Chapter 54: A Passing Dragon
"Meow…" The Rot Eating Cat was about halfway to the Everhungry Worm when it suddenly straightened its ears and stared warily at Ye Qing's hiding place.
"You're quite perceptive for an animal!" Ye Qing sneered while stepping away from his hiding spot. "Too bad it's not going to help you survive!"
Unlike Kung Fu Frog or Wawa, there was nothing good about the Rot Eating Cat whatsoever. It was a disgusting and terrible creature that deserved to be exterminated on sight. It was one thing if it didn't show up, but since it did, he wasn't going to let it live long enough to see tomorrow's sun!
The Rot Eating Cat puffed up as if it could sense Ye Qing's bloodthirst. Its shiny black fur instantly puffed up like needles, its long tail gradually flattened and grew fish-like scales, and its canine teeth lengthened until it resembled that of a saber-toothed predator. Right here and now, it looked nothing like the dumb, cutesy cat it was a moment ago!
"So this is what you really look like!" Ye Qing's lips widened into a savage grin as he examined the cat with a critical eye. "And from the looks of it, you've killed a lot of people!"
Most Strangers possessed the ability to disguise themselves, and the Rot Eating Cat was no exception.
"Meow!"
The Rot Eating Cat abruptly let out a screech. The steely fur on its back immediately flew toward Ye Qing like a porcupine's spines.
Clap!
Ye Qing responded by swinging his hand and "slapping" the air, causing a soft yet unmistakable thunderclap. As if they had slammed into an impregnable wall, the rain of fur abruptly shattered into a million pieces.
The attack was just a distraction, however. Already, the Rot Eating Cat was jumping in front of Ye Qing and attempting to wrap his neck with its tail. If it succeeded, the tiniest ounce of strength was all that was needed to rip his throat into shreds!
"Not bad, not bad!" Ye Qing praised while putting his finger directly in the path of the incoming tail. The second contact was made, the tail abruptly broke into several segments and exploded in a shower of scales, blood and gore. It was like it was struck by lightning. In fact, there was enough force left that the Rot Eating Cat was slammed into the wall behind its back.
"Mrreow…"
The Rot Eating Cat managed to land on its feet, but it was clear it could not fight any longer. Most of its tail had been blown clean off the stump. It was as bare as a human as it had launched most of its hair during the initial assault, and it was bleeding all over. It looked nothing like the imposing predator it was before.
Ye Qing clicked his tongue in disgust. "What an ugly creature you are!"
"Meow!" The Rot Eating Cat shot Ye Qing a hateful glare but did not fall for his taunt. It abruptly bounded toward the distance like a bolt of lightning. Unfortunately, it was futile.
"You can't escape!" Ye Qing let out a derisive snort and flicked his wrist. A throwing knife shot right out of his hand and toward the fleeing Stranger.
The Rot Eating Cat sensed the danger and leaped to its right. However, the throwing knife abruptly split into multiple knives not unlike a kaleidoscope. The cat was able to dodge the throwing knife flying directly toward its back, but not the rest. One of the knives plunged into its neck, and that was the end of the Stranger.
"Not bad!" Ye Qing nodded in satisfaction. The "Star Plucking Hand" was just as powerful as he thought it would be!
Ye Qing walked up to the Rot Eating Cat and got ready to remove his throwing knife when something unexpected happened. Two men rushed into the back alley as if they were looking for something. When they saw Ye Qing, one of them abruptly cried out in surprise and outrage, "What the—how dare you kill Master Six's pet! Do you have a death wish, boy!?"
"Excuse me?" Ye Qing lifted an eyebrow as he examined the newcomers. The two men looked to be in their thirties. They were burly, fierce, and glaring at Ye Qing like they would swallow him alive.
"Are you deaf? That cat over there is Master Six's pet, and you just killed it! You are so dead!" One of them yelled.
"Really? There's someone out there who would want to keep a Rot Eating Cat as a pet? Your 'Master Six' must be a wicked soul then," Ye Qing said indifferently.
The two men stared at him for a second before bursting out in furious laughter. "You must be a newcomer! There aren't many people in Anyang who have the balls to besmirch Master Six!"
Ye Qing nodded in agreement. "You are correct. I am new, and I've never heard of a 'Master Six' before. If I may be so bold, who is he?"
"Our master is the one who sees all, hears all, and knows all! He is the omniscient Master Qiao Six!" One of the men declared proudly.
The so-called "omniscient" Master Qiao Six was a famous information broker in Anyang who made a living by trading information. His information network was hundreds of informants strong and spanned across every strata in Anyang. It did not matter if his informant was a beggar, a hooligan, a trader, a footman; an official, a celebrity or a noble, he valued them equally so long as they could supply him with valuable information. There was nothing in Anyang, big or small, that he wasn't aware of, so the man wasn't exactly boasting when he called his master omniscient.
"Omniscient, huh? That is quite an impressive title!" Ye Qing replied almost distractedly. The two men did not notice it, but a plan was quickly taking form in his mind.
"Have you finally realized your folly? Unfortunately, it's too late!" One of them let out a sinister laugh while cracking his knuckles. "You have killed Master Six's favorite cat and even besmirched his good name. The only way you may atone for your sins is for us to break your limbs and cut out your tongue!"
The burly man threw a punch as soon as he finished. A tiny smirk crossed Ye Qing's lips, but he did not try to dodge or defend himself against the attack. He allowed the punch to hit him squarely in the chest.
Crack!
There was a loud crack, and the burly man's face morphed into incredulity and disbelief. An instant later, abject pain surged up from his hand and overwrote his expression.
The burly man was a warrior, an adept Reforged to be exact. His fist packed enough punch to break an ordinary person's bones like twigs, which was why he thought for sure that his punch was going to cave in the "frail" youngster's chest. In reality, he felt like he had punched a steel wall. Not only was Ye Qing perfectly unharmed, he was the one who broke his bones from the rebound.
Shit! I underestimated him! The man thought in shock as he hurriedly backed away from Ye Qing. The other man realized the same thing and tried to rush to his companion's rescue, but he abruptly felt cold brushing against his neck. When he touched the spot and looked, he was chilled to the core to find that his fingers were covered in blood. He looked behind instinctively and found that a throwing knife was embedded in the wall, a tiny smear of blood dripping off the blade bit by bit.
"That's… my blood!" The burly man gulped audibly, too afraid to move even a muscle. He knew full well he was still alive not because the young man had missed, but because he wasn't planning on killing him just yet. He might very well change his mind if he continued to struggle futilely!
While the two men hadn't learned how to become a proper information broker despite following Qiao Six for years, they had mastered his tactfulness and ability to take stock of a situation to perfection. It was why they did not commit the mistake of provoking Ye Qing further.
"I'm curious. What made you think you could fight against me, when I had killed the Rot Eating Cat, a Red-class Stranger all by myself?" Ye Qing asked carelessly. Two adept Reforgeds were nothing to him.
To his surprise, the two men exchanged confused glances with each other before answering, "Red-class Stranger? W-We don't understand what you're saying…?"
A Red-class Stranger was the equivalent of a Qi Invoker, and the two men were of course aware of this. However, they didn't understand why Ye Qing was bringing this up now.
Ye Qing furrowed his brow but relaxed just a second later. Assuming the two men weren't putting on a world class performance, it would appear that they had no idea that their master's pet was really a Rot Eating Cat, a Red-class Stranger. They were just Reforgeds, so their ignorance was understandable. Add to the fact that the carcass was mostly bald and missing over half of its tail, and he could see why the two men had failed to recognize even the fact that the cat was a Stranger. They would not have dared to rush over and accuse him of pet murder otherwise.
That said, Ye Qing did not believe for a second that their master, Qiao Six wasn't aware of the truth.
Ye Qing asked again, "Tell me your names."
The two men exchanged another glance with each other before the one with a broken hand answered obediently, "I'm Qiao Shanhu [1], and he is Qiao Shanpao [2]."
Neither Qiao Shanhu nor Qiao Shanpao had any clue why a dragon-in-human-skin like Ye Qing had deigned to visit a backwater county like Anyang. The only reason they were even out today was to search for Master Six's cat, and suddenly, their lives were in grave danger.
It's all that stupid cat's fault!
"Take me to this 'Master Qiao Six' of yours," Ye Qing said directly.
"You… you want to meet Master Six?" Both men's hearts skipped a beat as they exchanged a third glance with each other. Is he serious? He must know the proverb, "A snake in its turf may yet wrestle a foreign dragon", right? Is he too young and confident to recognize his folly, or…
Ye Qing merely cocked his head and smiled. "Sure! I want to know if your master is really as 'omniscient' as you claim."
