Four or five figures moved swiftly through the night, rushing towards a single location from different directions. Their movements were as fast as shooting stars, flashing like dark streaks of light across the rooftops. They leaped and bounded across the rooftops, yet made almost no sound.
Moments later, some arrived. The first to land in the alley was a middle-aged man who appeared to be around thirty years old. He wore a flying fish robe, and a straight sword was strapped to his back. He slowly walked to the ditch, about a meter wide, squatted down, examined it, and then frowned. After examining it for a while, he stood up and walked to the end of the alley.
There, leaning against the wall, was a corpse.
Half a shoulder was missing, and there was a sword wound on the right chest. The fatal wound was on the forehead, a small, seemingly round hole. Brain matter was still flowing out, indicating that the person had not been dead for long.
With a few soft rustling sounds, the other Flying Fish Robes arrived and landed in the alley.
"There's only one body. It must have been a fight between martial arts practitioners. The one who died should be the one who smashed a deep rut into the cobblestone pavement. He seems skilled with a long staff, but we couldn't find his weapon," the first Flying Fish Robe muttered.
The others dispersed, carefully searching the alley for any trace of the other person. Some residents awakened by the commotion opened their doors, only to be politely turned back by the Flying Fish Robe.
"The Imperial Guards are investigating. Please go home and rest, folks. Don't interfere with official business," he said politely, but the Flying Fish Robe's characteristic cold arrogance carried an undeniable air of command. The people, filled with awe for the Flying Fish Robe, immediately retreated to their homes and didn't come out again. A minute or two later, several more Flying Fish Robes arrived. Ten minutes later, a large contingent of patrolling soldiers arrived and sealed off the alley. Finally, constables from Chang'an Prefecture arrived. Seeing Fei Yupao there, these constables didn't dare approach, simply assisting with the perimeter security.
"It must have been created by using internal energy to create a staff-like strike," Fei Yupao, the first to arrive, concluded, but his expression showed no relief. "To unleash such a powerful attack using internal energy as a weapon, one must be at least a sixth-rank expert. Not long had passed between the sounds of fighting and my arrival; this person's wound was still bleeding, but the other had vanished without a trace… The one who could withstand such a devastating blow, kill, and then quickly escape is the truly frightening one."
"All the martial artists in the capital are registered, their lineages, and their preferred weapons are all recorded. Does anyone remember a master wielding a staff like this?"
He asked. Just as everyone was shaking their heads, a clear, cold voice answered from outside: "Among those registered in the yamen, there are thirty-one masters of the fifth rank or above who wield the staff and are currently still in the capital. No more than three can use internal energy to unleash such a powerful attack. One is a servant instructor in Prince Yi's residence, so he can be ruled out. Another is a martial arts master who opened a school in the north of the city, so he can also be ruled out. The third one arrived in the capital only half a month ago; his registered name is Henggun, and he entered the city at the same time as Master Xiao of the Yiqi Temple."
Upon hearing this, the man in the flying fish robe immediately bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Commander Liu!"
Among the seven commanders of the Imperial Guard, one was renowned for his extraordinary memory, possessing the ability to remember everything he saw. He could remember and recall anything he had seen. Each of the seven commanders of the Imperial Guard had their own strengths, and this commander, revered as having divine eyes, was named Liu Duxiu. Liu Duxiu slowly walked into the alley, carefully examining the ground by the torchlight. He then turned and ordered, "The Deputy Commander's residence isn't far from here. Go and invite him."
"I'm here."
The crowd parted outside, and Meng Wudi, the one-armed Deputy Commander who should have been recuperating at home, walked in with a grim expression.
The crowd bowed, and Meng Wudi waved his hand, asking, "Did you find anything?"
Liu Duxiu stood up, walked to the ditch about three feet deep, and looked into the alley, saying, "The other person was standing right here. When that powerful blow came down, he didn't even dodge. The force of the blow only reached three feet in front of him before being dispersed. Remarkable. My lord… someone broke the rules, entering the capital without reporting to the authorities."
