Chapter 932 - 276: [Tragedy] (6100)_3
In the middle of the main room was a large round table, but there were still two farming tools placed in the corner, and behind them was the kitchen. The large stove had a range hood hung above it, which seemed a bit out of place.
On either side of the main room were rooms to the east and west, with bloody footprints all over the floor, making Chen Yan more cautious as he walked.
The room on the right was where the second son was murdered—it originally belonged to the eldest son, but he was incarcerated for breaking Li Guohua’s leg, and the new room upstairs, according to custom, couldn’t be occupied before marriage. So, the second son stayed in his brother’s room, and was killed by his own father at night.
After the door to the room was opened, the strong smell of blood that once filled the room had long since dissipated.
But the lingering faint smell of rusty iron still made Chen Yan raise his eyebrows.
The bed was covered with blood-stained sheets and bedding. Since the weather had cooled, the police probably sprayed chemicals, so there weren’t any insects.
In many places in the room, things were obviously moved—most likely taken by the police during their investigation as potential evidence from the scene.
Chen Yan noticed that a large section of wallpaper next to the bed had been cut away, probably by the police for testing blood spatter patterns.
The left room was the master’s room; upon entering, the television faced the bed, and there was a black-and-white portrait hanging on the wall. The woman in the photo was a plain-looking middle-aged lady, her smile peaceful. She was probably the late matriarch of the house from years ago.
It was said that the father’s side of the family did not have good fortune either.
The matriarch died over a decade ago, leaving the patriarch with two sons still in school.
The father raised the two children alone. It was said that he wanted to find someone to matchmake, but because he was a widower with two kids, no one would agree. So he stayed single.
The master’s room was a bit messy, as if it had been rummaged through, with many things missing.
Chen Yan looked at the bed, narrowing his eyes for a moment.
He had opened his Celestial Eye Qi Observation Skill to examine the surroundings; combined with his recently acquired "Illusion Breaking" skills, he could distinctly feel a chilling Yin Qi in the room, enveloped by a thick, unbreakable "Death Qi"!
This Death Qi, sensed by Chen Yan’s sharp Spiritual Sense, bore an unmistakably deep resentment!
(Was it the resentment left behind by the father’s murder-suicide?)
Chen Yan shook his head.
Even if the father held some grudge against his son, the act of murder itself should have settled it. So why was there such heavy resentment left behind after death?
Just then, Chen Yan’s ear twitched, hearing some commotion outside.
He felt a stirring in his heart and quickly moved upstairs, hiding on the second-floor balcony, looking down.
From the dilapidated house next door—Li Guohua’s home—a small figure emerged from the doorway.
Carrying a dustpan, the figure walked to the corner of the yard and set it down, then turned around, seemingly gazing silently at their own yard.
Li Guohua’s family’s conditions were poor, with a yard much smaller than the neighboring one, merely enclosed by a simple fence, much of which had fallen into disrepair.
The small figure was dressed in a dirty school uniform, looking as if it had been worn for a long time. Their hair was thin and yellowish, perhaps due to inadequate nutrition during a crucial growth period.
Chen Yan immediately recognized the small figure as the little girl from the grandfather-granddaughter pair he had encountered earlier that day in the noodle shop in town. She had hitched a ride to Yang Er Village.
Watching her stand in her own yard, sigh lightly, and turn back into the house.
It was already dusk, though not yet dark; rural households didn’t turn on lights, but in the dim room, the sound of a man coughing was clearly audible.
Soon, voices could be heard from inside the house.
"Dad, I’m going to Xiao Fang’s house to do homework."
"Okay, go ahead."
"I’ve steamed some buns. I’ll take one to eat. Make sure you eat as well. There’s pickled vegetables in the cupboard."
"Got it."
The conversation between father and daughter seemed devoid of any emotion, filled with an inexplicable sense of detachment.
Soon the girl came out into the yard again, now with a small backpack on her.
As she seemed ready to leave, footsteps came from the room, and Li Guohua followed her out.
Chen Yan noticed that Li Guohua walked with a limp, as his broken leg had not yet healed.
Moreover, the man looked alarmingly thin, like he was merely bones, moving with a light gait.
"Wait a minute."
Li Guohua called to his daughter, caught up with her, and handed her a flashlight.
His voice was hoarse but firm: "It’s dark on the road at night. Bring this to light your way."
The girl took the flashlight without speaking, looking down at her toes.
Li Guohua rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a couple of banknotes: "Take this with you. Don’t just eat the buns; buy a bottle of milk at the village entrance."
The girl accepted the money, paused, then suddenly spoke: "Dad, don’t gamble tonight. I need to pay school fees next week, and the teacher said without money, there’d be no workbooks. I always have to borrow classmates’ workbooks for the exercises, and it isn’t convenient."
Li Guohua’s hoarse voice seemed tinged with awkwardness as he muttered softly, "I won’t, I won’t gamble."
After a pause, Li Guohua suddenly asked in a low voice, "Did Granny visit you today? Did she... did she give you money?"