Chapter 35: Saving People

Leaving the Hundred Flavors Building, Liu Dao didn't follow him out. He was likely still enjoying the fine food inside.

The night breeze blew head-on, scattering some of the lingering scent of wine and food on Lin Yan. The night in Qingzhou City was unexpectedly even more bustling than the day. Lanterns hung high along the long street, densely packed in a long line, illuminating half the block as bright as day.

In a roadside teahouse, someone was playing the pipa, accompanying a storyteller's hoarse voice as he recounted ancient tales. The story was about a young swordsman bravely venturing into a tiger's den alone to slay a horde of demons with his blade. Whenever the tale reached a thrilling climax, the patrons slapped their tables and cheered, tossing copper coins that clattered loudly—CLATTER—into a brass plate.

An old man selling sugar-roasted chestnuts stood at the street corner. Black sand tumbled in his iron wok, and the chestnuts popped—CRACKLE POP—sending their sweet aroma far down the street.

This was Qingzhou City, appearing prosperous and peaceful. The bloody storms of the Jianghu never surfaced in plain sight; they only unfurled in places far removed from ordinary people. Lin Yan already carried a bit of the Jianghu aura about him. Walking among the surrounding pedestrians, he looked somewhat out of place.

A short while later, he arrived at Xikou Street.

The door to Zhou Wanqing's house was left slightly ajar, leaking a sliver of candlelight that stood out starkly in the dark night. He pushed the door open and entered. Inside, the oil lamp in the main hall had nearly burned out, its wick having formed a flower-shaped char.

Zhou Wanqing sat at the table. Seeing him enter, she was momentarily startled before letting out a soft sigh of relief. However, she didn't speak. Instead, she glanced toward the bedroom.

The bedroom curtain was half-lifted. Shen Qingci sat on the edge of the bed, holding her son, who had just finished his milk and fallen asleep. Upon seeing Lin Yan, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Mr. Lin!"

She stood up abruptly. The child in her arms was startled but fortunately didn't wake up immediately. Shen Qingci hurriedly patted him gently, then looked up at Lin Yan again.

"You've returned."

Lin Yan looked at her and nodded, his expression largely unchanged. "I have a general idea of why you came. Rest assured, your father will be fine."

Shen Qingci froze, her face full of confusion. Seeing her expression, Lin Yan tilted his head slightly and cast a questioning gaze at Mei Ruoying and Zhou Wanqing beside him.

Seeing this, Mei Ruoying took a few steps forward and gave Shen Qingci a slight bow.

"Miss Shen, I am truly sorry for concealing so much during the day. My identity is rather special, and every additional person who knows it brings an extra layer of danger.

"The truth is... I am the Second Miss of Meihua Mountain Villa."

Shen Qingci shuddered, subconsciously tightening her grip. The baby in the swaddling clothes was jolted awake by this movement and burst into tears—WAAH! She quickly looked down to coax him. Only after she had pacified her son once more did she look back up.

"It's really you..."

Mei Ruoying didn't avoid her gaze, merely speaking slowly.

"I am only able to find a place to stay in Qingzhou City because Mr. Shen righteously came to my aid. Without him taking me in and covering my tracks, I would have been captured by the Yang Family long ago.

"Now that Mr. Shen has suffered because of me, I would be unworthy of being human if I sat by and did nothing. Rest assured, Miss Shen, Mr. Shen will be perfectly fine."

Shen Qingci's heart was a tangled mess of mixed emotions, leaving her speechless for a long while.

"Don't overthink it. For now, just wait for your father to come home," Lin Yan suddenly said softly, offering a rare word of comfort.

Shen Qingci turned to look at him, her nose suddenly tingling as tears threatened to well up in her eyes. But she held them back, nodding heavily, and lowered her head to pretend to coax the child.

Seeing her like this, Lin Yan didn't say anything more. He then turned his head. "Wash off the disguise on your face, and then we'll go do what needs to be done."

"Right now?"

"Yes. He's been hung up for so long; if we delay any further, I'm afraid something bad will happen."

Mei Ruoying nodded, choosing to believe in Lin Yan unconditionally.

Only after she walked out did Shen Qingci raise her head again. "Mr. Lin, I..."

Lin Yan said softly, "You don't need to feel like you owe me anything. Miss Mei has already paid my fee, hiring me to protect her while she saves someone.

"After this is over, go back and raise your child well. As for those other disturbances, I imagine your father will have a way to handle them once he's rescued."

He was referring to the local gentry who had designs on the Liu Family's properties. Shen Qingci could only nod. She wanted to ask if she could tag along, but judging by the situation, it was better not to press the issue.

Hanging from a flagpole was an agonizing experience.

Shen Yizhu had been strung up for a day and a night. His hands had long since lost all sensation, and the rope knots on his wrists had dug deeply into his flesh. A ring of dark brown scabs had crusted over the curled, torn skin. His lips were so chapped that every breath he took caused his throat immense discomfort.

Yet, he was still alive. Yang Qinghe had explicitly stated that he was not allowed to die.

Therefore, every four hours, someone would let him down, force-feed him water and congee, and then string him back up as soon as he caught his breath. These people handled it with measured precision. They refused to let him suffer any less, but they also refused to let him breathe his last.

Shen Yizhu looked down at the ground below. The pedestrians on the street looked as small as ants, hurrying back and forth. Occasionally, someone would glance up, only to scurry away in haste. No one would pay any mind to a half-dead man dangling in midair.

He should have been in despair. Yet right now, an inexplicable sense of anticipation glimmered in his eyes.

"Come... all of you..."

His low murmur was carried far away by the wind, but sadly, no one could hear it.

Meanwhile, inside an inn not far away, a second-floor window facing the street was left half-open.

Two women in green dresses sat across from each other. The older one appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her features carrying the calm tranquility left by the passage of time. Her green dress was loosely tailored, with the cuffs drooping down to cover her wrists. Only her fingertips were exposed, revealing long, pale knuckles that exuded a quiet, understated elegance in their every movement.

The younger one was at most seventeen or eighteen. The same style of green dress worn by her gave off a fresh, budding vibrancy. Her face still retained a hint of un-faded baby fat, but her features had already fully blossomed. It was the kind of striking appearance that made people unable to resist taking a second look.

She was currently twisting the tassel of the jade pendant at her waist, looking incredibly anxious.

"Senior Sister." The younger woman stopped her fidgeting and looked up. "Can't we just force Shen Yizhu to tell us the whereabouts of our junior sister?"

The older woman didn't answer immediately. She picked up the teacup on the table but didn't drink, merely using the lid to gently push aside the floating tea leaves. "Things aren't that simple. A mere Yang Family is naturally nothing to worry about."

"Then what is Senior Sister worried about..."

"I don't know either. I've been feeling restless these past few days, as if something bad is about to happen. So let's just wait a bit longer."

The younger woman pouted, looking at her senior sister's emotionless face. Where was there any sign of worry? She was clearly still treating her like a child and refusing to explain! With a huff, she turned her gaze out the window.

She happened to spot an oxcart turning the corner. The ox was Old Niu, and the cart was a battered one, both looking entirely out of place on this bustling street. The cart rolled to a halt beneath the flagpole.

A sword-bearing woman sitting inside the cart's canopy leapt into the air, rescuing Shen Yizhu from midair.

"Senior Sister, I see our future junior sister!!"