Four

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"I don't know......... No fakes........."

"So, maybe the two of them can contact each other?"

Luo Feng replied unanswered, "That'......... That self-sufficient verdict is fully deserved. He continued to evade taxes, plotted to murder his nephew Lu Ke, and wanted to take away all the Lu family's property. And he sent the 'Distinguished Guest Department' to the Wolf King's Workshop, which was just a cover-up........."

"Has the self-judgment scheme succeeded?"

"No, no......... It was a trap for the killer behind the scenes, so that the self-righteous judgment took the bait. He even used a lawyer named Uncle Wang. Uncle Wang deliberately approached Song Dabai, fabricated some legends related to the 'human underworld', and boasted about it as if it were true........."

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"Why did Song Dabai say that the death of the self-condemned person has nothing to do with himself?"

"That's for him to protect the Zitu clan. The person who introduced Uncle Wang to Song Dabai was the Zitu clan. ”

"Is Uncle Wang also the murderer behind it?"

"That man is a bit reckless, acting without regard for the means. The killers behind him skillfully controlled him, not only to help him hunt down the fugitive sea criminals, but also to make him donate silver. And his disabled daughter should have lived in the house behind the murderer and became a hostage. Wang Bocai had to obey his words. ”

"Did Song Dabai find out later?"

"It should be said that Song Dabai would be so insistent on trying his best to get Lu Ke to go to the Wolf King Fang with Uncle Wang, because he deduced that the Tu clan might be hiding there. But he couldn't go to the Wolf King Fang to confirm in person, so he had to borrow their hands to do it. Of course, because Uncle Wang was coerced, it is not credible. Lu Ke became an indispensable character........."

"Xuan, Lu Ke and Uncle Wang disappeared together——— according to Lu Ke's book, all the people of the 'Distinguished Guest Department' were killed——— they were sentenced to suicide, and Zitu's disappeared. In other words, everyone has been destroyed, right? Don't you think that the murderer behind it is directly related to the murder of the Wolf King Fang? ”

Luo Feng finally shook his head slightly, "No, no......... I......... I don't know. ”

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Li Yuanfeng furrowed his eyebrows, "What's wrong with the Zitu clan now?" ”

"I......... I don't know. The boy fled with all his possessions and the killer behind him! ”

"You really don't know where she is, Brother Luo?" Li Yuanfeng's eyes were cold.

"yes, I don't know. I don't know where that kid is. His moist eyes looked at Li Yuanfeng, as if he was pleading for something.

"Do you think the Zitu clan will kill themselves like a self-righteous sentence?"

"No, I don't know. But, I hope that the Zitu clan is safe and sound........." Luo Feng covered his face with his green hands floating up, and a whimper came from between his fingers.

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At the same time as Li Yuanfeng was talking to him.

I and Zhang Lao couldn't mix a sentence at all, and Song Dabai avoided it for the time being.

Li Yuanfeng's rebuke is still not finished, and he raises a question that we did not expect.

"One last question." Li Yuanfeng's tone was full of anger, and he asked in a low voice, "Is the Zitu clan really your daughter, Brother Luo?" ”

Luo Feng seemed to feel a great fear. His slender fingers trembled, pointing at Li Yuanfeng, who was looking at him coldly, "It's really, really, it's terrible......... You......... For......... Why......... Know ........."

"She doesn't look like you at all."

"The kid was picked up. No one should know......... Our couple will ......... her As an adopted daughter......... She is a lovely child.................."

Luo Feng sat down on the chair and propped up the armrests.

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We came to Boss Luo's mansion in Ten Mile City.

It was a luxurious mansion that took decades to build, which was very commensurate with Luo Feng's status as a wealthy businessman.

In the midst of a wide garden surrounded by a ditch and an antique rockery in the center.

However, the mansion was lonely and lifeless. The house itself resembles a cemetery, surrounded by an icy atmosphere.

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After entering the house, Luo Feng asked the housekeeper who greeted us to make tea.

The richly decorated hall is too wide and gloomy. The furniture is all antique.

Kerosene lamps burned on the old candlesticks, but they never lit up the room.

Standing on the sidelines, my mood was very dull by the silence in the room and the hard work of the past few days.

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No one spoke.

Li Yuanfeng paced leisurely back and forth in the hall for a while, and then looked at the antique-style flower beds and other ornaments displayed in the cabinet.

