Jin Ruo felt he was losing his mind.

In the back room lay Ling the Sixth, unconscious. In the front hall sat Bai Ruyi, weeping without cease. And there was Wan Lin of the Qingzhou Wan Family, cursing the sky to pieces — and worse still, Wan Lin had brought the famed Eighteen Horsemen of the Qingzhou Wan Family with him, all brothers who had fought beside him through countless battles, and when they stood together, their killing aura alone was enough to make the air around them feel dangerous.

Bai Ruyi: “Sob sob sob — the living and the dead are parted in two worlds, separated for eternity — sob sob sob, woe, woe alas —”

Jin Ruo: “Young Master Bai the Thirteenth, please stop crying for a moment, just hear me out —”

Wan Lin: “My blood is boiling! To think that scoundrel Jia Mu would resort to this — silencing witnesses to cover his tracks! Brothers — follow me to the Prefecture Office and slaughter that treacherous dog Jia Mu!”

The Eighteen Horsemen: “Kill!”

“No, no, no! Colonel Wan, hold on just a moment!” Jin Ruo was hopping with agitation. “Green Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise — block them!”

The Four Saints drew their blades and formed a barricade at the main hall entrance. Behind them, Yita was shouting for “Jiuge!” while Bai Ruyi, having wailed himself into dizzy exhaustion, had failed to catch a breath and fainted. Jin Ruo scrambled over to press the vital point beneath his nose and rub his chest to revive him. Bai Ruyi opened his eyes, shifted position, and resumed howling at a different angle. Jin Ruo’s hair practically stood on end. He spun around to see the Four Saints and Wan Lin’s company already with blades drawn and squared off.

At the height of the chaos, a sharp shout rang out from beyond the hall: “What in the world is going on here?!”

Hua Yihuan swept in through the door, wrapped in a great black fox-fur cloak, carried in on the wind’s momentum. Behind him came Hua Yifeng and He Sishan. Jin Ruo nearly dissolved into tears. “Eldest Young Master of the Hua Family — you are finally here!”

Hua Yihuan’s cold gaze swept across every person in the hall. “White Family crybaby — dry those eyes at once!”

Bai Ruyi hiccupped and closed his mouth.

Hua Yihuan said: “Wan Lin — sit down and behave yourself.”

Wan Lin hunched his shoulders, sheathed his blade, turned around, and folded himself into a large armchair. The Eighteen Horsemen did not dare utter a single syllable and quietly arranged themselves behind Wan Lin.

Hua Yihuan turned his gaze on Jin Ruo. “What exactly happened here?!”

Jin Ruo wiped his sweat and stepped forward, giving a concise account of the whole chain of events. Hua Yifeng listened and sat down nearby with reddened eyes. He Sishan patted the second Hua daughter’s shoulder in quiet comfort. Wan Lin exhaled in relief. Bai Ruyi embarked on a fresh wave of tears, this time from joyful relief.

Only Hua Yihuan showed not the faintest trace of happiness on his face. He sat with furrowed brow, saying nothing.

Fang Ke emerged from the back room with his dark-circled eyes. “That Ling the Sixth is even more of a walking disaster than Hua Yitang — Hua Family Head! You’ve returned.”

Hua Yihuan looked up. “Are you two truly certain that Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an are still alive?”

Fang Ke and Jin Ruo exchanged a glance.

Fang Ke said: “None of the bodies currently found are theirs. Moreover, the charred remains in the prison ruins were all killed by Qian Jing. So long as Lin Sui’an is alive, Hua Yitang is certainly safe.”

Jin Ruo said: “In the undergrowth outside the prison ruins, I found tracks leading away from the scene. Based on foot size and stride length, one set belongs to Hua Yitang — his prints are four centimeters deeper than normal, indicating he was carrying someone. I believe that someone was Master. The other set of tracks has no heel impressions, with a light, cat-like gait — I’ve encountered these tracks many times before. They belong to Yun Zhong Yue. Yun Zhong Yue may not match Master in blade skill, but when it comes to fleeing, he is second to none under heaven. With him to lead the way, Master and Fourth Young Master should have made it out without difficulty.”

