"Did the owner of Li's Tailor Shop see some martial artists running out of Red Clothes Alley last night?"
"Yes, sir. Those four martial artists looked very anxious and suspicious."
The snow in Luo City had yet to melt.
A cold wind swept across the ground, causing the torches to flicker.
The light illuminated the hands of the spies as they instinctively gripped the hilts of their swords.
Beneath their bamboo hats, their breath formed white clouds in the cold air, like hungry beasts that had just found fresh prey.
The spies instinctively turned to Chen Ji, waiting for his decision.
Chen Ji, his face covered with a gray cloth, lowered his head in deep thought.
As the saying goes, three strikes of the executioner's rod can shatter the bonds of brotherhood.
Three pages of confessions, each sentence filled with mentions of "brothers."
These martial artists were not made of stern stuff.
If the spy agency captured them, they would undoubtedly implicate the Crown Prince and Bai Li.
But if Chen Ji deliberately did nothing, Xifeng was no fool.
In the flickering light of the torches, the oil-soaked cloth burned and melted, dripping flames onto the stone-paved road.
Suddenly, the wind stopped, and the flames ceased to flicker.
Chen Ji looked up at the spy who had brought the news and calmly said, "Bring the owner of Li's Tailor Shop here for questioning."
A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant approached with a flattering smile.
"Greetings, esteemed sirs. I am Li Bing."
Chen Ji glanced at him and asked calmly, "Where did you see those martial artists? Tell us in detail."
Li Bing quickly replied, "When you sirs were sealing off Red Clothes Alley, they were running out from the back alley. One of them was so scared he dropped his sword, ran a few steps, then turned back to pick it up."
Chen Ji frowned in disappointment.
"Such cowardice doesn't seem like the behavior of Jing Dynasty rebels."
Xifeng, standing nearby, also looked disappointed.
"The Jing Dynasty rebels, though despicable, are well-trained. They would never act like such petty thugs."
Li Bing suddenly added, "Oh, and at that time, it seemed like someone in the back alley was calling for their help to climb over the wall. One of them went to help, but before he could get the person over, he ran back and told his companions, 'Let's go, we can't save them. They're surrounded by six people.' As they passed by me, I heard it all clearly."
Xifeng's expression changed as he looked at Chen Ji.
"Sir, those who surrounded them must have been our colleagues. The assassins must have acted to protect someone in that backyard! Though we don't know who was surrounded, they must be very important!"
Chen Ji silently took a deep breath.
This shopkeeper had heard too much; there was no way to cover it up now.
"Shopkeeper Li, did you see where they ran off to?"
"They went west along Luoyi Street, but I don't know where they ended up."
Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
It wouldn't be easy to find four people in the vast Luo City.
At least it would buy some time.
However, Li Bing then added, "But I know where they're staying!"
Chen Ji raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Li Bing quickly explained, "These four martial artists arrived in Luo City half a month ago. I remember them because, despite their shabby clothes, they spent money lavishly. As soon as they arrived, they each ordered two sets of autumn clothes from my shop—high-collared robes with intricate golden embroidery of melons and mice."
Li Bing continued, "After taking their measurements, they left, instructing me to deliver the finished clothes to the Fulai Inn in the west."
The so-called golden melon and mouse embroidery was a complex and expensive design, favored by the nobility.
The more Li Bing spoke, the heavier Chen Ji's heart became.
He had seen these four men before.
Among the twelve people who met with Liu Xing in the White Clothes Alley embroidery house that day, aside from Chen Ji, the Crown Prince, Bai Li, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Liang Gou'er, Liang Mao'er, and the little monk, these four were also present.
At that time, they were wearing high-collared robes with golden melon and mouse embroidery on the cuffs.
Moreover, the timing of their arrival in Luo City matched.
These four had been living in poverty until they met the Crown Prince, after which their lives improved.
Yet, despite the Crown Prince's generosity, when danger arose, they abandoned him and Bai Li.
Xifeng looked at Chen Ji's profile.
"Sir, what should we do?"
Chen Ji's voice was calm and steady.
"Surround the Fulai Inn and arrest them."
His only hope now was that these four weren't foolish enough to return to the inn after escaping from Red Clothes Alley.
...
Outside the Fulai Inn, dozens of spies with swords at their waists quickly and quietly surrounded the building, covering the backyard, both sides, and even the stables.
If those four martial artists were inside, they wouldn't be able to escape.
In silence, Chen Ji stepped over the inn's threshold.
The ground floor was a simple tavern, now closed for the night.