I drank the hot tea brought by the butler and looked at Luo Feng at the same time. Swollen and broad, he sat on a wooden chair like a dwarf.

The old man's side face and deep wrinkles on his dark skin show his inner anguish, remorse, and despair.

We waited for him to speak, but he remained silent.

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After a while, as if he was worried about the tranquility in this room, Li Yuanfeng said in a calm tone: "What's the matter, Brother Luotai, have you calmed down?" ”

Luo Feng sighed heavily and looked at him with fragile eyes, "Ah, yes......... I'm getting better, Master Lee. But you should be disappointed? ”

Luo Feng's lips trembled, and he closed his eyes.

After Song Dabai on the side looked at everyone, he said as if he had made up his mind: "Boss Luo, you have also read the relevant records of all the events in our hands. You should know what we know. What surprised me about these records was the records of the lawyer.

"Not bad. Lu Lawyer's notebook records in detail the brutal murder case that occurred in the Wolf King's Fang in May this year. If the recorded tragedy is true——— although we believe it should be——— then it is a terrible and terrible case for us. ”

Luo Feng used his thin hand to support the forehead that was floating with green tendons, "You are right, Mr. Song......... It was a very sinister murder. Just around Shili City, I was invited to the ancient square, and I was all killed........."

"So, are all the clues about the 'human underworld' also broken?" Li Yuanfeng frowned as if repentantly.

He was terrified and said, "Yes." Whether there is a so-called 'human body' or not, we have no way to find out. ”

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"What about Keliu's home?"

"After confirming it, it seems that no one lives there anymore, and it is unknown when the owner of the house disappeared. There were indeed people living there a long time ago, and no one would have noticed that in such a place of poor mountains and ancient caves. ”

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Li Yuanfeng looked at the old man with his head down, "Brother Luo, you said that 'human beings' are not at all like what Uncle Wang said, right?" ”

Luo Feng, who lowered his head, looked up at Li Yuanfeng, "Yes." However, even if you really want to investigate, there is no way to clear up this kind of monster. Mr. Song is really, even if the Zitu clan is involved, but how can you believe that kind of obvious lie........." Luo Feng had nothing to say, his face distorted bitterly.

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"Let me change the subject. Does the Zitu clan speak the Hidden Barbarian language? Li Yuanfeng abruptly asked an irrelevant question.

Luo Feng's eyes were full of confusion, and he nodded, "Yes, I don't know where I learned it, she often mutters strange words, and says that this is a hidden barbarian language." What's wrong? ”

"No, nothing." Li Yuanfeng immediately replied, dodging the question. After thinking for a while, he said to everyone as if he had made some kind of decision: "Dabai, everyone else." This case is really not what it seems, it is really complicated and mysterious. Everything and everything is intertwined like a web, and it is difficult to see the whole picture. I would like to propose a methodology that will serve as a guideline for future investigations. ”

"How?" After listening to this, Mr. Zhang asked.

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"Yes. First of all, we must deliberately select the foundation of this case and remove other superfluous appendages. ”

“……… Simplified. It is to get rid of the different theories in the incident, and only on the basis of pure reasonableness can the case be successfully solved. Can we also use this method. ”

“……… On the premise of considering the possibility, what about removing the 'human underworld', which is impossible in reality, from the clues? ”

"All in all, Yuanfeng, do you think we should treat the strange thing that happened in the Wolf King Fang as a simple ——— this statement seems a bit strange——— that is, the murder committed by ordinary people, and it can't be attributed to a mystery like a monster?"

"Yes. However, there must be no carelessness. ”

"What's the benefit of this?"

"At least then we don't have to bother or bother to explore the strange things that Uncle Wang said before."

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"But the murder of Yang Ping at the back door of the He'an ticket number is true, how do we look at it?"

"That should also be considered separately from the Wolf King Fang murder case. In short, Yang Ping's murder case is over, and it is just a matter of continuing to investigate. ”

Song Dabai clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and fell into deep thought, "I see." Pretend that those things have nothing to do with the murder of the ancient fang that we are trying to investigate, and then investigate or deduce? ”

Li Yuanfeng didn't answer, just looked out the window silently.

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The next moment.

