Inside the jail cell.
Zhou Qing sat on a straw-covered mat, looking up at the small window on the wall.
The window was covered with iron bars. Scattered light filtered through, casting a square on the straw mat that was as bright as snow.
Hearing a commotion outside, Zhou Qing instinctively turned his head and saw Shen Bai stepping into the jail cell.
"Lao Shen, how did you get in here? This has nothing to do with him! Chief Zheng, you haven’t arrested him, have you?"
Since Chief Zheng had entered with Shen Bai, Zhou Qing imdiately assud that he had been arrested as well.
Chief Zheng gave a wry smile. "We wouldn’t dare arrest Shopkeeper Shen. Zhou Qing, you two can catch up."
Zhou Qing was taken aback, not understanding what he ant.
Shen Bai walked closer and recounted what had happened in the courtyard.
After listening, Zhou Qing took a few steps forward, gripped the bars of the cell, and said urgently, "Lao Shen, what were you thinking?! Even if I was frad and thrown in jail, it’s a small matter! I would’ve been released in a few days. The worst that could happen is that I can’t be a constable anymore. I don’t have to be one! I could go with you to Fenglin State and help you run the pawnshop."
He and Shen Bai were the best of brothers, and Zhou Qing had always believed that brothers shouldn’t cause trouble for each other.
He had already accepted that Li Yun wanted him utterly ruined, dood beyond redemption.
While his years of ritorious service would spare him from a life-or-death crisis, his career as a constable was surely over.
If he couldn’t be a constable and couldn’t enter the Observatory, then just being an ordinary person was perfectly fine.
But Zhou Qing had never, ever imagined that Shen Bai would do sothing so terrifying.
Although in Zhou Qing’s mind, those four deserved to die and then so, he was worried Shen Bai would be implicated.
Shen Bai shook his head and said just one sentence: "Granny Zhang is dead, and they’re the ones who killed her."
The mont he spoke, Zhou Qing, who had been about to say more, froze on the spot.
Zhou Qing’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned bone-white.
His eyes first went blank with shock, then a towering rage made his face flush crimson.
Zhou Qing slamd his fist against the bars. "Good! It’s good that you killed them!"
If he had been the only one to suffer this disaster, he certainly wouldn’t have said a word.
But Zhou Qing and Shen Bai got along so well precisely because their personalities were so similar.
Faced with the tragic death of the woman who had saved his life, even the normally mild-mannered Zhou Qing couldn’t contain his fury.
Shen Bai looked from side to side and asked, "Where’s Xiaoxue?"
Zhou Qing ca back to his senses and looked toward the cell on his right. "Next to . Thankfully, I still have so connections in the Governnt Office, so she hasn’t been mistreated."
Shen Bai nodded. "You wait here. I’m going to check on her."
With that, Shen Bai walked over to the adjacent cell.
The cell was dim, but Shen Bai could make out a small figure cowering in a corner.
After a mont’s thought, Shen Bai spoke her na. "Xiaoxue."
Xiaoxue seed to hear his voice. She staggered to her feet, her single remaining arm swaying slightly as she trembled and made her way to the cell bars.
Her small face was as white as a sheet of paper. The light in her eyes was gone, replaced by a dull numbness.
"Brother Shen, you’re finally here. Granny is dead... my only family is gone... They’re all animals. They killed my granny."
Shen Bai reached through the bars and stroked Xiaoxue’s head. "It’s okay. They’re all dead. I killed them with my own hands."
Xiaoxue looked up. "But Granny can’t co back to life."
"Here in Shengyun County, we just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life. Why wouldn’t they just leave us alone...?"
"There will be better days ahead." Shen Bai pulled his hand back. "You stay here for now. I’ll go take care of the aftermath, then I’ll co back for you."
Xiaoxue gave a small nod, then sat on the floor and hugged her knees, lost in thought.
Only then did Shen Bai turn to Qin Shuang. "Let’s go back to the pawnshop. There are so things we need to discuss."
