Chapter 30

Chapter 30

While the three of them conversed in the alley, the Linbo Prefecture disciples were upon the platform within the Sword Debate Arena, merely a hundred or so meters away.

This particular match pitted Linbo Prefecture against Bright Light Hall. Yan Ji had entered in the second round. Holding his ground against two consecutive opponents, he eventually succumbed – after all, the strength of two fists is no match for twenty.

Yet, despite this defeat, there was no trace of dejection on the faces of the Linbo Prefecture disciples.

Just days earlier, they had been virtually incommunicado; their absence was near-total. When counted precisely, it was following that night of supposed ‘merry drinking’ that these Linbo Prefecture disciples had all but ceased to emerge from their quarters, secluding themselves until this very day.

Besides, Linbo Prefecture had always been famed for its mounted combat skills. Within the confines of the few-zhang-square Sword Discussion Platform, without their famous Lingbo steeds to ride, they were mere spectators at each Sword Discussion Tournament. If one sought a reason for their strenuous journey every five years without fail to an event they stood little chance of triumphing in, it wasn’t driven by a desire to fiercely compete on the high platform against sword-masters, fist-fighters, blade-wielders, or concealed-weapon experts. Rather, it was because the Sword Discussion Tournament drew overwhelming crowds. It presented not just an opportunity to spar with other sects, but more importantly an unparalleled chance for business dealings and cultivating connections with other influential figures.

Therefore, although the three Linbo Prefecture disciples competing on the platform today seemed perfectly ordinary, cheerfully accepting their second-round loss as usual, their recent self-imposed seclusion was actually an anomaly that hinted at something deeper. Moreover, after those days of cloistering, they were able to participate in the Sword Discussion Tournament without any visible hindrance, displaying undiminished vigor. This apparent normalcy only served to render their prior period of withdrawal even more suspicious.

“If Lord Shen poses such a question, surely you already hold an answer in your heart?” remarked Yun Shen.

Chen Shu opened her mouth, perhaps to add something, but Yun Shen lightly patted her. A single glance flicked her way silenced her words. She immediately shifted her focus back to hiding her back, momentarily forgetting the question Shen Jie had posed.

The interaction wasn’t subtle. Naturally, Shen Jie observed it all. Yet she chose not to pry. Instead, she nodded understandingly, offering a gesture of openness as she herself complied with the implied request.

“You surmise correctly. Merely days ago, this Yan Da-gongzi flaunted his way to my yamen bearing several jars of the finest mare’s milk. Had I not, by chance, been about to interrogate an old prisoner and spotted him openly entering, I fear within days tales that Linbo Prefecture enjoyed a prior connection with Right Supervisor Shen would have spread like wildfire across all of Diancang Pass.”

“Diancang Pass has welcomed multitudes from afar in recent days,” Yun Shen replied, a touch of perfectly calibrated surprise tinging his expression. “If the whole Pass knows, wouldn’t the entire realm inevitably hear of it too?”

Shen Jie cast him a sidelong glance, her lips pressed together briefly as she emitted a soft, derisive huff, yet an almost imperceptible flicker of amusement seemed to dance in her eyes. “Precisely so. Though I hold myself publicly to be strictly impartial, cultivating no private ties with any merchant – especially not horse dealers – and while I may have enemies at court who seek to plot against me… this is Diancang Pass. We speak now within the world of your Wulin community. Who here would possibly hold a personal grudge against me?”

“Might the distinguished Shen consider this,” Yun Shen ventured smoothly, “that Master Yan’s actions were perhaps not intended as sabotage, but serve a different purpose?”

“Oh?” Shen Jie’s amused expression deepened. Her voice held a note of true interest as she said, “I am most willing to hear the details.”

“The entire Linbo Prefecture, whether in martial arts or mundane affairs, relies solely on the word ‘horse.’ Therefore, even if they wished to frame someone, they wouldn’t stoop to tampering with horse trading—should such matters reach the imperial court and provoke the heavens’ wrath, and if their gold-lettered signboard were banned as a consequence, it would be an outcome where they inflict eight hundred wounds on the enemy while suffering a thousand themselves,” Yun Shen said lightly. “Young Master Yan may seem rash, but there is astuteness beneath his bluntness. He surely chose to visit specifically on a day when Right Supervisor Shen was at the yamen.”

“Well reasoned!” Shen Jie praised, her gaze fixed on Yun Shen as she smiled. “Such eloquent discourse is truly admirable—no wonder this idea must have stemmed from you!”

