On the horse carriage.
Bing Xuan sat with her knees sticking out, her manner of appearance elegant.
She wasn't an incredible beauty, but her temperament and conduct complimented all that was insufficient. When onlookers saw her, they wouldn't immediately pay attention to her looks. They would instead be astounded by her demeanour.
This was also an achievement in the martial arts cultivated from the Hehuan Sect.
Bing Xuan knew that her superiority wasn't in her exterior beauty, but in the elegance of her breathing and the jade-like voice she spoke, the grace of every slight twinkle and smile of hers alluring, a beauty that could be cultivated and nurtured.
These years she had visited many places and met many people. Other than a few incredibly highly skilled martial artists, she met people from royalties and nobility to common merchants and traders. As long as she wanted to, she could sway their hearts.
But Cui Buqu was an exception.
Just like the present, Bing Xuan looked like she would behave any other day, but in reality, she was using the Hehuan Sect's seduction techniques. Yet, even though Cui Buqu was not even a bit cultivated in the martial arts, he looked unaffected with a clear gaze.
Bing Xuan couldn't help feeling a bit of pity, even suspecting whether Cui Buqu had a heart of stone.
She still had a long way to go before the peak of her martial arts. However, when faced before those far superior to herself, Bing Xuan had never felt defeated. Because she clearly knew the difference of their skills and knew clearly as well how she could learn from the other's strong points to compliment her own weak points to fill up the gap.
In front of Cui Buqu, other than knowing that he wasn't cultivated in martial arts, she knew nothing else.
If one wished to kill Cui Buqu, Bing Xuan only needed one hand and time as long as one breath, and before Feng-er and the others could find out, Cui Buqu would already be dead.
But not everything in the world could be dealt with killing. Other than using martial arts, Cui Buqu was like a depthless puddle one would find it impossible to see its bottom.
"Since the last time I saw Lord Cui, he has grown thin quite a bit." Bing Xuan gently said, "Duties are endless, please take care of yourself."
Cui Buqu said with a smile: "Thank you for the concern. From the looks of the maiden's face, she seems to look more lustrous. Perhaps she's managed to alleviate her martial arts once more."
Although she knew that the other didn't know a seduction technique was being used on him, she couldn't help feeling guilty upon looking at those eyes of Cui Buqu that could pierce into someone's heart. She put away every other second thought she had and replied honestly: "In this Sword-Sparring competition, I watched the martial arts from each Sect from the sidelines and did gather some information. However, they are still far from Second Commander Feng's level."
Cui Buqu very quickly got straight to the topic: "To be frank with you, Maiden Bing Xuan, this case is so baffling at present, even I have not been able to get a clue about it. So, we will need Maiden Bing Xuan to remain for a few more days to assist from the sidelines."
Maiden Bing Xuan pondered over it for a while: "The few days Lord Cui mentioned would not be so brief, I presume?"
Cui Buqu said, "Truly intelligent. If this case hasn't been resolved, even as we return to the capital, we can only take Maiden Bing Xuan along with us."
Bing Xuan's smile didn't waver, but her gaze had lost its smile. She furrowed her head slightly as if she was both troubled and sullen.
"You suspect me to be the murderer? If it was me, there was no need to deliver myself to your hands."
Cui Buqu smiled vaguely: "Naturally, Maiden Bing Xuan has my trust. However, of all the cases I've dealt with in the past, it didn't lack murderers going against common sense and delivering themselves. This case concerned the lives of more than fifty people. Among them were the scouts of the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus. For caution's sake, this must be done. Hopefully, Maiden Bing Xuan will understand."
His voice was soft, holding not an ounce of strictness, yet he left no space for refusal.
With a fur overcoat next to him, the Zuoyue Bureau looked pale with an air of lingering illness. He did not look domineering at all, but his mannerisms resembled nothing but that.
Bing Xuan sighed lightly: "What if, I refuse?"
Cui Buqu's expression was unchanged: "Then I will have no choice but to forcibly withhold you."
