Everyone waited for Shen Weimu to finish his radish cake, then watched eagerly as he sipped his sour plum soup in small, delicate sips.
Lu Yang grew anxious watching him and poured himself a bowl of sour plum soup, deliberately drinking it all in one gulp right in front of Shen Weimu.
Shen Weimu was completely unfazed, even slowing down his sipping further.
He had already shared the Eight Trigrams Clue with that old lady, just to avoid trouble with the Dali Temple.
Yet these people had summoned him here again, wasting his time eating and drinking, so demanding a bowl of sour plum soup as compensation wasn’t unreasonable.
Shen Weimu had a habit of savoring sweet drinks slowly and thoroughly—an unbreakable ritual that no one could change.
After the incense stick burned down, Shen Weimu finally placed the empty bowl on the table.
Under everyone’s impatient gazes, he explained leisurely,
“Because I look good, he said he never lies to pretty people.”
“What’s so disgusting about that?”
Lu Yang asked, confused.
“Isn’t that a compliment?”
“He then muttered softly, ‘I’ve never tried to marry a man as a wife,’ thinking I didn’t hear it. That’s what made me feel sick. I hadn’t returned to that mansion for a long time, but when I did, I found he had moved the courtyard walls—naturally, I held a grudge even more.”
Everyone pictured the scene and shuddered—a truly disgusting notion.
However, with Shen Young Master’s looks, he naturally attracted attention from both genders indiscriminately.
Especially among those unscrupulous scoundrels and lecherous rogues in the Jianghu, it was even more dangerous.
Lu Yang took the initiative to pour Shen Weimu another bowl of sour plum soup, urging him to drink more to suppress the nausea.
Though he was doing a good deed, Shen Weimu couldn’t help but make one more sarcastic comment.
“Don’t accidentally vomit blood from disgust; then it’ll be on us.”
Before he finished speaking, Shen Weimu began coughing and actually spat blood.
Lu Yang was so shocked he raised both hands and jumped back immediately, putting distance between himself and Shen Weimu.
“You bastard, what did you do?”
Zheng Chengliang had come happily to praise Song Qiyun’s team for breaking a major case, but upon arriving at the door, he saw Lu Yang bullying a beautiful young man into coughing up blood.
With blood still at the corner of his mouth, Shen Weimu hastily stood and bowed to Zheng Chengliang.
His pale lips bore a trace of crimson, and his gentle smile only made him look more pitiful.
“Lord Zheng, I’m fine, just spat a little blood. It has nothing to do with Registrar Lu, please don’t blame him.”
Lu Yang:
“???”
The words sounded fine literally, but something felt off.
Zheng Chengliang glared hatefully at Lu Yang.
“You’re a renowned Yang Hero in the Jianghu, yet you bully a frail, sickly young master like this?”
“I didn’t! Didn’t you hear him say it has nothing to do with me?”
Lu Yang defended himself innocently.
“You dare talk back to me? I think you deserve a beating!”
Zheng Chengliang snatched the jade fan at his waist and swung it at Lu Yang.
Lu Yang quickly dodged behind Song Qiyun, shouting,
“Old man Zheng is unreasonable and bullying me again!”
“What did you call me? Old man? I’m your maternal uncle! Don’t disrespect me!”
Zheng Chengliang hit Lu Yang several more times, turning the back of his hand red. It was only after Song Qiyun’s persuasion that he finally calmed down.
“The owner of Changqian Gambling House has been caught. Indeed, he schemed to seize the territories of the Zhang and Yang family restaurants. After failing to agree on a price, he set a trap and lured Sun Wangcai, who had lost all hope, into losing money. Then he incited him to kill to settle his debts.”
Wei Chi Feng handed over the confessions from the court hearing to Zheng Chengliang.
Zheng Chengliang praised repeatedly,
“Excellent! How many cases have you cracked in a row? You’re very capable and truly bring honor to this old man!”
Rubbing his graying beard, he smiled happily, his face full of wrinkles.
“Tsk tsk, just a few days since I took over Jingzhao Prefecture, and I’ve cracked numerous strange cases. I even captured and executed the infamous Black Widower who was wanted by the court for years! As for that Shen fellow, what’s there to say? Hahaha, I’ll enjoy watching Shen Yuzhang get trounced in the Ming Hall!”
“Lord Zheng, there are outsiders present.”
Song Qiyun whispered a reminder, clearly troubled that his superior was insulting political rivals so freely before strangers.
If Shen Ersan and Shen Yuzhang were relatives, or even close friends, neighbors, or fellow patients, it would be disastrous.
Shen Weimu smiled at them, leisurely wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.
“You say this Shen young brother? He’s no outsider.”
Zheng Chengliang sat down beside Shen Weimu with a beaming smile, looking at him with great appreciation.
“I’ve heard all about Shen young brother. You truly are our Dali Temple’s Fortune Star. Because of you, our cases are solved so quickly!”
Fortune Star?
Song Qiyun, Lu Yang, and Wei Chi Feng all looked toward Zheng Chengliang in unison.
“Lord Zheng!”
Song Qiyun disapproved and reminded him again.
Zheng Chengliang raised a hand, signaling Song Qiyun to hold his tongue for now.
A greater smile lit Shen Weimu’s eyes.
“No wonder you are the Dali Temple Chief, your insight is sharp as a sword. Unlike some people who are blind and heartless, receiving many favors but failing even to fulfill the promise of a meal.”
Song Qiyun:
“You sure hold a grudge about food.”
“That’s only natural!”
Zheng Chengliang laughed heartily, not knowing why but feeling complimented more by this handsome youth than by anyone else.
