Chapter 67

Chapter 67

"Old bastard! Get up now!"

The sounds in Old Xu's ears were too many and too chaotic for him to focus, his whole body swaying unsteadily.

He didn't know how long he had been here; he only knew he ate one meal a day, and he had eaten many, many, many such meals.

Each day dragged on like a year.

Because he had slowed down a few steps, the overseer's whip soon landed on him, the pain making him slightly more alert.

New wounds now layered over old ones; there wasn't a patch of good skin left on his body.

Old Xu's back was bent further, his shoulders rubbed raw and bleeding from the hemp rope used to drag the small cart behind him, which was loaded with salt rocks. The flesh on both shoulders had already festered. He didn't dare make a sound, just gritted his teeth and bore it.

Someone beside him collapsed, and the small cart became unsteady and tipped over. The overseer immediately came forward, putting all his strength into whipping the man who had fallen, exhausted, to the ground.

The person on the ground didn't react to the fierce lashing. Old Xu glanced from the corner of his eye and knew the man had already stopped breathing.

He withdrew his gaze, continuing to struggle forward as if he had seen nothing.

So be it. Death is a relief.

No more suffering.

Young Shen had said that after death, people have souls and become ghosts. His loved ones must be waiting for him. Once dead, he'd no longer have to mine salt, go hungry, or take beatings.

Old Xu felt a bit of envy in his heart.

But he couldn't die yet.

No matter how difficult, he had to grit his teeth and endure. He had promised his wife he would return. They needed to set up graves for their sons together, so they could come home from the distant battlefield. After that, their whole family could be reunited in death.

Old Xu moved forward numbly, his mind growing increasingly muddled.

As he neared the cave entrance, a fleeting moment of relief passed through Old Xu's heart. When unloading the salt rocks outside, he could have a brief moment to catch his breath.

Every time he hauled salt rocks, the light at the cave entrance was what he looked forward to most each day, besides eating and sleeping.

But this time, things at the entrance were different. The closer he got to the outside, the louder the commotion seemed.

Old Xu walked on, exhausted and numb, like a walking corpse, kept going by sheer willpower and a single thought.

He only realized a fight had broken out when he finally reached the cave entrance.

Old Xu didn't recognize the people grappling with the salt mine enforcers, but he recognized their clothing—yamen constable uniforms.

The yamen officials had come to save them!!!

Old Xu felt like a withered tree revived by spring rain, suddenly full of life.

The dark cloud over his heart lifted, and daylight shone through. He waved his arms desperately, shouting: "Help! Officers, save us!"

With his shout, people further back in the tunnel sensed the commotion and began stirring restlessly.

The overseers inside were posted at intervals, keeping the workers dispersed. But when the salt miners all rioted together, the guards truly couldn't hold them back.

The fight outside the tunnel went back and forth. Old Xu had been on the battlefield in his youth and could see the constables were actually struggling somewhat.

His heart sank.

Old Xu wanted to live. He wanted to survive more than anything.

He was the last of his age left alive in the salt mine.

He had hung on by a thread to reach this point. Today, no matter what, he had to get out.

"Everyone! In the past, we tried everything but couldn't get even a step away from this place. Many have died under the blades of the overseers and enforcers for trying to flee. But today is different!" A gleam lit up Old Xu's cloudy eyes. He raised his arm high, shouting with all his might: "The yamen constables are here! Our best moment to fight back has come!"

Old Xu didn't let the miners hesitate. Drawing on his experience rallying troops for battle, he stated the facts directly: "If we don't all unite to resist and fight back today, there is only a dead end in our future!"

They would never get another chance like this!

Among the common people in the salt mine, some were slaves who had been sold, while others had been tricked and deceived into coming.

But regardless of how they arrived, they were first and foremost human beings.

Life in the salt mine was worse than a dog's life. Crowded together in a narrow cave, eating, drinking, and defecating in the same space, they weren't allowed to leave the area by even a step, or they would suffer inhuman torture.

The overseers and enforcers loved to torment them for fun in their leisure time. Every day spent here was a living hell.

They wanted to live! To escape!

To live like human beings again!

"Ahhh! Kill them!"

