A world without glitz

Chen Ye suddenly froze as if under a spell, his body completely frozen. His left hand was still on the corpse's neck, as if he had lost all feeling. At this moment, Meimei yanked Chen Ye's left hand out with lightning speed.

Chen Ye finally came to his senses and looked down at his left hand. He saw a small wound on his palm. Although the wound was not big, it looked like it was stabbed by something sharp. Meimei moved closer and carefully examined the back of the corpse's neck. Sure enough, she found a silver needle. This silver needle passed through the collar and firmly pierced Shen Qingmei's spiritual acupoint.

The spiritual acupoint is usually used to stimulate those who have not yet awakened their spiritual intelligence, in order to stimulate their spiritual wisdom. For a trial-taker, even a needle prick at this acupoint should not be life-threatening. Meimei pondered inwardly, who could kill with a single needle without using any spiritual power? Not even Qi Yiwen, the current number one in the world, could do it. She truly couldn't understand the reason.

Chen Ye watched the blood oozing from her palm, dripping drop by drop onto Shen Qingmei's pale lips, as if it were the only trace of blood on her body. Her gaze followed the bloodstains, finally resting on the silver needle on her collar.

"This silver needle... can kill people?" Chen Ye muttered to himself. She couldn't believe that such an ordinary silver needle could actually kill someone. He turned to look at the system and asked doubtfully, "System, are you sure this is a fairy world and not a martial arts world? In a fairy world, an ordinary silver needle can kill people?"

The system didn't answer Chen Ye's question. There were three types of questions it wouldn't answer: first, questions that were too stupid, second, questions that already had their own answers, and third, questions concerning the system's own privacy. Chen Ye carefully pulled out the needle. Because it was already rainy and overcast today, and the mist created by the rain, the needle was hidden in the fog. Without careful observation, it was difficult to detect its presence.

"Aren't your clothes known as the best in Luoan Town? How come there are needles hidden in them?" Meimei naturally didn't believe that Jingbai, a pretty boy with a useless face, could kill someone with one kick, but she thought that if the needles were hidden due to negligence, it was possible.

"Woo, woo, woo," Jingbai had no time to argue. He simply knelt and crawled to Meimei's feet, kowtowed to the spy's subordinates. "She and I..." He glanced up at Meimei, thanking her for finally letting him speak. However, with outsiders present, he had to be careful with his words. Jingbai finally saw who was with Meimei. He had originally thought that the bitch wasn't with this crazy woman, but now he realized that the two of them were the most inseparable members of the entire demon cult.

Although Chen Ye knew of Meimei's reputation as the Saint of the Demonic Cult, he had no idea that he, too, was a model of madness, a well-known example of virtue. If Jingbai had been afraid to approach Meimei upon seeing her, then upon meeting her gaze, he was filled with rage, eager to take action. Chen Ye hadn't yet grasped the story of his own body: though they shared the same name, their appearance was drastically different.

"I don't even know who this woman is. I have no grudge against her. Why would she plan so many things to kill her? I'm not one of those people who robbed Minnan and killed innocent people." He didn't know why the crazy woman wanted to take him away, nor did he know why the bitch wanted to humiliate him for a whole day and night. But if this is the law of the jungle in this world, then he will not sing or dance anymore. Jingbai buried his face in the bluestone slab, even though the bitterness of the water shook his head, because out of sight, out of mind, maybe these people would let him go. He escaped from the cold lake in the far north to a small town in the dense forests of the southwest and he could actually meet them again. God, how many lifetimes of bad karma is this! If this life is destined to be like this, it would be better to enter the next life as soon as possible and be a fish that never comes ashore.

"You are making indirect accusations? Who gave you the courage? I think it's better for you to keep your mouth shut for the rest of your life." Meimei's voice was cold and a hint of anger. Her eyes were as sharp as cold stars, staring at the person in front of her.

Meimei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of disdain. She gently lifted her foot, effortlessly using her fair neck as a stepping stone. Chen Ye's heart tightened as she saw her boss so irritated by this man's words. She hurriedly placed both hands on Meimei's right foot, trying to smooth things over. "This is an important witness. Don't touch her, boss." Her voice was filled with a hint of anxiety and flattery, and her eyes revealed helplessness.

Jingbai watched Meimei and Chen Ye's actions, his face filled with surprise and confusion. He didn't understand why these two had suddenly become so cunning, and he pondered inwardly. Meimei and Chen Ye were both secretly exerting force on Jingbai's neck. Meimei's eyes flashed with a fierce gleam, and Chen Ye's hands tightly grasped Meimei's feet, doing his best to protect his men.

Chen Ye's left hand had just been pricked by a needle and then stepped on. The pain made her face pale, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She bit her lip tightly, trying not to scream, but the red and purple scars could not hide the pain she was suffering.

