The night was dim, moonlight faint, and the guest room in the two-story house stood silent with its window half ajar. Inside, several figures loitered—some sitting, some standing. One wore a look of impatience, another remained indifferent and mute, a third appeared calm, while another was visibly anxious. Yet all their gazes were tacitly fixed on the neighboring residence.
"It's already the second watch, and still no movement. Do you think this is even going to work?" Qian Jing leaned against the window frame, yawning.
Zhuo Qing glared at him, her voice low and curt: "Shut up!"
A night of fruitless waiting had already left her frustrated, and his pointless chatter only added to her vexation. Seeing her agitation, Lou Xiyan gently took her hand and sat beside her on the bench, whispering, "Tired?"
Zhuo Qing shook her head and sighed softly, "I'm fine. But you—shouldn't you be resting for court tomorrow? There's no need for you to stay with me. Mo Bai is enough."
She might not be Gu Yun, but enduring a night or two without sleep wasn't a problem. What caught her off guard was Lou Xiyan's insistence on keeping her company. Though he hadn't had a relapse lately, his health remained fragile. Her sour mood stemmed mostly from concern for him.
Lou Xiyan smiled faintly. "His Majesty has tasked me with assisting Lord Dan. Capturing the murderer is part of my duty."
He slipped an arm around her shoulders, letting her rest her head against him. In a low murmur, he added, "Close your eyes for a moment. I'll wake you if anything happens."
Though his slender shoulder was hardly comfortable, the quiet tenderness of the gesture warmed Zhuo Qing's heart.
"Someone's there!" Qian Jing suddenly whispered, urgency lacing his voice.
Everyone tensed, eyes snapping toward the window. A shadowy figure vaulted over the courtyard wall of the house they'd been watching and darted swiftly down the street. Fortunately, they had chosen a high vantage point; otherwise, even if they'd guarded the exits, they might have missed him.
"Should we pursue?!" Qian Jing asked hurriedly.
"If we wait any longer, he'll get away!"
Lou Xiyan remained calm. "Qian Jing, follow him. Don't alert him—and don't let him out of your sight."
He hadn't committed the crime yet; capturing him now would serve no purpose.
"Understood."
With that, Qian Jing's figure vanished after the black-clad intruder.
Lou Xiyan's dark eyes swept over the still-peaceful Su residence. "Mo Bai, Ye Mei—stay here. Even if there's more movement, one of you must remain. We cannot fall for a diversion tactic."
Mo Bai responded coldly, "Understood."
Ye Mei, her face hidden behind a mask, gave a slight nod.
With everything arranged, Zhuo Qing no longer needed to worry. "Shall we head to the General's Manor?"
She was worried about Gu Yun. Though Su Ling and Ao Tian were there, the killer's strange methods left her deeply uneasy.
"Let's go."
Understanding her concern, Lou Xiyan clasped her hand, and with hidden guards in tow, they made haste toward the General's Manor.
Within the spacious manor bedroom stood a large bed and a low side table, the room bare of unnecessary embellishment. Though the moonlight was faint, the absence of layered gauze curtains allowed a glimpse of the room's interior.
A woman lay on the bed, eyes closed, appearing sound asleep. The stifling heat had prompted the opening of two wooden windows, letting in the night breeze—and with it, a slender shadow in black.
The figure did not approach immediately. Instead, he lingered at the window in silence before stepping toward the bed, eyes fixed on the sleeping woman. He stood still for a long moment.
Then, without warning, he turned to the side table, seized a cup, and hurled it to the ground. The porcelain shattered with a sharp, jarring crash.
Gu Yun's brows knitted. Her sharp eyes flew open. The intruder had already moved toward the window.
"Leaving so soon?" Her voice was cold, untouched by sleep.
The black-clad figure quickened his steps. Gu Yun launched forward, foot on the bed's edge, catching up with the intruder and locking an arm around his throat. He winced in pain, his movements faltering.
He hadn't expected such alertness. Twisting, he threw a punch at her abdomen. She pivoted, driving her knee into his spine.
His eyes darkened. Reaching for his waist, a glint of silver flashed—Gu Yun tried to dodge, but he gripped her arm tightly, giving her no chance.
She clenched her jaw. If she couldn't evade, she would charge head-on. Perhaps her smaller frame would let her slip under the blade.
Before she could act, something coiled around her waist. In a flash, she was pulled into a firm embrace. The silver glint was intercepted by a broad hand. The metallic tang of blood filled the air.
Gu Yun stared in shock. Beside her stood Ao Tian, clad in black, silver-haired, his face pale and stern. There was no trace of pain in his expression, though blood dripped between his fingers.
In the darkness, this eerily beautiful man stunned even the intruder.
Ao Tian twisted his palm, channeling force through his grip. The soft sword flew from the assailant's hand. Panic flickered in her eyes. She turned to flee.
But outside, soldiers with spears had already encircled the courtyard. Her eyes narrowed. A trap.
If not for their plan, breaking into the General's Manor wouldn't have been easy.
Gu Yun tore a strip from a silk sheet and wrapped it around Ao Tian's bleeding hand.
"Are you alright?!"
The white cloth quickly stained red. Ao Tian pulled his hand away and said coldly, "I'm fine."
Without another word, he strode out.
Gu Yun was baffled. This man's temperament was beyond strange.
Both stepped into the courtyard. Neither noticed the pair of eyes in the shadows—deep, dark, watching with a flicker of complex emotion. A long sword had already been drawn, but it was too late to act.
Su Ling stepped out from Gu Yun's courtyard without a sound, as though he had never been there.
Torches lit up the small courtyard. The intruder was now surrounded. Knowing escape was impossible, she no longer struggled. Her eyes turned cold as she stared at Gu Yun approaching.
"I underestimated you, little girl."
The voice was unexpectedly feminine, clear and melodious.
With a graceful motion, the black veil was removed, revealing a strikingly beautiful face.
"It's you?!"
The first light of dawn pierced the courtroom windows, signaling the start of a new day. Though exhausted from a long night, no one showed weariness. After two months of relentless investigation, the heart-ripping killer had finally been captured. Their efforts had not been in vain.
Kneeling on the floor, the woman's face remained calm, unafraid of being caught—perhaps even relieved.
Gu Yun stared at her beautiful, detached face for a moment. "Why did you want to kill me?"
The woman lifted her head, then lowered it again, her tone dripping with contempt. "A filthy woman like you, always trying to seduce Mu Feng—you don't deserve to live."
Gu Yun's gaze sharpened. She stared straight at the woman. "Were you the one who killed the other women?"
This time she didn't even look up. Her voice was icy. "They all deserved it. They had no business chasing after Mu Feng."
Dan Yulan spoke in a commanding voice, "Gu Yuexin, are you admitting guilt?"
Gu Yuexin slowly raised her head, looked once at the high-seated Dan Yulan, and replied with no intent to defend herself: "Now that I've been caught, there's nothing left to say."