Covering the sky

"It's not about believing or not believing right now. The fact is... you have major... suspicions," Cade stuttered nervously as he spoke.

At once, Pang Bo's eyes widened. "What are you talking about, you yellow-haired foreigner? Why do you think it was Leafan who killed him?"

"No, I'm not subjectively... thinking. I'm stating... objective facts. I didn't say he's... the murderer, I'm just saying... he's highly suspicious," Cade replied seriously and formally, continuing, "Liu Yun Zhi makes sense. Leafan and the victim had conflicts. He had a motive for murder. And they were... very close, so there was an opportunity to strike."

Though Cade wasn't particularly smooth with his words, everyone understood his point. Much like many straightforward Westerners, he was simply stating facts.

"Foreigner, you really don't understand human nature, do you? It's so obvious, yet you make it sound like you're proving a mathematical theorem. So stubborn!" Pang Bo responded in annoyance.

"What does... foreigner mean?" Cade asked, confused. "I've heard you say it... several times. What does it mean?"

"You're a foreigner, stubborn as hell. I can't be bothered to explain," Pang Bo retorted, then turned to Li Xiaoman, "Why aren't you speaking? You should know Leafan well, right?"

Li Xiaoman stood tall, her figure illuminated faintly by the dim glow of a phone. She looked like a delicate lotus flower blooming in the darkness, graceful and serene. She spoke softly and calmly, "In my heart, I don't believe Leafan is the murderer, but... right now, he does have suspicions."

"Li Xiaoman!" Pang Bo was furious, biting down hard on her name. He interrupted her, "I never imagined you'd say something like that. Anyone can doubt him, but not you! Others might not understand Leafan, but you do. Even if you broke up with him, you shouldn't be so heartless! Are you trying to pour salt in his wounds?"

"I don't have any other intention. I'm just stating a fact," Li Xiaoman said softly, her fair skin glowing like jade. She furrowed her brow slightly, "I'm not targeting anyone. I just want to be objective. A murderer wouldn't hesitate to kill, so we are all in danger. I want to be objective, not subjective. In fact, Leafan is highly suspicious, but everyone here has some level of suspicion."

Pang Bo sneered, "In the end, Leafan is the most suspicious. If you don't believe him, why say so much?"

He turned around heavily, "I really misjudged you. When we graduated, it was hard to change your mind. Back then, you wouldn't listen to anyone, and now I realize you're not decisive, you're just heartless."

At that moment, a small, nervous voice said, "I... I believe Leafan, I believe he... isn't the murderer." It was that classmate, a weak girl whose life hadn't been easy, her fragile body trembling as she stepped forward, looking anxious and uncomfortable.

The once bright and joyful girl had become uncertain and less confident over the past few years. She wasn't the same as before—she struggled to speak in front of others, showing her nervousness.

Pang Bo, like Leafan, had sympathy for this timid girl. Back in school, she wasn't like this. She often joked around with Leafan and him, and the three of them shared great rapport, making others feel at ease around them.

"Liuyi, thank you!" Leafan smiled and nodded at her.

"No need to thank me. I believe you didn't kill anyone..." Liuyi replied softly, her voice weak and pitiful, making others feel protective.

"Who else could it be?" Li Changqing spoke angrily, "Aside from Leafan, who would have a motive? This is revenge!"

The classmate standing next to Liu Yun Zhi spoke again, "Leafan, how could you be so heartless? We've known each other for four years!"

"I'll say it again, I didn't kill anyone," Leafan replied calmly, unshaken. "You can suspect me, but until we investigate, please don't slander me."

"The facts are clear. You and the victim were right next to each other, the closest. No one else could have killed him without being noticed. Only you had a motive!" Liu Yun Zhi's voice was full of accusation.

Pang Bo, quick-tempered and unwilling to take it, snapped, "Stop being unreasonable. Before we come to a conclusion, don't just throw mud at others! I don't get it. When we graduated, you and Liu Yun Zhi split up, and now you're practically worshipping him. What's the deal?"

"That's... a vicious personal attack!" the female classmate replied, trembling in fury, pointing at Pang Bo.

"Attack? Sure, I'll attack!" Pang Bo was always the type to hit back, his sharp tongue sometimes too harsh. "I'm fighting fire with fire. I call it like I see it."

The female classmate couldn't even respond, so shaken with anger.

Liu Yun Zhi's face darkened. "Enough. Pang Bo, are you still a man? Is this really necessary?" He gripped the Vajra Staff tightly, its light flickering ominously in the dark, a reminder of its overwhelming power. It was clear that if a fight broke out, no one could withstand it.

Pang Bo also turned serious. "Because Leafan isn't the murderer, and you guys are being unreasonable. I'm just giving you a taste of your own medicine."

Leafan's gaze swept across Li Xiaoman, then over the others. Three classmates stepped forward and said, "We believe Leafan didn't kill anyone."

Including Liuyi, Zhang Ziling, and Pang Bo, six people stood by Leafan, making up almost half of the sixteen survivors.

Lin Jia, stunning and with a naturally captivating charm, spoke softly but with an air of allure, even in such a tense atmosphere. "I also don't think it's Leafan. We all know his character. He's not the kind of person who would do something so cruel."

Li Changqing interrupted her, dissatisfied. "Who else could it be? Who else among us would have the motive to kill?"

Pang Bo was on fire now, glaring. "Li Changqing, can you be any more shameless? Are you going to keep throwing mud at people? I really want to slap you with this copper plaque, you're so reckless!"

"I can't even be bothered with you!" Li Changqing snapped, turning his head. He was still bruised from when Pang Bo had beaten him up at the Five-Color Altar.

"I also believe Leafan. He's not that kind of person," Wang Ziwen said, walking over to stand with Leafan.

Zhou Yi had been observing as a bystander, but now he made his choice. Looking at Liu Yun Zhi's Vajra Staff and then at Leafan, calm as ever, he said, "We can't jump to conclusions about the murderer. I believe Leafan wouldn't harm a classmate."

At this point, the majority of people stood with Leafan. He knew some were genuinely supportive, while others, observing his calm demeanor in the face of Liu Yun Zhi's Vajra Staff, likely believed he had some kind of hidden strength—almost a strategic move.

"If it's not Leafan, then who could it be? Is the murderer one of us here?" Liu Yun Zhi asked coldly, staring at Leafan before turning his gaze to Pang Bo.

"Put away that attitude. Just because you have a glowing stick doesn't mean we're afraid of you," Pang Bo retorted confidently. "I can still slap you with this dull copper plaque!"

Liu Yun Zhi's expression darkened, gripping the Vajra Staff tightly and taking a few steps forward.

Leafan reached out to stop Pang Bo from charging, then faced everyone with a serious and solemn tone, "I can tell you, the murderer is not one of us here."