"How could this happen... how could this happen..."
Xun Sanlang’s cheeks and lips were completely pale as he stuffed his clothes and belongings all at once onto a large spread of burlap. With a voice trembling like a moan, he kept repeating the sa words over and over.
How could this happen...
He was a diligent and honest man—everyone who knew Xun Sanlang would basically say this about the 65-year-old man this year.
But this very diligent, honest man cruelly killed Granny Apple last night.
Xun Sanlang held a secret deep in his heart that he never told anyone.
He had been childhood friends with Ahei and had always loved her.
Loved Ahei.
Wanted to grow old with Ahei.
But his feelings remained one-sided...
When he was 15, he confessed his love to Ahei.
But Ahei did not accept Xun Sanlang’s love.
At that ti, she was already acquainted and in love with Kotarō, who was not yet a doctor.
The year after Xun Sanlang confessed, Ahei married Kotarō.
The cherished girl married soone else. Although Xun Sanlang was depressed, he did not give up on himself.
He sincerely wished the woman he loved happiness.
Yet he could not let go of his love for Ahei.
If... Kotarō suddenly died one day... would I then have a chance?
Ah... if that day truly cos... I must be prepared...
Unable to let go of his love, he chose to wait.
Waiting for the day the position of "Ahei’s husband" beca vacant.
Waiting for the day he could replace Kotarō...
To be able to marry Ahei gloriously the day opportunity ca, Xun Sanlang worked hard and saved money.
Strangely, since he could rember, he never needed long hours of sleep, nor had insomnia.
For decades, it had been this way—he only needed to rest his head on a pillow to imdiately fall asleep. Never tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Most people need at least three to four hours daily; he only needed about two hours each day to fully restore his energy.
Thanks to his unique physique, Xun Sanlang could spend more ti working and earning money.
When his workload was heaviest, he worked four jobs simultaneously in one day.
While maintaining contact with Ahei, he worked desperately to earn and save money.
No marriage, no family.
He waited for decades.
He waited... and now, finally, he reached this day—the day Kotarō passed away.
Even after decades, his love for Ahei had never faded.
Even though Ahei had grown old and faded, he still loved her.
His long years of hard work had also accumulated a considerable fortune.
The long wait finally bore fruit, and Xun Sanlang wished to rush to Ahei’s side at once.
But considering Kotarō had just passed, and Ahei’s mood would be very low, Xun Sanlang anxiously waited two more months before coming to see her last night.
Last night, dressed in brand-new clothes, Xun Sanlang knocked on Ahei’s door.
Surprised to see Xun Sanlang visiting at night, Ahei hurriedly welcod her childhood friend, with whom she had never lost contact, inside.
After so casual conversation in the living room, Xun Sanlang gathered courage and, after decades, once again revealed his love for Ahei without reservation.
A childhood friend with silver hair like himself professing love again—Ahei was greatly startled.
Ahei had never thought about finding a new partner at her age.
So... she gave Xun Sanlang the exact sa answer she gave decades ago.
Rejected once more by the woman he loved.
At that mont, Xun Sanlang felt as if the entire world had "stopped."
This strange feeling of "stillness" lasted only an instant.
After that instant, a flood of emotions surged into his chest and mind.
Grievance, unwillingness, anger...
Why... do you reject ? Why... can you not accept ?
When he knocked on Ahei’s door, Xun Sanlang had actually prepared himself ntally for another rejection.
Although prepared, sohow, when he heard Ahei’s refusal again, he could not suppress the negative emotions inside him.
He felt... as if he lost control of his body.
Anger, unwillingness... these negative emotions were like wild beasts out of control, devouring Xun Sanlang.
When these negative feelings swelled to the extre—he drew the hidden sword he always carried for self-defense...
What happened afterward, Xun Sanlang could barely rember.
Like amnesia, he could not recall what happened after drawing the hidden sword.
He only rembered... when he ca to his senses, he was lying over Ahei.
The hidden sword in his hand was stained as red as his palms.
Ahei beneath him... was no longer breathing.
Her lifeless eyes t Xun Sanlang’s, which were filled with terror.
How could this happen...?
Normally, he did not even have the courage to quarrel with people on the street.
Why did he suddenly seem possessed and kill Ahei?
After the shock, fear quickly surged onto Ahei’s cheeks.
I killed soone...
I don’t want to be caught by the Three Squads...!
I have to escape... I can’t let the Three Squads catch !
His self-preservation outweighed his remorse and guilt for killing Ahei.
Though his mind was filled with terror, he had not completely lost reason.
To buy ti for an overnight escape, when leaving Granny Apple’s house, Xun Sanlang carefully blew out the candle, leaving a small stub still lit, creating the false impression that Granny Apple was asleep, delaying the discovery of her body.
Stumbling back ho, preparing to pack and flee Edo under the cover of night... he regretted it again.
Edo was his hotown.
If he left Edo... where else could he go?
There was nowhere to go.
At that mont, a lucky thought appeared and quickly filled his mind.
With the Magistrate’s Office’s inefficient and luck-dependent investigation thods... the Three Squads... probably wouldn’t catch !
If I stay ho safely, eating and drinking as usual, soon my life will return to normal!
Driven by this hope, Xun Sanlang abandoned the idea of fleeing overnight and stayed ho.
He who could always fall asleep imdiately as soon as his head touched the pillow had his first sleepless night...
In the end, Xun Sanlang’s psychological resilience was not that strong.
Though he kept telling himself, “The Three Squads probably won’t catch ,” he had been paying close attention to news about Ahei.
Just now, upon learning that Ahei’s body had been found, his heart grew anxious and he could not remain calm.
Ah... the Three Squads’ investigation efficiency may be low, but they are not powerless in every case...
Such thoughts circled in Xun Sanlang’s mind.
Uncertain and unable to overco his anxiety and fear, he finally made a decision just now—he would escape!
Escape Edo, flee sowhere, and never return to Edo!
Money, clothes... all necessities were packed...
Looking over his luggage, Xun Sanlang suddenly realized he forgot sothing very important—
“dicine... dicine...”
Xun Sanlang rushed to the cabinet nearby, rummaging out a bottle filled with small pills of purple and red mixed colors.
Perhaps due to working too hard when young, after aging, Xun Sanlang often felt severe pain in his waist and shoulders.
About a year ago, upon recomndation, he bought these strangely colored pills said to have pain relief effects.
After taking one dose, Xun Sanlang felt surprisingly good results; just one pill would greatly reduce pain in various parts of his body.
Since then, these affordable pills beca a daily necessity. Whenever pain returned, he would take one.
Tucking the pill bottle in his pocket, Xun Sanlang hoisted his luggage and hurriedly fled outside.
Whoosh...
After opening the wooden door, the dazzling sunlight did not shine on Xun Sanlang.
Because a tall figure stood at his door, blocking the sunlight.
Frozen in place, Xun Sanlang raised his gaze—the person before him stood with their back to the sun.
The sunlight’s reflection made it impossible for Xun Sanlang to see the face clearly, but on this person’s face was a kind smile.
“Oh... you must be Mr. Xun Sanlang, right?”
“Didn’t expect you to co out yourself... good, that saves
the trouble of breaking the door to find you.”
“Greetings, I am Tachibana Aoto, Constable of the Kita Bansho Teimachi Squad. I have many questions to bother you with.”
“First, the first question—You are carrying luggage, where do you plan to go?”
Seeing that kind smile, Xun Sanlang’s expression slowly turned cold.
******
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There are three updates today in total!
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