Futile Devices Scans

The door, which Tao Mo and Hao Guozi had nearly stared into blooming flowers, finally opened.

Mu Chun emerged first.

“Where’s Old Tao?” Tao Mo asked.

Mu Chun sighed. “Last night we shared a bed and slept foot to foot. Old Tao accidentally fell off the bed…”

Tao Mo and Hao Guozi immediately bolted inside.

They found Old Tao lying weakly in bed, two conspicuous bruises decorating his face.

Hao Guozi, never one to think before speaking, blurted out, “How did you manage to fall so badly?”

The corners of Old Tao’s mouth twitched.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Tao Mo asked. “You should get some proper rest. I’ll go fetch a physician immediately.”

“No need.” Old Tao covered his face. “Just a minor injury. It’s nothing serious.”

“You injured your face. How can that be taken lightly?” Tao Mo frowned. “Besides, finding a physician isn’t troublesome.”

“I actually have something I need to tell you,” Old Tao said, changing the subject.

“What is it?”

“I’m sure you’ve already guessed. This Mu Chun is indeed from my former master’s household. He came this time on my former master’s behalf to ask me to return for a visit.”

Remembering the complicated history between Old Tao and his former master, Tao Mo asked worriedly, “Do you really have to go?”

“Don’t worry. My former master long ago put old grievances behind him. After so many years apart, he merely wishes to see me again and reminisce.” Old Tao coughed lightly and turned to Hao Guozi. “After I leave, take good care of Young Master. If anything happens… seek Mu Chun’s advice.”

“Mu Chun?” Hao Guozi looked puzzled. “Why should we listen to Mu Chun?”

“Mu Chun has already agreed to stay behind. Though he is young, he is very experienced in dealing with people and affairs. If you encounter any problems, feel free to consult him.”

Tao Mo looked at Old Tao with reluctance. “I have no relation to him. I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Knowing Tao Mo’s reserved nature, Old Tao feared Mu Chun might simply become a hands-off steward if matters were not made clear. “Mu Chun and I are close friends. Just use him freely and without reservation.”

“Close friends?” Hao Guozi said. “The two of you look more like father and son.”

“A true confidant is something that can only be encountered by chance. Once such a person appears, why bother with all these formal distinctions?” What he really wanted to say was: Why do you have so many questions?

Hearing this, Tao Mo knew there was no changing the situation. He could only nod in agreement.

“There is one more thing,” Old Tao continued. “Although Adviser Jin is a staff adviser hired by Young Master, he has served in the Tanyang County yamen for many years and has unusual ties throughout the office. Trusting him seven or eight parts out of ten in ordinary matters is fine, but whenever county yamen affairs are involved, trust only one or two parts.” He could see that Adviser Jin’s attitude toward Tao Mo had changed somewhat, yet reservations still remained. If he himself were staying, he would not fear whatever storms Adviser Jin might stir up. But once he left, he could not be certain whether Mu Chun would truly devote himself to helping. As he thought of this, his gaze toward Tao Mo filled with concern.

How could Tao Mo fail to understand? Yet he could also see that Old Tao’s departure was unavoidable. Naturally, he did not wish to burden him further.

“Don’t worry. Just go in peace. I’ll be careful. Besides, Mu Chun will still be here. If I run into difficulties, I’ll simply ask him.”

Old Tao nodded and turned to Hao Guozi.

“Go call Mu Chun over. I have a few things I need to discuss with him.”

After Hao Guozi left, Old Tao suddenly lowered his voice.

“Even with Mu Chun, keep a measure of caution.”

Tao Mo stared in surprise.

By the next instant, Old Tao’s expression had already returned to normal.

A short while later, Mu Chun and Hao Guozi entered.

Old Tao pulled a key from his robes and tossed it toward Mu Chun.

Mu Chun caught it, surprised.

With meaningful emphasis, Old Tao said, “I’m entrusting both Young Master and the Tao family’s property to you.”

Hao Guozi was dumbfounded.

Was this… a lifelong entrustment?

Tao Mo had clearly misunderstood as well. He looked blankly from Old Tao to Mu Chun and back again.

“Of course,” Old Tao added, “when I return, you’ll have to give them back.”

“Naturally.” Mu Chun smiled, then cupped his hands toward Tao Mo. “Master.”

His voice was pleasant, his appearance striking, his bearing elegant and refined. Seeing Mu Chun’s complete attention focused on him, Tao Mo’s heart began beating wildly. His eyes and ears felt light and floating, as though he were ascending to immortality. For a long while, he could not say a single word.

When Old Tao noticed Mu Chun looking at him in confusion, he quickly said, “Mu Chun and I still have matters to discuss. Hao Guozi, take Young Master outside first.”

“Oh.”