Bing Xuan slowly said: "According to what I know, Lord Cui has no top-tier martial artist from the Zuoyue Bureau around him. These people are all subjects of Commander Feng. How would Lord Cui know Commander Feng would automatically lend you a hand to withhold me?"
Cui Buqu didn't speak.
His silence meant: You cannot leave for sure; but you can try.
Bing Xuan refused to believe it. She looked at Cui Buqu with a vague smile and immediately leapt into the air.
Her speed was extremely fast. Her clothes floated like those of a fairy, flying a few zhang across the air within the blink of an eye.
Bing Xuan's martial arts were not particularly impressive, but hers was one of the first-class. The Zuoyue guards next to the horse carriage immediately reached out to stop her but failed.
Past them were Pei Jingzhe and Qin Miaoyu.
Similarly, these two people were a step too late. Very quickly, Bing Xuan put them behind her.
Seeing that no one else could stop her, she inwardly let out a breath of air.
If she could, she wouldn't want to make an enemy out of Cui Buqu, but the elements concerning this case were complicated and it would be impossible to solve it within just a few days. As for her, she needed to hurry back to her sect, and so she could only pick the lesser of the two bads. As long as Feng Xiao didn't get involved, she could be free.
Suddenly, someone else appeared in front of her.
Hands behind his back, brimming with confidence as if he had been waiting for her.
Bing Xuan was dumbstruck. She hadn't seen how the other had appeared.
But she could not stop.
"Commander Feng." Bing Xuan sighed.
"Running off like that would make you look more like the murderer." Feng Xiao sighed, his tone patient, "Don't waste my strength on such a cold day, go on back."
Bing Xuan gently said: "I don't know since when the Jiejian Bureau has turned into Cui Buqu's lackeys. Would someone of such a high standard like Commander Feng have his share of times when he listens to someone else's orders?"
Feng Xiao replied in a similar gentle tone: "Surely 'having a high standard' aren't words that mean well. Are you trying to flatter me? Or provoke me? The Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau might not start killing people baselessly, but as members of the Demonic Sects, I need no reason to kill you."
Bing Xuan remained silent for a moment before she finally smiled.
"Since both of you put it that way, then I could only accept it and hope that both of you will solve the case quickly and grant me my innocence."
As she finished speaking, she turned around and walked back to the horse carriage step by step.
No one knew better how to act the best according to the course of their situation than the disciples of the Demonic Sects. Naturally, Bing Xuan knew about it and after realizing that she was at a disadvantage, she immediately took a step back. There wasn't even a need for a fight, because she knew that she would never be Feng Xiao's match.
Bing Xuan couldn't have thought that after the last time they met, when Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao were still fighting with open rivalry and veiled strife, now the situation has changed and they seemed to share a mutual synchronization.
Qin Miaoyu looked at Bing Xuan suddenly running out all of a sudden before obediently going back. How funny, she said in her heart, but stomached were to not laugh out loud.
Feng Xiao walked slowly back, leaping onto Cui Buqu's horse carriage before raising a thumb at the latter.
"That posture of Commander Feng just now truly was a spectacle. It's a pity that this humble one surnamed Cui didn't have a neck long enough to see it clearly, otherwise, I would have been able to engrave Commander Feng's elegance into my mind." Cui Buqu spoke with absolute honesty since, after all, it cost him nothing to say a few good words.
Feng Xiao raised a brow: "Are you trying to send me off with just one sentence?"
Cui Buqu: "Then how many more sentences do I have to say?"
Feng Xiao placed a hand on his forehead: "Ah, I'm not sure if I was exhausted just now. Suddenly, I feel a headache. I should rest a little earlier after I return. I should ask Pei Jingzhe and the others to look after the prisoner, but if Bing Xuan hears about it, she might take the chance to leave in the middle of the night. Then, I might not be able to stop it from happening."
He pretended to get off the horse carriage before a hand reached out to hold his sleeve, as expected.
Cui Buqu glared at him: "Commander Feng, don't go. We can talk."
