Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Li Baozhu took the Civil and Military Blade Divisions to conduct inquiries and investigations throughout the county.

After a whole afternoon of effort, he returned to the yamen leading a group of exhausted blade officers.

Ji Ping'an and Shen Yuan were both there. They had learned of the problem from Qin Shisong and came to the yamen together to wait for Li Baozhu's news.

"The smell in the county has gotten quite strong. It lessens significantly once you're outside the city gates."

Shen Yuan went out of the city to return to Big Tree Village every day, so he noticed the change in the smell more acutely.

Ji Ping'an had recently been confined to his home to recuperate from his injuries. His wounds had reopened once before, and Zhao Yueyun absolutely forbade him from going out again.

"I've been staying at home every day, so I haven't smelled anything. But when I do go out, the stench is noticeably much stronger."

Li Baozhu slumped listlessly over the table, completely drained of energy, nearly stupefied by the stench.

"I first investigated the affluent neighborhood. They all said they didn't know what was going on, that the outside had gradually grown foul. They even asked us what was happening and why we weren't doing anything about it. Later, I went to check the various alleys. The smell there was truly overwhelming. I asked the common folks there, but they were too scared, hiding in their homes and not coming out, so I learned nothing."

Xu Kangfu pondered for a moment. "Magistrate Pang is ill, and coincidentally, the county town is reeking to high heaven. This matter probably requires asking Magistrate Pang himself."

Li Baozhu waved a hand dismissively. "It was no use. I went to the Pang residence, but the servants wouldn't let me in."

"This Pang fellow definitely has a problem," Qin Shisong declared immediately. "Tonight, I'll sneak into the Pang residence and drag him out for questioning."

For the moment, there was no other option. Xu Kangfu and Guo Mingchen exchanged a glance but ultimately said nothing.

An hour later, he returned from his infiltration. Everyone was waiting at the Storytellers' Guild.

Qin Shisong frowned. "He's not at the residence."

Xu Kangfu and Guo Mingchen had already anticipated this outcome.

The strangeness of the situation was now blatantly obvious, so Magistrate Pang certainly wouldn't make himself easy to find.

Qin Shisong took a more practical view, telling everyone what he saw at the Pang residence. "However, his family members are all there. I reckon he can run, but he can't hide forever. We'll catch him eventually."

Even so, for some reason, a sense of unease settled over everyone.

The foul odor outside lingered, faint yet persistent, making it impossible to feel completely at ease.

"I'll take the Civil Blades for a patrol on the streets. Registrar Shen, you all should go back and rest," Li Baozhu said, taking up his official blade to head out. Qin Shisong called out to him, "Wait, I'm coming too."

The strangeness in the county town was impossible to ignore. Whether it was the Civil or Military Blades, they all wanted what was best for Qingyun County.

After all, it was their hometown.

Shen Yuan was also very worried. He didn't leave but stayed in the county town instead, tasking his covert guards with investigating what was really going on.

Ji Ping'an, Xu Kangfu, and Guo Mingchen also followed along, meticulously searching for the source of the stench.

Qin Shisong led the Military Blades, and Li Baozhu led the Civil Blades.

Shen Yuan and the others formed another team, combing through the county's main streets and back alleys.

As Shen Yuan's group passed through a small alley, the stench was so powerful it felt like a tangible blade piercing their nasal passages and drilling into their brains.

A gust of wind blew past, carrying a wave of stench like raw sewage that forced them to involuntarily hold their breath and close their eyes.

After the wind passed, Guo Mingchen suddenly opened his eyes. "There's the smell of fire oil."

"What?" Shen Yuan hadn't caught it and asked again.

"Within the sewage stench, there's the smell of fire oil," Guo Mingchen stated with certainty. "This smell is masked by the heavier stench, so it's not easily detected. Plus, during the day with many people coming and going, even the stench becomes somewhat diluted. At night when there are fewer people, the wind carries the smell, making the faint scent of fire oil detectable."

Qin Shisong happened to be leading the Military Blade officers through another alley and saw Shen Yuan's group gathered together. He approached and asked, "Registrar Shen, have you found anything?"

