Chapter 118: Sorry, I’m a Spy!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Due to the rain, it was only after two days that the murder had been discovered. The footprints on the ground had long disappeared, and all the investigators could find were the marks of a sword or saber that couldn’t be erased.
After sizing up the surroundings carefully for a long time, Ye Jingtang jumped and landed outside the courtyard wall.
Dongfang Liren and the officials looked over in confusion.
Crack!
The sound of a saber being drawn outside the wall sounded, and then a figure soared into the sky.
Ye Jingtang’s clothes fluttered in the wind. He held his saber in one hand like a hawk pouncing on a rabbit and stabbed straight at the flowers in the courtyard.
Swoosh!
The blade was accurate as it pierced into traces of the broken branches and leaves of the flowers. Then the blade raised and stopped, and his right elbow smashed into the air beside him.
Bang!
His robe fluttered!
Then he stabbed again, brushing past the eaves and pillars, matching the marks on the pillars perfectly.
The ‘imaginary enemy’ who was attacked seemed to realize that he couldn’t defeat Ye Jingtang and wanted to escape outside the courtyard wall.
Ye Jingtang immediately flew up and swept his saber horizontally. The tip of the saber swept across the courtyard wall, forcing the person in the air to fall to the ground. Then he raised his left hand and slapped to the side, aiming at the window of the main room…
Dongfang Liren and the many officials were at a loss at first, but they quickly understood that this was the process of reconstructing the fight between the murderer and the deceased. Their eyes gradually turned into surprise.
Because there wasn’t an opponent, there were many movements that a person couldn’t do alone. After Ye Jingtang slapped out with his palm, he stopped, sheathed his saber, and thought for a moment. “Hmm… The deceased used a short stick such as a crutch or a wooden stick. The murderer’s weapon was most likely a straight saber with a curved edge. The tip of the saber is no different from a sword, but the back is the back of a saber.
“The back of the saber couldn’t cut through the arm, so the murderer didn’t choose to cut upward like with a sword. Instead, they used their elbow to push back the opponent. Judging from the height of the marks on the pillars, if the murderer’s body proportion is normal, their height is about the tip of my nose.
“After the murderer intercepted the deceased in the air, they landed on the ground and turned sideways to dodge a strike. The strike didn’t reach their chest. This person is either a man or a flat-chested woman…”
Many of the officials present were stunned when they heard this. They started whispering.
“Impressive…”
“Other than the difference between the sword and saber, the other things are exactly the same as the sirs’ deductions…”
“He hasn’t even looked at the corpse. How did he determine that the murderer attacked with an elbow and a palm strike?”
He should have inferred from the angle of exerting force, the distance the deceased moved, and the damage to the building. This young master has probably fought a lot…”
“Oh…”
Yuwen Chengde wanted to say something but hesitated. He seemed to want to retort, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn’t find a reason.
Dongfang Liren looked at Ye Jingtang’s eloquent manner and the shocked gazes of many constables. Her eyes lit up, just like when she saw him knock away the Blood Bodhi with two slashes.
This time, Ye Jingtang didn’t slack off. After saying his analysis, he looked at everyone. “I can confirm that the murderer used a saber, and their martial arts skills are definitely higher than you think. If this person really wanted to kill someone, the deceased wouldn’t have had the chance to fight back at all. Since the murderer left traces, I think they wanted to ask for information and kept the deceased alive first.”
As Ye Jingtang spoke, he walked into the house and squatted down beside the corpse covered by a white cloth. He lifted the white cloth and saw the white-haired deceased. There was a bruise under his ribs, a palm print on his chest, and all his fingerbones were shattered. It was obvious that he had been tortured to extract information. “It looks like my guess is right.”
Ye Jingtang turned to look outside the door. “Does anyone have any objections?”
Facing such discerning insight and deductions, all the officials and coroners present were astonished. How could they have any objections?
“Young Master, you have good eyesight.”
“If it weren’t for Her Highness the Prince of Jing, I would have thought that you killed him personally…”
Seeing everyone’s admiration, Dongfang Liren’s eyes were full of pride. She turned around and asked, “What was the murderer looking for?”
“Zhao De used to work in the Heavenly South Army and was mainly responsible for building city defenses. Later, he was promoted to the Ministry of Works and participated in the repair of the Imperial City.”
Yuwen Chengde squatted down beside the corpse and gestured at the black palm print on the deceased’s chest. “The palm that slapped Zhao De into the house looks like the ‘Wandering Body Palm’, a unique technique of ‘South Mountains Iron Trigram’ Zhang Henggu. The murderer is most likely a rebel of the Pacifying Heaven Cult, looking for a way to destroy the city walls or enter the palace to assassinate…”
Dongfang Liren frowned, moved to the corpse, lowered her head, and sized it up. “It indeed looks like the Wandering Body Palm. This is no small matter. Pass down the order to patrol door to door—”
“Wait!”
Before Dongfang Liren could finish speaking, the ten or so officials saw Young Master Ye raise his hand again. “There seems to be something wrong with this palm technique.”
The house instantly fell silent, waiting for Ye Jingtang to express his opinion.
Although they had just confirmed that Ye Jingtang was an expert with great discernment, everyone still had doubts in their eyes.
‘South Mountains Iron Trigram’ Zhang Henggu had been a Daoist child of Great Yan’s imperial astronomer. Later, he became a founding elder of the Pacifying Heaven Cult. Before the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master was born, he had been roaming Jianghu to raise an army. He had been dealing with the government for decades. The Six Gates could probably dig out several large boxes in the case archives regarding the relevant records of the Wandering Body Palm, so it was impossible for them to be wrong.
No matter how Dongfang Liren looked at it, she felt that it was the Wandering Body Palm, but she didn’t dare to refute Sir Tangtang. She only asked gently, “How did you figure it out this time?”
