Chapter 26: The Chill of Early Spring

The spring air was unusually bitter today. The crisp, biting cold, which should have been a gentle breeze, cut through one’s clothes with an unexpected sharpness.

Zheng Yuan, a long saber strapped to his waist, stood before the Huangmen Art Academy, accompanied by a dozen armed guards.

"This is quite a strange affair. A young man kills several Huangmen guards and then just waits inside the academy? Such things are rarely seen."

"The world is full of variables, and there are always monsters among us. Why be surprised? It is only a pity that this is Sunan Prefecture. Having killed men within the Huangmen, he is surely doomed. The Sunan Iron Teeth have already gone inside; we only need to wait here to see this killer for ourselves."

"Still, the boy has remarkable nerve. After killing people, he didn't forget to leave one alive to report to the authorities. Such ferocity—one wonders how exactly the Huangmen Chief pushed him to this point."

The guards whispered among themselves. Zheng Yuan and his men stood their ground. Under normal circumstances, the duties of arresting suspects did not fall to them, the guards of the front courtyard. However, perhaps fearing the culprit might escape, Assistant Magistrate Zheng Liu had specifically ordered them to wait there, establishing a net to catch the boy should he foolishly attempt to flee.

"Captain Zheng, you share a surname with the Assistant Magistrate. Tell us, why is he so furious this time? Is it really necessary for us guards from the Six Wards to be stationed here?" one guard asked, leaning in.

Zheng Yuan shook his head. "I suppose it is because the boy’s actions were too savage. After all, the victimized Huangmen Chief was his subordinate; his anger is understandable."

The guards nodded. Another added, "I wonder what this killer looks like. I saw the guard who came to report the crime—his arm had been severed at the root, blood pouring everywhere. They say the others were killed by him as well... He must be a madman."

Before he could finish, a gust of wind swept through the art academy, rustling the plants and trees. The sound drowned out the creak of the opening gates.

The men fell silent and looked up. The first to emerge were the Sunan Iron Teeth. Clad in light armor with long sabers strapped to their backs, they wore expressions of cold, grim intensity, radiating a chilling aura. The reason peace in Sunan Prefecture far surpassed that of neighboring regions lay in these blade-bearing Iron Teeth; their presence was so formidable it was said they could bite through any evil.

As they stepped out, even the biting spring wind seemed to settle, and the Huangmen area fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. Behind them, several Iron Teeth escorted a captive across the high threshold of the academy. The man’s hands and feet were bound in heavy shackles, clanking with every step, yet he held his body straight and upright.

"Wait? Is that the boy who came to deliver paintings the other day?" Zheng Yuan’s eyes widened. He remembered clearly that Assistant Magistrate Zheng Liu—a man of his own clan—had specifically sent this boy to the prefectural office to paint a portrait for the young master of the Zhou family.

He recalled now: the boy’s name was Chen Zhi'an. Zheng Yuan felt a sense of disbelief. Watching the boy walk among the Iron Teeth, he noticed that despite the heavy chains, he stood tall, his expression calm and devoid of fear. As he passed the courtyard, their eyes met, and the boy even gave him a slight nod.

As the Iron Teeth led the boy away, the other guards prepared to return to the prefectural office, but Zheng Yuan lingered. He hurried toward Qihuang Street, heading for the alley where Chen Zhi'an’s courtyard was located.

"Master Chen has been on leave to visit his hometown for nearly three weeks now. I wonder if he has returned."

Zheng Yuan knocked on the small gate, but there was no answer. After a long while, he confirmed that Master Chen had not yet returned. He let out a long, heavy sigh. "If Master Chen returns to find his son in chains and facing the executioner's blade, how will such a kind-hearted man endure it?"

Just then, the grand gates of a mansion across the street opened, and a young girl peeked out. "Who are you looking for?" she called out.

Zheng Yuan recognized the residence as belonging to the Iron-Armed General’s estate. Fearing he had disturbed them with his frantic knocking, he apologized profusely.

Shen Haohao, however, frowned at his official uniform. "Has something happened? Is Chen Zhi'an not in his house?"

Zheng Yuan paused, considering that if someone from the General’s estate knew Chen Zhi'an, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope. He told her what had transpired at the Huangmen Art Academy.

"You mean... Chen Zhi'an from that small courtyard killed three Huangmen guards and maimed the Chief?" Shen Haohao’s eyes went wide. "Are those guards made of clay? How could a fragile boy kill them?"

Zheng Yuan shook his head. "They aren't exactly masters, but they are all trained martial artists who practice breath-cultivation; they are much stronger than the average man on the street. I have no idea how he managed it."

Shen Haohao didn't wait to hear more and retreated into the mansion. Zheng Yuan stared at the closed gates and sighed again.

"Master Chen has lived on Qihuang Street for over a decade. He has taught countless children and is a man of great kindness, never minding if families couldn't afford the tuition. They say the virtuous house will have surplus blessings, so why is it that the Chen family is suffering this?"

***

At the Xu residence on Xiqing Street, Butler Zhao hurried past the rockeries and streams, reaching the inner courtyard. Xu Xiyue was sitting cross-legged in her room, eyes closed in meditation. Wisps of strange, ethereal energy swirled around her. Usually, no one dared to disturb her, but today the butler stood outside her door and called out, "Miss, something has happened. Chen Zhi'an has killed someone and has been taken prisoner by the Iron Teeth."

Xu Xiyue’s eyes snapped open, and the ethereal energy vanished. She rose, opened the door, and said calmly, "Have the butler prepare silver. We are going to see the Prefectural Aide."

Butler Zhao smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I fear this is not a matter that can be solved with silver."

"Oh?" Xu Xiyue looked at him, questioning.

"I was at the military supplies office today when I heard the commotion. I listened closely and heard that Chen Zhi'an, a low-level laborer at the Huangmen, killed three guards and maimed the Chief. He has already been processed."

Xu Xiyue fell silent. Chen Zhi'an did not practice martial arts; how could he have killed those guards? Yet, without further hesitation, she told the butler, "Then prepare even more silver and treasures. We are going to the Sunan Prefectural Office regardless."

***

Chen Zhi'an sat cross-legged in the dark, damp prison, wearing his shackles. The cold, foul air filled his lungs, keeping him sharply awake. He looked at the row of cells, which resembled the jagged, terrifying teeth of some great beast.

Yet, he felt not a shred of regret for the lives he had taken that day.