“Still unwilling to speak?”
Feng the Butcher fell silent. After a long pause, he finally opened his mouth and said hoarsely, “Immortals selecting disciples… How could someone like me, just an ordinary commoner, possibly know anything about that?”
“Brother—” Feng the Butcher hadn’t finished speaking when the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang. Feng Jiao stood there holding a teapot, clearly having been eavesdropping for some time. She said angrily, “They conspire together to commit such despicable deeds. Haven’t they harmed our family enough? Why are you still speaking up for them?”
“Jiaojiao, be quiet!” Feng the Butcher quickly stood up, grabbed Feng Jiao, and poked his head out the door, scanning the courtyard carefully. After repeatedly confirming that no one was around, he let out a heavy sigh of relief, turned back, and scolded her with his forehead pressed against hers, “You’re still so reckless with your words. What if someone overheard you? Who would be able to protect you then?”
Feng Jiao retorted indignantly, “They’re terrible people! Why can’t I speak the truth? Besides—” She shot a quick glance at Xiao Jingduo. “Besides, isn’t Vice Magistrate Xiao right here?”
“Mind your manners!” Feng the Butcher pulled his sister aside and addressed Xiao Jingduo apologetically. “My sister has been spoiled at home and doesn’t think before she speaks. Please don’t take it to heart, Vice Magistrate Xiao. You cleared my name of murder, and I, Feng Xiang, am deeply grateful. I will never forget this kindness. If there’s ever an opportunity in the future, I will repay you.”
“But—” Feng Jiao tried to speak again, only to be silenced by a sharp glare from her brother. Feng the Butcher warned her, “Our family has always valued gratitude above all else. You’re not allowed to say another word. We cannot be ungrateful people.”
While the siblings argued, Xiao Jingduo quietly observed. Once they finally stopped quarreling, he lightly tapped the table with his knuckles and said, “Ungrateful? Are you worried that telling me about the Tai Li Sect will implicate me?”
Feng the Butcher said nothing, but his expression clearly indicated as much.
Xiao Jingduo couldn’t help but chuckle. “I hardly know how to respond to that. Though I may not be particularly capable, I was appointed here in Jinjiang County by imperial decree, and I intend to fulfill my duty as a magistrate. Whatever you know, just tell me. Even if I were to fail, I wouldn’t be brought down by them. In Chang’an, I do have some connections.”
Feng Jiao was overjoyed to hear this, and even Feng the Butcher tentatively asked, “Really?”
“Really.”
Feng the Butcher immediately clapped his hands heavily. “This is wonderful news!” For generations, their family had lived in Jinjiang County. To them, the county magistrate was the highest-ranking official they could imagine. Most people went their whole lives without understanding the hierarchy of the bureaucracy or how the world outside Jinjiang operated. However, Feng the Butcher at least knew that Chang’an was the most extraordinary place—home to the emperor and empress. Xiao Jingduo’s claim of having connections in the capital was beyond Feng the Butcher’s comprehension. For the first time, he began to believe that perhaps Xiao Jingduo truly could rid the county of the malignant Tai Li Sect.
“The situation is urgent, and I don’t have time to waste with you. Now, tell me everything about the Tai Li Sect from the beginning.”
“This Tai Li Sect… it probably started two years ago.”
Two years ago, in what is now called the Lake of Miracles, a man named Qi Ling was said to have been enlightened by an immortal and ascended to immortality. Of course, that’s the Tai Li Sect’s version of the story. According to eyewitnesses, some fishermen were at the lake when they noticed a thick mist rolling out of the forest on the opposite shore. The mist wasn’t like the natural fog that sometimes forms over the lake; it moved quickly and churned like clouds, accompanied by faint sounds of thunder. Curious, the fishermen headed across the lake to investigate and encountered Qi Ling halfway there. They asked him if he had seen the miraculous phenomenon. Qi Ling hesitated for a moment before admitting that the miracle was caused by him. He claimed he had been napping by the lake when an immortal enlightened him, teaching him their divine arts.
This story quickly spread through the remote and isolated Jinjiang County. Soon, many people were flocking to meet Qi Ling. Eventually, Qi Ling formally established a sect, naming it the Tai Li Sect, and began teaching divine arts to his followers periodically. With the allure of such “immortal techniques,” the sect grew rapidly, drawing the attention of even the local government.
At first, Magistrate Chen didn’t believe any of it and ordered Qi Ling’s arrest. However, during a public demonstration, Qi Ling summoned clouds and mist and performed a levitation trick. These so-called divine techniques greatly intimidated Magistrate Chen and further solidified the followers’ faith.
After this display of power, Qi Ling and the Tai Li Sect’s reputation soared. Many wealthy families became fervent supporters, donating large sums of money in the hope of learning the secrets of immortality. Before long, Qi Ling began selecting disciples, claiming to seek out promising boys and girls with innate spiritual roots to accompany him on his journey to seek enlightenment. Naturally, commoners were eager for their children to be chosen. During the first selection, most of those chosen were girls, many of them famously beautiful. A few months later, the Tai Li Sect held another selection, this time choosing even more girls from a wider area.
