Chapter Forty-Nine: Unexpected Discovery (Part Two)

At this very moment, the Xiao residence was thoroughly prepared; as soon as one turned from the rear garden, one could see banquet tables filling the entire main hall. The lavish decorations, festooned with lights and ribbons, might have led an outsider to believe the Spring Festival was near or that Master Xiao Liang was celebrating a grand birthday. Amidst all this splendor, a slightly aged figure appeared before Xiao Kang.

He respectfully clasped his hands and greeted the elder, "Father, I heard we are to receive an esteemed guest today? Might I ask when the guest will arrive?"

Xiao Liang turned slowly, his gaze brimming with satisfaction, as if seeing his own youth reflected in his son. He approached, lightly patting Xiao Kang on the shoulder, and said, "No need to worry. The magistrate has already spoken to me. Our guest will arrive in about two hours; we need only open the gates to welcome him in half an hour."

"If our guest is so distinguished, why not open the gates now? If he learns we carefully calculated the time to greet him, wouldn’t that seem disrespectful?" For reasons he couldn’t explain, Xiao Kang felt uneasy at his father’s reply. Normally, he wouldn’t mind—the Xiao family was still in its prime. But the mysterious status of today’s guest made him sense a vague threat, as if his instincts warned him something was amiss in his father’s behavior.

"It’s nothing to fret over," Xiao Liang waved his hand, signaling Xiao Kang not to panic.

"The magistrate has claimed many times to have important guests, yet in the end, our Xiao family must always host them, laboring for Yue Ming City. There’s no need to humble ourselves this way. Besides, today’s banquet is already of the highest order. Even if we seem remiss, our guest will not take offense."

"Very well…" Xiao Kang, still uneasy, could only dismiss his concerns as fanciful.

But just then, shouts erupted, carrying clearly to their ears. A gatekeeper burst in, yelling, "Sir, something terrible has happened!"

"What is it? Speak quickly!" Xiao Liang’s brow furrowed. On a day meant for welcoming guests, such ominous news greatly displeased him.

"A group of men forced their way in. We tried to stop them, but they kicked us aside. Xiao He… he tried to bar their way and was beheaded on the spot."

"What? Who are these people?" Xiao Liang was appalled. Years of business had weakened his constitution, and now panic triggered a violent coughing fit.

"Are you the one in charge of the Xiao household?" A cold voice pierced the walls, sending chills down Xiao Liang’s spine.

"Who… who are you?" Xiao Liang’s trembling voice revealed his fear.

"Living in comfort has made you soft, hasn’t it? Look at the head steward, already frightened into this state." With these words, a man in black robes and embroidered finery entered their view. His features were sharply chiseled, temples streaked with gray, and his deep, dark eyes held unfathomable depths.

Though Xiao Liang had seen more than sixty winters, he immediately recalled the magistrate’s mention of their mysterious guest. Testing the waters, he said, "An honored guest graces us—pardon my discourtesy." He instantly tugged Xiao Kang behind him and bowed deeply.

Xiao Kang, recognizing they had encountered a formidable character, dared not show disrespect and also bowed. "We did not know you would arrive early, my lord. Forgive our negligence."

Xiao Liang subtly gestured behind his back, and a servant brought forth a square wooden box. Though unadorned and made of ordinary wood, the servant’s effort and the clink of metal within made its contents clear.

"Steward Xiao, you mistake me. We serve the court; we are not here to exploit the people for profit." The man in black waved away the gold and jewels.

"My lord," said Xiao Liang quickly, seizing the opportunity, "you misunderstand. These trinkets are nothing. I have a distant relative serving in the Embroidered Guards, and my own lowly status prevents me from seeing him. I had hoped, through your lordship’s hand, these might be delivered to him. Since you serve the imperial court and act for the people’s welfare, surely you would not refuse such a minor favor?" He raised his eyes, searching the black-robed man’s expression, but the man’s face remained unreadable.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, the man arched his brow and said, "Ah, I almost forgot about Magistrate Yu." With a hint of mockery, he ordered, "Bring Magistrate Yu up here."

The next moment, a round, heavy figure was dragged in. "Oof!" Magistrate Yu landed face-first, utterly humiliated. But recalling how this man had just decapitated a servant before his very eyes, his anger faded as quickly as it arose.

Looking at the magistrate sprawled on the floor, Xiao Liang and Xiao Kang exchanged glances—one wide-eyed, the other squinting—so comical that even the black-robed man’s subordinates nearly burst out laughing.

The man in black eyed the father and son. "Master Xiao, let us not bother with pleasantries. I will speak plainly." Taking a step, he crossed ten feet in an instant, his cold aura washing over Xiao Liang. "I seek someone. You will help me find him and ask no questions. The rest—your so-called trinkets—put them away."

"Understood… understood. We shall do as you command."

"Good," the black-robed man replied with a smile, patting Xiao Liang’s shoulder. But Xiao Liang’s years of indulgence had left him frail; the slap nearly doubled him over.

