The Flaw

All through the day, Chen Ping'an's thoughts kept circling back to Chen Er Ya at home, leaving him somewhat absent-minded. Fortunately he kept his expression well in check, and Monkey and Dashan were too busy patrolling and joking around to notice anything off about him. Dressed in his black uniform with a saber at his waist, Chen Ping'an walked the streets and alleys, half-listening to the two of them chat. "Did you see the faces on the head runners today!? Their brows were knotted so tight they were about to crack!" "Something happen?" "You know the Ten Thousand Demons Cult!?" "The Ten Thousand Demons Cult!" "Traces of the cult's demons have shown up in the city lately. I heard there've already been several murders in other districts. With things like this, forget the head runners of our own Nanquan Lane — even the office chief up above is under plenty of pressure!" "Several murders? Like that!" "Yeah! You all know the Ten Thousand Demons Cult's methods — every one of them is vicious as hell." "Monkey, how do you even know all this? Why haven't I heard any of it?" "Heh heh, this Monkey has his own ways! It's basically all over the Suppression Office already — all that's left is the head runners making it official. Just watch, it won't be more than a few days. It'll come out sooner or later! These next few days, everybody be careful." "..." Monkey didn't say more. He'd only touched briefly on the Ten Thousand Demons Cult before steering the conversation elsewhere. At a juncture like this, bringing up the cult was hardly a good idea. The Ten Thousand Demons Cult! Chen Ping'an listened quietly. Back when Old Chen died, it had been because of the campaign to wipe out the Ten Thousand Demons Cult. A deacon at one of their strongholds had beaten him into a fatal injury. He and the Ten Thousand Demons Cult had a blood feud that could never be settled! Except... The Ten Thousand Demons Cult was no ordinary sect. It was a behemoth that swept across the whole of Canglong Prefecture. Even a single one of its branches was enough for the Suppression Office of Weishui Commandery City to treat with the utmost seriousness. Back then, when Old Chen went after the Ten Thousand Demons Cult, it had been nothing but the smallest stronghold they had. And even so, the joint action by the Suppression Offices of every lane in South City District, fought with everything on their side, had ended in grievous losses. No fewer than ten head runners had died in that campaign! And that was only a stronghold. To take down a hall, one level above a stronghold, the entire outer city's Suppression Office would have to work with one mind. And a branch... Relying on the strength of Weishui Commandery City alone, it was probably beyond their reach. The day's shift passed quickly enough as the three of them wandered about. Once his shift ended, Chen Ping'an headed straight home. Worry over Chen Er Ya had gnawed at him all day. By the time he reached Pear Blossom Alley, he could sense something grim and tense. At this hour there would normally be plenty of neighbors out and about, walking around or dropping in on one another for a chat. Today, Chen Ping'an saw none of it. Just short of his own gate, he spotted someone hurrying past. "Uncle Liang, what's going on? Why is there hardly anyone out in the streets?" Chen Ping'an stepped forward a few paces and blocked the man's path. Hearing someone call him, Uncle Liang was startled. Only when he saw it was Chen Ping'an did he relax. "Oh, young Mr. Chen! You haven't heard? Something terrible's happened!" "Uncle Liang, what happened?" Chen Ping'an already knew it was most likely about Liu'er, but he asked anyway. "Sixth Master of the Tiger Head Gang is dead!" Without waiting, Uncle Liang hurried off. At a juncture like this he had no wish to linger outside and be seen by the Tiger Head Gang's people, asking for trouble out of nowhere. They were ordinary folk, all of them; they couldn't take that kind of hassle. "So it really was that." Chen Ping'an watched Uncle Liang go, a flicker passing through his eyes. He didn't linger either, heading straight for his gate. Pushing the courtyard gate open and seeing the figure busy in the kitchen, Chen Ping'an felt something in his chest ease. "Thank goodness, thank goodness..." The worry he'd carried all day could finally ease a little. "Nannan, I'm home." "Brother, you're back~ We can eat now!" Chen Er Ya broke into a smile. The little girl was still young, and that smile struck Chen Ping'an as so sweet, innocent, and adorable. "Brother's hungry." Chen Ping'an laughed heartily and went into the kitchen, helping her carry out the food. The weather was poor that day, and it looked ready to rain, so the two of them ate indoors instead of in the courtyard. The light inside was rather dim, nothing like the brightness outside, but the smiles on the brother and sister's faces lit up each other's hearts. When the meal was done, Chen Er Ya didn't stand up to clear the bowls and chopsticks as she usually did. Instead she let the smile fade a little from her face and looked at Chen Ping'an with wide eyes. "Brother, earlier today people outside were saying that Sixth Master of the Tiger Head Gang, the one they call Liu'er, died last night." With that, Chen Er Ya fell silent. Clever as she was, she'd already connected it to the blood on Chen Ping'an's clothes the night before, and had long since formed her own guess. Looking into her eyes, Chen Ping'an was silent too, weighing his words. Just as he had them arranged and was about to say something to Chen Er Ya, the little girl stood up. "All right, Brother, I'm going to wash the dishes." "Wait." Chen Ping'an stopped her. "Last night..." "Shh!" The little girl made a gesture with her hand, then pointed outside, telling Chen Ping'an not to say it. "Brother, you don't have to tell me. I know. And you don't have to explain, I understand it all!" The little girl turned back and hugged him. "No matter what you do, Brother, I believe in you!" Warmth rose in Chen Ping'an's chest, and he was about to reach out and pat the little girl's head. He never expected her to dart off at once. "Hee hee... I'm going to wash the dishes~" "This girl..." Chen Ping'an was momentarily speechless. Only nine years old. Back in his previous life, who would have believed it? She was far too mature for her age! Still, seeing the ease on the little girl's face that didn't seem put on in the least, he gradually set his heart at rest. He'd been worried that his killing of Liu'er would weigh on her. He hadn't expected her ability to adapt to be so strong! Then again, anyone who couldn't adapt wouldn't last long in this world. After dinner, Chen Ping'an was just about to let his food settle before starting practice with the Flying Locust Stones. Standing in the courtyard, he saw the marks on the courtyard wall that had all but merged into a single white patch, and his heart lurched. "I actually forgot about this shit! What the hell is wrong with my head!" At a glance, you wouldn't think much of those marks on the wall. But look closely, and you could make out the dense scattering of tiny pits. Every one of them had been chipped out by Flying Locust Stones. If the Tiger Head Gang really did come to the door asking questions, it might not lead them to Liu'er's death, but it would only stir up needless complications and leave a flaw behind for nothing. At that thought, Chen Ping'an grabbed a stone and ran to the wall, starting to smear and scribble over it. He was halfway through when heavy knocking sounded at the courtyard gate. "Open up! Tiger Head Gang!"