At noon, Qin Jiuye arrived at Dried Fish Alley in the northeast corner of the bustling market in eastern Jiugao, carrying a small basket of reed roots and cattails.
This was the city’s largest market for bulk spices and sundries. Fishermen also hawked small fish and shrimp here; one could come at any time, and the stalls would disperse as soon as the goods were sold. Qin Jiuye had once sold mosquito-repelling incense pouches here. After making a few successful sales, she had been pushed into a ditch by the local market bully from the neighboring vegetable stalls. Since then, she had sworn never to do business here again.
However, her "return to old haunts" today was not for business. Strictly speaking, she only needed to put on the *appearance* of doing business.
In the sweltering heat of summer, freshly harvested aquatic vegetables were highly popular among the common folk. It took Qin Jiuye only fifteen minutes to sell her wares. Pocketing the copper coins she had earned, she strolled leisurely toward the end of the alley.
As the sun rose higher, the weather grew increasingly stifling. The lone noodle stall at the end of the alley seemed to be a new opening; business was clearly not as good as the sugar-water shop and teahouse across the street. Only a few scattered, busy vendors sat in the shade of the trees, devouring their noodles.
Qin Jiuye found a corner and sat down, discreetly observing her surroundings. Yet, she could not find the person she was looking for.
The appointed time had already passed. She felt a bit puzzled, wondering if she had found the wrong place, when a tall figure wearing an apron stood by her table.
"What would the lady like to eat?"
Qin Jiuye was stunned to hear that familiar voice. When she looked up, she almost failed to recognize the man before her.
"Adjutant... Adjutant Lu?"
The bearded man, wearing a cloth cap, quickly made a shushing gesture. He wiped the flour from his hands onto his apron and lowered his voice.
"There is no Adjutant Lu here."
Qin Jiuye understood instantly. Using her peripheral vision to glance at the passersby at the street entrance, she fished out a few coins.
"A bowl of plain noodles, please. I also want to buy some rice wine; could the shopkeeper show me the way?"
Lu Zican nodded and led Qin Jiuye toward the inner room of the noodle stall.
As soon as the indigo floral curtain fell, Lu Zican instantly regained his usual sharp-eyed demeanor.
"Miss Qin, how is my disguise? Do I have the air of a 'great recluse hiding in the city'?"
Qin Jiuye looked around, then turned her gaze back to Lu Zican, nodding sincerely.
"Brother Lu, in this getup, you blend into the surroundings perfectly. Not a hint of the official about you. It seems you’ve put in quite some effort."
The large pot on the stove began to boil again. Lu Zican picked up a strainer to stir the noodles, speaking with a touch of pride.
"My ancestors were originally noodle shop owners. If I hadn't stubbornly insisted on joining the military back then, you might be calling me Shopkeeper Lu right now."
Recalling this man’s practiced movements in the kitchen of the Listening Wind Hall, Qin Jiuye finally understood. She cupped her hands in a mock-flattering gesture. "I never realized Brother Lu was a master of the craft. My apologies for the lack of respect."
Lu Zican clearly enjoyed the praise. He skillfully tossed the strainer, portioning the steaming noodles into a wide-mouthed bowl.
"How are things progressing at the Abode of Transcendence?"
Qin Jiuye was about to speak but suddenly realized something and instinctively looked around.
In the inner room, near the back door leading to the courtyard, a small figure was busy picking vegetables. Beyond the cloth curtain, in the outer room facing the street, people were still sitting at two tables eating noodles. She wasn't sure if their conversation could be overheard.
Lu Zican noticed her vigilance and smiled smugly.
"Miss Qin, there’s no need to be nervous. This shop and several adjacent rooms have been bought out by us. Everyone inside and out is one of our own. From now on, we can meet here. If I’m not around, just leave a message with the staff."
"Bought out?" Qin Jiuye was stunned. After a long moment, she murmured, "I didn't realize your Protector General was so wealthy."
