Chapter Twelve: The Beginning

If anyone else had been singled out by Li Rong, they would have been frightened, but Shen Hua remained calm and composed. She spoke slowly, “Is that so, sir?” Then, with a hint of provocation, she continued, “Sir, have you recently been feeling as if someone is choking your neck at night, making it hard to breathe?”

After speaking, Shen Hua asked Lu Chenzhou where the teacher was and volunteered to conduct the autopsy herself.

Li Rong’s expression grew somewhat dazed; he seemed lost in thought over Shen Hua’s previous question. Lu Chenzhou then instructed his subordinates to watch over him, as Li Rong was from the same hometown.

The teacher’s body was placed beneath the pavilion. Shen Hua recalled speaking with him here just the day before. In merely a day, the Wuwang Study lost its master, the children of the Ghost Market lost their tutor, and the only person in Nanjing with whom she could speak frankly now lay beneath a shroud. She tried to suppress her sorrow, maintaining a neutral expression, but her eyes betrayed her. When she lifted the shroud, a trace of sadness and helplessness flashed across her gaze.

Lu Chenzhou watched quietly as Shen Hua carefully examined the teacher’s body. He caught the sadness in her eyes, confirming his earlier suspicion that her grief was genuine. Sadness is difficult to feign, but pretending not to grieve is even harder.

“The children said you were close to him,” Lu Chenzhou suddenly asked during the autopsy.

“We knew each other, but not very well. He was one of my patients,” Shen Hua replied.

“A ghost doctor with a soft heart? I didn’t expect you to volunteer for the autopsy. No fee this time?”

Shen Hua continued her examination without pause. “You already paid me at the Ghost Market that day. Besides, sir, do you have anyone skilled in autopsy? In official investigations, it’s normal to inquire about the deceased’s recent contacts. Isn’t it better if I handle this myself?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Chenzhou’s eyes before a meaningful smile curved his lips.

“The deceased committed suicide,” Shen Hua concluded, looking up at Lu Chenzhou.

“Suicide?” Lu Chenzhou was puzzled and stepped forward to inspect the body.

Shen Hua pointed at the teacher’s corpse. “There’s not a single wound or sign of poisoning, but all his meridians are severed.”

“Still, it could be the work of an assassin.”

“Unlikely, unless the assassin’s inner strength is extraordinary enough to kill without touching the body. Few can do that in this world. Of course, we can't rule out that such a person came to practice on an unremarkable tutor.”

Her last remark was teasing, but Shen Hua harbored many doubts. She had just learned that the teacher possessed martial skills and profound inner strength.

“How long have you known the deceased?”

“Two years.”

Shen Hua met Lu Chenzhou’s gaze. “He was my patient. Sometimes I delivered medicine to him, and he’d find medical books for me in exchange. That was all.”

Lu Chenzhou’s face changed slightly. “What illness?”

“He was old with poor heart and lung function and had trouble sleeping. Every half month, I prescribed some lung-nourishing and spirit-calming medicine. I just delivered some yesterday. You might find them on his desk in his study.”

At this, a sharp gleam flashed briefly in Shen Hua’s eyes. She wondered if she had left any flaws during her encounter with Lu Chenzhou last night that now caused him to hold onto her.

Lu Chenzhou persisted, wanting to confirm if Shen Hua was the black-clad figure Zhou Zheng had seen, as the timing perfectly matched. “Do you know the teacher had an unusual skill besides teaching?”

“Yes,” Shen Hua answered calmly, while Lu Chenzhou grew increasingly confused, suspecting a leak of information.

“The teacher was also skilled at cultivating plants. Aside from teaching, he spent his spare time tending the flowers and trees in the courtyard. Otherwise, why would his hands have so many calluses?”

Shen Hua raised her brow slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“I see.”

