[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-73":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281929,4463,"Chapter 73: Weary Birds Return to Their Nests","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-73",73,"\u003Cp>The group rode through streets and markets, dismounting before the Wanan County government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, seeing the familiar buildings and streets, felt a surge of joy, but before he could greet any acquaintances by the roadside, Meiqiu darted onto the eaves, peering inside:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gūjī gūjī?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji, the County Commandant, who was inside the courtyard discussing matters, glanced up at the large, ragged bird on the roof, paused in surprise, then rushed out, his thin mustaches twitching upward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~ Jinhuan, you’ve grown so big in these few years? Much handsomer than your father was back then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Fei hasn’t changed a bit—still as sharp as ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still as sweet-tongued. I heard you cracked a major case in Danyang? Like father, like son!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all thanks to Uncle Fei’s teaching back then—you personally examined corpses at age three, turning over liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys one by one. How could I forget?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had never been to the Wanan County office and, seeing how familiar the two were, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao had once served as Chief Constable in Wanan County for several years; returning to his old workplace felt like coming home:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fei Ji, Fei Senior—his monastic name is ‘Ji Bei.’ My old superior, formerly Deputy to Master Xie. He was unmatched in investigations—glance at a love-murder or theft case and he’d know the exact posture the victim was in…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Is Fei Senior a member of the Fomen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—when Jinhuan was little, he kept mispronouncing his name, calling him ‘Fei Ji Bei.’ Over time, the nickname stuck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Yang Dabiao straightened his posture and climbed the steps, calling out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fei Ji Bei, take a look—who’s here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji, who had been patting Xie Jinhuan’s shoulder and studying him, turned his head—and his mustaches drooped instantly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey?! How come it’s you, you little brat? I’ve got no silver—go beg food elsewhere if you’re hungry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chī~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant Xiao Wang burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo nearly cracked a smile too, but, mindful of her Daoist heroine image, quickly resumed a stern, expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao felt awkward and turned to explain:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? That’s what I call bonding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group exchanged old stories, a government office runner ran up from the rear of the office:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commandant Fei, County Magistrate Wu says to proceed directly to the morgue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan felt as if he’d returned home upon entering the county office; he walked straight toward the West Courtyard, asking along the way:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Fei, what exactly is the case of the desiccated corpses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji, hand resting on his official saber, frowned heavily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh—it’s bandits killing to cultivate. Since the first month of this year, Wanan and Changle counties have repeatedly found desiccated corpses—all the work of the same killer. But the murderer’s slippery as a ghost; no eyewitnesses, not even a single hair found…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao rubbed his chin and chimed in:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be a monk committed these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t rule that out yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji gestured toward the outer city:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember Li, the head of Yangwei Escort Agency? The one who got beaten up for stealing someone’s concubine? A proper sixth-rank martial cultivator—he went out at night to visit brothels and was found dead in an alley, his saber still sheathed. Dabiao, now that you’ve come to the capital, you’d better watch yourself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey? What do I need to watch? I don’t go to places like that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still pretending? Who used to toss and turn all night, sneak over to ask me, ‘Is there a brothel around here?’…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they seriously discussed the case, the group arrived at the West Courtyard morgue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji opened the door, ordered the runners to light lanterns, and seventeen corpses, neatly arranged on the examination tables, came into view—lined up in a row, nearly filling the entire room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To aid the investigation, all the bodies were brought here. Arranged left to right by time of death—take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had seen his father handle many cases, but a case involving seventeen corpses was rare even in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as he lifted the white cloths to examine them, he saw the bodies had been dead over eight months yet showed no decay—their flesh blackened, tightly clinging to the bones, as if all bodily fluids had been drained, faint traces of terror still visible on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo lifted several more cloths, studying them thoughtfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These desiccated corpses, buried underground, should resist decay—different from the three skeletons found in Danyang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan also felt they didn’t match; he took the cranial cap Fei Ji handed him and examined the “blood marks” with the others—the marks showed little difference from those on the three skeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood traces were too fine; ordinary eyes could only discern their general direction. To magnify them thousands of times and see details, only the “A Piao brand microscope” could do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After comparing for a moment, Xie Jinhuan saw nothing unusual, so he placed his hand on Zhenglun Sword and called for his ghost bride to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang had been observing covertly all along; now she replied in his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a ‘case within a case.’ There are two killers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan was about to listen further when footsteps sounded outside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up—County Magistrate Wu Yuanhua and others stood at the door, followed by a red-robed Chi Lin Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had old grievances with the Chi Lin Guard; seeing him, he frowned inwardly but showed no outward sign, stepping forward to bow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Magistrate Wu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuanhua had once been Xie Wen’s superior; Xie Jinhuan knew him but wasn’t close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, Xie Jinhuan had single-handedly slain bandits and earned the favor of Prince Dan, his rise inevitable—Wu Yuanhua dared not be careless, rushing forward as if reuniting with a long-lost uncle:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jinhuan, it’s been years—you’ve grown so much! I heard you were injured in Danyang—are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a minor wound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bowing, Xie Jinhuan turned to the two behind Wu Yuanhua:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask the names of these two officials?