Chapter 82

On a dark and windy night, a body weighted with stones was thrown into the river.

A splash echoed, and after a long while, the waters calmed. Nan Yi stood there, staring blankly at the black surface of the river, her hands trembling as she had not yet recovered from the shock.

Song Mu Chuan turned back to look at her and noticed her unease.

“I’ve killed before,” Song Mu Chuan said calmly.

He opened his palm, showing a long scar. Just a few days ago, someone in the Bingzhu Division had betrayed him, attempting to reveal his identity to the Qi people. In a dire situation, to prevent any future risks, Song Mu Chuan had killed the person on the spot with a bowstring.

This was not an easy way to die. When one kills, they become a beast, forgetting all concepts of sage books, righteousness, honor, and shame.

Nan Yi was somewhat surprised. She opened her mouth but didn’t want to pry too much into others’ privacy. She only asked, “At that time... how did you feel? Did you... did you...”

Nan Yi tried to find the words but couldn’t describe her feelings.

“I also thought it would be an insurmountable obstacle,” Song Mu Chuan said slowly, “Killing was something far from me. It was a serious crime, something only the most vicious people would commit.”

They walked along the riverbank, Song Mu Chuan speaking calmly.

Indeed, it was distant. Along the way, Nan Yi had seen many people die in front of her, but this was the first time that a life had been ended in her hands in an instant.

People were similar, fragile flesh and blood. Good people never wanted to be the executioner.

“But why... do you seem so calm?” Nan Yi asked.

“Because I quickly realized that while one can feel pity for the enemies who have died, showing mercy to the ones still alive is foolishness. What lingers more is the aftershock. If I hadn’t gained just a slight advantage, it could have been me lying dead. So, not only must I not stop, I must become stronger.”

Song Mu Chuan helped Nan Yi sort out the thoughts she couldn’t quite grasp— in this moment of confusion, she found the most important clue.

Yes, she had to become stronger to protect her own life and the lives of others.

The sounds of music drifted from the tavern across the river, and the lanterns’ glow flickered on the river’s surface.

Some people had died, others lived. Countless lives and deaths made up this city. It was cruel, heartless, yet full of passionate, boiling blood.

She had already been in this game. She wasn’t here to help, she was here to fight for her life. So, why hesitate? She would take the road of no return, become a candle, even if it could only shine a little light, enough to light just one person’s night.

Nan Yi stopped walking and looked seriously at Song Mu Chuan. “Mr. Song, can I still join the Bingchu Division now?”

In the silent night wind, Song Mu Chuan was silent for a moment.

Nan Yi thought he was hesitating, so she explained for herself. “I’ve been through some things recently. I realized that I am more tenacious than I thought. I may not be a great spy who can make a big impact, but I am loyal, and I won’t become a traitor.”

“Madam, that’s not what I’m worried about,” Song Mu Chuan said, looking at her seriously. “Earlier, the suggestion I made was due to my lack of consideration and underestimating the current situation. As you can see, the enemy is stronger than we imagined. Even I didn’t realize that the meeting point was being monitored. If you hadn’t acted quickly, I might have already been exposed. The situation is worsening, and the enemy is many while we are few. Honestly, I just hope you can stay safe.”

“There is no place where there is absolute safety,” Nan Yi said calmly. “One must have faith in order to live. I have little power, but I want to walk with the great people and see a larger world.”

Finally, Nan Yi saw the scroll, stamped with red handprints.

Here, there was Pang Yu, Xie Sui’an, Xie Heng, Xie Zhu… those who had crossed paths with her without recognizing each other, the heroes who faded into dust, and then, there was her—small and insignificant.

The Liangji Rice Shop evacuated overnight. The couple who ran the shop moved to another neighborhood where there was a small courtyard set up by the Bingchu Division. Nan Yi became their “daughter” and temporarily took refuge there.

