Darkroom Sophistry, Power Pressures

The clamor of voices in the courtyard, Wei Datong's exclamation, and the envious whispers of others all seemed distant and muffled, as if heard through a layer of water.

Ye Qingxuan stood there, his surroundings blurring. Only the expressionless face of Chief Constable Zhang on the stone steps and the barely concealed triumph of Zhang Lingxiao behind him were as clear as if carved by a knife.

A surge of hot blood rushed from his chest to his head, and a metallic sweetness filled his throat. He clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his palms, but the pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache where a piece of his heart had been ripped out.

He was the one who had killed the man. He was the one who had fought with his life. And all he got in return was a dismissive "provided clues."

Proof?

The iron token in his embrace, pressing against his chest, felt like a block of ice, then a searing hot brand.

"Qingxuan! Qingxuan! You're amazing!" Wei Datong slapped his shoulder enthusiastically, his face beaming with pride. "Providing clues is a great contribution! You might even get a permanent position now! We have to celebrate!"

Xiong Tiezhu also grinned broadly, giving him a thumbs-up.

Ye Qingxuan's facial muscles twitched, and he managed a smile that was more painful than a grimace. He looked at Wei Datong, at Xiong Tiezhu, and at the colleagues around him, their gazes a mixture of envy and admiration.

In their eyes, it was an immense stroke of luck for an unregistered temporary constable to get a share of the credit for such a monumental achievement.

No one knew the truth. And no one cared about the truth.

The surge of blood that had rushed to his head suddenly cooled, turning into a chilling current that flowed down his spine and through his entire body.

He couldn't lash out here. Questioning a Chief Constable in front of everyone? That wouldn't be seeking justice; it would be seeking death.

"Brother Wei, Brother Tiezhu, I... I have a few things I need to report to the Chief Constable privately." He gently pushed Wei Datong's hand away, his voice unnervingly calm.

"Go on, go on, do a good job!" Wei Datong, oblivious, assumed he was going to offer his thanks.

Ye Qingxuan started walking, weaving through the crowd.

All eyes followed him. He walked steadily, each step measured as if by a ruler, neither fast nor slow. He reached the bottom of the stone steps and stopped before the three Chief Constables, bowing his head.

"Chief Constable Zhang, Chief Constable Yan, Chief Constable Huang."

Chief Constable Zhang looked down at him, his authoritative presence intensifying. "Ye Qingxuan, you have something else?"

"Reporting to the Chief Constable," Ye Qingxuan raised his head, meeting Chief Constable Zhang's gaze directly, neither subservient nor defiant. "Regarding the 'Mottled Fish' case, I have some details I wish to report to you privately. This matter might pertain to the final allocation of credit."

His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone present.

The murmurs that had just subsided in the courtyard fell silent once more.

Zhang Lingxiao, standing behind Chief Constable Zhang, saw his triumphant expression freeze, replaced by a flicker of shock and malice.

Chief Constables Yan and Huang exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of amusement in each other's eyes.

The corner of Chief Constable Zhang's eye twitched slightly. He hadn't expected this youth, whom he considered insignificant, to dare to publicly embarrass him.

"Oh?" he drawled. "In that case, you two go about your business."

Chief Constables Yan and Huang understood, clasped their hands in salute, and turned to leave, though their steps slowed noticeably.

Chief Constable Zhang then descended the stone steps and approached Ye Qingxuan, an invisible pressure emanating from him. "Speak. What discrepancies are there?"

Ye Qingxuan shook his head. "Chief Constable, this matter is of great importance, and there are too many people here."

Chief Constable Zhang stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. He turned and walked towards the constables' office nearby. "Follow me."

Zhang Lingxiao shot Ye Qingxuan a fierce glare and quickly followed.

Ye Qingxuan remained silent, trailing behind them.

The office door creaked open and then slammed shut with a bang, shutting out all prying eyes.

The room was dimly lit, filled with the mingled scent of old documents and mildew.

Chief Constable Zhang sat down in the main seat with an imposing air, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

"Speak. I'm eager to hear what earth-shattering discrepancies you have."

"Chief Constable," Ye Qingxuan stood straight. "Last night, it was not Zhang Lingxiao and Constable Tan who killed the 'Mottled Fish.' I personally killed the culprit."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Zhang Lingxiao exploded, pointing a finger at Ye Qingxuan's nose. "Ye Qingxuan, who do you think you are! Greed for credit doesn't mean making things up like this! My uncle is here, and you dare to speak such rubbish!"

Chief Constable Zhang raised a hand, silencing Zhang Lingxiao's outburst. He looked at Ye Qingxuan, his expression unchanged. "Where is your evidence?"

Ye Qingxuan slowly reached into his bosom and produced the dark, heavy iron token, offering it with both hands.

"This is the Token Constable Tan personally gave me last night. He said to see the Token as seeing him in person. He must have made a record and impression of last night's events in his official documents."

Chief Constable Zhang's gaze fell upon the iron token.

Zhang Lingxiao was also stunned, not expecting Ye Qingxuan to possess such an item.

"Someone!" Chief Constable Zhang called out. "Go and summon Tan Zhenglong."

A moment later, Tan Zhenglong's burly figure appeared at the doorway. As he entered the room and saw Ye Qingxuan and the token, his face showed no surprise.

"Tan Zhenglong," Chief Constable Zhang pointed at the token on the table. "Is this yours?"

"Replying to Chief Constable, it's my 'Mystic Bird Pattern' Token," Tan Zhenglong answered crisply.

"Last night, you personally handed it to Ye Qingxuan?"

"Yes."

Zhang Lingxiao's heart sank.

Ye Qingxuan's back, however, straightened even further.

