The clamorous voices in the courtyard, Wei Datong's startled cry, and the envious whispers of the bystanders all seemed separated by a layer of water, muffled and distant.
Ye Qingxuan stood there, everything around him swaying. Only Chief Constable Zhang's expressionless face on the stone steps, and the barely restrained smugness of Zhang Lingxiao behind him, were as clear as if carved by a blade.
A scorching rush of blood shot from his chest to the top of his head, leaving a sickly sweetness in his throat. His clenched fists dug his nails into his palms, but that pain was nowhere near the hollow in his chest, as if someone had gouged out a piece of his heart.
The killer was him.
The one who had fought with his life on the line was him.
And in the end, all he got was a light, airy "provided information."
A token?
The iron tablet in his arms was pressing against his chest, like a block of ice—or a red-hot brand.
"Qingxuan! Qingxuan! You pulled it off, kid!" Wei Datong slapped him hard on the shoulder, his face alight with shared glory. "Providing information is still a major achievement! Looks like you've got a chance at becoming a regular now! You'll have to treat us later!"
Xiong Tiezhu grinned honestly as well and gave him a thumbs-up.
The muscles on Ye Qingxuan's face twitched, pulling out a smile uglier than a cry. He looked at Wei Datong, at Xiong Tiezhu, and at the colleagues around him, some envious, some jealous.
In their eyes, for a temporary constable who was not even registered to get a share of this heaven-shaking achievement was already incredible luck.
No one knew the truth.
Nor did anyone care about the truth.
The rush of blood that had shot to the top of his head suddenly cooled, transforming into a chill that flowed along his spine and spread throughout his body.
He could not lose his temper here.
To question a Chief Constable in front of everyone? That would not be upholding justice. It would be courting death.
"Brother Wei, Brother Tiezhu, I...I still have something to report to the Chief Constable." He brushed Wei Datong's hand aside, his voice unnaturally calm.
"Go on, go on. Put on a good performance!" Wei Datong did not notice a thing, assuming he was going to offer his thanks.
Ye Qingxuan set off through the crowd.
Everyone's eyes followed him. He walked steadily, every step measured as if with a ruler, neither fast nor slow. He reached the bottom of the stone steps and stopped before the three Chief Constables, bowing in salute.
"Chief Constable Zhang, Chief Constable Yan, Chief Constable Huang."
Chief Constable Zhang looked down at him from above, the official authority on his face growing heavier. "Ye Qingxuan, do you have something else?"
"Reporting to the Chief Constable." Ye Qingxuan raised his head and met Chief Constable Zhang's gaze directly, neither servile nor overbearing. "Regarding the 'Mottled Fish' case, I still have some details to report to you in private. There may be some discrepancies concerning who ultimately deserves the credit."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly into the ears of everyone present.
The discussion that had just died down in the courtyard fell silent once more.
The smugness on Zhang Lingxiao's face behind Chief Constable Zhang instantly froze, turning into a trace of shock and malice.
Chief Constables Yan and Huang exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of amusement in the other's eyes.
The corner of Chief Constable Zhang's eye twitched slightly. He had not expected this boy, an ant in his eyes, to dare embarrass him in public.
"Oh?" he drawled. "In that case, you two go on ahead."
Chief Constables Yan and Huang understood. They cupped their hands, turned, and left, though both slowed their steps a little.
Only then did Chief Constable Zhang descend the stone steps and walk up to Ye Qingxuan, an invisible pressure surging toward him. "Speak. What discrepancy is there?"
Ye Qingxuan shook his head. "Chief Constable, this matter is of great importance. There are too many people here, and too many loose tongues."
Chief Constable Zhang stared at him for a long while before suddenly laughing. He turned and walked toward the nearby constables' office. "Follow me."
Zhang Lingxiao glared viciously at Ye Qingxuan before hurrying after him.
Ye Qingxuan said nothing and followed behind them.
The office door creaked open, then slammed shut with a bang, cutting off all the probing gazes outside.