Hao Guozi tugged at Tao Mo.

Tao Mo finally came back to himself. His face instantly turned scarlet, and he hurried out behind Hao Guozi.

Once they had gone far enough away, Mu Chun said thoughtfully, “I thought the one he fancied was Master Yiyu.”

Old Tao sprang nimbly out of bed. “My young master has never had particularly good taste.”

Mu Chun raised an eyebrow. “I think the Gu She he’s recently taken an interest in is quite good.”

“You know Gu She?”

“Not only do I know Gu She, I also know his background.” Mu Chun smiled like a spring breeze, though to Old Tao it looked suspiciously like deliberate posturing. For Tao Mo’s sake, however, Old Tao swallowed his pride.

“What background?”

“Gu She is merely his name. His courtesy name is… Xianzhi.”

“Gu Xianzhi… Gu Xianzhi?” Remembering who that was, Old Tao’s face changed dramatically. “What is he doing in Tanyang County?”

“You can be in Tanyang County. Why can’t he be?” Mu Chun remained perfectly composed.

Old Tao frowned. “If he really is Gu Xianzhi, then Young Master absolutely must not continue associating with him!”

Mu Chun lifted an eyebrow. “Why? Wouldn’t Gu She’s background make him the perfect supporter for Tao Mo? With him around, not only could the matter of avenging his father be resolved, even rising rapidly through officialdom would not be difficult.”

“You know exactly what sort of feelings Young Master has for Gu She, yet you still say such things?” The implication was obvious: Old Tao doubted whether Mu Chun could truly take proper care of Tao Mo.

Mu Chun smiled. “There are no absolutes in this world. Back then, did you ever imagine that the Marquis would fall for the Radiant Lord?”

That was indeed something Old Tao had never imagined. When he first heard the news, he had been stunned for two full days before recovering. He had always assumed that if the Radiant Lord preferred men, the object of his affection would be the Shadow Lord. After all, there had been precedent in the previous generation’s Radiant Lord Shadow Lord. Instead, both the current Radiant Lord and Shadow Lord had ended up preferring men. One chose the Demonic Cult’s rival, the Glorious Gate. The other chose another rival of the Demonic Cult, Marquis Xueyi. Truly, there were no absolutes in this world.

But Gu Xianzhi and Young Master?

Even at his most optimistic, Old Tao could not be optimistic to that extent.

“Rumor has it that Gu Xianzhi is arrogant beyond measure. He would even treat an imperial edict lightly. How could someone like that possibly take a liking to Young Master?”

Mu Chun smiled. “Isn’t arrogance itself a weakness?”

Old Tao froze.

Recalling what he had seen at the Lantern Festival, Mu Chun felt increasingly certain of his judgment. “Relax. Even if Tao Mo ends up doing something to Gu She, I’m confident I can ensure he escapes unscathed.”

“Wait.” Old Tao eyed him suspiciously. “What exactly are you hoping Young Master will do to him?”

“I merely said ‘if.’” Seeing Old Tao continue to glare at him like a tiger watching its prey, Mu Chun finally relented. “I guarantee I will not interfere in any matters between Gu She and Tao Mo. How about that?”

“Except where Young Master’s safety is concerned.”

“Fine. Except where your young master’s safety is concerned.”

Old Tao still felt uneasy, but at this point he had no choice except to trust him.

“When do you plan to leave?” Mu Chun asked.

“Today.”

Mu Chun blinked. “So soon?”

“Once a decision has been made, why drag things out?”

Mu Chun laughed. “Elder Lu truly is a decisive man. I’ll immediately gather members of the Cult to escort you on your journey.”

Old Tao shot him a sideways glance. “You think I’ll run away?”

“How could I?” Mu Chun’s smile only grew brighter. “As the saying goes, a monk may run away, but the temple remains. Isn’t that right?”

Old Tao snorted.

“By the way, there are still several matters I need to explain to you.”

Seeing the seriousness in his expression, Mu Chun also put away his smile.

“Go ahead.”

“It concerns Master Tao…”

⸻

When Tao Mo and Hao Guozi learned that Old Tao intended to leave that very day, both were greatly shocked. Seeing that persuasion was useless, Tao Mo immediately began making preparations for the journey.

Old Tao originally intended to leave everything to Mu Chun, but seeing Tao Mo so enthusiastic, he could not bear to dampen his spirits and simply let him continue.

Although it was Tao Mo’s first time organizing such things, with Hao Guozi’s assistance everything turned out surprisingly well.

Looking at the crude wooden cart, Mu Chun quietly said to Old Tao, “The carriage I prepared is waiting for you at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside Tanyang County.”

Old Tao glanced at him and nodded slightly.

No matter how one looked at it, traveling by ox cart was simply… far too slow.

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