Zhang Lao Companion Hall looked quite dissatisfied, "But, just like this, the affairs of Gufang will not become simpler, right?" After all, there are so many impossible facts. ”

I agree with Mr. Zhang's view. Whether there is a human soul or not, these strange phenomena like witchcraft are all facts.

However, Li Yuanfeng shook his head firmly, "No, if the matter is done by people, it is possible to solve it through human hands." ”

"So, under such assumptions, how are you going to explore the tragedy in the Wolf King's Fang?"

Li Yuanfeng didn't answer immediately, but just looked at me with his eyes, "There is a person who has put forward a proper answer to this point. It's the Great Cold. ”

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"Me?" He was startled when he suddenly mentioned me.

"Yes, didn't Da Han propose the 'Quadrangle'? And now that I have read Lu Songshi's book, I must examine whether this inference can solve the whole incident? ”

"Ah, yes. Of course there is. I said panickedly.

But then again, why is it that the thoughts in the heart are always so easily discerned?

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"Oh?" Mr. Zhang looked at me with interest.

And Song Dabai and Luo Feng, even Zeng, all looked at me with surprise on their faces.

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"Da Han, just tell us, a new inference!" Li Yuanfeng urged me in an unusually consistent tone.

Although I had a vague suspicion of his attitude, I still adjusted my posture and made up my mind to look around at everyone, "Then, everyone." There is a premise in this inference, that is, ——— may be a little redundant——— Dog Meat Workshop and Wolf King Workshop are two completely different ancient mansions. Just like Lu Lawyer and Dabai said, the roofs of these two ancient squares each have a wind vane, which are wolves and black dogs, and the differences are subtle. You can tell the difference from your appearance. ”

"Yes. That's about it. But why do you care? Zhang Lao asked with the hall.

"These two ancient squares are so similar. If you stay in the workshop, it's really hard to tell the difference. It is likely that you are in a dog-like imitation, but you are mistaken for being in another place. ”

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"The structure is the same, but I think the murders happened in the same place."

"I think it's ......... That is, maybe the murder of the Wolf King Fang actually happened in another place at all. The idea may be silly, but it just pops into the mind. In addition, is it possible that there is a double-layer structure in the same square, and that's it. ”

"There is a double-storey structure in the same workshop?"

"Yes. For example, each floor of the Outer Wolf King Workshop and the Inner Wolf King Workshop are intertwined with each other. In this way, it can be explained why this group of people heard strange noises from time to time. It was the sound of another wolf king's fang that came to the roof panels here. ”

"But there are at least two ancient squares."

"yes. It's the kind of complicated mechanism set up in the ancient workshop. ”

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"Go ahead." Mr. Zhang smiled bitterly.

The others nodded their heads, and I continued.

"The previous assumption ——— Wolf King Fang is composed of two workshops——— which can slightly explain several doubts in the Wolf King Fang. For example, when Lu Advocate returned to the ancient workshop after a picnic in Nuwa Cave, he found a mysterious corpse in the cellar of the Wolf King Fang. ”

"Oh, you mean the unidentified corpse?"

"Yes. Although the corpse is gone, it is not surprising at all from the point that there are two in the Wolf King Fang. ”

“……… Suppose that the place where Lu Advocate found the body was in the first square, and he later fainted, but he actually woke up in the second square. The first and second squares, whether it is the interior decoration or ornaments, are all the same. In addition, the workshop is very dim, only firelight, if you don't think of this method at first, no one will discover the secret of the ancient workshop. ”

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Song Dabai said with a displeased expression: "In short, do you think that after Lu Judge was attacked by an old dwarf and fainted, someone moved him to another square during this period, right?" ”

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"Yes. Before going to Nuwa Cave, the guest department is actually in the second square, and after the picnic is over, you should also return to the second square. Lu Advocate and Dafeng, who pretended to have a headache and wanted to go back to the workshop, went the wrong way and accidentally walked to the workshop where the prisoner's body was placed. ”

“……… Recall the contents of the book. Lu Lawyer and Dafeng returned to the ancient square through the secret passage 'Tiger Cave', but when they climbed the wooden ladder, Dafeng's attitude suddenly became very strange, as if he saw a monster on the blank stone slab on the wall, he left Lu Lawyer and fled in horror. ”

"I see. Dafeng found that they had gone to another ancient place? ”

"Yes, he was just surprised. Probably in order to properly deal with this accident, he quickly went to discuss it with other people who knew the secret, so he asked Lu Judge to wait there. ”

