Volume 2: Forbidden City, Jianghu and Imperial Court Chapter 6: Death of the Sect Leader
The horsemen came to the left side of the ring, jumped off their horses and rushed into the shed. Soon, most of the people who were responsible for deciding all matters in the ring had left. The place was in chaos and the people watching below started to make a noise.
I don't know who shouted in the crowd.
"The leaders of the Kongtong and Hengshan sects are dead."
All of a sudden, it was as if a handful of water was spilled into a frying pan, and the people near the ring all rushed towards the direction where those people had just come on horseback.
Fang Yunhan and Lu Xiaofeng looked at each other and followed.
Wanxiang Tower was booked by Qiao Shangzhou, the leader of the martial arts world, as a place for the leaders and celebrities who came to attend the recent martial arts conference to stay. It can be regarded as a famous scenic spot in Luoyang today. It has a clever layout and exquisite decorations. People from various major sects feel very comfortable after staying here.
But now, everyone in the hall had a panic and anxious look on their face. Some were pacing back and forth in the hall, some were holding the hilts of swords with their knuckles turning white. The sound of tea cups colliding on the table and the occasional sigh created an extremely anxious atmosphere.
After the eldest disciple of the sect who was in charge of things at the arena arrived, everyone went out to greet him, but then left some people to stand outside the door to keep out the martial artists who followed behind.
Qiao Xiaoshan, the son of the martial arts leader Qiao Shangzhou, is already a middle-aged man in his forties. He stands in front of the main gate and bows to all parties.
"Everyone, the leaders of the two factions were murdered this morning. It is time for all factions to work together to catch the real culprit. If you barge in rashly, I am afraid it will mess up the scene and lose the clues. Please be patient and do not barge in without permission."
The street in front of Wanxianglou was already full of gangsters, several times more chaotic than a vegetable market, but Qiao Xiaoshan's words were clearly heard by everyone present, showing his impressive inner strength. In addition, almost everyone present knew his identity, so they all quieted down after listening.
However, it is human nature to do good things, especially such a big thing, how could these people in the world miss it? Although they would not rush in, they would not disperse for a while.
Lu Xiaofeng, who was behind the crowd, suddenly raised his hand and waved it twice at Qiao Xiaoshan.
Qiao Xiaoshan was stunned and turned back to Wanxiang Tower.
Lu Xiaofeng then pulled Fang Yunhan over the high wall on the side of Wanxiang Tower.
Qiao Xiaoshan was actually already waiting here with a few people. He came forward and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Master Lu, I didn't expect you to be here too. I was just about to ask for your help with this matter."
Lu Xiaofeng and Qiao Shangzhou are friends regardless of age difference, and Qiao Xiaoshan also respects him very much. After a few gestures outside, Qiao Xiaoshan understood what he meant and came here to wait first.
"There were too many people outside just now, so I came in directly through the main gate. I was afraid it would be difficult for you." Lu Xiaofeng bowed in return and introduced, "This is Fang Yunhan, the first person to see through the identity of the Embroidery Thief."
"I've also heard that Young Master Fang took down Jin Jiuling when he was just starting out." Qiao Xiaoshan was well-informed and had seen Fang Yunhan's image long ago. He said sincerely, "It's a great honor that you two are here together."
Fang Yunhan heard what he meant, and it seemed that there was an unsolved case here, so he asked, "Could it be that the cause of death of the two leaders is unknown?"
"Both leaders died of poisoning, but..." Qiao Xiaoshan paused and said with difficulty, "They were not the only ones poisoned."
He turned and led the way, "Please follow me, both of you."
In the layout of Wanxiang Building, you can see the patio through the main entrance lobby. The patio corridor is about five steps wide, with pools on both sides of the corridor, in which many waist-high aquatic flowers grow.
The buildings on all four sides are ten feet high, seeming to isolate the noise, leaving only a quiet place.
Fang Yunhan and others walked through the patio and arrived at a hall at the back.
The second and third floors of this building are guest rooms, and the lobby on the first floor is a place for guests to drink tea and appreciate flowers. But now the tables and chairs in the hall have been swept away, revealing a large open space where two bodies covered with white cloth were placed.
There were dozens of large chairs lined up on both sides of the open space. The leaders and clique leaders of various gangs sat on these chairs, but their eyes were closed, and their hands were placed on their dantian, as if they were practicing qigong and regulating their breathing.
Behind every gang leader, there are elders and disciples, who press the acupuncture points on their backs with their hands, beads of sweat constantly oozing from their foreheads, obviously transmitting their internal energy.
Qiao Xiaoshan came in with a few people, and no one here opened their eyes.
Fang Yunhan had already made some guesses when he saw this scene, and whispered, "Could it be that everyone here has been poisoned?"
Qiao Xiaoshan nodded solemnly.
"Huashan, Qingcheng, Taishan, Huangshan, Bashan Sword Sect, Beggars' Sect, Taihu Flying Dragon Sect, East China Sea Whale Sect..." Lu Xiaofeng listed all the major gang leaders present and said, "Except for Shaolin and Wudang, all the top gangs in the world are here. If these people die here~"
Even with Lu Xiaofeng's courage, he couldn't help but feel a chill all over his body at this moment.
