Chapter 69

“So that means Lord Shen, in Yingqiu City… Or rather, Yingqiu Weir… She truly uncovered something?”

Chen Shu stood before the desk, still not seated. She looked down slightly at Liu Mao, meeting his unnervingly standard, plastic smile. She frowned slightly.

“I don’t understand what you are implying, General.”

“I am not a fool,” Liu Mao said softly. Though the words held an edge, his tone remained unnervingly gentle, dripping like water. He turned to straighten a stack of scrolls on his desk, continuing slowly. “Diancang Pass hasn’t faced flooding for hundreds of years. That much, I know even better than Right Supervisor Shen. When she left, it wasn’t for Mengcheng with its ample grain stores. Not for the closer Xian City. Not for any metropolis along the northern route back to the capital. She specifically chose Yingqiu City, a backwater place of all places! Precisely near Yingqiu City, there just happens to be an Yingqiu Weir! Precisely—

“When Lord Shen departed the city, she didn’t bother to inform the magistracy first. Didn’t arrange horses or provisions in advance. Upon reflection, anyone who isn’t an utter idiot would find the sequence rather suspicious!”

As his words concluded, the scroll in Liu Mao’s hand deliberately slid and fell back onto the desk. It landed with a deliberately soft but heavy thud, seeming to kick up a faint, almost illusory puff of dust. The sound slammed with unexpected weight against Chen Shu’s eardrum.

No wonder he was a scion of a capital noble house, accustomed to holding high rank. Even among those labeled “washers”, this deliberate slowness, unconsciously radiating an air of authority, was enough to intimidate most common folk. Alas, Chen Shu was Chen Shu. Unmoved, her expression unchanged, she leaned forward instead, tilting her head to study his face. She asked:

“—Why aren’t you looking at me while you speak?”

It was a common tactic among those accustomed to wielding power: averting gaze, speaking softly while suddenly dropping an object heavily to startle the person being interrogated, making them nervous. While Liu Mao himself might struggle to articulate why he employed the technique, Chen Shu saw through it instantly. Enhanced by her recent bout of keen “observation” and innate bluntness, she just asked directly.

The question left Liu Mao speechless. When his eyes finally met hers, his gaze seemed shifty. The manufactured aura of authority he’d projected moments before was half vanished already.

“…After Right Supervisor Shen departed, these mounting duties have all fallen on my shoulders alone.” Liu Mao managed a light laugh. “Grasping this moment of snatched leisure is the only way I found time to ask a few questions. After all, the catastrophic deluge at Diancang Pass concerns the lives of an entire city. The gravity is immense. As the General, I simply had to inquire.”

“Fair enough!” said Chen Shu, recalling the events from a few days prior, she spoke sincerely. “When the flood came, you shirked all responsibilities. If you still don’t concern yourself afterward, then if the Emperor were to hold you accountable, shouldn’t you be the first to lose your head?”

As soon as these words fell, the corner of Liu Mao’s mouth twitched, and for quite a while, he couldn’t utter a word. Not only was he speechless, but deathly silence also returned to the room. Even the soldiers on duty at the entrance of the magistracy were frightened out of their wits by the few scattered words that drifted out. They stood stiffly at the gate, no longer daring to eavesdrop.

Yet Chen Shu’s words were not only sincere but also spoken with a semblance of friendliness, as if she were truly considering Liu Mao’s interests. Besides, having just emerged from the crowd’s embrace, among the tens of thousands at Diancang Pass, if there was one person Liu Mao could not deal with arbitrarily, it was Chen Shu, who was now famous throughout the pass and widely praised by others.

Fortunately, Liu Mao himself was a habitual hypocrite. He merely took a deep breath, not only refraining from anger but shaking his head, forcing out a smile, and said, “Exactly, hence my concern over Miss Chen and Right Supervisor Shen’s journey.”

This time, Chen Shu nodded, seemingly convinced. She generously remarked, “Know your error to correct it, and no goodness exceeds this. If you can truly dedicate yourself to good, it would certainly not be a bad thing. The County Magistrate of Yingqiu City, after receiving Lord Shen’s letter and meeting Lord Shen in person, how could he possibly refuse? As for our trip, I don’t know the other matters and dare not inquire into Lord Shen’s important affairs. I only know that within a day of arriving, we quickly secured grain. They said they would first take inventory of the granary again and then do their best to send some surplus grain over. Defender, there’s no need for you to worry.” Her comforting speech seemed utterly without guile, yet she deliberately omitted any mention of the various events that had transpired in Yingqiu City.

Seeing her answer thus, how could Liu Mao not understand? He surely knew in his heart that today, not a word more could be wheedled out of her; further questioning would be futile. Helpless, he still piled on some polite words and courteously escorted Chen Shu out of the building.

As for Chen Shu, once outside the magistracy, the faint lingering scent of roasted meat seemed to tickle her nose. She looked back at the study now occupied by Liu Mao. She used to find the magistrate’s office at Diancang Pass quieter and more peaceful than elsewhere. But now, though many objects had been added compared to before Shen Jie’s departure, and the tiles had been washed, it was barely sunset, and candlelight already streamed through the window lattice, casting another layer of bright light onto the dusky yellow twilight. Soldiers, unfamiliar faces all, bustled in and out, making the scene appear even more desolate.

She stood gazing back for a moment, her feet still carrying her further away. The soldiers who saw her, holding her in respect, naturally gave way. Just like that, she walked out ahead and bumped straight into a broad chest, exclaiming “Aiyo!” in surprise.

“Not looking where you’re going? Managed to run into someone just this once. Who knows how your elders ever agreed to let you travel alone,” the man snorted.

