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墨書 Inktalez
The wind sought to prove its existence and that it was still alive, asking, "Why would the Murderer attack?"
"Hate," Cui Ming replied. "I can't be sure, but I can only guess. Assuming the attackers are Otherworldly Creatures, even though the Northern region is a desert, there is plenty of food. For a being with such intelligence as a cultivator, survival should not be an issue. So why the attacks? The only explanation is hate. Look at Toad; Toad was summoned by an elder, and shortly after being summoned, the elder died. Then, through competition, Toad became the elder."
"Not just revenge, but revenge with a plan."
Cui Ming nodded. "Make arrangements. Starting tomorrow, Miss Fortune will lie in wait near the Northern region as my backup. Wind, you..."
"I'll stay behind with the turtle," Wind replied weakly.
The turtle corrected him, "My name is Mos. Can I ask a question? Why leave behind a leg?"
"Who knows?"
...
Cui Ming appeared openly, and no one paid him much attention. Although there were no male messengers present, it was not surprising to see another male messenger around. The messenger walked alongside Sadin, which made it even less strange. The fire at the city gate had affected everyone; although the elder kept it confidential, many knew that several residents had been murdered. They all displayed a cooperative demeanor. Cui Ming observed beside Sadin as four messengers thoroughly inspected all buildings, including the residents' rooms.
Cui Ming and Sadin entered a Stone House. Upon entering, Cui Ming immediately retreated in disgust; inside was a madman scribbling various unfamiliar characters on the walls—likely spells, alchemy formulas, or magic circles. Writing is one thing; could he not use a pen? Why resort to using feces? This was utterly ridiculous...
Sadin seemed to be aware of the owner's habits beforehand and checked around before stepping out. "Feces and hair are commonly used materials in alchemy. He fell into a deadlock ten years ago and has been researching ever since, using whatever he has on hand to write. We have to repaint his walls every month, but this is only the second time he has used feces."
"What is a deadlock?" Cui Ming asked curiously. Is it like getting stuck in a rut?
"To put it simply, creating a Magic Stone requires a magic circle that needs certain materials... If the outcome can produce those materials, then it's a complete production process. Two scenarios can lead to a deadlock: one rare situation occurs when you ultimately need a Magic Stone to create materials; if you have the Magic Stone, you wouldn't need all those other things because they are meant for producing the Magic Stone itself. The other common deadlock happens when one step goes wrong—like 2+2=5—this minor issue hides among countless characters; through experimentation, problems arise, issues are searched for but found none... Sometimes it's precisely the simplest aspects that go unnoticed while everyone focuses on more complex areas that are easy to get wrong."
As they spoke and walked through a cluster of homes housing over ten families, messengers were inspecting this area along with its facilities. The residents stood just meters away, whispering among themselves while watching the messengers. Sadin looked at them and said, "They know quite a bit; they understand that with a killer on the loose, there's a high chance of another murder between tomorrow afternoon and the following morning. This group is quite aware; they have formed an alliance called the Fallen Alliance."
"Are they causing trouble?"
"No," Sadin replied. "They are the quietest group—at least on the surface." He continued, "But I suspect that the previous two murders are related to them; residents who moved in here and didn't fit in were killed after just over a month of living here. They always strike during the Sword Demon’s lunar phase; even when murders occur, the Sword Demon remains indifferent."
"This kind of alliance with some strength poses a threat to your rule," Cui Ming warned while subtly sowing discord.
"That's right. In ancient times, the emperor did not wield direct power. Simply put, the Chancellor managed the officials, while the Marshal oversaw the soldiers. What happens if the Chancellor and the Marshal rebel? A concept known as the Emperor's Art emerged, which includes a term called Balanced. The Marshal holds significant power, but when selecting a second Marshal or subordinate military figures, one must choose individuals who have grievances against the Marshal, rather than his brothers. Of course, this mechanism can present problems during invasions, but it works quite well in times of peace. No team of ten or so people can act with one heart; for instance, that practitioner of Blood Magic is mine. We always bring back a Death Row Inmate to provide him with fresh blood, and he sustains the Death Row Inmate until he dies from Blood Disease. As for other Blood Magic practitioners? They can only provide animal blood."
"Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors," Cui Ming remarked.
"Yes, human desires are endless. If you provide something good to a certain person, others will not blame you; most will be jealous of that person who benefits and even wonder why it isn't them," Sadin said. "This is what the city lord shared with me about raising subordinates. He said many people inherently possess servility, especially in front of power. They will flatter their masters and betray their peers to showcase their status among their kind. Thus, while others are envious of him, they also yearn to become like him."
