The Shadow Over Zhao Shi

Yesterday afternoon, Wang Wu, the apprentice in charge of patrols, ran over and whispered, "Sir, I saw him again. Lu Qinghe wasn't alone; he was with a woman, a complete stranger, wearing a robe, who looked like Soul Master. The two of them went into the old woods to the west."

Zhao Shi's eyelids twitched violently.

trouble.

The thing he hated most in his life was trouble. He toiled away in a lowly government office for over a decade, eventually becoming a steward. Life was simple but stable, provided nothing went wrong.

But the Lu family's situation is bizarre.

The abandoned mine shafts had long been hollowed out. What were they doing there? Mining illegally? There was nothing to mine. Making medicine? The Lu family was dirt poor. Gathering people to practice evil arts?

A final thought sent a chill down his spine.

If something goes wrong, the higher-ups will investigate...

Zhao Shi shuddered.

No, we need to figure this out.

He walked to the door and called out, "Wang Wu!"

A skinny, monkey-like boy darted out. "Butler?"

"I'm giving you a task," Zhao Shi said in a low voice, "Go to the western mountain valley, around the old mine area, and take a walk around it."

"What are you going there for? It's so desolate."

"Check if any Soul Beast are disturbing the peace," Zhao Shi said grandly. "Recently, some hunters have reported strange noises over there at night. Go and take a look, be careful, and see if there are any unusual traces or fluctuations in Soul Power. Remember, do it quietly."

Wang Wu dared not ask any further questions, "Yes."

"Wait a minute." Zhao Shi pulled out two Copper Soul Coin and stuffed them into his hand. "It's noon, buy a couple of biscuits to tide you over. Be smart, remember everything you see."

Wang Wu gripped the money tightly, his eyes lighting up. "Don't worry!"

Watching the boy run away, Zhao Shi went back into the house and sat down.

His fingers tapped on the table again.

Wang Wu returned as dusk fell, covered in dust and his trousers torn in several places. He took a swig of cold tea and, panting, said, "Steward, I've seen it."

"Explain."

"The road was gone, and I spent ages chopping grass to get in. The entrance to the old mine was mostly covered by wild vines, but there were freshly broken vines at the entrance, the cuts still green. There were footprints on the ground, more than one person's, quite messy. I took a few steps in, it was pitch black, and I didn't dare go any further, but I could smell something."

What does it taste like?

"It smelled like rust, or like something burnt." Wang Wu tried to recall. "I squatted at the cave entrance for a long time, carefully sensing, but I didn't detect any obvious fluctuations in Soul Power. The Soul Power there was very thin."

Zhao Shi narrowed his eyes.

There was activity. The traces were very fresh. There was no fluctuation of Soul Power.

This is actually more suspicious.

"Have you seen anyone?"

"No. I've been keeping watch for almost an hour, and there hasn't been a sound from inside. But my gut feeling tells me there's definitely someone inside. That feeling... it's creepy."

Zhao Shi waved his hand. "Alright, go and rest. Don't tell anyone about what happened today."

"Clear!"

Zhao Shi was left alone in the room again.

He stared at the oil lamp flame, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Wang Wu has a good eye. If he says there are people inside, he's probably right.

Lu Qinghe, the unfamiliar female Soul Master, who else is there? Is that kid Lu Yuan in there too? What are they doing in the mine?

Report?

The thought had barely formed when it was suppressed. Where to report it? To the city branch? What could they say? Suspect a few commoner Soul Master of being active in an abandoned mine, possibly practicing evil arts? Where was the evidence? Just a few footprints and a burnt smell?

The officials in the branch halls are too lazy to bother with the small towns below unless they have something to say. If you can't produce solid evidence and just make a fuss, you'll be reprimanded for "making trouble out of nothing" at best, and labeled as "incompetent in management" at worst.

no.

Go investigate in person?

Zhao Shi stroked his chin. He wanted to go, but was also a little apprehensive. He didn't know the danger. What if there really was a tough opponent inside, or someone who practiced some kind of evil technique? If a fight broke out... with his level 25 Soul Power, he might just be caught off guard and lose his life.

Besides, I'm exhausted.

He hesitated for a long time.

Finally, a decision was made.

Let's tap it first.

Let's see how Lu Qinghe reacts.

The next day at noon, Zhao Shi strolled to the east end of the town and stood under the old locust tree, pretending to admire the scenery.

After waiting for about half an incense stick's time, I saw a figure walking towards me in the distance, carrying a bamboo basket.

Lu Qinghe.

The basket contained rice, flour, salt, and other everyday items. It had just been purchased.

Zhao Shi put on a smile and went to greet him.

"Hey, Old Lu! What a coincidence."

Lu Qinghe paused, looked up and saw it was him, then nodded. "Deacon Zhao."

"Where's the purchasing?" Zhao Shi took two steps closer, his gaze sweeping over Lu Qinghe's face. "You look great lately, is there some good news at home?"

"What happy events could there be? Just living life."

"That's true." Zhao Shi chuckled, then changed the subject, "But Old Lu, I've heard... you've been heading west quite often lately?"

Lu Qinghe's shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly.

He looked up at Zhao Shi. His eyes, weathered by time, were still cloudy, but something had sunk deep within them.

"Just a stroll in the mountains," he said calmly. "To gather some wild vegetables and firewood. With another mouth to feed, every little bit helps."

"Oh--" Zhao Shi drawled, squinting his eyes, "That old mine in the west, abandoned for so many years, seems to have... some activity lately."

He stared at Lu Qinghe's face.

Lu Qinghe remained silent for two seconds.

Then he forced a smile, a bitter and helpless one. "Deacon Zhao, what are you saying? That wretched place, what could possibly happen besides wild rabbits and foxes? Did you misunderstand?"

Zhao Shi didn't reply, but just squinted at him.

The atmosphere became tense for a few moments.

Zhao Shi spoke slowly, his voice low and laced with a sticky, official tone.

"Old Lu, our town has its own rules," he said. "Abandoned mines are still town territory. Unauthorized mining is not allowed. Not to mention... gatherings of Soul Master of unknown origin."

He paused, looking at Lu Qinghe's suddenly contracting pupils.

"That place is remote. If something really happens, there won't be time to call for help." Zhao Shi's tone became more serious. "Soul Master cultivation follows the righteous path. Those crooked and evil practices must be avoided. Once you get involved, not only will you harm yourself, but you'll also easily implicate your neighbors and cause trouble for the town."

He patted Lu Qinghe on the shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy.

"Don't you think that makes sense?"

When Lu Qinghe returned to the mine, it was already completely dark.

He walked quickly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and carelessly tossed his basket at the cave entrance. Inside the cavern, the glow of the Soul Power lamp was dim and yellow, and several figures sat around a stone slab beside a fire. Lu Yuan looked up and saw the lingering melancholy on his father's face.

"Father."

Lu Qinghe waved his hand, squatted down by the fire, and warmed his hands in the firelight. The firelight made the wrinkles on his face appear even deeper.

"Zhao Shi is looking for me," he said, his voice a little hoarse, "He's blocked off the town entrance."

Shen Moxin pushed up her glasses and leaned forward. Mo Chen stopped polishing the stone slab and looked up. Su Yan and Li Wangye in the corner also stopped what they were doing and held their breath.

Lu Qinghe repeated what he had said verbatim. From "looking well" to "illegal mining and digging," and then to "a gathering of Soul Master of unknown origin." He spoke slowly, each word as if it had been carved out of a crack in a rock.

"He patted me on the shoulder," Lu Qinghe paused, "And asked me if that made sense."

There was a moment of silence in the cavern, broken only by the crackling of the firewood.