Futile Devices Scans

After spending the night at the clinic, the three of them awoke early the next morning to hear Guo Ping humming cheerfully in the courtyard.

Zhou Geng Geng pushed open the window and scolded him unhappily, “Have you finished the work already? What are you humming for?”

“It’s finished,” Guo Ping answered happily.

Fu Xi Yan poked his head out over Zhou Geng Geng’s shoulder. “What was the result?”

Guo Ping said, “There was no poison in the food.”

“Oh.” Fu Xi Yan turned around, intending to go back to sleep.

Guo Ping continued, “There was poison in the tea.”

…

Fu Xi Yan left the clinic with Zhong Xin and Geng Geng, and the three walked through a secluded alley.

Their footsteps went pat, pat, pat, still sounding somewhat lonely, and it remained an excellent place for a private conversation.

Zhou Geng Geng could not resist saying, “Damn it! Had the attendant not noticed, the young master would probably have drunk that cup of tea. By now, you would have…”

Fu Xi Yan interrupted him. “Don’t make such a malicious assumption.”

Zhou Geng Geng fell silent for a moment, then continued furiously, “There’s no need to ask. Zhang Da Shan must have done it. That beast uses such despicable methods that we can’t let him live.”

Zhou Zhong Xin remained very calm. “Don’t alert him yet. We’ll enter his room tonight, kill him, then make it look like a robbery and murder.”

Fu Xi Yan disagreed. “Zhang Da Shan is only the knife. If we kill him, the mastermind will send an even more formidable assassin. Besides, it would cause too great a disturbance. We could never withstand an investigation.”

His thinking was still that of a modern person. He feared breaking the law and feared being investigated for it even more. Edmond Locard, the father of forensic science, had said that every contact leaves a trace. Fu Xi Yan did not believe the three of them were capable of committing the perfect crime.

Zhou Geng Geng muttered, “So what if they investigate? He tried to poison us first. Repaying a tooth with a tooth is perfectly justified.”

Fu Xi Yan asked, “Whose man do you think Zhang Da Shan is?”

Zhou Geng Geng looked confused. “Isn’t he Chu Guang’s man?”

Fu Xi Yan thought about it and also felt that the Third Prince was unlikely to be behind this. He and the Third Prince were neither relatives nor old acquaintances, neither enemies nor friends. There was no reason for the prince to expend so much effort killing him. Did that leave only Chu Guang?

Yet Chu Guang’s motive for murder was equally weak.

If it was because he had competed with Fu Xuan for the position, Chu Guang had already won. Why eliminate him completely?

If it was because of Fu Xi Yan’s contest with Chu Shao Yang, Chu Shao Yang had tormented him for several days. Surely he had vented enough anger by now. Why eliminate him completely?

If it was because of the conflict between the Fu and Chu families, someone as insignificant as Fu Xi Yan provided no benefit while alive, yet his death would give the Fu family a hatred buff. Why eliminate him completely?

…So what possible reason could there be that made his death absolutely necessary?

Fu Xi Yan felt certain that some hidden circumstance remained unknown to him.

Zhou Zhong Xin signaled Zhou Geng Geng with his eyes. “The young master’s concern is that one cup of poisoned tea is not enough to prove Zhang Da Shan was responsible. We should make plans carefully.”

Zhou Geng Geng remained unconvinced. “Are we supposed to let this go?”

Fu Xi Yan considered it. “Come on. Let’s go curse him out.”

Zhou Geng Geng stared blankly. After practicing martial arts for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a wasteful use of force: someone wanted to kill them, and they would respond by using words to make him feel ashamed.

Zhou Zhong Xin signaled him again. Zhou Geng Geng finally reacted. “Then before we go, we should eat our fill so we’ll have enough strength.”

That was true. Fu Xi Yan readily agreed and decided to eat a large meal of barbecue skewers first to stoke his fire.

While eating, Zhong Xin and Geng Geng took turns going to the latrine and met there to discuss their grand plan.

Zhou Geng Geng rolled up his sleeves. “Save me ten pork-belly skewers. I’ll go finish him off now and return just in time to eat them while they’re hot!”

Zhou Zhong Xin caught hold of him. “Wait. The young master said killing Zhang Da Shan won’t solve the problem.”

“But it’ll make me feel better!” Whenever Zhou Geng Geng thought that, without the attendant’s sharp eyes spotting the pigeon dropping poison, the two of them might have ended up as black-haired men burying another black-haired man, his rage surged uncontrollably.

Zhou Zhong Xin said, “We can worry about venting our anger later. The most urgent matter is protecting the young master.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

…

Zhou Zhong Xin returned first and ordered ten pork-belly skewers. By the time Zhou Geng Geng came back, they had just finished grilling.

