Chapter 110: A Calculated Trap

Suddenly, the night grew dark and gloomy, the stars hidden behind heavy clouds. Zhang He and Chen Guangxi each lit a firebrand, the flickering flames casting uncertain shadows across the faces of the three gathered.

Zhang He spoke slowly, “I knew you would deny it, but it’s useless. I don’t have the skill to kill you, but if you’re interested, I can still tell you the story.”

The Fourth Miss sneered coldly, “Fine, let’s see what nonsense you’re spouting.”

Of course, she had to play along, for she could already sense her agility was slowly returning, likely to be fully restored in about ten minutes. This proved that Zhang He’s technique was neither a true pressure-point strike nor a display of great skill.

Zhang He continued, “The Third Miss was beheaded—at least a hundred people saw it happen in the Happy Forest during the day. Her head was delivered by the scout from the north gate of the Happy Forest. This means the entire act had to take place within the fifteen-minute ‘ghost mode’ window, and everything had to be precisely timed.”

The Fourth Miss looked disdainful. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Zhang He smiled slightly. “The distance from Mingjian Manor to the Happy Forest is ten li. Even at the slow pace of the bride’s procession today, it would take no more than two hours to reach. So, let’s consider this: the killer could not have acted right at the manor’s gate to subdue the Third Miss—that would have caused too much noise. Therefore, the time frame must be shorter.”

The Fourth Miss snorted again, but Chen Guangxi nodded in agreement; Zhang He’s logic was sound.

“I boarded the carriage exactly four li away from the Happy Forest,” Zhang He explained. “When I got on, the bride was already in the carriage, but she had been switched out. So the killer must have acted somewhere within the less than six li stretch between the manor gate and where I was hiding.”

The Fourth Miss asked coldly, “So what?”

Zhang He said, “That means the killer had roughly an hour to get the Third Miss to the Happy Forest, behead her, hand the head to the scout, and have the scout deliver it to your boss Jin. Do you think that’s possible?”

The Fourth Miss scoffed, “What’s impossible about that? Maybe the killer is a super expert with six or seven levels of mastery?”

“Even if so, it’s impossible!” Zhang He said sharply. “Because the killer had to act without alerting the bridal procession. That alone is extremely difficult. You must know this procession included experts from Wudang, the Beggar’s Sect, and your boss Jin. More importantly…”

Chen Guangxi couldn’t help but ask, “More importantly?”

Zhang He raised his voice. “To pull this off, the killer had to avoid being seen and take a detour. From Mingjian Manor to Happy Forest, there is only one road, flanked by mountains. You think the killer could have carried the bride over mountains on horseback in one hour? Don’t tell me he rode a peerless steed or has super lightness skills. I came back by crossing those mountains myself, I’ve studied the terrain and measured the route—it’s at least thirty li on foot. One hour is simply not enough.”

The Fourth Miss was speechless, and Chen Guangxi was stunned. This man’s calculations were meticulous, and his reasoning mercilessly exposed every flaw in the simplest travel route.

Zhang He said, “This is not guesswork; it’s based on evidence. The bridal procession never stopped during those six li. If you ask any disciple from Mingjian Manor, they’ll confirm this. So the only reasonable conclusion is that the real Third Miss was switched before leaving the manor.”

“How is that possible?” Chen Guangxi jumped to his feet.

Zhang He said coldly, “You sent secret messages to your wife, didn’t you? She would have told you she was struck at pressure points, rendered blind and deaf, blindfolded. When she finally saw outside, it was only masked men in black—and then she died.”

Chen Guangxi exclaimed, “How do you know so much?”

Zhang He smiled. “I can calculate. Do you believe me?”

“Hmph, trickery and nonsense!” The Fourth Miss mocked. “If that’s true, why did she say nothing on our return? Why did she obediently go to Yangzhou when Boss Jin ordered her?”

Zhang He’s smile turned sardonic. “It’s not unusual for a killer to act unnoticed in Mingjian Manor, but to succeed without alerting anyone—that’s rare.”

Chen Guangxi asked, “What does that imply?”

