Thorn Nest
The heavy pacing in the study finally stopped.
Chen Tongzhi stopped by the window, his back to Ling Zhan, and looked at a large tree in the courtyard outside the window whose branches had already grown green leaves.
Morning light streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on his navy blue casual clothes.
Finally, he slowly turned around, his face no longer showing the initial shock, but instead a shrewdness that was a mixture of detachment and weighing of options.
His sharp gaze locked onto Ling Zhan, his voice low and authoritative: "Madam Ling, this matter... is of utmost importance! To take in dozens of people into the city?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "It's tantamount to playing with fire, courting death! Absolutely not!"
He then changed the subject, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying a condescending air of condescension: "However... considering our past relationship, and the fact that Lord Shen helped me in the past, settling him outside the city is not out of the question."
He walked back to his desk and pointed to a spot on the map in the western suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture. “Under my jurisdiction, twenty li to the west, there is a valley called ‘Qixia’ao’. This place is remote, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a hidden entrance. In earlier years, it was inhabited by refugees, but later, due to… an epidemic, it was abandoned for many years and is rarely visited.”
He deliberately emphasized the word "epidemic" and observed Ling Zhan's reaction.
"Although many of the houses are dilapidated and crumbling, the foundations still exist, and a stream flows through the valley, so there is no shortage of water."
Magistrate Chen continued, speaking calmly as if stating an official matter, “I can issue a letter stating that you are ‘Heji’ craftsmen who have been affected by the flood and have come to seek refuge with distant relatives, granting you temporary residence here to cultivate the wasteland and support yourselves. I will take care of the government affairs; in the short term… no one will bother you. Once you are settled, it will not be too late to arrange your household registration and travel permits.”
He clearly stated his identity as a "Heji craftsman" and his requirement to "earn a living through his own efforts."
Ling Zhan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was sneering repeatedly.
How perfectly clean!
They wanted to preserve the potential value of the Shen family while also extricating themselves from the situation completely.
Keeping risks firmly under control in remote suburbs is like throwing a bunch of hot potatoes into an abandoned pit.
But in a flash, her mind had already weighed the pros and cons—Qixia'ao's seclusion and independence were better than complete wilderness—this was indeed the only lifeline she could grasp at the moment.
Magistrate Chen then changed the subject, his tone suddenly turning icy and carrying a blatant warning: "But there are a few things you must remember. If you make even the slightest mistake, don't blame me for turning ruthless!"
He held up three fingers, like three cold shackles:
"First, live a secluded life and sever all ties with the past! The surname Shen shall never be used again! The name Linshan Town shall remain buried in your hearts! To the outside world, you shall be known as the craftsmen of 'Heji'! If even one of you reveals a single word of the past..." His gaze was like a knife as he swept over Su Wan and Xiao Shitou behind Ling Zhan.
"Secondly, focus on survival and avoid causing trouble! Considering your recent arrival, I may secretly provide you with some emergency rations, salt, and iron farm tools. However, you must repair your houses, cultivate the wasteland, and quickly establish yourselves to support yourselves! Do not cause any further trouble that could implicate me!"
He deliberately emphasized "a little" and "don't".
"Thirdly," his voice lowered, chillingly cold, "keep everyone in check! If your whereabouts are leaked and cause trouble... don't blame me for taking swift and decisive action to clear myself of all responsibility!"
This is the final and most forceful cut and threat.
Ling Zhan understood perfectly.
She bowed slightly, lowering her posture, but her tone was as firm as a rock: "Your Excellency's kindness has made Qixia Pass a true path to survival. On behalf of thirty-seven people, Ling Zhan thanks Your Excellency for saving our lives."
She raised her head, her gaze clear and firm. "However, we have just arrived in this desolate valley, and everything is in need of rebuilding. It will not be easy to settle down. I earnestly hope that you will do me another favor."
She clearly outlined her demands, as if drawing a bottom line at the negotiating table:
"First, emergency supplies. Please quickly allocate a certain amount of grain, salt, and iron farm tools. The types and quantities are listed below."
She placed the simple list, which had been prepared in advance and written by Xiao Shitou, on the desk. "We are willing to settle at the market price and will present the money immediately. We will not cause you any trouble." She emphasized the transactional nature of the transaction, reducing favors owed, and also implying that her financial resources were not exhausted.
"Secondly, travel permits. We earnestly request that Your Excellency issue travel permits immediately to facilitate our entry into the city to purchase necessary items, such as medicine, cloth, and repair materials." These are crucial passes for survival and reconstruction.