The innkeeper of the Lu Family Inn stared fearfully at the three men’s menacing faces. His gaze involuntarily drifted around, seeking assistance. Yet the trio looked far too intimidating, and their demand was not entirely unreasonable, so everyone else—including the attendants—chose to observe from a distance.

The innkeeper cursed inwardly but had no choice except to summon his courage and ask, “What did you say just now? I’m getting old and didn’t hear clearly.”

Zhou Geng Geng grabbed an abacus and held it beside the innkeeper’s head, smiling viciously. “There’s a pigeon keeper staying at your inn. His pigeon dropped shit into our young master’s tea. He must explain the matter clearly to us!”

Zhou Zhong Xin supported him from the side. “Ex! Plain! Clearly!”

The innkeeper thought, What exceptionally blessed luck with birds.

He still wanted to resist. Zhang Da Shan was, after all, a guest of the inn. Handing him over so readily would make it seem as though they cared little for their guests’ safety. He was still arranging his words when the abacus… was crushed.

The beads fell one by one.

Between him and Zhou Geng Geng.

Like rain.

For some reason, a phrase flashed through the innkeeper’s mind: What fine weather for murder.

His mouth opened automatically. “Heaven Room Number Two.”

Fu Xi Yan said, “Lead the way.”

The door to Room Number Two stood open.

Zhang Da Shan showed no reaction when Zhong Xin and Geng Geng entered. Only when he saw Fu Xi Yan did he freeze slightly and ask coldly, “Didn’t you say we were supposed to pretend not to know each other? Aren’t you afraid I’ll implicate you now?”

Zhou Geng Geng and Zhou Zhong Xin slammed the door shut, blocking the prying eyes of everyone outside.

Imitating his father, Fu Xi Yan sat down with an imposing spread of his limbs. “What have you been doing while hiding in this inn these past few days? Have you discovered any clues concerning the princess’s whereabouts?”

Zhang Da Shan: “…” Which one of them was the superior officer here?!

He answered irritably, “Not yet!”

Fu Xi Yan said, “We’ve made an enormous discovery.”

A light flashed through Zhang Da Shan’s eyes. “What discovery?”

Fu Xi Yan crooked a finger. After Zhang Da Shan leaned closer, he lowered his voice and said ominously, “A vile schemer is trying to kill me!”

Because his voice was so quiet, Zhang Da Shan could not tell whether Fu Xi Yan had said “schemer” or “bastard.”

Fu Xi Yan continued, “At noon yesterday, a pigeon dropped poison into my meal.”

At the mention of a pigeon, everyone’s gaze involuntarily shifted toward the pigeon cage in the corner. A black cloth covered it, and no sound came from within, making it impossible to tell whether any birds were inside. Zhang Da Shan instinctively explained, “It wasn’t me. I haven’t released any pigeons these past few days.”

“Oh?”

“Is that so?”

“Really?”

After the trio’s sarcastic interrogation, Fu Xi Yan did not wait for an answer and continued talking to himself. “If someone tried to kill me once, there will be a second and third attempt. I cannot sit still and await death. I’m returning to camp to report this matter personally to the Commander!”

Zhang Da Shan rejected the idea without hesitation. “The princess’s whereabouts remain unknown. You may not abandon your duty without authorization! I will handle the poisoning.”

Fu Xi Yan thought, The thing you intend to handle isn’t the poisoning. It’s me, isn’t it?

Fu Xi Yan ignored him and continued describing how important his life was and how he absolutely had to return. Zhong Xin and Geng Geng joined in from the side. Overwhelmed by their pestering, Zhang Da Shan snapped, “I have already promised to protect you! What more do you want?”

Fu Xi Yan abruptly fell silent. He took two sheets of paper from his robes, one large and one small, and handed him the smaller one. “In that case, I will trust you for now. I’ve written down the poisoning incident. Send it back to camp by pigeon and ask Commander Chu and the Third Prince to examine it.”

To prevent Zhang Da Shan or Chu Guang from obeying outwardly while defying him in secret, he had even squeezed the words For the attention of His Highness the Third Prince and Commander Chu onto the tiny scrap of paper.

Zhang Da Shan looked at the note, which had clearly been prepared beforehand, then calmly put it away. “Very well.”

Fu Xi Yan handed him the larger sheet. “Please sign and stamp this, Squad Commander.”

Zhang Da Shan frowned. “What is this?”

“A receipt confirming that you agreed to send the message.” Fu Xi Yan smiled innocently. The document recorded not only the agreement to send the letter but also its contents in meticulous detail. If the Third Prince later failed to receive the message, this would become proof that Zhang Da Shan had obeyed publicly while resisting privately and destroyed the evidence.

Zhang Da Shan flew into a rage. “You don’t trust me?”

