A major murder case had occurred in Bianjing, claiming five lives overnight.
What was even more bizarre was that among the five victims, four wore grotesque pig-head masks. When the military patrol received the news and went to collect the bodies, they removed the masks from the four faces, only to be met with a shocking revelation. These four deceased, strangely dressed pig-headed figures were actually two pairs of missing martial arts couples from over a decade ago, both renowned for their chivalry. Rumors immediately spread, with everyone wondering who could be so cruel as to transform these four into such a state before killing them. The fifth victim, however, caused an even greater uproar—it was Wei Beiyin of the "Nine Gates Path."
This man had committed countless murders, and the military patrol had long been aware of his crimes, yet they were powerless against such a martial arts master. His sudden death brought immense relief to many. But who had cut out Wei Beiyin’s heart with a single stroke? And who had broken the necks of those two martial arts couples?
Was the killer of these five people righteous or evil? And was this killer even human or something else entirely? The military patrol worked tirelessly to investigate every lead, while the imperial palace seethed with undercurrents of tension. Yang Guihua took a particular interest in this case, dedicating all his focus to meticulously examining every detail, including the scattered villagers along the entire official road.
The Emperor was furious. Someone had dared to commit such brutal murders right under his nose, discarding the bodies on the official road with shocking audacity—less than five miles from the palace walls. If the culprit was not brought to justice, how could the imperial court maintain its dignity? Several imperial edicts were immediately issued, mobilizing two officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple to assist Jiao Shiqiao in leading the investigation.
News of the incident spread rapidly, causing an uproar throughout the court and the common populace alike. From high-ranking officials to lowly peddlers, everyone was discussing this astonishing case.
Ten miles outside Luoyang City, along the official road.
A light rain had fallen in the latter half of the night, leaving the grass and trees along the roadside thoroughly damp. Few travelers passed by these days, as it was not market season. In the thick of autumn, the aftermath of wind and rain brought an extra chill, with withered yellow weeds and fallen leaves painting a desolate scene everywhere.
Amidst the damp and disorderly undergrowth, a man sat leaning against a tree, his eyes slightly closed.
His face was pale, and his white robes, now filthy from the rain and weeds, were also stained with blood—this was Tang Lici, who had killed five people the previous night.
After the killings, he had been unable to leave the official road. Though he had struggled to walk dozens of miles, intending to return to the residence of the Imperial Father-in-law, he was, after all, only human and not a god—his will was strong, but his strength had failed him. Yang Guihua had sent men to search the road several times, but how could the ragtag Imperial Guards possibly track his movements? The result was a city-wide manhunt for the murderer, while Tang Lici remained seated in the bushes dozens of miles from the crime scene, drenched by the night’s light rain.
Last night… he hadn’t actually planned to kill anyone. Committing murder outside Bianjing, right under the Emperor’s nose, and risking implicating himself and the Imperial Father-in-law’s household for the sake of five unrelated lives—it wasn’t worth it. But Wei Beiyin had been relentless, and the Dissolute Shop was determined to seize the Green Enchantment Pearl. Left with no choice, he had killed all five.Killing... wasn't a big deal. Tang Lici leaned against a tree with his eyes closed. This place was very close to Azure Fall Palace. Before the rain last night, he had already tied Green Charm to a messenger bird and sent it back to Azure Fall Palace. By now, it must have already reached Wan Yu Yuedan's hands. Once this pearl fell into Wan Yu Yuedan's possession, it could serve a great purpose—far beyond just saving three lives... But of course, for Wan Yu Yuedan, saving people was his primary goal; everything else was secondary.
He absolutely wouldn't die.
Even if he was just a dull-witted, cowardly, and utterly incompetent fool. Even if he had always wanted to strangle him inch by inch with his own five fingers. Even if he had never understood how such a foolish and vulgar person could keep on living. Even if staining himself with blood to save someone like this felt utterly worthless... still, he had to save him.
He wouldn't lose any more companions. As for those already lost... there was always a way to bring them back. As long as he fought desperately, as long as he believed, as long as he never gave up.
Perhaps everything could start anew.
A drip —cold rainwater fell from the leaves, splashing onto his clothes. His white robes had long been soaked through, and even the bloodstains on them had been mostly washed away by the rain. The chill of the autumn night seeped into his clothes and bones. Tang Lici sat motionless, the cold penetrating his very marrow, yet it gave him a strange sense of indulgent pleasure.
A pale purple oil-paper umbrella slowly approached from afar. The person holding it walked leisurely along the main road. This place was still some distance from Luoyang, with no villages nearby. Tang Lici opened his eyes and watched as the pale purple umbrella swayed like a flower in the light rain, glancing left and right as if searching for something.
The purple umbrella wandered for a long time before slowly making its way to the thicket beside him. The person holding it stopped, and the umbrella shifted to shelter his head. Beneath it was a very familiar face—delicate but not overly alluring, with clear, slightly weary eyes. The woman looked into Tang Lici's eyes and said nothing, only offering a faint smile.
"Go back," he said calmly.
The woman holding the umbrella answered obliquely, her voice gentle. "Last night, the officers searched every household in Bianjing and Luoyang, claiming they were hunting the killer who murdered five people overnight. I think... someone like Wei Beiyin wouldn't die so easily at another's hands." She bent down to gaze at him. "The one leading the search was Mr. Yang. I suspect he knows as well as I do who the killer is... but since he's conducting such a thorough search, it means two things: first, he can't find you; second, he doesn’t want to find you. When I asked him about you, he was surprised that we knew each other. He said he had just met you in the palace yesterday, that you... killed a frog, and then you both went your separate ways." She spoke slowly. "I think your act of killing the frog left quite an impression on him..."
Tang Lici gave her a faint glance, as if discussing the frog with her was a complete waste of breath. "Go back. The autumn rain is cold, and there's nothing worth staying for in this desolate wilderness."
The woman holding the umbrella shook her head. After a moment, she said, "You killed it because you pitied it."A heavy killing intent flashed in Tang Lici's eyes as he stared unblinkingly at the woman holding the umbrella. She, in turn, gazed back at him just as intently.
"I told Mr. Yang that it doesn’t mean you’re some bloodthirsty monster. Young Master Tang entered the martial world, opposed the Dissolute Shop, wounded Yu Qifeng, killed Wei Beiyin, and saved many people... and will save even more in the future. He said you killed frogs, killed Chi Yun, as if those were all the same to him... I said... not everyone has the courage to bear such sacrifices... You’ve shouldered so much, lost so much... People can’t just see the lives you’ve taken without seeing what you’ve lost... Who could do that? I can’t, he can’t, no one can—but you did. That doesn’t make you a monster..."
Tang Lici remained silent. Apart from that brief flicker of killing intent, he seemed utterly calm. "Go back," he said again, his voice even gentle. "The autumn wind is cold. If you stay any longer, you’ll catch a chill."
A Shui slowly straightened. "Come back with me," she said, equally composed.
Tang Lici did not answer. The wind and rain swirled around him, his face appearing especially cold and solitary amidst the storm.
"Tang Lici!" she snapped in a low voice. "Is the world only one where you bestow favors that others must accept, but never one where you receive help in return? Since you consider A Shui a friend, since you’re sitting here unable to return to the Prime Minister’s residence, since I’ve found you—of course you should come with me! If you keep sitting here, do you expect Yang Guihua to spare you again and again? Or that all your enemies will suddenly turn blind and overlook your predicament? Or do you think sitting in this storm will heal your wounds quickly? Or—do you feel accepting A Shui’s help would disgrace you?" Her voice dropped further. "You look down on me, don’t you?"
This time, Tang Lici smiled. The smile was an admission.
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