bookbashuk Chapter 12 Deception, and more deception.
Chapter 12 Deception, and more deception.
When I returned to Bailianfang, it was completely dark, the sound of blacksmithing had stopped, and the streets and alleys were quiet.
When the gatekeeper saw that it was Shen An returning, he hurriedly bowed and opened the door. However, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Wang Xiaocao, who was following behind him and carrying a shovel. A strange look flashed across his face, but he quickly concealed it and did not dare to ask any questions.
As soon as he stepped into the front yard, a figure hurried up from under the eaves to greet him. It was Feng Changrong. His face held a scrutinizing look and an almost imperceptible urging as he cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Shen is back. Senior Brother's trip has taken quite a while. I thought Senior Brother had already made some progress on his first exploration, which is why I was delayed."
Shen An understood the underlying meaning in his words—he was beginning to have doubts about how Shen An had previously dismissed him, and he was also worried that Shen An might not have taken the task assigned by Lu Bai seriously or had done it perfunctorily. However, Shen An remained calm and simply nodded: "I did encounter some issues."
At this moment, Li Qingde, who had heard the commotion, also came out from the main hall. He was about forty or fifty years old, with a round, prosperous face, and was dressed in a silk robe, looking like a friendly and prosperous shopkeeper.
Upon seeing Shen An, he immediately put on a smile, quickly stepped forward, and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother Shen is back." His gaze swept over Wang Xiaocao, pausing only slightly, but his smile remained unchanged.
Shen An nodded and said to Li Qingde, "Junior Brother Li, I need to trouble you with something. This young lady has suffered a misfortune at home and has nowhere to go for the time being, so she will be settled in this neighborhood for now. See where it is convenient for her and find her a quiet place to stay. Her daily expenses can be covered by my allowance."
Li Qingde's smile widened, and he said repeatedly, "Don't worry, senior brother, it's a small matter, leave it to me."
He turned to the somewhat hesitant Wang Xiaocao and said in a kind tone, "Come with me, young lady. I'll take you to see a place first, and if you're not satisfied, we can change."
Wang Xiaocao hugged the shovel tightly and looked at Shen An.
Shen An said gently, "Go with Steward Li to settle things first. As for the shovel... if you want to keep it, then keep it."
Wang Xiaocao responded softly and followed Li Qingde to the backyard, turning back every few steps.
After seeing Wang Xiaocao off, Shen An said to Feng Changrong, "Junior Brother Feng, come with me to the study to talk."
The two entered the study and closed the door. Feng Changrong couldn't help but ask immediately, "Senior brother, what exactly happened today? Why did you make me go back first...?"
Shen An sat down behind the desk, gesturing for Feng Changrong to sit as well, before slowly asking, "Junior brother, do you know who the old man selling wontons was today?"
Feng Changrong shook his head blankly.
"That's Senior He Sanqi from Yandang Mountain," Shen An said in a low voice, his expression serious. "I recognized him by chance and went up to chat for a bit. Senior He didn't want to reveal his identity in public, and when I saw you coming, I was afraid you might offend him without knowing your place, so I sent you away first. Later, I chatted with Senior He for a while longer, which is why I came back late."
Feng Changrong suddenly realized, and a look of lingering fear appeared on his face: "It was Senior He Sanqi! Fortunately, Senior Brother was quick-witted! If I had rushed forward recklessly, wouldn't I have spoiled Senior's enjoyment? Senior Brother has truly considered everything."
He believed Shen An's explanation without a doubt, after all, He Sanqi of Yandang Mountain was quite a peculiar figure in the martial arts world, and his actions were difficult to fathom.
"Hmm." Shen An nodded, steer the conversation back to the main topic, "As for Liu Zhengfeng, I followed him out of the city today. At first, I could keep up with him inside the city, but once we were outside, he quickened his pace and his movements became quite fast. There's not much to hide outside the city, and I was afraid of being discovered if I followed too closely, so I only followed from a distance, and later I couldn't keep up at all. However, I did confirm that he was generally heading towards the mountains southeast of Huiyan Peak, but I couldn't see exactly where he would settle down."
He frowned slightly, as if deep in thought: "That area isn't too big or too small. Without a guide, a blind search could easily alert them. Over the next few days, I plan to use the excuse of hiking and practicing swordsmanship to thoroughly explore the area and see if there are any secluded spots suitable for a secret rendezvous that won't be noticed."
