Calamity Messenger-Chapter 107 - 86: Shang Xuanwen
When the rope slid down into the pit from above, ’Mouse Monk’ and the middle-aged man had already stabbed dozens of torch heads into the sandpile. The process in between was unremarkable; they only needed to accurately nail all the falling torches like playing a mole-whacking game.
Only when you know that missing even one torch could burn you like a roasted pig, does this boring mole-whacking game become extremely thrilling.
"It’s Duke Xuanwen! The Chancellor is here! Keep digging, quick!"
"Duke Xuanwen, fortunately, you have divine protection!"
"Father!"
"Father, are you alright!"
The Silver Spear Guard had cleared the surrounding three streets; the sky was dim, but the surroundings were bright as day. However, all the torches and fire pits were more than ten steps away from the pit, and within ten steps of the pit, people crowded densely: officials, warriors, even nobles, all muddied and covered in dirt. When the middle-aged man grasped the rope and climbed out of the pit, many people suddenly cried with joy, surrounded by sounds of jubilation. Two young men rushed forward to assist him, one of whom had fair skin and had previously been seen by Yan Qing at Mansu Forest Land.
Shang Xinlei’s elder brother, Shang Yue.
Faced with so much concern from people, the middle-aged man remained expressionless, merely asked calmly:
"The mice come out from the hole, birds and beasts startled, cattle and horses uneasy, knowing but not reporting, whose fault is it?"
"The Astronomical Observatory won’t shirk its responsibility." Shang Yue immediately answered.
Someone in the crowd fell to the ground, and it was easy to guess he was one of the officials from the Astronomical Observatory. The middle-aged man glanced over, and immediately someone dragged this official over, who stammered, "Chan, Chancellor, Jiangnan City is a Divine Protection City, never have dragons turned in the earth, besides, abnormal movements of beasts happen often, we really can’t be blamed—"
"Jiangnan City may not have had dragons turning, but records of beast movements exist for the Kuaiji earthquake in the Sixth Year of Yongtai and the Great Tang Tsunami in the Eleventh Year of Taichu. Jiangnan is the heart of the Southern Territory, not only representing that towns in the Southern Territory should guard Jiangnan, but also signifies Jiangnan should oversee the Southern Territory!"
"Fortunately, this time it was only thieves digging traps in the city. If it really was a sign of dragons turning, exterminating your entire clan wouldn’t even suffice. Take him to the Ministry of Justice for processing."
After handling the official from the Astronomical Observatory, the middle-aged man looked around: "Magistrate Zhou, kindly fill the trap and check the surrounding ground. I suspect there might be more than one trap."
"Yes."
"What about the injured? Any assassins caught alive?"
"No live captures yet, only six charred corpses at the scene. I’ve already sent people to track the fleeing assassins."
Even after a narrow escape, the middle-aged man was not at all flustered, methodically arranging various tasks. After sorting things out, he looked at his two sons: "Negotiation, there should be a village woman named An Cuihua nearby, bring her home and arrange for her to learn in the kitchen under Cook Li."
"Shang Yue, head to Zhi Shen Temple in Sweet Water Alley in Jiangnan County Town, burn an incense stick, and pray for the blessing of pregnant women across the land." The middle-aged man glanced at the position of the moon: "Ride quickly and return home for dinner within half an hour, alright?"
Both sons were dumbfounded, but with their father’s long-standing authority, they could only accept the tasks in confusion without daring to ask questions. But before they left, they both glanced at ’Mouse Monk’ several times, not only because ’Mouse Monk’ escaped together with their father from the underground hole, but also because ’Mouse Monk’ held the Celestial Sword bestowed by the Imperial Family to their father.
"Such arrangement, is the Great Monk satisfied?" the middle-aged man asked.
"Satisfied, even better than this humble monk imagined."
"Return the sword then." The middle-aged man reached out: "You seem to really like this sword, but you don’t have a third request." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Yan Qing looked at the screen showing the Heaven-Swaying Sword, trying once again to store it in the public warehouse.
However, a notification popped up on the screen: "This special item is locked, currently unable to be stored in the warehouse or any spatial storage."
It was as if life was playing a joke on him; the target of the next stealing mission had fallen into his hands so easily. But this was only an illusion; only by obtaining the item during the stealing mission would it count as accomplishing the task; before then, the mission target would be locked, preventing anyone from storing it in a warehouse.
Yan Qing couldn’t even blame others, because it was his own thought upon waking up at midnight that players might encounter mission items early, prompting him to immediately get out of bed, open the computer, and write ’mission item lock’ into the planning document.
Resigned, he returned the Heaven-Swaying Sword to the middle-aged man, finally noticing how noble the man was; even after rolling in the dirt for so long, he remained elegant and charismatic, with understated luxurious clothing, standing eight feet tall with a majestic appearance. Yet for some reason, Yan Qing had always thought him mediocre before, never having paid attention to his appearance through the screen.
"Great Monk, what is your Dharma name?" the middle-aged man asked: "Or do you not have a monastery or even a Dharma name?"
"Just call me Mouse Monk," Yan Qing replied: "How did you know I don’t have a monastery?"
"On the belt there is a mark for a permanent residence; your belt is just a blank guard belt." The middle-aged man pointed at ’Mouse Monk’s’ wrist: "No matter where you got it, you are now pretending to be someone else. Do you know who I am?"
"Chancellor of Liang Kingdom," Yan Qing said: "Shang Xuanwen."
Still, Shang Xinlei’s father, he thought.
From the moment the Heaven-Swaying Sword was handed over, Yan Qing knew who he had encountered.
Shang Xuanwen!
Who could have guessed, the Chancellor of a country, Shang Family patriarch, Third-Turn Messenger, a figure so powerful his every step could shake Liang Kingdom, would wander alone in Jiangnan City and even debate with Yan Qing, much like an ordinary middle-aged man who loves to meddle in others’ affairs and preach moral lessons.
"As an impersonator with no official identity, I, as a nation’s Prime Minister, cannot overlook it." Shang Xuanwen said calmly: "I’ve fulfilled your two requests; now our grievances are cleared, don’t resent me for acting impartially."
"This humble monk will not surrender easily." Yan Qing was ready to flee; after all, this was the main city; even if the opponent was a Third-Turn Messenger, he couldn’t harm him here.
"To acquire an identity, you need someone to vouch for you to be registered with the Government Office; or serve three years under official supervision, and if you perform well during service, you can transition to a proper status."
Yan Qing thought, this elder wasn’t too bad after all.
"So, will you vouch for me?"
"My family can supervise you during your service." Shang Xuanwen said: "Your skills are good, your belt is a guard belt, so come to my house as a guard, equivalent to military service."
"Will you leave as a fugitive or serve for three years?"
...
...
As he stepped into the Shang Family’s vermilion door, Yan Qing still hadn’t come to his senses.
What happened, how did he suddenly connect with Shang Xuanwen? Even gaining a legitimate entry into the Shang Family—thinking about it, it’s apparent that Shang Xuanwen was likely resting at the Shang residence early morning, now with ’Mouse Monk’ serving as a guard in the house, they could cooperate inside and out, colluding, intrigue rising within...
Yet Yan Qing’s mind lingered on a question: why does Shang Xuanwen regard ’Mouse Monk’ so differently? Just because of gratitude for saving his life? Could Shang Xuanwen be the type who is cold outside, warm inside, remembers kindness forever but never shows it on his face?
No way, could he be... Tsundere!?
