Killing Intent!

The next day.

The east had just begun to lighten.

Shen Xiuhan pushed open the door and stepped out.

A thin layer of ice had formed over the water in the vat at the corner of the yard.

Shen Xiuhan grabbed a wooden stick and smashed through the ice, scooped up a ladle of icy water, and splashed it over his face.

The chill pricked like needles, instantly washing away every trace of drowsiness.

Inside, Shen Momo was still curled beneath the blankets, sleeping sweetly.

Madam Zheng, however, had long since risen and was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The faint crackle of burning firewood could be heard from the yard.

Shen Xiuhan breathed out a puff of white air and turned back into the house.

He sat on the edge of the bed, and with a slight stir of his mind—

[Today's intelligence has refreshed!]

"Intelligence," "Deduction," "Prophecy," "Soul Restoration"...

"Hm?"

Shen Xiuhan frowned slightly.

He noticed that compared to yesterday, the system had gained four golden options.

Shen Xiuhan tried each one in turn, only to discover helplessly that apart from "Intelligence," which could be opened, the other three words were like reflections in water, dispersing the instant he touched them.

A moment later, the system delivered vague feedback:

"Deduction" required him to refrain from using "Intelligence" for fifteen days before it could be unlocked.

"Prophecy" required half a year.

"Soul Restoration"... required a full year.

Well then, what was there left to say?

"Open today's intelligence!"

The scene before his eyes suddenly changed.

Several pale golden points of light materialized out of thin air.

[Intelligence ①: Ma Xianyang, the third disciple of the inner court of Through-the-Back Martial Hall, has been stuck at the 'Blood Tempering' stage for over two years and wishes to rely on Treasure Fish to break through his bottleneck.]

[Yesterday, after seeing the Silver-striped Fish you caught, including several with five and six stripes, he concluded that you must know where the Silver-backed Treasure Fish hides!]

[His high-priced purchase of your fish and sending Chen An to escort you home were both meant to lull you into lowering your guard. In truth, he had already asked the Golden Dragon Gang to station watchers overnight at the inner city gates, fish market, and fish stalls.]

[The moment you appear with a Treasure Fish, to prevent the Bai clan from getting their hands on it, he will trick you into a deserted place, kill you, and seize the fish!]

Shen Xiuhan's mind boomed, and his pupils abruptly contracted to pinpoints!

Ma Xianyang...

He wanted to kill me!?

That bold and generous manner he had shown yesterday had all been an act?

Shen Xiuhan sucked in a cold breath, a chill shooting up his spine.

The intelligence made it clear that this man had been trapped at Blood Tempering for a long time and wanted to use a Treasure Fish to break through.

He must have investigated the details of all sorts of Treasure Fish and understood the habits of Silver-backed Fish. That was hardly surprising.

And because I am a tenant of the Bai clan...

The White Family was one of Longcloud County's foremost noble houses, controlling countless businesses in both the inner and outer cities!

Along with the county office and Eastern Guard Martial Hall, they stood as Longcloud County's three dominant powers.

Though Through-the-Back Martial Hall had a great reputation, it would never dare clash head-on with the White Family!

Ma Xianyang feared that if I caught a Treasure Fish, it would naturally be taken by the White Family...

Then his opportunity would be cut off.

So...

When he saw those Silver-striped Fish of mine at the fish market yesterday, he had conceived the intent to kill!

Shen Xiuhan slowly closed his eyes, his fists gradually tightening.

Ma Xianyang... what a Ma Xianyang. I'll remember you!

After a long while, Shen Xiuhan slowly opened his eyes, his expression already calm again.

[Intelligence ②: Mei Shuangfeng, master of Mei Martial Hall in the inner city, bears an evil reputation but still possesses the spirit of the righteous path. Recently, she and Through-the-Back Martial Hall have been competing fiercely for disciples.]

[Her personal disciple, Jiang Qinghong, was limited by her cultivation and lost in a sparring match on the arena to Zhao Honggang, the senior disciple of Through-the-Back Martial Hall, causing them to lose quite a few disciples.]

[Mei Shuangfeng is secretly seeking to purchase Treasure Fish, hoping her disciple can break through, wash away her shame, and restore the prestige of Mei Martial Hall!]

"Oh?"

Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up as a plan took shape in his heart.

If he could catch a Silver-backed Fish today, he could begin with Mei Shuangfeng. Perhaps he could find a better chance to break this deadlock.

Setting that thought aside for now, Shen Xiuhan continued reading the other intelligence:

[Intelligence ③: Aunt Li learned from Chen An that you had earned money selling fish and immediately urged Uncle Chen to demand repayment of the debt. Yet Uncle Chen and his son both refused, saying that the Shen Family was struggling and need not be pressed.]

