= The Nine Colors of Rainbow=

[charbydis]

But I don't think that Ciong Pangcu killed himself cos why would he use Xiang Long You Hui on himself? Why don't he use a more easier method like hanging himself or poisoning himself rather than that? And killing yourself inside a dark wardbrobe will be hard cos there is limited space as well that there was not much damage to the wardrobe if Xiang Long You Hui was really used. Unless he killed himself first then someone else came in and put him in the wardbrobe! <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> So I rule out the possibility that he killed himself inside the wardbrobe.

I agree with rabadi on that the death might be a fake. Maybe it was to see who was actually loyal to the beggar's clan and see who would use this chance to break up the clan.

I think that there might be more than one killer in this.

MA It Hong maybe the most suspicious but what is his motive? Since he had already been chosen to be the next leader, he didn't really have any obvious motive for the murder. Unless some private matters are concerned.

As always, the most unobvious one is usually the murderer so maybe I will to vote for the Wen brothers.

<IMG SRC="smilies/alien.gif" border="0">

[andrea7974]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Originally posted by charbydis:
<STRONG>MA It Hong maybe the most suspicious but what is his motive? Since he had already been chosen to be the next leader, he didn't really have any obvious motive for the murder. Unless some private matters are concerned.
<IMG SRC="smilies/alien.gif" border="0"></STRONG></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Being a detective means that you have to know who you are dealing with <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">
And since I know that Floo got a curse from Wu family...I don't think that she will make Ma It Hong the villain!...she just love Wu Qi Hua too much that I'm sure she wouldn't make him a villain <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Hey Floo..please comment! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

[TigerWong]

What's the answer to this mystery? Je ne sais pas. Too many things don't add up to give a full picture but since Floo is gonna update soon, I better cast my vote. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Possible motives for each suspect:

Wind Beggar - Could not stand the thought of Ma It Hong being named the leader. Feels that he deserves it much more since he has more advanced kung fu, long term of service, etc.

Brother Wen - Jealousy of Ma It Hong.

Beggar Leader - Faked his own death to lure enemies of the Beggar Clan. Or there was an imposter all these years, and he came back to take what is rightfully his.

Ma It Hong - Not a suspect for me. He cannot possibly have committed the murder for many reasons. Physically impossible. He was outside speaking with the guests when it occured. (Or, if you say he commited the murder earlier and stuffed the body in the cupboard - then who was the Leader he was talking to?) More importantly, all fingers point to him. If he really commited the murder, you'd think he would take care not to get blamed for it!

There are two things I need to somehow explain. How did the killer get out of a locked room without Sheng Nan hearing it? And why was there a different body underneath the cover (as evidenced by the dried blood from the freshly chopped foot)?

The door was locked from the inside. So he couldn't have gone out that way. Opening a secret passage would be noisy, as well as climbing out the small window. Maybe someone with excellent hing gung like the Wind Beggar might have done it, but he was fat. I just can't see him leaving through the window without Sheng Nan hearing him (and more than a slight rustle) even with his hing gung.

So it seems like either Sheng Nan and the Beggar Leader were the only ones in the room the whole time. Or there was an additional person hiding in the cupboard and he was still in the room when everyone came back.

Possible explanations for just Sheng Nan and the Beggar Leader in the room:

The Beggar Leader was poisoned and it took effect. There was no need for the murderer to be in the room. And it would explain the internal organs being destroyed plus it would tie the Red Spider Sect in as a possible supplier of the poison. Brother Wen and Wind Beggar would have to be in on it of course, because they would have had to lie about the cause of death. This doesn't explain the phony Beggar Leader body under the covers.

The Beggar Leader faked his own death. He was still alive. Again, Wen and the Wind Beggar would need to be in on it. Doesn't explain the different corpse under the cover. I guess the open cupboard would be to mislead people into thinking he was murdered by a hidden assassin.

