In the dark night with high winds and no one around, a corpse tied with stones was thrown into the river.
With a splash, it stirred up large ripples that took a long time to calm down. Nanyi stared blankly at the pitch-black river surface, her hands trembling, still not having recovered her composure.
Song Muchuan turned to look at Nanyi, noticing her unusual state.
“I’ve also killed people.” Song Muchuan said calmly.
He spread open his palm, which still bore a thin, long scar. Just a few days ago, someone in Bingzhu Division had betrayed them and was about to reveal Song Muchuan’s identity to the Qi people. The situation was urgent, and to eliminate future troubles, Song Muchuan had strangled the person to death on the spot with a bowstring.
This wasn’t a particularly easy way to die. When killing, people become beasts, forgetting all about sage books and moral principles completely.
Nanyi was somewhat surprised, opening her mouth slightly. Not wanting to pry too much into others’ privacy, she only asked: “At that time… what did you feel? Would you… would you…”
Nanyi racked her brains trying to think, but couldn’t describe her own feelings.
“I also thought this would be an insurmountable hurdle. Killing was originally something very distant to me – it was a serious crime in the law codes, something only the most vicious criminals would do.”
The two walked along the riverbank, Song Muchuan speaking unhurriedly.
Yes, distant. All along this journey, Nanyi had seen many people die before her, but this was the first time a life had been ended by her own hands in an instant.
People are similar to each other – flesh and blood are all fragile, and kind people don’t want to be executioners.
“But why… do you seem so calm?”
“Because I quickly understood that while we can pity dead enemies, showing mercy to living enemies is a kind of foolishness. What I felt more was fear in retrospect – if I hadn’t gained that tiny bit of advantage, the one who died might have been me. So not only can I not stop, I must become even stronger.”
The thoughts Nanyi couldn’t figure out, Song Muchuan helped her sort through clearly – in this moment of chaos, she found that most important thread.
Yes, she needed to become stronger to protect her own life and protect more people’s lives.
The decadent music from wine houses across the river drifted on the wind, lantern fires flickering shadows on the water.
Some died, some lived – countless lives and deaths comprised this city. Cruel, ruthless, yet also passionate and boiling.
She had long been in this game. She wasn’t here to help – she was here to fight for her life. Then why hesitate? Better to walk a path of no return, to be a candle that, even if it could only emit dim light, could illuminate one person’s night.
Nanyi stopped walking and looked seriously at Song Muchuan: “Master Song, now, can I still join Bingzhu Division?”
In the quiet night wind, Song Muchuan fell silent.
Nanyi thought he was hesitating and explained for herself: “During this time, I’ve experienced some things. I discovered I’m more tenacious than expected. I may not be a formidable spy who can be of great use, but I’m definitely loyal. I won’t become a traitor.”
“Madam, that’s not what I’m worried about,” Song Muchuan looked at her seriously. “My previous proposal to you was inconsiderate on Song’s part – I underestimated the current situation. As you’ve seen, the enemy is stronger than we imagined. Even I didn’t notice that the contact rice shop was being watched. If not for your quick thinking, I would have been exposed already. The situation has become increasingly dire – they outnumber us greatly. To be frank, I only hope you can live in peace and safety.”
“There’s no place with absolute safety,” Nanyi said calmly. “People need faith to survive. I only have meager abilities, yet I also want to walk alongside noble gentlemen and see a greater world.”
Finally, Nanyi saw that scroll covered with bright red handprints.
Here were Pang Yu, Xie Sui’an, Xie Hengzai, Xie Zhu… those people who had passed by without recognition in various operations, those heroes who had hidden in the dust and remained nameless, and then, there was also a tiny her.
…
Liangda Rice Shop evacuated overnight. The couple from the shop transferred to another neighborhood where Bingzhu Division had previously placed a small courtyard. Nanyi became this couple’s “daughter,” temporarily settling here.
The man was named Liangda, the woman called Ninth Lady. These two were only partners of many years who worked together seamlessly, posing as a fake married couple in the city. Liangda was one of the most experienced spies in Bingzhu Division, having operated deep in Li Du Mansion for many years with intimate knowledge of information from all sides.