[Aunt Li cried and kicked up a fuss, pointing at Uncle Chen's nose as she cursed, "Chen, have you taken a fancy to that pretty widow next door?!" Uncle Chen was so furious that smoke seemed to rise from all seven orifices, and he shut Aunt Li inside the house for a thorough handling.]

[They made a racket for a full hour, yet afterward the two actually embraced and fell asleep, leaving Chen An next door almost unable to sleep the entire night...]

The corner of Shen Xiuhan's mouth twitched slightly.

What the hell was that supposed to mean... It had better mean "handling"!

Shaking his head, he looked further down and saw that the remaining four pieces of intelligence were still the same as yesterday.

Since he had not obtained them yet, they still hung upon the illusory light screen.

[Intelligence ④: ...Silver-backed Fish, a Treasure Fish, have appeared in the shallows of Little Path Bay.]

[Intelligence ⑤: ...In a hole concealed by dry grass atop the largest dead tree in the dead forest lies food stored by a Golden-Tailed Rat for the winter.]

[Intelligence ⑥: ...The original copy of the Force Transformation-level stance art, "Through-Back Stance," is stored in the rear courtyard of Through-the-Back Martial Hall in Longcloud County's inner city.]

[Intelligence ⑦: ...Deep within Cloudwater Lake lie the belongings and inheritance of a true disciple of Sea-Fishing Tower...]

Of all the intelligence, the sixth and seventh entries currently seemed the most dangerous.

There was no need to mention Through-the-Back Martial Hall.

The secret manual was hidden in its rear courtyard, where experts must be as numerous as clouds. It was a dragon's pool and tiger's den.

And the belongings and inheritance of this true disciple of Sea-Fishing Tower...

Shen Xiuhan frowned as he recalled.

There was absolutely no faction called Sea-Fishing Tower within Longcloud County.

It had to be a force from another county—or even the prefectural city!

Besides, that pale golden point of light lay deep within Cloudwater Lake.

The place where his father, Shen Sanhuai, had died at the claws of a water monster had only been somewhat deeper waters on the outskirts.

One could imagine that the depths of Cloudwater Lake were certainly a perilous place.

"My strength is too weak at present. I absolutely cannot go there. I'll consider it later."

Shen Xiuhan silently made up his mind.

"Big bwother..."

As he was thinking, a soft, sleepy murmur came from beside him.

Shen Momo slowly woke on the bed.

Before Shen Xiuhan could rise—

The little girl scrambled up and burrowed into his arms like a kitten, mumbling in a milky voice:

"Big bwother, I want grilled fish bones..."

Shen Xiuhan wrapped an arm around her and smoothed her sleep-tousled hair, chuckling softly.

"So greedy first thing in the morning?"

"Mother's busy making breakfast in the kitchen. There's meat today, you know. Do you really still want grilled fish bones?"

At that, a conflicted expression immediately appeared on Shen Momo's little face.

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then shook her tiny head like a rattle drum.

"Then forget it. Momo wants meat-meat! I'll eat grilled fish bones at noon..."

Shen Xiuhan could not help but laugh.

He found a hair tie on the kang table and, following what he remembered, somewhat clumsily tied her hair into a sprout-like ponytail that stuck straight upward.

The little girl tried hard to roll her eyes upward, but no matter what she did, she could not see the top of her head.

She reached up with a little hand and fumbled about. When she felt that tuft of hair standing atop her head, she was instantly delighted and collapsed onto the bed, giggling sweetly without end.

"What are you two giggling foolishly about so early in the morning?"

Madam Zheng lifted the straw curtain, carrying a tray.

In an instant, a rich fragrance filled the entire straw hut.

On the tray were several bowls of steaming millet porridge, along with a few palm-sized cornmeal cakes.

The cakes had been fried golden and crisp, their surfaces gleaming temptingly with oil. One glance told Shen Xiuhan they had been pan-fried in pork lard.

Even more eye-catching were several thin slices of smoked meat in a bowl beside them, also stir-fried in lard—just the thing to eat with porridge.

"Wow, what a feast!"

Shen Momo's big eyes went round as she reached out to grab a cake.

Slap!

Madam Zheng swiftly tapped the back of her hand in midair.

Madam Zheng stepped forward and lifted the little girl from Shen Xiuhan's arms.

Her gaze fell upon the little braid shooting up from Shen Momo's head, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She held it in without laughing, then carried the little girl straight outside.

"No manners. First, I'm taking you to rinse your mouth and wash your face!"

"Nooo! Big bwother, save me..."

The little girl flailed desperately in Madam Zheng's arms, letting out a string of wails:

"Mother scrubs my face so hard! Momo's face is going to get scrubbed raw..."