Zhang He explained, “It means the killer was definitely not one of the manor’s distinguished guests. They would have no access to the Peach Blossom Lodge—the bride’s private quarters. These guests wouldn’t dare enter, and even if someone snuck in secretly, the lodge was full of maids and female disciples overnight and early this morning. Do you think the killer could have gone in unnoticed?”

Chen Guangxi gasped, “Are you saying the killer is an insider of Mingjian Manor?”

Zhang He nodded. “And this insider must meet three criteria. First, there’s at least an 80% chance it’s a woman, so she can enter the Peach Blossom Lodge without suspicion. Second, she must have some status in the manor to come and go freely. Third, she must be very familiar with the bride, so the bride would have no defenses and she could strike unnoticed from behind.”

Hearing this, Chen Guangxi’s gaze naturally fell on the Fourth Miss, as no other woman in Mingjian Manor fit those characteristics.

The Fourth Miss’s face was now expressionless, even paler than before, lacking any trace of mockery or disdain.

Suddenly, Zhang He smiled. “I know you’ll want to refute and demand proof. Don’t worry, those tired words won’t work on me. If I came back to confront you, I have solid reasons. In fact, I should have suspected you earlier.”

The Fourth Miss couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

Zhang He’s eyes darkened as if recalling something. “You should remember yesterday when we arrived at the Happy Forest’s Tianxiang Pavilion. We negotiated with Boss Jin, I gifted him the Ghost Shadow Sky wooden copper sword, and he called you over. If I recall correctly, he said, ‘Go to the money house next door and ask the Fourth Miss to come, and bring her most beloved item.’ Since the Peach Blossom Staff is your favorite, why did you hand it to me without a second glance?”

Before the Fourth Miss could answer, Zhang He continued, “I don’t know how you got He Yajun’s weapon, nor do I care. But I do know that your readiness to hand over such a prized possession shows you aren’t simple, and you’re not someone who blindly obeys the sect leader.”

The implication was clear to both the Fourth Miss and Chen Guangxi. In the world of “Dynasty,” sect leaders wield authority but cannot control every member with absolute power. They can at most enforce discipline or expel traitors, but demanding personal property or rare weapons is nonsense.

“Dynasty” differs from other online games in that leading a sect isn’t hard, but uniting and strengthening it is difficult. To gain the support of most members, a leader must be convincingly powerful and command respect—not just through force but by virtue. This is the true challenge.

Unaware, the Fourth Miss’s unwavering attitude in giving up the Peach Blossom Staff had already raised Zhang He’s suspicions.

He went on, “I know this alone isn’t very convincing. I have more proof—yesterday evening, you took us to the side room.”

The Fourth Miss stared. “What’s wrong with the side room?”

Zhang He smiled and pinched his nose, imitating a woman’s voice: “If you want to add a meal tonight, just call me, preferably before 10:30.”

He emphasized “10:30,” drawing out the words with a distinct tone.

Those were exactly the words the Fourth Miss said with a coquettish glance when she left the west side room last night—word for word, tone for tone.

Her pupils contracted. Earlier, Master Takahashi repeatedly warned not to underestimate brute force, but everyone had. No one expected Zhang He’s memory to be this extraordinary.

“You’re implying something will happen at 10:30 tonight,” Zhang He smiled. “That move was clever—you fooled Zhong Shuman, who thought I fancied you and would call you for a date at 10:30. I wondered if someone else, not me, might have truly been interested in you. But whether you went to the west side room at 10:30 or not, your plan succeeded. At that time, you could deliver the hidden scroll inside the roasted goose’s neck to the person impersonating me. Once delivered, the assassination plot against the bride was underway.”

Teacher Guangxi listened in astonishment. These intricate plots and details were beyond his comprehension. As a Ninth Elder of the Beggar’s Sect, he commanded respect everywhere in “Dynasty.” Even if bullied, the higher chiefs would back him up. He had never encountered such convoluted intrigues as Zhang He and the others.

Only now did he realize the treacherous complexities of the martial world. Those vying to become sect leaders or martial alliance chiefs must prepare countless schemes beforehand—schemes no one but insiders could imagine.

Ah, the martial world—black and white, right and wrong—who can truly say?