"Charge out!"

"I'll beat you animals to death!"

The miners' emotions were stirred. They knew Old Xu was right. Such a good opportunity might never come again. If they didn't desperately save themselves now, and if the constables lost, they would never see the light of day again.

The hemp ropes were thrown from their shoulders. The miners simultaneously released the handles of their carts.

The carts tipped over, salt rocks scattering everywhere.

They returned their accumulated fury upon the overseers who had been beating them just moments before.

Some used their fists, some kicked, and others picked up salt rocks as weapons, hurling them fiercely.

The grayish-white salt rocks were stained with blood. Miners further inside were also roused. For a time, the inside of the salt mine tunnel became even more chaotic than the outside.

After the crowd vented some of their rage, Old Xu shouted again, urging them to go outside and help the constables suppress the salt mine enforcers.

The knives at the overseers' waists and the whips in their hands were all seized by the miners. Some even took advantage of the chaos to strip the overseers' clothes and put them on—the fabric was high quality and valuable!

Ji Ping'an and Qin Shisong each led their teams. Today, they were to reclaim the salt mine for the yamen.

After days of interrogation, the group captured from Ancient Tea Manor finally broke and revealed the location of the salt mine.

Although the mastermind remained unknown, reporting this salt mine to the imperial court would allow everyone in the yamen to reap significant benefits.

Qin Shisong had no other demands. He just hoped that if today's mission succeeded, he could take the opportunity to replace their old equipment with newer martial blades.

The battered blades in their hands really didn't feel right.

As the fight grew increasingly tough, a group of people suddenly charged out from the mine. Qin Shisong glanced back, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw Lao Xutou at the forefront.

The salt miners' intervention gave the blade officers a chance to catch their breath. The martial blades' own weapons were unwieldy, and many had been shattered by the enemy's strikes during the fight. They simply followed the miners' lead and started grabbing their enemies' knives to use instead.

The fierce battle came to a halt after an hour.

This time, the Xie family's covert guards and regular guards had not been deployed; it was all handled by the magistrate office's martial blades. The fight was hard-fought, but fortunately, the outcome was good.

Some of the enemy, seeing things go badly, fled. Due to insufficient manpower and the many injuries sustained by the martial blades, they could only let them escape.

The salt miners were in just as bad shape; they were even more wounded than the martial blades.

Once they confirmed that the mine overseers and thugs could no longer harm them, the adrenaline wore off and people just dropped to the ground, exhausted.

...

Shen Yuan went to the magistrate's office the next morning and got word from Ji Pingan that Lao Xutou had been rescued from the salt mine and sent back to Stone Alley the previous day.

After listening to Ji Pingan's brief rundown of the events at the salt mine, Shen Yuan hurried to check Ji Pingan for any injuries.

Not wanting Shen Yuan to worry, Ji Pingan spoke up himself: "I'm alright. Just a cut on my arm and two on my back. I moved fast, so the wounds aren't deep. As long as I don't make any big movements, I can't even feel the pain."

In ancient times, there were no tetanus shots or disinfectants. Shen Yuan was more worried about something going wrong later.

He said, "Ge, if anything feels off at all during this time, you must go see a doctor immediately, understand?"

Ji Pingan reached out and messed up Shen Yuan's hair. "It's nothing serious, look how worried you are. Alright, I'll do whatever you say."

Only then did Shen Yuan relax a little, though he still wondered about Lao Xutou's injuries.

Since they were acquainted, he decided to visit after lunch.

Ji Pingan hummed a nameless tune as he returned to the blade officers' office, only to find a servant from the Xie family waiting for him.

Upon seeing Ji Pingan, the servant got straight to the point. Hearing this, Ji Pingan grew serious. "Fifth Elder wants to see me?"

"Yes." The servant found Ji Pingan's reaction somewhat odd and couldn't help but ask, "Is there a problem, Seventh Young Master Ji?"

Ji Pingan shook his head. He felt bitter; even if there were problems, he couldn't voice them.

These past few days, he had tried his best not to think about what he had overheard at the Chen family that night. But it wasn't that easy to forget.

