Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Devilish Methods?

The kitchen knife may belong to anybody within the village, however its distinctive design gave away its origin – the village’s inn. As the only real inn within the space, it remained a gathering place regardless of the scarce variety of guests. I made a decision to pay a go to, initially as a daily buyer.

A pleasant waitress approached, inserting a plate with a wonderfully cooked steak in entrance of me. “This is your steak,” she stated with a heat smile.

“Thanks,” I replied, appreciating her attentive service.

The inside of the inn was modest, adorned with easy wood tables. In search of solitude, I selected a nook desk, discreetly observing the employees, significantly these working within the kitchen. Whereas having fun with my meal, my gaze swept throughout the room, rigorously noting any peculiarities of their conduct.

Though it was unattainable to overtly examine for clues, observing their demeanor may reveal indicators of guilt. The steak was scrumptious, and because the hour and a half handed, I discreetly sipped on just a few beers to mix in. Nevertheless, nothing out of the abnormal occurred.

There was no prepare dinner showing suspicious or exhibiting uncommon conduct. The one noteworthy incident I witnessed was a drunken brawl between two patrons. Nevertheless, I remained undeterred. Deep down, I knew this method would not yield outcomes. To uncover the reality behind the current homicide, I would want to undertake a extra clandestine position—a spy.

With willpower, I left the tavern, retreating to a discreet location outdoors and patiently awaited dusk. Though the inn itself remained open, the kitchen employees departed to their respective properties because the restaurant closed. I noticed 5 people leaving. The perpetrator I sought needed to be amongst them, however how may I discern their id? A mistaken accusation may lead to additional hurt, one thing I desperately wished to keep away from.

However remaining stationary would not enhance the scenario. I had to choose, even when it meant taking a danger. Fortuitously, somebody did stand out from the remaining, appearing in a different way.

It was a girl with fiery purple hair. Clutching a leather-based bag, she displayed an unease regardless of being within the acquainted environment of the village. She repeatedly glanced over her shoulder, as if anticipating somebody to observe her. Whereas the others appeared unaffected by the darkness of the evening, her conduct caught my consideration. This was the individual I made a decision to trace. Whereas the others headed in the direction of their properties throughout the village, she ventured outdoors.

Dwelling on a farm outdoors the village myself, my presence within the open countryside wasn’t trigger for suspicion. Nevertheless, she deviated from the standard path and headed in the direction of the woods. That alone raised my suspicions. So as to add to it, the placement she was headed to was precisely the place I had found the bloodstained knife.

From behind the timber, I discreetly noticed her each transfer. She searched frantically, as if attempting to find the knife, but there was nothing there. After all, I had the knife in my possession. I may have confronted her then and there, however I wanted extra proof to substantiate her because the assassin and uncover her motive.

So I continued trailing her, sustaining a protected distance, till we reached a small cabin. She entered the cabin and drew the curtains, concealing her actions from prying eyes.

I wasn’t so rash as to kick down her entrance door and accuse her of being a assassin. Such an motion could be each harmful and unwise. As a substitute, I made a decision that the very best plan of action was to retreat to my farm and await any new info from Kang Duyi the next day.

And certainly, he had information for me.

Not like the day gone by when Kang Duyi roused me on the break of daybreak, this time he arrived a bit later.

“Please inform me it is excellent news,” I pleaded.

Kang Duyi’s demeanor wasn’t as devastated as the day gone by when the village found a dull physique, and that gave me a glimmer of hope that it wasn’t a brand new sufferer.

“Maybe. Whereas analyzing the corpse, I observed a number of lacking organs!”

“How can that presumably be good?” I questioned, feeling a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“Nicely, it offers us a lead. Whoever took these organs should have a motive: both to promote them or to follow forbidden cultivation strategies. Given the remoteness of this place, it is extremely unlikely that somebody could be shopping for organs right here…”

I remained silent, urging Kang Duyi to disclose the remainder of his findings.

“So, it appears extra doubtless that the offender is concerned in darkish arts and devilish practices,” he concluded, his voice tinged with a way of foreboding.

I will not lie. Devilish cultivation strategies appeared tempting. Based mostly on the novels I learn, they have been typically described as highly effective. The principle character in these tales shunned pursuing them as a result of they have been a hero who protected everybody.

However I am totally different. Whereas I care about Large T, Large F, and Wan Yu, it does not imply I am against doing mistaken. Energy is necessary within the cultivation world, and in contrast to the naive cultivators, I’ve learn extensively and understand how issues work.

“Okay. Hold in search of clues. I am going to return to the woods and search too,” I stated.

Kang Duyi did not discover something unusual about my plan and left. I’d certainly seek for clues, however my essential focus was the woman’s cabin. n/)o–v/)e/)l-.B(.1-.n

That is what I did first once I awakened. I waited for her to go away for work, then used my fundamental lock-picking abilities to open the door.

It wasn’t as a result of I used to be expert at it, however as a result of the door was poorly made. Inside, I discovered a plain cabin with solely important objects and nothing extra.

There have been no organs or blood, making me assume it was only a common cabin. Possibly I used to be mistaken in my suspicions.

No, I wasn’t mistaken. Each time somebody was concerned in wrongdoing, that they had secret hiding locations of their homes, and that is the place the true proof could be.

“Possibly below the mattress?” I believed to myself.

It was a cliché hiding spot, however I could not ignore the likelihood. And simply as I suspected, there it was—a trapdoor hid beneath the mattress. I opened it cautiously, revealing a ladder main down right into a darkish room.