Wooden chairs were neatly stacked on the tables, and behind the counter, a young clerk was fast asleep on an abacus, a single oil lamp burning beside him.
Chen Ji approached the counter and gently tapped the clerk's shoulder.
The clerk groggily lifted his head and mumbled, "Are you guests looking for a room? The best rooms are one hundred and forty coins a night, the standard rooms are forty-five coins, and the stables are twelve coins..."
As he spoke, he caught sight of Chen Ji's masked face and the armed spies behind him, and he instantly woke up.
Trembling, he said, "Sirs, I... I haven't done anything wrong."
Chen Ji said, "Don't be afraid. I just have one question."
"Please ask, sir."
"Do you have four martial artists staying here, carrying swords?"
The clerk quickly replied, "Yes!"
"Are they still in the inn?"
The clerk answered truthfully, "Yes, they went out yesterday saying they were going to Red Clothes Alley for some fun, but they came back early before midnight, looking very anxious. After that, they ordered food and drinks to their room and haven't come out since."
This was the answer Chen Ji least wanted to hear.
He paused for a moment.
"Which room are they in?"
The clerk pointed to the stairs.
"Up the stairs, third room on the right. It's the best room, with a sign that says 'Spring Water' on the door."
Before Chen Ji could give the order, Xifeng signaled to the spies, and several of them drew their swords, cautiously making their way upstairs.
Chen Ji was about to follow, but Xifeng stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Sir, Lord Jinzhu specifically instructed us to protect you since you have no martial skills. Let us handle this dangerous task. Please don't put yourself at risk."
Chen Ji studied Xifeng's expression beneath the bamboo hat.
It was sincere and resolute—Xifeng wasn't doubting him; Lord Jinzhu had indeed given such orders.
With a sigh, Chen Ji remained by the counter.
"Be careful."
The spies kicked open the door to the Spring Water room and rushed in, swords drawn and ready for battle.
But the next moment, someone shouted, "Sir, come quickly!"
Chen Ji grabbed the oil lamp from the counter and hurried upstairs.
Pushing past the spies in the hallway, he reached the doorway and looked up at the ceiling.
His breath caught in his throat.
Hanging from the rafters were the four martial artists they were looking for, each with a white silk noose around their necks, neatly suspended from the ceiling.
Not only that, but the skin on their faces had been completely removed, leaving only bloody muscle exposed to the air.
It was a horrifying sight.
The spies remained expressionless, as if they had seen such things many times before.
But a chill ran through Chen Ji's heart—these four had been silenced in advance.
Suppressing his discomfort, Chen Ji stepped forward to examine the bodies.
The corpses were cold and stiff, the stiffness spreading throughout their bodies.
They had been dead for at least two hours.
Chen Ji checked the door—the latch was intact.
He then went to the window and saw that the copper latch used to secure it had been cleanly cut by a sharp tool.
The killer had entered through the window.
"Take them down and strip off their clothes!" Chen Ji ordered coldly.
The spies formed a human ladder and brought the four bodies down, laying them on the bed.
Once the clothes were removed, everyone could see, by the light of the moon through the window, that each corpse had a copper nail driven into their chest.
The nails had been inserted cleanly, without a single drop of blood spilled.
The victims hadn't had a chance to cry out for help.
The killer was undoubtedly a master, giving them no time to react.
Chen Ji then pried open their mouths and found a short copper nail driven into each of their tongues.
"This isn't just silencing them. It's a judgment."
"Someone is punishing them!"
Xifeng's expression was grave.
They had just found a new lead, but before they could celebrate, the trail had gone cold again.
Chen Ji looked at Xifeng.
"Have you heard of such judgment methods before?"
Xifeng thought for a moment.
"There have been a couple of cases in the martial world, but we'd need to check the archives in the prison to know more. Sir, this is strange. The people they abandoned must have been very important, so important that they were killed to keep them silent. Moreover, the killer specifically removed their faces to prevent us from finding anyone who might recognize them. Who do you think did this?"
Who did it?
Simple—whoever stood to gain the most.
Chen Ji stood in the dimly lit room, the oil lamp still in his left hand.
He recalled the Crown Prince's bold and cheerful smile, finding it hard to believe that such a person could harbor such deep and ruthless cunning.
Moreover, if the Crown Prince had such a skilled assassin at his disposal, why would he have needed Chen Ji's help last night?
But if it wasn't the Crown Prince, then who could it be?!
In Chen Ji's memory, the bright image of the Crown Prince began to blur, as if a shadow had slowly crept over his face.
(End of Chapter)