The collision caused a dull ache on her forehead. Rubbing her brow, empty-stomached and emotionally unsettled, she retorted immediately upon hearing his reproach, “But weren’t you blocking the path right in the middle of the— I thought you were taking the horses to the stable! How come…” She blinked, looking at the satin embroidery before her, finally realizing something was amiss. This man was far more meticulous than Yan Ji, wearing layers upon layers of robes. Tilting her head up, the distance between them so close, she saw that even after the disaster, his face was spotlessly clean, not a speck of grime. It was none other than Li Chou.

However, because of the half-finished sentence she had uttered, Li Chou’s handsome brows suddenly furrowed. His expression turned exceedingly unpleasant.

“Who do you think you’re talking to like that?” he asked, his face stormy. Not budging an inch, the two just stood there blocking the center of the road, attracting many strange looks.

Chen Shu gave an awkward chuckle and scratched her head. Though aware she was somewhat in the wrong, she remained utterly unperturbed. “Well, I didn’t know you were still stuck here either… Weren’t you traveling with Brother He? Why didn’t you go together… uh, forget I said anything.”

Li Chou’s lips pressed together so tightly they seemed capable of slicing his face in half. Even through his cheeks, the sound of his gritting teeth was clear. Before Chen Shu could react fully, several bystanders who had been eavesdropping were startled by her words. Eyes met noses, noses met mouths, each silently withdrawing. Only the dust-covered figure behind Li Chou, also wearing Biyang Valley robes and sneaking glances at Li Chou’s expression, dared speak:

“…Young Miss Hero, do you even know how to speak properly?”

“She speaks all too well!” Li Chou finished bitingly.

By now, Chen Shu could grasp the meaning behind such words. Yet, instead of being angered, she beamed and readily agreed. “You have good insight! I feel I’m getting better at speaking too!”

This retort rendered not only Li Chou but the disciple trailing him utterly speechless. They choked, unable to respond for a good while.

It was Chen Shu who turned again, observing the flow of people at the magistrate gate, then peering at Li Chou, whose face remained thunderous. She took the initiative, grasping his sleeve and pulling him toward the less crowded, more secluded alleyway.

“So,” she demanded, “just why are you loitering at the magistrate’s entrance and not returning to your sect immediately?”

“Biyang Valley isn’t like Cold Pine Glen, where it’s just He Yu all by himself, worrying only about feeding his own mouth. These past few days, several of my martial siblings from Biyang Valley were scattered by the floodwaters. It took two days to find them all,” Li Chou finally spoke, his anger subdued but his tone stiff. “As for why I’m at the magistrate gate… Can’t you see for yourself?”

The two stood frozen, eyes locked in a silent battle. Chen Shu was still baffled. She took half a step back, scrutinizing the junior disciple standing behind Li Chou. But at that very moment, the junior disciple shrank back, avoiding her gaze. Seeing nothing revealing, she looked up again only to find Li Chou’s expression more rigid than ever. It was as if Chen Shu owed him silver coins from several lifetimes. Her self-assurance wavered, and the half-baked guess she’d been about to voice lodged in her throat before being swallowed back down.

Thus, Chen Shu racked her brains. Only after a good long while did she suddenly point to the magistrate building behind her and ask, “Could it be you’re looking for Defender Li—”

“—No!” Li Chou instantly snapped.

Chen Shu gave two embarrassed chuckles.

“I knew it wasn’t!” she forged ahead stubbornly. “Then… it must be to find me for that sparring match! I recall we still had an appointment…”

This time, as she spoke, even without Li Chou contradicting her, her voice automatically softened. Finally, she cleared her throat twice.

“…Alright, that’s not it either. Can’t you just say it yourself? What’s with the mystery!”

“…I was indeed looking for you,” Li Chou said, snorting through his nose. Now, his features settled into a calmer expression. Halfway through, he glanced at the passersby around them and, surprisingly, took the initiative to lead Chen Shu further into the alleyway, which was naturally less crowded and more concealed. As they walked, he added, “I heard from people in the city that you’d returned, asked around, learned you’d come to the magistracy, and specifically sought you out.”

Chen Shu didn’t understand his meaning, momentarily startled by his explanation. She allowed herself to be led. Deep in the alleyway, the already dim light was further blocked by walls battered by the flood waters. Even the noises from the street—conversations, footsteps—seemed muffled by the encroaching twilight. Yet, Li Chou still hadn’t stated his purpose. Her impatience flared again. She deftly slipped out of his grasp, freeing her arm. “Whatever it is, why go to such lengths! You could have just said it outright… It’s not like I bite!”

“Why hasn’t Right Supervisor Shen returned to Diancang Pass?” Li Chou countered, avoiding her question.

“She finished her task, naturally she headed back to the capital to report to the old Emperor!” Chen huffed. “What is this all about, that you have to be so secretive—”

“–It was because I trusted you that I spoke to you.”

Persisting despite Chen Shu still trying to speak, Li Chou extended a hand to cover her lips, silencing her. Only then did he continue, speaking as though to himself, “A few days ago, while searching for my sect’s disciples, this junior brother of mine seemed to accidentally stumble upon someone—someone whose actions were suspicious, at…”

With his hand pressed against her mouth, Chen Shu could feel the lines on his palm. Her lips parted as if to reply when she heard Li Chou lower his voice once more, repeating his words.

“This matter might be connected to the flooding at Diancang Pass, even the Sword Discussion Tournament. I dare only trust you with this. Do you understand?”

“–What do you mean, ‘only trust you’? Hey! What’s this little secret between you two? Why wasn’t I informed?”

A hand thumped heavily onto Li Chou’s shoulder, startling him enough to withdraw his hand and turn his head. Seizing the moment, a figure dropped down from above, landing noiselessly within the alley corner where the group stood—