Chapter 84 Billowing Smoke

Chapter 84: Billowing Smoke

The worst of the summer heat was over. While the temperature remained high, it no longer left you feeling sticky the moment you stepped outside.

The recovery efforts in Tong County after the flood were steadily progressing.

The ailing refugees were gradually recovering, all collapsed houses had been completely demolished and were being rebuilt, and the breached embankment was being repaired according to the plans.

Everything was looking up.

Hu Dahong and his advisor had pleaded guilty and been sentenced. The deputy magistrate had long disapproved of Hu Dahong's embezzlement and now, after Hu Dahong's downfall, he naturally assumed his position to manage Tong County, doing so in an orderly manner.

Everything had fallen into place. After much thought, Jiang Wang decided to return to Zhaojing.

In truth, his mission wouldn't be complete until the embankment was fully repaired and the houses were completely rebuilt.

But...

Rumors about Zhaojing were swirling. Some said the rebel army had been defeated and fled in disgrace, others claimed the imperial guards had been annihilated and the imperial city had fallen, and there were even stories that the entire Zhaojing had been destroyed.

He didn't know which were true and which were false. He had written to Xiao Yan to verify, but whether Xiao Yan was deliberately not replying or hadn't received the letter, he hadn't received a response.

The various rumors were rife, making Jiang Wang restless, his mind feeling like it was about to explode.

Since things were unlikely to go seriously wrong here, he decided to return to the capital immediately!

On the day of departure, Jiang Wang got up very early, planning to get on the road while it was still cool.

Who would have thought that as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he would see the people of Tong County packed in layers around his compound.

The people held dried fruits, tea leaves, and cloth in their hands, their faces etched with reluctance.

"Relief Commissioner, you're leaving without telling us? We haven't even had a chance to treat you to a meal!"

"That's right! You saved our lives!"

"If that young gentleman hadn't let it slip, we wouldn't even have known you were leaving today."

Jiang Wang glanced at Changle, who indeed looked guilty.

Jiang Wang was touched but didn't accept the items. It wasn't that he scorned them, but because he couldn't bring himself to take them.

During this time, they were still drinking rice porridge every day. These fruits and tea leaves were surely the people's most treasured possessions, and he couldn't accept them.

"Food is scarce after the flood, so I won't take these. But I'm truly grateful for your kindness. Thank you all for your goodwill."

However, the villagers were very enthusiastic, with an attitude of "if you don't accept, we won't leave."

Jiang Wang had no choice but to accept some items. Only then, escorted by the crowd, did he board the carriage.

He kept waving to the people behind him, urging them to return, until he could no longer see them before he sat back inside.

He let out a slight sigh, picked up a piece of dried fruit, and put it in his mouth. A rich lychee flavor flooded his mouth, refreshing and delightful.

He had never believed that a person could grow so much in such a short time. But after experiencing the flood, witnessing so many partings of life and death, he felt changes in both his body and mind.

More mature, more confident, and even when considering things, he instinctively considered things more thoroughly.

But he was so tired...

He had taken on this mission in a burst of passion, for Xiao Yan, for the people of Tong County. Even if he had to push himself to the limit, he had to complete it.

But now, as he felt the matter was nearing its end and he had done a decent job, a belated sense of exhaustion came rushing over him.

Both physically and mentally.

Only he knew that from the moment he stepped out of the palace, he hadn't had a single full night's sleep.

On the road, it was due to the sweltering heat and bumpy journey. Here, there were too many matters requiring his decision, things he had never even encountered before.

He felt deeply anxious and uneasy.

Before making a decision, he would wonder if the method was correct. After deciding, he would second-guess himself constantly, wondering whether it was truly right, if there was a better, more convenient alternative.

If it were Xiao Yan, would he have done much better?

He really wanted to have a good sleep.

He missed the big bed in Cangwu Palace...

An indescribable sourness welled up from the depths of his heart. His eyes grew warm, but to prevent tears from falling, Jiang Wang simply closed his eyes.

"I got up too early today. I'll catch up on some sleep."

He had intended to lie down for just a while, but ended up sleeping until the afternoon.

When he opened his eyes again, it was roughly half an hour before they would reach the post station where they would rest for the night.

Changle and Wu Zhong, who were in the same carriage, had tacitly not disturbed him. They had witnessed Jiang Wang's hard work and exhaustion during this period.

In the scorching heat, he went out every day, eating and sleeping alongside the common people, personally overseeing everything.

Jiang Wang was already thin, and now his palm-sized face had even less flesh.

Now that he could finally have a solid sleep, perhaps because the burdens were lifted, or maybe because his energy was truly depleted.

Even though he had missed lunch, the two of them still felt Jiang Wang's sleep was more important.

Having slept during the day, Jiang Wang naturally didn't feel very sleepy at night.

He went downstairs to feed the horses, looked at the stars in the courtyard, and listened to the chatter of people coming and going from all directions.

Of course, he was also trying to catch any news about Zhaojing, about Xiao Yan.

