At the hour of Xu, Night Bridge Town was deathly silent, like a dead town.

A lonely black bird, as if startled, flew up from the dense forest outside the town. Two human figures simultaneously swept out of the woods following the bird’s shadow at high speed. Outside the forest was the cold and clear Jade River. The figures stopped. The moonlight was mottled, shining on their faces—it was Li Si and Wu Wen.

Wu Wen looked at the black bird in the high sky and muttered, “That damn bird gave me a fright!”

Li Si slowly walked to the edge of the Jade River, fixing his gaze on a dark water shadow beneath the river’s surface. Wu Wen followed and said, “Catcher, it’s that hidden stone bridge.”

Li Si nodded and asked Wu Wen, “Wu Wen, do you know why we searched along the stone bridge but didn’t find the tomb I had seen?”

Wu Wen shook his head. Li Si gazed at the opposite shore and murmured, “The reason we didn’t find the tomb, I’ve already figured it out.”

“What is it?” Wu Wen asked curiously.

“Because there’s not just one hidden stone bridge in the Jade River, but two.” As soon as Li Si finished speaking, a large flock of black birds fluttered out from above the dense forest they had come from. The flock of black birds seemed greatly disturbed, flying and circling above the woods.

Wu Wen couldn’t help but clench his fists. Li Si’s hand also moved to the sword at his waist, ready for that critical moment when the sharp blade would be unsheathed!

The black birds continued to take flight. A white figure slowly walked out from the forest. Under the faint moonlight, his face was covered with a thin layer of mist. He gazed at Li Si, gently and weakly, his eyes carrying a dreamlike haziness. Li Si couldn’t help but blurt out, “How could it be you!”

Li Si devoted all his attention to the white figure. Suddenly, a figure sprang out from the Jade River, sprinkling a curtain of purple powder over the heads of Li Si and Wu Wen. In an instant, Li Si’s entire body went weak, his eyelids sinking down heavily.

After a prolonged darkness, Li Si slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying on a cold ground. Fire torches were everywhere around him. A man wearing a fierce mask said coldly to Li Si, “You’ve finally awakened. I thought you would never wake up.”

Li Si’s whole body was weak. He looked around. To his left, Wu Wen was also coming to. To his right lay an old man. Li Si vaguely remembered he was a worker from Linglong Wine Pavilion, called Old Jiutou.

Thinking of Linglong Wine Pavilion, Li Si’s gaze involuntarily looked toward the woman sitting gently by the Jade River’s edge. Li Si sighed, “Qiangong Linglong, Miss Qiangong, I truly didn’t expect it would be you.”

“I’m sorry, Catcher Li. You can understand me this way—I’m not a good woman.” Qiangong Linglong’s voice was full of apology.

“Stop wasting words with this person who’s about to die! From your tone, you seem to know quite a bit. Why don’t you speak up and let us hear?” The masked man’s voice was ice-cold.

“What I know may not be much, but at least I can guess the face behind this mask and to whom it belongs.” Li Si’s gaze met the masked man’s in midair, intertwining.

“Oh, who am I?”

Li Si smiled faintly, “It’s been a while, culprit hidden behind the mask—Zong Yuan.”

The masked man trembled slightly. He tore off his mask, revealing his true face. Just as Li Si had said, he was indeed Zong Yuan, risen from the dead.

Wu Wen stared at Zong Yuan’s face and said in surprise, “How is this possible? Weren’t you already dead?”

Zong Yuan said, “Catcher Li, why don’t you answer and explain how I came back from the dead?”

“Very simple—borrowing a corpse to return the soul!”

Zong Yuan was shocked again. Li Si continued, “Should I say the name of this scapegoat?” “Speak.”

“He should be an old acquaintance of yours, the great philanthropist of Pingyang Pond, She Liang.” Li Si spoke word by word, each like a needle piercing Zong Yuan’s ear. A shadow of gloom passed over Zong Yuan’s brow.

Wu Wen listened in confusion. Zong Yuan nodded and said, “Li Si, you’re not wrong. But I really want to know where I showed my hand. How did you know about my fake death, and how did you guess that the person who died in my place was She Liang?”

“Actually, your scheme of borrowing a corpse to return the soul was very clever. I was almost deceived by you. But no matter how exquisite the lie, it will always show its flaws. After you killed She Liang, you completely destroyed his face, then changed him into your clothes and jade pendant, and finally threw the corpse into the Jade River. But unfortunately, you overlooked one point—a crucial point.”

“What point?”

“You forgot that She Liang was no longer the young rookie from years ago. He had already become a wealthy landowner who got rich overnight. These nouveau riche always love to show off their wealth, so She Liang specifically had both his teeth replaced with gold teeth. These things—I’m afraid you, his old friend, didn’t know about them.” Li Si revealed.