The room was dim, filled with the mingled scents of old case files and mildew.
Chief Constable Zhang sat down in the main seat with legs spread wide, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
"Speak. I'd like to hear what earth-shaking discrepancy you've found."
"Chief Constable." Ye Qingxuan stood ramrod straight. "Last night, it was not Zhang Lingxiao and Constable Tan who killed the 'Mottled Fish.' The criminal was slain by my own hand."
"Bullshit!" Zhang Lingxiao exploded on the spot, pointing at Ye Qingxuan's nose. "Ye Qingxuan, who the hell do you think you are? Even if you want to steal credit, it isn't done like this! My uncle is right here, and you still dare spout this nonsense!"
Chief Constable Zhang raised a hand, stopping Zhang Lingxiao's roar. He looked at Ye Qingxuan without changing expression. "Where's your evidence?"
Ye Qingxuan slowly drew the dark, heavy iron tablet from his robes and presented it with both hands.
"This is the identification token Constable Tan personally gave me last night. He said that seeing the token was the same as seeing him in person. There must be a rubbing and record of last night's events in his archives."
Chief Constable Zhang's gaze fell on the iron tablet.
Zhang Lingxiao froze as well. He had not expected Ye Qingxuan to have something like this.
"Someone," Chief Constable Zhang called toward the outside, "go fetch Tan Zhenglong."
Before long, Tan Zhenglong's burly figure appeared in the doorway. When he entered and saw Ye Qingxuan and the iron tablet, there was not the slightest surprise on his face.
"Tan Zhenglong." Chief Constable Zhang pointed at the iron tablet on the table. "Is this yours?"
"Reporting to the Chief Constable, it is my Mystic Bird Pattern identification token." Tan Zhenglong answered crisply.
"Did you personally give it to Ye Qingxuan last night?"
"Yes."
Zhang Lingxiao's heart sank.
Ye Qingxuan's back, however, straightened a little more.
"Why did you give him the token?" Chief Constable Zhang pressed.
Tan Zhenglong cupped his fists toward Chief Constable Zhang, then glanced at Ye Qingxuan. His voice was rough and booming. "Reporting to the Chief Constable, Ye Qingxuan came to report a case last night, saying he had discovered the whereabouts of the 'Mottled Fish.' I deemed the information important, so I gave him the token and ordered him to wait where he was and not act recklessly. The token was only meant to prove his achievement in providing information. Nothing more."
Only to prove his achievement in providing information!
Ye Qingxuan's pupils abruptly contracted.
"You're lying!" he could not help shouting. "You clearly said this token was proof that my contribution would not be lost!"
Tan Zhenglong turned his head and looked at him, his rugged face filled with straightforward innocence. "Ye Qingxuan, when did I ever say that? I only told you to wait. Why didn't you obey the order and act on your own? If Young Master Zhang and I hadn't arrived in time, you'd probably be a corpse by now. I didn't pursue your crime of disobeying orders only because you were young and ignorant. How could you bite back and slander my good name out of thin air?"
Those words rang like thrown stones, turning black into white while sounding utterly righteous.
"You..." Ye Qingxuan had a breath lodged in his chest and could barely speak.
"Uncle, listen to him!" Zhang Lingxiao fanned the flames from the side. "This brat is an ungrateful wretch! Constable Tan saved his life, and instead of showing gratitude, he's trying to snatch the credit!"
Chief Constable Zhang ignored them and merely looked at Tan Zhenglong. "You said you have archival documents as proof?"
"Indeed." Tan Zhenglong bowed. "I recorded last night's events in detail and sealed them with wax according to regulations. The Chief Constable may inspect them at any time. Archival documents never lie."
As he spoke, a flash of indignation at being wronged crossed his eyes.
"Go fetch them."
"Yes."
Tan Zhenglong turned and left. Soon, he returned carrying a locked wooden box.
Inside the opened box was a bamboo scroll bound with a cowhide cord. The dark-red sealing wax at the joint was completely intact, stamped with the Fengtian Division's red seal.
