Chapter 14
The entire city was tense once again.
Soldiers set up checkpoints everywhere, interrogating passersby; the atmosphere was grim and oppressive.
Yet, a whole day passed with no progress at all.
The bodies of Xu Kai and Xu Minghao had vanished as if into thin air.
The other side seemed to know our every move.
But time was running out for me.
Because the case involved military secrets,
I was ordered: if I could not solve it within three days,
it would be my head on the chopping block next…
Late at night,
I sat alone in the back hall of the yamen, staring into the candle flame.
A plan slowly began to take shape in my mind.
I had Xiao Zhang secretly spread the word:
The yamen had found crucial evidence left by the murderer at Su’s Old Courtyard,
and had already traced the source of the poison. The case would be solved soon.
At the same time, I secretly assigned men
to watch Cui Sheng’s merchant guild and the Cui Mansion day and night,
especially the carriages and horses coming and going.
Sure enough, as soon as the news was released, the Constable on surveillance came to report:
Late at night, a tightly covered carriage quietly left the back gate of the Cui Mansion, heading straight for the docks!
Could the fish finally be biting?
I immediately gathered my men and silently followed.
At the docks, I saw Cui Sheng and several shadowy figures standing beside a boat.
On the boat lay a long, tightly wrapped burlap sack.
“Seize them!” I shouted.
Xiao Zhang reacted swiftly, darting forward like an arrow, heading straight for Cui Sheng.
A black-clad man beside Cui Sheng responded instantly,
flinging several throwing darts with a flick of his wrist.
While we dodged, he shoved Cui Sheng aside,
then leaped onto the boat, trying to push off and escape.
I sprang after him, but the black-clad man was highly skilled.
Several Constables surrounded him, attacking from all sides. After dozens of rounds,
we finally subdued the man and tore off his mask-
it was Xu Kai, the missing coachman.
Just as we were about to arrest him, Xu Kai suddenly twisted his head, slamming the back of his neck against the blade of a Constable’s sword behind him.
In that instant of breaking free, I thought he was trying to escape. I raised my sword, but saw him turn and give me a strange, eerie smile.
Then, his jaw clenched tight.
I distinctly heard a faint cracking sound.
“No! Stop him!”
Several Constables lunged forward.
I grabbed his jaw, but it was too late.
Xu Kai’s body stiffened, then collapsed backward, motionless.
And inside the burlap sack on the boat,
was the missing corpse of Xu Minghao!