The Return of the Youth, Chapter Thirty-Five: Chaotic Chapters, Part Two

Magistrate Li flicked his sleeves abruptly, glared at Chief Constable Chen, and scolded, "As a constable of this county office, not only do you fail to cherish the property of the imperial court, but you also knowingly break the law by brawling at a crime scene. You have truly disappointed me."

"My subordinates were intent on catching a thief, which led to a momentary lapse in judgment. I ask for your forgiveness, sir," Chief Constable Chen said, bowing with cupped hands.

"Since this brat is a thief, why have you not arrested him and thrown him into jail for a thorough interrogation? What if he is an accomplice to the murder of the Deputy Envoy?"

"As you command!" Chief Constable Chen shouted, "Men, seize this thief for me!"

A squad of armed constables surged in from outside, instantly pinning several long blades against the young man’s neck, yet he remained unflinching.

Seeing the young thief did not resist, Chief Constable Chen breathed a sigh of relief and ordered his men, "Lock this thief in the jail for now. I will interrogate him later before handing him over to the Magistrate for sentencing."

"Wait!" The youth lifted his chin and looked at Magistrate Li, who stood at the doorway exuding an air of haughty official authority. "I am no thief. I am the person appointed by the Grand General to be in charge of the case regarding the murder of the Xiliang Deputy Envoy. You have no right to arrest me."

Magistrate Li turned to look at the snow outside the window. "You claim to be the person appointed by the Grand General to oversee this case. Do you have any proof?"

"I possess a token given to me by the Grand General. To see this object is to see the Grand General himself." Under the vigilant gazes of the armed constables, Yi Heng reached into his robe and produced a jade pendant—the very token the Grand General had entrusted to him.

The constables looked at the pendant and then shifted their eyes to Chief Constable Chen, who in turn looked to Magistrate Li. However, Magistrate Li did not even glance at the jade pendant. He let out a cold snort: "This petty thief actually tries to pass off a random item as the Grand General's token. This is a crime compounded. Chief Constable Chen, why have you not thrown him into the jail yet?"

Before Yi Heng could say another word, a constable beside him struck the back of his neck with a punch to his pressure point. Yi Heng collapsed instantly and was dragged out of the room by several constables.

Only Magistrate Li, the steward, Chief Constable Chen, and a few constables remained in the room.

Chief Constable Chen looked at Magistrate Li and asked, "Magistrate, the item in that young man's hand appeared to be the Grand General's token. It had the three characters 'Yu Qingjiang' carved on it; it did not look like a fake. It is very likely that he is indeed Yi Heng, the person appointed by the Grand General to investigate the murder of the Xiliang envoy. What do you think?"

Magistrate Li’s expression remained as still as water. He spoke slowly, "Since you have labeled him a thief, then lock him in the jail first. As for the authenticity of the token, we must wait for the Grand General to send someone to verify it before I can make a decision."

"As you command!" Chief Constable Chen cupped his hands. "Then I shall take my leave." He then led two of his confidants out of the room.

"Sir, that was a brilliant plan," the steward quickly stepped forward, his face full of fawning smiles.

"The Xiliang envoys gave us ten days to find the killer. Half of that time has already passed, and now, the person in charge of solving the case has been thrown into jail by me. Hmph, I want to see how he, Yu Qingjiang, manages to find the killer within ten days." A cold smirk curled on Magistrate Li’s lips, his words revealing a mix of smugness and disdain.

In the corridor of the post house.

Chief Constable Chen quickened his pace. A confidant following closely behind asked with confusion, "Chief, where are we going in such a hurry?"

Chief Constable Chen turned to the constable on his left. "Go and tell the people at the Beigu military camp that the person appointed by the Grand General to head the Xiliang case has been thrown into jail."

"Chief, is that kid really the person appointed by the Grand General for the Xiliang case?"

"If my eyes didn't deceive me, that tablet was indeed the Grand General's token."

"Then I will go and inform the brothers at the camp immediately," the man replied, turning to hurry down another hallway.

"Chief, where are we going?" the other confidant asked.

Chief Constable Chen said, "The Magistrate threw that kid into jail, and I'm afraid those bastards in the prison will play rough. Although that kid stole my 'Laifu' [a dog], his crime is not worth death. Furthermore, since he is the Grand General's appointee, he must have some extraordinary skills. Perhaps he really can help solve the Xiliang case."

...

Beigu City Jail.

Inside the dark and damp prison, moss grew on the stone walls, the light was dim, and the air was thick with a mixture of moldy stench and the smell of rust. Occasionally, low wails could be heard from afar. In the corner, a few prisoners curled up on piles of straw with hollow, despairing eyes.

