Chapter Fifty-Nine: No Need to Take Risks

The imperial envoy lingered in Xuanzhou for about ten days before departing. Prior to his departure, all the local officials of Xuanzhou, including the magistrate of Qingyang, Xue Song, were summoned to bid farewell to this keen-eyed envoy.

Sitting in his carriage without the customary entourage of an imperial envoy, Master Pei still wore a warm smile as he waved goodbye to the assembled officials of Xuanzhou.

Once the carriage had receded into the distance, the humble smile faded from Prefect Tian’s face. He turned to Xue Song and said with a laugh, “Brother Yueji.”

The magistrate inclined slightly, cupping his hands in respect. “I am here.”

“This ordeal, we Xuanzhou officials have finally overcome. Qingyang has rendered considerable service, particularly that young man from your county—what was his name again? Li… Li something?”

Xue Song replied, “Li Zhao.”

“Yes, Li Zhao.” Prefect Tian clasped his hands behind his back and said cheerfully, “These past days, Master Pei told me he intends to recruit Li Zhao under his banner, but Li Zhao declined. That’s a good thing.”

“If he had joined Master Pei, we officials of Xuanzhou would have found ourselves at a disadvantage.”

When Master Pei negotiated terms with Prefect Tian earlier, he never mentioned Li Yun, for Li Yun had not aligned himself with Pei, nor had he written any testimony or come forward as a witness. Thus, Li Yun’s existence was merely a tool to intimidate, not a bargaining chip. Moreover, since Xue Song had already reported to the prefecture, Pei, foreseeing this, simply omitted Li Yun.

Only if Pei Zhuang had won over Li Yun or Master Pei himself had done so, could Li Yun have become leverage for Pei against Xuanzhou’s officials. Had that been the case, Pei’s journey through Xuanzhou would have been much easier.

Xue Song replied, “It was merely my duty, Prefect. You flatter me.”

Prefect Tian chuckled, “Tonight, Brother Yueji, don’t return to Qingyang. Let’s share a meal together.”

With his superior’s invitation, Xue Song could not refuse. He nodded and said, “As you command.”

...

Not until the afternoon of the next day did Xue Song return to Qingyang. Upon arriving at the county office, he heard his beloved daughter’s voice outside his study.

“Yes, that bookshelf—the very top shelf.”

“In the middle, the thick book. I saw Father place it there last time.”

“Oh, be careful! These are Father’s treasures. If you topple the shelf, we’re doomed.”

Hearing this, Xue Song’s expression darkened, and he pushed open the door.

Inside, Li Yun stood atop a stool, while Miss Xue directed him from the side. Both turned to look at Xue Song, frozen in place.

Fortunately, Li Yun was thick-skinned. He hopped off the chair, wiped the footprints with his sleeve, and smiled. “You’re back, Magistrate. We were helping tidy your bookshelf—look how much dust we’ve wiped off.”

Xue Yun’er, flustered, dared not speak. Seeing Li Yun break the silence, she quickly ran out. “Father, I’ll make tea for you.”

And with that, she darted away.

Xue Song, face clouded, seated himself and looked at Li Yun, speaking in a muffled tone, “What are you two up to?”

Li Yun, calm as ever, set down the newly “borrowed” Geography of Mountains and Rivers on the desk and said, “Magistrate, please understand. I borrowed two books from Miss Xue before, and having nearly finished them, I came to return them today. I wanted to read something on geography, and Miss Xue said you had such books, so we came to fetch them.”

Xue Song slapped the table hard.

“That’s theft!”

“It’s not theft.”

Li Yun shook his head solemnly. “If it were theft, I wouldn’t return them. I always bring them back after reading.”

Xue Song snorted angrily but said nothing more.

Li Yun smiled, “Has the imperial envoy departed?”

“He has,” replied Xue Song.

Li Yun grinned, “So Xuanzhou has passed the test.”

