Volume One, Chapter 13: In-Depth Investigation

Yan Xiyue walked closely beside Duan Wuhen, and to passersby, she looked like a clingy little wife. Onlookers couldn’t help but sigh, “They truly are a perfect match, a pairing of talent and beauty.”

However, as they drew nearer to the outskirts, the number of pedestrians dwindled. Yan Xiyue was puzzled. Although Hancheng City wasn’t a top-tier city, it still ranked highly across the entire nation. Yet, the outskirts of such a first-class city were desolate, devoid of a single soul—an illogical sight.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Yan Xiyue asked, “Why is it so barren here? Is there a particular reason?”

Duan Wuhen paused briefly, a faint but unreadable gravity flickering in his eyes before he simply shook his head. “You’ll know when we arrive.”

They pressed on, the path beneath their feet gradually turning into a rugged dirt road, with thick weeds rising nearly to their knees. Yan Xiyue’s confusion deepened, but seeing Duan Wuhen’s cold yet focused profile, she chose to suppress her curiosity for the moment.

At last, after cresting a small hill, a cluster of abandoned buildings came into view. Once grand and uniquely styled, they now lay in ruins—walls covered with mottled moss and creeping vines, silently recounting past glory and present desolation.

As Duan Wuhen and Yan Xiyue reached the ruins of the Duan family estate, a chilling aura enveloped them. The crumbling walls, ravaged by time, seemed ready to collapse; wild grass flourished, whispering tales of a violent past.

A flicker of pain and resolve crossed Duan Wuhen’s eyes as he slowly stepped into the wreckage. Yan Xiyue followed closely, vigilant of their surroundings.

Stopping before the collapsed gate of the mansion, Duan Wuhen gazed upon it. “What is this place?” Yan Xiyue asked softly, curiosity tinged in her voice.

“This is where it all began,” he murmured with a trembling voice.

Carefully avoiding broken stones and debris, Yan Xiyue pressed on, “What exactly happened here?”

Duan Wuhen’s tone was laden with bitter grief. “This used to be my home!”

“Ah?!” Yan Xiyue exclaimed in shock. She had considered every possibility—except that this was Duan Wuhen’s own home.

He gently caressed a fractured stone pillar, tears welling in his eyes.

Seeing this, Yan Xiyue couldn’t help but embrace him. “It’s alright, it’s alright. It’s all in the past now. Things will get better.”

Duan Wuhen stopped his tears and shook his head at her. “Wife, you don’t understand. This trip down the mountain isn’t just about fulfilling our engagement. I must uncover the mastermind behind the massacre of the Duan family in Hancheng.”

Sharp as ever, Yan Xiyue caught the key phrase in his words. “You have others? Duan Wuhen, I knew you were a scoundrel. You actually have other fiancées!”

Suddenly realizing his slip, Duan Wuhen hurried to clarify, “No, wife, you must have misheard. I never said that.”

Yan Xiyue smiled cruelly. “Oh? Is that so?”

Startled, Duan Wuhen discreetly wiped the cold sweat off his brow. This girl’s ears were incredibly sharp.

Returning to the matter at hand, Duan Wuhen pushed open the mansion’s door and stepped inside, with Yan Xiyue following.

The ceiling threatened to collapse, and a thick layer of dust coated the floor. Yet, the mansion’s once opulent furnishings still hinted at its former splendor.

On a marble table lay a broken photo frame, the photograph within remarkably well preserved.

Duan Wuhen carefully lifted the photo, holding it in his palm.

It showed three people: a handsome, radiant man; a woman of breathtaking beauty; and a playful, innocent child.

Yan Xiyue leaned in, then gasped. “Wow! This man looks so much like you, and the woman’s eyes are exactly the same as yours.”

Suddenly realizing her own words, she covered her mouth as if she had said something forbidden.

Indeed, the photo was of Duan Wuhen’s family of three.

They should have had a childhood just like any other child, filled with happiness.

But that night, piercing screams shattered the Duan family’s peaceful past.

Hearing Yan Xiyue’s exclamation, Duan Wuhen clenched his fist and slammed it onto the table.

In an instant, the hard marble shattered into pieces, tears uncontrollably streaming down his face once more.

Startled by the sudden outburst, Yan Xiyue gently grasped Duan Wuhen’s arm, trying to soothe him.

“Duan Wuhen, don’t be like this. We’ll find the truth together,” she said, her voice steady and tender.

Taking a deep breath, Duan Wuhen struggled to calm the storm of grief and rage within. Slowly, he lifted his head to meet Yan Xiyue’s gaze, gratitude and determination shining in his eyes.

“Xiyue, what happened back then was too strange. I will make whoever is behind this pay dearly.”

They began to search the mansion thoroughly, leaving no corner unexplored.

In a study, Duan Wuhen found some charred fragments of letters. Though most of the writing was illegible, he detected faint clues hinting at a connection to a family in the capital city.

Deeper inside, at the entrance to the basement, a stale, musty odor wafted out.

Duan Wuhen gripped Yan Xiyue’s hand tightly as they cautiously descended.

The basement was dark and damp, filled with an unpleasant stench.

As they walked down the corridor, a faint “tick-tock” sound suddenly reached their ears. Duan Wuhen halted, eyes scanning warily.

“Be careful, there might be traps,” he warned, shielding Yan Xiyue behind him.

At that moment, sharp spikes slowly emerged from the floor ahead.

Duan Wuhen quickly pulled Yan Xiyue back, carefully observing their surroundings.

Minutes later, he found a loose brick in a corner.

Pressing it firmly, the spikes retracted. Relieved, they continued onward.

At the basement’s end, they discovered a dusty diary.

Duan Wuhen gently blew off the dust and opened it. It recorded some events of the Duan family and grudges with other families, though these were merely trivial business disputes.

Towards the end, the diary mentioned the capital city again, but the entries then ceased.

All current clues pointed toward the capital. Could the mastermind behind the massacre be from there?

Closing the diary, Duan Wuhen’s eyes burned with hatred and resolve.

“No matter who you are, I will never let you go.”

Yan Xiyue looked at him, a complex tide of emotions swelling within her—deep sympathy and heartache.