Chapter One (continued)

Zhao Yuanzhou gave himself to the custody of Zhuo Yichen in a place that better suited him—the Demon Hunting Bureau’s dungeon. This place was heavily guarded and completely dark. The drifting air, damp with the thick scent of mildew and moss, was nauseating to breathe. The only light came from torches hanging on the walls, showing just enough to make it even more gloomy and unsettling.

Zhao Yuanzhou’s hands and feet were secured with heavy chains, the other end secured to the wall. The craftsmen used dark iron, specially designed to bind savage demons; a hard, unparalleled material. Even a demon of tremendous strength would be challenged to break free. The chains were coarse and cumbersome, restricting the movement of the hands and feet, scraping away at the flesh, forcing obedient motionlessness.

The imprisoned Zhao Yuanzhou, bored to death, shook the shackles until they clanged. The door to his cell was already locked. Outside it, Zhuo Yichen and Situ Ming ordered the guards to temporarily withdraw as they discussed official business together in hushed tones.

“Commander Zhuo, your Cloud-Light sword… Why can’t it kill him?” Situ Ming asked, probing gently to understand the doubts in his heart.

Zhuo Yichen lowered his head and remained silent for quite a while. He clearly didn’t know the answer either.

“Do you want to know?” Zhao Yuanzhou offered from within the cell, looking pleased with himself.

Zhuo Yichen snapped at him, “Despicable! How dare you eavesdrop!”

“Eavesdrop? I haven’t moved,” Zhao Yuanzhou said, feigning insult.

Zhuo Yichen stepped close, sneering at him. “Mr. Situ and I were talking quietly, yet you managed to hear us. You’re not a monkey. You’re a dog—only a dog’s ears would be so sharp.”

Zhao Yuanzhou pondered this a moment. “I think dogs have a strong sense of smell… Mr. Zhuo, don’t forget, I’m a thousand-year-old great demon. My five senses are outstanding. Even if you stand that far away, as far as I’m concerned, it’s like you’re bending down beside me to whisper in my ear—”

“You wanton—!” Zhuo Yichen couldn’t stand this provocative talk and drew his sword to point at Zhao Yuanzhou again.

Zhao Yuanzhou’s gaze dropped to the Cloud-Light sword, concealing a smile. “Mr. Zhuo, do you want to know the answer or not?”

“You have something to say, say it!”

Zhao Yuanzhou looked quite pleased with this response and said casually, “You are a descendent of the Bingyi Clan. Since ancient times, the Bingyi Clan’s bloodline has been a natural enemy of the Wilderness’s demon clans. The Cloud-Light sword has been more than enough to kill gods and slay demons, but…”

Zhao Yuanzhou made as if to speak, then stopped, successfully rousing Zhuo Yichen’s curiosity.

“But what?”

“You’re using it wrong.” Zhao Yuanzhou curled his lips in a rather dangerous smile.

Zhuo Yichen’s raised his brows, looking at him. “And I suppose you know how to use it?”

Zhao Yuanzhou rattled his shackles, a hint, encouraging Zhuo Yichen to step close again. “Naturally. But this is the Bingyi Clan’s greatest secret, so I must whisper it to you, Mr. Zhuo—Outsiders should not hear a word of it… It’s a shame about these chains…”

Zhuo Yichen responded derisively, “The Bingyi Clan’s greatest secret. Yet, as a member of the clan, I don’t know it and you do. You think I believe you?”

 “What’s wrong with that?” Zhao Yuanzhou replied. “I’ve lived long enough. To you, it’s a secret. To me, it’s old news. Hear me out. What’s there to lose? Or is Mr. Zhuo afraid?”

Of course Zhuo Yichen didn’t trust Zhu Yan, but deep in his heart he considered his words.

Seeing this, Situ Ming hurried to restrain Zhuo Yichen, lest his eagerness for revenge poison and bewitch his wisdom. In a low voice he reminded him, “Mr. Zhuo, demons are treacherous. Don’t allow him to fool you.” He turned to face the shackled Zhao Yuanzhou and deliberately raised his voice to an interrogative volume. “In your letter you said you could help the Demon Hunting Bureau solve the recent cases in Tiandu of brides kidnapped and murdered by a water ghost. Is this true?”

This was the most crucial issue right now. Within the last month, the water ghost’s death toll had reached 81 and the imperial court regarded this as quite important. Chongwu Camp had already been investigating for several days yet still had no clues. If the Demon Hunting Bureau could solve the case before Chongwu Camp, it could restore their status.

“It’s true,” Zhao Yuanzhou replied.

Situ Ming remained on guard. “Why would you want to help the Demon Hunting Bureau for no reason at all?”

Zhao Yuanzhou shrugged, expression innocent. “I have no demands or desires. I sincerely and genuinely want to help the Demon Hunting Bureau. For many years now, Chongwu Camp has wantonly killed demons and beasts. They’ve done so much evil. I’m a Great Demon—naturally I want to help avenge lesser demons. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You humans have that written in your military strategies, don’t you?”

“Eight years ago the Demon Hunting Bureau was destroyed and Chongwu Camp gained power, all thanks to you,” Zhuo Yichen hatefully replied. “Anyone can help the Demon Hunting Bureau except you!”

Situ Ming took an uncertain step forward. “You’re really agreeing to help us?”

“With all the power I have, without restraint,” Zhao Yuanzhou said. “…But I have one condition.”

Zhuo Yichen snorted coldly. “Just now you said you have no demands or desires. As expected, it’s all lies.”

“What condition?” Situ Ming asked.

Zhao Yuanzhou said, “I want one of your Demon Hunting Bureau people to accompany me on the investigation.”

Situ Ming hesitated. “Who?”

“You both know this person.” Zhao Yuanzhou smiled. “It’s Mr. Situ’s[1] adopted daughter—Miss Wen Xiao.”

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[1] The text actually says Mr. Fan Ying, which is the name of the character in the show…but it’s also the guy who has so far been called Situ Ming. It’s possible these characters were combined in the series. I’ll try to make note if Fan Ying actually shows up, or if this is an error and it should have read Situ Ming, as I put it.

Here are the idioms that appeared in this section:

百无聊赖 (bǎiwúliáolài) – bored to death; bored stiff; overcome with boredom

无缘无故 (wúyuán-wúgù) – without cause or reason; for no reason at all; without rhyme or reason

无欲无求 (wúyùwúqiú) – to be free of worldly desires and ambitions; to neither want nor seek (fame, profit, material gain, etc.)

鞠躬尽瘁 (jūgōng-jìncuì) – bend oneself to a task and exert oneself to the utmost; spare no effort in the performance of one’s duty