"..."
A bitter smile crossed the two men's lips. It did not matter if the young man was an overconfident lamb or a deadly wolf. The fact remained that he wasn't someone they could trifle with. The only thing they could do until they met Master Six was to do as he demanded, or else.
The two men nodded and were about to move on when suddenly, Ye Qing said, "Oh right, one of you should carry the cat. This would be my first time visiting Master Qiao Six, so I should bring him a gift!"
"..."
You call this a gift? Are you a monster?
Despite their inner thoughts, neither Qiao Shanhu nor Qiao Shanpao dared to voice an objection. They could only pick up the Rot Eating Cat with a disgusted expression before leading Ye Qing back to Qiao Six's residence.
To Ye Qing's surprise, Qiao Six's residence wasn't far away from Endless Horizons. It was just located on the next street, Rainflower Alley.
Rainflower Alley was one of the most flourishing streets in Anyang. Populated by highly profitable businesses such as restaurants, brothels, gambling dens and more, the only time Rainflower Alley wasn't jam-packed with people was midnight.
Ye Qing had expected Qiao Six's residence to be excessively glamorous just like most of the buildings he had seen on Rainflower Alley, but in reality it looked rather mundane. However, it was by no means an ordinary place. From the moment they stepped on Rainflower Alley, he immediately noticed a few sets of eyes gazing in their direction. The gazes never lingered on them for long, but that was fine, because there were always new observers to pick up the slack.
During the stretch between the street entrance and Qiao Six's residence, he noticed hawkers, waiters, customers, beggars, pedestrians, prostitutes and more examining him with a critical eye. He had no doubt that they were the information broker's informants and sentries. In fact, the closer they got to the residence, the stronger the feeling he was being observed became until finally, he even picked up several tinges of bloodthirst. They all pressed against his skin like sharp knives.
Of course, Ye Qing didn't pay them any heed. He simply smiled and continued toward Qiao Six's residence as if he couldn't feel the aggressive gazes at all!
"Qiao Residence—Longevity and… Prosperity?" Ye Qing squinted at the signboard hanging above the main entrance for a bit before shaking his head. "Who wrote this? It's barely legible!"
"Ahem, it's written by none other than Master Six!" Qiao Shanhu hurriedly said with a cough. To be honest, he thought that the writing was ugly as well, but of course he didn't dare to say a thing about it!
"That said, a doctor's writing is also barely legible, but we all hold it as gospel, do we not?" Ye Qing changed his tune smoothly.
"..." Silver-tongued bastard!
1. Shanhu->Mountain Tiger. As a pun, the whole name can also be read as "intimidator", like a loan shark intimidator ☜
2. Shanpao-> Mountain Panther
Chapter 55: Qiao Six
Creak…
The group of three had just arrived at the entrance when the doors of the Qiao residence suddenly opened without warning. It would seem that they were expected.
Ye Qing wasn't surprised by this. In fact, he wasn't surprised by what happened next. As soon as they crossed over the threshold, the doors slammed shut behind them, and Qiao Shanhu and Qiao Shanpao abruptly bolted away from him in different directions as if they knew this would happen. The next moment, dozens of men wearing form-fitting outfits and wielding swords and sabers surrounded him from all sides.
"Not bad, not bad! I love how you welcome your guests!" said Ye Qing with a knowing smirk on his face. In fact, he noticed that Qiao Shanhu and Qiao Shanpao had made a number of hand gestures to a few beggars who "happened" to cross their paths a while ago. He had no doubt that those beggars had passed on a message to Qiao Six, which was why the information broker was able to prepare such a "nice" welcome for him.
The two men believed that Ye Qing hadn't noticed their petty maneuver, but they were wrong. He hadn't stopped them simply because he deemed it unnecessary.
Barring the unforeseen, he was certain that no one in this residence possessed the strength to stop him from escaping.
"Guest? You are no guest. Our doors only welcome friends, family, customers, and deities. You are just an outsider who trespassed into our master's property uninvited; a thief. And there is only one way to treat a thief!"
The leader of the armed group abruptly charged toward Ye Qing and roared, "Kill!"
There are two middle-stage Qi Invokers and five early-stage Qi Invokers. The rest are journeyman or adept Reforgeds!
Ye Qing quickly got the measure of the group while responding to the threat. When the leader brought down his saber, he shifted his feet slightly so that it would pass just centimeters away from his face. Then, he took a step forward and came face to face with the man.
"Good day!"
The leader wasn't expecting Ye Qing's speed to put it mildly. The brief surprise was all the young man needed to bump his shoulder against his chest. The next second, the leader flew backward like he was struck by lightning and accidentally bowled over three other men.
Ye Qing wasn't out of danger yet, however. While he was pushing the leader away from him, two swords thrust at his left arm and right shoulder, and a saber swung at his ankle from a super low angle. They were coming at him from different directions as well. An ordinary warrior would have been mutilated or killed.
But Ye Qing was anything but ordinary. He pushed off the ground gently and floated into the air like a feather, dodging the sword thrusts by a hair's breadth. Of course, the saber had missed him as well. The three attackers could only watch in horror as Ye Qing flew around them in an unnatural arc and landed deftly on his feet. They hadn't seen him move, but they all felt a sudden pain in their weapon hand that forced them to let go of their weapons. It was only then they realized that a throwing knife was embedded in their wrists!
After crippling three people in one go, Ye Qing abruptly slackened as if he had used up all of his energy. Sensing an opportunity, the closest attackers to Ye Qing hurriedly closed the distance and swung their weapons. It was a ruse. Ye Qing took one step into the air and abruptly split into multiple copies of himself.
It was near impossible to distinguish who was real and who wasn't, and the Ye Qings seemed to be escaping in every conceivable direction. When all was said and done, their attacks had missed, and sudden pain had gripped their wrists. Just like the three attackers from before, a throwing knife was embedded in their wrists!
Curiously, the throwing knives were a hair's breadth from hitting an artery, which could've constituted a serious threat to the attackers' lives. The young man had also missed the bones and the tendons and avoided inflicting a wound that could've crippled their arms permanently.
Was it a coincidence?
Or was it intentional?
What happened next stunned everyone who was watching the battle. The copies disappeared, but Ye Qing started darting all over the place like a monkey. Sometimes, he would sprint forward in a straight line and suddenly dash backward as if the laws of physics were fake. Sometimes, the straight line would abruptly turn into an arc or even an S-shaped curve. And sometimes, he would descend from the air like he was planning to flatten an attacker like a pancake only to rise back into the sky.
His movements were so erratic and unpredictable that it was near impossible to react or guard against it, much less mount any sort of effective retaliation. Every time he dashed or flew past an attacker, a throwing knife would suddenly appear in their wrists. Even worse, they now knew it definitely wasn't a coincidence that their wounds were neither life-threatening nor crippling-for-life because all of the throwing knives had landed exactly one millimeter away from the artery and avoided the bones and tendons!
It wasn't long before every attacker in the front yard was neutralized. Clutching their wrists and covered in blood, they all looked as sorry as they could be. On the other hand, the young man who defeated them all was smiling and not even touched by the battle. At that moment, he resembled a mighty celestial of the heavens!
"Does anyone wish to continue this fight?" Ye Qing clasped his hands behind his back and asked with a playful smirk on his face.
"..."
How? With our heads?
Everyone stepped away from Ye Qing at the same time. It wasn't cowardice that drove them to back down. It was the simple, unadulterated fact that there was absolutely nothing they could do against him!
"Master Six would like to speak with you, young warrior."
It was at this moment a man wearing a black outfit and a cold expression stepped out of a building deeper within the residence. He said, "This way, please!"
The cold man didn't even look at his injured allies. After Ye Qing made to follow him, he immediately turned around and led him around the main building toward the back yard.
The man's facial control was excellent, but not his body language. His slightly stiff footsteps and the left hand he had hidden in his sleeve since showing up betrayed his true feelings. He's probably hiding an elastic sword up his sleeve, thought Ye Qing after shooting the man's left hand a glance, a left-handed elastic sword user? I bet his fighting style is pretty backstabby and unorthodox!
As if sensing Ye Qing's gaze, the cold man slowed down for just an instant and tensed up his muscles. If the young man displayed any abnormal behavior at all, the elastic sword in his sleeve would penetrate his throat in the blink of an eye…
… Or so he would like to tell himself. He was confident in his skills, but he wasn't confident they were enough to kill the young man next to him.
"Heh. My name is Ye Qing. What is yours, brother?" Ye Qing asked.
"Zuo Yiyan!" replied the cold man, but he did not lower his guard as a matter of course.
