He walked out of the Lin Jiang Department.
Lin Yan silently put away the Lin Jiang Banner and took a deep breath. "Last night's events are even more complicated than I expected."
Thinking this, he looked back once more.
At present, these three subordinates seemed quite decent.
He had made Clerk Yang openly confess to the matter of the Worship of Evil Method because he wanted to see their reactions with his own eyes.
If they had been cowed by the "Worship of Evil Method," they would have been of no use. Even if they were ultimately willing to stay, they could not be entrusted with important responsibilities.
But now, it seemed that the three of them were far steadier and more reliable than he had imagined.
"Indeed. If they had followed Liang Hu away last night, they would have had a chance to survive. But by choosing to stay, they had already set their hearts on facing death."
Lin Yan thought to himself, "When life and death hang in the balance, they may not have made the wisest choice by choosing death, but their character is worth regarding with new respect."
Thinking this, he headed toward the nearby alley and passed through it.
After sensing that no one was watching him, he turned his clothes inside out and changed his attire.
He hid his saber, concealed the Small Crossbow, then took out another item and covered the tops of his shoes.
When he emerged from the other end of the alley, he casually removed the disguise from his face and became Lin Yan once more.
Inside the Lin Jiang Department.
The three Banner Bearers were responsible for assisting Clerk Yang in handling the aftermath of today's affairs.
"Congratulations, all three of you, on returning to the Lin Jiang Department," Clerk Yang said with a smile.
"We must thank Clerk Yang for speaking up for the three of us before Fifth Master," said the Middle-aged Man with a Missing Ear, saluting.
"It was because the three of you value loyalty and affection that you caught Fifth Master's eye." Clerk Yang spoke thus, then continued, "Still, the appearance of the Worship of Evil Method was anything but ordinary. The fact that all three of you chose to stay truly exceeded expectations."
"Besides wielding a blade, I have no other way to make a living and support my family." Zou Jin, the one with the missing ear, touched the side of his head and said with a smile.
"I can sell my strength, at least." Zheng Liu held the small banner in his hand and said with a smile, "But working in the Lin Jiang Department pays more, so I can afford medicine for my old mother."
"I thought Fifth Master's imposing presence had won your hearts, making you loyal to him and willing to follow him into death." Clerk Yang laughed heartily. "So it turns out you all came for the silver."
"Clerk Yang is underestimating them."
Xiao Hui sat to the side, lowering his head as he slowly wiped the blade in his hand. "They were willing to stay because, more importantly, they witnessed Fifth Master's determination to protect Lin Jiang Ward!"
"Besides, protecting Lin Jiang Ward is also protecting their own homes."
"Of course, the silver is important too."
"By working in the Lin Jiang Department, they can protect their homes and earn silver. Even if they die, there is compensation for their families. Nowadays, there are few jobs in Gao Liu City as good as this."
After saying this, he sheathed the blade in his hand once more.
"They had no better way out, so they chose to sell their lives." Clerk Yang smiled. "What about you, Xiao Hui? You are alone and have no family to support. With your abilities, where couldn't you go? Why were you willing to stay?"
"To achieve something in Martial Arts, I cannot do without medicinal baths. I have my eye on those blood-strengthening and body-tempering medicinal baths."
Xiao Hui rose to his feet, waved his hand, picked up the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp, and walked outside.
"What are you going to do?"
"The Banner Bearer gave me orders to leave the city after dawn and deliver a letter to Sophora Venerate."
"..."
Watching him walk away, Clerk Yang smiled and shook his head.
Only then did Zou Jin take his hand away from the missing half of his ear. His expression turned serious. "That fellow looks as though he has no relatives and no ties, but in his heart, half of Lin Jiang Ward is his home. Every inch of it concerns him."
Then Zou Jin looked at the blade in his hand and said with a smile, "When I returned home last night, I discovered that a monster had nearly charged right up to my door... Then a crossbow bolt pinned it to the ground."
"A crossbow bolt?" Zheng Liu asked in surprise.