Hua Yihuan said: “You trust the two of them that completely?”

Fang Ke and Jin Ruo said together: “Completely!”

Hua Yihuan breathed out a long, slow breath. His expression eased fractionally. Then his gaze turned sharp. “Was this the work of the Taiyuan Jiang Family?!”

“The Taiyuan Jiang Family is certainly behind it — but the party responsible for carrying out the specific actions this time was the An’du Prefect Jia Mu.” Ling Zhiyan walked out of the back room. His face was ashen, his lips colorless, his entire person looking as if the color had been wrung out of him — and yet his dark eyes had regained their light.

Hua Yihuan frowned. “How so?”

Ling Zhiyan settled himself against the table. “I traced An’du Prefect Jia Mu and found that he was the key witness in the Qin Family Army treason case thirty-two years ago. He claimed to have personally seen Qin Nanyin defect to the enemy. This individual was originally a deputy general under Qin Nanyin, going by the name Gao Hongbo, courtesy name Jiamu. After the Qin Family case, he changed his name and identity entirely, and reinvented himself as the man we know as Jia Mu.”

Hua Yihuan said: “Your meaning is that this man gave false testimony?”

Ling Zhiyan: “And it may be that this false testimony was precisely what paved his road to his current position as An’du Prefect.”

The moment those words landed, everyone in the room drew a sharp breath simultaneously.

The most pronounced reaction came from He Sishan, of all people. He had been comforting the second Hua daughter, but at the sound of the name “Gao Hongbo,” his body jerked with a violent tremor. He gripped the armrests of the great chair with both hands, his knuckles cracking audibly.

But at this moment, everyone in the room was absorbed in their own shock, and no one noticed anything unusual about him — only the second Hua daughter caught it. She questioned him silently with her eyes. He Sishan hesitated, then in the end, shook his head slightly.

Hua Yihuan asked many more questions about the details of the case, and Ling Zhiyan answered each one. Throughout, his posture remained straight, his thoughts clear, his words measured.

Jin Ruo said: “Doctor Fang truly is the finest physician of this age. Just moments ago Ling the Sixth looked like he was on his way to meet the King of Hell — and in just one hour, he’s already bouncing around again.”

Fang Ke: “He’s holding on by a single breath right now.”

Jin Ruo: “What?”

“Ling the Sixth has not eaten for three days and three nights. What caused him to vomit blood earlier was severe hunger leading to gastric acid erosion and subsequent gastric bleeding. I forced three large bowls of medicinal broth down him, but he vomited half of it back up.” Fang Ke’s expression held a tinge of helplessness.

Wan Lin craned his neck over. “Ling the Sixth’s diet has been perfectly normal while traveling with us — nothing seemed off.”

Bai Ruyi sighed. “Colonel Wan may not be aware — though Ling the Judicial Inspector appeared to eat normally, he was bringing it all back up again when no one was looking. I only discovered it by chance.”

Wan Lin: “What? But why?!”

Bai Ruyi shook his head. “Based on Ling the Judicial Inspector’s expression, it seems even he cannot control the retching himself.”

Fang Ke: “This is a condition of the mind.”

“Now that Ling the Sixth knows Master and Fourth Young Master are alright,” Jin Ruo said, scratching his head, “will the retching stop?”

Fang Ke’s brow creased into a deep knot. “One can only hope.”

Jin Ruo hurried to wave Mu Xia over. “Fourth Young Master once said that the Yingyang Ling Family is the most frugal of all great families but also the most fond of expensive foods — quick, get plenty of softshell turtle and snapping turtle soup on the fire!”

Mu Xia nodded and moved to go, but just then a loud announcement rang from outside the hall: “Prefect Jia has arrived —!”

Everyone inside stiffened simultaneously and rose to their feet.

Prefect Jia waddled into the courtyard in plain, unadorned clothing, his corpulent body swaying from side to side. The Head Constable Gu Liang led a retinue of constables close behind him, their eyes shifty, their expressions uneasy with guilt.