"A good name!" Ye Qing praised while admiring the exquisite scenery around them. "I'm surprised. Your master's residence looked pretty mundane from the outside, but the inside is a whole different world!"
He was speaking from the heart. Whoever designed the architecture must be a genius. On the outside, the residence paled in contrast to the flamboyant buildings around it to the point where it was almost inconspicuous. But on the inside, there were tall, lush trees and well-trimmed bushes that soothed the eyes, smooth grass and beautiful flowers that added life and vibrance to the surroundings, covered bridges that spanned across certain sections of the residence and enabling a scenic view of the gardens, rooftops with flying eaves that seemed to reach out to the heavens, tasteful corridors that seemed to wind into the unknown and entice its guests to childish exploration, and more. Together, they painted an elegant, poetic picture that seemed to sing at the very soul.
That wasn't all. There was an order in which the elements of the residence were arranged. At first glance, it seemed like there were a bit too many fake hills, bridges, gardens, trees, and winding paths. In reality, it was to create a giant maze. That's right, this whole section of the residence was a maze designed to confuse enemies and uninvited guests alike. Without a guide, most people would not even be able to find their way back to the exit, much less make it to whatever destination they had in mind.
As if that wasn't enough, Ye Qing sensed many guards stationed at both conspicuous and inconspicuous places. He wouldn't say that the defense was airtight—this was a world full of monsters after all—but it was quite impressive.
"Master Six is the architect!" Zuo Yiyan continued to respond tersely as if every word was worth an ounce of gold.
Ye Qing clicked his tongue and said, "Your master's writing is ass, but his designing skills are anything but. He must be a man of culture!"
"..."
Zuo Yiyan didn't know what to say. Did this guy seriously just disparage Master Six to my face? Does he think I'm deaf, or is he that confident?
Screw it, I'm just going to play deaf!
Zuo Yiyan also pretended that he was mute. Nothing could go wrong if he heard nothing and said nothing, right?
Many twists and turns later, the duo finally exited the maze and entered a huge clearing. The first thing Ye Qing saw was a massive, sky blue pond with countless lotuses floating on the surface. It was beautiful, but Ye Qing imagined that it would be even more beautiful when it was summer, and the lotuses were in full bloom.
"Please enter the boat, young warrior. Master Six is waiting for you in the pavilion up ahead!" said Zuo Yiyan. After Ye Qing had done as he said, the cold man personally steered the boat toward the pavilion.
Zuo Yiyan's boat poling skills were excellent. They reached the pavilion quickly and smoothly in no time at all.
The pavilion was octagonal-shaped and tastefully ornamented. Bronze bells were hung beneath each corner so that melodious ringings filled the ears every time there was a breeze.
The pond was beautiful, the pavilion was aesthetic, and the ringings were sublime. Naturally, the pavilion's name could not be far behind.
"Rainflower Rest, a resting place where the rain falls on a pond of lotuses, is it? Not bad at all!"
"And I am most glad that Boss Ye is a man of culture! This deserves a hearty drink!"
In the pavilion, a middle-aged man in his forties wearing a scholar's robes rose to his feet. He also had a long, elegant beard that complemented his cultivated appearance perfectly.
Who would've thought that this cultured, gentle-looking man who almost looked like a teacher would be the greatest information broker in Anyang, the omniscient Master Qiao Six?
"You know me, Master Six?" Ye Qing hopped off the boat and stepped into the pavilion.
"Please take a seat, Boss Ye!" Qiao Six beckoned for Ye Qing to sit down on the chair on the opposite side of the table before saying, "And yes, of course I've heard about you. You are a self-proclaimed scholar who carries a strange frog with you and entered Anyang seven days ago. You bought Endless Horizons, a bookstore that was supposedly haunted for one hundred silvers with Zhao Mu as the broker on the very same day."
"You spent most of your time indoors, but on the rare occasion you leave the building, you enjoy sunbathing, drinking wine and listening to music. You don't care for your business, but you are kind and agreeable. You managed to win the affection of your neighbors in just a few days and earn yourself the nickname, 'Boss Ye'!"
"Haha. I didn't think that you would investigate a nobody like me so thoroughly. No wonder some people claim that you're omniscient!" Ye Qing said smilingly. He wasn't surprised though. The guy wouldn't be known as the greatest information broker in Anyang if he wasn't this good.
Qiao Six smiled and accepted a cup of hot tea from his servant girl. A small sip later, he said evenly and amiably, "You say that, but it's clear that I haven't found anything beneath the surface. For example, I never realized that you were a hidden dragon until you defeated my guards without a scratch!"
Ye Qing smirked. "It's not your fault. I'm just a world class actor is all!"
"I can see you're a humorous person, Boss Ye!" responded Qiao Six while barely suppressing a grimace. This guy just does not hesitate to use anything you throw him to compliment himself, doesn't he?.
Ye Qing leaned back against his chair and enjoyed a sip of tea. He then said lazily, "Speaking of which, you're not a very good host, are you? I've come to see you with a great gift, but you welcomed me with violence practically the second my foot left the threshold. That isn't very polite, is it?"
Qiao Six smiled calmly. "You heard what my guard said, didn't you? An invited guest is one thing, but an uninvited one, well, it's only natural I would want to gauge your intentions and check if they are good or evil, fortune or misfortune, commanding or imploring, am I right?"
Ye Qing raised an eyebrow. "So, you're saying that it was just a test?"
The middle-aged man replied immediately, "That is correct!"
Chapter 56: Ensnaring An Old Fox
"Okay! I believe you!" Ye Qing said with a smirk. It was true that the group who surrounded him earlier lacked bloodthirst despite the fact that they were brimming with violence. They probably really were just gauging his intentions and of course, his strength. If he wasn't strong enough to overcome the obstacle, then he wasn't qualified to meet Qiao Six.
Besides that, Qiao Six's decision was prompted by Ye Qing's unknown origin. If he could find out exactly when Ye Qing's had entered the county, then of course he knew about the incident at the gates and the fact that he seemed unusually close with Yan Yufei, the current magistrate of Anyang. This one connection alone guaranteed that Qiao Six would not dare to kill him even if he could, which was why he truly believed that the information broker was telling the truth.
"So, what did you find out, Master Six?"
"You haven't shown up at my doorsteps in good will, but you do not bear any malice either. Also, I believe that you require my services!" Qiao Six declared calmly, eyes glimmering with wisdom and experience. He looked like he was perfectly sure of his deduction.
One corner of Ye Qing's lips curled up a little. "You're half-right, but you're also half-wrong!"
"Oh? What did I guess wrong, pray tell?" Qiao Six exclaimed with a hint of surprise and curiosity.
Ye Qing did not keep him on tenterhooks. "You're wrong about me not carrying good intentions. The main reason I'm here is to make sure that you'll always be safe and healthy!"
Something flinty flashed in Qiao Six's eyes, but his tone remained warm and amiable, "I don't know about that, Boss Ye. A well-intentioned person would not pay someone a visit bearing their dead pet as a gift, would they? Much less a pet that they had murdered with their own two hands?"
A wicked smile spread across Ye Qing's face. "I can see you've misunderstood me. Trust me when I say that what I carried wasn't a dead pet, but a great gift that you will come to appreciate dearly once I've explained everything to you!"
"I am waiting," Qiao Six responded calmly.
Ye Qing took another sip of tea and wet his throat. It was only then he gave his explanation. "Your cat is a Red-class Stranger called the Rot Eating Cat, and I am sure you know better than me what kind of creature it is. Cunning, vicious, and greedy, there is nothing it enjoys more than killing a human through the Everhungry Worm and cutting open their stomach to feast on both human flesh and rotting food alike!"
"Just a while ago, I saved an innocent boy who nearly died because of your cat's actions, and I am certain he isn't its first victim."
"It's one thing to keep a Stranger, but to raise one that is clearly a danger to humans and allow it to kill as it pleases… well, I shouldn't need to tell you what would happen if the Pacification Bureau hears about this, do you?"
"Are you threatening me?" Qiao Six abruptly dropped his pleasant demeanor altogether. There was a dead silence as the atmosphere in the pavilion grew increasingly suffocating. "No one threatens me, Boss Ye. I've led a long, healthy life, and I can tell you now there is nothing that scares me less and angers me more than threats!"
"You do realize that I can bury you here right here and now if I give the order, right Boss Ye?"
The information broker's bloodthirst kept growing until it encompassed the entire Rainflower Pavilion like a thick smog.
Ye Qing could not seem to feel his murderous intent, however. Still acting as casual and indifferent as ever, he shot Qiao Six a smile and said, "Nah, I think you're delusional!"
