The light blue sky covered the area, with light clouds creating a pleasant noon, while the jade green mountains kissed the azure sky and the river surrounding them. By the gentle flowing river, many stalls were set open with steaming food and intricate jewelleries sold by many merchants, who were now standing quiet, looking at the dozens of men in armour with swords in their hands surrounding a two-storey restaurant, Yunxi Pavilion[1], that had always amassed a considerable crowd.
As the silence followed, with many passersby joining to spectate the situation, a loud neigh sounded with the patter of heavy steps of a horse. The people quickly parted way in the road, afraid that they would be under the soles of the horses.
As they made way, a dark horse with a white mane stopped in front of the restaurant, with a man sitting above the horse, with a presence that brought chills upon the spine. As the spectators looked at the man, they were attracted by his looks, but as they laid their eyes on his eyes, they were forced to avert their gaze, looking at the bone-chilling coldness emitting from him. He had a commanding presence around him, making everyone feel their heart tremble just by looking at him. They could guess that this was a man they could never provoke.
The dozens of men in armour all bowed in respect as they looked at the man. He jumped down from the horse and looked up at the restaurant. As he was thinking deeply, another man, similarly dressed in armour, came running up to him.
"Commander Mo," He reported quickly, his voice tense. "We have searched through the entire booth and the entire restaurant. The ambassador was indeed poisoned by the Five Bones Powder, but none of the food or drink show any trace of it. He came together with his attendant and had not met any mishaps along the way. His attendant said that the ambassador had suddenly fallen asleep for a quarter of a sichen, but because they were due for the Royal Banquet, he went to wake him — only to find the ambassador dead."
The man's words spilled out hurriedly under the commander's gaze.
Mo Yuze said nothing at first. His eyes, sharp as the edge of a blade, drifted toward the restaurant's upper floor. The faint sound of a wind chime rang from above — soft, almost mournful. He ascended the stairs unhurriedly, his boots clicking softly on the polished wood, every step resonating like the toll of a bell.
Inside the private booth, the air was still and heavy. The scent of wine lingered faintly, mingled with something metallic, the smell of death. The ambassador's lifeless body lay slumped on the low couch, his face unnaturally pale, his lips faintly bluish.
Mo Yuze's gaze darkened. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm yet carried an undercurrent that made the air seem colder.
"The time it takes for the Five Bone Powder to work depends on the dosage. The smallest dose will kill within two weeks. Did you investigate everything that happened during this time?"
"We have investigated it. The ambassador only arrived in the Central Plains a week ago. His schedule was deliberately simple so as not to affect the relationship between the two countries. We questioned his attendants and the maids, all those he had contact with, but so far, none of them seemed capable of possessing the Five Bone Powder."
Mo Yuze folded his hands behind his back, his gaze falling upon the untouched tea set on the table. The faint ripples in the tea suggested it had been freshly poured not long before the ambassador's death.
"Ye Chen," he said after a pause, his tone unreadable. "Did you find anything on him?"
The other officer, Ye Chen, stepped forward.
"There was a piece of map with him. The ambassador had been suffering from a cold disease since birth, so he likely sought to cure it. The map points toward the Tian Chuang Abode[2]."
The name stirred faint recognition in Mo Yuze's mind. He walked closer to the body, his robes brushing softly against the wooden floor. As he leaned down, a faint scent drifted to his nose — something foreign, neither the fragrance of incense nor the bitterness of medicine. It was faint, yet distinct enough to catch his attention.
He straightened, his expression unreadable.
"Cut a piece of his clothes after checking it thoroughly. There is a peculiar scent on them, so investigate it properly. Ask the coroner to estimate the dosage of the powder," He ordered, his tone light but brooking no refusal. "And make arrangements to go to Tian Chuang Abode."
He turned to leave. Ye Chen quickly followed behind, his brow furrowed with confusion.
"Why?" He asked hesitantly. "The ambassador could have been poisoned at any time within these two weeks."
Mo Yuze paused at the threshold, the afternoon light falling over his shoulder, outlining the edge of his profile in gold.
"The name Tian Chuang Abode," He said slowly, "I have heard it more than twice this week. It may be coincidence — or it may not. They possess the means and the expertise to poison him. As for the motive and the evidence…"
He looked back, his gaze deep and steady.
"We will find it along the way."
Outside, the wind stirred the banners on the street, and the murmur of the crowd rose once more. The soldiers dispersed, carrying out their orders with swift precision. Mo Yuze stepped back into the sunlight, his expression unreadable, his dark hair fluttering slightly in the breeze.
Somewhere behind the clouds, a faint rumble of thunder rolled, a whisper of the storm yet to come.
The crowd slowly dispersed, yet the tension that had hung over the marketplace did not fade. Whispers followed the soldiers as they mounted their horses. Words like poison, ambassador, and death rippled through the air like unseen threads. The faint scent of incense from a nearby stall drifted in the breeze, trying and failing to mask the lingering chill left behind by death.
Mo Yuze walked ahead without turning back. His black cloak, embroidered with faint silver patterns of waves and clouds, caught the afternoon light and shimmered like ripples on still water. Each step was measured, his expression unreadable, but Ye Chen, who followed close behind, could feel the faint pressure emanating from his back. It was not anger, it was thought.
When they reached the end of the street, their horses were waiting, led here to wait by the soldiers to avoid startling them as the crowd gathered around the restaurant was too many to count. The dark steed that Mo Yuze had ridden earlier snorted softly as its master approached, lowering its head obediently. He brushed a hand along its neck before mounting in one smooth motion.
"Commander," Ye Chen called as he settled into his saddle, "do you truly believe the Tian Chuang Abode is involved? They have remained secluded for decades. No one has dared to provoke them."
Mo Yuze's gaze swept toward sky. The sky there had begun to pale, streaked with mist.
"They remain secluded," He said slowly, his voice low but carrying over the soft creak of leather reins, "yet their connection to the Demonic Sect is undeniable. For years, they have claimed indifference to politics and power struggles, but their influence runs deep. Even the one who sits upon the Dragon Throne has long suffered from an incurable illness, and though he has sent countless envoys, no physician from Tian Chuang Abode has ever agreed to treat him."
His fingers brushed the reins, eyes still fixed on the pale line of the north.
"Investigating in their direction will not only uncover the truth behind the ambassador's death," He added, tone quiet but firm, "it may also serve the will of the Dragon Throne."
The horses began to move, their hooves striking the stone road in measured rhythm. Dust rose in their wake, curling upward like faded smoke. The world before them seemed vast and veiled, the northern wind whispering of secrets long buried in snow and silence.
[1] Yunxi Pavilion was a restaurant that catered to the noble and wealthy families. Having been providing good service for those with connections, and having ties to wealthy families, it has always been a place that amassed considerable crowd with certain fame. It was large, and had two storey, that had rooms for overnight stay. Most of the Foreign delegates rented the room during this time.
[2] Located in the Northern border of the Central Plains in the snowy mountains, Tian Chuang Abode, also known as the Medicine Valley, is the home of the miracle physicians who can cure all kinds of diseases. They stay away from politics and power, and only ally with the Demonic Sect, not intending to cause harm to anyone, but because the Demonic Sect was not evil by nature, except for the name.