Chapter 0

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Yeah I know it’s already been translated here but that’s technically a machine translation, so I just felt like redoing it for practice and accuracy reasons; I may or many not continue translating after Ch 9 (though I probably will just for the sake of practicing).

Anyways enjoy my version of the translation! If you happen to find any grammatical or translation mistakes, please leave a moment below and I’ll double check!\n

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The moon was shining abnormally tonight, but it was covered by a layer of blood red clouds, causing the originally elegant moonlight to look unusually eerie, even the air seemed to have the scent of blood. It was two in the morning and it was a particularly quiet night, only the sound of leaves rustling could be heard, no one would think that the night sky was strange.

A Honda CR-V police car was whizzing past, and after a beautiful drift, the car stopped in front of the Law and Politics building. The car door opened and a pair of long and slender legs chicly stepped out. The person who arrived a young woman, she was tall, lanky, thin, and at least 175cm tall; she had uneven short hair, but it was refreshing and orderly; she was also wearing a plain white shirt but it was somewhat creased. It was the middle of the night, but she was still abnormally energetic, her expression resolute.

Gu Yun slightly narrowed her eyes and titled her head up to look, the pitch-dark building still had one room’s light on, the thirteenth floor’s autopsy room! The corner of the mouth slightly raised, Zhuo Qing isn’t answering her calls, it was very likely she was still performing the autopsy! She walked toward the building, and the uncle guarding the gate immediately came out, seeing the unsuspicious person who arrived, the uncle gave a familiar laughter and said: “Captain Gu, are you here for Forensic Investigator Zhuo?”

Gu Yun replied with a nod: “Mm.”

“While I was doing my night patrol just now, I saw the autopsy room lights still on, she’s probably still busy working, you guys work so hard!” “It’s already two in the morning, and one is still dissecting, and the other came in person for a report; criminal investigating sure is hard work.

Gu Yun humbly smiled. In a practiced manner, she pushed open the door to the staircase, and began walking up to the thirteenth floor. Generally, she never uses the elevator; she doesn’t have claustrophobia, she’s just too lazy to wait for it, that’s all.

Watching the thin back disappear into the staircase, the guard uncle laughed while shaking his head, “Workaholics.” He had been working as a guard at this building for some ten years, he’s seen many workaholics; young people being able to endure hardships is a good thing. Those two kids, within a few years, will definitely be able to get a promotion!

Entering onto the thirteenth floor, the lights in the corridor was still on, however all the office doors were already locked. Gu Yun hadn’t gone to the autopsy room, rather she leaned on the outside of Zhuo Qing’s office room door, deeply thinking about the recent series of murders happening.

Half an hour later, light footsteps could be heard from afar coming closer. Gu Yun narrowed her eyes and looked, an exhausted Zhuo Qing came out of the autopsy room, behind her was the stenographer Xing Lan who was also looking very tired; she was carrying the exhibits in a box, closely following from behind.

“How is it? Has the autopsy report came out yet?” Just as they were approaching the office, the two people immediately stopped! Seeing the person who was leaning against the door frame was the energetic Gu Yun, Xing Lan wailed, “Captain Gu, you’re also too much! It’s currently three in the morning!”

Gu Yun lightly arched her eyebrows, she smiled and said: “So?”

Her shoulders dropped down in defeat, Xing Lan helplessly replied: “So just wait a little while, I will immediately organize the data. I will definitely have the report out before daybreak!”

Looking at Xing Lan with her head drooping down going toward the office, Gu Yun raised her voice while laughing and said: “Thank you very much!”

Zhuo Qing had already unlocked the door to her personal office which was across the hall, Gu Yun promptly followed her in. Before she could say anything, Zhuo Qing with her unique clear, cold low voice slowly asked, “What’s up, not in the mood to sleep on this long insufferable night?”

“Screw you! Quickly glancing at her, Gu Yun complained: “Since this past month, there have been frequent murders of women. Squad Leader Li’s eyes are going to practically shoot out flames soon, right now how can anyone in Criminal Investigation Squad 2 still have the luxury of having a proper distinguished day and night!”

