As the newly appointed Prefectural Administrator of Yue Province’s capital, Xu Huanzhi lived in no small residence — the former Chu Kingdom Administrator’s family manor.

But he didn’t like it here. As he put it: too refined — refined to the point of being cramped.

He was from Yan Province, and the architectural style there was nothing like Yue Province. Go further, to the northwest of Ji Province near the Nalan Steppe, and the style changed again.

Yan Province buildings were built large. The style near the Nalan Steppe was large to the point of spaciousness.

Xu Huanzhi liked northern things. Even he admitted the north was rougher by comparison.

In his study stood several figures. When Xu Huanzhi came through the door, all of them bowed.

Among them was a woman who appeared to be around thirty, whose bow was shallow and whose face showed none of the deference the others displayed. In her brow and bearing was a trace of pride.

“No need for ceremony, Daoist Mi.”

Xu Huanzhi didn’t address the others. Toward this woman, he was notably courteous.

The woman addressed as *Daoist Mi* inclined her head in thanks, then straightened.

“Sit — all of you, sit.”

Xu Huanzhi took the head seat, pressing his hands downward to signal everyone to take their places.

Of the people in the room, one was his trusted aide — the Deputy Administrator of Yue Province, a man named Xie Niao, also from Yan Province. He was from the Xie family, a clan whose deep roots were in the south, though Xie Niao’s branch had drifted north long ago, and that branch received little recognition from the southern Xie family. Xie Niao had grown up in reasonable comfort, but banditry in Yan Province had ravaged wealthy households. His family had barely survived; he and Xu Huanzhi were former classmates, and it was Xu Huanzhi’s support that had kept him going.

Another was a man named Wen Jiu — a Yan Province man, once a renowned outlaw, who had killed without count. Xu Huanzhi had, by a twist of fate, saved this man’s life, not knowing at the time that he was a fugitive criminal — he’d taken him for a traveling merchant wounded by bandits. Later, discovering the man’s exceptional martial ability, he kept him close as a guard.

This man had no redeeming qualities, save one: he repaid his debts. Xu Huanzhi had saved his life, and so he gave his life to Xu Huanzhi. As Xu Huanzhi rose through his association with Xu Ji, Wen Jiu rose with him, and was now the Chief Constable of Yue Province.

The last was the woman Xu Huanzhi had just been so courteous toward — Daoist Mi — whose origins he genuinely didn’t know.

She had come from the north, roughly two months ago. Xu Huanzhi had fallen ill from the change in climate after arriving in Yue Province; the physicians had treated him without improvement. His people grew anxious and posted notices throughout the city offering substantial reward for a healer. Daoist Mi had come to him of her own accord, and in three days had his condition steadily improving.

Xu Huanzhi, recognizing that someone like her would prove invaluable, offered a very high fee and kept her in the residence.

She claimed to come from beyond the northern frontier — a remote, sparsely peopled stretch of desert.

Xu Huanzhi knew that a person like her likely carried secrets. If you wanted to use her, you didn’t dig for them.

Now, Xu Ji wanted Lu Chonglou eliminated, and cleanly — in a way that wouldn’t look like murder. The moment he thought of it, Xu Huanzhi had thought of Daoist Mi.

She was a strange figure. Cold toward everyone, but intensely motivated by money. Give her enough gold and she would do almost anything — with one exception.

“The Military Governor has given a firm order,” Xu Huanzhi said, looking toward Daoist Mi. “Roughly one month from now, Lu Chonglou will be setting out to escort grain to Shu Province. The Military Governor does not wish Lu Chonglou to arrive in Shu Province alive. He does not wish Lu Chonglou to see the Ning Wang.”

Daoist Mi asked: “How would the Governor like him to die?”

Xu Huanzhi: “What method does Daoist Mi think would be most natural, least suspicious?”

Daoist Mi was quiet for a moment. “When the Governor first arrived in Yue Province, he nearly died from the change in climate himself. Lu Chonglou has only recently recovered from injury — his body is weakened. If he too fell ill along the western road from an incompatibility with the climate, no one would question it.”

Xu Huanzhi: “Is it difficult?”

Daoist Mi: “The medicine isn’t difficult. The difficult part is administering it.”

Xu Huanzhi smiled. “If the medicine isn’t difficult, then nothing is difficult. The one to administer it — I’ve already found.”

He looked toward Wen Jiu. “You’ll protect Daoist Mi on this assignment. Under no circumstances can there be any accident. I’ll arrange it so that you’re officially away from the provincial capital during this period, under the pretext of searching for river pirates.”

Wen Jiu bowed his head. “As you say.”

Xu Huanzhi: “Lu Chonglou has agents from the Censor’s Office traveling with him. That’s the one complication. Fortunately, there’s no senior officer with him this time — only a junior officer, a *Bǎi Bàn*, and a new one at that.”

“As for this *Bǎi Bàn* — better not to touch him if possible. His living is more useful than his dying. If he dies too, the Censor’s Office will investigate aggressively. With only Lu Chonglou dead from illness, they have no reason to press the matter.”

“Understood.”

Wen Jiu responded.

Xu Huanzhi smiled at Wen Jiu: “You haven’t had to fight anyone in years. Have your skills gotten rusty?”

Wen Jiu shook his head: “I wouldn’t dare let them.”

“Good,” Xu Huanzhi said. “The two of you — wait a few days, then leave the city ahead of time and position yourselves on Lu Chonglou’s route.”