In an interrogation room, an old wooden table sat in the center, scattered with yellowing case files. Various instruments of torture hung from the mottled stone walls, the iron chains and shackles reflecting cold light, weaving into a chilling gloom under the dim candlelight.

Yi Heng was tied to a thick wooden post, surrounded by a group of prison guards with sinister expressions and fierce eyes. They sneered with malicious intent, as if enjoying a "good show" about to unfold. Nearby, a charcoal brazier burned fiercely, a branding iron glowing red-hot within the flames, emitting a haunting light.

At the entrance, the Deputy Chief Constable stood with arms crossed, looking coldly at the youth. "The Magistrate has ordered that this kid be well 'cared for,' but remember, do not let him die."

As the Deputy Chief Constable of Beigu City, he had always felt suppressed by the commoners. Since Magistrate Li was dissatisfied with this young upstart, he was naturally happy to carry out the Magistrate’s orders.

"Deputy Chief, don't worry. We know our limits; we will ensure he only suffers superficial wounds," the head jailer replied, then gestured for his men to wake the boy.

A jailer lifted a bucket of icy water and poured it mercilessly over Yi Heng's head.

The cold water was bone-chilling, shocking Yi Heng awake from his unconsciousness. He snapped his eyes open. The scene before him made his heart tighten, but he quickly regained his composure, eyeing the jailers coldly.

"I am a confidant of the Grand General. How dare you torture me?"

"Kid, this is a jail. I don't care who you are. Even a tiger has to kneel before us, let alone you." The head jailer spat a glob of phlegm on the ground and waved his hand, ordering, "Give this kid a round of lashes first."

The nearby jailer understood immediately and pulled a thorn-covered whip from his waist. The whip whistled through the air, sounding terrifying. When it struck Yi Heng’s tense muscles, a sharp pain surged through his meridians like an electric current, as if thousands of needles were piercing his skin simultaneously, or as if he were being ruthlessly burned by scorching flames.

Yi Heng’s body trembled involuntarily; he gritted his teeth, sweat beads the size of beans popping out on his forehead, his face turning pale.

He knew deep down that he could not show the slightest cowardice.

Yi Heng struggled to lift his head, his eyes like cold stars, fixed firmly on the head jailer. His gaze was filled with contempt and mockery for the darkness before him: "So this is the darkness of the jail! Today, I have truly learned my lesson."

Seeing those scornful, mocking eyes, the head jailer’s lips curled. "This punishment has only just begun. Don't be in such a hurry; there is plenty more to come."

The whip continued to lash Yi Heng repeatedly until his clothes were shredded and his skin was torn open. Yi Heng was then doused with another ladle of cold water to wake him up.

The head jailer grabbed the youth’s chin, which was stained with blood, and sneered, "Kid, do you yield?"

Yi Heng spat a mouthful of blood and saliva into the head jailer’s face and cursed, "Yield to your grandfather! If you have the guts, just kill me."

The head jailer wiped the bloody spit from his face with his sleeve, his expression as dark as ink. "Drive bamboo splinters under this kid’s fingernails! Pierce them deep! The nerve of him, daring to spit on me."

A jailer picked up a handful of bamboo splinters as thick as sesame seeds from the workbench. Two others grabbed Yi Heng’s hands. Yi Heng’s pupils contracted, and he struggled desperately, but it was in vain. Just as the sharp splinters were about to pierce his fingernails and bring unimaginable agony, a cold and majestic command cut through the air like a winter gale, echoing through the prison.

"Stop that."

Yi Heng’s gaze crossed layers of shadows and landed on the elegant figure in green in the distance. His tense body relaxed involuntarily. Though nothing was said, the appearance of that green silhouette felt like his only salvation and hope at that moment.

The prison gates stood tall and imposing.

In front of the gate, a line of heavy cavalry clad in shining armor stood like a wall of iron, firmly rooted to the ground. The powerful warhorses exhaled hot, mist-like breath from their nostrils, and their iron hooves struck the ground continuously, producing a heavy and forceful sound. Each strike seemed to carry the lingering aura of battle, filling the entire space with an indescribable oppression and tension.

In the distance, a few yamen runners stood at the prison gate, trembling, their eyes filled with both curiosity and fear. Although they knew some martial arts, their strength appeared so small and fragile before these iron-clad warriors who had survived the fires of war and could take an enemy general’s head as easily as reaching into their own pockets. If a conflict were to break out, it would be akin to throwing an egg against a rock—nothing more than a pointless death.