Ye Jingtang blinked. From my identity as half a spy of the Pacifying Heaven Cult…
He and the cult mistress of the Pacifying Heaven Cult had an ambiguous relationship. If the Pacifying Heaven Cult wanted to find a way to enter the palace or get a city defense map, they should use a honey trap to get information from him.
Coming to the capital to kill a low-ranking official and interrogate him and being easily discovered by officials, was there something wrong with the murderer’s brain? Even Uncle Song wouldn’t do such a harebrained thing.
Ye Jingtang guessed that someone had committed a crime in the capital and framed the Pacifying Heaven Cult to hide their motive so that the government would make misjudgments.
But there was no way to explain his speculation. Facing the gazes of everyone looking at the big shot, Ye Jingtang could only look at the palm print on the deceased’s chest with a deep gaze. “The Wandering Body Palm emphasizes gentle strength to move a thousand kilograms. Although 1 can’t see any problems with this palm print, I feel there’s something off.”
Dongfang Liren blinked. “Relying on palm sense?”
“Your Highness is indeed smart.” Ye Jingtang nodded in relief.
Dongfang Liren’s lips curled up slightly when she was praised. Realizing that she wasn’t serious, she regained her dignified and noble appearance.
Ye Jingtang continued, “Moreover, the murderer pretended to be a swordsman to hide their true identity. It’s impossible for this person to use this iconic unique palm technique to expose their origins. This palm technique is most likely fake. They want to frame someone and divert attention.”
Everyone present was skeptical of these words.
Yuwen Chengde thought for a moment and took a step forward. “Young Master, you have sharp eyes, and your words are reasonable, but I really can’t agree. I’ve been working in the government office for twenty years and have seen the marks of the Wandering Body Palm. I’m sure this is the Pacifying Heaven Cult’s unique Wandering Body Palm. Young Master, since you’re saying it’s fake, can you point out the problem?”
Ye Jingtang shook his head. “I’m not good at palm techniques. At the moment, I can’t tell where the problem is. 1 have to go back and study it.”
Dongfang Liren trusted Ye Jingtang’s judgment more, but there was irrefutable evidence in front of her. She hesitated for a moment and could only say, “Meng Jiao.”
Whoosh!
A cold wind blew into the room, and the white-haired old woman landed silently inside.
The constables and officials hurriedly bowed as if they had seen the King of Hell.
The white-haired old woman walked forward with a hunched back and inspected the wound on the deceased’s chest. “Hmm… From my experience, this is indeed the Wandering Body Palm, and it’s even the same as Zhang Henggu’s. But Young Master Ye can see some clues, which means that there might be something fishy behind it. We can’t jump to conclusions.”
The white-haired old woman had long seen that Ye Jingtang’s talent and comprehension far exceeded her own, so even though she was certain that it was Zhang Henggu’s palm technique, she didn’t dare to say it with surety.
Hearing the White-Haired Diting say this, Ye Jingtang knew that there was a high chance this palm technique was real. He had to go back and ask Heroine Luo about the inside story. He could only say, “It’s possible that I’ve misjudged. 1’11 go back and think about it carefully. When 1 have some ideas, 1’11 conduct a new autopsy and continue discussing with everyone.”
Dongfang Liren nodded slightly. “Continue to inspect the scene. If you find any new clues, report them to me and Young Master Ye immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yuwen Chengde cupped his hands and said, “May I know your name, Young Master? If 1 have any questions, I will come and seek your guidance. 1 hope you will be able to help me clear my doubts.”
“Ye Jingtang from the Black Office. I don’t dare to clear your doubts. I just happen to know a little…”
After some time, in the carriage…
Raindrops fell outside the carriage.
Ye Jingtang propped his elbows on his knees and sat by the carriage window. His expression was cold, and his eyes were deep as he gently rubbed his fingers.
Dongfang Liren had been full of anger when she went out earlier. But on the way back, she felt much better.
At this moment, she was sitting upright with her hands folded on her lap, looking at Ye Jingtang’s side profile. She looked like a princess who didn’t dare to disturb her husband’s serious thoughts. Only when Ye Jingtang returned to his senses did she ask gently, “Have you thought of anything?”
Ye Jingtang was indeed thinking about something, but he was thinking about the wound on Second Master Cheng’s forehead. Seeing Dumdum’s expectant eyes, he felt a little embarrassed. “I haven’t figured it out yet. 1 still have to think about it. When there are clues, I will tell Your Highness immediately.”
“Don’t be anxious. Sometimes, you have to rely on a flash of inspiration to solve a case. 1 really didn’t expect you to have the potential to be a divine detective. Work harder in the future. If you can solve this case, I’ll give you that Roaring Dragon Spear.”
At the mention of giving something, Ye Jingtang remembered that he had bought a hairpin when he came back today. Unfortunately, Chen Biao had helped him carry it, so he didn’t bring it with him. He could only give it tomorrow.
Ye Jingtang turned to look at Dongfang Liren. Seeing that she was very happy, he thought for a moment and decided to push his luck. “There’s no need for the Roaring Dragon Spear. 1 prefer to use a saber. If Your Highness really wants to reward me, can that book…”
?
Dongfang Liren’s warm smile froze. She recalled the ‘jade tree in the backyard’, and a murderous look slowly surfaced in her eyes…
Ye Jingtang saw that something was wrong and hurriedly raised his hands. “I’m just joking. I’ll go back first. 1’11 go to the Black Office to meet Your Highness on time tomorrow. Goodbye.”
Then he turned around and left the carriage.
Dongfang Liren clenched her hands under her sleeves.. She only harrumphed lightly when Ye Jingtang’s footsteps disappeared…
