Qin Er’s heart was beating fast, she was quickly filled with joy and excitement.

If everything was as she thought, then she had now demonstrated her strength to Minister Qiu and had the chance to remain in the Rebel Army.

Without the protection of the Rebel Army’s identity, she wouldn’t last long in Thunder City, so she had to stay with the Rebel Army, she needed their shelter, this was a matter of life and death, not a simple case-solving! That’s why she fought so desperately, so wholeheartedly.

However...

"You are wrong."

It was Diao Deyi’s voice!

Qin Er finally couldn’t hold back and glared angrily at that man.

"What’s wrong!" Qin Er’s voice became somewhat sharp due to the excitement.

But Fang Yu, with a calm tone and demeanor.

"Everything is wrong."

Fang Yu pointed at Li Debang.

"First of all, he is not a demon."

"Secondly, Master Tai returned to his residence for a reason. Today, Master Tai was supposed to come to my courtyard to protect my wife’s safety..." As Fang Yu said this, Ding Hui suddenly leaned closer to Fang Yu.

The thin clothing gave a strange sensation, causing Fang Yu’s heart to flutter, almost breaking his train of thought, but fortunately, he quickly shifted his attention.

"However, when Master Tai arrived at my courtyard, he asked Master Xiong to continue his shift, and he left in a hurry."

"According to Master Xiong, at that time, Master Tai looked very unwell, and he was holding a piece of paper whose origin was unknown. It should be the information on the paper that agitated Master Tai."

"Then, Master Tai returned to his residence and was killed at the doorway upon seeing someone."

"Master Xiong should be able to testify to my statement, right? Master Xiong."

Fang Yu turned to look behind him.

Only then did everyone realize that Xiong Rudong, Master Xiong, had already arrived and was standing outside the door, scratching his head awkwardly without coming in.

"He’s right, earlier, Master Tai swapped shifts with me looking very unwell and left hurriedly."

A piece of paper, a bad complexion, didn’t go on duty...

One after another, crucial clues unknown to Qin Er left her at a loss.

This unexpected information felt like cheating, she didn’t know these clues, and to deduce to the level she did based only on the available clues was already, already good enough...

Even though no one around was looking at her, she still lowered her head, her ears turning red with shame.

At this moment, a hand gently patted Qin Er’s back.

"Lord Qiu?!"

Qiu Xiaoping merely smiled, saying nothing, but withdrew her hand and shifted her gaze to Fang Yu.

"If that’s the case, then what was written on the paper Master Tai had is the key. And even if Master Tai returned to his residence because of the paper, it doesn’t negate Qin Er’s previous deductions, does it?"

Fang Yu nodded.

"It doesn’t negate it, it’s just..."

Fang Yu looked at Ding Hui, who was leaning against him, even resting her head on him, yawning.

Seeing Fang Yu looking over, Ding Hui tilted her head slightly, seeming a bit puzzled.

Forget it, never mind.

Fang Yu looked at Qiu Xiaoping.

"But when we saw Master Tai’s body, my wife conducted a brief examination on it. The result of the examination was that Master Tai was poisoned before his death."

Poisoned?!

Qin Er’s eyes immediately lit up.

"If it’s poisoning, it indicates some loss of strength, which makes my previous deductions even more convincing!"

Upon hearing this, everyone began to discuss among themselves.

Malicious glances once again focused on the isolated Li Debang.

Fang Yu, however, smiled casually.

"Don’t rush, let me finish. According to my wife, the poison that Master Tai was subjected to is not a potent poison but a... slow-acting poison. This means it accumulates over time, and typically does not show significant signs of poisoning. Such a poison only fully manifests its cumulative toxicity when it comes into contact with another non-toxic substance! And that piece of paper must be the key to triggering the poison..."

"That’s not right!"

To everyone’s surprise, the one who stood up to refute Fang Yu was Qiu Xiaoping.

She frowned and said.

"I was there at the time as well, and I examined Master Tai’s body. I didn’t find any traces of poisoning. I think even the most skillful Poison Master won’t be able to create a poison that leaves no trace at all, there should be some physical signs, but on Master Tai’s body, there weren’t any."

