58
As dawn broke, the soft light streamed through the delicate windows of Xiaoyou Courtyard, casting a warm glow into the room. Xuanyuan Tianyi leaned lazily against the soft couch, her usually cool face softened by the pregnancy, though a hint of weariness lingered between her brows. Morning sickness had tormented her for quite some time, and she had only just recovered, her face still somewhat pale.
After seeing off the imperial physician who had come to examine his wife, Zhan Zhao turned and returned to the inner room. Seeing his wife in such a state, his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a fine needle, a dense, persistent pain spreading through him. He quickly walked to the bedside, gently took her hand, and felt a warm touch on her fingertips.
"Are you still feeling unwell?" he asked in a low voice, his voice hoarse from a sleepless night, but filled with deep concern.
Xuanyuan Tian looked up, meeting his worried gaze, and shook her head, managing a reassuring smile: "It's alright, it'll pass." Her gaze fell on his still neatly dressed official robes. "Are you going to the government office?"
Zhan Zhao nodded, a serious look on his face: "Wang Chao and Ma Han reported that a new case has emerged in the city, involving a kind of aphrodisiac called 'Meng Nan Ke'. Several women have been victimized, and they are in a daze, appearing as if they are mentally impaired. Lord Bao has ordered me to start investigating."
He paused, looking at his wife's less-than-ideal complexion, and hesitated before saying, "If you're not feeling well, I'll take the day off..."
“No need.” Xuan Yuantian interrupted him, her voice soft but firm. “The case is urgent. How can I let personal matters interfere with public duties? I have Yin’er to take care of it. You go ahead.” She knew that Zhan Zhao was very responsible and would feel guilty if his official duties were delayed because of her.
Knowing her temperament, Zhan Zhao said nothing more, but carefully tucked the thin blanket that had slipped off her back, and instructed Yin'er, who was standing by, to take good care of her before getting up. When he reached the door, he stopped again, turned back and looked at her, his gaze deep, filled with reluctance and concern.
Xuanyuan Tianyi nodded slightly to him, indicating that he could rest assured.
Only after the figure in the red official robe disappeared outside the courtyard gate did Xuan Yuan Tianyi gently close her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. The lingering discomfort in her stomach persisted, and she silently regulated her breathing, trying to suppress the nausea. Becoming a mother was far more mentally taxing than she had anticipated, but this process of nurturing their bloodline, though arduous, was also filled with sweetness.
The atmosphere inside Kaifeng Prefecture was solemn.
Zhan Zhao carefully reviewed the coroner's autopsy records and the statements from the victims' families, his brows furrowed. The victims were all young women from diverse backgrounds, some daughters of ordinary families, others daughters of moderately wealthy families. What they had in common was that after returning home alone from outings, they gradually became disoriented, their answers slow, and they suffered from amnesia, as if their souls had been ripped away. It wasn't robbery or sexual assault; there was no loss of property in their homes, and no signs of assault on their bodies.
"What is the purpose of this 'Dream of Nanke' incense?" Zhan Zhao tapped the dossier with his fingertips, lost in thought.
Gongsun Ce stroked his beard and pondered, "As far as I know, ordinary aphrodisiacs are either stolen, trafficked, or used to satisfy personal desires. This situation is quite different. It seems to be... intended to extract some information, or to control someone's mind."
"To extract information?" Zhan Zhao looked up.
“That’s right.” Gongsun Ce nodded. “Although the victims were of ordinary status, they either heard some anecdotes about the court and the country from their fathers and brothers, or they had access to some unimportant documents and accounts because of their positions. If someone wanted to piece together fragmented information, they would definitely be a target.”
At this moment, Bai Yutang swaggered in, fanning himself with a folding fan. He still had that carefree and irreverent look, but his eyes now held a sharper edge: "Cat, I heard there's a new case? I'm so bored I'm practically rusting."
Zhan Zhao was already used to his behavior and briefly explained the case to him.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yutang raised an eyebrow: "Bewitching incense? Mind control? That sounds interesting. How about we go check out the 'Hundred Flowers Pavilion,' the place where the rumors first started, tonight?"
