This is evidence and clues just found from the Qufu Ancestral Hall.
The Qilu Governor, the Inspector, the Magistrate, and Zhao Tong, whose face was livid, were all present.
Everyone held their breath in concentration, looking at the renowned Old Divine Catcher.
Skilled in investigation, this person could be considered a Grandmaster solely in solving cases.
A thick dossier was spread on the table, detailing not only the intricacies before and after the incident involving Li Qi, but also adding the two tragic cases of Kong Zhenyuan and his son's deaths.
"This case is not difficult." Bai Laojiu's voice was dry and hoarse.
He picked up a larger fragnt and carefully turned it under the lamp, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's. "Li Qi's registration in Pingdu State is not false. But the root lies in the Li Jiaao of Lao Mountain. This is a fragnt of Yin Chen Wood; the old man has fully restored it—it was a wine jar."
"The traces of symbols inside the wine jar are the 'Hidden Trace Talisman' recorded in the 'Seven Seals of Clouds'!"
"This talisman is beyond what Jianghu sorcerers can do; it is a profound Taoist secret that can 'hold one's breath and hide, storing life Qi like stubborn stone or rotten wood!' To carve this talisman into a jar at Lao Mountain, and to have a connection with the Li Jiaao in the past..."
His voice suddenly turned cold: "It must be by a top expert of the Mystical Sect!"
He walked to the diagram of the Kong Ancestral Hall and continued: "The opponent likely used the Sacrificial Officer as a lure, the jar hiding murderous intent."
"Before the incident, there happened to be a sacrificial ceremony. Soone hid in this jar, sneaked into the storeroom of the Kong Ancestral Hall. On the stormy night of the incident, the guards heard strange noises in the storeroom but thought it was just the wind and rain. The murderer hid in the jar, used a secret technique like Bone Shrinking Technique, and had already been lying in wait for a long ti!"
"The wound on Yan Sheng Gong's chest was narrow as a finger, with the heart vessels shattered and little blood seeping out! This was caused by extre Gang Qi concentrated at the fingertips, congealed but not dispersed, cutting off life instantly. Its force was as swift as lightning, making the victim silently die."
"Such ruthlessness and precision are not of ordinary vendettas. Clearly, it is a ticulously planned revenge thunderstrike by a Taoist master!"
As his words landed, the forensic room was dead silent.
"A top expert of the Mystical Sect," "the secret talisman of 'Seven Seals of Clouds'," "Taoist Bone Shrinking secret technique," "Gang Qi at the fingertip" ... each word hit like a heavy hamr.
When involving experts of the Mystical Sect, the situation gets increasingly complicated.
Given the status of the Kong family, what force dares to be so rampant?
"Is everything clear?"
At this mont, a gentle voice sounded.
Everyone was surprised and quickly turned their heads.
In the prison cell, at so point, a figure in a moon-white Confucian robe draped with a gray-blue crane cloak appeared.
The figure was lean and tall, with a distinguished presence, hair and beard tinged with white amongst the black, and eyes clear and profound.
His deanor was calm like an abyss, exuding an air of majestic aloofness.
"Master!"
Zhao Tong hastily bent over and cupped his hands.
The newcor was none other than Lu Hongyuan, one of the Ten Grandmasters of the Divine State.
"Greetings, Mr. Lu."
The other officials dared not neglect, all bowing and cupping their hands.
Lu Hongyuan was not only a Grandmaster but also held the highest status in literary studies within the Confucian world.
After listening to Zhao Tong's report, his expression remained unchanged as he spoke: "Manager Kong had his Divine Soul seized, and being at the hall that night, he should know so inside information. The timing should be almost right."
Zhao Tong quickly cupped his hands, "This disciple will summon them imdiately."
Lu Hongyuan calmly said: "It is 'invite,' do not be discourteous."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tong's face turned bright red.
......
"This way, everyone, please!"
Zhao Tong raised his hand to lead the way, though his words were polite, his expression was rather grim.
He really couldn't figure out why his master was so courteous to these younger mbers of the pugilistic world.
Li Yan and the others, too lazy to argue with him, kept their eyes focused on the figure in the hall.
"Greetings, Senior Lu."
Everyone dared not be neglectful, bowing and cupping hands in unison.
"No need for such formality, everyone."
Unexpectedly, though Zhao Tong's nose was upturned, Lu the Grandmaster's attitude was very amicable.
In the hall, Lu the Grandmaster not only called them in, but also summoned Kong Zhenlin and several esteed elders of the Kong family, evidently to thoroughly unravel this case.
Under Wang Daoxuan's herbal dicine and spell treatnts, Manager Kong, though still appearing haggard, was clear-minded.
Under the gaze of everyone, Manager Kong recounted that night of nightmares.