The second Hua daughter abruptly buried herself in He Sishan’s arms, letting out a soft sob and going limp, as if in a faint. He Sishan quickly gathered her up and swept out to the inner hall.

He Sishan had barely left when Prefect Jia stepped into the main hall, clasping his hands in repeated salute. “Hua Family Head — my deepest condolences.”

Hua Yihuan kept both hands in his sleeves. He neither returned the greeting nor spoke a word, merely fixing Jia Mu with a cold, steady stare.

Jia Mu produced a handkerchief and pressed it to his mouth, letting out a couple of theatrical sobs. “The day the Prefecture Office caught fire — I was directing the men to fight the flames and evacuate the civilians, and in that one moment of inattention, the wretched criminals slipped through. The Colonel was killed in the confusion, and I — I am heartbroken beyond measure. I have not slept in nights. I have utterly failed the Emperor, failed the court, and failed the Hua Family!”

Hua Yihuan said: “Have the criminals been apprehended?”

Jia Mu said: “Hua Family Head, please rest assured — I have ordered the entire city searched. I will absolutely have the criminals who killed the Colonel brought to justice and give the Hua Family a proper accounting!”

Hua Yihuan gave a cold sniff. He did not even spare Jia Mu a glance.

Ling Zhiyan stepped forward. “I would ask the Prefect — where did these criminals come from?!”

Prefect Jia said: “Well — the criminals have not yet been caught, so I have no one to interrogate, and I truly have no way of knowing!”

“In this official’s view, there is something deeply suspicious about this case!”

Prefect Jia’s eyes went wide. “What does Judicial Inspector Ling mean by that?”

“Colonel Hua was in the midst of investigating the embezzlement case of An’du Prefecture Office Adjutant Zheng Yongyuan. The investigation was only halfway complete when the Prefecture Office suddenly caught fire — and not only did Zheng Yongyuan, who was imprisoned in the cells, perish in the flames, but so did Colonel Hua and Lin Niangzi. Does this not give rise to serious suspicion?”

Prefect Jia nodded vigorously. “Judicial Inspector Ling makes an excellent point! However — when Colonel Hua was investigating this case, I myself had broken my leg and was recovering at home. I had no knowledge whatsoever of the case details. Now that Zheng Yongyuan, Colonel Hua, and Lin Niangzi are all dead simultaneously, with no one left to testify — where on earth am I even to begin investigating?!”

Ling Zhiyan said: “Since the Prefect cannot get to the bottom of it, this official will naturally report to the Court of Judicial Review and memorialize the Emperor, requesting a joint hearing by the Three Courts!”

Jia Mu’s expression changed sharply. “Judicial Inspector Ling, that seems rather excessive! All that happened is the death of a minor sixth-rank adjutant and a wandering woman of the rivers and lakes — it’s not a complicated case, and certainly not one worth alarming the Three Courts or the Emperor —”

Before he could finish, a large open-handed slap came flying from nowhere and connected with Jia Mu’s face with a resounding crack. Jia Mu spun two full circles and landed on his backside on the ground, completely stunned.

Hua Yihuan shook out a silk handkerchief and cleaned his hand. “Prefect Jia, think carefully before you speak.”

“Hua — Hua Yihuan! You dare strike a court official?! Do you want to rebel?! Someone come and —”

Before the words were out, Jin Ruo launched a kick straight into Prefect Jia’s belly. The Prefect yelped and folded up like a dumpling. Gu Liang and his constables moved to intervene, but Wan Lin and the Eighteen Horsemen stepped directly into their path. Gu Liang’s gaze flickered, and he quietly signaled the constables to stand down.

Hua Yihuan looked down at Jia Mu from above. “Hua Yitang is the Fourth Young Master of the Yangdu Hua Family. He is my brother — Hua Yihuan’s brother. And some disgusting piece of filth like you dares to dismiss him as ‘minor’?”

Jin Ruo: “And my Master is the master of Qian Jing of the Jingmen! You dare call my Master a wandering ‘woman of the rivers and lakes’?! Does the Jingmen seem like an organization that eats quietly?!”

