Volume One: Wandering Beyond the Leaves; Chapter Ninety-Five: The Magistrate of the Dead

A message of thanks to a friend for advancing in rank, and another for generous support.

Gu Qinghan was drenched from head to toe, as though she had just climbed out of water. Her whole body burned hot, her feminine fragrance spilling forth. She was already a mature married woman, long deprived of pleasure; even without the intoxicating incense, her body was extremely sensitive. Now that the scent had invaded her, it was nearly impossible to endure.

The incense was overwhelmingly potent, able to turn a man of iron into a libertine and a chaste woman into a wanton one. Once the mind was lost, only desire remained.

At first Gu Qinghan still retained a little clarity, but when Yang Ning came close to cover her mouth and nose, the scent on his body only intensified the drug’s effects.

Neither of them knew that once this incense entered the body, catching the scent of the opposite sex would worsen its power. Yang Ning had earlier caught the natural fragrance on Gu Qinghan’s body and nearly lost control; now that his own scent entered her nostrils, her reason was swiftly erased.

Human desire is the hardest thing to master. When Yang Ning had just held her, she had only felt delight; now that he had pushed her away, her whole body was aflame and unbearably restless, her mind hazy with only one thought: to feel again the comfort of being held in a man’s arms.

Yang Ning carved with the cold blade into the wall. As expected of a divine weapon of the highest grade, it sank easily into the stone, leaving behind a deep gash wherever it passed.

Delighted, he endured the burning heat in his body and did his best not to listen to the soft moans drifting from Gu Qinghan’s side, carefully chiseling stones loose from the wall.

Now and then the barking of hounds sounded from outside, but Yang Ning paid it no mind. In just a short while he had already cut out several stones, making a hollow. At this rate, it would not be long before a hole could be made.

Then suddenly he felt a hand tighten around his leg. Startled, he looked down, and at once a wave of fragrance struck him full in the face. A hot, soft body had already pressed weakly against his side, and the rich scent from Gu Qinghan surged toward him. It was the unique fragrance of a mature woman, soul-stealing and bone-eroding, making Yang Ning, already struggling with desire, shiver all over, almost unable to resist gathering her into his arms at once.

In a tender, seductive voice, Gu Qinghan murmured, “Hold me... hold me...” Her arm slid up to hook around Yang Ning’s neck, her breathing rapid, while her other hand reached to his face.

Yang Ning’s throat worked; sweat poured down like rain. He was already suffering terribly, and now that Gu Qinghan’s voluptuous, supple body pressed tight against him, his self-control grew even more precarious. His mind blurred, wanting only to embrace that warm softness and press her down beneath him. Yet another voice rang out within him: Yang Ning, Yang Ning, she is already under a charm poison. Instead of saving her and getting out quickly, you still harbor lewd thoughts and want to take advantage of her in her helplessness. How is that any different from an animal?

He also knew that Gu Qinghan was likely suffering even more than he was. If this continued, so long as his own mind wavered, with such an alluring woman beside him, he would surely be unable to restrain himself. Forcing down the impulse to pin Gu Qinghan to the ground, he whispered, “Mistress, forgive me!”

He struck the back of Gu Qinghan’s head with the edge of his palm. Her body immediately went limp and still; he had knocked her unconscious.

He knew the vulnerable points of the human body well and was skilled in combat, so rendering someone unconscious was no difficult feat.

First he put away the blade. Then, thinking that Gu Qinghan was right beside him, and that even if she did not move he might still not be able to endure it, he decided to carry her aside and put some distance between them. With both arms he lifted her and set her down farther away. Even as he lowered her, his body stirred again, but he gritted his teeth and held out, turning back with the blade in hand to continue chiseling at the wall.

At that moment, a voice came from outside. “Who is that? Go and take a look. Is the magistrate judge here?”

Yang Ning heard clearly and knew someone outside had discovered an arrival. Hearing the word magistrate judge, he felt puzzled. Could the enemy be called the magistrate judge? And who exactly was this person?

Not long after, there was shouting outside, followed by a report: “It’s not the magistrate judge. It’s... it’s a madman. We can’t catch him. He’s very fast.”

“A madman?” A low voice sneered. “Even a madman can’t be caught? This place is so remote. If the magistrate judge hasn’t come, who else would come here? Chase him, and if it is one of the men brought by that brat Qi Ning, leave no survivors.”

Yang Ning thought to himself: They say that madman runs very fast. Could it be that ugly fellow followed us here?

Hearing that they intended to leave no one alive, he inwardly shuddered. These people were ruthless beyond measure; the ugly man had nothing whatsoever to do with this matter, yet they were still prepared to kill him. Then he thought that if it really was the ugly man, his footwork was incredibly swift, and these people might not even be able to catch him.

He paid the rest no attention and returned to the wall to keep chiseling. Not long afterward, he heard another voice outside: “That fellow has vanished. It’s too dark to see clearly, and we don’t know where he went.”

By now Yang Ning only felt his head grow dizzy and heavy. He knew the drug’s power was becoming stronger and quickened his pace. Suddenly he felt his hand ease; the cold blade had already passed through the wall. Overjoyed, he turned his wrist and carved a hole in the wall large enough for a fist. Hearing the continuous sound of flowing water, he knew the Red Sand River lay only five or six steps beyond the back side.