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuanhua smiled warmly: “Master Jingkong of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and Chi Lin Guard Lieutenant Lu Qian. They’re assisting in the desiccated corpse case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qian’s real purpose here wasn’t to investigate—he suspected Zhou He’s death was linked to Xie Jinhuan and had come to observe him under the guise of cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on the surface, Lu Qian remained courteous, returning the bow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard Master Xie is not only martially gifted but also a brilliant investigator. Seeing you now, I see you’re no ordinary man. The office has been stumped by this case for days—do you have any insights?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuanhua, who had been scolded by his superiors, now looked at Xie Jinhuan with hopeful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan knew his ghost bride could uncover hidden clues from the corpses, but with too many present, he couldn’t act openly—and he had no desire to associate further with the Chi Lin Guard; he shook his head with a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The office has pursued this for half a year with no results. I’ve just arrived—how could I spot anything yet? I need a few days to investigate first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, ever the workaholic, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What leads does the office currently have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Ji, as County Commandant and lead investigator, replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No concrete leads. But experts from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Chi Lin Guard, analyzing crime scenes and victim conditions, estimate the killer’s cultivation is around fourth-rank, and possesses a special artifact capable of detecting martial experts within a hundred zhang—or is accompanied by a powerful guardian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Combined with the recent corpse found in Danyang—similar method of death—we suspect the Mingshen Sect may be secretly training new disciples through these killings…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting casually for a moment, Fei Ji noticed the group was weary from travel and added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The killer’s cultivation isn’t high, but he’s too slippery—we won’t catch him in less than ten or fifteen days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s too late today. You’ve traveled far—rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll all meet and plan our next steps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan said nothing more, bid farewell to his acquaintances, and led the group out of the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuanhua, who had held high hopes, watched Xie Jinhuan leave and his smile faded into worry; after the group vanished from sight, he sighed, hands behind his back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said in Danyang: ‘Xie Jinhuan solves cases with divine insight, predicts the future—even informants can’t keep up with his speed.’ But now it seems exaggerated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Jingkong interjected: “Investigating is a matter of unraveling threads, walking the ground, and checking everywhere. You can’t expect Master Xie to arrive today and solve the case tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuanhua shook his head with a faint smile: “True—I’m too eager. Tai Shu Dan was captured seven days ago, and this case has dragged on for half a year. How could he possibly catch the killer the moment he arrives? Sigh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Xianyun Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan led Meiqiu and the others to the alley’s depths; Meiqiu, who had grown up here, shot into a courtyard like a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard lay hidden deep in the alley, its walls long yellowed, slightly larger than the house they’d rented from the landlady, but passed down through generations, its furnishings surely worn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after three years of absence, the house had lost its vital energy—now the courtyard grass grew half a person tall, bricks and tiles cracked and broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu, raised here since childhood, saw her home had become a ruin, her red-wood birdcage gone—she sat alone atop the wall, her eyes dim with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even weary birds know to return to their nests—how much more so humans?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had awakened in this very courtyard and lived here sixteen years; now, gazing at the unchanged yet alien house, he remembered the maids, servants, sycophants, and his father, who worked from dawn till dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, even his father’s fate was unknown—and beside him stood a maternal aunt who would rise from her grave in twenty days. Peaceful days were gone forever…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo followed him into the courtyard, seeing nothing but desolation—not even a place to stand—and sighed inwardly: Such a good man—how unjustly fate had treated him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the faint sorrow in Xie Jinhuan’s brow, Linghu Qingmo prepared to offer comfort—but didn’t know what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she’d often heard those mad young ladies say the best way to comfort a man is to tie up one’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn’t understand what that meant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Linghu Qingmo said softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t dwell on it—look ahead. I’ll help you tidy the house these few days; once you marry and start a family, things will naturally flourish…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing how earnestly MoMo was comforting him, Xie Jinhuan felt the weight on his heart lift considerably:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t clean it all alone. Once I finish what I need to do and have time, we’ll tidy it together slowly. Then you can live in the west wing, right next to me—it’ll be convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo was about to nod, but then felt something was off:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I live in your house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve already kissed me—do you think you can run away now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan smiled, not wanting to provoke MoMo, so he said casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With us like this, aren’t you coming to stay at my place for a few days now that we’re in the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo thought that made sense, but then she remembered—by then, Lin Da would probably have moved in. If she stayed right there, wouldn’t Lin Da stand at the door holding a baby, glaring at her with tiny, accusing eyes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, if Lin Da finds out I secretly followed Xie Jinhuan to the capital… won’t he get jealous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan didn’t linger in this place full of memories. After a quick look around, he waved his hand and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meiqiu, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gujii!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu was unhappy, perched on Xie Jinhuan’s shoulder muttering—probably complaining that her father had personally made her redwood birdcage, and it had been stolen…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2036,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","49831ef3bafcc699180db90524f470c65de4be66fcbe155236b2f517f00f29f9","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-74","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-72",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]