Although this was a time when the sea was vast enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly freely, when the liberated Nanyi looked up, she discovered that her own sea and sky were only about a square inch in size – she had no particular place she wanted to go.

But she still remembered what Song Muchuan had said to her. Song Muchuan hoped she could help Bingzhu Division, and she had agreed at the time. She gradually realized that spoken promises were very important matters. She was prepared to fulfill her promise, at least to help Song Muchuan until safely escorting Prince Ling’an out of the city.

So Nanyi was on her way to Liangda Rice Shop. During her time with the Yucheng Army, she knew that Liangda Rice Shop was a contact point for Bingzhu Division. Every so often, they would send supplies into the mountains, and they could also contact Song Muchuan directly. She feared that going directly to his home or the Shipping Department to seek him would be too conspicuous and instead invite trouble, so she planned to go to the contact point first.

Though called a rice shop, this establishment’s storefront was pitifully small, operated by a middle-aged couple who obtained grain from the city’s large commercial houses and then sold it retail to the common people in the neighborhoods.

Just walking near the street district, Nanyi saw a prominent signboard hanging on a small building with “Liangda Rice Shop” written on it – Nanyi could now recognize all four of these characters. Her gaze slowly moved downward, and looking carefully, she saw a scholar in blue robes entering the shop below.

Nanyi became happy – wasn’t this Song Muchuan? Better to arrive at the right time than early. Just as she was about to run over, she suddenly noticed something strange about a beggar squatting by the roadside.

Nanyi understood all too well what a beggar should be like. Most beggars didn’t dare raise their heads to look at people, but would stare at people’s shoes and trouser cuffs, judging whether this person might be a generous and wealthy master. Only when they discovered a suitable target for begging would they dare to quickly glance at the full appearance and step forward to beg. Even when begging, they would crouch low with hunched backs, their gazes never daring to meet the eyes of noble people.

This was the fear and caution toward society that these people had carved into their bones after experiencing countless grinding experiences.

This beggar was different – he raised his head and stared straight at the pedestrians coming and going on the street. When someone threw a few copper coins into his bowl, he showed a look of ecstatic gratitude, yet his gaze never even glanced at his own broken bowl. He seemed not to care whether he had successfully begged for money.

Nanyi felt this person was somewhat strange, and with this street containing Bingzhu Division’s contact point, she inevitably became more cautious and careful.

If this person was a spy who had already targeted Liangda Rice Shop, then Song Muchuan going in would be… Nanyi didn’t dare take it lightly and wanted to test the waters.

Fortunately, she was now just an unremarkable passerby.

She touched her right wrist, where a sleeve arrow was bound inside. It had been tied there when she woke up – presumably Xie Queshan had returned it to her.

Just the thing to put to use.

…

On the other side, Xie Queshan used misdirection to fool those following him. By the time they realized it was a trick, the residence was already empty. Even if someone suspected him, without evidence they couldn’t do anything to him.

But what Xie Queshan wanted to know was exactly who suspected him.

He Ping was watching from behind to help him, reporting that those keeping watch seemed to be all Han people, with very agile and coordinated movements, well-trained, never seen in the city before.

Xie Queshan found it strange – how could they be Han people?

Surely it couldn’t be that Zhang Yuehui had sent them to eavesdrop? He quickly dismissed this thought. Zhang Yuehui’s people entered and left the residence daily – if he wanted to spy, there were simpler methods. Sending this type of assassin would be overkill.

A thought suddenly flashed through Xie Queshan’s mind – could it be… If it really was as he suspected, then this would be troublesome.

This was probably reinforcement requested from outside.

Wanyan Jun now controlled the army with great power and influence – there was no need to request troops from the royal court, which would be a display of incompetence. He wouldn’t be so rash either. That left only Gusha.

Gusha must have obtained some definite intelligence to be willing to request reinforcements and keep such close watch on him.

What could make Gusha willing to invest such resources could only be the Yucheng Army matter – he wanted to use the Yucheng Army case to make a comeback.

But information couldn’t come from thin air, and it was precisely at this delicate timing… How did he find out? To say there was no one behind the scenes adding fuel to the fire – Xie Queshan didn’t believe it.

