chsdbacks Chapter 61: Concealing One's Edge
Chapter 61: Concealing One's Edge
Before dawn, Willow Branch Lane was still shrouded in the inky blue of night. The dilapidated lantern at the lane entrance emitted a tiny, dim yellow light, barely illuminating a few pale, glistening specks of dew that had condensed on the bluestone slabs. Lin Yan's footsteps were extremely light, making only a faint "rustling" sound on the wet stone slabs, like silkworms nibbling on mulberry leaves. He wore a worn indigo robe, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing firm, muscular forearms. The fine cotton bandages newly wrapped during his dressing change yesterday were almost dazzlingly white in the dim light.
The document room was located in a secluded courtyard on the westernmost side of the Demon Suppression Division's branch, seemingly a world apart from the grand and imposing offices in front. Large sections of the plaster on the courtyard wall had peeled away, revealing the yellowish-brown rammed earth beneath, and clumps of withered foxtail grass grew on top of the wall, shivering in the morning breeze. The doors were two mottled wooden doors with peeling paint, ajar, creaking open with a long, sluggish groan, carrying the hollow feeling unique to aged wood, as if its core had been eaten away by time.
Inside the door was a small courtyard, the cracks in the blue bricks overgrown with thick, dark green moss, making it slippery underfoot. The windows of the room directly opposite the door were tightly shut, the paper windowpanes torn in several places and haphazardly patched with scraps of different colors, resembling a tattered rag covered in patches. A thick, suffocating stench, a mixture of dust, moldy paper, and cheap ink, hung in the air, making one's throat tighten when inhaled.
A hunched figure was squatting in the corner of the courtyard, slowly wiping several dark-colored inkstones with a half-damp cloth over a chipped earthenware basin. Hearing the door open, the figure paused and slowly turned its head.
He was a gaunt old man, his hair and beard completely white, sparsely plastered to his scalp and jawline. His face was crisscrossed with wrinkles, like the cracks of a dried-up riverbed. He wore a faded gray cloth uniform with frayed cuffs, its dull color almost blending into the drab surroundings. Most striking were his eyes; his eyelids drooped loosely, his pupils cloudy, as if covered by a layer of dust that could never be wiped away. When he looked at people, his gaze was unfocused, lacking any clarity, revealing only a numb, listless weariness, as if all the edges of time had been smoothed out.
"Old Zhou?" Lin Yan stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a calm voice.
The old man—Old Zhou—raised his cloudy eyes and looked Lin Yan up and down. His gaze lingered on the bandage on Lin Yan's arm and the inconspicuous long sword at his waist. He grunted in response and then lowered his head to continue wiping Lin Yan's inkstone, his movements so slow it seemed as if he was deliberately procrastinating.
Lin Yan didn't urge him. He simply took out a heavy little cloth bag from his bosom. The bag wasn't tied tightly, revealing several ingots of fine silver and a small string of copper coins inside. He walked over and gently placed the bag on the stone slab next to the ceramic basin at Old Zhou's feet.
The silver struck the stone slab, producing a soft, clear "ding" that stood out distinctly in the deathly quiet courtyard.
Old Zhou's movements as he wiped the inkstone paused very slightly. His cloudy eyes seemed to shift almost imperceptibly, his gaze sweeping over the cloth bag before quickly moving away to continue wiping, though his originally slow movements seemed... a fraction faster.
"Old Zhou," Lin Yan crouched down to meet his gaze, his voice low but clear, "I'm new here and have been assigned a tricky task: to consult some old files. I've heard you've been in charge of the document room for many years and are very familiar with it. Would you be so kind as to grant me this favor?"
Old Zhou didn't look up, only letting out a muffled hum from his nose, like a sigh or a sneer. He slowly finished wiping the inkstone in his hand, placed it aside with a relatively clean piece of coarse cloth, and then reached out to pick up the cloth bag, weighing it in his hand. The bag was quite heavy, and his brow twitched almost imperceptibly. The numbness and lethargy that shrouded his face was like stagnant water tossed with a pebble, rippling with a faint, living ripple.