Fu Xi Yan smiled. “As my superior, you should understand the importance of clearly assigning authority and responsibility. Or did you intend from the beginning to make this subordinate take the blame if something went wrong?”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Zhang Da Shan’s face turned livid. He stared fixedly at Fu Xi Yan for so long that Zhou Geng Geng grew tense and nearly threw a punch. Only then did Zhang Da Shan pull his lips apart. “Fine. I’ll sign it.”

As he wrote, Zhang Da Shan asked, “Have you made any progress on your side?”

Naturally, Fu Xi Yan had not. He sighed. “Perhaps the princess never came in our direction. Remaining here may be nothing but wasted effort.”

Seeing that he was still considering leaving, Zhang Da Shan’s gaze sharpened. “Have you searched Willowwood Manor?”

“Why would we search the manor? Does the princess know someone there?”

“Willowwood Manor’s Tang Gong is public-spirited and devoted to justice. He is renowned as ‘Mengchang Reborn.’ If an injured young woman sought his help, he would never ignore her. Perhaps the princess is currently hiding inside the manor.”

Elio’s Notes: Lord Mengchang was a famous Warring States nobleman renowned for generously sheltering and supporting retainers. “Mengchang Reborn” praises someone as exceptionally hospitable and willing to help those in need.

Fu Xi Yan thought that the last time he had heard someone described as public-spirited and devoted to justice, it had been Song Jiang.

He knew Zhang Da Shan feared he would leave and was deliberately using Willowwood Manor to keep him there. However, Fu Xi Yan had not truly intended to depart. Compared with Peijie Town, whose streets and alleys they had already thoroughly explored, the world outside was even less safe. He therefore followed the suggestion. “Many thanks for your guidance, Squad Commander Zhang.”

After leaving the inn, the three wandered around the market. Zhong Xin and Geng Geng were brimming with excitement, their faces filled with the delight of a crushing victory. Only Fu Xi Yan appeared listless.

When they returned to the inn that evening and closed their room door, Fu Xi Yan sighed and fed the receipt bearing Zhang Da Shan’s signature into the candle flame.

Zhou Geng Geng was horrified and tried to extinguish the fire and save it. Unfortunately, the flames spread too quickly and reduced the paper to ashes in an instant.

Fu Xi Yan poured the ashes into the chamber pot. Turning around, he saw two faces frozen in shock and could not help explaining, “Zhang Da Shan cannot escape suspicion regarding the pigeon poisoning. Had he refused to sign the receipt, I might still have held out some hope. The fact that he dared sign it means he has already resolved not to let me leave Peijie Town alive.”

Zhou Geng Geng said, “That doesn’t mean he can accomplish it merely because he wants to!”

Fu Xi Yan said, “The enemy is hidden while we stand exposed. We must prepare for the worst. Assuming Chu Guang truly stands behind him, he would never send only one man. Don’t forget that Chu Shao Yang is still nearby.”

The expressions of Zhong Xin and Geng Geng turned solemn.

“That receipt recorded Zhang Da Shan’s crime. He would certainly try to retrieve it. Instead of hiding it in different places and remaining constantly on guard, it’s better to ensure he can never find it at all. At a crucial moment, that might even save us.” After all, the other side would never imagine that they had destroyed their own Great Wall and burned the evidence themselves.

Zhou Geng Geng was still thinking hard, but Zhou Zhong Xin had already revealed an expression of understanding. “The young master is brilliant. What should we do next?”

“Next, we begin sending information outside.” Fu Xi Yan struggled to clasp his two plump hands behind his back and assumed an inscrutable expression. “Unless the mouse moves, how can it know how many cats are surrounding it?” Holding his hands behind him proved so difficult that he could not suppress a strained grunt.

Zhong Xin and Geng Geng assumed he was expressing his fury. They hurriedly dropped to one knee and declared loudly, “Young Master, rest assured! We will sacrifice our lives to protect your safety!”

Startled, Fu Xi Yan instinctively released his hands and breathed out comfortably. “Good, good. Rise and speak.”

Zhong Xin and Geng Geng exchanged glances. The young master trusted them so completely. They absolutely could not disappoint him!

Zhou Zhong Xin said, “Actually, there is something I have always found rather strange.”

Fu Xi Yan nodded. “I also find something strange. Why did Chu Guang send Zhang Da Shan?” Had Shu truly run so short of great generals that Liao Hua had to lead the vanguard? Who sent a pigeon-keeping communications soldier to carry out an assassination?

As though he had received powerful confirmation, Zhou Zhong Xin’s tone became firm. “Perhaps it is because… the path he practices is highly unusual.”

“Hmm? How unusual?”

The candle flame suddenly flickered, casting alternating light and shadow across Zhou Zhong Xin’s face and creating an eerily sinister atmosphere. Only then did he slowly say:

“The Puppet Path.”

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