When Qiu Xiaoping spoke, she was staring at Ding Hui.

Having already witnessed Diao Deyi’s skills firsthand, now it’s time to test Divine Doctor Ding’s abilities. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Seemingly sensing Qiu Xiaoping’s challenging gaze, Ding Hui looked at her calmly and indifferently.

"You came too early. If you look now, even a pig could notice something’s amiss."

Huh?

Came too early?

Qiu Xiaoping was taken aback.

In the next moment, her figure had already vanished with a swoosh, darting towards the gate.

In no time, Qiu Xiaoping saw Tai Xuelin’s corpse, with three black spots of toxic stains on the palm of his right hand.

"Three Black Scorpion Spots!"

At just a glance, Qiu Xiaoping’s pupils slightly shrank.

Over the years, in Thunder City, several wealthy merchants had mysteriously died from this peculiar poison.

Though Thunder City’s merchants are like chives in the field, quickly sprouting again, so no one paid much attention.

Yet the poison’s potency was deeply noted by many, treated as a fierce toxin.

How... how did it become a chronic poison in Divine Doctor Ding’s words?

Could those merchants who died strangely be like Master Tai, slowly poisoned until finally the toxicity erupted?

Those found poisoned are all corpses, with no chance for detoxification. Thus, only a few enthusiasts study antidotes specifically, but most endeavors go nowhere.

One wastes effort; two, there’s no use.

A corpse can’t use an antidote.

However, the poison’s reputation spread in limited circles, so Qiu Xiaoping heard of it.

"Lord Qiu!" Qin Er rushed over from behind, and others gradually gathered.

Seeing the corpse on the ground, some were confused, having not noticed any anomaly in the palm; others were meticulous, recognizing the abnormality, their faces turning grave.

"Indeed poisoned."

Qiu Xiaoping turned around, facing the crowd.

Her gaze fell on Ding Hui, bowing her hands: "I was careless. I didn’t finish examining the corpse before hastily leaving."

Ding Hui’s eyes were cold.

"So, who do you think is the murderer now?"

Qiu Xiaoping shook her head.

"No idea."

Ding Hui remarked coldly: "That shows your research on poison is recklessly shallow. If your understanding is so limited, you wouldn’t dare to speak so rashly previously."

Ding Hui was referring to the fact that Qiu Xiaoping hadn’t discovered the corpse was poisoned.

This left Qiu Xiaoping feeling a bit humiliated.

She assumed she had some skill, thought she’d notice if the corpse was poisoned, not expecting it to be the bizarre Three Black Scorpion Spots.

Let alone her, the peculiarity of this poison, even a doctor with decent skills might not see through.

At this point, Ding Hui continued to speak, but her gaze fell on Qin Er, who looked innocent.

"If you know some medical skills, you should know, even if poisoned, the person can still exert considerable combat power. But the scene shows no resistance, and the dagger was a fatal blow, which means... this guy, willingly died at another’s hands."

Having dissected many corpses and tasted various poisons, Ding Hui could tell what state this corpse was in at a glance; she simply hadn’t explained it to Fang Yu in detail. It wasn’t really their business; Ding Hui was originally uninterested in intervening.

"Willingly... seeking death??" Qin Er looked puzzled.

Qiu Xiaoping also frowned, murmuring.

"Why?"

Ding Hui chuckled.

"Indeed, why? Husband, what do you think?"

You were enjoying yourself, weren’t you... why suddenly toss the question to me...

Fang Yu thought carefully for a moment, then spoke.

"No idea. But you mentioned that this poison accumulates its toxicity over time, which means, around Master Tai, there must be someone feeding him poison daily, and this person must be very close. So... who has the most opportunity to do it?"

As Fang Yu’s words fell, the first image that jumped into people’s minds was... Lady Tai, with that heartbroken crying visage!

"No... no way it’s her! With Master Tai’s death, Lady Tai cried so much her makeup was ruined! She became a weeping figure; how could it be her!"

"Slander! You’re slandering Lady Tai! Complete nonsense!"

"Exactly! Master Tai and Lady Tai have been loving for years, never had any conflicts or disputes, all these years, we’ve seen it! How could it be Lady Tai’s doing!"