Shen Yuan replied, "Brother Guo says there's the smell of fire oil mixed within the stench."

Although Guo Mingchen said so, the others simply couldn't smell it.

Instead, having inhaled the foul air, they were feeling rather sick.

Even though Xu Kangfu said he couldn't smell it, if Guo Mingchen said it was there, then it likely was.

Upon hearing this, Qin Shisong and the Military Blade officers instinctively began sniffing the air. The officers sniffed twice but couldn't stand it, quickly covering their noses and mouths.

But Qin Shisong frowned more deeply the more he sniffed.

"Officer Guo's nose is probably right," Qin Shisong affirmed solemnly.

Everyone was taken aback, listening as he continued, "Fire attacks are common on the battlefield, and fire oil is frequently used. It has a quite distinct and easily noticeable smell. I'm familiar with this smell. Just now, upon careful sniffing, there indeed is the familiar scent of fire oil. It's likely the quantity is small, masked by the sewage stench, so it's not easily detected."

There really was fire oil!

Everyone's expressions turned grave. If this stench pervaded the entire county, and if the stench was meant to mask the smell of fire oil, then did that mean the entire Qingyun County had been doused with fire oil?

"Is someone planning to burn down Qingyun?" Xu Kangfu muttered aloud.

The situation had become serious.

Meanwhile, Li Baozhu was leading the Civil Blades, inspecting various shops and streets. Suddenly, he saw figures not far away. Looking up and seeing they wore blade officer uniforms, he let his guard down and called out to them, "Is that the Military Blade Division?"

The people across looked over, then quickly left.

Li Baozhu muttered, "Why are they ignoring us again? They were fine when we left the guild."

After muttering, he couldn't help but cover his nose and asked the Civil Blade officers beside him, "Hey? Do you smell it? Does it seem even worse than before?"

The Civil Blade officers' faces were scrunched up from the stench, nodding vigorously. "Boss, it really is worse."

Covering his nose and mouth, Li Baozhu led the Civil Blade officers to other areas they hadn't checked yet, thinking it was truly strange. Had Qingyun County fallen into some invisible cesspit?

As the group passed through another street, they again saw familiar blade officer uniforms. Having experienced the previous incident, Li Baozhu didn't call out this time.

Unexpectedly, they were walking towards him.

Li Baozhu snorted, "Well, well. Ignoring us just now, and now coming over. Registrar Shen, you be the judge. This Qin Shisong seems honest, but he really has two faces."

Qin Shisong frowned and asked him, "When did I ever ignore you?"

"You didn't, but your subordinates did. Let me tell you, our Civil and Military Blades have let bygones be bygones; we're not like we used to be. If you guys keep acting like this, ignoring people when called, don't we Civil Blades have any pride?"

Li Baozhu was genuinely feeling aggrieved. He truly wanted to get along well and not return to the previous strained relationship.

But he also didn't want to be the one always making friendly advances while getting the cold shoulder. Why should he put up with this disrespect?

Qin Shisong was completely in the dark and somewhat on edge about the kerosene matter. Shen Yuan jumped in, saying, "Chief Li, the Martial Blades have been with us the whole time; they haven't left. Where did you see them?"

The group sensed trouble. A bewildered Li Baozhu pointed behind him. "Just down the street behind us, a short walk away. All the Civil Blades have been with me. Those people were wearing constables' uniforms. If they weren't from the Martial or Civil Blades, then they must have been..."

Li Baozhu's face went deathly pale, terrified. "They must have been the ghosts of the deceased Martial Blades!"

Thank goodness he hadn't paid them any mind. If he had responded to them, he would have been scared to death on the spot.

Shen Yuan knew Li Baozhu was frightened and still felt guilty about the past incident. He patted Li Baozhu's back. "Don't be scared."

He then explained the kerosene situation to Li Baozhu.

Li Baozhu was shocked. "Then the people I saw earlier must have been the ones splashing the kerosene! No wonder it smelled even worse over there! But why were they wearing constables' uniforms? And why splash kerosene? Do they want to burn down Qingyun County?"

