Chapter 114 A Mystery of Sound and Color

The three of them hurriedly filled their stomachs. Liu Ziming tossed down a few copper coins, then led Chen Mu and Qi Huan around to the back of a secluded thatched cottage.

The cottage was dilapidated, with half of its roof collapsed, looking as though it had long been abandoned.

Liu Ziming pushed open the creaking, broken wooden door and walked in first. A wave of moldy air rushed at them; dry grass and a few broken farming tools were scattered on the ground.

He walked to the innermost side of the room, used his foot to brush away the thick dust on the ground, revealing an inconspicuous bluestone slab. He gripped the edge and lifted it with force.

The slab opened suddenly, revealing a deep, dim cave beneath. The entrance was small, only wide enough for one person to pass through, and simple steps had been built into it.

"It really is a tunnel." Qi Huan raised an eyebrow.

Chen Mu leaned in to look. A cool breeze seeped out from the tunnel, carrying a hint of earthy and moldy smells, but the air was reasonably well-ventilated.

"I'll go down first; you two follow." As Liu Ziming said this, he pulled out a fire starter, blew it to life, and climbed in first.

Chen Mu followed closely behind, with Qi Huan taking up the rear. They entered one by one and pulled the stone slab shut behind them.

The tunnel was damp and narrow, requiring them to stoop to move forward. Clear digging marks could be seen on the walls, and some places were reinforced with wooden stakes, though most had already rotted away.

The three of them hugged the wall and groped their way forward, guided by the dim light of the fire starter.

"This tunnel has been here for some years. Not many people know about it, and it leads all the way to the base of the old locust tree on the north side of the town." Liu Ziming led the way, his voice echoing in the narrow space.

Chen Mu nodded without saying more. The three of them walked for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick before steps leading upward appeared in front of them.

Liu Ziming signaled for them to stop, cocked his head to listen for any movement above, and after confirming everything was clear, carefully pushed up a loose stone slab overhead.

Daylight spilled in, carrying the scent of grass and trees. The three of them climbed out one by one, finding themselves in a dense thicket, with the old locust tree not far ahead.

"We've arrived." Liu Ziming patted the dirt off his body and pointed behind the locust tree.

"Go out from here, turn left into the first alley, walk to the end, then turn left again. It has vermilion-lacquered doors and two stone lions at the entrance; it's very easy to recognize."

"What about the guards inside?" Qi Huan asked.

"On the surface, there are four yamen runners on rotating shifts, but Xu Changze should also have brought personal bodyguards. I'm not sure of the exact number." Liu Ziming stood with his hands on his hips, thinking for a moment.

"However, it's daytime, and he's busy with official business, so his vigilance shouldn't be too high."

Official business? Chen Mu snorted coldly. It sounded like the absurd behavior of a typical official, but one couldn't help but wonder what kind of ghostly tricks were hidden behind it.

The three looked at each other and, using the morning mist as cover, crept toward where Xu Changze was staying.

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three saw the private residence Liu Ziming had described. The vermilion-lacquered doors were tightly shut, and the two stone lions at the entrance looked menacing.

Four yamen runners stood on either side of the gate with their hands on their sword hilts. It looked heavily guarded, but upon closer inspection, one could see their expressions were lax, and they yawned from time to time.

Chen Mu and his companions did not take the main entrance but instead circled to the west side of the courtyard. The wall here was about a zhang high, made of blue bricks and covered with dark tiles.

It would be difficult for an ordinary person to cross, but for Martial Artists like Chen Mu and Qi Huan, it was nothing more than a single leap.

Liu Ziming had trouble with his legs, so Chen Mu gave him a hand. The three of them silently vaulted over the wall and landed inside the courtyard.

The courtyard was a typical Jiangnan garden layout, with rockeries, ponds, winding paths, and corridors. By now, the daylight had brightened, but the garden was exceptionally quiet; not even a servant sweeping the floor could be seen.

Liu Ziming scratched his head, unable to help but feel puzzled. "What is going on? There should at least be a few servants here."

