act15side

3下

Midday. The skies are clear, as though the heavy rains the night before had been nothing but a lie.

The second tallest of Shangshu's Three Mounts is Mount Juqi. Juqi is home to only two of the Seventeen Peaks, the lesser of which is Nini Peak.

There are twenty two hundred and twenty two steps leading up to Nini Peak. While this may seem like a fascinating coincidence, additional steps were added specifically for the gimmick.

The steps lead heavenward through the clouds. The higher you get, the fewer visitors can be found. A lush, green mountain, rarely ever trodden by footsteps.

A few men can be seen here and there; all of them appear to be pole-carriers on first glance.

This is no Mount T'ien, but truly, what a fine summit.

How do you suppose they built a teahouse up here in the mountains, when the roads aren't so much as paved?

Hmm. By hand. How else?

On our way up here, we saw a pole-carrier walking down the mountain, didn't we? They do this every day, carrying anything from foodstuffs to bricks up from the base of the mountain.

From what I hear, a single trip takes them a good few hours. It's very toilsome work. Even today, some remote mountains still rely on pole-carriers for their survival...

Can't they build a ropeway for some cable cars or something?

First they'd need a plot of land to build it on, wouldn't they?

Right, not that I know the first thing about building ropeways... Those guys really are amazing, though.

They probably rake in quite a bit dough, don't they?

Not until recently. I saw on the news not too long ago that the Shangshu magistrate thinks very highly of the coolies. The government's even footing the bill for the teahouses' tea... Uhh?

Pardon... 'Scuse me.

Noon tea.

You got it, Master Shang.

Haven't seen you for a couple days. How've you been?

Same old.

What were you up to?

Saw my son.

Oh... It's that time again... I'd forgotten.

If you'd told me sooner, we could've gone together.

Don't worry about it...

He likes it quiet.

*Sigh*... It's been years now... I'm only saying this because we know each other so well, and I mean no disrespect, but well...

We can't be stuck in the past.

You speaking for Zheng Qingyue?

Come on, you know he personally invested in all the teahouses here.

You're on his payroll. You speak for him. No offense taken.

That's half my own opinion too.

Half-offended then.

It's been years already. Just hear me out.

Have some tea and think it through.

Isn't that the man we saw go down the mountain earlier...?

I-I think so? It hasn't been that long, has it? He's back already?

He and his buddies must have some kind of relay system so he only has to go down halfway. That's the only plausible explanation.

No good... Can't get through to 'em.

There's no response, which means Nian and Dusk aren't in Shangshu yet... They might not be following the mission directives.

Benefactor...

Yeah, I know what you're about to say.

I'm hardly a clever man, and I certainly can't claim to remember everything I see, but if my eyes did not deceive me...

The case that Mr. Lee handed to Mr. Liang... carried the same pattern as the trinket that Nian had.

Must have something to do with them suddenly breaking off from the team.

What should we do?

Hm... Well, I kind of saw this coming too.

I talked to Lava, you see. Asked her to contact the Operators near Shangshu and have them come get us as soon as she made it to the office.

Oh? So you came prepared?

Nian was acting awfully dodgy the whole way. I figured she was up to something.

Are you suggesting we stay here for the time being then?

We bumped into Mr. Lee. Naturally we have to help him. It's in the contract and everything.

I see. You'll handle this fairly and impartially, while remaining vigilant and conscientious. You continue to command my utmost respect, benefactor.

But Mr. Lee's a smart man... He never bothered requesting Rhodes Island's assistance ever since we ran into him at the inn. Maybe he's been trying to tell us not to get involved.

If this really does have to do with Nian, though... Not to mention Taihe and Zuo Le...

Anyway, we'll check out the rendezvous point when the time comes. Nian's probably gonna be a no-show, but Dusk isn't that kind of girl. We might see her there.

Right. Dusk is likely to drop a hint or two, at least.

*Sigh*.

No matter how I slice it, though, sometimes things are just too—

—Too coincidental?

Nothing, mate, you didn't have any particular reason for choosing that inn, right?

Oh, you jest. Suppose I had an ulterior motive, how could I have counted on a Gloompincer knocking my car over and then us running into each other?

Then just who is it that made everything line up so perfectly?

Oh...

Benefactor... that WAS a jest, right? A joke, a jape? You couldn't possibly be suspecting me, could you? Benefactor?!

Dad.

What's the matter...?

I thought I was in charge of this whole thing?

Someone has to clean up the mess.

If you can do it, then clearly I could too—

Wrong.

Even if you could, you can't. As long as you're still Du Yaoye and not Du, Head of the Escort Association, there is absolutely no way.

Why?!

Do you still fail to realize why I didn't seize the target when he was at the inn? Why I stopped you, even?

It was because of that Cautus with the skills, and that Nothing dude—

It seems you still have much to learn.

What do you mean...?

You have no eye for people.

Dad!

Do you want me to inherit the Association, or do you want me to be the naive Miss Du my whole life?!

An escort has many enemies. You don't understand.

And so I should continue to be the stupid, ignorant daughter of the Association's head?

I'm supposed to let everyone think that Zheng, Head of the Escort Association, is now just an honest businessman, and I'm a successor who's not up to snuff?

You know that's not who I am.

Ye, my girl...

Do you know the size of the bone the young people at the Escort Association have to pick with you?

What do they know?

And what do you know?

You're trying to wash your hands of the business, yet you don't even realize how long the younger generation has been unhappy with the current state of the Association.

Then are you telling me, in all honesty, that starting a new association with those inexperienced disciples is what you truly want?

Is that who you are now?

All I know is that you made me do this, Dad. And that if I succeed, not only will they all bow down to me, I'll have a fine new addition to my rap sheet.

I'm worried that you might not have what it takes.

And I'm even more worried that you're actually trying to mess this up.

I don't know what you're talking about...

If you've changed your mind, then hurry up and tell me. And if you haven't, then...

Stop worrying about me.

How did it go, Miss...? What did the innkeeper say?

Hmph, how do you think it went?