Another layer of incense ash fell upon the counter. Old Tan, the shopkeeper, clicked his abacus beads while casting sidelong glances toward the movements in the inner room behind him.
He could not stop worrying about this particular deal; he felt he had to keep a personal eye on things to be at peace. It had been the better part of an hour since that young man had entered the fitting room, which was indeed quite a long time.
However, he no longer viewed the man as a mere customer, but rather as the God of Wealth himself.
And the God of Wealth could stay as long as he liked and do whatever he pleased.
At this thought, his mood brightened again. He stealthily opened the cash box to re-confirm the weight of the gold. Before he could finish counting, the sound of footsteps echoed from the front hall. Startled, he hurriedly slammed the box shut, threw a piece of cloth over it to hide it, and returned to his station in the front. He looked up to see a burly figure striding inside.
The newcomer had a square face framed by a thick, bushy beard. He wore a short tunic of coarse cloth with sleeves rolled up high, and a grease-stained apron tied around his waist. The cloth, though of average size, looked cramped against his exceptionally thick waist. He carried with him a gust of wind smelling of spring onions, looking for all the world like a kitchen assistant who had just run out of some restaurant.
Upon entering the hall, the man looked left and right, clearly not interested in the silks or ready-made clothes, but searching for something else entirely.
Old Tan instinctively took half a step back, the disgust on his face nearly impossible to hide. But then he remembered his current fortune, and his expression softened.
It didn't matter. He was in such a good mood that he would probably welcome even a beggar with a smile.
With this thought, Old Tan inconspicuously pushed several pieces of expensive fabric further back onto the counter, then rubbed his hands together and stepped forward to greet him.
"Is this honored guest looking for—"
Before he could finish, the bearded man gave a wide wave of his hand, pointing toward the boat moored by the riverbank not far outside the door.
"Where did the person from that boat go?"
Old Tan squinted against the somewhat piercing sunlight outside and answered absentmindedly, "People come and go in this small shop. I’m not sure which person you are referring to."
"The one who just came off that boat. He should be a young man. I saw him from the opposite bank; he went to the street across the way first, then came straight into your shop. I couldn't have missed him."
After two such exchanges, the shopkeeper grew impatient.
He hadn't discerned much else, but he could tell this man wasn't here to patronize his business. His face immediately hardened.
"If the guest has no other business, please see yourself out. Do not delay my shop's trade."
The bearded man looked anxious. He glanced around as if to confirm no one else was nearby, then pulled a military identification tablet from his grease-stained apron. "Official business," he said in a solemn voice. "I ask the shopkeeper to cooperate. Do not make a scene."
Old Tan looked down at the military tablet, which was dusted with flour, then at the scruffy Northern man before him. He was just about to burst out with a curse about how the world was going to the dogs when every Tom, Dick, and Harry dared to impersonate an official. But before he could speak, a tall young officer in armor with a saber at his hip stroded in. Seeing the bearded man, the officer bowed respectfully.
"Assistant General Lu."
Lu Zican nodded and asked anxiously, "Have you blocked off the back street with men?"
Zheng Peiyu nodded. "It was an emergency, so I had to call for some of Lord Fan’s men to help. However, the Protector General happened to have just entered the city and is heading this way now."
Lu Zican let out a long sigh of relief, then turned back to the stunned shopkeeper.
"Where is he?"
The saying "Wealth breeds officials, and officials weigh down the soul" was truly a testament to the wisdom of the ancestors.
Old Tan felt a thousand times lucky that he hadn't been quick-tongued enough to say something that would have cost him his head. His lips trembled for a moment before he found his voice.
"He... he is in the inner room for a fitting. But he’s been in there for a while..."
Before he could finish, his vision blurred as the bearded Assistant General charged into the inner room.
***
The incense-scented inner room was filled with warmth, yet as Lu Zican stepped inside, the hair on his arms inexplicably stood on end.
He attributed this sensation to the experience and instinct he had accumulated on the battlefield. Consequently, he took a moment to steady his mind before turning past the final screen.
During the days since he had left the military camp, he had not slacked for a single day. He polished and wiped his blades daily, and he constantly refined his techniques. He had confidence in his twin sabers; even if the person behind that screen was a top-tier master of the martial world, he would do his utmost to pin them down until his Protector General arrived.
At worst, it was just death. There was no difference between dying in a chaotic martial arts brawl or falling on the battlefield.
From the day he began serving the Protector General, he had been prepared for this day to come.
Lu Zican suppressed his breathing, placed his hands on his hilt, and cautiously stepped behind the screen.