"Father!" Xiao Kang rushed forward to intervene, but before he could act, his father’s sharp voice rang in his ear, "What are you doing? Stand down at once!"

Stunned, Xiao Kang froze, hands suspended in mid-air, unsure what to do. Enduring the pain in his shoulder, Xiao Liang scolded him sternly, "Why are you standing there? Go!"

His words were urgent, and though his concern was deeply hidden, it was plain under the black-robed man’s gaze. The man swiftly stepped between them, staring down the now-panicked Xiao Kang. Xiao Liang was equally terrified.

"What is your name?" The black-robed man’s words, heavy with intimidation, made Xiao Kang tremble. Yet, somehow, Xiao Kang stared back with unflinching eyes, refusing to show fear.

"Not bad, not bad," the man suddenly applauded, surprising everyone. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a courageous youth. I almost want to take you with us."

Xiao Liang could barely believe his ears, but when he realized it was true, he hurried to Xiao Kang’s side. "What are you waiting for? Thank the lord!"

"Um… thank you, my lo—"

Before the final word left Xiao Kang’s lips, a sword flashed and severed his head from his body.

A dead silence fell; one could have heard a pin drop. But soon, Xiao Liang’s anguished wails and the screams of servants and maids shattered the stillness.

Xiao Kang’s corpse remained in its bowing posture, his head rolling away, still showing no sign of pain.

"Why! My son!" Xiao Liang roared, blood surging to his lips as he collapsed, coughing up a stream of crimson.

The man in black merely wiped his hands and the sword hilt with a handkerchief, then slowly poured wine over the blade, washing the sticky blood away. Glancing at the fallen Xiao Liang, he murmured, "I only said I had the impulse to take him; I never said I wouldn’t rather kill him. Why thank me in such haste?"

Had Xiao Liang heard this, he surely would not have survived the night.

As blood pooled around Xiao Kang, the black-robed man coldly said, "Magistrate Yu, you are to seize all Xiao family assets and property within three days, and then deploy your men to search the entire city for this man." With a wave, a white-robed subordinate produced a scroll depicting a middle-aged man—honest-faced, stubbled chin, eyes weathered yet resolute.

"This man is…?" Magistrate Yu stammered, terrified.

"You need not concern yourself with the details. Simply report his whereabouts if you find him."

"Yes, yes, I will do as you command." Magistrate Yu nodded frantically, terrified that the Embroidered Guard would turn on him next.

"Very well. You may go. Do not forget your task."

"Yes, my lord! I take my leave." Overjoyed to escape with his life, Magistrate Yu kowtowed with renewed vigor.

The black-robed man approached and patted his shoulder. "There’s no need to fear me. We both serve the Emperor—there is no high or low between us. Besides, I am not prone to slaughter. You need not call me ‘my lord’—just address me as Brother Lin."

"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!" Magistrate Yu did not believe for a moment this man was gentle. One careless word and he’d be a "corpse brother" soon enough.

"How dull," the black-robed man muttered, then, turning to his men with a spark of interest, said, "Since we have no time to enjoy the banquet, why not tour the residence? It would be a shame to let our host’s efforts go to waste."

"Understood."

Everyone knew this was no simple sightseeing—the black-robed man intended to search the entire manor, establishing his headquarters here and perhaps finding unexpected rewards.

He took the seat of honor at the banquet and began eating heartily. Magistrate Yu knelt nearby, not daring to utter a word. If any evidence of the fugitive was found, he would lose not only his position but likely his life.

"Magistrate Yu, I have a question—hic!" The black-robed man belched, unfazed by the impression he made.

"Ask whatever you wish, my lord. I will answer everything truthfully," Magistrate Yu stammered before the man could finish.

Spitting out a chicken bone, the man asked, "How far does the Xiao family’s business influence reach?"

"While not as powerful as the greatest merchants, they dominate the markets within a hundred miles," Magistrate Yu replied promptly.

"Oh? Then three days may not suffice?"

"No, no, I can accomplish it in three days. Please rest assured," Magistrate Yu responded quickly, sensing the warning beneath the words.

"Hmm," the man drew out the sound, appearing satisfied. "Good. I will stay here for the next month. Report any findings to me. I’ll be counting on you."

Relieved, Magistrate Yu replied, "I am only fulfilling my duty and dare not call it hardship."

"Go, then." The man waved him away.

Magistrate Yu hastily wiped his brow and shuffled out, grateful to have survived. Once outside, he looked up at the blazing sun and took a deep breath.

Inside, however, greater commotion was unfolding. The officer who had just reported knelt silently, waiting until Magistrate Yu’s footsteps faded, then removed an object from his breast.

Seeing it, the black-robed man was shocked. "What? It was found here?" He gave the officer an approving look. "Well done. You shall be handsomely rewarded."

The officer, delighted, bowed deeply and presented a silver orb.

The black-robed man held it aloft, letting the harsh sunlight gleam on its surface, and murmured, "To think I’d see you again here, my elusive treasure. You may yet reveal where that wretch of the Su family still lives."