Chapter 60: Chapter 60

“What happened that day, we have no way of knowing.”

“All we know is — after that day, the water bandits never again dared to assault Yunyi Island in force. They only send a Chief with a handful of underlings every so often, to pull some harassment against the fleet.”

So that was the way of it…

Shen Xiuhan’s confusion cleared at once, and the tension in his chest eased a measure.

Two Transforming Strength masters had personally taken the field — one of them being the Zhendong General’s own cousin-brother.

For the past two years, the reason the lake had stayed peaceful owed entirely to the deterrence of those two great pillars.

Had it been otherwise, the fat prize that was Yunyi Island would long since have been torn apart until not even bone-grit remained.

At this thought, a spark of insight lit up in his mind — and he understood one more thing.

No wonder, at the retainer posting meeting, the Luo clan steward Luo Zhan had run his mouth so wildly, yet Ji Zhong had swallowed the insult and held his temper.

The root of it was this: the County Magistrate had once stepped forward on the Ji clan’s behalf.

County Magistrate Luo Changming was the Luo clan patriarch.

When Ji Guannan — one of Changyun County’s most brilliant young prodigies — was hunted and killed by a mob of water bandits, to sit back and do nothing would have been tantamount to slapping the County Magistrate himself across the face.

When Luo Changming struck with such ferocity, besides defending his dignity, there had likely been a warning in it as well.

If Chenjian Wu dared to kill the Ji clan’s prodigy today, what was to stop them from moving on a Luo scion tomorrow?

Inside the bamboo house, tea-fragrance curled in thin threads. Gathered around the brazier in idle talk, none of them noticed the hour had already slipped past the fourth quarter of late evening.

The night wind grew harsher, and fog coiled over the water.

Suddenly, from across the lake’s surface drifted a drawn-out, gruff shout:

“Oi, Squad C! Shift change, you’re on!”

“Here!”

At the table, Geng Weizhi and Hu Zhi sprang to their feet, snatched up their weapons, and strode out.

The island’s standing rule: Squads A, B, C, and D were split into two rotating shifts to patrol the island’s perimeter.

Squads A and C were paired, responsible for holding the northern waters. They swapped shifts once every ten-day cycle.

This cycle, Squad C had drawn night patrol; not until the next cycle would they swap with Squad A for the day shift.

A long, long night — the cold gnawing at the bone.

Squad C’s patrol was split into three watches, with the four guards paired off, each pair taking a shift of four hours.

Shen Xiuhan, as Patrol Envoy, had qi-blood like a furnace — his perception and endurance far surpassed the common man’s. He held his own watch alone.

He lifted the felt flap and stepped out of the bamboo house.

Cold air struck him full in the face.

Changyun County was already edging into early spring; on land, the frozen earth had thawed seven- or eight-tenths through.

But here on Yunshui Lake, once night fell and the river wind came tearing in, it bored straight into the cracks between a man’s bones — truly chilling to the marrow.

By the light of his lantern, Shen Xiuhan looked toward the shore. On a green bamboo raft moored against the bank, a towering black silhouette stood legs-splayed, commanding as a general on his throne.

The man had his coarse cloth robe thrown open, letting the wet, cold lake wind lash at his bare chest. In one hand he held a gourd of wine — his posture loose and lazy.

Seeing Geng Weizhi and Hu Zhi come forward, he threw his head back in a great laugh, reeking of strong liquor:

“That business I put to you yesterday — you two thought it over yet?”

“Zheng Bao’s been pulled off to the prefectural city and Squad C’s lost its protector. How about you come run with me instead — I’ll look after the lot of you from here on out!”

“Err…”

Geng Weizhi’s face turned awkward. He gave a dry laugh and cupped his fists: “Wouldn’t dare trouble Patrol Envoy Lu over this. It’s just that… the family sent a new Patrol Envoy today…”

“Hm?”

Lu Ya’s bell-sized eyes flared. His gaze swept the area and locked almost instantly onto Shen Xiuhan, standing under the bamboo walkway’s eave.

There was only one unfamiliar face here; the new Patrol Envoy could be no one else.

When, by the dim yellow lamplight, he made out Shen Xiuhan’s young face —

A flicker of contempt shot through Lu Ya’s eyes. He gave a soft snort and cupped his fists in a broad, careless gesture:

“Well now — so this young brother is the new Patrol Envoy? Lu Ya of Squad A, at your service. Dare I ask the young brother’s honored name?”

