SF 12

Yuan Xi had spent many years away from the capital. Unless it concerned major events that could shift court politics, or specific individuals the Yuan family had instructed him to monitor, he rarely kept track. His knowledge of local affairs in the capital was far more limited than that of the household servants who remained behind.

The gatekeeper, still eager to redeem himself after being scolded earlier, now stood at attention before Yuan Xi with a face full of obsequiousness. Every crease on his wrinkled face practically shouted I will tell you everything I know.

“If Young Master wishes to know who this Mu family is, perhaps you recall that, more than ten years ago, there was a promising young scholar surnamed Mu in the Jingzhou region?”

Ten years ago, Yuan Xi had still been a snot-nosed brat catching bugs in the mud. Normally he would not have remembered any so-called talented gentlemen, but if it involved Jingzhou, and someone surnamed Mu…

His expression changed instantly. “Do you mean Mu Yin, guest of the Southern General’s household?”

The gatekeeper grew agitated. Though it was just the two of them in the hall, he cast a quick look around as if expecting someone to be eavesdropping behind the walls, then nervously whispered, “Second Young Master, please be careful what you say.”

There was no longer any “Southern General.” There was only a man branded a traitor, condemned for colluding with formation masters and plotting rebellion.

But despite the gatekeeper’s paranoia, he had not guessed that someone really was listening just beyond the wall.

Ling Xun sat with his back against the courtyard wall, chewing on a stalk of wild grass, listening to every word with great amusement. The corners of his lips lifted in a slow grin.

The Southern Garrison General’s household… What a distant and unfamiliar name that had become. Perhaps it was because he had been so young at the time, or perhaps because he had tried too hard to forget the memories soaked in blood. Now, even the people and events tied to that house had grown vague in his mind. This guest surnamed Mu, someone even Yuan Xi had heard of, Ling Xun himself could not remember a single thing about him.

Yuan Xi, on the other hand, seemed unbothered by the gatekeeper’s warning. First, this was an old case, long buried. The previous emperor was already dead, and the capital no longer operated under constant surveillance from the throne. Second, the Yuan family’s power was strong enough now that they had little reason to fear association.

General Ling had been framed and executed by Chief Eunuch Qin Chao. Everyone knew this. It was a truth people dared not speak, but it lived in silence all across the empire. The general’s household was remembered with admiration and regret. Yuan Xi’s own father had served as Inspector of Jingzhou in recent years, and he was keenly aware of how deeply the people there respected the Ling clan.

“I heard that Mu Yin died of illness around the time the general’s household fell. Was that just a rumor?” Yuan Xi asked.

“It was no rumor. Master Mu did pass away,” the gatekeeper replied, “but he left behind a son. The one living in that residence now is the young master of the Mu family. After the fall of the Southern Garrison General’s household, he was fortunate enough to become a disciple of Master Nanhuai. He later traveled widely across rivers and mountains, and his fame is said to rival his father’s. Now that he has entered the capital, he may be seeking a new patron.”

In this time of weakening imperial power and the rise of aristocratic clans, it was common for major families to keep retainers. These retainers were considered guests, not servants. Even if their former lords were executed for treason, as long as they had real talent and pledged loyalty, they could find new masters to take them in. So although the young master of the Mu family had ties to the Ling clan of Jingzhou, he did not have to fear being punished by association.

Yuan Xi took in everything the gatekeeper said, already starting to calculate. It was hard not to overthink things after hearing this.

A man of such reputation, arriving in the capital only to settle right next to the Yuan residence, and now sending over a remedy as a sign of goodwill, could this be an attempt to join the Yuan household?

He made a quick decision. Regardless of the truth, it was worth meeting this rising figure of the Mu family to see for himself whether he was truly a hidden dragon worth courting, or just another charlatan in scholar’s robes trying to sell himself to the highest bidder. He ordered brush and paper to be brought, personally wrote out a visiting card, and had it delivered to the Mu residence.

Meanwhile, Ling Xun, satisfied with what he had overheard, was preparing to sneak back into the inner chambers. But just as he was passing through a covered walkway, a head with flowing black hair suddenly dropped down from above, startling him so badly he nearly lost control of his bladder.

“Master Feng,” said Fang Jue flatly, clutching a sword in his arms as he dangled upside down, staring at Ling Xun with a blank expression.

For once, Ling Xun remembered he was supposedly from a noble lineage and not some back-alley scoundrel. It wouldn’t look good if someone caught him sneaking around like this. Very rarely he dredged up a shred of decency from the depths of his conscience. He waved his hand urgently, gesturing for Fang Jue to come down. “Don’t hang there like a ghost. If a maid walks by, you’ll scare the girls half to death.”

Fang Jue obeyed, flipping gracefully through the air and landing without a sound.

“Master Feng, everyone at home is worried. Manager Yue wants to know when you plan to return. Should we send someone to escort—”

He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes dropped to Ling Xun’s knees, now noticeably bulkier from the bandages, and he immediately dropped to one knee to examine them more closely.

“Master Feng, your legs are injured?”

Fang Jue always looked like someone owed him tens of thousands of silver taels. Now, seeing Ling Xun’s injured legs, it seemed the amount had suddenly multiplied several times over.

“It’s fine. You’re just in time. I have something I need you to do.” Ling Xun endured the pain, doing his best to appear as if he were in perfect health. He dragged Fang Jue up from the floor and led him back to the room to talk.

