Entering the River

Dachun was somewhat baffled by the young master's words.

But Zeng Anmin had already reached the doorway, so he hurriedly followed.

"Shen Jun pays respects to Left Clerk Zeng."

Outside the gate, Shen Jun stood in white robes, his slightly thick brows lowered obediently, his gaze upon Zeng Anmin full of respect.

"No need for formalities. Do you still remember what I told you yesterday?"

"I came precisely because of what you said yesterday."

"Mm. Prepare to leave."

As Zeng Anmin spoke with Shen Jun, a burly man approached from outside.

The moment the burly man saw Zeng Anmin, his expression likewise turned respectful as he said:

"Young Master Zeng, where is that horse?"

This burly man was none other than Wang Daoyuan, from whom Zeng Anmin had borrowed a horse yesterday.

Zeng Anmin looked at Wang Daoyuan, a half-smile appearing on his face.

"The horse is in the rear courtyard. But there's no rush. Accompany this official to handle a case first."

He had no suitable subordinates at the moment. If he temporarily borrowed men from his father... word would likely leak out.

Thus, Wang Daoyuan was a rather fitting choice.

"Ah?" Wang Daoyuan looked utterly blank. He had only come for his horse; he had never expected to be drafted into hard labor at the drop of a hat.

After pondering for a while, Wang Daoyuan revealed a troubled expression.

"May I ask where we are going to investigate?"

Zeng Anmin did not answer directly, merely glancing toward Shen Jun beside him.

Shen Jun understood. He cleared his throat and said to Wang Daoyuan:

"There is a Wild Mountain not far outside Liangjiang Prefecture City. There may be traces of my uncle there. If we leave now, we can return by evening."

The matter of Shen Jun's Aunt Murder Case being solved by Zeng Anmin and transformed into Shen Liu's disappearance case—

had already spread through the Xuanjing Division in Two Rivers Prefecture yesterday.

Naturally, Wang Daoyuan had heard of it as well.

He had personally witnessed Zeng Anmin solve the Zhang Lun case on the spot, and he deeply admired his ability to crack cases.

"This... this subordinate must return and report first. If someone catches me leaving my post without permission, it may bring great disaster."

Wang Daoyuan cautiously glanced at Zeng Anmin.

"Mm."

Zeng Anmin nodded indifferently.

"We will wait for you at the dock."

"Yes!"

At the dock.

A small boat had long been waiting by the riverbank. Food and wine were all prepared aboard, giving it a leisurely air.

"You have been quite thoughtful."

Seeing the small boat at the riverbank, Zeng Anmin raised his brows at Shen Jun.

"My family is in this line of business, so naturally I know what must be prepared for travel."

Shen Jun smiled modestly and extended a hand. "Please."

"Young master, be careful."

Qi Dachun watched the surroundings with extreme vigilance as he carefully helped Zeng Anmin aboard.

Since he was out today, Zeng Anmin was not wearing Official Robes, only a casual set of azure clothing. He resembled his father quite a bit; though his clothes were not ostentatious, he still carried himself with natural grace.

Shen Jun, meanwhile, had been pampered at home since childhood and likewise bore the air of wealth and nobility.

As for the tall and powerfully built Qi Dachun, along with Wang Daoyuan in plain cloth, neither stood out much compared to the two of them.

Once all four were seated on the boat, Qi Dachun froze.

After looking around, he asked, "Where is the boatman?"

Zeng Anmin did not answer, only shooting Wang Daoyuan a sidelong glance.

Wang Daoyuan immediately understood and hurriedly said, "I'll do it! I'll do it!"

With that, he rose to his feet, braced the oar, and guided the small boat slowly away toward the rippling, glittering river.

Zeng Anmin and Shen Jun chatted aboard the boat, talking about this and that.

What made Zeng Anmin view Shen Jun in a new light, however, was that the man had some real learning in him.

In his early years, he had studied and had once been a student of Shuidu Academy.