A simple piece of information had already spun countless possibilities in his mind.

He decided to go see Zhang Yuehui.

In Huachao Pavilion, Zhang Yuehui had already discovered that Xie Queshan had transferred Nanyi away and immediately sent out countless eyes throughout the city to search. He cursed that old fox countless times in his heart, yet this old fox came uninvited.

“Boss Zhang, want to do some business?” Xie Queshan walked in with composed leisure and sat down of his own accord.

Zhang Yuehui stood by the door, still not closing it, pulling his mouth into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “The fortune-teller said I’m not suitable for doing business with people surnamed Xie – it clashes with my fortune.”

An attitude ready to tell someone to get lost.

“Let’s talk about the price first.”

“I have plenty of money.”

“But there’s only one life.”

Zhang Yuehui fell silent for a moment, pushed with his hand, and with a bang closed the door, sitting down at the table: “Whose life?”

“In your heart, whose life is valuable – let’s talk about that one. Your own… or Nanyi’s?”

The smile on Zhang Yuehui’s face darkened: “Where did you send her?”

Xie Queshan stopped there without continuing, only saying: “Why don’t you first tell me what pressure Wanyan Jun gave you to make you so eager to eliminate him?”

Xie Queshan was also probing, watching Zhang Yuehui’s reaction. After all, on the surface, Zhang Yuehui was the Qi people’s darling.

But he thought of the day when they rescued someone from the dungeon – Zhang Yuehui should have planned to expose his identity in front of Wanyan Jun, but it came to nothing. He definitely didn’t get any favors from Wanyan Jun either. This matter wasn’t big or small – at most he could just give some other intelligence to make up for it. He wasn’t certain whether Zhang Yuehui had already decided to move against Wanyan Jun.

Zhang Yuehui squinted as he sized up Xie Queshan, not answering. He didn’t know through what clues he had deduced to this point, but obviously, if he didn’t know the answer, he couldn’t possibly ask this question.

Xie Queshan had probably already guessed that he had leaked information about the Yucheng Army to Gusha and wanted to use Gusha to eliminate Wanyan Jun, which was why he came knocking.

He had no need to deny it either. After all, from Xie Queshan’s position, watching the Qi people fight among themselves was a good thing – he couldn’t possibly expose him.

Was Xie Queshan starting to play his cards openly with him? Interesting.

Zhang Yuehui pretended to sigh and said: “Master Wanyan is a difficult customer to deal with. He gave me a hard problem with only one day left in the deadline. Tell me, who should I betray?”

“I can help you get past Wanyan Jun’s challenge, but I want to take something from your commercial house.”

Zhang Yuehui leaned back loosely in his chair and sneered: “Surnamed Xie, who are you looking down on?”

“You’re borrowing Gusha’s hand to investigate the Yucheng Army and Bingzhu Division. Whatever he investigates, you report to Wanyan Jun to fulfill your duty. But I fear Boss Zhang’s casual wave might stir up waves too large and repeat past mistakes.” The depths of Xie Queshan’s eyes were profound, concealing mockery.

Zhang Yuehui’s smile gradually stiffened – repeat past mistakes?

This familiar mockery from a romantic rival.

He tasted the meaning and angrily jumped up: “You sent Nanyi to Bingzhu Division?”

“Guess which stronghold she might be hiding in? When Gusha investigates the Yucheng Army, will he investigate her too?”

After a moment of silence, Zhang Yuehui knew he was already in a losing position, but refused to admit defeat verbally, gritting his teeth: “Xie Queshan, your love is nothing more than this – you’re just using her as a chess piece!”

Xie Queshan smiled: “At least my chess piece doesn’t hate me. Unlike Boss Zhang, who can’t even get someone to look back despite begging.”

Each sentence struck at the heart.

The smile disappeared from Zhang Yuehui’s face. After being speechless for a long while, he finally said: “What do you want?”

“Wanyan Jun needs a large amount of laborers for shipbuilding. A month ago he had you help transport people from outside areas – the last batch should be on the road now, right? Hand over the convoy transporting people to me.”

Zhang Yuehui still wouldn’t relent: “Where is Nanyi?”

