber's path."

Yan Wufu quickly understood, "Is Lord Yunzhong saying that my disciple died under the saber of someone skilled with the sword?"

Growing suspicious, Hua Ruohong stood up to lift the white cloth and examine the body.

Feng Rugu swiftly opened his fan with a swoosh and pressed it on the white cloth, smiling like a spring breeze, "Sect Leader Hua, looking ahead of time takes away the fun, doesn't it?"

Hua Ruohong's face turned pale, "Lord Yunzhong... what do you intend to do?"

"When the saber moves like a sword and the sword strikes like a saber, there are bound to be flaws in the transition." Feng Rugu twirled the jade fan tassel that Sang Luojiu had bought for him, stood up, clapped his hands to summon Luo Fuchun who had long been waiting outside the hall, and had him bring in three freshly carved wooden dummies similar in size to Su Ping. "I heard that the sword techniques of the three major sects are completely different and each has its mysteries. This Feng Er has limited knowledge, so I invite the three sect leaders to lead and demonstrate a set of sword techniques on the three wooden dummies, stopping at the touch, to let this Feng Er witness and learn. How about it?"

Yan Wufu took the lead and stood up, "Very well then."

Since he took the initiative, the other two sects couldn't refuse.

Yan Wufu was indeed straightforward. He drew his sword with flair, and after a horizontal slash across the sky, each move was solid. The sword light was like a clear river turning over snow, each stance ancient and simple yet steady and secure.

What was even more admirable was that after he finished a set of sword techniques, the sword energy falling on the wooden dummy left clear wooden scars, but the depth of the wounds did not exceed half a millimeter, showing the profundity of his swordsmanship.

Zhu Mingchao drew her sword second.

After all, she was young, and the Baisheng sword technique was extremely difficult to control. Several joints of the wooden dummy broke under the sweeping sword energy, but in terms of power, it already had a strong aura.

Hua Ruohong was the last to stand up. He was obviously a little nervous. When he finished dancing a set of sword techniques, he only displayed seventy or eighty percent of the light and agile intent of the Feihua sword technique.

Feng Rugu walked past the three badly scarred wooden dummies one by one, observing them carefully, though no one else knew what he was looking for.

When he reached Hua Ruohong's wooden dummy, Feng Rugu stared for a long time and suddenly laughed.

He said softly, "This Feng Er has indeed never witnessed the Baisheng and Qingshuang sword techniques. But this Feihua sword technique, I see Luojiu practicing it every day without a single day of slack."

Hua Ruohong had long hoped that Feng Rugu would publicly praise his son to boost Feihua Sect's prestige. But now hearing the compliment, he was not happy at all. Instead, his heart felt a chill, as if falling into a hundred-zhang deep abyss.

Feng Rugu smiled, "So, can Sect Leader Hua explain why your Feihua sword technique is missing a move called 'Hanging Rainbow Gazing Afar' that draws the sword and slashes?"

Hua Ruohong forced a smile, "Is that so? ...Perhaps it's because I've been neglecting it for a long time."

Feng Rugu nodded and took half a step back, "Well, then please demonstrate this missing move."

Hua Ruohong focused his spirit, stepped forward two steps, turned sideways to grip the green blade, gathered his energy and flow, and the sword shot out like lightning—

However, this sword was not aimed at the wooden dummy, but straight at Feng Rugu's face!

He knew that Feng Rugu was the supreme sword master in the Dao realm. He didn't expect this sword to be able to hurt him, but if he didn't first repel the person with the highest cultivation here, he would have no chance of escaping!

Unexpectedly, Feng Rugu's reaction was slower than he anticipated. As the sword's edge swept towards him, he remained motionless, reacting like an ordinary person without any spiritual power.

...He didn't move at all.

Of course, Hua Ruohong wouldn't treat Feng Rugu as an ordinary person.

He had planned for Feng Rugu to either meet the sword with his own or dodge to the side, giving him a chance to obstruct him.

Could it be that Feng Rugu had seen through his intentions, or was it...

In this moment of hesitation, the sword's spiritual energy that had nearly reached Feng Rugu's eyelashes was devoured by a shrill ghostly wail. With a backhand flick, Hua Ruohong, who had rushed to the hall's entrance, let out a sharp, miserable cry.

His sword-wielding right arm was bitten off by a white ghostly head formed from sword intent, flying more than thirty feet away.

Seeing Hua Ruohong rolling on the ground in agony, clutching his shoulder and wailing, and then looking at the fierce "Nature of All Beings" guarding in front of him, Feng Rugu finally came back to his senses and muttered softly, "...You startled me."

He walked up to the suffering Hua Ruohong, squatted down with his arms around his knees, and looked at his miserable state as he rolled on the ground with no one daring to help him. With an apologetic look on his face, Feng Rugu lowered his voice, "Sect Leader Hua, I'm really sorry. There's something I didn't tell you. You've been in Jianchuan for a long time and don't know what's happening outside... That swordsman you've heard about... he doesn't use a saber. He's a sword user, too."

Author's Note:

Sexy Feng Er, online scamming people.jpg