His fingers tapped lightly on the table once. “This season — the weather is unpredictable. A favorable time…”

Several days later, Wen Jiu and Daoist Mi left Yue Province city with a small escort, disguised as a merchant caravan. They were not averse to waiting — they would choose their position along the route, make their preparations carefully, and act in one decisive moment.

Wen Jiu was curious about this Daoist Mi. She wasn’t particularly striking in appearance, yet there was something in that cool, detached quality of hers that made a man want to conquer her.

But Wen Jiu could see that Daoist Mi was anything but weak. Her mastery of medicines was formidable — her martial arts were likely no lesser. She claimed to come from the northern frontier, and Wen Jiu didn’t quite believe it.

Because out in the frontier, a woman traveling alone, however strong, would have a very hard time surviving.

“You’re curious about me.”

Daoist Mi spoke abruptly.

Wen Jiu smiled and didn’t hide it.

He said: “Daoist Mi says she’s from the northern frontier — yet she’s pale and clean, not a trace of windburn. I had a younger brother once who came from the north. Even after two or three years of good food and comfort, that redness the wind puts in your skin was still there.”

Daoist Mi said flatly: “The wind and sand of the frontier only harm the weak.”

Wen Jiu’s brow tightened slightly. This woman was as though covered in thorns — any man in her company would feel uncomfortable.

So Wen Jiu said: “Rest a while, Daoist Mi. I’ll wake you when we reach somewhere to stay.”

Daoist Mi looked at him. “Then you can go.”

Irritation rose in Wen Jiu. He looked at her once, met that flat and quietly contemptuous gaze, and said: “Have a good rest. I’ll step out.”

He climbed out of the carriage and stretched his arms, thinking to himself: *once you’ve killed Lu Chonglou, does the Governor think he can let you walk away?*

*I’m being patient with you now. Once Lu Chonglou is dead, I’ll have time to deal with you.*

—

Twenty days later. Yue Province City.

Censor’s Office *Bǎi Bàn* Ye Xiaoqian came in from outside to find Lu Chonglou sitting in his study reading.

“Sir,” he said, smiling, “we’re almost ready to set out.”

Lu Chonglou looked at Ye Xiaoqian. “Has the grain from all the prefectures and counties arrived?”

Ye Xiaoqian shook his head. “Not all of it. Someone from the Military Governor’s residence came to report just now — about seventy percent has arrived. The Military Governor’s meaning is that we don’t need to wait for the remaining thirty percent.”

This was, in fact, entirely reasonable.

Taking into account the manpower, draft animals, and vehicles currently at Lu Chonglou’s disposal, loading and transporting even sixty percent of the full supplies would already be at the outer limits of what was logistically possible.

Lu Chonglou nodded. “All right. Tomorrow, come with me to review all the accounts. Once everything’s verified, we’ll set out.”

Ye Xiaoqian made a sound of assent, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and chugged it down.

“Xiaoqian — you’re really not worried at all?”

Seeing Ye Xiaoqian so relaxed, Lu Chonglou couldn’t help but ask.

Ye Xiaoqian said: “Sir — do you know that this is the first assignment I’ve received since leaving the Censor’s Office to protect you?”

“I know…”

“So I’m not worried — I’m excited. Because I’m about to have my first real combat experience.”

Lu Chonglou: “…”

Ye Xiaoqian: “Sir, you probably don’t know — my title as *Bǎi Bàn* is, shall we say, somewhat unearned.”

This did nothing to settle Lu Chonglou’s nerves.

“The Censor’s Office has *Bǎi Bàn* officers whose title is unearned?”

Ye Xiaoqian: “I was promoted on an exceptional basis during the internal review — my scores were high, and several *Bǎi Bàn* officers had just died in the line of duty, so I was filled in directly.”

He sighed softly. “A *Bǎi Bàn* like me — I don’t even feel right about the title myself.”

He looked at Lu Chonglou: “If I protect you successfully and handle whatever comes up on the road — then I’ll be a *Bǎi Bàn* in more than just name.”

Lu Chonglou studied the young face in front of him. Almost instinctively, he asked: “How old are you again?”

Ye Xiaoqian: “Seventeen.”

Lu Chonglou: “Do you… have any confidence?”

Ye Xiaoqian: “In what — that there will be danger on the road? I’m confident there will be. But whether I can keep you safe through it? That I’m not confident about.”

Lu Chonglou: “Is it… too late to find a replacement?”

Ye Xiaoqian: “Sir, don’t worry — at minimum, I can guarantee I’ll die before you do.”

Lu Chonglou: “…”

Ye Xiaoqian lowered his voice: “Sir — you know, when I arrived, the senior officer told me: if you show a flaw, someone in Yue Province will definitely try to kill you.”

Lu Chonglou: “Fortunately… we haven’t shown any flaw so far.”

“We have.”

Ye Xiaoqian: “The senior officer said *I* am the flaw — because I genuinely am young and new, I’ve never killed anyone, never faced real danger, have no experience to speak of. A person like me — if you said I wasn’t a flaw, I wouldn’t even believe it myself.”

Lu Chonglou: “Then… did the senior officers say anything about how to respond? If they set a flaw, they must have arranged a countermeasure — right?”

Ye Xiaoqian shook his head. “No countermeasure. The Censor’s Office genuinely couldn’t spare anyone else. So, sir, rest easy — with me here, at the very least… they’ll definitely make their move.”

Lu Chonglou: “…”