Chapter 16

Shadow Scale’s voice was cold and sharp:

“Drop all your weapons and step back-or I’ll kill him!”

The Constables froze where they stood, sword tips trembling, caught between advancing and retreating.

At that moment-

Whoosh!

A faint sound sliced through the air.

Shadow Scale’s hand, which held the blade, suddenly jerked, and he let out a muffled, suppressed grunt.

Almost at the same instant, I felt the pressure at my neck loosen-now was my chance!

Without hesitation, I drove my elbow back hard, sinking my body down and breaking free from his control in an instant.

As I spun around, I saw a short crossbow bolt embedded precisely in his right wrist, blood slowly seeping out.

Looking up,

Xiao Zhang was leaping down from the main hall’s beam,

his repeating crossbow still trailing wisps of smoke:

“Master! Are you alright?”

……

I had long harbored suspicions about this “Captain Yin.”

After learning of Messenger Xu’s death, he did not report it up the chain as protocol demanded.

Instead, he pressed me relentlessly, which was out of the ordinary.

What’s more, Cui Sheng’s acting had even fooled me, yet “Captain Yin,” who had been warmly hosted by Cui Sheng just the night before, immediately accused Cui Sheng of murder upon hearing of Messenger Xu’s death the next morning-

Either he held irrefutable evidence;

Or he was feigning his stance.

Using one accusation to cover up another deception,

If there hadn’t been a flaw-

For instance, Coroner Li’s death, which exposed the greatest loophole: Chiyang Powder and osmanthus fragrance.

Otherwise, I might still be wandering in the Ghost Manor.

……

And then, though he arrived with Messenger Xu, he only stayed at the inn.

Cui Sheng’s courtyard was clearly vacant, and as a colleague who claimed not to believe in ghosts or spirits, why wouldn’t he stay there?

He said he had an “old illness.”

Doctor Qian had already confirmed for me: he had indeed been taking Chiyang Powder all along.

So, on the night outside the burning Ghost Manor,

he wore a cloak and covered his face with a handkerchief-

Either because of illness, or because he was terrified of that osmanthus tree beyond the wall.

What’s more,

that night, I never told him the reason for the townsfolk’s unrest, yet he seemed to know all about it, even advising me, “After all, there are no walls that the wind cannot pass through-these are matters of life and death.”

Indeed!

There are no walls that the wind cannot pass through.