In front of everyone, Tan Zhenglong undid the cowhide cord and slowly spread the bamboo scroll across the table.
Chief Constable Zhang picked up the bamboo scroll and read it word by word.
The room was so quiet that only breathing could be heard.
Ye Qingxuan stared fixedly at the bamboo scroll, desperately hoping that it recorded the truth.
After a long while, Chief Constable Zhang set down the bamboo scroll. He raised his head and looked at Ye Qingxuan as if he were looking at a clown putting on a ridiculous act.
"Ye Qingxuan," he said slowly, every word carrying the weight of a thousand jun. "The archives state it clearly. 'At the third quarter of the Hai hour, temporary constable Ye Qingxuan came to report that he had discovered traces resembling those of the "Mottled Fish" at the abandoned tile yard west of the city. His speech was disordered, and his manner strange. I gave him my identification token and ordered him to await further instructions where he was. I then gathered my men and proceeded there with temporary constable Zhang Lingxiao.'"
He paused, picked up the bamboo scroll, and held the latter half out for Ye Qingxuan to see.
"'Upon reaching the abandoned tile yard, we saw the criminal about to attack Ye Qingxuan. I immediately intervened and engaged the criminal. Zhang Lingxiao found an opening and acted with decisiveness and courage, killing the enemy with a single blow.'"
Those neat, clear lines of ink stabbed into Ye Qingxuan's eyes.
False.
It was all false.
Tan Zhenglong had been scheming against him from the very beginning. That identification token had not been proof; it had been poisoned bait to lure him into the trap. This so-called archive had probably been prepared overnight, waiting only for him to walk into the snare of his own accord.
So this was the Fengtian Division's way.
So this was justice in this muddy, rotting world.
The last trace of hope in his heart was extinguished completely, reduced to a patch of icy ashes.
The surging fury and the heart-piercing humiliation both vanished at that moment. In their place came a peace he had never known before, a deathly stillness that saw through everything.
He looked at Chief Constable Zhang, at Tan Zhenglong, and at Zhang Lingxiao.
Then he suddenly smiled.
"I must have...remembered it wrong."
He bent down, picked up the iron tablet from the floor, and placed it back on Tan Zhenglong's table.
"Thank you, Chief Constable Zhang, for investigating the matter clearly. And thank you, Constable Tan, for saving me."
His voice held not the slightest ripple.
With that, he straightened, no longer looking at anyone in the room. He turned, pushed open the door, and walked out.
The sunlight outside was somewhat harsh.
"Uncle, this..." Zhang Lingxiao watched Ye Qingxuan's departing back, still feeling unsatisfied.
Chief Constable Zhang waved a hand, weariness showing on his face. "Enough. This matter ends here. Lingxiao, you were still too rash in your actions this time. Let it not happen again."
To Zhang Lingxiao, those words—"Let it not happen again"—were no different from praise. He was overjoyed. "Yes! Your nephew understands!"
Tan Zhenglong stood to one side, but as he watched the doorway, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Uncle, you're really letting that brat leave just like that?" Zhang Lingxiao moved closer to Tan Zhenglong and whispered, "What if he goes out and spouts nonsense?"
Tan Zhenglong shook his head, his confidence returning. "What can he do? He's a temporary constable who hasn't even entered the martial path, with neither authority nor backing. We have witnesses and physical evidence. What can he possibly use to fight us? After today, he'll just swallow this whole matter and rot with it in his gut."
Zhang Lingxiao thought about it and decided that made sense. He immediately relaxed, his arrogant, overbearing expression returning.
At that moment, Ye Qingxuan, having left the office, was walking step by step along the bluestone road of the Fengtian Division.
He did not look back.
His back was ramrod straight.
The stolen credit, the sophistry that had turned black into white, and the humiliation that pierced to the bone were all like nails, hammered into his bones by his own hand.
It hurt terribly.
But his bones would become harder for it.
Before you continue