Even the smallest fly is still meat; one must not let a single one go, even if it means working oneself to death. This was the "way of hospitality" at Guoran Ju.
Don’t cast the net for small fry; when you cast, catch the big fish. This was the way of hospitality at Tingfeng Hall.
A mere quarter-hour after Xu Qiuchi had crawled through the dog hole into Tingfeng Hall, he had been respectfully invited to sit as an honored guest. In his hand was a cup of Tingfeng Hall’s finest Green-Patterned Celadon; beneath his backside was the water-dog fur rug from Tang Shenyan’s own chair. If he so desired, he could have likely set up a game of chess on Tang Shenyan’s very belly.
Old Tang busied himself with attentive service, while Qin Jiuye watched with a cold eye from across the battered wooden table.
She believed the dandy truly had money, but she did not believe he would part with it so easily.
However, Xu Qiuchi clearly knew how to quickly bridge a gap and win trust. Within just a few sentences, he had spoken directly to the core of Old Tang’s worries.
"To be honest, Shopkeeper Tang, the new Governor currently in the city is playing a game of 'crossing the fields in the dark.' He knows the Prefectural Magistrate’s office is openly setting up its own faction to oppose him, and it isn't convenient to spark a conflict on the surface. So, he simply went with the flow and concentrated everyone who was released right here. Beyond avoiding further complications, it actually makes it easier for him to conduct investigations and questioning at any time."
Before his words even hit the ground, Tang Shenyan could no longer sit still.
"Then isn't he just requisitioning my Tingfeng Hall to serve as a torture chamber? I don't care what suffering those others endure; what I care about is how I’m supposed to do business! I rely on the trade of rumors and news. These past few days have already been incredibly difficult. If word gets out that the Governor is going to stay here to investigate the case, who would ever be willing to visit?"
Qin Jiuye, one of those "not cared about," felt her heart sink as anxiety surged uncontrollably.
The case of Kang Renshou was steeped in strangeness, and the previous case on Sangma Street was equally devoid of leads. With the two cases merged, who knew how many months or years the investigation would take? For every day she couldn't return to Dingweng Village, the business at Guoran Ju remained closed. No matter how she calculated it, wasn't that all just pure silver slipping through her fingers?
*Clang.*
A heavy purse was placed on the table. Xu Qiuchi used two fingers to flick open the gold-thread drawstrings, revealing the plump, lovely silver ingots within.
"I am well aware of your hardships, Shopkeeper Tang. Haven't I personally brought business to your door?"
The sound of silver clinking was so melodious that it instantly revitalized everyone else in the room. Their eyes were pinned to the purse, unable to look away.
Du Laogou sniffed, his messy hair bobbing as he slowly approached. He was the first to speak.
"I also have business that has been delayed. I wonder if this brother is willing to open his purse once more and send a few more deals my way?"
Everyone looked at each other and asked in unison, "What business could *you* possibly have?!"
Du Laogou remained perfectly composed, waving a large hand. "The respectable business of writing books, of course. It is certainly not the same as you lot, who drill into every corner with your heterodox ways..."
He was about to continue when Qin Jiuye grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him back.
When all was said and done, not a single person gathered under this roof was engaged in a truly "respectable" trade. And this client who had come knocking was likely not a respectable person either.
Sure enough, the "benefactor" spoke next.
"This silver is not given for nothing. I wish to buy a piece of information from Shopkeeper Tang."
Tang Shenyan was full of vigor, his eyes shining. "What information?"
The other man spoke word by word. "Half a month ago, Kang Renshou came to Tingfeng Hall alone and sent out a 'Swallow's Return' message. I want to know exactly what that message was."
As soon as these words were uttered, everyone’s gaze instantly fell upon Tang Shenyan.
The information at Tingfeng Hall was generally divided into three types.
The first was called the "Passing Swallow." This referred to information shared with the people who came and went from the hall—news that wasn't particularly valuable. Such information was shared twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. When nothing major was happening, this was the standard arrangement, earning them little more than tea money.
