Ji Manor

The fourth day after Gao Nian of the Golden Dragon Gang met his death.

Early morning, the mist had yet to disperse.

Shen Xiuhan stood in the yard, honing his Mystic Eagle Stance. His blood and qi rose and fell with the stance, and a faint white mist steamed from his body.

From afar came a burst of footsteps, drawing nearer before stopping outside the courtyard.

Shen Xiuhan sensed the visitors, yet did not immediately withdraw his stance.

Only after he finished the form and the blood and qi within him gradually settled did he turn to look.

Outside the fenced yard stood a group of people.

At their head was a middle-aged scholar in his thirties, wearing a square kerchief. His face was lean, with a touch of scholarly grace between his brows.

Behind him stood several burly men, each with a defiant gaze and an oppressive murderous aura.

Seeing Shen Xiuhan finish his practice and look over, the middle-aged scholar cupped his hands amiably.

"Such solid stance work!"

"You must be Brother Shen, whose name has risen to prominence of late? I am Tang Cheng, humbly serving as the second-in-command of the Turbulent Wave Gang."

Shen Xiuhan returned the gesture without giving anything away.

"So you are Second Master Tang. I have heard much of you."

"You are too courteous, Brother Shen."

Tang Cheng was smooth and warm, his smile genial.

"I came uninvited today to inform you of something. From this day onward, Little Mirror Bay will fall under the jurisdiction of our Turbulent Wave Gang."

At this, he paused, his manner becoming even more courteous.

"As an outstanding disciple of Plum Academy, Brother Shen naturally need not pay protection money. Still, since we are gathered in the same place, if there is anything we fail to handle properly, I hope Brother Shen will bear with us."

Tsk. Looks like they have already thoroughly investigated my background.

Shen Xiuhan understood inwardly, but put on a puzzled expression. "Second Master Tang is too courteous. As for the Golden Dragon Gang..."

"The Golden Dragon Gang is gone!"

A smile appeared on Tang Cheng's face, his tone brimming with schadenfreude. "Brother Shen, you do not know yet?"

"The Golden Dragon Gang committed too many evil deeds and brought ruin upon themselves. Knowing they could not contend with our Turbulent Wave Gang, they tried to impersonate us and make one last haul before leaving. But they ran into a great hero passing through Longcloud County. Gao Nian was slaughtered on the spot, and that hero even placed the customary payments outside the homes of the villagers overnight..."

Shen Xiuhan suddenly understood and praised, "Did that great hero leave behind his name?"

"He did not."

Tang Cheng shook his head. "After taking that dog Gao Nian's life and distributing the money, the great hero drifted away. Once our gang leader received word, he struck like thunder and took the opportunity to uproot the Golden Dragon Gang's stronghold."

"So that was it..."

After exchanging a few idle words, Tang Cheng took his followers and bid farewell.

Not far after leaving the Shen Family's courtyard gate, one of the followers hurried up and lowered his voice.

"Second Brother, are we really exempting his household from the protection money just like that?"

"What else?"

Tang Cheng slanted him a glance, his tone indifferent.

"Longcloud County is not the military camp. In all things, caution comes first. Do not act rashly."

"This subordinate understands!"

"Hmm?"

"...Er, this lowly one understands!"

In the yard, Madam Zheng emerged from the side room carrying a stack of newly woven fishing nets. Curious, she asked, "Eldest son, who came?"

Shen Xiuhan scooped up a ladle of water and wiped the sweat from his body.

"People from the Turbulent Wave Gang."

"The Turbulent Wave Gang..."

Madam Zheng was puzzled. "Did they not collect the spring protection money the day before yesterday?"

"It was another matter."

Not wishing to make her worry, Shen Xiuhan wrung out the cloth, draped it over the wooden rack, dressed himself, and reassured her, "Mother, do not trouble yourself over it. Spend the next few days getting everything at home in order. Once I find a courtyard in the inner city, who cares what gang they are..."

