Young Jiang Ziya

The name Lü Shang is like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, creating a turbulent upheaval.

"This is outrageous!"

Ji Fa was the first to rush forward, "Lü Shang is my servant, how could he be a sorcerer? Master Luo Xuan, this matter requires evidence!"

Shi Yuan also staggered to the front, his voice trembling with excitement: "Luo Xuan! We've known each other for a while, how can you spout such nonsense?!"

Luo Xuan's grey-blue eyes swept over the crowd, finally settling on Lü Shang, whose face was deathly pale: "You all want 'real' evidence, fine."

He turned to Ji Chang: "Marquis of the West, please allow me to search the residences of Lü Shang and Shi Yuan."

Ji Chang remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Two guards stepped forward and restrained Lü Shang.

Ji Fa tried to stop him, but was stopped by his father's gaze.

***

Lu Shang sat in the corner, his mind filled with the oilcloth-wrapped things in the hidden compartments of the roof beams.

At this moment, a storm is brewing in Shi Yuan's courtyard.

The people Luo Xuan brought didn't seem like they were conducting a search; they seemed more like they were demolishing a house.

The stool was split open to check if it was hollow, the walls were knocked one by one, bottles and jars were overturned, and herbs were crushed by boots.

Shi Yuan stood amidst the chaos, his face ashen, saying nothing.

"This is outrageous!" Ji Fa finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Mr. Shi Yuan is an old physician from Xiqi; how can he be treated like this!"

"Warlocks are masters of disguise." Luo Xuan said without turning his head. "Kindness will blind you."

An hour later, the courtyard was almost completely demolished.

Just when Ji Fa thought he would get nothing, a black-clad attendant came out of Lü Shang's side room, carrying a rough pottery medicine bottle.

Luo Xuan pulled out the cork and poured out a sapphire blue bracelet.

The bracelet emitted a very faint glow, with subtle veins inside, and faintly emitted spiritual energy fluctuations.

"Spiritual essence," Luo Xuan said coldly, "a warlock's concoction."

Shi Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. Ji Fa was also stunned; his last shred of doubt finally crumbled.

"The evidence is conclusive." Luo Xuan turned around. "I'll do it now—"

"etc."

Shi Yuan's hoarse voice rang out.

He stood amidst the ruins, his face displaying a calm resolve.

"That bracelet... is mine." He looked at Luo Xuan, then at Ji Fa, and finally at the main hall of the Marquis's mansion.

"This is a souvenir I took with me when I left the Tower of Purity thirty years ago. Lu Shang knew nothing about it."

Dead silence.

Luo Xuan stared at him for a long time before slowly nodding: "Okay."

***

When Lü Shang was released from the dungeon, his legs were still numb.

Ji Fa's expression was complicated: "It's alright now. Mr. Shi Yuan... admits the bracelet is his."

"Where is Mr. Shi Yuan?" Lü Shang grabbed Ji Fa's arm.

Ji Fa avoided his gaze: "Temporarily detain him; further interrogation is required."

Lu Shang shook him off and ran wildly back to the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard gate, it was like a battlefield.

He stepped through the mess and entered his side room, which had been ransacked, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.

Mr. Shi Yuan... took on everything to save him.

***

The atmosphere at the banquet that night was oppressive.

Ji Chang barely touched his chopsticks, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice weary: "Shi Yuan has followed me for thirty years, saving countless people, including my life and Fa'er's. His benevolence is evident to all in Xiqi."

He looked at Luo Xuan, his eyes pleading, "That bracelet... perhaps it's a misunderstanding?"

Luo Xuan swirled his wine glass, his gaze calm: "Marquis of Xibo, facts are facts. Shi Yuan is a sorcerer, you and I both know that."

"What?!" Ji Fa jumped to his feet. "How could Mr. Shi Yuan be a sorcerer?!"

Ji Chang closed his eyes, appearing as if he had aged ten years. He waved for Ji Fa to sit down and said in a low voice, "Thirty years ago, there was a rebellion of sorcerers... Among the leaders, one was an expert in pharmacology who eventually defected to their side and provided crucial intelligence."

