25: Chapter 25 Inside Agent

When Lu Chen returned to his small room, it was almost dawn. He did not sleep, instead sitting on the bed, taking the finger bone out from his bosom, and placing it in his palm. The bone was very small, and the character " Compensation" carved onto it was clearly visible in the moonlight. He flipped the finger bone over; there were no characters on the back, only a few fine cracks, as if something had pushed them open from the inside.

Vice Hall Master Liu's eyes were still spinning in his mind. It wasn't hatred, but coldness. That kind of coldness wasn't intentional; it was a habit—like how, after a person has killed too many people, everyone they look at seems like a dead person. No wonder Elder Zhou said the Law Enforcement Hall was the dirtiest place in the Danding Sect. It wasn't the place that was dirty, but the people.

After daybreak, Lu Chen went to the Pharmacy. Elder Zhou was already grinding medicinal herbs; seeing him enter, the stone pestle in her hand paused for a moment before she continued grinding. "You're back?"

"I'm back."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"That's good." Elder Zhou poured the ground medicinal herbs into a bowl and rinsed her hands with clean water. "Vice Hall Master Liu has been suspended. Elder Sun issued the order personally."

"Elder Sun is the Head of the Law Enforcement Hall; suspending a Vice Hall Master is inconsequential. After a few months, once the heat dies down, he'll just be transferred elsewhere and continue to be a Vice Hall Master all the same."

Elder Zhou looked at him, a certain indescribable expression in her eyes. It wasn't surprise, but astonishment—astonishment that Lu Chen saw things so clearly. "It's good that you know."

"So what if I know?" Lu Chen took a medicine grinder from the shelf and began grinding another batch of herbs. "If I can't move, I won't move. I'll wait until I can move before I act."

Elder Zhou didn't respond. She walked to the window and pushed it open; the wind from outside blew in, carrying the chill of autumn. "Yesterday, after you were taken away, someone came to see me."

"Who?"

"I don't know. A grey robe, wearing a veil, couldn't see the face clearly. The voice was suppressed, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female." Elder Zhou turned to look at him. "That person said one thing—'Elder Sun cannot move against the Sect Head. But the Sect Head also cannot move against Elder Sun. For the stalemate to be broken, someone needs to strike a blow right down the middle.'"

Lu Chen's hand grinding the herbs paused for a moment, then continued. "Who sent them?"

"I don't know. But to be able to enter the inner courtyard of the Danding Sect, evade the eyes and ears of the Law Enforcement Hall, and know that I was implicated by you—that person is at least an Inner Sect Disciple, and their status is not low."

Lu Chen went through everyone he knew in his mind. Su Qing—wouldn't wear a veil, wouldn't suppress her voice to speak, and wouldn't use a phrase like "strike a blow." Elder Zhou—not in the sect. Zhao Ping—didn't have the guts. Vice Steward Wang—transferred away. Zhou Ran, Sun Qian—impossible.

"I can't think of anyone. Let's ignore it for now. They will come again."

Elder Zhou looked at him. "You're that sure?"

"Because they want to use me. People who want to use me won't come only once."

In the morning, Lu Chen met Su Qing at the entrance of the Inner Treasury. She was wearing a pale cyan robe today, her hair held up by a jade hairpin, and she looked much more spirited than yesterday. She was holding a book in her hand, not a Pill Formula, but an account book—the cover read "Danding Sect Outer Sect Income and Expenditure for the 17th Year of Taiping."

"Did you find it?" Lu Chen asked.

Su Qing didn't answer, pulling on his sleeve and walking into the bamboo forest next to the Inner Treasury. The bamboo was very dense, and one couldn't see inside from the outside. She squatted down, placed the account book on the ground, opened it, and flipped to a certain page.

"September, 17th Year of Taiping. The Outer Sect warehouse purchased two hundred stalks of polygonatum, fifty of which were five years or older. The time of entry, quantity, and person in charge—it's all written down." She pointed to that line of text. "Person in charge: Wang Fu. Vice Steward of the Pharmacy."

Wang Fu. Vice Steward Wang.

"Of this batch of polygonatum, twenty stalks were transferred to the Inner Sect Alchemy Hall in October. The remaining thirty stalks should still be in the warehouse. But I went to check yesterday, and only eighteen stalks remained."

"Where did the missing twelve stalks go?"

"The account says 'Alchemy consumption.' But Elder Zhou said that during that time, the Alchemy Hall didn't use any polygonatum to refine any Medicinal Pill." Su Qing closed the account book. "Someone embezzled this batch of polygonatum. Part of it was sold, and part of it was used by themselves. The remaining two stalks were used to frame you."

Lu Chen was silent for a few seconds. "Did Vice Steward Wang do it? Or was he instructed by someone?"

"Vice Steward Wang was the person in charge. But who is behind him cannot be seen in the account book." Su Qing stood up and brushed the dust off her robe. "However, there is one person who knows."

"Who?"

"The accountant. The bookkeeper of the Outer Sect warehouse. His surname is Qian, he is over sixty years old, at Level 1 Qi Refining, and has worked at the Danding Sect for forty years. He has backups for all the accounts he handled, hidden in a place only he knows."