There were only two people in the modest fitting room. The sound of their breathing was clearly audible; neither was a martial artist.
Lu Zican relaxed slightly but did not let his guard down completely. After all, the martial world was full of bizarre techniques; it was hard to say if someone was intentionally feigning weakness, or if a third person was lying in ambush in the shadows.
The seamstress was kneeling on the floor, her face a mask of terror. Lu Zican shifted his gaze to the young man standing in the center, his voice laced with coldness.
"Have I come at a bad time? Did I interrupt the gentleman's 'good business'?"
A long moment passed after he spoke before the young man finally turned around. Only then did Lu Zican notice that the man's collar had been torn open for some reason.
A moment later, a gentle and calm voice rang out in the small room.
"Please do not misunderstand, brother. This lady accidentally snagged and tore my collar while measuring me just now. She feels guilty, but I have no intention of reprimanding her." He paused, turning to look at the woman on the floor. "May I ask the lady, is every word I have said the truth?"
The voice was as warm as jade. It seemed as though any word spoken by that voice, regardless of the content, would inexplicably command belief.
Lu Zican considered himself someone who had seen the world while following Qiu Ling across the land, but the temperament of the man before him truly ranked among the most impressive he had encountered.
But one could not judge a book by its cover; he had seen his share of "beasts in scholar's robes."
Lu Zican’s sharp gaze swept the small room. He found the tables, chairs, and decorations all neat and tidy, with no signs of a struggle or scuffle. Besides, if this man intended to commit some foul, indecent act, surely he wouldn't have ended up with his own collar torn first?
At this thought, he looked again at the seamstress. The woman kept her head bowed, her expression hidden, but her voice still trembled.
"It is... it is exactly as this guest says..."
But would a mere torn collar truly cause such abject terror?
The cloud of suspicion in Lu Zican’s heart lingered, yet he could find no answer. He could only lower his voice and ask, "Do not be afraid, miss. I am no villain. If there is anything, you can—"
Before he could finish, the seamstress scrambled to her feet, gave a hurried bow with her head down, and rushed out.
For a moment, only Lu Zican and the young man remained in the cramped fitting room. The air became somewhat oppressive, and the atmosphere turned strange.
Lu Zican attributed this strangeness to the other man’s demeanor.
It was a state of being far too composed, as if there were only one person in the room and he—this uninvited, burly brute—simply did not exist.
Regardless, he had the man cornered. No matter what kind of demon or monster this person was, he wouldn't be leaving today without showing his true form.
Lu Zican straightened his back, using his broad frame to completely block the space around the screen. After confirming there were no windows nearby or above, he was about to begin his interrogation when he saw the young man seat himself on a carved round stool. While smoothing his collar, the man asked faintly:
"I did not ask further while that lady was present, as I did not wish to distress her more. May I ask, brother, what is the purpose of your intrusion?"
The initiative had been seized by the other party. Lu Zican clenched his fists, his eyes sharply observing the man's every move. He decided to go straight to the point.
"The Protector General's Office is investigating a case. May I ask if the Canxing boat moored in the river out front belongs to you?"
The young man paused, then looked up with perfect timing. "A Canxing boat? What Canxing boat?"
Lu Zican sneered. "There is only one boat moored in the river out front. Why bother feigning ignorance?"
The young man smiled softly, completely unbothered by the mockery in the officer's tone.
"Jiu'gao City is a place of interconnected waterways with boats everywhere. While there may be only one now, that might not have been the case a moment ago. I did not know the boats of Jiu'gao had names. I am merely a traveler passing through; I found them novel and rented one for transport. Have I violated some law or regulation of Jiu'gao? I am not a local and am indeed unfamiliar with the rules here. If there is any impropriety, I ask this officer for his forbearance."
The man's explanation was perfectly proper, leaving no room for fault. Even in a routine inquiry, one should have responded with a few polite words.
But Lu Zican felt his ever-sensitive intuition being triggered. He said coldly, "So, you admit the boat is yours?"
"I still do not know which boat you are referring to. Why don't we go outside together to see, so we may confirm it in person?"
This measured response immediately placed Lu Zican in a dilemma.
On one hand, he did want to go out and confirm the boat. On the other, he feared a trap; leaving this enclosed space might give the rogue a chance to slip away.
Although from the current situation, the man did not seem to know martial arts, Lu Zican couldn't understand where this feeling of facing a formidable foe came from. He steadied himself and began to use his wits.
