act23side

Uncle Meng? Uncle Meng! Are you in there? I need to talk to you!

It's Du Yaoye!

Stop knocking, Miss. Don't you see the sign on the door?

They closed at dinnertime. Come back tomorrow.

Hey, are you listening?

Uncle Meng! Are you hiding something from me?

I'm coming in, if you don't answer me!

Another one...

What is it with young people these days and going to the blacksmith's in the middle of the night?

Oh? You're Xingyu Inn innkeeper Zheng's...

Are you the mandarin who came looking for Dad?

When did you get to Yumen? And why?

I'm looking for someone.

What about you?

I'm investigating a case.

The government is investigating the Sword Forge? Did Uncle Meng really do something?

Sounds like there <i>is</i> something suspicious about this place...

I'm the one asking the questions.

Please do not obstruct the investigation, assuming you have nothing to do with it.

Who's obstructing who here?

The flash of a sword interrupts Du Yaoye.

The lock and the 'Closed' sign fall to the ground, cut in half. Zuo Le charges into the Sword Forge.

(Meng told me to keep an eye out. Didn't think there would really be someone here looking for trouble...)

(I have to get help.)

What are you doing?!

I'm talking to you!

You—

Is this how you people 'investigate?!'

Show yourself!

Come in.

Mr. Lee.

I saw Waai Fu run off just now. Didn't even respond when I called out to her.

She just graduated from university. Kids her age tend to act before thinking. I hope you can give her some pointers.

I'm in no position to act high and mighty in front of your employees. I was the one who made trouble for her.

No worries. It's a good experience.

A few crooks are no match for her anyway.

Was my father asking for your help last night?

I wouldn't quite call it help... just happened to overhear something when looking for someone. We detectives always hear more than other people.

Hopefully, it will be of help to your case.

I would love to hear it. Please, take a seat.

Let me decide where to start...

Just hypothetically, what would happen to Lungmen if Wei Yenwu and your father didn't get along?

'We're facing a Catastrophe on the outside and Shanhaizhong insurgents on the inside. The General has no time to see a commoner.'

'I hear he knows the General.'

'We should still pass the word, just in case it's really something important.'

'Go up. The general will see you.'

'He's on the tower.'

The night is deep.

The stairs, however, remain as bright as day, illuminated by Originium spotlights in the walls.

Meng Tieyi walks slowly. The soldier behind does not rush him.

It has been more than a decade since he last climbed the towers of Yumen.

Lord Exorcist, sir.

Cut the formalities. What is it?

I would like to ask permission to leave the city.

I heard about what happened to the Messenger's party. There wasn't much left of it.

There were a few boys from the Sword Forge in that party. Someone should pour out spirits and bring back a few grains of sand where they died.

Come.

Sir?

Has the lockdown been communicated to the entire city?

Yes, sir.

You heard him.

That's why i came to ask you.

No.

Sir, Yumen is currently moving at a high speed over the barren desert. There's no point in leaving the city right now.

Enough.

Yes, Yumen has gone too far. How will we find our brothers in this sand and wind?

The dead are already gone. The forward progress of Yumen permits no delay.

The criminals who killed the Messenger have infiltrated the city. The entire city is on high alert. Catching the criminals is the most important thing we can do for the dead.

If that's the case, please allow us to join in the hunt for the killer.

We have many connections in the city. I'm sure we can be of help, especially with so many jianghu wanderers in town lately.

Catching criminals and protecting Yumen is the duty of the soldiers of Yumen.

I am not so incompetent as to need to ask for civilian help.

Is that all?

You struck out in midair with such force, yet somehow managed to stop the momentum.

The fowlbeast dives into the river and flies away with the fin, leaving behind only ripples on the water. Your mastery of your kung fu has reached new heights.

May I ask you to demonstrate one more time?

Only if you can get that frightened sand beast to come out again.

That's beyond my ability.

A move is simply the abstract compilation of human reaction, something that is not and cannot be fixed. People don't react in fixed ways. Kung fu is all about improvisation.

Do not let yourself be bound by form and moves when you record the martial arts under Heaven.

The form is the shell, while the concept is the spirit. The Grandmaster taught me that long ago.

Knowing and understanding are different matters.

You should learn to be flexible.

Hm?

The Millenion is assembling the troops.

A full hundred-man regiment. That's big...

The men are assembled, sir.

Gear check, then we go to the South Side Sword Forge.

Yes, sir.

Miss Qiu, Record Keeper.

Have you picked up the Shanhaizhong's trail?

Monitor Censor Taihe was injured near the Sword Forge. Lord Zuo Le has ordered a search of the place.

Has the Lord Exorcist been informed?

The General is stationed at the outer tower. He authorized Zuo Le to command his personal troops for three days.

Is there direct evidence that the Sword Forge was involved?

The details are unclear.

Where is Zuo Le?

He went over first.

He is very anxious about Monitor Censor Taihe's injury.

Some Sword Forge! Just a hideout for gangs.