Heluo Huaibao was plainly dead beyond all doubt. Moments ago, he had soared through the sky and burrowed into the earth, seemingly capable of anything; once a Grandmaster arrived, he had become something like a torn sponge almost instantaneously. Right up until he crashed to the ground, Zhang Xing felt not the slightest trace of warmth.
Clearly, whether because he had shattered his Inner Core and burned his sea of qi, or because that crossbow bolt had not been fatal, he had gained not a scrap of true qi.
But it no longer mattered. After enduring such an all-too-real ordeal of life and death, Zhang Xing felt little different from the many Jinwu Guards and Brocade-clad Patrol Cavalry around him-the relief of escaping with their lives left no room for other thoughts. Even the spirit with which he had lifted his shield and fired his crossbow had instantly dissipated.
True qi, rewards-how laughable they seemed beside the preciousness of life.
What was more, the rain had grown very light. Water still roared through the culverts beneath Heaven Street. Zhang Xing stood blankly on the street with Qin Bao, Qian Tang, Li Qingchen, and several other companions, looking around them, feeling only desolation and lingering fear.
A great hole gaped in Heaven Street. Countless sections of the covered walkways had shattered, and the ward walls were no better. As for the houses and courtyards inside Zhengping Ward, there was no need to mention them-innumerable buildings lay broken or collapsed.
Meanwhile, wails rose one after another, rivaling the sound of running water. The far greater number of dead and wounded inside the ward were difficult to see from Heaven Street, hidden by the buildings. Yet the muddy yellow water flowing through the street's drains, tinged faintly red, seemed to offer a reminder.
There were even faint sounds of fighting and battle cries in the distance.
But none of it mattered anymore.
Barring any surprises, the heavy rain would wash away every trace. Eastern Capital City could swallow all the living and dead, whatever thoughts they harbored, and the buildings would swiftly be restored after the rain.
Everything seemed capable of returning to how it had been.
"This was nothing compared to what came before, was it?" Qin Bao suddenly spoke beside Heaven Street. "How must Brother Zhang have felt when he escaped from Fallen Dragon Shoal? No wonder he was the only one who dared step forward and fire that bolt."
Everyone nearby turned to look at Zhang Xing... Unexpectedly, although his planning and arrangements in Jiaqing and Jiajing Wards had certainly brought him into the limelight and been successful, none of that seemed to have earned him as much respect as today's single crossbow shot.
Even Qian Tang, whose cultivation and martial skills surpassed his, and Li Qingchen, a scion of an established clan, now looked at him somewhat differently.
Zhang Xing smiled bitterly for a moment, but spoke honestly. "When I came back from Fallen Dragon Shoal, my legs were useless. Then there was the earthquake, followed by days of rain. I didn't give much thought to the uncertainty of life and death. I just wanted a hot meal and somewhere clean to lie down... Yet the moment we reached a safe place, we fell to fighting among ourselves. Four of the seven routed soldiers died."
"Then don't think too much."
After seeing off a Southern Office Chancellor and a Grandmaster, Bai Yousi approached with her sword in hand, looking just as bedraggled. Her gaze swept over her subordinates as she forced herself to deliver clear orders. "Most of the outlaws have been captured... Orders from above: those of us who came as reinforcements, White Ribbon rank and below, may all return home and rest tonight. Report to the directorate together tomorrow morning for orders and hand over your official horses... Big Qian, Little Wu is injured. Take him home... The rest of you, don't dwell on things either. Hurry home for today."
Everyone from Qian Tang down, Zhang Xing included, cupped their hands and acknowledged the order.
But Zhang Xing was soon called back.
"Zhang Xing," Bai Yousi suddenly said. "Wait a moment."
Zhang Xing turned, immediately understood, and cupped his hands in thanks. "I haven't yet thanked you for saving my life and covering for me, Inspector."
"It was only my duty." Once the others had moved some distance away, Bai Yousi turned her gaze toward the ruined Zhengping Ward and lowered her voice. Her words, however, were strange and seemingly inexplicable. "I simply wanted to remind you specifically not to think too much about certain things."
But Zhang Xing understood her meaning.
When he had just heard that the outlaws had divided their forces, feinted east and struck west, coordinating north and south to actually kill a Minister of War who had only just entered the ranks of the chief ministers, he had naturally been horrified and unable to help thinking further. Lord Zhang Shizhao had been far too passive and perfunctory, utterly unlike what his reputation and office should have demanded.