Song Muchuan brought back the sleeve dart used by that beggar for him to help identify. The spy they caught this time was actually a Han person, which was very strange. He needed to figure out who the opponent was.
“Black Crow Camp.” Liangda recognized where this weapon belonged.
With these words, Nanyi saw Song Muchuan’s expression actually darken somewhat, feeling puzzled: “Is this Black Crow Camp… very formidable?”
Liangda explained: “Black Crow Camp is an assassin unit specifically cultivated by the Great Qi Royal Court for the Yu Dynasty, with astonishing reconnaissance and assassination abilities. Most importantly, they’re all Han faces who speak Central Plains language and are familiar with Central Plains customs. When they broke through Bianjing City, it was Black Crow Camp that had infiltrated and operated in the capital beforehand, coordinating from within and without. After that, Black Crow Camp has been stationed in Bianjing. Who knows who transferred them to Li Du Mansion…”
Ninth Lady was so angry her teeth itched: “No wonder so many of our hidden assets in the city have been uprooted recently – tough characters have arrived.”
The Qi people had just cleared out the Yucheng Army and were feeling triumphant – they wouldn’t request reinforcements themselves at this time. Unless…
Song Muchuan frowned: “The Yucheng Army matter may have some problems and isn’t safe. Don’t contact them for now to avoid exposure.”
“Sir, it’s not sustainable for the Yucheng Army to keep hiding in Hukui Mountain. How can they solve the eating, drinking, and other needs of over a hundred people? Secretly bringing them into the city would be more secure. With military strength, we wouldn’t be passive in everything. You need to make a decision quickly.”
“Any carelessness with the Yucheng Army matter would implicate Madam Gantang. Let me think about this more,” Song Muchuan looked at Nanyi. “Nanyi, security in the city will become increasingly strict from now on. Most strongholds and spies will go silent. But there’s one mission that needs you to complete.”
Nanyi immediately straightened up, yet remained somewhat cautious: “Master Song, what mission? Just me alone? Do I need to coordinate with others?”
“You are the best person for the job.”
To mobilize Black Crow Camp, Gusha had gambled his own family and issued a military order – he had to achieve great merit in Li Du Mansion with no way back.
But he was confident that with Black Crow Camp’s assistance, he would definitely be able to investigate the truth about the Yucheng Army and thoroughly crush that traitor Xie Queshan and that fool Wanyan Jun underfoot.
This secret unit indeed scattered into Li Du Mansion like a flock of silent black crows. Their target was very clear: Bingzhu Division, which was orchestrating everything from behind.
As long as they could root out important figures in Bingzhu Division, they could follow the vine to find the melon and locate the Yucheng Army. Bingzhu Division members all maintained single-line contact with little connection between each other. Even if they caught one, it would be difficult to shake the organization’s overall situation, but Black Crow Camp excelled at following subtle traces and finding needles in haystacks.
A few days ago, they had targeted an inconspicuous “Liangda Rice Shop” in the city, but instead of rushing to close the net, they wanted to draw out bigger fish. Unexpectedly, the people in the shop transferred away. Black Crow Camp’s first battle was unsuccessful, and their subsequent actions became increasingly aggressive – anyone suspicious or possibly related to Bingzhu Division, they spared none.
In just a few days, many Bingzhu Division contact points in Li Du Mansion were uprooted completely. Bingzhu Division spies who couldn’t evacuate in time were either captured or killed, also implicating many innocent civilians.
Those with backbone who could endure torture without uttering a single word were dragged out to be beheaded at the vegetable market as a warning to others.
Blood flowed like rivers, and everyone lived in fear.
…
And on this evening, Madam Gantang suddenly called together everyone in the mansion, invited the Grand Madam as well, and opened the Xie Family ancestral hall.
Everyone didn’t know what this was about, all looking bewildered.
Madam Gantang calmly announced that she wanted to adopt her two children under Xie Hengzai’s name.