In military maneuvers, if one encountered a trench, the best method was not always to build a road or a bridge, but to find another way. One shouldn't stubbornly follow the planned route to a dead end; sometimes that was the inferior choice.
Lu Zican’s eyes shifted, and he immediately steered the conversation elsewhere.
"This tailor shop doesn't seem to have any other compartments. Why is your companion from the boat nowhere to be seen?"
As soon as he spoke, the man on the stool indeed paused for a moment before slowly speaking.
"I came alone. There is no one else with me."
Lu Zican considered his gaze keen; he hadn't missed the other man's reaction, and his certainty grew.
He had rushed all the way here and watched from the opposite bank; in truth, he hadn't clearly determined how many people were on the boat. This line of questioning was a "beating the mountain to scare the tiger" tactic, to see if the other party would reveal a flaw.
From the looks of it, there was indeed something fishy.
Lu Zican’s gaze swept over the goosefoot staff by the table, then slowly moved down, finally landing on the man's legs hidden beneath his robes.
"The Canxing boat you took is a modification of the old double-scull plank boats. It requires the use of both feet to provide the power to move. Yet your legs, sir, seem to require the aid of a staff to walk. If you cannot even stand or walk for long, how did you work the sculls?"
To speak so aggressively to someone with a physical disability was somewhat rude, but Lu Zican could no longer care about such things. This was a critical moment; he only wanted to pierce through the layers of disguise and find an answer.
This time, the young man did not answer.
Both sides fell into silence. The stagnant air found no exit, piling up a sense of pressure in the narrow space, causing an invisible string to pull tighter and tighter.
Suddenly, a flurry of urgent footsteps sounded from the outer room.
A moment later, the young Protector General in black armor rounded the screen. Upon seeing the newcomer, Lu Zican’s eyes instantly lit up.
"Greetings, Protector General."
After finishing his salute, Lu Zican shot a sharp look toward his superior, desperately signaling that the suspicious person was right before them.
Qiu Ling followed his gaze. When he saw the young man on the stool, he froze.
The air fell into another eerie silence.
After a long while, just as Lu Zican began to think his superior had been struck by some hidden weapon or a freezing technique, he saw Qiu Ling bow respectfully to the man on the stool.
"Greetings, Mr. Ding."
Ding Miao smiled warmly and reached out a hand in a gesture of assistance. "Why such formality, Protector General? We have not met since we parted at the Academy. I did not know you had returned to Jiu'gao, and I certainly did not expect us to reunite under such circumstances."
In all the world, who did not know that there was only one Academy from which Lord Duanyu could have come?
Qiu Ling actually knew this suspicious man? And the latter was a member of the Qingzhong Mountain Academy?
Lu Zican stood frozen in shock, looking back and forth between the young man dressed as a scholar and his own Protector General. He seemed unable to recognize or understand either of them.
Qiu Ling glanced at Lu Zican’s expression and stepped forward unobtrusively, shielding his Assistant General’s unsightly face behind him.
"I am under orders to investigate a case in Jiu'gao, so I have been delayed in the city lately. I heard the Spring Revision has not yet ended. Why is Mr. Ding in Jiu'gao instead of supervising the inspections at the Academy?"
The words seemed like a question, and if they were mere social pleasantries, it would be normal. Because the civil and military officials of Xiangliang were managed separately, and the Qingzhong Mountain Academy was unique, if the other party was a teacher of the Academy permitted to travel abroad, his status would be no lower than a sixth-rank official of the court. If one didn't want to reminisce, a few vague sentences would suffice, and most people in officialdom wouldn't press further.
But the young man before them seemed truly delighted by this unexpected reunion. His answer held no trace of perfunctoriness.
"Since the beginning of spring this year, the old trouble with my legs has flared up again. Thus, I took an assignment to escort several elderly gentlemen who have resigned their posts back to their hometowns, considering it a way to clear my head. I happened to pass through Jiu'gao recently and heard that there will be flower boats on Lixin Lake tonight, where one can observe the River God Dance that has been passed down for over a century. It is a rare and wonderful thing, so on a whim, I stopped to see it. This River God Dance shares some commonalities with the old Silk-Prosperity Festivals of the Longshu region, so I rented an old boat to suit the mood. I didn't expect it to lead to a misunderstanding."
*Hmm? If it was a misunderstanding, why didn't you explain earlier?*
Lu Zican was itching to speak but couldn't find an opening, pacing like a loyal hound whose muzzle had been clamped shut.
Qiu Ling acted as if he hadn't seen the bearded Assistant General’s expression and nodded to Ding Miao as usual.
