01x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

[Shadow Punisher]

[Divine Constable Tally]

[Episode 7]

Also,

if the k*ller was so precise
with the poisoning,

then any poison

would have worked.

Why choose Corpse-Dissolving Powder,

which is so expensive

and so easy to trace

back to its source?

Well,

newcomer,

that's a sound analysis.

Greetings, Lord Constable Iron.

-I am—
-Then what do you think

the reason is?

Only the k*ller

knows the answer to that.

Alright.

Now that Corpse-Dissolving Powder

has yielded no clues,

let's turn our attention

to the black chest.

I've heard of this method

of issuing m*rder warnings.

Let's wrap things up here

and head to the Tianshu Pavilion
to look for clues.

All right.

Lord Lou,

may I go with you to the Tianshu Pavilion?

Of course...

not.

Fall in!

Let's go.

Lady Constable Frost,

now that Prince Wenbu's body is gone,

what should we do

with his bodily fluids...

"The wind leaves a sound,

and water leaves a trace.

Anything that happens

is bound to leave something behind."

Those were the words of advice
and admonition

from the Chief

on the day
I joined the Divine Constable Bureau.

But taking all this back

with us

is going to be quite a chore.

A chore

is always easier

than something mentally taxing.

Well said.

Very well said.

Then I'll leave it to you

to take the body back,

Trainee Constable.

What?

Fall in!

Yes.

Master was right.

Why did I have to come
to the Divine Constable Bureau?

Why did I have to become a constable?

Wenbu, oh, Wenbu.

I used to be a prince, after all.

Now I'm here to collect your remains.

You can't complain about that.

You really stink.

[Tianshu Pavilion]

Found it!

What did you find?

A case file on m*rder warnings.

Is there really a secret art

that allows one to foresee the future?

According to this record,

there was once a peerless martial artist

in the jianghu.

Whenever he challenged someone to a duel,

he would first

send them a black chest
to announce the k*lling.

He would then k*ll his opponent

using the move depicted
inside the black chest,

demonstrating

his extraordinary martial prowess.

If someone's martial arts mastery

reaches a certain level,

they may indeed be able

to anticipate their opponent's moves.

What was

this peerless martial artist's name?

[Divine Constable Bureau]
[Netherworld Swordsman Case]

The Netherworld Swordsman.

The Netherworld Swordsman,

Dao Yin.

The Netherworld Swordsman?

I've never heard of him.

Naturally.

The Netherworld Swordsman
bathed the jianghu in blood

more than thirty years ago.

You and I

were both still young back then.

Could this Dao Yin

have returned to the jianghu?

Mr. Meng,

what do you think?

I know nothing about poison,

nor do I understand

the mindset of someone
who issues m*rder warnings.

But I do understand swordsmen.

If a swordsman

uses poison instead of his sword,

he is being untrue to the sword.

And a swordsman
who is untrue to the sword

can never reach the pinnacle
of swordsmanship.

Wait.

The Netherworld Swordsman

rose to fame thirty years ago.

That would make him

around 70 or 80 by now, wouldn't it?

It's quite possible

that the Netherworld Swordsman's
successor

is still alive.

Do you know the name of the weapon

that the Netherworld Swordsman, Dao Yin,

was

famous for?

What was it called?

That was

the Severe-Cold Sword.

So his name was Dao Yin.

I'd like to ask you something, Mr. Meng.

What was your master's name,

and where is he now?

Are you suspecting me?

Mr. Meng,

there are some questions

we need to clarify with you.

Would you come with us
to the Chief Constable's Hall?

Lou,

Meng Rui is one of us.

How could he possibly be the k*ller?

This concerns diplomatic relations
between our two countries.

Even if one of our own is involved,

we have to investigate thoroughly.

It's fine.

The innocent have nothing to fear.

Hand over your sword.

I'll go with you.

But I will never

surrender my sword.

Meng Rui.

I'll say it again.

