Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1311 - 584: Disparity in Strength

~5 minute read · 1,151 words
Previously on Online: I Can See Health Bars...
Upon learning of Tai Xuelin's death, Fang Yu rushes to check on Ding Hui's safety. Ding Hui, feigning surprise, confirms she is prepared for any threats. Fang Yu then proposes hiring Monk Quan Heng to protect her, to which Ding Hui happily agrees, eager to practice her skills on him. Meanwhile, Xiong Rudong reveals that Tai Xuelin looked distressed when he handed over his guard duty, further fueling Fang Yu's unease.
He couldn’t be found. "Gang Leader, we are unable to locate Hou Mo anywhere!" "Could it truly be Hou Mo who was responsible for Master Tai’s death? And then he fled the scene to evade repercussions..." "Gang Leader, we discovered a suspicious pool of blood in the backyard’s firewood storage. There were also remnants of torn cloth." Information continued to surface, yet the complete picture remained elusive. Bloodstains... Fa Hongbao glanced towards Qiu Xiaoping, awaiting her direction. As for Lady Tai, she had been escorted back to her chambers to rest, overcome by immense sorrow. "Let us proceed to examine the evidence," Qiu Xiaoping suggested. Qiu Xiaoping herself held little genuine interest; the demise of a hall master from an unfamiliar gang was not a significant concern for her. Nevertheless, considering Fang Yu’s seemingly amicable association with the Forest Snake Gang, it was imperative to feign a semblance of diligent investigation. Qin Er trailed closely behind, her thoughts racing. She was determined to create a favorable impression on Qiu Xiaoping; failure to do so might result in her expulsion before even officially enlisting with the Rebel Army. With the affliction of the Blue Blood Disease and the recent complications in prison, Qin Er faced certain ruin without the support of the Rebel Army. "I must swiftly demonstrate my worth to Minister Qiu!" Qin Er resolved silently, clenching her fist. At this juncture, the assembled group had already reached the backyard firewood room. Subordinates stood guard at the entrance. Upon noticing the Gang Leader’s approach, they respectfully made way. Qin Er followed Fa Hongbao and the others, and soon observed that within the firewood room, the only evidence was a dark, ink-like splatter of blood adorning the wall. The extent of the bloodstain undeniably indicated a severe hemorrhage, suggesting the situation at the time had been exceptionally perilous. "An instantaneous kill, indicative of a substantial power imbalance," Qiu Xiaoping surmised after assessing the scene. However, a subtle incongruity lingered within the environment. Yet, she could not precisely identify the source of this unsettling feeling. After all, her allegiance was to the Rebel Army, a premier force dedicated to opposing tyranny; her presence here was not primarily for criminal investigations. "So... an individual perpetrated the murder of Hou Mo, whose duty was to patrol this area? And subsequently eliminated Tai Xuelin? What could be the motive? Did they share a common adversary?" Fa Hongbao embarked on his analysis. His deductions, however, were disjointed, failing to form a coherent understanding of the events. Qin Er keenly recognized this as her opportune moment. If she could offer insightful counsel to Minister Qiu and prove her utility, she might secure a position within the Rebel Army, establishing a dependable foundation of support. But how? Apart from the prominent bloodstains on the wall, nothing else of note was present within the firewood room. How could any meaningful investigation proceed from such a sparse scene? No, that is not quite right! Qin Er suddenly struck her own cheeks with her hands. She realized she needed to consider the preceding circumstances to formulate logical deductions, not solely concentrate on the immediate findings! After a brief period of thoughtful reflection, Qin Er began to articulate her thoughts. "Esteemed Minister Qiu, and Leader Fa, given that two individuals have met their demise, it logically follows that the perpetrator might have first eliminated Master Tai at the entrance, and then stealthily infiltrated the manor to dispatch Hou Mo. Alternatively, the sequence could be reversed... the killer might have ended Hou Mo’s life initially, before confronting Master Tai." She spoke deliberately, organizing her thoughts and the sequence of events as she narrated, and then continued. "Considering the locations where the deaths occurred, it seems more probable that the assailant moved from the entrance inwards towards the manor..." Before Qin Er could complete her statement, Fa Hongbao emphatically struck his thigh. "Ah, so that’s how it is! The assailant first killed Tai Xuelin, perhaps sustaining an injury in the process, and then evaded detection to conceal themselves within the firewood room for recovery. However, they unexpectedly encountered Hou Mo, who was present for undisclosed reasons, leading to Hou Mo’s demise as well. Subsequently, the perpetrator vanished, fleeing the vicinity." This line of reasoning was entirely inspired by Qin Er’s preceding thoughts. Yet, the Gang Leader's articulation of it elicited gasps and exclamations of admiration from those surrounding them. "The Gang Leader is exceptionally astute!" "The Gang Leader possesses remarkable insight!" "So, this implies that since the culprit was wounded during Master Tai’s resistance, even if they silenced a witness, they could not have absconded too far!" "Gang Leader, please issue the command to commence an immediate search for the culprit’s whereabouts!" All eyes turned to Fa Hongbao, anticipating his orders, and he readily agreed. He had been initially perplexed by Tai Xuelin’s death; having someone to spearhead the investigation was a hundred times more beneficial, and it preserved the Gang Leader’s esteemed reputation – a truly advantageous outcome. However, just as Fa Hongbao was about to issue his command, he observed Qiu Xiaoping’s slight frown. In the subsequent moment, the young woman named Qin Er spoke again. "That does not seem correct! We have all observed the scene of Master Tai’s death; it appeared as though he was ambushed, with no indications of a prolonged and intense struggle."“This points to an immense, unfathomable chasm in power between the two…” At this moment, Qin Er turned her gaze towards Qiu Xiaoping. “Minister Qiu, if someone of your might were to undertake the task, could you silently assassinate a master like Grandmaster Tai, preventing any sound, any resistance, and strike him down suddenly?” Qin Er had no definitive measure of Qiu Xiaoping’s strength, but given her position as a Minister in the Autumn Division of the Rebel Army, her power was naturally immense. Thus, Qin Er used her as a yardstick. Sensing the eyes of those around her, Qiu Xiaoping’s brow furrowed slightly. Is this girl naive, or does she simply lack situational awareness? Her words make it sound as though I was the one who slew Tai Xuelin. However, Qiu Xiaoping, being worldly and experienced, offered a slight smile to the onlookers. “It would be difficult. I do not know Grandmaster Tai personally; an unexpected approach would surely put him on guard. Even if I possessed the swiftness to end his life, it would undoubtedly create a disturbance, and the scene would descend into chaos. After all, your organization’s hall master was a formidable figure in Thunder City’s power hierarchy. Yet, if I could achieve a close proximity, a silent kill might be achievable, though the entrance to the Tai Mansion and its surroundings are quite exposed, offering little in the way of concealment.”