Hong Kong variety show: Beauty and Bones

Chapter 490 The Vengeful Spirits of the Opera Troupe (7)

At this point, Yi Xiaolong's voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he was still shaken by the memory.

"I only remember stabbing that person hard in the chest, and then I lost consciousness and knew nothing more..."

Ren Yinyin and Master Ye exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of shock in each other's eyes.

Master Ye said thoughtfully, "You said you stabbed the murderer with a hairpin, so wouldn't it be easy to find out who the murderer is by checking if anyone in the troupe has a wound on their chest?"

Yi Xiaolong nodded, seemingly agreeing with the method.

However, Ah Chu suddenly remembered something and interjected, "But I heard from San Yuan that you are very popular in the opera troupe, so you shouldn't have any enemies!"

Ah Xiu chimed in, "Yes, logically speaking, everyone likes you, so why would anyone want to harm you?"

Ren Yinyin frowned slightly and retorted, "That's not necessarily true. Maybe someone is nice to you on the surface but harbors resentment towards you behind your back? Besides, even if someone has an enemy, they might not necessarily tell the police the truth after their death."

"Don't you know if you have any enemies?" Ren Yinyin didn't understand. Didn't Yi Xiaolong know who hated him?

"I'm good to everyone, really! I never thought anyone would want to harm me!" Yi Xiaolong said with a wronged expression.

Ren Yinyin calmly asked, "Have you noticed anything unusual? For example, has anyone shown you any particular hostility or jealousy?"

Yi Xiaolong shook his head. "I really don't know. I think everyone has been quite friendly to me. As for what the others are thinking, I really don't know..."

"Do you remember any details from that time? For example, what did you see or hear?"

Yi Xiaolong frowned, trying hard to recall. After a while, he suddenly said, "I remember... I smelled the smell of greasepaint on the murderer, the kind of smell our opera troupe uses!"

Ren Yinyin turned her head to look at Master Ye, "The rest is up to you!"

Master Ye nodded, "Brother Long, don't worry, I won't let the murderer get away with it!"

"Acheng, thank you!" Yi Xiaolong said gratefully to Master Ye.

……

They thought they would find the murderer of Yi Xiaolong soon, but when Master Ye called everyone together to check for injuries on their chests, Liang Shaohui secretly ran away!

The police department issued an arrest warrant, but no one had ever seen Liang Shaohui. It was as if he had vanished into thin air after leaving the opera troupe.

……

Fuxi Hall

When Mao Xiaofang returned, he found his apprentices and nephews listless and lost in thought.

"What are you doing?"

"Master, you're back?" Xiao Hai got up to greet Mao Xiaofang and took his bundle from him.

Ah Xiu brought over a cup of tea and said obediently, "Uncle-Master, have some tea!"

“Master, we went to help the opera troupe investigate a case. We thought we would solve it quickly, but things took a turn for the worse. The suspect, Liang Shaohui, has disappeared!” Achu explained to Mao Xiaofang.

Ren Yinyin frowned. "If Yi Xiaolong can't find the murderer, will he go back to the opera troupe and cause trouble again?"

"Senior sister, don't worry. If there's any trouble, Master Ye will come to Fuxi Hall!"

"We've found Liang Shaohui!" Shu Ning said as she walked in. "It turns out he wasn't fleeing to avoid punishment, but rather he was feeling guilty!"

Liang Shaohui was a fugitive with a tattoo on his chest that read "Guangzhou Second Prison Prisoner 5247". So when he heard that his chest was to be checked, he ran away in fear!

"Moreover, he died by strangulation!" Shu Ning continued.

"Huh? Aning, how do you know so much?" Achu walked up to Shu Ning and asked curiously.

Shu Ning smiled smugly, "Of course I have my own methods! How can a newspaper get by if they're not well-informed?"

"You're really amazing!" Ah Chu gave a thumbs up in praise.

"Strangled to death?" Ren Yinyin frowned. "Could it be that Yi Xiaolong wanted revenge, saw Liang Shaohui running away, thought he was the murderer, and followed him to strangle him to death?"

Mao Xiaofang said with his hands behind his back, "We'll know once we go to the police station and see the body!"

Whether someone is a ghost or not can be determined by looking at the pinch marks!

"Master, Captain Song won't let us see the corpses now!" Ah Chu had to pour cold water on the idea.

After A-Chu spoke, everyone fell silent.

Shu Ning had learned about the legendary love story between Song Zilong and the demon E Yao Yingying from A Chu, so she was well aware of Song Zilong's cold attitude towards Fuxi Hall.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on the police department's progress and let you know as soon as there are any problems, okay?"

Shu Ning's family is not short of money; the purpose of opening the newspaper was simply to tell the villagers some scientific knowledge and the truth of things.

So, she bribed a junior police officer in the police department so she could get firsthand information about any happenings in Gantian Town!

"Thank you, Aning!" Mao Xiaofang nodded to Shu Ning in thanks.

Ah Chu chimed in with a grin, "No need to thank Master, Ah Ning is one of us!"

Shu Ning slapped A Chu, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, "Who said we're on the same side as you!"

"Master Mao, everyone, I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now!" With that, Shu Ning turned and left Fuxi Hall.

"Master, there's nothing wrong at the Taoist temple, I'm going out for a bit!" A-Chu said as she ran, but by the time Mao Xiaofang stretched out her hand, A-Chu had already disappeared.

"You brat!" Mao Xiaofang shook his head and sighed.

He does nothing productive all day long, all he does is follow other girls around!

……

When Liang Shaohui died, everyone in the opera troupe assumed he was the murderer and went about their work without worry.

Master Ye was very grateful to the young Taoist priests from Fuxi Hall and invited them to dine at Hexinglou Restaurant.

This was the first time Mao Xiaofang had benefited from his apprentice's and nephew's hospitality, and he felt quite novel and gratified to have a meal with them!

"Uncle-Master, Liang Shaohui has no injuries on his chest, he's not the murderer!" Ren Yinyin felt a little embarrassed because she hadn't been of much help.

“Senior sister, Master Ye knows better than we do. He just wants to stabilize morale!” A-Chu, standing on the other side of Mao Xiaofang, proudly declared, “He means well, so let’s not refuse!”

Mao Xiaofang comforted him, "I'll talk to Tiancheng after the event ends."

Since her martial uncle had said so, Ren Yinyin felt relieved and prepared to have a delicious meal!

"Come, come," Master Ye raised his wine glass and said with a smile to everyone in Fuxi Hall, "Brother Long was able to clear his name this time, all thanks to you masters. Cheers!"

Ying Jingtang smiled genuinely beside Master Ye, "Thank you everyone, cheers!"

"The net of Heaven is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it. Whoever harms others will not be able to escape!" Mao Xiaofang said calmly.

Ying Jingtang's smile froze for a moment, then quickly recovered, "Master Mao is too modest!"

"You are a master teacher, and all of you junior teachers have surpassed you. Come, let me toast you all again!" Ying Jingtang said, raising his glass and drinking it all in one gulp.

Hua Yanhong, who was beside him, watched worriedly but dared not offer any advice.

Everyone drank a glass of wine. Ah Xiu grimaced from the spiciness, and Xiao Hai picked up a piece of food for her.

"Eat some vegetables and calm down!"

Ren Yinyin gets flushed easily when she drinks, but she actually has a good alcohol tolerance.

Two glasses were just to whet my appetite!

"No matter what, the fact that this matter has been resolved peacefully and our troupe can reopen is worth another drink!" Master Ye raised his glass to toast everyone.

"Cheers to the opening of our opera troupe!" Ying Jingtang stood up and raised his glass with a broad smile.