If there was a hidden assassin, I cannot think of a person other than the Wind Beggar. It would have been a tight fit in the cupboard for him, but if it was sizable enough to hold a body, it's not totally impossible for him to hide inside. And the main reason it must be him is since no one could leave the room, he was the ONLY person to have possibly remained hidden in the room after the people barged in. Yes, it was risky but I can't think of another explanation. Everyone else was accounted for except the Wind Beggar when the body was discovered. And the Wind Beggar appeared RIGHT after everyone's attention was focused on the discovery of Sheng Nan in the bag. Like the Church Lady would say: "Isn't that convenient!". It was a nice distraction, giving him an opportunity to slip out - not hard considering his hing gung.

As for 18 Dragon Slaying Palms, that could just be him and Brother Wen making up the cause of death to blame Ma It Hong. Or, Wind Beggar listened to the Beggar Leader instruct Ma It Hong while he was hiding in the cupboard. Not likely that he would learn it well after a quick lesson, but maybe he didn't need to. The surprise factor and his quickness would make even a flawed move from 18 Dragon Slaying Palms deadly.

I can't reasonably explain the 2nd corpse under the covers in this scenario. All I can say is that maybe the dried blood around the ankle was from the puddle of blood the body was laying in. But it seemed like Floo was hinting at more.

That covered corpse is a nagging thing. I can't come up with a satisfactory explanation for it. Were the Beggar Leader, Wind Beggar, and Brother Wen all in on it to fake his death? Wind Beggar asked Brother Wan (not Wen) to help him carry the corpse from the room, and then they murdered him, chopped of his leg, disguised him as the Beggar Leader and disguised the Beggar Leader as Brother Wan? This seems too ridiculous. And a little cruel for the Beggar Leader to do. He may have faked his death to lure his enemies, but chopping off another person's leg is unnecessary.

Was the Beggar Leader who returned from the burning building incident an imposter working for the true mastermind (either Wind Beggar or Brother Wen)? The true Beggar Leader (who never lost his leg) returns to take back his position and gets killed earlier. They then cut off his leg to make things match and hid him in the cupboard. The imposter was hiding in the room all along, and snuck off at a later time.

If I have to accuse somebody, then I'm going to point to Wind Beggar and Brother Wen. No matter which scenario is true, they seem to have their hands in it. N'est-ce pas?

To uncover the truth, tell Ma It Hong to examine the body.

If I'm reading too much into the dried blood on the corpse's foot, then maybe the Beggar Leader faked his death. But I don't think I am...

[ October 07, 2002: Message edited by: TigerWong ]

[Floo..]

I'll update tomorrow night <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

And oh, another`clue (Tiger, u seem to speak French)...

Il y a un autre personne qui connait le tuer ici, et il est, aussi, ecrit une autre histoire ici....

Alors, demandez-lui!!!!

Bwahahahaha... sorry if my French is not good enough to be understood. It's part of the clue <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

BTW, all of your deductions are AWESOME!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0"> It inspired me a lot (hopefully Ma It Hong could read that)... Eh, I NEVER thought there were so many suspects!!!!

[TigerWong]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Originally posted by Floo..:
<STRONG>I'll update tomorrow night <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

And oh, another`clue (Tiger, u seem to speak French)...

Il y a un autre personne qui connait le tuer ici, et il est, aussi, ecrit une autre histoire ici....

Alors, demandez-lui!!!!

Bwahahahaha... sorry if my French is not good enough to be understood. It's part of the clue <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

BTW, all of your deductions are AWESOME!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0"> It inspired me a lot (hopefully Ma It Hong could read that)... Eh, I NEVER thought there were so many suspects!!!!</STRONG></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Four years of high school French, but that was a looong time ago, so I wouldn't say I'm very good at it. I just remember bits and pieces.

So are far as what you just wrote...I think you're saying something like "There is another person who committed the crime, and he is also someone you wrote about in the past"? So are we wrong, or is there an additional person we left out?

I guess we'll find out 2morrow! <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[Floo..]

Don't put so much pressure on my fragile shoulder. I only said that I will update, not said I will update the Ma It Hong part...

Life's difficult in this part of the world... <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0">

[TigerWong]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Originally posted by Floo..:
<STRONG>Don't put so much pressure on my fragile shoulder. I only said that I will update, not said I will update the Ma It Hong part...

Life's difficult in this part of the world... <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"></STRONG></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

D'accord. I'm a sucker for girls crying. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

And what part of the world is that? France? It must be difficult deciding what scrumptous food to have tonight for dinner!
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Floo..]

