UCTOOT CH74

Outside the city gates, the Qin Village folk camped in the woods were craning their necks in anticipation. Shi Shu dragged the cowering, pitiful A-Lei back to the camp and shoved him toward A-Lei’s father. “Old Uncle, your son is truly reckless. You’ll have to teach him a lesson yourself.”

Shi Shu recounted what had happened. Grabbing A-Lei by the shoulder, his father raised a palm the size of a woven fan and slapped him repeatedly. “You fool! You idiot! This is a grand city, not like our countryside! It’s full of important figures, and one careless mistake brings this kind of calamity down on us! It’s one thing if you die, but what if you drag everyone else down with you?!”

A-Lei curled into a ball, weeping uncontrollably.

Du Zihan was bewildered. “What happened? Why beat the kid?”

Shi Shu slung an arm over his shoulder, leading him aside. After a few steps, he couldn’t hold back a grin, his eyes dancing. “Guess where I just went.”

“Where did you go? How can you still smile like that? Though it doesn’t look like a happy smile either.”

“I went to see him.”

“Him?! The ‘him’ you’re talking about… it can’t be the one I’m thinking of, right?!”

“The very one.”

Both blurted out “Holy shit!” in unison. Du Zihan circled him a few times, inspecting him up and down. “And you didn’t lose a layer of skin?”

Shi Shu said lazily, “Xie Wuchi’s extreme danger is obvious to everyone, but he didn’t do anything to me. Besides, it was a one-time thing. We’re leaving tomorrow anyway.”

After hearing the details, Du Zihan couldn’t help laughing. “He puts on such an act… but didn’t you lose all your dignity?”

Shi Shu stretched his legs out before the campfire, a slight curl on his handsome lips. “Nothing can be done about that. Once dignity is gone, it’s gone, and talking won’t bring it back. Memory is a form of punishment. Some things can’t be changed, so it’s best to forget them as quickly as possible.”

Saying this, Shi Shu clicked his tongue. “Wait, who said that? Why does it sound so familiar? Anyway, Xie Wuchi is so rich, I’ll just owe him the two hundred taels for now. We’ll see if there’s ever a chance to pay it back. I’ll probably have to deal with him again down the line.”

Du Zihan sighed with lingering amazement. “Is he really that incredible now? Back in Dasheng Prefecture, commanding legions, dealing with Zhao Shirui…”

“Why would I lie to you? Just to see his face, I had to pass through multiple levels of clearance. He really did soar to the heavens overnight; you can’t even compare him to before. He was always a young master born into elite wealth, so he probably fits right into this life of looking down on everyone.”

Shi Shu felt a subtle stirring in his chest. Murder and arson bring golden belts, while repairing bridges and roads leaves no corpse to bury. Xie Wuchi truly had unmatched ability. Perhaps evaluating him required weighing merits against sins. Still, Shi Shu found it hard to forget his cold, detached side.

As Shi Shu spoke with Du Zihan, A-Kan walked over. “Who are you two gossiping about behind their back?”

“…”

“Go reflect on your mistakes against the wall too,” Shi Shu said. “Write a self-criticism letter alongside A-Lei.”

Since taking on the role of village elder, Shi Shu naturally acted like A-Kan’s older gege. A-Kan sat beside him with familiar reliance. Du Zihan chuckled a few times and walked away, shaking his head.

This grain delivery mission had reached its conclusion, and next was the return journey. The people from Qin Village gathered with those from neighboring villages in the county. The following morning, they drove their carts out of Yanzhou, traveling day and night toward the coastal fishing village. Shi Shu had risen early, bleary-eyed, urging everyone to get moving. Unexpectedly, the bickering father and son started fighting again, blaming each other for being too slow.

Shi Shu watched them for a while, thoroughly accustomed to the life of a grassroots civil servant mediating daily neighborhood disputes. Eventually, once the arguing settled, the convoy retraced its steps southward.

Shi Shu steered the mule cart as it swayed along. Yet as they approached that wooden plank bridge, he saw a massive jam clogging the road ahead. Commoners stood with their arms crossed, packing the area around the bridge until not a drop of water could leak through. Another fierce argument was underway.

