Hypnosis
Five days before New Year's Eve, Lao Liang's king had been in power for fifteen days. An urgent decree from the capital finally arrived in Mu Zhao's hands.
Governor Yu had indeed been harshly criticized. After reading the decree, Khan Jinjin broke into a cold sweat.
The decree was clearly meant to belittle him. The dire situation outside Weizhou Prefecture—widespread hunger, disease, and the looming threat of an epidemic—had drawn the court's attention. Yet, instead of dismissing Governor Yu, the imperial edict ordered him to remain in office.
He was tasked with resolving the crisis first. Only after the New Year would his political performance be re-evaluated and appropriate action taken.
Mu Zhao lowered his gaze and handed the decree to Lu Qian.
"This matter has only been discussed within the cabinet. Though His Majesty was furious, he may be forced to cover it up to preserve royal dignity."
Lu Qian scanned the decree swiftly before slamming it shut with a bang.
"Will Wang Baitian be executed before the New Year? Shouldn't his case be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for retrial?"
"The fewer people who know about this, the better," Mu Zhao said, his gaze deep and unreadable. "Go make the arrangements. I want to see Wang Baitian again tonight."
Lu Qian sighed, stood up, and nodded. "Understood."
---
That night, Mu Zhao and Lu Qian visited Wang Baitian once more.
Surprisingly, he was not as haggard as they had expected. Though clad in tattered robes, his tiger-like eyes remained sharp and resolute.
The two men studied him in silence before finally speaking.
"Wang Baitian, do you regret your actions?"
Wang Baitian let out a mad laugh. "I only regret not killing that old turtle sooner. If I had, he would have taken fewer lives with him."
"The court has ruled—you will be executed before the New Year," Mu Zhao said, his voice steady. "You have only two days left. Any last wishes?"
"If I had known how this would end, I wouldn't have had any expectations," Wang Baitian sneered. "My death will bury this decades-old case, preserving the royal family's reputation. Why wouldn't they do it?"
"The governor's office deceived the people, claiming that the bodies of the women dug up were victims of accidents. Do you think the common folk believe that? They understand everything. They just don't dare to defy the authorities. After all, the dead are dead. The living must go on."
"An accident," he spat bitterly. "At least it lets them take their loved ones' bodies home for a proper burial. Maybe they even receive some compensation—what a generous show of sympathy."
Mu Zhao studied him carefully. "One last question. Did you mimic the demon's killings to confuse the public?"
Wang Baitian sneered. "Mimic? Killing is killing. Why would I need to imitate anyone? It was just a coincidence. Don't you think these scumbags deserved this kind of death? I wanted to see if their hearts, livers, spleens, and lungs were blackened to the core."
He let out a loud, unrestrained laugh.
"What's there to fear? I may die today, but a hundred thousand Wang Baitians will rise in the future to fight against the darkness buried beneath this empire. Prince, I do have one last wish—bring me ten jars of strong wine. Let me die drunk."
Mu Zhao chuckled, his eyes gleaming. His voice was gentle yet firm.
"Alright, I'll drink with you."
Their gazes locked before both men burst into laughter.
---
Governor's Mansion – Magnolia Court
Baliang respectfully handed over a rubbing of the imperial decree. "The urgent decree arrived last night. The master was so anxious that he didn't sleep well. He left early this morning, his eyes dark with exhaustion."
Yu Linlang opened her eyes, a hint of mockery flickering across her face.
"The emperor has ordered Prince Lu and his men to suppress this royal scandal, announcing that the old prince died of illness."
She let out a cold laugh. "And to display his benevolence, he granted Ye Wuchen the title of Prince of Pingkang."
"So, in the end, there is no justice. The Liang Palace has committed countless evils, yet its descendants will bask in wealth and power simply because they bear the Ye surname. The so-called 'laws' of this world are merely dictated by the emperor's whims."
"Miss…"
Yu Linlang raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don't concern yourself. I will handle this."
Baliang and Jiujin exchanged glances before bowing in agreement.
---
That night, Yu Linlang donned a light gray brocade tunic and tied her long hair high.
Silently, she slipped out of the window. Behind her, Baliang quickly shut it, extinguished the lights, and sat down with Jiujin, waiting for their mistress to return.
Yu Linlang leaped onto the eaves, her movements light as a feather. A few swift steps later, she scaled the back wall of the governor's mansion undetected.
She let out a short, clear whistle.
From the shadows, a pair of glowing green eyes emerged.
A lone black wolf, half the height of a man, charged out of the darkness.
Yu Linlang vaulted onto its back, patted its head, and pointed forward. The beast took off like an arrow released from its string.
The wind howled past as her long black hair streamed behind her.
Before long, they arrived at the government prison.
Yu Linlang retrieved a slender flute embedded with jade and played a haunting melody. The sound echoed through the corridors, delicate yet deadly.
One note, one breath, one song—one life taken.
"Who's there?!"
A prison guard caught a glimpse of a shadow before his vision blurred. A wave of dizziness hit him, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed.
Yu Linlang twirled the flute between her fingers and strolled down the dim corridor.
One by one, the guards fell.
At the end of the passage, she flicked her sleeve. The copper lock on the cell shattered into three pieces and clattered to the ground.
She stepped inside. A pulse of energy sliced through the chains binding Wang Baitian, snapping them apart.
He slumped forward, unconscious.
Yu Linlang caught him effortlessly.
In her hands, the once-mighty Liu Chi Erlang felt as light as a feather.
Without hesitation, she carried him out of the prison.
Whistling softly, she climbed onto the wolf's back. The beast sprinted through the night, its paws silent against the earth.
---
After an unknown stretch of time, Wang Baitian awoke.
The bitter wind stung his face, rousing him. He sat up in confusion, only to realize he was no longer inside the prison.
Cold air whipped around him. Tall grass swayed mournfully in the wind.
Shivering, he gathered his thoughts and looked up.
A lone figure stood before him, gazing at the cold moonlight.
"F-Female hero?" he stammered. "Did you… rescue me from prison?"
Yu Linlang turned to face him.
"The hero's grace in saving my life… I will never forget it."