The man was named Liang Da, and the woman was called Jiu Niang. They had been partners for many years and worked well together, posing as a fake married couple in the city. Liang Da was one of the most experienced spies in the Bingchu Division, having worked deep in Lidu City for years, with a thorough understanding of the various information.

Song Mu Chuan brought back the sleeve dart used by the beggar and asked Liang Da to help identify it. The spy they had caught was actually a Han Chinese, which was strange. He needed to find out who the opponent was.

“Black Crow Camp,” Liang Da recognized the weapon’s origin.

When this was said, Nan Yi noticed that Song Mu Chuan’s expression darkened, and she asked in confusion, “Is the Black Crow Camp... very powerful?”

Liang Da explained, “The Black Crow Camp is an assassin team trained by the Great Qi royal court specifically for the Yu Dynasty. They have amazing reconnaissance and assassination abilities. The most important thing is that they are all Han people who speak Central Plains dialect and follow Central Plains customs. When Bianjing City was breached, the Black Crow Camp had already infiltrated the capital, working from within. Afterward, they remained stationed in Bianjing, and we don’t know who sent them to Lidu City...”

Jiu Niang clenched her teeth in anger. “No wonder there have been so many hidden agents exposed in the city recently. It turns out we’ve got tough characters in town.”

The Qi people had just cleared the Yucheng Army and were feeling triumphant. At this time, they wouldn’t call for reinforcements unless...

Song Mu Chuan furrowed his brows and said, “There may have been a slip-up with the Yucheng Army. It’s not safe. Don’t contact them for now to avoid exposure.”

“Master, it’s not sustainable for the Yucheng Army to stay hidden in Huguishan. How will they manage food, water, and daily needs for over a hundred people? It’s better to secretly bring them into the city. With our troops, we won’t be passive in everything. You need to make a decision quickly.”

“A slight mistake with the Yucheng Army could implicate Lady Gantang. I need to think this through,” Song Mu Chuan said, looking at Nan Yi. “Nan Yi, the security in the city will become stricter, and most of the hideouts and spies will go silent. But there is one task that requires you to complete.”

Nan Yi immediately sat up straight, her cautiousness returning. “Mr. Song, what task? Do I do it alone? Does it require cooperation with others?”

“You are the best candidate.”

In order to mobilize the Black Crow Camp, Gusha had gambled with his family’s future. He had signed a military order and had to achieve great success in Lidu City. There was no turning back.

But he was confident that with the help of the Black Crow Camp, he would uncover the truth about the Yucheng Army and crush the traitor Xie Que Shan and the fool Wan Yan Jun under his feet.

This secretive team indeed dispersed like a silent flock of black crows into Lidu Prefecture. Their target was very clear: the Candlelight Bureau, which was behind everything.

As long as they captured an important member of the Candlelight Bureau, they could follow the trail to find the Yucheng Army. The members of the Candlelight Bureau communicated through a single line, with little to no connection between them. Even if one was captured, it would be hard to shake the organization’s foundations. However, the Black Raven Camp was skilled in subtle methods, digging through a haystack for a needle.

A few days ago, they had set their sights on a nondescript “Liang’s Rice Shop” in the city. However, they didn’t rush to close the net but instead tried to lure out bigger fish. They didn’t expect the people in the shop to relocate. After the failure of their first operation, the Black Raven Camp became more aggressive. They began to target anyone suspicious, anyone who might be connected to the Candlelight Bureau, sparing no one.

In just a few days, several of the Candlelight Bureau’s contact points in Lidu Prefecture were uprooted. Those spies who couldn’t escape in time were either captured or killed, and many innocent citizens were also caught in the crossfire.

The hard-hearted individuals who could withstand torture without revealing a word were dragged out and beheaded in the market square as a deterrent to others.

The streets ran with blood, and everyone was on edge.

...

On this evening, Lady Gantang suddenly called for a meeting with everyone in the household, inviting the matriarch as well, and they gathered at the Xie family’s ancestral hall.

No one knew the reason, and everyone looked confused.