He opened his eyes, utterly exhausted. "That person was Shi Yuan. I thought he had long since given up psychic powers... That bracelet, perhaps, is truly a memento."

"In remembrance?" Luo Xuan put down his wine cup. "The Spirit Essence Bracelet is at his residence. Strange phenomena are frequently occurring in the city. He is one of the few 'former sorcerers' in Xiqi who is capable of creating these things. There are too many coincidences."

He paused, then looked at Ji Chang: "According to the law, any sorcerer who escapes supervision and misuses spiritual power, causing disturbances, shall be executed. Marquis of Xibo, the law is merciless."

Ji Chang's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

"Shi Yuan is advanced in years, and conventional interrogation is unlikely to be effective," Luo Xuan continued. "In order to seek the truth and to reassure the public, I request... the use of torture."

"Torture?!" Ji Fa stood up again. "Mr. Shi Yuan is over sixty years old, how can he withstand it?! Father!"

Ji Chang looked at his excited son, then at Luo Xuan's calm and resolute gaze. After a long while, he slumped back in his chair and waved his hand.

"allow."

Ji Fa stood frozen in place. Luo Xuan had already gotten up and left his seat.

***

Over the next few days, muffled sounds could be heard from the depths of the dungeon.

Lu Shang would sneak off to the vicinity of the dungeon every day, his heart breaking.

He heard that Luo Xuan wouldn't let Shi Yuan sleep, and would interrogate him as soon as he closed his eyes.

Lu Shang stood in the shadows, his fingernails digging into his palms until they bled.

He wanted to rush in and tear Luo Xuan to pieces.

But he couldn't. He couldn't waste the "innocence" that Shi Yuan had earned.

Late at night, he sneaked into the underground cave, knelt before Xuanfeng, and cried, "Phoenix! What should I do? Mr. Shi Yuan is being tortured to death! It's all my fault!"

The sound of chains grinding together rang out, and Xuanfeng's deep voice rang out: "I feel your pain. But Shi Yuan's fate is already intertwined with this. He has made his choice."

"I can save him! I'll turn myself in!"

"Foolish." Xuanfeng's voice was stern. "If you are exposed, the Mandate of Heaven will be completely severed. Moreover, Shi Yuan's sacrifice will be meaningless."

"What should I do?!"

Xuanfeng remained silent for a long time, the heavy chains scraping against each other like a sigh.

"Lu Shang, I can feel your pain, but I... am powerless to help. The human heart is treacherous and its schemes are far-reaching; sometimes even I cannot see through them."

Lu Shang collapsed to the ground, his last glimmer of hope extinguished.

***

The interrogation room in the dungeon was dimly lit by an oil lamp.

Shi Yuan was chained to a stone chair, looking emaciated, with cracked lips and sunken eye sockets, only his eyes still retaining a last vestige of clarity.

Luo Xuan sat opposite him, slowly wiping a pair of fine steel shackles, occasionally tapping the stone table, producing a crisp and terrifying sound.

"Shi Yuan, you protected Ji Chang's son and healed his adopted daughter, boasting of your benevolence and skill," Luo Xuan said calmly. "But you've forgotten that you are first and foremost a sorcerer. Xiqi will never treat a sorcerer kindly."

Shi Yuan closed his eyes and ignored him.

"You cured Princess Daji's nightmare, didn't you?" Luo Xuan suddenly asked.

Shi Yuan's eyelids twitched.

"She was terrified every night when she arrived, and you spent three months helping her sleep peacefully." Luo Xuan leaned closer. "What method did you use? Ordinary herbs? Or... a 'special' therapy infused with psionic energy?"

Shi Yuan opened his eyes and hissed, "It's just a calming formula! It has nothing to do with psychic energy!"

"Oh?" Luo Xuan straightened up, a discerning glint in his eyes. "But when I asked Princess Daji, she inadvertently mentioned that she's still taking medication. If the nightmares have been cured, why continue taking medication?"

Shi Yuan was breathing rapidly.