"Our Protector General has always been incorruptible; where would he get the money? Naturally, the silver came from Gao Quan." Lu Zican waved a hand and continued in one breath, "Did I not mention it? Gao Quan’s family runs money houses in the capital. If he hadn't stubbornly insisted on joining the military, he’d probably be living a life of leisure somewhere right now."
She finally understood. Although the Lord of Severed Jade hadn't brought many men into the city, those following him were all "stubborn" talents. As a wandering physician from a desolate village, she truly couldn't compare.
Thinking of the silver used to buy the shops, Qin Jiuye felt a pang of vicarious, stingy heartache. She suppressed the urge to ask about the exact amount and spoke with difficulty.
"Even so, buying a whole shop just for convenience... isn't that a bit excessive?"
Lu Zican put down the strainer, looked around cautiously, and lowered his voice.
"To be safe, it’s better to be thorough. Firstly, this place uses the busy market as cover, making it easier to operate. Secondly, the Protector General doesn't want you constantly entering and leaving his residence, which might attract the attention of the person behind the scenes and put you in unnecessary danger."
Qin Jiuye had clearly not considered this, and she certainly hadn't expected the cold-faced Protector General to have such a considerate and meticulous side. She had thought he was someone who knew nothing outside of his cases. Feeling a bit embarrassed by her preconceived notions, she rubbed her nose.
"I thank the Protector General for his concern. I’ve always been someone who doesn't attract much attention. But... it’s certainly right to be careful."
Lu Zican nodded. "Now, tell me about the Abode of Transcendence."
Qin Jiuye organized her thoughts and detailed everything she had seen and heard while staking out Glass Heart Lake that morning—including the high-profile appearance of Yuan Qi, the following arrival of the Autumn Mountain Sect, the rumors of Die Mo’s appearance, and so on. She then whispered her subsequent plans.
After listening, Lu Zican’s expression grew solemn.
"Miss Qin, do you intend to deal with those martial sects alone? People of the Jianghu have the most fickle and treacherous temperaments. Sometimes they appear one way, but wear a completely different face in secret. You have no martial arts to protect yourself; I fear this is unwise."
Qin Jiuye did not immediately agree. She held a different view in her heart.
During her years at the Resultant Abode, whether it was the wounded she saved or the corpses she brought back, which of them hadn't been a powerful martial artist? Yet in the end, they couldn't escape the fate of mangled flesh and blood. Ultimately, once you waded into the waters of the Jianghu, there was no escaping it. Being overly cautious would only mean losing the initiative.
After a moment of deliberation, she spoke.
"Rest easy, Brother Lu. I will choose to make my moves during the day when there are many eyes around. These martial sects care about their reputation; they won't do anything shameful in broad daylight. And I always leave myself a way out. I will certainly look after my own life and not distract the Protector General."
Lu Zican still looked worried and seemed ready to nag further. Seeing this, Qin Jiuye quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, how is the Protector General’s investigation going? Any clues regarding the person who disposed of the bodies?"
Lu Zican sighed as he ladled scoops of bright red chili oil onto several bowls of freshly cooked noodles.
"We spent three days checking all the out-of-prefecture vessels that entered or left Jiugao recently. We worked from dawn till dusk; it was truly grueling."
Qin Jiuye frowned. "Never mind the last half-month; even within a single day, the number of boats entering and leaving Jiugao is countless. How can you possibly search through them all?"
"The small ones are hard to find, but the large ones always leave a trail. Do you remember Su Lin saying that when the person first approached him, they wanted to borrow a Su family cargo ship to transport something?" At this point, Lu Zican revealed a mysterious smile. "If all goes well, the Protector General should have caught that person's tail by now."
***
When more than a dozen tall horses galloped into the Xiuting Pier at the Huan River Bay, Song Tuo, the River Warden, couldn't help but tremble.
Although he had been waiting here since early morning and had mentally prepared himself, seeing the imposing manner of the arrivals still brought a cold sweat to his brow.
He couldn't be blamed for his trepidation. A local River Warden was a minor official of no consequence. Unless a major disaster occurred, high-ranking officials from the capital would not inspect his work even once a year.