Shen Xiuhan held the lantern in one hand, his face impassive, his voice cold and clear as the night wind off the lake:

“Mei Hall. Shen Xiuhan.”

“Mei Martial Hall?!”

Lu Ya’s expression gave the faintest hitch; the disdain in his eyes vanished in a breath. His manner straightened, and a note of probing crept into his tone:

“Would that be the Mei Martial Hall inside Changyun County — the one where Brother Xiang Yunting trains?”

At the sound of his Third Senior Brother’s name, Shen Xiuhan’s long brows lifted slightly; a light stirred in his eyes. He answered evenly:

“The very one.”

“Hahahaha — the flood washed right through the Dragon King’s temple!”

Lu Ya burst into a round of hearty laughter, slapped his thigh, and piled his face full of warmth:

“Years back, I shared a few rounds of wine with Brother Yunting in the county — we go way back. Since you’re Brother Yunting’s junior brother, that makes us all family! Whenever you’ve got a free moment, come find me — this older brother will drink you under the table for certain!”

As a qi-blood martial artist, Shen Xiuhan’s five senses were sharp.

Earlier in the day, Deng Shan and the others had been chatting about how Lu Ya’s recklessness had gotten three of his patrol guards killed — and Shen Xiuhan had heard every word.

This sort of man — he had no intention of getting close to.

Shen Xiuhan gave a noncommittal cupping of fists:

“Brother Lu is too kind. Next time, for certain.”

Lu Ya didn’t seem to catch the brush-off. Still grinning, he waved and poled the bamboo raft away, his back to the stilted houses. The moment he faced the water, every trace of the smile vanished — replaced by a sheet of cold, ruthless ice.

“Shit luck!”

Lu Ya bit down and cursed under his breath:

“Some little bastard from Mei Hall!”

“He had to show up now, of all times, right when things were going my way!”

“No good…”

“I once traded a few moves with Xiang Yunting — that poisonous eagle-claw art of his really does have some tricks to it. Better safe than sorry… I should pass the word…”

Lu Ya blew out a breath, the laziness of moments before gone completely. Arms driving the pole, he steered through the winding maze of waterways, and soon ducked into a dense stand of reeds.

Then, eyes darting in a wary circuit, he pulled out paper and brush. By starlight, he scribbled a line of small characters at speed:

“Squad C’s new Envoy. Out of Mei Hall. Surnamed Shen. Suspected Blood Tempering…”

He crumpled the note into a ball, parted the reeds, and pressed the paper beneath a stone. Then, swiftly, he poled the bamboo raft away and was gone.

…

After Lu Ya’s silhouette had melted into the lake-fog, Yan Chuan shuffled up with his sleeves tucked in, a look of slight hesitation on his face.

“Patrol Envoy…”

Shen Xiuhan turned his head:

“Speak.”

“Yes…”

Yan Chuan said in a low voice:

“The other day, when Chenjian Wu’s Tenth Chief Qu Bushi sent men to make trouble, Patrol Envoy Lu charged in headlong… the result being that Squad A lost three brothers. Now, between Lu Ya himself and what’s left, Squad A is down to only two men, forced to patrol six hours a day. So he started setting his sights on us to make up the shortfall…”

Shen Xiuhan heard him out and understood at once.

So that was it: short of hands, patrols stretching longer and longer — and so Lu Ya had tried to poach Squad C’s people over to Squad A for his own use.

“We may not have known you long, sir, but we would only serve under Patrol Envoy Shen!”

Yan Chuan and Ruan Linhuan exchanged a glance, then cupped their fists together.

Shen Xiuhan’s eyes flickered.

Their concern was simple enough — afraid that Lu Ya would use his seniority to strong-arm a transfer, they had rushed to pledge their loyalty and get Shen Xiuhan to shield them.

And he, too, needed these men —

Shen Xiuhan had no desire to end up like Lu Ya: bereft of manpower, two men doing the job of five.

“I understand. Do your duty in peace — as for Patrol Envoy Lu… pay it no mind.”

Shen Xiuhan gave a measured nod, offering the reassurance they needed, then said in a firm voice:

“That’s enough. The wind is fierce out here. Those who aren’t on watch, go inside and rest. Yan Chuan, you and Ruan Linhuan take the second watch. At the fourth quarter of dawn, I’ll take the last watch myself!”

“Yes, Patrol Envoy, sir!”

Yan Chuan and Ruan Linhuan both let out a breath of relief. In unison they cupped their fists, voices low and resolute.