“……… However, Lu Lawyer took his own time, and only then did he meet the strange dwarf in the cellar, fight with him, and finally lose his mind. This is really fortunate for Dafeng and others. In this way, they will be able to return Master Lu to his original ancient place before he can regain his senses. ”

After my words came to an end, Zeng politely raised his hand, "Wait a minute, according to this, Dafeng, who understands the structure of the ancient square, should be in the same group as that weird dwarf?" ”

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"I don't know; In addition, there is no clue who the dwarf who attacked the land lawyer is. ”

Song Dabai frowned and looked at everyone, "Is it possible, that old man usually hides in another square, that is, a square; Sometimes he appears in Erfang and commits this series of murders? ”

"Possibly. However, if this is the case, then the door of the 'Tiger Cave' will lock the prisoner away. ”

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Zhang Lao held his pointed chin back and forth, "Are there any other inferences based on the 'Sihefang'?" ”

"Yes." I nodded generally, "After reading Lu Lawyer's book, did you notice anything wrong?" That is, where it is not natural. ”

"Unnatural?"

"Yes. Or rather, there is some contradiction. ”

I looked at them in turn, but each looked back with puzzled expressions.

Only Li Yuanfeng had a smile on his face and looked around at everyone.

I confirmed, "My lord, I think you know." ”

Li Yuanfeng just smiled quietly, "Everyone, Da Han refers to the window, that is, the window where the two squares face each other. ”

But Song Dabai didn't understand. He looked at me in amazement, "What's wrong with the window?" ”

I replied, "In Master Lu's notebook, it was mentioned that the housekeeper of Putian lived in a dog meat shop. They also stood on the big rock outside the workshop, and used something called a 'lookout mirror' to look at the other workshop. But what is puzzling is that when they look at the ancient square opposite, they never see people. ”

"May 29, which should be around the end of the unitary period. Lu Lawyer, who was in the Wolf King's Square, was chased into the room by someone and wrote the final notebook. ”

"The proof is that the book mentions that the black clouds have dispersed, and a bright moon hangs in the sky."

"According to the investigation, it was the seventh day of the lunar calendar, the first quarter moon, and at this hour, the moon was generally high in the east. No matter which side of the window you are, you can see the moon. In other words, on this point, Lu Lawyer's statement is not false. Looking out of the window, there was a dead silence in the square opposite, and not only that, but even every window in the hall was pitch black. ”

"What the hell is going on? Don't you think it's weird? Does this give us any delusions? ”

“……… Assuming that Lu Lawyer did not tell a lie, how could this be? He must have seen the light of the fire coming from the opposite window, but he didn't notice it. ”

"Yes, everyone? That's really good! Could it be that Lu Advocate has misunderstood what he saw? But the moon on the seventh night of the first lunar month proved otherwise, and he recorded his experience truthfully. So, there is only one answer that can reasonably explain this contradiction. ”

That is, around the end of the unitary hour on May 29, the location of the Lu lawyer's ———. Not the place you thought at first, but another place. In other words, he wasn't in an old mansion facing a dog meat mill. ”

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Wait for the sound to settle.

I took a sip of cold tea to moisten my throat, and then continued, "That is to say, there are one and two workshops in the dog meat workshop and the wolf king workshop respectively. And wolf 1 and wolf 2, dog 1 and dog 2 are located in the same ancient square, intertwined with each other, each outside the inside. The outer square is larger, and the inner square is slightly smaller. In addition, the four squares are all facing different directions. ”

Before Lu Ke died, he didn't see the dog meat shop opposite. Although it is impossible to tell what the facts are, let's assume that Lu Advocate is in the second wolf. In this way, since it was not a dog meat shop opposite him at all, of course he could not see the fire in the dog meat shop. ”

"In the trap of many unsolved cases, this kind of misleading and confusing method usually requires only finding the wrong time or place to gain insight."

“……… In this case, the person who recorded the incident stayed in the ancient square for nearly seven days, and it is unlikely that there will be a mistake in time. We can conclude that ——— case of this matter, the contradiction in our minds after reading the bookkeeping must be the confusion of place. ”

After I finished speaking, it was empty for a long time, and no one spoke.

In the silence of the house, only the sound of kerosene lamps could be heard.

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