How interesting, Cui Ming nodded. The two stood aside chatting for a while until the envoys emerged; after searching the building, they all shook their heads at Sadin and proceeded to the next location. Cui Ming and Sadin also walked toward the next place, and Cui Ming whispered, "The house with corn hanging at the entrance has issues."
Sadin walked naturally and asked quietly, "What issues?"
"In the southeast corner of that house, there are Force fluctuations—very faint ones. We've been here for half an hour, and these Force fluctuations haven't moved; they haven't weakened or strengthened. It feels more like something emitting Force."
"That house belongs to one of the founders of the Fallen Alliance—a Dark Mage," Sadin said. "If you suspect that Murderer’s Earth Escape Technique is in play, then he is likely the next target."
"Yes," Cui Ming meant just that.
Sadin said, "Alright, I'll trust you this once." He still needed to confirm with the envoys whether anything with Force fluctuations had been discovered inside the house. It's possible that the Dark Mage buried or hid something there. However, Sadin wouldn't inquire or investigate further to avoid alarming anyone. The only headache was if Cui Ming's speculation were true—how to break the Earth Escape Technique?
Sadin asked, "Are you interested in having tea with Toad?"
Cui Ming shook his head. "I don't like that suggestion."
Sadin laughed. "I think he should be more afraid of you; once your boss makes a move, half of his Earth Escape Technique will be rendered useless. Although he can still escape underground once a month, he can no longer take anyone with him."
"The key is my boss is in the desert," The Emperor Is Far Away.
"He doesn't know," Sadin asked leisurely. "Are you afraid to go?"
Another test to see if Cui Ming had ulterior motives; although Sadin mostly believed him, it was wise to remain cautious since they were not friends. There were other possibilities too—could Cui Ming be here to assassinate Toad? That couldn't be allowed; if any elder position became vacant in Four Elders, it would cause trouble for Silent City. Elders are like servants to the city lord but rank above hundreds; everyone hopes to gain that privilege.
Cui Ming smiled and said, "If you want me to meet him, then I shall meet him."
Sadin waved for an envoy to come over: "Tell Toad that I've heard there's some misunderstanding between him and my friend Cui Ming, so please invite him to dinner tonight. Also prepare some dishes."
The envoy nodded. "Yes, master."
Cui Ming said, "I am curious about one thing. You four elders have completely different personalities and worldviews, yet you seem to get along very well."
"I have never thought my personality is right, nor have I considered theirs to be wrong. The city lord told me that I tend to lean towards justice in my dealings and worried that my integrity might hinder my ability to fulfill the role of the First Elder. I replied that I can accept anything as long as it does not violate the rules of Silent City. The rules are simple: residents must not disrupt the regulations of Silent City, and in return, Silent City will provide them with good resources and safety as much as possible. Toad and I are not friends; we have many conflicting traits, yet we coexist harmoniously."
Cui Ming asked, "Suppose a fallen wizard seeks refuge here. He has a grudge against Toad but meets the criteria for protection in Silent City. What then?"
"It depends on luck. If Toad is on duty, then he’s doomed. If it’s me or someone else on duty, he can become a legitimate resident. Toad cannot make things difficult for him, even if he is unhappy about it."
"What if he does make things difficult?" Cui Ming asked curiously.
"Then he would be violating the rules, and he must die," Sadin replied with a smile. "It's quite simple, right? Regardless of whether you are just or dark, as long as you do not break the rules, anything goes."
Cui Ming chuckled, "People often say that Silent City is chaotic and disordered, but now it seems that Silent City actually has order, and it’s quite strict."
"Every place has its order, more or less; it's just a matter of how high or low the bottom line is. In fact, any group of two or more people living together will establish rules. Whether it's survival of the fittest or mutual respect," Sadin explained. "A typical example here is the Sword Demon. The city lord is quite dissatisfied with him and believes he hasn’t done his job properly. However, Silent City is stable at the moment, and the city lord doesn’t want to stir up trouble."
"Haha, so the rules are ultimately dictated by the city lord."
"Exactly," Sadin laughed.
Sadin was an interesting person; he spoke eloquently. Although many of his views did not align with mainstream opinions, he had his own set of beliefs. His most notable trait was his aversion to lying—or perhaps it was more accurate to say he was too lazy to lie. There were things he wouldn’t mention and others he would state very directly. He expressed his thoughts clearly and freely. Sadin had many perspectives on matters; he was never confined to one viewpoint, and conversing with him could teach one a lot—provided you had a sufficiently firm worldview; otherwise, you might be influenced by him. (To be continued.)
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