Feng Xiao: "The wind just picked up. Feeling a headache. Can't walk."
Cui Buqu ground his teeth: "…I will massage it for you."
Feng Xiao innocently said: "Spoke too much. My mouth hurts."
As both of them looked at each other, Cui Buqu finally felt defeated. He leaned forward to cover Feng Xiao's lips.
Feng Xiao didn't move, his irises turning crystal clear like a young and tender innocent lamb who was forcibly attacked by an unfortunate devil he met.
Cui Buqu was driven into furious laughter, after tracing his lips for a moment, he bit down all of a sudden.
Feng Xiao squealed in pain and jerked backwards to cover his mouth and looked pitifully at him.
Cui Buqu wanted to say: Don't put up the act. There's no one here to watch.
At this time, Pei Jingzhe was talking outside. He happened to sweep the curtains apart from above his horse and peek his head inside.
"My Lord, it's late, the posthouse might not have prepared a meal. I should go ahead and order them to—"
His voice stopped as he looked stunned at Feng Xiao's dishevelled attire and swollen red lips, like a little white rabbit being mishandled. Cui Buqu's cold and glaring expression looked fierce, like a barbarian who forced himself onto the maiden of a good house.
Feng Xiao adjusted his clothes and replied: "En, go ahead."
For a moment Pei Jingzhe had an illusion of Feng Xiao having endured the greatest shame, his mind couldn't respond in time, yet his body had already taken action to execute Feng Xiao's orders and urged his horse to go forward. He'd probably still be thinking about it on the road.
Feng Xiao coquettishly told Cui Buqu: "Look at that~ It's all your fault even this little rascal knows about us now."
Cui Buqu gave him an expressionless face: "My apologies. You are too deliciously edible. For a moment, this humble one surnamed Cui was seduced."
Feng Xiao sighed: "I understand. The finest people will be coveted, will they not?"
Cui Buqu pondered over it for a moment. "Yes."
This "Yes" had many twists and turns, hard-earned and difficult, filled with the Zuoyue Commander's helpless plea of being forced to beg for the sake of the bigger picture.
Feng Xiao looked at him for a while and suddenly gave a light little chirp: "Alright. I'll not tease you anymore. I truly am a little bit tired. I'm lying down. Call me when we've arrived."
After he finished talking, he truly did lie down and closed his eyes, no longer creating mischief.
Cui Buqu recalled Feng Xiao's previous heavily wounded and agonal state, when he'd qi deviated and descended into a situation that seemed hopeless, and couldn't help furrowing his brows slightly.
Everyone had seen all of the Yandang Estate and seen a few dozen corpses. Additionally, they had their hands full with another confusing case and had endured cold wind along the way. They were all tired. Even when the horse carriage arrived in the posthouse, there was a soundless relief in their hearts when everyone saw bright lanterns hanging by its door.
The officials in the posthouse have been informed, and hence prepared hot water and meals. Blankets were prepared for everyone and as they were welcomed, they were also guided into the rear courtyard to rest.
But just as Cui Buqu arrived at the posthouse, the Zuoyue guards brought a letter to him.
It came from the capital. There was the Zuoyue Bureau's seal on it.
Zhangsun Bodhi knew that Cui Buqu was travelling, so he would be handling most of the official affairs. He wouldn't send a message on a quick horse unless he had encountered something difficult.
Cui Buqu knew clearly in his heart that if even Zhangsun found it difficult, it truly would be something incredibly urgent and troubling that he needed to know immediately.
He tore the letter open and there was only one line of characters on it.
Murder in the capital. If allowed, please return swiftly.
Another murder.
What murder would require the Vice Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau himself to write a letter?
Zhangsun's words had two important meanings to it.
The first: This case baffled even the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicature and Revision.
The second: Something about the case is fishy, it might involve the Zuoyue Bureau.
Cui Buqu furrowed his brows.
Not long later, Qin Miaoyu came over, bringing a half-filled bowl of Lotus Seed and Lily Bulbs soup.
"Master Cui, no poison is found in this soup."