At first, the people were ecstatic, thrilled at the idea of their children being chosen. By the third and fourth selections, however, enthusiasm waned. Some families grew unwilling to participate, but Qi Ling, as a “master immortal,” wouldn’t tolerate defiance. The selections continued, and those chosen had no power to refuse.
By this point, the attitude of the people in Jinjiang County had shifted from eager devotion to desperate avoidance. Especially troubling was the discovery that girls favored by wealthy families like the Sun family often ended up on the selection list. Even families who spent money to help their daughters escape selection would find that the girls mysteriously disappeared soon after. The common people weren’t fools—they quickly realized that the Tai Li Sect and wealthy families like the Suns were colluding, using the pretense of seeking enlightenment to forcibly take young women from good families.
“By the time we realized what was happening, it was too late. The Tai Li Sect had already amassed tremendous influence, and we common folk couldn’t possibly oppose them. Besides, the sect’s masters genuinely seemed to possess divine powers. All we could do was spend money to avoid disaster,” Feng the Butcher sighed heavily.
“With such rampant corruption, why didn’t you report this to the authorities?”
“Report it?” Feng the Butcher sneered. “At first, we did. But Magistrate Chen dismissed it as a minor issue and couldn’t be bothered. Later, he himself became a follower of the Tai Li Sect’s masters. Who would dare seek death by reporting it after that?”
Xiao Jingduo could roughly guess Magistrate Chen’s mindset. At first, when the Tai Li Sect selected only ordinary women, it had nothing to do with him, so he didn’t intervene. Later, as the sect and the wealthy families grew bolder and more ambitious, Magistrate Chen felt uneasy but assumed they wouldn’t dare target him. However, by the time they set their sights on his own daughter, there was no one left to help him.
The malignant growth of the Tai Li Sect had already spiraled out of control.
Even the infamous Feng family was targeted. Unable to resist the sect, the Feng family resorted to bribery to protect their bloodline. Unlike the Feng family, however, Magistrate Chen, being an official, was furious when Qi Ling expressed interest in his daughter. He outright refused and publicly berated the members of the Tai Li Sect before storming out in anger.
However, Magistrate Chen’s wish to sever ties with the Tai Li Sect didn’t come true.
May passed, and Chen Ci safely made it through the sect’s recruitment period. People assumed the matter had been resolved. After all, no matter how audacious the Tai Li Sect and the local gentry were, they were still commoners—how could they openly challenge a magistrate? But then, in July, on a rare sunny day, Chen Ci left home to run an errand and never returned.
This incident naturally enraged Magistrate Chen. He sent out search parties and even launched a forceful raid on the Tai Li Sect’s premises. Yet, the county office was surrounded by the sect’s spies, making it unsurprising that his efforts yielded no results.
Magistrate Chen was devastated and fell into a deep depression, drowning himself in alcohol daily to numb his pain.
“At first, I thought Magistrate Chen was simply lost in grief over his daughter’s disappearance, using alcohol to dull the sorrow,” Feng the Butcher said. “But in August, he suddenly sent me a message saying he wanted to discuss the matter of the sect’s recruitments with me.”
Xiao Jingduo looked thoughtful. “So Magistrate Chen only appeared indifferent to official matters on the surface, but was secretly investigating the disappearances?”
“That’s likely the case. Back then, I was already overwhelmed by their meddling, so when Magistrate Chen contacted me, I agreed to meet. Later, we had a few exchanges to establish trust. Eventually, Magistrate Chen invited me to the county office late at night to discuss the matter in detail. But somehow, when I arrived, Magistrate Chen was already dead.”
“Perhaps word of his plans leaked,” Xiao Jingduo sighed. “There’s no greater folly than tolerating evil.”
Feng the Butcher fell silent, while Feng Jiao, sitting at her brother’s side, let out a worried sigh.
“Vice Magistrate Xiao,” Feng Jiao couldn’t help but ask, “Magistrate Chen spent many years in Jinjiang County and couldn’t resolve this matter. He even lost his life because of it. You’ve only just arrived. Could it be—”
“I think I understand what’s going on,” Xiao Jingduo interrupted with a reassuring smile. “Thank you. Don’t worry—it will be fine.”
The sky was already growing dark, and if they stayed any longer, the curfew would begin. Xiao Jingduo stood up to take his leave, and the Feng siblings escorted him all the way to the gate before stopping.
By the time Xiao Jingduo returned to the county office, it was quite late. Fortunately, it was the south, where the nights fell later, so it wasn’t completely dark yet. Hearing the sound of his arrival, Qiuju hurried out to greet him.
“My lord, why are you back so late?”
Xiao Jingduo responded vaguely, “There were some matters that delayed me outside.”