This group of people can be said to be the center of power of all parties. Their subordinates are involved in various aspects such as local discipline, real estate, water transportation, etc., and their importance is no less than that of the officials in the court. If only one or two of them die, or even three or five, then under the coordination of other forces, their own gang will select a new successor. Although there will be some disturbances, it will not be a big deal.
But if they were all dead within a few days, the personal relationships, prestige, and interest relations throughout the Ming Dynasty would have to be reshuffled, and the local gangs that were suppressed by them would definitely take the opportunity to rise to power and seize territory.
By then, there will be chaos in the martial arts world, and the livelihoods of millions of people may be affected, and even the imperial court will be greatly affected.
Qiao Xiaoshan said: "The seniors from Shaolin and Wudang only came once and said they supported my father's choice in this conference, and then left early, so I escaped a disaster."
He smiled bitterly and said, "It's a good thing that Mr. Guiyou came late, otherwise Taoist Wudang Shi would not have gone back just like that after hearing the name of the sword."
The Liang Yi Sword Technique is the pinnacle masterpiece of Wudang swordsmanship, also known as the Liang Yi Divine Sword, which happens to have the same name as Gui You's sword. If anyone from Wudang were here, they would not give in easily.
Lu Xiaofeng frowned and asked, "Where is your father?"
Qiao Xiaoshan said, "My father was in the east of the city last night, mediating a dispute between the Nanhai Sword Sect and Taoist Master Mingyue of Laoshan. Fortunately, he was not harmed."
Fang Yunhan said: "You mean, they were all poisoned last night?"
"That's right." A voice came from upstairs, and then an old man with a purple face and a long robe walked down the stairs, followed by a few younger ones.
This person is none other than the current leader of the martial arts world, Qiao Shangzhou.
After he went downstairs and saw Lu Xiaofeng, his face was vaguely relaxed. He said, "Everyone in the hall just arrived two days ago. During the day yesterday, we were still discussing the matters of this martial arts conference together until dusk. Later, I was the only one who left Wanxiang Tower. Now I am not poisoned, but they are all poisoned. Obviously, they were poisoned by someone last night."
Lu Xiaofeng looked at the two bodies over there and said, "Also, everyone should have been poisoned this morning, but these two leaders are already dead. It's obvious that they were poisoned by an acute and severe poison."
Qiao Shangzhou stroked his beard and said, "Fortunately, the world's number one doctor is also in Luoyang. I have sent someone to invite him on horseback. I hope we can make it in time."
As he was speaking, someone came in hurriedly.
"Alliance leader, Doctor Wuqi is here."
The miracle doctor came in and started to take the poisoned person's pulse and examine him without saying anything else.
Lu Xiaofeng said to Qiao Shangzhou, "Can we go to the rooms of these leaders and take a look?"
Qiao Shangzhou really trusted Lu Xiaofeng, so he nodded without thinking and said, "All the rooms on the third floor are prepared for them, but only the first nineteen rooms are occupied. When the disciples of each sect discovered that their leader was poisoned this morning, they had already entered the rooms. Those disciples are all fine now, so there should be no remaining poison in the rooms."
Lu Xiaofeng turned to Fang Yunhan and said, "Let's go and take a look together?"
"OK."
Fang Yunhan went upstairs with his sword.
After watching the two of them walk up the stairs to the second floor, Qiao Xiaoshan approached Qiao Shangzhou and whispered, "Will it be inappropriate for only the two of them to go up?"
Qiao Shangzhou shook his head: "There is no need to doubt Lu Xiaofeng."
Qiao Xiaoshan said, "I know , but the identity of this Young Master Fang is mysterious, and among those friends of Master Lu, there are already two conspirators who are trying to turn the tables."
Qiao Shangzhou pondered for a while and said, "Then you can go and take a look."
Qiao Xiaoshan went upstairs. He walked fast and reached the third floor almost at the same time as the two people in front of him.
"You two, I will show you where the leaders of the Kongtong and Hengshan sects live."
Fang Yunhan and Lu Xiaofeng turned around and smiled at him.
Qiao Xiaoshan felt awkward for some reason, but he also smiled, and hurriedly took two steps forward, walked through the corridor, pushed open a door, and said, "This is the room of the head of Hengshan Sect."
The room was in a mess. Presumably, the disciples could not remain calm when they found out that their master was dead. The tables and chairs were overturned, a set of tea sets were broken, several cups rolled in the corner, and a potted plant by the wall was broken. Among the mud and porcelain fragments, the peony flower was still blooming.
Fang Yunhan looked down and saw a pile of crushed red flowers among the messy footprints in the room.
Lu Xiaofeng walked around the room and came to the window. He checked it carefully and found no holes, so he pulled out the bolt and pushed open the window.
Qiao Xiaoshan said, "Every room on the third floor has a window facing the street, which is convenient for guests to enjoy the beautiful flower fair on the street. However, we have sent people to check that the latches of these windows are intact and have not been opened."
Outside the window, there was a windowsill that was about four inches wide and as long as the window frame. Lu Xiaofeng's eyes swept across the windowsill carefully.
He saw a speck of dust about the size of a thumb knuckle on the edge of the windowsill.
Lu Xiaofeng suddenly passed through the window and stretched out his body on the windowsill, as if standing on the wind with his feet in the air.
Qiao Xiaoshan was startled, and when he got closer he discovered that the tip of Lu Xiaofeng's boot was on the windowsill.
It is a very small contact surface, about the size of a finger joint.