Ancient extortion through taxes stopped at nothing. Beyond the standard poll tax and land tax, there were tea taxes and salt taxes. The worst extortions happened during periods like this, when even crossing a road was taxed.

Standing on the cart, Shi Shu stood on tiptoe to peer ahead. “Are they collecting this bridge toll coming and going? This is bad.”

Sure enough, a different scholar-official stood at the foot of the bridge leading a squad of men, his voice booming: “The frontier is at war! This is a matter of vital state security, the supreme priority of the nation! Even the lords in the Eastern Capital are tightening their belts just to squeeze out military funding so we can win this war! And what about you?! Uncivilized, uneducated, and without a shred of ambition! Asking you for a few measly coins to support border defense is like asking for your lives! As Confucius said, if all the commoners under heaven were like you, Dajing would already be ruined!”

Shi Shu’s brow furrowed as he listened. “The frontier demanded military rations, so we traveled thousands of miles from a tiny seaside fishing village to bring you food. We walked for two months, exhausting every bit of our travel money until we didn’t have a copper left. Yet in the eyes of this scholar, we’re just selfish, unruly peasants who only care about saving our own skins? What moral high ground is he trying to preach from?”

The crowd groaned and pleaded: “We really have no money left! Please, have mercy, let us cross!”

“Out of the question! This is court policy! This plank bridge was built by the military, so crossing requires a tax.”

“Unbelievable.”

Shi Shu climbed down from the mule cart and squatted by the roadside. Du Zihan stepped up. “What do we do now? I thought levying it on the way in was bad enough, who knew they’d collect on the way back too?”

“These beasts won’t stop until they push everyone to death.”

Shi Shu listened to the official wagging his tongue.

“These are rules from above. I am merely following protocol. If all else fails, don’t you still have mules and horses? Sell one at the market, and you’ll have enough to get home.”

A-Kan shouted, “No! Our village only has these two horses! If we sell them, how are we supposed to deliver grain next year? Carry it on our backs?!”

Shi Shu pursed his lips. “Damn it.”

Just then, a horse galloped toward the bridge. The rider wore military armor and dismounted before crossing. Shi Shu thought he looked familiar. When the rider turned, Shi Shu called out in surprise, “Song Sinan?”

It really was Song Sinan.

Two guards followed behind him. Having not seen him in over a year, his features were more weathered and resolute, his gaze sharper. Yet the moment he saw Shi Shu, a youthful, exuberant joy broke across his face. “Xie Shishu!”

“Hey, wait, don’t yell that out!” Noticing the bewildered glances from A-Kan and A-Lei’s father, Shi Shu hurriedly pulled him aside. “Long time no see! Why did you come from Taiyin Prefecture to Xingu Prefecture?”

Song Sinan also greeted Du Zihan, then said, “Why else? Feng Zhongshan refused to accept the Vengeance Army. When I heard your elder brother had taken the post of General Commander and was drilling new troops in Xingu Prefecture, I brought our brothers to join him. But I looked for you so many times. At first your brother wouldn’t grant me an audience, and later he claimed you two had gotten separated. Where on earth did you go? Your brother searched desperately for you.”

Shi Shu shook his head, asking him, “Have you been well this past year?”

“Decent enough. Ever since my gege passed, I’ve had to grow up fast. See this scar on my face? From the battlefield. And on my body…” Song Sinan reached out, pulling his tunic open to reveal his muscular chest. “Look, an arrow wound! I took an arrow in the spring! Bedridden for half a month, but I survived!”

“…”

“Alright, alright, I see it, put your clothes back on.” Shi Shu reached out to pull his collar closed. “Seeing you living with such strength and grit makes me truly happy.”

Song Sinan grinned. “My gege would be happy too. Where are you heading?”

Shi Shu finally explained, “I settled down in a distant place. I just delivered grain rations to the military depot and was heading home, but this bridge toll blocked all our people and carts. Is this tax actually official, or is it corrupt officials exploiting the people for themselves?”

