Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 446 - 397: Homicide

Chapter 446: Chapter 397: Homicide
In the evening, SS Sea Charm left Suzhou Port, enveloped in the glow of the setting sun.
As the newspapers had claimed, this ship was indeed the most luxurious and extravagant cruise in the world, offering an abundance of pleasures—including gourmet food that rivaled the meals at the Academic Palace.
Passengers could visit the casino, watch operas, or, under the crew’s supervision, use the repeating crossbows on deck to hunt sea beasts on the surface, dragging them up from the seabed with chains.
On the third day, SS Sea Charm left the waters of Yu Country. On the sixth day, it left the waters of Zhou Kingdom and headed for the Endless Sea.
Since it had left the territorial waters of the two countries, the onboard entertainment was no longer restricted by their laws, and an anonymous auction similar to the Chang’an Ghost Market was held.
Those wishing to participate had to wear masks to bid on items that would absolutely be contraband on land.
Items such as the skull of a famous Demon Cultivator, the personal sword of a Sect Leader from a secretive sect, the stolen Shariputra of a Zen sage, and personal notes of an emperor from Former Sui were auctioned.
The bidding prices were quite exaggerated, starting at three thousand strings of coins, with each additional bid increasing by at least three hundred strings.
There indeed were many wealthy elites aboard, especially now that the railways had been developed, allowing the rich to amass wealth faster and easier than before.
During the voyage of SS Sea Charm, Li Ang continuously controlled two Ink Silk Clones, keeping an eye on Su Xinghuo’s movements.
Unfortunately, Su Xinghuo did not frequent places like casinos or taverns. He only occasionally appeared on deck, always with Xia Yuanjia and the cat demon.
The Ink Silk Clones found no opportunity to get closer.
By the eighth day, SS Sea Charm had ventured more than a hundred nautical miles into the Endless Sea and eventually docked beside a lush island.
The island, named Banqi Island, had been discovered by the Academic Palace fifty years ago.
The original expedition team had left a group of people on the island to teach the indigenous people the Yu Country language.
Today, these indigenous people had been "civilized." They not only welcomed foreign tourists but also enthusiastically hosted various activities, warmly receiving them in exchange for supplies brought by the cruise.
For most Yu Country people, the Endless Sea remained shrouded in mystery, especially the native inhabitants of its islands, who were an enigmatic presence.
Su Xinghuo, being young and impulsive, couldn’t resist when the receptionist described how fun the island was. He slung the black cat onto his shoulder and followed the other passengers down the gangway from the deck.
The natives of the island were already waiting at the port. Their skin was yellowish-brown, they were shorter in stature, had white teeth, and mostly black or brown hair. They wore wreaths woven from flowers and grass on their heads, necks, wrists, and ankles.
They resembled the Hawaiians from Li Ang’s otherworldly memories.
Most of the island natives spoke the Yu Country language. They knew SS Sea Charm was coming and had prepared a welcome ceremony in advance, placing flower wreaths around the necks of all disembarking passengers.
The scenery on the island was beautiful.
Even Li Ang felt like taking a vacation.
He directed one Ink Silk Clone to keep a distant watch on Su Xinghuo, while the other went to the beach to swim. That clone dived to the seabed to see corals, touch sea turtles, collect shells, and watch from a distance as volcanic magma flowed into the sea, causing boiling steam to rise.
In the evening, the clone drank coconut wine by the bonfire, singing and dancing with the natives.
Li Ang felt cheerful, yet slightly regretful at the same time.
When he finally had some free time and had completely dealt with the threats from Mo Si and Zhao Ming, he resolved to bring Chai Chai here for a thorough outing.
As the bonfire gradually died down, a crew member came running to inform them that strong winds and waves were expected at sea that night.
SS Sea Charm had already dropped anchor at the port. Passengers could either stay overnight in the island’s homes or return to the ship. However, a crew member personally recommended staying on the island, explaining that the ship would rock tremendously due to the wind and waves, which would affect their sleep. Su Xinghuo, to honor his promise to his friend Xia Yuanjia, naturally had to return to SS Sea Charm, and an Ink Silk Clone followed him.
During the daytime on the island, the black cat disappeared for a short while. The Ink Silk Clone used this opportunity to strike up a conversation with Su Xinghuo.
The Ink Silk Clone had intended to use this opportunity to gain his trust,
but unfortunately, Su Xinghuo stayed in Xia Yuanjia’s room for a long talk and then returned to his own room to sleep, so the Ink Silk Clone couldn’t find the right moment.
Late at night, just as the crew had warned, a strong wind arose, and the ship swayed back and forth.
「The next morning,」 the Ink Silk Clone woke up as usual but heard noisy sounds coming from the corridor.
"Catch him!"
"I’m not the murderer! Let me go!"
An Xuehai, the Ink Silk Clone, furrowed his brows, pushed open the door, and saw a crowd squeezed into the corridor, blocking the doorway of Room 9, Xia Yuanjia’s cabin.
Such a strong smell of blood...
An Xuehai’s expression changed slightly, and he pushed through the crowd to the entrance of Room 9.
Inside the room, blood was splattered everywhere. Xia Yuanjia’s arm was sticking out from under the sheets, his throat slit, completely lifeless.
And the round-faced youth, Su Xinghuo, his face flushed, had his hands bound by several crew members.
"Su Xinghuo!"
Xia Yuanjia’s guard, a Cultivator named Sikong Ji, angrily exclaimed, "Yuanjia regarded you as a confidant and friend! How could you do such a thing?!"
"I didn’t!" Su Xinghuo yelled. "Yuanjia is my dearest friend! I wouldn’t—I couldn’t possibly kill him."
"But you were the last one to leave this room last night," another guard named Sikong Qiu said. "This room was completely sealed. Even the windows were sealed shut. At the end of the corridor outside, a ship’s receptionist was stationed—he sat behind the reception desk all night, never left, and personally saw you leave the room last, looking worried..."
Listening to the conversation inside the room, Li Ang slowly understood what was happening.
Xia Yuanjia had a habit of not going to the ship’s dining room for breakfast each morning; instead, he had a waiter bring breakfast to him.
This morning, the waiter, following routine, called out to him from outside the door. After a long time without a response, the waiter asked the ship’s receptionist to use a key to open the door. Only then did they discover Xia Yuanjia lying on a bloodstained bed, having been dead for some time.
The door was locked from the inside, the entire room completely sealed. Alarm Talismans were everywhere—on the walls, tables, and windows—ready to trigger an alert at any sign of Telekinesis, Magic, or Alien presence.
This meant that Xia Yuanjia’s death did not involve any factors beyond the ordinary.
In this situation, Su Xinghuo, the last person seen leaving the room, naturally became the prime suspect.