"...Officer Han ng."
The mont Han ng called out to him, a flicker of guilt flashed in Chen Ling's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual composure. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"A Fusionist, daring to infiltrate the ranks of law enforcent... You’ve got quite the nerve," Han ng said slowly. "Speak. What’s your goal?"
The words struck Chen Ling like a thunderclap!
He knows?!
No... That’s impossible... Last night, it was the red-paper monster he fought. He never saw my face! How could he recognize at a glance?
"Huh?" Chen Ling’s eyes were filled with confusion. "Officer Han ng... What are you talking about?"
"Do I need to spell it out for you?"
"...I don’t understand."
"Where were you last night?"
"At ho, sleeping."
"And before that?"
"Practicing opera with my brother in the wilderness."
"Your brother was practicing opera. What were you doing there?"
"He’s timid. He wanted to accompany him."
"What piece were you practicing?"
"Farewell My Concubine."
"What’s the last line?"
"...Ah!"
"And the second-to-last line?"
"...Let see!"
Han ng fired off his questions rapidly, leaving Chen Ling no ti to think. As he answered, cold sweat trickled down his back. By the last three questions, he was on the verge of bolting.
Chen Ling had no knowledge of this world’s operas and had no idea what the popular plays were. He could only gamble on Han ng’s ignorance of the art form, relying on his mory of Farewell My Concubine from his past life. He had seen the Peking opera performance over twenty tis in his previous world, and the scene where Xiang Yu turns to discover Consort Yu’s suicide was etched in his mind.
As it turned out, Chen Ling’s gamble paid off.
After the final question, Han ng stared intently at Chen Ling, his piercing gaze seemingly trying to unravel the truth hidden within. After a few seconds of silence, Han ng finally spoke.
"Ah, perhaps I was mistaken."
This guy was definitely testing !
I should’ve hit him harder with that club last night!
Chen Ling took a deep breath. "Officer Han ng, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now."
"Wait." Han ng stopped him. "Which street have you been assigned to?"
"...District Two, Ice Spring Street."
"Don’t go ho. Head there directly."
"Huh? But I thought we had three hours to prepare—"
"That’s an order."
Han ng’s four simple words shut down any further argunt.
Chen Ling and Han ng stood facing each other in the cold wind, their coats fluttering as the world around them seed to fall into a dead silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Chen Ling finally spoke. "Understood..."
"It’ll take you at most two hours to get to Ice Spring Street in District Two. I’ll confirm your arrival there in two hours... Understand?"
Chen Ling gritted his teeth. "My legs are tired. It might take a bit longer."
"I’ll call a rickshaw for you."
"..."
Han ng was the epito of efficiency. He flagged down a rickshaw puller—the sa one Chen Ling had spoken to earlier—and instructed him to take Chen Ling directly to Ice Spring Street, with the fare covered.
Under Han ng’s watchful gaze, Chen Ling reluctantly climbed into the rickshaw and set off for District Two.
As he watched Chen Ling disappear into the distance, Han ng crushed the burnt-out cigarette under his foot and let out a cold snort.
"Brother ng, why are you targeting him?" Jiang Qin asked, walking over with a puzzled expression.
"Don’t you find it strange?" Han ng replied calmly.
"On the night of the Gray Realm’s convergence, Li Xiuchun and Chen Tan went to the mass graves in the pouring rain, claiming they were paying respects to their son... The next day, a Calamity just happened to break into their ho, killing the two law enforcent officers tailing them but sparing the couple... And during all this, the Chen brothers were conveniently absent, with no alibi."
"But... They explained that they were paying respects to their son who died young many years ago..."
"You’re missing the point."
"Huh?"
"The point isn’t that they were paying respects to their son. It’s that they did so before dawn, in the middle of a torrential downpour—the likes of which the Aurora Domain hasn’t seen in a decade. Do you really think a long-deceased child they barely knew would warrant such an act?"
"This..." Jiang Qin was at a loss for words.
"The story of the child who died young, and the opera practice, are all Chen Ling’s claims. There’s no evidence to back them up." Han ng patted Jiang Qin’s shoulder. "As law enforcent officers, we must see with our own eyes, not just listen with our ears."
"...I understand, Brother ng."
"Good. Then co with to 128 Frost Street."
"What for?"
"Chen Ling has been sent away... Now it’s ti to question Chen Yan." Han ng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
---
Thud—thud—thud—
The rhythmic sound of a hamr driving nails into the wall echoed through the room.
As the wooden planks were neatly fitted into place, the large hole in the wall was gradually repaired. Chen Yan wiped the sweat from his face, secured the final plank, and slumped into a chair, breathing heavily.
He turned to look at the living room, where the man with silver-rimd glasses was curiously examining the newly repaired wall, lost in thought.
"Couldn’t even lend a hand..."
Chen Yan muttered under his breath.
He hadn’t wanted to let this man into the house, but the stranger had co bearing a handwritten letter from his brother, making him a legitimate guest.
Still, Chen Yan couldn’t recall his brother ever ntioning having friends in Aurora City.
As Chen Yan finished his work, the man stood up and walked over to the ticulously repaired wall, his expression one of astonishnt.
"How did you do this...?"
"Fixing a house isn’t that hard. When we were kids, my brother even helped build a birdhouse," Chen Yan said proudly. "I hear people in Aurora City are pretty pampered. You probably don’t have skills like this, do you?"
The man was about to respond when a sharp knock ca at the door.
"Law enforcent! Open up!"
At the sound of those words, Chen Yan’s face turned pale.
He didn’t know why law enforcent had co knocking, but his instincts told him that their sudden appearance at this hour couldn’t an anything good.
Thinking quickly, Chen Yan turned to the man. "You answer the door. Tell them no one’s ho."
With that, he ducked into the bedroom and hid himself.
"Law enforcent, huh..." The man frowned, hesitating for a mont before walking to the door and opening it.
Standing outside were Han ng and Jiang Qin.
Seeing a stranger answer the door, Jiang Qin was taken aback. He glanced at the house number and muttered, "That’s odd... Did we get the wrong place?"
Han ng’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the man.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the sa question," the man said with a faint smile, adjusting his silver-rimd glasses. "I should’ve known. District Three is your territory."
As the two exchanged words, Jiang Qin leaned in and whispered to Han ng, "Brother ng, who is he?"
"Chu Muyun, the Divine Physician of Aurora City."
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