act23side

This is highly unusual, and the foe we are up against is especially treacherous. I hope you'll lend Zuo Le a helping hand.

Given how he is, he may not be very receptive to me meddling with his affairs.

In that case, it would seem now is not the time for us to resolve the matter between us.

You need not say any more. I know the score.

With how little I have to do the next few days, I am hoping you will help me finish writing the last few chapters of the Book of Kung Fu as quickly as possible.

It is my duty, as your student.

Thank you.

If there is nothing else, Grandmaster, I will take my leave. Please get some rest soon.

The man sighs, perhaps at the sight of the empty sword mount on the wall or something else.

How many more will you drag into this game...?

Once a pure stream of water flows into a polluted lake, you can no longer scoop any clean water from it. Don't you understand that?

Even if you try to replace it, you will never find her in all the chaos.

Why torment yourself with all this?

The sound of the patrol's clanking armor can yet be heard from afar, with nothing but a deafening silence otherwise.

The night is deep. The clamorous night finally calms.

He lets out another long sigh.

Hmm?

How very brave of you.

How could I have failed to realize that you were here as well?

Of course I am here too.

Are you going to stop me?

A skilled Go player making no skillful moves in an entire game. Your actions are really a bit too radical.

Oh... Or maybe it's because... your time is limited.

If that's where we are going, you barely have any time left yourself.

Do you really think we can ignore everything just because that man sealed his <i>self</i> away in the sword?

I came here for the <i>one.</i> Why would I be concerned with only one-<i>twelfth</i>?

I could ask you. What makes you think that <i>you</i> can become him?

I won't become him. I am no one but myself.

He and I. We have a score to settle.

That grudge is yours and yours only.

We are not enemies.

That's not for you to decide.

At the very least, at this point in time, we both have more important things to accomplish.

We won't be a hinderance to each other.

Is that a truce you are seeking?

It's in both our interests. You have no reason to refuse.

You really are nothing like your brothers and sisters.

I hope you'll show me something more interesting the next time we meet.

Miss! I heard you—

Keep it down.

I thought I told you not to seek me out in broad daylight.

It's good to see all of you in one piece...

Any progress on your end?

The Yumen markets are open for the first time in years. There are too many wares and people flowing in and out. We have no leads yet.

If it's not so convenient for us to look into this, let's have somebody else do it.

What do you mean...?

How many of the merchants at the markets here are locals, and how many are from Lungmen?

How many of the people behind us have missing paperwork at the L.G.D. or are in hock to us? Sift through them, and find someone who'd have an easier time than we would. It's not that hard.

Daai Siu Ze, this... sounds like it could be against the rules.

Do as I say.

Two weeks ago...

Feranmut followers?

You needn't know where the intel came from.

Out of all the enemies that Yan has faced in the past thousand years, no small number of them lurked in the shadows.

Yumen may rely on Lungmen for its supplies, but you shouldn't be responsible for security within their borders.

Yumen is an impenetrable shield, but there are pests hiding behind that shield. They need to be exterminated by others.

I want to send you there to take care of this.

You can operate as a special L.G.D. commanding officer. On paper, you will be in charge of security while the two cities are connected, and you will have a certain level of support from me.

I need you to run a thorough investigation into the dangerous elements hiding among Yumen's citizenry and ensure its smooth sailing. Should the need arise, you may resort to the most extreme measures.

Why me?

Because you are Lin Yühsia. Because you can take care of this.

I want you to do in Yumen what the Rat King did in Lungmen all those years ago.

Chief Wei... You didn't discuss this with my father before you came to me, did you?

Yühsia.

Dad? You didn't tell me you were coming.

You accepted Wei Yenwu's mission. I came take a look.

So you've heard.

Investigating <i>smugglers</i>, eh?

I didn't want to trouble you.

Look at you, going through all the trouble to hide this from me. It's Wei Yenwu who you should be troubling.

You never considered turning this down?

Somebody has to maintain the peace here...

Wei Yenwu has many a capable character under his wing. Why must you of all people clean up his mess?

I...

Never mind. I could figure out what kind of excuses Wei is making even if I had to think with my tail.

You should know what's happened tonight.

So that's why the soldiers locked the city gate.

So much has happened in the span of a day. If this was really a coincidence, it would have to be a hell of a coincidence.

The Chief of Lungmen finds himself the target of an assassination attempt, the Grandmaster has his sword taken, and an Imperial Astronomical Bureau Messenger was killed. Each of these would make the headlines on its own.

And they all occurred within hours of each other. It's unimaginable what kind of forces are behind them.

When Wei Yenwu came to you, did he explain how dangerous this was going to be?

All I knew was this wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

Yumen is not Lungmen, and you are not me.

I know that well... I will deal with this carefully.

The agents I brought with me from Lungmen are all masters in their fields and have all followed you for years.

Plus, I know the world of jianghu... I've seen enough.

If you know what it is you are doing, then I won't keep rambling.

I just hope this will be resolved quickly without delaying your trip to Victoria.

It's just a study trip. I don't have to go...

You've helped me and the L.G.D. take care of plenty of things the last few years... to the point you haven't been able to do what you truly wanted to do yourself.

I did all that of my own volition, and it was all for Lungmen.

It's not your own choice if you haven't seen another path.

Sometimes I wonder if... perhaps, like Ch'en, you should—

*cough*...

Dad! Are you hurt?! I'll get a doctor!

No need.

It's been years since I've taxed my arms and legs so much. My bones are aching. Looks like taking walks in the park every day isn't quite enough exercise.

I'll take you back to the general's estate.

No need for that either. I'll find an inn nearby to stay the night.

Even getting to meet my old friends once is once aplenty, and I can't stand the atmosphere in that house tonight.