Inside and outside the room, everything was silent.

The green-robed man lay at the door, trying hard to suppress his pained gasps.

Outside the door, sunlight was bright with swaying tree shadows, and there were no followers to be seen around. Lu Tong was puzzled—Yan Xu’s official residence should have quite a few guards, so why hadn’t anyone tried to stop Pei Yunying from barging in like this?

Or perhaps…

They didn’t dare to stop him?

“Commander Pei,” Yan Xu’s gaze swept over the mess of spilled tea on the floor, his eyes narrowing: “Being rude in my residence—you’re being too presumptuous.”

“I have even more presumptuous things. If you want to see, my lord, you can try.” He said coldly, then turned to Lu Tong, his gaze falling on the hem of her physician’s robe.

Lu Tong followed his gaze downward.

The hem was stained with large patches of blood from treating the patient in the secret chamber earlier, looking quite frightening at first glance.

He stared at Lu Tong: “How are you?”

Before Lu Tong could answer, she heard Yan Xu say coldly: “A physician making house calls—I wonder which of Lord Pei’s taboos this violates?”

“House calls?”

Pei Yunying turned around, the corner of his mouth curving: “I wonder which patient Minister Yan was treating, what injuries they had? Why don’t you bring them out for us to see?”

The room fell silent.

After a while, Yan Xu sneered and picked up his teacup for a sip.

“The Commander is young and spirited, but being too sharp isn’t always good—sometimes one needs restraint.”

Pei Yunying’s face showed mockery: “I know Minister Yan is old, but you don’t need to keep reminding us.”

Lu Tong: “…”

Pei Yunying was truly arrogant to the extreme. In such circumstances, this was somewhat out of line. He didn’t even try to hide it at all. Even relying on imperial favor, this was really too brazen.

Yan Xu stared at him coldly, his gaze shifting between him and Lu Tong, then suddenly spoke: “I invited Dr. Lu for a consultation, but Commander Pei barged in. Could it be that Commander Pei can make decisions for Dr. Lu?”

He looked up, his tone meaningful.

“What exactly is the relationship between you two?”

This question was asked in an ambiguous way. Lu Tong frowned, feeling something was off, but before she could think it through, she heard Pei Yunying say: “A debt relationship.”

He spoke lightly: “At the hunting ground, I already made it clear enough. Didn’t Minister Yan understand?”

“She is my ‘creditor.'”

Lu Tong was startled.

But Yan Xu laughed loudly, the laughter somewhat grating: “Then what are you here to do today?” His gaze swept over the silver long blade on the table. The blade was still sheathed, its silver light flowing with cold menace. “Want to fight?”

“Not at all.”

Pei Yunying suddenly smiled: “I’m here to back up my ‘creditor.'”

Sunlight outside the window was brilliantly bright, while inside the room was terrifyingly quiet.

Lu Tong was momentarily dazed.

Pei Yunying stood in front of her, his figure blocking most of Yan Xu’s view, preventing that cold gaze from falling on her, like a protective barrier.

But she was somewhat puzzled.

Such open protection wasn’t a good thing for Pei Yunying. It would make people mistakenly think she was Pei Yunying’s weakness, and exposing one’s weakness to enemies was what fools did.

“The Commander is still too young,” Yan Xu stopped laughing, his eyes like gray shadows, wrapping around the young man strand by strand as he spoke coldly: “Don’t you know that just the charge of rashly entering my residence and delaying official business could make you suffer greatly?”

“Really?”

He picked up the silver blade, the corner of his mouth rising: “You’re making me look forward to it.”

The atmosphere in the room was tense, ready to explode at any moment.

Just in this taut moment, Lu Tong suddenly spoke.

“Minister Yan.”

Both men in the room looked at her.

She said: “The injured person I just treated—although I used Return Origin Pills to sustain his life for three hours, his injuries are too severe for his consciousness to remain clear for long.”

“In an hour, he will fall into unconsciousness again.”

Yan Xu stared at her intently.

Lu Tong spoke gently: “If Minister Yan has anything to ask him, it would be best to inquire while his mind is still clear. Otherwise, if you wait too long, it will be too late.”

She spoke gently, as if she were truly a good physician thoughtfully considering her patient. Yan Xu’s expression changed: “Are you threatening this official?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Lu Tong still smiled slightly, saying calmly: “The Daliang Code strictly forbids privately establishing courts without imperial decree, illegal interrogation, and unlawful imprisonment.”