As long as I live, my sword stays with me.

Let's not get worked up.

We're just investigating the case.

We'll get to the bottom of it, all right?

Under Great Shi law,

a suspect must surrender their weapon.

Meng Rui,

surely you know that.

Just because of a name like Dao Yin,

you think I'm a suspect?

I'm investigating the case.

Do you really have something to hide?

You can't put it that way.

An investigation needs solid evidence.

I'm only trying to get
to the bottom of this.

Do you really think

I'd make things difficult
for one of my own?

I—

I'll say it one last time.

Hand over your sword.

Lou,

we're all on the same side.

Do me a favor.

Don't get worked up.

Just stay calm.

Why don't you hand him your sword for now?

Stop arguing.

The Chief is here.

Chief.

Meng Rui,

the Divine Constable Bureau

will never

let a wrongdoer go free,

nor will it wrong

an innocent person.

Do you trust me

on that?

I only trust the evidence.

Chief,

the Divine Constable Bureau has always

required solid evidence
before taking someone into custody,

especially when one of our own
is involved.

Until the truth comes to light,

you will no longer be involved
in this case.

Effective today,

you are to remain confined
to Winter's Haven

and may not leave without permission.

Any objections?

None.

[Winter's Haven Beneath the Azure Heavens]

Mr. Meng.

[Winter's Haven Beneath the Azure Heavens]

Mr. Meng, forgive us.

[Winter's Haven Beneath the Azure Heavens]

-Mr. Meng.
-Mr. Meng.

Mr. Meng?

Sirs,

are you

monitoring Mr. Meng?

Trainee Constable,

don't ask too many questions.

[Winter's Haven Beneath the Azure Heavens]

Mr. Qi.

Mr. Li.

Are you bringing Mr. Meng some food?

Yes.

I brought him something to eat.

Without the Chief's orders,

Mr. Meng isn't even allowed

to step outside this door.

Mr. Qi,

what's really going on

with Mr. Meng?

I don't know the details.

But I heard

that the Netherworld Swordsman, Dao Yin,

is connected
to the black chest m*rder warnings.

The Netherworld Swordsman, Dao Yin...

and the black chest m*rder warnings?

And I also heard

that the person was his master.

His master?

This is classified.

Don't tell anyone else.

I told you, Mr. Meng

has a murderous aura about him.

If he had nothing going on,

why would he be so quiet?

I heard no one at Winter's Haven

has even touched his sword.

If we'd known he was this kind of person,
we should have been

-more cautious around him from the start.
-Mr. Qi,

believe it or not,

by tomorrow,

this won't be

a secret anymore.

By then,

the whole Tianhuang City

might know about it.

Sometimes I wonder,

doesn't he get sore

just sitting there without moving?

Mr. Meng,

I can understand

how you feel

about being treated as the k*ller.

Think about it.

When we first met,

didn't you suspect me too?

It's no big deal.

Sirs,

Mr. Meng isn't even a suspect yet.

There's no need
to blow this out of proportion.

Think about it.

The k*ller

would have to be capable

of crafting one of those exquisitely
intricate black chests,

right?

Now look at Mr. Meng.

With those sword-wielding hands of his,

he'd have a hard time

even weaving a scabbard out
of Dragon-whisker Grass.

Let alone

making one of those black chests.

When we investigated the case yesterday,

I observed you.

With your unconventional ideas

and unorthodox approach,

you always manage to make discoveries

in the most unexpected places.

Sounds good. I like what I'm hearing.

If you're going to flatter me,
keep it coming.

Someone like you,

choosing to be
just a trainee constable...

You must have some other purpose in mind.

Mr. Meng,

you're in trouble yourself now.

Maybe you should worry more
about yourself.

Think about it.

A prince of Northern Kun

was k*lled within Great Shi's borders.

My guess

is that someone wants to use this

to provoke a w*r
between the two countries

and make you the scapegoat.

You really believe me?

I do.

