In the dim cell, low chants rise and fall over and over until it almost feels like a natural phenomenon, like the howling of the wind.
Constable I: Chief, all the Yao we've arrested are here.

Jail, Ancient Zhu County

A cell door creaks open slowly. The other Yao stop and look out from their cells at the three who enter.
Cheng Heguang: ...
Cheng Heguang: Hmph. This must be the true meaning of being "watched like a hawk."
Cheng Heguang: You may leave. I will have the victim identify the culprit.
Constable I: Understood.
The cell is packed with Yao. Afraid, a man presses himself fearfully against Chéng Héguāng.
Chéng grips his blade and tells the man not to be afraid, as he takes the first bold step toward them.
Cheng Heguang: I trust there's no need to introduce myself.
Bird: Of course, Chief Chéng. After all, it took us all quite some effort to sneak past you, hahahahaha.
Bird: Let no one say that you neglected your duties. In fact, you did such a sterling job that not even a fly could buzz through that gate.
Bird: A pity for you that I soar much higher than a fly! Ahahahahahaha!
The Yao all laugh, leading Chéng Héguāng to raise his blade and strike it against the cell door.
Cheng Heguang: Quiet!
Cheng Heguang: Look over them. See if you can identify the one that abducted your family.
Even with the cell door between them, the man feels surrounded by Yao; he dodges fruitlessly left then right as if to avoid their gaze.
He peeks at the jailed Yao from the corner of his eye. But each glance makes him all the more concerned.
County Resident I: I-I don't see them.
Bird: My, my, should I call you County Magistrate Chéng now? If I recall correctly, it falls outside of the duties of mere constables to interrogate suspects.
Through the bars, a bird-like Yao leans toward Chéng Héguāng.
Bird: Could it be that you are using this opportunity to learn the Method of Longevity for yourself? Haha!
Cheng Heguang: Enough of your twittering, bird. I am investigating this rumor on behalf of the people, not for myself.
Cheng Heguang: Nor is this a formal interrogation. I am within my rights to question any one of you.
Bird: Heh heh. And if I don't tell you a thing, what then, Chief Chéng?
Bird: Must you really be so harsh on us? Every Yao in Zhu County is scared to death of you.
Bird: But I know that you're not all that cruel-hearted. Could you be persuaded to let us go?
As she speaks, she puts both hands through the bars. One holds a gold bar, the other a charm. She waves them before Chéng Héguāng.
Bird: I can offer you both wealth and health.
Cheng Heguang: Fiend! I will not allow you to deceive me.
Chéng Héguāng pushes her hands aside with the back of his blade. She jumps back, staring at him tensely, then approaches once more.
Bird: You think it deception merely because you believe the Method of Longevity to be a false rumor.
Bird: But what if I tell you, it's true, hm? Take a guess at how old I am.
Cheng Heguang: There's no need to guess. It is said that Yao can live over a thousand years.
Bird: Whoever told you that knew nothing. Our lives are scarcely longer than our true forms. My own kind live and die within the age of a sparrow. Nothing more.
Surprise flashes in Chéng Héguāng's eyes. He motions for her to continue.
Bird: We only want a little more time in this world, Chief Chéng. Why must you stand in our way?
Cheng Heguang: Then should I simply allow you and your people to kill, steal, and bring chaos?
Bird: Me and my people?
She is stunned for a moment, then responds with a burst of laughter.
Bird: Hahahaha ... I see.
Bird: You believe the Yao to be evil.
Cheng Heguang: No, not universally. Yet it is Yao like you who spread these dangerous rumors in the county.
The Yao stops laughing, her neck jerking in as her feathers rise and puff out.
Filled with rage, she storms toward Chéng Héguāng, ignoring the bars.
Bird: It is no rumor, fool! Even if it were, what harm have we ever brought for speaking it alone? All our kind desire is to live!
Bird: I've done nothing wrong! Release me! Every moment is precious!
Cheng Heguang: You may not have taken part in these abductions, but the rumors you spread surely enticed the ones that did. I will not release you.
Bird: Fine, continue in your blindness, but the School of Mei will bring justice to us all.
The Yao turns fierce, beating her wings in the cell. Claw marks cover the walls.
Cheng Heguang: The School of Mei. That's the name of your sect, is it?
Her anger has become an incomprehensible mash of threats and insults. Chéng Héguāng stands between her and the scared man, leading him away.

Study, Yamen

In the Yamen's study, the man sits shaking on a wooden chair.
Cheng Heguang: Calm down. Have some tea.
County Resident I: Th-Thank you.
He takes the tea, sips a few times, then sets it down.
Cheng Heguang: No need to worry; our cells are quite unbreakable.
Cheng Heguang: So, what more do you know of the Yao that abducted your family?
County Resident I: It was jabbering on about "longevity." That's all I know.
Cheng Heguang: This rumor is a true menace to society.
County Resident I: Please, Chief Chéng, please find my father. You're my only hope.
He grabs the front of Chéng Héguāng's clothes as if to kneel. But the chief constable catches him by the arms and lifts him to his feet.
Cheng Heguang: Please, sir. I am merely fulfilling my duty.
Cheng Heguang: I will find the truth. This I swear.
County Resident I: Thank you.
Cheng Heguang: Rest a while. Best not to overwork yourself.
Cheng Heguang: Guard!
Constable I: Chief.
Cheng Heguang: Take care of the good man. I must deliver my report on the events at the opera.
Constable I: Understood.
Chéng Héguāng pats the poor man's shoulder as they walk out.
A breeze follows him past the door and scatters far away.

