Chapter 2: Monsters Causing Trouble

Chapter 2: Monsters Causing Trouble

Xu Xing’Nian frowned. “What for?”

‘Solve the case…’ He spoke quietly, “I want to know the process, I won’t be satisfied if I die without knowing why.”

If he directly said he was to solve the case, Xu Xing’Nian would probably assumed that his brain was already fried. Hence Xu Qi'An changed his response.

After all, the original Xu Qi'An was a stubborn and foolhardy person.

Xu Xing’Nian muttered, “I’ve read the dossier, I can tell you…”

He had been travelling all around for the past few days trying to pull favors. But since the implications of the case were too massive, no one dared to help. Out of desperation, Xu Xing’Nian changed his line of reasoning and decided to change their fate by trying to locate the lost tax silver.

Utilizing connections from his family and the academy, and also some silver to grease palms—Xu Xing’Nian paid off a clerk of the prefectural office to make a copy of the dossier.

Nevertheless, he had to give up since he had zero experience in detective work and solving cases.

Xu Qi'An raised his hand in interjection. “Just write it down, there’s no purpose in reciting it.”

All of the details of the case were condensed within the writing. It takes deliberation to analyze the text. Costing him a portion of his attention to listen to words, would make him unable to analyze the situation with perfect calmness.

Xu Qi'An’s ability in logical deduction had been the top of the line when it comes to his past life. He was the exceptional person among his peers.

If it were before, Xu Xing’Nian would not have bothered. But considering that this might the brother’s final encounter before they could never meet again…

He agreed to his cousin brother’s request, and whispered, “One moment.”

He quickly left.

As the sound of footsteps had disappeared, Xu Qi'An sat down leaning on the prison bars while feeling trepidations in his heart.

He did not have a clear solution to the problem. Wanting to solve the case was only a deep desire, as he was unwilling to submit to fate.

This was the only way he realized that could save himself. It might be nothing more but the death throes of a desperate person, but he must at least try.

In the modern era, detective work was supported by three crucial factors: crime scene investigation, local surveillance and corpse examination.

There were no casualties when the tax silver was gone; and surveillance cameras did not exist in ancient times. Since that he was also stuck in jail, he had no condition to access the aforementioned three factors.

Luckily, the contents of the dossier should somewhat restore the original crime scene.

He was simultaneously digesting the memories of the original host and forcing himself to discard all negative emotions. Only a calm and collected mental state could have granted him perfect logical reason, in order to perform flawless deductions.

“To live or die, all depends on what’s next…” He muttered

After a full stick of incense’s time had passed, Xu Xing’Nian returned in an urgent pace and passed over several pieces of paper with its ink still wet.

“The time is up, I have to go.” Xu Xing’Nian hesitated before speaking, “Take care of yourself.”

Xu Qi'An did not respond, as his eyes were affixed onto the words written on the paper.

Time was short, thus the words written were in cursive. If Xu Qi'An had not studied in a private school for a few years, he would never be able to recognize these wobbly scribblings,

“Studying has a purpose, if the original host was illiterate… GGWP.” Xu Qi'An spoke self-depreciatingly.

The dossier on the case of the missing tax silver stated:

[3 days ago, on the morning of 6:30, Xu Ping'Zhi escorted a shipment of tax silver into the capital. 7:10, walked to Southwide street. As he crossed the bridge, a weird gust of wind blew. That spooked the horses and they rushed into the river beside the street.

Then, a deafening explosion sounded. The waters were blown up to 3 meters high, waves and water sprinkles clouded the air.

Soldiers tasked to escort the tax silver leapt into the river to find the silver, only recovering 1,215 taels. The rest of the silver were missing…]

Aside from the progress report of the case, there were recorded testimonies of nearby pedestrians and soldiers that were on escort duty.

In the array of testimonial statements, Xu Qi'An notice a short sentence highlighted by a red cinnabar inked pen: ‘Monsters causing trouble’.

“Monsters causing trouble?!” Xu Qi'An’s pupil shrank, his heart sank.

Jing’Zhao Prefectural Office, Back Hall.

After toiling about for three days, the three persons in charge of the lost tax silver had gathered.

The magistrate of Jing’Zhao Prefecture, Chen Han’Guang had a solemn expression. While holding a white porcelain teacup in his hands, the lid lightly tapping on the rims.

This upper fourth rank official was wearing scarlet robes with Chinese goose embroidery. He sighed, “There’s two more days. His royal majesty had ordered us to recover the tax silver before Xu Ping'Zhi’s execution. Gentlemen, we must act fast.”

The gentlemen as referred by Magistrate Chen were two individuals. One was a middle-aged man wearing a black uniform with a slick black cape. He had a tall nose bridge, slightly sunken eye sockets and light brown pupils—partly descended from the southern barbarians.

The other was a young lady with an oval face, wearing a yellow blouse. Her features were stunning and her skin was fair, her presence would enrich the space of wherever she went.