“Hmph, ridiculous! To think that two teeth betrayed me.”

“But at the time, I didn’t notice anything wrong. However, later I learned about your physical habits from Ren Ling’s mouth. After knowing you had no gold teeth in your mouth, I determined that the dead person was not you, but someone else. At this time, my subordinate sent a message by carrier pigeon, informing me that She Liang of Pingyang Pond had been missing for a long time, and described his physical characteristics to me. Immediately after, I found She Liang’s remaining bones in the Jiang Residence after the fire—bones you had destroyed to eliminate evidence. Though the corpse was incomplete, I still found the gold tooth in the remnant skull. A character for ‘She’ was carved behind the gold tooth. From this, I finally uncovered that the person whose corpse you borrowed to return your soul was indeed She Liang.” Li Si spoke with a pale face.

“So you locked your target on me?” Zong Yuan looked at Li Si.

Li Si nodded, then suddenly laughed twice. Zong Yuan was suspicious, “Death is imminent, what are you laughing at?”

“Who says you can’t laugh when death is imminent? I find some things too funny. There was a thief who stole someone else’s dog bowl and treated it as a treasure. Later, afraid the owner would want the dog bowl back, he simply killed the owner. Zong Yuan, don’t you find this funny?”

“You, how do you know these things?” Zong Yuan’s face turned iron-blue.

“Know what?” Li Si fixed his gaze on Zong Yuan and said, “Are you referring to your identity as remnants of ‘Li Luo’?”

As soon as these words came out, not only Zong Yuan, but even Qiangong Linglong sitting by the Jade River showed a surprised expression. Zong Yuan’s gaze was panicked as he shook his head and said, “How could you possibly know these things!”

“How could I not know? Although She Liang only said he lost a dog bowl when he reported the case, the degree of anxiety and worry of an owner who only lost a dog bowl far exceeded those owners who lost luminous pearls and golden leaves. Naturally, I paid attention. I had people secretly question the servants of the She Residence and learned the shape and appearance of this so-called dog bowl, as well as the two characters carved on it in foreign script—’Li Luo’—and the huge skull pattern at the bottom of the bowl.” Li Si paused deliberately here before continuing, “After my subordinate investigated the origins of ‘Li Luo’ and sent it to me by carrier pigeon, I learned part of the truth for the first time. ‘Li Luo’ was originally a small territory that existed in the western border of our country, adjacent to the treacherous Black Mountain Dead Water. But such a weak small nation had survived for several hundred years. The precipitous terrain and the million-mu mountain forest infested with wild beasts helped Li Luo, allowing it to reproduce and thrive. However, this good fortune was terminated over a hundred years ago. At that time, the imperial court sent heavy troops and, after several years of trekking through mountains and rivers, finally destroyed the Li Luo nation. The leading general was even more cruel, completely exterminating the entire Li Luo clan, causing Li Luo to completely disappear from this world.”

A dark shadow appeared on both Zong Yuan’s and Qiangong Linglong’s faces. Zong Yuan’s eyes began to become scorching.

“When I first read this history, I also found it incredible, but my subordinate’s subsequent letter explained the reason Li Luo was exterminated. That is, for several hundred years, the Li Luo people worshipped a heretical religion that could bewitch people’s hearts, called the ‘Skull Cult.’ Legend had it that the cult leader who controlled the Skull Cult could not only make cult members obedient, but could even transform the minds of non-cult members, enslaving them for life. This cult technique could spread rapidly between people—perhaps just in the moment of eye contact, a person would be bewitched and their mind controlled. It could also be said that this was a mysterious and terrifying form of witchcraft. The imperial court feared this witchcraft would spread to the Central Plains, so they ordered the extermination of the Li Luo clan to make this dark art completely disappear from the human world.”

“Absurd, complete nonsense! If it were to spread to the Central Plains, it would have spread there hundreds of years ago. Why would it wait for the nation to be destroyed!” Zong Yuan’s fists clenched with crackling sounds.

“After I learned this clue about Li Luo, I didn’t immediately see through everything. But under many coincidences, I first mistakenly entered Yan Zige’s tomb and discovered the two characters ‘Li Luo’ on the tomb wall. Then, using the cleverness of ‘Seal Soil,’ I found the porcelain shelf mechanism in Ren Youcai’s study and likewise discovered the ‘Li Luo’ characters and the skull pattern. Too many coincidences are no longer coincidences. Li Luo, Night Bridge—what connection could there be between this nation and this place?” Li Si stared at Zong Yuan, as if piercing through skin to see what Zong Yuan was thinking in his heart.