In fact, even without thinking along those lines, an ordinary person would have felt resentment and unease over what had happened.
To protect them, Bai Yousi had to keep them from thinking too much about certain matters. Otherwise, she would not have swiftly concealed Zhang Xing's excessively cold stare while those important figures were present.
"I wasn't thinking too much." Zhang Xing, also looking at the ruined Zhengping Ward, paused before shaking his head. Now that he had calmed down, he was speaking the truth. "I still remember what happened at Red Mountain... Have you ever seen me harbor any unnecessary 'ideas,' Inspector?"
"As long as you understand." Bai Yousi gave him a long look, but ultimately could not hold back. "Personally, even leaving aside how suddenly it happened, the outlaws really did outplay us. Lord Zhang was probably made a fool of too, and that was why he vented some of his anger on others... Today's affair was different from Red Mountain. It was more like the defeat at Fallen Dragon Shoal. Even if you really thought it through and untangled everything, you might still not know whom to hate or whom to seek out."
Zhang Xing nodded, then shook his head... He understood that reasoning, but he did not believe no one bore responsibility.
Still, it came back to the same thing: now was not the time to entertain ideas.
Seeing this, Bai Yousi said nothing more and could only nod. Even she was unusually weary and mentally exhausted now-the Minister of Justice was dead. Heaven knew what would happen next. Both what lay ahead and what had happened today made her feel she had to go back and speak with her own father, the Marquis of Ji'an.
"Zhang Sanlang?"
After Bai Yousi left, an unexpected person approached. "We never met that day... I truly never expected a man of such literary brilliance to possess this righteous courage as well."
"Greetings, Sima Erlang." Though countless thoughts churned through his mind and he was exhausted in body and spirit, Zhang Xing still chose to respond with easy composure. Rather than address him by his official title, he cupped his hands in a greeting between equals. "Hardly righteous courage. Merely a dog's bark in a desperate corner."
"A dog's bark today may yet become a dragon's roar tomorrow. What matters is that you dared make that sound!" Sima Zheng wasted no further words, cupping his hands and departing.
Zhang Xing could not be bothered to linger either. Together with Qin Bao, who had been waiting for him, he first headed south to retrieve the official horses they had ridden into action, then turned north with him.
They traveled in silence. But after reaching Quanshan Ward, turning west, and crossing the Luo River by the Old Central Bridge, they suddenly saw a squad of Brocade-clad officers approaching along the bridge. Their leader was a Vermilion Sash, so they quickly moved aside and paused.
The Vermilion Sash was in a hurry too, turning west immediately after crossing the bridge.
"That's Inspector Chai," Qin Bao said, recognizing him.
"It is." Something stirred in Zhang Xing's mind, and he suddenly remembered a matter. "Qin Erlang, go on back. I'll visit Xiūyè Ward and see whether an acquaintance is safe. Buy some hot food and wait for me at my place."
Qin Bao understood and rode straight across the river.
Zhang Xing reined in his horse and slowly followed the road he knew best toward Xiūyè Ward's north gate.
By the time he arrived, it was nearly evening. Xiūyè Ward had long since been sealed so tightly that not even water could pass through. Fortunately, plenty of Jing'an Directorate personnel were present, making it convenient for Zhang Xing to enter.
Passing through the ward gate, he turned into Ward Chief Liu's home to one side, which had also been sealed off. It was utterly empty inside. Zhang Xing sighed where he stood, without the slightest surprise or suspicion.
"Brother."
Zhang Xing turned and caught hold of a member of the Brocade-clad Patrol Cavalry. "What crime did this ward chief commit?"
"Not really sure." The Patrol Cavalry glanced at the grime and blood on his clothes, and his tone immediately softened. "Why, did you know him, brother?"
"Before joining the Brocade-clad ranks, I was one of the Street-Cleaning Tigers around here. I lived here for a while and knew this ward chief." Zhang Xing told it as it was. "I was in Zhengping Ward today. I heard the news while crossing the bridge just now and came specifically to check."
"Zhengping Ward..."
The man broke off with a sigh, then lowered his voice to answer.
