Chapter 184 I Want to Know, Where Is That Fox Spirit…

Chapter 184: I Must Know About That Fox Demon...

Their gazes met, each subtly assessing the other.

Suddenly, a hand reached out, obscuring Bai Xiuming’s vision. A Chan’s fingers touched his face, turning it back towards her. “I’m talking to you. Did you hear me?” she grumbled.

“Hmm?” Bai Xiuming withdrew his gaze, no longer focusing on the distant figure. He grasped A Chan’s hand, lowering his head to ask, “What did you say?”

“I said, take me back to Changping Lane first later.”

He squeezed her fingers. “So eager to elope with someone else?”

A Chan’s lips curved into a smirk. “Lord Bai, don’t be so petty. You’re the newcomer here. Remember to be polite to Hui Niang in the future.”

Bai Xiuming snorted, spurred his horse, and the steed trotted briskly towards the city gates.

Bai Zhanhuang watched their retreating figures until they vanished into the city gate, ignoring even Mu Lin’s attempts to speak with him.

Mu Lin, sensing the King’s distraction, wisely found an excuse and took his leave.

Once alone, Bai Zhanhuang turned and returned to his carriage. The coachman respectfully asked, “Your Highness, shall we continue waiting here?”

Bai Zhanhuang did not reply. He stepped into the spacious carriage, swept a hand over the storage pouch at his waist, and the Earth Spirit Scroll appeared before him.

The Earth Spirit Scroll turned its pages without a breeze, stopping at the one bearing A Chan’s name, the characters still a vibrant, luminous red.

Bai Zhanhuang gazed at the name for a moment before picking up a small dagger, barely a palm’s length. He placed his left palm over the blade and gripped it tightly.

Blood dripped from between his fingers onto his robe, yet Bai Zhanhuang calmly spread his hand, revealing a deep gash across his left palm, bleeding profusely.

He half-clenched his left hand into a fist and placed it on the golden page of the Earth Spirit Scroll. Blood fell onto A Chan’s name, and the red characters detached from the page, floating upwards.

But beneath the floating name, a blood-red thread connected it to the page. The two characters, initially almost perpendicular to the thread, began to slowly drift northeastward at a visible pace—precisely the direction of the city entrance.

He had marked A Chan’s name with his own blood, using himself as a starting point to track her whereabouts.

The Earth Spirit Scroll showed that just moments ago, he and A Chan had crossed paths. He had remained, while A Chan had entered the city.

Bai Zhanhuang closed the Earth Spirit Scroll, and the floating characters instantly vanished.

“Return to the city,” Bai Zhanhuang commanded. The coachman, receiving his order, dared not delay and immediately drove towards the city gate.

Bai Zhanhuang leaned back in the spacious seat, reaching into a hidden compartment in the carriage for a bottle of golden wound medicine. He poured a layer of powder onto his palm, then took out a handkerchief and casually bandaged the wound.

No sooner had the carriage entered the city than a graceful figure abruptly appeared inside. The newcomer knelt, her voice clear and melodious, her posture respectful. “Your Highness, the matter you tasked your subordinate with has yielded results.”

“Sit first.”

Only after Bai Zhanhuang spoke did the woman straighten and sit on the empty seat beside him.

“Tell me, what have you found?” Bai Zhanhuang raised his eyes to her.

Huang Wu lowered her gaze, not daring to meet the King of Northern Wilderness’s eyes. “Your subordinate discovered that Miss A Chan likely arrived in the capital around last year’s Lantern Festival. On the night of the festival, thunder suddenly roared continuously, and Bai Xiuming led men from the Bright Mirror Bureau to Anping Lane.”

“Continue.”

Huang Wu took a deep breath. “Rumor has it that a great demon entered the city that day but died of severe injuries in Anping Lane. Your subordinate bribed a centurion from the Bright Mirror Bureau and learned from him that at the scene where the great demon was found, there was also a woman present. Bai Xiuming took that woman back to the Bright Mirror Bureau, detained her for several days, and then released her.”

“Who was that woman?”

“That woman’s name is Ji Chan. She was originally the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jinyang, but was later disowned due to mixed heritage.”

“Ji Chan, Ji Chan.” Bai Zhanhuang repeated the name, looking at his bandaged left hand, a faint, soft laugh escaping his throat. “A Chan truly knows how to hide.”

Hiding within another’s body—no wonder no one had discovered her.

Seeing her lord preoccupied with A Chan, Huang Wu hesitated for a moment before speaking. “There’s one more thing.”

“Speak.”

