Dawn finally broke over Chongping City.

  By the third crow of the rooster, Tongming Ward was already crowded with officials.

  With all three bureaus present for a joint verdict, the documents confirming the true cause of Miss Liu’s death were signed, stamped, sealed, and finally placed into the prefecture archives of Chongping.

  The registrar of the Criminal Bureau was a stickler for rules, a man already past sixty, known for valuing talent—yet today he broke from his usual sternness.

  He patted Gu on the shoulder with a rare broad smile.

  “Our bureau happens to be short of an assistant registrar. Young Master Gu, if you have any interest…”

  Gu only cupped his hands politely, smiling.

  “I was merely dispatched to assist. How would I dare accept an actual post? If Lord Fu truly sees promise in me, we may speak of it another day.”

  Only after all officials withdrew did Lu finally walk out of the jail.

  He had barely reached the gate when he spotted a familiar row of figures lining the corner—those who had waited for him night after night.

  “You brat!”

  The Third Chief of Shenmu Fort grabbed him into a crushing embrace.

  “You nearly scared us all to death this time!”

  “I…”

  Lu choked.

  He lifted his head—

  and there, bathed in backlight, stood that thin young man.

  Mu had his hands clasped behind him, gaze calm and distant.

  After a moment, he stepped forward and gently patted Lu’s shoulder.

  “It’s enough that you’re back.”

  Lu threw himself into his arms.

  I watched from the side as the whole group dragged him off to celebrate with wine, noisy as ever—and strangely, a sour sting crept into my own chest.

  I quickly summoned the system.

  “Hey. My turn now, right? ‘The Strange Case of Chongping City: Three Bureaus of Justice’—I was one of the main characters, okay? I did everything, solved everything, nearly got killed twice—shouldn’t the plot progress already?”

  A familiar crisp chime sounded in my ear.

  Ding—

  Side Quest ‘The Strange Case of Chongping City: Three Bureaus of Justice’ completed.

  System evaluation as follows:

  —A wrongful death.

  A forbidden love.

  A tragedy woven from the threads of patriarchy, authority, and the unforgiving weight of the mortal world.

  They struggled for freedom, yet fell before a destiny they could not defy.

  Now that truth stands revealed—the price is two shattered young lives.

  I paused, then muttered,

  “…Sounds poetic enough.”

  Retrieving host reward data…

  My heart leapt.

  “Quick! Show me the progress for ‘Wish-Type Event’ activation! You said completing a major case in Chongping could trigger it!”

  The system hesitated a very long time before answering:

  Theoretically… there is a slight chance.

  “Theoretically?” I scowled. “What kind of nonsense answer is that? Was it triggered or not?!”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Ahem… originally, the activation probability was about 30%.

  “And now?”

  Due to the host’s unauthorized deviation from team movement, refusal to proceed to North Ridge Mountain, and causing one unregistered branch-node interruption—

  System detected a ‘Script Sequence Bug’.

  Probability has been significantly downgraded.

  “…How significantly?”

  The system wheezed for half a minute before saying:

  Current activation probability: 0.1%.

  I nearly died on the spot.

  “You’re kidding me! I ran everywhere solving crimes, got beaten half to death, dodged assassins, dug up corpses—AND YOU’RE TELLING ME I DIDN’T EVEN GET A WISH EVENT?! Do you want me to hang myself?!”

  Host, please calm down. Excess emotional fluctuation may trigger the ‘Psychotic Route · Backlash Line’.

  I was grinding my teeth when the door creaked open.

  A familiar figure stepped in, cold as frost.

  Lian raised a brow, eyes half narrowed.

  “So. Solve one case and now you’re screaming about life and death? Your life too long for your liking?”

  “I—no— I was just—”

  I laughed weakly and backed into the corner.

  Hua followed behind him, lazily shaking his ever-present black bone fan.

  “In my opinion, some punishment is in order. Let’s not even mention running away—

  You even begged Mu to help hide your trail. Aren’t you afraid the Sect Leader will roast you alive for that?”

  “R-roast?? Come on… it’s not rebellion or anything! And Mu is—he’s a good kid…”

  “Pack your things,” Lian said slowly.

  “We leave before dawn. If we miss the North Ridge group, with your speed—you might as well jump off a cliff with the bandits.”

  I wailed, “Aren’t you being a little heartless—”

  “Unless…”

  Lian smiled dangerously,

  “you’d like a sparring session before we go?”

  “Nope nope nope!”

  I bolted out of the corridor.

  “I’ll pack! Right now! System, I swear I’ll delete your stupid ‘probability algorithm’ one day—!!!”

  Behind me, I heard Hua stifle a laugh.

  “Still full of energy, I see.”

  Lian only gazed at the moonlight, murmuring,

  “…Stubborn brat.”

  The next morning, as soon as we stepped out of the inn, we found ourselves surrounded—

  the entirety of Shenmu Fort seemed to have come to see us off.

  “Blessed one—!! Take care of yourself—!!”

  Before I could react, the Third Chief threw himself at me again, wailing loudly while gripping my sleeve.

  “Look at how skinny you are! Look at that pale little face! That chicken drumstick you ate yesterday was so delicious—how can you bear to leave? Stay a few more days! The girls in the fort all say you’re as pretty as an opera maiden—I can arrange a match for you!”

  “Don’t bother!”

  I tried to yank my sleeve free.

  “That drumstick belonged to Lu! You stole it to give me, how was I supposed to enjoy it?!”

  “You still remember!” he cried harder.

  “Our brotherly bond—! I knew you weren’t the type to eat and forget!”

  My skull was about to split when a cold snort cut through the chaos.

  Lian stood off to the side, arms folded, face like winter frost—clearly wishing he could tie me to a horse and drag me away before I embarrassed him further.

  A little farther, Mu stood at the path’s end, silent as ever.

  When I met his eyes, he nodded once—

  dark hair swaying gently in the breeze, gaze soft enough to hold a thousand unspoken words.

  “You’re sure you won’t stay?” he asked.

  I thought for a moment.

  “If I stayed… who would follow Lian around being his burden?”

  Mu chuckled softly.

  Then, without trying to persuade me further, he handed me a small wooden token.

  “This is my mark. If ever you are in danger, come to Shenmu Fort.

  Alive or dead—

  we’ll protect you to the end.”

  Warmth stung my chest. I opened my mouth to speak—

  Only for the Second Chief to cough pointedly.

  “Ahem. Why does that sound like you’re sending him off to die?”

  The Third Chief instantly burst into louder sobs.

  “Blessed one—! Please don’t die! I read your fortune two nights ago—terrible omens! It said you’d face a huge calamity soon—if you die I’ll follow you—!!”

  “Stop curse me!” I yelled.

  “He’s right,” Lian said calmly, as if commenting on the weather.

  “You genuinely might die.”

  “Can you shut up?!”

  The whole group erupted into laughter—even Hua had to turn away to hide a grin.

  Face burning, I leapt onto my horse, kicked off, and fled down the mountain road.

  Lian trotted after me unhurriedly.

  “You forgot your luggage.”

  “…What?”

  I turned just in time to see the Third Chief sprinting down the road swinging a ragged sack over his head.

  “BLESSED ONE—!! YOUR LUGGAGE—!!

  DON’T YOU WANT YOUR OLD WINTER LONG JOHNS—!!!”

  Tears streamed down my face as I galloped away at top speed.