"Brother, I've only just arrived myself. I really don't know the details. But as far as I know, Minister Zhang was seized by Gao Changye right here at the ward gate, marched back to his residence like a prisoner, then executed at the crossroads... Given that your old acquaintance was the north gate's ward chief, either he was in collusion with them, or he was caught up in it and forced to open the gate."
Hearing this, Zhang Xing could only nod.
"And think about it. The dead man headed the Ministry of Justice and was a newly risen power in the Southern Office, with connections reaching heaven... Whichever category your acquaintance falls into, I'm afraid nothing good awaits him. The only difference is whether his family can be spared... Don't entertain any other hopes." His colleague offered the advice sincerely. "Go home early and sleep. Whatever the difficulties, leave them until tomorrow!"
Zhang Xing nodded, but merely continued asking, "I mean nothing else. I just want to see him and know how things stand... Brother, do you know roughly where they're being held?"
"That's easy. All the prisoners are at the crossroads. None have escaped or been transferred elsewhere... Just go and look for him."
"Has the Intendant left?" Zhang Xing nodded, then suddenly asked another question.
"He went straight into the palace after taking the prisoners. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been left there in such a slipshod fashion."
Zhang Xing understood. He saluted again, thanked him, and led his horse farther inside.
The Zhang Residence stood north of Xiūyè Ward's crossroads, facing east from the west side and occupying more than half the street frontage. It too was sealed off now. Cries rose to the heavens within, yet no one paid them any heed... A world apart from when Minister Zhang had been riding high.
Without a word, Zhang Xing passed the Zhang Residence. Before even reaching the crossroads, he could see from afar how orderly everything was-there were no ward residents watching, and the Jing'an Directorate's Brocade-clad officers formed two rings around the perimeter. Within them, over thirty prisoners sat motionless with their hands bound. Together with a stone execution platform in the center, still bearing bloodstains, and the pattering rain, the scene possessed a measure of strangely spectacular beauty.
Zhang Xing approached and tied up his horse, then heard a Black Sash reporting to Inspector Chai:
"...That's how it happened. They've confessed to everything... They were the ones behind the earlier jailbreak. Most of those they freed were Heluo Fu's former men... Then they hid in the culverts... Today in Zhengping Ward, besides Heluo Fu's former men, there were also several gangs connected to Li Shu. Gao Changye schemed to force them out... Once the fighting began in Zhengping Ward and drew Minister Chen into action, Gao Changye waited fresh for his exhausted enemy and ambushed them right at the ward gate."
"Why did they happen to free only Heluo Fu's former men that day?"
"For that, you would have to ask why Minister Chen had taken so many of Heluo Fu's former men into custody."
"Gao Changye was once a celebrated military figure, accomplished in both civil and martial affairs. He actually endured in silence for over a decade for this? Right under our noses?"
"Yes."
"These people truly defy comprehension!"
"Don't they just?"
"What are you doing here?" Inspector Chai finally noticed Zhang Xing, who had been standing nearby with his hands cupped for some time. "Aren't you in Inspector Bai's unit? Shouldn't you be in Jiajing Ward or Zhengping Ward?"
"We've already returned." Zhang Xing bowed his head in salute and hastily, earnestly explained why he had come.
Inspector Chai fell silent for a while before asking in return, "When you served under Feng Yong, you happened to be lodged as a tenant in this Ward Chief Liu's home?"
"Yes."
"Then go and look for him." Unexpectedly, Inspector Chai granted him permission with remarkable readiness.
Though somewhat surprised, Zhang Xing quickly passed through the cordon and entered the group of prisoners under the strange gazes of Inspector Chai and the Black Sash beside him.
There were no women among them. They were all men.
Having established that, Zhang Xing had only just begun looking when a man sitting directly below the execution platform with his hands bound turned toward him. Through the drizzle, he greeted him from a distance with a smile. "Brother Zhang, it's been several days. Have you been well? How kind of you to remember your old brother. Gao Changye pays his respects! Inspector Chai, thank you as well!"
The prisoners around him burst into laughter. Behind Zhang Xing, Inspector Chai seemed to give a cold snort too.
This time, Zhang Xing was not surprised in the slightest.
P.S. Happy New Year, everyone.
Provided for you: Exorcising the Dragon: Zhang Xing and Bai Yousi, by the great author Water-Fearing Grenade.
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