The second was called the "Hall-front Swallow." This was valuable information sold one-on-one to a buyer who paid for it. Such news was rare. Once a piece of information was for sale, a copper-beaked martin would be hung in the front of the hall. Interested parties could then move to the inner courtyard to negotiate a price based on the reliability of the news. Once sold, the martin was taken down, letting passersby know the swallow had flown and the news had been dispersed.
The third type was called the "Swallow's Return." This involved passing a specific message to a specific person. A guest would secretly seal a message within the hall for an indefinite period, waiting for the day their contact came to retrieve it. This branch of Tingfeng Hall’s business was known to few and commanded a high price, primarily because Tang Shenyan knew it carried risks. One wrong move could involve him in the troubles of the martial world, so he had rarely taken such business lately.
But none of that was the point right now. The point was: Kang Renshou had actually visited Tingfeng Hall?
That day by the banks of the Ershui, almost everyone had assumed it was impossible for Kang Renshou to have any connection with the martial world, making it unlikely he was caught in a sect dispute or a blood feud. But as it turned out, one really shouldn't judge too early. Looking at it now, the facts might be different. If Kang Renshou was truly just the head manager of a pharmacy, why would he hide his identity to frequent Tingfeng Hall? Did Tang Shenyan know about this, or perhaps even participate in it?
Under the questioning and suspicious gazes of the crowd, Tang Shenyan’s shoulders slowly slumped.
"Could the Second Young Master be mistaken? Not only do I not know any Kang Renshou, but even if he were a familiar regular—with the sheer number and variety of people entering and leaving my establishment every day, how could I possibly remember something from over half a month ago?"
Under normal circumstances, this would have been reasonable. Old Tang had a poor memory, remembering only those guests who owed him money. This was also why he had such deep dealings with Qin Jiuye.
But now, facing that heavy pile of silver, Tang Shenyan didn't even try to be evasive; he went straight to these excuses, which instead made him seem suspicious.
"Shopkeeper Tang is joking. You wouldn't notice a familiar face, of course, but if there were a fresh face, you would certainly have some impression," Xu Qiuchi said with a faint smile, pulling a thin sheet of paper from his robe and placing it on the table. "Why don't you think about it more carefully, Shopkeeper Tang?"
Qin Jiuye looked closely and saw that the paper bore a portrait of Kang Renshou.
Tang Shenyan merely gave it a cursory glance before lowering his head and shaking it.
"I truly cannot remember, truly cannot remember. Please, do not make things difficult for me..."
The young master in the seat of honor finally withdrew his smile, though the folding fan in his hand continued to wave at a leisurely pace.
"Tang Shenyan, Shopkeeper Tang. You have established your hall here on Shouqi Street for six years and eleven months. You should understand the rules of doing business in this territory. If I have opened my mouth to ask you, it is naturally because I know for a fact that this happened. And if an idle person like me knows of it, I fear my dear elder brother has already discovered much more than this. Since it will all be shaken out sooner or later, whether you take the silver and speak freely, or are invited to sit in a *real* torture chamber for the duration of an incense stick... I advise you to think clearly."
As his voice fell, a dead silence descended upon Tingfeng Hall.
For Old Tang to stay on Shouqi Street for six or seven years—if he hadn't built up some foundation, he likely would have been squeezed out by the newer teahouses long ago. Qin Jiuye didn't say these things normally, but in her heart, she understood.
Yet sometimes, staying in one place for too long meant accumulating many vulnerabilities. It wasn't strange for the other party to know which year he arrived, but to know even the exact month meant they had come well-prepared—to say nothing of the weight behind the words "elder brother."
Xu Qiuchi was no longer being coy; he was openly declaring to the world that he was the younger brother of the newly appointed Governor. If it was just to suppress Old Tang, wasn't it a bit like using a poleaxe to kill a chicken?