“Right Supervisor Shen flatters me. I possess little talent, merely offering some advice to Young Master Yan,” Yun Shen replied lightly.

“‘Offering some advice?’ Well, what advice indeed!” Shen Jie continued to stare at Yun Shen, studying his expression intently. “Do you know what transpired when Yan Ji arrived at the yamen with his men?”

As she spoke, Chen Shu had quietly moved closer. By the time Shen Jie finished and before Yun Shen could respond, Chen Shu had leaned in, cautious yet unable to contain her eagerness: “What happened? Lord Shen, tell us, quickly!”

Shen Jie cast a brief, amused glance at her before turning back, her unyielding gaze sharp on Yun Shen. She offered no reply.

“It seems Right Supervisor Shen’s question is not just meant to tease,” Yun Shen remarked gently. “If His Lordship already presumes that I must know something, convinced I have inside information, then you are gravely mistaken.”

“Oh? Yet I heard that the night before Yan Ji came to me, he was seen laughing and conversing on the street with a group that included you—walking together back to the courtyard house. Witnesses from several sects reported that after passing the Vermilion Wall, you remained gathered together, sharing a meal. Yan Ji didn’t depart from Cold Pine Glen’s courtyard house until the moon was high at midnight.”

“But I truly only offered Young Master Yan two words of advice,” Yun Shen said, a faint curve touching the corners of his eyes. He paused deliberately before adding, “I presume that by coming to question me rather than dragging me to the yamen for interrogation, Lord Shen must still trust me?”

Shen Jie gave a soft chuckle, still questioning without answering. Abruptly, she turned to Chen Shu. “And you, young Miss Chen? Do you recall what was discussed at that table that night?”

Outside the alley, the clamor of gongs and drums was deafening. Several yamen runners seemed to have stationed themselves by the entrance, blocking both the noise and, even more so, the waning afternoon sunlight. The narrow lane grew gloomier. Only Shen Jie’s bright eyes remained, gleaming like the golden pupils of a tiger, piercing through the twilight straight into their thoughts.

“I…” Chen Shu hesitated, seemingly straining to remember. She had uttered just this single syllable when she was interrupted.

“—She was drunk that day,” Yun Shen cut in, his hand subtly seizing her wrist to stop her. “She recalls nothing. Since Lord Shen has no suspicion of either of us, this persistent probing is tiresome. Why not speak plainly? Tell us what exactly happened the next day when Yan Ji brought the mare’s milk that has prompted Lord Shen to go through such pains to set this scene—all just to question the two of us.”

“I do not suspect her,” Shen Jie corrected. “But suspicion towards you remains.” Yet she relented, shifting her focus. “As for what happened the next day… I’ve already mentioned it.”

“Huh?” Chen Shu was utterly baffled, her mouth hanging open. “When? What was mentioned? How did I miss it entirely?”

“Could it be…”

“That day, I had just received news from Mengcheng and was interrogating that Mounted Bandit you captured,” Shen Jie stated. “Elder Young Master Yan was indeed abrupt. He arrived at my hall looking for him, bringing his men right into the official courtyard. Most of the yamen runners were assigned to maintain order at your tedious Sword Discussion Tournament, so they actually let him in. By misfortune or luck, that bandit’s face betrayed everything—the moment he saw those figures from Linbo Prefecture—”

Yun Shen’s brow furrowed as Shen Jie spoke. “Could they possibly… be acquainted?” he blurted out.

“Not merely acquainted,” Shen Jie confirmed. “He likely assumed they had also been hauled in for interrogation. His expression changed dramatically, and he incessantly begged for mercy. The spectacle was truly… remarkable.”

A muffled echo of a gong sounded in the distance. Then, as if the birds finally exhausted from a day of clamor on the eaves, wings flapped away, shaking loose another cloud of dust.

Uncertain how many rounds the Linbo Prefecture delegation had endured out on the field.

“What does this mean?” Chen Shu blinked, glancing between the two silent figures locked in a gaze.

“Right Supervisor Shen’s implication is this,” Yun Shen stated. “The Mounted Bandit was familiar with the people of Linbo Prefecture, and Linbo Prefecture lies thousands of miles away. Between them, unrelated strangers, only one explanation fits—”

Mounted Bandits, mounted bandits—”mounted” bandits. They not only rode horses but specialized in stealing them. Their rise coincided with the imperial court imposing elaborate, stringent regulations on horse trade—regulations so detailed even the sale of mare’s milk was controlled. Ordinary dealers found little profit amidst such strictures; naturally, these “timely emerging” bandits stepped in to fill the void.

