Chapter 596 - 259: The Murderer is Fang Shuwen
Chapter 596: Chapter 259: The Murderer is Fang Shuwen
"Cyan Mist Saber, Chen Jiuquan!?"
Luo Shuqing certainly hadn’t forgotten him either. After all, she’d caught plenty of fish in her life, but she’d only ever reeled in a corpse that one time.
At the time, they had discovered he died by his own Nine-Colored Divine Saber.
At this thought, Luo Shuqing gave Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong a meaningful look.
The two of them understood at once and began carefully searching the bodies on the ship.
A moment later, they each dragged a corpse over—a man and a woman. Both were saber users, and their weapons hadn’t left their hands even in death.
"They were husband and wife, nicknamed the ’Butterfly Mandarin Duck Saber.’ They used a paired Saber Technique, one with the left hand and one with the right. They coordinated perfectly, and their technique was exceptional.
"The wounds they inflicted looked like the marks of a butterfly’s wings, very distinctive."
Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong pointed to the couple’s fatal wounds and said,
"Hero Fang, please take a look."
Fang Shuwen followed their gesture and saw that the marks from this Saber Technique were indeed completely different from those of a normal saber.
It wasn’t a straight line, but two arcs, one large and one small, like the edge of a butterfly’s wing.
"They were also killed by their own signature Saber Technique."
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"Well now, this is interesting.
"Before we headed to Monkey Suppression Island, this person ran into Chen Jiuquan and killed him with the Nine-Colored Divine Saber.
"This person is now ahead of us. They found this ship and its crew before we did.
"And then, using their victims’ own signature techniques, they slaughtered everyone on board.
"So... why would they do that?"
Fang Shuwen had already inspected the ship. There wasn’t a single ordinary person on board. Even those killed by fists and feet had callused hands and physiques far superior to the average person. They were all skilled experts from the Jianghu.
Even the fiercest pirates wouldn’t dare try to rob a ship full of Jianghu people.
And this group’s objective was most likely Luo Shuqing and the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror.
But now, they had all been killed.
If the killer wasn’t after money, then what was their motive?
Fang Shuwen glanced at Luo Shuqing.
"Thought of anything?"
"What should I have thought of?"
Luo Shuqing retorted.
Fang Shuwen was confused.
"It makes no sense. I don’t know anyone in the East Sea, so no one would be helping me.
"And if they’re not helping me, they must be helping you.
"But you’re telling me you know nothing about it?
"Does that seem reasonable?"
Luo Shuqing shook her head.
"I really don’t know. I’ve spent all these years in Qingxiao Pavilion, never stepping out. I’ve been completely sheltered.
"A true, sheltered lady of a prestigious family."
"Alright, alright, stop. You’ve got the gall to say it, but I’m embarrassed just hearing it."
Fang Shuwen pursed his lips.
Luo Shuqing was so angry she laughed, though it was more of a baring of her teeth.
"Did I say a single thing that was wrong!?
"I am the dignified Young Mistress of Qingxiao Pavilion. What’s so wrong with calling myself a sheltered lady?"
"Right, right, you’re right about everything!"
Fang Shuwen quickly waved his hands dismissively.
"Just keep talking."
"..."
Luo Shuqing let out an indignant huff.
"You made me so angry I forgot what I was going to say.
"Anyway, I really don’t know anyone who would help us right now.
"Besides... are you sure this person is helping us?
"With you around, even if they had shown up, they would have been nothing more than sitting ducks.
"What difference would it have made to you?"
Fang Shuwen nodded.
"That last part makes sense. Let’s put this aside for now.
"See if there’s anything useful on this ship. Gather it up, and we’ll take it all back with us.
"As for the bodies, search them for anything valuable. If there’s nothing, just leave them."
Fang Shuwen hadn’t killed these people, so disposing of the bodies wasn’t his problem.
The three of them nodded. They immediately began to search the bodies one by one, also looking for usable items in the cabins, and actually managed to find a few things.
Just as they were transferring the items back to their own boat, Fang Shuwen saw two more people approaching from the sea...
They didn’t have a large ship, just a small covered boat.
A man and a woman stood on the boat, dressed in practical martial attire and holding long swords.
Though no one was rowing, the small boat moved with incredible speed, shooting toward Fang Shuwen’s group like an arrow loosed from a bow.
It only slowed as it drew near.
The man and woman on the boat exchanged a glance, then leaped up and landed directly on the deck.
They first glanced at the corpses on the large ship, their expressions turning grave. Then, they looked at Fang Shuwen and his companions with faces full of confusion.
The woman asked,
"Who are you? What happened to the people on this ship?"
Fang Shuwen glanced at them but didn’t speak.
Seeing this, Zuo Hong spoke up.
"We were just traveling when we suddenly saw this large ship. We came aboard to take a look and found everyone on board was already dead."
The man couldn’t help but smirk.
"Do you hear yourself? How is it that no one else stumbles upon this, but you just happen to?
"Besides, what are you doing right now?
"It looks to me like you’re robbing the people you’ve just murdered!"
"Don’t jump to conclusions."
The woman held out a hand to stop him.
"But this is indeed suspicious... May I ask who you are?"
"What’s so suspicious about it?"
Zuo Xuan’s expression darkened. He shot a look at the two newcomers who were talking nonsense.
"We were just traveling on our way, and this ship was parked right here. If we couldn’t even see it, you must think we’re blind."