Zhuo Qing casually pulled out the fountain pen which held up her hair, her waist length hair immediately dropped down, she exhaustively leaned on the sofa, half closing her eyes, she lazily asked: “Were the results for yesterday’s provincial mixed martial arts tournament any exciting?”

“No!” Speaking about it was making her angry again, there were so many cases to solve, but the squad leader still wanted her to participate in the provincial tournament. She was always the winner of the women’s division, what was there still to compete for! Seeing the comfortable-looking Zhuo Qing who looked like she was ready to fall asleep at any moment, Gu Yun lightly tapped her shoulder, and laughed quietly then said: “Must I remind you Miss High and Mighty, I still have a case to talk with you about!”

With her eyes lightly closed, Zhuo Qing’s voice was nonchalant, but it was still clear and cold, “The corpse this time indeed has common points with the other three deceased victims from the case, she was also strangled, and the reason of death was due to suffocation, furthermore all ten fingernails were removed as well. Looking at the method of killing, it is also identical, so if it really is a serial murder case, according to the extent of the corpse’s decaying, she should be the first victim.”

While listening to Zhuo Qing’s analysis, Gu Yun walked back-and-forth around the office, pondering over the details of the case, suddenly she discovered that near the door was a faint reflection of light coming from an object. She went to pick it up and looked, it was a small gold plate inlaid with a bagua on it, it was inside an evidence bag, so it was probably an exhibit.

Walking to face Zhuo Qing, Gu Yun asked: “What’s this?”

Slowly opening her eyes, and looking at the object in Gu Yun’s hand, Zhuo Qing swore inwards. Lan, that damned girl, she’s always so careless with everything she did, how can she lose such an important piece of evidence! Sitting up, Zhuo Qing said: “It was found in the pocket of the deceased’s clothing, after someone from the examination department examines it, you should receive it soon.”

After hearing it was an exhibit from the case, Gu Yun immediately brightened up. The only light in the office was from a small desk lamp, so Gu Yun just opened the blinds, borrowing tonight’s exceptionally bright moonlight she carefully studied the object. Her eyes concentrated on the object in her hand, Gu Yun completely had not noticed that when she held the bagua plate in the darkness of the night while looking at it in moonlight, the moon was gradually covered up by the scarlet clouds.

How strange, it was definitely gold just a minute ago, how is it possible that when I look again now, it’s red?! Could it be that the other side is gold?

Turning it over and looking at it, the other side was also a blood red bagua symbol, the entire plate seemed as if it were faintly glowing in red, how was that possible?!

“Tsss——” While doubting in her heart, her hand suddenly hurt.

Zhuo Qing got up and walked to her side, and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Lowering her head to examine her finger, she could only see a deep bloody cut on her forefinger, a few drops of bright red blood fell onto the evidence bag, Gu Yun laughed indifferently, “It’s nothing, I don’t know what but something just cut me.”

The cut on her finger was deep, with blood still dripping down, Gu Yun’s indifferent manner caused Zhuo Qing to frown. Getting the sterilized cotton swabs from the bookshelf on the side, covering the wound, Zhuo Qing snorted coldly: “Press down on it!”

Gu Yun rolled her eyes, it was just a tiny scratch!

Pressing the sterilized swab down on the cut, it was quickly soaked with blood, Zhuo Qing’s sharp eyes narrowed, what kind of thing was that sharp, to be able to cut so deeply that it was this hard to stop the bleeding?!

What made the ever cold and proud Forensic Investigator Zhuo to turn so pale with fright! Gu Yun also curiously stretched her head over, looking down, Gu Yun also shouted out quietly in amazement: “Blood……was seeping in!”

The blood which was originally on the translucent evidence bag disappeared, and unexpectedly reappeared on the blood-red bagua plate!! How was it possible for this to happen, the blood penetrated into the evidence bag……

“Oh no!” Staring at it blankly, the two said in unison: “The report this time is going to be hard to write.”

The two of them looked at each other and smiled bitterly, their heads aching on how to explain how Gu Yun’s blood got inside the evidence bag, and without anyone noticing, a drop of blood seeped into the bloodstain on the bagua plate, precisely following the curve of the groove, flowing towards the center of the yinyang symbol……the moment the blood flowed into the center, the bagua plate suddenly released an extremely strong red light. Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun didn’t even have a chance to react, they only felt the light fading away from their eyes, and then they softly fell onto the floor.

