Chapter Eight: Murder (Part Two) Revised Version

As everyone was chanting the sacrificial text, a slender, shadowy figure silently slipped into the side courtyard of Anyuan Hall.

She glanced around warily, then leapt down from the courtyard wall, landing without a sound. With light, cautious steps, she approached one of the rooms and pushed the door—it creaked softly but was not locked and swung open under her hand. The shadow slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind her. From her bosom, she produced a fire striker and, with a gentle flick, a small flame sprang to life.

The room was not large but well appointed, the furniture new. A bed, about half a person high, was neatly made. By the window stood a writing desk, but it was bare, nothing atop it.

The shadow scratched her head, seeming rather vexed. “That damned little scholar wants to bask in glory himself but has me sneaking about like a thief. This smiling tiger’s room is so empty... Evidence, evidence, where would he hide it?” she muttered, searching the room from top to bottom before sitting on the bed, cheeks puffed with frustration.

“The little scholar said this smiling tiger has dealings with so many people, he must have left something behind. He couldn’t carry everything on him, so it has to be hidden here. But the room’s so small—where could it be? Duoduo, think carefully, you must find it, or the little scholar will look down on you forever... Not here—perhaps...” She slapped the bedding, preparing to stand up.

Her body trembled suddenly; she twisted around to look at the bedding beneath her hand. After a pause, she swiftly pulled the bedding apart—nothing inside!

No, she was certain she had felt something hard just now. How could there be nothing? She bent over, feeling every inch of the mattress. After a long moment, she let out a muffled cry of delight, drew a dagger from her clothes, and gently sliced open a layer of the mattress, pulling out a thin booklet.

This must be it...

She smiled softly. “Finally found it! Let’s see if that little scholar dares call me foolish again.” She tucked the booklet away and turned to leave.

Just then, faint footsteps sounded outside. Startled, she darted into the shadows.

No sooner had she hidden than the door creaked open. A wiry, strong man strode into the room, his gaze sweeping the space as he let out a cold chuckle.

“Come out, friend,” he said in a deep voice. “I know you’re here. Hand over what you took and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”

In the moonlight streaming through the window, the man’s face became clear—it was Pei An, the guard who had accompanied Zheng Chang. His face bore a chilling smile, and he held a short broadsword in his hand.

The sword was no more than half a meter long, the handle about fourteen centimeters, with a pommel and exposed guard, the blade sheathed. Even holding the sword, Pei An radiated a murderous aura.

“If you don’t come out, don’t blame me for inviting you out by force.”

Before he finished speaking, Pei An moved. With a metallic ring, the sword left its sheath. A flash of cold light shot through the air, its lethal intent slashing toward the hidden intruder. The blade emitted a faint, menacing whistle. Knowing her cover was blown, the shadow rolled deftly across the floor, narrowly avoiding the sword.

With a swift kip-up, she sprang to her feet, holding the dagger defensively before her, her face tense. She had worn a veil, but Pei An’s sword had been so swift that, though she dodged, it had sliced her veil away, falling to the floor. Moonlight revealed her face—it was Duoduo.

“I hadn’t expected Anyuan Hall to hide such talents. A little girl, yet already able to refine her qi and strengthen her bones—I underestimated Master Zheng,” Pei An remarked, surprised to find a mere slip of a girl was the intruder.

He hadn’t met Duoduo before. He’d paid little attention to the goings-on in Anyuan Hall, trusting Zheng Chang, and Yanqing had deliberately kept Duoduo out of Pei An’s sight. After all, while it was unremarkable for a boy to practice martial arts, it was unusual for a girl to be so skilled. So, Pei An didn’t recognize Duoduo, but she had heard of him.

She had long heard from Yanqing that Pei An was a formidable fighter...

But she hadn’t expected to meet him under such circumstances, and her nerves were taut. She and Yanqing had planned to slip into Wang Jingwen’s room during the kitchen god sacrifice to look for evidence, since it was the only time the house would be empty enough to search. But she hadn’t counted on Pei An’s sudden return. Her heart pounded, palms slick with sweat.

She was only a newly advanced martial student—escaping from a true warrior was nearly impossible.

After his initial surprise, Pei An relaxed. “Girl, hand over what you took and I’ll make your death swift.”

He stepped forward, blade tip down, posture loose and casual. In Pei An’s eyes, she had no hope of escape.