And the root cause? Undeniably, the dominance of Linbo Prefecture. In recent years, it had earned the near-official moniker “the Imperial Stables”—even horses ridden by His Majesty himself passed through Linbo Prefecture. If only handling fine horses destined for show! But for a time, even destriers destined for the imperial cavalry came under Linbo Prefecture’s purview. Matters concerning military resources, brought thus before the throne, touched upon a perilous taboo.

Compelled, Linbo Prefecture reluctantly accepted the title of “Imperial Merchant,” seemingly gaining prestige. Yet its entire operation fell under the close scrutiny of assigned officials. Every penny earned was meticulously recorded. Every steed was assessed: quality mounts separated from nags; breeds permissible for sale to commoners singled out; placid horses suitable for imperial usage identified with clarity.

Under such stifling rules, making an extra silver ingot, finding any margin, required resourcefulness and loopholing. Attending the Sword Discussion Tournament to curry favor with nobility was one ploy. Sending premium mare’s milk to official functionaries, seeking their complicit blindness, mutually beneficial disregard—another.

Conversely—buying horses of dubious origin, selling off assets of questionable provenance—whether passing off inferior stock as high quality or fencing stolen goods at a discount—this straddled the line between the licit and illicit. Easy money found another way.

It depended entirely on whether Linbo Prefecture cared enough to try.

After all, those horses the bandits handled—they seemingly materialized out of thin air, only to vanish just as inexplicably.

Shen Jie effortlessly picked up the thread, her addition concise: “I find it hard to believe that the pervasive Mounted Bandits plaguing Yunan, defying successive crackdowns, persist without backing from an exceptional power behind them—what about you both? Do you believe it?”

“He doesn’t believe it either!” Chen Shu, perhaps finally finding a thread to grasp, reacted swiftly. With naive urgency, she pointed a finger at Yun Shen and blurted, “While we were capturing that bandit, Brother Yun already said there must be someone behind them!”

Having said this, she turned to look at Yun Shen, a proud expression on her face as if waiting for him to praise her. Her “tail” had practically raised to the sky.

“…This inferior one did indeed say that,” Yun Shen said helplessly. “But that was merely a rash judgment at the time, it cannot be counted.”

“Not so,” Shen Jie smiled again, seemingly somewhat pleased, and said gently, “This is also the purpose of my visit here. It may well be true that Linbo Prefecture colludes with the Mounted Bandits – that is something I need to investigate and absolutely will clarify. But you were there to apprehend the bandits, you delivered the mare’s milk, and yet you – you neither participate in this Sword Discussion Tournament nor hail from any of the martial sects. Just a Scholar, lingering at Diancang Pass – what goal do you pursue?”

“He’s going to take the imperial exams!” Yun Shen remained silent, but Chen Shu chimed in again. Glancing at him, she said, “I asked him! But he isn’t in a hurry just yet. He has other matters to attend to, so we’re traveling companions. We passed through Diancang Pass, and once matters here are concluded, I’ll accompany him to… what place was it?”

“Oh?” Shen Jie asked with keen interest, “Where exactly?”

“I… I can’t remember,” Chen Shu scratched her head, then tugged Yun Shen’s sleeve. Finding it unmoving, she lowered her voice appeasingly, “Lord Shen is asking. Why not just tell her honestly? You’re a good person, Lord Shen is also a good person…”

“I certainly intend to clearly inform Right Supervisor Shen,” Yun Shen replied, his expression unchanged. He finally spoke, his voice steady, “After all, Lord Shen is an official, and this inferior one is but a commoner.”

“What official or commoner?” Shen Jie laughed once, her tone neither friendly nor hostile, “Here in this alley, with no one else around, is there anything you can’t tell me? Or perhaps… anything you can’t tell Little Miss Chen?”

A spark of pointed exchange ignited. Chen Shu merely widened her large eyes, curiously and naively following Shen Jie’s words as she gazed at Yun Shen. She and Shen Jie were clearly vastly different. Those pitch-black eyes were perfectly round and very moist. Focusing entirely on the person like this made them appear as warm gemstones, heavy and substantial.