"Thirdly," she raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as she looked directly into Chen Tongzhi's eyes, "I earnestly request that you, sir, use the official post station or other reliable channels to find out accurate information about Linshan Town!" She emphasized her words, "We especially need to know two things: first, the movements of our enemies and the current situation in Linshan Town; second,... how the newly appointed Magistrate Huo Heng has dealt with the more than one hundred artisans left behind by my Shen family!"
"Huo Heng?"
Chen Tongzhi's brow twitched violently, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. Ling Zhan's final request, especially to inquire about Huo Heng and the craftsmen, struck him like a needle into his most sensitive nerve. This was tantamount to deliberately provoking the very center of the dangerous vortex that had just ignited the Shen family!
He was filled with alarm bells and felt extremely resistant.
Ling Zhan saw his apprehension and spoke in a deep voice with undeniable authority: "The Shen family's foundation has been destroyed, and this grudge... I dare not forget! However, only by knowing ourselves and our enemy can we... protect the lives of everyone in Qixia'ao and live up to the kindness of your esteemed shelter today!"
She cleverly linked "knowing the enemy" with "preserving Qixia'ao," that is, Chen Tongzhi's interests, and "not failing in gratitude."
Apply double pressure.
Chen Tongzhi's expression shifted constantly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.
Ling Zhan's logic made it difficult for him to refuse outright.
If Qixia'ao is found by his enemies due to a lack of information, he will also be implicated.
He really needed to know what had happened at Linshan.
Huo Heng comes from a prominent family. Having gained such a great advantage, what kind of trouble will he cause?
After much deliberation, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "...Very well. I will try to find out the news."
His tone then turned stern, warning, "But you must remember! No matter what you hear, Qixia'ao must remain as calm as a still well! Live peacefully! If you act rashly because of the news and bring disaster upon yourself... you will bear the consequences!"
He said no more, picked up his pen and wrote a vaguely worded handwritten note on a piece of official paper, then stamped it with his personal seal.
He then summoned the butler and whispered a few instructions to him.
The butler returned quickly, bringing a small bag of brown rice, a small jar of coarse salt, several chipped old hoes and sickles, and a small packet of precious quicklime.
The rudimentary and perfunctory nature of the supplies speaks for itself.
Along with the documents, several blank travel permits bearing the official seal of the government office were also handed over.
Ling Zhan took the paper, which felt light yet incredibly heavy, and the meager supplies; his fingertips were icy cold.
She placed a silver ingot on the desk and bowed deeply to Chen Tongzhi: "Thank you, Your Excellency. We shall take our leave."
He turned around and, with Su Wan and Xiao Shitou, quickly left the study, which was filled with scheming and chill.
Stepping out of the back gate of the Chen residence, a cool morning breeze brushed her face. She clutched the few thin sheets of paper tightly, her gaze unconsciously drifting southeast—
The terrified and bewildered looks in the eyes of the artisans, like lambs to the slaughter, flashed through her mind.
"Huo Heng... are those contracts for over a hundred households a shield to save lives, or a chain to bring them to their deaths?"
A hint of cold mockery crept onto his lips, only to be quickly swallowed up by deeper worry and self-reproach.
Putting the lives of living people on the county magistrate's fleeting "conscience" and fragile "official reputation" is a heart-wrenching and helpless act.
If the artisans suffer because of the Shen family, this blood debt will be forever etched in her heart.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging thoughts, quickened her pace, and her figure swiftly disappeared into the dark alley leading out of the city.
Back in the secluded spot in the black pine forest, the oppressive atmosphere eased slightly.
Upon learning that they had found a place to stay, even though it was a valley "abandoned by the epidemic," they saw a glimmer of hope amidst their despair.
Ling Zhan displayed the road signs and a small amount of supplies, emphasizing the identity and discipline of "Heji Craftsmen".
Exhausted and bewildered, the team regrouped and quietly left the Black Pine Forest, heading towards Qixia'ao in the western suburbs.
The journey was not smooth.
Whether under the blazing sun or in the pouring rain, the group, carrying their packs and heavy hearts, trekked along the desolate paths.
The women and children walked unsteadily, while the guards vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
At a fork in the road, they unexpectedly encountered a group of officials from the prefectural city who were on patrol in the countryside.
The head constable looked suspiciously at the group of disheveled "vagrants" who were accompanied by women and children but also guards.