After all, he was currently out of contact with Xiao Yan. He needed some way to establish a connection, even if it was just fragments from others' conversations.

However, after eavesdropping intently for a long time, he still gained nothing.

Gazing at the twinkling stars in the deep blue sky, Jiang Wang couldn't help but become a bit "superstitious."

Everyone said the stars in the sky represented people. He wondered which star belonged to Xiao Yan...

What would he do if he couldn't find him?

In the following days, Jiang Wang increased the pace of travel, hoping to reach Zhaojing sooner.

Without the carts of money and provisions from the journey here, the return trip could be described as traveling light, and it was actually faster than the journey there.

Before going to bed, Jiang Wang calculated the time and distance. Just three more days, and they would arrive in Zhaojing.

He poked the small imperial city symbol on the map and muttered softly.

"Xiao Yan, I told you to take good care of my Big Orange and Xiao Hei before I left. If I find even a single hair missing when I get back, I’ll make sure you regret it!"

After venting his "resentment," Jiang Wang lay down, ready to drift off to sleep.

However, he always had trouble falling asleep. As he tossed and turned, instead of trying to sleep, his mind wandered to meat skewers.

Pork belly, enoki mushrooms, tofu skin, chicken wings...

Sizzling on the grill, sprinkled with cumin, sesame seeds, and a dash of chili powder—it was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Jiang Wang could feel the sleepiness he had managed to build up completely vanish, replaced by a flood of saliva in his mouth.

He was craving barbecue.

It was as if he could even smell the smoky aroma of the grill...

Jiang Wang sniffed and opened his eyes, realizing something was off.

This smoke didn’t seem like the imaginary kind in his mind—it felt real!

He sprang up like a carp leaping out of water, pushed open the window, and looked outside.

The hay in the stable outside was already on fire, and not just in one spot!

They were now in the north. Although it was summer, it hadn’t rained for days. The dry, hot weather created a high fire risk.

Especially with dry hay like this—a single spark could ignite and spread in an instant.

Jiang Wang threw on some clothes and hurried to the next room to wake Changle and Wu Zhong, knocking on other doors as he went.

"Fire! Fire! Everyone, run!"

Unfortunately, everyone was fast asleep. Waking, reacting, dressing, and escaping took far longer than the fire spread.

The inn was crowded with people, horses, and hay. In just a few minutes, the courtyard was filled with a bright red glow.

The entire four-story inn was already shrouded in smoke, and chaos reigned everywhere.

Gray-black smoke permeated every corner. Some people, clutching their valuables, stumbled blindly through the haze. Others wailed and tried to rush into the backyard to save their goods. Some had just woken up in a panic, running out stark naked.

Changle and Wu Zhong covered their faces and ran outside. Exchanging glances, they saw shock and confusion in each other’s eyes.

Where was Jiang Wang?

Wasn’t he with you?

Changle remembered hearing Jiang Wang’s voice earlier—his young master had even knocked on his door.

When he came out, he saw his young master knocking on Wu Zhong’s door. So why was his young master nowhere to be found now?

Their hearts sank in unison, and they were about to rush back into the fire to search.

Just then, a pair of strong hands pulled them back.

Changle was stunned. He had never seen this tall, lean man before and had no idea who he was. All he knew was that this person was trying to stop him from finding his young master.

Wu Zhong, however, felt somewhat reassured. Ling Hai was highly skilled in martial arts, especially in lightness techniques, making him more suitable to look for Jiang Wang.

He just needed to keep Changle from doing anything reckless.

"Changle, let Ling Hai go. He’s one of us!"

Ling Hai?

The surname Ling sounded familiar.

"What’s his relationship with Imperial Guard Ling Shan, who serves by His Majesty’s side…?"

"Brothers."

Taking advantage of Changle’s momentary daze, Ling Hai tapped his toes lightly, and his agile black figure leaped into the thick smoke.

*

Jiang Wang felt that he might have some inexplicable connection with fire.

Last time, his own dilapidated courtyard was destroyed in a blaze. He never expected to encounter fire again in his ordinary life.

He had tried to wake as many people as possible, knocking on several more doors.

But he underestimated how quickly the smoke would spread.

By the time he realized it, he was already lost inside the inn.

If he continued to wander around like a headless fly, he was more likely to die from inhaling too much smoke and dust than from the flames themselves.

So, Jiang Wang entered the nearest room, found a handkerchief, dampened it, and covered his nose and mouth, waiting for rescue.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before he heard knocking.

Jiang Wang rubbed his fingers together thoughtfully, but hesitated just as he was about to open the door.

His intuition had always been sharp.

It seemed he shouldn’t open the door for the person on the other side.

That person felt like an even greater threat than the fire.

But the person outside seemed impatient, giving Jiang Wang no time to hesitate or hide.

The man barged in, struck Jiang Wang with a swift chop to the neck, knocking him unconscious, then hoisted him over his shoulder and swiftly disappeared into the billowing smoke.

Author’s Note:

Who on earth kidnapped Jiang Wang? Bring him back right now!