"Why did you give him the Token?" Chief Constable Zhang pressed.

Tan Zhenglong cupped his fists, facing Chief Constable Zhang, and glanced at Ye Qingxuan again, his voice rough, "Replying to Chief Constable, last night Ye Qingxuan came to report a case, claiming he'd found traces of 'Mottled Fish'. I thought the clue was important, so I gave him the Token and ordered him to wait on the spot and not act rashly. This Token was only to prove his merit in providing the clue, nothing more."

Only to prove the merit of providing the clue!

Ye Qingxuan's pupils contracted sharply.

"You're lying!" he couldn't help but exclaim. "You clearly said this Token was proof, that it would ensure my contribution wouldn't be lost!"

Tan Zhenglong turned his head to look at him, his rugged face full of honesty and innocence. "Ye Qingxuan, when did I ever say that? I only told you to wait, why didn't you obey orders and act on your own? If I and Young Master Zhang hadn't arrived in time, you would likely be a corpse by now. I'm not pursuing you for disobeying orders, considering your youth and ignorance. How can you bite the hand that fed you and slander my name out of thin air?"

These words, spoken with forceful conviction, twisted the truth, yet sounded righteous.

"You..." Ye Qingxuan felt a blockage in his chest, almost unable to speak.

"Uncle, look!" Zhang Lingxiao fanned the flames from the side. "This brat is an ungrateful wretch! Constable Tan saved his life, and instead of being grateful, he wants to snatch the credit!"

Chief Constable Zhang ignored them and looked at Tan Zhenglong. "You said you have official records as proof?"

"Precisely," Tan Zhenglong bowed. "I have detailed the events of last night and sealed it according to regulations. Chief Constable can inspect it at any time. Official records never lie."

As he spoke, a flicker of indignation at being wronged flashed in his eyes.

"Go get it."

"Yes."

Tan Zhenglong turned and left, returning shortly with a locked wooden box.

The wooden box was opened, revealing a roll of bamboo slips tied with a leather rope. At the joint, a lump of dark red sealing wax was intact, bearing the fire seal of the Fengtian Division.

Tan Zhenglong, in front of everyone, untied the leather rope and slowly unrolled the bamboo slips on the table.

Chief Constable Zhang picked up the bamboo slips and read them word by word.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of breathing.

Ye Qingxuan stared intently at the bamboo slips, wishing with all his might that they recorded the truth.

After a long while, Chief Constable Zhang put down the bamboo slips. He looked up at Ye Qingxuan, his gaze like that of someone watching a clown.

"Ye Qingxuan," he began slowly, each word carrying immense weight, "the official record states clearly: 'At the third quarter of the Hai hour, temporary constable Ye Qingxuan reported that he discovered suspected 'Mottled Fish' traces at the abandoned tile yard in the west of the city. His words were flustered, his demeanor unusual. I granted him a Token and ordered him to wait on the spot. Immediately, I gathered men and went with temporary constable Zhang Lingxiao.'"

He paused, picked up the bamboo slips, and showed the latter half to Ye Qingxuan.

"'Upon arriving at the abandoned tile yard, I saw the perpetrator about to attack Ye Qingxuan. I immediately intervened and engaged the attacker. Zhang Lingxiao found an opening and, with decisive bravery, struck down the enemy.'"

The lines of ink, neat and clear, seared into Ye Qingxuan's eyes.

Fake.

It's all fake.

Tan Zhenglong had been plotting against him from the very beginning. That Token wasn't proof; it was bait to lure him into a trap. This so-called official record was likely prepared overnight, just waiting for him to walk into the net today.

So, this was the rule of the Fengtian Division.

So, this was the justice of this corrupt world.

The last glimmer of hope in his heart extinguished, turning into a pile of cold ashes.

The surging anger, the heart-piercing humiliation, vanished at this moment. In their place was an unprecedented calm, a deathly stillness that saw through everything.

He looked at Chief Constable Zhang, at Tan Zhenglong, at Zhang Lingxiao.

He suddenly smiled.

"It was my... mistake."

He bowed, picked up the iron plaque from the floor, and placed it back on Tan Zhenglong's table.

"Thank you, Chief Constable Zhang, for your clear judgment. Thank you, Constable Tan, for saving my life."

His voice was devoid of any emotion.

After speaking, he straightened up, no longer looking at anyone in the room, turned, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The sunlight outside was a little blinding.

"Uncle, this..." Zhang Lingxiao watched Ye Qingxuan's retreating back, still not satisfied.

Chief Constable Zhang waved his hand, a look of weariness on his face. "Enough. This matter ends here. Lingxiao, you were a bit rash this time. Let this be the last time."

This "let this be the last time" was no different from praise in Zhang Lingxiao's ears. He was overjoyed. "Yes! Your nephew understands!"

Tan Zhenglong stood by the side, looking in the direction of the door, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Uncle, that kid, we're just letting him go like that?" Zhang Lingxiao leaned over to Tan Zhenglong and whispered, "He won't go out and talk nonsense, will he?"

Tan Zhenglong shook his head, his confidence returning to his face. "What can he do? A temporary constable who hasn't even entered the Martial Path, with no power or influence. We have witnesses and physical evidence. How can he fight us? After today, he'll just keep this matter buried."

Zhang Lingxiao thought about it and agreed. His mind was immediately put at ease, and his arrogant pride returned to his face.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingxuan, having just left the public office, walked step by step along the bluestone path of the Fengtian Division.

He didn't look back.

His back was straight.

The stolen credit, the twisted logic that turned black into white, the bone-piercing humiliation – all of it felt like nails he had hammered into his own bones.

It hurt.

But his bones would become harder because of it.