With the two people's shouting and Shen Qingzhu's incredulous expression, Meimei really was no different from the legendary demon cult saint. Compared to Jingbai's sarcasm, Meimei actually hated Chen Ye's behavior of letting her take the blame the most. The blame she had taken over the years should have made her a thousand-year-old little turtle.

"Boss, I know. I know. He has a point. He has no reason to kill her. Besides, he did it in his own tailor shop. It doesn't make sense at all."

"Ding dong." The swaying of the bracelet prompted Meimei to move her right foot. She checked and found her score had gone up a few digits, but her ranking hadn't changed. This series of events proved that the hidden rules were inextricably linked to Jingbai, or rather, that finding the murderer was the key to extra points. The reason for the change in the numbers was probably because Chen Ye correctly guessed that Jingbai wasn't the murderer.

Chen Ye resolved the danger to the mermaid and quickly stood up and approached Shen Qingzhu. Shen Qingzhu mistakenly thought that these people would turn their conflict on her, the victim's family member, and quickly retreated when Chen Ye approached. Chen Ye was naturally confused. According to the system's explanation, the mermaid was afraid of her, so why did this little girl look so defensive? Was she playing the role of cannon fodder that everyone disliked?

"Girl, has your elder sister offended anyone today? Or is there an old enemy participating in this Immortal Cultivation Conference with you sisters?" Chen Ye originally went there to find someone to rely on, but now she can only lean on the stinky pillars, rubbing her hands. Looking at her red hands, she suddenly missed the days when she sat in front of the computer, at least she didn't have to live in fear.

Shen Qingzhu was clearly stunned for a moment, perhaps reflecting on her thoughts before answering Chen Ye's question shakily. Perhaps she felt that speaking ill of someone behind their back was unkind. "Eldest sister, you usually behave erratically in the mansion, so you've offended quite a few along the way. But you know your limits, and I wouldn't take anyone's life, would I?"

"Yes, this rich young lady is really hard to serve. She came to my store to buy clothes and tried on all the ready-made clothes in the store before finally choosing this gilded phoenix embroidered brocade robe." Jingbai also got up from the ground and stood on the other side of the lobby. As the saying goes, staying away from danger is the first step to ensure safety.

"Why this dress?" Meimei took a closer look at the clothes and realized that Shen Qingmei's appearance was completely different from the elegant look she had when she first met her. Back then, although her face had the delicate and extravagant look of a daughter of an aristocratic family, she was wearing a ethereal, ethereal, turquoise gauze. "Why did she fall for this dress?"

"Sir, I remember two people that day asking to try on this gilded phoenix-embroidered brocade robe. One was a man, and although he didn't put it on, he kept touching it for a long time. How could a man like that dress? The other was a woman. After trying it on, she said she wasn't satisfied and left."

"Who is this man?"

"Who is this woman?"

"I know the man. He lives in the inn opposite Linlin. Although he looks ordinary, he is generous and bought my masterpiece, Wei Lan." Jingbai talked about his second venture and his conversation became more frequent unknowingly. He gradually walked to the center of the lobby.

"Is it the blue sequined dress with pearls?"

"Yes! You have seen it!" Jingbai seemed to think that he and his former clothes had met a soulmate who appreciated him. His shining almond eyes glanced at Chen Ye vaguely.

"System, do you think the murderer could be the male protagonist? Could these two sisters also be spies? Then aren't we one family fighting one family?" Chen Ye certainly remembered the sequined dress. Although it looked very different on Qi Yiwen, he clearly remembered that the blue eyeshadow looked pretty good above those azure pupils, with a strange and alluring charm. Okay, Chen Ye said he was still praising the male protagonist. "But if the male protagonist is now a suspect, doesn't this fulfill her first bad first impression of ruining the relationship line? Not bad, not bad, the small plot can still be controlled."

"Host, this system doesn't have cheat codes, and you'll be struck by lightning if you reveal too many spoilers. Besides, you're too broke to even open the item vault, so just focus on the plot."

"So you're just here to chat with me?" Chen Ye was really fed up with this system. It didn't even teach all the spells, and when you encountered danger, you had to learn how to save yourself on the spot. Was it to show its own importance?

"Where is that woman?" Meimei anxiously asked Jingbai, the witness rescued by Chen Ye.

"Woman? I don't remember her very well. She looks ordinary, nothing special." Jingbai really had no impression of that person. He had met at least a dozen people in a day. How could he have an impression of everyone?

"My benefactor, do you think that man could be the third cousin who had been harassing my eldest sister in the Shen Mansion before? He actually followed her here with such painstaking efforts and cruelty." Shen Qingzhu's voice sounded as if Meimei had really stepped on his throat, and he was breathless.

Why did Chen Ye feel that this girl had taken the script of the green tea concubine sister and the deceased was the script of the domineering legitimate sister? Well, it's hard to say. But Qi Yiwen had no reason to kill her. This concubine sister was not simple.

