"I'm still not strong enough. Otherwise, I'd be raiding Ningguo Mansion and throwing that father-and-son pair of dogs into the Imperial Prison, not merely sealing up their shops."
Jia Huan picked up the case file and called Fathead Fish and the others over, preparing to arrest a fugitive at a Daoist temple on the capital's outskirts.
But then-
"Brother Huan."
A Hundred-Household Commander wearing a silver Flying Fish Uniform walked into the office.
It was a familiar face from the hunt for that bald donkey Yuan Si: Hundred-Household Commander Yan Pu.
"Commander Yan." Jia Huan cupped his hands in greeting.
Yan Pu asked with a smile, "Brother Huan, do you have a moment? I'd like to treat you to a drink."
"The honor would be mine." Knowing there was something to discuss, Jia Huan gave his orders:
"Fathead Fish, Skinny Monkey, go take care of this case."
With that, he left with Yan Pu.
The two found a quiet tavern on Vermilion Bird Avenue.
"Brother Huan, there's something I need your help with," Yan Pu said, getting straight to the point.
"Please, go ahead."
Yan Pu nodded and first poured Jia Huan a cup of Southern Sky Wine, then said unhurriedly:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has informants planted among every creed and walk of life in the Jianghu. Just the day before yesterday, a covert agent reported that two great villains our Celestial Pivot Chamber guard station has been desperately searching for had arrived in the capital. These two once slaughtered three villages in a single night. They haven't a shred of humanity."
"One goes by Scarface Fiend, and the other is called Mother Yaksha. Both are twenty-five. As you can probably guess, they're on the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking, one in ninety-third place and the other in ninety-first."
"Though we know they're in the capital, finding two people among a population of two million is no different from fishing a needle out of the sea. Nor can we seal off a place as important as the capital. Think of all the powerful people passing through its nine gates every day, and the merchants entering from every corner of the land. Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard wouldn't dare tighten its inspections."
"As it happens, you're also on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking and have a Command Token that grants you access to the Misty Rain Tower. So I'd like to ask you to inquire where these two villains are staying."
"If we can capture those two Vicious Fiends, it'll be a great achievement!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Huan answered without hesitation:
"Rest assured, Commander Yan. I'll do everything I can!"
"Thank you." They raised their cups, clinked them together, and drained them.
After eating and drinking their fill, Jia Huan returned to the office and took a Gilt Command Token from a drawer.
"Scholar, take me to the Misty Rain Tower."
"Yes."
In Xuande Ward in the southern part of the city stood a small wooden building with an old-world charm. The two bold, vigorous characters for "Misty Rain" on its signboard were particularly striking. A fence in front enclosed several osmanthus trees, whose fragrance filled the entire alley.
Two swordsmen carrying sword cases stood on either side of the entrance.
Jia Huan handed over his Command Token.
"Please come in." A swordsman welcomed him with a smile.
Inside were a handful of young wandering swordsmen in their early twenties. At the sight of a court lackey entering in a Flying Fish Uniform, contempt immediately crossed their faces. Clinging to the powerful at such a young age-he had none of the backbone of a true Jianghu man.
Jia Huan looked toward an old man in coarse cloth who was dozing over a table.
"May we speak in private?" he asked.
The old man rose. His frame was stooped and bony, but his face was kindly.
"This way." The old man led the way.
He pushed open the back door, and they stepped into the alley.
Jia Huan stated his purpose directly:
"I'd like to inquire about the whereabouts of two people: Scarface Fiend and Mother Yaksha."
"I don't know," the old man said, shaking his head.
Jia Huan smiled. "I merely killed a few bald donkeys, yet your Misty Rain Tower knew every last detail. Scarface Fiend and Mother Yaksha have settled in the capital. Does the Misty Rain Tower truly not know, or does it simply not wish to tell me?"
The Hunchbacked Old Man's tone was firm:
"I'm afraid I cannot divulge that."
Jia Huan stared at him and said gravely:
"The men and women of the Jianghu have always punished evil and upheld good, acting with chivalry and justice. Yet you intend to shelter those two beasts with their sky-high mountain of sins, and stand by while innocent people are slaughtered?"
