A Favor, and a Transaction

"If Master Yan has something to say, just say it. There's no need for all this."

As Sun Chief Clerk spoke, everyone turned their attention to Yan Ming again.

On closer inspection, Yan Ming had actually taken off his short jacket, revealing a scar that ran from his chest to his abdomen.

What was he doing?

Yan Ming gently ran a hand over the scar, then lifted one corner of his jacket and waved it in front of Sun Chief Clerk.

"Chief Clerk Sun, I can prove that Chen Zhuo really did stay at my place all night."

"Master Yan, what do you mean by this?"

Huang Yuan'er's face darkened, his brow furrowing until it seemed he could squeeze water from it. "Chen Zhuo killed Huang Sanyou. We have both witnesses and physical evidence. How can you prove he spent the night with you?"

"Don't say things recklessly. People can die for that."

"This short jacket is the evidence. Take a good look."

Yan Ming replied, his expression unchanged.

"Oh?"

Sun Chief Clerk ignored Huang Yuan'er. He first studied the scar on Yan Ming's chest for a long while, then shifted his gaze to the jacket.

He examined it closely and found that it was incomplete, as if a corner had been cut off by a sharp object.

"Last night, this brat was staying in my room. He was arrogant and wouldn't watch his mouth, so I wanted to teach him a lesson. I didn't expect him to draw his knife and cut a corner off my jacket."

"I didn't throw that piece of cloth away, either. I left it in my room. If you don't believe me, Lord Liu, you can go and see for yourself."

Yan Ming smiled faintly. "Who would've thought it would become proof that he was at my place last night?"

"You're lucky, kid."

Yan Ming turned to Chen Zhuo as he said those final words.

Yan Ming frowned and scolded him.

"Why haven't you put your sword away? You draw it at the drop of a hat. You deserve a lesson."

Chen Zhuo said nothing. He slowly sheathed his long blade as instructed, then clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

"See? That's just the kind of temper this brat has."

Yan Ming turned around and spread his hands helplessly.

"You can clear his name with a mere short jacket? Lord Liu, for all we know, Yan Ming deliberately cut off a corner to clear Chen Zhuo of suspicion. His words can't be trusted."

Huang Yuan'er hurriedly argued.

Sun Chief Clerk said nothing. He only stared at the scar on Yan Ming's body, gazing at it in a daze for a while before coming back to himself. Then he asked, "Did Master Yan know last night that Huang Sanyou was dead? Or did he know in advance that someone would be charged today, so he deliberately cut his jacket beforehand?"

Sun Chief Clerk's words left Huang Yuan'er speechless.

"You drew your blade before the case had even been tried. Squad Leader Huang, is this how you conduct yourself?"

Sun Chief Clerk lowered his eyes and glanced at Huang Yuan'er.

Huang Yuan'er's pupils suddenly contracted. He slowly turned to look at Registrar Wang, his eyes full of uncertainty, as if to ask:

Had the Sun Family dared to switch sides?

Were they willing to give up their share of the Autumn Hunt?

Registrar Wang stared at Sun Chief Clerk like a blade, as if trying to find an answer on his face.

But Sun Chief Clerk's response was to turn away.

"Lord Liu, Master Yan has proved that the White-Uniform Runner has a solid alibi. In my view, he had no opportunity to commit the crime. The real murderer must be someone else."

"What do you think of this, sir?"

Magistrate Liu glanced at the three people on the platform. After a moment's thought, he frowned. "What a farce."

Those words put a definitive end to the farce.

Then Magistrate Liu looked at Huang Yuan'er in displeasure and said, "You're a squad leader, at least. You shouldn't have rashly decided who the murderer was when the facts were still unclear. I'm docking three months of your pay as a warning to others."

Huang Yuan'er lowered his head, his face ashen. "Your subordinate was in the wrong."

Though he said that, he still wasn't willing to accept it.

As he lowered his head, he secretly glanced at Registrar Wang.

Registrar Wang only shook his head in silence.

"Put your sword away."

Sun Chief Clerk reminded him coldly.

Huang Yuan'er gritted his teeth and slowly slid his long blade back into its sheath.

The blade scraped against the scabbard again and again, making a shrill, grating sound—the only outlet for his discontent.

He understood perfectly well.

Once he sheathed his sword, today's matter would be over for good.

Magistrate Liu glanced at Huang Yuan'er but didn't pursue the matter. He only furrowed his brow slightly.

"As for that White-Uniform Runner..."

Magistrate Liu said, "Though he suffered a grave injustice, he also injured three Yamen Runners. You can decide how to deal with him."

"However, you must find the real murderer who killed Huang Sanyou and punish him severely."

"Your subordinate understands."

Sun Chief Clerk agreed at once.

"Pay close attention to the Autumn Hunt."

"Rest assured, sir."

Magistrate Liu's expression softened a little. He said nothing more, rose, and left at once.

After the magistrate had gone, Registrar Wang gave a cold snort, his voice so quiet that only Sun Chief Clerk could hear it.

"You'll have to answer for this."

Sun Chief Clerk lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Registrar Wang shot a cold glance at Yan Ming and Chen Zhuo below the platform, then swept away.

Huang Yuan'er was unwilling to give up, but he knew there was no way to get what he wanted, so he stopped pressing the matter.

As he left, he quietly gave an order to the Yamen Runner beside him.

"Take those men away and keep a close watch on them. I want to interrogate them again, properly."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed.

The people he indicated were Dunzi and Xiao Liu from the kitchen, along with Chen Zhuo's seven roommates.

The seven roommates stared blankly, not knowing what Huang Yuan'er meant.

But quick-witted Xiao Liu immediately understood. He dropped to his knees in front of Yan Ming with a thump, slamming his forehead against the ground.

"Master Yan, I was wrong! I was wrong! I'll work like an ox and a horse for you from now on. Please, please don't let them take me away. I..."

Before Xiao Liu could finish, a Yamen Runner clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him away.

No matter how Xiao Liu struggled, Yan Ming only watched with cold detachment, unmoved.

"Thank you for saving me today, senior brother."

Chen Zhuo walked up to Yan Ming and thanked him solemnly.

Watching helplessly as the Yamen Runners took away his roommates and Xiao Liu, he let out a long breath.

His life was spared.

He had made the right bet.

Yan Ming turned and patted him on the shoulder, smiling. "As long as you're all right."

Just then, Sun Chief Clerk came down from the platform and walked over. His mountain-like, muscular frame cast a shadow over Yan Ming and Chen Zhuo.

"Master Yan, we're even now. Take care of yourself from here on."

Then he added to Chen Zhuo, "Starting today, you don't need to go to the Swift Squad anymore. Stay in the kitchen and keep your head down. Don't cause trouble again."

Chen Zhuo raised his brows and looked up at Sun Chief Clerk in surprise, but the other man left him only with a broad, sturdy back.

"He's actually willing to transfer you to the kitchen? Could it be that he really thinks you've got exceptional talent and natural gifts, and is afraid someone will cheat you out of your life?"

"Maybe."

Yan Ming smiled, then suddenly sounded a little wistful. "My favor's settled, but now you owe him one. How interesting."

Chen Zhuo stared at the long scar on Yan Ming's body and said calmly, "It's a favor, and a transaction."

"Hahaha..."

Yan Ming laughed heartily for a while before finally quieting down.

"I'm hungry. Let's go eat first."

With that, he turned and headed toward the kitchen.

Chen Zhuo stood in the middle of the Drill Ground, squinting slightly as he looked up at the sun slowly climbing into the sky. He silently clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it.