Chapter 76

“Are you saying you can fly or teleport?”

Yun Shen did not rush to respond; instead, he leaned his hand against the ceramic tea bowl, slowly gliding his fingers over the damp rim covered in tiny water droplets. The heat from the boiling water tinged his fingertips, causing them to redden slightly, yet he showed no sign of avoidance or reluctance, merely pressing against the edge and moving back and forth.

From the moment that bowl of hot water was brought to the attic, until the conversation between the three people— or rather, two—concluded, Yun Shen had consumed half of the scalding water, seemingly without suffering any harm from the heat.

Clearly, this was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

After a moment of silence, the seated man seemed to notice something, suppressing the surprise that involuntarily crossed his face, stabilizing his expression. The bright hall fell silent again, even the sound of Yun Shen’s fingers brushing the rim became nearly inaudible.

Then, finally unable to contain himself, the man tapped his fingers on the armrest, producing a brief but dull sound.

At this, Yun Shen lifted his gaze in response, sighing lightly as if in resignation, yet also with a hint of fondness, curving his eyes as he stared at the tea bowl he had emptied substantially. He said,

“What I can do isn’t important. How I managed to reach Mijiang Slope isn’t even important. All you need to know, Esteemed Sir, is that though I am a Scholar, my abilities extend beyond wielding a pen. I possess some skills to fall back on; otherwise, I wouldn’t dare venture alone into this Valley of Villains. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Finally, he raised his head again. His expression, entirely unlike the bold assertion in his words, remained unchanged, composed and imbued with nothing but gentleness.

The person seated upon the dais was fixed on him, let out a short, dry laugh. There was still likely derision in it, yet he was actually stirred by that statement, a surge of curiosity welling up, only to be forcibly suppressed before he replied, “Since you insist this way, you must have your reliance, that’s undoubtedly true. I’ve always welcomed those with exceptional talents who come to my Valley of Villains with open arms. But you said you came from Diancang Pass, and also that you’ve seen the mark of my Valley of Villains. Such matters of critical importance were described vaguely by you, as if you were concealing something— offering only half the story, how could we easily believe it?”

“Hah,” Yun Shen chuckled lightly, shaking his head. He extended a hand, making a simple, sweeping gesture of invitation right there, and said, “I said only as much as I felt was sufficient; no need for further wasted words. If you truly don’t believe me, by all means, just ask.”

The man’s fingers, which had been idly stroking the armrest, abruptly stilled. He frowned, clearly now eight-tenths convinced. Yet, accustomed to playing the emperor in these remote wilds, he genuinely began to ponder what to ask. The woman beside him, who had obviously been restraining herself for a long time, her eyes filled with fury, had been waiting for precisely this moment to mercilessly rebuke Yun Shen. But before she could seize the chance to speak, the Lord of the Valley of Villains preemptively took over the conversation.

“Then I’m going to ask—just worry you might not have answers ready!” he declared. Then, seemingly remembering something, he swallowed the question that had risen to his lips, glanced to his right, and said, “As for bringing this Scholar to Fangcheng, you’ve fulfilled your duty. I shall reward you later. But matters concerning Diancang Pass are not for your ears.”

The woman, who had been seated stiffly on a chair, glaring venomously at Yun Shen, likely harbored plans to thoroughly humiliate him before the Valley Lord, to make him suffer a setback and truly experience the dangers within the Valley of Villains. She intended to settle the score outside this door, after the Valley Lord’s protective gaze was withdrawn, regarding both the mark and the insults he had hurled at her two days before in Mijiang Slope.

Yet here before her, the man on the dais hadn’t even uttered his question yet, had suddenly thought of her, and then, right in front of Yun Shen, reprimanded her so scathingly and without a shred of face.

The difference in treatment only intensified her fury. The sharp, vicious aura in her gaze not only targeted Yun Shen but, in a fleeting instant, also swept towards the Valley Lord seated at the foremost position in the entire room.

“…Yes.”

Already spacious, the hall felt even more cavernous after the woman departed. When the two men spoke, even echoes seemed faintly discernible. Only when the woman had left did the man on the dais, with genuine enthusiasm, begin questioning Yun Shen in earnest.

“I wish to ask you,” he started, “you say you witnessed the great flood at Diancang Pass. Was the torrent truly massive? Did it drown many people?”

“It did drown many people,” Yun Shen affirmed. “The common folk of that city believed Diancang Pass, with its high walls, was traditionally beyond the reach of floods. Thus, they never anticipated such an inundation, nor one so violent. Within half an hour, the city was filled with cries of anguish amidst pervasive devastation.”

“Excellent! Excellent!” The Valley Lord was so delighted he nearly clapped his hands. He pressed, “Given that, did Protector Liu Mao piss himself in terror, racing back to the capital that same night to beg and scrape for mercy from anyone who would listen?”

“This matter, Esteemed Sir, is precisely the reason I traveled from afar to inform you,” Yun Shen said, his smile restrained. With a slight motion of his right hand, he picked up the teacup. “Though the flood was mighty, it happened to coincide with the Sword Debate Grand Competition at Diancang Pass. The various masters possessed formidable martial skills, far surpassing those of a weak scholar like myself. This is to say nothing of Shen Jie, the Right Supervisor Shen, maintaining order—”

“—You said what?” The Lord of the Valley of Villains froze, leaning forward abruptly to demand clarification.

“I said,” Yun Shen paused deliberately, “this flood, though it did indeed drown many, was ultimately not an insurmountable act of heavenly retribution but rather man-made calamity. After the waters receded, burials were conducted, shelter arranged for those displaced, and the city remained orderly. It probably wasn’t quite the dire spectacle you imagined… Esteemed Sir.”