Zhan Zhao had the same idea. Baihuage was a well-known cosmetics shop in the south of the city, not a brothel, but it had a complex background and dealings with all sorts of people. The initial rumors about "Dream of Nanke" originated from here.
“Okay.” Zhan Zhao agreed. “Meet at the back alley of Baihuage after nightfall.”
That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were few.
Two dark figures swept across the rooftops of Bianjing City like ghosts, silently landing outside the high wall of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's backyard. It was Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang.
Zhan Zhao carried the Juque sword on his back, his aura as restrained as a deep abyss. Bai Yutang, on the other hand, maintained his usual relaxed demeanor, as if he were not there to investigate a case, but rather to stroll through his own backyard.
The Hundred Flowers Pavilion had already closed, and the backyard was pitch black. Only a room on the second floor still emitted a faint candlelight, from which one could faintly hear voices.
Zhan Zhao made a gesture, and the two of them simultaneously leaped onto the high wall, lying in the shadows to observe. The courtyard seemed calm, but Zhan Zhao keenly sensed the presence of several hidden sentries.
“Two under the left corridor, one on the roof of the right warehouse, and… behind that locust tree, the aura is faint, he’s a master.” Zhan Zhao lowered his voice and quickly made his judgment.
Bai Yutang nodded, closed his folding fan, and pointed to the lit room: "The main course is over there."
The two tacitly chose the most secluded route, using the shadows and buildings as cover, like two wisps of smoke, silently avoiding all the sentries, and sneaking to the window of the lit room.
A small hole was licked open in the window paper, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, resembling a merchant, sitting and conversing with an elderly man dressed in exotic clothing with a shrewd face. On the table was an open wooden box lined with brocade, containing several dark red incense pills with an eerie color and a cloyingly sweet fragrance.
"Is this the 'Dream of Nanke'?" Bai Yutang transmitted his voice secretly.
Zhan Zhao nodded slightly, listening intently.
The merchant said, "...Your Excellency, rest assured, the goods have been delivered to the residences of several officials as instructed, and the effect is excellent; no one has noticed."
The old man, addressed as the Venerable One, spoke in a hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping: "Hmm, the Lord is quite satisfied with the progress. When will the next batch of 'Bewitching Heart Grass' arrive?"
The merchant looked troubled: "Your Excellency, things are tense lately. Kaifeng Prefecture is cracking down hard, and they've already taken notice of the 'Dream of Nanke' incident. This 'Bewitching Grass' comes from the southern border, a long journey with strict checkpoints. I'm afraid..."
The old man snorted coldly, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes: "The lord's affairs are of utmost importance, how can they be delayed? Find a way! If things go wrong, you know the consequences."
The merchant trembled and quickly bowed in agreement.
Just then, the old man seemed to sense something, abruptly turned his head to look at the window, and shouted sharply, "Who?!"
Almost at the same moment he spoke, a dark light shot out from his sleeve, piercing through the window paper and heading straight for Zhan Zhao's face! The speed was astonishing!
Zhan Zhao reacted extremely quickly, turning his head to dodge. The dark light "thudded" into the pillar behind him, revealing itself to be a thin needle tempered with green light, emitting a sweet and pungent smell.
"We've been exposed, make your move!" Bai Yutang shouted, no longer hiding, unfolding his folding fan, and several cold stars shot towards the old man inside the room.
Zhan Zhao drew his Juque sword, its light as white as snow, and burst through the window!
The old man was incredibly skilled. Facing the combined attack of Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, he did not retreat but advanced. His palms flew, and the wind from his palms carried a chilling aura, which knocked away all of Bai Yutang's hidden weapons. At the same time, he clashed head-on with Zhan Zhao's sword!
"Bang!"
As their energies clashed, Zhan Zhao felt a strange, subtle force travel along the sword, causing a slight numbness in his arm. He thought to himself, "What a peculiar palm strike!"
The old man also swayed, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, clearly not expecting Zhan Zhao's internal strength to be so pure and profound.
The merchant was already so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Knowing that a prolonged battle was not advisable, the old man feinted and retreated like a ghost, seemingly trying to pass through the wall!
