Now that I've got some form of evidence, I'm eager to return to the Crown Prince to update him on my progress. I jump up, ready to fly—only to come crashing down. Oh right, I currently can't access my elemental powers. They were sealed before I was locked in the dungeon; worst punishment ever.
Where is Long Yan? I leave the pitiful captive behind as I sniff and follow the scent of ashes. I can't catch a whiff. Just great. I can't get off this forsaken mountain because my supposed supervisor decided to do a disappearing act. I kick at the ground with a resounding crack, then squat down, chin in hands.
A sudden burst of heat flares next to me. Finally! So, he was responsible after all. A flickering flame appears. Long Yan pops out. "I take it you've finished your interrogation?"
"Yes, no thanks to you. Did you find the other person who attacked me?"
"I knew that she was guilty. I don't feel bad for scorching her now."
"Yes, yes—Mr. Burn First, Ask Later. You still haven't answered my question. Where's the other culprit?"
He rubs the back of his neck and gives a wry smile. "About that… not a clue. Couldn't find anyone. I looked all over the mountain."
I let out a sigh. Must I do everything myself?
"It doesn't matter. I got what I needed. Let's get back to the Crown Prince."
He nods, then transforms into the Dragon of Fire. His ruby scales gleam under the sun. He turns to me, flames licking his nostrils. I hop onto his back. He launches off, flying us over the Celestial Highway and back to the Chamber of the Crown Prince.
We land, and I hop off, my feet hitting the ground with a resounding crack. He shifts back to his human guise, scorching the earth beneath him. We glance at the damage we've each made, then share a knowing shrug.
Inside, the Crown Prince is playing 'Go' with my master. They look so immersed in the game, I'm surprised they haven't bored a hole through the board.
Long Fei turns to me, his gaze hardening. "Who did that to you?"
I immediately cover the cut on my cheek, my face burning. "Oh, just some assassin who claimed to be Long Yan's admirer." I roll my eyes.
Long Yan groans, his hand covering his face. "Don't worry, Elder Brother. I gave her a good scorching."
Long Fei plucks a small jar from his sleeve and opens it. He meets my eyes and gives a small nod—a silent question, asking if I'll let him tend to my wound. I hesitate, fingers pressed tightly, pride warring with the sting. Slowly, I pull my hand away and tilt my face toward him. He gently dabs the balm onto my cheek. The cool medicine seeps into my skin. That feels so much better.
He hands me the jar. "Apply this every day. It should get rid of the scar."
He lets out a short breath, sits back down, and places his next piece on the board.
My eyes start to water. Master really does care about me. He's not upset anymore. I'll try harder not to land in the dungeon next time.
The Crown Prince speaks as he places his piece on the board. "Ling Yue, I'm guessing you've got something for me? That's why you're back early?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I was wondering if I could have a look at all the complaints about the disappearing pop-up exchange stores."
"How about no? They're highly classified documents."
I pull out the note I took from the interrogation and hand it over. "Well, in that case, can you check if any of those match this writing?"
He gives me a suspicious look but accepts the note. As he skims it, his eyes widen. He hurries over to his desk where a mountain of scrolls lies. He swiftly unfurls some of them and tosses them aside, then slams his hands on the desk. The whole thing crumbles under the impact as he runs a hand down his face.
Long Fei walks over and opens his palm. The table reassembles itself. A jar floats from a nearby cupboard, uncorks its contents over the desk, and glows. The scattered scrolls on the floor neatly stack themselves on the desk. He scans through them slowly, then lets out a sigh. "Shall we let Ling Yue have a look? Since she's the one who discovered it."
The Crown Prince nods, approving of my involvement. Yes, it's now my time to shine.
I look at each scroll. At first, nothing seems unusual. But then there's a slight consistency in every scroll. "Master, I don't read much, but these small characters look suspiciously the same. Were all of these written by the same person, even though they tried to make them look like they came from different writers?"
"You've got a keen eye, Ling Yue. I'm proud of you, especially when you don't like to read," Long Fei says with a nod. "You're right, the similarities are subtle. The varying quality of paper and ink helped mask it. But certain particles have the same writing style. The culprit must have subconsciously overlooked it. They probably figured no one would look too closely at the particles especially if the majority of characters are written in a significantly different style."
I puff out my chest and flick my silver-blue hair back. "You know I'm not just a pretty face."
Long Yan coughs behind me. "Did you get this information from the one I caught and torched?"
"Of course. She gave it to me willingly. With my astute negotiation skills."
"Pretty sure you tortured her. I heard her scream while I was looking for the second attacker."
"You mean the one you couldn't catch?"
He shifts his gaze to the floor and lets out a breath, then glances at Long Fei. "Seriously, Elder Brother, how do you put up with her?"
The Crown Prince clears his throat. "Alright. So we agree the culprit acted alone. All these scrolls were just a ruse."
Now my poisonous blood is boiling. That frazzle-haired scoundrel tricked me countless times with different disguises?! He even got me locked in the dungeon! Oh, when I see him, I am so going to skewer him.
Long Yan clicks his fingers, and a flame lights up. "Does that mean I'm allowed to torch him on sight?"
I glare at him. "No, I want to torture him first. He got me locked up in a dungeon."
"No, Ling Yue. You got yourself locked up in a dungeon. Don't go blaming someone else for your own mistake," said Long Fei.
"Seriously, can I have my elemental powers back now since I've solved the case?" I point to the scar on my face. "See what happens when you leave me with no line of defense? The Dragon of Fire clearly wasn't enough to keep me safe."
My master glances over to his royal friend, who gives a curt nod. He flicks his fingers, and I feel the meridian points on my neck and back unblock. Water and air swirl, coursing through my veins. I send a splash of water to Long Yan, putting out his flame and drenching him. I summon a gust of wind to dry him. His nostrils start flaring and his hair bursts into flames.
Long Fei immediately closes his fist, snuffing out the flames. "You two, cut it out. This is the Crown Prince's chamber. If you want to fight, take it outside."