Ye Qing raised his right foot half an inch before putting it back down on the floor. His movements were gentle, but the pavilion shuddered, and a breeze blew at the bronze bells and caused them to ring melodiously. The breeze would continue to sweep out until the blue waters of the pond rippled incessantly, and the lotuses swayed like tiny green boats atop a moving sea.
The sight was as scenic as it was poetic, but wait, that wasn't the end of the show yet. Soft pops suddenly erupted from the pond bottom, and it sounded like spring thunder welcoming the coming of a new spring. Then—
Glug glug glug!
Bubbles started rising and popping across the whole pond. Then, a plethora of men wearing tight, waterproof outfits burst through the pond surface! Clearly, they were the hidden guards Qiao Six had prepared just in case his negotiations turned sour. Something wasn't right about their condition, however. They didn't look injured, but their complexions were beet red, and they looked like they were having trouble catching their breaths. It was because a shockwave had impacted their internal organs and disrupted the circulation of their vigor. Of course, it was caused by none other than Ye Qing himself.
"You dare!" Zuo Yiyan erupted in anger and tensed up. His clothes billowed without wind, and something cold and sharp peeked out from within his left sleeve. It looked like a viper ready to deal Ye Qing a fatal blow at any moment. Besides that, inconspicuous servant girl who had been serving tea until just now abruptly raised her left arm and caused her water sleeve [1] to circle around her like it had a life of its own. Gone was the beautiful but ordinary woman who had no presence whatsoever, replaced by a murderous celestial ready to rip and kill at a moment's notice.
They were both late-stage Qi Invokers, and they were both experienced killers with a lot of blood on their hands. It was evident from the wash of their auras alone.
The two warriors did not make a move despite their intimidating posture, however. It was because a thread of blood so thin it was almost invisible had appeared around their necks before they knew it. The blood thread looked frail enough to break at the slightest touch, but both of them had a feeling that it would sever their neck like nothing if they dared to attack Ye Qing.
Even if they were successful in escaping decapitation, their senses were warning them that some sort of unknown, invisible danger was lurking around them. In this case, they were absolutely right. If they were at the Vessel Augmentation stage just like Ye Qing, they would notice that formless, shapeless Blood Shadows had been swimming throughout the Rainflower Pavilion this whole time!
"Relax. I noticed your men had been submerged in the waters for a bit, and I was worried that one of them might suffocate to death. That is why I encouraged them to catch their breaths so to speak!" Ye Qing explained with a bright smile while a wisp of red danced nimbly between his fingers like a piece of silken fabric.
For a time, the atmosphere was so suffocating one could barely breathe. Then, Qiao Six started laughing all of a sudden, "Haha! Hahaha! Impressive, Boss Ye! I dare say that I am most impressed by your skill!"
Qiao Six couldn't quite control the shock within his pupils, but his smile was firmly affixed to his face as he said, "You're a businessman just like me, so I'm sure you understand that violence is most undesirable when pursuing a long-lasting business relationship. Come, let's enjoy another cup of tea!"
"Heh. In fact, you are completely right about my motivations, but I noticed that you needed a little… encouragement to notice my sincerity. Do forgive me for resorting to such a crude method!"
Ye Qing accepted the teacup smilingly and blew at its surface. He continued after taking a small sip, "Your pet is an evil creature who loves to kill, Master Six. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before it implicates its owner. With that in mind, killing it before the worst happens can only be a good thing, am I right? I personally think it's one of the best gifts one can receive. What do you think?"
Qiao Six stretched his lips into a smile. "Now that you mentioned it, it is a great gift. I thank you for doing me such a huge favor."
Ye Qing pshawed and waved him away. "You're welcome, but it's unnecessary. I'm just a kind-hearted soul who can't help but do good upon others!"
"Hahaha!" Qiao Six let out a hearty laugh before sighing. "I should've been more vigilant. If not for you, I would not have realized that that damn monster would dare to harm innocents while I wasn't looking. I would've found myself an unwitting murderer if not for you, so once again, thank you!"
Ye Qing smiled. He knew that Qiao Six would insist that he knew nothing about the Rot Eating Cat's actions, but he did not expose the lie because it benefited no one. He was here to establish a business relationship with Qiao Six. He wasn't going to earn any favors if he kept bashing the older man's face with the truth, no matter how satisfying it might be.
"You flatter me, Master Six. Anyway, I believe we are pretty well acquainted with each other at this point. Would you like to be my friend?"
Qiao Six looked overjoyed at the offer. "But of course! Haha! Trust me, there is no way I'm passing on a friend like you! But oh, please don't call me Master Six in that case. That is not an appellation that should be used between friends. How about you call me Brother Six, Boss Ye?"
Ye Qing went with the flow. "Sure! On that note, you may call me Joyless!"
"Joyless? What a poetic name!" Qiao Six praised. "Today is turning out to be a most pleasant day, Joyless. Why don't we celebrate our new friendship with a drink?"
"I will hold you to that, brother, but not today!" Ye Qing said smilingly. "I said earlier you were half-wrong and half-right. In fact, I have come to request your services!"
Qiao Six didn't look surprised. He seemed aware that the conversation was going to take this turn. "Do not use the word 'request', Joyless. We are friends, no, brothers now. I will do anything to help you… as long as it is within my ability to help, of course!"
Ye Qing's smile widened. "Don't worry, all I ask is for you to do what you do best: gather information."
"Very good!"
Ye Qing glanced at Zuo Yiyan and the servant girl and said, "If we can have some privacy…"
Qiao Six immediately looked at his subordinates and commanded, "Yiyan, Hong Yu, wait at the boat for the moment!"
"As you command!" Zuo Yiyan and the servant girl, Hong Yu immediately retreated to the boat. Not only that, Zuo Yiyan had steered the boat until they were about six meters away from the pavilion. It was just far enough that they couldn't eavesdrop on the conversation, but close enough that they could rush to their master's rescue should it turn out to be necessary!
"My apologies, brother. I would prefer to keep my business between the two of us," Ye Qing said apologetically.
Qiao Six was perfectly fine with the arrangement. "I understand. Some secrets must remain a secret for the sake of everyone!"
"I'm glad we have an accord." Ye Qing went straight to the point. "I want you to tell me everything you know about the Zheng Clan!"
This was why he had gone through all this trouble and even overlooked the crimes committed by his murderous cat. It was because he wished to gather information on the Zheng Clan. As the greatest information broker in Anyang, Qiao Six had to know the Zheng Clan like the back of his hand. No one's information was more reliable than his, not to mention that he did not have to spend a single silver for the information since they were "friends" now. It would also save him the trouble of having to spy on the Zheng Clan himself.
He could be hardworking if he wanted to, but he was generally a lazy person. Since the opportunity had fallen into his lap, he would be damned if he passed it by!
"Zheng Clan? The Zheng Clan of Anyang? The one that is commanded by Zheng Feng?" Qiao Six exclaimed in surprise.
Ye Qing countered, "Is there another Zheng Clan in Anyang?"
Qiao Six scrunched up his eyebrows in puzzlement. "But why are you looking into the Zheng Clan? They're not a family to be trifled with, you know?"
Ye Qing raised his eyebrows as if surprised that Qiao Six would ask such a question. Then, his lips spread into a positively diabolical smile. "Why, it's because I'm plotting to destroy them and kill their patriarch, Zheng Feng, of course! Would you like to hear more, brother?"
"..."
For a time, Qiao Six was utterly speechless. Then, he let out a bitter chuckle and said, "Since the day I started my business, I've always obeyed one and only one personal rule: I never ask my customers why they want their information. It's because I know that it would bring me endless trouble. I've never broken this rule until now, and it is thanks to it that I managed to become the biggest information broker in Anyang, and survive to this age!"
"Today is the first day I ever indulged in my curiosity, and to think that it would be my undoing! Joyless, oh Joyless, how can you ensnare your brother so?"
Ye Qing let out a mirthful chuckle. "But brother, I didn't ensnare you. You're the one who wanted to know the answer!"
It was a lie, of course. From the moment he heard of Qiao Six's existence, he had been plotting to bind the information broker to his ship somehow. If he bought information from Qiao Six normally, and something were to happen to the Zheng Clan, the information broker would figure that he was the one behind the incident instantly. If Qiao Six decided to expose the truth to protect himself or earn the Zheng Clan's favor, then he would be put on the back foot and even met with a life-threatening crisis.
This was why he didn't want them to be business partners. No, he wanted them to be accomplices. Qiao Six would be the insider supplying him with the information necessary to kick the Zheng Clan's teeth in, and he would be doing the kicking.