This time, the man was truly convinced. Veins bulged on his forehead as his true nature was laid bare. He slammed his fist viciously against the chair. “How is that possible! And this Shen Jie, where did she crawl out from to meddle and muddy things?! Wait— Didn’t you claim you saw the mark of my Valley of Villains?! If Diancang Pass was restored to order, just how did you come to see it?”

Yun Shen registered the perfect degree of surprise. He even turned his head, glancing towards the dusky, now vacant doorway, before replying, “This… Didn’t I inform that esteemed member of your sect upon my arrival? Shen Jie is an imperial confidant, operating directly under the Emperor’s personal mandate, unlike any ordinary imperial inspector. Naturally, she acted decisively. Aided by those Members of the Wulin Community, she not only stemmed the flood but resolved Protector Liu Mao’s predicament overnight. Then she immediately set out for Yingqiu.”

He paused intentionally at this point, taking a deliberate sip of water, prolonging the suspense. Watching as his interrogator half-rose from his chair, leaning forward eagerly, Yun Shen then smiled slowly and continued, “As for why I was able to glimpse the mark… well, perhaps this is good news? During the flood that day, I kept my wits about me and visited the prison beneath Diancang Pass. I happened to notice a certain prisoner captured by Right Supervisor Shen — an agent originally operating within Linbo Prefecture. Swept away by the water, he drowned. Even his corpse was washed out of its cell. His clothing splayed open in the water, revealing a trace of some mark. Upon pulling… the entire emblem was exposed unequivocally. The man you wanted dead is, indeed, dead.”

The Lord of the Valley of Villains finally slumped back into his chair. Having spoken his piece, Yun Shen fell silent. With an air of nonchalance, he placed the teacup down before him.

A silence hung. The man didn’t ask how Yun Shen managed to dive beneath waters sufficient to inundate an entire city seeking that one prisoner. He didn’t inquire how a deep-cover sleeper nurtured for years within the Linbo Prefecture died in such a flood while this commoner, Yun Shen, emerged unscathed. Perhaps knowing asking would yield no answer; perhaps simply unable to pierce that layer of deception—

Upon hearing the words “indeed, dead,” the man’s expression shifted once more towards smiling. That look was readily understandable. Just a few words had dissolved his previous imposing demeanor.

Perhaps perceiving that the Valley Lord had genuinely lowered his guard—or at least appeared to do so—Yun Shen curved the corner of his lips slightly downwards. Without waiting for the man to fully digest the preceding statement, he added softly, “I imagine… given how formidable the Right Supervisor Shen truly is, uncovering what transpired in Yingqiu City surely won’t prove difficult for her.”

“Don’t you try to scare me,” the man retorted dismissively. “As for the person stationed in Yingqiu City… I trust him implicitly. Were he caught against all odds, silencing him would be utterly unnecessary—”

“—Truly?” Yun Shen interjected, his tone sharpening slightly. “But do you know who accompanies Shen Jie to Yingqiu City?”

“What does it matter?” the man scoffed. “Whoever it is, what concern is it of mine?”

“This person’s name is Chen Shu,” Yun Shen declared, then involuntarily paused. His gaze upon the teacup grew even more contemplative. “Indeed, since the Diancang Pass flood, the city has been under exceptionally strict control. Not a single letter, nor a solitary word, could slip out. It’s no wonder you remain unfamiliar with this Young Maiden. It’s crucial to note that she is the first in several centuries to force her way into the Sword Debate Grand Competition as a Member of the Wulin Community, standing through the final round, even winning it. The entire city population of Diancang Pass, the thousands upon thousands of citizens who survived… she played a significant role.”

“Oh?” The Lord of the Valley of Villains, evidently aware of the prestige surrounding the Sword Debate Grand Assembly, perked up with renewed interest. Settling back in his chair, he asked, “Someone possessing such skill, why would she stoop to serving the Imperial Court? To come to my Valley of Villains—where one acts freely, roams unfettered… wouldn’t that be far more marvelous?”

“This is precisely why I’ve come.”

Over the course of their brief exchange, the twilight glow beyond the window had been wholly supplanted by the night sky. Situated on the outskirts of Fangcheng, the pavilion offered a view splitting both the idyllic mountain-and-water scenery and the lively expanse of the city. Now, as night deepened, lanterns ignited one by one within the city walls. At this moment, their radiance seemed imbued with a vivid vitality, as if the populace within genuinely experienced that unrestrained joy the Valley Lord had described.

Yet Yun Shen did not lift his eyes to look.

“— I recalled! Yesterday, it seemed someone reported that a scholar was raving, saying that your purpose for coming to Mijiang Slope that day was to borrow our strength to bully a Swordswoman—”

“— It was to lure a Swordswoman,” Yun Shen corrected. “Luring her into the valley is my wish; not only would Shen Jie lose a witness, but if we can truly tame that woman, your faction would also gain a great asset, making it a win-win.”

“Close enough!” that person said, leaning back, and upon discussing this, he became more hearty and composed. “If it’s about doing this kind of bullying men and dominating women, I’m certainly happy to— so tell me what you want me to do, say it, and be specific about it!”

Yun Shen chuckled softly.

“I need you to order your people spread out everywhere to deliver this news first. Use only those who are hiding the deepest, inconspicuous ones; they must pretend to be common peddlers or travelers, accidentally stumbling upon the news or hearing it rumor-like. Just say—”

At this point, he paused, drank the last sip of the long-cold spring water in his tea bowl, and said,

“— that a few bandits from the Valley of Villains have been committing crimes in the Yubei region. At the start of this month, they robbed a passenger ship and seized a treasured sword. It was over two feet long, with a slender hilt, sharp enough to slice through iron, and they presented it to you, the Valley Chief of the Valley of Villains… Oh yes, and there was a bloodstain on the blade— remember not to leave that out.”