You're upright
and straightforward by nature.

You could never be the k*ller.

You can believe in me all you want,

but I still suspect you.

You can have your suspicions,

and I'll keep believing in you.

Either way,

I'll get to the bottom of this for you.

No need. Please leave.

Unfortunately,

this is the area

I'm responsible for cleaning.

[Winter's Haven Beneath the Azure Heavens]

All right, that's enough.

Everyone, go back and get some sleep.

Don't worry. With me here,

he's not going anywhere.

Now get back and have some sleep.

Go on, go to bed.

Go now! Go!

Get some sleep.

-Constable Frost.
-Lady Constable Frost.

Lady Constable Frost.

Yan,

I came to bring Meng Rui something to eat.

Give it to me.

I'll take it

inside later.

Even if you gave it to him right now,

he wouldn't feel like eating.

[Divine Constable Bureau]

Meng Rui!

A life for a life!

Come out!

Come out!

[Divine Constable Bureau]

Meng Rui,

did you

k*ll Prince Wenbu

to avenge the Netherworld Swordsman?

Is that so?

Meng Rui,

you coward,

will you face me in a fight to the death,

as a man of the jianghu should?

Two hours from now,

[Divine Constable Bureau]

I'll be waiting for you

at Knife-Edge Ridge on Mount Dahuang.

If you don't show up,

all you need to do

is admit that the Netherworld Swordsman
was a fraud

and that the Four Divine Constables

are a bunch of spineless cowards.

Mr. Meng.

Mr. Meng.

Meng Rui!

Don't act rashly.

Yan Zige is trying to provoke you.

Yes, if you don't go,
you can still clear things up.

But if you go, you'll only make yourself
look more suspicious.

Don't go, Mr. Meng.

The Chief is here.

-Chief.
-Chief.

Could it be...

Just now,

the second black chest

was delivered
to the Chief Constable's Hall.

Chief,

Meng Rui has been confined

to Winter's Haven all this time.

Can that show

that he isn't the k*ller?

Meng Rui was alone
at Winter's Haven.

Who can vouch for him?

With Meng Rui's skills,

delivering a chest to my room

and returning to Winter's Haven

would be effortless.

Open it.

Yes.

This is the second m*rder warning.

Could these two figures

be Meng Rui and Yan Zige?

In that case, I'll go.

Taking the initiative

might help us make a breakthrough

in the case.

You can't go.

Meng Rui,

if you're truly innocent,

going there means

falling right into their trap.

That's right. Listen, everyone.

Yan Zige has gone quiet.

He must be afraid

of your Severe-Cold Sword.

He got tired of shouting
and quietly went back.

Ignore him.

Reporting!

Chief,

Yan Zige of Northern Kun

has abducted Qi

and injured several of our men.

What?

He dared lay a hand on someone
from the Divine Constable Bureau?

Even as an envoy of Northern Kun,

he can't get away

with causing trouble
at the Divine Constable Bureau!

Where's Meng Rui?

Qi must be rescued safely,

but remember,

more importantly,

we must not let the second

m*rder warning come true.

-Yes.
-Yes.

Move out!

Let's go.

Chief,

may I come with you?

If I don't allow it,

will you stay behind?

After all, you're
only an auxiliary constable,

so your status
isn't appropriate for this.

Change into some civilian clothes

and act according to the situation.

Yes.

Chief,

so Meng Rui

k*lled Prince Wenbu

to avenge the Netherworld Swordsman?

Could it be
that the Netherworld Swordsman

had a grudge against Northern Kun?

Thirty years ago,

the Netherworld Swordsman, Dao Yin,
challenged all under heaven.

Many martial arts masters

from both Great Shi
and Northern Kun

fell at his hands.

His arrogance

shook the courts and jianghu
of both countries.

In the end,

Northern Kun was forced
to join forces with Great Shi

and Grand Secretary Bai

to issue a k*ll order.