It was too late for Qiao Six to change his mind already. From the moment he learned about Ye Qing's motive, their fates were intertwined like two grasshoppers that were tied to the same rope. If Ye Qing went down, he was going down as well. He might still be able to survive—he was one of Anyang's most valuable assets after all—but his status would plummet, his life would be ruined, and Ye Qing was going to kill him right here and now if he dared to say no.
Qiao Six was a wise man. He might have rejected Ye Qing if he hadn't witnessed the young man's prowess earlier, but he had, so he knew that the best he could hope for should conflict break out was a pyrrhic victory. And what kind of idiot would bet on a pyrrhic victory where his own life was on the line?
Plus, there was a way out for him, and that was cooperating with Ye Qing and giving him what he wanted. No one would know about his involvement if they both kept their mouths shut. He wasn't going to say anything as a matter of course, and Ye Qing sure as hell wasn't going to make things more difficult for himself. For better or worse, it was business as usual.
From Ye Qing's point of view, this matter was settled from the moment he determined Qiao Six's character. The information broker was a shrewd, self-serving man. He would give him everything he wanted and keep his secret.
1. 水袖, super long sleeves you normally see in Chinese operas and court dramas
Chapter 57: Yan Feng Visits
"Oh, so it's my fault? I knew I should've kept my mouth shut."
Qiao Six was a wise man. He figured out Ye Qing's scheme as soon as he revealed his objective. What was done could not be undone, so the only thing he could do now was to see it through until the end.
Plus, it wasn't like Ye Qing was asking him to do the impossible. The young man only wanted him to keep his secret, and a man of his trade naturally hoarded plenty of secrets. One more wouldn't kill him.
Besides that, he stood to profit from the Zheng Clan's demise as well. Assuming that Ye Qing succeeded in his endeavor, he would be first in line to partake in the cake that was the Zheng Clan's businesses and connections. It would also earn him the trust—not this fake relationship they had now, but real trust—a young man with a promising future. All things considered, it was a win-win situation for both of them.
It wasn't hard for Qiao Six to come to a decision after he had sorted out his thoughts. "You've put me in hot enough waters already, so I won't ask why you want to kill Zheng Feng. Now then, about the information you requested. The patriarch of the Zheng Clan is Zheng Feng, and he is a middle-stage Vessel Augmentor. He is an expert in palm techniques, and he is most known for a forceful and potent palm art, the 'Boundless Lightning Palm'. Zheng Feng has two younger brothers, and they are both in the late-stage of the Qi Invocation stage. They are… He also has six keepers, and they are…"
Qiao Six truly was the greatest information broker in Anyang. It was impressive enough that he was able to recite all this information from memory, but Ye Qing was willing to bet that he knew the Zheng Clan better than the Zheng Clan themselves. He was able to tell him Zheng Feng and his keepers' cultivation level, martial arts, characteristics, and personality traits, where the guards were located and when they changed shifts and more.
"The Zheng Clan was one of the strongest forces in Anyang until they lost a dozen or so elites, five elders, and their two scions, Zheng Tianyuan and Zhen Tianqi half a month ago. The Zheng Clan might have collapsed already if Zheng Feng wasn't still around," Qiao Six said while shooting Ye Qing a meaningful glance.
Ye Qing answered smilingly, "That's right! I'm the one who killed those people!"
"..."
I didn't even ask anything this time! Are you a monster?
"Joyless… For heavens' sake…"
Ye Qing shrugged and said innocently, "What? I thought you wanted to know since you were giving me looks earlier!"
And he pins the blame on me, again.
A bitter, helpless smile crossed Qiao Six's lips. When was the last time he got screwed over by a youngster like Ye Qing? Both his mind and his strength were top-notch.
"That said, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. The Zheng Clan might have suffered a massive decline as of late, but that doesn't mean they're an easy foe by any means. I would advise the greatest caution if you truly wish to take them out, Joyless!"
"Don't worry, brother. You just sit tight and wait for the good news!" Ye Qing nodded obediently.
What the hell? Now he makes it sound like I'm the one who ordered him to kill Zheng Feng and destroy the Zheng Clan!
Qiao Six was normally a steady man, but for a second there he felt seriously tempted to wring the young man by his neck.
Ye Qing rose to his feet and said, I think I've heard everything I need to hear, so I shall be taking my leave. I'll take you up on your offer when I'm free, Brother Six!"
"Anytime!" Qiao Six smiled and rose to his feet as well. "Allow me to see you off!"
"It's fine, brother. I'm sure you have better things to do!"
Ye Qing darted out of the Rainflower Pavilion like a swift after he was finished. He planted one foot on a lotus and caused it to wobble a little, but there wasn't enough movement to cause a ripple on the pond water. When he leaped again, his back rapidly shrank into a small dot in the distance. Before he disappeared, he gave Qiao Six a wave and said loudly, "Thank you for everything! Be sure to keep my secret, brother!"
"What incredible movement art!" Qiao Six could not help but praise out loud. At the same time, he grew even more certain that his decision to befriend Ye Qing was the right choice.
Zuo Yiyan and Hong Yu returned to the pavilion after Ye Qing was gone. Zuo Yiyan asked, "Master Six, Ye Qing is rude and provocative. Why didn't you give us the order to kill him? If we all work together…"
Qiao Six replied indifferently, "It won't work."
Hong Yu giggled and smiled like a blooming flower. She had dropped her act completely since they were alone. "How many people in Anyang can handle the three of us at once? Ten? Five?"
Most people did not know this, but Qiao Six was a Vessel Augmentor and one of the strongest warriors in Anyang. It was why he was able to establish himself as the greatest information broker in the county. He would've been dethroned a long time ago if he didn't have the strength to defend his status.
Qiao Six smiled. "You are right, but that young man… he's probably among the handful you speak of."
"Seriously?" Zuo Yiyan exclaimed in surprise.
Qiao Six shot both of his aides a look before sighing. "Not only that, I believe we are overestimating ourselves. Judging from everything he has showed us so far, I'm pretty sure that we're the ones who would die had we attacked him."
Zuo Yiyan and Hong Yu couldn't see the Blood Shadows because their cultivation level was too low, but not him. To say that he was worried about the strange apparitions would be an understatement. Combined with a top-tier movement art that allowed him to come and go as he pleased, he just could not imagine them defeating Ye Qing even in the best case scenario.
"Master Six!" Hong Yu covered her mouth in surprise. "He's just a brat! Are you sure you haven't misjudged him?"
"Misjudge him? How do you misjudge someone who's obviously a dragon?" Qiao Six looked at the sky and said slowly, "He might not have reached his full potential yet, and he's currently holed up in this backwater county, but that doesn't mean he is weak whatsoever. When the day comes where the dragon finally rises to the heavens… Just watch. Anyang is probably going to be turned upside down in the near future!"
A long silence later, Qiao Six turned serious and ordered, "Ye Qing's origin is a mystery, but he's already a Vessel Augmentor at his age, and a shrewd and decisive man to boot. He is also acquainted with Yan Yufei. Assuming that he doesn't fall before he realizes his full potential, a man like him can only be destined for a bright future. All things considered, it is far wiser to have him as a friend than an enemy."
"Inform the men that they will strive to treat Ye Qing with the utmost respect. In fact, I want them to treat him as respectfully as they would treat me. Also, be sure to tell them everything that has happened in this residence today stays in this residence. If anyone dares to break the rule, you have my permission to break their limbs, sever the tendons, and cripple them permanently. There will be no leniency!"
Zuo Yiyan and Hong Yu exchanged a glance with each other before nodding solemnly. "As you command!"
"Oh right, what were you discussing with Boss Ye?" Hong Yu suddenly asked.
Qiao Six shot her a glance before answering, "It is best you do not know about this. It will be better if you never indulge in your curiosity again."
"Remember this, Hong Yu. Some secrets can and will kill you!"
...
"Still nothing?"
Inside the county hall, Yan Yufei was looking up from his table and staring at his subordinates with a weary look on his face. He was also nursing a headache with one hand.
Yan Feng and Yang Guan shook their heads. The two men were currently standing at the center of the room. They were wearing bailiff outfits and carrying Yanling sabers around their waist.
The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy as Yan Yufei questioned in a stern voice, "The serial murder has been happening for three days straight, and you're telling me you've found nothing at all? You haven't awakened your inner sloths, have you?"
Yan Feng replied with a bitter expression, "Of course not. It's just that this case is no ordinary case. None of the victims are related to one another, the locations are all over the place, there is no discernible pattern whatsoever, and not a clue could be found at the crime scenes. Forget finding a clue, we know absolutely nothing besides the fact that murders have been happening seemingly randomly throughout Anyang."
