Murder and Arson

Fire! Fire! Come put it out!

With that shout, all of Summer River Village soon erupted into commotion. The villagers cried out one after another, carrying wooden buckets and hauling water to fight the blaze.

Zhong Lin watched the scene coldly. Firelight flickered in his eyes before he finally turned and left without expression.

"H-How did it catch fire? It's not even mealtime yet. Zhang Kun's wife wouldn't be lighting a fire at this hour, would she?"

The villager Zhang Sheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face full of confusion.

"Did any of you see Zhang Kun and his wife come out?"

Another villager looked around, but did not spot Zhang Kun.

"Forget that for now. Put out the fire first, before it spreads over here."

"Right, right, put out the fire first."

The flames were quickly brought under control, but it was autumn, when the air was dry and everything brittle. The fire had come suddenly, and the house was mostly thatch and wooden frames. Even after the blaze was extinguished, it had nearly burned to the ground.

A few bolder men went inside to search around. They soon ran back out with screams, vomiting repeatedly.

"It's Zhang Kun, and his wife."

"And... and two more. Judging by their builds, they look like Skinny Monkey and Scarface."

"They're... they're all dead. All dead."

Four people had died in a single courtyard. Anyone would have been terrified at the sight, much less when they were four charred corpses. Even the smell of roasted flesh made people retch.

"How could they all be dead? Wouldn't they run out if there was a fire? And we didn't hear anyone calling for help. You Gen, your house is closest to Zhang Kun's. Did you hear any shouting?"

You Gen was a dark-skinned middle-aged man. At the question, he seemed to remember something. His expression changed, and he instinctively glanced in the direction Zhong Lin had left. Then he shook his head vigorously.

"N-No. I didn't hear anything, didn't see anything. I... I still have work in the fields. I'm leaving first."

With that, he hurried away as if snakes were chasing him from behind.

"Look how scared he is. Why's he running? Is there a tiger after him or something?"

"There might really be a tiger. I saw Da Linzi come here this morning."

The voices abruptly fell silent.

No one was stupid. A fire had started out of nowhere, no one had escaped, and all four people had died inside. If there was no trickery afoot, even ghosts would not believe it.

Those among the crowd who had gone to "eat the feast" yesterday all turned pale. Even those who had not gone wore looks of shock.

How could Zhong Lin, whom they had always regarded as the very image of honest simplicity, have become like this?

This was murder!

"You all deal with Zhang Kun and the others' bodies first. They were villagers, after all. When a man dies, his debts are wiped away. I'll go take a look at Da Linzi's house."

A villager in the crowd sighed, set down his bucket, and headed toward Zhong Lin's home.

"Da Linzi, it's your Taro Uncle. Open the door."

"Coming."

Zhong Shi trotted over on his short little legs, pulled out the door bolt, and opened the courtyard gate.

"Taro Uncle."

"Shi Tou! Where's your brother?"

Taro Uncle rubbed Little Shi's head and asked with a genial smile.

Little Shi turned toward the kitchen and shouted, "Second Brother, Taro Uncle is looking for you."

Taro Uncle swept his gaze around, which eventually stopped on the quiver in the corner. His expression tightened, and he let out a heavy sigh.

Zhong Lin emerged from the kitchen then, carrying the already smoked and roasted Roe Deer Meat in his hand.

"Taro Uncle, what brings you here?"

In the memories of his former self, Taro Uncle had been very close to their father. After their father and eldest brother had met with disaster in the mountains, he had often helped support the two brothers. He could be said to be the person in all of Summer River Village who had treated them best.

Taro Uncle did not beat around the bush. Pointing at the quiver, he asked directly, "Zhang Kun's house caught fire. Four people died. Did you do it?"

Zhong Lin fell silent for a moment. "If they didn't die, Shi Tou and I would be the ones in trouble."

Taro Uncle knew the nature of Zhang Kun and the "three scourges." Naturally, he knew Zhong Lin was not lying. Though he had a thousand words in his heart, all he could do was sigh.

"Taro Uncle, I know what you mean. If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. Zhang Kun intended to harm me, so I acted. I won't touch anyone else. If you still don't believe me, you can report it to the authorities."

Taro Uncle acted as though he had not heard the words "report it to the authorities," mainly because that was simply impossible.

Summer River Village was tucked away in an isolated location. Other than coming once a year to collect taxes, the imperial constables never came to this godforsaken place. Even if they truly did come, they would only go through the motions. No one would offend Zhong Lin over the deaths of a few scum. They did not dare.

Moreover, Summer River Village had a complicated population. It was not a village formed by people of the same surname and clan. Its residents had gathered here after fleeing disaster a hundred years ago. In other words, there was no clan and no clan elders.

If the people did not bring a case, the officials would not investigate.

Report it to the authorities?

Useless.

"Besides, Shi Tou and I are planning to leave Summer River Village," Zhong Lin continued.

"What? You're leaving? Where are you going?" Taro Uncle cried in alarm.

"Summer River Village is too small. I want to go out and see the world, and this is a good chance to leave. If I stay, a lot of people won't be able to sleep soundly." Zhong Lin smiled.

Taro Uncle ignored Zhong Lin's latter joke, his face filled with urgency. "Shi Tou is so young. How can he travel such a long way with you? And do you think it's that easy to make a living outside? It's nothing like home out there. Here, I can still lend you a hand. But once you're truly outside..."

"Taro Uncle." Zhong Lin's tone hardened. "I've made up my mind. I want to go out and see the world. I don't want to spend my whole life cooped up in this little mountain village. When I make something of myself, I'll come back to see you."

Taro Uncle opened his mouth as if to say more, but in the end, he could only sigh helplessly.

He knew Zhong Lin was no longer the Zhong Lin he had once been. The old Zhong Lin could never have done something like murder and arson, much less killed four people.

"Take good care of Shi Tou. If you can't make it out there, come back. As long as I have a mouthful to eat, you two brothers won't go hungry."

"Mm. Thank you, Taro Uncle."

Their conversation ended there. Taro Uncle rubbed Little Shi's head, sighed, then turned and left.

Little Shi looked up at Zhong Lin and asked, "Second Brother, are we really leaving?"

"You don't want to go?"

"No. Wherever Second Brother goes, I'll go. When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow. Go take those innards and the Roe Deer Meat to Taro Uncle's house. If he refuses them, tell him we're leaving tomorrow. It would be a pity to throw all this food away when we can't finish it."

"Mm!"

Little Shi shuffled toward Taro Uncle's house on his short little legs, carrying a wooden basin filled with offal and meat. The basin weighed only six or seven jin, but it was still difficult for Little Shi. It was only because the distance was not far that Zhong Lin had him do it.

Leaving the village for the County Town had long been part of Zhong Lin's plan. He had originally intended to stay a while longer, eat more meat, and build up his body, but he had not expected this murder-and-arson affair to happen. He could not be bothered to remain here any longer, so it was better to make plans early.

The smoked meat was ready as well. In this weather, it would not spoil for a short time. He could continue hunting on the road, and with his max-level archery, he did not need to worry about going hungry.

Before long, Little Shi returned, except there was now a bundle in his hands.

"Second Brother, Taro Uncle forced this on me. I didn't want it."

Little Shi looked utterly miserable, as though he had done something wrong.

Zhong Lin took the bundle and opened it. Inside was some jerky, the kind that could be eaten directly. It was clearly travel rations for the two brothers.

"If he gave it to you, keep it."