“Of course it’s real! Changping and Xingu Prefectures are frontline military strongholds. If you don’t manage an army, you don’t know the commanders’ struggles. Feeding and clothing the troops costs mountains of pure silver! Go find your elder brother. He was the one who assigned the military funding quotas to Transport Commissioner Chen Zhixing. As for collecting tolls, that was also Chen Zhixing’s order. Why not go talk to your brother?”

A chill settled over Shi Shu’s heart. “Xie Wuchi is behind this bridge toll too?”

“All civil and military power in Changping and Xingu is in his hands. How could it happen without his nod?”

Shi Shu was quiet for a long while. “So, to get this toll revoked, I have to go to him again?”

Song Sinan sighed, “Well, the front lines fight while the rear provides support. It’s been like that since ancient times.”

Shi Shu said, “But the people are genuinely destitute, without a single coin to their names. Even if you want to butcher an animal for meat, you have to fatten it up first. This is simply pushing them too far.”

The commoners were all held back, hovering in indecision. Nearby, predatory merchants even approached, offering to buy their livestock at dirt-cheap prices to cover the toll.

Shi Shu’s heart settled with resolve. “I’ll go find him.”

“You’re going again?” Du Zihan asked.

“My dignity is already completely shot anyway. Let him have his satisfaction one more time.”

Du Zihan scrambled to his feet. “I’ll go with you. I don’t feel right letting you lose face alone. I’ll lose it with you. It’s just a face.”

Walking forward, Shi Shu thought of the activated system. “If transmigrating to the ancient world is a game and we are Xie Wuchi’s competitors, do we count as losers? When we first met, you said games have clear hierarchies, and noobs have to obey the strong.”

Du Zihan fell quiet for a moment. “…But I don’t think you’re a loser. Following you was the best decision I ever made.”

“Zihan.”

“Let’s go. Acknowledging that you aren’t all-powerful takes courage too.”

Staring at the translucent system interface before him, Shi Shu inexplicably recalled what Xie Wuchi had once told him: One day, when you realize that the dear friend who spent day and night with you is actually your greatest rival in ambition, the friendship forged side by side will twist and warp until every ounce of affection vanishes, leaving only the pursuit of power.

Power. Shi Shu had never chased it.

All he wanted was to see the Qin Village folk safely home. The bridge toll was unjust. If it could be revoked, he could swallow his pride and seek out Xie Wuchi, regardless of what the man might think.

Sometimes, the line between fear and fearlessness hung on a single heartbeat.

Shi Shu and Du Zihan arrived inside Yanzhou City outside the General Commander’s grand headquarters. The moment Shi Shu stood before the entrance, the gatekeeper scurried over. “Young Master, are you here to see our master? Please come in, please, this way!”

Shi Shu dipped his head, preparing to step inside. Du Zihan followed right behind, but Shi Shu stopped him. “You came to share my embarrassment, not throw your life away. Better stay outside.”

“Alright. I’ll wait for you, Xiao Shu-bao. It’ll be fine.”

Shi Shu crossed the threshold. Having thought things through, the dread and anxiety from yesterday were gone. The pavilions and halls were breathtakingly opulent with sweeping eaves, but Xie Wuchi did not seem to be in the residence. The attendants quickly guided Shi Shu to the warm guest pavilion to sit.

Shi Shu took a sip of tea. Unable to sit still, he wandered out into the courtyard. A soft “meow” sounded nearby. Looking up, he saw a tortoiseshell calico cat napping atop the rockery in the center of the courtyard, stretching its paws lazily.

Shi Shu hadn’t expected Xie Wuchi to keep a cat or indulge in such leisure. Gradually, he recalled the basket of cats they had picked up back in Sen Prefecture. One of them had been a plump calico like a little glutinous rice ball. Inspecting it carefully, Shi Shu wondered, Could it be this one? Is Xie Wuchi still raising those cats?

A quiet calm settled over him. He crouched down to watch the cat. After a moment, he realized the courtyard had grown completely still.

