The sky darkened, rows of flower lanterns hung up, their flickering lights making Tonglin County blend beautifully with the night sky, though the county was bustling with crowds, far noisier and livelier than the heavens above.
“So lively!” Liu Qingyan exclaimed.
“So pretty!” Liu Qingquan pointed at a large lantern in the town centre. “Is that Sister Shen?”
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan followed Liu Qingquan’s finger and saw a lantern, three people tall, floating in the centre of the county, shaped like a woman.
The lantern depicted a woman whose clothes matched the statue of the Peach Blossom Fairy in the Peach Blossom Temple exactly. The craftsmanship of the ancients was remarkable; the lantern’s face was not flat but woven from bamboo strips into a three-dimensional figure, exuding the same graceful and serene aura as the Peach Blossom Fairy in the temple.
…
The daytime market was unremarkable, much like an enhanced Qiqiao Festival. Lu Zheng accompanied the Liu sisters to the market, watched some street performances, bought a few items, and joined in observing the City God Temple’s blessing ceremony. However, with the overwhelming crowds, they did not push forward to burn incense or pray.
In the evening, they returned home for dinner, only to be dragged out again by an excited Liu Qingquan.
…
Tonglin County, adorned with flower lanterns, had a distinct charm at night compared to the day. Though just a county, the common folk seized the rare festivals to rest. Every shop hung unique lanterns, and many held small contests to win lanterns or prizes.
Lu Zheng looked around. While there were lantern riddle games, they were not the main attraction, listed alongside activities like arrow-throwing, ring-tossing, stilt-walking, and tug-of-war.
Lu Zheng was also seeking a chance to recite his prepared masterpiece, but although some shops offered poetry-writing contests with rewards, these did not interest the Liu sisters, who never joined in.
What they were interested in was…
“Brother Lu is amazing!” Lu Zheng won a sugar figurine for Liu Qingquan through arrow-throwing.
“Thank you, Lu!” Lu Zheng won a storybook for Liu Qingyan by solving a riddle.
Lu Zheng blinked, pointing at a nearby calligraphy shop. “Would you like a piece of calligraphy to hang in Renxin Hall?”
Liu Qingyan glanced over, shook her head. “It’s not as good as your calligraphy. Better to buy a blank scroll and have you write something.”
Lu Zheng stroked his chin, recalling that the only calligraphy he had shown was the running script of the “Peach Blossom” inscription at the Peach Blossom Temple.
“Alright!” Lu Zheng clapped his left palm with his right fist. “We’ll buy a blank scroll, and I’ll bathe, burn incense, focus my mind, and create a stunning piece of calligraphy!”
Liu Qingyan smiled gently, tugged Liu Qingquan, and they walked off with Lu Zheng.
…
Before reaching the calligraphy shop, they spotted Constable Liu with two officers weaving through the crowd, looking around.
When Constable Liu saw Lu Zheng, his eyes lit up. He pushed past a few bystanders and approached quickly.
“Young Master Lu!”
“Constable Liu.” Lu Zheng bowed. “Is something wrong?”
Constable Liu nodded repeatedly. “Some citizens reported a missing child. We thought it was just a child playing and not yet home, but three more families reported the same. I sensed something was off and brought men to search the streets.”
“And you’re looking for me because…” Lu Zheng had a hunch.
Constable Liu grinned sheepishly, bowing repeatedly. “I didn’t mean to trouble you, but since we’ve met, the ‘Five Talisman Method’ of Baiyun Temple is renowned. Please, show some kindness and lend a hand.”
Lu Zheng frowned. “How many families?”
Constable Liu replied instantly, “Four!”
Just then, an officer ran up. “Sir! Sir! Two more families reported missing children!”
Constable Liu turned. “Six!”
At this rate…
If the children hadn’t wandered off themselves, it was either a well-organised gang or a skilled cultivator.
And abducting children…
Lu Zheng took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening, then looked apologetically at Liu Qingyan. She nodded seriously. “Business comes first. Qingquan and I will head home.”
Lu Zheng nodded, turning to Constable Liu. “It’s too crowded. Send two men to escort them home safely, then take me to the home of the most recently reported missing child.”
“Right, right!” Constable Liu turned. “Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, escort the Liu sisters home! Make sure they get there safely!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Lu Zheng, who had just steeled himself, nearly choked, eyeing the two officers closely. They looked ordinary, in their thirties, with no air of martial arts masters, so he relaxed.
The Liu sisters left under Zhang Long and Zhao Hu’s escort. Constable Liu led Lu Zheng through a side alley, winding around to a courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, a few anxious elderly people were looking around.
