The heavy city gate emitted a throat-strangling creaking sound as he entered Dougu County.

Dougu County is located in the north of Suzhou in the Great World Dynasty, adjacent to Qingzhou, surrounded by mountains. The population of Dougu County is less than two thousand. Because it backs against the mountains, there isn’t much arable land for cultivation, so the lives of the common people here are relatively impoverished.

Dougu County has only one long street wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. Walking past the bustling storefronts and shops, at the end stands the Dougu County Government Office. At the second quarter of the si hour, noisy clamoring spread through Dougu’s long street. The common people, accustomed to quietness and who had always been non-contentious, surged toward the source of the commotion—outside the gates of the Dougu County Government Office.

A woman in her thirties, her hairpin askew to one side and her hair bun scattered across her forehead, wept bitterly outside the county office. Beside her stood a dejected middle-aged man. A blue-robed constable named Chen Shang emerged from the county office entrance. Seeing the woman blocking the county office gate and crying incessantly, Chen Shang frowned and said, “Fu Nianyu, the County Magistrate has already sent people to search for your daughter. What use is it for you to keep wailing here? You’d be better off using this time to go search yourselves.”

“Madam, the constable is right. Let’s go back first.” The weak-willed Fu Nianyu tried to help his wife up. But Madam Fu—Niu Zhiying—had a straightforward, blunt temperament. She shook off her husband’s hand and said, “Search? In these past few years, how many girls have mysteriously disappeared in Dougu County? Which one have you ever found? You say it sounds good, that the County Magistrate will help us search for our daughter, but aren’t you really just helping him search for his fifth concubine?”

What Niu Zhiying said was harsh, but it was the truth. This County Magistrate of Dougu was named Du Yi’an. Having served as county magistrate in Dougu for ten years, though he hadn’t received any promotions, his days grew increasingly comfortable. Not only had he built two imposing mansions, but in those ten years he had also married four concubines. Du Yi’an’s greatest skill as an official was muddling through, turning a blind eye to things, so in the eyes of the common people he was purely a wine-and-meat parent official.

“You shrew, how dare you slander the County Magistrate! Someone, arrest this woman and throw her in the prison!” Chen Shang couldn’t maintain face. Du Yi’an was his direct superior—insulting Du Yi’an was no different from insulting himself. A bailiff carrying an official blade had just grabbed hold of Niu Zhiying when he suddenly felt his arm go numb, and both hands hung down powerlessly.

Fu Nianyu’s vision blurred, and a man dressed in ramie cloth suddenly appeared standing beside him, seemingly out of nowhere.

The ramie-clothed man had loose flowing hair. Beneath his hair, on the left side of his cheek, was a conspicuous blue birthmark in the shape of a beast’s head. The man carried a long box on his back and looked toward Chen Shang.

Chen Shang’s body couldn’t help but feel a chill: “Who are you, daring to obstruct officials from making an arrest!”

“She’s merely a woman driven to desperate words by the grief of losing her daughter. If you think carefully, it’s understandable. Constable, surely you wouldn’t stoop to the level of a loose-tongued woman? Could it be that seeing her without her child isn’t enough—you must throw her in prison before you’re satisfied?” After the green-faced man spoke these few sentences, the surrounding common people all echoed in agreement. Chen Shang didn’t want to escalate the matter, so he said, “I was just angry for a moment. Very well. Fu Nianyu, quickly take her away.”

“Alright.” Fu Nianyu pulled Niu Zhiying away, stopping every few steps as they left the county office. Niu Zhiying turned her head back and bowed deeply toward the green-faced man, saying, “May I ask the gallant hero’s name?”

“Meng Rui.” The green-faced man smiled slightly, and the ferocity on his face softened considerably.

In Xinghua Residence, Dougu’s largest wine house, a man in yellow robes was drinking enthusiastically, cursing from his mouth: “I’ve worked like an ox and horse for you all this time, and you kick me away with one foot—in your dreams! You want to drive me away, but I refuse to leave. If you want to continue your business, you’ll have to ask whether I’m willing!”

“Master Ma, you’re drunk. Please drink less.” The waiter kindly advised. Ma He’niu’s eyes widened in anger, and he kicked the waiter over, roaring furiously: “Looking down on people with dog eyes—are you afraid I have no money? Take this!” Ma He threw a silver ingot on the table and continued demanding more wine.

Outside Xinghua Residence, two men in short blue jackets muttered a few words. One person left Xinghua Residence while the other remained on guard at the original position.

The short-jacketed man rushed into a grove of trees to the north. In the woods sat a purple-lacquered carriage. The short-jacketed man quietly reported outside the carriage. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a low voice came from inside the carriage: “Continue watching him.”

“Yes.” The short-jacketed man received his orders and rushed out of the woods.

Inside the carriage, whispered conversation between two people gradually arose.

“Father, this Ma He is seeking death, daring to say such things in the county town.” One voice said indignantly.

“Sigh, I saw early on that this boy had excessive greed and would sooner or later become a disaster, but I also remembered that he did quite a bit for us, so I gave him a way to live. I didn’t expect he would refuse the path to life—this can’t be blamed on this old man.” The previously low voice said.

“Father, do you intend to…”

Meng Rui wandered dazedly through Dougu for an entire day. At the you hour, he checked into a small inn. In the middle of the night, wind rose. Sleeping on the bed, Meng Rui’s eyelids twitched violently.

A phantom dressed in a black cloak shot up from the ground. With one grab he seized the younger sister in Meng Rui’s arms. Meng Rui wanted to rescue his sister, but his strength was simply insufficient. The black-cloaked phantom carried his sister and leaped into the pitch-black night. Meng Rui gritted his teeth and gave mad chase all the way.

In the end he got lost, lost in a magnificent and mystical sea of flowers.

And there was an intense smell. Years later, in the black room of Lao Sitou, the Great World’s number one coroner, he would smell this scent again. Lao Sitou told him that this was the smell of corpses slowly rotting and stinking.

Demonic flowers, the stench of rotting corpses, the phantom in the black cloak, his sister Wan Xiang’s final crying…

“No!” Meng Rui startled awake from the nightmare. He tightly gripped the curved blade “Death God” at the bedside—this was his only support for fifteen years.

The night was thick outside the window. Meng Rui walked to the window and stared blankly. He didn’t know why, but at this moment, memories of his sister that had been sealed away for many years surged up once more in Meng Rui’s mind.

“Wan Xiang…” Meng Rui murmured thus.

A flash of light passed through Meng Rui’s eyes. He rushed out of the inn and charged into the Dougu County Government Office. Chen Shang discovered that the sinister, frightening man from daytime had appeared again. He gripped his official blade tightly and asked, “What are you here for?”

“I’m here to find someone.” Meng Rui took out a purple token with a coiled dragon drawn on it. Beside the dragon was a sharp sword.

Chen Shang stared at it for a long while, then suddenly shouted: “This is a Divine Detective’s token?!”

“You are the Azure Edge Divine Detective Meng Rui.” Chen Shang stared at Meng Rui’s ferocious face and said.

“Yes.” Meng Rui put away the token. “Can you help me find someone now?”

“Yes, yes. May I ask whom Master Meng wishes to find?” Chen Shang knew that Divine Detectives held the official rank of Fourth Grade from the Top and reported directly to the Old Emperor.

Meng Rui paused and said, “Fu Nianyu.”

Fu Nianyu’s home was in the poor district of southeastern Dougu. Large swaths of crude, dilapidated houses connected one after another, trapping people layer upon layer within this enormous circle, creating an oppressive feeling of being unable to catch one’s breath.

Fu Nianyu had grown tired of listening to Niu Zhiying’s crying. He walked outside wanting to get some fresh air. Opening the door, a person stood prominently outside.

“It’s you?” Fu Nianyu looked at the person outside the door in astonishment.

Meng Rui nodded: “We meet again.”

Fu Nianyu invited Meng Rui inside. The Fu family home had four bare walls—nothing at all. Niu Zhiying straightened her clothing and emerged from the inner room. Her eyes were rimmed red—it wasn’t hard to see she had been crying again.

“Madam Fu, I’ve come to discuss… your daughter.” Meng Rui sighed softly. “Actually, I too am someone from the official ranks. I think perhaps I can help.”

Niu Zhiying nodded. Fu Nianyu described in detail every bit of what happened the night his daughter Fu Dan was abducted. A black-cloaked man leaped through the window like a phantom and carried away the sleeping Fu Dan. As Fu Nianyu spoke, he led Meng Rui to the rear courtyard.

The Fu family’s rear courtyard was extremely small, yet there was a massive ancient locust tree bending its body and taking root within the yard. Meng Rui stared at the ancient locust for a while, then leaped up onto the tree branches and asked, “The black-cloaked man crouched right here that night?”

“Yes, exactly where you’re standing.” Fu Nianyu looked up at Meng Rui and nodded in confirmation.

Meng Rui carefully examined the area around the tree branches. Suddenly, light flickered faintly in his eyes.

This tree branch wasn’t far from the surrounding wall. One only needed to leap lightly to land on the long street outside. Given Fu Nianyu’s weak scholarly body, there was no way he could have given chase. Meng Rui descended from the tree and asked Fu Nianyu again if there were any other suspicious points or small clues he could mention. After thinking it over, Fu Nianyu shook his head.

Niu Zhiying seemed to remember something and tugged on Fu Nianyu’s sleeve, saying, “Didn’t you say you smelled a fragrance?”

“Fragrance?” Meng Rui was taken aback.

“Yes, yes, under the tree I once smelled a fragrance. How should I put it—it was like the rouge scent that women apply, but also not quite… and it seemed not just a fragrance alone. Alas, with my clumsy mouth, I just can’t describe that smell.” After fumbling for a long time, Fu Nianyu still couldn’t explain clearly. Close to the zi hour, Meng Rui left the Fu residence.

Niu Zhiying saw him off to the door. Though she said nothing, the hope in her eyes already explained everything.

Meng Rui looked at Niu Zhiying and seemed to see his own confused, helpless self from fifteen years ago.

November twentieth, Dougu County Government Office.

Meng Rui met County Magistrate Du Yi’an.

Du Yi’an had a fat head and large ears, a very fortunate appearance. He showed immense enthusiasm toward Meng Rui’s arrival, nodding and saying, “The great reputation of the Four Great Detectives has spread far and wide, but unfortunately Du has always been confined to this narrow frontier and has never had the pleasure. I didn’t expect to finally have this wish fulfilled today.”

“Magistrate Du is too kind.” Meng Rui responded coolly.

“I heard from my subordinates that Master Meng has been inquiring about Fu Nianyu’s situation. May I ask what Master Meng intends…”

“I want to help find his daughter.” Meng Rui spoke truthfully.

Du Yi’an’s tone suddenly changed, becoming somewhat mysterious as he said, “Actually, to be honest with Master Meng, throughout Suzhou, especially in remote places adjacent to deep mountain forests, there are many terrifying legends… things like soul-devouring ghosts tearing out hearts, forest demons flaying skin—among them is one legend about the Ghost Witch.”

“The Ghost Witch is a shaman from primitive tribes in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Rumor has it that when they are about to die and return to heaven, they find ways to come to towns and villages to abduct young girls and boys, drinking their fresh blood to extend their lifespan.” Du Yi’an drew in a cold breath. “Ghost Witches have elusive whereabouts, appearing and disappearing like ghosts. After abducting young children, they sneak back into the Hundred Thousand Mountains. According to legend, they like to wear black cloaks, wrapping their entire bodies inside the cloaks.”

“Alas, those poor children.” Du Yi’an made a tearful expression.

Meng Rui scoffed: “It seems Magistrate Du deeply believes these deep mountain rumors.”

“Not necessarily so. It’s just that in recent years, Dougu County and the surrounding villages have indeed lost many children inexplicably, and many people have also seen phantom-like people wearing black cloaks. So, haha, one can’t help but be suspicious.” Du Yi’an’s gaze hid within folds of fat, staring at Meng Rui.

“Ghost Witch?” Meng Rui showed no expression. “Has Magistrate Du ever sent people into the deep mountains to search for the children?”

“We searched, we did search. But Master Meng, you also know that both Suzhou and Nanxian Province have the same endless Hundred Thousand Mountains. Searching for a few children in the deep forest of the Hundred Thousand Mountains—how could that be an easy matter? Moreover, wild beasts and poisonous snakes frequently bite the constables and bailiffs. Gradually no one dares to go anymore.”

“Hmph, they fear snakes, insects, and wild beasts, but I do not.” Meng Rui smiled slightly. “I forgot to mention to Magistrate Du—I’m also from Dougu. My home is in the mountains.”

“Ah, you’re also from Dougu! Where in Dougu?”

“Sanfen Village.” Meng Rui said calmly.