Mid-spring, with warm breezes caressing the skin and countless sails passing on the river’s surface.

Xu Qi An stood on the deck, watching various boats – pontoon boats, official vessels, and multi-story ships – slowly sailing by, their sails billowing to their limits. For a moment, he felt transported back to the previous year.

However, that had been in the depths of winter, when the wind from the river cut like a knife. Unlike now, with the glorious spring sunshine, and wild ducks in flocks not far from the shore, so plump they made one’s mouth water.

They’re too far away, I can’t reach them with my qi… The martial artist system is indeed low-level. To think that I, a mighty Sixth Rank, can’t even fly… Xu Qi An sighed in disappointment.

Even with lightness skills, it was impossible to walk on water without some floating object. Perhaps when he reached the Fifth-Rank Body Tempering stage, he might be able to skim across the water’s surface.

“Without Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao here, especially old Song as my foil, this journey will be so dull,” Xu Qi An lamented.

Just as he thought this, from the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar face in indigo servant’s attire come onto the deck.

She was between 30 and 35 years old, of ordinary appearance, with a hint of haughtiness in her brow and eyes. The corners of her eyes and brows held a trace of a smile as if she had come out to enjoy the pleasant river breeze.

They noticed each other almost simultaneously, and the woman’s face immediately fell.

“Auntie, what are you doing here?” Xu Qi An stared at her in disbelief.

Auntie… The woman’s face twitched slightly, and she snorted coldly: “Enemies are bound to meet.”

I should have known. His case-solving ability is unparalleled in this world. How could they not send him for a case like the massacre of three thousand li?

Chu Xianglong had told her that this northern journey was to avoid drawing attention, and with ample protective forces, they had chosen to depart with the delegation investigating the “massacre of three thousand li.”

She knew about this case, but as for who the lead investigator was, she had been in such a foul mood at the time that she couldn’t be bothered to ask.

“Auntie, why are you here?” Xu Qi An scrutinized her.

“What’s it to you?” The woman’s face was cold as she threatened, “Don’t call me auntie anymore. Who’s your superior? Who’s the lead investigator in this delegation? If you dare call me auntie again, I’ll have them deal with you.”

“Auntie, auntie, auntie, auntie…” Xu Qi An called out repeatedly.

This rascal… The woman was furious, her chest heaving with anger. She glared at him fiercely and spat out, “You just wait and see.”

She stormed off in a huff.

…

Three days passed in a blink. The water journey had been relatively smooth. Such large official vessels were unlikely to encounter river bandits. Their size and grandeur made it obvious that important figures were aboard.

And such important figures were often accompanied by skilled fighters and elite guards. Ordinary river bandits only dared to target small merchant ships, occasionally raiding smaller official pontoon boats.

However, one thing troubled Xu Qi An greatly. The spring season brought abundant rainfall, making the river swift and turbulent, unlike the calm waters of winter. Waves frequently crashed against the ship, stirred up by the river winds.

For those in the cabins, it was uncomfortable but bearable. But for the Imperial Guards in the hold, it was miserable. Several had already fallen ill.

That day, after lunch, Xu Qi An was meditating in his room when there was a knock at the door.

Having heard the footsteps in advance, Xu Qi An opened his eyes and frowned, “Come in.”

The door wasn’t locked and easily opened. A short, stocky man stepped over the threshold, bowed with clasped hands, and said:

“My lord.”

This short but burly man was Chen Xiao, the centurion leading the Imperial Guards on this journey.

Xu Qi An said displeased, “What is it?”

He was annoyed that this uncouth soldier had disturbed his cultivation.

“My lord, many soldiers have fallen ill. Please come and take a look,” Chen Xiao said, and then, seemingly afraid Xu Qi An would refuse, hastily added:

“This humble officer fears it might cause an epidemic, endangering the important personages on board.”

This reason caught Xu Qi An’s attention. He immediately put on his boots and followed Centurion Chen Xiao to the ship’s hold.