It was manageable when he was busy, but as soon as he had some downtime, his mind would uncontrollably replay the words he heard that night and the scenes of Chen Yuye receiving various preferential treatments.

In the quiet of the night, Ji Pingan couldn't help but think: Xie Yulin seemed to prefer men who looked sturdy, with resolute features, around his own age, and who appeared particularly masculine.

Although it might be inappropriate to think this way, bordering on self-flattery... but if Xie Yulin already liked men, what else in this world couldn't happen?

The more Ji Pingan looked at himself, the more he felt he fit exactly the type Xie Yulin liked.

In the past, if invited to the Xie family ancestral estate, he would have been eager to go.

But times were different now. At this moment, he really didn't want to go.

Better safe than sorry. What if—just what if—Fifth Elder took a fancy to him? What would he do then!

"Brother, what does Fifth Elder want me for? Could you tell me a thing or two?" Ji Pingan inquired cautiously.

The servant replied, "It's related to the salt mine matter. Let's hurry. If we're late and Young Master Yulin gets displeased, neither of us will get off lightly."

Ji Pingan knew this was true and dared not delay further, quickly following the servant.

As they walked, Ji Pingan noticed something odd. "This isn't the way to the office gate."

"I have a message for Registrar Shen. After that, we'll go to the ancestral estate," the servant said, quickening his pace toward the small courtyard where Shen Yuan was.

Ji Pingan assumed it was a message from Xie Yulin and said nothing more. Upon arrival, he waited outside without entering.

He didn't know if Xie Yulin liked the food he sent over last time. Not having seen him since, he hadn't had a chance to ask.

"Luo Yun, what brings you to the office?" Shen Yuan greeted the servant cheerfully. "Look at you, sweating all over. Let me pour you a cup of tea. It's just the right temperature to drink."

Luo Yun, who was often by Xie Yulin's side, knew that nothing about Shen Yuan was a secret from his master. He knew Shen Yuan was a friendly and kind guy to everyone.

Feeling thirsty, Luo Yun nodded. While waiting, he said to Shen Yuan, "Registrar Shen, regarding the recipe for the dishes you sent to the ancestral estate on the day of the banquet... would it be convenient to share it? I noticed our Young Master really liked them. I know it's bold to ask, but if it's inconvenient, it's perfectly alright."

Shen Yuan handed the tea to Luo Yun. "Of course it's convenient! I'm just glad Fifth Elder liked them. I was worried they might not suit his taste."

"Thank you, Registrar Shen. Your cooking is done with such care and is so clean." Luo Yun took a sip of tea to soothe the heat, then continued, "I'm actually worried that the chefs at the estate might be a bit rusty. They might not prepare things as cleanly or as thoughtfully as you do."

Shen Yuan made a sound of surprise and spoke up for the unseen chefs. "How could that be? They've been preparing Fifth Elder's meals all along. Their skill and attention to detail are surely perfect. I'm actually just a dabbler, not a real pro. The Xie family chefs must be far better than me. I'll write down the recipe for you right away."

Luo Yun was stuck for words and could only smile and nod.

On the day of the banquet, because of the food Shen Yuan sent, Young Master Yulin had finally been less cold. But later, when the covert guards reported some overheard conversations from the banquet, the atmosphere shifted again.

Although Young Master Yulin appeared no different from usual, those who served him closely had been by his side since childhood. Reading subtle expressions was child's play.

Discerning Young Master Yulin's true mood was their forte.

Even if they were wrong nine times out of ten, the one time they were right was only because Young Master Yulin wanted them to notice, so he could use them to get things done.

Having sensed the displeasure on the morning of the banquet, Luo Yun and the others knew they needed to find a way to get Shen Yuan to the ancestral estate. Before they could act, however, Shen Yuan's food box had arrived.

Later, the words Shen Yuan said to Song Zijuan about cooking for him were also something Young Master Yulin wanted them to notice he was dissatisfied with.

In recent days, they had been busy giving Song Zijuan a hard time, thinking they were on the right track, but it turned out they weren't.

Today, Young Master Yulin suddenly said he wanted to see Ji Pingan. He also mentioned the hot weather and told the kitchen to prepare some chilled syrup.