Huang Wu could only steel herself and say, “Your subordinate also found that the estate where the Dowager Consort was murdered belongs to Ji Chan.”

Bai Zhanhuang showed no surprise on his face, merely saying, “Anything else?”

“Also, on the night Huang Lin disappeared, a dragon’s roar was heard in Changping Lane, and Ji Chan happened to open a perfume shop there.”

These two clues, combined with the King’s judgment of her identity, clearly indicated that this Ji Chan was none other than the fox demon A Chan, whom she and Huang Lin had once hunted.

Huang Wu’s heart was exceptionally complex. During this period, with the Emperor watching closely, the King dared not act rashly, only allowing them to privately investigate the circumstances surrounding the Dowager Consort’s death.

Who knew that their investigation would lead them directly to Miss A Chan.

If their suspicions were correct, the Dowager Consort’s death was clearly a conspiracy specifically targeting her.

The other party had not only plotted against Huang Lin but also caused the Dowager Consort’s tragic death, annihilated the Zhao clan, and made the Northern Wilderness King’s Residence pay a heavy price.

Such methods revealed the depth of Miss A Chan’s resentment, which would likely be difficult to assuage.

Bai Zhanhuang chuckled softly, as if indifferent to his mother’s death. “My mother wanted her life, so she took my mother’s life. She truly holds grudges as always.”

Huang Wu dared not speak.

As one of the culprits who had once driven A Chan to desperation, she knew full well that if she hadn’t merely been the Dowager Consort’s tool, and a Fourth Realm cultivator painstakingly trained by the Northern Wilderness King’s Residence, the King would never have spared her.

The shallow mother-son affection between the Dowager Consort and the King had long been consumed by A Chan. Only the Dowager Consort still believed that by retrieving the items from the Zhao family’s secret vault, she could mend her relationship with the King.

Among the old King’s many children, their current King appeared the most humble and courteous, and because of his youth, he had never been taken seriously by his elder brothers.

Yet, in the end, it was he who ascended to the throne of the Northern Wilderness King, stepping over the bones of his own kin.

Blood ties, in the King’s eyes, were probably far less important than Miss A Chan, who had captured his heart. Huang Wu also regretted that if she had seen this earlier, things would not have come to this.

“Your Highness, now that Miss A Chan’s identity has been confirmed, should you… meet her?” Huang Wu tentatively asked.

“No, not yet.”

Bai Zhanhuang lifted the curtain of the carriage window, looking out. The streets were bustling with people, and vendors enthusiastically hawked their wares.

His hand suddenly clenched, but his voice was extremely soft. “The capital is truly prosperous; it’s easy for one to get lost here.”

Huang Wu held her breath, unsure whom the King was referring to. She had no time to think further, only waiting for the King’s next command.

“Go investigate Bai Xiuming. I want to know his likes and dislikes, his weaknesses, and his relationship with… Ji Chan.”

“Yes, your subordinate will investigate immediately.”

Huang Wu’s figure vanished from the carriage, but Bai Zhanhuang’s gaze remained fixed outside.

His left hand, which had just stopped bleeding, began to bleed again from the sudden exertion, staining the handkerchief tied around it crimson, yet he seemed completely unaware.

In Changping Lane, Chen Hui was minding her shop as usual when she suddenly heard the sound of hooves outside. She had just stood up when A Chan darted in like a nimble little sparrow. “Hui Niang, I’m back~”

A smile spread across Chen Hui’s face as she stepped out from behind the counter, examining A Chan from head to toe.

She seemed a bit thinner, but her complexion was rosy and her spirits high—clearly, Bai Xiuming had taken good care of her.

Yet, a hint of allure unconsciously lingered in the corners of her eyes and brows, making her even more captivating, which made Chen Hui clench her jaw.

As someone who had been through it all, she knew exactly what had happened.

When she saw Bai Xiuming follow A Chan inside, Chen Hui’s gaze towards him was sharp.

A Chan, completely oblivious to Chen Hui’s complex emotions, was still sharing her travel experiences. After a few words, she turned and saw Bai Xiuming, then quickly added, “Hui Niang, Hui Xue also asked me to bring you a gift, and I bought you many gifts on the way back too.”

She beckoned to Bai Xiuming, “Quickly, take the things out.”

Before Bai Xiuming could speak, Chen Hui interrupted, “No rush. Take Lord Bai to your room to get your luggage. I’ll make you something to eat. Are you hungry?”

A Chan answered without hesitation, “Famished.”

Having been away from the capital for nearly two months, she had missed Hui Niang’s cooking every day. Next time she traveled, she vowed to bring Hui Niang along.

