Post-mortem

The night was as dark as ink. Xi's slender figure vaulted over the wall, silently melting into the quiet alleys of Langya County.

The cold drizzle of rain against her face could not compare to the turbulent waves crashing within her heart.

A Wandering Knight... a Wandering Knight of the Mohist School had actually infiltrated the Great Qin's law enforcement system and become a Guard?

The news was too shocking to be believed, yet it was undeniably true.

Those peculiar mechanical weapons, the behavior that vaguely aligned with rumors of how Wandering Knights operated, and especially the indescribable tenderness hidden deep in his eyes when he told those sorrowful stories... all of it confirmed this startling revelation.

Besides, he was so good-looking!

When he had removed the human-skin mask from his face, even Xi, who had seen the peerless beauty of the Shark People, couldn't help but marvel.

Someone this handsome couldn't possibly be a bad person, right?

Certainly not!

She had to report this news to her master as soon as possible!

A Mohist Wandering Knight embedded within the Law Eye system could cause destruction and bring about variables far exceeding those of a hundred assassins operating in the wild.

For her master's grand plan, this might be an excellent opportunity to exploit...

Xi quickened her pace, her heart surging with excitement.

Inside the room, Chen Jin's throat was parched from talking, and he finally stopped.

He glanced at Xi, who was working diligently in the water vat. He had just told the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and Xi, deeply immersed in the tale, was now working with renewed effort.

At this moment, she was focused entirely on spinning the silk threads, the shuttle darting between her fingers as if she were weaving all her unspeakable emotions into the Shark Silk, which was as light as mist.

"Very good, keep it up," Chen Jin encouraged her softly.

"Mm-hmm! I will work hard!"

He walked to the side of the couch and sat down, not lying down immediately, but slowly closing his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the depths, opening the withered black Pre-Qin Bamboo Slip.

"Organizing observations from today: Law Eye operational mode, Guard organization, street rumors, Shark Person characteristics... especially the [Judicial Interpretation] section, mark as priority. Compile into <Human-Bingzi-Twelve (Qin) Basic Observation Report (I)>, price... tentatively 100 Yanfu Points."

Although the level of information he had accessed so far was not high and mostly superficial, there were many Walkers, each with different needs.

Perhaps some newcomer or someone interested in the Qin Law system would be willing to spend this small amount of money to buy a reference.

Even a mosquito's leg is meat; he was in desperate need of income right now.

The massive cost of 5,000 Yanfu Points to enter this Fruit had nearly emptied his savings, and every bit of meager income was precious.

After arranging the sale, his thoughts did not rest; he turned to review every detail of the day.

This was a habit he had maintained unwaveringly since his first undercover mission. Reviewing after every action allowed him to discover oversights, adjust strategies, and survive longer.

His final thoughts settled on the meaningful look in Squad Leader Wang Wu's eyes.

Everything tonight had seemed smooth, and convincing the team to hide the Shark Person fit the persona of "Heifu," who was greedy for wealth, which had temporarily stabilized the situation.

During the day, he had indeed pieced together a rough image of "Heifu" from the fragmented chatter of other Guards: greedy, stingy, a gambler, and someone who occasionally boasted of romantic affairs—a typical low-level soldier-ruffian.

Yet, Wang Wu's reputation was entirely different.

Upright, strict, and even somewhat pedantic.

Then there were the vague rumors that he was related to the famous general Wang Jian.

However, after completing the Great Qin's unification, the famous general Wang Jian had retired at the height of his success and disappeared without a trace, and no one could verify the claim.

If... if Wang Wu was truly related to Wang Jian, even if only by a distant branch, would he care for the "petty profit" of hiding a Shark Person?

Those pearls and Shark Silk might be a windfall for ordinary soldiers, but for someone who might have a deep background and grand ambitions, was it worth the massive risk of violating Qin Law, and tolerating such "borderline" behavior from his subordinates?

What exactly did that meaningful look from Wang Wu mean at the time?

There was too little information.

Chen Jin sighed softly in his heart.

Even the sharpest mind could not deduce the full chessboard while lost in the fog.

He could only plan based on the worst-case scenario—assuming Wang Wu had ulterior motives, and that unknown crises lurked beneath this seemingly smooth situation.

He slowly opened his eyes, took one last look at Xi, who was still working hard, and blew out the oil lamp.

As things stood, he should just sleep.

Only by being well-rested could he handle whatever might happen tomorrow.

Deep in the night, within a mansion in Langya County, only the copper bells on the eaves occasionally chimed in the breeze.

Cen Qing tucked her husband, exhausted from a night of work, into bed.

Watching his calm sleeping face, her slender fingers gently brushed across his furrowed brow, as if to wipe away the worries brought by his official duties.

Not until his breathing became long and steady did she rise silently, drifting toward the depths of the mansion like a wisp of soft cloud.

Her residence was far beyond what any ordinary wealthy household could compare to.

The estate spanned a vast area, with pavilions and towers arranged in a tasteful, staggered layout. They were constructed with precious golden nanmu and submerged agarwood, featuring carved beams and painted rafters that displayed the utmost craftsmanship.

Winding covered bridges and upturned eaves connected a series of meticulously landscaped courtyards.

Night-luminescent pearls were embedded into the pillars, casting a soft, radiant glow that shimmered in harmony with the starlight, illuminating the path toward the gardens in the rear.

The air was permeated with the faint, lingering scent of ambergris from the deep sea.

She stepped onto the jade bridge leading to the viewing pond all by herself.

Everything around her was deathly silent, save for the water lilies in the pond quietly blooming under the moonlight.

Leaning against the carved railing, she silently slipped off her silk slippers and dipped her jade-white toes into the cool water.

The next moment, a wondrous transformation quietly took place.

A hazy glow emanated from her submerged feet, and translucent, pale blue scales appeared on her delicate skin, rapidly spreading and merging until, in the blink of an eye, they transformed into a fish tail shimmering with moonlight and pearlescent luster.

She let out a soft, comfortable sigh, her tail fin swaying elegantly to send gentle ripples across the water's surface, savoring this brief and precious tranquility that belonged solely to her.

Although the entire economic lifeline of Great Qin was under the strict surveillance of the "Law Eye" and the Spirit Coin system was rigorous, even if one were to regress to the most primitive form of barter, how could she—a Shark Person princess who controlled the means of production for hard currencies like pearls and Shark Silk—ever truly live a life of hardship?

Every inch of luxury in this mansion spoke the answer.

Just then, the center of the pond rippled without a sound.

A head cautiously emerged; it was Xi, who had returned after leaving.

Floating on the surface, she lowered her voice to a whisper and reported everything she had seen and heard at Heifu's home to Cen Qing, point by point.

Cen Qing listened quietly, her stunning face betraying not a ripple of emotion.

She did not stop the swaying of her fish tail, and only when Xi finished her report and looked at her expectantly did Cen Qing give a slight nod.

Cen Qing remained silent for a moment. "You've worked hard. Go and get some rest, and do not speak of today's events to anyone else."

She paused, then continued:

"Once I have prepared a generous gift, I shall pay a visit in person to express my gratitude."