Chapter Twenty-Four: The Marquis of Lingzhen Arrives, Li Family Distillery

“His Lordship, Marquis Lingzhen, has arrived!”

Han Chong and his companions were just about to search for the secret passage of this demon-infested brothel when, to their astonishment, Marquis Lingzhen arrived at that exact critical moment.

“All hail the Marquis!...”

Every officer and bailiff quickly made way, bowing deeply in greeting; even the two captains followed suit.

“Oh dear, Your Lordship’s arrival caught me off guard. My apologies, my deepest apologies indeed.”

The governor with the conspicuous ears hurried forward, repeatedly offering apologies with an obsequious smile.

Only now did Han Chong finally see the true face of Marquis Lingzhen: he wore a black robe embroidered with golden flowers, a round-collared ceremonial garment. At his waist hung a jade hook and a golden belt; on his head sat a purple-gold coronet with angular ornaments. His eyes were like a tiger’s, brows white, nose sharp, face clean-shaven, and he appeared to be around sixty years of age.

Surrounded by about twenty retainers in green robes, he strode into the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, his long yellow-brown face as impenetrable as still water.

“So, Lord Wang is here as well. What has happened that you would storm into this humble Flower Burial House with such a display?”

“Oh, Your Lordship, you misjudge me. It was these two Commanders from the Demon-Slaying Division and their men who forced their way in, brimming with menace, intent on breaking into this establishment. As the governor of Peijun Prefecture, how could I stand by while law-abiding merchants are disturbed for no reason? I tried to dissuade them, to no avail—they barged in regardless.”

The big-eared governor wiped the cold sweat from his brow, straining to explain.

“Oh?” Marquis Lingzhen finally turned, squinting at the two captains, Ning and Wu.

“Just a few days ago, I shared wine and laughter with Commander Jiang. Where is he now?”

“Your Lordship, Captain Jiang gave his life in service to the court. He was slain by an old demon, a black tiger. We have already reported this to our superiors,” Captain Ning replied with a sorrowful sigh, bowing.

“What? Such a thing has happened? Very well, then tell me—today you have disregarded the law and forced your way into the Flower Burial House. For what reason?” The Marquis’s white brows arched slightly as he questioned them in a calm tone.

“Your Lordship, we received intelligence that dozens of demons have entrenched themselves in this brothel, preying on men under the guise of entertainment, draining their life essence; this has already led to the deaths of many merchants and gentry. That is why we came to investigate. The matter was urgent, and our actions were hasty. We beg your understanding and judgment!”

“Ha! Dozens of demons? In the very heart of the city? Boldly sucking the life out of people? I have lived over sixty years, spent half a life on the battlefield—there’s little I have not seen or heard of, and yet this is the first I’ve heard such nonsense! Very well, then—where are these demons you claim to have found? If you slander in my presence and have wounded or killed over a dozen people, I will not shield you, nor conceal your crimes.”

The Marquis laughed long and loud, clearly skeptical; though his words were polite enough, sweat broke out anew on the foreheads of the two captains, who found themselves unable to retort.

Han Chong grew increasingly anxious. Nearly the time it takes a stick of incense to burn had passed since they entered. By rights, the demons should have been forced out of the secret passage by now. Why was there no sign of them? Was there another tunnel? Or had something gone wrong with Leng Yue’s plan?

Both sides were locked in a stifling, excruciating stalemate; the brothel felt less like a pleasure house and more like a tightly sealed tomb, suffocating all within.

Under the Marquis’s piercing gaze, Captains Ning and Wu were like ants on a hot pan, barely able to breathe, not daring to utter a word.

Suddenly, with a thunderous crash, a door in the northeast corner of the first floor was blasted open. Out of the swirling gray smoke crawled various snake spirits, fox demons, and rat women, coughing and disoriented, scrambling in confusion.

The brothel’s red lanterns and warm alcoves were instantly transformed into a lair of fiends.

Everyone inside was dumbstruck by this sudden turn of events.

The two captains and their men were overjoyed, as if snatched from the jaws of death; Marquis Lingzhen and Governor Big-Ears, however, were livid, their faces flushed with rage.

“Attack!” Han Chong was the first to react, shouting as he struck. Flames shot from his mouth, a blade of light gleamed in his hand, and he led the officers and bailiffs into the fray, fighting with fierce determination.

The governor quickly spirited Marquis Lingzhen out of the smoke-filled brothel; but by now, the place could no longer be called the Flower Burial House—it was, in truth, a Tomb of Demons.

Those demons had all reverted to their true forms, shrieking, biting, clawing, leaping about, desperately trying to break through the encirclement and escape.

But their powers were low, even weaker than the old fox demon Han Chong had slain before. Now, with two mighty martial captains, six demon-slaying officers, and dozens of bailiffs present, not a single demon could hope to flee.

Within half an hour, over twenty lesser demons lay slain; the assembled officers and men were exultant, their spirits soaring.

Han Chong and the others withdrew and stood facing Marquis Lingzhen.

“Your Lordship, the demons within the Flower Burial House have all been eradicated, save for one great demon who remains at large. We ask your assistance in apprehending it,” Captain Ning reported with a faint smile.

“Oh? And what does this have to do with me? Are you suggesting that this demon is connected to my household?” the Marquis retorted, twitching his mouth and glancing skyward, as if the recent events had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

“Well done, Captain Ning! The Demon-Slaying Division has done a commendable job solving this case. If there is anything I can do to help, do not hesitate to ask!” The big-eared governor offered a sycophantic laugh, flattering them and seemingly forgetting all about his earlier obstruction and complaints.

“Han Chong, why don’t you tell the Marquis and the governor about the demon that escaped?” Captain Ning said, turning to his companion.

