The Chen Patriarch's Strange Illness
"Where was that shipment of medicinal herbs headed?"
"An apothecary in a town in the Northern Region ordered it. Just over two hundred jin, worth a little more than a hundred taels of silver."
Lin Taichu stood there for a moment, then went inside to change. He strapped the Iron Sword to his waist and told Su Yao he was going to White Cloud City.
Su Yao saw him put on his sword but did not stop him. She only told him to come back early.
Lin Taichu left Luofeng City and flew north on his sword. It was still light when he reached the outskirts of White Cloud City.
He did not go to the City Lord's Mansion first. He went straight to the freight depot in the north of the city. An empty cart stood outside, its bed bare. Inside were several bundles of cloth and a few chests. A space near the door had been cleared, and spilled bits of medicinal herbs littered the ground, dropped when the shipment was unloaded.
The depot keeper recognized Lin Taichu at the door. He came out from behind the counter and spoke in a low voice.
"Mr. Lin, you're here. The herbs are being held in a courtyard in the east of the city. The men who seized them are standing guard and won't let anyone near. The buyer went there yesterday but was turned away. He said he'd try again today."
"Take me to that courtyard."
The keeper left an assistant in charge of the shop and led Lin Taichu east. They crossed two streets and entered a secluded lane.
The keeper stopped at the mouth of the lane and went no farther.
"Behind that door. All the goods are piled up in the