"Over there." Chen Mu raised a hand and pointed to the northeast corner of the courtyard.

There stood an independent two-story building with upturned eaves, which appeared to be the main house. The windows on the second floor were half-open, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments, along with the giggling of women, drifted out, intermittent, sometimes high and sometimes low.

The three held their breath and focused, quickly approaching the small building. The closer they got, the clearer the decadent music became. It wasn't just music; it was also mixed with the voices of men and the clinking of cups, clearly a scene of indulgence and pleasure.

Chen Mu's suspicions deepened. Setting aside whether Xu Changze had the energy to seek pleasure at this time, the man had always been particular about his official image and decorum. Even if he were truly lecherous, he wouldn't be so unbridled as to indulge in debauchery in broad daylight.

Unless... this scene of debauchery was, in itself, a means of his recovery?

Weighing the situation, he gave Qi Huan a look. The two no longer hid and strode to the front of the main hall door.

"Bang!" Chen Mu kicked open the heavy wooden door.

A wave of heat rushed out from the room, mixed with the strong scent of cosmetics and an indescribable, sweet, bloody smell.

Directly facing the door was a huge landscape screen. Behind the screen, candle flames flickered, casting the shadows of several moving figures.

The loud noise startled those inside the hall; the music of strings and wind instruments stopped abruptly, and the giggling turned into screams of alarm.

"Who is so presumptuous?!" It was Xu Changze's voice.

Chen Mu strode into the room, with Qi Huan and Liu Ziming following closely behind.

"Lord Xu truly has refined tastes, shutting the doors in broad daylight to 'observe the plight of the people'?" Qi Huan clutched his chest, a mocking smile on his face.

There was silence behind the screen for a moment, followed by a cold snort from Xu Changze.

"I am currently discussing the local customs and conditions of Qinglin Town with the local gentry. What is the crime of you people trespassing in an official residence?"

His voice sounded full of vigor, carrying a hint of impatience at being disturbed, not at all like someone who had suffered a serious injury.

Chen Mu's gaze fell on the screen, where he could vaguely see a man leaning on a soft couch, his silhouette similar to that of Xu Changze.

Everything looked so normal—normal to the point of being deliberate.

After a pause, Chen Mu suddenly spoke. "Lord Xu, since we parted at the Peony Pavilion last night, has your injury... improved at all?"

The voice behind the screen paused. After a long while, Xu Changze's voice sounded again, but this time with obvious anger.

"Chen Mu, stop spouting nonsense here. I have been here handling official business all this time; when have I ever been to any Peony Pavilion? If you dare to slander an official of the imperial court again, I will not let you off lightly."

These words were spoken with high-sounding righteousness, yet were extremely shameless. Hearing the other party shirk responsibility like this, Qi Huan was so angry his face turned livid. He stepped forward and pointed at Xu Changze.

"Xu Changze! You..." Xu Changze suddenly interrupted him.

"Officer Qi, watch your status."

"I am the Yunmeng County Magistrate, an official of the imperial court. Although you are a Banner Officer from the Prefecture, you have no right to interfere in my private affairs, nor do you have the right to trespass in my residence. Do you have any regard for the law? Any regard for hierarchy?"

Immediately afterward, as if he had found an excuse, he sneered dismissively.

"It is you who, instead of patrolling within the city and neglecting your duties, have come to this Qinglin Town. What is your intention?"

"Could it be... that you are involved with that fox demon?" He bit back, accusing them instead.

Seeing that things were about to escalate, Liu Ziming quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Lord Xu, please allow me to explain. The current investigation into the demon infestation is urgent. Many yamen runners have gathered outside the town, and they are without a leader. Your subordinate came specifically to ask for your instructions on how to proceed."

After a long while, Xu Changze took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, his voice cold.

"I understand. You may withdraw first. I will notify you of the specific arrangements later." He paused, then added, "If you dare to trespass again, I will execute you without mercy!"