blueteamnovel Chapter 516: Locked-room murder
Chapter 516: Locked-room murder
Chapter 516: Locked-room murder
Lu Yang and his companions arrived smoothly at Song Yuanwai's house without much trouble.
Lu Yang politely knocked on the door, which was opened by a young childe. He had no cultivation, was a mere mortal, and looked pale with dark circles under his eyes, likely due to lack of rest.
"Who are you three...?" The childe looked at Lu Yang and his companions with some wariness.
"We are disciples of the immortal sect, invited by Song Yuanwai to resolve the matter of the painting."
"Immortal sect disciples!" The childe's eyes widened. The Song family had sought help from the immortal sect with a hopeful heart, never expecting the high and mighty sect to actually send people!
"I am Lu Yang, and these are my junior sisters, Tao Yaoye and Lan Ting."
"Lu Yang?! The invincible Lu Yang of the Golden Elixir stage?!"
The childe was even more shocked upon hearing Lu Yang's name. Though he was a mortal, he came from a wealthy family and knew a bit about the world of cultivation. In the past three months, the name most frequently mentioned among cultivators was Lu Yang!
Moreover, thanks to Bu Yu Taoist's extensive promotion, Lu Yang's name had become incredibly famous.
However, the cultivation world referred to Lu Yang as the top cultivator of the Mid Golden Elixir stage, but the childe had heard it as the top cultivator of the entire Golden Elixir stage.
To him, there was little difference between Mid Golden Elixir stage and Golden Elixir stage.
"Song Tian greets the three Taoists. Please, come in." Song Tian courteously invited the three inside, not daring to show any neglect.
Through Song Tian's introduction, Lu Yang learned that Song Yuanwai's full name was Song Jinjv. Song Tian was the eldest son. Now that Song Yuanwai was advanced in age, the family business was mainly managed by Song Tian. He had heard about Lu Yang from his cultivator friends while doing business and confirmed that the stories in the storytelling were true.
Besides Song Tian, Song Yuanwai had two other sons and a daughter. The second son, Song Qing, was a scholar, and the third son, Song Qi, was a typical wastrel, much to Song Yuanwai's disappointment. The youngest daughter was named Song Lian'er.
Song Yuanwai's wife had passed away five years ago due to illness.
"Three Immortal Masters, you must save our Song family. That painting is too eerie. I can't sleep at all; it must have become a spirit. We've moved twice, and each time the painting followed us."
Seeing Lu Yang and his companions was like seeing saviors for Song Tian. The gloom accumulated over these days vanished.
He invited the three to the main hall, had a maid serve tea, and called for the butler to fetch Song Yuanwai from the study.
Song Tian himself went to gather the family.
The Song family had been in a state of anxiety for days. With disciples from the immortal sect here, they could finally feel at ease.
He had already met the eldest son, Song Tian.
The one in scholar's robes, clean and tidy, with one hand on his abdomen, was the second son, Song Qing.
The short, displeased one was the third son, Song Qi.
The one with a dodgy look, avoiding eye contact with Lu Yang, was the youngest daughter, Song Lian'er.
"Greetings, Taoists."
Song Tian had considerable authority at home. When he told his siblings to behave, none dared to act out in front of Lu Yang, including Song Qi.
"Is father not here yet?" Song Tian was puzzled. By his calculations, father should have arrived by now.
As Song Tian wondered, a figure stumbled into the hall, gasping for breath, "Young master, something terrible has happened!"
Song Tian helped the butler up, feeling a sense of foreboding, "What happened? Where's father?"
"The master has passed away!"
"What?!"
The Song siblings were all shocked, and Song Lian'er almost fainted.
Even Lu Yang and his companions hadn't expected the person they were supposed to meet to be dead already!
"Let's go and see!"
Song Tian, being the eldest, quickly composed himself and had the butler lead them to the study.
The study door was tightly shut. The butler led them to a side window, which had a large hole through which they could see Song Yuanwai lying on the ground, blood everywhere, lifeless.
As the butler helped everyone through the window, he explained, "I went to call the master, but there was no response for a long time. The door and windows were locked, as was his habit for a sense of security. Sensing something was wrong, I broke the window and found the master lying on the ground."
Tao Yaoye and Lan Ting were thoughtful. The locked doors and windows meant it was a classic locked-room murder.
Lu Yang remained silent, lost in thought.