Li Si said slowly, “Later I figured it out. Night Bridge should be where the Li Luo remnants live.”

Zong Yuan walked before Li Si, his face somewhat twisted, and said, “Catcher Li, you’re the smartest constable I’ve ever seen. But unfortunately, you’re not smart enough. You’ve revealed so many secrets—how could I let you continue living in this world?”

Li Si smiled bitterly, “Even if I don’t speak, you still won’t spare me. Isn’t that right?”

Zong Yuan snorted coldly, neither confirming nor denying.

Li Si sighed and said, “When I came to Night Bridge and experienced everything, at this point I also guessed that the thief who robbed Pingyang Pond at night was you. I also knew that you were the instigator of a series of murder cases, and the so-called vengeful spirit Yan Zige coming back for revenge was just you deliberately spreading confusion. But I still have many things I don’t understand. For example, the dog bowl you stole from She Liang—this bowl with obvious Li Luo markings—what exactly is it, and what special use does it have? Moreover, you painstakingly committed so many crimes—what is your ultimate goal? The vengeful spirit Yan Zige who came for revenge—if it truly was you impersonating this wronged soul who died many years ago, then how was the Weimei sword wound on Ren Youcai’s chest left? And also, what is the purpose of the two stone bridges hidden in the Jade River? These questions one by one are stuck in my mind, blocked in my chest. Even if you want to harm me, you should at least let me die understanding, right?”

Zong Yuan was still hesitating when Qiangong Linglong by the Jade River slowly stood up and said, “Since this is Catcher Li’s last wish, then Linglong will help Catcher Li resolve the doubts in his heart. Catcher Li, you guessed correctly. Night Bridge indeed has countless connections with Li Luo. Actually, even before Li Luo met with great disaster, the Li Luo Holy Cult’s cult leader sensed the heavenly mandate and knew Li Luo couldn’t escape the great calamity of living beings being destroyed. But to preserve Li Luo’s civilization and the bloodline that Li Luo had continued for a thousand years, the cult leader made a decision. He secretly sent a group of Li Luo people to Night Bridge Town in the heartland of the Central Plains to live there in hiding under assumed names. This group of people were our parents’ generation, and the last order the Holy Cult’s cult leader gave at that time was to hold fast, endure, and wait.”

Qiangong Linglong looked ghostly at Li Si and said, “We waited for a hundred years, waited until Li Luo’s nation perished, waited until the Li Luo people’s blood ran dry. This wasn’t waiting—it was torment! Catcher Li, how could you possibly understand?”

“Finally, we waited for a hundred years, waited until the turmoil of Li Luo gradually subsided, waited until the name Li Luo was forgotten by the current imperial court. And for us, we waited for an opportunity, waited for a moment filled with blood and tears…” Qiangong Linglong slightly turned her head, her gaze staring at the Jade River. “Catcher Li, do you know that a hundred years ago, what was sent to Night Bridge wasn’t just us, but also a secret—a secret concerning Li Luo, Night Bridge, and us!”

“What secret?” Li Si asked with emotion upon hearing this.

“Do you want to know?” Zong Yuan said coldly, “I’ll tell you! A hundred years ago, when the Holy Cult’s cult leader sent us to Night Bridge, he also sent Li Luo’s entire national wealth and the Holy Cult’s incomparably profound cult techniques to Night Bridge together. At this moment, they are quietly sleeping in the Jade River, waiting to awaken after a hundred years.”

“Li Luo’s wealth, the Holy Cult’s techniques?” Li Si frowned. “Could it be the legendary illusion art that can control people’s minds?”

“Not only these. The Holy Cult’s techniques are ancient and brilliant. What you can imagine is only a hair from nine oxen.” Zong Yuan’s eyes carried a longing expression.

“Sleeping deep in the Jade River? In that case, the hidden stone bridge and the mysterious dog bowl—could they be related to this treasure?” Li Si asked.

Zong Yuan laughed coldly, “Precisely. The stone bridge and dog bowl are the key to opening the Night Bridge treasure. The stone bridge is the secret mechanism that pulls the treasure, and the dog bowl is the pivot on the mechanism. In other words, it’s the key to opening the Night Bridge treasure. The places that activate the mechanism, Catcher Li should also know—one is the porcelain shelf in Ren Youcai’s study, and the other is in Yan Zige’s tomb. As long as you connect the key and the mechanism’s skull pattern, the mechanism will be opened.”

Li Si finally understood, “In that case, there should be two keys you mentioned. One was naturally in the hands of She Liang, whom you murdered, and the other was probably also obtained by you, stolen from Ren Youcai’s study.”

Zong Yuan’s face was expressionless. He only snorted coldly.

