Little Pink Starfish

Where Did the Beast Come From?

The officials and constables of the Dali Temple all heard the cries for help—screams that no longer even sounded human—and rushed toward the side hall. The first few who arrived were greeted by such a horrific scene that one of the officials fainted on the spot. Of the rest, only one managed to remain standing; the others all vomited on the spot.

Blood had flowed from the corridor into the courtyard, staining the gray-black stone tiles bright red. The bodies on the ground were all mutilated—one pale, glistening intestine trailed from the corridor all the way down the steps outside. The officials of the Dali Temple had seen plenty of corpses before, but this time, the carnage shocked even the most hardened of them.

“Where… where’s the Prince Consort?” one of the more seasoned officials stammered, not even pausing to identify the corpses. If the Prince Consort had died inside the Dali Temple… never mind the Gu family—His Majesty would be the first to hold them accountable.

Gu Xinglang, however, was down in the Sky Prison at that moment. Since the prison was underground, he had heard none of the Assistant Minister’s cries for help.

When Xiao Zhuang saw Gu Xinglang, he was initially excited but quickly drooped his head and asked, “Prince Consort, did I cause you and Her Highness a lot of trouble?”

“It’s not trouble,” Gu Xinglang replied, then motioned to the jailer accompanying him to open the cell door.

The jailer hurried forward and unlocked Xiao Zhuang’s cell.

“Thanks for your trouble,” Gu Xinglang said politely.

The jailer quickly shook his head. “Not at all, Your Highness. I’ll wait outside.”

Gu Xinglang nodded, and after the jailer left, he told his guards, “You all wait outside too.”

The guards knew that Xiao Zhuang was stronger than any of them, and with him there, nothing would happen to the young master. They respectfully retreated.

“How’s Xiongxiong and the others?” Once they were alone, Xiao Zhuang immediately asked.

“They’re fine,” Gu Xinglang said. “You’re the only one being held here?”

Xiao Zhuang scratched his head and nodded. “Yeah. Out of two rows and more than twenty cells, I’m the only one here. Didn’t think I was so important.”

Gu Xinglang sighed—Zhao Qiuming simply didn’t want too many people to see Xiao Zhuang.

“What about the princess?” Xiao Zhuang asked anxiously.

“She’s fine too.” Gu Xinglang didn’t have time to explain everything his princess had been up to. “Was it just the three of you who got captured?”

“Yeah, just us three. Concubine Li and Lady Li even tried to kill themselves. The Imperial Guards stopped them.”

“No interrogation?”

“No. That’s what puzzles me.”

“As long as you’re not hurt.” Gu Xinglang gave him a faint smile. “After you were taken, Mo Wen came to Fengjing.”

“Oh. Huh?” Xiao Zhuang nodded at first, then blinked. “Who came?”

“Mo Wen—the abbot of Yongsheng Temple.”

Xiao Zhuang staggered back and slumped against the wall.

“The princess went to the National Guardian Temple,” Gu Xinglang continued. “Wuhuan was poisoned. She went to find the antidote. After you’re out, go help Xiao Wei start the fire.”

Xiao Zhuang clutched his head. “Wuhuan? As in Wuhuan from Zhuri?!”

Only now did Gu Xinglang remember—Xiao Zhuang still didn’t know anything.

“The princess is going up against Mo Wen?” Xiao Zhuang babbled. “No, wait—Wuhuan’s poisoned, so why isn’t Mo Wen helping? And why is the princess helping? No, wait—Prince Consort, you said you’re going to set fire to the temple?! Is Mo Wen there too?”

Gu Xinglang nodded.

Xiao Zhuang nearly burst into tears. Are we even allowed to survive this?

“You—” Gu Xinglang started to speak.

Just then, a rush of urgent footsteps echoed through the damp, narrow hallway.

Gu Xinglang and Xiao Zhuang both looked toward the end of the corridor. Xiao Zhuang leapt forward and stood protectively in front of Gu Xinglang.

Two Dali Temple officials and a group of constables came running, nearly tripping over themselves.

Gu Xinglang grabbed Xiao Zhuang to stop him from reacting violently and asked in a low voice, “What’s going on?”

The approaching group exhaled in relief when they saw Gu Xinglang was unharmed.

“Thank goodness,” one official said. “You’re safe, Prince Consort.”

Gu Xinglang’s eyes narrowed. “What happened?”

One of the officials, less composed than his colleague, stammered, “L-Lord Guan… Lord Guan is dead. They—they’ve all been killed!”

Xiao Zhuang glanced at Gu Xinglang. Who’s Lord Guan?

Gu Xinglang’s face darkened. “I was just speaking with him before coming here. How could he be dead?”

The two officials shook their heads. They had no answers.

“In the west wing?” Gu Xinglang asked.

“Yes,” one of them replied.

“Who’s the killer?” he asked again.

They both shook their heads. The more composed one said, “Prince Consort, Lord Guan and five constable leaders are all dead. Judging by the state of the corpses… it looks like they were torn apart by some kind of beast.”

In a place like the Dali Temple, where prisoners were common, it wouldn’t be surprising to say some were beasts in human skin—but in the heart of Fengjing, what kind of beast could rip six people to pieces?

“You’re not pulling our leg, are you?” Xiao Zhuang asked suspiciously.

The two officials stared at him blankly, sending chills down his spine.

“Take me to the scene,” Gu Xinglang ordered.

Xiao Zhuang stared at him, wide-eyed. Your wife is about to burn down the National Guardian Temple, and you want to stick around here to investigate corpses? Shouldn’t we be more worried about the princess right now?

Gu Xinglang patted him on the back. “We’ll check it out first.” He had only left the west hall moments ago—who could possibly have had the ability to kill six men in that short span of time? He couldn’t say for sure about Lord Guan, but Dali Temple’s constable leaders were all martial artists. The only people he could think of with that kind of power were from Yongsheng Temple. Other than Mo Wen’s followers, who else could’ve done this? His wife was formidable, but even she hadn’t killed anyone yet. If it really was someone from Yongsheng Temple… then why? Why would they come here to kill?

Gu Xinglang wanted to leave—but not without at least some answers.

Xiao Wei, though anxious, had no choice but to summon a constable to help carry Gu Xinglang’s reclining chair.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao and Xiao Wei were crouched atop the back wall of the National Guardian Temple, peering down at the dimly lit Buddhist halls below.

“Princess,” Xiao Wei whispered, “which one do you think Mo Wen is staying in?”

Yu Xiaoxiao pointed toward the brightest part of the temple grounds. “Probably that one.”

“Woo—”

A low, mournful sound drifted up from below.

Xiao Wei looked down. “Was that… a dog?”