"I see. My Assistant General did not know your identity, sir, and was focused only on capturing a criminal. He was quite rude just now; I hope you will not take offense." Having said that, he turned to Lu Zican. "Why haven't you apologized to the gentleman?"
Despite having heard every word of the conversation, Lu Zican remained dazed for a long time. He didn't know how to wipe the fierce expression from his face, nor did he want to go against his heart and speak. In the end, he just picked at his flour-dusted fingernails and kept his head down in silence.
His awkwardness was palpable. Ding Miao was not angered; he smiled faintly and took the initiative to smooth things over.
"What crime has this Assistant General committed? He was merely fulfilling his duty. The Protector General’s subordinates are all shrewd and capable; I feel fortunate for the people of Jiu'gao. I wonder if the capture of the criminal the Protector General mentioned is going smoothly? Has the rogue been brought to justice?"
Qiu Ling smiled as well, his voice still devoid of any particular emotion.
"The weeds have not yet been pulled by the roots, so there are still some concerns. However, there is no such thing as a perfect crime in this world. The person has already shown their tail; I expect their total exposure is only a matter of time."
Ding Miao nodded. "Then I wish the Protector General a strategic victory and that you may achieve your goal soon." Having said this, he finally stood up, leaning on his goosefoot staff. "I have important matters to attend to. I have already been delayed here for a long time by the fitting, so I shall take my leave. If Lord Duanyu has leisure, you should return to the Academy to visit. It has been seven or eight years since you left for the army; the teachers and friends in the mountains all miss you."
By suddenly switching to address him as "Lord Duanyu," he was both drawing them closer by showing their familiarity and perhaps reminding him of the position he had to maintain with caution to keep the balance—that even if he had joined the military, the time spent at the Academy must not be forgotten.
The smile at the corners of Qiu Ling’s mouth faded slightly, but his expression remained impeccable.
"Once I have settled this matter, I will certainly return in person to visit my teachers and friends."
After he spoke and both sides exchanged bows, Ding Miao walked slowly out of the inner room.
Old Tan, who had been eavesdropping by the doorframe not far outside the screen, couldn't dodge in time and was caught red-handed, looking extremely embarrassed.
He didn't know what kind of blessing his little shop had received today to welcome several "Great Buddhas" in succession. He should have been more composed and polite, but he simply couldn't control his curiosity. He only hoped these lords wouldn't hold it against him.
The little old man of the tailor shop stood there helplessly, a few thin strands of hair falling from his cap like rat whiskers.
Ding Miao glanced at him and spoke briefly. "I must trouble the shopkeeper to have the clothes ready by the hour of the Rooster. I will send someone to collect them."
Old Tan hurriedly agreed. By the time he looked up again, the man was no longer in the shop.
This scholar, leaning on a goosefoot staff and clad in green gauze, was truly strange. He was clearly a man of impeccable manners and gentle features, yet if one stared too long, there was an inexplicable, chilly feeling.
Old Tan rubbed his eyes, his mind turning back to that "Glow-Restoring Soup."
Besides the soup, he had better get a prescription for clearing the liver and brightening the eyes. After all, for a businessman, frequently misjudging people was never a good thing.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 丁渺 | Ding Miao | A mysterious scholar from the Qingzhong Mountain Academy. |
| 老谭 | Old Tan | The shopkeeper of the tailor shop. |
| 陆子参 | Lu Zican | An Assistant General serving under Qiu Ling. |
| 郑沛余 | Zheng Peiyu | A young officer under Qiu Ling's command. |
| 参将 | Assistant General | A military rank (Canjiang). |
| 督护 | Protector General | A high-ranking military official (Duhu). |
| 樊大人 | Lord Fan | An official mentioned as providing backup. |
| 断玉君 | Lord Duanyu | Qiu Ling's title/honorific. |
| 青重山书院 | Qingzhong Mountain Academy | A prestigious and unique academic institution. |
| 蚕兴船 | Canxing boat | A specific type of boat, possibly related to the Silk-Prosperity (Canxing) festivals. |
| 藜杖 | Goosefoot staff | A staff made from the stem of the goosefoot plant, a symbol of a scholar or recluse. |
| 河神舞 | River God Dance | A traditional performance in Jiu'gao. |
| 璃心湖 | Lixin Lake | A lake in Jiu'gao City. |
| 兴蚕祭典 | Silk-Prosperity Festival | A traditional festival from the Longshu region. |
| 酉时 | Hour of the Rooster | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. |
| 回光汤 | Glow-Restoring Soup | A medicinal soup mentioned by the shopkeeper. |