"In fact… I strongly suspect that these murders were committed not by a human, but a Stranger, my lord!"
"Tell me why," Yan Yufei commanded.
Yan Feng took a moment to organize his thoughts before answering, "All kinds of people have been killed so far. There were commoners, hooligans, traders, nobles and more. The way they died is ridiculously varied as well. Some people were missing their eyes, some people had their ears cut out, and some literally had their hearts dug out of their chests."
"Let us pretend that the murderer is a human for a moment. Is it realistic that there exists someone out there who has a beef with so many people across multiple stratas? Even if there is, why would they go through the trouble of mutilating the bodies in so many different ways? It's not only unnecessary, it drastically increases the chance that the murderer might leave something behind and expose themselves!"
"Speaking of which, we weren't able to find anything at the crime scenes at all. It's so clean that, assuming the murderer is a human, it can only be committed by a master of martial arts. However, what kind of master would suddenly murder a whole bunch of innocents without reason? No matter how I think about it, a Stranger is the most likely culprit behind this serial murder!"
"If a Stranger is behind this, then we should hand this case over to the Pacification Bureau!" Yang Guan suggested.
Although the Pacification Bureau and the administrative divisions were both government institutions of Chu, their functions were very different from each other. The Pacification Bureau was responsible for handling all Stranger-related and supernatural incidents within a certain territory. They were also responsible for large cases that were beyond the ability of the administrative division to handle. The administration division was responsible for collecting taxes, keeping the public order, and handling a number of social and livelihood issues such as apprehending mundane criminals and so on.
As a result, most cases went through the administrative division first before they were escalated to the Pacification Bureau. For example, if a theft had taken place at a person's residence, or if an armed brawl had broken out on a street, then the administrative division would handle it directly. But if they discovered that a Stranger was involved with the case, then they would escalate it to the Pacification Bureau.
"It's not that simple!" Yan Yufei grimaced and massaged his forehead harder. "We don't have any evidence that these murders are, in fact, committed by a Stranger. It's one thing if the culprit really is a Stranger, but if we're wrong, then our abilities will be brought into question!"
It had only been days since he became the magistrate of Anyang. If he screwed up, his peers would scorn him, his subordinates would look down on him, and the people would distrust him. The moment he gave off the impression that he was incompetent—never mind that the truth was the complete opposite—both his career and his future would be in extreme jeopardy.
"But there is a simple solution to this problem, my lord!" Yang Guan suddenly spoke up. Yan Feng stared at him as if he could not believe that his simple-minded subordinate had just contradicted the magistrate openly. He rebuked,
"Shut it, Yang Guan!"
Yang Guan shrugged. "I'm serious!"
Yan Yufei smiled a little before asking curiously, "Okay, I'll bite. What is this solution, Yang Guan?"
The young guard declared, "We just need to ask Joyless! He's an expert in Strangers, isn't he? He'll know if a Stranger has killed those people! Also, if the Stranger turned out to be easier than expected, we can take it out ourselves before reporting the incident to the Pacification Bureau. That'll show those high-and-mighty bastards that we don't always have to rely on them!"
"..."
Yan Yufei and Yan Feng exchanged a shocked glance with each other. Yang Guan… was right! How could they have forgotten about Joyless?
"Do you know where Joyless is right now, Yang Guan?" Yan Yufei asked. This serial murder had practically smacked him as soon as he became Anyang's magistrate, so he was so busy he could barely afford the time to sleep, much less find out where Ye Qing was living right now.
Yang Guan nodded. "Yep! Joyless bought the Endless Horizons at Rainflower Alley a few days ago. He's now the owner of a bookstore!"
"Endless Horizons? But I thought the place was haunted?" Yan Feng blurted instinctively before answering his own question with a bitter smile, "What am I saying? There is no way a mere ghost can threaten someone of Joyless' abilities."
"We have a plan then. Yan Feng, Yang Guan, you will visit Joyless and request his aid with this case immediately!" Yan Yufei instructed.
"At once!" Yan Feng and Yang Guan took off into a brisk run as soon as they left the county hall.
Meanwhile, Ye Qing was lying on his recliner and basking in the sun outside Endless Horizons as usual. He yawned while wondering what would be the best time to leave the county and reap some juicy, juicy Bloodsucking Mosquitoes.
"Joyless!" "Joyless!"
His daydream popped like a bubble when two familiar voices entered his ears. He opened his eyes and shot his acquaintances a bright smile. "Brother Yan, Yang Guan! I wasn't expecting to see you two. Shouldn't you be working on a serial murder right now?"
Chapter 58: General of Punishment
"You look like you have a lot of free time in your hands, Joyless!" Yang Guan voiced his envy before plopping down on the doorsteps of Endless Horizons. "By the way, how did you know that we're investigating a serial murder?"
Ye Qing poured both men a cup of wine as he replied, "The entire county is talking about the serial murders right now, and the black circles around your eyes are so thick I wouldn't be surprised if you told me that you haven't slept at all. It's elementary, my friends."
"Well, you're right. That is why we've come today!" Yang Feng said with a sigh.
Ye Qing joked, "You don't think I'm the murderer, do you?"
"Of course not! We're here to ask for your help!"
"What? But how?" Ye Qing cocked his head to one side. "I don't have a clue how to solve a case."
Yan Feng explained, "It's like this. We've been investigating this serial murder for three days straight, but we weren't able to find a single clue. Since you're a scholar with extensive knowledge regarding Strangers, we'd like to ask your help to verify if these murders were committed by a human or a Stranger."
"I see!" Ye Qing exclaimed in realization. He also realized that Yan Feng and his men must've completely run out of ideas on how to continue the investigation or stop the murders, or they would not have come to a civilian like him. He nodded. "Very well, I shall lend you a hand. But please don't be unhappy with me if I fail to produce any results, okay?"
A delighted Yan Feng shook his head firmly. "Of course not! We feel sorry enough that we have to trouble you to perform our duty!"
"Glad to hear that. Now, let's move!"
Ye Qing rose to his feet, carried the recliner back into the bookstore and locked the doors. Then, he called out from beneath the stairs, "I need to leave for a bit, Brother Frog. Please watch over the bookstore while I'm gone!"
"Croak!" Kung Fu Frog responded from above. He could also hear a peal of childish laughter.
"Huh? Is that a child's laughter I just heard? I thought you live alone, Joyless," Yang Guan asked curiously while walking up to Ye Qing.
Ye Qing smiled. "She's a friend. I'll introduce her to you when you're free!"
"Sure!" Yang Guan agreed with a chuckle.
The trio began walking back to the county hall. The county hall was just two streets away from Endless Horizons, so the trio arrived at their destination in just a short time. Yan Yufei was already waiting for them at the entrance with a wide smile on his face. The middle-aged man remained as friendly and polite as ever even though he was now a magistrate. They exchanged pleasantries for a bit before heading straight for the mortuary.
There were at least ten bodies in the mortuary, and the sheer amount of yin energy they discharged made Ye Qing feel like he had stepped into a freezer. If this was anywhere else, the suffocating amount of yin energy in the building would have converted the bodies into Yin Puppets, Zombies or other yin-type Strangers in no time. The reason they hadn't was because the walls, beams and other key locations of the mortuary were engraved with golden runes meant to suppress the transformation.
This method of body preservation was excellent not just because it prevented the corpses from turning, but also halted the decaying process. Its only flaw was that it was cold as hell, which was hardly an issue for the warriors.
"Please take a look, Joyless!" said Yan Yufei after leading Ye Qing to a group of bodies.
Ye Qing counted six bodies in total. The first body was a middle-aged woman with a thin face that gave her a sharp, unkind appearance. Her mouth was wide open, and her face was clearly contorted into an expression of terror. Her tongue had been severed from the roots.
The second body was a portly woman clad in luxurious, well-tailored clothes. She could only come from a wealthy family. Her heart had been dug out of her chest.
The third body was a young man in his twenties. His muscular, well-proportioned body indicated that he was a martial arts practitioner of sort. He was missing both of his hands.
The fourth body was an old man with gray white hair and a face that seemed unusually lecherous for some reason. His eyes had been dug out of their sockets.
The fifth body was a beautiful woman in her late twenties. He could smell a faint waft of perfume from her body, and her clothes were rather disheveled and revealing. She was probably a prostitute. Her ears had been cut clean off the head.
The sixth and final body belonged to that of a huge man. He was tall, massive, and wearing a fierce scowl even in death. He was obviously a fierce, aggressive man when he was still alive. He was missing his legs.
"Can you give me a brief summary of their profiles?" Ye Qing examined them all closely before asking the question.
