Chapter 35 Suspect

Lu Zheng explained, "It's a Sword Technique that involves barehandedly facing a blade. It's definitely not effective against experts, but it's effortless when dealing with an ordinary person."

Lu Zheng was referring to the past, of course.

Previously, although he was already proficient in Sword Technique, he was still within the scope of an ordinary person. But now, having learned the "Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques" and having cultivated Martial Artist's Blood Qi, it's different.

"Sword Technique?" The three of them were very surprised.

After Lu Zheng became a suspect in their investigation, they all watched the surveillance footage of Lu Zheng subduing Li Yanjie. Everyone had their own speculations, even having Lin Wan reenact it.

However, after much debate, they couldn't come to a conclusion. Regardless, no one guessed that the fluid motions were actually a Sword Technique.

"I thought it was some kind of Sanda or a Grapple Hand technique," Lin Wan said.

"With a Single Saber, you watch the hand, with dual sabers, you watch the movement. For Single Saber Technique, besides the right-hand saber, the left hand is also used, so there are some grappling techniques involved."

Lu Zheng explained, "Actually, grappling techniques are quite versatile and can be applied almost anywhere."

Professional!

Lin Wan's eyes sparkled, seeing Lu Zheng as a hidden expert in the bustling city.

In a time when Chuan Wu is widely mocked for being ineffective, he subdued a young man in his twenties with one hand.

"Impressive!" Liu Leng gave a thumbs up.

"You're too kind, he was just too weak."

Lu Zheng was being honest; a true expert wouldn't be easily wrapped up like a wooden dummy.

Liang Yuandong asked, "So which sect's Sword Technique do you practice, the Wing Chun Eight-Cut Saber?"

Thanks to the "Yip Man" series, the Wing Chun Eight-Cut Saber is famous throughout the coast.

"No," Lu Zheng shook his head, grinning, "Basic Knife Technique."

This cold joke was not funny at all.

"If Basic Knife Technique were that powerful, martial arts wouldn't be called 'dancing arts.'

"They just haven't practiced it well," Lu Zheng said calmly, "There's no redundant move in the forms; it just depends on whether you can use it or not."

This statement was quite bold!

"Just like military knife techniques?" Liu Leng became interested.

"Uh, I practice traditional sword techniques, which are different from military knives. Although military knives also originate from martial arts, they've been too simplified, and the military knives are shorter, retaining only the most dangerous methods. Anyway, they're just different."

Click, click, professional!

While they were chatting, the car quickly drove through the gate of the city bureau and stopped at the entrance of the office building.

Then, under the solemn gazes of several people, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan got out of the car laughing and chatting.

Everyone: ⚆_⚆?

What's going on?

...

"Name?"

"Lu Zheng."

"Age?"

"Twenty-two."

In the interrogation room, Lu Zheng was curiously giving a statement.

"These are all clear matters, you really have to ask everything again!"

"It's a regulation, a procedural confirmation."

Lin Wan explained and continued to ask, "Place of origin?"

...

After going through the process, they finally got to the important part.

"Where were you between ten and twelve o'clock the night before last?"

"At home," Lu Zheng immediately replied, without hesitation.

"Any evidence?"

Lu Zheng shrugged helplessly, "I live alone, of course, there's no evidence."

Lin Wan and Liang Yuandong exchanged glances and straightforwardly asked, "Do you normally eat fruit?"

What kind of big twist is this?

But Lu Zheng nodded and honestly replied, "Yes."

"Do you use a fruit knife?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't we find a fruit knife at your home today?"

"Huh?" Lu Zheng looked bewildered.

Liang Yuandong shifted his gaze from the file in his hand to Lu Zheng, "Li Yanjie is dead, and the murder weapon is a fruit knife with your fingerprints on it."

"What?" Lu Zheng was directly shocked.

Li Yanjie is dead?

Did I kill him?

"No, wait!" Lu Zheng raised his hand, "Let me sort this out!"

"Li Yanjie is dead, the murder weapon is my fruit knife, and then you guys went to my house today and didn't find the fruit knife?"

"Yes!" Lin Wan said seriously, "Do you have anything to explain?"

No wonder they were so wary, ready to act at the drop of a hat.

"Uh... I'm not the killer?" Lu Zheng said blankly.

Liang Yuandong smirked, while Lin Wan almost burst out laughing.

"Although there are many doubts, the evidence is also very clear, so we had to bring you back for questioning, please understand," Liang Yuandong said, "So we want to ask for your cooperation to investigate this case clearly and prove your innocence."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lu Zheng nodded like a pecking chicken.

Lin Wan asked, "Since the conflict between you and Li Yanjie last weekend, please describe your activities over the past few days in detail."

"I..." Lu Zheng just said one word, then his eyes flickered.

"What did you remember?" Lin Wan immediately asked.

"My house was robbed!"

Lu Zheng urgently said, "It was the morning before the day before yesterday."

Lu Zheng then recounted how he went to the Ten Thousand Ridges Ancient Sword Hall, and when he came back at noon, he found his slippers in the wrong place.

"But I didn't find anything stolen from my house, so I didn't report it to the police."

"The morning of the day before yesterday?"

"Yes." Lu Zheng nodded affirmatively.

"Alright, this is indeed a lead, we'll investigate it thoroughly."

...

After asking a few more questions, aside from the fingerprint on the fruit knife, there was no other evidence pointing to Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng had hardly gone out these days, let alone conducted any actions concerning Li Yanjie, and lacked any motive for murder.

So Lu Zheng was quickly cleared, and Lin Wan took him to the entrance of the city bureau, "You're temporarily not a suspect anymore, but keep your phone accessible and don't leave the city for now."

"Okay!" Lu Zheng nodded helplessly, what a mess...

...

"Captain Li, this is Lu Zheng's record."

"It's preliminarily determined that the killer might have been following the victim, witnessed the conflict between the victim and Lu Zheng, then tailed Lu Zheng, confirmed his address, and finally broke in when Lu Zheng was out, stole the fruit knife, and framed him."

"At the murder scene, the fruit knife was discarded in the grass less than thirty meters from the victim's body, with fingerprints still on it, clearly indicating an attempt to mislead."

"Lu Zheng's behavior was entirely normal; from the community surveillance footage, he appears to be an unemployed man staying at home, he almost never left except for that morning two days ago."

Li Jinglin glanced at Liu Leng, "Could an unemployed man knock you out with a shoulder?"

Liang Yuandong was stunned, "You mean he is still a suspect?"

Lin Wan frowned, "No need to, wouldn't it be better not to leave evidence? Why make it glaringly obvious?"

Li Jinglin thought for a moment, "Did you retrieve the surveillance footage from Lu Zheng's community?"

"We did."

"Start investigating to see if there's any suspicious targets during that time frame," Li Jinglin closed the record file, "Also, investigate what grudges Li Yanjie might have provoked in the past six months that could drive an adversary to kill him."

"Yes!"