The flower is a tulip [Chu Liuxiang]

Late at night.

The night in this mountain is always very quiet, so quiet that the sound of falling leaves can be heard.

Nangong Ling was still sitting in the hut in the forest.He has been sitting for four days and four nights.

A person.

The light of a candle on the table suddenly dimmed, and it turned out that it was about to end.

Nangong Ling stared at the candle for a while, then took another candle and replaced it, and the room became bright again.

Almost at the same time as the candle was lit, there was a light knock on the door.

In the middle of the night, how could someone come to this wooden house in the deep mountains?

Nangong Ling was stunned for a while before going to open the door.Standing outside the door was a figure in light yellow clothes. Under the candlelight in the room, there was a smile on his brows and eyes.

The building is full of flowers.

Nangong Ling was speechless for a moment, watched Hua Manlou walk into the room by himself, found a chair to sit down, and asked, "Why are you here?"

Only then did he realize that Hua Manlou was the only one who came.

Hua Manlou smiled and said, "Master Nangong must be alone to guard the coffin, so he must be lonely."

Nangong Lingbian also sat back at the table and sighed: "I want to accompany Mrs. Qiu for the last journey."

Hua Manlou nodded and said, "How to arrange the funeral?"

Nangong Ling said: "It's safe to be buried in the ground."

Hua Manlou said, "Only Nangong Gangzhu alone?"

Nangong Ling said: "I am enough."

Hua Manlou thought for a while and said, "I heard that the Beggar Clan's regulations stipulate that the dead should be cremated."

Nangong Ling sighed: "Mrs. Qiu, she... Well, although Brother Chu and the little prince have stated that they will not pursue it, she is no longer a member of my beggar gang. I will bury her in the coffin tomorrow morning."

Hua Manlou seemed to be pondering for a while, before asking, "Is the Chief Nangong waiting?"

Nangong Ling said: "Wait? What are you waiting for?"

Hua Manlou said: "Wait for Chu Liuxiang."

Nangong Ling asked in surprise, "Why should I wait for Chu Liuxiang?"

Hua Manlou said: "Didn't Mrs. Qiu make a bet with Chu Liuxiang that she want him to steal her life?"

Nangong Ling smiled wryly and said: "Madam Qiu saw that the scheme was exposed, and she was still unwilling to admit defeat at the end of the day, so she made such a difficult problem for Brother Chu. I think Brother Chu didn't take it to heart, but Mr. Hua was sincere and took it seriously."

He didn't wait for Hua ManLou to answer, he stood up and said in a low voice: "The child's time is coming. Would you like to come with me to pay homage, Mr. Hua?"

Hua Manlou didn't speak, but stood up and followed behind him, the two of them walked into the room that was originally Qiu Lingsu's dormitory but now turned into a mourning hall, and burned incense one by one.Opposite the incense table, a coffin was not closed, and the body dressed in black lay quietly inside.Nangong Ling looked carefully at the corpse before walking out of the room.

Hua Manlou let out a long breath, and said softly, "Master Nangong still needs to express his condolences."

Nangong Ling nodded, but changed the subject: "I forgot to ask you, where did Brother Chu go?"

A peaceful smile appeared on Hua Manlou's face again, and said, "Chu Liuxiang was given a one-month deadline by Shenshui Palace to retrieve Tianyi Shenshui, so she hurried away."

Nangong Ling breathed out and said, "So that's the case! I hope he can catch up."

Hua Manlou said: "Is Nangong Clan Master relieved?"

Nangong Ling said: "He's not in trouble, so I can rest assured. Why doesn't Mr. Hua go with Brother Chu?"

Hua Manlou said: "Just because I have a question, I want to ask Nangong Gangzhu for advice."

Nangong Ling was taken aback, then smiled again: "Ask me? I'm afraid I can't answer the question of Mr. Dude!"

Hua Manlou said: "This question, if Chief Nangong can't answer, no one will know."

Nangong Ling coughed and said, "Young Master Hua really trusts me. What's the problem?"