“Thump, thump…”

Led by Chen Xiao, Xu Qi An descended the wooden stairs into the hold. A stuffy, foul odor assaulted his nostrils – sweat, mold, ammonia…

This was due to the lack of air circulation, combined with the crowded conditions. The men slept and relieved themselves in the hold, breeding bacteria. Add to that seasickness… and those with weak constitutions fell ill.

Even those who weren’t sick looked listless.

Hearing footsteps, pairs of eyes turned towards them. Recognizing their superior and the delegation’s lead investigator, the soldiers straightened their backs and remained silent.

Xu Qi An approached the bedside of a soldier who was coughing incessantly and running a low fever. The so-called “bed” was just a narrow, crude wooden plank – the only way the hold could accommodate a hundred soldiers.

“It’s nothing serious. I have some detoxifying pills from the Celestial Observatory. Just one pill dissolved in water, and each sick person drinking a mouthful will cure them,” Xu Qi An diagnosed.

He immediately reached into his pocket, lightly tapped the surface of a small jade mirror, and poured out a porcelain bottle.

After the blood recognition, the Di Shu formed a close connection with its owner, allowing items to be retrieved at will without fear of everything spilling out.

He gave Chen Xiao one detoxifying pill, instructing him to crush it and put it in a water flask to be shared among the sick soldiers.

The high-grade pills from the Celestial Observatory had an immediate effect. The sick soldiers were delighted to find their lungs no longer uncomfortable, their coughs easing, and their minds clearing from fog to lucidity. Apart from some lingering weakness, their physical condition had undergone a dramatic change.

“I don’t feel bad anymore…”

“I’m better.”

“Thank you, my lord. Thank you, my lord.”

The other soldiers also smiled, their eyes filled with gratitude and warmth as they looked at Xu Qi An.

Xu Qi An nodded slightly, then glanced at the chamber pots under the beds. He couldn’t help but frown and reprimand:

“Why are you all cooped up in the hold? Why aren’t you going up to the deck for some fresh air? No wonder you’re falling ill in this foul atmosphere.”

A hundred men, a hundred chamber pots, all looking as if they hadn’t been cleaned in a while. It was like living in an outhouse. With poor air circulation and spring being prime time for bacterial growth, how could they not fall ill?

If they could be more diligent, scrubbing the chamber pots daily and getting some fresh air on deck, with the soldiers’ constitutions, they shouldn’t fall ill so easily.

“Well…” Faced with Xu Qi An’s questioning, Chen Xiao wore a bitter expression and said, “General Chu ordered us not to leave the hold or go up to the deck. The brothers have been eating dry rations down here.”

Hearing this, Xu Qi An’s face darkened. He stared at Chen Xiao and asked, “Why?”

“General Chu instructed that there are women aboard who often go to the deck for walks and sightseeing. He fears we might offend them. Anyone who disobeys will receive twenty lashes,” the sick soldier explained between coughs.

Xu Qi An didn’t respond. His gaze swept across the dim hold again, over the soldiers sitting straight-backed, and their chamber pots at their feet.

The damp, foul smell in the air seemed to intensify a hundredfold at that moment, making Xu Qi An want to flee.

Yet these soldiers had to sleep here, rest here, and even eat in such an environment.

Chen Xiao silently watched him.

A hundred pairs of eyes silently watched him.

Xu Qi An suddenly understood. This sick visit was a pretext; the real purpose was for him to uphold justice.

Soldiers were human too, and they could no longer endure such conditions. Their hearts were filled with resentment. In their eyes, Silver Gong Xu was the lead investigator of this delegation, appointed by the imperial court.

They had grievances and demands, and could only turn to Xu Qi An. They believed only Silver Gong Xu could uphold justice for them.

If the lead investigator also confined them to the hold and didn’t allow them out, then they would give up hope.

“I have only one order now,” Xu Qi An frowned.

“Please instruct us, my lord,” Chen Xiao bowed with clasped hands.

“Please instruct us, my lord,” the soldiers rose and bowed with clasped hands.

Xu Qi An pointed to the deck above and barked, “Get up there and scrub those chamber pots!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!”

“Let’s go, let’s go scrub the chamber pots. I’ve had enough of this stench!”

Cheers erupted all at once.