It was only because Flowing Silk had been watching so closely that he saw the flicker of Silk Petal's eyes widening before her expression changed to polite confusion, “A mahjong tile? I'm sorry, I don't know-”

  The sound of raised voices outside cut off the conversation. Flowing Silk immediately slipped the tile away and Sheng stood. “One moment please.” Sheng went to the door and opened it, looking at the magistrate outside keeping a watch down the corridor. “Is there a problem? We heard voices.”

  The magistrate bowed his head politely, “Don't worry, sir, I'm sure it's in hand.”

  Xiong half turned to look out of the window. From the office Sheng could only see the tops of their heads, but a newcomer in a straw hat was arguing hotly with Wan.

  Sheng raised an eyebrow sceptically, “After a murder? Are you sure you should not check?”

  Xiong snorted, seeing what his grandfather was doing, “Grandfather, if the magistrate wishes for backup then we can check what is happening while you continue the investigation.”

  “Perhaps it would be wise.” Sheng agreed.

  Xiong bowed in acceptance and strode across the office to duck through the doorway and slope along the corridor, the magistrate following behind him.

  Sheng meanwhile closed the door and turned back to the maid, drawing the 1 bamboo tile from his robe, “What about if we showed you this?”

  Almost immediately her manner shifted, almost seeming like a different person as her bearing shifted from servile to noble in one swoop. Silk Petal stood, elegant and swift as she approached Sheng to examine the tile minutely. “How came you by this?”

  He'd known there was something off. She must be a Spring Dragon specialist, impersonating different roles as easily as breathing, perhaps Emerald Dragon to heighten the performance. Flowing Silk smiled slightly at the shift in manner as Sheng spoke, “O-sou gave it to me from his own hand.”

  This time she looked at him in faint surprise for getting the right name, “... Alright. So…” she sighed, “Ren was my contact here - I was supposed to pick up a packet of information he'd gathered for a society he was part of. I was to take it north to the great Army forges and deliver it to a man there.”

  Flowing Silk felt his resolve flicker now that he'd uncovered part of the hidden secret. Oh Ren. “That’s not all, is it?”

  She recoiled, putting a hand across her shoulder, “What do you mean?

  “You are part of something else. Please, tell me. I can cut Wan's argument for your guilt to ribbons.” He looked away, “Please. I want to find who murdered my... friend.”

  She looked at him for long enough that he was able to meet her gaze again. “The Thirteen Orphans.” She gestured to his sleeve, “That tile... was mine, not Ren's. He was our contact with another organisation - the Silk Circle, I think it was, but I only saw the characters for a moment - and he was supposed to pass me some vital information. Those letters were stolen from the bathhouse when he was murdered.”

  Flowing Silk squeezed his eyes shut against the storm of sudden emotion in his chest. It was almost reassuring, to have confirmation that Ren hadn't changed, even after two years. Still sharp enough to realise something was going on. Still caring enough to try and do something about it.

  Gods how he missed him. Using his habitual private baths as a way to secretly pass information was so very Ren that it was like he was in the next room, just smiling and waiting for Flowing Silk to figure it out.

  It was ridiculous, but the image gave Flowing Silk the strength to continue. “I wish I could say I was surprised Ren got himself involved in something like this, but just like me he could not ignore things going on around him.” That is partially how we found each other, after all. He breathed out and straightened, setting his emotions aside once more. I cannot cry, there is too much to do, and a murder to solve. I will grieve later, and continue his business after if I can.

  “I cannot tell you what was in them, but it is of vital importance that we find those letters.” Silk Petal insisted.

  Another breath, “We can always ask him once the spell is broken. If the Grave money is outside the compound then Big Lo, Tai or both are in on it.”

  “Unless of course the murderer left through the waterfall.” Sheng replied, “If we think they went in through the spring then they’re more likely to leave that way.”

  “Then they would have been seen returning to the compound, if they did return.” Flowing Silk said.

  “If they returned before I screamed...” Silk Petal mused, “Which rules out Lo and Tai, I think. They were here too fast.”

  Flowing Silk frowned, “That still does not cover how they got in. As Tai or Lo would be able to remember who came in at those times.”

  Sheng stroked his beard. “Mm. So that narrows the list down to Wan, Mei, Jing and Baozhai. Jing you said was out in town. Ren was taken by surprise, he wasn't expecting the attack. Wan, I believe, had an alibi.”

  Silk Petal nodded, “Wan and Mei were together at a tea-house - there are enough witnesses. As was the little hyperactive one. And I saw Baozhai passed out in the morning, though that could be an act.”

  “The Drunken Hedonist style is possible." Sheng mused, "Wasn't there something about the knives in the kitchen? Though Jing would also have access to them. We could ask if someone saw Baozhai return?”

