Special Exams Right Around the Corner

“That’s Ming Feizhen.”

Several people on the rowdy streets at sunset intently watched the horse carriage’s curtains. The speaker blended into the crowd perfectly.

Without making contact with the speaker, his allies asked, “Why is he here when Mr. Jiang Chen kidnapped him?”

“The operation’s failure could be his fault.”

Indeed, Jiang Chen’s subordinates who were in charge of displaying the mirage were detained or killed, but you’d be grossly underestimating him if you assumed they were his only subordinates in the capital. Not even they were fully aware of their own allies’ existence or backgrounds. They were a group willing to die as martyrs for Fiends’ Genesis, so it should’ve been assumed that they were considering their next move after learning of Jiang Chen’s defeat.

“How about we capture him to blackmail them for Mr. Jiang Chen?”

“We’re not sure if Mr. Jiang Chen is captured or not, but capturing Ming Feizhen certainly might pave the way out of the capital.”

“No need to capture him,” asserted the first speaker. He walked off, maintaining the same pace as before. “Kill him to tell the world Fiends’ Genesis lives.”

***

Shen Yiren wrestled with her fatigue to get through the amassed reports during her absence from Liu Shan Men, as well to write the detailed report on her recent operation. Once she finished the fundamental stuff, she entrusted the editing to her subordinates.

“What’s the matter, Shuang’er?”

Bai Yeshuang, holding onto a report Shen Yiren passed her, asked, “Vice-Captain, this says that you collected information and then delivered it back to the capital, which was how you located Jiang Chen, the hostages and his subordinates.”

“I didn’t assert the credit was mine now. I only wrote what I did.”

“But… we did not receive any letters.”

If somebody intercepted Shen Yiren’s letters meant for Liu Shan Men, then there was a serious problem.

“Oh, that. I didn’t communicate with you. Jiang Chen had surveillance on all our communication networks – our meaning us, Emperor’s Entourage and Qilin Guards. That’s why we’ve never been able to capture him. I, therefore, used a new communication line.”

“A new communication line?”

“Yeah, a private route.”

Bai Yeshuang stretched her eyes out. The cost of establishing a new and reliable communication line was no joking matter, not to mention under a condition when all letters you sent were seen. Despite how covert the imperial court’s lines were, Gongsun Chu was still able to figure them out. As such, it sounded ridiculous for Shen Yiren to have established one in such a short time.

“Because I didn’t send my letters to the capital.”

Bai Yeshuang tilted her head.

“I sent my letters to Hangzhou and then had them delivered to the capital. I don’t know how they did it, but there’s no need to worry; the line is fine. They were a tremendous help. When you write your report, just follow mine.”

Once she regathered her thoughts, Bai Yeshuang sat down to write a few lines before her mind wandered off to something that still didn’t click for her. How was somebody supposed to be of “tremendous help” to Shen Yiren when none of her problems were trivial problems? At the same time, though, receiving and redirecting a letter for her wasn’t exactly solving a big problem, either. Shen Yiren’s primary problem was locating Gongsun Chu; her toughest challenge was rescuing the hostage. Not even Emperor’s Entourage could complete those assignments. So, the only thing they could’ve done for her was to “analyse” the information she supplied. In other words, the person in Hangzhou analysed the information they received and converted it into practical information. That meant…

“You’re right. Otherwise, I’d need to be able to perform sorcery to pinpoint where Jiang Chen’s subordinates were hiding in the capital… That being said… there really might be someone who can see any corner of the world from anywhere. I mean, didn’t the person I contacted deduce where Jiang Chen was based on my dot points? Honestly, I’d consider them a monster.” Shen Yiren then returned to work as though the rest of it was not her problem.

Bai Yeshuang stared at her half-complete report, unsure how to continue.

***

The breeze spread the smell of viscous blood in the dark alley, making even the dusty ground smell putrid. Had the coach not been entrusted with a job, he would’ve preferred to stay away from the alley with strewn bloody bodies. Nonetheless, he gulped and searched around for someone still somewhat conscious. When he found one individual, although barely able to open his eyes or breathe, he said, “Head Constable Ming told me to deliver a message: tell the other morons to behave if they don’t want to die.”

He… knew we were coming. Who… were the people who attacked us?

“If you see your boss, tell him…”

And… the individual passed out.

***

“Ming Feizhen, is that really you?!”

The students of Daren Academy couldn’t control their surprise when they saw their long-absent classmate.

“Hi guys. Bye guys.” Ming Feizhen kept briskly going on his way, turning a few corners, going down a narrow path, turning more corners and finally reaching a small courtyard. Semantically, it was referred to as a palace, which was one of the few special buildings that only special students resided in.

Ming Feizhen showed no hesitance pushing any doors open or stepping into any buildings, repeating until he reached the room farthest in, which was left untidied. The owner of the room was leaning back on her soft cushion, had her left leg crossed over her right and was reading a book whilst enjoying a crisp fritter. The two of them froze upon seeing each other, both mid motion.

“… Ah?” She dropped her fritter. “Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing here?!”

Ming Feizhen, ignoring Jin Zhaoying’s flustered reaction, found himself a seat and took the fritter she dropped. He took a bite as he poured himself a cup of tea and said, “Tastes decent. This is a new item from Tianjiu, isn’t it? You have good taste, Miss Jin.”

The blushing maiden speedily sat up straight and tidied herself up, although her posture itself was part of the reason most of her forearms and thighs were exposed. That being said, it was her posture that kept eyes away from her. At the very least, Ming Feizhen didn’t notice. She cleared her throat and then tried to sternly say, “Why are you here all of a sudden? You should’ve told me in advance! Why didn’t the maids stop you?!”

“Some of them are in the backyard. Some of them are in the study. I sneaked in while they weren’t paying attention.” Ming Feizhen had another drink and then continued, “Boss told me you helped her find Jiang Chen and deduce where the hostages were held. I’m not surprised. If it wasn’t you, I can’t think of anyone else who could find someone not even Emperor’s Entourage could find based on sparse information. Having said that, I have a question I must ask.”

Ming Feizhen put his cup down, stared at the flushed maiden and queried, “Why did you do that?” His eyes were on her, yet it didn’t seem as though his attention was on her. “You never do anything without an end purpose. What do you stand to gain from helping Liu Shan Men find Jiang Chen?”

“I-I don’t quite know…”

“I know you don’t know. Call her out.”

Ming Feizhen watched as the darting eyes steadied, the redness in the cheeks recede and as she her brush aside her dress, putting her smooth legs on full display in all their glory.

“That’s not right.” She interlocked her fingers and set her chin atop them. She tugged up the corners of her lips slightly, tilted her head and adopted a lazy tone. “When have I ever done anything that wasn’t for you? What you said breaks my heart, Fuma.”

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