Imminent peril

Dong-

Dong-

The sun rose in the east, spilling light over the prosperous city that stretched to the horizon. Tens of thousands of residents began leaving their homes. The all-night music and revelry in Martial Might Tower had only just subsided when the clamor of everyday life rose through the streets and alleys.

In Clear Spring Lane, morning light fell into a courtyard residence two courtyards deep. A few chrysanthemums quietly bloomed outside the study, their delicate patterns converging toward their centers, their colors deepening around peanut-sized openings, fresh and tender, a beauty beyond compare.

Xie Jinhuan walked out in a spotless plain robe and drew a deep breath of fresh air. After looking around his new residence, he carried Coal Ball outside.

Clear Spring Lane had quite a few tenants, most of them wealthy merchants from outside Peach Immortal Ward or teachers at Danyang Academy. They traveled with carriages, horses, and attendants, and their clothes proclaimed wealth or rank. They were rather curious about this new tenant.

Xie Jinhuan had studied everything since childhood and paid attention to his bearing and speech, so he certainly carried himself well. But he had only twenty-odd taels of silver left, and even that had been stolen. His wealth really did fall somewhat short of his station.

Ye Hongshang was right: every problem stemmed from insufficient strength.

Improving his strength required pills, and pills cost money.

Xie Jinhuan had always relied on "the full might of his father" before, and he had forgotten how he had made a living these past three years. After some thought, he turned to Coal Ball.

"Ball-Ball, how did I earn money these past three years?"

"Gooji?"

Perched on his shoulder, Coal Ball briefly thought back, then raised a wing and drew it across Xie Jinhuan's neck. The meaning was presumably-murder and robbery!

Huh?

Xie Jinhuan felt he ought to be a chivalrous hero, perhaps with a slightly greater appreciation for beauty, but surely not someone who did anything so morally bankrupt. Yet Coal Ball did not seem to be pretending, so he could only ask:

"Was there anything more legitimate? Without killing people?"

Coal Ball thought for a moment, slapped Xie Jinhuan's face with a wing, then held out a little claw.

"Gooji!"

The tone was vicious. This was clearly violent extortion!

Xie Jinhuan opened his mouth. Good grief, have I been living under an assumed name as some notorious bandit these past three years?

No wonder snatching those bandits' money pouches yesterday had flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water...

He wanted to ask more, but dizziness washed through his head. Then a red-robed A Piao emerged behind him, a little umbrella resting on her shoulder as she giggled teasingly.

"Oho~ You'd better stop asking, lest you drag out every rotten thing you used to do and ruin your own Dao heart. Wouldn't it be better to follow your big sister's example, forget the past, and start life anew?"

Xie Jinhuan noticed that although the red-robed A Piao had appeared, the surrounding sounds had not vanished. He could even see people walking through the lane, and his heart jolted.

Only after confirming that nobody else could see his hallucination did he quietly relax.

"Coal Ball doesn't know any better. I must have been upholding justice and confiscating illicit gains along the way."

Then he looked at Coal Ball, whose feathers had puffed up in fright.

"Has our dad been around these past few years?"

Coal Ball sensed something unclean nearby, but upon hearing the question, the bird still considered it seriously before its eyes went blank with confusion.

You don't know?

Seeing that he could get no specifics, Xie Jinhuan stopped making things difficult for his personal servant who knew only how to eat. He had A Piao disappear for now and walked out of the lane.

A side street lay right outside, making meals very convenient to find. There was even a mutton soup shop whose yellowed banner had become illegible. Steam billowed from a large iron pot at the entrance, and every seat inside and beneath the eaves was occupied. Most customers were minor clerks and runners in official uniforms.

Yang Dabiao, who had risen early for duty, and even County Commandant Yang Ting were seated across from each other at a little table outside. Six empty bowls stood before them, and three white-flour buns remained in a basket. They talked as they ate heartily.

"They examined the corpse all night, but even the seniors from the Dan King Pavilion couldn't make anything of it. Another dead-end lead..."

"If those Demon Bandits were that easy to find, what would they need us officers for?"

"Oh? Jinhuan, you're up?"

"Yes. Good morning, Uncle Yang."

Xie Jinhuan approached, first greeting Yang Ting with a bow before taking the empty seat beside them.

"When did you get back last night, Brother Yang? I wanted to say hello, but after waiting half the night without seeing you, I went to bed."

"Ah, don't even mention it."

Yang Dabiao peeled garlic cloves to cut the grease, his face bitter.

"Last night, facing that rotting corpse... Never mind, let's not discuss that over breakfast. We finally finished well past midnight and were ready to come back, only for another message to arrive from the Prince's Manor."

Xie Jinhuan held Coal Ball down to keep the bird from diving into someone else's pot and asked curiously:

"What message?"

"That business on Purple Emblem Mountain, of course."