Yang Guan immediately responded, "The middle-aged woman is called Liu Xiaolian. She was a washerwoman who washed clothes for a living. She was a harsh, sharp-tongued woman who loved nothing more than to argue with her neighbors and sowed discord between people."
"The portly woman is called Chen Cuihong. She was a songstress in Swallow's Nest, a brothel until she was redeemed by a Landlord Zhou. She is an exceptionally jealous woman who has turned the Zhou family upside down since she was taken in as a concubine."
"The young man is called Feng Two. He was a known pickpocket."
"The old man is called Sun Suo. He was a picklock with no children to his name. He was lazy, addicted to alcohol, and had the vulgar habit of peeping on women."
"The young woman was called Yan Hong. She was the jewel of Smoke and Rain, another brothel."
"The last person is called Zhang Pao. He's a hooligan who loves nothing more than the brawl!"
Ye Qing was deep in thought and rubbing his nose unconsciously as he processed the information. Yan Feng added, "The victims all came from different backgrounds, and they all suffered different forms of mutilation. We were unable to identify any pattern or even locate a single clue despite three days of non-stop investigation. We wouldn't even classify this as a serial murder if they hadn't all died in the same fashion!"
"No, I do think there is a pattern!" Ye Qing said all of a sudden.
"Really? Pray tell!" Everyone's eyes lit up as Yan Yufei urged.
"There's no rush. Have you compiled the victims' profile and whereabouts prior to their murder? Can I take a look at the documents?"
"We do! It's in the archives!" Yang Guan replied and looked to Yan Yufei for permission. He then ran to the archives, gathered everything Ye Qing had requested, and brought it back to the young man.
Ye Qing accepted the documents and skimmed through the pages quickly. It wasn't long before he shut the document and declared, "It is as I thought!"
"So? What did you find, Joyless?" Yan Yufei asked again.
Ye Qing set down the document before answering Yan Yufei's questions, "At first glance, these victims seem to share no commonalities with each other, and the way their bodies are mutilated are completely different as well. But if you look closer, you may discover why the murderer had killed them and mutilated their body in a specific way."
"I'll start from the beginning. Liu Xiaolian was a harsh, sharp-tongued person who enjoyed sowing discord between people. It was why the murderer cut off the tongue. According to the document, Chen Cuihong was such a jealous-ridden woman that she went so far as to murder a servant girl who was prettier than her. It was why the murderer dug out her heart."
"Feng Two was a thief, and a thief relies on their hands to steal and feed themselves. That was why the murderer cut off his arms. Sun Suo had the vulgar habit of peeping on women, so the murderer dug out his eyes. Yan Hong was a habitual eavesdropper who enjoyed collecting dirty secrets and using them to blackmail or besmirch her victims' reputation, so the murderer cut off her ears. Finally, Zhang Pao was a frequent brawler with a strong preference for kicking because he possessed a pair of strong legs, and he especially enjoyed kicking his victims until they were crippled. That was why the murderer cut off his legs."
"In summary, the one who sowed discord lost her tongue, the jealous one lost her heart, the thief lost his hands, the peeping tom lost his eyes, the eavesdroppers lost her ears, and the leg brawler lost his legs… what is this if not a pattern?"
"You… you're right!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise and realization. It seemed so obvious now that Ye Qing had stated it out clearly.
Yan Yufei mulled over the revelation for a moment before asking, "Do you know who's the murderer then, Joyless? Is it a human, or a Stranger?"
"It's a Stranger!" Ye Qing declared.
"And how do you know that?"
"Because my instincts said so!" Ye Qing declared matter-of-factly.
"..."
That doesn't sound like a particularly convincing argument…
Ye Qing ignored their dubious gazes and continued, "Of course, it's not all instinct. I have one piece of evidence to support my claim."
"Evidence? You have evidence, and you've been keeping us in suspense all this time?" Yang Guan complained in an impatient tone. "Just tell us already, man!"
Ye Qing chuckled. "Fine, fine. I once read about a folk tale in a book. It said that Shing Wong, the City God commands two judges who were responsible for martial and civil duties, and four generals who were responsible for rewarding good, punishing evil, detaining souls, and suppressing ghosts respectively."
"Of the four generals, the General of Punishment, Gan Liu is especially embittered against evil. He has two heads, four eyes and six arms. One hand determines good, and the other judges evil. He wields an axe, a hatchet, a sword, a saber, a hook, and a fork with his four arms. If he encounters a sower of discord, he would rip out their tongues with his hook. If he encounters a malicious, jealous person, then he would pluck out their hearts with his fork. If he encounters a thief or a gambler, then he would cut off their hands with his sword. If he encounters a peeping tom or an eavesdropper, then he would sever their ears or their eyes with his saber. So on and so on…"
"Does that not sound very similar to the way the victims were mutilated?"
"It is!" Yan Yufei nodded but hesitated for a moment. "But still, it's just a folk tale. We can't possibly use it as evidence."
"And I would agree. But how can you explain the fact that they've all visited the Shing Wong temple located to the east of the county recently?" Ye Qing declared with a flourish. "In any case, we simply need to visit the Shing Wong temple to know if I'm right!"
"Wait, what? They've all visited the Shing Wong temple prior to their deaths?" Yan Yufei exclaimed in shock. When he grabbed the document on the table and read it closely, he discovered that Ye Qing was right. They had missed it because the time the victims visited the Shing Wong temple were all different.
Yan Feng and Yang Guan looked over Yan Yufei's shoulders for a moment before exchanging mortified looks with each other. They were both professional bailiffs, and yet a novice had outdone them in this department. How embarrassing!
Of course, it wasn't completely their fault. Countless people visited the Shing Wong temple everyday, but only a handful of bad people were murdered for their crimes. It was why the two bailiffs had subconsciously overlooked this.
"Well, we know what to do now. Prepare to head to Shing Wong temple immediately," Yan Yufei ordered after taking a moment to sort out his thoughts.
"At once!" Yan Feng and Yan Guan received their orders and left.
By preparations, Yan Yufei meant rounding up the bailiffs. There was strength in numbers after all. By the time Ye Qing and Yan Yufei arrived at the county hall entrance, at least thirty armed men in red-and-black uniforms were already standing in formation and waiting for orders. Once Yan Yufei had given the command, the sizable force immediately departed for Shing Wong temple.
The Shing Wong temple was located to the east of Anyang, the direction where the sun rose. It was also the only Shing Wong temple in the entire county, which was why it was packed with people almost everyday!
Unfortunately, the great nation of Chu did not worship deities, and it rarely appointed a deity to supervise a territory such as a mountain god to watch over a mountain, an agent of the underworld to govern the dead of a city, and so on. As a result, the Shing Wong temple was just that, a temple. Despite its numerous worshippers, a deity was never born in the temple.
Yan Yufei ordered the men to remove the worshippers after they had arrived at their destination. Once done, the group began their investigation while Ye Qing and Yan Yufei headed straight for the main hall.
Chapter 59: Shing Wong Statue
In ancient times, Shing Wong was a very popular faith. Depending on the territory, the people either worshiped the Civil Shing Wong or the Martial Shing Wong. The one in this temple was the Martial Shing Wong.
The Shing Wong statue set at the main hall was tall, huge, and fearsome. He carried a long saber.
Yan Yufei wasted no time in searching every nook and cranny of the main hall as soon as he entered the building. However, he couldn't even find a portrait of the General of Punishment, much less a statue of the deity. After returning to Ye Qing's side, he discovered that the young man was staring closely at the Shing Wong statue for some reason. Thinking that the young man had found something, he asked hurriedly, "How's it going, Joyless?"
"Hmm? Oh, this statue is pretty impressive!"
Yan Yufei: "..." That's not what I meant.
"I mean, did you find anything, Joyless?"
"Oh. No, I haven't found anything yet, but no worries. Let's take this one step at a time!" said Ye Qing with a shake of his head.He then clasped his hands behind his back and walked leisurely around the main hall like he was a tourist.
"We found nothing, my lord!"
"We didn't find anything either, my lord!"
It wasn't long before the bailiffs Yan Yufei had sent off to scour the entire temple came to report that they did not find anything resembling the General of Punishment. There was no statue, no portrait, nothing.
"Was your deduction wrong after all, Joyless?" Yan Yufei said doubtfully after hearing his men's reports.
"Is that so?" Ye Qing frowned a little but gave the magistrate a careless shrug. "Don't worry. Just because we didn't find anything now doesn't mean we won't find something later. Please give me a moment!"
His response caught Yan Yufei off guard, but the young man was already leaving before he could ask what exactly he meant by that.
