level_act23side_04_beg

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.

He's not here.

So Meng had dealings with the Candleholder. I knew he couldn't be trusted.

He still has the Catastrophe data. Find him.

After dispatching these two kids.

Who are you? Where's Uncle Meng? Did you kill him, or are you working with him?

Where are the Qis?

Not in a talking mood?

Then we can do this the hard way...

A sword flashes past Du Yaoye as Zuo Le steps forward.

He swings his sword without a word, his brow furrowed.

This is the second time that Du Yaoye has been interrupted today.

Son of a—

The old smith told me to stay in the house while I recover from my injuries.

Someone has intruded into the yard. Things are chaotic. Have the mandarins found me?

Jieyun holds the sword tighter in her arms.

Shifu said the Sword Forge would be easy to find.

There are as many sword forges as there are inns in the nomadic city, but you are always pointed towards the same place if you ask for the Sword Forge without specifying which one.

Shifu was right.

She said the Sword Forge was not big or impressive, just a few furnaces and an old tree.

But there are always friends coming in and out, drinking, singing, sparring with each other. They come from all walks of life, but they have fought together and went to many places together.

They take turns fueling the fire, sometimes even grabbing the blacksmith's hammer to bang on the metal for a while. The bright fires keep the night away.

Shifu says there is a place like this in every city.

Inconspicuous, but indispensable.

All Shifu talked about in her last days were these things, these people, and this place.

Who's there?!

This place cannot be allowed to come to harm.

Stop.

You're making a mess of the yard! Go outside, if you want to fight.

So they had help hiding here.

(Tsk—)

Why does she have the sword?

Boss, the girl's injured!

Kill her first.

A gust of wind sends sand flying everywhere, obscuring the figures darting across the yard.

The injured girl steps back, pressing on her wound, and leans against the old tree, panting. She does not notice Du Yaoye's approach.

The masked attacker once again disappears into the shadows.

The young Candleholder steps into the middle of the yard, shielding the two girls behind him. A sword has appeared on his belt, tightly attached to a hidden fastener.

My sword!

When did it...? The impact just now...

A broken leather strap falls to the ground, made by hunters out of the hide of their prey. The tough, durable leather was perfect for holding a sword.

The sword that has never left her side.

This is the Grandmaster's sword.

Now that I have the sword, I won't pursue this particular matter any further, if you're not working with the Shanhaizhong. The matter of your trespassing into the barracks can wait.

Hey...!

Give it back!

Who are you? Let me go!

You're hurt. Stay put.

I don't care about the sword, but you being here at the Sword Forge means you must know Meng Tieyi.

Tell me, where is he? Did you see two young people from Shangshu in the Sword Forge?

I'll rip your wound open if you don't talk.

Looks like they're not together.

Those outside block the exit. Don't let them get away.

Did you hear me?

Hmph.

The sound is very close. He turns around, startled.

The pain increases as he moves, becoming as clear as the communicator that has been cut in half.

He does not have time to regret.

Qiubai.

I took care of the ones outside.

The same group that attacked you at the market. Shanhaizhong?

Yes.

Reckless.

Not only have you failed to improve your kung fu...

I can listen to your reproaches later, after we've taken care of these!

...Wait.

Her palms have begun to sweat, after just a few movements.

The yard... the heat...

It's getting hotter.

It's only March, and it's night. How could the temperature be rising?

Could it be the Sword Forge's Originium furnace...

The fire is out.

Boss, we lost a few guys to her.

Stop wasting time.

So you know you're wasting time.

Do the cicadas sing in March?

The air is so oppressively humid, it almost feels like water. This is no morning dew.

Everyone realizes that something is out of the ordinary.

A drop of water falls on Qiubai's face.

Spring comes late in the north. New leaves have yet to appear on the old pagoda tree.

The water droplets formed on a sword blade!

Master.

Where is Meng Tieyi?

Not here.

We ran into them as we were preparing to leave.

This sword...

You were the one who attacked Uncle Taihe!