Shen Qingzhu noticed Chen Ye's suspicious gaze scrutinizing her from head to toe. It was a scrutinizing look. For self-protection, she could only stand sideways behind her benefactor to avoid his dagger-like gaze.

"Let's go to the inn. Let's find the person first." Meimei ignored Shen Qingzhu's arm around her and pulled Chen Ye's sleeve, rummaging inside. Chen Ye was obviously stunned. Was he just cannon fodder covered in treasures? Or was she just a hard laborer helping Meimei get things?

"Yuxianlu?" Shen Qingzhu was the first to recognize the treasure that Meimei took out from Chen Ye's sleeve. She was more convinced that the identity of her benefactor was not simple. Although this was not a high-level magic weapon, it was rare for a family like theirs to have talismans to protect themselves, let alone a magic weapon, which was a magic weapon that only top spiritual practitioners could possess.

Meimei wrote the word "Linlin" on the booklet with her bare hands. Before the last drop of rain fell on the gray wall, everyone had already arrived at Linlin.

But now it was already dark, the lights in the inn ablaze, and figures bustled within the square windows. Outside the inn, people came and went, but never once stopped by this door. This was Chen Ye's first day in Luo'an Town, but even that day was exciting enough: a cultivation conference, a trap, and a murder.

The tribulations of the cannon fodder protagonist.

No one dared to alert the suspect, but just wandered outside the gate, counting the figures in the rooms and guessing who was the suspect.

However, the most exciting thing is Xiao Xinshui, who was beaten by Chen Ye and approached the prison. The young master was rejected when he was boldly courting outside and was beaten to the prison by a scheming girl. Xiao Xinshui felt that even his aunt could not write such an excellent book, and the words in the book were all lies. The empty prison is never short of shouting. Xixi locked up people just to make Chen Ye investigate the case without worries. None of them can afford to offend them, let alone the clothes look like a relative. For the relatives, this prison is also considered safe. "Come on, do you know who I am? I am the young master of Qingshui Palace, let me out!" Xiao Xinshui did not expect that his reputation would not work in this deep mountains and forests one day.

Xiao Xinshui watched as people were drawn to him by his voice, and a sense of anticipation welled up in his heart. He had expected them to greet him warmly, preparing a feast of delicious food and fine wine. However, the reality left him greatly disappointed.

A young girl who was ignorant of the immensity of the world came over and said to him with a look of disdain: "Young Palace Master? Our Lord Xixi is still the Young Master of the Mansion! What Qingshui Palace? I've never heard of it. A weak man like you who was beaten into this place by a woman, just stay here honestly!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinshui was instantly enraged. His eyes widened as he glared at the girl, cursing inwardly, "How dare this little girl be so rude!" But he suppressed his fury and sneered, "How could this shabby prison hold me?" He then pulled out a stack of talismans from his pocket and carefully counted them. Luckily, there were still more than ten.

These talismans are his treasures, including blasting talismans, teleportation talismans, etc. He originally planned to use these talismans to escape from this place, but now it seems that things are not that simple.

Xiao Xinshui looked at the blasting talisman in his hand and thought to himself, "Although this blasting talisman is extremely powerful, if I use it to break open this door, I'm afraid I'll still be caught. Besides, I've run out of teleportation and transposition talismans."

He sighed helplessly, picked up the scattered talismans one by one, and carefully put them away. Although the number of these talismans was limited, they at least gave him some sense of security.

Xiao Xinshui thought to himself: "Forget it, I will just be locked up for a few days at most. When the storm is over, I will be able to leave this damn place naturally. I can't get on the same level with these country bumpkins from the mountains, and I can't bother with women, except for that bitch..." When he thought of the woman who made him hate her so much, Xiao Xinshui's face became gloomy.

"Ding Dong." Xiao Xinshui was startled awake by the sound, and the grass ash on his butt was quickly blown away. As expected, people who stay in prison for too long will have a prison smell. The Bodhi bracelet on his left hand finally attracted the attention of its owner. "I am actually third place. Ah, Dad and Mom, my Xiao family's ancestral graves are smoking. I must beat my sister's fifth place result."

Even within this dark, damp prison, Xiao Xinshui's spirits seemed to have taken flight, floating lightly. He felt as if he were no longer the imprisoned prisoner, but a victor at the pinnacle of his life. At that moment, he even felt that this cell was no different from his own bamboo garden: just as free and full of hope.

"If the heroine has such a magic weapon, why did we have to rush on the journey at the beginning?" Chen Ye stared at the booklet the whole time. He didn't expect that he had such a magic weapon between his sleeves.

"Host, catching a criminal is a race against time, and it was you who said you wanted to enjoy the scenery along the way, so the heroine took you on the flight. Don't give the lie away."