Everyone looked at Li Baozhu. He had hit the nail on the head.

"It seems Magistrate Pang's sudden claim of illness and disappearance is related to the appearance of these fake officials," Ji Pingan reasoned. "Officials typically patrol during the day, hardly ever at night. Even if they did, the Civil and Martial Blades have always been at odds. They patrol different areas, and even if they crossed paths, they wouldn't communicate."

Li Baozhu chimed in, "So, Magistrate Pang had people disguised as fake officials, splashing kerosene all over at night and using foul water to mask the smell. He wants to burn down Qingyun County?"

Li Baozhu couldn't make sense of it and voiced his doubt, "Has he lost his mind?"

Otherwise, why would he do such a thing?

Committing such an act would mean the destruction of his whole clan. Did he not care about the Pang family and his relatives?

This was also something the others couldn't understand.

Shen Yuan said, "The top priority now is to remove this kerosene. Otherwise, the slightest spark could trigger a catastrophic fire."

Most buildings here were wooden structures with thatched roofs. Once a fire started, it would spread across entire neighborhoods.

As they were discussing waking up the commoners to help clear the kerosene, a covert guard sent by Shen Yuan to investigate rushed over urgently, reporting, "A fire has broken out in the east of the city."

No sooner had he finished than another covert guard hurried over, saying, "A fire has broken out in the west of the city."

The east was where wealthy households lived.

The west was where the poor commoners lived.

East and west, located at opposite ends of Qingyun County.

With their current manpower, they could only fight the fire on one side.

Shen Yuan instinctively told the covert guards, "You, come with me to the west to fight the fire. The wealthy households in the east have servants and relatively well-established fire prevention measures."

The west had nothing.

Qin Shisong immediately followed Shen Yuan. "All Martial Blades, follow me to the west."

Ji Pingan, Guo Mingchen, and Xu Kangfu followed wherever Shen Yuan went.

"All Civil Blades, to the west," Li Baozhu also made his decision without hesitation.

Shen Yuan frowned in thought. Everyone going to the west wasn't the best plan.

After a moment's consideration, he said to Ji Pingan and the other two, "Brother, take some Martial Blades to the east. There are many wealthy households there. I'm afraid some might take advantage of the chaos to loot or harm others. You have blades; it's at least a deterrent. The east cannot descend into chaos either."

After a brief hesitation, Ji Pingan and the other two followed Shen Yuan's instruction.

The bigger picture was what mattered.

Shen Yuan also dispatched several covert guards, along with some Civil and Martial Blades, to alert the people in the south and north of the city.

With kerosene spread throughout the entire county, once a fire started, it couldn't possibly be confined to just the east and west.

West of the city.

The fire was raging out of control. By the time Shen Yuan and the others arrived, thick smoke billowed and fierce flames surged.

This area was densely populated, with houses packed closely together, feeding the intense blaze.

Many commoners had escaped, their faces covered in soot, standing helplessly in the night.

"The officials are here!"

Someone in the crowd shouted. Commoners who usually trembled at the sight of officials now seemed to find a pillar of support.

"Officials! Our houses are burning!"

"Our homes are gone! We don't know which damned soul did this! Official, you must bring us justice!"

"Everything's burned! How will we live from now on? Damned arsonists, may you die a horrible death!"

Listening to the angry, panicked, and aggrieved complaints, Shen Yuan calmly directed the Civil and Martial Blades to focus on creating firebreaks, trying to limit the spread as much as possible.

He then organized able-bodied commoners to go and rouse people in other alleys.

The fire was too fierce. With their current numbers, they couldn't possibly extinguish it.

The smoke was choking. Many commoners weren't woken by calls but by the smoke.

Fortunately, some were roused. The sooner they woke, the sooner they could escape the thick smoke.

The commoners watched as houses not yet touched by the flames were being torn down, filled with confusion and anger, but no one dared to say anything.

Shen Yuan saw Qin Shisong and the others tiring quickly, while the fire spread even faster.

If the smoke rolled over, choking on it would make demolition impossible.