But later, because of matters concerning the family business, he had not continued his studies.

"What a pity. If Brother Shen had been willing to continue studying, you might well have ascended into the blue clouds."

Zeng Anmin clicked his tongue, a trace of regret on his face.

"Hehe, there are a thousand roads in this world. But which one can a person choose for himself?"

Shen Jun shook his head with a smile and did not mention the matter again.

Wang Daoyuan was drenched in sweat by then. He took a breath, pointed to a Wild Mountain ahead whose green-tipped outline was faintly visible, and interjected:

"Is it there?"

Shen Jun turned his head and stared into the distance for quite a while.

Then certainty appeared on his face.

"It is precisely that small Wild Mountain. The waters here are extremely broad; unless one deliberately sought it out, it would be hard to find. If my uncle intended to hide, this would certainly be an excellent location."

Zeng Anmin's gaze fell calmly upon the small mountain.

The small mountain was surrounded by water on all sides.

Though he had only taken a rough look, he could still sense the vitality upon that mountain.

It truly was a fine place to build up strength for rebellion.

Zeng Anmin praised it inwardly, but his face showed not the slightest expression. "Bring us closer."

"Yes."

Wang Daoyuan's expression was incomparably respectful as he tirelessly worked the boat.

Before long, the small mountain was right before their eyes.

"Though the sparrow is small, it possesses all five organs."

After nearing the small mountain, Zeng Anmin raised his brows and, supported by Dachun, stepped ashore.

He raised his head and took a rough look. Green trees and flowing water covered the mountain, and he could even see wild rabbits darting about, leisurely nibbling at weeds.

Shen Jun and Wang Daoyuan disembarked together. Looking at the mountain's surroundings, Shen Jun spoke with reminiscence in his voice:

"My uncle named this mountain Water Cloud Island. Though I only came here with him as a child, the memory has remained vivid."

"Mm. Let's go up and take a look. Be careful to conceal your tracks."

Zeng Anmin looked toward the not particularly high hill, warning the other three with his eyes.

"Yes."

No one dared say anything more. They all knew they were handling a case now, and serious expressions appeared on their faces.

When Zeng Anmin and the other three climbed up the hill, their view suddenly opened wide.

An enormous tract of level land appeared before them, broad in view and forming a valley.

"Ho!" Zeng Anmin lay prone atop the hill, exposing only his head.

When his gaze touched the scene within the valley, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

There were not many people in the valley, perhaps two or three hundred. All wore numb expressions as they carried things about.

At a glance, he saw the busy figures within the valley accompanied by constant "crackling" sounds.

Several squads of armored soldiers stood there, whips raised as they drove the laborers onward.

But what truly sent a chill through Zeng Anmin's heart was that almost every one of those armored men had a sizable Firearm hanging at his waist!!

At this sight, Zeng Anmin's gaze sharpened, a trace of coldness in his voice.

"Prince Jiang's ambitions are immense indeed."

"What should we do now?" Shen Jun's palms began to sweat nervously at the sight. He looked at Zeng Anmin with guilty unease.

He believed his uncle was in league with the people below.

"Leave first. Do not alert the snake in the grass."

Zeng Anmin's eyes flickered as he quietly retreated down the hill.

The others did not dare delay and hastily followed Zeng Anmin down the mountain.

However, at that moment, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from the river.

"Hehe, since you have come, stay and be my guests."

"Why rush to leave?"

The four of them instinctively looked toward the riverbank.

They saw a small boat drifting leisurely forward, an elderly man aboard it wearing a kindly smile.

The old man's back was slightly hunched, his face carved with deep furrows, and he wore an exceedingly simple outfit of plain cloth.

If one did not know better, one might have taken him for an old farmer.

Yet now and then, a gleam of sharp light flashed through his seemingly clouded eyes, giving him an unfathomable air.

Holding a black feather fan in his hand, he sat leisurely on a small stool at the bow, watching Zeng Anmin and the other three with teasing amusement.