"?"

Xie Jinhuan's heart froze. This probably was not good news.

And sure enough, Yang Ting drew a sheet of paper from his sleeve as he spoke. Half a shoe print was depicted on it.

"The runners searching the mountain discovered a suspicious trail. This person covered over a zhang with each step, so their martial skills were considerable. Unfortunately, the rain was too heavy to track them properly, but judging by the general direction, they probably came to Dan Prefecture, alone..."

Seeing his own footprint, Xie Jinhuan felt as though half the sky had collapsed!

The night before last, he had been so afraid of falling victim to demons that he had fled for his life without paying any attention to concealing his tracks. Now they had found his footprint...

"Judging by the shoe print, this person is male, though it could also be a demon that assumed a man's form. Approximately six chi and one cun tall..."

As Yang Dabiao spoke, he handed Xie Jinhuan the paper.

"Because this is so important, His Highness is personally overseeing the operation from the Prince's Manor. He's ordered every county, township, neighborhood, and station to prioritize this matter. Every man of the right height who appeared yesterday or whose whereabouts were unknown the day before must be registered and investigated individually."

By Great Qian's measurements, that meant a little over 1.8 meters tall. The range was actually quite broad, but with "suddenly appeared yesterday or whereabouts unknown the day before, possesses considerable strength" added, the search was clearly much easier.

Looking at the footprint on the paper, Xie Jinhuan broke into a cold sweat and discreetly tucked his feet beneath his robe.

"Dan Prefecture has nine commanderies and fifty-seven counties, with countless inhabitants. Finding someone won't be easy."

County Commandant Yang Ting set down his soup bowl and wiped his mouth.

"The survival of the dynasty is at stake. Easy or not, we have to find them. According to the Prince's Manor, if no trace turns up within three days, they'll report it to Luojing and let the Scarlet Qilin Guard and the Directorate of Celestial Observation take over."

"..."

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan's heart finally stopped dangling in suspense and simply died.

The Scarlet Qilin Guard were the emperor's claws and fangs, roughly equivalent to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Directorate of Celestial Observation was a top-tier institution of force dedicated to suppressing demons and heretical paths. Its director, Lu Wuzhen, had been appointed State Preceptor and ranked first among Great Qian's three great grandmasters. In terms of cultivation, he could pin down and kill the master of Purple Emblem Mountain with one hand, and hammer Danyang Academy's Chancellor Mu Yunling flat with both.

Joint enforcement by these two institutions amounted to Great Qian deploying nuclear weapons. If even that failed to solve the problem, it would no longer be called a problem-it would mean Great Qian's allotted fortunes had run out!

Doesn't that mean I'm dead for sure?

Faced with imminent divine punishment, Xie Jinhuan lost even his appetite.

But he could not show anything unusual. Seeing that Yang Dabiao could eat seven large bowls, he assumed the food here was not very filling and casually ordered seven bowls of soup and seven buns himself.

Then he nearly stuffed himself to death!

After eating and drinking his fill, Yang Dabiao noticed Xie Jinhuan holding his chopsticks, his face green. He reached over and patted his shoulder.

"You're young. You have to eat well to fight well. Take your time; I'm heading to the yamen."

"All right. I've paid for the meal."

"Ah, you're too kind, Nephew Xie."

With his pipe in his mouth, Yang Ting also patted Xie Jinhuan's shoulder before leaving with his son.

Only a man and a bird remained, facing seven bowls of mutton and seven enormous buns...

A short while later, beside the Chongming River.

Rubbing his belly, which looked three months pregnant, Xie Jinhuan walked along the riverbank. He had already changed into a new pair of shoes.

Coal Ball was stuffed for once, perched on his shoulder with blank eyes. The bird seemed to have entered sage mode and begun pondering the meaning of avian existence.

For one moment back there, Xie Jinhuan had actually wanted to break his word and make a run for it.

But fleeing was pointless now.

Judging by the Pill King's mobilization, he clearly intended to spare no expense: he would see the demon alive or its corpse dead.

If Xie Jinhuan dared disappear now, he would immediately be identified as a prime suspect, and every party would join the pursuit. His appearance, background, and martial skills were all out in the open. He would be intercepted before he even left Dan Prefecture.

Even if he escaped Dan Prefecture, secretly excavating the Demon-Suppressing Mausoleum constituted a "crime against humanity." It might even bring down an "extermination order from all teachings," sending the leading figures of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, and the military school after him. Could he really pass five gates and slay six generals to fight his way out of Great Qian?

He did not even have a chance to return to the mountain and erase his tracks. The mountain was full of people searching for fiends, and the round trip would take a day and a night. As someone involved in the case, he would expose himself immediately if an expert encountered him.

His only way out now was to gamble on the darkness beneath the lamp keeping him undiscovered, then find a way out of danger as quickly as possible.