The moment she heard they would be moving into the inner city, the worry on Madam Zheng's face vanished without a trace. Her whole expression brightened, and even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes eased open.

"Good! Mother will start packing today!"

She paused, then remembered something else.

"Right, with so many odds and ends, we cannot carry everything by hand. I will go to Uncle Liu's house in West Alley later, take ten copper coins, and rent his ox cart for a day in advance..."

Seeing Madam Zheng already making arrangements for the move, Shen Xiuhan smiled and nodded. Then he turned and headed out toward the inner city.

The inner city, north side.

Compared to the outer city, where mud pits lay everywhere, the inner city was paved with smooth bluestone slabs. Shops lined both sides of the streets, and most passersby were decently dressed.

Shen Xiuhan went around the North Market and turned into a quiet, broad alley.

Before he had gone far, a magnificent and imposing family estate came into view.

Its towering blue-brick walls stretched for dozens of zhang, while upturned eaves pierced the sky.

Before the vermilion-lacquered gates stood two white marble lions, guarding either side with solemn majesty.

Above the gate hung a black nanmu plaque, upon which two large characters had been carved in vigorous strokes:

Ji Manor.

Shen Xiuhan climbed the steps, raised his hand, gripped the bronze ring, and knocked on the gate.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Before long, the side gate opened a crack.

A gatekeeper of around fifty, dressed in a gray padded jacket, poked his head out. His voice was neither warm nor cold.

"What is it?"

Shen Xiuhan cupped his hands. "Please inform Steward Ji Zhong that Shen Xiuhan of Plum Academy has come as invited to pay him a visit."

The moment the gatekeeper heard the name "Shen Xiuhan," the scrutiny in his eyes immediately faded. He hurriedly opened the side gate.

"So it is Young Master Shen. Please, come in."

Seeing Shen Xiuhan's startled expression, the gatekeeper explained with a smile, "Steward Zhong specifically instructed us that if Young Master Shen came, there would be no need to announce you. We were to bring you directly into the manor to see him."

"...Then thank you, sir."

The inner residence of Ji Manor was immense, its courtyards deep and secluded, displaying the foundation of a great family at every turn.

Following the gatekeeper, Shen Xiuhan passed the main courtyard of the second enclosure, crossed a long corridor with carved beams and painted rafters, and entered a neat, independent quadrangle.

The courtyard was paved with blue bricks and swept spotless, with buildings arranged in pleasing order all around.

In one corner, several old plum trees stretched out their branches with unyielding pride, and a faint, cool fragrance drifted through the air.

In such a vast courtyard, not a single maid or servant could be seen attending to chores. It was strangely quiet.

The gatekeeper led him straight across the courtyard to the steps of the main hall, then bowed.

"Steward Zhong, Young Master Shen has arrived."

There was silence inside for a moment. Then Ji Zhong's hoarse voice sounded.

"Let him come in himself."

The gatekeeper immediately stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation.

Shen Xiuhan gave a slight nod and stepped forward to push open the carved wooden door.

"Creak—"

Before he even entered, the faint scent of ink and camphorwood washed over him.

What met his eyes were rows upon rows of rosewood bookshelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling and arranged in perfect order!

Four shelves to a row, eight rows in all!

They were packed densely with all kinds of books and bamboo slips.

Shen Xiuhan parted his lips, standing frozen in place for a moment.

So this seemingly unremarkable, secluded courtyard was actually the Ji Family's library!

By the window stood a carved pearwood couch covered in thick velvet cushions. A middle-aged man, draped in a sapphire-blue satin blanket, reclined upon it.

Hearing the door hinge move, he turned his head and glanced at Shen Xiuhan.

"You are here? Close the door and come in."

This man was none other than Ji Zhong from the registration meeting!

Shen Xiuhan's gaze flickered.

He had assumed Ji Zhong was merely an ordinary steward, at most a capable servant granted the family surname by his masters and treated with some favor.

But merely from his ability to enter the library at will, it was clear...

Steward Ji held a far higher position in the Ji Family than Shen Xiuhan had imagined.