https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-327-A-Change-of-Plans-Unforeseen-Consequences/12536545/
Chapter 328: A Visitor from Unnamed Island
Chapter 328: A Visitor from Unnamed Island
"Do you think they suspect that Ouyang Yue was killed by Lu Xiaofeng?" Su Shaoying asked Ma Xiuzhen.
Lu Xiaofeng was a shrewd man, and Nan Gonghai was very polite, even praising him as "the best finger force in the world." So, of course, he would offer his professional opinion to help the Nan Gong family.
And where Lu Xiaofeng went, Su Shaoying naturally followed to join in the fun.
Hearing Su Shaoying's words, Lu Xiaofeng glared at her angrily. Instead, Nan Gonghai turned and smiled, "Master Lu's reputation precedes him, and he was with Miss Xue all day yesterday. How could we suspect him?"
"Did Ouyang Yue die yesterday?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
"Yesterday afternoon," Nan Gonghai paused, his voice heavy. "Right here in the Nan Gong family estate."
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes widened in realization, and he shared a glance with Su Shaoying, both now understanding the situation.
Although the Nan Gong family was the leader of the three major martial arts families in Jiangnan, the Ouyang family was by no means weak. Now that the head of the Ouyang family had died in the Nan Gong family's estate, this matter was no small issue.
On a larger scale, it could cause a rift between the Nan Gong and Ouyang families, leading to open conflict.
On a smaller scale, it could create discord between the two families, allowing others to benefit from their feud.
So when the three followed Nan Gonghai to the Nan Gong family estate, the atmosphere was oppressive.
Ouyang Yue lay in a coffin, his face still bearing the terror of his final moments, a look that could never be smoothed over. On his forehead was a hole the size of a finger!
In the funeral hall stood three people.
One was a middle-aged man who looked very similar to Nan Gonghai, but unlike Nan Gonghai's gentle countenance, this man exuded an air of dignity and solemnity.
The other middle-aged man was dressed in fine clothes, and although there were fish tail wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, he was still flamboyantly dressed. However, the hand he rested on the sword at his waist was steady and strong.
The third person was a very beautiful woman, also an acquaintance of Su Shaoying. They had even slept in the same bed the night before.
Nan Gongchuan, Sima Ziyi, and Ouyang Qing!
Su Shaoying looked at Ouyang Qing, a little dazed. "You're from the Ouyang family?"
Ouyang Qing turned, a playful smile flashing across her serene face before disappearing just as quickly. "My surname is Ouyang, so of course I'm from the Ouyang family."
Ouyang was not a common surname, and those who traveled in the same circles as the Ouyang family were usually members of the family.
"He is..."
"He's my grand-uncle. I'm just a daughter of a branch of the family." Ouyang Qing said indifferently, "But at the moment, I'm the only one from the Ouyang family in Jinling, so Uncle Nan Gong asked me to come."
Ma Xiuzhen and Ouyang Qing exchanged a glance, instantly seeing through each other's identities. Then Ma Xiuzhen nodded, "My condolences."
"Thank you." Ouyang Qing softened her smile, but her expression didn't show much sadness.
"Did you ask Nan Gonghai to call me here?" Lu Xiaofeng asked Ouyang Qing. "Where's Xue Bing?"
"I didn't ask you to come, it was Uncle Nan Gong's idea. If I had my way, I would have called Su Shaoying instead. He's much more reliable than you." Ouyang Qing's lips curved slightly, "As for Xue Bing, she's gone to find you, of course. Why would she look for me when you're not waiting for her at the inn?"
Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but bare his teeth, "Su Shaoying took a shortcut. Among Ouyang Yue's acquaintances, I doubt there's anyone who's my friend."
The three major martial arts families in Jiangnan were aloof and distant, and it was likely that Lu Xiaofeng's social circle had no overlap with them.
Nan Gongchuan and Nan Gonghai remained silent, but Sima Ziyi, standing beside them, frowned, "We didn't ask you here to solve the case, only to examine Ouyang Yue's cause of death.
"Because I've already figured it out," Lu Xiaofeng said nonchalantly.
"What?"
Not only Sima Ziyi but even Nan Gongchuan and Nan Gonghai were startled. From the moment Lu Xiaofeng had entered the room to speaking with Ouyang Qing, his gaze had only briefly rested on Ouyang Yue's body.
"What did you figure out?" Sima Ziyi asked immediately.
Lu Xiaofeng didn't answer. Instead, he turned to look at Nan Gongchuan.
A smile appeared on Nan Gongchuan's solemn face as he said, "Please forgive my poor eyesight, but I'm afraid I don't know how Brother Ouyang met his end."
Lu Xiaofeng smiled, but his expression soon turned doubtful as he said in a low voice, "The person who killed him is someone who shouldn't exist."
"What do you mean by someone who shouldn't exist?" Sima Ziyi was confused.
However, Lu Xiaofeng started to beat around the bush, "I presume the head of the Nan Gong family knows about the legendary three great finger techniques of the martial arts world from a century ago."
"The 'One Yang Finger' of Zhang Bian and the Yin family, the 'Divine Finger Technique' secretly passed down in Mount Hua, and the 'Finger Knife Ultimate Skill' of the Bitter Recluse of Mount Tai?" Nan Gongchuan immediately recited, as if these were treasured artifacts.
"Indeed." Lu Xiaofeng nodded.
"People tend to overvalue their possessions, which often leads to many powerful martial arts being short-lived. They fade away with the deaths of the extraordinary masters who made them famous. The three great finger techniques suffered the same fate."
Lu Xiaofeng continued, "The Mount Hua sect is large and well-established, so the Divine Finger Technique has been passed down through the generations. However, the One Yang Finger and the Finger Knife have long been lost, and they haven't appeared in the martial arts world for a long time."
Nan Gongchuan understood, "So, Ouyang Yue was killed by someone using one of these finger techniques?"
"The person who killed Ouyang Yue used the Finger Knife technique," Lu Xiaofeng said.
Nan Gonghai interjected, "But nowadays, there's no one in the world who practices the Finger Knife."
"That's why I say this person shouldn't exist," Lu Xiaofeng said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement, "But why is that?"
Lu Xiaofeng was clearly excited, but Su Shaoying had already figured out who had killed Ouyang Yue.
The Peaceful King, Unnamed Island, the old man, and the Invisible Man Organization!
In the original novel, Lu Xiaofeng had visited Unnamed Island and met an old scholar who practiced the Finger Knife and was also a formidable martial artist.
Su Shaoying stroked her chin thoughtfully, "They've actually been operating in the Central Plains all this time. It's just that they never revealed their martial arts or their true identities, so they are the true Invisible Men."
Ouyang Yue was no ordinary man. He was the head of the Ouyang family, one of the three major martial arts families in Jiangnan. His martial arts skills were top-notch, and more importantly, the Ouyang family's influence extended across both the light and dark sides of society—they had connections in officialdom, business, the common folk, and the martial arts world. He was undoubtedly a figure of higher status and influence than Yan Tieshan and Hua Yifan.
It was only natural for someone like him to have dealings with the Peaceful King's court. However, why would they kill him?
Was it due to a dispute over the spoils? Or was it to silence him?
Su Shaoying noticed a flash of surprise on the faces of the Nan Gongchuan brothers, their expressions darkening for a moment before returning to normal.
"I see, Hero Lu truly has a profound understanding of the finger techniques of the world," Nan Gonghai said.
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes lit up, "In that case..."
"Since that's the case, please allow me to invite you to a side hall where we can offer you some tea," Nan Gonghai said, gesturing politely.
(End of Chapter)
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