Chapter 1146: Homicide
So, a large group of people hurried over, and before long they arrived at Du Fei’s residence. It didn’t have the impressive grandeur of the Sect Leader’s house, but it was still the Sect Leader’s home, so it had its own air of nobility, with all the necessary amenities present.
After everyone followed the Sect Leader to the crime scene, Pure Yang Daoist went in first while everyone else waited outside. At this moment, Du Fei’s wife and two sons were inside the house.
Du Fei’s wife, named Peng Niang, was his second wife. His first wife died in an accident, leaving behind a son named Du Nong. The other son, Peng Niang’s biological son, was named Du Min.
On the surface, Du Nong and Du Min were the same in Vice Sect Leader Du Fei’s eyes, but there was actually some favoritism.
However, Du Fei’s intention was simple. He felt a sense of responsibility since Du Nong’s mother had passed, so he wanted to treat Du Nong better.
Thus, among the three candidates from the Celestial Pill Sect’s family members participating in the trial, Du Nong was included, whereas Du Min was not selected.
At this moment, Pure Yang Daoist walked over, leaned down to look at Du Fei lying in a pool of blood, and felt a pang in his heart.
Back in the day, the two brothers became sworn brothers and came to the Celestial Pill Sect together, aiming to one day reach the Extreme Dao level. But now, over forty years had passed, and they had finally achieved their current accomplishments, yet now only one remained here.
Suddenly, he felt a bit lonely and desolate. After confirming everything at the scene, Pure Yang Daoist gestured for the people outside to come in.
Fatty Xu led five or six people inside, with Chen Tianlong walking last, observing everything around him as he walked with a few young women.
His keen observational skills made him feel that this matter was not so simple and seemed premeditated.
The window was clearly shut tight, and the door showed no excess scratches or damage. The whole house seemed to have no signs of struggle.
"Mrs. Peng, can you tell me what exactly happened?" Pure Yang Daoist asked.
"Sect Leader, you must speak up for me, woo woo... Du Fei was assassinated in the evening, and he was like this when I found him," Mrs. Peng cried and said.
"Oh? Then this afternoon...wasn’t Du with you?" Pure Yang Daoist asked casually.
"Ah?"
Mrs. Peng blushed a little shyly and said, "I, I was on my period, so I went back to my room to rest. The maid called me over because dinner was being served."
"Oh, I see."
Pure Yang Daoist didn’t ask much more. If that’s indeed the case, it was quite normal, as women during their periods tend to feel unwell and need rest.
Pure Yang Daoist didn’t ask Peng Niang further and turned to Du Nong to ask, "Xiao Nong, when was the last time you saw your dad? Did you notice anything unusual?"
"It was around two in the afternoon. Dad had just advised me on things to pay attention to for the upcoming trial, then he left. He was reading at the time, and after that, I don’t know," Du Nong said truthfully, his eyes full of sorrow.
"Hmm, noted."
Pure Yang Daoist thought for a moment and then continued to question Du Min, who stood to the side, hoping to gather more clues.
At this moment, Chen Tianlong’s mind turned, because he heard Du Nong’s words indicating Du Fei was reading at the time, which seemed somewhat related to the throat-slitting.
So Chen Tianlong wanted to find out the level of martial arts of this Vice Sect Leader Du Fei.
"Sect Leader, may I ask you a question?" Chen Tianlong stepped forward and asked.
Seeing him, Du Min felt a bit aggressive and glared at Chen Tianlong, saying, "The Sect Leader is asking questions, is it your place to interrupt?"
"Hey, Xiao Min, be polite. He is a member of our trials and is considered a friend of our Celestial Pill Sect," Pure Yang Daoist knew Du Min’s character, a bit unruly and strong with a jealous temperament.
"Young Master Yu, if I’ve been impolite, please excuse me. I just wanted to ask the Sect Leader about the Martial Arts Cultivation of Vice Sect Leader Du Fei," Chen Tianlong directly stated his purpose, fearing otherwise this young man might interrupt again.
"Oh, well, let’s say Du’s skills are more formidable than those of Master Xu, but below mine," Pure Yang Daoist was unsure of Chen Tianlong’s intentions, but knowing his natural cleverness, he might have already spotted something strange.
"Ah, that impressive? If that’s the case, then the person who assassinated Vice Sect Leader Du must be extremely skilled. How many people in the Celestial Pill Sect could possibly kill him?" Chen Tianlong asked with deliberate suspicion.
Pure Yang Daoist thought for a moment and realized it made sense. While there were a few people capable, these individuals were devoted to their cultivation and had no interest in worldly affairs, much less would they covet the Du Family’s modest wealth, given that their own families were much wealthier.
So it was quickly ruled out that he was killed by a member of the Celestial Pill Sect. Then who could possibly have the ability?
Pure Yang Daoist was unable to grasp any clue.
"What do you know? It’s possible someone took advantage of unpreparedness to launch a sneak attack," Du Nong suddenly spoke and gave Chen Tianlong a sidelong glance.
At this time, Chen Tianlong’s lips curled slightly, then he hid the expression at once, addressing Du Nong, "Oh? So that’s a possibility I almost didn’t consider."
While speaking, Chen Tianlong deliberately tapped his forehead, "Alright, I’ve asked all my questions; Sect Leader, please continue."
Having obtained his answer, Chen Tianlong no longer wished to inquire further. He simply walked over to a nearby desk, picked up a book, and began to examine it.
Meanwhile, Pure Yang Daoist wasted no time and directly asked, "Xiao Nong, when was the last time you saw your father?"
Du Nong retracted his earlier disdain for Chen Tianlong, and in stark contrast, calmly responded to Pure Yang Daoist, "Sect Leader, it was around 4 PM. I had nothing to do and saw my father reading inside, so I poured him a cup of tea. After sitting for a while and feeling bored, I went out to play on my own."
Pointing to the half-finished cup of tea on the table, he said, "That one has about half left."
Pure Yang Daoist nodded, pondering: If the time frame was between 4:30 PM and 5 PM, then no attack would likely happen. The attack must have occurred between 5 PM and 6 PM then. At that time, who could have appeared?
"That’s right, I remember now. Master Xu came around five in the afternoon,"
Peng Niang suddenly remembered and said.
Fatty Xu Wei, who had remained silent until now, reacted upon hearing his name from Peng Niang. He did visit at that time but wasn’t aware of the exact time.
"What’s the situation with Master Xu?"
Pure Yang Daoist, noticing the sudden shift towards Xu Wei, felt a chill. If Xu Wei had intended to attack when there was no defense, the odds were quite high, but it seemed unlikely due to a lack of conflict or animosity between them.
"Master Xu, did you kill my father?"
Suddenly, Du Nong aggressively stepped forward, glaring at Xu Wei.
"Ah? Don’t talk nonsense. I came to see Vice Sect Leader Du to inform him that all trial participants had arrived. I stayed for just two minutes. I can’t remember the exact time, as I rushed away to arrange matters for the trial participants,"
Fatty Xu quickly explained, fearing unjust blame.
"Hmph, who knows whether you came to discuss matters or to kill someone and leave?" Evidently, Du Min was already blaming Xu Wei.
Pure Yang Daoist frowned too. Indeed, it doesn’t take long to kill a person, one or two moves suffice. But he couldn’t fathom Xu Wei having any motive for murder.