Rays of light flashed; in the office of the Head Forensic Investigator, there was that small desk lamp, and on the floor were the figures of two people who fainted.

The blood from the wound on Gu Yun’s hand not only returned to the way it was before, not a trace of a scar remained. The golden bagua plate steadily fell by to their sides, not in the least like something was odd. The moonlight on the horizon outside of the window was clear and bright, everything was peaceful again like the moonlight.

The sound of heavy pouring rain accompanied the sound of thunder, the strong wind blew and caused the broken windows to sway back-and-forth, clacking loudly! In a humble little side hall of the worn out temple, there were three young girls curled up, in crimson marriage clothing, in the gloomy and pitch-darkness, the entire place was filled with a dull and empty atmosphere leaking from the center of the temple, making it seem particularly strange.

There were no lamps inside, but every once in a while the lightning would light up the entire temple, with rays which seemingly appeared to be sharp as a sword. Every flash seemed as if it would split open the earth; the dazzling white light, the ear-splitting sound of a sudden clap of thunder, made the girl who looked the youngest curl up her body in alarm.

Clinging onto her oldest sister’s arm with all her strength, Qing Mo sobbed quietly and said: “Big sister, what should we do now? I’m scared!”

Another flash of lightning flashed, and finally the appearances of the girls were visible, all three girls were all budding beauties, each had their own magnificence, their left side of their faces were drop-dead beautiful, beauty which can make all women envious, and all men adore. Except sadly, on the right side of their cheeks, there were two deep blade scars engraved on it, practically ruining the entire right cheek; in this lightning-flashing thunder-booming night, they seemed rather sinister looking.

Lightly patting her younger sister’s shoulder, Qing Ling deathly pale from fear, quietly mumbled: “After passing through this mountain, we’ll be out of Hao Yue, is it really impossible for us to escape from our fate of becoming gifts?”

“I refuse!” Stubborn eyes tenaciously stared at the thunder and lightning and the curtain of rain outside the worn out temple, Qing Feng tightly bit down on her lips and nearly ripped the skin and bled.

Slowly lifting her head, and leaning on Qing Feng’s shoulder, Qing Mo sensibly talked in a quiet voice and consolingly said: “Second Sister, don’t be afraid, I heard you were going to be wed to that Prime Minister Lou, he’s one of those rare modest and noble people, he has both political and military achievements, he lacks nothing and is an outstanding person, he, probably wouldn’t treat you unfairly.” The most pitiful should be Eldest Sister, who’s being sent into the palace, rumors say the Emperor of Qiong Yue is very temperamental, bloody-thirsty and tyrannical, how is our gentle and refined oldest sister going to be able to take such a thing!

Qing Feng snorted disdainfully, “Who cares!” Turning around, one hand held onto her big sister’s hand, the other held onto her little sister’s hand, Qing Feng firmly growled quietly and said: “I hate this! Why should the Emperor of Qiong Yue be allowed to do whatever he wants with a simple word! Why should our Qing family take responsibility for the incompetence of the Emperor! Why should we be tributes sent to curry favors from people of Qiong Yue even after he killed our father and mother!”

Gently stroking Qing Feng due to her yelling, with her face turning distorted from hatred, Qing Ling quietly sighed and said: “Because Qiong Yue is the tyrant among all six countries, a country every country worships. Because the Emperor is representative of his country, if a monarch wants his servants dead then the servants have no choice but to die! Who told us be to women who don’t even have the strength to truss a chicken!” Fate was never something which could be grasped in their hands.

Shaking off Qing Ling’s hand, Qing Feng suddenly stood up, her back turned, she said with unwillingness: “So what if we’re women! I won’t go to Qiong Yue!”

Looking at Second Sister’s stubborn back, and looking at Eldest Sister’s anxiety filled face again, Qing Mo timidly said: “Even our faces which everyone adored have been ruined by us, yet they still want to send us to Qiong Yue! Second Sister, we have absolutely no ability to change anything, isn’t that right?”