They say people of the same family share the same nature. She had underestimated him before; these two young masters of the Qiu family were truly each more tormenting than the last.
After a long while, Tang Shenyan let out a dry laugh and wiped his brow.
"Ah, I’m getting on in years, my head isn't clear. Now that you've put it that way, I've just remembered. This person did indeed come here."
The moment he spoke, the thin woman who had been silent until now slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"Well, Old Tang! All this time you've been acting like this had nothing to do with you, like you were just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, but it turns out you're tied up in this too! Since you saw Kang Renshou, why didn't you say a word before?!"
Tang Shenyan blinked and spoke with shameless audacity. "You never asked me."
Qin Jiuye was choked for words. For the first time, she understood something: when a scholar chose to be shameless, they were second to none. And as for the people in this room...
She looked around, her gaze sweeping over Qin Sanyou, Jin Bao, Li Qiao, Tang Shenyan, Xu Qiuchi, and Du Laogou. She became even more certain of her judgment: including herself, every person around her was a "Grandmaster of Shamelessness," each one's skin thicker than the last.
Since they were all of the same sect, she decided to stop hiding and spoke plainly.
"I advise everyone: if you have anything else hidden or unsaid, you'd better use this chance to make it clear. We are all stuck on the same boat now. If the boat sinks, no one gets any benefit."
Another silence followed. After a moment, Tang Shenyan slowly began to speak.
"Kang Renshou did indeed come to Tingfeng Hall alone half a month ago. Because he used a pseudonym, I truly did not know his real identity. As for that 'Swallow's Return' message..." He paused, considering. "It wasn't sent by him. It was *retrieved* by him."
Xu Qiuchi’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly, as if weighing the truth of the words. "If that is the case, then who sent it?"
Old Tang shook his head. "That, I truly do not know. The sender followed the customs of the martial world, hiring a 'runner' from the south-city line. Even if you stopped them to investigate right now, you wouldn't find anything, let alone after so much time has passed."
"Runners" referred to the half-grown children in the underworld who specialized in running errands. These children were raised on the streets and alleys; they were versatile and as slippery as loaches, making them hard to catch. Their superiors were the local bosses of the area. Even if caught, they couldn't provide much information. The clever ones could even earn silver from both sides, tossing out nonsense to stall, making it difficult for ordinary people to discern truth from lies.
Xu Qiuchi was not stupid; he didn't want to waste time on that lead. Since he had come to Tingfeng Hall, the person he needed to work on was right in front of him.
"In that case, perhaps Shopkeeper Tang can tell me what was written in that message?"
Tang Shenyan gave a deep bow, performing a formal martial greeting, and then spoke with stiff precision.
"The Second Young Master may not know, but the information at Tingfeng Hall does not pass through other hands; it is all collected and released by me alone. This is done to avoid many unnecessary risks; I can choose not to spread certain sensitive news. But my energy is limited. Recorded messages are rotated every seven days. Old messages are burned together to prevent leaving evidence for others to pursue. This is even more true for 'Swallow's Return' messages. Until someone comes to retrieve it, the message remains sealed in the accounting room. Even I would not open it to look. What I say is the absolute truth. If the Second Young Master does not believe me, he is welcome to search for himself."
Verbal interrogation was one thing, but a full search would cause a massive commotion.
Xu Qiuchi waved his fan, and after a long while, he said with a half-smile, "I didn't realize you were more shrewd than you look."
In all his years running the hall, the most common criticisms Tang Shenyan received were that he was pedantic and stingy. Now that someone had used the word "shrewd" to describe him, he found it quite gratifying and even began to humiliate himself with a bit of modest self-deprecation.
"To make a living in the martial world, if one isn't careful, how could one survive until now?"
Unexpectedly, the other man’s tone shifted, as if teasing him again.
"Shrewd as you are, why do you still do this 'Swallow's Return' business? In my view, this practice is quite foolish. If there is something urgent to tell someone, one can just send a secret letter. If it isn't urgent, it's best to speak in person. Why go through all this trouble?"