"Where is he?"

"In the town. He returns home every ten days, and today is the tenth day." Su Qing looked at him. "Are you going to look for him?"

Lu Chen thought for a moment. "Yes. But I can't go through the mountain gate. People from the Ten Thousand Sword Sect are there, and Elder Sun's spies are there too."

"I know a small path. Go down from the back mountain, bypass the main road, walk through the mountain gully, and you can reach the town in two hours."

"You lead the way."

"I didn't say I would take you." Su Qing looked at him, an indescribable expression in her eyes. "I am the Sect Head's person. The Sect Head doesn't want you to have a direct conflict with Elder Sun. Helping you check the account book is already my limit. To go any further is to pick a side. Once you pick a side, there is no turning back."

"Then tell me the path. I'll go myself."

Su Qing was silent for a few seconds, then took a piece of paper from her sleeve, spread it on the ground, and used her finger dipped in saliva to draw a line. "Go up the small path behind the Pharmacy, cross the mountain ridge, see a small stream, follow the stream downwards, leave the mountain gully, and you will be on the east side of Qingniu Town. There is a main street in the town; the bookkeeper Qian lives at the end of the street. There is a locust tree at his door, an old locust tree, very thick, that takes three people to hug."

Lu Chen memorized the route. "Understood."

"Be careful. There might be people from the Ten Thousand Sword Sect in the town."

"I know."

Lu Chen turned to leave.

"Lu Chen." Su Qing called him back. He stopped without turning around. "Why must you investigate to the end? They have already stopped. Vice Hall Master Liu has been suspended, and Vice Steward Wang has been transferred. You are safe. Why do you still want to investigate?"

"Because I am not safe. They have only changed their methods. If they fail to frame me today, they will find another way tomorrow. When Elder Zhou is gone, the Sect Head stops helping, and Su Qing stops investigating—I will be finished."

Su Qing didn't speak. Lu Chen stepped out of the bamboo forest and walked towards the Pharmacy.

In the afternoon, Lu Chen left the Danding Sect from the back mountain. The path wasn't difficult, but it was very secluded. The small path behind the Pharmacy was overgrown with grass, as if no one had walked on it for a long time. He pushed aside the grass and walked upwards; after walking for about an hour, he crossed the mountain ridge. On the other side of the ridge, there was indeed a small stream; the water was very shallow, and one could see the stones and sand at the bottom of the river.

He followed the stream downwards. The stream became wider and wider, from one step wide to two steps wide, and from two steps wide to one zhang wide. The trees on both banks also changed, from pine trees to willow trees, and from willow trees to shrubs. When he walked out of the mountain gully, he saw the roofs of Qingniu Town.

It was the same as when he left. Grey tiles, white walls, smoke rising from the chimneys, people cooking. He stood at the mouth of the mountain gully, looking at this small town where he had lived for eighteen years, feeling nothing in his heart. It wasn't suppressed; it was truly nothing. He had chopped firewood here, sold firewood here, and eaten noodles that cost five wen a bowl with an egg added. But these memories no longer had any warmth, like watching someone else's life.

Lu Chen walked into the town. The main street was not long, about two hundred steps from east to west, with shops on both sides—blacksmith shop, cloth shop, restaurant, inn. He walked to the end of the street and saw that locust tree. It was very thick, taking three people to hug, and the canopy was very large, covering the entire end of the street in shadow. Behind the tree was a low house, with a wooden door, paper windows, and a sign hanging at the entrance that read "Qian's Accounting Firm."

He knocked on the door. No one answered. He knocked three more times. The door opened a crack, revealing one eye. It was murky, the whites of the eye yellowish, as if suffering from some illness.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Bookkeeper Qian."

"I am. What is it?"

"I want to ask you about something. Regarding the polygonatum procurement in September of the 17th Year of Taiping."

The door closed. It wasn't slammed shut forcefully, but closed slowly, as if hesitating before closing. Lu Chen stood at the entrance without moving. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the door opened again. This time it opened a little wider, enough to see half a face—an old man's face, full of wrinkles, skin as black as charcoal, lips pale and bloodless.

"Come in."

Lu Chen walked in. The room was very dark, the windows covered with black cloth, only an oil lamp on the table lit. The old man was sitting by the table, holding an account book in his hand, and seeing Lu Chen come in, he flipped the account book to a certain page.

"Five-year polygonatum, fifty stalks. Time of entry: September 15th, 17th Year of Taiping. Person in charge: Wang Fu. Exit record—Alchemy consumption thirty stalks, inventory twenty stalks. But the Alchemy Hall did not receive any polygonatum during that time." The old man looked up at him. "Are you here to investigate this?"

"Yes."

"Which hall are you from?"

"Alchemy Hall. Elder Zhou's person."

The old man's expression changed slightly. "Elder Zhou? She still remembers this?"

"She has always remembered. She just couldn't do anything about it." Lu Chen sat down opposite him. "Do you know where that batch of polygonatum went?"

The old man was silent for a while. He stood up, walked to the corner, moved a wooden box, and revealed the floor underneath. A piece of the floor was loose; he pried it open and took out a cloth bundle from inside. The cloth bundle was very old and dusty; he blew on it and opened it. Inside was an even older account book, the cover yellowed, the edges tattered.