Qin Shuang stared blankly at Shen Bai.
Though she had only known Shen Bai for a short ti, she had already figured out his personality.
The calr Shen Bai appeared, the more his rage burned within.
Right now, Shen Bai was like a dormant volcano that could erupt at any mont. And when it did, the eruption would surely bring a terrifying crisis upon the Governnt Office.
"Okay, let’s head back."
Qin Shuang didn’t say anything more, simply giving a silent nod of agreent.
Shen Bai exchanged a few more words with Zhou Qing, telling him to rest easy in the cell, then left the Governnt Office with Qin Shuang.
Before leaving, Shen Bai saw Magistrate Li in the courtyard.
Magistrate Li was looking at his nephew’s body on the ground, a flicker of grief crossing his face.
When he felt Shen Bai’s gaze on him, he clenched his fists.
Shen Bai said coolly, "You have a problem? Co and fight ."
Magistrate Li’s fists clenched even tighter. His eyes smoldered with suppressed hatred, but he didn’t say a word.
"Not an ounce of courage in you. You shouldn’t even be a County Magistrate." Shen Bai sneered, then swaggered out of the Governnt Office.
...
「Shen Family Pawnshop」
Qin Shuang pushed the door shut behind her. Looking at Shen Bai, who sat on a chair amid the shifting light and shadows, she sighed. "You really should have waited for . Once the matter was investigated, the laws of the Great Zhou Country would have dealt with them."
Shen Bai poured himself a cup of tea and swirled it in his hand. "I hear that people of the Daoist Sect are troubled by sothing called a Heart Demon. Is that right?"
Qin Shuang nodded slightly.
Shen Bai drained the cup and set it on the table. "If those n hadn’t died by my hand, *that* would have beco my Heart Demon. I can only feel at ease now that they’re dead by my own doing."
Qin Shuang looked at Shen Bai’s earnest expression. The days they had spent together flashed before her eyes, and she felt more than ever that the mind of the man before her was impossible to fathom.
Shen Bai changed the subject. "How do you plan to proceed with the investigation?"
Qin Shuang thought for a mont. "Proving they frad him won’t be hard; I just need to activate the Observatory’s intelligence network. The real challenge is the official inspection. That part won’t be easy."
Shen Bai raised an eyebrow. He didn’t speak, but his aning was clear—he wanted her to continue.
Qin Shuang took a letter from within her robes and unfolded it in front of Shen Bai.
The paper was covered in tiny, densely packed script. Qin Shuang passed it to Shen Bai.
"Take a look at this."
"Are you allowed to show Observatory docunts to other people?" Shen Bai asked.
Qin Shuang said mysteriously, "You can. Others can’t."
Shen Bai didn’t press the aning of her words. He picked up the letter and read it carefully for a mont before his brows furrowed.
"During Magistrate Li’s tenure, there have been five major incidents that caused massive casualties, but each ti they were resolved right at the critical mont?"
The letter detailed five major events that had occurred in Shengyun County, all of which had caused widespread terror.
Many civilians even died during these incidents.
And yet, right after causing imnse panic, each crisis was imdiately suppressed by Magistrate Li and his n.
Shen Bai was no fool; he could see the problem. "Not a mont too early, not a mont too late. It’s always resolved at the last second. Sothing’s fishy."
Qin Shuang nodded. "It’s more than just fishy. Do you rember the big incident that happened recently in Shengyun County?"
Shen Bai thought for a mont. "You’re talking about the Upper Evil Sect."
Qin Shuang said, "Exactly. Magistrate Li used the Observatory’s inspection as an excuse to keep his doors closed, allowing the Upper Evil Sect to create panic. Do you think it’s possible that he’s planning to step in at the last minute and take credit for resolving the chaos they’ve caused?"
Shen Bai stroked his chin, pondering for a mont before saying, "I see what you’re getting at."
’A record of quiet competence isn’t nearly as impressive as repeatedly quelling major crises. If he keeps doing that, this County Magistrate’s list of rits will be substantial.’
