Tools for Each Other

"An entire clan exterminated... I don't know how the Shen Clan offended Zheng Qiao to suffer such a fate?" Shen Tang finally found her voice after a long pause.

The Grand Censor openly defied Zheng Qiao, and the Gong Clan was suspected of harboring the National Seal. Both families were merely exiled, not exterminated. Exile was terrible, but at least they could live for a couple more days.

And the Shen Clan was to be directly exterminated?

A true, collective deletion from the census.

If this body truly belonged to Tian Zhong's "niece-in-law," she didn't know whether to call the young girl unlucky or unlucky.

Staying with the Shen Clan meant immediate death, and marrying into the Gong Clan meant exile to Xiaocheng's brothel, a fate likely worse than death.

Unexpectedly, Tian Zhong shook his head.

"No one knows that."

"You don't know?" Shen Tang's voice rose slightly. "How could you not know? Think again, Young Master Tian. For example, did the Shen Clan impeach Zheng Qiao, or did the Shen Clan block Zheng Qiao's path to advancement... Was there no such grievance? If there was no grievance, why would they face extermination right off the bat?"

"That is also what I find puzzling..."

When the Shen Clan was exterminated, their old friends and disciples tried to help, but anyone who dared to step forward was either reprimanded and demoted or killed. Zheng Qiao's methods against the Shen Clan were so ruthless and his stance so unyielding that no one dared to speak up for them anymore.

Tian Zhong said, "Logically, the Shen Clan isn't a major clan in the Xin Kingdom. How did they attract Zheng Qiao's attention?"

This was already a softened statement.

To put it bluntly, during the years Zheng Qiao wreaked havoc in the Xin Kingdom, the Shen Clan didn't even have the right to breathe in front of him!

The entire clan followed a moderate path, or perhaps their abilities were simply limited. They neither stood out enough to attract envy nor were they so mediocre as to be completely ignored. They didn't follow the trend of currying favor with popular ministers, nor did they casually offend any inconspicuous minor official.

No matter how Tian Zhong recalled, he couldn't remember any conflict between the Shen Clan and Zheng Qiao, yet only the Shen Clan was exterminated.

Furthermore—

Shen Tang's attitude made Tian Zhong a little curious.

He tentatively asked, "Young Master, you seem to care so much about news of the Shen Clan. Do you have a connection with them?"

Actually, he wanted to ask something else, like... is this young master perhaps the twin brother or sister of the Shen family's eldest daughter, who grew up in the common folk for some reason, concealing their identity?

The two of them were simply too similar.

Tian Zhong once suspected that Shen Tang was the unfortunate eldest daughter of the Shen family, but seeing the Literary Heart sigil hanging from Shen Tang's waist dispelled his doubt. Anything else could be faked, but gender could not.

He was certain that even if this Young Master Shen wasn't the biological brother of the Shen family's eldest daughter, he still had an inextricable connection to the Shen Clan.

Shen Tang neither nodded nor shook her head.

Although Tian Zhong had no ill intentions, in the current situation, it was better to be safe than sorry. The fewer people who knew, the safer it would be.

Tian Zhong was also perceptive. Seeing that Shen Tang had no intention of continuing the conversation, he changed the subject and talked about Qi Shan. Honestly, he was quite interested in Qi Shan and didn't know how Shen Tang ended up with him. When he asked his father about Qi Shan, his father glared at him.

Sigh—

Shen Tang said, "Perhaps it's fate."

Tian Zhong was surprised. "You met by chance and decided to travel together?"

"Is that not allowed?"

Tian Zhong said, "It's not that it's not allowed. My benefactor is immensely talented, and their Literary Heart and Word Spirit potential—few in this era can match them, at least that's how I see it. If they meet the right lord in the future, they will willingly pledge their allegiance. The growth of their Literary Heart is not to be underestimated. It's just—"

"Just what?"

The preceding sentence was not asked by Shen Tang.

A familiar male voice came from behind them.

Shen Tang and Tian Zhong turned their heads in unison, meeting a pair of dark, deep eyes. Both immediately fell silent. Tian Zhong even shot up from his seat, his hands awkwardly hanging at his sides, a blush of shame creeping up his neck.

His benefactor was the savior of him and his father. He had lost his composure while chatting and actually discussed his benefactor behind their back...