Tang Shenyan remained standing there with his neck tucked in, but his entire aura suddenly took on the weight of a man who presided over a tea hall every day, a master of the silver tongue.
"The Second Young Master is not of the martial world, so he does not know that those within it often live from hand to mouth. Today they may have wine and meat, riding high on the spring breeze; tomorrow they may be burdened by blood feuds, facing bitter wind and rain. If all is well, a letter or a meeting is enough for them. But if a sudden change occurs, it will be too late to do anything. In truth, isn't the rest of the world the same? Some words cannot be said to a person's face, and when the end comes, one feels they haven't properly expressed their heart, finally sleeping in regret, separated by life and death."
As these words were finished, the room fell into another silence. Even Du Laogou, whose hair had just been pulled, seemed lost in thought.
Xu Qiuchi was quiet for a moment before finally speaking lazily.
"Shopkeeper Tang is indeed a man of insight. However, I find I prefer Shopkeeper Qin’s words from earlier."
Qin Jiuye, suddenly called out, gave a start. She heard him continue.
"Since we are all stuck on the same boat now, why don't we get together and think of some countermeasures?"
*Wait, what 'same boat'? How did he get on the boat? Who let him on?!*
Qin Jiuye angrily pointed a finger, then, remembering something, she timidly pulled it back and crossed her arms, glaring at him.
"Who is on a boat with you? Speak clearly."
"My phrasing was indeed a bit inaccurate. I should say, everyone is currently on *my* boat," the dandy said, his mood suddenly improving as if he no longer cared about the setbacks of the day. "To be honest with you all, I have always been at odds with my elder brother. If he knew I had come to find you, he would certainly be furious."
So, buying information was only one part of it; using this group of useless nobodies as stepping stones was his true goal.
Qin Jiuye recalled how she had been pulled into the Su manor for a consultation; it seemed to be the same pattern. She was increasingly confused as to which nerve in this rich young master's head had snapped, making him insist on mixing with the most insignificant small fry of the martial world.
Qin Sanyou’s face was already failing him. He moved to stand up.
"My Jiuye and I are just ordinary folk. Getting involved in this trouble was never our intention. I beg the Second Young Master to let us go..."
Before he could finish, Qin Jiuye gently pressed him back down.
She had dealt with this man before and knew that the Qiu family members mostly shared the trait of doing exactly what they said they would. At this point, begging was useless. She simply asked, "What do you want?"
The other man thought for a moment and said brightly, "Nothing much, really. Just to investigate what happened to Kang Renshou together. This should be a good thing for all of you, shouldn't it?"
The words sounded plausible, but if even the Governor and the Commandery Governor Fan Tong couldn't solve the case, why would they be able to? Or was there some terrifying secret that couldn't be told to outsiders, causing everyone to remain tight-lipped and cautious, and Xu Qiuchi, unable to find a way to break the deadlock, wanted them to be the ones to stick their necks out?
This wasn't a "good thing"; this was an inescapable disaster.
She had heard that herds of deer caught in a swamp were the same way, chasing fresh grass deeper and deeper until, without realizing it, there was no way back. Recalling the day she set out for Qingyang Market, she never could have imagined she would eventually be embroiled in so much trouble. Had she known, perhaps she shouldn't have sought that legendary Wild Fuzi, and she certainly shouldn't have accepted the consultation at the Su manor.
But it was too late for "what ifs." She was already caught in the current. All she could do was struggle with all her might, finding a way to survive in this vortex where various powers crushed against one another.
Her swirling thoughts instantly settled. When Qin Jiuye raised her eyes again, she was once more the shrewd and organized Shopkeeper Qin of Guoran Ju.
"Since the Second Young Master has spoken and wants us to help, why don't you show some sincerity first? We have been locked in this Tingfeng Hall for over three days, completely unaware of what is happening outside. If we are to know what to do next, we must first know ourselves and our enemy."
***
