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What does the Ministry of War want with the writing knife?

What use does it have, other than its association with the scriptgeists?

A writing knife is a tool used to erase characters scribed on bamboo slips. But I know nothing about what powers the proxy's knife possesses.

You do, don't you, Lord Zuo? Go on.

The proxy assisted Yan with compiling the nation's history. Her powers were unusual.

The scrolls of the Sui Regulator record, 'With her pen, she fathoms the laws of Heaven and human affairs; with her knife, she has the power to erase and rewrite history.'

Apparently, the writing knife can erase things that... cannot and must not be hastily touched.

The name of a person, or their very existence... even the existence of an entire segment of history.

You have got to be kidding me... how can history be altered so easily?

What does altering history involve? Does it change people's memories? Or does a single word erase someone's existence?

The powers of the Feranmuts are far beyond our comprehension... we cannot interpret this through the lens of normal logic.

According to Sui Regulator research, however, the writing knife has been used for such purposes in the past.

So it seems you don't have full knowledge either.

However, the one who seeks the writing knife, the one with ulterior motives, must know how to use it.

What...?

Drat... what do we do, then?

Do we stop people with ulterior motives from getting their hands on the knife? Or do we use it to stop the geists in the city?

As far as I know, the writing knife was sealed away in the top of the Sky Mirror Pavilion many years ago, and the Sui Regulator placed strong wards on it.

Two keys are needed to unseal it. The Supervisor and the fourth proxy each hold one. The seal can only be broken if both are present.

Or maybe we can use the thing you took from the Garden of Grotesqueries?

Give it a try?

Absolutely not!

We know little of the true powers of the writing knife, and even less of this object from the Garden of Grotesqueries. We can't act rashly—

Not this, not that. Guess we'll wait for Sui to wake up and go down with the rest of Baizao.

Miss Ch'en has been quiet. What is on your mind?

What IS on your mind, Ch'en Hui-chieh?

Mr. Liang. What did you mean when you said, 'the one with ulterior motives'?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you are here for private matters at Lord Wei's behest, are you not, Miss Ch'en?

Where is Lord Wei?

He's missing.

Missing?!

But there are few who could possibly overcome Lord Wei in combat...

In that case... have you entered the city because you suspect that Lord Wei is already here?

Impossible! He would be accused of attempting a coup!

Wonderful. MORE sordid affairs of the big shots.

These are extraordinary circumstances, Mr. Liang. There is no need to mince words.

The writing knife, the Patrol Battalion, the Sui Regulator... do you think the unusual activities of the Ministry of War have something to do with Wei Yenwu's disappearance?

I dare not make a hasty judgment, but it's true that they were not so brazen before Lord Wei's disappearance.

As far as I know, Lord Wei and His Imperial Majesty are polar opposites. Lord Wei is decisive but sometimes rash, while His Majesty's cautiousness might be seen as indecision by some.

Perhaps the Grand Commandant's faction found Wei Yenwu's weakness and coerced him to enter the city, planning to use the writing knife to rewrite history to...

No, anyone who tried to blackmail Wei Yenwu would only suffer a hundredfold payback...

Could he willingly...?!

But it was the True Lung who summoned him back to Baizao. Unless he changed his mind at the last minute... but why hide, if he's answering an imperial summons?

Human minds are complicated things, and Lord Wei's is more so than most. If you're truly worried for him, you could start by investigating the writing knife, right here at the Sky Mirror Pavilion. Responding to change by staying still, so to speak.

Responding to change by staying still. I like that.

Where do we go then, to find out what this writing knife can do, and to protect it, Mr. Liang?

We should—

(Whispers) Mr. Liang, she—

Up.

The higher we climb in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, the more precious the tomes. They will be of great benefit.