It was a tough night, filled with nightmares Xin couldn't even remember, but he was now finally riding a carriage to the Clay Nest.
Vivid memories flashed in front of his eyes, tormenting him even more.
That young girl they evicted. How is she now? What if I was born her child? That's a living being, with a mind and a destiny, forced into this world so cruelly and pointlessly. I should have helped her more.
Uncle Ti grinning, playfully threatening him and Lei. He is probably dead now.
Fighting Lei in that abandoned house…
"I give up". Feels like ages ago.
The tigerman yaoguai, slicing Lei's arm off.
The giant boar breaking the town gates.
Sigh.
Xin entered the shop, which already had three people inside. One was Feng Chonglin, of course, but the other two were from the city guard. One looked older, another one was around Xin's age. Shit.
At least the stress is invigorating.
"Master, did something happen? Are we safe?" He asked Feng Chonglin.
"I am getting the details, Xin. There was an accident in the Southern quarter, the gentlemen want to ask us some questions. Please go upstairs."
The older inspector looked at Xin intensely.
"I'll work with master Chonglin, you ask the apprentice." He ordered his younger subordinate.
"Will do, master."
Obviously, Xin didn't like this, but he'd rather deal with the young inspector than a wisened old hound.
Xin led him upstairs and gave him a chair. They both sat down near his workstation.
"Name's assistant inspector Teng. Need to ask you some questions. You are that Xin fellow. Correct?"
"Correct."
"Surname?"
"Not allowed to carry one."
"Reasons?"
"Banishment condition of a family member. Nineteen years ago. Irrelevant, probably, unless you are investigating that one."
"I think I am not, at least for now."
Xin felt like this young detective was trying a power move, but it felt pretty clumsy.
"I am listening."
"There was an accident in the Southern district tonight. What do you know about it?"
"You just saw me find out about it. This answers your question."
"Where were you last night?"
"In my sect. Martial pavilion first, then in the canteen. Then I went to sleep."
"Your partner, Wu Lei, what about him?"
"I am not a partner of Wu Lei and master Chonglin, at least legally. Wu Lei lost a duel to an unrelated sect member and drank himself to sleep in the canteen. Many people will confirm this."
"So, you are saying that you have an alibi?"
"I think that's what you are saying."
"Xi Ti, Xi Mue, do you recognize these names?"
"Who?" It genuinely took Xin a second to make a connection. Good, means his first reaction won't even have to be acted.
"Think harder. Xi Ti. Xi Mue."
"Is it related to uncle Ti? Lives next door."
"You're referring to Xi Ti as uncle Ti, correct?"
"I don't know, am I?" Xin felt like the young inspector was slowly getting irritated. Good. Need to not get carried away, though. This kind of person loves to make you feel like you're winning.
"So, the person that lives next door, identified as a mercenary by the name of Xi Ti, was found dead in the sewers of the Southern district. His left wrist was cut off, and he was covered in deep stab wounds. Do you know anything about this?"
Xin almost blurted "I knew that he was a merc" out, but quickly regained composure. This small thread could be pulled to unwrap their conspiracy.
"He said 'Good afternoon' to me several times as he walked by, but we didn't meaningfully interact. Ever."
"Define 'meaningfully interact'."
"He once came by to say 'hello, new neighbours', and occasionally commented on the weather as he walked by."
"Did your friend Wu Lei know him?"
Fuck. This one is dangerous.
"I am... not sure? We'd ask around about our neighbours when we settled in, but I have no information of whether or not they had any relationship. Also, who said me and Lei are friends?"
"I am not here to argue my sources. So, are you willing to go on record claiming Wu Lei and Xi Ti had no relationship?"
"No, I told you, I don't know!" Xin was irritated.
"So what do you know?"
Oh, a simple trick. Fuck off.
"Nothing? Please tell me more about the case, I am confused."
"Inspector Xiu Ge, what do you know about him?"
"How is he relevant? Also, why isn't he here?" Xin felt tense, it was very exhausting to act like that under pressure.
"He's dead."
"Shit..." He stared at the wall. Maybe acting detached would help sell it?
"What do you know about his death?"
"Nothing! Why me?"
"You are one of his last cases. His body was found in the vicinity of Xi Ti's corpse. We assume that the two were fighting."
"Fighting who?"
"Each other."
"Wait, why?"
"Tell me, Xin. You might know. Your friend Wu Lei is linked to the circles where Xi Ti often hangs out. Both of you have ties to the merchant guild and started a business together, joining the Five Elements Transition School at the same time. A person living next door was found dead near the inspector that investigated your business. It's an obvious link."
Going all in? Is this the best you've got? There is still no evidence, only speculation.
"Investigated our business? When he entered, he claimed that we'd been chosen for an inspection, that's it. I didn't know there was any investigation. Could you tell me more?" Xin looked upset, as if the inspector Xiu Ge breached his trust.
