Qin Wan’s heart jumped at these words, but her face remained calm, “People have said before that my fate is hard. After my parents died, some said my soul went with them. Others said I carry a deadly aura. Perhaps that’s why the Taoist Master can’t see clearly…”
Taoist Zhang looked at Qin Wan, then suddenly smiled. He was originally a Taoist and much of this Moon Worship Cult’s knowledge came from Taoism. He naturally didn’t believe Qin Wan’s explanation, but since she said so, why should he contradict her?
“So that’s it, perhaps that’s the reason.”
Seeing Taoist Zhang had no intention of probing further, Qin Wan finally relaxed. Taoist Zhang had some divine powers and might truly see something, but as long as he didn’t harbor ill intentions to investigate thoroughly, Qin Wan wasn’t afraid. Moreover, her status was different now – even if Taoist Zhang said something, no one would believe it.
“Taoist Zhang, you always calculate three locations. Isn’t there one best place?”
Taoist Zhang frowned slightly, “It’s truly not easy to determine which is best. Moreover, for the killer now, the best location would naturally be one the authorities won’t discover. When Captain Zhan returns, we’ll go to the south of the city to see which place is most suitable for the killer to act…”
Qin Wan nodded and left Taoist Zhang’s courtyard to wait outside for Zhan Yang. It was late afternoon when Zhan Yang finally returned with his men. Learning Qin Wan was waiting, he immediately came to see her.
“Imperial Princess, I went to visit Wang Shouchang’s friends. None knew about him burning someone to death earlier. I also asked Wang Shouchang’s mother. She said only she and Wang Shouchang’s father knew about this at the time. Originally, one of her maids also knew, but that maid had left the Wang family to retire and died six years ago. That old maid had a son – we’re still investigating his whereabouts. Whether Wang Shouchang told anyone else afterward, his mother doesn’t know, but since this would affect his reputation, he generally wouldn’t tell anyone himself.”
Once again trapped in the cycle of being unable to determine how the killer learned of the victims’ evil deeds, Qin Wan’s heart felt heavy, “First Wu Qian, then Zhao Jiaxu and Wu Dequan, and now this Wang Shouchang. These people had different statuses and occupations, yet the killer somehow knew all their evil deeds…”
“Yes, it’s too strange. The killer must be someone who knows many people, perhaps with connections to various industries.”
Qin Wan sighed, “Taoist Zhang has calculated two places, both possible locations for the next incident. Do you want to check them?”
Hearing this, Zhan Yang immediately nodded and sent someone to call Taoist Zhang out. Taoist Zhang indeed brought his calculated diagrams, “Captain Zhan, I’ve calculated two locations so far. Let me take you to see them first, to prepare.”
Zhan Yang nodded, immediately ordering carriages and horses prepared. Shortly after, they left the magistrate’s office with Taoist Zhang and Qin Wan.
Taoist Zhang’s newly calculated locations were both in the south of the city. The group traveled less than half an hour before reaching the first location. This location was also in a residential area. Though not as prestigious as Xing Le or Xing An Quarter, it was still where wealthy Southerners lived. The lanes were wide, with grand mansions on both sides. Taoist Zhang walked while muttering, then after a moment pointed at a large mansion, “This is the Vermilion Bird Ghost Lodge – this is the first location.”
Tong Yu looked at the surrounding houses and stepped forward, “In a place like this, with prominent families living around, surely the killer wouldn’t dare murder here…”
Zhan Yang frowned, “Have you forgotten our previous mistake?”
Qin Wan nodded, “Indeed. We think murder is impossible here, the killer thinks the same and might exploit this point. Also, according to the Moon Worship Cult’s seven hells, the next sacrifice is for the Stone Grinding Hell. Whether these places have the possibility of killing using stone mills or similar items is also very important.”
Zhan Yang looked at Tong Yu, “Remember that!”
Tong Yu nodded, naturally not daring to contradict Zhan Yang.
Taoist Zhang looked around and pointed in two directions, “These two directions are best. From here forward half a li, you can see the Vermilion Bird Ghost Lodge. The killer might choose other alleys too.”
Vermilion Bird Ghost Lodge… Zhan Yang looked up at the sky. Though he didn’t understand Taoist Zhang’s meaning, he dared not be careless. He quickly had Tong Yu take several constables to investigate nearby. After the investigation, it was already late. Zhan Yang then took Taoist Zhang to the next location, which was further south and increasingly remote. When Taoist Zhang said they’d arrived, Zhan Yang frowned as soon as he got out of the carriage—
Before them was an abandoned mill. The main gate had long collapsed, surrounding walls had crumbled to one side, and weeds grew wild in the courtyard. Several millstones had fallen from their wooden platforms, covered in moss.
