The tenth day of the tenth month, light rain fell from the heavens, and a demon god was born in the southeast.

As dawn just barely broke, Tu Jinxiong sent someone to fetch Meng Rui. The previous day, Meng Rui had already told Tu Jinxiong that he was staying at Floating Cloud Temple on Fuyao Mountain.

Outside the black room at the county yamen, Tu Jinxiong was already waiting. With him were two other people, a man and a woman, both around fifty years of age. Tu Jinxiong introduced them to Meng Rui—these two were Meng Chuan’s parents. Meng Chuan’s mother said that Meng Chuan had been missing for more than ten days.

Tu Jinxiong glanced at Meng Rui and pushed open the stone door of the black room. Instantly, a stench mixed with decay, foulness, and bloody grease assaulted them. Tu Jinxiong frowned slightly, and Meng Chuan’s parents both pinched their noses shut. Only Meng Rui remained expressionless.

The group entered the black room, and the coroner lifted the shroud from a stone bed. Beneath the cloth was precisely the corpse that had been discovered on the banks of the Qin River.

“Is this your son?” Tu Jinxiong stepped aside to make room, and the two people behind him moved forward.

Meng Chuan’s parents stared at the corpse for a while. Suddenly, Meng Chuan’s mother burst into loud wailing. “My son! This is my son Meng Chuan! My son, you died so miserably, you died so miserably!”

Meng Chuan’s father also choked with intermittent sobs. Meng Rui silently observed the two for a moment, then turned his face away and stopped looking.

Meng Chuan’s mother wept inconsolably, her voice growing louder and louder. Tu Jinxiong could only escort the two out, then returned and said, “Yesterday I investigated multiple cliff edges along the upper reaches of the Qin River, but found nothing. There really are quite a few cliff edges along the Qin River—at a rough count, there are about twelve or thirteen.”

Meng Rui made a sound of acknowledgment, but his attention was on Meng Chuan’s corpse. On the neck of the corpse was a vertical stab wound. Meng Rui gestured around the wound, his gaze filled with doubt. Tu Jinxiong interjected, “The coroner said this wound was scraped by rotten wood in the river. Does Lord Meng find something inappropriate?”

Meng Rui said indifferently, “It’s nothing, just taking a look.”

“I almost forgot—the white jade horse found on the deceased’s body yesterday was given by Gong Le.” Tu Jinxiong smiled teasingly. “Meng Chuan and Gong Le. One is a mountain youth, the other a wealthy young master. How could they become friends—and Gong Le was so heartbroken and distressed, their friendship must be extraordinary.”

“The affairs of this mortal world change in countless ways. No one can say for certain.” Meng Rui said. Tu Jinxiong nodded in agreement.

“I always feel that the youth called Gong Le is hiding something in his heart, making it difficult to fathom what he’s thinking.” Meng Rui turned to look at Tu Jinxiong. “Are you familiar with the Gong Family?”

Tu Jinxiong grinned. “Somewhat. In the past, Magistrate Wang would always invite local gentry and wealthy merchants to his banquets. The Gong Family is the foremost commercial power in Jinxia County, with holdings worth half the county. Every time there’s a banquet, the Gong Family sits at the head table. The current head of the Gong Family is Old Madam Gong, who is Gong Le’s mother. Hey, Old Madam Gong gave birth to Gong Le when she was forty years old. He’s her only son and heir, so he’s treasured beyond measure. It’s said that from childhood until now, no fewer than eighty—if not a hundred—servants and maids have attended to Gong Le. Whenever one doesn’t suit his fancy, they get replaced.”

The corners of Meng Rui’s mouth curved upward. “A pearl hidden in a box is not necessarily a good thing.”

Tu Jinxiong continued, “Gong Le also has an uncle called Gong Sihai. He doesn’t get along with Old Madam Gong and is determined to monopolize the Gong Family’s holdings. Wealthy families love to scheme against each other. It seems having little money isn’t necessarily bad, and having much money isn’t necessarily good either.”

After finishing with other matters, Tu Jinxiong chatted on with Meng Rui, talking about the major cases he handled under Xuan Yuanshan’s command. He also mentioned two people that Xuan Yuanshan often spoke of—one was Meng Rui, the other was the Ghost Catcher Li Si. Meng Rui disliked noise, but he didn’t feel much aversion to Tu Jinxiong’s endless chatter.

In the end, Tu Jinxiong’s face turned bitter. “Sigh, I’m handling this duty in such a stifling manner. Early this morning, Magistrate Wang summoned me. I thought it was about Meng Chuan’s case, but who knew it was again about the innocent deaths of some golden canary and parrot—he even said that while the murder case must be investigated, the bird-killing case must also be thoroughly looked into.”

