“Qi Xia.” Zhang Chenze crossed his arms and said expressionlessly, “After Han Yimo got hurt, you were the first person he called out to. Did you two know each other before?”
Qi Xia didn’t even lift his eyelids, resting his forehead on his right hand as he replied, “No.”
“Then do you have any clues about his death?” Zhang Chenze pressed.
Qi Xia didn’t answer. Instead, he studied the massive sword embedded in Han Yimo’s body.
The sword had an ancient aesthetic, like an exquisite piece of art.
It was covered in battle scars, as though it had seen countless fights.
But in this day and age, who would wield such a massive sword in combat?
“Qi Xia, I’m talking to you,” Zhang Chenze said irritably. “Aren’t you going to explain anything?”
“What do I need to explain?” Qi Xia asked. “Are you implying I killed Han Yimo?”
“Whether you’re the killer or not, you should at least say something to clear your name.”
Qi Xia still didn’t respond. Instead, he reached out to pull the sword free.
“Hey!” Officer Li quickly stepped forward. “Qi Xia, whether you’re the killer or not, we need to preserve the crime scene! Otherwise—”
“Otherwise what?” Qi Xia interrupted. “Otherwise, when the police arrive to investigate, crucial evidence might be lost?”
Officer Li’s lips moved, but no words came out.
At this point, waiting for the police to investigate was the least of their concerns—whether they could even survive long enough was the real question.
Seeing Officer Li fall silent, Qi Xia gripped the sword with both hands and continued pulling.
It took nearly all his strength to finally wrench the blade free from the ground.
Qiao Jiajin stepped in to help and realized the sword was far heavier than he’d imagined. The pitch-black ancient blade, forged from some unknown metal, weighed around 150 pounds—equivalent to a burly adult man.
Qi Xia panted heavily before dropping the sword with a loud clang.
After catching his breath, he finally spoke to Zhang Chenze. “Lawyer Zhang, let me confirm something with you. This sword is as tall as a person and weighs over a hundred pounds. Are you seriously suggesting that I lifted this thing, silently killed Han Yimo—who couldn’t even move—at dawn, and then drove it deep into the ground?”
Zhang Chenze pressed her lips together, her expression darkening.
“And before that, to keep you all from noticing, I must’ve been hiding this massive sword in my pants pocket, right?” Qi Xia added.
Officer Li, sensing the tension, tried to mediate. “Qi Xia, if you didn’t kill Han Yimo, why did you insist on pulling the sword out?”
Instead of engaging further with Zhang Chenze, Qi Xia looked down at the bloodstained sword.
After examining it closely, he shook his head and flipped it over.
Sure enough, on the other side of the hilt, three small characters were engraved: **Seven Black Sword**.
Han Yimo’s final words hadn’t provided much useful information. He seemed to be struggling to accept some truth—one he never fully grasped before dying.
But the only detail that stuck with Qi Xia was the name **Seven Black Sword**.
“This sword is called **Seven Black Sword**?” Qiao Jiajin asked from the side.
Qi Xia stroked his chin thoughtfully. “These characters are on the opposite side of where Han Yimo was impaled. He shouldn’t have been able to see the name. So why did he mention **Seven Black Sword**?”
“Your logic is… unusual,” Officer Li said, shaking his head. “Why focus on the weapon’s name? Shouldn’t we be figuring out how Han Yimo died?”
Qi Xia glanced at him. “Han Yimo was stabbed when it was already light out. Even if he was asleep, an injury this severe would’ve made him open his eyes. He should’ve seen the killer. Yet he never mentioned the killer’s name—just repeated **Seven Black Sword** twice. Don’t you find that strange?”
“But he called out *your* name…” Xiao Ran murmured timidly from behind Officer Li. “No matter what the sword is called, Han Yimo *did* say your name first…”
“So?” Qi Xia asked.
“So *you’re* the killer…” Xiao Ran shrank further behind Officer Li, avoiding Qi Xia’s gaze.
Qi Xia didn’t argue. He just stared at her, as if trying to decide whether she was the real killer or just incredibly stupid.
“And now that our friend is dead, you’re not even sad—just calmly analyzing things! But you’re a liar! What good is your analysis?!” Xiao Ran’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears. “Who here would even believe you?”
“‘Sad’?” Qi Xia frowned, as if the concept confused him. “You mean… I should mourn someone I’ve known for less than a day?”
“You’re so heartless—that’s why I think you’re the killer!” Xiao Ran’s voice rose. “You said you were leaving last night, right? Why did you stay? If you think about it, you *planned* to kill someone!”
By now, Qi Xia had mostly concluded that this woman wasn’t necessarily the killer—just profoundly foolish.
She’d shouted something similar in the first room: *Why should we trust a liar?*
Logic meant nothing to her. She only believed what she *wanted* to believe.
Qiao Jiajin had heard enough. “Oi, stupid girl, if you don’t wanna use your brain, at least don’t interrupt. I think Scammer’s got a point.”
“But you three were never good people to begin with!” Xiao Ran retorted indignantly. “Now that someone’s dead, you’re the most suspicious ones! So what if I’m stupid? At least *I* wouldn’t do something evil!”
Her words weren’t just aimed at Qi Xia—they implicated Qiao Jiajin and even Sweetie, who stood nearby.
Yeah. The three of them had never been “good people.”
Qi Xia nodded. “You’re right.”
He abandoned his inspection of the body and the sword, slowly standing up. “There’s no point in looking further. I *did* kill him.”
The group remained expressionless at his admission.
Only Xiao Ran seemed excited. “See?! He admitted it himself! All that talk about the sword’s name was just a distraction!”
Officer Li frowned, deep in thought.
“Oi, Scammer!” Qiao Jiajin was baffled. “Even if you admit it, who’d believe you? There’s no way you—or even the two of us together—could move that sword without making noise!”
Qi Xia waved a hand dismissively and walked out of the convenience store.
“Doesn’t matter. We’ve only got ten days left. What does it matter if I’m labeled a killer? Besides, I don’t like arguing with stupid people.”
Hearing this, Qiao Jiajin smirked and followed.
Sweetie, who’d decided early on to stick with Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin, saw no reason to stay behind.
Lin Qin glanced back at Officer Li, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately shook her head and left without a word.
The remaining eight split into two groups.
The four who stayed behind wore complicated expressions—except Xiao Ran, who seemed relieved. “Good… those shady people are finally gone…”
“Xiao Ran, I think we forgot something…” Dr. Zhao whispered to her.
……
Xiao Ran ran outside, calling after the four.
“Wait!”
Qi Xia turned back coldly, unsure what she wanted.
“Did you forget something?” Xiao Ran demanded. “The **Dao**?”
“**Dao**?”
“That’s right. The four **Dao** we risked our lives to win as a team of nine. You can’t just take *all* of them!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage