Chapter Thirty-Eight: Each Finds Peace in Their Heart

Zhan Ting returned to the secluded retreat at the back, pushed open the door, and saw a single lamp flickering faintly. In the northern corner, beyond the reach of the light, Li Yifeng sat silent and motionless on a chair, like a ghost.

Startled, Zhan Ting snapped out of his daze, closed the door behind him, and spoke in a suppressed voice that could not conceal his anger, "Spiritual Officer Li, why didn't you intervene in the courtyard just now?"

Li Yifeng ignored him, took a black token from his sleeve, and tossed it to Zhan Ting's feet. Zhan Ting's expression changed; since Du Jingzhi had sent people to secretly contact him in pursuit of great plans, he had been treated with utmost respect. This was the first time he had faced such rudeness from Li Yifeng!

But now, estranged completely from Zhan Wenjun, the Heavenly Master Dao was Zhan Ting's sole lifeline. He dared not, and could not, offend this ghost-catching officer. Swallowing his humiliation, he bent down and picked up the token.

"This is the Ten Register Token. Now that you've accepted it, you are a Ten Register Commander of our Dao, under my direct command."

Li Yifeng's voice, as dry and rasping as his appearance, grated on the ears—harsh and almost shrill.

Zhan Ting was shocked; the token nearly slipped from his grasp. He had believed in the Heavenly Master Dao for years and was a basic adherent, but such adherents, like countless other gentry youth, only signified their affiliation and held no true position within the Dao.

According to the Dao's hierarchy, the lowest rank is adherent, then Register Student, and above that is Ten Register. Ten Register itself is divided into Greater and Lesser, with the Greater comprising hundreds, the Lesser dozens, all led by the Ten Register Commander.

In other words, Li Yifeng's appointment of Zhan Ting as Ten Register Commander was a promotion beyond his station, a clear exception. Normally, it would take at least five years of flawless service to reach such a post through proper channels.

Clutching the cold token, Zhan Ting felt a chill in his heart. "What does this mean?"

Li Yifeng remained silent.

Zhan Ting hurled the token to the floor with force. "Spiritual Officer Li, the Libationer told me himself: if I subdue the Zhan clan and take down Zhan Wenjun, I would be made Five Hundred Register Commander. You think this paltry Ten Register Token will satisfy me?"

Above Ten Register are Fifty Register, One Hundred Fifty Register, then Five Hundred Register, and beyond that, the Five Great Spiritual Officers. Du Jingzhi had painted Zhan Ting a grand vision, no wonder he was tempted to betray his family!

"The Libationer's promise stands. But your performance has deeply disappointed me. Faced with a little trouble, you lose your composure and become utterly disorganized—how can you accomplish great things? Let me ask you: since you knew that man's name was Xu You, why did you not inform me in advance? You only reported him as a common merchant from Jinling?"

"It's... just a name, what does it matter?"

"Ha, it doesn't matter? You still think he's a common merchant? A common merchant gets arrested by the county office and emerges unscathed, bringing along Bao Xi, Gu Yun's trusted aide, as an emissary? A common merchant makes Zhan Wenjun rush from Qiantang, ignoring exhaustion, to visit him immediately upon arrival?"

Seeing Zhan Ting still bewildered, Li Yifeng said coldly, "Fool! And you are the master of the Zhibin Lodge! Xu You is the seventh son of the Xu clan of Yixing, and the only surviving direct descendant after the Yixing upheaval!"

"What? Him? Impossible!" Zhan Ting was stunned. "Didn't he die from an assassination outside Jinling ten days ago?"

"So you took him for a merchant?" Li Yifeng's lips curled into a sneer. "Zhan Ting, rumor has it that the Zhan clan's recent prosperity is all thanks to Zhan Wenjun's strategies behind the scenes. Judging by your performance, that may well be true..."

Zhan Ting hated most when others used Zhan Wenjun to slight him. Fury surged within him. "Li Yifeng, you are arrogant! Whose fault is tonight's fiasco? I spent so much effort tracking Zhan Wenjun, and you? Always boasting about the many experts in the Dao, yet you can't even capture a single woman! If Zhan Wenjun hadn't suddenly returned, Zhao Quan and Zhou Yang wouldn't have faltered. With the Zhan clan's troops in hand, who cares if he's the seventh son of Xu? He could have been expelled from the Lodge, and on a moonless, windy night, killed and sunk in Qiantang Lake, ending it all!"

"Kill Xu You? Even the Crown Prince and the Shen clan couldn't do that—what makes you think you can?"

"I..." Zhan Ting was nearly furious enough to spit blood. "We agreed, didn't we? I would drive them out, and you, Officer Li, would strike. Now that you know it's Xu You, you're afraid?"

Li Yifeng had no patience for further argument. He flicked his finger; the candle was instantly extinguished, plunging the room into absolute darkness.

"Zhan Ting, I'm going to report tonight's events to the Libationer. Think carefully: either join our Dao as a Ten Register, or our cooperation ends here."

Before Zhan Ting could reply, the door opened and closed silently. He groped for the candle, lit it, and found the room empty.

"Lord Xu, please!"

Xu You apologized, "I forgot to mention to Madam that one of my maidservants has caught a cold and is bedridden. She's unable to walk, so I need to hire a bullock cart..."