"With just a word from you, we of the Embroidered Uniform Guard can rid the people of this scourge."
The Hunchbacked Old Man smiled as well and said in a hoarse voice:
"Young master, the Misty Rain Tower has established itself in the capital by following two principles."
"Know what to fear. Keep to the rules."
"If you were a Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and brought your authority to bear, the Misty Rain Tower would never offend you for the sake of two Jianghu wanderers. That is knowing what to fear."
"If one day someone in the Jianghu hired an assassin to kill you and asked the Misty Rain Tower about your whereabouts, we would likewise keep our mouths firmly shut. Those are the rules!"
Jia Huan could not help finding this amusing.
Put plainly, my standing isn't high enough.
With enough standing, the rules become very flexible.
No wonder the Misty Rain Tower remained safe and sound in the Divine Capital. It answered every question a powerful figure asked, and that gave it a reason to exist.
"Please be on your way, young master." The Hunchbacked Old Man saw him out, then added:
"If you ever need to exchange martial arts or purchase secret manuals, you're welcome to visit the Misty Rain Tower."
Jia Huan did not move.
With a mountain of gold at my disposal, why would I care for the Misty Rain Tower's shabby scraps?
The Hunchbacked Old Man simply spoke more plainly:
"If you wish to rid the people of this scourge, have a Thousand-Household Commander come here. The Misty Rain Tower will disclose their whereabouts."
Jia Huan's voice turned cold:
"A Thousand-Household Commander has countless duties to attend to. How would he have time for these two ants?"
"I won't make things difficult for you. Let's do this instead: in my personal capacity as the one hundred and ninety-ninth on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, I challenge these two outstanding talents of my generation."
"We'll settle both superiority and life or death. They can choose the time and place!"
A flicker of alarm passed through the Hunchbacked Old Man's eyes. In disbelief, he asked:
"Are you certain?"
"Once a true man gives his word, how could he go back on it?" Jia Huan's expression remained utterly calm.
"Spread the word. If they're gutless rats, they should throw themselves down a well or hang themselves now, rather than keep roaming the Jianghu and making spectacles of themselves."
The Hunchbacked Old Man stressed every word:
"You will die!"
"You may be at the sixth level of Houtian, but even the weakest person in the Dragon-Tiger Ranking's top hundred is at the ninth level."
At such close range, he could feel the fluctuations of Inner Qi in the young man's dantian. The Misty Rain Tower had misjudged his strength; he was far beyond one hundred and ninety-ninth place. Yet the gap between him and the top hundred was still as vast as heaven and earth!
Jia Huan remained unconcerned:
"This wouldn't break your rules, would it? I'll go alone, without a single soldier."
The Hunchbacked Old Man offered a well-meant warning:
"You're so young. Why force yourself to the edge of a cliff?"
"With their arrogant ways, they'll be caught sooner or later. They have countless enemies in the Jianghu, and one day their corpses might end up exposed in the wilderness. But all you need to do is stay safely in the office. Given enough years, you'll make Hundred-Household Commander, perhaps even Deputy Thousand-Household Commander. You have a splendid future ahead of you, while theirs are merely two worthless lives!"
Jia Huan answered with iron resolve:
"In this life, I simply refuse to share the same sky with evil!"
I can earn merit and receive rewards. What is there to hesitate over?
"Will you do it or not?" Jia Huan asked again.
Seeing that his persuasion had failed, the Hunchbacked Old Man said frankly:
"The Misty Rain Tower will convey your message and spread word of this matter. Whether they accept the challenge will be up to them."
"Once they accept, the Misty Rain Tower will make the arrangements."
He was certain Mother Yaksha and Scarface Fiend would accept. Otherwise, their dignity and reputation would vanish. If they hid like turtles pulling in their heads when faced with the Dragon-Tiger Ranking's one hundred and ninety-ninth, they would become the laughingstock of the entire Jianghu.
"I'll take my leave." Jia Huan departed without hesitation.
"His official career has gone too smoothly. He has no sense of his own limits." The old man sighed.
He had offered every warning he should. If the young man insisted on going his own way, he could only reap the bitter fruit himself.
Before you continue