Tightening the leather official belt he hadn't worn in a long time, Song Tuo trotted forward to greet them.
"Song Tuo, River Warden of Xiuting, greets Protector General Qiu."
After saying this, he intended to bow, but he couldn't tell which of the men on horseback was Qiu Ling. He could only bow blindly toward the whole group.
The dozen or so men dismounted in unison with practiced ease. A short young officer at the front glanced at him and spoke softly to the young man in black armor behind him.
"Protector General, this is the last location."
Song Tuo gave the short officer a grateful look and hurried to the young man’s side.
"What are your orders, Protector General?"
Qiu Ling glanced at him and spoke calmly. "Whether boat travel through this Huan River Bay is fast remains to be seen, but news certainly travels quickly. I left the Six Bends only half an hour ago, yet the news has already reached the downstream."
The Huan River passed through the Longshu region with nine bends. Xiuting was at the river bay of the seventh bend downstream, the last pier before entering Jiugao City.
Song Tuo was visibly startled, then stammered, "In... in reply to the Protector General, I also heard it from passing boats. They said the Protector General was leading men to inspect more than ten docks in the suburbs. I have managed this river bay for many years and have never seen such a scene. I was terrified and dared not be negligent, so I thought to prepare early. If I have offended you, please forgive me."
The young Protector General said nothing more. The short adjutant beside him stepped forward.
"It is merely a routine inspection. If you have done nothing wrong, Lord Song, there is no need for alarm."
Song Tuo nodded, the tension on his thin face finally easing slightly. He handed over the shipping registers he had prepared. Turning his head, he saw the dozen or so young officers had already dispersed in an orderly fashion, beginning a meticulous search of the entire pier. The young Protector General, meanwhile, walked along the river alone, observing without issuing a single command.
A sense of nervousness rose in Song Tuo again. He watched as the short adjutant who took the registers scanned them with incredible speed. The thick stack of records flew through his fingers, and in no time, he reached the end.
"Are all the records of passing vessels and cargo loaded here?"
Song Tuo swallowed. When he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of doubt.
"These are the river transport records for the past three months. Every boat that docked or passed through here must be recorded. There are over a thousand entries for loading and unloading alone. Perhaps the official would like to look again..."
Gao Quan closed the register and instinctively rubbed his fingers together.
This was a habit from years of burying his head in accounting books, one he hadn't managed to break even after joining the military.
The entry and exit records of a single pier for three months were nothing compared to the ancient, messy accounts he used to handle. Back when he was in charge of his family's business, the accounting managers sent by various branches of the Gao family were all cunning, with black hearts waiting to skim money at every turn. However, none could last a single round against him. He was born with eyes that could pick out flaws, never missing even a single copper coin hidden among the tiny characters.
Gao Quan smiled and returned the register to Song Tuo.
"No need. I’ve looked quite carefully. Except for three entries a month ago where the writing was messy due to the rain, your books are kept quite well, Lord Song."
Song Tuo took the register back half-doubtingly. A quick flip revealed it was exactly as the man said. He suddenly felt that the person standing before him was not a warrior of the battlefield, but a Chief Eunuch from the palace carrying a golden abacus.
Gao Quan spoke no more to Song Tuo. He turned and walked toward Qiu Ling, giving a low-voiced report.
A moment later, the dozen young officers also returned, shaking their heads to indicate they had found nothing unusual.
Qiu Ling said nothing, but his expression grew heavier.
Days and nights of relentless travel and toil had carved sharp outlines and shadows onto his young face. He pressed his lips thin, walking toward the river without a word.
The more silent his back appeared, the more palpable the underlying pressure and gravity became.
Inspecting sixteen docks in the suburbs within two days with lightning speed was a grueling task, but the exhaustion could be ignored. However, if there was no harvest at the end, it would be a major strategic failure—a waste of precious time and a missed opportunity for the investigation.
No, something must have been overlooked.
Qiu Ling turned his steps toward the eastern side of the pier. Seeing this, Gao Quan signaled Song Tuo and the others to follow.
