Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The Longxiang Army!!

The instant those three words reached his ears, Shen Xiuhan’s eyelids trembled.

A cascade of threads connected in his mind, and understanding broke through like dawn.

So that was it…

He finally understood how Tian Erhu’s younger brother, Tian Ping’an, had managed to serve in the Longxiang Army — one of the Great Qi’s five main military forces.

He’d likely ridden the Wang family’s connections into the ranks.

And now, reading between the lines of what Xu Chuan and Xiang Yunting were saying, their intent was clear: impressed by his talent in knocking on Blood’s door in sixteen days, they wanted to pull him into Zhendong Escort Agency.

From there, the plan was for the martial brothers to band together and leap into the Longxiang Army — betting on a future of glory and honor for their families.

For anyone else, this might well be the road to greatness.

But for Shen Xiuhan…

Not necessarily!

Because of Tian Ping’an.

The man was not only late-stage Manifest Strength in cultivation, but a centurion of the Longxiang Army — years of service under his belt, and who knew what web of connections he’d built inside.

If Shen Xiuhan had killed Tian Erhu and then walked right into the man’s territory… that was throwing himself into the trap.

In troubled times, caution came first.

Though Tian Ping’an might not necessarily trace the killing back to him, this was a risk Shen Xiuhan absolutely refused to take.

His mind was made up, but his face revealed nothing. He put on a show of deliberation and said slowly:

“Both senior brothers’ concern moves me deeply. A man in this world should want to venture forth and make something of himself, it’s just… your junior brother is lazy by nature and can’t stomach the iron discipline of the military…”

This was a polite refusal.

Xu Chuan and Xiang Yunting exchanged a glance, a trace of disappointment flickering in both their eyes.

But then Shen Xiuhan shifted the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere:

“What junior brother truly aspires to is joining a martial sect and dedicating myself to cultivation.”

“Speaking of which — a few days back, I happened to overhear a wandering master in the marketplace mention a sect called ‘Diaohailou.'”

“He said their methods reached the heavens, their ranks filled with high-level cultivators. It sounded extraordinary… I wonder if either of you, senior brothers, have ever heard of this power in your travels?”

“Diaohailou?”

Both men furrowed their brows, sinking into thought.

The courtyard fell quiet for a beat.

After a long pause, Xiang Yunting slowly shook his head, genuine puzzlement in his eyes:

“I’ve spent the last few years running escort routes far and wide. I’ve got a decent read on every sect and gang in Nanxiang Commandery, from the orthodox to the underworld. But this ‘Diaohailou’ your junior brother mentions… I’ve never once heard the name.”

Xu Chuan scratched his scalp:

“Same here. Junior Brother Shen, are you sure that wandering master wasn’t just spinning tales for a free drink?”

“No — not necessarily a fabrication.”

Xiang Yunting shook his head, his expression turning serious:

“Our Great Qi spans nine provinces and thirty-six commanderies — vast beyond measure. Nanxiang Commandery is but a grain of sand in that ocean. This ‘Diaohailou’ might well be a power based outside of Cangzhou, perhaps far off in another province — or even a martial holy land near the capital of Great Qi…”

Listening to Xiang Yunting, Shen Xiuhan raised his cup for a quiet sip, using the motion to hide the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Never heard of it?

From another province?

That… didn’t make sense.

By all logic, if Diaohailou had sent a true disciple deep into Yunshui Lake, they should be a Cangzhou-based sect — or at the very least, not far from Nanxiang Commandery. How could they be from another province entirely?

And yet that true disciple had died in Yunshui Lake, his remains lying there for who knew how long.

If not for the Intelligence pointing it out, those relics might have stayed hidden indefinitely…

Could this person truly have been someone from a distant province, traveling from afar to seek fortune, only to die here?

Or… had he come with others, only to be killed here?

Questions piled upon questions in Shen Xiuhan’s mind, but his face betrayed nothing.

The upside was that his probe had successfully derailed the military recruitment conversation.

Xu Chuan and Xiang Yunting, prompted by his question, had gotten interested instead — eagerly chatting about the Longxiang Army’s scheduled visits to Changyun County, estimating they’d come sometime this year.

They also mentioned that a Mei Martial Hall disciple from years past had enlisted in the Longxiang Army and reportedly done well for himself. When the time came, perhaps they could pull some strings through him.

Shen Xiuhan listened quietly, topping up his senior brothers’ tea from time to time.

…

Evening. Dusk settled.

The alley was dim and quiet. An occasional bark drifted from the distance.

Passing Uncle Chen’s house on the way home, Shen Xiuhan’s steps faltered of their own accord.

A padlock hung on the rough wooden gate, spotted with rust.

Peering through the fence.

The firewood in the yard, the water vat, all the odds and ends — everything had been cleared away. The place had the empty look of a home abandoned.

Walking back to his own yard, before he could even ask, Madam Zheng came out of the kitchen carrying hot water.

“Dalang, your Auntie Li and her family moved out today.”

“Today already?”

“Yes. I heard they rented a side room in a ward near West Market. Just the rent alone is three taels of silver a year!”

Changyun County’s property values were uneven. The closer you got to the wealthy northern quarter, the steeper the prices.

The neighborhoods around the East, South, and West Markets, being noisier and more chaotic, naturally had lower rents and land costs.

But even so, three taels of silver a year.

For an ordinary family, that was a staggering sum.

Shen Xiuhan had thought about moving into the inner city too, but he had no intention of renting.

He wanted to buy.

Not some grand three-courtyard or double-courtyard estate.

A small yard with a few rooms that kept the wind and rain out would be enough.

Ideally, with a little street-facing shop space up front.

Even a hole-in-the-wall — somewhere Madam Zheng could set up a stall and open a small shop selling hot soup and meals.

She came from the bottom. Even now that she no longer had to take on piecework at the weaving workshop, she was still, down to the bone, a hardworking woman who couldn’t sit idle.

During the day she managed the house — cooking, cleaning, washing. Come evening, she’d sit on a low stool and weave fishing nets and baskets nonstop, planning to sell them at East Market come spring.

More than a few nights she’d sat by the bean-oil lamp weaving until her eyes were rubbed raw.

Shen Xiuhan had told her to stop, and she’d agree to his face — then go right back at it the next day.

If she had a little shop of her own, something to keep her busy and give her purpose, she wouldn’t grind herself down like this.

And so, after dinner, Shen Xiuhan brought up his plan to buy a house in the inner city.

“Buy a house?!”

Madam Zheng’s hand trembled mid-wipe, and she stared at her son in disbelief.

“That’s right.”

Shen Xiuhan’s expression was solemn:

“Ma, the world is getting more dangerous by the day. The sooner we move into the inner city and settle in properly, the sooner I can set my mind at ease and focus on training.”

“But… but I’ve heard the women in the neighborhood say that buying a house in the inner city costs a fortune.”

Madam Zheng wrung the rag, her voice full of worry:

“Even in a spot near West Market, any house with a proper yard would run ten, twenty taels at least. What we’ve got saved… I’m afraid we’re still a long way short.”

“Leave the silver to me, Ma. I’ll figure it out.”

Shen Xiuhan scooped up Shen Momo — who had been eavesdropping with enormous eyes — and settled her in his lap, pinching her little face, which was finally starting to fill out. He smiled reassuringly:

“I’ll find work in the next few days and save up. And when the time comes… I’ll set up a shopfront in front of the yard for you, so you can open a little restaurant.”

“What would I do running a restaurant…”

Madam Zheng’s eyes stung with heat, and she waved her hands again and again: “A house is more than enough for me. Save the rest — put it toward finding you a good match…”