"A minor matter!"

Zhan Wenjun waved her hand. Eight sturdy guards carried over a red silk sedan chair. She said to Xu You, "If you don't mind its simplicity, your maid may use this for transport."

"How could I dare?" Xu You was greatly impressed by Zhan Wenjun's straightforwardness—such genuine, unaffected, magnanimous women were rare. "This is your sedan chair, Madam, not suitable for a maidservant. I'd better hire a cart..."

"At this hour, where would you find one? Baihua, go to the rooms and invite Lord Xu's maid to the sedan, but don't be mischievous or startle them."

Baihua laughed, "How could I? I'm adorable!"

Xu You knew Qiufen's temperament—she was likely watching over Lushuang, worrying about their situation outside. If Baihua barged in, she might get a fierce swipe of White Tiger Force.

"Fenghu, you go as well!"

A short while later, Qiufen and Baihua emerged, supporting Lushuang. With Xu You's approval, they settled her in the sedan chair. The group then left the Zhibin Lodge and made their way to a quiet residence in the eastern part of the city.

As there was only one main building, Xu You and his companions were assigned to the western wing on the second floor. After settling Lushuang and instructing Qiufen to stay and care for her, Xu You took He Ru and He Zuo Wen downstairs.

It was the same room as before, but this time Zhan Wenjun sat at the head. Behind her stood Baihua, Qianqin, and Wanqi; only Song Shenfei was absent. Still resentful from earlier, Qianqin shot a fierce glare at He Ru.

Once Xu You and the others were seated, Zhan Wenjun spoke frankly, "I heard that you gentlemen visited earlier to warn me. I thank you!"

"Whenever injustice is seen, anyone would cry out in protest. Madam need not dwell on it!"

"Injustice demands a voice... Lord Xu, your words are concise yet precious. I respect that. Still, your kindness is engraved in my heart, and whether or not we find a way to deal with Du Jingzhi, I must repay you."

Such magnanimity is rare even among men, let alone women. Xu You smiled, "Perhaps Madam might first hear Lord He's plan?"

"I wish for nothing more!"

He Ru did not refuse. "Before offering my plan, I would like to ask: for what reason does Du Jingzhi so persistently desire Madam?"

Xu You glanced aside, wondering if Wanqi, icy as ever, might respond with violence to such bluntness.

Zhan Wenjun was unfazed, answering seriously, "To be honest, I find it baffling. As for beauty, there are countless fair women in the Three Wu regions, and I am hardly remarkable. As for learning, I've read little poetry, and my knowledge is only rudimentary—not enough to catch Du Jingzhi's eye. Beyond that, I cannot fathom his motivation, not even at the cost of opposing my uncle..."

In the Wei and Jin era, one's uncle was also called 'Ajiu'—she meant Guo Mian. He Ru frowned, "That's precisely what puzzles me. If we don't clarify this, we can't grasp Du Jingzhi's limits, and our response may be too constrained."

Xu You could not help but interject, "Perhaps Du Jingzhi, well, has a unique preference and happens to favor Madam Guo's looks..." much as I do.

Zhan Wenjun and He Ru both turned to him, making Xu You uneasy, until He Ru snorted, "Du Jingzhi has hidden countless beauties in the Left Spirit and Phantom Pavilions atop Linwu Mountain, all with delicate brows and charming, graceful features."

The implication: Du Jingzhi's tastes are quite normal—don't project your own limited views.

Xu You coughed, "I see!"

Zhan Wenjun smiled at Xu You, amused by his embarrassment, then turned to He Ru, "Why does Lord He care so much about this?"

"Because I want to know how strong Du Jingzhi's desire is—would he pursue it regardless of cost, stopping at nothing to achieve his aim? If so, we must be prepared to risk everything."

Zhan Wenjun fell silent, evidently pondering He Ru's point. But Xu You, shrewd as ever, immediately saw that He Ru was laying a trap for Zhan Wenjun.

Any reasoning divorced from cause and effect is mere sophistry. Du Jingzhi's actions against the Qiantang Zhan clan must be considered in the broader context. The Governor's Office targets Guo Mian, and Du Jingzhi, in league with them, has the same primary objective.

The Zhan clan is merely Du Jingzhi's personal endeavor. If resistance from the Zhan clan threatens the overall scheme against the main target, he will sacrifice them for the greater plan, however reluctant, abandoning all desire for Zhan Wenjun.

Thus, He Ru's exaggeration was meant to increase his side's bargaining power in Zhan Wenjun's mind. After all, rescuing someone from ankle-deep water is hardly as impressive as saving them from drowning in a vast lake.

Strategy, calculation, cunning, rhetoric!

The Four Aspects of the Yin Talisman—never missing a chance to maximize the advantage!

"Things have come to this, and I am prepared to risk life and death! Lord He, if you can change the fate the Zhan clan faces, from this day forward, I will obey your commands, even unto death!"

"This plan is not mine, but Seventh Lord's ingenious idea." He Ru shook his head. "Besides, that would be unfair to Madam. We are not unreasonable. If we manage to break this impasse, Madam must grant Seventh Lord three requests."

Zhan Wenjun did not hesitate, "Agreed! I give my word. Lord Xu, Lord He, what do we do first?"

He Ru looked to Xu You, who smiled, "We need a white snake."