Her hand lightly caressed her cheek which even now was still as painful as before like it had pierced through her soul, Qing Feng let out a deep breath, and clenched her teeth then said: “Even if I die, I, Qing Feng refused to be manipulated! Especially by that person, that useless ruler’s hands were still covered with Father and Mother’s blood!”

Qing Ling was alarmed, and urgently asked: “Feng’er, what do you plan to do?”

Slowly turning around, Qing Feng’s hands firmly clenched up, and resolutely said: “Sister, I want to stay in Hao Yue, stay by Father and Mother’s side, even if I have to stay behind as a corpse!”

As if it were going along with Qing Feng’s declaration, a flash of mysterious white lightning stroke downwards, the rays of light illuminated Feng’er’s face; Qing Ling saw her determination and firm resoluteness.

She stopped, and tightly grabbed onto Qing Feng’s hand, Qing Ling suddenly felt as if a heavy load was lifted from her mind, and weakly laughed then said: “Good! Your big sister will accompany you, anyways, continuing to live on in my opinion is already completely meaningless.” Not needing to think about what will happen in the future could possibly be a type of freedom!

A half crouching Qing Mo also hurriedly stood up, grabbing onto the two’s hands, urgently said: “Whatever my two sisters do, I will also do, Mo’er will never separate from you two no matter what!”

Qing Ling hesitated, and looked at the completely pure Mo’er with a pained heart, she probably didn’t know the meaning of death yet, she’s still just fifteen after all!

Meeting Mo’er’s honest and pure big eyes, Qing Feng’s heart also pained as if it were being twisted with a knife, but then she remembered that she was going to be wed to that rumored infamous battlefield’s grim murderous dictator, Qing Feng immediately shivered, and said: “Older Sister, Mo’er is so pure and kind-hearted, if we leave her alone in this world, she will only suffer, so let’s reunite with our family here in this worn out temple!”

Looking at the three pairs of hands which were piled onto one another’s, Qing Ling suddenly felt her heart warm up, as if she were trying to convince herself, Qing Ling nodded with force, and said: “Good! It’s best if our family reunites together!” The three raised their heads and glanced at the beams of the roof on the ceiling of the room, they mutually understood then looked at each other and smiled, this was the first time they smiled after the passing of their parents, because after today, they would never be able to be separated again!

They nimbly took off the silk red belt on their waists, and stripped off the gorgeous red clothing, only leaving the plain white underclothing on, then they gently threw the red silk onto the beams of the roof. The three stood on a broken square table, and without hesitation, placed their neck onto the red silk.

Qing Ling glanced at her sisters beside her, closing her eyes, and quietly said: “Feng’er, Mo’er, even in our next life, we will still be sisters!”

“Uhn!” Qing Feng and Qing Mo nodded with force. The three held each other’s hands, and lightly kicked away the square table, the red silk suddenly stretched tightly, and then three fresh lives gradually slipped away.

The soldiers in charge of escorting the Qing sisters to Qiong Yue was currently resting in the main hall of the broken temple, they saw that the rain was quickly lightening up, but then it suddenly began pouring powerfully again, lightning and thunder began flashing and booming frantically, like it was trying to break this unstable broken-up temple into shatters.

One of the low-ranked soldiers gulped. It was still spring, and even though he was this old, he had never seen such a big rain shower in his life before!

Casually glancing towards the side hall the Qing sister’s were in, what he saw scared him half dead; with the bright white light from that flash of lightning, three stiffly straight shadows were dangling back and forth in midair, their clothes flipping and flying! Bewilderingly calling out, the low-ranked soldier frantically escaped to Li Xu, crying out in alarm and said: “Ghosts…there are ghost!”

“What? Li Xu stared blankly, and followed the low-ranked soldier’s line of sight and looked, the three shadows which were floating in the air also made him cold sweat in alarm! The Qing sisters hung themselves! Li Xu hastily stood up and kicked aside the side hall’s door, only seeing the floor covered with the red clothing, and three pairs of dark red embroidered shoes sway back and forth before his eyes. Li Xu retreated back a step in fright, he frantically said:

“Quick quick quick! Bring them down!”

