"Tingfang!"
After a shout, tears burst forth uncontrollably.
Due to the loss of their parents, Fu Tingfang had followed him since childhood and was practically raised by him.
The bond between the brother and sister was extremely deep.
Even after Fu Tingyuan established Cyan Bamboo Ridge and became the Great Village Chief, Fu Tingfang remained by his side.
But now, his only sister had died, right within the Central Courtyard Stronghold, not even two miles away from his seclusion at Dishui Cliff.
All of this combined drove Fu Tingyuan nearly insane.
No one dared to speak.
Everyone hid far away, watching the Great Village Chief crying out in agony while holding his sister's corpse, as silent as cicadas in winter.
Many had a premonition that a storm of blood and gore was approaching.
And sure enough.
After wailing for a while, Fu Tingyuan suddenly stopped and gritted his teeth, lowly growling, "Someone come!"
"Here!"
Zhan Feng and several other village chiefs stepped forward and responded loudly.
"Go apprehend everyone from the Refining World Sect for me. I want to interrogate them one by one!" Fu Tingyuan slowly commanded, his words filled with a chilling murderous intent.
"Yes!"
The group's eyes brightened.
They had long been displeased with the people from the Refining World Sect, but because of Fu Tingyuan's attitude, they had to swallow their pride.
Now that Fu Tingyuan had spoken, they were naturally delighted and immediately went to capture them.
Besides the deceased Guan Lun, there were five others from the Refining World Sect on Cyan Bamboo Ridge.
These five didn't live on Cyan Bamboo Ridge but in the rear mountain mining area.
Fu Tingyuan had specially built houses for them there, equipped with servants, even prepared concubines to attend them, letting them live quite comfortably and freely.
Therefore, these people were completely unaware of what happened on the front mountain, and were captured in their sleep by Zhan Feng and the other village chiefs.
When they were brought, naked and tightly bound, to the Central Courtyard, Fu Tingyuan had already regained his composure.
He pointed to the corpses of Guan Lun and his sister on the ground.
"Give me an explanation."
The five awoke as if from a dream, only then realizing what had happened, and then, in terror, began to explain.
"Great Village Chief, we truly don't know what happened. Guan Lun has always been unreliable. He must have acted on his own accord to see the Third Miss, leading to a dispute and a fight, so it truly has nothing to do with us!"
One of them explained hoarsely.
But Fu Tingyuan didn't listen to his nonsense at all, raising his hand with a palm strike that shattered the speaker's head.
Bam.
The head exploded, brains splattering, leaving the remaining four pale as ashes.
"Come on, continue talking, tell me why my sister died!" Fu Tingyuan said coldly.
The four couldn't utter a word.
Despite their usual braggadociousness, it was only because Fu Tingyuan turned a blind eye to their actions out of respect for the Golden Silkworm Gu Master providing Secret Medicine.
Now with Fu Tingyuan's fury over his sister's death, they naturally couldn't maintain their arrogance.
"So you won't speak, Zhan Feng!"
"Here!"
"Take them out and light the heavenly lantern!"
"Yes!"
Zhan Feng had been waiting for this command.
Though Fu Tingyuan's earlier palm strike didn't injure him seriously, it still filled him with indignation.
So without hesitation, he stepped forward, grabbed one by the hair, and dragged them out.
These people let out ghostly wails of pleas for mercy.
Amidst the chaos, a shout was heard from afar.
"Great Village Chief, please calm your anger!"
With the words, a figure quickly approached, appearing before everyone in the blink of an eye.
The person wore a mask with golden silkworm motifs, precisely the Golden Silkworm Gu Master of the Refining World Sect.
Seeing him, the three remaining captured cried out frantically as if seeing a lifeline.
"Gu Master, save us!"
"Master Gu, please save us!"
The Golden Silkworm Gu Master glanced at them, then snorted coldly, "Truly a bunch of useless fools."
With that, he strode into the Central Courtyard, arriving in front of Fu Tingyuan.
Seeing him approach, Fu Tingyuan's anger on his face gradually subsided.
He couldn't help it.
He had a request to make of the Golden Silkworm Gu Master, so he naturally couldn't let things get too strained.
Yet Fu Tingfang's death still filled him with fury, so he said nothing, only looking coldly at him, seemingly waiting for his explanation.
The Golden Silkworm Gu Master first looked at the corpses on the ground, then squatted to carefully examine the surrounding traces, before standing up to speak.
"Great Village Chief, I also deeply mourn your sister's death, but there is an obvious mystery here."
"Oh? What mystery?" Fu Tingyuan responded coldly.
"Take a look, something is clearly off here. If Guan Lun really intended to kill your sister, why would he have such injuries?"
The Golden Silkworm Gu Master pointed to the injured hand of Guan Lun.
"Furthermore, I noticed Guan Lun was evidently poisoned as well, suggesting he was coerced into doing these things." The Golden Silkworm Gu Master explained.
Fu Tingyuan was skeptical, "If that's the case, who was coercing him?"
"That's precisely what I wanted to ask you, too. After all, someone capable of using such poison proves to be no ordinary person. Great Village Chief, do you recall any enemies skilled in poison?"
"I have plenty of enemies, couldn't think of any specific one on the spot," Fu Tingyuan replied impatiently.
"It might not be specifically against you, but perhaps against the Third Miss?" The Golden Silkworm Gu Master suggested.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Feng's expression changed dramatically.
The Golden Silkworm Gu Master naturally noticed this and asked, "Second Village Chief, it looks like you thought of something?"
"No!"
Zhan Feng certainly wouldn't assist the Golden Silkworm Gu Master, so even if he had guesses, he kept silent.
Moreover, if it was indeed done by that person, it meant they snuck into the mountain from outside.
Wouldn't that mean he was negligent?
He wouldn't admit it, thus he vehemently denied it.
The Golden Silkworm Gu Master couldn't force him, so he just gave him a cold glance before going to a secret chamber with Fu Tingyuan to discuss matters.
Zhan Feng let out a sigh of relief, but fear quickly enveloped his heart.
If it really was him, then the whole matter would be explained.
But now that Huo Tianxiao and Fu Tingfang were dead, was he next?
Zhan Feng knew well the deep-seated enmity between him and Zhao Ya!
As Cyan Bamboo Ridge descended into chaos, Zhao Ya had already returned to Wuxiang City.
Seeing him return safely, Meng Shiwen and Zui'Er, who had worried all night, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ya, why did you take the entire night to return?" Zui'Er asked.
"Well, something delayed me on the road."
Zhao Ya naturally didn't mention what he did at Cyan Bamboo Ridge. It would only cause needless worry for Zui'Er and the others.
Currently, Wuxiang City didn't even have a place to grab a meal.
Luckily, Zhao Ya and the others had prepared plenty of food in advance, stored on the carriage.
Zui'Er borrowed the Hong Family's kitchen to heat the food, and the three had a breakfast.
Then Zhao Ya said, "Today we will first visit the grave of Zui'Er's grandmother outside the city. As for Master..."
"We'll bring these villains' heads as offerings after we've slain the culprits."