Meng Wudi hummed in agreement, a fleeting look of fear in his eyes.
"I arrived long ago and saw the other person make the move."
He slowly let out a sigh, his tone tinged with frustration and resentment: "But this person's lightness skill was exceptional; I couldn't catch them."
His words caused everyone present to gasp. Meng Wudi's cultivation was among the best in the Imperial Guards, and he was renowned for his lightness skill. For the other person to escape right under his nose spoke volumes about their skill.
"I now suspect that the escaped person is connected to the Ministry of War's case."
Meng Wudi ordered, "Take the body back to the Imperial Guards. Search within a thirty-mile radius, but don't disturb the civilians. The troops must be withdrawn before dawn. Notify all the city gate guards to check all men dressed in white… women too. I'm going back now to report to the Commander."
In fact, Meng Wudi hadn't clearly seen whether the person was male or female. "Yes, sir!"
The men bowed in obedience, and those in flying fish robes who had arrived quickly departed under the leadership of their respective squad leaders. Meng Wudi glanced at the unseeing corpse, his brows furrowing deeper.
Just as he was about to head to the Imperial Guard's quarters, a carriage suddenly stopped at the entrance of the alley. He saw the driver wave to him, and Meng Wudi's expression changed; he quickly walked over.
The carriage bore the insignia of the Imperial Guard's quarters.
Upon approaching, the driver bowed and said, "Greetings, Deputy Commander. Mr. Zhuo is waiting for you inside."
Meng Wudi hummed in acknowledgment, lifted the curtain, and climbed into the carriage.
"Let's go, to Qingxu Temple first."
Mr. Zhuo, inside the carriage, looked rather grim. After instructing the driver, he rubbed his temples and sighed, "The Commander already knows. You and I will go to Qingxu Temple to see Master Xiao… The dead man entered the city with Master Xiao. Although he wasn't a disciple of Yiqi Temple, Master Xiao's stubborn temper… sigh!"
He sighed again, not continuing.
Meng Wudi also sighed. Everyone, whether in the martial arts world or the court, knew that the old Taoist priest, who held considerable influence even before the Emperor, was notoriously protective of his own. Now that someone from his Yiqi Temple had been harmed, who knew if that old Taoist priest would be so enraged that he would send out all the Taoists who had come to the capital to hunt down the murderer?
What was most worrying was the red-robed High Priest, Crane Cry Taoist, who had displayed several miracles before entering the capital. His temper was incredibly fiery, easily ignited. And these Taoist practitioners were extremely concerned with their reputation; killing one of their people was tantamount to slapping them in the face. That's why Zhuo Buyi shook his head and sighed; at this critical juncture, the capital couldn't afford any more trouble.
...
...
The burly, imposing Qilin, carrying a huge bundle on his back and holding an iron rod, stood at the entrance of Hongxiuzhao until dawn. The towering man stood there, attracting frequent glances from the early-morning strollers. If he hadn't carried the official documents for verification, he would have been taken away last night by the patrolling soldiers and the Imperial Guards in their flying robes who later searched the area.
He was waiting for Henggun.
Half an hour earlier, Yexiao had come and told him that Henggun was dead. The Imperial Guards had gone to Qingxu Temple to see Master Xiao. Since they were now Mo Ningzhi's guards, Master Xiao immediately notified Mo Ningzhi, who in turn informed Tie Nu and Yexiao, who had returned to Qingxu Temple.
But Qilin didn't believe it was true.
They had only parted two hours ago; how could Henggun be dead? They had agreed to leave the city together at dawn to find Fang Jie and Shen Qingshan; they had agreed to become sworn brothers once they left the city; they had agreed to take Fang Jie as their mistress once they found him; they had agreed to face danger and wander the world together from then on.
With so many promises made, how could Henggun bear to die? How could he go back on his word?
The old cripple from Hongxiuzhao moved a stool to the doorway, lit the pipe Fang Jie had given him, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. His gourd of wine sat beside the stool, but for some reason, looking at the burly man, he had no appetite for it.
