Chapter Six: The Heiress of the Xia Family, The Fragrance of Innocence and Bitterness

The peasant woman hesitated, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. She waved her hands repeatedly, uttering muffled sounds, her eyes darting away as she retreated step by step.

“Woman, why are you crying? This is our newly appointed Chief Constable Han of Qingqian County—he tears apart fierce ghosts with his hands and crushes demons beneath his feet, a celestial reborn, a heavenly being descended,” the thin man straightened up, stuck out his thumb, and spoke with exaggerated pride.

“Exactly! Sister-in-law, today is your lucky day. Chief Constable Han is questioning you—if you have any grievances, speak quickly!” The round-faced man chimed in, nodding in agreement and casting a guiding look at the woman.

“Oh my! Who would have thought the Chief Constable himself would come to our Saltwater Town! Chief Constable Han, please stand up for us, bring justice to a humble woman!” With a thud, the woman knelt to the ground, grasping Han Chong’s trouser leg, covering her face as she wept bitterly.

“Don’t cry, elder sister. Tell me your grievances in detail, from beginning to end. If I can help, I will not turn away,” Han Chong, moved by her crying, felt his nose sting and his heart grew restless and agitated.

“Alright, I won’t cry. Chief Constable Han, you mustn’t just leave us. We tea farmers truly can’t survive anymore!

Saltwater Town was once renowned far and wide for its tea plantations, and life was barely manageable. But recently, the Ye family from West City monopolized the tea trade, continuously forcing prices down. The Xia family in East City, unable to profit, joined the price war. The two families fought bitterly. Last month, my husband carried freshly processed tea into town to sell—and never returned. We've searched everywhere, but there’s no trace of him, no news, not even a hint of whether he’s alive or dead!”

It took the time of a stick of incense for the woman to finish her story, half sobbing and half wailing.

“A tea farmer vanishing in broad daylight, right in public—this is truly baffling. Elder sister, have you heard of any demons or ghosts plaguing your town?” Han Chong murmured thoughtfully, then fixed his gaze on the woman and asked softly.

“Demons? No, never heard of such things. Only tales of the Ye and Xia families fighting day and night—the town’s clinic can’t even keep up with treating their wounded. I’m just wondering, could my husband have been killed in their feud?” The woman paused, looking utterly confused, with no sign of deception in her expression.

“Elder sister, describe your husband’s appearance for me. I will investigate; whether he is alive or dead, I will find the truth for you.”

“Thank you, noble lord, thank you.” She wiped her tears. “My husband's name is Zou Zhiping, the third son, everyone calls him Old Zou Three. He has a round red birthmark on his right cheek, is fifty years old, and very dark-skinned. If you find him, please bring word back to me!”

“Rest assured, we’ll pass through here again on our way back,” Han Chong replied.

The woman, filled with gratitude, hurried to prepare the evening meal for Han Chong and his four companions, steaming the last of her coarse flour into buns and mixing some pickled vegetables.

At dawn the next day, Han Chong mounted his horse. With the woman’s earnest pleas in his ears, he led his four unusual followers toward Saltwater Town.

Such entrusted tasks, he thought, were like invisible ropes binding his heart. Throughout the journey, his brows remained furrowed, his demeanor sober and silent.

By the time they arrived at Saltwater Town, the sun was rising in the southeast. The town was a vision of southern rivers and lakes—black-tiled roofs, blue bricks, winding streams, and stone-paved streets.

Yet, as they entered, they found every household tightly shut, and not a sound on the streets in broad daylight. The few people who passed hurried by, tense and anxious—there was no sign of tea vendors or lively trade.

They had not yet reached the main street when a fierce clamour of shouting and fighting echoed ahead. The scent of blood hung heavy in the air, prompting Han Chong to quicken his pace.

In the town’s center, two groups were locked in armed combat—knives and guns in hand, servants trained in martial arts. Blood spurted as men were struck.

A man and a woman sat astride their horses, separated by a hundred paces, indifferent to the carnage before them.

“Stop!” Han Chong shouted, spurring his horse forward. The dozens of combatants paused, startled by the commanding presence of the constable. At a signal from the man and woman, the servants lowered their weapons, clearing a path to the center.

Han Chong surveyed them coldly. The woman, her face veiled in white gauze, wore a violet silk dress and a jacket the color of frost. She carried a silver spear and rode a white horse—a striking, heroic figure!

The man astride the black horse was grotesque, his face oddly shaped, with bull-like whiskers and a burly build. He wore black robes and radiated authority.

Han Chong’s four peculiar followers, panting and flustered, caught up behind him, secretly cursing his decision to get involved in a feud between such dangerous factions.

“I am Han Chong, Deputy Chief Constable of Qingqian County. Why are you fighting here? Are you intent on rebellion?” Han Chong’s voice was cold and stern.

“Well, well, Chief Constable Han! How honored we are. My Ye family pays respect to the county magistrate every month. What business brings you to Saltwater Town?” The grotesque man in black laughed, his voice as harsh as a broken gong.