“Right Supervisor Shen exaggerates gravely. This inferior one merely plans to pay a visit to an old acquaintance. The journey is an easy one, and I found the Sword Discussion Tournament particularly fascinating. I also heartily wished to forge friendships with gallant heroes such as Little Shu, thus prolonging my stay for some time,” Yun Shen paused for a moment, then added, “Since Lord Shen asks this, you must have uncovered something more?”

“May I inquire, sir, to where is this visit to an old acquaintance taking you?” Shen Jie remained unmoved and merely asked directly.

“Mijiang Slope.”

Chen Shu also leaned back upon hearing this, her face brightening with delight as she chimed in: “Yes, yes! Mijiang Slope! I remembered now!”

Her tone was cheerful, but the stagnant corner of this alley felt nothing like her cheer. The sunlight seemed to turn cold. The beams that forced their way through the brickwork provided no warmth; everything was shrouded in a grey haze. The faint warmth carried by the sun moments before gradually faded.

An autumn sun seemed like this: each moment of warmth inevitably followed by a spell of cold.

Shen Jie finally withdrew her smile and stated once more, “…Do you know Mijiang Slope lies just east of Fangcheng, a mere few dozen li distant, and Fangcheng—”

“—is precisely the territory of the Valley of Villains,” Yun Shen said. “I know.”

“Knowing this, do you dare speak it so frankly before this Supervisor?”

“This inferior one goes to seek an old friend, harbors no ulterior motives. The clear remain clear. Besides,” Yun Shen also smiled, his voice cold, “when Right Supervisor Shen presses so relentlessly, how would one dare not answer? Now that this inferior one has answered, could Lord Shen honestly inform me why go to such lengths? Why choose this precise moment to interrogate me, even dragging Chen Shu into it? Lord Shen appeared today to discuss the matter of Linbo Prefecture with the two of us, but in reality, this is aimed at this inferior one’s identity. With such fierce momentum, if I still failed to see it, then I would be a complete fool.”

“Hah!” Shen Jie laughed, then immediately clapped her hands together, “Good! I shall trust you! However, seeing how close you and Little Miss Chen are, the story about taking the imperial exams need not be employed to deceive the girl, don’t you agree?”

Another gong sounded. Yun Shen’s eyes widened. Frowning, he said, “Lord Shen, why—?”

“You thought I sent my men trekking a thousand li to Mengcheng, nearly running two horses to death, just for one petty mounted bandit? Every impoverished examination candidate from every village and county is registered. A mere glance through the lists reveals no one named Yun Shen! In the entire Zhanglin Village village, no one even knows you!”

—

“Over here!” He Yu shouted from a distance seeing Chen Shu and Yun Shen finally emerge. He waved urgently towards Yun Shen, “What took you so long!?”

Chen Shu, led by Yun Shen’s hand, wore a vacant expression, as if deep in thought. Yun Shen glanced down at her, said nothing to alert her, but guided her to the building housing the viewing platform before letting go.

Back at the foot of the Sword Discussion Platform, the surroundings were once again a cacophony of noise. He had to strain his voice to shout back to He Yu: “Met Lord Shen on the way! Asked a few questions about the case!”

“What case?” He Yu asked, his eyes involuntarily shifting to Chen Shu with concern. He immediately asked, “Has something happened at the Sword Discussion Tournament? Ai, I’ve said all along, while such gatherings are customary for networking, they are far too dangerous, especially now with someone like Little Shu participating…”

“It has nothing to do with the tournament,” Yun Shen stated flatly, ignoring the unconscious disappointment that flickered across He Yu’s face at the news. He only looked up indifferently towards the Northern Platform and asked, “Has Linbo Prefecture’s bout concluded?”

“Almost,” He Yu replied. “Yan Ji never expected to win. Making it to the fifth round means he can return and report a respectable result.”

“That means he can report back,” Yun Shen murmured, unable to suppress another cold chuckle. He turned, stealing a discreet glance at Chen Shu, before speaking warmly to He Yu: “Brother He, you go back ahead. I’ll watch her; she won’t get lost.”

“Alright—I wasn’t exactly here looking for you two anyway,” He Yu assented first, then added with a bitter laugh, “That viewing platform, besides myself, is packed with high officials. The Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance is there, even the Commander of Diancang Pass is there. The only one who managed to escape using the excuse of a case was Lord Shen. If I had a case in hand, I’d escape too…”

Grumbling as he spoke, He Yu still turned and made his way back up to the viewing platform, while Chen Shu and Yun Shen were jostled once more by the crowd. This time, however, the bouts were nearing their conclusion; many people were leaving early to grab spots in the taverns and eateries. Amidst the jostling, pockets of space actually opened up in the throng. Yun Shen, frail and without martial prowess, struggled to shield Chen Shu. After quite some time, he seemed unable to tolerate the situation any longer and finally spoke.

