To someone who seemed to have no background, Gong Shaoci showed no courtesy, directly ordering to keep a watch on him, not letting him eat the penalty wine instead of the toast. It was effectively placing him under house arrest.

However, just after Gong Shaoci returned to his father's side to report the situation, shocking news came from the inn. The inn's shopkeeper was dead, including the two subordinates he had sent to keep watch, all killed.

Gong Shaoci was utterly stunned and rushed back urgently. He found that people had died inside the room; all three had their necks twisted. No one outside even heard a sound. It was the people guarding outside who smelled the blood, knocked without a response, and opened the door to discover the wrong setting.

It's estimated the killer came through the window, and must certainly be an expert.

Gong Shaoci hadn't come to his senses from this matter when another shocking news arrived; one of his father's subordinates rushed to inform him urgently that Gong Yuanzhi was dead, killed by someone.

Gong Shaoci angrily rebuked this as nonsense but still rushed back quickly to his father's place, finding his father lying in a pool of blood, his forehead smashed into pieces.

Strangely, the guards outside did not see the assailant. They heard a loud bang inside the room, barged in, and saw Gong Yuanzhi's body still twitching, while the assailant was already gone.

Gong Shaoci's grief and fear were palpable. Had it not been for the incident at the inn distracting him, he truly didn't know what fate awaited him by his father's side.

Lan Qiaoyan and her daughter, who were staying in the same inn, were startled by the commotion inside. With no explanation from Gong Shaoci, they went out to investigate personally.

It's okay not to investigate, but once they knew the situation, both mother and daughter were shocked. The deceased was the son of Shanbu Continent's Right Minister. Who would be so bold?

Not to mention anything else, merely being able to kill someone under the eyes of the guards and remain undetected is not something a regular person could accomplish.

Gong Shaoci was both panicking and busy, having no time to care about the mother and daughter.

The mother and daughter could only console him in his grief, advising not to stay at the scene too long. They returned to their room first, and contacted the people in Bowan Building from there, asking to relay the situation to Miao Dingyi.

After communicating externally, Lan Qiaoyan stood silently in front of the window, recalling Shi Chun's previous warnings. Were they related? Could Shi Chun have known something?

Miao Yilan paced back and forth for a while before approaching her mother suspiciously, "Mother, if Shi Chun's previous words were indeed a warning for us to keep our distance from the Gong family, and Uncle Gong was killed right after, is this merely a coincidence?"

Lan Qiaoyan turned her head immediately, staring coldly, "Don't speak without evidence. If someone hears, it could be fatal for him. You must at least understand one thing: he does not have the ability to kill Gong Yuanzhi, nor even the qualification to get close. Just know that it wasn't he who killed. If he truly intended to warn us out of goodwill, we absolutely cannot speak nonsense that would harm him, understand?"

Miao Yilan bit her lip, slightly nodding, acknowledging softly.

Lan Qiaoyan looked out the window again, sighed, "The deceased is not an ordinary person—he's the son of Shanbu Continent's Right Minister. I'm afraid no one on the island can leave easily, while those who managed to leave may be tracked down. We might have to stay for a while longer, and surely will face interrogation. Lan Lan, know in your heart what can be said and what should not!"

A sudden turmoil erupted.

Swiftly, Xun Gate on the island was flooded with Shanbu Continent's Royal Court troops—thousands strong.

An array was immediately established on the island, blocking the Mother-child Talisman's communication outside.

Miao Dingyi also arrived beside the mother and daughter at this time, and it was then they learned another inn's shopkeeper had been killed—the one who had purchased the 'Desolate Broken Blade'.

Gong Yuanzhi happened to want 'Desolate Broken Blade' too. Was this a coincidence? The mother and daughter were terrified.

Everyone with some intelligence realized that the 'Desolate Broken Blade' might not be as simple as it appeared.

Some things are best left unsaid to outsiders, but Lan Qiaoyan told Miao Dingyi about Shi Chun secretly warning them.

Miao Dingyi contemplated and advised the mother and daughter that it could be overthinking. Pretend they know nothing, and he quickly arranged with the Royal Court guards to let him take his wife and daughter away first.

Shi Chun's group aboard the sea building ship did not escape capture, all subjected to interrogation, with the emphasis on investigating the sale of the 'Desolate Broken Blade'.

In verifying the legitimacy of the transaction, the large sum of money just received by Shi Chun was also seized during questioning.

Young Master Nan did not sit idly by, using all his connections. His tremendous influence gained from the gamble played a role, bringing many people to intervene. Shi Chun's group was quickly rescued and their ties cleared.

The palace-style sea building ship had many witnesses to prove Shi Chun's group was on the casino boat during the murder.

Without concrete evidence, Young Master Nan's friends wouldn't have dared interfere. After all, the deceased was the son of Right Minister.

However, the fifty billion transaction for the Desolate Broken Blade was not returned, saying it would be held pending investigation.

On the top floor railing of the sea building ship, Young Master Nan and Shi Chun stood side by side, speaking softly against the wind.

"You don't have to worry about the money. The item was won and sold legitimately, and they've assured it won't be an issue. They've given their guarantee that it'll be returned once the crisis died down. The current problem is your involvement in these two odd murders. It's uncertain if the Gong family will hold a grudge against you, but you indeed provoked Gong Shaoci. You've drawn a bit too much attention this time; the deaths in Divine Fire Domain are all unresolved issues, with countless eyes on you. You should lay low for a while, or surely something will happen. With the money you have, you can live comfortably, just hide for now. Contact me if anything arises; I'll send people to help with errands."

In his acknowledgment, Shi Chun seemed absent-minded, pondering Gong Yuanzhi's death. Initially suspecting it was the Demon Path Tianyi faction, yet Xiang Laner clearly denied it; even they were checking up on them questioning about it. Who could it be?

(End of Volume Three, Volume Four Preview: Grass Mountain Mist)

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