When Yi Heng and his companions stood at the prison gate, the jailers inside were filled with awe, serving them tremblingly, fearing that the slightest negligence would provoke these noble guests and bring punishment upon this dark place.

Yi Heng looked up at the sky. The wind and snow had ceased. He saw that the rooftops and branches were covered in white snow, like a world wrapped in silver.

He took a deep breath of the cold air but began to cough, touching the wounds on his chest. The sharp pain made his mouth twitch, as if every breath was a reminder of the suffering he had endured.

The darkness and torment of the jail were deeply etched into his heart. When he entered, he was a physically intact youth; when he left, he was covered in wounds. This experience reminded him of the innocent people who were imprisoned—they had no power, no influence, and no one to rely on. Like fish on a chopping block, they could only be slaughtered at the will of the jailers.

The youth clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with a firm light. He swore to himself: I must become stronger. I will never let anyone bully me again; I will never be a weakling to be slaughtered by others.

At this moment, the general in plain clothes had gracefully mounted his horse. He looked down at the youth and said in a steady, powerful voice: "Boy, from the moment you accepted that heavy token from the Grand General, your fate has been closely tied to his honor. No matter how you roam the world in the future, even if you break the heavens, the Grand General will stand by your side without hesitation to support you. You must remember, even in the bustling, powerful Luoyang, the Grand General is second only to one, above ten thousand. His majesty and power are enough to protect you."

"I do not want to see you in such a pathetic state the next time we meet, needing me to personally save you from the fire. Remember what the Grand General often says: If you are a man, stand tall and face all challenges bravely!"

The general’s words were filled with passion and encouragement, as if igniting a raging fire in the youth’s heart, urging him to move forward without fear.

Yi Heng gritted his teeth and nodded heavily. "I promise I will never let the Grand General down."

"Boy, time waits for no one. The ten-day deadline will pass in the blink of an eye." The general’s gaze pierced through the darkening sky, where the night, like ink, was silently devouring the last embers of the sunset.

"I will keep the grace of your rescue today in my heart. May I ask your name, and how should I address you?"

"Call me whatever you want. As for my name, you are not yet qualified to know it."

"Giddy up!"

With a loud and decisive command, the general in plain clothes took the lead, guiding his iron cavalry like a gale sweeping through the silent street. The horses’ hooves were wrapped in cloth, leaving behind a trail of firm footprints in the snow. The accumulated snow shattered beneath the iron hooves, as if they were clearing away obstacles, fearless and unstoppable.

Watching the cavalry gallop away, the shopkeeper in green asked, "What are your plans now? Where are we going?"

Yi Heng turned, a wry smile on his face: "Next, you should go back to the teahouse and be the head shopkeeper of the Green-Clad Teahouse. Following me will only drag you into unnecessary trouble."

The shopkeeper in green walked ahead with her hands behind her back and flatly refused: "I don't want to go back for now. Being a shopkeeper is too boring. I want to follow you and see how you solve this case."

Faced with the girl’s enthusiasm, Yi Heng could not bring himself to dissuade her further, though he secretly decided that no matter how this case developed, he must not implicate her. She was innocent and should never have stepped into this muddy water.

"Sir, these are your belongings. Please keep them safe." A jailer respectfully handed the youth his sword, wrapped in a tattered cloth, along with fifty taels of silver.

The youth took his sword and handed forty taels of silver to the shopkeeper in green. "Here! These forty taels are yours. As for the other ten, I plan to give them to those poor people who are struggling to survive this winter."

The shopkeeper in green took the thirty taels and pushed the ten back to the youth. "Consider those ten my contribution."

"I thank you on behalf of those people."

...

The two walked side by side along the long street, chatting in a harmonious atmosphere. The shopkeeper in green suddenly turned to look at Yi Heng’s profile and asked curiously: "I think you are a strange person. You aren't wealthy yourself, yet you always help others. Can you tell me why you do this?"

Yi Heng pondered for a moment and replied slowly: "Because I have suffered, too. So when I see people in trouble, I cannot help but feel compassion and want to do my small part."

...

On the crossroads, the crime scene had long been cordoned off by yamen runners, and a crowd of onlookers was whispering in the distance.

Chief Constable Chen dismounted, and the constables orderly dispersed the crowd, saying sharply: "Official business, all idlers, move aside!"

Chief Constable Chen squeezed through the path cleared by the crowd into the alley. Ten steps away lay a headless corpse. The blood flowing from the severed neck had already been frozen by the frost. The body had clearly been moved, likely inspected briefly by the coroner.