Hall, Yamen

In the great hall, a report on the case is being given to the gathered court.
Registrar: The female Daoist raised her sword above a woman's head, revealing the latter's true form to be that of a herbaceous entity and shifting her withered leaves into a verdant green.
Registrar: The Daoist then proclaimed the ability to bestow longevity upon any who joined her school. This declaration incited the crowd to a frenzy as they stampeded the stage.
Registrar: Later, the Daoist vanished from the scene together with the herbaceous entity. Several Yao present were detained, and the injured were escorted to the nearest clinic for treatment.
Registrar: In summary, the stampede has been determined to be an unforeseen incident arising from the female Daoist's use of arcane skills.
With the report concluded, the paper is folded once more and then handed over to the county magistrate.
County Magistrate: "Unforeseen incident"? Your lack of foresight has seen this longevity rumor spread to every corner of the county!
County Magistrate: Yao are flooding our lands in droves! Never in my life have I received so many reports of missing persons and acts of sedition!
County Magistrate: Make no mistake. This is the result of your errors!
The magistrate crumples the paper and throws it at the registrar. In response, the man bows even lower.
County Magistrate: *sigh* We were foolish to put our faith in you.
County Magistrate: Commander Lì, you are in charge of our defenses. Tell me, how should we proceed?
Lì Huìfēng had been standing nearby; he pauses, considering the details for a moment, before speaking out in a measured tone.
Li Huifeng: In these desperate times, I can see only one solution.
Li Huifeng: I would divide all constables into two shifts and have them sweep the entire county. We will locate and apprehend all Yao hiding among the populace over the next three days.
County Magistrate: Very good! Do you hear that? All departments will cooperate with Commander Lì! And if I hear of any misconduct, I will show no mercy!
The others hasten to agree as they bow with clasped hands.
Chéng Héguāng has been wanting to speak. Seeing his chance, he seizes it and steps forward.
Cheng Heguang: Honorable Magistrate, I believe we also ought to consider investigating the School of Mei.
The other clerks sneak sneering glances toward him, like a discolored bean sifted from the pile.
County Magistrate: And you are? Wait, I believe I recall, Chief Chéng, is it?
County Magistrate: And this School of Mei? A minor religious sect, yes?
Cheng Heguang: Yes. Please forgive me. After the report was submitted, I discovered a connection between the sect and the animal carcasses found on the streets.
Cheng Heguang: While in custody, a suspect admitted that the School of Mei was behind the mysterious parade connected to both the rumors and the drained carcasses.
Cheng Heguang: I believe this opera was another part of their scheme. If the Yao are the fruit, the School of Mei is the root.
The others look away and whisper.
Deputy Magistrate: And who are you to speak? Some upstart boy desperate to clear his family name?
Registrar: That's him alright. Just last month, he was ranting about some thief-catching scheme; the argument could be heard from the streets.
Deputy Magistrate: Do you remember last year? This boy nigh on knocked the doors down, insisting we include those deserters he caught in our update to the Imperial Court.
Deputy Magistrate: Hard to believe the magistrate allowed him to leave with his head. It seems he hasn't any sense for his position or his shame.
Registrar: The son of a bandit turncoat. No wonder he barks like a dog, demanding praise for his every deed.
Registrar: He's fooling himself if he thinks he can wash himself clean of his family's past.
Chéng Héguāng ignores their whispers and stands tall and firm as a noble pine.
County Magistrate: Commander Lì, thoughts on this matter?
As all else goes quiet, Lì Huìfēng clears his throat and speaks.
Li Huifeng: Ahem. I hold to what I've said before; the Yao pose a serious danger to the people. Our priority must be to expel them from the county.
Li Huifeng: What would you have us do, Your Honor?
County Magistrate: The matter is handed to Commander Lì. Dismissed.
Constables: Understood.
Cheng Heguang: But the School of Mei ...
The others seem prepared to leave, but Chéng Héguāng looks around anxiously, until finding the familiar shape of his commander waiting under the eaves.
Cheng Heguang: Commander Lì!
Li Huifeng: Come here, Héguāng.
Lì Huìfēng walks from the hall in long, quick strides, forcing his subordinate to hurry to keep pace.
Li Huifeng: Are you really so desperate for glory that you forget the chain of command?
Li Huifeng: How do you aim to win trust if you refuse to pay respect to your betters?
Cheng Heguang: I apologize, Commander.
Cheng Heguang: But this is a promising lead. If we don't act now, we may miss our chance.
Lì Huìfēng turns, his voice sterner than ever.
Li Huifeng: Do you think you're the only one with a lead on this case?
Li Huifeng: That no one else can do as you have done? Not even those with greater power and resources?
Li Huifeng: Is that why you announced your intentions for all to hear? Your heart may be pure, but others have their own designs. If your words reach the wrong ears, do you think they will sit and do nothing about it?
Chéng Héguāng's tongue twists. He had prepared for a scolding, not this.
Cheng Heguang: Commander, you mean ...
Li Huifeng: Keep digging, but do not draw any further attention.
Li Huifeng: That's all for today. And if your actions are brought to light, I will tell them I denied your request, understood?
Cheng Heguang: Yes, Commander!
He bows deeply, then straightens his posture.
Cheng Heguang: I will learn from your wise words.

Open your eyes to see the future that we know?

Prophecy

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