"...Officer Han Meng."
The moment Han Meng 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 enforcement... You’ve got quite the nerve," Han Meng 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 me at a glance?
"Huh?" Chen Ling’s eyes were filled with confusion. "Officer Han Meng... What are you talking about?"
"Do I need to spell it out for you?"
"...I don’t understand."
"At home, 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 me to accompany him."
"What piece were you practicing?"
"Farewell My Concubine."
"What’s the last line?"
"...Ah!"
"And the second-to-last line?"
"...Let me see!"
Han Meng fired off his questions rapidly, leaving Chen Ling no time 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 Meng’s ignorance of the art form, relying on his memory of Farewell My Concubine from his past life. He had seen the Peking opera performance over twenty times 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 Meng stared intently at Chen Ling, his piercing gaze seemingly trying to unravel the truth hidden within. After a few seconds of silence, Han Meng finally spoke.
"Ah, perhaps I was mistaken."
This guy was definitely testing me!
I should’ve hit him harder with that club last night!
Chen Ling took a deep breath. "Officer Han Meng, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now."
"Wait." Han Meng stopped him. "Which street have you been assigned to?"
"...District Two, Ice Spring Street."
"Don’t go home. Head there directly."
"Huh? But I thought we had three hours to prepare—"
"That’s an order."
Han Meng’s four simple words shut down any further argument.
Chen Ling and Han Meng stood facing each other in the cold wind, their coats fluttering as the world around them seemed 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 Meng was the epitome of efficiency. He flagged down a rickshaw puller—the same 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 Meng’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 Meng crushed the burnt-out cigarette under his foot and let out a cold snort.
"Brother Meng, why are you targeting him?" Jiang Qin asked, walking over with a puzzled expression.
"Don’t you find it strange?" Han Meng 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 home, killing the two law enforcement 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 Meng patted Jiang Qin’s shoulder. "As law enforcement officers, we must see with our own eyes, not just listen with our ears."
"...I understand, Brother Meng."
"Good. Then come with me to 128 Frost Street."
"What for?"
"Chen Ling has been sent away... Now it’s time to question Chen Yan." Han Meng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
---
Thud—thud—thud—
The rhythmic sound of a hammer 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-rimmed 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 come bearing a handwritten letter from his brother, making him a legitimate guest.
Still, Chen Yan couldn’t recall his brother ever mentioning having friends in Aurora City.
As Chen Yan finished his work, the man stood up and walked over to the meticulously repaired wall, his expression one of astonishment.
"How did you do this...?"
"Fixing a house isn’t that hard. When we were kids, my brother even helped me 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 came at the door.
"Law enforcement! Open up!"
At the sound of those words, Chen Yan’s face turned pale.
He didn’t know why law enforcement had come knocking, but his instincts told him that their sudden appearance at this hour couldn’t mean anything good.
Thinking quickly, Chen Yan turned to the man. "You answer the door. Tell them no one’s home."
With that, he ducked into the bedroom and hid himself.
"Law enforcement, huh..." The man frowned, hesitating for a moment before walking to the door and opening it.
Standing outside were Han Meng 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 Meng’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the man.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same question," the man said with a faint smile, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses. "I should’ve known. District Three is your territory."
As the two exchanged words, Jiang Qin leaned in and whispered to Han Meng, "Brother Meng, who is he?"
"Chu Muyun, the Divine Physician of Aurora City."