Luo Xuan smiled, a cold satisfaction in his eyes: "It seems Princess Daji's 'problem' is more complex than you admit. Perhaps her constitution is 'special'? And you, coincidentally, know how to deal with it?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Shi Yuan struggled, the chains rattling. "Princess Daji is simply physically weak! It has nothing to do with psychic powers!"

"Really?" Luo Xuan leaned back in his chair. "That's alright. We can talk slowly. Or perhaps we could ask Princess Daji to come and have a chat?"

Shi Yuan's expression changed completely.

***

When Daji was brought in, her face was deathly pale.

Luo Xuan's attitude was "gentle," simply asking her if she was still having nightmares and if she was still taking medication. Daji answered cautiously.

"The nightmare is over, thank you for your concern, Master." She lowered her head.

Luo Xuan nodded, signaling her to leave.

Daji felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and turned to quickly walk towards the door. Just as her hand was about to touch the latch—

"Miss Daji," Luo Xuan's voice came from behind, "have you been sleeping well lately?"

Daji's heart pounded, and she blurted out instinctively, "I'll also be taking some calming medicine. Thank you for your concern."

She was asked too hastily and didn't realize what she said—admitting that she was "still taking medication," which contradicted her previous statement that "the nightmares are over."

Luo Xuan didn't press further, only saying calmly, "Take care."

The door closed. Daji leaned against the wall, her legs trembling.

Inside the interrogation room, Luo Xuan looked at Shi Yuan, whose face was ashen: "It seems that Princess Daji's 'minor problem' requires continued 'attention'."

He stood up, walked to Shi Yuan, and looked down at him: "Let's be frank. Confess your guilt, admit that all the strange phenomena were your doing, and have nothing to do with Lü Shang and Daji. Then they can be safe."

Shi Yuan stared intently at him, his eyes bloodshot.

"If you insist on denying it..." Luo Xuan's voice turned cold, "I will shift the focus of my investigation to Lü Shang, re-examine his past, and thoroughly investigate Daji's 'special qualities.' Do you think they can withstand my investigation?"

"You..." Shi Yuan gritted his teeth, "You have no evidence!"

"Do I need evidence?" Luo Xuan retorted, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "I only need 'suspicion.' My 'suspicion' is enough for the Marquis of Xibo to throw any suspect into jail and 'interrogate' them slowly. Shi Yuan, can you afford to gamble with the lives of those two children?"

Shi Yuan was completely drained of energy. He slumped onto the stone chair.

He understands Luo Xuan. This man is a man of his word.

Shi Yuan closed his eyes. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, looked at Luo Xuan, and the light in his eyes went out, leaving only exhaustion and emptiness.

"Let me...see Lü Shang."

***

When Lü Shang was allowed into the interrogation room, he could hardly recognize the man locked to the stone chair.

Shi Yuan looked up, his dry, cracked lips moved as if he wanted to laugh, but only managed an ugly smile.

"Ah Shang..." The voice was hoarse.

Lü Shang lunged forward, but was stopped by the guards.

"Sir...why are you...?"

Shi Yuan shook his head, using all his strength to say each word clearly: "Listen to me... Don't say anything, don't do anything. Just live well."

He looked at Lü Shang one last time with a deep gaze, his eyes filled with love, reluctance, entrustment, and a sorrow that bordered on farewell.

Then he turned his gaze away, looking at Luo Xuan in the shadows, and said in a clear, steady voice, yet devoid of life force:

"Take me to see the Marquis of Xibo."

***

In the main hall, Shi Yuan knelt in the center, his back straight.

The entire court was deathly silent.

"I am a sorcerer, Your Majesty."

Shi Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner.

"That was true thirty years ago, and it is true now... too."

Ji Chang sat on the throne, leaning forward, his fingers gripping the armrests until they turned white.

"That cloud of smoke was created by me," Shi Yuan continued, calmly recounting someone else's story. "And the strange phenomena that the women in the city saw... the reflection in the well, the fire spirit, the toad at the alley entrance... all of that was me."

