They all but flew through the passages then, a dazed Alex actually impressed to say Zhu Bi and Yingpei keeping up with their crazy fast walk.

“Alex! It’s good to seed you, um… out of your predicament!” declared Yingpei, gazing intently at Alex, who had insisted on using his own two feet, now taking the lead of their party, whereas the two inspectors were now surrounded by what could politely be called an honor guard of half a dozen well-armed men.

“Everything is going to be okay, isn’t it?” asked a strangely worried-looking Yingpei.

But what really got to Alex was Zhu Bi, halting their whole procession when she crashed to her knees and wept at Alex’s feet.

“Please, grandfather! I know my cousin is a fool who dared to put his hands on you, but I hope and pray that you can find it in your heart to forgive one of your wayward grandchildren. He knows not what he did!”

“Zhu Bi!” Snapped a horrified looking Su Xiao. “Why are you kowtowing before that Ruidian? Get up this instant!”

Alex blinked. “Wait… wait, wait, wait! Are you saying that asshole is actually your cousin? Meaning he’s also my… wait, I thought it was just a figure of speech, seeing as he’s a kitsune!”

Zhu Bi sobbed and shook her head. “No, grandfather. It’s true. Please don’t kill little SuSu! Your blood flows through his veins!”

Zha Shi’s eyes widened. He slowly turned to his partner. “There are too many pieces to this puzzle that are clearly missing.”

But Su Xiao’s disbelieving glare was fixed only on Zhu Bi. “Does aunty even know you’re pregnant? And why the hell are you calling that boy our grandfather? He can’t be older than 20!”

Yingpei paled. He fell to one knee, his look one of shock, awe, and fiercest love. “Is it true?” he asked, clasping Zhu Bi’s hand.

She sobbed and nodded, holding him close. “I love you, Yingpei Lin.”

“I love you too,” the young merchant said, holding her in his trembling arms. “From this moment on, I swear to love and honor you in all things, and to cherish and protect the family we will forge together. Zhu Bi, will you have me as your husband?”

She sobbed and laughed, tears streaming down her face. “You know I will, Yingpei!”

“You can’t do this!” Said an outraged Su Xiao. “This is not proper! Our clans haven’t been properly informed, we know nothing about him…”

Alex grinned. “Congratulations, Zhu Bi, Yingpei Lin. You two make an adorable couple.” He turned to his seneschal. “Can I officially declare them married?”

“Of course, my lord. This is your realm. You may do as you wish.”

Alex nodded. “There we are! You two are officially married. Everything’s fine here, Zhu Bi. I’m not going to kill your idiot of a cousin. So go off and enjoy your honeymoon! And look at that, I do believe that’s Elder Ru’s suite. Ending awkward scene in 3…2...1... now!”

And with that, Alex sprinted for the door.

Chapter

A tired-looking Elder Ru was gazing at Alex and his two accusers from his wicker chair, steepling his fingers.

“So let me make sure I understand. You, Inspector Su Xiao, noted young Alex’s gore spattered armor, suspected that he was up to no good, and the pair of you proceeded to interrogate him. The answers he gave you, Inspector Zha Shi, confirmed your partner’s suspicions.”

He received a pair of nods.

His hard gaze then locked upon a suddenly abashed-looking Alex. “And you had absolutely no problem dashing through town in battle-worn gear, asking after your friends. And your justification for why people seemed to shrug you off as fast as they could wasn’t at all because you looked like you had just been in a brawl, or a murderous rampage, but rather because you had gotten there too late for anyone to remember where over full dozen settlers with Silver Giants among them might have spent the morning, and gone from there?”

Alex winced. “Well you see, I explained that I was a—”

“Hunter.”

Alex swallowed under the man’s glare. “Okay, if you’re going to put it that way, maybe I had um… well, the guard had no problem letting me through!”