Lu Chenzhou studied Shen Hua carefully. Today, she seemed different from before. A relationship between a ghost market doctor and a tutor could only mean there was something more. Moreover, he found a silver ingot in the teacher’s study flowerpot—the same one he had given Shen Hua as payment days ago. The Lu family’s accounting office marked large silver ingots with a circle at the bottom, so Lu Chenzhou could trace its origin.

“Sir.”

An official hurried over and whispered in Lu Chenzhou’s ear. Shen Hua’s ears were sharper than most, and despite being only a few steps away, she heard clearly that a severed head had been found behind the study.

Lu Chenzhou’s expression shifted from shock to delight. He waved the official away and told Shen Hua, “Doctor Shen, it seems you’ll have to stay a while longer.”

They proceeded to the bamboo grove behind the study, where several officers gathered around a freshly dug pit, unwilling to look directly inside. Two brown hunting dogs sat nearby. Lu Chenzhou patted their heads and smiled, “You haven’t disappointed me.”

Lu Chenzhou covered his mouth and nose as he looked into the pit, where mutilated human heads lay—thirteen in total.

After the officers transferred the heads onto the ground, Shen Hua brushed away the dirt from each skull and examined the wounds at the neck, the eyes, and the mouths.

“Sir, from the wounds and eyes, these heads match those of the headless corpses found in the imperial tomb. Their tongues were cut out, which explains why they couldn’t speak that night.”

The officers listened, puzzled, exchanging strange looks as they wondered what night Shen Hua referred to.

Lu Chenzhou lowered his eyes, realizing only assassins or death soldiers would have tongues cut out. From the clues so far, the tutor and these people were connected. However, the killer and the organizer remained unknown. Regarding Shen Hua, it was necessary to investigate her background in Danzhou.

He ordered the heads to be sent back to the tomb and informed Supervisor Li to dismantle whatever formation was involved.

“If that’s all, I’ll be leaving now.”

Shen Hua said this and turned to leave. Lu Chenzhou did not stop her but caught up just before she got far, asking, “Doctor Shen, have you heard of the Nether Pavilion?”

“Yes,” Shen Hua replied coldly, her heart tightening.

Lu Chenzhou frowned and clicked his tongue. “I heard the Nether Pavilion is a killer training organization in the martial world. Since you’re half a part of that world, have you encountered them?”

“I probably have.”

Shen Hua’s tone was loaded with meaning.

“When?”

Lu Chenzhou pressed, hoping for information. “Was it here in Nanjing?”

Shen Hua nodded and pointed toward the headless corpses.

Lu Chenzhou bit his lip hard, embarrassed, but only managed a wry smile. “You mean the Nether Pavilion breeds death soldiers?”

Shen Hua answered, “If you wish to inquire further, go to the Misty Tower. It’s full of all kinds of people, especially the female shopkeeper—beautiful and well-informed.”

Lu Chenzhou smiled without replying and nodded reluctantly, committing every word to memory.

As Shen Hua left the Wuwang Study, she deliberately passed by the pavilion where Li Rong sat fiddling with his compass. She approached and made a choking gesture at him, then walked away with satisfaction.

Li Rong looked up, as if seeing a ghost in broad daylight—both afraid and curious. He wanted to follow but was stopped by officers who ordered him to accompany the Ministry of Justice to the imperial tomb immediately.

Lu Chenzhou and Li Rong shared a carriage back. Li Rong remained silent with eyes closed. Nearing the tomb, Lu Chenzhou asked, “Supervisor Li, what did you see?”

Li Rong slowly opened his eyes, his voice low: “I’ve seen that woman before, especially her eyes.”

“When did you see her?” Lu Chenzhou asked, confused.

“In a painting.”

Li Rong’s eyes were bloodshot, as if strangled and struggling for breath, veins bulging on his forehead.

“What?”

Lu Chenzhou stared at Li Rong, astonished. He knew the Imperial Observatory’s scholars were somewhat different, but Li Rong seemed possessed today. He continued, “You met Shen Hua today for the first time. Why are you so afraid of her? And what painting are you talking about?”

Li Rong was still dazed, muttering, “Cause and effect, retribution, retribution.”

Lu Chenzhou fixed his gaze on Li Rong, then said, “Does this relate to the imperial tomb case? Or do you think Shen Hua is suspicious?”

“The Big Dipper’s seven stars aligned, signaling something major. Whether it’s fortune or disaster depends on the instigator’s intent. It looks like disaster—a great calamity that will claim many lives.”

Cold sweat beaded on Li Rong’s forehead, his lips pale as he gripped the compass tightly.

“You said you don’t read people’s fates, yet after seeing Shen Hua today, you act like this. You’re not scared just because she frightened you earlier, are you?”

Lu Chenzhou tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but Li Rong rolled his eyes. Lu Chenzhou tapped his temple and said, “Weren’t you just—? Are you feeling better now?”

Li Rong’s expression remained serious as he warned Lu Chenzhou to keep his distance from her, lest bloodshed and misfortune befall him and his family.

“It’s probably too late. I’ve taken charge of this case, and she’s my helper. Whatever she is, I’ll meet force with force. Besides, I’m tough; otherwise, I wouldn’t have this job.”

Lu Chenzhou appeared indifferent but harbored other plans.

At the foot of the imperial tomb, after dismounting, they saw Zhou Zheng waiting with several Ministry of Rites officials.

Lu Chenzhou was surprised and looked at Li Rong.

Li Rong smiled, “I didn’t expect Commander Zhou to be so competent.”

He greeted them as the officials politely clasped hands in return.

Lu Chenzhou thought the Ministry of Rites should indeed step in to prepare the necessary rites, coordinating with the Imperial Observatory to transport the items away. Afterwards, the Ministry would issue a public notice to calm the recent unrest in Nanjing.

Moreover, the old man at the Wen residence had warned that if they couldn’t find the killer, they should find a scapegoat to appease the public; otherwise, when the emperor remembered this matter, prison would be the least of their worries. It was fortuitous that the tutor arrived just then—everyone unaware thought he was the culprit, but Lu Chenzhou believed the mastermind lay with Shen Hua.

After leaving the Wuwang Study, on her way back to the clinic, Shen Hua was stopped midway by two people—actually sent to fetch her. She immediately recognized them as from the Ghost Market Underground City and did not refuse.

The Ghost Market Underground City was the true power behind the Ghost Market. By day, the market resembled an ordinary bazaar; at night, it split into two parts—the surface and the underground.

Underground trades operated in secrecy, following rules: no questions asked, no red clothing allowed, faces concealed, and no regrets in transactions.

Shen Hua had come to the Ghost Market three years ago, renting a small storefront in a corner near the entrance. She had never ventured deep inside until the eve of the Zhongyuan Festival two years ago. Then, while grinding herbs at the clinic, two people dressed in black and white suddenly entered.

Shen Hua paused and asked their business.

The man in black said casually, “Nothing, just looking around.”

Though his words were light, his eyes had already swept the clinic and Shen Hua thoroughly.

Seeing they did not leave or speak further, Shen Hua resumed her work, as if alone in the clinic.

“A young woman trying to survive in the Ghost Market—that seems true,” the woman in white finally spoke. Shen Hua looked up, noticing it was a female voice.

Shen Hua replied coldly, “Aren’t you the same?”

The woman in white sat opposite Shen Hua, smoothing her hair, and asked, “People say you can see things others can’t. Is that true?”

Shen Hua calmly arranged herbs, glanced at her, and said, “In just over an hour, it will be midnight. If you’re truly here to visit my clinic, then after looking around, you may leave.”

The pair exchanged knowing glances. The woman in white spoke again, “My master wishes to see you.”

“Fine.”

Shen Hua answered decisively. The two looked puzzled—they had seen many types in the Ghost Market, but someone like Shen Hua was rare: taciturn, enigmatic, asking nothing about them or their master.