Hua Yihuan: “Today, if you do not give the Hua Family a satisfactory answer, I will carve you apart one slice at a time and use the pieces as an offering on the Hua Family ancestors’ grave.”

Jia Mu’s face had gone white. “You — you — you dare?! I am the An’du Prefect! A fifth-rank official of the court!”

“Nothing more than a mere Prefect. Why wouldn’t I dare?” Hua Yihuan pressed his foot down on Jia Mu’s stomach and ground it slowly. Prefect Jia’s screams echoed to the rafters.

The onlookers broke out in cold sweat all around. Lord above — worthy of being Hua Yitang’s elder brother. Even wilder than Hua Yitang himself. Is he actually going to finish this Prefect off right here and now?!

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “Hua Family Head, perhaps —”

“Hua Family Head, please hold!” A shout rang out from beyond the hall. Jinyu Guards in golden headbands poured into the courtyard, pressing the constables back to both sides and opening a path — through which walked Jiang Wende.

Hua Yihuan lifted his foot. “Vice Censor Jiang?”

“Some years ago, Jiang had the pleasure of meeting the Hua Family Head briefly. I did not expect you to still remember — what an honor!” Jiang Wende kept his smile in place as he pushed through the crowd. His gaze passed over Jia Mu for a fraction of a moment, then returned, perfectly composed, to Hua Yihuan. “The Colonel was a legal adjutant of the An’du Prefecture Office, and the case also originated within the Prefecture Office — by every reasonable standard, the Prefect Jia Mu should be the one to memorialize the throne. As for Judicial Inspector Ling —” he glanced at Ling Zhiyan, “— you serve under the Court of Judicial Review, and your rank is lower than the Prefect’s. Overstepping your authority seems a little inappropriate, doesn’t it?”

Hua Yihuan slanted a glance at Jiang Wende. “You are the Vice Censor of the Censorate, primarily overseeing the Palace Tribunal. By the same logic, this case is none of your concern either, is it?”

“Hua Family Head misunderstands me.” Jiang Wende cupped his hands, the smile on his face carrying an edge of pointed mockery. “Jiang is not here to adjudicate. A few days ago, word arrived from home that the Jiang Family head has fallen gravely ill. I had taken leave to come back and tend to him when I heard the terrible news of the Colonel’s death along the way, and so I rode hard to come and pay my condolences.”

“Imagine my surprise to find that the Hua household has not even set up a mourning hall yet. Ah — Hua Family Head, this is an oversight on your part. As the saying goes — for the departed, rest is paramount. The pursuit of criminals is not something that can be rushed; it must be taken one step at a time. What is most urgent right now is the matter of the Fourth Young Master’s funeral arrangements. The Fourth Young Master devoted himself to the people throughout his life, and has built a distinguished reputation at court. To have his life cut short here in An’du is a great loss. He should have a grand and proper burial —”

Zheng! A flash of cold light. The flat of a blade hovered at Jiang Wende’s throat.

Jiang Wende’s voice cut off instantly. His eyes nearly left their sockets. On the ground, Jia Mu was terrified out of his wits. Hua Yihuan and Jin Ruo stared in astonishment at the person beside them, as did every single person in the room.

The one holding the blade was none other than the normally cool and composed Ling Zhiyan.

And the Ling Zhiyan standing there now — his eyes blazing red, his gaze darkened and deep — wore an expression of killing intent as cold as a glacier that had stood undisturbed for a thousand years, seeping through his pale face.

Jin Ruo: Lord above — this unhinged behavior isn’t just hereditary in the Yangdu Hua Family, it’s contagious!

Fang Ke: Has Ling the Sixth been so ravenous that it’s fundamentally altered his personality?

Jiang Wende broke out in a thin sheen of sweat across his forehead. His throat moved. “Judicial Inspector Ling — what is the meaning of this?”

Ling Zhiyan’s right hand held the blade without the slightest tremor. His left hand drew the Covert Censor’s token from inside his robe and thrust it before Jiang Wende’s eyes. Jiang Wende’s pupils convulsed violently, and the color drained from his face.