“You been spacing out since we were in the alley just now. What’s on your mind?” he asked.

Chen Shu seemed to snap back to reality, looked up at him, sighed with feigned maturity, hesitated a moment, then said:

“Why would there be a place called Valley of Villains?”

She pronounced the three words “Valley of Villains” clearly, not avoiding others, so a few scattered spectators passing by turned to glance at her, seemingly curious. Yet she only gazed at Yun Shen, as if only he existed in her sight, quietly waiting for his reply.

Yun Shen froze, then laughed. Silently letting out a slow breath, he withdrew the hand that had been shielding her and countered, “You zoned out all this time just to wonder about that? I thought you… never mind. The Valley of Villains is exactly what it sounds like—the kind of place that produces scoundrels who commit every crime imaginable. Rumor has it this valley dates back to the previous dynasty. Fangcheng was remote, exiled many villains with heinous records, and back then, war raged. The previous government, overwhelmed, allowed these Vicious Bandits to seize that barren land amidst chaos.”

“Then…” Chen Shu pondered again, so long that Yun Shen nearly questioned her further, before she tentatively continued, “…are those Mounted Bandits we caught also from the Valley of Villains?”

The final match of the afternoon had finally ended. The blazing sun still hung high. The Sword Debate Arena teemed with people, forcing the two of them to retreat beside the small wooden table originally used for registrations. Voices calling for friends and relatives filled their ears; the summer heat still lingered, making some so frantic their voices cracked with tears, quickly drowned out by other shouts.

Yun Shen braced against the table, straining to stay put. Hearing her question, he faltered, almost swept away by the crowd again before swiftly regaining his focus, clutching the chair back tightly, finally saying, “…It doesn’t work like that. First, the Valley of Villains lies north of the Yushui River, hundreds, even thousands of li from Zhanglin Village. If Fangcheng sees few bandits, why do they plague Yunan so frequently? Second, those Mounted Bandits are only after money. If they were from the Valley of Villains, why wouldn’t they stay in Yubei? Oppress people, plunder villages—why risk smuggling horses right under the nose of the court officials?”

“But you said yourself those Mounted Bandits had backers,” retorted Chen Shu, turning to glance at the crestfallen Linbo Prefecture disciples slinking off the Sword Discussion Platform. “Do you think Yan Ji is that kind of person? Forget Yan Ji—Linbo Prefecture is way up in the Northern Desert. Compared to Fangcheng, isn’t it over a thousand li away? Look at them today; they couldn’t even beat those Mingguang Hall disciples, unstable on their feet and clumsy. How could they be the Mounted Bandits’ ‘backing’?”

Across the way, the Linbo Prefecture disciples huddled together, deep in discussion. Only Yan Ji, having scrounged up two blades of grass somewhere, chewed idly on them while gazing aimlessly around. Then, in an instant, he seemed to spot this direction, saw Chen Shu. His sleepy eyes suddenly lit up. He straightened his arm, flailing vigorously to wave at her.

But Chen Shu had already turned back, engrossed in her conversation with Yun Shen. She utterly missed Yan Ji’s fervent gesture. Yun Shen alone glanced up, saw Yan Ji’s lively form sticking out awkwardly in the crowd. What calculation passed through his mind? He offered no reply, made no comment to Chen Shu, only feigning ignorance, remaining silent while letting Chen Shu’s lengthy argument wash over him.

“I know you see Yan Ji and Li Chou—polished, personable—and readily trust them,” Yun Shen spoke slowly, a faint, elusive smile touching his lips. “Yet truly, who can fathom the human heart? Especially these martial world figures? Most wear two faces. What seems good natured now? Once the mask slips, who can guess their true selves lie beneath?”

Yan Ji was still waving strenuously towards them, even calling Chen Shu’s name loudly. But the distance was considerable, or the surrounding noise too chaotic—the words didn’t quite reach. Only Chen Shu’s crisp assent somehow carried back.

“Of course I know everyone has two faces. Even if I didn’t know before, I know it today,” she said earnestly, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on him.

“Don’t you?”

Those three words shattered the carelessly worn smile on Yun Shen’s face. It froze, then hardened.