“Because you radiate death when you glare, boy. Even if they can’t tell you’re a Deep Bronze Ruidian who only just finished his second decade, an impossible contradiction if there ever was one. And do you really think any basic cultivator who would take it as a point of pride if he just managed to survive half a decade in the legions, a man who would barely rank as a servant in our former school, is going to do anything but respectfully nod when the beaming madman flips him coins and tells him the story he’s to pass on that day?”

Elder Ru chuckled softly. “Contrary to what you might think, guards are rarely fools. Not those who live long, anyway. As long as you didn’t cause trouble in town, he was happy to see you leave his presence as fast as possible. And I have no doubt that word leaked very quickly for the powers-that-be to keep an eye on you, all of them more than happy to put you out of mind once you raced right through the town without anyone else getting hurt. Nothing, after all, is to disrupt the arterial flow of produce and goods to Baidushi, or such is the creed that all officially acknowledged town administrators live by.”

“So. We have a wildcard in our midst who might or might not be a killer, and one favored by the powers of this realm.” Zha Shi’ eyes locked with Elder Ru’s own. “How safe are we here, truly, Master Ru?”

The man snorted. “How safe are we anywhere?” Before turning to Alex. “Is there any reason why the two gentlemen before you should expect any less courteous treatment than that enjoyed by anyone else, despite this day’s occurrences?”

Alex shook his head. “Not from me, anyway.”

Su Xiao snorted. “The only reason why the spirit guardians intervened is because they feared us violating guest privileges. You were wily enough to assault me outside our sanctuary. Yet even securing you as the prisoner you are was enough to trigger the vaunted seneschal here to come to your rescue."

Hard eyes peered into Alex’s own. “You got lucky. And don’t pretend it’s anything more than that.”

Elder Ru glared Su’s way. “And as for your own unfortunate encounter of which you’re proving remarkably sketchy on the details, did you happen to maim or assault any women, children, or any other wandering passersby during your shopping trip, Alex? To put it another way, did you get in any sort of altercation with anyone involving more than a busted nose or lip who was not actually agent of Dongfang Hong’s?”

Alex shook his head. “Of course not. I’m not a monster.”

This earned a bark of laughter from Su Xiao. “Not a monster, he says.”

Alex locked gazes with the man. “Tell me you’ve never struck down any criminal in your duties, Inspector Xiao?”

The man glared. “Of course I have, but that’s hardly the—”

Alex turned to Zha Shi. “Tell me, inspector Zha, what is the penalty for soldiers from an invading nation caught smuggling artifacts and spiritual treasures?”

Zha Shi’s gaze hardened. “Death. On both counts. Unless nobility intervenes.”

Alex grinned at Su Xiao. “And what, honorable inspector, is the sentence for any merchants or criminals aiding and abetting a foreign power in smuggling CuiJing artifacts to a foreign nation?”

“Death for said merchant and all household servants, as well as all adult members who live in his house, and the confiscation of all his clan’s worldly goods.”

Alex winced. “Yeah, that’s a bit steep, even for me. So, if you’re that ruthless in your zeal for justice, the blood of enemy agents shouldn’t be any problem for you at all. And if I’m just a foolish Ruidian with dreams of grandeur who wasted his time drinking and got in a tavern brawl with a mouthy merchant, then I’m guilty of nothing more than giving and receiving a few bruises. And if idiots want to trade fists with someone in armor, their broken knuckles are entirely their own fault.”

“Yes, but unlike you, we’re bonded agents, with the lawful right to apprehend and punish lawbreakers when we have unquestionable proof of their crimes, whereas you’re just a bloodthirsty Ruidian, and the farthest thing from an inspector!”

Alex just gazed at the seething cultivator, hand on the elongated hilt of his deadly changdao once more, trembling with so much pent up fury he seemed just a heartbeat from exploding.

“Su Xiao…” warned none other than Elder Ru himself.

“He dances around today’s events like he’s perfect innocent, but I don’t buy it for a minute," the kitsune seethed.