“I am Ling Zhiyan, Covert Censor appointed by imperial decree — charged by the Emperor’s command to fully investigate the case of the murder of An’du Adjutant Hua Yitang and the Jingmen’s Lin Sui’an!” Ling Zhiyan’s every word fell like a stone dropped on iron. “Where the Covert Censor’s token appears, it is as if the Emperor himself stands present!”

Hua Yihuan was the quickest to react — he swept his robe aside and dropped to one knee at once. The rest of the room followed suit. Jiang Wende’s eye twitched repeatedly as he slowly lowered himself to his knees.

Ling Zhiyan sheathed his blade and held the Covert Censor’s token aloft. “This case is of the gravest consequence. A joint hearing by the Three Courts is to be convened immediately. All parties implicated — including An’du Prefect Jia Mu and Censorate Vice Censor Jiang Wende — are prohibited from leaving the Prefecture Office grounds by a single step!”

Jia Mu: “I’ve been wronged!”

Jiang Wende: “Outrageous! What does this case have to do with me?!”

Ling Zhiyan: “Those who defy this order — will be cut down.”

Gu Liang and the constables were overjoyed. They clasped their hands and called out loudly: “We obey the Covert Censor’s command!”

Jia Mu shot a rapid glance at Jiang Wende. Jiang Wende’s expression chilled to iron, and with a snap of his fingers, the Jinyu Guards drew their blades and surged forward together. The constables instantly turned their own blades to meet them. Wan Lin and the Eighteen Horsemen brought up the rear — and at that same moment, Jin Ruo gave a sharp whistle, and Tianji led the Floating Life Gate disciples flooding out from all four directions. The Jinyu Guards found themselves completely surrounded.

“Trying to silence more witnesses?” Jin Ruo laughed coldly. “Can you not come up with any other move?”

Ling Zhiyan’s voice cut sharp and clear: “Vice Censor Jiang — what do you think you’re doing?!”

Jiang Wende stood up slowly. The killing intent in his eyes was no longer concealed. “So what if there is a Covert Censor? Have you all forgotten — this is An’du City?!”

Hua Yihuan raised an eyebrow. “And have you forgotten — I am the Hua Family Head?”

Jiang Wende’s cold laugh deepened. “Even if the Hua Family is rich enough to rival a nation — your influence is rooted in Yangdu. Right now, you are far from home, and that distant water cannot put out this nearby fire —”

“Big brother —!!” A round figure burst through the gates, streaming tears. “I’m late, I’m late —!!”

Behind him came an equally round Qingzhou Bai Family head, Bai Rong. And behind him, three old men with fully white hair and beards, their spirits sharp and vigorous. Bai Ruyi lost his voice in astonishment: “Family Head?! Great Elder?! Third Elder?!”

Fang Ke: “Who?”

Jin Ruo: “Longxi Bai Family Head Bai Haoran and two of their Elders.”

And then it grew far more lively still. Yingyang Ling Family Head Ling Xiufeng and Qingzhou Wan Family Head Wan Ping both arrived with several dozen personal guards apiece, and both great families were of military lineage — their guards were all veterans of the battlefield, their killing aura formidable and real, and the moment they entered, they pushed the Jinyu Guards without ceremony into the corners and cramped spaces of the courtyard.

Ling Xiufeng planted himself beside Ling Zhiyan. Wan Ping took position behind Wan Lin. It did not, by any measure, look like a group of people who had come to pay condolences — it looked like a group of people who had come for a brawl.

The last to enter was a carriage procession, its grandeur comparable in every way to the Hua Family’s. The first to jump down from the carriage was a young woman in white robes, with a beauty capable of overturning cities — and it was none other than Hua Yimeng.

The woman whom Hua Yimeng helped down from the carriage was tall and slender, her face veiled behind a white gauze veil that trailed to her ankles. Her personal guards were all women — dressed in black full-face veils, purple close-fitted combat attire, horizontal swords at their waists — stepping gracefully past the crowd of men to come before Hua Yihuan and give a gracious bow.

“Ganzhou Jiang Family — Jiang Xirong. I pay my respects to the Hua Family Head.”