Liu Quan and Yang Sijian immediately stepped forward. Liu Quan smiled and handed over the letter and travel permit from Magistrate Chen. Yang Sijian explained in an old voice, "Sir, you have worked hard. We are craftsmen from the 'Heji' workshop who were affected by the flood. We went to Qixia'ao in the western suburbs to visit relatives. We are grateful for Magistrate Chen's compassion. He gave us the documents and travel permit, allowing us to settle in the barren valley and make a living on our own."
He then slipped a small piece of silver into the hand of the head constable.
The head constable weighed the silver in his hand, then carefully examined the document bearing Chen Tongzhi's private seal and the ambiguous wording. His doubts lessened slightly, but he still warned, "Qixia'ao? That godforsaken place... Hmph, since it's Lord Chen's order, hurry up and go! Behave yourself and don't cause any trouble!"
The team made it through safely, but their backs were soaked with sweat.
When the dense brambles and vines were pushed aside and the hidden valley entrance was finally revealed, an intense, stale stench hit everyone's face like a tangible fist.
The moment the group entered Qixia'ao, a deathly silence descended.
The steep mountains on three sides act like a huge, rusty cage, locking the entire valley in place.
Wild grass grew rampant in the valley, reaching half a person's height, standing stiffly in the windless air, emitting a silent lament. Dozens of mud-brick and thatched huts were scattered haphazardly among the weeds, their roofs collapsed and walls crumbling, revealing dark, gaping holes like empty eye sockets.
Dead vines crawled all over the broken walls and ruins, like twisted blood vessels.
Wild rats and unidentified insects darted swiftly among the ruins, creating rustling sounds that added to the eeriness.
A heavy, nauseating stench filled the air—the pungent, earthy smell of soil, the cloying sweetness of deeply decaying vegetation, and a subtle yet piercing, nauseating, and vomit-filled odor—a strange mixture of sweet, pungent, and rotten flavors.
This smell silently confirms all the terrifying legends about the "Plague Ghost Realm".
The crowd fell silent instantly; even the children forgot to cry, leaving only heavy, suppressed breathing.
The glimmer of light that had just appeared in the eyes of the women and children was completely extinguished, replaced by bottomless despair and fear. The children clung tightly to the adults' clothes, their little faces as white as paper.
Ling Zhan was the only one who didn't succumb to despair.
She was the first to leap from the carriage, her muddy boots clattering heavily on the thick, decaying grass. Ignoring the desolation and pungent smell around her, her gaze swept across the valley with the sharpness of a hawk: the terrain surrounded by mountains on three sides, the winding, murky stream, the scattered ruins, and the relatively high northern slope in the distance.
Her gaze finally settled on an elderly man in the crowd, with white hair and beard, wearing a faded old Taoist robe, and a thin build.
Master Xuanchen was gazing at the lifeless valley, his brows furrowed, and a rare solemnity showing in his clear eyes.
"Master Daoist."
Ling Zhan walked up to him, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear, carrying an undeniable sense of entrustment, "This valley is stagnant with foul air, devoid of life, and is an extremely ominous place. If we wish to survive here, we must rely on the Daoist's wise eyes to clear the earth's veins, determine an auspicious location, and dispel the evil, so as to find a foothold for our thirty-seven members. We earnestly hope that the Daoist will lend a helping hand!"
Her tone was a plea, but more importantly, it was a command concerning life and death.
Master Xuanchen slowly withdrew his gaze from the valley and landed on Ling Zhan's eyes, which burned with an indomitable will. His expression remained solemn, but he slowly nodded, his withered hand sliding into the wide sleeve of his Taoist robe.
When he stretched out his hand again, he was holding a compass that was neither gold nor jade, but had a dark bronze luster.
The compass was no bigger than the palm of your hand, its edges engraved with intricate star patterns and cloud symbols. In the center of the compass, a dark, non-iron, non-magnetic pointer floated silently.
He didn't say much, but simply placed his withered fingers lightly on the edge of the compass.
The next moment, the dark pointer seemed to be awakened by an invisible force, and began to tremble very slightly and spontaneously. A faint, almost imperceptible, cold light, as if from an ancient star, flowed from the tip of the pointer.
The old Taoist's eyes instantly became incredibly focused, like a hawk locking onto its prey, and an invisible pressure quietly spread out from him.
All eyes were focused on the strange, slightly glowing compass and the solemn face of Daoist Xuan Chen.
The fate of Qixia'ao seems to rest in the hands of this old Taoist priest.
It's not just the distant enemy that's unknown.
The land beneath my feet is itself permeated with an aura of death and misfortune.
That was the first enemy they had to conquer.
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