Chapter 456: Shi Qingwen's Past, a Hackneyed Revenge Story of the Same Template

Chen Yan's mouth corner lifted slightly, his fingertip gave a light snap, the crisp finger‑click sounded especially clear in the study, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "Well asked!"

Before the words finished, he paced slowly to the window, his gaze through the lattice toward the Shi residence in the night, and laughed: "Because those people in the Shi household are problematic, we must avoid stirring the grass and startling the snake..."

His words were full of deep implication.

The crucial point of a night investigation of a corpse is not letting them know that the chief investigator has become aware of this...

And the daytime findings of Chu Wu Zuo can be used to numb them!

Hongye first stared blankly, her eyes instantly fixed in mid‑air, as if rapidly digesting the deeper meaning of his words.

The next moment, she widened her eyes abruptly, her body involuntarily tensed, as if suddenly realizing the crucial point, her voice betraying unmistakable surprise: "The murderer is among those people in the Shi family?!"

Hongye recalled that during the day, weren't all the Shi relatives who weren't crying rather sorrowful?

Chen Yan, hearing this, curled a playful smile at the corner of his mouth, unhurriedly retorted: "Otherwise, how could we easily get Shi Yuanwai to swallow those medicines?"

He paused, his gaze landing on the portraits of the Shi family on the wall, his eyes becoming increasingly teasing.

Shi Qingwen is not an unguarded person; an ordinary outsider finding his proximity is difficult, let alone making him unknowingly swallow those problematic medicines.

Only family members who interact with him daily can, under the pretext of meals and soups, quietly slip the medicines into his mouth.

This is the most covert, and also the easiest, method...

Yun Xi strongly agreed with this analysis, nodding and echoing: "That's true!"

Zhu Yi also sighed heavily, his coarse voice lamenting: "Such matters usually arise from internal strife!"

The deadliest knives often come from close relatives, and are impossible to guard against...

By now Hongye had calmed down, furrowing her brows to ponder briefly, and raised a new question: "But what is their motive for harming Shi Yuanwai?"

"I don't know either...."

Chen Yan, hearing this, shook his head and calmly said: "Investigate it slowly!"

He paused again, then continued: "It's getting late; let's all go back and rest!"

The next day.

Early morning.

Wannian Xian yamen.

Dawn was just breaking, the courtyard's dew still clinging to the gaps of the blue bricks and flower branches, shimmering with a faint white glow.

Chen Yan, dressed in plain sturdy attire, his hair loosely tied with a Jade Hairpin, stood in the center of the courtyard, having just completed the final move of the Eight‑Section Brocade.

"Ha ji mi north‑south mung beans..."

"A xi ga ya north‑south mung beans ha ji mi..."

"Ji mi ye da ha man bo...."

"Oh oh... ha ji mi... ye da man bo ma qi ji.... ga north‑south..."

He hummed a tune, his hands slowly withdrawing from the Kidney Strengthening posture, fingertips lightly pressing his waist side, and took a deep breath.

The crisp morning dew mingled with the faint fragrance of the courtyard corner's osmanthus tree filled his lungs; he softly exhaled a wisp of white mist, then released it slowly, as if the tendons and bones throughout his body were being stretched by the gradual motion.

When he performed the final move, Hundred Ills Dispelling, his toe lightly tapped the ground with just the right force, stirring the qi and blood slightly without ruffling the fallen leaves; his stance remained upright, a thin sheen of sweat forming at his temples.

Although Sima Yi is infamous for millennia, his health‑preserving secret is still worth learning...

Living long is still quite useful.

After all, even if I'm still a novice, once I outlive all the big shots of this era, the ones left will be a cakewalk to beat, won't they?

Liu Mu Zhi stood nearby, his voice respectful yet not disturbing the morning quiet: "Lord, I'm already quite familiar with the routine affairs of Wannian Xian..."

Chen Yan seamlessly transitioned, beginning the Five‑Animal Play; his left leg stepped forward firmly, both hands lifted like tiger claws to his chest, his gaze sharp but not harsh, and he gave a light nod, replying: "Hmm."

He slightly twisted his waist, the tiger claw hovering to the left, the movement flowing like clouds, and his voice, steady, instructed: "Aside from major matters that must be reported to me, you may decide the routine affairs yourself, no need to seek permission!"

He paused again, stepping his right leg half a step forward, shifting the stance, and added: "As for Ah Xiang's side, you should also give more guidance..."

Liu Mu Zhi heard the instruction, immediately bowed and replied: "As you command!"

Chen Yan, having finished the tiger form, shifted into the bear stance—feet spread shoulder‑width, fists drawn to his waist, his torso slowly lowering, each step moving with solid steadiness, his voice, in rhythm with the motion, gently said: "You go down first..."

"Yes."

"Subordinate takes leave!"

Liu Mu Zhi bowed again, then slowly straightened, his steps light as he turned and walked away.

Chen Yan, just after completing the bear's final move, slowly released his hands, his breath even, and transitioned into the opening of the Deer Play.

His left leg bent slightly to steady, right leg lifted gently backward, toe touching the ground, both hands spreading like antlers to the sides, his posture instantly exuding a hint of leisure.