“The Criminal Code also states: Those over seventy years old, under fifteen years old, those with disabilities, chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and privileged officials shall not be subjected to corporal punishment. Punishment tools are uniformly regulated as ‘rods,’ with thirty strikes to the back, legs, and buttocks per session.”

After a pause, Lu Tong continued: “The injured person I just saw had his legs severed first, then sustained further injuries, so he should be classified as ‘disabled.’ The wounds on his body show evidence of branding, whipping, finger amputation…”

“This exceeds the thirty-rod punishment specified in the Criminal Code.”

When she finished speaking, you could hear a pin drop.

The guard at the door, hearing the commotion inside, looked at Lu Tong with utter disbelief, as if unable to believe that at this point, Lu Tong still dared to retort like this.

Pei Yunying also narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yan Xu stared at her deadly, waves visible in his eyes.

“If I had brought this up just now, that would be called ‘threatening.'”

Lu Tong’s tone was calm.

“However,” she changed her tone, “the Bureau of Military Affairs’ residence is very close to the imperial city. The secret chamber must be known to His Majesty, and as for the wounds on the injured person, judging by their age, they were already there before coming here.”

She looked at the person at the desk and smiled faintly.

“All these charges naturally have nothing to do with you, my lord.”

…

Coming out of Yan Xu’s official residence, Pei Yunying was very silent all the way.

Whether he was intimidated by Lu Tong’s recitation of the Criminal Code, or whether Yan Xu was eager to rush to the secret chamber to interrogate the patient who could only remain conscious for less than an hour, in any case, this Bureau of Military Affairs Commander didn’t deliberately make things difficult for them. After exchanging a few sharp words with Pei Yunying, he let them both leave.

The way was smooth and unobstructed. The right side gate grew farther behind them. It wasn’t until they reached the corridors that Pei Yunying stopped.

Lu Tong looked at him.

He looked Lu Tong over: “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” Lu Tong answered: “I just went to treat someone in the secret chamber. He asked me to sit down for tea, but before I could drink it, you smashed the cup.”

Thinking of how he had smashed the cup in front of Yan Xu just now, Lu Tong sighed inwardly.

Really quite impulsive.

Pei Yunying looked at her without speaking.

Lu Tong thought for a moment and said: “Actually, there was no poison in that tea.”

Perhaps Pei Yunying was nervous because he thought something had been added to the tea.

He interrupted Lu Tong: “What if there was?”

Not expecting him to be persistent on this point, Lu Tong was silent for a while before continuing: “Even if there was poison, it wouldn’t matter. Didn’t I tell you? I’m immune to all poisons.”

He was speechless for a moment.

“In future, if any suspicious people look for you, have someone go to the Palace Front Division to find me first. If I’m not there, finding Deputy Commander Xiao is the same.”

Lu Tong was startled, a strange feeling suddenly rising in her heart.

Pei Yunying’s words were subtle. He had backed her up several times and seemed very serious about it. It couldn’t be that hearing too many romantic rumors made him act out the part for real, or perhaps discovering the life-saving grace from the ruined temple in southern Su years ago had changed his attitude.

Was a life-saving debt really worth this much to him?

Moreover, if examined closely, it shouldn’t really count as “life-saving.”

Seeing her prolonged silence, Pei Yunying asked: “Did you hear me?”

Lu Tong pressed her lips together and answered indirectly: “Are you very wary of this Minister Yan?”

Although Pei Yunying had acted arrogantly in Yan Xu’s study just now, as if he might draw his blade and split Yan Xu’s desk in the next moment, he had never given such serious warnings afterward. It seemed that even when facing Prince Wen or the Qi family, he hadn’t been as serious as now.

Anyone who could be Pei Yunying’s opponent was certainly no ordinary person.

“Yes, very wary.” He said irritably, then thought of something and glanced at Lu Tong: “But you’re quite bold.”

“What do you mean?”

“Threatening Yan Xu with the Criminal Code—you’re probably the only one in the capital who would do that.”

His face showed some amusement: “Do you know what kind of person he is? Aren’t you afraid he’ll become angry from embarrassment and seek revenge?”

Lu Tong said lightly: “The Commander also knows I have the Daliang Code memorized. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to use it at a time like this?”

“Moreover,” Lu Tong looked directly into his eyes, “I got into this trouble because of the Commander, and I spoke threateningly because I was speaking for you. How can the Commander still make sarcastic remarks here?”

“Speaking for me?”

Pei Yunying’s eyes moved, looking at her with a smile: “So the debt of gratitude keeps growing. I’m starting to feel a bit ashamed.”

“I see the Commander is quite at ease about it.”