Chen Hui closed the shop door and went to the kitchen to make a meal of dumplings for A Chan. While boiling water, she saw Bai Xiuming emerge from A Chan’s room and walk towards the well.

“Lord Bai,” Chen Hui called out to him.

Bai Xiuming stopped and turned. “Is something wrong?”

Chen Hui paused briefly before saying, “A Chan is uninhibited in matters of the heart, but Lord Bai cannot pretend nothing happened.”

“Thank you for the reminder. I will discuss this privately with A Chan.”

Chen Hui nodded. Although she found Bai Xiuming’s conduct too unconventional, at least she believed he wouldn’t lie to her about such a matter.

Little did she know, this matter truly couldn’t be blamed on Bai Xiuming.

In fact, on their way back, he had mentioned coming to propose marriage once they returned to the capital. At the time, A Chan had avoided the topic and never brought it up again.

Between the two of them, the one eager for commitment was actually him.

A Chan was unaware of their conversation. After organizing the things she had brought back and freshening up, she emerged just in time to eat the dumplings Chen Hui had prepared.

Despite her displeasure with Bai Xiuming, Chen Hui still maintained her manners, allowing him to eat a meal of dumplings before seeing him off.

After returning home, A Chan acted like an ungrateful imp, refusing to step out of the door, merely waving at him from the entrance. “Safe travels, Lord Bai.”

Bai Xiuming gave her a wry smile that sent a chill down A Chan’s neck, making her quickly retreat, not daring to provoke him further.

After leaving Changping Lane, Bai Xiuming did not go to the King Ming’s Residence but first went to the Bright Mirror Bureau.

At the Bright Mirror Bureau, he first met with Qin Heng to review the recent cases handled by the bureau, then summoned Feng Yang and Jiang Kai.

Upon seeing Bai Xiuming, both stepped forward to salute, their expressions somewhat excited.

“My lord, you’ve finally returned,” Jiang Kai complained bitterly. “Commander Qin treats us like we’re not even human.”

Before leaving, Bai Xiuming had entrusted his two subordinates to Qin Heng, saying that Qin Heng could assign them any task.

While other government offices were rife with infighting and mutual suspicion, Qin Heng of their Bright Mirror Bureau seemed eager to dump all tasks on them.

They received a captain’s salary but did a commander’s work, spending every day either handling cases or on their way to handle cases, nearly working themselves to death.

“If you utter another word of nonsense, I’ll package you up and send you to the Commander,” Bai Xiuming said flatly.

Jiang Kai shuddered and quickly changed the subject. “My lord, as per your instructions before you left, we’ve leaked some information. Shortly after the King of Northern Wilderness arrived in the capital, someone began seeking connections within the Bright Mirror Bureau. Today, our people finally released the information to them.”

“What information did they buy?”

“That person bought information related to the murder of the Northern Wilderness King’s Dowager Consort. She specifically inquired about the location of the Dowager Consort’s death and the owner of the estate. We did not conceal anything.”

Then Jiang Kai added, “She also inquired about Huang Lin, but we didn’t say much, only telling her that Huang Lin disappeared in Changping Lane.”

“Only this?”

“There’s more.” Jiang Kai hesitated before adding, “The other party also inquired about the fox demon that broke into the city on the Lantern Festival night last year. We truthfully recounted everything that happened that night to that person.”

Bai Xiuming raised his eyes. “Fox demon?”

“Yes.”

“The origin of that fox demon seems to have remained untraceable?”

“Your subordinates are incompetent,” Jiang Kai and Feng Yang admitted directly without offering excuses.

“Then investigate the Northern Wilderness King’s Residence. I must know what connection that fox demon has with the King of Northern Wilderness, and why it appeared in the capital.”

“Yes.” After acknowledging, Jiang Kai left first.

Feng Yang lingered behind, hesitating for a long while before saying, “My lord, Miss Ji seems to be involved in all the pieces of information we sold.”

Before, it seemed like a mere coincidence, as they were unrelated matters.

But now, someone had brought the fox demon case from a year ago and the Dowager Consort’s case before them together, making the situation suddenly subtle. He still remembered that his lord had always suspected Miss Ji’s identity.

Bai Xiuming did not respond to Feng Yang. He lowered his eyes, appearing to have fallen asleep. Seeing this, Feng Yang quietly withdrew without another word.

After Feng Yang left, Bai Xiuming opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged case files on the desk. He casually picked up a file but did not open it.

He allowed the complex thoughts to fill his mind: the King of Northern Wilderness, the fox demon, the deceased Dowager Consort, and… A Chan.