act15side

07下

...Young man.

Hm?

Can I ask the way to the estate of Liang, Magistrate of Shangshu?

Uhh... it's close by, I think. Turn right there and keep going, and once you see the paifang arch, turn left and you're at the Liang estate.

Is it spacious?

Who knows, I'm not allowed in.

But from the outside... I think it doesn't look that different from any other place. Might even be a little run-down.

What does it say on the arch?

I don't remember.

Thank you.

Hey, old man.

It's getting dark, how about I show you the way? You might get hit out here.

...No need.

I can see the way.

—Ugh!

(My foot... it's stuck in a rock?!)

That's enough.

You've lasted thirty-three moves. Commendable.

You never were pulling your true weight at all.

If you're interested in joining the army, your prospects will surely be bright.

Hahah... I'll admit I contemplated it when I left Kou-wu City, but the proverb puts it well: don't bite off more than you can chew. I'll repay Rhodes Island's grace to me for now.

To know grace and repay it. Qualities hard to come by.

A shame you're trapped in your situation.

In a literal sense, to boot.

(If I break my leg, maybe I can tug it out still... let's try it and see...)

Zheng Qingyue, I'll assist you!

Stop right there!

*Pant*... *pant*...

You...

I regarded this tangle as a farce, and invested nothing in it.

But you've shown me I was wrong.

You've got less to say now.

You always had so little to say in the past.

Zheng Qingyue is only silent when going all-out. But when he goes all-out, no opponent escapes intact.

Are you done talking?

I'm only speaking to myself.

Huff...

It's raining...?

What?!

(He broke Shang Zhong's staff so easily?! Before we could even react—how did he do it?)

—Who are you?!

A bamboo hat and raincoat, the rain as your sword.

Excellent kung fu.

Stop fighting. Stop, all of you.

Would it hurt to be a little peaceful?

Not to mention how capable they were. If they were willing to cause a commotion, they'd have won, and come out looking reasonable too.

You're the boatman who was with the Lungmenite since the beginning...

Of course. Liang Xun had two plans prepared.

He's deceived both the Sui Regulator and the Ministry of Rites.

*Sigh*... As an official, Mr. Liang has his restrictions. Don't you think the Sui Regulator's been too arbitrary this time?

It wouldn't be the Sui Regulator's first time, either.

My son died because of you. Don't forget it.

And why all the fighting for our lives here?

Hmph. Sticking your nose into this too. How capable do you think you are?

Hahah... making that hat such a permanent fixture always did strike me as awfully odd.

Unless, of course...

Shen Lou, this is Sui Regulator business. It's not yours to interfere in.

I'm just a passing boatman, encouraging you all to stop slaughtering each other here, from the goodness of my heart—

—and checking on the state of the summit. Mr. Liang asked me to take a look.

There were bandits terrorizing the border waterways in recent years. The court sent men to sort it out, cracking down like thunder. With a tianshi leading them, some of the best in the court infiltrated enemy lines.

In order to avoid alarming the enemy, the heroes pretended to be waterway bandits themselves, stealing into their den, rounding them all up at once.

—But when they came back out, they ran headfirst into a group of boaters who sought to stand up for justice. There was quite some misunderstanding.

*Sigh*...

They were hardly lifelong boaters, though, and the boat was just a skiff, approaching the waterside bandit den on its own.

No more, no more, I'll die of embarrassment... I'm not young anymore, and I didn't want to wade in for a fight like some brawler!

The people only knew that tianshis took the lead. They had no idea that others beyond could truly be calling the shots.

The Imperial Guard drillmaster appraised you quite highly.

Oh, that girl was so young, but her kung fu was incredible. I heard she'd already been helping train the other warriors. She would go far, very far...

But I'm not here today to reminisce.

An escort like me has only deep respect for you, Master Shen. No matter if it's our first meeting, I'd hear you out.

It's just that we're settling both public and personal bills today, and your word might not make it in... that's the size of it.

But I did agree with Mr. Liang that I'd express some things of my own.

No matter what the Department of Discipline and Supervision decides afterwards, I'll shoulder the burden. But for now, don't let any dogma here harm our friendships.

That won't fly.

If Liang Xun sent you, then this can't be as simple as a 'check.'

You plan to meddle in the Sui Regulator's affairs?

The Sui Regulator just wants to push Tianshi Bai into action. Does it make any difference if I act for him?

Master Shen, I'm on your side.

Friendship is wealth, they say.

Where's your benefactor?

Ahead for now.

That's fine—

Wh... What? Where did that summit and pavilion... come from?

That's what... we've all been looking for...

Here's hoping we can keep this under control...

...Or else we can only resort to violence.

Are you aware of what you're saying?

I need your agency's help, young Candleholder. We should be in agreement about the stakes here.

Are you going to kill yourself?

I'm not that out of it yet, but... things are getting tight.

Is Its mind not your minds?

Of course not.

It's about time we rose up against that giant self of ours.

All nonsense.

What ideas do you have?

Are you willing to trust me?

I'm only obligated to hear out your idea. Whether I trust it, or not, is the Sui Regulator's decision.

You hold fine tastes, my Lord, to be admiring the snow in the mountains at this hour.

Here, sit.