Chapter 17: Commencing the Hunt for the Culprit

The night gradually faded.

The guard standing atop the city gate, having barely closed his eyes all night, felt a momentary blur in his vision. Seeing the corpses laid out on the ground twitch, his numb, exhausted brain jolted, and he was about to cry out.

Fortunately, a companion beside him reacted quickly and covered his mouth.

"It is Captain Wei," the companion whispered in his ear.

Startled, the guard finally regained his senses. It was true—yesterday, that Wei Jiao had come to the city gate and sat amidst the corpses, claiming he was waiting for the culprits to continue their killing spree. To avoid disturbing them, he had not only forbidden the local officials, constables, and soldiers from patrolling but had even slept among the dead...

What kind of heart must one possess to sleep so peacefully among corpses?

The guard watched as the figure amidst the bodies sat up and stretched. His jet-black hair spilled over robes that revealed a red lining; as he extended his body, he seemed to unfurl like a blooming flower.

Amidst the surrounding corpses and the increasingly thick stench of decay emanating from mouths and noses, this flower bloomed in a way that was eerie and terrifying.

The soldiers standing on the city wall couldn't help but hold their breath.

Fortunately, four members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard approached quickly, breaking the suffocating tension.

One guard moved behind Wei Jiao to comb his hair, while another knelt on the ground, providing a support upon which Wei Jiao could lean his arm as he sat at an angle.

"No more deaths?" Wei Jiao asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

The two guards standing before him nodded. "Even the night watchman stopped his rounds last night to facilitate his work, but the night passed without incident."

Wei Jiao curled his lip.

"Not killing them, then?" He looked toward the interior of the city, his eyes, which had been somewhat languid upon waking, instantly turning cold. "Then I shall have to come and kill you."

…….

…….

The morning inn had returned to its usual clamor.

The morning light dispelled the fear, but brought back anxiety once more.

"I didn't dare sleep a wink all night!"

"Are they still not letting us leave today?"

"When exactly will they allow passage?"

"Since the criminals are in the city, why haven't they begun the manhunt? Are they just going to watch helplessly as innocent people suffer?"

Yang Luo walked in with Mo Zheng. The shop assistant, who was leaning against the counter pretending to sleep amidst the noise, opened his eyes and greeted them: "What would the young lady like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Yang Luo said softly, "I have already eaten."

The assistant's gaze shifted to the guard standing quietly behind the lady, and he gave a chuckle. "Ah, that's right, there is A-Sheng."

Mo Zheng nodded to him. "I specially made some clearing and dispelling soup this morning. There is plenty left in the kitchen; please have a bowl later, brother, don't let your health fail from exhaustion."

The assistant thanked him repeatedly. Smelling the medicinal scent on Mo Zheng, he knew this guard understood medicine and that the calming soup was his own making.

"My lady is of frail constitution and must travel, so I must be careful with her nourishment," Mo Zheng had said before.

This young guard was truly capable of everything, and this lady was generous, even looking out for people like them. The assistant took the initiative to tell them, "There was no unusual activity in the city last night."

Mo Zheng looked at Yang Luo. "I expect the officials are about to begin the manhunt for the criminals."

Yang Luo was about to say something when it seemed many people were running in the streets, making the ground vibrate.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating the case. No one is permitted to move without authorization!"

Shouts echoed from the distance, drawing closer.

People in the hall had already crowded to the doorway to look out, seeing soldiers and officials approaching in the distance like a gathering dark cloud.

"They've deployed the military?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Envoy holds the tiger tally; he can mobilize the garrison."

"The entire Zhao County is being surrounded!"

"The Envoy is leading the troops to search the city inch by inch."

…….

…….

Breaking down doors, tearing down walls, and digging three feet into the ground—Magistrate Huang could not help but click his tongue in dismay as he watched the movements of the soldiers and the Envoy ahead.

Previously, he had thought that Wei Jiao sitting in the county yamen, arresting officials and local elites, and displaying corpses at the city gate to intimidate the public was already a massive escalation. He had been gravely mistaken.

So, this was what it looked like when the Embroidered Uniform Guard truly moved.

The outskirts of the county were surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, airtight and impenetrable. Inside, layers of troops gathered like a dense fishing net, sifting through Zhao County from south to north.

People were interrogated; every house, every tile, every blade of grass, and every cellar or secret room was searched. Interspersed throughout were the barks of dogs; several hunting hounds ran about, and if anyone dared to move against orders, they were immediately lunged at and bitten.

"With Captain Wei's foolproof methods," Magistrate Huang turned to look at Wei Jiao, who was mounted on a horse beside him, and praised him while suppressing his fear, "those criminals won't be able to escape even if they had wings."

