Wang Ren was troubled by this matter, her heart feeling heavy. Upon returning home that evening, she scolded her son, who was reading martial arts novels, and then lectured her daughter while washing her hair.
Having not slept well, she made breakfast for her husband and son in the morning, sent her younger daughter to school, and then rushed to Wende Xiaoyuan. Old Master Wende said that Senior Brother Zhang Si had already gone to the criminal investigation team to surrender early that morning.
Wang Ren could not be considered a true schemer; she wasn't very adept at scheming. Her master said she wasn't clever enough and only taught her the art of psychological observation. She could vaguely perceive the inner thoughts of ordinary people, but this peculiar family of hers, she couldn't understand any of them. These people were simply not found in any textbook.
...
Although Wang Ren considered herself incompetent, she was warm-hearted. She couldn't just ignore this, so she borrowed a twenty-eight-inch bicycle from Zhu Guang and rode to the criminal investigation team.
When she arrived, Wang Ze was squatting by the entrance smoking. Seeing Wang Ren, Wang Ze quickly stomped out his cigarette butt and ran over, "Sister, did Big Brother Zhang discover the killer? Is he setting up a scheme?"
"What did Big Brother Zhang do?"
"Big Brother Zhang said he was the killer."
"Do you believe him?"
Wang Ze looked dejected and sighed repeatedly. "It's not a matter of belief right now. This morning, as soon as the team opened, twelve people came in one after another, admitting to murder."
"Twelve?"
"Yes, Duan Dongyang, whom we investigated yesterday, also came. When I questioned him yesterday, he knew nothing. This morning, his attitude did a complete 180-degree turn. He said he killed Zhuang Jing."
Wang Ren was completely bewildered, looking at Wang Ze. "How could this happen?"
"I don't know either. When Big Brother Zhang arrived, I thought he was here to help, but I didn't expect him to also admit to being the killer. He killed the eleventh person."
"Are you busy?"
"How could I not be busy? Suddenly twelve more murderers in one morning."
"But, our investigation was from a year ago... Could it be, Big Brother Zhang..."
Wang Ze couldn't continue.
Wang Ren asked, "Never mind whether my Senior Brother is the killer for now. How did Wanqiu die?"
"From repeated blows to the head with a blunt object."
"The same spot?"
"Yes. When a person is conscious, the possibility of being hit in the same spot is relatively small, and Big Brother Zhang's age isn't..."
"There aren't many people who possess this kind of striking ability, but my Senior Brother can do it. In the martial arts he practices, there's a technique called 'Mad Demon Staff Technique,' which strikes precisely where intended."
Wang Ze rubbed his aching head. "Then... then how is Big Brother Zhang lying?"
Wang Ren gave a wry smile. It was still the same. She could glimpse the thoughts of ordinary people, but she couldn't understand her own martial brothers at all. She clearly knew that Master had sent Senior Brother to confess, but judging by the current situation, she herself believed Senior Brother was the killer.
Having understood the situation somewhat, Wang Ren had no good solutions. She could only say to Wang Ze, "Xiao Wang, thank you for your hard work. I'll treat you to tea another day."
"Sister, you're too kind. I'll treat you to tea."
...
Wang Ren rode her bicycle back to Wende Xiaoyuan. She felt uncertain; what if Senior Brother really became the killer if things continued like this? But when she arrived home, she learned that Cao Shi said a new Lu Cuisine restaurant had opened in Beijing and had taken Old Master Wende to try it. Gao Xiaojuan had been in Beijing for a while and hadn't visited the Forbidden City yet, so Li Jiu had taken her there. Only Zhu Guang was in the courtyard, reading a magazine on a bench under the peach tree.
Senior Brother worked hard at home like a servant, but none of these people took him seriously. The more Wang Ren thought about it, the angrier she became. She snatched Zhu Guang's magazine. Zhu Guang looked at Wang Ren calmly. "Junior Sister, is something wrong?"
"Second Senior Brother, how old are you, and you're still reading this kind of smutty magazine."
"As a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?" Zhu Guang replied with a smile.
"Fine, you can be your fish whenever you want. But now Senior Brother is in trouble, will you help?"
"No time."
Wang Ren immediately got angry. "What did you say? He's our Senior Brother! Are we not family anymore?"
Zhu Guang smiled. "Saving Senior Brother is your test, isn't it?" After saying that, Zhu Guang handed Wang Ren a brocade pouch. Wang Ren opened it and read: "Find six people in the courtyard who are the same as yourself."
"I..." Wang Ren felt a surge of anger.
"Junior Sister, remember the first thing Master taught us when we entered the sect: learn the Way before learning the technique. To use Old Jiu's Western theory, nothing can be separated from its underlying logic. To use Xiao Shi's words..."
"All things under heaven are not mine to possess, but all things under heaven are mine to use," Wang Ren finished his sentence.
Zhu Guang was delighted. "Junior Sister, it's good that you understand. I wish you success in your test. Now, can you give me back my magazine?"