When Young Master Yulin specifically mentioned chilled syrup, it couldn't possibly be just ordinary syrup.

It had to be special.

What chilled syrup was special? It had to be the osmanthus chilled syrup Shen Yuan made.

In Luo Yun's view, wanting to see Ji Pingan was merely an excuse. Regarding the salt mine affair, Young Master Yulin knew far more than Ji Pingan did.

But regardless, this was his own dereliction of duty. He had failed to realize they were on the wrong track, requiring Young Master Yulin to drop a hint.

As Luo Yun was reviewing his work, Shen Yuan had already finished writing the recipe. He blew on the bamboo slip to dry the ink and handed it to Luo Yun. "Here it is. Be careful; the ink might not be completely dry yet."

Luo Yun took the bamboo slip and rolled it up without looking.

The request for the recipe was just an excuse; he actually wanted Shen Yuan to go there himself and prepare food for Young Master Lin with his own hands.

But after all, Young Master Lin hadn't given any orders, and Shen Yuan hadn't understood his hints either, so the matter could only be left at that.

After finishing lunch, Shen Yuan went to a grain shop on the street to buy some millet and about a kilo of meat, then headed to Stone Alley with them.

He arrived at just the right time. The neighbor auntie happened to be opening her door to go to Lao Xutou's house. She was quite pleased to see Shen Yuan.

Earlier, Shen Yuan had given her money to take care of Lao Xutou's wife and had also given her household extra grain.

With these benefits, she was even more motivated. Millet was considered good food for them, something they usually didn't often indulge in.

"Young Shen is here!" the auntie exclaimed, her voice noticeably brighter. "Lao Xutou came back yesterday! Oh my, he was covered in wounds. The doctor came to examine him, and basins of bloody water were carried out one after another."

"Luckily, his second son's close friend was also there, helping to hold him down and even covering the cost of treatment. Otherwise, I'm afraid he wouldn't have made it."

After going through the ordeal at the salt mine, being able to return at all was no small feat.

Fortunately, he ended up being okay.

It was only a few steps away, and in the time it took to exchange three sentences, the auntie raised her hand to knock on the door. "Xu family! It's me! The young man who gave me money earlier to look after Sister Xu is here too!"

After a brief silence inside, hurried yet steady footsteps could be heard. To Shen Yuan, they didn't sound like an elderly person's.

The dilapidated wooden door opened from the inside, revealing a familiar, bearded face.

"Boss Qin?"

"Registrar Shen?"

The neighbor auntie chuckled beside them. "You two know each other?"

Qin Shisong never wore his official uniform when coming to Stone Alley, and his patrols didn't cover this area, so it was normal for people here not to recognize him.

Ushering the two of them in, his gaze remained fixed on Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan had come to see how Lao Xutou was doing. As for why Qin Shisong was here, he wasn't in a hurry to find out.

He headed straight for the room. Lao Xutou was already awake.

Seeing Shen Yuan, he became extremely moved. His wife had told him that during his absence, someone had paid the neighbor next door to look after her and had given money for it.

The auntie had just mentioned that the kind-hearted person had arrived. Recognizing Shen Yuan, Lao Xutou was at a loss for words. Before he could speak, his eyes were already brimming with tears.

Shen Yuan set down the things he brought, stepped forward to comfort Lao Xutou, urging him to focus on recovering from his injuries and not to say anything more.

Lao Xutou had never imagined that his simple act of help back then would lead to such a significant bond of kindness.

Trembling, tears streaming down his aged face, he choked out, "Th-thank you!"

Without Shen Yuan's help, his wife probably wouldn't have survived.

Aunt Xu was also wiping away tears beside him. Her health was poor, and her voice was soft and weak. The old couple kept expressing their gratitude.

In the end, it took Shen Yuan, the neighbor auntie, and Qin Shisong—all three of them—to help the old couple to their feet and get them seated properly.

Patients with injuries or illnesses shouldn't experience excessive or prolonged emotional agitation. Shen Yuan said a few more words, all urging them to take good care of themselves, before leaving the room.

The neighbor auntie stayed behind and didn't follow them out.