"A crossbow bolt specially made by the Heavenly Supervision Department." Zou Jin slowly exhaled and said, "You all saw it too. The Banner Bearer has a crossbow hanging on the right side of his waist."
"Understood."
Clerk Yang spread his hands and walked outside.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Zheng Liu exhaled and continued, "So you want to borrow Clerk Yang's mouth to tell the Banner Bearer that we have genuinely submitted?"
"After all, we followed Liang Hu before, so we had some unpleasantness with our Fifth Master. We ought to show him where our hearts lie."
Zou Jin touched the missing half of his ear and said with a smile, "Surely you don't want to give your life for Fifth Master in the future, yet find that he doesn't trust you?"
The sky was gradually brightening.
Inside Lin Jiang Ward, at Duke Lu's Courtyard.
Guessing that Duke Lu had already awakened, Lin Yan went to pay him a visit.
But he had not expected someone else to be in the courtyard.
Han Zheng, the Banner Commander of the Outer Southern Department.
"Have some breakfast?"
Hearing the commotion, Commander Han turned his head and looked over with a smile.
The scar on his face appeared and disappeared beneath the slightly dim sky, lending him a somewhat sinister appearance.
Without that scar, the Banner Commander would look rather refined.
Thinking this, Lin Yan instead stepped toward the side.
Duke Lu was carrying a pot of steaming white porridge outside.
The thickset middle-aged man was lowering his head and adding firewood to the stove.
"You're here?"
Duke Lu had only just spoken when the weight left his hands—the pot of porridge had already been taken by Lin Yan.
The old man froze at first, then a smile appeared on his face.
But when his gaze swept over and saw Commander Han, he could not help cursing, "Just look at you, you lout! Do you have even the slightest thought of respecting your elders and caring for the young? You come here to freeload food and drink, sit around idle, and shirk your work. Truly a loathsome sight. Bah!"
"..."
Having been inexplicably subjected to a round of abuse, Commander Han was left utterly bewildered.
He opened and closed his mouth, unable to say anything for a moment.
Then he looked toward Lin Yan, his expression gradually turning complicated.
"How come you never showed such courtesy when dealing with me before?"
"The Banner Commander is in the prime of life, with profound Martial Arts. For such a small matter, there is no need for me to handle it."
Lin Yan placed the porridge on the table and said calmly, "Duke Lu is advanced in years and frail. These trivial chores are easy enough to do on the way. It is only right to spare the old man some effort..."
As he spoke, he pulled out a chair and invited Duke Lu to sit.
Duke Lu sat down slowly, a smile on his face.
Commander Han suddenly raised his brows, smiling without quite smiling. "You never go anywhere without a purpose. Now you have come to flatter him for no reason. You must be plotting something!"
"Nonsense!"
Duke Lu slapped the table and said angrily, "The two of us are friends despite our age difference. What place do you have to stick your nose into our dealings?"
After saying this, Duke Lu patted the wooden chair beside him, indicating for Lin Yan to sit.
Then he watched Lin Yan sit down and ladle porridge into a bowl.
Commander Han chuckled and was just about to speak.
But then he saw that Lin Yan had already lowered his head and begun drinking his porridge.
So he swallowed his words and silently picked up his bowl.
The atmosphere suddenly grew somewhat quiet.
The sky brightened, sunlight spilled down, and the morning sun shimmered dreamily.
The thickset middle-aged man had also brought out some side dishes.
But his brows were tightly furrowed as he stood by the table, looking at the three men silently eating their porridge with their heads lowered.
"If you three have something to say, just say it, all right?"
The thickset middle-aged man felt itchy all over, a wave of agitation enveloping his entire body. He could not help shouting angrily, "How can each of you be more patient than the last?"
"You all have something to say but keep it bottled up. It feels like someone's scratching an itch inside my heart."
"We all know what's going on. Why are you playing hide-and-seek?"
"What are you competing in patience for?"
"Why are you putting on such a profound act?"
Before you continue