"Chief! This is the character I mentioned earlier," a constable pointed to the characters in the chaotic snow.

Chief Constable Chen squatted before the characters and observed them carefully. It was just as the young thief had said; the shape resembled "Stone," but due to the panic of the victim before death, two extra strokes were added, vaguely turning it into the character "Swallow."

Just then, the coroner handed the autopsy report to Chief Constable Chen: "Chief, these are the results of the autopsy. Please take a look."

Chief Constable Chen read it word for word, lingering for a long time on one description: The victim’s heart was pierced by a sword, and there were over a dozen other sword wounds on the body of varying depths. Finally, the killer decapitated the victim. The slash marks on the severed neck showed that the killer must be a master of the martial arts, as the strike was clean and without hesitation.

Chief Constable Chen thought to himself that even an experienced butcher holding a sharp blade would find it hard to be so clean and efficient. He examined the marks in the snow again, deducing that the killer and the victim had engaged in a fierce battle, after which the victim was defeated and the heart was pierced. However, if the killer’s sword skills were so superb, why leave so many additional wounds on the victim?

Perhaps the two were acquaintances and held a deep grudge. The killer, despite being able to kill with one strike, chose to vent his anger with extra slashes before finishing the victim off.

Chief Constable Chen stroked his chin and mused for a moment: "The killer cutting off the victim’s head was clearly to hide his identity and mislead us. To find the killer, we must first confirm the real identity of this body."

He stood up and shouted his orders: "Pass the word down: anyone who discovers suspicious individuals in the city, if verified, will be rewarded. At the same time, if anyone goes missing or loses contact, report it immediately. Anyone found concealing such information will be punished for deception!"

The constables quickly set off to carry out the orders.

Chief Constable Chen pointed to the headless corpse: "You few, help move the body onto the cart and transport it to the morgue at the county office. The rest of you, follow me to the post house."

...

On the long street, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar, and a black carriage drove up, blocking Yi Heng and the shopkeeper in green.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a wrinkled hand, revealing a head with white eyebrows. The old man smiled and said: "It’s so cold out. Why don’t you two come in and sit in the carriage to warm up? Wherever you want to go, this old man will give you a lift."

The shopkeeper in green snorted coldly, climbed into the carriage without ceremony, and said huffily: "When I was trapped in that jail, I didn't see you come to save me. Now you know how to offer favors? Too late!"

Old Man Tea gave a wry smile and explained: "My dear girl, that was a jail! How could these old bones of mine fight those wolf-like jailers? I wouldn't dare do something as life-threatening as breaking into a prison."

Inside the carriage, a brazier of charcoal burned fiercely. The cabin was as warm as spring and emitted a faint scent of incense.

Yi Heng sat to one side, feeling the rare warmth. Fatigue gradually washed over him, and he closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

However, the expression of the shopkeeper in green suddenly turned as dark as water, and the aura she exuded seemed to change entirely. She lowered her voice and asked coldly: "Have you found out why the Grand General chose him to be in charge of this case?"

A look of gravity appeared on Old Man Tea’s face, and he shook his head: "Still nothing. It’s as if it’s shrouded in a layer of mist."

"Then stop investigating for now." The shopkeeper in green’s gaze fell on the sleeping Yi Heng as she continued: "And his background? Any discoveries?"

"During the great famine three years ago, the people around Beigu City fled south, but he went against the current and came to Beigu City. He has lived here for three years. The boy lived by hunting and was kind-hearted, often helping the surrounding people, and there was nothing else suspicious about him." He glanced at the sleeping Yi Heng. "Any further back, no information can be found, as if he appeared out of thin air. As for why he came to Beigu City, only he knows."

"Stop! That’s enough." The shopkeeper in green suddenly interrupted Old Man Tea.

The carriage stopped. Old Man Tea lifted the curtain and saw Yi Heng’s small wooden cabin across the street. He carefully carried Yi Heng out of the carriage, unlocked the door, and gently removed the sword from the boy’s back. However, at that moment, a domineering force surged forth, and Old Man Tea was nearly shaken off. He exclaimed: "What a domineering sword!"

After hanging the sword on the wall, Old Man Tea gently placed Yi Heng on the bed and carefully tucked him in. After doing all this, he turned, closed the door, and climbed back into the carriage. With a shout from the driver, the carriage drove away slowly.

However, shortly after the carriage left, Yi Heng, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze flickered with inexplicable contemplation and doubt, as if he had not truly been asleep.

He stared at the ceiling, wondering to himself: Who exactly is this shopkeeper in green? Why is she probing into my background?

A trace of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant.