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The Secrets of the Chang'an Demon Case
墨書 Inktalez
The Great Tang Prosperity hides turbulent under the surface of song and dance. Demons and monsters borrow corpses to return to life, while spirits lurk, waiting for their chance. In the bustling city of Chang'an, the intersection of yin and yang creates a bizarre spectacle. On one side lies the power struggles of humanity, filled with deceit and treachery; on the other, evil forces wreak havoc, leaving people in fear.
As night deepens, the lights of Chang'an shine brightly. However, within a luxurious room, a nauseating smell of blood permeates the air. On the floor lies a disfigured corpse, dressed in fine clothing but devoid of any vitality.
"Truly deserving of being a thousand-year-old fox, the execution is quite swift..." A cold smile plays at the corners of his mouth, as if he is utterly unfazed by the gruesome scene before him. "It's just a pity that this room full of cosmetics has been tainted by such filth." He sighs lightly, his tone tinged with regret but lacking any hint of fear; instead, it feels as if he is appreciating a splendid drama.
In the corner of the room, incense wafts from a burner, curling smoke filling the air with a peculiar fragrance that is sweet to the point of suffocation...
The scent penetrates Li Xuanqing's nostrils, causing him to frown slightly. This aroma... is Mesmerizing Incense, a secret concoction exclusive to the Fox Clan, capable of bewildering the mind and captivating hearts. Yet intertwined with it is a barely perceptible hint of sickly sweetness, differing from his recollection of Fox Clan's enchanting incense; it feels more like... something sinister mixed in.
Li Xuanqing's gaze sharpens; it seems this case is not simple. He surveys his surroundings: the room is lavishly decorated with exquisite furnishings typical of a woman's boudoir but is now shrouded in an overwhelming stench of blood, creating an eerie contrast. He crouches down to examine the corpse closely; it is a middle-aged man dressed in brocade garments, clearly of noble status, yet his face is twisted and blood flows from all seven orifices—his death is horrifying.
"Is this indeed aimed at the Fox Demon?" Li Xuanqing murmurs to himself as he stands up, scanning every corner of the room for clues about the murderer.
"Who goes there?!"
A low shout comes from outside the door. Li Xuanqing turns to see a man in official attire with a sword at his waist entering—a serious-looking man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes; it is Di Renjie, Deputy Minister of Justice. Following him is a burly man, his capable assistant Wang Hu.
Di Renjie immediately spots the corpse in the center of the room, frowning deeply as he strides over to examine it closely.
"My lord, this... this is too brutal!" Wang Hu covers his nose and speaks with an ashen face, clearly shocked by what he sees.
Ignoring Wang Hu, Di Renjie scans every corner of the room with piercing eyes until they land on Li Xuanqing.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Di Renjie asks coldly, his tone carrying an air of scrutiny.
Li Xuanqing smiles slightly and bows his hands in greeting. "I am Li Xuanqing, just passing through when I caught a whiff of blood and came in to take a look. I didn't expect..." He pauses deliberately, glancing at the corpse on the ground, "...such a tragedy would occur."
"Passing through?" Di Renjie clearly does not believe Li Xuanqing's words. He sizes him up; though dressed plainly, Li Xuanqing exudes an air of nonchalance that cannot be concealed—especially those deep-set eyes that seem capable of seeing through one's heart, raising a sense of caution within him.
"You'd better speak honestly; otherwise..." Di Renjie begins but is interrupted by Li Xuanqing.
"Otherwise what?" A playful smile appears on Li Xuanqing's lips as he shows no fear towards Di Renjie's fierce gaze. "Lord Di, we are strangers; why so aggressive?"
With a cold snort, Di Renjie opens his mouth to respond but is stopped by Wang Hu, who whispers urgently in his ear: "My lord, be careful not to alert the snake by striking the grass."
Taking a deep breath to suppress his anger, Di Renjie casts another cold glance at Li Xuanqing, then turns to Wang Hu. "Seal off the scene and search thoroughly; leave no trace unexamined!"
"Yes!" Wang Hu responded and left.
Di Renjie looked at Li Xuanqing again, his expression complex. He said in a deep voice, "Young Master Li, I hope you can cooperate with our investigation at the Dali Temple." After saying this, he turned and left the room.
Li Xuanqing watched Di Renjie’s departing figure, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth. It seemed that this Lord Di was not an ordinary person...
Meanwhile, on the busiest street in Chang'an City, crowds gathered, bustling with excitement. The annual Oiran Contest was about to begin, with renowned courtesans from various places coming together to showcase their beauty and talent.
The Drunken Moon Pavilion, the most famous brothel in Chang'an City, was adorned extravagantly tonight. Inside, guests filled the hall, toasting and chatting, while the sounds of music filled the air.
"Dear guests, thank you for your patience!"
With the alluring call of the matron, a woman slowly walked onto the stage. She wore a flowing red silk dress, her skin as white as snow, with delicate features that resembled a painting. Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, swaying gently with her movements, resembling a blooming red lotus, vibrant and captivating.
She was Hong Xiu, the star courtesan of the Drunken Moon Pavilion.
As soon as Hong Xiu appeared, she captured everyone's attention, and applause erupted from the audience. She smiled slightly; her enchanting gaze captivated all who beheld her.
Li Xuanqing sat in a corner, lifting his wine cup and taking a sip while his eyes remained fixed on Hong Xiu. He sensed a powerful aura emanating from her—a deep-seated charm that was hard to detect unless one possessed certain skills.
It seemed that this Oiran Contest was more intriguing than he had anticipated...
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