King of Hundred Victories Saber-Chapter 554 - 188: The Lotus in the Rain – Strange Case, Sword Shadows Amidst Gathering Storms (Part 4)
The drizzle was like silver threads hanging between heaven and earth, scattering over the intricately designed pavilions and towers of Zhuozheng Garden, as well as the shimmering lakes and lotus ponds.
Raindrops created tiny ripples on the surface of the lake, layers of waves spread out, adding a touch of hazy poetry to this famous Jiangnan garden, but also inexplicably tinged with melancholy.
In Zhuozheng Garden, Liuting Pavilion appeared even more desolate amidst the misty rain.
The crimson window lattice, soaked by the rain, deepened in color, like a heavy mark left by the passage of time.
However, at this moment, Liuting Pavilion was tightly enveloped in an eerie and bloody atmosphere, sending chills down one’s spine.
Upon stepping into Liuting Pavilion, one could see five corpses lying in a prismatic formation on the ground.
Rainwater drifted in through the open lattices, wantonly soaking the bodies and the ground.
The cold rainwater mingled with the warm blood, spreading across the ground to form a dark red puddle.
Lotus stems were inserted in the throats of the corpses, the remnants of withered yellow lotus leaves on the stems trembled slightly in the breeze, as if whispering the strange and terrifying nature of the tragedy.
As everyone was still immersed in shock and fear, unable to extricate themselves, Jianghu hero Shi Feiyang, leader of the Heroic Sakura Association, hurried over with a group of Jianghu heroes.
In the slender autumn rain of Mid-Autumn, in Suzhou’s Zhuozheng Garden, Liuting Pavilion was shrouded in an eerie, bloody atmosphere, with five corpses lying in prismatic formation, rainwater mingling with blood.
The first to see Shi Feiyang’s figure was a young Jianghu swordsman, his face had been pale from the gruesome scene, his lips trembling slightly.
At this moment, he widened his eyes, filled with surprise and awe, his fingers tightly gripping his sword hilt, turned white from tension, now involuntarily relaxed, and he murmured, "Grand Squad Leader Shi is here; we’re saved now!"
Though his voice was not loud, it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring ripples among the crowd.
An elderly man with white hair, clad in a gray robe and holding a bamboo cane, had eyes originally full of worry and bewilderment.
Upon hearing of Shi Feiyang’s arrival, his murky eyes suddenly brightened, his slightly stooped body even tried to straighten up, the bamboo cane in his hand striking the ground heavily, he said excitedly, "The Grand Squad Leader’s fame is widespread; he will certainly uncover the truth behind this tragedy and bring justice for the dead!"
His words were filled with trust and expectation for Shi Feiyang.
Among the crowd, several young disciples just starting out were flushed with excitement, glancing at each other with eyes sparkling with admiration.
One couldn’t help but leap up, waving his arms and shouting, "It’s the Grand Squad Leader! What a rare privilege to see him in person!"
Another clenched his fists, eyes full of yearning, said, "I want to be like the Grand Squad Leader in the future, to uphold justice and punish evil in the Jianghu!" The crowd spontaneously parted to the sides, quick and orderly, as if well-trained soldiers welcoming a general’s inspection.
Their eyes held awe, anticipation, and fervent admiration.
Everyone held their breath, afraid to disturb Shi Feiyang.
For a moment, outside Liuting Pavilion, except for the pattering rain, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Shi Feiyang stepped steadily into Liuting Pavilion, and wherever he went, everyone’s gaze followed closely, as if he were a beacon of light in the darkness, illuminating this place shrouded in gloom.
Shi Feiyang entered Liuting Pavilion, his expression grave, each step taken with stability.
His eyes sharp as torches, seemed to pierce through all the fog, swiftly scanning every detail of the scene.
He knelt down, his movements gentle yet undeniably professional, carefully examining the state of the deceased.
Suddenly, his keen gaze focused on the palms of the deceased, discovering fragments of Siamese rice glued with fish gelatin in their palms.
These tiny grains of rice appeared especially conspicuous in the pale palms of the deceased, as if hiding an unknown secret.
This discovery caused Shi Feiyang’s brows to furrow, a trace of deep contemplation flashing in his profound eyes.
He pondered silently: Why do these fragments of Siamese rice appear in the palms of the deceased, and what intricate connection do they have with this tragic case?
This seemingly clueless clue, in his eyes, was like a ray of dawn in the darkness, perhaps the key to unraveling the mystery.
Immediately after, Shi Feiyang stood up and paced within the pavilion. His steps were slow yet firm, each step seemed to touch the heartstrings of those present.
He closed his eyes, quietly listening to the sound of rain. Raindrops struck the withered lotuses, producing a crisp yet chaotic sound, echoing within the silent pavilion. But Shi Feiyang was able to capture a trace of anomaly amidst the complex sounds of rain.
Relying on his unique skill of "rain listening and instrument discernment," he detected a faint scent of gunpowder remaining in the hollow of a lotus stem.
This faint and indistinct scent, hidden by rainwater and the smell of blood, was extremely difficult for ordinary people to detect, yet it could not escape Shi Feiyang’s keen senses.
"There is a scent of gunpowder in this lotus stem; it seems this is no ordinary murder case," Shi Feiyang slowly opened his eyes and said gravely.
His voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the pavilion like a great bell, causing the assembled heroes to be astonished.
Gunpowder in the Jianghu had always been extremely dangerous and strictly controlled. Those who privately manufactured or used gunpowder were despised by the righteous path of Jianghu and severely punished by the authorities. Its presence in the murder weapon now suggests that the conspiracy behind this is complex, far beyond what people can imagine.