"That night... Yan Sheng Gong summoned to the ancestral hall. I thought it was about the old grievances between my sons, Shang'an and Shangzhao... causing much apprehension. But upon eting, Yan Sheng Gong himself was exceptionally courteous, first sighing about the recent family disputes, then ntioning letting this matter rest, telling not to worry and to focus on running the shop properly..."
The crowd was not surprised upon hearing this.
The reason had already been investigated, as Kong Shangzhao had found a protector in the Capital.
Luo Mingzi wrote a letter himself, and the Kong family did not wish to offend people over such a small matter.
"Who exactly is the perpetrator?" Kong Zhenlin impatiently asked.
Kong Zhenyuan had died, and as long as it was determined that he was not involved, the position of Yan Sheng Gong was destined for him.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
Li Yan glanced over, utterly ignoring him.
Kong Zhenlin was about to beco angry, but seeing Lu Hongyuan's expressionless face, he dared not utter another word.
Manager Kong swallowed hard, his eyes filled with fear as he spoke, "At the ti, I was giving thanks for the grace of Yan Sheng Gong... but suddenly, the windows and doors of the ancestral hall moved without wind, and a strange man wearing a gray, worn Daoist robe, with a scar on his face and eyes like ice picks, appeared, seemingly 'seeping' out of the shadows, right behind Yan Sheng Gong!"
"That strange man only said, 'Do you rember Cai Wei?' before reaching out with a finger."
"Yan Sheng Gong couldn't even manage a hum and just collapsed!"
"I was scared stiff at the ti, my mind blank. The stranger seed to just notice , turned his head... those eyes... cold enough to freeze one's soul."
"Hmm?"
Zhao Tong sensed sothing amiss, "Why did such a ruthless person not kill you?"
Manager Kong sighed, "He explained the reason. Twenty years ago, when I passed by Lao Mountain, I found that a village was slaughtered by pirates, many villagers left dead in the wild. I couldn't bear it in my heart, so I spent Silver to have them buried."
"He didn't kill , but he did place sothing dark, like a bone and ceramic, over my head."
"When I woke up, it was now..."
Listening to Manager Kong's testant, everyone present wore a serious expression.
Manager Kong's testimony matched the deductions of Old Divine Catcher Bai Laojiu.
The only question was, who was that person?
The crowd furrowed their brows in confusion, except for Kong Zhenlin, whose face seed a bit unnatural upon hearing "Cai Wei".
"Zhenlin, do you know sothing?"
Lu Hongyuan noticed sharply and directly inquired.
Kong Zhenlin opened his mouth but looked troubled, "Would Master Lu kindly ask others to leave?"
Lu Hongyuan calmly said, "It's known by all, hiding is futile."
These words co from the Analects·Zi Zhang, as Zigong said, "A gentleman's fault is like an eclipse of the Sun and Moon: everyone sees it; when rectified, everyone looks up to it."
The aning here is that the scandal is widely known, hiding it is pointless.
Kong Zhenlin, feeling bitter, braced himself to divulge, "I know sothing about this matter."
"Twenty years ago, when Zhenyuan brother traveled in Jiaodong, he t a woman nad Cai Wei, and they fell in love with each other. However, our father felt that marrying a woman from the pugilistic world would tarnish our family reputation, and pressured him repeatedly. Eventually, the woman could not bear the pressure and committed suicide by jumping into the sea. Zhenyuan brother did not dare defy our father, and returned to marry and have children."
Again, twenty years ago!
The crowd couldn't help but look at Manager Kong.
All these events from twenty years ago, perhaps there were hidden truths to the massacre at Li Jiaao?
Seeing the crowd's reaction, Kong Zhenlin's face turned pale, and he hastily defended, "Impossible, father only prevented Zhenyuan from marrying, he never even t the woman, how would it lead to slaughtering a village..."
He was anxious, for if such a thing were true, it would be a major blow to the Kong family's reputation.
Lu Hongyuan fell silent for a mont, "That is Thunder Martial Arts, I will write a letter later to be sent to Lao Mountain, to investigate the records of Li Jiaao, and check on any cultivators recently breaking barriers."
"The murderer will be sanctioned by the law, and if the Kong family is at fault, it must bear responsibility."
"Master Lu is wise."
The attending officials all bowed their respects.
No matter the truth, Lu Hongyuan's handling left no room for dissent.
With matters reaching a conclusion, the officials took their leave, and the Kong family mbers also left with somber expressions.
They suddenly realized a consequence.
The position of Yan Sheng Gong might not necessarily be inherited by their Northern Kong.
"Twelve Primordial Spirits, please wait a mont."
Just as Li Yan and the others were about to leave, they were called back by Lu Hongyuan.
Li Yan beca wary, bowing his respects, "I wonder what Senior wishes?"
Lu Hongyuan calmly stared at him, then suddenly spoke.
"I wish to ask Young Hero Li, to help kill soone!"
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