“Enough!”

Su Xiao stiffened. “Understood, sir.”

Alex raised an eyebrow at this.

Elder Ru just glared at the suddenly discomfited Su Xiao. “It is becoming increasingly clear to me that the stress of your unexpectedly invigorating supply assignment has had an unfortunate effect on your clarity of thought. An unfortunate lapse I expect you to think long and hard about when embracing the lessons of steel this evening!”

Su Xiao stiffened at those words… before putting hand over fist and bowing his head. “It will be as you say, Elder Ru.”

Zha Shi cleared his throat.

“Speak,” said Elder Ru.

“One is simply surprised to drr such grace extended to one of our suspects, Elder Ru.”

The master cultivator gave a curt shake of his head. “We’ve hardly done him any courtesy at all, merely refrained from falling into the bad old habits of inquisitors of old. Tell me, Inspector Zha Shi, have you even bothered getting our young Ruidian friend’s full account of the day’s events before demanding he remand himself to your custody?”

Zha Shi furrowed his impressive bushy brows. “Now that you mention it… No.”

“Hardly necessary when the criminal is so obviously guilty his crimes,” Su Xiao murmured, though Alex couldn’t help but note that his voice was soft enough for Elder Ru to pretend not to hear, which was exactly what he did, turning Alex’s way, presenting the full force of his grandfatherly smile. The warm, heartfelt, gap-toothed grin of a beloved clan elder or grandfather you couldn’t help but want to bear your soul before, just to bask in the comfort of his smile, or the gentle forgiveness only an elder who truly understands you can give.

“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it, Alex? Hopefully we can wrap this up soon. I can see how tired you are. But just for the benefit of our high-strung friends, perhaps you can explain, in your own words, exactly what happened? And please, no need to embellish or edit the story for our account. Truth is the highest art any man can aspire to, and we would love to hear your adventure just as it happened. Because the only way we can help you, is if we know exactly what happened.”

Alex’s eyes widened, an awed grin plastered across his features.

“That’s incredible!”

Elder Ru raised a bemused eyebrow. “And what would that be, friend Alex?”

“The beloved grandfather act! What you use on all the students, sticking to that role so well its what we all saw you as.” Alex wanted to applaud. “You totally had me reeled in, at the academy. I can only wonder what a master you are of this game.”

Elder Ru’s gaze hardened, but Alex’s smile was so genuine even he could sense it.

So the man settled for a wry grin. “I see you’re just as perceptive, and foolish, as the Fox in all the tales.”

“Did you know him?”

Alex froze at his own question, as surprised to hear the words from his lips as Elder Ru to hear the question, for all that the two inspectors frowned in confusion.

He was grateful Ru didn’t play stupid, giving a sad little smile and a shake of his head. “I’m afraid not, friend Alex. He was before even my time.”

Alex sighed, surprised by the curious ache in his chest. “Were there ever any others?”

“Ever any others?”

“Ruidians.”

Everyone gazed at Alex for long silent moments.

“I mean Ruidans or… people who, well, looked like me. Who might have served as inspectors.”

This earned a bark of scornful laughter form Su Xiao and a bemused smirk from Zha Shi.

Elder Ru, however, just gave a calm shake of his head. “Not that I’ve ever heard, Alex. At least not in this part of the kingdom.”

Alex sighed. “Oh. I see.”

Hit by an odd sense of melancholy that only magnified his fatigue, Alex wasted no more time, telling his adventure as succinct and quickly as he could.

“Alright, here’s version one of what happened: The minute I walked into Jin Jin’s shop, I knew he had already marked me as someone of note, exchanging handsigns with his henchman. But I was looking for armor more than I was looking for trouble, so I let it slide. Once I found a gem of an item I wanted, we got serious. He was up 4 spirit pearls and I was up a beautiful shirt of near unbreakable mail links which any speed cultivator, like the fool behind me, knows is a priceless asset. And if I had just let it go at that, we might have actually parted not as friends, exactly, but at least with mutual respect, maybe even warm regard.”