“Are you sure? Now do tell me, what had happened?” Ma It Hong exclaimed vehemently. Sheng Nan opened her mouth to answer, but suddenly she shook her head, “No, I couldn’t tell you now. And it’s not been proven yet.”

Ma It Hong sighed, “Old man, do you really want to see me being expelled from Kay Pang? I know I kidnapped you before, but it’s for your own good, or so I thought. Could you please be kindly enough to explain what had happened that night to me?”

Sheng Nan frowned. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you,” she replied slowly, “But if I do it now, you wouldn’t believe me! Listen, we should look for some evidence first!”

“But how?” Ma It Hong threw his hands in exasperation.

“First, we should go to Ciong Pangcu’s room.”

“What? Why?”

“To look for the evidence, surely,” Sheng Nan nodded. Seeing Ma It Hong frowning, she quickly added, “If I am not mistaken, this headquarter might be built when Ciong Pangcu just became Kay Pang-cu, right? And he was the one that oversaw the whole building process?” Sheng Nan asked.

Ma It Hong’s frown became deeper, “You are almost right. This complex was built under Ciong Pangcu’s overseeing, but at that time he was not yet the pangcu.”

“Then the bedroom he occupied now is the one he used then!” Sheng Nan smiled.

“Yes, you are right. But… it was such a long time ago! What kind of evidence that you hope that you’d find there?”

“Just go and see,” Sheng Nan smiled mysteriously.


--
Wu Han was reading in his room when he heard some suspicious sound outside his room. He quickly grabbed his sword and, cautiously, peeped through his door. Some black shadows had just walked past his room.

“It looks like that strange old man! What does he do this late of night? And he’s heading to Ciong Pangcu’s bedroom! This is so strange…”

Without thinking, he used his gin-kang to follow that shadows. In front of Ciong Pangcu’s bedroom, Wu Han stopped and listened carefully.

The shadows had entered Ciong Pangcu’s bedroom. And although Wu Han couldn’t see what they were doing there, he could hear some strange noise, some faint knocking of the wood and some shoving sounds…

And finally…

“I think I found it!” the old man hissed. Outside, Wu Han wrinkled his brows. What was the old man found? Suddenly, his trained ears heard a very faint rustling sound from inside the chamber. Intrigued, he quickly punched the window, to enable him looking what the old man did inside the chamber. And he gasped….

--
Guys, sorry if after that I won't be able to update as soon as I used to ( not really, I NEVER update soon, I guess... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> ), but it's not easy to balance study (this program is so darn demanding!!!) and writing. Also, the autumn weather is not actually 'good' for my health (TROPICAL GIRL!!!).

So, given this new update, do you have other hypothesis on what happened that night? Please post not only who u think the killer is, but also how he killed Ciong Pangcu...

I'll update later about Li Siang. Eh, nobody likes their story anymore??? Nobody interested in Li Siang's fate and how she handle this conflict of knowing Kiau and Ling will kill each other becuase of her????
<IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> poor Li Siang <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0">

[rabadi]

Floo.. it's not that Li Siang's story is not interesting. It is more like because everybody is so intrigued with the murder mystery that we are waiting patiently (and impatiently <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> ) for your updates on Ma It Hong. Of course we will be as happy with the Li Siang's story, so don't worry, whatever your updates are about I believe everybody will be more than happy to read <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[TigerWong]

Wait, so Wu Han was able to hear strange noises, wood-knocking, shoving, and faint rustling from outside the room.

And Sheng Nan could only imagine that she might *possibly* have heard some faint rustling after thinking really hard about it? <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

I know she didn't have super hearing, but she was in the room, and a mechanism that opens a secret door must make noise.

Well, this changes everything..

I still wanna read about Li Siang. In fact, after the Wind Beggar exposed her and she got abandoned by the Weird Man, she's back for a little bit of revenge at the Beggar Clan HQ! haha

Bon chance avec l'etudier! Yes, I know my French is horrible. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: TigerWong ]

[Floo..]

Oh, come on...

Please pay attention that the person inside Ciong Pangcu's room was searching for something when Wu Han was hearing outside, while in Sheng Nan's case, the person / the killer knew where what you think is the secret door.