“I heard Shen young brother runs the Eight Trigrams Tower here in the capital. How’s business? Interested in joining our Dali Temple Jianghu Division? Don’t worry, I’ll make a special application so you won’t lose out.”
“What?! Old man Zheng, you want to recruit him into the Jianghu Division?”
Lu Yang slammed the table in objection.
Song Qiyun hesitated only a moment before saying,
“I agree.”
Lu Yang was even more shocked and puzzled at Song Qiyun’s agreement.
Shen Weimu coughed twice and politely declined,
“Sorry, my condition is too poor. I’m not fit for the demanding work of official service.”
“Indeed, Young Master Shen shouldn’t overexert himself. Traveling far, like before in that carriage, is best avoided.”
Wei Chi Feng had always worried about Shen Weimu’s health and wondered why someone barely hanging onto life would keep wandering about and always show up at murder scenes.
Could it be that those with Deathly Qi on them are prone to encountering danger when they go out?
“Thank you for your concern, Registrar Wei. Thanks to a Divine Doctor’s treatment, my condition has improved a lot.”
Wei Chi Feng looked surprised and asked to examine Shen Weimu’s pulse again, his face reflecting even greater astonishment.
“Although your five organs are still damaged, your condition is much better than before. May I ask who this Divine Doctor is?”
Wei Chi Feng’s eyes shone brightly, eager to learn more and possibly exchange medical techniques with this doctor.
“He didn’t give his name, dressed all in black, and even his signboard was black. He stopped me on the road and, without checking my pulse, told me my illness right away. He said he saw I was handsome and couldn’t bear to see a beautiful youth lost to the world, so he helped me once. But my illness can only be prolonged, not cured so easily.”
Wei Chi Feng was astonished,
“All in black? Could it be the Black Divine Doctor? But I’ve heard he now only serves the demonic cult.”
Song Qiyun glanced at Shen Weimu—this was the second time today that Shen’s handsome appearance had made others treat him differently, especially since both men were practitioners of dark paths.
“Our Dali Temple operates flexibly and is not rigid. Shen young brother is a rare talent, and given his special condition, he need not follow the strict attendance rules. Like before, if he’s available when there’s a case, he can come to the scene and offer some insights. How about that?”
Song Qiyun continued his warm invitation, keeping the requirements low.
To everyone else at the Dali Temple, this was stranger than the sun rising from the west—truly shocking.
Everyone knew Song Shaoqing was the most diligent, strict rule-follower in officialdom, so what had possessed him?
Gone mad?
Zheng Chengliang shared the same concern and had been hesitant to speak out for fear Song Qiyun would argue stubbornly, but now that Song had proposed it, he enthusiastically agreed and warmly invited Shen Weimu to accept.
“I’ll think about it.”
Shen Weimu still did not agree immediately.
Lu Yang was astonished.
“After all this, you’re still considering?”
This kind of treatment nearly made him jealous to death!
Shen Weimu smiled apologetically,
“Yes, not everyone here welcomes me.”
The words clearly implied someone.
Everyone turned their eyes to Lu Yang.
Suddenly the spotlight was on him, but before he could react, Zheng Chengliang smacked his forehead hard.
“You brat, it’s all your fault!”
“Ahhhhhh…”
Lu Yang ran away again, clutching his head, chased by Zheng Chengliang.
Shen Weimu pointed out the location of Duo Xiaoyao’s residence on the map to Song Qiyun.
“I have to take medicine tonight, so I won’t accompany you there.”
“Alright.”
Song Qiyun asked about the Eight Trigrams Tower’s location and arranged to invite Shen Weimu to lunch the next day.
“You know, it’s right next door to Duo Xiaoyao’s residence.”
Song Qiyun thought to himself that keeping Shen Weimu at the Dali Temple was a wise choice—he was suspicious in every way, yet no one could find any faults.
After leaving the Dali Temple, Shen Weimu dismissed Kang Anyun and the others, strolling alone through the streets to clear his mind.
“Roast chicken! Roast chicken! Delicious roast chicken! Young master, want one? Crispy and tasty, or your money back!”
As Shen Weimu passed a narrow alley, the aroma of roast meat wafted out.
Peering inside, he was met with a vendor’s enthusiastic invitation.
Six roast chickens were lined up neatly on the grill, their skins browned and sizzling with oil.
The smell was irresistibly enticing, and without hesitation, Shen Weimu stepped into the alley.
“This one.”
“All right!”
Shen Weimu’s sharp eyes picked the chicken with the most golden-brown skin—the one with the most rendered fat, guaranteed to be the crispiest.
The vendor wrapped the chicken carefully in lotus leaves and shouted,
“Four taels!”
His voice was deafening.
Four taels was an exorbitant price for a chicken.
Shen Weimu took the chicken and turned to leave.
“Hey? You haven’t paid yet!”
The vendor rushed out to block his path.
Shen Weimu glanced at the vendor’s hand retreating into his sleeve and smiled,
“You want my money?”
“Of course not, I want your life!”
Swoosh!
The vendor quickly threw a handful of silver needles.
Shen Weimu took several quick steps back, creating a wide distance between them.
At the same time, five heads appeared atop the walls on both sides of the alley.
Crossbows aimed at Shen Weimu fired poisonous arrows from all directions—front-right, back-right, left, right, and even from above.
The vendor flung more silver needles while laughing arrogantly.
“Prepare to die! Anyone caught in my Silver Needle Trick-Arrow Trap, no matter how strong, cannot escape death—unless you are a Great Luo Celestial Immortal!”
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