"Thank you, Registrar Shen."

Qin Shisong, who had followed out at some point, spoke up abruptly behind Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan turned to look at him. "Old Man Xu saved me back then. There's no need to thank me."

Qin Shisong, however, didn't agree. He stepped forward in silence. "Shall we walk together?"

Shen Yuan knew he had something to say and nodded. "Alright."

The two left Lao Xutou's house and strolled leisurely through the cluttered Stone Alley.

After a brief silence, Qin Shisong took the initiative to speak. "Xu Weifeng, my sworn brother. The Xu family's second son. He sacrificed his life for mine."

Memories buried deep in the past slowly unfolded like a scroll.

Qin Shisong had thought the memories had faded, only to find they were still vivid.

He even remembered the sound of the iron arrow piercing flesh when Xu Weifeng pushed him aside and took the enemy's arrow for him, and the warmth of the blood that splattered on his face.

On the battlefield, blades and arrows were merciless. If Xu Weifeng hadn't instinctively pushed him aside, he would have died.

By the time Qin Shisong finished telling Shen Yuan about that life-for-life exchange, his eyes were already bloodshot.

"Before he died, he entrusted me to take care of his parents. After I left the battlefield, I came to the Xu family immediately to tell them everything. They had the right to know how their son died."

Shen Yuan could imagine that the outcome was probably not good.

Qin Shisong smiled bitterly. "They said they didn't blame me, but they also didn't want to see me again. Later, after I became a Martial Blade, I would leave some money in their courtyard every so often. At first, they didn't touch it. But later, because Auntie's health really couldn't hold out anymore, they had no choice but to use it."

"Come to think of it, my feud with your brother, Ji Ping'an, also started because of this."

"Auntie was hanging by a thread at the time. The doctor said she needed a particular medicinal herb, and only the Ji family in Qingyun County had it. I went to beg Ji Ping'an, offering to buy the herb. He told me to get lost and not to get close to him. Everyone in the yamen knows his temper—he doesn't like people getting close. I was truly desperate, so I told him the whole story. I really wasn't trying to get close on purpose. He said other people's life and death had nothing to do with him, thinking I was just telling a sob story to gain his sympathy, still trying to get close to him and win his trust."

Qin Shisong sounded both angry and helpless as he reached this part. "He's genuinely eccentric to the extreme. I never understood why he thought that way. But in the end, he still agreed to a duel with me, with the medicinal herb as the wager. That kid really went all out, showing no mercy at all. We both got carried away, fighting more and more fiercely. In the end, I narrowly won and got the herb."

"That's how the grudge started. He couldn't stand losing. As for me, I couldn't stand him thinking I was trying to cozy up to him, trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful like them."

Listening to the earlier part, Shen Yuan found it quite heavy, but when it came to the part about his Brother Ping'an, he found it both amusing and frustrating.

"Boss Qin, I'm not speaking up for my brother, but when I first started interacting with him, eight out of ten things he said were telling me not to try to get close to him. He avoided me like the plague. Every time we met, he looked utterly annoyed by me. But in reality, while his words were harsh and his face showed impatience, his actions were always things that were good for me."

Recalling his previous interactions with Ji Ping'an, Shen Yuan said sincerely, "Don't judge a person by what they say; look at what they do."

Qin Shisong was taken aback. His face, hidden beneath his beard, didn't reveal his true emotions. Could it be that he had misunderstood Ji Ping'an?

In fact, he had indeed obtained the herb.

Then, Shen Yuan added, "When I first met Old Man Xu, my brother seemed quite familiar with him too. He knew his name, his family situation, and where he lived. He probably looked into it after you told him."

He had thought the old man was just being polite, not wanting to accept more money from him. Later, the old man mentioned he had found work at the docks, cleaning chamber pots for the minor officials in charge.

Thinking about it now, it was likely Ji Ping'an had quietly put in a good word but didn't want him to know.

For a moment, Qin Shisong was at a loss for words. All these years, he had felt that Ji Ping'an's words were meant to provoke him, and he had found Ji Ping'an thoroughly disagreeable. Yet, in the end, it turned out he owed the other man so many favors.