Feng Changrong nodded repeatedly, "Senior Brother's method is reliable. It's just that you'll have to work hard, Senior Brother."
"It's my duty." Shen An waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something, his tone turning serious. "Oh, right, there's one more thing. I found a secluded high ground with a wide view on the outskirts of the forest where he last disappeared, and I'm waiting patiently. I think since he went out of the city, he'll have to go back after he finishes his business. When he returns, he might be less vigilant, and his route might be more predictable. If I follow him from a distance then, I might be able to find something."
"Senior brother, you're so kind. Did you manage to wait for Liu Zhengfeng to return?" Feng Changrong knew that since he brought it up, there must be more to it, so he quickly stepped forward and asked with a concerned expression.
"We've arrived." Shen An's tone was slightly somber. "Around noon, he indeed returned the way he came. I followed him from a distance as planned. However, just as we passed a village outside the city, an accident occurred."
"An accident?" Feng Changrong's spirits lifted.
"In that village, a group of loan sharks were causing chaos, looting, vandalizing, and even driving people to their deaths. The scene was chaotic, and the cries could be heard far and wide," Shen An described, his eyes sharpening. "Liu Zhengfeng was passing by when he heard the commotion and immediately rushed over!"
Feng Changrong also became curious: "He went? And then?"
"And then?" Shen An sneered. "Then this 'righteous' Third Master Liu naturally took action to teach those thugs a lesson. I was hiding in the distance and saw it clearly. He acted with great restraint, only knocking them down and subduing them without taking their lives. Afterwards, he comforted the victimized villagers, left some money, and then left."
"What... what's wrong?" Feng Changrong was somewhat disappointed after hearing this, as he didn't think it had anything to do with the mission.
"What's wrong? That villain is none other than Zhao Da Kui, an outer disciple of my Songshan Sect!"
"What? I'm from Songshan?" Feng Changrong was startled, then breathed a sigh of relief, "Luckily, he didn't investigate further."
"Didn't investigate further?" Shen An's voice rose a few decibels, filled with lingering fear and anger. "He was in a hurry to get back to the city, and perhaps didn't want to expose his whereabouts! If he hadn't had urgent business today, or if those people hadn't been so loose-lipped, guess what would have happened next?"
Feng Changrong was taken aback by the sternness in his tone and hesitated before asking, "What do you mean, Senior Brother?"
Shen An's eyes were icy: "After Liu Zhengfeng left, I immediately showed up. Zhao Da Kui and his two men had been taught a lesson by Liu Zhengfeng and were still in shock. I calmed them down as a fellow disciple, and then..." He made a throat-slitting gesture, his tone chilling, "I sent them on their way."
Feng Changrong gasped, still shocked even though he knew this was the most direct method: "Just kill him? Zhao Da Kui is, after all, the manager of the outer sect..."
"If we don't kill him, are we going to keep him around to tell others that Liu Zhengfeng caught him committing a crime today? Or are we going to keep him around so that Liu Zhengfeng might remember him one day, trace the clues back to us, and develop a wary and hostile attitude towards Songshan?"
Shen An retorted sharply, "Junior Brother Feng, can't you tell what's more important? Is the life of Zhao Da Kui, that fool who almost ruined everything, more important, or is the task entrusted to you by Martial Uncle Lu, which concerns the great cause of the Five Mountains Alliance, more important? If Martial Uncle Lu finds out about this, do you think he'll blame me for being ruthless, or blame us for not cleaning up our own sect in time, almost causing a disaster?!"
"Senior brother is right! Junior brother was confused! Zhao Da Kui deserved to die! Senior brother is thinking of the bigger picture and decisively eliminating the threat!" Feng Changrong was stunned by what he said.
Sigh, the child is already simple-minded, and you're still teasing him.
"Good that you understand." Shen An's tone softened slightly, but remained serious. "Just in case, I've decided that all gambling dens, usury, and other shady businesses under my control in Hengyang and the surrounding areas must be suspended. This is to prevent even the slightest possibility that word might reach Hengyang City and attract the extra attention of Liu Zhengfeng or the Hengshan faction."
The true intentions of Shen An were revealed when the truth was revealed.
"Senior brother, this is a mature and prudent move. Junior brother understands," Feng Changrong said admiringly. "I will discuss these matters with Master. If the harvest here is not good, senior brother, it will not be blamed on you."
Shen An nodded; that was exactly what he meant. He then instructed, "Go and call Li Qingde over. I'll explain things to him, and we'll get on with it now."