If Arlo wanted, he could have solved this case in under a minute, but he had to choose the least suspicious method.
As Arlo prepared to explain his idea, he suddenly sensed something.
"What are they doing here?" he thought.
While he was lost in thought, King Yi spoke from the throne.
"Yes, speak."
At that moment, Arlo silently changed his plan.
He had intended to conserve his remaining Anima, but now he decided otherwise. He would use it to uncover the truth.
"Ummm..." Arlo muttered as he pondered.
He rubbed his chin slowly.
"I had many solutions in mind. I could transfer her memories to everyone present... connect her mind with mine so she could speak through my mouth and see through my eyes... or even teach her a method to transfer languagedirectly..." It was his habit to overthink.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Too many possibilities, actually.
He found the safest and easiest one.
Arlo finally spoke.
"My Lord, when I was a child, I used to play a game. One person would act out hints while the others guessed the answer. I happened to be very good at it."
King Yi frowned in confusion.
"But what does that have to do with finding the culprit?"
Arlo calmly explained.
"She can give us clues through gestures or actions. We guess the meaning, and she only needs to nod or shake her head once we get it right."
King Yi's expression instantly darkened.
"Isn't that far too disrespectful?" he barked. "She is an injured woman who just gave birth! All this will do is shame her further!"
Arlo shrugged lightly.
"If you prefer, I can create an entirely new language for her."
The entire court went silent.
"Since she is blind and mute, I could teach her sign language and translate her thoughts myself." He paused for a moment before adding, "But you already know the problem with that..."
Murmurs spread throughout the hall.
Even the concubines and the king's daughter had quietly gathered to watch. Several of them recognized Arlo from before, but none chose to speak.
King Yi pressed his fingers against his temple in frustration.
"…It would take too long. And criminals thrive on time. Give them enough of it, and they erase every track and every piece of evidence."
Then the king's sharp gaze locked onto Arlo.
"Are you absolutely certain your method will work? If not, do not waste this court's precious time."
The moment those words fell, Arlo felt it.
An aura.
It was heavy.
It was oppressive.
Fear instinctively crawled through his body.
"A Dominion Order...?"
His pupils narrowed.
"What is a Dominion Order doing in a world dominated by the Cultivation Order?"
His thoughts abruptly halted when he heard a cough.
Blood splattered onto the king's sleeve.
The court froze.
And in that instant, Arlo understood everything.
The king was using two Orders simultaneously.
A body carrying more than one Order would inevitably suffer chaos.
Arlo scratched the back of his head before speaking again.
"My Lord, be at ease. It will work."
His tone softened slightly.
"But first, we need her permission."
The atmosphere grew quieter.
"As cruel as it sounds... this isn't our justice to pursue; it's hers. If she wants justice, then she must choose to fight for it herself."
King Yi stared at him for several seconds before finally nodding.
"Very well. We continue after recess."
————————————————————————————————
The court temporarily adjourned.
Around 2 minutes later, Arlo heard the ringing of a bell in the distance.
His eyes instantly sharpened.
The sound was painfully familiar.
The mount of a death god.
"Death of this world is supposed to be sealed..." Arlo thought. "So who's using the mount?"
He did not wait long for the answer.
It was Hua.
And beside her was the small avatar he had sensed earlier.
The moment Hua noticed Arlo, surprise flashed across her face before turning into a warm smile.
She walked toward him.
"What are you doing here?" Hua asked curiously.
"Umm... just attending a royal court hearing," Arlo replied casually.
He took a slow breath.
"Your perfume smells nice. Jasmine?"
Hua blinked before her cheeks turned faintly pink.
"Oh! You noticed?" she said shyly. "Yeah, it's jasmine."
Arlo then glanced at the child beside her.
"And who's this kid?"
Hua chuckled.
"This is my little brother. Guo, say hello to Big Brother."
Guo was his avatar.
But the boy himself was completely unaware of that fact. Arlo had only lent consciousness to the little body—not memories. To Guo, his parents had truly died at the hands of an immortal.
Instead of greeting him politely, Guo suddenly punched Arlo in the stomach.
Thud.
————————————————————————————————
Arlo stared down at the child in silence.
Then he slowly looked toward the ceiling with a defeated expression.
"What am I even doing?"
His thoughts drifted heavily.
"I was supposed to seal Hua away..."
"And now I'm here solving somebody else's problems."
He inhaled deeply.
"Why should I even help her?"
"Wasn't suffering simply her fate?"
"Or..."
His eyes dimmed slightly.
"Is it her fate to be saved by me?"
"Am I changing fate itself?"
The scent of jasmine lingered in the air.
And with it came a memory.
A distant one.
A memory from childhood.
A memory that already held the answer to his question.
————————————————————————————————
Back then, Arlo had been an orphan living in a church.
Children laughed around him as they played in a dusty playground beneath the warm afternoon sun.
A girl suddenly waved toward him excitedly.
"Oi, *****! Come here! Let's jump from there!"
She pointed toward a large tree nearby.
Arlo ran after her.
But before she reached it, she tripped and fell hard onto the ground.
Her knees scraped against the dirt.
Arlo quickly helped her up.
She had always been kind.
Always laughing.
Always smiling.
Even though she carried an incurable disease.
Perhaps that was why she cherished every moment so desperately.
"Be careful," Arlo muttered while supporting her.
The little girl suddenly asked softly,
"Umm... *****, what do you think happens after we die?"
Arlo answered bluntly.
"You won't be able to live anymore."
The girl stared quietly at the grass.
"So that means... I won't be able to laugh, cry, enjoy things, or love people anymore?"
Arlo gave a small chuckle.
"Yeah."
She lifted her hand toward the sunlight, letting the rays pass between her fingers.
"If fate would let me..." she whispered. "I'd like to live a little longer."
Then she turned toward him.
There was a glint of hope and excitement in her eyes.
"If there was a way to save me... would you save me?"
Arlo looked at her silently for several seconds.
He couldn't refuse that expression.
"If there was a way," he said quietly, "I would save you."
Several months later, she lay on her deathbed.
Everyone had already given up on her.
The church had even ordered a small casket prepared for her size.
But Arlo continued visiting her.
Every single day.
That night was supposed to be her last.
Arlo stood beside her bed holding several ripe mangoes in his arms.
*"Hey, ****. Do you like mangoes? I picked some for you."
The girl's weak face instantly brightened.
"Hell yeah!"
The two of them ate together quietly.
As they shared the fruit, she suddenly looked at him and smiled.
"You really are kind, *****."
The evening sun slowly descended beyond the horizon.
Golden light poured through the window, brushing against her face.
Her hair swayed gently in the wind.
For a moment, she looked almost unreal.
Arlo stared at her before smiling faintly.
"You're really beautiful."
Both of them burst into laughter.
After a while, she suddenly asked,
"Will you attend my funeral?"
Arlo glanced toward the setting sun.
"Probably not," he replied calmly. "I don't see the point in knocking on an empty house."
Her expression dimmed slightly.
Arlo noticed immediately.
So he added,
"But if you die smiling..."
He looked back at her.
"…then I might attend just to see your final smile."
The girl also turned toward the sunset.
"Fine," she said softly. "Then I'll smile for you."
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
"But you have to bring me a gift."
"What do you want?" Arlo asked.
She smiled gently.
"A crown made out of jasmine."
The moment she said those words, Arlo immediately ran out to search for jasmine flowers.