He pondered: “At this rate, will I have no choice but to pledge myself in repayment?”

“Is the Commander repaying a favor or seeking revenge?”

Pei Yunying snorted, and was about to say something more when his gaze went past Lu Tong.

Lu Tong turned to look. Behind the corridors, Qing Feng approached.

“I’ll have Qing Feng escort you back first.” Pei Yunying withdrew his gaze and said to Lu Tong: “To avoid prying eyes and gossip if people see us.”

Lu Tong frowned slightly. His words made them sound like two lovers having a secret affair.

She asked: “What about you?”

“I still have some unfinished business,” he indicated to Qing Feng, then said, “I’ll come find you later.”

…

After parting with Pei Yunying, Lu Tong returned to the Imperial Medical Academy.

When she returned, it was already afternoon. Cui Min had gone to the palace for duty. When Lin Danqing saw the bloodstains on Lu Tong’s hem, she was startled, thinking something had happened to her. Lu Tong only said she had gotten it while treating an injured subordinate of the Bureau of Military Affairs Commander. After confirming several times that she was unharmed, Lin Danqing finally relaxed.

“Why did Director Cui assign this task to you?” She sat on the bed, watching Lu Tong change out of her blood-stained physician’s robe while shaking her head. “Right now the entire palace is spreading rumors about the relationship between Pei Yunying and you. Yan Xu already doesn’t get along with Pei Yunying, so coming to find you at this time is most likely with ill intentions. Next time if he comes again, just claim illness and don’t go, to avoid causing more trouble.”

Hearing this, Lu Tong’s heart stirred. She put the dirty robe in a basin: “Do Minister Yan and Commander Pei really have such a big grudge? Even if it’s about… that was decades ago. Why go to such lengths?”

The affair between Yan Xu and the former Lady of Duke Zhaoning was something most noble families in the capital had heard about. But after all, it was a matter of the previous generation. Moreover, the Lady of Duke Zhaoning had been dead for many years—Yan Xu couldn’t possibly hold a grudge for so many years.

Lin Danqing curled her lip: “Don’t underestimate men’s jealousy and pettiness. That Minister Yan is now over forty and still hasn’t married. Outsiders all say he’s keeping his virtue for the former Lady of Duke Zhaoning.”

“Unrequited love for many years, and his beloved died—wouldn’t that easily make someone twisted? Psychological distortion is normal. There are plenty of stories like this in novels.”

Lu Tong found it hard to understand.

She asked: “Besides this, don’t they have any other grudges?”

Lin Danqing thought about it and seriously analyzed with Lu Tong: “We just approached it from an emotional angle—Yan Xu finds Pei Yunying unpleasant. If we analyze from other angles, it’s the same.”

Seeing Lu Tong still didn’t understand, Lin Danqing sat cross-legged on the bed and explained in detail: “The Bureau of Military Affairs and Palace Front Division—one controls troop deployment authority, the other controls command authority. The Bureau of Military Affairs has authority but no troops, the Palace Front Division has troops but no authority, balancing each other. You see, one mountain can’t contain two tigers. When they meet, naturally they see red and often trip each other up.”

“So,” Lin Danqing concluded definitively, “Pei Yunying and Yan Xu, in public and private, in emotion and reason, are heaven-made, unique mortal enemies.”

Lu Tong: “Mortal enemies?”

Lin Danqing affirmed: “Mortal enemies.”

…

The secret chamber was quiet.

All the corpses covered with white cloth had been carried out. The blood trails left by dragging on the ground had been cleaned and scrubbed spotless. Under the dim light of wall torches, no trace of the earlier bloody carnage could be seen.

Only the air still retained a hint of blood’s metallic sweetness, lingering for a long time.

A man in a black robe stood with his back to the door. The silver bat patterns on his robe were dazzling and intricate. On the wall where he stood, old bloodstains had slowly seeped into the stone cracks over the years, penetrating so deeply they had formed dark brown patterns that, from a distance, looked like the intricate palm lines of a human hand.

He studied them carefully, the long scar at the corner of his eye hideous and piercing in the shadows.

Footsteps came from the stone steps behind him as someone entered.

The newcomer walked behind the black-robed man and stood quietly. Before speaking, the other person turned around and threw a punch.

The force of the punch made the motionless flame flicker.

On the wall, on the outer surface of the copper bracket holding the torch, an eagle spread its wings through clouds, its claws and feathers vivid with blood, lifelike and realistic in the firelight.

Yan Xu looked down at the person before him from his superior position.

The young man raised his hand, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and actually smiled.

“Teacher,” he said.