Xie Queshan smiled slightly: “I don’t know. She left on her own. I can’t control her.”

Zhang Yuehui anxiously kicked the table and stepped forward to grab Xie Queshan by the collar: “You’re sending her into the tiger’s mouth!”

Xie Queshan remained unmoved, appreciating Zhang Yuehui’s expression – that look of eyes about to split, completely exposing his burning anxiety.

“Boss Zhang, you haven’t seen her for too long. You no longer know what kind of person she is now.”

This really hit Zhang Yuehui’s vital point. Regarding Nanyi’s changes, this was what he feared most – that she would drift further and further away from him because of it. He also didn’t know what Nanyi had agreed with Xie Queshan, but this time, he didn’t dare gamble with her safety again.

Until he found Nanyi and confirmed she was safe, he couldn’t act rashly.

Zhang Yuehui dejectedly released his grip and stepped back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, maintaining the dignity on his face as he spat out two words: “Deal.”

Xie Queshan stood up, patted Zhang Yuehui’s shoulder, not forgetting to add: “Boss Zhang, isn’t clashing with fortune better than losing your life?”

He strode away with his head held high, vindicated.

Nanyi stood at an inconspicuous street corner, raised her hand, and shot an arrow at the signboard hanging outside the shop. She now had some accuracy and steadily shot through the rope. The signboard crashed to the ground with a bang like thunder on level ground, startling everyone around.

Nanyi observed that beggar – the instant the signboard fell, he alertly rolled away a great distance. His agility and nimbleness were clearly not what a beggar should possess.

But when he saw that only a signboard had fallen, he immediately realized his previous actions had been too conspicuous and alertly looked left and right.

Nanyi was immediately caught by his gaze.

When two hawks lock eyes, they know the other is no good person. Nanyi was startled but knew she absolutely couldn’t lose her composure at this moment, pretending to pass by nonchalantly.

When passing that beggar, he suddenly grabbed her trouser leg with such force that she couldn’t break free at all.

“Noble person, give some money.” He stared at Nanyi without any scruples, saying sinisterly.

Nanyi’s legs were already somewhat weak, but she still held on stubbornly on the surface, cursing fiercely: “You stinking beggar, you’ve dirtied this lady’s skirt – can you afford to compensate?”

Nanyi pretended to be a housewife, forcibly pulled back her skirt hem, and hurriedly walked forward as if avoiding a plague.

Not daring to enter the rice shop, she kept walking forward. Only after walking straight through an entire street without looking back did Nanyi dare to “casually” look back – that beggar hadn’t followed.

Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, her body was suddenly forced backward. Someone had ambushed Nanyi from behind, quickly covering her mouth and dragging her into an alley.

All this happened swiftly and silently. Nanyi had no space to struggle – the man’s strength was overwhelming.

In his other hand he concealed a sharp sleeve dart, about to stab it into Nanyi’s body. Nanyi used both hands to desperately resist his arm, not letting the sharp blade pierce her body.

The wounds on her body all burst open again. She was like a piece of torn, wind-blown cloth, blood flowing all over her body. But her survival instinct made her unable to feel the pain. She released her right hand, leaving only her left hand to resist desperately. That sleeve dart pushed forward an inch, almost cutting through her clothes.

At the critical moment, Nanyi backhanded and raised her hand, releasing the sleeve arrow mechanism and shooting at the person behind her.

Not knowing where she hit, she only felt his hand loosen. Nanyi didn’t dare relax. Taking advantage of the brief upper hand, she grabbed his hand, twisted her head, and slashed across his neck – blood instantly splattered all over her face.

The man had a sleeve arrow stuck in his face and a line of blood appeared on his neck. He softly collapsed, instantly lifeless.

Nanyi panted with her soul just settled, warm blood dripping down her cheeks. She looked up somewhat at a loss, only to see Song Muchuan standing at the alley entrance.

Nanyi was somewhat stunned. She looked at the corpse on the ground, then at Song Muchuan, subconsciously raising her hand to wipe the blood from her face, only to smear it bright red all over her hand.

Song Muchuan walked toward her, only calmly shaking his head at her, indicating she needn’t be nervous.

His voice was steady, containing a reassuring power: “I’ll handle the aftermath.”