A Yamen Runner's Skin

In the County Yamen's back courtyard.

Xu Qingshan sat at a desk in a Side Room, with several case files and a register of missing persons spread out before him.

He read intently, pen in his right hand, occasionally jotting something down.

The courtyard was quiet. Only the wind chime beneath the eaves gave an occasional faint tinkle.

Footsteps came from beyond the courtyard gate, light and slow, as though someone were deliberately keeping them quiet.

Xu Qingshan's grip tightened slightly around his pen. He looked up toward the door.

A figure appeared in the doorway: a Yamen Runner from Heishui County.

He looked about thirty, was of average build, and wore a Yamen Runner's uniform with a saber at his waist.

He stood outside the threshold, his gaze fixed on Xu Qingshan's candlelit figure. His right hand rose slowly to the hilt of his saber.

His thumb pressed against the guard. With a gentle push, he bared an inch of blade.

Xu Qingshan remained on full alert, watching the doorway.

He could feel the gaze from outside, like a cold snake crawling through the shadows, waiting for the moment to dart out and bite.

Just as the Yamen Runner pressed harder, pushing the blade another half inch from its sheath—

"Brother Xu!"

Yang Xiao's voice suddenly rang out from beyond the courtyard gate.

The Yamen Runner froze. His blade stopped halfway out. After a pause of about a breath, he slowly slid it back into its sheath.

He turned around, a friendly smile already on his face.

"Lord Yang, you're back? How were things by the river?"

Yang Xiao strode into the back courtyard. His gaze rested on the Yamen Runner for an instant.

His expression betrayed nothing as he said evenly, "A Straw-Cloak Ghost ambushed me by the river. I killed it."

The Yamen Runner's smile stiffened slightly, but soon returned to normal.

"Impressive skills, Lord Yang! That Straw-Cloak Ghost has been causing trouble by the river for ages. We were powerless against it. Thank goodness you stepped in!"

He cupped his hands, then smiled at Xu Qingshan. "Lord Xu, have you found any clues? If you need help with anything, just say the word."

Xu Qingshan set down his pen and turned around, wearing his usual gentle smile.

"I'm still sorting through things. I'll be sure to ask if I need anything."

The young Yamen Runner exchanged a few more pleasantries, then cupped his hands in farewell and left the back courtyard. His footsteps gradually faded.

Neither Yang Xiao nor Xu Qingshan spoke.

Only when the Yamen Runner had vanished beyond the courtyard gate did Xu Qingshan let out a long breath.

"Brother Yang."

Xu Qingshan kept his voice so low that only the two of them could hear.

"I suspect the Painted-Skin Ghost is inside the County Yamen."

Xu Qingshan took a deep breath, pushed the case files aside, and placed a fingertip on the register of missing persons.

"Brother Yang, have you noticed these missing people weren't chosen at random?"

Yang Xiao came over and looked down at the register.

Names filled its pages. Beside each one were the date of disappearance, the person's identity, and the place where they had last been seen.

Xu Qingshan ran his finger down the page.

"At first, everyone who disappeared was a young woman."

His fingertip stopped over the first half of the register. Every entry identified someone as a daughter or wife, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-eight.

"Then came the men."

His finger moved down. The missing were now woodcutters, porters, and laborers, all young men in their prime.

"After that, guards and Yamen Runners."

"Only at the end did it target Demon Suppression Guards."

Xu Qingshan's finger stopped at the bottom of the register.

"Zhou An, at the Nine Apertures of the Qi Gathering Realm, and the other Demon Suppression Guard, Li Yueze, at Qi Gathering Seven Apertures."

He raised his head, a chill in his eyes.

"It fed on young women first. They were the weakest and couldn't fight back, so stripping off their skins and taking their places was easiest. Then it moved on to men, stronger than the women but still easy to deal with. After that came Yamen Runners and guards. They knew martial arts and took more strength to subdue."

"Only then did it go after Demon Suppression Guards."

Yang Xiao picked up the thread, his voice turning cold. "It's growing stronger step by step."

Xu Qingshan nodded, his expression grim.

"Every time a Painted-Skin Demon changes skins, it gains the skin's owner's identity and even some of their memories. It started with defenseless women and ate its way up, one layer at a time. With every person it consumed, its strength and ability to disguise itself grew.

"Only when it was confident it could handle Demon Suppression Guards did it make its move on Li Yueze and Zhou An."

Yang Xiao's voice grew colder still.

"So Zhou An, the last to disappear, was probably lured into a trap by the Painted-Skin Demon wearing the face of someone he trusted."

Yang Xiao's fist slowly clenched.

He remembered the Straw-Cloak Ghosts lined up in neat rows when Zhao Peng had led him to the river.

"How many people in the County Yamen have been replaced?"

"I don't know." Xu Qingshan shook his head. "But at least that Yamen Runner just now. Possibly more."

"What about County Magistrate Chen Bonian?"

Xu Qingshan hesitated. "Hard to say. He seems normal and hasn't done anything strange. I can't confirm it yet."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment, then spoke.

"Then we'll draw it out."

Xu Qingshan stared. "Brother Yang, you mean...?"

"Set a trap."

Yang Xiao's gaze fell on the flickering candle in the Side Room. Firelight danced in his pupils.

"The Painted-Skin Demon keeps changing into better skins to disguise itself. From defenseless women to Yamen Runners to Demon Suppression Guards. It won't stop."

Xu Qingshan's expression shifted. "You mean it'll come for our skins?"

"Like that Yamen Runner did today."

"Exactly," Yang Xiao said. "He tried to make his move while you were alone with the case files. That means he's waiting for one of us to be alone."

"If that's what he wants, we'll give it to him. Let's see if he can swallow it."

Xu Qingshan's hand trembled slightly, but he soon steadied it.

"What do you want to do, Brother Yang?"

Yang Xiao went to the window and pushed one panel open. The night wind rushed in, carrying damp air with it.

"Tonight we split up. I'll leave where they can see me, and you'll stay alone in the records room."

Xu Qingshan's pupils contracted. "You want to use me as bait?"

"Are you afraid?"

Xu Qingshan paused, then gave a wry smile.

"Yes. But you're right. It's the fastest way."

After a moment, he added, "But Brother Yang, what if the one who comes isn't a double, but the Painted-Skin Demon itself?"

Yang Xiao laid a hand on his saber's hilt. His thumb pressed against the guard and gave it a gentle push.

A cold gleam flashed along the blade in the candlelight.

"All the better."

Night deepened.

The County Yamen's back courtyard lay silent, apart from the occasional faint tinkle of the wind chime beneath the eaves.

In the Side Room, Xu Qingshan sat alone at the desk. Case files and the register lay spread before him. He turned pages from time to time, writing notes on the paper.

He looked absorbed, but his left hand remained on his knee, fingers slightly curled, ready to draw the sword at his waist at any moment.

Yang Xiao had left half an hour ago.

As he went out, he had said he was going to check the river west of the city again. His voice had been just loud enough for the Yamen Runners patrolling the street to hear.

About another quarter of an hour passed. Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard and finally stopped at the Side Room door.

"Lord Xu."

A familiar voice came from outside.

Xu Qingshan looked up. A Yamen Runner stood beyond the threshold, peering around the room as if to make sure of something.

He held a lantern and wore an ingratiating smile.

"It's late. I've brought Your Lordship a pot of hot tea."