With these words, everyone was in an uproar. Xie Hengzai had no sons – even if he wanted to adopt a child to support the Xie family’s main branch, he should find a child surnamed Xie from the clan. What logic was there for a sister’s children to be adopted by her brother!
“Nonsense!” The Grand Madam was so agitated her walking stick tapped the ground repeatedly. “Xie Tang’an, your children are surnamed Yang, not Xie!”
“Grandmother, Xie family blood flows in my body. They are my children, so they can take my surname Xie. Xie family descendants being adopted by elder brother – what’s improper about that?”
“You, you – life was going well, why must you do this kind of thing that breaks ancestral rules?”
“Grandmother, do you want Brother Qin and Ah Fu to live?”
Grand Madam Xie was struck speechless. In this granddaughter’s eyes, she saw a certain familiar determination.
When Xie Sui’an had entered the Buddhist hall without looking back to remain a widow for her deceased husband, it was this same expression.
Sixth Miss was habitually troublesome, but this eldest granddaughter whom she had never worried about had spent the first half of her life observing wifely virtues, helping her husband and teaching her children, knowledgeable and reasonable. Yet in such a short time, she had done all manner of transgressive things.
Abandoning her husband, forsaking her children – she walked a path contrary to all women in the world.
Yet she asked whether they wanted Brother Qin and Ah Fu to live, without mentioning herself.
Grand Madam Xie’s eyes moistened. She was someone with half her body already in the ground – must she bury one black-haired person after another?
“Are you also going to abandon grandmother…”
Grand Madam Xie reached for her hand. Being grasped by the old woman’s wrinkled hands, no matter how strong Madam Gantang was, she couldn’t help but choke up at this moment.
“Grandmother, when noble families receive the people’s reverence, they can flourish endlessly with luxuriant branches and leaves. When the realm has no master, the Xie family is the backbone of Li Du Mansion. Your granddaughter is unfilial, but my mind is made up.”
Madam Gantang knew the city was in chaos. The Yucheng Army she had brought would sooner or later implicate her. By adopting her children under the main branch, if something happened to her, it wouldn’t implicate them – the Xie family would have ways to protect these two children.
She didn’t participate in Bingzhu Division’s operations and wasn’t a member of Bingzhu Division, but she knew they were silently supporting and protecting her. She only wanted to use this action to tell them that she was alone with no fear of life or death – don’t let her become a hindrance to the Yucheng Army or even Bingzhu Division.
Xie Queshan stood at the back of the crowd, looking at his second sister, also moved in his heart.
Madam Gantang then looked toward Xie Queshan: “Third Brother Xie, come here.”
Xie Queshan walked over and bowed with hands clasped: “Second Sister.”
“The realm is crumbling. You now serve the Qi people, choosing a clear path – this is understandable. But I want you to swear before the ancestral tablets that among the Xie family clan members, if there’s no evidence of their resistance against Qi, you must protect them all.”
Xie Queshan lifted his robes and knelt before the tablets to swear: “I… Xie Chao’en, swear before the Xie family’s ancestors that I will protect all Xie family clan members regardless of their stance.”
Madam Gantang also held her two children and knelt before the rows of tablets. She pointed to the lowest tablet and said: “Xie Qin, Xie Fu, from now on, the one on this tablet is your father. Hereafter, you must offer incense for him, hold sacrifices for him, carry on his bloodline. Do you remember?”
Xie Fu was young and stared with innocent large eyes, pointing at the tablet and saying naively: “Mother, isn’t this just a wooden tablet? It’s not my father…”
“Don’t call me mother anymore!” Madam Gantang sternly scolded Xie Fu. “What did I tell you both last night?!”
Being yelled at by her mother like this, Xie Fu burst into wailing tears, her cries tugging at everyone’s hearts in the ancestral hall.
Xie Qin was slightly older, already a youth. At this moment he was tearful but gritted his teeth and kowtowed: “Aunt, Qin remembers.”
Those tablets that had been silent for ten years, a hundred years, remained silent still. No one knew whether they were watching their descendants’ words and deeds from the beyond, or what judgment they might pass.
But the departed souls were speechless, and the living all struggled on.