“I always found Ren Youcai’s death very strange. When you killed Ren Youcai, why did you make Ren Youcai’s study so chaotic? But when I discovered the secret of the porcelain shelf, my target naturally fell on that pile of shattered porcelain. We restored the porcelain pieces one by one, then according to Ren Ling’s memory, rearranged them one by one on the porcelain shelf. The result was that we discovered one was missing. Later, according to Ren Ling’s recollection, the missing one was a porcelain bowl that Ren Youcai loved to play with most, identical to the dog bowl She Liang of Pingyang Pond had lost. Thinking about it now, you must have taken the porcelain bowl from the study after killing Ren Youcai.” Li Si spoke slowly.

“Catcher Li, although we stand in opposing positions, I have to admire you. Your logic is meticulous, and you’re attentive to the smallest details. But unfortunately, it’s all too late.” Zong Yuan said.

Li Si smiled indifferently and said, “Actually, you’ve long had enough confidence to open the Night Bridge treasure, but you’ve been restraining yourself, only waiting for the best opportunity. So you first killed Ren Youcai, then used She Liang to borrow a corpse to return your soul, then set fire to the Jiang Residence, while spreading the news of Yan Zige’s vengeful spirit’s revenge to the ears of the Night Bridge common people, making everyone panic all day long. The Night Bridge common people couldn’t endure this fear, afraid that Yan Zige’s vengeful spirit would take revenge on them, so they abandoned their homes and businesses and fled far away. And you finally got your wish, waiting for the opportunity to exclusively enjoy opening the Night Bridge treasure. Am I right?”

“This isn’t my fault. I proposed to them early on the plan to revive Li Luo. But the stubborn old fools led by Jiang Zhenshan had grown accustomed to a comfortable and peaceful life. They secretly warned me that if I made any unusual moves, they would expel me from Night Bridge. So I had no choice but to do this. These dead people deserved what they got. They forgot the shame of Li Luo, forgot the blood of their compatriots. Hmph, so let them go to hell! But Linglong and I will never forget this hatred, never! Catcher Li, do you know why?”

Li Si shook his head.

“Because we’re different from other Night Bridge common people. What flows in our bones is the blood of Li Luo’s imperial family. And if you count it up, Linglong is even a noble Li Luo princess!” Zong Yuan turned to look at Qiangong Linglong.

Li Si also couldn’t help but look at Qiangong Linglong and said, “Are you truly descendants of Li Luo’s imperial family?”

“Back then, the Holy Cult’s cult leader was afraid that today’s situation of a group of dragons without a leader would occur, so he requested that the Li Luo monarch send a member of the imperial family to Night Bridge together. And this imperial family member was Linglong’s father, my uncle.” Zong Yuan’s gaze tightened, staring at the sky above Night Bridge in the distance.

Li Si was silent for a moment, then said, “But there’s still one problem I’ve never understood—that is Yan Zige’s Weimei Divine Sword. Why would it reappear in Night Bridge Town many years after his death? Could it really be the vengeful spirit coming back for revenge?”

“Yan Zige?” Zong Yuan spoke this name coldly, inadvertently glancing at Qiangong Linglong. “Yan Zige could certainly be called a figure, and his swordsmanship was indeed formidable. But unfortunately, he wasn’t a Li Luo descendant, and he actually overestimated himself and fell in love with Linglong.” Zong Yuan’s gaze turned to the Jade River and continued, “When I learned all this, naturally I couldn’t let it happen. To preserve the purity of Li Luo blood, I poisoned him to death with deadly poison, took his sword manual, and threw his corpse into the Jade River.”

Li Si saw a trace of gloom pass through Qiangong Linglong’s eyes and asked, “What about Miss Qiangong? Do you also think Yan Zige deserved to die?”

Qiangong Linglong remained silent. Zong Yuan said angrily, “You’ve asked enough questions. It’s time to say goodbye!”

Zong Yuan drew a sharp dagger from his waist and walked toward Li Si and the others, who had no power to fight back. Li Si couldn’t help but sigh slightly. Suddenly, Qiangong Linglong said, “The time has come.”

A large fire suddenly ignited in Night Bridge Town. Zong Yuan turned back to see the fire and laughed, “Yes, the mechanism has been activated. Linglong, my sister, the rest is up to you.”

Qiangong Linglong took the dagger and slowly cut toward her own wrist. That sharp edge was about to pierce Qiangong Linglong’s tender hand.

“Stop!”

“Stop!”

Two people’s shouts came simultaneously. One was Li Si, and the other was a tall, thin figure rushing from the direction of Night Bridge. Li Si looked at his face and said slowly, “Gao Qi?”