At that moment, a steady footstep came from outside the courtyard; Gao Jiong, dressed in official robes, hurried over, seeing the leader practicing martial forms, stopped three steps away, cupped his hands and said: "Sir, I've uncovered some secret information about Shi Yuanwai..."

Chen Yan, hearing this, swayed his waist gently with the deer movement, his gaze now tinged with amusement, while maintaining the form he asked: "Oh? Tell me, then!"

Gao Jiong lowered his eyes, cupped his hands, his voice dropping a few tones, meaningfully saying: "It's about Shi Yuanwai's younger days, before he made his fortune..."

"Hmm?"

Chen Yan let out a light hum of questioning, the flowing deer movement briefly pausing.

His left leg, which had been lightly lifted, hung in mid‑air, and the antler‑like hand posture lingered briefly, instantly sparking intense curiosity.

Events from decades ago linking covertly to the present are, without a doubt, extraordinarily unusual...

Gao Jiong blinked, describing vividly: "I have discovered that Shi Yuanwai earned his living in his early years by escorting valuables; his days were tight."

"Until about twenty years ago, during one escort, the box he was guarding contained gold the employer had set aside for cash flow, and he developed greed—"

"He not only swallowed the gold, but also, to silence witnesses, killed the employer's entire family, sparing not even the household servants!"

That employer was a modestly renowned cloth merchant; when the family suddenly 'disappeared,' no one at the time suspected the escort Shi Qingwen...

Chen Yan shifted into the ape form, his feet lightly tapping the ground, his figure suddenly becoming agile, both hands swinging like ape claws before him, resembling a forest ape keenly watching its prey.

Hearing Gao Jiong's words, a faint smile curled his mouth, his movements continuous, his voice tinged with amusement: "Now that's interesting!"

As his words ended, his left foot lightly leapt forward, the right following, the ape's "Ape Lift" executed fluidly, but during the breathing pause he turned to look at Gao Jiong, teasingly asking: "Did he not finish the killing, allowing the employer's young son to luckily escape?"

"Right!"

Gao Jiong heard that, his eyes instantly brightened, and he quickly nodded, a hint of surprise in his voice: "Exactly like this!"

He paused, then continued: "Shuyi thinks it may be that the child, after growing up, will return to repay the blood debt with blood!"

Chen Yan smiled without replying, and gave a slight nod as his response.

He shifted his footwork, and the moves of Monkey Play became even more agile.

At times his toes brushed the ground like a leaping monkey, at others his hands lightly probed as if plucking fresh fruit; as his waist twisted, his robe hem fluttered gently with the motion.

Another same‑template, hackneyed revenge story…

No hint of originality.

Gao Jiong continued: "Sir, there's also an interesting matter in this…"

He paused, a clear mockery appearing on his face, his voice turning colder: "Great Good Man Shi, the gentleman, has considerable ties with underground moneylenders!"

"The Shi family's wealth couldn't exist without the underground moneylenders' dividends…"

Shi, the Great Good Man, is involved in those usurious loans and exploitation of the populace.

Even those who refuse to borrow are forced to do so, to achieve a blood‑sucking purpose…

"Good name" is truly pretended to the fullest!

Chen Yan has finished Monkey Play and shifted into the opening of Bird Play.

His arms slowly spread like wings, fingertips trembling, like a bird about to take flight; his posture became light, each step carrying a fleeting, ethereal agility.

Hearing Gao Jiong's words, he kept moving, his voice flowing leisurely with the rhythm of Bird Play, bearing a detached insight: "People, after all, are multi‑faceted…"

Regarding such matters, Chen has long stopped being surprised; he's seen far too much…

They hide behind a grand banner, outwardly posing as virtuous, while inside they conceal filthy dealings.

Gao Jiong stepped forward half a pace, bowed and clasped his hands, his tone taking on a respectful formality: "Shall we then follow the orphan's thread and trace it down?"

"Investigate!"

Chen Yan blinked, smiling meaningfully: "Do a thorough investigation!"

At that moment, a light yet orderly footstep sounded from outside the courtyard.

A messenger in sturdy embroidered attire hurried forward, his posture as upright as a pine; he stopped two steps before Chen Yan, holding a document in both hands, bowing respectfully: "Sir, the item you requested!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, took the document, and his fingertips gently unfolded the pages to skim through quickly.

But after a moment, his previously calm eyes suddenly lit up, the curve of his mouth widening into a playful grin, and he couldn't help but murmur: "Interesting! Truly fascinating!"

"The Shi family members are even more interesting than I imagined!"

As soon as the words fell, he threw his head back and burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha!"

Gao Jiong stared bewildered at his own leader, who was laughing uncontrollably before him.

His eyes were full of confusion.

At the same time, his curiosity grew, wondering what the content actually was…

Chen Yan folded the document, raised his hand and flexed his wrists twice, the joints emitting a faint crack; the smile in his eyes sharpened: "A Jiong, gather the men, let's head back to the Shi residence!"

"We'll interrogate them one by one from our residence!"