Hua Manlou said slowly: "May I ask Nangong Gangzhu, did you leave without saying goodbye that day, and rushed to Langya Mountain just to put Tianyi Shenshui under Mrs. Qiu's pillow one step ahead?"

The night seemed to be quieter than before, so quiet that only the breathing of two people could be heard in the entire wooden house.

The candle on the table suddenly burst into sparks.

Looking at the dancing candle flame, Nangong Ling said with a deep smile, "You said that I released the Tianyi Shenshui? Did I put the blame on Mrs. Qiu?"

Hua Manlou responded lightly, "Yes."

Nangong Ling gritted her teeth and said with a smile, "Young dudes can make such jokes too."

Hua Manlou said: "I'm not joking."

Nangong Ling suddenly stood up, slapped the table, and said loudly, "Chu Liuxiang told you to say these things? Why didn't he come himself? Why didn't he accuse me in front of me?"

Hua Manlou sighed softly, and said, "Chu Liuxiang went to Shenshui Palace."

Nangong Ling looked at his calm face and asked doubtfully, "He really went to Shenshui Palace?"

Hua Manlou said: "Sect Master Nangong is worried, or..."

Nangong Ling said: "Then what do you think I am?"

Hua Manlou said: "At the beginning, it was the leader of the Nangong clan. Xiang Chuliuxiang advocated that the murder of Za Muhe and others was done by Shenshui Palace. Tianyi Shenshui was also stolen by the guards of Shenshui Palace, right?"

Nangong Lingdao: "That's right, that's what I guessed. But since Tianyi Shenshui was found in Mrs. Qiu's room, it has proved that Shenshui Palace is also a victim. Chu Liuxiang took Tianyi Shenshui to Shenshui Palace, so naturally Explain clearly. Do you still think I expect something to happen to him?"

Hua Manlou nodded and said, "Then, when did Sect Master Nangong confirm that Shenshui Palace is not the mastermind of this conspiracy?"

Nangong Ling frowned and said: "I thought you were gentle and kind, why are you so entangled! I suggested to Brother Chu that the guards of Shenshui Palace had stolen themselves, and it was also to help him. But later, when I heard the little prince mention Mrs. Qiu, here again Loot was found somewhere..."

Hua Manlou raised a hand, interrupting his defense, and said with a smile: "That is to say, before Nangong Gangzhu heard what the little prince said, he still doubted Shenshui Palace?"

Nangong Ling snorted and said, "That's right. So what?"

Hua Manlou said: "If you have been doubting Shenshui Palace, why did you say that to Patriarch Murong?"

Nangong Lingqi asked, "What did I say?"

Hua Manlou said: "Do you remember the time when Patriarch Murong surrounded us with crossbowmen and pointed at Chu Liuxiang as the murderer?"

Nangong Ling nodded and said, "I remember."

Hua Manlou said: "You told Patriarch Murong that men have never been allowed to enter the Shenshui Palace. The one who can steal Tianyi Shenshui is obviously a woman."

Nangong Ling stretched out his hand and scratched the bridge of his nose. He imitated Chu Liuxiang's movements unintentionally, and then pondered, "Am I wrong in saying that?"

Hua Manlou said: "Of course it can't be wrong. But I'm very surprised why you said that at that time."

Nangong Ling said: "Then what do you think I should say?"

Hua Manlou said: "You said that to Chu Liuxiang, saying that Shenshui Palace may be the real mastermind behind the scenes, and we all think it makes sense. In that case, why didn't you tell Patriarch Murong your speculation? Why did you say 'Is it a woman' who stole Tianyi Shenshui? At that time, both Chu Liuxiang and the little prince suspected that it was Miss Murong who was induced by others to steal the water from Shenshui Palace, but at that time, you ordered Murong Patriarch again."

Nangong Ling coughed, and said: "So that's what he said, Mr. Hua is really careful! Well, I admit that I was a little panicked at the time, and I was busy defending Brother Chu, but my words were inappropriate, which irritated Murong Qingcheng instead. Just for this statement, you can't accuse me of having other purposes! Isn't Mr. Hua's concern for Chu Liuxiang a little too much?"