Dao Yin fought
over 100 martial arts masters

from both countries, one after another,

as the imperial court and the jianghu
joined forces to hunt him down.

That battle

was a bloodbath.

Thirty years ago,

the Netherworld Swordsman, Dao Yin,

was surrounded by martial arts masters

from Northern Kun and Great Shi

right here at Knife-Edge Ridge.

After three days and three nights
of fierce fighting,

they finally knocked him off the cliff,

and he vanished without a trace.

Since he passed the Severe-Cold Sword

on to you,

that means he survived back then.

Is he

still alive now?

None of your business.

You're not fighting back?

Yan Zige, listen to me.

The second black chest m*rder warning

has already been issued.

What's depicted inside

is exactly what's happening here.

If I strike,

I'll be falling right into their trap.

Enough talk.

I'll make you draw your sword.

Jiang Zhan, Ding Mao,

set up the Heaven's Net and Earth's Snare!

Thank you.

Yan Zige's every move
is aimed at k*lling.

Meng Rui,
don't get caught up in the fight!

Meng Rui, don't!

How is he?

He's dead.

Meng Rui,

what have you done?

I didn't k*ll him.

I only used 30% of my strength

in that last strike.

How could I have k*lled him

with one blow?

Soliders,

seize the k*ller, Meng Rui!

Lord Xiao,

how can someone
from the Divine Constable Bureau

be tried by the Ministry of Justice?

[Xiao Ning, Vice Minister of Justice]

A life for a life.

Does the Divine Constable Bureau think

it can disregard the laws
of the imperial court?

I didn't k*ll him.

How can you say we disregarded the law?

Mr. Meng.

Lord Xiao.

Yan Zige held me hostage.

Mr. Meng was trying to save me.

I'm sorry, Mr. Meng.

The Ministry of Justice
and the Divine Constable Bureau

have never gotten along.

They've been looking for an excuse
to cause trouble.

Now that Yan Zige is dead,

they've finally found their chance.

If you let them take you in
just like that,

don't expect to come out in one piece.

Lord Xiao,

the Divine Constable Bureau
has always upheld strict laws.

Once the truth is established,

if Meng Rui did k*ll someone,

I will personally

hand him over to the Ministry of Justice
for punishment.

Meng Rui k*lled a man

in full view of everyone.

That's the truth.

Meng Rui,

surrender your sword

and submit to arrest at once.

If you resist arrest
with your martial arts...

Sever the tendons in his hands.

The interrogation hasn't even begun,

and the evidence isn't conclusive.

How can you resort to t*rture?

Who among you dares lay a hand on him?

Yan Cheng.

Why are you still here?

Go!

Seize him!

Meng Rui, how dare you escape!

How dare you aid and abet the escape
of a prisoner!

My Lord,

this Thousand-Mechanism Formation
requires great precision.

Keep

yelling at me,

and I might make a mistake.

[Sucheng, Border of the Great Shi]

Your Highness.

Third Prince,

we're outnumbered.

We should retreat.

If Sucheng falls,

[Zhou Zhu, Prince Ping,
Third Prince of the Great Shi]

there will be no stronghold left
on Great Shi's northern frontier.

Tianhuang City

will be in grave danger.

[Great Shi]

Soldiers,

defend Sucheng.

We swear to fight
to the death and never retreat!

We swear to fight
to the death and never retreat!

We swear to fight
to the death and never retreat!

Even if we seek peace now,
I'm afraid it's too late.

It seems this won't end peacefully.

Your Majesty,

Northern Kun has been attacking Sucheng

for three days straight
over Wenbu's death.

Prince Ping may be a formidable warrior,

but the enemy outnumbers our forces

several times over.

I'm afraid

Sucheng may not hold.

The people of Northern Kun
have been demanding

that we hand over the m*rder*r, Meng Rui.

It seems the crisis
on the northern frontier

won't be resolved as long

as Meng Rui remains at large.

I agree with what my elder brother said.