A hundred paces away, the Huan River channel gradually widened, but the riverbank narrowed sharply. Beech trees grew densely on both sides, their tangled roots rising and falling on the yellow mud cliffs, almost crowding out the last bit of ground.
After walking dozens more steps over soft mud, they reached the mouth of the bay. Qiu Ling lowered his gaze. He had been about to turn back, but his steps suddenly stopped, and his eyes fixed on the ground by the bank.
On a protruding tree root, there were faint white scuff marks left by a passing wheel. If one didn't look closely, they might be mistaken for a layer of white river moss.
The mud near the roots was a messy sludge; at a glance, nothing could be distinguished. However, Qiu Ling used his foot to scrape the ground, revealing a section of a wooden plank walkway from beneath the sludge.
The planks were somewhat rotten, and half were covered by silt accumulated by the riverbank. It looked as though it had been abandoned for a long time.
Qiu Ling looked at Song Tuo and asked in a deep voice, "What is this place for?"
Song Tuo lowered his head, his voice nervous as always. "It’s nothing, just..."
Seeing this, Gao Quan spoke up to pressure him. "Lord Song is a veteran here. How can you be so unfamiliar with the affairs of your own territory?"
Cold sweat dripped from Song Tuo. Knowing that if he remained silent, he would be accused of "dereliction of duty," he quickly explained.
"It’s... it’s an old, dilapidated pier. Because of the rising waters, it’s been flooded for about a month. During that time, it’s been basically abandoned and can't handle cargo, so it wasn't recorded in the books."
"And before that? Three months ago? Or half a year ago?"
"In reply to the Protector General, years ago, the Flood Control Commandant, Lord Qiu, ordered that while repairing the river channel and clearing silt was important, it must not interfere with the farming season. Therefore, water conservancy projects can only proceed from the end of each year until the second month of the next. During other times, this section of the Huan River Bay is closed. Except for the inspectors and government runners in charge of the works, no one else enters or leaves, let alone cargo ships."
At the mention of "Flood Control Commandant," the young Protector General’s steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but he quickly returned to normal.
He paced around the tree roots, clearing away some withered leaves to reveal the flat ground beneath.
"Since it has been abandoned for over three months, why are there wheel ruts here? Even the wild grass shows signs of being cleared."
This new Protector General of Jiugao truly had eagle eyes. Even with the withered leaves covering it, he saw at a glance that the wild grass in this spot was different from elsewhere. It was all white-thread grass that had grown within the last few days—short clumps that hadn't even sprouted many leaves yet.
Song Tuo buried his head even deeper, cupping his hands.
"The Protector General may not know, but it rains frequently in this Huan River Bay area. During the spring and summer when there is much rain, the nearby riverbanks will be overgrown with wild grass if left alone for even a few days. Overgrown grass obscures the view and can hide hazards, not to mention the occasional landslides on both banks. The work of patrolling and clearing cannot be neglected for a single day. The wheel ruts must have been left then."
Qiu Ling did not pursue the questioning further. Instead, he followed the wooden planks toward the river. Ignoring his boots getting soaked, he stepped into the mud at the river's edge. Before the water could be stirred into a muddy mess, he reached into it with unerring accuracy and pulled out an iron chain.
Gao Quan narrowed his eyes. Song Tuo, having finally learned his lesson, didn't wait for the other to speak and took the initiative to explain.
"Floods are common here. The other end of this chain should be attached to an iron bull used for flood control. It’s been there for at least a hundred years; it wasn't added recently."
The chain was as thick as a man's forearm and indeed covered in rust. The section pulled out was tangled with water weeds and dead branches. The part that had been above the water for years was faded and corroded by the elements, turning into a large mass of cotton-like fibers floating on the surface.
Qiu Ling watched silently for a moment, then suddenly walked toward the mass of fibers. He reached out and tore them off one by one, throwing them aside. Seeing this, Gao Quan and two other young officers hurried forward to help.
The pile of torn cloth and fibers soon filled the bank, revealing the shallows. One of the officers discovered something and cried out.
"Here! There’s a mark here!"