"Where do you think you're going!" Bai Yutang laughed loudly, his body clinging to him like a leech, his folding fan pointing, striking, knocking, and stabbing with cunning and ruthless moves.
Zhan Zhao's sword strikes like a rainbow, blocking all of the old man's escape routes.
The three fought fiercely in the not-so-spacious room, the air filled with powerful gusts of wind, and the tables and chairs were all shattered. The old man's martial arts style was extremely strange, his movements were elusive, his palm strikes were insidious, and he seemed to be unafraid of ordinary swords and blades. When Zhan Zhao's Juque sword struck him, it produced a dull thud as if it had hit rotten leather.
After dozens of moves, Zhan Zhao spotted an opening, the tip of his giant sword trembled, and with a move called "Star River Reversal," the sword energy transformed into specks of cold stars, enveloping the old man's entire body.
The old man had no choice but to take the blow head-on, his palms radiating a layer of black energy as he met the sword tip.
"laugh--"
The sword energy clashed with the black mist, producing a teeth-grinding sound. The old man groaned, staggered backward, and a trickle of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating internal injuries. But using the force of Zhan Zhao's sword strike, he slammed violently into the wall behind him!
With a loud crash, he smashed a large hole in the wall. Amidst the billowing dust, the old man's figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness of the backyard. With a few leaps, he vanished among the buildings, his speed far surpassing that of ordinary people.
"Damn it, this old bastard is a slippery eel!" Bai Yutang cursed angrily as he couldn't catch up.
Zhan Zhao didn't give chase. The other man's movements were unpredictable, and he seemed extremely familiar with the terrain; pursuing him at night risked falling into an ambush. He sheathed his sword and walked up to the slumped merchant, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Who are you? Who is that old man? What exactly are 'Dream of the Southern Branch' and 'Bewitching Grass'? And who is your master?"
The merchant, his face ashen, stammered, "Sir... Your Excellency, spare my life... I am the owner of this Hundred Flowers Pavilion, my surname is Qian... As for that Venerable One, I don't know his origins. He always comes to me on his own initiative... I only know that they come from the Southern Frontier and are ruthless... 'Dream of the Southern Bough' is made from 'Bewitching Grass' combined with other drugs, which can confuse people's minds and extract secrets... As for the rest, I really don't know..."
Seeing that he was terrified out of his wits, Zhan Zhao did not think he was faking it. He ordered Wang Chao and Ma Han, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, to take him back to Kaifeng Prefecture for a thorough interrogation. He also ordered the Baihua Pavilion to be sealed off and evidence to be searched.
It was already past midnight when Zhan Zhao returned to Kaifeng Prefecture. Although he was worried about his wife at home, the case was of great importance, and he needed to report to Bao Zheng immediately and organize the clues.
He hastily wrote a note, instructing a yamen runner to deliver it to Xiaoyou's villa to inform Tianyi that he had not finished his official duties and needed to stay overnight at the government office, so she didn't need to wait and could rest peacefully. Although he knew she might not listen, he had to convey his feelings.
The next morning, Zhan Zhao dragged his tired body back to Xiaoyou Villa.
Xuanyuan Tianyi had already gotten up and was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, slowly drinking his congee. Seeing his return, with faint dark circles under his eyes, one could tell that he had not slept all night again.
"Is the case complicated?" She put down her porridge bowl and gestured for Yin'er to fetch another bowl of hot porridge.
Zhan Zhao sat down beside her and recounted the events of the previous night, omitting the thrilling fight scenes and focusing only on "Dream of Nanke," "Bewitching Grass," the mysterious old man, and the "master" he spoke of.
"...That old man's martial arts style was strange, his movements unlike those of the Central Plains, his palm strikes were chilling, and he seemed to possess some kind of supernatural art, impervious to ordinary swords and blades. He claimed to be from the Southern Frontier, and spoke of 'my lord,' so his ambitions must be considerable." Zhan Zhao frowned deeply, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. The Southern Frontier...that mysterious land was always associated with poisons and witchcraft.