Your Majesty,

I second his proposal.

It's quite rare

for the two of you

to agree for once.

I have one more matter to report.

According to Xiao Ning
of the Ministry of Justice,

Meng Rui had already surrendered.

But Li Si,

a trainee constable
of the Divine Constable Bureau,

bent the law for personal reasons
and deliberately

obstructed the Ministry of Justice
from taking Meng Rui into custody,

allowing him to escape.

I ask that Your Majesty
punish Li Si severely.

Your Majesty,

from what I understand,

Li Si had already subdued Meng Rui.

It was Xiao Ning
of the Ministry of Justice

who failed to do his job

and held things up,

allowing Meng Rui to escape.

I ask that Your Majesty
hold him accountable.

Crown Prince, your words

clearly suggest an attempt
to shield someone.

Isn't that trainee constable Li Si

one of your men?

Brother,

at a time like this,

before His Majesty

and when it comes to matters of state,

why are we still talking about
what's yours and what's mine?

Your Majesty,

I believe

our most urgent task

is to capture Meng Rui
and bring him to justice.

Even if Li Si is guilty,

he should be allowed
to atone through meritorious service.

I ask Your Majesty to decide.

Your Majesty,

the Divine Constable Bureau
is suspected of showing favoritism.

Why not

have the Ministry of Justice
handle this case entirely?

Your Majesty.

Enough.

Issue a warrant
for Meng Rui throughout the realm.

We'll bring Meng Rui in first
and deal with the rest later.

Both the First Prince
and the Crown Prince

have a point.

How about this:

the Ministry of Justice will work together
with the Divine Constable Bureau

to hunt him down.

For this case,

the Ministry of Justice
need not be subject

to the Divine Constable Bureau's
authority.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Strange.

Yan Zige did indeed

die from a ruptured heart meridian,

but his ribs are completely intact.

Where is Li Qingyang?

Tell him to get out here.

We at Star-Gathering Pavilion

run a clean and lawful business.

Even officials
from the Ministry of Justice

can't be this overbearing.

Sharp tongue.

If I don't teach you a lesson...

This lady is right.

Lord Xiao,

you represent the imperial court.

You should conduct yourself properly

and treat people with courtesy.

Only then

will the people of Great Shi respect

and trust you.

Yes, Your Highness.

And who might this gentleman be?

His Highness Prince Ding is here.

Have Li Qingyang come out to receive him.

Get up.

I, Li Qingyang, pay my respects,
Your Highness.

Why aren't you kneeling

before the First Prince?

The First Prince's reputation
as a wise prince

is renowned far and wide.

I'm so honored to meet you today

that I was beside myself with joy

and forgot my manners.

Please forgive me.

I am Li Si, a humble commoner.

I pay my—

Young Master Qingyang,
there's no need for such formalities.

But

have we

met somewhere before?

I have an unremarkable face

and am easily mistaken for others.

Perhaps

Your Highness remembers incorrectly.

I heard

the m*rder*r, Meng Rui,

was about

to be taken into custody,

yet for some reason,

you let him go.

Your Highness,

are you here to investigate the case?

If you're here on official business,

then as a member
of the Divine Constable Bureau,

it's my duty to ask Your Highness:

will our conversation today

be entered into the official record?

Insolent!

Your Highness,

Dao Yin's sword trial across the world

was thirty years ago.

Isn't it a bit biased

to infer Meng Rui's motive for m*rder

was to avenge his master

based on a single black chest?

If we're talking motive alone,

no one is more suspicious

than him right now.

Not necessarily.

With the Northern Kun army
massing at the border,

the court has no choice but

to send veteran ministers
and seasoned generals

to defend the frontier.

That means every military officer,

whether stationed here

in Tianhuang City

or sent to the frontier

to fight Northern Kun,

has a chance

to earn merit and advance.

If we're talking motives,

the Ministry of w*r has one too.

And wouldn't Your Highness

have an even stronger motive?