As he considered this, the man and bird soon reached Ning'an Street.

In the early morning, few carriages or horses traveled the white stone street. Osmanthus trees lined both sides, their fragrance washing over passersby. A large, three-story Medical Clinic stood beside the street, a gold-lettered sign above its main building reading "Skilled hands, benevolent heart."

Xie Jinhuan did not particularly want dealings with a Witch Cult temptress. But unless he found a way to improve his strength, never mind resealing the Demon-Suppressing Mausoleum-whether he could escape after being exposed was doubtful. Even if it meant drinking poison to quench his thirst, he would have to pinch his nose and gulp it down.

Still, to be safe, he had asked about the Lin Family Clinic's background on his way here.

The Lin family was an Imperial Physician Aristocratic Clan, with its main household in Luojing and its head serving as Vice Director of the Imperial Medical Academy. This was merely one of the Lin family's branches in Danyang and should originally have been managed by a collateral branch.

But Lin Zisu was highly gifted in the Dao of Alchemy. After the Lin Residence adopted her from relatives, she gained admission to Danyang Academy at a young age. Lin Wanyi had followed as her guardian, looking after her while managing the lineage's business.

Judging by local opinion, Lin Wanyi was a great philanthropist. Not only was she a highly skilled physician who often treated poor neighbors free of charge, but she also sponsored a few apprentices studying at the Academy and Purple Emblem Mountain. Her social circle was extensive; she knew practically every wife of every high official and dignitary.

No matter how one looked at her, a female physician like that should have no connection with the Witch Cult, which refined corpses and reared gu.

But demons and heretics knew how to disguise themselves. The kinder they appeared, the more ruthless they might be behind closed doors.

After hesitating outside the Medical Clinic for a moment, Xie Jinhuan suppressed his distracting thoughts and headed for the entrance. Halfway there, however, he faintly heard women talking through a second-floor window.

"Sister Lin, you must think of something for me. My Qingzhi hasn't been touching me lately, and he stays out all night..."

"It's normal for married couples to share a bed less often after a long time together. Perhaps Lord Liu is busy with official duties..."

"He's not busy at home. Please help your big sister. I heard you prescribed a 'Yanghe Pill' for Madam Song on Wencheng Street. Seven times in one night! Madam Song didn't leave the house for days, and it didn't even harm their health..."

"Ah, Madam Song wanted a child. Seven times in one night was because Lord Song had a strong constitution..."

"My husband is as strong as an ox. His health is good too. He's just sick of me. Last time, I kindly helped him with that blowing-the-flute-and-playing-with-jade business, and he actually fell asleep..."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan blinked and looked up toward the second-floor room. He could confirm that the "Sister Lin" inside was Lin Wanyi, whom he had met at the docks yesterday.

Blowing the flute and playing with jade...

If Xie Jinhuan remembered correctly, that method really was quite soothing.

When he met Lin Wanyi yesterday, he had thought her a virtuous, intellectual, conservative beauty. He had not expected her private conversations to be so risqué...

Just what you'd expect from a Witch Cult temptress...

Having already witnessed the prowess of those unhinged young ladies at the Commandery Princess's Manor yesterday, Xie Jinhuan was no longer surprised. He entered the Medical Clinic, only to discover that the two female apprentices weighing medicine before the many-drawered cabinet were also whispering.

"I heard from the coachman that Young Master Xie has sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, formidable martial skills, and extraordinary bearing. He even carried the mistress and Zisu down from the carriage..."

"Neither the mistress nor Zisu is married. What if they both take a fancy to him..."

"Don't worry. Zisu's head is full of crooked ideas. When would she have time to think about marriage? That 'Overstuffed Pill' she refined last time left an old Alchemist at the Academy hiccupping for three days. He nearly came here to scold the mistress for failing to discipline her properly. If that Young Master Xie dares visit, I reckon he'll be scared off within three days..."

Hearing "Overstuffed Pill," Xie Jinhuan felt that neither the older nor the younger of these two Lin women was a lamp that burned little oil.

But since he was already here, he did not retreat at the first sign of difficulty. He approached the counter and tapped it.

Knock, knock~

The apprentice weighing medicine turned at the sound. Seeing a young gentleman with eyes like cold stars standing beyond the counter, she froze briefly.

"Er... what illness do you have, young master?"

"Goo~"

From yesterday until now, Coal Ball had noticed that Huan's head was not quite right. Tilting its head, the bird nudged Xie Jinhuan's skull to indicate that this was where the illness lay.

Xie Jinhuan knew he had amnesia, but the Lin Family Clinic probably could not cure it. He merely replied calmly:

"I'm not ill. I'm looking for someone. Is Doctor Lin Wanyi here?"

"Oh, the mistress is seeing a patient upstairs. You'll have to wait a moment."