Wei Jiao gave an "oh" sound. "Not necessarily. Methods are one thing, but one must also consider luck."

He watched the citizens being searched and interrogated inch by inch, raising an eyebrow.

"Now we shall see whether my luck is better, or the criminals' luck is better."

Magistrate Huang muttered to himself that regardless of whose luck was better, his own was certainly the worst.

A group of rebels had actually caused such chaos under his jurisdiction, leaving him in such a predicament!

"Search thoroughly! Check if they match the registers, their recent movements, and where they were on the night of the incident!" Magistrate Huang spurred his horse forward, shouting harshly to vent his anger. "If anyone is suspicious, resistant, or attempts to flee, kill them on the spot without question!"

……

…….

The dark clouds drew closer. Standing in front of the inn, one could hear continuous cries and wails coming from beneath the cloud, interspersed with barks and screams.

In the next moment, several hounds burst out from the dark cloud, their eyes gleaming ferociously in the sunlight, their teeth still stained with blood.

Seeing this, the guests who had gathered at the doorway to watch were instantly terrified, screaming and retreating in haste.

Was this a search?

This was nothing short of a hunt.

Constables ran through the streets, shouting, "Everyone get into the street!" "No hiding!" "No fleeing!" "Otherwise, you will be treated as suspects!"

People emerged, trembling with fear.

Yang Luo and Mo Zheng were among them. Mo Zheng did not forget to spread his arms to protect Yang Luo, preventing her from being jostled by the crowd.

Soon, the soldiers and the hounds drew near. Some soldiers entered houses with the hounds, the sounds of rummaging and crashing echoing from within, while others dispersed to watch the people in the street with cold eyes. Constables began interrogations using the registers.

The inn was different from the others; aside from the proprietor and the assistants, everyone was a traveler. Some could produce identification, such as merchant registers, while others had nothing but travel excuses like "passing through" or "short-distance peddling."

Soon, the constables reached Yang Luo.

"From Lu County," Yang Luo said, using a Lu County accent. "Returning from visiting my aunt in Qi County. I only brought one servant."

As she spoke, her eyes welled with tears.

"Lu County is very close. Can you let me go home first?"

The constables looked at her—a young girl of about fourteen—and then at the teenage servant beside her. They didn't ask more, merely barking, "Don't cause trouble, don't wander off," before moving past. Suddenly, a hound burst out from the inn, barking as if it had caught a scent.

The people here were startled, causing a sudden commotion that made the hounds bark even more.

What was happening?

The constables grew tense, and the soldiers all turned to look.

Yang Luo shrank beside Mo Zheng. Mo Zheng hesitated for a moment, then threw a cloth bag hanging from his waist onto the ground.

The hound immediately lunged at it.

"What is it?" A nearby soldier restrained the hound and used his blade to lift the bag, causing several pieces of dried meat to fall out.

The tension among the constables and soldiers dissipated.

"It's not the time for gluttony!" one soldier barked at the hound, brandishing a whip.

The hound retreated with its tail between its legs, showing a hint of fear.

But just as the soldiers were about to walk away, a voice sounded from behind.

"What a strong scent."

Hearing this voice, the soldiers and constables stopped and made way. Yang Luo looked out from behind Mo Zheng and saw a group of black-clad guards escorting a young man.

He was mounted on a horse, silhouetted against the light, his face somewhat shadowed.

Mo Zheng heard Yang Luo murmur "Wei Jiao" softly behind him.

Yang Luo had never met Wei Jiao, but the moment she saw him, the name surfaced instantly.

When her cousin had described Wei Jiao, she had once couldn't help but ask curiously, "Just how beautiful is he?"

Her cousin had giggled, "He is just the kind of beautiful that always stands out most in a crowd."

Indeed, he was the most beautiful in the crowd.

However, his beauty at this moment did not bring peace of mind; it only brought terror.

Wei Jiao's gaze fell upon the hound, then to the dried meat on the ground, and finally settled on Yang Luo.

Mo Zheng took a step forward, shielding Yang Luo and meeting Wei Jiao's gaze.

Wei Jiao twitched his nose, looking at the dried meat on the ground. "Does this meat require medicine to cure? Or... does the person require medicine?"

Under what circumstances does a person need medicine?

Sickness, or... injury.

Injury!

The criminals had killed so many people; it was highly likely they were also injured.

If they were injured, they would inevitably need medicine.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard instantly took a step forward, and the surrounding soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons.

All eyes converged on Mo Zheng and Yang Luo.

(End of Chapter)