Lady Gantang calmly announced that she intended to adopt her two children under the name of Xie Hengzai.

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Xie Hengzai had no sons of his own, and if he were to adopt a child to continue the Xie family’s main line, it should be a child with the surname Xie. How could it be her sister’s children?

“Preposterous!” The matriarch, furious, poked her cane at the ground. “Xie Tang’an, your children have the surname Yang, not Xie!”

“Grandmother, I have Xie blood in me. These are my children, and they can take the Xie surname. The descendants of the Xie family can be adopted into the elder branch, what’s wrong with that?”

“You, you—You’ve been living well, why must you do something to violate the family rules?”

“Grandmother, do you want Qinger and Afu to live?”

The matriarch fell silent. She saw a familiar determination in her granddaughter’s eyes.

This was the same expression she had seen in her late husband when he kept vigil in the Buddhist hall, a look of resolute independence.

The sixth young lady was a habitual troublemaker, but her eldest granddaughter, whom she had never worried about, had been following the womanly way all her life, obedient to her husband, teaching her children, and had been well-educated. But in such a short time, she had broken all the rules.

She had abandoned her husband and children, choosing a path that defied the conventions for women everywhere.

But the question she asked was not about herself, but about Qinger and Afu.

Tears welled up in the matriarch’s eyes. The old woman, nearing her death, did not want to see another generation buried—her own children buried.

“You’re abandoning me too…”

The matriarch reached for her hand, but her gnarled hand was held by Lady Gantang, whose hand was still firm despite the sorrow in her eyes. At this moment, even Lady Gantang couldn’t suppress the lump in her throat.

“Grandmother, the prominent families are respected by the common people, and only by upholding this can the family prosper. When the nation lacks a ruler, the Xie family becomes the backbone of Lidu Prefecture. I may not be a dutiful granddaughter, but my decision is made.”

Lady Gantang knew that the city had fallen into chaos, and the Yucheng Army she brought would eventually drag her into it. By adopting her children under the elder branch’s name, if something happened to her, it wouldn’t drag them down. The Xie family would find a way to protect the children.

She didn’t participate in the Candlelight Bureau’s actions and wasn’t part of their organization, but she knew they silently supported and protected her. She only wanted to use this action to show them that she stood alone, indifferent to life and death, and not to become a burden to the Yucheng Army or the Candlelight Bureau.

Xie Que Shan, standing at the back of the crowd, looked at his second sister with a touched heart.

At this moment, Lady Gantang turned to Xie Que Shan. “Xie San, come here.”

Xie Que Shan walked over, cupped his hands, and said, “Second sister.”

“The country is crumbling. You are now working for the Qi people, choosing a clear path is understandable, but I want you to swear before our ancestors’ tablets. If there’s no evidence that the Xie family has resisted the Qi, you must protect them.”

Xie Que Shan lifted his robe and knelt before the tablet, swearing, “I, Xie Chao’en, swear before the ancestors of the Xie family that I will protect all members of the Xie family, no matter their stance.”

Lady Gantang, holding both children, also knelt before the many tablets, pointing to the lowest one and saying, “Xie Qin, Xie Fu, from now on, the person on this tablet will be your father. From now on, you must offer incense and sacrifices to him and carry on his bloodline. Do you understand?”

Xie Fu, still very young, looked up with innocent, confused eyes and said, “Mother, isn’t this just a wooden tablet? It’s not my father...”

“Don’t call me mother again!” Lady Gantang scolded sharply. “What did I tell you last night?!”

Xie Fu, scared by her harsh tone, burst into tears, and her cries broke the hearts of everyone in the ancestral hall.

Xie Qin, slightly older and now a young man, had tears streaming down his face, but he gritted his teeth and kowtowed, “Aunt, I understand.”

The silent tablets, which had been mute for a hundred years, still remained quiet. No one knew whether they were watching the actions of their descendants from beyond or how they would judge them.

But the departed souls were silent, and the living continued their ordinary lives.