Alex sighed. “But I just had to push. Push for whatever he was holding back, outside the public eye. Because he just looked like the type who had some sort of side business going.”

Elder Ru’s expression narrowed. “And what made you think that? Anything definitive?”

Alex shrugged. “Just a gut feeling, really.”

Su Xiao snorted. “So people are dead based on your gut feeling?”

Alex ignored him and continued. “Anyway, I could sense something not being quite right when I asked about additional pieces of armor. There was a sudden tension to Jin Jin’s gaze. But I have coin to spend, more than you might think. And if he actually had the prizes I was after, I thought I could pay a premium sufficient to soothe his ire for daring to push as hard as I did.”

Alex gave a tired shake of his head. “And I was utterly and completely wrong. All I did was paint a target on my back the size of Baidushi, my Streetwise skill check clearly failing spectacularly, but my interface doesn’t really bother with social skills, and I know that means absolutely nothing to you. Point is, somehow, he was convinced I was after secret prizes I hadn’t even known were missing, which was wrong, and he took a wild guess as to who I am and what a juicy prize I might be, and in that regard, he was absolutely right.”

Alex flashed a bleak smile. “And only when I was right where he wanted me to be in his basement shop, where the real lucrative deals happened, did he make his move. Unfortunately for him, I have a pretty good sense of what people near me are doing, even if I’m not looking their way.”

Qi Perception check – automatic success!

Alex smirked when he sensed the outlines of Zha Shi and Su Xiao exchange glances and nods before twisting their thumbs in a particularly vicious pair of Baidushian insults at his back.

Alex casually lifted up his middle fingers in return, his own eyes never leaving the now grimly smiling Elder Ru’s countenance.

“So, after he roared for his men to take my head, I acted.” Alex shrugged. “Things got messy, and I got sloppy. At least in terms of cleaning up my armor, as Su Xiao so quickly discovered.”

Alex then winked. “Either that, or I had a bit too much to drink and got into something of an altercation with a loudmouthed merchant who clearly hates my kind. And maybe he was a lot stronger than a weak Ruidian like me who only looks imposing could possibly handle, and the blood our friend smelled was mostly, if not entirely, my own. Perhaps I even wasted my own healing potion so I could save face, after enduring such awful humiliation.” Alex chuckled ruefully. “And leading these two zealots on after both made it abundantly clear that they were looking for a reason to hate on me, has been the most fun I have had all day. I’ll let you gentlemen take your pick as to which story you wish to believe, because I, for one, am calling it a night.”

“Night? It’s not even noon, fool!” snapped Su Xiao. “And you’re staying right here until we’re finished questioning you!”

Alex just smiled at a hard-eyed Elder Ru, giving a respectful half-bow, all his seneschal would allow him on his own lands, before turning on his heel and leaving the way he came.

“Ruidian! Get back—”

“It’s done,” snapped Elder Ru as Alex made his way down the hallway as fast as he could without actually running.

And it said something about just how hard he had pushed himself, that Alex remembered absolutely nothing of his return trip to his quarters, utterly ignoring the feast upon his dining table, his only thoughts of the cool cotton sheets upon his down stuffed mattress as he surrendered to delicious languor and collapsed into sleep immediately after his seneschal, popping up out of nowhere, smoothly helped him remove his lamellar and dented helm.

Alex was perfectly content to sleep in everything else he wore, too exhausted even to worry about the fact that a pair of Silver Giants were now highly suspicious of him, and he feared he owed one a considerable debt, never mind that it was their dilly dallying that had given the spirit beasts time to close in the first place. He was just grateful that the only ambush had been the spirit pumas, and that Red Prince’s men, clearly scouting the entire area, had made no move to ambush or intercept. A clear sign that they were chasing rumors, and were both unable to sense Alex’s gates, let alone do anything about them.