  “Lo should have seen her, if she came in.” Silk Petal replied.

  “Then we should ask. Is Big Lo down in the courtyard?”

  “I think he should be -”

  A massive roar pierced the air and all three of them looked up, Sheng looking unconcernedly back to the documents and sipping his tea as the other two rushed to the window.

  Below them two figures were facing off in the courtyard. Xiong was already part transformed into a bear facing off against a man in a straw hat and pearl white robes with the sleeves designed to look like wings.

  “...Oh dear.” Flowing Silk said. Xiong didn't rouse to anger easily unless someone had insulted his family.

  Silk Petal sighed and then leant out the window, “I didn't need any help here, you idiot!”

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  Flowing Silk looked down at the pair, then across at Silk Petal, “Did you wish for your tile back? And should we go down there?”

  “Eh, they'll tire themselves out in a minute.” Silk Petal said with a shrug and Flowing Silk's eyebrows rose in surprise at how much she didn't seem to care for the man's wellbeing.

  Xiong lunged forward and the man in the straw hat was driven backwards, blocking the mighty attack with the crossed sleeves of his white robe. Something about the motion caught Flowing Silk's attention, the way the wide sleeves flared and how the stranger's foot sketched an arc even as they braced themselves.

  In response Xiong grew even larger and furrier, now a bear hunkered on his hindquarters who dropped down to all fours and let loose an even more deafening roar, blasting the straw hat from the man’s head.

  The man had his black hair tied in a similar low ponytail to Flowing Silk, though his was longer and held in place with an emerald ribbon instead. The man shook his head to clear his ears and blinked, bringing his sleeves up again to ready himself.

  Sheng finally got up and ambled over to the window to watch and Flowing Silk’s thoughts shifted from concern to fascination, unable to look away from the stranger's movements as they fought.

  Xiong reared up and batted at the stranger's chest with the back of a paw, trying to push him away from the house. The man jumped out of the way, long black hair fluttering in the wind. As he jumped he seemed to lighten in midair so he only gently drifted backward.

  Flowing Silk’s eyes widened, and he distantly realised he'd felt like this before, the first time he'd seen Master Yinghao using the Pure Flame. “What is that style?”

  The man turned, his spinning motion bringing his whirling sleeve toward Xiong with enough force that it had to be weighted with steel. As soon as it connected he turned away again, each blow seamlessly blending into the next as he whirled around Xiong's body.

  Xiong growled and shoulder barged him away, wincing as he moved the shoulder. "That's going to bruise." Sheng murmured in an undertone as Xiong's opponent leapt again, spreading his arms like wings to actually double jump in mid-air before landing on Xiong’s broad back and punching down toward his head.

  Xiong wrested his head to the side and rolled over, successfully dislodging the man only to leave himself open. Almost immediately an iron sleeve to the gut sent the bear flying backward into the spectating Wan.

  The collision was almost poetic, the wind knocked from both of them in a whuff of air and Wan entirely trapped under the bear with his ostentatious robes marred by the dust of the courtyard.

  Flowing Silk did his best not to laugh at the sight of Wan getting flattened by a bear, he really did. However some moments were too precious not to try and etch into his memory.

  The stranger stood there for a few seconds, almost as out of breath as Xiong before he straightened, looking around to see Tai striding towards him furiously, his cane raising a cloud of dust with each step.

  Flowing Silk's mirth vanished. If Tai didn't know that this man was someone who knew and was trying to help Silk Petal this would go very badly indeed. The quickest way was to take the roof and jump down. Flowing Silk hastily climbed out the window and raced towards them as Sheng and Silk Petal calmly walked down the stairs.

  “Just what in blazes do you think you're doing?” Tai asked furiously as Jing rushed forward to seize the stranger.

  Flowing Silk jumped down to the courtyard, “Hold, please. I believe this is probably a misunderstanding.”

  The butler looked at him in shock, “A misunderstanding? He attacked a guest!”

  The man in white shook Jing's arm off. "Look, as the man said - a misunderstanding. My name is Seven Feathers and I-" The stranger turned around and cut himself off as he saw Flowing Silk.

  Xiong looked up muzzily, drool dribbling out of one corner of his mouth right onto Wan. The noble spluttered and struggled as he attempted to get the bear off him. “Ugh, get off me, you great oaf!”

  The bear wiped his mouth with a clawed paw and slowly pushed himself up on wobbling limbs then sat down again heavily once Wan had scrambled out, the bear clumsily rubbing his foreshoulder.

  Flowing Silk tactfully ignored them. Much as it would have been amusing to watch Wan suffer, he had a situation to de-escalate. Instead he bowed to Tai, “He is a friend of Silk Petal, naturally he would be worried about her. His distress is more than understandable given the circumstances.”