Song Tuo was startled. His legs trembled as he forced himself to move forward. In the silt near the riverbank, a faint indentation was visible. The indentation stretched from the shore deep into the Huan River—wide and deep, clearly the mark of a heavy object being dragged. It hadn't disappeared despite being washed by the river for days, only previously hidden completely by the water weeds. It would have been hard to notice even from up close.
"Lord Song, surely the grass-clearing carts don't drive into the river."
Gao Quan’s voice rose slowly. Song Tuo’s shoulders slumped instantly, and he muttered, unable to speak.
Qiu Ling’s gaze followed the indentation toward the water not far away.
The rising water of the rainy season had indeed flooded this pier, but that didn't mean boats couldn't dock here.
On the contrary, as long as one found a good spot to drop anchor and used the dense surrounding thickets for cover, it was easier to operate here than at any nearby dock.
Gao Quan clearly saw the anomaly as well. He turned to the officers behind him. "Go find a boat..."
"No need."
The young Protector General’s voice rang out deeply. He reached up and unfastened several clasps at his chest and waist, and the form-fitting black armor fell to the ground.
Song Tuo felt a blur before his eyes. The next moment, the man was no longer on the bank, leaving only his boots behind. A splash sounded, and a patch of white foam churned on the murky river surface before returning to calm.
Even though he had heard of the young Protector General’s thunderous methods, Song Tuo was still struck with wave after wave of shock.
Firstly, he never expected the man to suspect something was amiss beneath the Huan River. Unless the Dragon King himself was committing a crime, who would think to tamper with things underwater? Secondly, he hadn't expected the man to be so decisive, personally handling the matter once the key was found.
Having guarded this dock for a long time, he had seen high officials from the capital passing through. Those ministers who earned ten thousand bushels of grain would never lead from the front or personally enter such filthy river water. They would curse for a long time if even their socks got a little damp.
Yet the man before him today, who hailed from the Academy and was young enough to have earned the appreciation of the General of the South, remained calm and resolute. With such courage and skill, let alone the Huan River, even if an ocean stood before him, he would surely turn it over to find the truth.
Song Tuo stared at the river surface, his expression shifting. After a long while, he turned stiffly to the short adjutant beside him.
"The Huan River Bay doesn't look deep, but there are many undercurrents beneath. The water is murky; once you enter, it’s hard to tell directions. Even the raft-men who frequently travel this route wouldn't dare dive in easily. I know a few dock workers with good swimming skills; should I call them to help..."
Gao Quan’s face remained unchanged, and his voice was as calm as ever.
"Lord Song, please be patient. You know the water is murky and visibility is poor; more people might not be a good thing."
Song Tuo was about to say more when he noticed that the short adjutant’s hand had not left the hilt of his saber since the beginning.
The hair on the back of Song Tuo’s neck, already damp with cold sweat, stood on end. He finally understood that the one he should be worried about was not the Protector General in the water, but himself standing on the bank.
If the one in the water found something or if something happened to him, Song Tuo would likely be seized immediately.
Realizing this, Song Tuo became even more restless.
The group had only sent one man down, while the rest stood on the bank and refused help. He could only stare blankly from the side, and if anything went wrong, he wouldn't be able to escape the blame. What a mess!
Just as Song Tuo was lamenting his luck, the sound of someone breaking the surface came from the river. He hurried to look.
The young Protector General had emerged from the water at another spot. His sharp brows and eyes were soaked, looking as if they were coated in a layer of frost.
Qiu Ling wiped the river water from his face. In his raised right hand, he clutched a torn piece of a hemp sack.
"Found it."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
干鱼巷子 | Dried Fish Alley | A market area in Jiugao.
河堤使 | River Warden | A local official in charge of river embankments (Song Tuo).
鞓带 | Leather official belt | A formal belt worn by officials.
镇水都尉 | Flood Control Commandant | A title for an official in charge of water conservancy (Qiu Ling's father).
铁牛 | Iron Bull | Traditional iron statues placed by rivers to "suppress" floods.
白贯草 | White-thread grass | A type of fast-growing wild grass mentioned in the text.