He turned his head. Without him noticing, Xie Wuchi had arrived, standing beneath the eaves beside a pillar carved with dragons and phoenixes. He wore a crimson-purple round-collared silk court robe and an official’s cap, his collar immaculate and stark white against his throat. His pitch-black eyes were resting on Shi Shu, and had been for quite some time.

Shi Shu stood up and offered a smile. “Sorry about this. I’m back again.”

“What is it?” Xie Wuchi asked.

Shi Shu replied candidly, “On our way back, the villagers and I were blocked by the bridge toll again. Can you help? If not, forget it. I just came to ask.”

Xie Wuchi descended the stone steps. The little cat darted to his feet, meowing softly as it hooked its claws into the hem of his court robes. Only then did Shi Shu notice the cat’s claws were trimmed. It truly was a pampered pet, likely fond of scratching his clothes.

Xie Wuchi paid no attention to the cat at his feet, strolling forward slowly.

“Shi Shu,” he said.

“What?”

“The past sentiment between you and me is enough to grant a few of your wishes. However, do you intend to grind it down to nothing over such meaningless matters?”

“What do you mean by meaningless?”

Xie Wuchi said, “I am merely reminding you to think more of yourself.”

“No need. Let it be ground away on these matters.”

As the words left his mouth, Xie Wuchi reached his side. His footsteps paused slightly. A lingering scent of medicinal herbs clung to him, very faint, but Shi Shu caught it.

Xie Wuchi said, “This matter, I can help you with.”

“Thank you. I’ll remember it, and I’ll repay you down the road.”

“And you are leaving again?” Xie Wuchi asked.

Looking at Xie Wuchi standing so close, Shi Shu nodded. “Leaving very soon.”

The corner of Xie Wuchi’s lips lifted in a faint, fleeting smile. “You sought me out twice, both times for things like this.”

Shi Shu had not stood so near him in a very long time. The distance between them had felt established, yet as Xie Wuchi drew close, memories, body heat, scent, touch, and warmth—the tangled embraces in dimly lit rooms, the feverish brush of lips and tongues, the mist of heavy breath—every memory, whether fitting or not, was abruptly pried open, rushing like vapor through his mind.

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes and said flatly, “Everyone is more important than me.”

A sudden numbness crept up Shi Shu’s spine. He took a step back, but Xie Wuchi had already turned away, brushing past him with sweeping sleeves toward the pavilion.

Shi Shu froze for a second. Looking back, he saw Xin Bin standing not far off holding official documents, stepping inside only after the two had separated.

Shi Shu stood in place, wanting to follow, but hesitating. After considering it, he stepped into the room anyway. Xie Wuchi had changed out of his court robes into plain, loose-fitting leisure robes of pure white, flipping through letters. Shi Shu was still caught off guard by that parting remark.

Xie Wuchi hasn’t moved on?

A maid quickly brought in a tray carrying a bowl of medicinal broth. Xie Wuchi rested his chin on one hand. Shi Shu noticed the white gauze around his wrist, suddenly recalling the deep lacerations left behind when he had fled Dasheng Prefecture.

Shi Shu began scratching his head again, mussing his soft hair.

When Shi Shu stepped outside, the sky had already dimmed. Xin Bin followed behind him. “Second Young Master, it is late. If you walk to the bridge now, it will be pitch black. Are you leaving today?”

Shi Shu was unfamiliar with him and disliked being addressed with that title. He thought for a moment. “Better make it tomorrow.”

Xin Bin said, “This humble servant will head to the bridge right away to have them remove the barricades. No tolls will be collected from now on.”

Power.

With a single word from Xie Wuchi, it was done.

Shi Shu nodded and parted ways with him at the mansion gates. Du Zihan dashed out from beneath a shed. “All done?”

With complicated feelings, Shi Shu nodded. “He helped.”

“That’s great. At this exact moment, I admit having power and status really is amazing,” Du Zihan said. “He didn’t set any conditions, did he?”

“None.”

“Good. Then let’s hurry and get out of here.”

Shi Shu fumbled in his pockets, feeling around for a moment before asking Du Zihan, “How much money do you have on you?”

“Less than one tael.”

“Let’s treat him to a meal tomorrow.”