He could only shout explanations to the commoners, "Everyone! Please help! Let's work together to tear down those houses over there. If the fire reaches there and finds no wood or thatch to burn, it will slowly stop!"

Shen Yuan's voice rang out repeatedly. Smoke irritated his throat, making it painfully sore.

He understood the importance of houses to the commoners. Asking them to tear down unburned houses was akin to asking a starving person to dump a bowl full of food.

Just as Shen Yuan thought he couldn't persuade them, an auntie suddenly spoke up, "Official, if we tear down those houses, will the fire really stop?"

Shen Yuan didn't lie. He told the truth. "If the firebreak is wide enough, it will. If not, we'll need to tear down more ahead."

Everyone looked at the flames that seemed ready to devour everything. That was enough.

Even a chance to stop it was enough.

"I'll help!" The auntie rolled up her sleeves and ran forward, her thin figure radiating determination.

"I'll go too!"

"I'll go!"

"Wait for me!"

With someone taking the lead, everyone else sprang into action.

Shen Yuan had thought he would need to persuade them for a while longer, but unexpectedly, everyone rushed to help.

Even the elderly, lagging behind, moved forward unsteadily.

Shen Yuan stepped forward to stop them. "Seniors, please stop. Find a place to rest."

The old woman at the front said earnestly, "In the past, when something happened here, the local officials either never came or arrived late. We've had fires before, but this is the first time anyone's come so early, and the first time they've worked so desperately to save people and put out the flames."

It was precisely because of this that Shen Yuan was able to persuade the people to tear down the houses in such a short time.

They sensed Shen Yuan's sincere desire to save lives and extinguish the fire.

Watching the guards rushing back and forth through the flames, the old woman's eyes welled up with tears. "Sir, you look kind. I'll take the liberty to say a few more words to you. If I'm out of line, please don't be offended. Though we're just a bunch of old bones, we want to help, too, not just watch you all work."

"If... if something happens here again in the future, could you please come just a little bit earlier?"

Shen Yuan couldn't imagine how many innocent lives must have been lost before for the old woman to make such a plea to him at this moment.

He could only try to put their minds at ease first, telling them not to worry and to find a place to stay.

"If you want to help, you can help me prepare food and water. They're doing heavy labor and need to eat and drink regularly to keep their strength up."

None of the elderly refused; they all nodded in agreement.

Shen Yuan led the group of seniors to prepare food and clean water, which also had to be scavenged.

Just as he was leading them forward, trouble struck out of nowhere.

A black-clad figure popped up from nowhere, swinging a blade straight at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan instinctively pushed away the nearest elder to protect him, then rolled on the ground to dodge the attack.

However, more and more black-clad figures emerged, all targeting Shen Yuan.

The two hidden guards left to protect Shen Yuan reacted just as quickly, fighting with the group of attackers.

In the shadows, a pair of eyes stared intently at Shen Yuan.

The two hidden guards found it harder and harder to hold off the attackers. Shen Yuan knew some martial arts, but facing so many armed men, he couldn't hold out for long.

Just as a blade was about to strike Shen Yuan's neck, the two hidden guards were occupied, and Shen Yuan, exhausted, found it difficult even to move.

In the moment the blade fell, Shen Yuan's mind went blank, slowly forming one last thought.

It seemed he was about to die again.

"A-Yuan..."

A low voice called softly. Shen Yuan thought he'd misheard.

The expected pain didn't strike him. Instead, he felt himself being embraced. The sound of a blade cutting into flesh was dull and heavy. Shen Yuan opened his eyes and met a pair of familiar yet strange dark eyes.

The person holding him wore a mask, the exposed brows and eyes tightly furrowed in pain.

Behind them, the black-clad attacker who had swung the blade suddenly collapsed, catching Shen Yuan's eye. An arrow had pierced through most of the man's chest from behind.

Shen Yuan heard the man who had taken the blow for him look at the fallen attacker and whisper, "Lost again."

If the earlier call of "A-Yuan" could be chalked up to mishearing, this whisper of "Lost again" was clear to Shen Yuan.

Such a familiar voice.

"Zi..."