Seeing the courtyard, Tong Yu exclaimed in surprise, “It can’t be this coincidental…”
They had just discussed the killer imitating the Stone Grinding Hell, and now they’d come to a courtyard full of millstones. Plus, the courtyard had been abandoned for too long. At dusk, it had quite an eerie feeling. Tong Yu shrank his neck, his spine chilling.
Taoist Zhang smiled, “It is quite coincidental. Though such things don’t necessarily require millstones, not using such a perfect place wouldn’t match the killer’s mindset. This place directly faces the Vermilion Bird Zhang Lodge – also the best position. Further south, the terrain is too low; northward, it’s too high, and the two mansions in front are somewhat tall, blocking the night’s yin qi flow. This looks like the best place by all measures…”
Zhan Yang’s mind stirred, alertly looking around, “Could the killer have already chosen this place?”
Just as he spoke, Tong Yu at the front suddenly called out, “Boss, come look at this quickly!”
Zhan Yang’s expression changed as he hurried forward. Tong Yu had gone into the abandoned mill building. The building’s doors and windows had rotted, leaving only walls standing. Weeds grew between the floor tiles, and dust and cobwebs covered the lintels and beams. Looking at the building, it was clear no one had lived there for decades. However, in this abandoned building, a thick rope as wide as a fist hung in the middle, with a millstone disc suspended at the bottom. The disc was as wide as one person’s embrace but very thick, weighing at least a hundred jin. If the millstone fell and hit someone, they would certainly die.
“Why is this thing hanging here?!” Tong Yu’s expression changed, “This rope looks very new—”
As he spoke, Qin Wan said from the side, “Someone has been here.”
Qin Wan was looking at a clump of weeds. In early summer, the weeds growing in the building were fresh green, but the weeds under the millstone were pressed flat against the floor tiles as if crushed by something.
Qin Wan followed those marks outward. In the light, the traces on the ground were especially clear. On the moss-covered tiles was a track like cartwheels, “The killer has been here, within ten days. They rolled in the outside millstone and made this trap. The killer had already determined the location for each upcoming sacrifice and prepared early.”
The height difference between the crushed and uncrushed grass wasn’t much, showing the killer had come recently. Hearing Qin Wan’s words, Zhan Yang immediately frowned again, “Now that we’ve come, the killer must know.”
Just as they were speaking, Qin Wan’s gaze shifted toward the courtyard entrance. She saw a flash of blue silk robe outside. Qin Wan’s expression changed, “Someone’s outside! Captain Zhan!”
Zhan Yang immediately gave chase. Seeing this, Qin Wan immediately called out, “Bai Ying, you go too!”
Tong Yu followed Zhan Yang, and halfway through saw Bai Ying’s figure flash past, running even faster than him, a grown man. Tong Yu was extremely surprised but dared not slack off. The other constables, seeing this situation, quickly joined the chase. With everyone gone, only Taoist Zhang and Qin Wan remained in the building.
Taoist Zhang frowned slightly, “Surely the killer didn’t follow us here?”
Qin Wan also felt something wasn’t quite right, “We came from the magistrate’s office to the previous location before coming here. If the killer followed all the way, we shouldn’t have failed to notice…”
Taoist Zhang shook his head. He wasn’t truly interested in solving cases, just examining the building, walking while muttering. Soon, he discovered another pattern on the ground. This pattern wasn’t drawn with cinnabar but made by rolling millstones. After several days, the marks were very faint but still noticed by Taoist Zhang.
Taoist Zhang’s expression changed slightly. He followed the marks in a circle, then crouched down to touch the patterns, “It seems this person’s ambition isn’t small, actually wanting to invoke the Evil-Destroying Curse—”
Qin Wan had been worriedly watching the courtyard entrance. Hearing this, she turned to look at Taoist Zhang, “What is the Evil-Destroying Curse?”
Taoist Zhang continued crouching, “The Evil-Destroying Ritual is already extremely malevolent. If this Evil-Destroying Curse is used too, this person’s ambition likely isn’t just seeking simple wealth and glory. I’ve only heard of this thing, don’t know exactly how it works. Besides living sacrifices, it also requires one’s own blood…”
Taoist Zhang spoke in a heavy tone, and Qin Wan listened very attentively. But before Taoist Zhang finished, Qin Wan suddenly heard a whistling sound, like an extremely fast bee flying over her head.
