"Master Alexander of Mount Wutai has arrived," announced a monk as he slowly entered the hall.
Lucas quickly stepped forward to greet him, "Master Alexander, your presence honors us. I, Lucas, apologize for any lack of courtesy."
Alexander nodded slightly and said, "I have come to resolve a matter. I believe the Shan and Tan families are here for the same purpose."
Lucas inquired, "What matter brings you here, Master?"
"For this!" Mia declared, pulling a fan from her bosom. "Does anyone recognize this fan?"
Seeing everyone shake their heads, Mia turned to Lucas, "Brother Lucas, do you recognize it?"
Lucas replied, "That is my fan. How did it come into your possession?"
Mia smiled thinly, "Because I found it in the courtyard when my husband Matthew was brutally murdered. Therefore, you are the murderer." Her words struck like a hammer on everyone's heart.
Then, Ethan spoke up, "Master Alexander, there is something I do not understand. May I seek your guidance?"
Although Mia felt confident in her accusation against Lucas, this man in black always made her feel uneasy.
"Master Alexander, how does Buddhism explain the perception of a blind man?" Ethan's question seemed completely unrelated to Mia's accusation.
Mia's worries subsided slightly as Alexander answered, "Buddhist scriptures say that a blind man sees the world with his heart, thus he sees more clearly than an ordinary person."
"Is that so? Then, can my words be trusted, for I too see clearly," Ethan said as he removed his mask, revealing a handsome face, but with eyes that held no light.
Everyone was surprised to see that he was blind. Ethan continued, "From the beginning, I have heard the Beggar Sect claim that Matthew died by his own signature technique, hence you concluded it was the Kennedy Family's doing, because 'returning the favor in kind' is their motto. But now, how can you determine that Brother Lucas is the murderer based solely on a fan? Isn't that a bit arbitrary?"
Alexander pondered and said, "Indeed, it seems a bit inconsistent."
Jackson, growing anxious, interjected, "But it was indeed Brother Lucas who killed him!"
Lucas glared angrily, while Ethan thought to himself: I was waiting for you, you little rascal!
"How do you know? Were you there at the scene? Even if you knew, if it was indeed Brother Lucas who committed the murder, why didn't you come forward to testify when the Beggar Sect accused the Kennedy Family? Thus, your intentions are questionable. Are you trying to make the Kennedy Family and the Beggar Sect mortal enemies? Such a person's words cannot be trusted!" Ethan did not give Jackson a chance to speak.
"Well said!" Henry chimed in first, then, seeing everyone looking at him, he quickly fell silent.
Ethan thought to himself: This kid can really play along! The crowd, hearing Ethan's words and seeing Jackson's reaction, began to believe him more.
Seeing the situation turning against her, Mia quickly said, "I am certain it was Lucas who killed him, because of this letter."
She pulled a letter from her bosom, "Let Master Alexander open it. I believe everyone will be convinced."
Alexander took the letter and was about to open it when Ethan cursed in his heart: Master Alexander, you old bald donkey, must you turn the Beggar Sect into a mess! He quickly shouted, "Wait!"
Lucas was very grateful to Ethan for speaking up for him, but he also wondered why Ethan wanted to stop the letter from being read. He too wanted to know what the letter said.
Ethan said, "Before Master Alexander opens the letter, I would like to ask Ms. Mia a few questions?"
Mia was surprised that this handsome young man would question her, but she replied, "Go ahead."