She held a sugar cane in her hand, there was a deerskin pouch and a Ba’Gua Feng’Shui tablet tied to her waist. Under her skirt, she wore a pair of boots with cloud embroidery.

Letting her feet swing.

These two individuals are here to assist. The middle-aged man is named Li Yu’Chun, hailing from a notorious organization that all Great Feng officials were fearful of: Nightwatchers.

The Nightwatchers was an organization that specialized in reconnaissance, arrests, and interrogation. They also took part in military espionage and unconventional warfare.

They are not under the jurisdiction of the Six Ministries nor the military.

They were the eyes and ears of the royal family, and also the guillotine that hovered over the heads of the government officials.

All officials of the Great Feng had heard of this saying: ‘If you did not do bad things during the day, you will not fear the Nightwatchers during the night'.

As for the lady in yellow blouse, she was a member of the Astronomy Directorate. Her standing was high as she was the apprentice of the directorate’s supervisor.

The middle-aged man with a silver gong embroidery on his chest glanced at his feet, and saw the accumulated sugar cane scraps spat out by the young lady. He frowned and made a spinning motion with his palm. Air swirled about and gathered the sugar cane scraps into one place.

He then lightly nodded and showed a fleeting expression of joy.

Only then did he respond to Magistrate Chen with a solemn expression, “This case is shrouded in mystery, strange even, perhaps our direction itself is wrong.”

“Mr. Lee, what do you mean.” Magistrate Chen frowned. Since the initial analysis, it was already determined that the tax silver was robbed by monsters.

“We do not have much time. Now we should focus on capturing these Yao Guai as soon as possible, not think of irrelevant things,” muttered Magistrate Chen.

These years, the national treasury is at a deficit. There were constant famines around the empire. 15,000 taels of silver equated to a year’s worth of tax income from a common county.

The emperor’s anger at the situation is completely understandable.

He was already down bad, but then he got absolutely pissed on. That is messed up.

Magistrate Chen had to handle the case cautiously, the burden of such responsibility made him unable to sleep and eat well.

The middle-aged man shook his head, he did not argue and simply spoke, “any new updates from Xu Ping'Zhi’s side?”

Magistrate Chen denied. “A mere grunt, all he does is protest his innocence. He doesn’t even know how did the silver went missing.”

The young lady plainly stated, “I have examined his qi, not lying.”

Li Yu’Chun and Magistrate Chen nodded along, and stopped discussing about this person.

As the person in charge, Xu Ping'Zhi was the first to be investigated and interrogated. His social relationships and financials had been thoroughly checked. And passed the Astronomy Directorate’s Qi Examination Method—he was removed of suspicion.

Of course, the tax silver was lost. Xu Ping'Zhi failed his duty and must serve the death sentence.

Li Yu’Chun and Magistrate Chen had solemn expressions, their moods were somber.

Only the young lady was unaffected by stress, chewing sugar cane as if she was heartless.

At this time, footsteps sounded. A clerk hurried inside. His right hand holding a small bamboo tube and his left grabbing a paper bag—which contained a steaming hot meat bun.

He first handed over the bamboo tube.

The young lady did not accept it. Instead she stared at the meat bun with her starry eyes.

He swiftly turned in the other. She only accepted the bamboo tube after happily munching on the meat bun. She then pulled up a slip of paper and extended it.

“I have information, there was no trace of monster qi 20 miles along the river. No trails left behind by the shore as well.”

Wham!

The pressured atmosphere on scene had finally reached the tipping point. Magistrate Chen slammed the table in anger, his face was about to turn green. “where could fifteen thousand taels of silver go? It has to go on shore somehow, anyhow. It’s been three days and there’s still no clue about anything.”

“Damn it, whatever Yao Guai it may be that dares to steal the Great Feng’s money, I will give you a painful reckoning!”

If the tax silver could not be recovered, he would take the blame. The emperor would not care how wronged he felt—once he was given this position he would have to take the fall for whatever bad things that had happened.

This was the reality of politics within the government officials. It was difficult to ascend into higher position but quick to be kicked out.

Li Yu’Chun let out a sigh and continued the topic. “Maybe our direction itself is wrong, maybe the monsters aren’t behind this.”

Magistrate Chen looked at him and took a deep breath, reigning in his anger. “If it isn’t monsters, then what of the supernatural gust of wind? How did the silver disappear once they enter the river? Why did the water explode upwards until several meters high, and sent shockwaves all across the shore?”

 

T/N: The names and purpose of various organizations might be a little vague and confusing by now but it will be explained in detail in later chapters. The Astronomy Directorate is a good example, just be patient and follow the plot.

T/N 2: All Yao Guai are monsters; not all monsters are Yao Guai. These 2 terms will be used interchangeably throughout the story and applied appropriately. Don't worry too much about it.