You—

The Ministry of w*r

has long been beyond my control.

How can you conclude

that Meng Rui is the m*rder*r

based on motive alone?

So, Young Master Qingyang,

you're quite the debater.

In that case,

I won't keep you any longer.

But let me tell you this:

as a member
of the Divine Constable Bureau,

I hope you uphold the law
and remain impartial.

If you abuse your position
to shield someone,

even the Crown Prince
won't be able to protect you.

What I want to say is this:

now that I have joined
the Divine Constable Bureau,

I will never wrong

an innocent person,

nor will I ever

let a single m*rder*r go free,

even if that m*rder*r

has evaded justice for years.

Good.

Very good.

Let's go.

Jin Se.

Master.

What the First Prince said just now

reminded me of something.

Seventeen years ago,

the Ministry of w*r

was indeed
under the First Prince's control.

I need you to look
into something for me.

Around the ninth day
of the second month

of the 20th year of Hongyun,

did any urgent military reports
from the Ministry of w*r

reach the Emperor?

If so,

I want a complete list
of all personnel transfers

and all promotions, demotions,
rewards, and punishments

in the Ministry of w*r
before and after that period.

Yes.

-Master.
-Master.

Everyone, leave for now.

-Yes.
-Yes.

This 200,000 taels in banknotes

is a token of my respect

for the Crown Prince.

Eunuch Zhao, I'd appreciate it
if you could deliver it to His Highness.

Li Qingyang,

so you do still remember the Crown Prince.

Meng Rui has really

stirred up a hornet's nest this time.

The court and Northern Kun

would love nothing more than
to tear him limb from limb.

And you?

You went and let him escape.

Do you have any idea

how much trouble
you've caused the Crown Prince?

That's what Xiao Ning told you, isn't it?

Eunuch Zhao,

Xiao Ning is the First Prince's man.

How can the Crown Prince

take his word for it?

That day, the Ministry of Justice

and the Divine Constable Bureau
were both there.

Even if they had captured Meng Rui
on the spot,

it wouldn't have counted
as the Crown Prince's achievement.

But what if

I were to bring Meng Rui

back on my own?

You?

Are you saying

you know where Meng Rui is?

Forty or fifty thousand people

across Tianhuang City
are looking for him.

And you think you can find him?

There is only one kind of person

in this world

whom I can't find.

Someone who has lost themselves.

Unless they

find themselves,

no one else can find them.

But Meng Rui is different.

He's the kind of person

who would never lose his way,
no matter what.

Someone like him?

I'd find him

even if he were reduced to ashes.

Young Master Qingyang,

I hope your actions prove even better
than your words.

However,

there's one more thing

I'd like to ask your advice on.

Go ahead.

The Ministry of w*r
is in the Crown Prince's hands.

With Prince Wenbu dead,
the Ministry of w*r stands to gain.

Does the Crown Prince truly want

the Divine Constable Bureau
to bring the real m*rder*r to justice?

Li Qingyang, have you lost your mind?

How dare you drag
the Crown Prince into this?

You—

Eunuch Zhao,

I didn't say anything.

You're the one shouting.

You nearly scared me to death.

Li Qingyang,

don't you dare

say things like that again.

Eunuch Zhao,

could it be that you're not so certain

about this matter either?

What if

I bring the real m*rder*r back,

only for it to work
against the Crown Prince?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Whether it's the First Prince's reaction

or Eunuch Zhao's,

it seems Prince Wenbu's death

really

has nothing to do with either of them.

With Northern Kun's army
bearing down on us,

besides the Ministry of w*r
and the Ministry of Revenue,

who else stands to benefit?

A master like Yan Zige

would surely have

inner power protecting his vital points
during a fight to the death.

How could Meng Rui's strike

have possibly

ruptured his heart meridian?

Right.

Meng Rui treasures that sword of his
so much.

He must be making a new scabbard

for the Severe-Cold Sword.