The truth was, Ling Xun was anxious to return to Yizhou. His greatest worry was that his identity as a formation master might be exposed. If that old bastard Qin Chao started eyeing him, he might retaliate by targeting the people at Jinxiu Pavilion. Ling Xun intended to send word to Yizhou and the regional branches of Jinxiu Pavilion to wind down business and close their doors as soon as possible. The covert operations they were involved in also needed to be wrapped up immediately. No new work could be accepted.

But he had barely begun to give instructions when Fang Jue cut in.

“Master Feng, there’s been a mutiny in Liangzhou. General Chen Bing has assembled a unit of formation masters and has taken down countless cities. They’re already advancing toward the capital region. It won’t be long before they reach the city gates. Manager Yue has ordered you to leave immediately and start making preparations.”

Ling Xun’s heart sank. “What? How has no word of this reached the capital?”

“The reports being circulated are fake. No one knows what trick Chen Bing used, but he’s convinced the court this is just a minor uprising by a handful of rebels, leading them to lower their guard. If it weren’t for our people crossing paths with a light cavalry unit from Chen Bing’s army while delivering goods, we wouldn’t have discovered the truth either.”

Ling Xun’s expression hardened. “Were there casualties?”

If the rebellion was being kept secret, any civilians they encountered would have been silenced.

“Two were seriously wounded. Luckily, there’s a hidden Jinxiu Pavilion storage facility nearby. They made it inside just in time and weren’t found by the rebel scouts.”

Knowing his men had survived, Ling Xun relaxed slightly. Still, this turned the situation far more complicated. Just as Fang Jue had warned, once the rebel army entered the capital region, there was no way the current city defenses could withstand them. Every faction would be stirred into motion. The capital would become the most dangerous place to be.

“How many people came from Yizhou? And how many do we have in the city now?”

“Thirteen came from Yizhou. Jizhou sent another nineteen after receiving the warning. We also received reinforcements from Bingzhou and Youzhou. Including our original staff in the capital, we now have around one hundred people. Half of them are already stationed throughout the Yuan estate, ready to escort you out at a moment’s notice.”

Ling Xun thought for a moment and said, “Tell the branch members to return to their regions. Instruct them to liquidate their assets quickly and change names if needed. If they still wish to follow me, they can go to Yizhou and find Manager Yue. Also, send someone to inform Manager Yue. Tell him Jinxiu Pavilion has grown too large and drawn too much attention. He’ll understand what that means.”

Fang Jue, normally expressionless like a piece of wood, was shocked. He understood what Ling Xun meant. This was not just a retreat. It was the dissolution of the entire organization.

“Master Feng, it’s just one rogue army. Are we really shutting down Jinxiu Pavilion over this?”

Ling Xun shook his head. “Just do what I told you.”

Fang Jue didn’t dare disobey, but he was clearly reluctant. “But if we withdraw everyone, who will protect you?”

“The local staff in the capital is enough. And I can’t leave yet anyway.” As Ling Xun spoke, something occurred to him. “By the way, go to the prison near Yonghe Street. Ask if they have any scheduled executions coming up.”

“But we only have about forty people in the capital. How is that enough to keep you safe?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just me. I won’t need that many to protect me.”

“But you’re injured!” Fang Jue refused to back down, hugging the sword in his arms like he was ready to fight anyone who disagreed.

Damn it, this again?

Ling Xun’s last shred of patience wore thin. His expression darkened. “I’m not crippled yet. Get moving!”

Fang Jue scowl and turn to leave. As usual, he exited through the window. Just before he slipped away, he threw back a line in frustration.

“I’m writing to Manager Yue! I’m telling him you’re seriously hurt!”

Only after Fang Jue landed and vanished from view did Ling Xun finally relax. He sighed, then grumbled to himself, wondering why Yue Qing always sent that brat whenever he needed something done.

The Fang twins were nothing short of supernatural when it came to concealment. They were born for sneaking and thievery. Ling Xun had spotted their talent early and picked them up off the streets himself. Since then, they had served him with unwavering loyalty. Still, Fang Jue’s personality was too rigid and sullen for his taste. He lacked the lively charm of his twin, Fang Ke. If it had been Fang Ke who came this time, he certainly wouldn’t have been such a headache, and more than likely would have brought something delicious for him as well.

That thought made Ling Xun suddenly feel hungry. He rolled onto the bed and wailed, demanding food from Yuan Xi. But the second son of the Yuan family had vanished somewhere for the entire afternoon. With no better option, Ling Xun picked at the meal a servant had brought, then went quiet again and locked himself in his room. He pulled out that thin sheet of yellow hemp paper once more.

The handwriting on the paper was clearly from the same hand that had written the characters for “Mu Residence” hanging above the Mu family’s gate. The script was elegant and flowing, easy to overlook at first glance. But when examined closely, there was a sharpness hidden in the brushstrokes, a quiet strength beneath the elegance.

For some reason, the handwriting felt familiar. Even the plain yellow hemp paper, paired with the soft ink and that restrained, subtle style, carried an oddly compelling quality that he could not ignore.

Could the person from the Mu residence who sent this formation be someone from his past?

The gatekeeper had said that this Mu gentleman’s father had once been a guest in the Southern General’s household. But back then, his father had kept so many idle men in his service. How could Ling Xun possibly remember them all, let alone the child of one of the guests?

For a moment, a gray-robed youth surfaced in his memory. He stared off for a while, then suddenly shook his head to stop himself from getting carried away.

No. The world did not work in such convenient coincidences.

Besides, that person had likely long since left the borders of the Great Xia.