“I am Xia Ruxuan,” the heroic woman declared, her spear raised in greeting.

Han Chong snorted, his presence undiminished as he considered his next move.

“The county magistrate has disappeared. I received intelligence and came to Saltwater Town as ordered by the Prefecture’s Judicial Bureau. Yet you dare brawl in the streets, a serious offense. The magistrate’s disappearance is a grave matter; the Bureau’s investigators will soon arrive with officials from Peijun Prefecture for joint inquiry. You’d best confess now!”

Han Chong’s words were a calculated bluff—only by invoking the Judicial Bureau could he intimidate these powerful families.

Indeed, the man and woman exchanged uneasy glances, taken aback, and seeing Han Chong’s resolute demeanor, grew even more convinced.

“Well, such a major incident in our county! Chief Constable Han, may I invite you to my residence for a banquet? I promise to answer all your questions,” the grotesque man said, feigning enthusiasm but sending a chill down Han Chong’s spine.

“I, too, have information to share. Please, Chief Constable, come to the Xia residence for a while,” Xia Ruxuan added, her eyes showing a hint of earnestness.

“Very well, I shall first visit the Xia family, then the Ye family for further inquiry,” Han Chong replied after a moment’s thought, his face stern.

The grotesque man’s mouth twitched—this constable was clearly not easy to deal with. But, he reasoned, officials are greedy and lustful, so it was understandable Han Chong would visit the Xia family first.

“Ha! Chief Constable Han, you are a man of character. I’ll prepare a banquet and welcome you at my home!” He bowed in farewell, leading his thirty-plus servants back toward West Street.

Han Chong glanced at his four hapless followers. “The townsfolk shut their doors in daylight—strange indeed. You four investigate here, while I delve into the heart of the Xia and Ye families.”

“Don’t, boss! That girl is so impressive—take us with you!” The round-faced man pleaded, pulling another exaggerated face, making Han Chong shake his head in exasperation.

“You must understand, there’s likely something sinister at work in these families. For your safety, I advise you stay. But if you insist on coming, so be it.” At the mention of evil spirits, the four shuddered, necks shrinking as they hurriedly stepped back.

Han Chong pressed his horse forward, riding alongside Xia Ruxuan, leaving his four followers sighing in resignation.

…

“Moss stains the steps green, the grass colors the curtains blue—what a refined mountain courtyard!” Han Chong breathed out as he beheld the verdant estate built against the hillside.

“Chief Constable Han, what taste you have! Thank you for your praise—please, come in.” Xia Ruxuan’s expression was serene, her eyes betraying neither joy nor sorrow, as though nothing could stir her interest.

Han Chong strolled through three corridors and nine pavilions, finally arriving at a garden atop a rockery. Attendants stoked the fire and boiled water, and Xia Ruxuan herself brewed fresh tea, handing him a cup.

“How bitter!” Han Chong wrinkled his brow, savoring the taste. The bitterness faded, replaced by a delicate fragrance that filled his senses. His brows relaxed, and he clicked his tongue in wonder.

“This tea is called Pure Bitter Fragrance—a tribute from my family, favored by the Imperial Food Bureau, said to be enjoyed often by His Majesty himself.”

“So this is tea for the palace—I fear I’ve overstepped today!” Han Chong observed the tea carefully: yellow tinged with green, its scent bitter yet refreshing—a rare treasure.

Xia Ruxuan was surprised; though Han Chong claimed to be humbled, his demeanor showed no trace of reverence or anxiety. He was clearly no ordinary man.

She gently removed her white veil, revealing a face as heroic as Yang Eighth Sister, bold and exceptional.

“Chief Constable Han, may I ask: have you ever encountered ghosts or monsters?”

“Well, if I told you I’ve slain ghosts and cut down monsters, would you believe me?”

“If you say so, then Ruxuan is convinced.”

“For the past three months, Saltwater Town has been plagued by strange happenings. I beg you, Chief Constable, to take charge!”

“Oh? Please speak, Miss Ruxuan, I’m all ears.” Han Chong raised his brows, suspecting that Xia Ruxuan had inside information when she invited him so eagerly.

“Three months ago, my Xia family and the Ye family carried new tea as usual to the capital. Unexpectedly, the Ye family presented a brand-new tea, which easily outshone our Pure Bitter Fragrance. The Deputy Director of the Imperial Food Bureau then declared Ye’s tea exclusive to the palace, and my Xia family’s status plummeted—we were nearly driven from the national tea market.

My father, unable to accept it, used his connections to obtain a sample of Ye’s tea. Upon examination, it was judged to be demon tea! Lacking evidence, my father was accused of slander, flogged fifty times, and returned home to die of shame and grief.”

Though Xia Ruxuan’s face remained impassive, tears rolled down her cheeks as she recounted the story.

“Such things!” Han Chong’s heart stirred. When things are abnormal, evil is afoot—could the disappearances in Saltwater Town truly be linked to demons?