Hua Manlou didn't seem to hear the allusion in his words, and continued: "Actually, your doubts were not exposed just this time."

Nangong Ling smiled and said, "Oh? Then what 'doubts' do I have?"

Hua Manlou said: "When you first met Chu Liuxiang."

Nangong Lingdao: "The first time? The time you came to see me? What did I say wrong again?"

Hua Manlou said: "You said that Chu Liuxiang came from Jinan."

Nangong Ling thought for a while, and said, "Really? Maybe my subordinates mentioned something to me, and I forgot about it after I said it."

Hua Manlou said with a smile: "I know that the Beggar Clan is very powerful, and every province has sub-directors, but the news spread too fast." He gestured to stop Nangong Ling who was about to speak, and continued, "What's more When Chu Liuxiang was investigating in Jinan, disguised appearances appeared most of the time. Even now, people from the Tianxing Gang and Zhushamen don’t know that the famous Chu Xiangshuai had dealt with them.”

Nangong Ling also smiled and said, "You made it so mysterious, how did I know?"

Huamanlou said: "Tianfeng Shishilang."

Nangong Ling's eyebrows twitched, and she lost her voice: "Tianfeng Shishilang? Is that Dongying ninja you met in Jinan the Tianfeng Shishilang?"

Hua Manlou said: "Yes. Only Tianfeng Shishilang recognized his identity in the fight with Chu Liuxiang."

Nangong Lingdao: "So you think it was Tianfeng Shishilang who told me the news?"

Hua Manlou said: "It's either Tianfeng Shishilang, or Zhongyuan Dianhong."

Nangong Lingqi said: "The Central Plains is a little red? Why is this number one killer involved again?"

Hua Manlou said: "He is also one of the people who know Chu Liuxiang's whereabouts. But judging by the reaction of Nangong Clan Leader, he doesn't know this person anymore."

Nangong Ling shook his head and said, "I've never dealt with a killer before."

Hua Manlou said: "Then it's still Tianfeng Fourteenth Lang."

Nangongling touched his nose helplessly, and said with a wry smile, "Why can't I tell if you're joking or telling the truth?"

Huamanlou suddenly fell silent.After a long time, he sighed and said in a low voice: "I also hope that I am joking. I think Chu Liuxiang absolutely does not want to see his good friend have anything to do with this murder case, but..."

Nangong Ling said: "But you still doubt me?"

Hua Manlou said: "I have to doubt." His voice didn't rise, but the speed of his speech became faster, and people couldn't interrupt, so they could only listen to him, "Because only you and Tianfeng Shishilang Only by working together can we control all of this. Chu Liuxiang is investigating the case in Jinan, and you got the news very quickly, but none of you thought that Chu Liuxiang would arrive in Jiangnan so soon."

"You can't inform Tianfeng Shishilang for a while, so you can only lead Chu Liuxiang's thoughts to Shenshui Palace when Chu Liuxiang mentions the case. If Chu Liuxiang really believes you, then go to investigate Shenshui Palace instead, your troubles It's temporarily resolved. It's just that Chu Liuxiang insisted on going to the Murong family, so you had no choice but to go with him and wait for the opportunity to provoke the Murong family leader, so that Chu Liuxiang could not get accurate clues."

"But something went wrong between you and Tianfeng Shishilang at this time. It's just because you threw the corpse at sea, not to destroy the corpse, but to let people find out, so as to stir up conflicts among martial arts sects. Fighting. Chu Liuxiang hid all those corpses. This plan could not be carried out, so Tianfeng Shishilang attracted Heizhu. But I didn't expect that when Heizhu came to Murong's family, Chu Liuxiang happened to be there, so the fight Instead, he handed over a powerful piece of evidence to Chu Liuxiang."

Hearing this, Nangong Ling finally couldn't help asking: "What evidence?"

Hua Manlou said word by word: "That letter."