Xue Song fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “Xuanzhou has passed, but who knows…”

Who knows if the court can pass.

He left the sentence unfinished, instead taking a letter from his sleeve and placing it before Li Yun. “A letter for you.”

“A letter for me?”

Li Yun, curious, took the letter and saw the signature: Respectfully, Pei Zhuang.

He opened it and scanned its contents. The letter was simple: Pei had returned, and when time permitted, he would come to Xuanzhou to spar with Li Yun.

At the end, Pei Zhuang wrote:

“Brother Li, your strength is remarkable—a rare gift. Yet you lack a true mentor, and your skills lack refinement. When you have time, please visit the capital; I will recommend you to a master. With time, your martial arts will flourish, and you shall become a grandmaster.

Respectfully, Pei Zhuang.”

Li Yun folded the letter, clicking his tongue. “The gentry are different—even their household guards write in such flowery language.”

Xue Song glanced at Li Yun, and asked, “Does the Pei family still want you to go?”

Li Yun shook his head, “Probably not. This is Pei Zhuang’s personal invitation for me to visit the capital.”

He looked at Xue Song and smiled, “People of his status are proud; if you refuse once, they won’t invite you again.”

Xue Song grunted, “Such nobles are always scheming.”

He recalled Prefect Tian’s sycophantic smile at Pei’s farewell and frowned anew.

Li Yun picked up the geography book and looked at Xue Song, “Magistrate, may I borrow this book for a few days?”

Xue Song finally glanced at Li Yun and sighed, “Don’t damage it. I won’t be able to obtain another copy.”

Li Yun nodded quickly, “Understood, understood, you can rest assured.”

Xue Song looked at Li Yun and said slowly, “Whenever you want to read something, come borrow it from me—no need for sneaking around.”

Li Yun was overjoyed.

This was not an era awash with books; each volume was precious, and many were handwritten copies, rare to find. Xue Song was truly generous.

He bowed in thanks, then left the study in high spirits.

Soon after, he saw Miss Xue waiting nervously outside. Seeing Li Yun emerge from the study, she relaxed and said, “I thought you wouldn’t make it out.”

Li Yun laughed, “The magistrate is actually quite kind—not as strict as you say.”

“You don’t understand,” Xue Yun’er whispered. “My father treasures his books deeply. When my two brothers damaged a few pages as children, he nearly beat them to death.”

“We went to steal his books, and he caught us…”

At her words, Li Yun glanced back at the study, curious. “Maybe the magistrate has mellowed with age.”

Xue Yun’er continued, breaking Li Yun’s reverie.

“I heard you’re going out to suppress bandits again soon?”

“Yes,” Li Yun nodded. “There’s a big stronghold to clear out this month—to protect the people.”

“Hmph,” Xue Yun’er snorted. “You’re not going to suppress bandits; you’re just going home.”

Li Yun answered seriously, “Miss Xue, you misunderstand. If you visit the county jail, you’ll see two bandit gangs locked up—I caught them myself.”

Xue Yun’er looked at Li Yun, blinking. “You… actually went to suppress bandits?”

“Of course,” Li Yun said with a smile. “To rid Qingyang of harm.”

“But…”

She glanced around, then whispered, “But don’t you know most of those people?”

“Some I may know, but most I don’t,” Li Yun replied, thumping his chest. “Rest assured, Miss Xue—they certainly won’t recognize me now.”

Xue Yun’er quickly looked up at Li Yun, blushed, and lowered her head.

In her view, Li Yun, as a bandit chief, should never turn against his comrades. In the tales, such leaders often became sworn brothers!

And yet now, he ruthlessly exterminated his own kind…

He must have made a promise to her father!

And why did he agree to it…

Thinking this, Miss Xue’s heart grew chaotic. She clenched her fists and ran off.

“You… don’t have to take such risks.”

With those words, she turned and ran away.

Li Yun stood there, scratching his head, utterly baffled.

What strange words…

So random?