"This is a backup. I kept it secretly. Every entry and exit is recorded, including those that cannot be recorded openly." He flipped to a certain page and pushed it over. "September, 17th Year of Taiping, five-year polygonatum, fifty stalks. Exit—transferred to Inner Sect Alchemy Hall, twenty stalks. Transferred to Law Enforcement Hall, fifteen stalks. Transferred to—Teaching Hall, five stalks. Remaining ten stalks—whereabouts unknown."

Law Enforcement Hall. Fifteen stalks.

"What does the Law Enforcement Hall want with polygonatum? They don't practice Alchemy."

"They don't practice Alchemy, but they can sell it." The old man said, "In the black market outside the Danding Sect, one stalk of five-year polygonatum can be sold for two Spirit Stones. Fifteen stalks is thirty Spirit Stones. It's not much, but enough for a few people to eat for a few months."

"Who was the person in charge?"

"Wang Fu. But the approval slip was—signed by Vice Hall Master Liu." The old man flipped the account book another page. "Look. This is a copy of the approval slip. Vice Hall Master Liu signed it, Wang Fu handled it, fifteen stalks of polygonatum were shipped out of the warehouse, no Alchemy consumption, no transfer record, it just—vanished."

Lu Chen looked at that line of text. Vice Hall Master Liu's signature was written very sloppily, but the character "Liu" could be recognized. It was different from the signature when they framed him—this one was real.

"Can you make a copy of this for me?"

"I can." The old man took out paper and a brush and began to copy. His hand was very steady, not like that of a sixty-year-old man. After copying, he folded the paper and handed it to Lu Chen. "Take it. But don't say I gave it to you. I've worked here for forty years, and I don't want to have my legs broken when I leave."

"I won't."

Lu Chen tucked the paper into his bosom and stood up.

"Young man." The old man called him. He stopped.

"Elder Zhou is a good person. But she is too upright. Upright people cannot defeat crooked people. If you help her, be careful not to get dragged in yourself first."

Lu Chen didn't answer. He walked out the door, passed through the shadow of the locust tree, and walked onto the main street. The shops in town hadn't closed yet; someone was forging iron in the blacksmith shop, clanging away, the sound carrying very far. When he reached the end of the street, he saw someone standing on the opposite side. Grey robe, wearing a veil, face unclear.

Just as Su Qing described.

That person looked at him without speaking, turned around, and walked out of the town. Lu Chen followed.

Walking out of the town and into the fields. The autumn harvest was over, and only rice stubble remained in the fields, one after another, as if someone had stuck many needles into the ground. That person walked to the ridge of the field and stopped without turning around.

"Who are you?" Lu Chen asked.

"You don't need to know." The voice was suppressed, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female, but it sounded very young. "Keep the copy of the account book well. It will be useful later."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You don't need to do anything for now. When the time comes, I will come to find you." That person turned around, the veil fluttering in the wind, revealing half a face. The skin was very white, the chin very pointed, and the lips very thin. "You are investigating Wang Fu and Vice Hall Master Liu. Keep investigating, but don't be in a rush to act. There is someone behind them. You must wait, wait for that person to reveal themselves."

"Elder Sun?"

That person didn't answer. He turned and left. He walked very fast, disappearing at the end of the field ridge in a few steps.

Lu Chen stood where he was, holding that piece of paper in his hand. The wind blew, and the paper rustled. He folded the paper, stuffed it into his bosom, and turned to walk back.

When he returned to the Danding Sect, it was already dark. He climbed in from the back mountain, passed through the small path behind the Pharmacy, and pushed the door open. On the table lay a Medicinal Pill, white, smelling of herbs. Underneath it was a note— "To calm your nerves. Su Qing." The same note as last night, the same Medicinal Pill. He put the Medicinal Pill in his mouth and swallowed it. Spiritual Qi surged into his Dantian. It was ninety-eight percent. Just a little more.

Lu Chen sat down, took out the copy from his bosom, read it once, and placed it on the table. Wang Fu. Vice Hall Master Liu. Law Enforcement Hall. One line. But the line hadn't reached the end yet. The end was with Elder Sun. Elder Sun couldn't be moved, but he could wait. Wait for her to reveal herself, or wait for someone else to push her out.

He looked down at the black thread on his left wrist. It was light grey, almost turning white. He still remembered Qin Wu's name, but he could no longer recall the face at all. The thread was there, but he was about to forget the person.

Lu Chen untied the black thread, placed it on the table, and stared at it for a long time. Then he tied it back on, tying six knots. "Forget it if I must. As long as the thread is there, it's fine."

He closed his eyes and began Qi Channeling. Spiritual Qi surged into his Dantian. It was ninety-nine percent. Just a little more. Tomorrow. Or the day after. The Dantian would crack. Level 4 Qi Refining. Friendship would vanish. He would completely forget Qin Wu. Forget the Person in Black who waited for him on the top of Qingniu Ridge. Forget the Loose Cultivator who said, "Don't let him die." Forget the person who left a thread on the stone.

But the thread was still there.