Chapter 597 - 259: The Killer is Fang Shuwen
Chapter 597: Chapter 259: The Killer is Fang Shuwen
"It’s just like how you ran into us. If we hadn’t gotten here a step ahead, wouldn’t you have been the ones to first find this ship full of dead people?
"In that case, you’d be here first, and we’d arrive later. Could we then say... that you killed everyone on this ship?
"As for their belongings... everyone’s dead. It’s no use leaving these things on the ship.
"We’re just taking them so they don’t go to waste."
"This..."
The woman heard his words and felt he had a point.
"They don’t dare to give their names. There’s clearly something suspicious about them."
The man then looked at Luo Shuqing.
"And her. Why is she covering her face for no good reason?"
"She has smallpox and doesn’t want you to see her face. Is there a problem with that?"
Fang Shuwen, who had been silent until this point, was exasperated by the antics of these two.
However, it didn’t seem like they were targeting Luo Shuqing—at least not openly. He decided to speak up.
"So, who exactly are you two? We’re on the vast, open sea, and you just come aboard and start interrogating us?
"But you haven’t even told us who you are. Don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?"
"You don’t know who we are?"
The man was even more taken aback. He pointed a finger at their canopied boat.
"You mean you don’t recognize that?"
"The boat?"
"The emblem on the boat!"
Fang Shuwen took a closer look and saw that there was indeed an emblem hanging on the boat.
The design was interesting: a pair of crossed shackles and a longsword.
Fang Shuwen stared, taken aback.
"What’s this supposed to mean? Don’t tell me there are constables on the East Sea?"
Zuo Xuan glanced over and said to Fang Shuwen,
"I actually know about this. They’re from Celestial Prison Island.
"And you’re right, sir. The founder of Celestial Prison Island was indeed a former constable.
"But later, the Court’s power waned. They could hardly control the Five Domains Martial World, let alone the vast East Sea.
"That senior saw how many innocents lost their lives in the conflicts between Jianghu people, so he founded Celestial Prison Island.
"What the Court won’t police, Celestial Prison Island will.
"They capture and imprison Jianghu people who slaughter commoners and show no regard for the lives of ordinary folk."
Fang Shuwen was a little surprised.
"The Eight Forbidden Areas of the East Sea allow Celestial Prison Island to exist?"
"They’ve always coexisted peacefully, for the most part. But in recent years, Celestial Prison Island has had some occasional friction with the Jianghu people of the East Sea."
"Why?"
"In the past, they only concerned themselves with Jianghu people who harmed commoners. Now, they even want to pass judgment on vendettas between Jianghu people. Many have their reservations about this."
Fang Shuwen nodded in understanding.
"Are you two done talking?"
The woman from Celestial Prison Island furrowed her brow slightly.
"Now that you know our origins, please be so good as to state your own identities."
Fang Shuwen was curious.
"And what will you do if I don’t?"
"How outrageous!"
The man flew into a rage.
"Are you trying to make an enemy of Celestial Prison Island? I’m sure you’re the one who killed the people on this ship! Today, I will bring them justice!"
With that, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw.
Fang Shuwen raised an eyebrow. He saw the woman grab the man’s wrist.
"Stop. We haven’t investigated thoroughly. We can’t jump to conclusions!"
"But..."
"No buts!"
The woman’s expression darkened. Though the man was still indignant, he took a deep breath and stepped back.
The woman thought for a moment before cupping her fist in salute to Fang Shuwen.
"My junior brother is still young. Please, don’t mind his impudence.
"I am Xia Weiyuan of Celestial Prison Island, and this is my junior brother, Li Cheng.
"May I have the honor of knowing your names?"
"Now that’s more like it."
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"However, it’s not convenient for us to reveal our identities.
"But what I told you earlier wasn’t a lie. We really didn’t kill the people on this ship. They were already dead when we arrived.
"As for anything else... we have no idea.
"Oh, and you can examine their bodies. If I’m not mistaken, they all died by their own signature Ultimate Skills."
"Oh?"
Xia Weiyuan glanced at Fang Shuwen, then nodded to Li Cheng.
Li Cheng looked reluctant. He shot another glance at Fang Shuwen before finally beginning to inspect the bodies.
As he did, his expression immediately grew solemn.
After checking five or six bodies, he hurried over to whisper in Xia Weiyuan’s ear.
His voice was low, but not low enough to escape Fang Shuwen’s ears.
What surprised Fang Shuwen was that Li Cheng seemed to know everyone on the ship as if they were old acquaintances. He identified their names and origins at a glance and even spoke knowledgeably about their Martial Arts.
This alone made Fang Shuwen think there was more to Celestial Prison Island than met the eye.
After hearing what Li Cheng had to say, Xia Weiyuan glanced at Fang Shuwen’s group once more, then began to investigate the ship with him.
Fang Shuwen paid them no mind. They had moved almost everything, so he returned to his own boat and prepared to leave.
Xia Weiyuan didn’t try to stop them. Instead, she came to the ship’s railing and called out,
"Everyone, please forgive our offense. If we are fated to meet again in the Jianghu, I will be sure to offer you a proper apology.
"Also... the East Sea isn’t safe lately. A Demon from the Eastern Domain, one who kills without batting an eye, has arrived. You’d best not wander about recklessly. If you fall into his hands, I fear you won’t make it out alive."
Fang Shuwen froze for a second. ’A Demon who kills without batting an eye?’
’Is that girl talking about me?’
Luo Shuqing kept her head down, her shoulders shaking like a leaf as she clearly struggled to stifle her laughter.
Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong also had strange looks on their faces. In the end, it was Zhou Zhengze who cupped his fist and said with a solemn expression,
"Very well. We will keep that in mind. Thank you!"