Hua Yihuan’s expression registered surprise. “I never expected that news of my fourth brother would reach even the Jiang Family Head.”

“Hua the Fourth is shrewd and capable, righteous and courageous, speaking for the people’s welfare, solving extraordinary cases, redressing grievances — he is exactly the kind of pillar this court needs, deserving of the admiration of all.” Jiang Xirong turned a sidelong glance toward Jiang Wende. “Vice Censor Jiang holds a high position, to be certain — but he is not yet the Taiyuan Jiang Family’s Family Head. For such a large matter, on their own home ground of An’du City, the Taiyuan Jiang Family sent only you, a junior, to handle it. That is perhaps somewhat lacking in proper etiquette, wouldn’t you say?”

The skin at Jiang Wende’s temples twitched several times. He bowed. “The Jiang Family Head is right. It was a lapse in my consideration.”

Bai Rong looked around the room. “Hua, old friend — why is there no mourning hall set up in this Hua household?”

A flash crossed Hua Yihuan’s eyes. He stepped forward and raised his voice: “My fourth brother Hua Yitang’s alleged death is a case of great complexity, with hidden circumstances within it. It has now been memorialized to the throne, and a joint hearing by the Three Courts has been requested. Until the truth of this case is fully brought to light, the Hua Family will neither establish a mourning hall nor issue an obituary — and we ask all present Family Heads to serve as witnesses!”

Every Family Head present dipped their heads in unison: “As is only right!”

The moment those words were said, Jia Mu’s face turned green. Jiang Wende’s face turned ashen.

Jin Ruo and Fang Ke sneaked a thumbs-up at each other in quiet celebration.

Ling Zhiyan let out a long, slow breath, tilting his head back to gaze at the vast, distant sky.

Fourth Young Master. Lin Niangzi. Where are you right now? When will you return?

Side Story 1

Lin Sui’an: Achoo! Who’s thinking about me?

Hua Yitang: Achoo achoo achoo! Who’s been secretly cursing me?!

Side Story 2

That night, Mu Xia stood staring at the bowl of mutton noodle soup on the table with considerable distress.

She’d sent in one bowl of noodle soup. Ling the Sixth had eaten only a few bites before it came back out, almost untouched.

At this rate, the Fourth Young Master and Lin Niangzi hadn’t even come back yet, and Ling the Sixth was going to starve to death first.

Perhaps she ought to actually make that softshell and snapping turtle soup? Would Ling the Sixth’s constitution be too weak to absorb such rich nourishment?

The night breeze drifted gently, carrying a sweet floral fragrance like spring. Hua Yimeng floated over: “Little Mu Xia, what’s troubling you?”

Mu Xia pointed toward the inner room. “Judicial Inspector Ling does nothing but read through case files and won’t eat. It’s worrying.”

“Oh?” Hua Yimeng blinked. “Shall I give it a try?”

Mu Xia’s eyes went round as saucers. She watched Hua Yimeng pick up the tray and glide into the room, sit down directly across from Ling Zhiyan, and Ling Zhiyan — as if scalded — leapt to his feet, only to be pressed right back down by Hua Yimeng. She scooped up a spoonful of noodle soup and held it out for him. Ling Zhiyan flushed crimson and flattened himself against the back of his chair. Hua Yimeng pursued. Several rounds of advance and retreat ensued, until at last Ling Zhiyan conceded defeat, snatched the spoon from her hand, and ate the entire bowl — big mouthfuls and small — until not a drop remained.

When he finished, Hua Yimeng still did not leave. She simply propped her cheek on her hand and continued to sit across from him, gazing at him cheerfully. Ling Zhiyan sat as if on a bed of pins, hands and feet not knowing where to go. Half an hour passed with nothing untoward happening, and somehow he had entirely forgotten about the retching.

Mu Xia retreated in satisfaction: As Doctor Fang always says — an ailment of the mind must be treated with a remedy for the mind.

It goes without saying what that remedy was.

Note from the author: Unless something unexpected happens, the main story should be wrapping up this week! Next week I’ll likely write a few extra chapters. What bonus content would everyone like to read?