"I don't have to reveal the details of the investigation to you. The link is obvious, though. Please Answer my questions."
"Assistant inspector, I am complying! You are saying that there is a link, but can you prove it? You are saying that there was an investigation, but we are finding out about it afterwards. Soundslike you are weaving a case to drop something on us. I think I have a valid reason to refuse to speak further. We'll contact the guild lawyers."
"So, are you refusing to cooperate?"
"I think it's you who is refusing to communicate in good faith. I think I provided a valid reason for why I am not answering any more questions. I was assisting you, but now I feel endangered. We need to lawyer up."
This small blunder from the assistant inspector gave Xin a plausible enough reason to dodge the further interrogation. Even if he was charged with something later, he'd have a valid explanation.
"Inspector Teng, are you done there?" A voice called out from downstairs.
"He says he wants to lawyer up, probably hiding something! Please give me a few more minutes."
Xin stared at him with an empty gaze. You are powerless, for now at least.
"Come downstairs. We are leaving."
Assistant inspector squinted his eyes, looked at Xin again and left. "I'll get you", his demeanour said, but he kept his voice quiet.
Xin exhaled. This guy is a blatant mediocrity. Would be very hard otherwise.
A few minutes later, he went downstairs. Feng Chonglin manipulated a piece of quicksilver in his palm.
"What's that, master?"
"Searching for bugs. Here." He reached below the counter, and found some weird pale booger. "That's a sound mite, guess who planted it and why." He crashed it in his hand.
Xin got scared for a second.
"The previous inspector? Shit."
"No, the assistant, while the older guy distracted me. The previous one didn't plant anything, me and Lei checked."
"That's a relief. How did your interrogation go?"
"They have nothing on us. I've got mostly good news for you, kid."
"Mostly?"
"Way to spoil the mood, your attitude. So, our sect is aware and they contacted me telepathically. They are monitoring the situation and preparing to intervene. Think they are looking to enter a joint deal with the Xuanwu clan."
"That's good for us, no?"
"It's harder to leverage their conflict of interest. Impossible, even, given the situation. This drives the price down, but not too much."
"And the good news?"
"The woman is gone, there was metal qi found in her blood flow. Uncle Ti apparently died from his wounds, but the word on the street is that someone sliced his body up to procure his dao shards."
"And the inspector?"
"Apparently, uncle Ti sent the inspector into a coma, before succumbing to the wounds himself. The inspector's dog died, too, hit by a poison dart. Rank three healer was assigned to the inspector, but it might still take some time before he recovers. That's the rumour, at least, but it could also be a bluff from the Xuanwu faction."
"So, what does it mean for us?"
"We are selling. FETS can push the extortion angle, harming the clan's reputation in the process. Xuanwu clan can investigate aggressively, but at a cost. They'll piss the merchant guild off if they step on their toes too hard, and they'll alienate FETS if they extort us harshly. Thus, I predict that this case will be dropped, in exchange for negotiating a good joint deal."
"Fucks sake, this took a lot of jumping through hoops. This whole situation is weird."
"You know what's weird? Apparently, the Divine Sword sect has many friends in the capital, and are aiming to challenge the Xuanwu clan in the North. That's what everyone in the city is buzzing about today."
"One of the top ten sects of the continent? Still, Xuanwu clan are protectors of the North, and have been for hundreds of years. Divine Sword sect are below in wealth and military might, aren't they?"
"One can't deny that they've got some absolute battle beasts on their side, though. And this new edict, aiming to start an era of meritocracy to unite the continent, it kind of had an opposite effect. My prediction is that it'll start a period of cutthroat 'meritocracy' that will divide the country.
The smartass who came up with this law should be hanged, but at least we'll harvest the fruits of this opportunity, entering the sect and all that."
Xin smiled coldly.
"Yeah, I bet it sounded perfect on paper. I need to find out more about these Divine Sword guys. So, how can I help with the sale?"
"That's a trick question, youngster. Correct question is 'should I help with the sale?'. The answer is 'no'. I am not cheating, I am not backstabbing you, but I am not letting you two ruin this. I'll negotiate the best trade, discuss it with you and we'll sell. No need for you to insert yourself. Got it?" His voice was even more hoarse now.
"Yes, master. What about after?"
"I'll stay and manage the takeover, you and Lei will invest your gains. It's crucial that you get stronger in the near future."
"Why do you think so?"
"A war is coming, of course. Trust me on this one."
"And how do you know?"
"It's obvious. Some people can feel their bones ache when there is a storm coming, I've seen thousands killed in front of my eyes, this comes naturally to me now. What war, though? I'll be fucked if I know, but I know that you two will be dragged into it, 'seeds'."
Xin gulped.
"Thanks, master. This investigation thing is not over, let's not relax."
"You have the audacity to give me advice? Go and prepare the lab, squirt."