If he weren't afraid of scaring them, he would have slapped himself twice. His father was right; this loose tongue really should be sewn shut!

He opened his mouth to apologize but was stopped by Qi Shan raising his hand.

He quickly dismissed Tian Zhong. "I just got up to use the restroom and heard some faint coughing from Master Tian's side..."

Tian Zhong immediately took the hint.

"Is Father unwell? I'll go check on him right away."

He practically flew away, disappearing in a flash.

Qi Shan sat in Tian Zhong's original seat. He had clearly heard the conversation between Shen Tang and Tian Zhong. He smiled and poked at the campfire.

"I didn't expect to be wrong. Young Master Shen isn't a member of the Gong Clan, but from the Shen Clan..."

Shen Tang: "..."

Don't speak too confidently.

Her intuition told her that Qi Shan would likely be proven wrong again.

Before there was concrete evidence, she herself didn't dare to be certain that this body belonged to that eldest daughter of the Shen Clan...

Shen Tang remained silent. Qi Shan continued, "Since the Shen Clan has been exterminated, Young Master Shen has no relatives left in this world. There's no need to go to Xiaocheng. Rest early, and we'll head to a nearby town tomorrow."

"When did I say I wasn't going to Xiaocheng?"

Qi Shan's eyes widened in surprise. "You're going?"

Knowing full well that Qi Shan was employing a feint, Shen Tang still said, "I am. Why wouldn't I? I'm following Yuan Liang to learn skills. In this day and age, survival is the top priority. Everything else can wait. I'm just curious, what is it about me that Yuan Liang values so much? You seem very eager for me to go to Xiaocheng, but as I see it, bringing along a burden would be of no benefit to you."

Seeing that Shen Tang had seen through his intentions, Qi Shan was slightly taken aback, then said with rare solemnity, "Young Master Shen, you are not a burden."

It's naturally because he has ulterior motives that he's doing this.

Schemers are always black-hearted professionals who don't get up early without a reason.

Even unscrupulous merchants would sigh in admiration of this spirit.

Shen Tang understood his unspoken words and smiled without responding.

She treats Qi Shan as an encyclopedia tool, and he treats her as a tool to achieve some goal?

Being mutual tools, it's quite fair and just.

"Yuan Liang, I have one more question."

Qi Shan: "Ask away."

Shen Tang looked in the direction Tian Zhong had departed.

"Earlier, Tian Shouyi said something that confused me. He said, 'If I meet the right lord in the future, I will willingly submit and serve. The growth of the Literary Heart should not be underestimated.' What does that mean?"

Her intuition told her there was a deeper meaning here.

"Oh, that question. You don't need to know."

Shen Tang: "???"

With a complex expression that words couldn't describe, Qi Shan looked at her and said, "Young Master Shen, not all Literary Hearts are the same. What Tian Shouyi said applies to most strategists and warriors who possess a Literary Heart and Martial Gall. But I sincerely hope that you are not among them."

Shen Tang: "???"

What riddle is he playing now?

She changed her question. "Can I know what you're going to Xiaocheng for? At least let me be mentally prepared..."

After all, this Qi Shan fellow loves to sell out his teammates.

She needs to be on guard, lest she be betrayed and killed without even knowing how.

Qi Shan tilted his head back, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. The night breeze rustled his hair, obscuring the thoughts in his eyes. Shen Tang only heard his voice say, "To collect a debt. I have an old debt that's been outstanding for years, and I won't shy away from traveling thousands of miles to collect it, even if it's just collecting some interest."

Shen Tang: "..."

She muttered inwardly.

Collect a debt?

I'll believe that when pigs fly!

What kind of old debt could make Qi Shan harbor such murderous intent?

The night ended and dawn broke.

The next day, the two parted ways with the Tian father and son.

The latter were going to seek refuge with relatives, as staying within Zheng Qiao's territory would inevitably lead to their deaths. Shen Tang and her companion were heading to Xiaocheng.

Exhausted, the foreshadowing has been laid.

The author's notes from yesterday weren't spoilers; I just dislike unnecessary melodrama and misunderstandings. After all, the mystery of the female lead's background is one of the novel's main and hidden plotlines, while the main focus remains her career. She's focused on her career, and that includes all the workers, the male lead included.