Nangong Lingyan said: "That letter? You haven't even read that letter!" After thinking for a while, he added, "Even Black Pearl couldn't produce that letter, why do you say it's evidence? "

Hua Manlou said: "Because if you don't admit the existence of that letter, Mrs. Qiu may not be the murderer. If you want Mrs. Qiu to take the charge of murder for you, the letter must be evidence."

Nangong Ling sneered and said, "If you want to clear Mrs. Qiu of the crime, you should prove that the letter does not exist at all."

Hua Manlou said: "The letter does exist, and it was written by Mrs. Qiu."

Nangong Ling said: "Since Madam Qiu wrote it, why do you still doubt me?"

Hua Manlou stood up slowly, took a few steps in the room, and said, "Madam Qiu lives here, how did you send the letter?"

Nangong Lingdao: "This... How do I know this! Maybe it's a letter from Feige?"

Hua Manlou shook his head and smiled and said, "She and those four have not seen each other for 20 years, where did Fei Ge come from? If she has been secretly contacting people with Fei Ge for 20 years, as the old senior and you as the leader, could it be Will you not notice at all?"

Nangong Ling sighed: "Madam Qiu's thoughts, I'm afraid I can't match them."

Hua Manlou said: "This should be the other way around. Even though Mrs. Qiu has a clever mind, under your coercion, she has no choice but to make a compromise and write down those four letters for help, hoping that peace will come from now on. But she is absolutely I never thought that you brought those four people here for the purpose of brutal killing! When Chu Liuxiang confronted Mrs. Qiu that day, she didn't know that those four people were dead."

Nangong Lingdao: "Madam Qiu's reaction doesn't prove anything. If I were the murderer, I would pretend to be ignorant of everything."

Hua ManLou said with a smile, "That's reasonable. But do you remember that Chu LiuXiang only mentioned four people, Jamu He, Zuo YouZheng, XiMenQian and Ling JiuZi, to Mrs. Qiu?"

Nangong Ling thought for a while and said, "That's right, it's these four people."

Hua Manlou said: "So when Mrs. Qiu pleaded guilty, she also admitted to killing these four people. In fact, the victims were five people. If Mrs. Qiu really conspired with Tianfeng Shishilang, how could she not know that Murong Qingqing's death?"

Nangong Ling couldn't help pondering and said: "That's true. If you don't insist on accusing me of this crime, I would also like to believe that Mrs. Qiu is not the murderer."

Hua Manlou said: "Are you still refusing to admit it?"

Nangong Ling said: "I didn't do it, why should I admit it?"

Hua Manlou said: "If you hadn't contacted Tianfeng Shishilang again, why would he appear in Langya Mountain and intercept and kill Chu Liuxiang halfway?"

Nangong Lingdao: "According to what you said, I went to Langya Mountain to blame Mrs. Qiu, if Chu Liuxiang was stopped halfway, what's the point of setting blame?"

Hua Manlou stopped suddenly, and sighed after a while: "It turns out that you and Tianfeng Shishilang don't have exactly the same thoughts. After all, you still think that Chu Liuxiang is your friend, and you just want him to get a If the answer can be justified, stop and withdraw. But Tianfeng Shishilang... wants his life."

Nangong Ling sneered and said, "What do you mean by 'friend'? I thought you were Chu Liuxiang's friend, that is, my friend, but now the two of you sing together and keep saying that I am the one." Murderer! Alright, since you want to identify me as a murderer, you should present definite evidence and don’t speculate here!”

Hua Manlou heard him lose his temper, and was not in a hurry. He took a few steps slowly, and stopped when he reached the door of the mourning hall. He said slowly, "What if... Mrs. Qiu is there to testify on the spot?"

Nangong Ling was startled, and immediately strode to the front of the mourning hall. Seeing the black figure in the coffin still lying there quietly, she frowned and said, "What are you talking about? Mrs. Qiu is dead, can a dead person speak?" ?”

Before the words were finished, the black corpse suddenly sat up straight and said loudly, "Who says the dead can't speak?"