He hastened his work, cutting carefully around the edge of the opening and catching the stones in his hands to keep the noise down. The other side clearly had not expected Yang Ning to possess such a divine weapon as this blade, capable of breaking through a wall. No one was guarding the rear of the house. After a short time, the wall had been opened into a hole large enough for a person to enter and leave through. A breath of fresh air drifted in from the opening, and Yang Ning drew in a deep breath, though the burning heat in his body had not lessened at all.

He smoothed the edges a little so Gu Qinghan would not be cut by the rough stone when she went out. Just then he heard a voice from outside: “The magistrate judge has arrived!”

Yang Ning’s brow tightened. He put away the blade, went over and lifted Gu Qinghan. She was still unconscious. Reaching the opening, he heard a voice from beyond the door ask, “How is the situation inside? Has the intoxicating incense been released yet?” The voice was also rather deep. Yang Ning heard it and a chill immediately flashed in his eyes, for he recognized it at once: it was the voice of Steward Zhao from the old residence.

“It has already been released for a little over half an hour,” someone replied. “Magistrate judge, shall we go in and take a look?”

Yang Ning wondered why Zhao Yuan was being called the magistrate judge. What exactly were these people?

“No need to rush,” Zhao Yuan said in his usual calm tone. Then he called inward, “Your Grace, is this not a fine place? We searched everywhere for the Third Lady, yet you too disappeared without a trace. Everyone in the old residence has been terribly anxious. Fortunately, the old residence has two well-trained hounds that can identify scents, and they led us all the way here.”

Yang Ning was even more astonished. Zhao Yuan’s words were far too strange, hiding something deeper. He gave no answer.

“Magistrate judge, there’s no sound inside. Shall we go in and take a look?” the low voice from before said again. “Could something have happened inside?” This man seemed quite alert.

Naturally Yang Ning could not allow them in at this moment. He deliberately raised his voice and said, “Who exactly are you people? Why have you trapped me here?”

At Yang Ning’s voice, Zhao Yuan laughed and said, “It is enough that Your Grace is unharmed. Rest assured, Qi Cheng will bring people over at once. Very soon, many will come to see you. But Your Grace and the Third Lady, ignoring the reputation of the Qi family, actually ran to a place like this to couple in secret. When they arrive and see the two of you committing such shameful acts here, violating heaven and human morality, I wonder what they will think.”

Yang Ning’s body shook. In an instant he understood the purpose of this elaborate trap: they intended to stage an adultery scandal.

“Zhao Yuan, so this was all your design after all,” Yang Ning said coldly.

Zhao Yuan laughed. “It seems Your Grace has already guessed who I am. I once heard that the brocade-clad prince was a foolish ignoramus. It seems the truth is not quite so. You may not be terribly clever, but you are not an idiot either. Today in the hall, when you suddenly drew your blade, I thought you had discovered something. Only later did I realize that you also understand the meaning of probing.”

“Something about the old residence was indeed strange,” Yang Ning said. “That so-called Chief Steward Qi Cheng was naturally not the real Qi Cheng. Since you were controlling the old residence, you must have been plotting some major conspiracy. I drew my blade only to see what reaction you would have. When Qi Cheng appeared, I knew you were all acting together, and that the entire old residence was already under your control.”

As he spoke, he took off the clothes on his body, helped Gu Qinghan upright, and wrapped the garments around her. Earlier, in her unbearable heat, she had torn at her own clothes so that they were now in disarray, with much of her pale skin exposed. He naturally could not take her out like that.

“You are even sharper than I imagined,” Zhao Yuan said. “You have stayed so calm. Could it be that you suspected from the start that the letter was our doing?”

Yang Ning said, “I could not be certain, but I did suspect some of it.”

“In that case, why come here knowing it was a trap?” Zhao Yuan asked with a smile. “Surely you did not already foresee that we would create such an opportunity for you to enjoy the company of a beauty like the Third Lady?”

“With the Third Lady in your hands, of course I had to make sure she was safe first. And if one does not enter the tiger’s den, how can one catch the tiger cub? I came precisely to see what tricks you were trying to play.” Yang Ning finished wrapping Gu Qinghan’s clothes around her, then put away the blade. He first placed Gu Qinghan by the opening, then tried crawling through himself. It was wide enough for him to get out with ease.

“Not entering the tiger’s den, how can one catch the tiger cub? An interesting saying,” Zhao Yuan said. “But even if you now know what we intend to do, you are powerless. They must already have told you that the intoxicating incense is tremendously potent. If the two of you do not couple soon, then you will only die here.”

“You use such filthy, shameless means and think you can still succeed?” Yang Ning poked his head into the opening and said coldly toward the door, “Even if I die here, I will not let you have your way.” He thought to himself: I am about to get out. When I do, I’ll settle accounts with each of you one by one. Whoever has wronged me will pay, and I will not let a single one of you escape.

Zhao Yuan laughed heartily. “Whether you live or die, the disgrace of your secret tryst here cannot be concealed. If you truly die, then when they arrive and see the two of you naked inside, with no wounds on your bodies, even the finest physician will not discover that you were poisoned by the intoxicating incense. By then, everyone will only think you died from excessive coupling.”