I used my remaining psionic energy to create illusions, to see... if Xiqi is still so sensitive to "anomalies."

He looked up at Ji Chang, his eyes filled with no resentment, only emptiness and composure: "It was I who brought spiritual energy that should not have existed back into Xiqi."

"It was I who broke my promise and betrayed His Majesty's trust."

Inside the main hall, some people gasped, some cursed under their breath, and most were shocked and incredulous.

Ji Chang slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his old friend who had been kneeling for thirty years.

His lips trembled, and his eyes churned with emotions—heartache, anger, confusion, and deep-seated pain.

"Shi Yuan..." His voice was hoarse, "You know the laws of Xiqi. Sorcerers who escape supervision, misuse psychic powers, and cause disturbances... shall be executed."

Shi Yuan kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground: "This old minister... confesses his guilt."

"No--!!!"

A roar came from the palace gate.

Lü Shang broke free of the guards and rushed into the main hall, his eyes bloodshot as he pointed at Luo Xuan: "Liar! He's a liar! Mr. Shi Yuan is innocent! It was all his scheme! He framed him with the bracelet! He framed him!"

"Insolence!" Luo Xuan roared, his eyes flashing with cold light. "How dare a servant roar and slander in this grand hall!"

"Lü Shang!" Ji Fa rushed forward, grabbed him tightly, and dragged him backward. "Calm down!"

Lu Shang struggled and roared, tears streaming down his face: "Your Highness! Believe me! Mr. Shi Yuan wouldn't do that!"

Ji Fa gritted his teeth and used all his strength to drag him out of the hall. The hall doors slammed shut, shutting out the cries and the lonely, kneeling figure.

***

A single room on the ground floor of the dungeon.

Ji Fa pushed Lü Shang inside, then closed the door behind him without locking it. He leaned against the iron gate, panting, and looked at Lü Shang, who was slumped on the ground.

"I'll give you fifteen minutes." Ji Fa's face was weary and conflicted. "Go see Mr. Shi Yuan one last time. Don't do anything foolish."

A glimmer of light rekindled in Lü Shang's eyes. He scrambled to his feet and stumbled toward the depths of the prison cell.

Shi Yuanguan was in the innermost single room, which had a bed, a table, and chairs, but was still cold and damp. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked up when he heard footsteps.

The two looked at each other, speechless.

Lu Shang rushed over and hugged the old man's withered body tightly, tears welling up again: "Sir... why didn't you let me say it..."

Shi Yuan patted his back gently, like when he was a child, to lull him to sleep: "Silly child... if you tell, both of you will die."

Luo Xuan... had already laid out his plan.

Whether the bracelet was a frame-up is no longer important.

He seized upon the "evidence," and Ji Chang was forced to give an explanation to the world.

"But--"

"No buts." Shi Yuan interrupted, becoming serious. "Ah Shang, listen to this. Luo Xuan is a cunning and treacherous man, with countless tricks up his sleeve. He's most skilled at setting traps and manipulating people's hearts."

Once you try to investigate and refute his claims, you'll unknowingly fall into his trap, be led by him, until you admit to a trumped-up charge.

He gripped Lü Shang's shoulders with both hands, his cloudy eyes fixed on him: "Stay away from him. Live well, do what you should do. This is my choice, and... the last thing I can do for you."

Lu Shang cried so hard he couldn't speak, he could only shake his head frantically.

Shi Yuan let go, leaning wearily back against the headboard, gazing at the seeping cracks in the prison ceiling and murmuring, "Ji Chang... also had his difficulties."

The sound of guards' footsteps could be heard outside the prison gate.

Time is up.

As Lü Shang was dragged out, he turned back one last time. Shi Yuan sat by the bed, nodded gently to him, and smiled calmly, almost with a sense of relief.

The iron gate closed.

In the darkness, Lü Shang slid down to the ground, his back against the cold wall. Shi Yuan's last words echoed repeatedly in his ears.

Luo Xuan...

Those cold, gray-blue eyes seemed to be staring at him from the darkness.