  “A friend?” Mei asked with a raised eyebrow, “I thought she was your sister.”

  “Ah, then that explains it even more, Silk Petal was shouting for him to calm down in the way only close friends and family do.” Flowing Silk apologised swiftly. Seven Feathers inclined his head in agreement as Sheng and Silk Petal emerged from the building to survey the scene. “Luckily he has no cause to be worried now.”

  Silk Petal seemed to believe everything was under control, marching towards Seven Feathers and rolling up her sleeves before she was stopped by Big Lo simply picking her up from behind. This didn’t seem to stop her attempting to box the stranger's ears, “Look, it would have been fine if you hadn't gone butting in where you weren't needed. Again.”

  “Silence!”

  The courtyard finally quietened as Tai glared at everyone there. “My son has been murdered. I will not have your - squabbling - disrespect him until we find his killer and have him properly laid to rest.”

  Flowing Silk waited a moment, then stepped forward and bowed, “Which brings me to my next point, if I may, honoured sir?”

  Tai’s gaze was sharp and narrow, the silence stretching until it was uncomfortable. Flowing Silk started to regret stepping forward before Tai nodded curtly.

  Flowing Silk breathed out and focused on his task, and also the floor. “Silk Petal is innocent. She had neither motive nor time to kill him and do the spell which seals his soul from my reach.”

  Sheng caught Tai’s eye and gave a nod to back up what Flowing Silk had said.

  His former superior officer’s approval seemed to mollify him somewhat, “Then who did?”

  “There are a few more questions that need to be asked. Luckily, everyone who is required is here.” Flowing Silk explained, giving another bow, “Would it be possible to ask everyone to remain here while we conduct these final few questions?”

  Tai raised an eyebrow, “Indeed. Ask away, if you can conclude this.”

  Flowing Silk bowed again as Wan finished getting to his feet and brushing himself off, using the bow to hide a smile at the fact that Wan was glaring at Xiong instead of him for a change. Xiong shrugged, bearly able to suppress a grin on his muzzle.

  “Silk Petal, as you have been cleared, would you mind searching the compound for the grave money?” Flowing Silk asked, “I do not believe it is inside or it would have been found by now, but it should be checked.”

  Silk Petal nodded and looked at Tai, who jerked his head. She scurried off, presumably to search.

  That seemed to be the cue for the group to split off into their separate smaller interviews. Xiong frowned as he sniffed the air, then followed the smell to where Yi was pestering Baozhai next to the kitchen door. The child seemed delighted to see him, abruptly climbing onto his broad back.

  Flowing Silk looked to Sheng, who inclined his head towards Big Lo as he approached Tai. “If I could just have a quick word, honoured sir?”

  Tai nodded, returning his attention to Sheng, “Of course... sir.”

  Sheng smiled slightly, tilting his hat to shield his face from the others in the courtyard, but allowing Tai to see a friendly face. Good, Tai would be alright with his old friend there to soothe him.

  Flowing Silk approached and bowed to the enormous gate guard, who watched him with no expression on his face. It was strange, Flowing Silk had always thought Xiong was relatively expressionless, but seeing Big Lo highlighted that Xiong had life and personality despite that.

  Strange, the things you realised when your brain was trying to avoid thinking about something.

  “May I ask you some questions?” Flowing Silk asked politely. The man nodded. After a moment of waiting for an answer Flowing Silk continued, “Did you see anyone enter the compound this morning?”

  “Jing, returning. Went to town early last night. Not just to town.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Boots don’t get muddy in town.”

  Flowing Silk glanced down at the newly swept gate and the brush stained with yellow mud close to Big Lo's guard post. Of course he'd see that where no-one else would. Flowing Silk bowed, “Thank you for your help.”

  Xiong placed Yi gently on the floor and wriggled, fur rippling and disappearing with a series of bone wrenching clicks and tears. His taken shape vanished and Xiong stood up to approach Tai, a bruise already forming on his bare shoulder. He brushed down his vest and trousers, “Lord Zhou, is it the habit of your household staff to imbibe wine at this time of day?”

  Tai turned, “Excuse me?” Sharp eyes swept over the staff members present as Flowing Silk bowed and hurried back, trying to make his way to Xiong and Sheng as quietly as possible.

  Xiong continued, tone scornful, “There were two empty wine glasses in the kitchen, and the place had a strong smell of liquor.”

  Baozhai looked to one side. “I, uh… Well, we didn't think much was happening, so Jing and I had opened up a bottle.” She shrugged, “Late last night, you know, not this morning. I just hadn't washed up yet.”

  Flowing Silk froze for a moment as everything slotted into place in his mind. “Then I believe it is clear.” His eyes narrowed as he turned to the butler, “Jing, why did you kill Ren?”

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