After an unknown amount of time, the old cripple couldn't help but sigh.
"Are you waiting for your friend?"
The old cripple asked.
Qilin didn't turn around, but nodded.
"He said he came to Hongxiuzhao last night to ask if you knew where Fang Jie had gone. We agreed to meet here and then leave the city together."
"He didn't come,"
The old cripple said. "Perhaps... he won't come."
The Qilin suddenly turned around, its eyes bloodshot as it roared at the old cripple, "He's not dead!"
The old cripple slowly shook his head, saying nothing more.
Just then, Big Dog and Mu Xiaoyao pushed Shen Qingshan from the other end of the street. Shen Qingshan sat on a wheelbarrow, her face still frighteningly pale. That night, she had been sent flying by a single blow from a ninth-rank expert in the capital of the Sui Dynasty; it was a miracle she hadn't died and had even managed to escape. Last night, the three of them had been detained in another courtyard of the Imperial Guard until dawn.
When they were released, the three of them were quite happy, because their release meant Fang Jie had succeeded. Although they hadn't been detained in the same courtyard as Fang Jie, Mr. Zhuo had told them last night that Fang Jie had been taken to Changchun Garden to meet the Emperor. If Fang Jie could seize the opportunity, their case should be temporarily suppressed.
Before they could even laugh, Mr. Zhuo, who had returned to the Imperial Guards early the next morning, brought them bad news.
Henggun was dead.
Daquan looked at the burly man whose shoulders were trembling, opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Qilin, his eyes red, looked at Shen Qingshan and said in a hoarse voice, "He said he owed you a life, and he couldn't not repay it... Now he has repaid it."
Shen Qingshan lowered his head, his fingers trembling slightly.
...
...
Changchun Garden.
Fang Jie stood cautiously, even his breathing was careful. The emperor, sitting cross-legged on the earthen bed not far away, wasn't tall, but the oppressive feeling emanating from Fang Jie made him uneasy.
Last night he had been led to Changchun Garden, but His Majesty had been busy with state affairs and hadn't seen him. He had waited in a small room in the yurt all night, and although there was a wooden bed, he hadn't dared to sleep. This morning, a eunuch came to summon him for an audience, but halfway there, he told him that Mu Xiaoyao and the others had been released.
Regardless, this was good news.
On the way, Fang Jie intended to slip the eunuch some silver notes. He steeled himself and secretly counted out five hundred-tael notes from his sleeve, handing them to the eunuch. The eunuch, addressed as Eunuch Su, smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I don't have the guts, and I have nowhere to spend money."
Fang Jie blushed, unsure whether the eunuch thought it was too little or was genuinely frugal.
Entering the emperor's study, his heart pounded.
"This humble subject, Fang Jie, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
He bowed respectfully, head bowed, breathing slowly to calm himself.
Even though his soul still held the thoughts of his past life, in this world where imperial power reigned supreme, he had to follow the rules. Moreover, the emperors he had met in his previous life were all fictional emperors from television dramas; this one was a real, undisputed emperor. There was a sense of novelty, but also a feeling of oppression. Fang Jie really wanted to look up and see what the emperor looked like, whether he also had a nose, a mouth, two eyes, and two legs.
"Stand up."
The emperor put down his writing brush, glanced at the sundial outside the window, and said calmly, "I have to go to court soon, so you don't have much time. I had your friends released first, not because I don't intend to pursue your serious crimes, but because with you here, there's no need to keep them locked up. When it's time to kill them, none of them will escape."
Fang Jie suddenly realized how insidious the emperor was.
"Before I finish this cup of tea, give me a reason not to execute your entire family."
The emperor picked up his teacup and took a sip, signifying that Fang Jie's time was running out.
"My master would be very sad if I died."
Fang Jie managed to utter these words after a minute of hesitation.
"Shameless!"
The emperor almost spat out his tea, glaring at Fang Jie and uttering those two words as his assessment.