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Miss Ch'en, return the item—

Let her go!

Return the lock!

I-I'm sure we can talk about this, calmly, like reasonable people...

I could hear you all the way from upstairs. I thought it was geists at work again.

I did not expect to see a three-person sparring session.

Mr. Liang?

I hope you're faring well, Lord Zuo.

(Lord Zuo... I've heard the name on Rhodes Island.)

I must admit, I was at my wits' end about how to resolve the trouble here...

My mind can be at ease now that the Sui Regulator has sent you to deal with it.

Well...

Do I misunderstand?

The Supervisor has her plans. There is no need to worry. I will offer what assistance I can.

Is it under the Supervisor's instructions that you are arresting this young lady?

She is Mo Yi... a member of the Shanhaizhong. She had been causing trouble at Mangshan Town a few days ago, and now she has appeared in Baizao, coinciding with the geist troubles.

This is highly suspicious and calls for a thorough investigation.

How ungrateful of you, Candleholder Zuo...

The Shanhaizhong...

(Cautiously backs off while still holding Ch'en Chao-ch'ien hostage)

The city is under martial law. I should commend Miss Mo for her boldness, if you are only here to cause trouble.

You seem duller than this Candleholder is, but I didn't expect you to be a reasonable one.

Care to persuade our Lord Zuo to listen to me before drawing his sword, for once?

My station is insignificant, and my words carry little weight. I can only ask you to release my... colleague.

'To travel across the land, and delve deeply into the laws of nature.' The original creed of the Shanhaizhong a thousand years ago. I doubt it is your intention to harm an innocent.

Mr. Liang?

How do you know that...?

...Hmph.

Mo Yi falls silent for a moment, then sheathes her sword, and gives the Magistrate of Water a gentle push.

Are you alright?

I'm fine...

<i>Duoxie,</i> new transcriber.

Hm...

If I recognize that sword...

You must be Miss Ch'en. It is surprising that you would return to Baizao, at a time like this.

You're Liang Xun, advisor of Yumen. I've seen you with Wei Yenwu.

You are too humble, to say that your station is insignificant.

I've left the position and am merely a humble transcriber now. Perhaps you have not yet heard the news, since you have been traveling.

(Eyes locked upon the wooden lock in Zuo Le's hand)

No sudden moves!

The token's one thing, but that lock was mine to begin with!

And what of it?

You dare?!

Speak your intentions, and I'll decide what to do with this lock.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Why did the Old Tianshi allow you to come to Baizao?

Hmph...

She said that war is coming to the city, and some people will inevitably try to take advantage of the chaos... 'that young Candleholder will likely run into trouble.'

She took Deputy Minister Lin and Mr. Yun, so she wanted you to have help—

'Deal with anyone who tries to obstruct the boy, as best as you can.'

Did you think I <i>wanted</i> to help you, blockhead?

And what of the lock?

Still keeping secrets?

...It belonged to my late mother.

(Freezes)

I've let the hostage go, and you have my mother's heirloom. What more do you want?

...You'll still have to come with me to the Sui Regulator, to explain the previous incidents.

Cause no more trouble, and I assure you the lock will be returned to you without a scratch once all is settled.

You just want to hold me hostage with it, don't you?

Like I said, the Sui Regulator—

Good youths, now that we've resolved our misunderstandings, why don't we call a truce and clear up what's going on here?

<p=2>Two days before the day of the full moon, Hour of Wu</>

You have been in the Sky Mirror Pavilion for some time, Mr. Liang. Do you know what these soldier apparitions are?

I believe Lord Zuo is in a better position to explain it.

They are geists.

The Sui Regulator has discovered that some Feranmuts are able to animate the inanimate things, be it drawings, objects, or text.

The geists that have appeared in Baizao may be based on the Yan armies during the Great Hunt depicted in the history books in the Sky Mirror Pavilion's collection.

Their appearance likely has something to do with events at the Tomb of Sui, but it's unclear why they seem to flicker in and out of existence—

It's the breathing of the Feranmut.

'Breathing is what gives life.' The increasing frequency of geist appearances is a sign that It is waking up from Its dream.

How do you know?

I told you, you people are way behind on Feranmut knowledge.

Then why did the scriptgeists originate from the Sky Mirror Pavilion?

I'm not well-versed in Feranmutology, but I have a hypothesis concerning the Sky Mirror Pavilion...

Mr. Liang! Watch your words!

Still clinging to your stupid rules? Do you have any idea what the situation is?

It's not my intention to poke my nose into the Sui Regulator's secrets, but this is an emergency, and we need to share information.

...This place holds the only thing the vanished proxy left behind.

A writing knife.

Writing knife?

Could it be... the top floor of the Sky Mirror Pavilion, which has always been sealed shut?

It is very special. After the death of the proxy, everything that she owned, everything that she had poured her heart and soul into, disappeared with her.

But this writing knife remains.

If the geists in the city come from words, it is very likely that they have something to do with the knife.

...It all makes sense now.

What do you mean?

A little while ago, the Ministry of War sent people to search the Sky Mirror Pavilion every few days.

But the Sky Mirror Pavilion is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Mr. Liang has submitted several complaints to the Department of Discipline and Supervision.

They finally laid off the search these couple of days.

The Ministry of War?

Patrol Battalion soldiers tried to stop me on the main street just now...

Could this be... the Grand Commandant's doing?

Why didn't you say anything about the Patrol Battalion soldiers following closely behind that Candleholder from the Sui Regulator?

Hey...!

Come on, it's just a guess.

I never said anything about the Sui Regulator being in league with the Grand Commandant in some kind of underhanded deal.

The Sui Regulator does not indulge in faction politics.

Bureaucrats who don't engage in faction politics? That would be a first for the Baizao court.

I'll clear it up when I report back to the Supervisor!

Don't get so worked up over a mere guess.