Shen Yuan started to say "Brother Zijun," but he was cut off as the man tightly grasped his wrist—the one wearing the wooden bracelet—and said in a low voice, "Stay away from Xie Yulin. I'm leaving."

Song Zijun left quickly. Shen Yuan tried to grab him but grabbed at nothing.

The moment Song Zijun let go, Shen Yuan heard the sound of horses.

He turned to look and saw, approaching on a tall horse, Xie Yulin, who was supposed to be in Youyang handling the Northern Envoy problem for Emperor Wu.

Xie Yulin was dressed in black, his sleeves fastened with wrist guards, holding a bow in one hand as he rode forward.

Following behind were Xie family guards and soldiers.

Xie Yulin's horse stopped in front of Shen Yuan, while everyone else continued the pursuit.

In the firelight, Xie Yulin dismounted and stared at Shen Yuan. "Are you hurt?"

Shen Yuan shook his head.

Xie Yulin didn't seem to believe him. He reached out and took Shen Yuan's wrist, his clean white gloves instantly stained with dirt.

Xie Yulin frowned slightly. After making sure Shen Yuan was really okay, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Shen Yuan's dirty face.

"Didn't Fifth Master go to Youyang?"

"I didn't go."

Shen Yuan paused for a moment. "Then why'd you lie to me?"

Xie Yulin remained calm as always, his expression unreadable, his voice indifferent. "To draw out the enemy."

Shen Yuan turned his head away, not letting Xie Yulin continue wiping his face. "The enemy is Song Zijun, right?"

"Yes."

Xie Yulin confirmed Shen Yuan's suspicion.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath to calm down. "I won't ask about anything else, just one question: were you all using me?"

Xie Yulin, who should have answered immediately, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yes."

Shen Yuan broke free from Xie Yulin's grip and tried to leave. Xie Yulin's brow furrowed. "It's dangerous here. Come with me, clean up, and get some rest."

"No need. I'm the County Clerk of Qingyun. Here, my rank is the highest. I must lead by example."

Shen Yuan's refusal made Xie Yulin unaccountably annoyed. He said, "There are guards, Xie family protectors, and soldiers here. Nothing more will happen."

"Fifth... Master Xie." Shen Yuan looked up at Xie Yulin's face, as handsome and indifferent as ever. Holding back his anger, he said, "Actually, I'm very angry right now. You used me, and now you expect me to act as if nothing happened? To listen to whatever you say and follow you just like before?"

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, his brows furrowed, his emotions in disarray.

"But I know you really did help me before. So I can't truly stay mad at you, but that doesn't mean I can stand to keep looking at you right now."

Shen Yuan openly expressed his true feelings to Xie Yulin, leaving Xie Yulin at a loss for how to respond.

He wanted to forcefully drag him away, yet looking at Shen Yuan's stubborn, angry face, which was also tinged with resentment, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Watching Shen Yuan's thin frame as he walked away, Xie Yulin tightened his grip on the soiled handkerchief in his hand.

He was really angry.

He no longer called him Fifth Uncle, and he didn't smile at him anymore.

A Shadow Guard arriving to report intelligence pulled Xie Yulin's attention back.

"My Lord, Pang Qiu was caught trying to flee at the city gate. Song Zijun and his group could not be captured; they have already left the city, and Shadow Guards are still in pursuit. The fires elsewhere in Qingyun County have been brought under control, and teams have been dispatched to clear the fire oil from areas that did not catch fire."

"Submit all the evidence against Pang Qiu we've collected these past days. Take men to the Pang residence and arrest everyone. Send Pang Qiu for interrogation first to see if there is anything we haven't uncovered..."

"My Lord!" Another Shadow Guard arrived, reporting quickly, "Pang Qiu is dead. On the way to the yamen, remnants of the enemy agents seized the chance to assassinate him. The assassin had already taken poison and died by the time we captured him."

He had already suspected that Song Zijun had left some backup plan to trap them; now, Xie Yulin was certain.

There was definitely a hidden hand at play, and Pang Qiu had known about it.

But now that the man was dead, there was no way to learn anything more.