’Why is it always so convenient? There can only be one explanation: Magistrate Li has ties to the Upper Evil Sect.’
Qin Shuang rested her elbows on the table, her full figure leaning forward slightly. "You’re right. That’s my theory as well. If he is colluding with the Upper Evil Sect, letting them create panic that he then quells, it’s a mutually beneficial arrangent."
"The Upper Evil Sect pays a small price, and in return, Magistrate Li gains political achievents."
"As long as the damage stays within the limits tolerated by the Great Zhou Country, it’s recorded as a rit, not a cri."
Shen Bai lowered his hand. "If what you’re saying is true, then dealing with this is going to be extrely complicated."
’Magistrate Li has been running things here for many years. He must be a cunning man.’
’Exposing him will be incredibly difficult.’
’Of course, as Qin Shuang said, proving that Li Yun frad Zhou Qing is a comparatively simple matter.’
’After all, Li Yun’s thods were clumsy and full of holes.’
Qin Shuang said slowly, "I’ve already let it be known that I’m investigating this. Before I arrived, I researched Magistrate Li’s character. He’s an extrely suspicious man. He’ll act on even the faintest possibility."
Shen Bai smiled. "You’re using yourself as bait to catch this big fish."
"That’s why I’m staying at the pawnshop." Qin Shuang leaned closer to Shen Bai. "I only feel safe with an expert like you by my side."
Shen Bai didn’t disagree. "I’ve actually been wondering sothing. Why are you so dead set on helping this ti? And don’t bring up what happened in the tomb. I think you have another motive."
’This ti, I killed people—important people, at that—right inside the Governnt Office.’
’And in a situation like this, Qin Shuang was still determined to protect . I refuse to believe there isn’t more to it than that.’
Qin Shuang blinked, putting on a cute, pouting expression. "I’ll tell you after this whole thing is over."
BONK!
A dull thud echoed in the dim room.
Qin Shuang clutched her head, her face a mask of indignation. "I’m a venerable official of the Observatory! How dare you hit !"
BONK!
The sound rang out again.
Qin Shuang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I’ll really tell you after this is over, I promise! Stop hitting , it hurts!"
Shen Bai pulled back his hand, thinking, ’If I don’t knock so sense into you, you’ll forget who’s in charge.’
...
「Governnt Office」
After Shen Bai left, Magistrate Li dismissed the constables and returned to his room in the rear courtyard.
Inside the room, Magistrate Li sat at his writing desk, his hands clenched into tight fists.
On the desk lay a piece of calligraphy he had just finished, but it was now sared black with ink.
"Shen Bai! SHEN BAI!"
In the darkened room, Magistrate Li repeated Shen Bai’s na again and again, the sound of his gritted teeth echoing off the walls.
After a mont, Magistrate Li raised both fists and slamd them down hard on the desk. He then shot to his feet and kicked the desk over.
Ink and brushes rolled across the floor, staining the tiles black.
"Fine! You’re tough, are you? You kill my nephew, you kill my n from the Governnt Office... We’ll see just how capable you really are!"
In a dark corner of the room, a shadow began to twist and writhe.
A mont later, a woman clad entirely in black erged from it.
The woman had a slender, graceful figure and a bewitching face. A beauty mark at the corner of her eye only added to her allure.
"What could have possibly made Lord Li so furious? Surely there’s nothing in Shengyun County that you can’t handle?"
Hearing this, Magistrate Li shot the slender woman a cold look, forcing his anger back down.
"Dark Venerable Envoy. You’re the only one who ca? I’m afraid one of you won’t be enough."
The Dark Venerable Envoy chuckled, covering her red lips with a hand in a tantalizing gesture. "Of course it’s not just . But the situation in Fenglin State is tense right now; everyone who could make it is lying low. Magistrate Li, you still haven’t answered my question."
Magistrate Li’s clenched fist slowly relaxed. "I want to kill soone. No... I want to kill two people."
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