So obviously, you'll produce much sound when you are searching a secret door (in your opinion) than when you already know where it is...

Also, I am not sure about this, but `Sheng Nan was inisde that sack for quite a long time, she must have fell half asleep...

Sheng Nan: Awwww.... shut up, Floo! Don't try to ruin my reputation here... (psssst.. BTW,Floo, between us, how do u know that I slept at that time? Hihihi... j/k )

So, the new fact changed EVERYTHING? What? Tell me... tell me... <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0">

[Floo..]

I just found a very interesting fact...

ONE WHOLE PAGE (almost) of this story, p 6, was fully written by all of you , your remarks and analysis...

Thank you all, for your comments, imagination, hypotheses regarding Ciong Pangcu's murderer. I never thought this could be like this...

I AM TOUCHED!!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/touched.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/touched.gif" border="0">

Mebbe we should put this on a record or something???

[TigerWong]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Originally posted by Floo..:
<STRONG>Oh, come on...

Please pay attention that the person inside Ciong Pangcu's room was searching for something when Wu Han was hearing outside, while in Sheng Nan's case, the person / the killer knew where what you think is the secret door.

So obviously, you'll produce much sound when you are searching a secret door (in your opinion) than when you already know where it is...

Also, I am not sure about this, but `Sheng Nan was inisde that sack for quite a long time, she must have fell half asleep...

Sheng Nan: Awwww.... shut up, Floo! Don't try to ruin my reputation here... (psssst.. BTW,Floo, between us, how do u know that I slept at that time? Hihihi... j/k )

So, the new fact changed EVERYTHING? What? Tell me... tell me... <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0"></STRONG></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, I realized you meant the person was searching after I wrote that. But it didn't change my opinion that Sheng Nan should still have heard something opening if she was present within the room, so I didn't bother editing it. I guess we disagree on how much noise opening a secret door (which would probably be in the back of the cupboard) would make. If it was even a secret door...

Hmmm, should we be knowing the whole story by now? I pretty much made my analysis when I thought this was a locked room mystery (only Wind Beggar or possibly Beggar Leader) but now that theres an escape route, it's more wide open. I guess you can say it's starting to point towards the Beggar Leader now, since he oversaw the construction of his room but I can't see enough tangible evidence to explain the entire circumstances. Or maybe it's all there in front of me, but I'm so tired from over-analyzing it already, that I can't think anymore. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

I guess I'll just wait for your explanation!
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ October 09, 2002: Message edited by: TigerWong ]

[Goofy]

Does this mean the former leader was still alived?

I vote for that.

[lil_bubble]

ahhh!!! More more!!!! PLEASE!!!!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ccsakura]

Please find some time to update soon this story is very good and addictive!!!!!

I really look forward to reading more!!!!!

[Floo..]

Sigh... I know it's been ages since I updated my story. I hope you are not forgetting the stories yet...

OK, I wrote a couple of pages in this allsaint's holiday. But after this.... MID TEST!!!! Wish me luck, and I hope I can update more before Xmas <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

--


The wind blew tenderly, rustling the golden brown leaves of the trees in front of Yang Li Sheng’s hut. Even the black orchids swayed delicately in the autumn’s wind. Yet the beautiful garden could not bring smile to its owner…

“A Siang, are you all right? You look very pale and sad,” Unable to contain his worries about his wife, Yang Li Sheng asked. “You didn’t look like yourself since yesterday. Even Brother Pheng was asking me this morning before he departed if your pregnancy is difficult.”

Li Siang shook her head nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, I am fine.”

Impatiently, Yang Li Sheng approached Li Siang and shook her shoulder lightly, “A Siang, come on. We are husband and wife. You know you could trust me. What’s on your mind?” Yang Li Sheng asked tenderly.

Still Li Siang didn’t utter a word. She was so confused!!

“A Siang…” Yang Li Sheng whispered. Slowly, Li Siang turned her head, looking at Yang Li Sheng’s eyes. She saw so many love there, so many understanding…

Unable to contain her emotion any longer, Li Siang cried, “A Sheng, I am Li Siang. I am Li Siang, the student of Goddess of Poison!! I am not die! And now, because of me, my si-heng and Kiau Leng Thian will kill each other! What should I do?”