Qiuju continued to chatter away, but though Xiao Jingduo sat upright in the room, his eyes remained fixed on the candle flame, clearly not paying attention to her words.
“Qiuju.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know of any secluded places nearby?”
“I do know a few such places. But, my lord, why are you asking about that?”
Xiao Jingduo reached out to adjust the candle flame on the table. With just a few movements, the wick flared up again. The light illuminated his face, making it hard to discern his emotions.
“I once read a fragment of an old text back at the Imperial Academy. It contained some rather strange and curious things. I didn’t take it seriously at the time, but now I find myself intrigued.”
Qiuju, half-understanding, nodded blankly. “Ah, all right. I’ll make the preparations right away.”
Qiuju, being someone long familiar with the inner workings of households, managed to map out the surrounding area within a few days. It happened to coincide with Xiao Jingduo’s day off, so he took Xiao Lin and a few others on an outing under the pretense of enjoying the spring scenery.
Now, the so-called “outing” had turned into a group of people squatting by a pond, watching Xiao Jingduo boil sugar over a fire. Qiuju was completely baffled.
“My lord, did you really come all this way just to… boil sugar?”
For the trip, they had prepared a carriage, hiding candles and other materials inside. Upon finding a suitable location, Xiao Jingduo ordered his men to set up a cooking stand. He himself stirred the sugar over the pot, carefully melting it into a paste.
Unable to bear it any longer, Qiuju offered, “My lord, I’m quite skilled at boiling sugar. Let me do it.”
Xiao Jingduo raised a hand to stop her. “No need. This is quite dangerous and requires precise control over the heat. I’ll handle it myself.”
Qiujü couldn’t understand what could possibly be dangerous about boiling sugar, but Xiao Jingduo’s words left no room for doubt. Xiao Lin immediately said, “My lord, allow me to assist.”
Xiao Jingduo ignored him, continuing to focus on stirring the thickening syrup. Judging the timing to be just right, he said to the person behind him, “Bring the saltpeter.”
Though Xi Qi didn’t understand, she quickly handed over the item Xiao Jingduo had requested.
Xiao Jingduo carefully mixed the saltpeter into the syrup, all the while stirring and cautioning the others, “Everyone, step back. It might explode in a moment.”
As soon as Xiao Jingduo finished speaking, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Quick as lightning, he flung the pot into the pond and ordered everyone to scatter. Once the water calmed, Xiao Jingduo remarked, “As expected, it’s not easy. Retrieve the pot and let’s continue.”
Xiao Jingduo was a man of immense perseverance; once he set his mind on something, no matter how many times he had to try, he wouldn’t stop until he succeeded. After adjusting the heat and proportions repeatedly and enduring several explosions, he finally managed to produce a pot of intact sugar paste.
Only then did Qiujü and the others, who had been on edge, relax. Xiao Jingduo kept working, swiftly freeing one hand and calling out, “The wooden stick.”
Xiao Lin immediately handed him the prepared wooden stick. Xiao Jingduo coated the top of the stick with a layer of the sugar paste, then stuck it into the ground by the pond. He stood up and said, “Everyone, step back.”
This time, no one needed Xiao Jingduo’s reminder—they all knew what might happen. Qiuju and Xi Qi quickly retreated, and even Xiao Lin took two steps back.
Xiao Jingduo also moved far away, lit a fire starter he carried with him, and casually threw it toward the torch. The fire starter hit the top of the torch with precision, igniting the mixture of sugar paste and saltpeter. Thick white smoke immediately began billowing out.
Frightened, Qiuju covered her ears, but oddly enough, no explosion followed. She opened her eyes to see the torch emitting thick white smoke without shattering. Strangely, the torch wasn’t burning, yet it continuously produced dense smoke, so thick it was nearly impossible to see through.
Xiao Lin looked at Xiao Jingduo in disbelief. “My lord, this…”
“A mixture of sugar and saltpeter produces a large amount of smoke when ignited. As I suspected, this is how the Tai Li Sect creates their so-called ‘cloud and mist’ effect.” Xiao Jingduo murmured, then suddenly shouted, “Something’s wrong with the torch! Scatter!”
T/N: Explanation of the Chemical Reaction (Don’t try this at home kids!):
This scene describes the combustion of a mixture containing sugar (a fuel) and saltpeter (potassium nitrate, KNO₃). Here’s what happened chemically:
1. Saltpeter (KNO₃) is an oxidizing agent, meaning it provides oxygen to fuel the combustion.
2. Sugar (sucrose) acts as a fuel. When heated, it decomposes and reacts with the oxygen from the saltpeter.
3. The reaction produces heat, water vapor, and thick white smoke, which mainly consists of carbon dioxide and other byproducts of incomplete combustion.
This mixture is similar to the principle behind smoke bombs, where a rapid but non-explosive reaction generates a significant amount of dense smoke.
If you enjoy my translations, feel free to consider supporting me on ko-fi! Thank you!
