Chapter Thirteen: The Case Solved

The commanding presence of One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs was so overwhelming that the main hall fell silent; even the sound of people swallowing could be heard with crystal clarity.

Hang Ri’s jaw nearly dropped from shock, his voice trembling with excitement. “It’s him—the demon catcher famed throughout Great Shu, One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs.”

Xu Xing followed Hang Ri’s gaze, seeing the man seated there, breath steady as a mountain—calm, mysterious, his body solid as stone. The aura radiating from One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs was unlike any master Xu Xing had encountered before: more seasoned, more powerful, yet understated. Every gesture shaped the mood of all assembled.

The man turned to look at Xu Xing; their eyes met. Xu Xing gazed back, and deep within his soul, a resonance stirred—his spirit burned hot, his heart blazed, as if glimpsing the future self he might become...

“Majestic! Bring him forth!” came Li Mo’s voice. Today, as magistrate, he was different than usual—courteous, almost fearful in his hospitality toward that man.

“Summon the accused, Xu Hai, to the court!”

Hang Ri, disguised as Xu Hai, stepped forward and knelt in the hall. He glanced at Li Mo, who startled slightly and nodded gently, as if sensing something.

Li Mo spoke: “Prisoner, do you have any further objections? If so, plead your case; if not, you shall be incarcerated.”

Xu Xing stepped forward, approaching the Stone of Innocence, striking the drum thrice, then spoke out:

“Your honor, Xu Hai is innocent. He acted with passion for the people, exterminating evil, yet was framed—this is nothing but malicious slander!”

“On what grounds? Present your evidence!”

Xu Xing advanced, standing before Hang Ri, drawing from one pocket the withered root of the sensitive plant, and from another, the fresh root grown by his sister-in-law in her courtyard—plump and bundled. The items were handed to a soldier, who delivered them to Li Mo for inspection.

“Your honor, as far as I know, only my sister-in-law grows sensitive plants in Haicheng. The withered specimen was found in the tavern, specifically in the whale oil of an ancient lamp!”

Li Mo stroked his beard. “This alone is not substantive evidence. If you wish to prove your brother’s innocence, you must show those bruises were not inflicted by him!”

Hang Ri glanced back at Xu Xing, murmuring, “I feel like I’m being played.”

Xu Xing, puzzled, asked, “Hm? What do you mean?”

“Ah, just played—I even had someone send him a message, but now it seems useless.”

“He’s played me before, but never like this... This time it’s wilder than ever.”

Hang Ri sighed, then shrugged it off: “No harm done—even if I go in, I can get out in a day...”

His words broke off abruptly. Xu Xing glanced at him—full of nonsense, truly incorrigible—then turned his attention to the crowd, pondering deeply.

As the deceased had reached their allotted time in the yamen, they were returned to their families for burial.

Now it was impossible to exhume them again. Only inference and factual judgment remained. Looking around, Xu Xing’s gaze lingered at the entrance.

He focused, employing the secret technique of Divine Origin, his soul leaving his body. Since advancing to the peak of Qi refining, his spirit could roam freely for several minutes.

“Her?”

He saw the woman who once stirred his heart—Mo Xi. Her gaze rested on his physical form, pure and immaculate. Xu Xing’s spirit moved closer.

At the gate, he glanced back at her once more, his heart now undisturbed, then pressed forward and saw someone familiar.

He scrutinized closely—this was the person Xu Xing sought, but something on the man’s body nearly shattered Xu Xing’s soul.

...

“Hey, Xu Xing, what’s with the sweat? What have you been up to?”

Xu Xing patted his head, clearly weakened—the secret technique of Divine Origin consumed much energy. After a brief rest, he walked toward the entrance.

Mo Xi stood before him, her eyes gentle and captivating, gazing at him—her eyes held a sea of stars, innocent yet profound.

She wanted to speak, but pressed her pink lips together, hesitating.

Their eyes met, and in that instant, Xu Xing felt as if struck by divine thunder—his mind tingled, scalp prickling.

He swallowed, then gestured toward Mo Xi, saying, “Excuse me, please let me through.”

Mo Xi froze, surprised as if turned to stone, then awkwardly stepped aside. Xu Xing pointed directly at a man—fat-faced, ears large, features coarse.

It was Su Mei’s coachman!

“Your honor, I’ve long known the culprit, but dared not make the judgment. Three days have passed, and the dead are buried—this case was deemed unsolvable. I endured in silence, waiting for today.”

“Your honor, it’s him—he murdered my brother!”

Xu Xing pointed at the man—it was none other than Su Wei’s coachman. From their first meeting, Xu Xing sensed something off about him. His use of the Divine Origin technique had merely confirmed his suspicions.

The crowd erupted in chaos, astonished, all eyes on the accused.

The coachman, realizing, turned and bolted, dashing toward the exit with all his might.

A green leaf sliced through the air, threatening to cut him down. The coachman’s demon tail emerged; he became a shadow, whipping up a gust and escaping through the gate.

The leaf flew, making a crisp sound, then a thud—the sound of someone collapsing.

The green leaf returned, circling One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs.

“Your honor, please allow me to explain in detail—I will clarify every nuance,” Xu Xing declared.

But Li Mo appeared unconcerned, glancing at Xu Hai and even smiling.

He then signaled them to withdraw, saying, “Now that the truth is revealed, let it rest within you.”

Xu Xing was at a loss—is it because of Hang Ri that Li Mo now treated him this way? His attitude was entirely different at the outset.

Just as Hang Ri stepped back to Xu Xing’s side, preparing to leave, the voice of One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs rang out:

“Wait—I want to hear.”

His gaze was resolute, piercing Xu Xing like a thousand swords.

Yet Xu Xing met his eyes without flinching, astonishing the crowd—how could Xu Xing stare down the demon catcher? Was he throwing away his future? Was he concealing his true strength?

The crowd grew restless.

“That’s the Xu family’s old wastrel—after the Mo family girl dumped him, he never recovered.”

“This kid’s got no sense—magistrate’s already helped him.”

“Exactly, probably bribed the magistrate, who knows what dirty dealings lie behind it.”

“Him? A useless fool, can’t even cultivate anymore, yet still pretends—this will be entertaining.”

“Let’s see how this failure plays tiger to eat pig, and ruins himself.”

The hall was noisy, voices condemning Xu Xing from all sides—except for Mo Xi.

“I believe in you!” she said softly, a gentle smile on her face.

Hang Ri, at Xu Xing’s side, murmured, “We’re done for. With the demon catcher presiding, this won’t be easy to resolve.”

Xu Xing stepped forward, standing squarely before One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs. The two locked eyes; Xu Xing clasped his hands in gratitude.

“Thank you for saving my life.”

This statement set the crowd abuzz—they were dumbfounded, unable to believe what they heard.

Their expressions were nothing short of exaggerated.

Did Xu Xing have some connection with One Leaf, Thirteen Stabs? That man held one of the highest posts in Great Shu.

Speculation ran wild—was Xu Xing merely lucky to know him?

“Speak.”

“Very well, it’s like this,” Xu Xing nodded, beginning his explanation.