A minute went by without Yang Li Sheng said anything. Li Siang sighed, closing her eyes. Would her beloved husband leave her after knowing her identity?

“A Siang, I know who you are…”

“What?” Li Siang shrieked.

“I said, I know who you are….” Yang Li Sheng resaid it tenderly.

“But… but…” Li Siang stuttered.

“At first of course I had no idea who you are. But after we spent some time together, I think it became obvious. Not many li-hiap in wu-lin that is as skillful or as pretty as you… And surely, you are the only one that can plant Black Orchid.”

“But… why didn’t you say something about it?”

“Why should I? A Siang, it’s clear for me that you didn’t want to be reminded of your past…”

Li Siang shook her head, “Then A Sheng, what should I do now? How can I stop the duel?”

Yang Li Sheng frowned, “A Siang, why should you bother? Your si-heng wanted to kill you! It is a good thing if he dies under Kiau Leng Thian’s sword, right?”

“No, it’s not all right!” Li Siang screamed vehemently. “A Sheng, he’s my si-heng! We were brought up together. I don’t want to see him die! Besides, what if he defeats Kiau leng Thian? I could not let him kill Kiau Leng Thian!”

Yang Li Sheng’s frown became deeper. In an icy tone that Li Siang never heard before, he hissed, “Ah, he is your fiancé, you still love him, then?”

“No, it’s not like that!” Li Siang lamented.

“A Sheng, I know that I lied to you by hiding my true identity. But I swear, that’s the only time I lie to you! Don’t you believe me when I said you’re the only man that I ever love? It’s just… I feel guilty towards Master Kiau. I never love him, but he loves me so much. And now he even risks his life avenging my ‘death’! I already feel guilty to him because I will never be able to reciprocatehis love. If something bad happen to him because of me, I.. I will never be able to forgive myself!”

Li Siang closed her eyes. When she opened them a few minutes later, she had a determined look in her eyes. “A Sheng, I have decided. I’ll be very selfish if I let them kill each other just because I am too coward to tell them that I am still alive. I’ll go to their duel, so they don’t have to fight anymore.”

Yang Li Sheng silenced. His hands were caressing Li Siang’s hair. After a while, he replied, “A Siang, you need not worry about this matter. Let me go there instead. I won’t try to explain anything to them, but I think they won’t mind if I become the judge. And even though I could not win them, I know that I could make sure that none of them is hurt. Is that all right with you?”

“You… you’ll do that?” Li Siang opened her mouth in disbelief.

Yang Li Sheng nodded solemnly. “Therefore, we still manage to keep your existence secret, and thus eliminating the possibility of your si-heng to come here and tried to kill you. Besides, I think it is better for Kiau Leng Thian to consider you as dead rather than let that poor man brokenhearted.”

Li Siang nodded. Her tears glided down her smooth cheek. “A Sheng, I love you very much…”

So the next day, Yang Li Sheng went to oversee the duel. Prepared with Li Siang’s excplanation about certain poison that Ling Man Shin might use, he went to save Ling Man Shin and Kiau Leng Thian’s life.

Alas, he was not in his hut to save Li Siang’s life. At the same time with the duel, Li Siang died on giving birth. Her baby also died, when Yang Li Sheng saved Ling Man Shin and Kiau Leng Thian’s life…



--
So, this is the end of Li Siang story. I hope you like this tragic story <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> . Please leave some comments then...

I'll update Ciong Pangcu's mystery this weekend.

BTW, new mystery for us now, so...
WHO IS SHENG NAN???

[Goofy]

too sad, floo.

why not have the baby lived???? <IMG SRC="smilies/argue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/crying.gif" border="0">

[andrea7974]

Life is not always beautiful <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0">

I just feel sad that A Sheng had to loose his wife so soon <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> he only had a short honeymoon! <IMG SRC="smilies/irked.gif" border="0"> you are so cruel Floo! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

[Sleepy]

Keep up the good work, your story is excellent. I'm one of those guest readers but I just decided to register. Please update soon <IMG SRC="smilies/alien.gif" border="0">