“The child’s parents are already out searching,” Constable Liu mentioned to Lu Zheng, then waved his officers forward. “Go find a piece of the child’s clothing or a toy.”
The officers led the elders back into the courtyard and soon returned with a rattle drum.
Lu Zheng took the rattle, pulled out a Qi-Seeking Talisman, channelled his inner energy, and formed hand seals.
“By the Supreme Command, seek the Qi, swiftly!”
The talisman drew a trace of energy from the rattle, absorbing it.
But… it found no source?
Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered. As expected, this was the work of a cultivator!
When he heard six families had lost children in one night, he had suspected as much, and this confirmed it.
Abducting children, whether for profit or evil sacrifices, was the work of vile cultivators, a disgrace to the cultivation world. Since Lu Zheng had encountered this, he would intervene, cleanse the cultivation world, and perhaps earn some luck.
But the Qi-Seeking Talisman’s failure made him wary.
The opponent had some skill, either a unique secret technique or profound cultivation.
Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered. He put away the talisman and formed new hand seals.
“By the Supreme Command, observe the Qi, seek the breath, swiftly!”
Using the Qi-Observation Technique, Lu Zheng faintly sensed a matching energy from the rattle in the western part of the city.
Seeing Lu Zheng cast the spell, Constable Liu was stunned, his respect deepening.
After a moment, Lu Zheng said, “I’ve found the place, but the opponent is a cultivator, likely strong. I’ll go home to grab some things, then we’ll head there.”
“Alright, whatever you say!”
…
Back home, without disturbing the Liu sisters, Lu Zheng grabbed two embroidered spring swords, packed enough Cold-Condensing Talismans, and set off with the rattle, heading west through the alleys.
Soon, they reached the Tonglai Inn in the west of the city.
The inn was brightly lit, bustling with people.
Lu Zheng stood across the street from the inn, Constable Liu at his side, with several officers behind.
“In the inn?” Constable Liu blinked, bewildered.
“No way. We checked here already and didn’t see those kids.”
“And kids are so noticeable. How could they not be spotted in an inn?”
“It’s full of people!”
The officers exchanged glances, but Constable Liu seemed to realise something, his eyes flashing with relief as he looked at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng frowned. If they were in the inn, would it be tricky to act openly?
His eyes flickered, and he turned. “Constable Liu, don’t alert them yet. You and I will scout quietly, so we don’t tip off the culprit.”
Constable Liu nodded. “Got it!”
Lu Zheng handed his swords to an officer, crossed the street, and Constable Liu followed.
At the entrance, Lu Zheng slowed slightly, falling a step behind Constable Liu.
Constable Liu caught his glance, understood, and took the lead, entering the inn.
The inn was lively, filled mostly with out-of-town merchants. Doing business during the Lantern Festival was tough, so they treated themselves with dishes and wine.
Seeing Constable Liu, the crowd looked over curiously. Some nervous ones wondered if a case had occurred at the inn.
The lively hall fell silent.
The innkeeper, Mr. Lu, saw Constable Liu and hurried over, smiling before he spoke. “Good to see you, Constable Liu! What brings you here during the festival? No trouble at our inn, I hope?”
Constable Liu nodded sternly. “Nothing major. It’s the festival, so I’ve got my men patrolling. I was passing by and thought I’d stop in to check.”
“Phew!”
The hall came back to life.
Mr. Lu smiled. “You work hard, patrolling even during the festival to keep us safe.”
He led Constable Liu and Lu Zheng, who seemed like a junior, to a table. “Have a seat. I’ll get you some dishes and wine before you get back to work.”
Lu Zheng glanced at Constable Liu, who looked sheepish but sat down, playing the part.
Lu Zheng scanned the crowd in the hall, then looked toward the back courtyard, quietly asking Mr. Lu, “Innkeeper, is there a place to relieve oneself in the back?”
Mr. Lu nodded. “Yes, yes! There’s a latrine by the stables in the back, where we keep miscellaneous items and guests’ goods.”
Lu Zheng nodded, then said to Constable Liu, “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
Seeing Constable Liu settle in, Lu Zheng walked through the hall, calmly heading to the back courtyard entrance.
Lifting the half-hung curtain, he turned down a zigzag corridor, pushed open a wooden door, and felt the chill of early spring.
The sounds of wind, donkeys, horses, chickens, and ducks filled his ears.
Looking around, the courtyard held several carts in the centre, with baskets, poles, and wheelbarrows against the walls.
There were also wooden cages, some with chickens and ducks, others with cats and dogs.
Lu Zheng blinked, then found the latrine at the back of the courtyard.
“Good grief!”
As he entered, Lu Zheng’s face twisted. His nose felt assaulted a thousand times over. Holding his breath, he frowned and turned to leave.