After Ye Qing went to a secluded corner, he took out the Annon Sutra and bit open his finger. He asked while dripping his blood on the vellum, "Where is the General of Punishment hiding?"
Ye Qing was certain that the culprit behind the serial murder was the General of Punishment, and that the deity was hiding somewhere within this temple. Just because they couldn't find him didn't mean he wasn't here!
The General of Punishment might prove to be too elusive to the bailiffs, but not him. After all, he was the man with the Annon Sutra! When in doubt, just ask the Annon Sutra!
"I've encountered a troublesome problem. I have identified the murderer behind the recent serial murder and even chased it to its lair, but the deity has proven to be more elusive than expected. Yan Yufei and the others are already beginning to doubt my judgment. Whatever shall I do to prove that I was right?"
The droplets of blood transformed into rows and rows of words. The Annon Sutra was the same as ever.
"Perhaps the Shing Wong statue would give me some clues. I feel that something is odd about it!"
"Something's odd with the Shing Wong statue?" Ye Qing muttered with a frown. He had been staring at the statue since he entered the main hall, but he hadn't noticed anything wrong with it at all.
That said, the Annon Sutra was never wrong even though it refused to give him a straight answer. If it said that something was wrong with the Shing Wong statue, then it must be wrong!
Ye Qing put away the Annon Sutra and went back to the main hall. When he rounded a corner, he saw Yan Yufei pacing back and forth in front of the Shing Wong statue. His expression was calm, but his movements betrayed just how anxious he really felt.
Yan Yufei's eyes lit up when he saw Ye Qing again. He immediately walked up to the young man and asked, "Did you find anything, Joyless?"
"In fact, I did!" Ye Qing replied honestly.
"Wonderful! Tell me now!" Yan Yufei exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
Ye Qing pretended to be suave and pointed his chin at the tall and imposing Shing Wong statue behind Yan Yufei. He then said in a serious tone, "There's something wrong with this statue!"
"What's wrong with it?" Yan Yufei asked while turning around and staring at the statue as well.
"I can't say for sure, but it's been triggering my sixth sense since I entered this place!" Ye Qing answered. The Annon Sutra was never wrong, so it was simply a matter of leaving it up to the professionals to find out exactly what was wrong with it.
Yan Yufei didn't say anything. While he wasn't too pleased with Ye Qing's reply, he could not deny that a person's sixth sense could be extremely accurate. This was especially true when investigating a case. It was folly to rely on one's instincts to guide them, but it was equally folly to ignore it completely!
It was at this moment Yang Guan entered the main hall. When he noticed that Ye Qing and Yan Yufei were staring at the Shing Wong statue, he shot it a look and sighed admiringly, "Man, this statue is huge!"
Suddenly, Yan Yufei perked up and spun on Yang Guan. "What did you just say, Yang Guan?"
The magistrate's outburst surprised Yang Guan, of course. His first instinct was that he had said something to displease his superior, it wasn't like he could refuse to answer. So, he forced himself to respond, "I said, this statue is huge. W-What's wrong?"
"That's it!" Yan Yufei clapped his hands in delight. "Joyless mentioned that something is wrong with the Shing Wong statue just now, and when I took a closer look I too found myself agreeing with him, though the answer refused to leave the tip of my tongue until you showed me the light, Yang Guan!"
"What is it?" Yang Guan asked helpfully. Ye Qing was also leaning forward and waiting patiently for Yan Yufei to give his explanation.
"This Shing Wong statue is huge alright. In fact, it is far too big!" Yan Yufei began slowly. "When I left my home to broaden my horizons many years ago, I'd visited many Shing Wong temples and seen many Shing Wong statues. However, they were never built taller than 12.6 meters and wider than 11 meters."
"And why's that?" Ye Qing asked curiously. This was something he knew nothing about, and from his perspective the Shing Wong statue just looked like any other statue. If it wasn't for the Annon Sutra, he would never guess that something was wrong with it.
Yan Yufei explained, "There is a passage in 'Folklore' that goes something like this. Shing Wong is a yin deity; a ghost god who was appointed to be a deity after his death. That is why he must not be built taller than 12.6 meters and wider than 11 meters. Barring certain exceptions, almost every Shing Wong statue in the realm obeys this rule."
"But the build of this Shing Wong statue breaks this rule not just by a little, but a lot. You can also tell that its disproportionate appearance gives off an oppressive and disharmonious feeling. Something is obviously off about it!"
"I don't get what you're saying, but you're probably right!" Ye Qing said with a nod. As expected of a true scholar! He's far more knowledgeable than a smatterer like me!
"Okay, so the Shing Wong statue of this temple is weird, but… what does that have to do with our case?" Yang Guan asked while scratching his head.
"..." Yan Yufei's momentum stuttered to a halt. Once again, Yang Guan was right. While the strange statue indicated not all was right in this temple, it didn't seem to be related to the General of Punishment at all.
It was at this moment a flash of inspiration lit up in Ye Qing's mind. He blurted, "No, there is a relation!"
Yan Yufei and Yang Guan immediately looked at him expectantly.
Ye Qing wet his lips and explained his theory, "I'm certain that the General of Punishment is hiding somewhere in this Shing Wong temple, but we've scoured every nook and cranny and found nothing at all. This can only mean that the Stranger is concealing himself somehow."
"You mentioned that this Shing Wong statue is much bigger than an ordinary Shing Wong statue, right? Tell me, what are the chances that the General of Punishment might be hiding within this statue?"
"Huh…"
"Ahhhh!"
Both Yan Yufei and Yang Guan exclaimed in surprise and realization. The idea hadn't occurred to them until Ye Qing had made the connection, but now, they were starting to think he was right!
When Ye Qing saw the hesitant look on Yan Yufei's face, he said lightly, "You don't have to think so hard about this. There's a simple way to check if my deduction is correct!"
"Really? What is your plan, Joyless?" Yan Yufei asked.
Ye Qing grinned. "We just need to smash the statue and see what's inside!"
"No! You cannot!" Shock rippled through Yan Yufei as he hurriedly stopped Ye Qing. The Shing Wong temple was one of the main attractions of Anyang, and the statue its landmark. It was one thing if the General of Punishment really was hiding in the statue, but he wasn't, then they would be hardpressed to explain their actions to the people.
Ye Qing chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll pay for the damage!"
Yan Yufei laughed involuntarily. Money was hardly the problem here. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to persuade Ye Qing further before the young man put a thumb on the hilt and unsheathed his saber with a crisp ring.
"Joyless, wai—"
Crash!
A blinding light shone from Ye Qing's saber and slammed squarely against the Shing Wong statue. As it crumbled into smithereens, the glitter of gold shone from within.
...
"This is bad!"
At the temple grounds, an old man with a slightly crooked back abruptly looked up with a sinister, vicious gleam in his eyes the second the Shing Wong statue was destroyed. He was an incense acolyte that Yan Yufei had questioned earlier.
"Stop! What are you doing?" A bailiff shouted and broke into a run when he noticed that he was striding toward the main hall. His colleagues were rushing over from multiple directions as well.
"Out of my way!" The incense acolyte yelled and unleashed a cold, terrible aura. Everyone shivered involuntarily when the aura washed over them.
The next moment, something terrifying froze them all in their tracks. The incense acolyte's nose, mouth, ears, and finally the eyes gradually disappeared one by one. When all was said and done, the incense acolyte had turned completely faceless!
"Mmm! Mmm!"
The temple acolyte wasn't the only one who turned faceless. Every bailiff in the area was losing their face as well. When their facial features were completely gone, they abruptly collapsed to the floor and died just like that.
The temple acolyte immediately started toward the main hall once more, but he paused just a couple of steps later and changed his mind. "No, it's already too late. I should escape before anyone finds me!"
He stomped his foot angrily and leaped onto a rooftop. Then, he disappeared into the distance.
...
Back at the main hall, a brand new statue stood before the trio after the blinding light had faded. It was a literal gold statue with two heads, four heads and six arms. One head wore a kind and amiable smile, while the other a savage and vicious snarl. Their expressions looked so lifelike they could be real. The statue wielded an axe, a hatchet, a hook, a fork, a saber, and a sword.
The statue looked incredibly majestic. It was also brimming with the power of wishes. However, its majesty was mixed with some sort of unspeakable evil that elicited a horribly twisted, discordant feeling.
"The General of Punishment! It really is the General of Punishment!" Yang Guan exclaimed with bulging eyes.
Yan Yufei was far more furious than he was shocked, however. A sudden, terrible aura erupted from his body as he roared, "How dare you forge a golden body and steal the power of the people's wishes for yourself!"