Chapter 13: Moving Like a Phantom

A chaotic burst like a swarm of bees exploding.

“If you keep fighting, someone will get killed! Stop it—!” Xu Qi tried to intervene, but her calls to halt were easily drowned out.

The village woman was trapped in the center, utterly disheveled and desperate. Yet she didn’t just endure; she fought back fiercely, biting, pulling, using every means possible. Several young girls failed to hold her down, allowing her to slip through their grasp!

Instead of fleeing, the woman turned and grabbed a torch, charging straight toward the ancient tree. By the time everyone realized her intent, the torch had already struck the withered tree as if drawn by a magnet, thudding against its bark.

“Stop her! Quickly, stop her!” The sharp command came from Granny Chun, who had been watching coldly. Like a queen bee commanding her swarm, her voice cut through the chaos, prompting the girls to scream and rush the woman, knocking her to the ground.

A single torch was insignificant against the towering tree. Apart from singeing a few inches of dead branches, it failed to ignite even a spark. Before it could do any harm, someone kicked it away; it rolled into the grass and mud, sputtering out like the fading light in the madwoman’s eyes.

She ceased struggling, allowing the girls to pin her down and beat her.

Fortunately, the villagers came rushing upon hearing the commotion, shouting, “Officials are here! Stop this nonsense! Everyone, cease fighting!” They pulled the girls apart with many hands, finally saving the madwoman’s life just in time.

Shortly after, several men dressed in official uniforms arrived from outside the village, carrying lanterns. They quickly parted the crowd. The lead official cast a stern gaze over every disheveled woman before barking, “What is the cause of this disturbance?”

The crowd immediately blamed the madwoman, placing all the blame on her.

The inspecting officer glanced at the woman on the ground, clearly incoherent, and did not press further. After all, he had come because of a death in the village. The corpse lay nearby; he ordered the crowd to disperse and had them set up a temporary morgue once more while midwives stepped forward to examine the body.

“She hanged herself.”

Xu Qi spoke up. The officer scowled, eyeing her as she stood among the young women. Mistaking her for a wealthy family’s daughter, he sneered arrogantly, “Is there any need for your input here?”

“She is correct.” The crowd parted again to make way for a newcomer.

A man strode forward with measured steps and flashed a government badge. The officer instantly dropped to his knees, and those behind him followed suit, bowing deeply. When the official kneels, the common folk must kneel too—a wave of them fell in unison. Only Xu Qi remained standing.

Not only standing, but she also shot a reproachful glance at Tan Jiuding: Why have you only just arrived?

The man smiled at her and quickly glanced at the madwoman lying on the ground, panting and motionless, before ordering everyone to rise. The officer bowed again, now extremely deferential.

“I have been dispatched by the esteemed prefecture to conduct this investigation. I apologize for not welcoming Your Excellency sooner. Please forgive my neglect.”

Tan Jiuding returned the salute with folded hands. “Your diligent service to the Crown requires no such formality. Proceed with the examination.”

This was all official protocol.

He consented, allowing the clerks and midwives to begin their work.

“Has the prefecture issued any instructions regarding this case?”

“This woman indeed died by hanging. Once the report is completed, her family may take her away. Leaving the body in the wild for too long is improper.”

“Understood.” The inspecting officer received the order. Thinking quickly, he smiled and asked, “May I inquire where Your Excellency will be lodging tonight? If you have not yet decided, perhaps I might—”

“No need.” Tan Jiuding raised a hand, dismissing the suggestion and creating distance between them. “I have my own arrangements. Once your tasks are complete, you may stand down.”

“Ah, yes, I understand.” The officer had no choice but to withdraw with a furtive glance at Tan Jiuding, then slink away to oversee his subordinates.

Tan Jiuding turned and instructed some strong young villagers to carry the injured madwoman back to the village, ordering them to fetch a doctor and ensure she is well cared for. After dispersing the others, including Granny Chun, he finally approached Xu Qi.

“Tell me what you have discovered.” She seemed displeased by his tardy arrival.

Tan Jiuding chuckled and produced an embroidered needle, recounting what he had just seen—but notably omitted mention of the five-colored brocade.

Xu Qi looked at the needle as if it were the very incarnation of Zhou Zhiwei herself, her face a blend of joy and horror, her expression shifting wildly. “This is a needle commonly used in Suzhou embroidery. She has been here—she must have been here… Wait.” Xu Qi suddenly sensed something amiss. She glanced around, noticing that a certain person had vanished, and questioned, “Then why did you let Granny Chun go? She’s highly suspicious!”

“It’s just a needle. She could claim it’s hers or that she found it.”

“As long as we employ some tactics, she won’t hold her tongue.”

“Heh, you’re even more ruthless than I am.” Tan Jiuding’s lips curled into a small smile. He didn’t mind Xu Qi revealing such venomous intent. To him, cruel resolve was kinder than useless mercy.

“No need to rush,” he said, folding his hands calmly. “Cast a long line to catch a big fish. She doesn’t yet know we have uncovered anything. As long as we keep her under close watch, she will slip up. If we act hastily, she might become the next Zhao Qingming or Liu.”

Xu Qi was troubled. Since Zhiwei was missing, she had surely been moved elsewhere. Every moment’s delay increased the risk. Yet the deaths of the Zhao siblings were a hard lesson.

If the lead from Granny Chun were severed, then they would truly be at a dead end.

“…Very well,” she agreed reluctantly, gently caressing the embroidered needle as if it were a treasure. “I’ll listen to you.”

Tan Jiuding then asked about the earlier chaos, and she recounted everything in detail. Together, they considered the madwoman’s movements, which Xu Qi found unsurprising.

“You may not be from Suzhou, so you might not realize that although the nearby mountains do not appear perilous, they have abundant and active underground rivers. Numerous caves of varying sizes dot the area, often interconnected like a labyrinth. Perhaps that madwoman, Gui Niang, knew of some secret shortcut, which is why she could descend from the mountaintop to the foothills so swiftly, moving like a ghost.”

“I see.”

Tan Jiuding stroked his chin, feeling much more at ease. Compared to ghosts and spirits, he much preferred such rational explanations.

“Trouble—!” Suddenly, a villager came running in haste from the village, his face filled with panic as he approached them.

The two exchanged looks, fearing something had happened to mad Gui Niang. Yet the villager waved his hands, denying that, though he hesitated and seemed unable to explain clearly.

“Speak frankly,” Tan Jiuding adopted an official tone, commanding with authority.

Frightened, the villager fell to his knees and babbled incoherently: “Please forgive me, sir. Actually, there are ghosts in the village!”

“Nonsense,” Xu Qi was the most unwilling to believe such talk. “What exactly happened?”

“The dowry of the deceased A Chun is missing! According to custom, no one in the village would touch such an ill-omened object. But if it’s an outsider… There is only one road into the village! No other outsiders could have come!” The villager pointed despairingly toward the ancient tree.

Above, the moon was hidden, and the wild path outside the village stretched dark and unfathomable, winding like a tentacle concealed within dense foliage, extending endlessly into an abyss no one could see the end of.