He’d seen the bedding disturbed the moment he entered, and knew his secret had been found. It didn’t matter if she was man or woman, adult or child—anyone who discovered his secret was doomed.

“I... I...” Duoduo feigned terror, stammering, “Senior, if I give it back, will you let me go?”

He laughed, that cold face twisting into a mocking smile. “Little girl, judging by your clothes, you’re just a servant of the Zheng family. Even if I kill you and claim you tried to steal from me, who would defend you? Even Master Zheng might not be able to save you... It’s a pity, though. If I’d met you earlier, perhaps I’d have taken you as my own. But you won’t get that chance... Time to die!”

While Pei An was boasting, Duoduo suddenly struck, hurling her dagger at him like a throwing knife.

She knew the dagger couldn’t harm Pei An, but she had to try. If she could buy even a moment, she might escape. With so many buildings in Anyuan Hall and the sacrifice underway outside, if she could reach the crowd, Pei An might hesitate to pursue. As for any investigation afterward—Duoduo wasn’t too worried.

But she underestimated the gap between martial students and true warriors.

The dagger didn’t even slow Pei An. He sidestepped it easily, then leaped like an ape, landing behind Duoduo. He grabbed her by the collar and flung her hard. Her clothing tore with a rip, revealing her smooth, white back.

Though only eight or nine, years of martial training, the onset of puberty, and her vigorous blood had given Duoduo a figure more developed than most girls her age. Thrown to the ground, her joints felt as if they’d come apart, her robe slipped off, and the booklet tumbled from her bosom, exposing her budding chest.

Pei An’s eyes lit up at the sight. “Little girl, you’ve brought this on yourself... Heh, who would have thought Anyuan Hall hid such a treasure. Looks like you haven’t been spoiled yet—it’d be a shame for you to die like this. Let me give you some pleasure first, so you don’t leave this world with regrets.”

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, aside from refined tastes and extraordinary character, there were also many ugly proclivities. Among the aristocratic clans, some developed peculiar appetites: some took to intoxicating herbs, others to wine, some to keeping catamites, and others still to young girls.

Pei An was a sadist with a fierce inclination for abusing little girls.

Duoduo was a beauty, her terror only fueling Pei An’s depravity. Chuckling, he stepped toward her, loosening his clothes as he advanced.

“Stay away, stay away...” Duoduo realized disaster was imminent. Pei An’s twisted, beast-like grin told her as much. But her joints, wrenched by his throw, wouldn’t respond. She could only struggle backward, arms covering her chest, her voice trembling with tears. “Touch me and I’ll never let you go.”

“Heh, then I’m even more eager to see how you plan to stop me!”

Unable to restrain his lust any longer, Pei An pounced.

In Anyuan Hall, the bell tolled, signaling the end of the sacrifice. The ceremony was over; soon, lively feasting and music would follow. Duoduo’s desperate screams were drowned by the bell.

At that moment, a small figure slipped quietly into the room.

He picked up the fallen dagger and crept behind Pei An, who was kneeling on the bed, pinning Duoduo beneath him, tearing at her clothes. He laughed lewdly as he ripped away her skirt, preparing to continue, when suddenly his body jolted, a roar escaping his lips as he struck backward with his palm, hitting a small, skinny body.

A gleaming dagger had been plunged into his back, to the hilt.

Pei An’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to see Zheng Yanqing, blood pouring from his mouth, struggling to his feet. One hand clutched his chest, his eyes blazing with fury.

A mere servant boy?

Pei An could not believe he would fall to the hand of a lowly servant. He glared at Zheng Yanqing, roaring, “You little bastard, I’ll kill you!”

But Zheng Yanqing smiled, blood on his lips. “Old scum, if you want to kill me, wait for your next life... Duoduo, now!”

Duoduo, clutching her torn robes, stood behind Pei An. Her delicate face was streaked with tears, but her eyes brimmed with lethal intent. She gripped the dagger, yanked it free, and a gush of hot blood spattered her body, streaming down her pale, slender frame.

Pei An’s strength seemed to ebb away with the pouring blood. Eyes wide, he could not believe he would die at the hands of two children.

Zheng Yanqing snatched up Pei An’s short broadsword from the floor, strode forward, and drove the blade deep into Pei An’s chest.

“Beast!” Yanqing ground out the word between clenched teeth.