As he spoke, Tu Jinxiong unconsciously smiled bitterly.

“Hmph, Magistrate Wang is truly a parental official who knows and delights in birds above all else.” Meng Rui’s words dripped with sarcasm, showing no mercy to anyone.

“Last night another parrot worth a hundred taels died. What’s jaw-dropping is that the bird’s owner said he saw a strange green cat shadow. Then Magistrate Wang ordered me to catch the cat—”

Tu Jinxiong’s words were cut short as a yamen runner hurried into the hall. “Chief Tu, someone has killed someone in the Gong Residence! The magistrate orders you to go to the Gong Residence immediately!”

Tu Jinxiong and Meng Rui exchanged glances. Tu Jinxiong said helplessly, “What drama is the Gong Residence trying to stage now?”

The Gong Residence occupied a large estate in the western part of Jinxia County. Tu Jinxiong and Meng Rui entered the Gong Residence, where pavilions, terraces, and buildings stood in neat rows. Servants led them to the main hall of the fifth courtyard. Outside the hall, Meng Rui saw the pale-faced Gong Le sitting on a chair to the lower right. His left hand appeared to be injured, wrapped in several layers of white cloth.

Sitting across from Gong Le was a man in his forties, with a broad back and powerful build, his gaze oppressive. At first glance, this person seemed like a crude fellow, but looking at his attire—brocade robes and ornate boots, hair bound with a blue cloud pendant—he gave off an air of wealthy dignity and authority. His eyes especially glinted with sharp radiance.

At the man’s feet lay a pitch-black dagger, emanating wisps of chilling cold.

This person must be Gong Le’s uncle, Gong Sihai, Meng Rui thought to himself.

In the center of the main hall, at the head position, sat a lady around sixty years of age. Naturally, this was the current head of the Gong Family, Old Madam Gong. Old Madam Gong had kind features and sat composed with serene dignity.

Upon seeing Tu Jinxiong, Gong Sihai spoke coldly. “Sister-in-law, now that people from the authorities have arrived, this matter should be given an explanation.”

“What explanation?” Old Madam Gong’s tone remained calm.

“Gong Le secretly concealed a dagger and tried to assassinate me. Hmph, but I subdued him. Killing and assaulting someone certainly warrants imprisonment, sister-in-law.” Gong Sihai raised his voice.

“What great ability—sending your own nephew to prison would be so glorious?” Old Madam Gong’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming sharp and astute, perfectly restraining Gong Sihai’s mounting anger. Old Madam Gong showed slight emotion. “Sihai, after your elder brother died, you are Gong Le’s only paternal elder. You are equivalent to his father. Have you ever heard of a son trying to assassinate his father?”

“But he clearly was concealing a dagger when he came to find me—”

“Then you don’t understand the situation. The person Gong Le ordinarily respects most is you. He knows you practice martial arts and were even an escort master in your youth who roamed the jianghu, so he has long admired your martial skills. Sigh, Gong Le wanted to grow closer to you, which is why he concealed a dagger—hoping you would teach him martial arts. This child is introverted, so he was surely frightened by you and panicked when he pulled out the dagger. Then his left hand was injured by you.” Old Madam Gong’s words reached this point, tears nearly streaming down. “In this situation, Gong Le is already beside himself with shock. Not only do you, his uncle, fail to comfort him, you aggressively bring in constables to send him to prison—Sihai, how can your heart bear it?”

“I, he, oh my!” Gong Sihai’s square face turned as dark as pig’s liver, yet he had no words to argue.

Old Madam Gong left Gong Sihai speechless and turned to look at Tu Jinxiong. “How dare we trouble the authorities with Gong Family affairs? Servants, prepare a modest gift for each official and see our guests out.”

Tu Jinxiong laughed dryly twice. “Old Madam Gong, then Tu will take his leave.”

Old Madam Gong closed her eyes and said nothing more. Tu Jinxiong and Meng Rui turned to leave. Suddenly, a weak yet stubborn voice came from behind. “Wait.”

Meng Rui turned back. The one speaking was the pale-faced Gong Le.

Gong Le pointed at Gong Sihai with his hand and said each word clearly, “I didn’t want to learn martial arts from him. I wanted to kill him!”

The expression on every person’s face in the main hall of the Gong Residence changed dramatically.

“Gong Sihai caused Achuan’s death. I want to avenge Achuan!”