Xuanyuan Tianyi listened quietly, her gaze slightly narrowing when she heard the words "Bewitching Heart Grass." She extended her slender finger, dipped it in a little water from her cup, and gently drew a peculiar grass leaf shape on the stone table, its veins twisted, resembling a human heart.
"Is it this?" she asked Zhan Zhao, looking up at him.
Zhan Zhao looked closely. Although he had never seen the "Bewitching Grass" in person, based on the descriptions in the conversation between the merchant surnamed Qian and the old man, as well as the shape drawn by Xuan Yuan Tianyi, he was already seven or eight parts certain: "It should be this. Tianyi, do you recognize it?"
Xuanyuan Tianyi withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a hint of understanding: "'Bewitching Grass' grows in the miasma-ridden lands of the Southern Frontier and is extremely rare. Its flowers, leaves, and fruits all contain a unique fragrance that can bewitch the mind and amplify desires and fears within. If refined using special methods, it can indeed be made into a drug that controls the minds of others, and even used in certain evil witchcraft techniques."
She paused, looked at Zhan Zhao, her eyes clear and cold: "This item is not something that ordinary tribes in the Southern Frontier can possess or control. The other party mentioned 'Master' and involved such a secretive item as 'Dream of Nanke,' so I'm afraid... it's related to some secret sects in the Southern Frontier, or perhaps to the forces that have been trying to breach the barrier between the human world and the demon realm."
"The Demon Realm?" Zhan Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Although he had traveled the martial world and had a wide range of knowledge, he did not have a deep understanding of such mysterious matters that were beyond the scope of martial arts.
Xuanyuan Tianyi nodded slightly, the vermilion dot on his forehead appearing even more alarmingly red in the morning light: "Since ancient times, there has been a weak point between the human world and the demon realm, which needs to be guarded by a powerful seal. Deep in the Ailao Mountains of the Southern Frontier, there is an ancient seal. The Xuanyuan clan has been responsible for monitoring and protecting it for generations. Things like 'Bewitching Heart Grass' are often used by those remnants of the demonic path or corrupt sects who covet the human world and intend to destroy the seal."
She didn't continue, but Zhan Zhao already understood that the danger behind this matter far exceeded that of an ordinary case of drugging. It might be connected to a massive conspiracy capable of shaking the order of humanity.
A chill ran down his spine, but he quickly suppressed it. No matter who his opponent was or what methods they used, as a member of the imperial guards and a recipient of the Song dynasty's stipend, protecting the peace and tranquility of the people of Bianjing was his inescapable responsibility.
But... he looked at his wife beside him. She was six months pregnant and her body was sensitive. If this turmoil was truly related to the remnants of the demon realm, it was hard to guarantee that she wouldn't be affected. Thinking of this, his worries deepened.
Xuanyuan Tianyi seemed to see through his thoughts, and gently placed his hand on the back of his hand that was placed on the table. The warmth from his palm soothed the back of his slightly cool hand.
"Don't worry too much." Her voice remained calm, yet carried a reassuring power. "Good will always triumph over evil. Just focus on the case; I'll take care of everything at home."
She paused, then added, "As for the old man's fearlessness of ordinary swords, he may have cultivated some kind of evil 'Copper Corpse Technique' from the Southern Frontier, using medicine and Yin energy to temper his body, making him difficult to harm with ordinary weapons. However, his technique must have weaknesses, usually in the armpits, navel, or throat. If we encounter him again, we can attack his vital points."
Zhan Zhao grasped her hand in return, squeezing it tighter. With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for? He suppressed his worry and tenderness, transforming them into a more resolute light deep within his eyes.
“I understand,” he said in a deep voice. “Today, I will go with Bai Yutang to investigate again and find out the source of this ‘Dream of Nanke’ and the mastermind behind it!”
Just then, Yin'er brought over some hot porridge and side dishes. Zhan Zhao then realized he was hungry, took the bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat his belated breakfast with his wife. The morning light enveloped the courtyard, temporarily dispelling the bloodshed and gloom of the previous night, but a greater storm was quietly brewing.
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