Han Chong’s pupils shrank; he thought to himself that Captain Ning was truly pushing him into the lion’s den—these two old foxes were not to be trifled with! Perhaps they had known of the demons in the brothel all along.

“I am Han Chong, at your service, Your Lordship and Governor. To be frank, I have obtained testimony that the demons in the Flower Burial House were reared by a snake spirit known as Lady White Jade. The smoke just now came from a secret escape route. I have discovered that one end of this passage leads to the brothel, and the other connects directly to the Marquis’s mansion! I fear that your residence may be in grave danger, Your Lordship!”

“What? How is that possible? Why would I not know of this? Insolent youth, do not slander me. My household is filled with experts and is heavily guarded. How could a demon possibly infiltrate it?”

The Marquis flung his sleeves in anger, his fury barely contained at the audacity of a mere seventh-rank officer daring to investigate him—a humiliation beyond compare!

“Your Lordship, if you do not believe me, may we be permitted to search your residence?” Han Chong’s eyes narrowed. The Marquis had shown only anger about talk of demons, never once any fear—surely he already knew about the white snake.

“Outrageous! Preposterous! Do you take my home for a common tavern, to be entered and searched at your whim?” The Marquis was beside himself—a lowly officer would bring such disgrace if word got out!

Captain Ning hurriedly stopped Han Chong from saying any more, signaling him to step back.

“Your Lordship, please do not be angry. We would not dare search your residence. Han Chong spoke out of turn and meant no offense. Please forgive him.”

“Hmph! I thought not. Prepare the carriage for my return!”

“All hail the Marquis!”

Everyone watched as Marquis Lingzhen departed in his carriage, sleeves billowing, with the governor also taking his leave.

“Captain Ning, Captain Wu, it’s clear that Marquis Lingzhen knew all along there were demons in his residence, and was aware of the brothel’s secrets as well. Are we to simply let that snake demon escape justice?”

“Alas, matters at the Marquis’s residence require careful planning. If we force our way in and he retaliates, the consequences will be ten times worse than today,” Captain Ning sighed, shaking his head. The case was clearly far from simple.

Han Chong understood the difficulties well, but could find no solution. The group dispersed.

“Speak—where does your Zhi Lang live? I’ll take you to him.”

Han Chong had come alone to a deserted street, opening his cloak to address the white rat spirit hiding in his bosom.

“Are you truly willing to help me be with Zhi Lang? You are an officer of the Demon-Slaying Division—why are you helping me?” The white rat spirit looked up in disbelief, having assumed Han Chong would kill it after destroying the brothel. Never had it imagined there could be one so true to his word.

“Humans have both good and evil among them, as do demons. I saw your devotion, and believe you would never harm your Zhi Lang or anyone else. That moved me to pity.”

Han Chong smiled freely. To him, the distinction between good and evil far outweighed that between demon and human. He trusted his own judgment—a pitiful, lovesick little demon, as rare as a pearl among a thousand, perhaps unique in ten thousand.

“Ruyan thanks you, immortal sir. In my next life, even as a beast of burden, I will repay your kindness. Zhi Lang lives in the eastern part of the city, at the Li Family Distillery.”

The white rat spirit actually wept, wiping her tiny paws across her face again and again.

Before long, Han Chong took a small black-sailed boat to the east of the city. Even before disembarking, he could smell the pungent aroma of fermented wine. Guided by the scent, he found the distillery without asking for directions.

The front courtyard of the distillery served as a wine shop, but the rear covered a sizable area. Clearly, this Zhi Lang enjoyed a comfortable family background.

As Han Chong entered the shop, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. Since ancient times, snakes have feared realgar wine. Even in the legend of the White Snake, Bai Suzhen was forced to reveal her true form after drinking realgar wine, losing all self-control.

If he could obtain some realgar wine and infiltrate the Marquis’s residence, tricking the white jade snake into drinking it, she would go mad from intoxication—then Marquis Lingzhen would have a real spectacle on his hands!

“What would you like to drink, sir?” A pale, refined young man with delicate features but a touch of sorrow in his eyes looked at Han Chong and asked.

The white rat spirit hidden in Han Chong’s cloak began to tremble all over, clearly agitated—this must be Zhi Lang!

“I’d like a jar of realgar wine,” Han Chong said.

“Realgar wine? You have excellent taste, sir. This wine drives away demons, wards off evil, detoxifies and reduces inflammation. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants all fear it. Most customers find it far too bitter to drink!”

Han Chong raised his brows—clearly, this Zhi Lang was no ordinary scholar, to so readily enumerate the virtues of realgar wine.

Taking a seat at a wine table in the corner, Han Chong called out to the scholar as he was about to leave.

“Brother, have you heard of the Demon-Slaying Division?”

“The Demon-Slaying Division? Sir, could you be one of its legendary officers?” The scholar stopped, startled, and immediately bowed.

“Indeed. I have something to ask. Do you know a woman named Ruyan from the Flower Burial House?”

“Ruyan! N-no, I don’t know anyone by that name!” The scholar first looked startled, his eyes widening, then quickly feigned calm, shaking his head and hands in denial.

Han Chong frowned, sensing the white rat spirit in his cloak suddenly clutch his chest tighter, emotion rising.

“How dare you deceive an officer! Do you know the penalty for such a crime?” Han Chong slammed the table, eyes flashing with anger.

“Forgive me, sir! I truly do not know any Ruyan. In two days, I am to wed the daughter of the Tao family—how could I have visited such a place as the Flower Burial House?” The scholar’s handsome face twisted with tears as he bowed low, refusing to confess.

“You impudent scholar! You are faithless and unrighteous, lacking both courtesy and trust—such conduct enrages me!”

His angry shout brought the scholar’s father hurrying from the back room—a burly old man reeking of wine.