Qin Wan frowned, initially not knowing what happened, but looking up, she saw the rope holding the millstone had somehow been half cut through. The thick rope was unraveling into thin strands, the millstone beneath swaying precariously. Looking again at Taoist Zhang crouched beneath the millstone, his back to her as he studied intently, Qin Wan’s expression changed drastically, “Taoist Master! Move!”
Taoist Zhang, suddenly startled by Qin Wan’s shout, instinctively looked toward her. As he looked, the loosened strands began breaking one by one. Qin Wan gritted her teeth and flew forward to push Taoist Zhang. He only felt a blur before his eyes as Qin Wan’s hands pushed him forward. Then came a thunderous “Bang!” as something crashed down!
Taoist Zhang was pushed and fell to the ground. Before he could collect himself, he heard Qin Wan’s light cry. Taoist Zhang froze, his mind roaring. Getting up to look, he saw Qin Wan also sprawled on the ground, her black hair spread across her back. She lay tight against the millstone, half her shoulder hidden. Taoist Zhang was horrified and quickly went forward, “Imperial Princess!”
Qin Wan’s elbows were on the ground, scraped and bleeding through her clothes. Seeing Taoist Zhang panic as he pushed the millstone, Qin Wan gave a bitter smile, “It’s fine, my hair… my hair is trapped—”
Taoist Zhang, who hadn’t lost composure in years of imprisonment, now didn’t know what to do in his horror. Hearing Qin Wan say this, he quickly crouched to check her shoulder. Looking, he saw Qin Wan’s shoulder was still two inches from the millstone – only her waterfall of black hair was trapped beneath.
Taoist Zhang sighed in relief, his legs weakening as he collapsed sitting. “Imperial Princess, you… if you were injured today, this old one’s life wouldn’t be enough to repay—”
Qin Wan smiled helplessly, “Taoist Master, just cut my hair free.”
“If Imperial Princess had been a moment slower, half your body would have been crushed.”
The old floor tiles had been crushed into a pit. Qin Wan’s shoulder was just two inches from the millstone. Looking at the black hair trapped beneath, Taoist Zhang’s heart kept pounding wildly. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to cut Qin Wan’s hair – body and hair are received from parents, especially for a woman. Taoist Zhang took a deep breath and stood to push the millstone. However, Taoist Zhang was too weak. It took tremendous effort to finally push the millstone away—
Taoist Zhang was covered in sweat from exhaustion. Only then could Qin Wan pull her hair free and stand up, patting the dust from her clothes. Remarkably, Qin Wan showed no fear.
Taoist Zhang looked at Qin Wan, his heart full of complex emotions. Looking again at the few strands of black hair on the ground, Taoist Zhang lifted his robe and knelt before Qin Wan, “Thank you today, Imperial Princess. This old one owes no one, but today owes Imperial Princess a life-saving grace.”
Qin Wan heard this helplessly, “Taoist Master needn’t be like this. I would save anyone here, besides I calculated and thought nothing serious would happen—”
Earlier the situation was urgent. Taoist Zhang was frozen directly under the millstone, unaware of what was happening above. By the time he looked up and saw the danger overhead, it would have been too late. She would save Taoist Zhang, Zhan Yang, and Zheng Baishi alike.
Qin Wan bent to help him up, “Please rise, Taoist Master.” As she spoke, voices came from outside the courtyard. Qin Wan quickly picked up the black hair from the ground and said hurriedly, “Taoist Master, please get up quickly. Don’t let my maid know about this matter yet.”
Hearing the approaching voices, Taoist Zhang finally stood.
Just as they patted the dust from their clothes, Zhan Yang and Bai Ying rushed in. Upon entering, they saw the fallen millstone. Bai Ying’s expression changed drastically as she rushed in, “Young Miss! What happened!”
Qin Wan sighed, “We fell into a trap—”
Qin Wan finished speaking and picked up the hemp rope from the ground, carefully examining the break. One side was cleanly cut, while the other side was frayed with uneven strands. Qin Wan showed this to Zhan Yang, then pointed to a distant beam, “Captain Zhan, the killer wanted Taoist Zhang’s life. You should be able to find the weapon in that direction.”