A group of soldiers flusteredly acted on the order, and finally brought down the three girls; the faces of all three had turned black, their eyes closed tightly.

Li Xu stared at Qing Mo who was closest to his left, urgently asking: “How is she?”

The low-ranked soldier carefully felt for Qing Mo’s breath, and replied: “She’s……dead.”

Li Xu shuddered and pointed towards Qing Feng, urgently asking: “And this…….this one?”

The low-ranked soldier tested for her breath, then quickly withdrew his hand, seeing Li DaRen’s* pale face, the low-ranked soldier was frightened but didn’t dare to reply, and only lightly shook his head.

All were dead?! Li Xu began to cold sweat, the Emperor of Qiong Yue carefully chose the Qing sisters to be offered as tribute candidates, but now they were dead! How was he supposed to follow his orders! It was very likely that Hao Yue had no way of fleeing from its impending doom! Right when Li Xu’s hope disappeared, the low-ranked soldier suddenly hollered aloud: “DaRen! The Qing sisters’ eldest sister is still breathing!” Even though it was weak, she was still alive.

“Really? That’s great! Hurry and bring her onto the carriage, then quickly send for a physician!” At least one lived in the end. Li Xu commanded for all the soldiers to help; they carelessly dressed Qing Ling in the wedding clothes, completely not in the mood to look after the other two dead bodies.

A sudden clap of thunder boomed outside the broken temple, and a dazzling white light which was as sharp as a sword appeared, the corpses on the floor appeared to be even more lonely and pitiful, the low-ranked soldier was scared, but he couldn’t bare to leave those pitiful girls’ exposed corpses in this worn out temple; he picked up the wedding clothing, and carefully placed it onto their bodies. Just when he was about to leave, red light rays different from the ones from lightning flashed, the two on the ground who had absolutely no sign of a breath suddenly opened their eyes———

“Ah———” The low-ranked soldier’s shriek echoed throughout the worn out temple! Li Xu who had already went back to the main hall impatiently called back: “What are you hollering about now?!”

“They……They” Once again, the low-ranked soldier was unable to say anything, and only crudely crawled out of the side hall.

Two girls’ corpses made him this scared? Li Xu began to have some doubt, and went into the side hall again, but he discovered that the girls who didn’t have a trace of life just a moment ago, now miraculously, their chests and stomachs very faintly rising up and down, although their eyes were still tightly closed, their complexions were less purple nevertheless.

“This is truly the Heaven’s blessing, the Heaven’s blessing!” Li Xu was estatic, they weren’t dead yet! His life was finally guaranteed! “Somebody somebody come here, bring them away!”

Amidst the rain and wind, the soldiers carried the two out of the worn out temple, right when they were about to bring them onto the carriage Qing Ling was on, Li Xu suddenly called out: “Wait.”

These three marred their faces and attempted to commit suicide, since they didn’t die this time, who knows what they might do the next time! From here to Qiong Yue, was still a a journey of over ten days! He planned and planned again in his heart, then Li Xu said with a heavy voice: “Separate them for the journey, one per each carriage, do not allow them to see each other. Also, drug their drinking water, we must sent them to Qiong Yue alive!”

“Yes.” The three were immediately placed into three different carriages, before they were to reach Qiong Yue, they would have no chance to see each other, and no chance to get off the carriage.

Qing sisters, don’t blame me, if you want to blame someone blame yourselves, who told you three to be beauties capable of causing the downfall of countries*, who told you to talented in both literature and arts, who told you all to be famous among the six countries. The women Qiong Yue wants, not to mention your appearances being marred, even if you die, you three must die in Qiong Yue; everything is predestined!

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Notes:\n

– *DaRen (大人): Needless to say, if you read a ton of historical novels, you must have encountered this term before. I can’t exactly translate it because it’s impossible since there’s no English equivalent, but for those of you who don’t know, it’s a honorific title of respect for people with higher position than the one calling them, most of the time, it’s used for government officials without an official title like General or Prime Minister.

– *Beauties capable of causing the downfall of countries (倾国倾城): Basically a devastatingly beautiful woman. I could translate it as that, but I feel like it’s better to describe someone that way; devastating beauty just doesn’t justify how beautiful they should look.\n

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