He raised his eyes, this time with a focused gaze, landing on Lin Yan's face. Deep within his cloudy eyes, a shrewd, calculating glint flashed, the kind of cunning gleam that belonged to a seasoned, worldly official. "Investigate what?" His voice was hoarse and dry, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.
"Black Wind Ravine," Lin Yan uttered three words.
Old Zhou's eyelids twitched suddenly. He stared at Lin Yan for a full three breaths, his gaze complex, containing surprise, suspicion, inquiry, and a hint of... barely perceptible, almost sympathetic understanding. He didn't ask Lin Yan why he was investigating, nor what job he had taken on. He simply stood up slowly, his hunched back seeming to bend even more. He walked to the door covered with tattered paper, took out a large bunch of jingling, rusty brass keys from his waist, tried several, and finally opened the door with a "click."
A stronger, more pungent smell of decay wafted in, mingled with dust and an indescribable, sweet, fishy odor, like paper slowly rotting. The room was dimly lit, with only a few slivers of light filtering through a few narrow skylights high up, illuminating the dense, swirling dust particles. Before my eyes were shelves piled almost to the rafters, crammed with all sorts of books and scrolls, some wrapped in silk, others bound only with straw rope. Most were covered in a thick layer of dust, their edges curled and torn, the pages yellowed and brittle, as if they would crumble to dust at the slightest touch.
Old Zhou gestured for Lin Yan to wait a moment, then hunched over and skillfully made his way into the maze-like, narrow passageway made of dollops. Inside, there were rustling sounds of rummaging, occasionally interspersed with suppressed coughs, and the even stronger smell of dust kicked up when the dollops were moved.
About an incense stick's time later, Old Zhou came out carrying a thick stack of equally dusty files. He placed the files on an old wooden table near the window that was barely clean, patted the dust off his hands, and the dust fell in a flurry, forming a noticeable column of dust in the dim light.
"It's all here." Old Zhou's voice was still dry, but it had gained a touch of humanity. "All the records related to Black Wind Ravine from the past ten years, big or small, no matter where they're filed, are here." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the stack of files, then looking at Lin Yan. A hint of hesitation flashed in his cloudy eyes, but he finally lowered his voice, almost whispering, "Young man, that place... is eerie. Few who go there come back unscathed. If... if you can back out, it's best to back out. Some money, you have to be alive to spend it, even if you have the life to take it."
After saying that, he didn't say anything more, squatted back down in that corner, picked up another inkstone, and continued his seemingly endless wiping work. However, his hunched back seemed to have aged even more in the dim light.
Lin Yan thanked him and, without further delay, quickly began to peruse the stack of files by the dim light streaming in from the window. Dust danced in the beam of light, and the rustling of pages turning sounded like a sudden autumn rain pattering on withered lotus leaves. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept rapidly across the neat and messy handwriting, the varying shades of ink, extracting, verifying, and connecting the key information one by one. The contents of the files largely matched what Su Qingyao had described the previous night, but were more detailed and more shocking—the list of casualties, descriptions of tattered belongings, the incoherent testimonies of survivors, and repeated approvals of "recommendation of lockdown" followed by "temporary suspension"... Between the lines, a deliberately concealed bloodshed and chilling atmosphere permeated the air.
Setting down the last volume, Lin Yan's eyes grew even colder. He carefully rearranged all the files in their original order, put them back in their places, nodded to Old Zhou, and then turned to leave the document room filled with the atmosphere of death and oblivion.
Next was the armory. Unlike the remote and dilapidated document room, the armory, located on the east side of the branch's central axis, was a freestanding, square building constructed of heavy bluestone. Its doors were covered with thick iron sheets, studded with rows of large copper nails that gleamed coldly in the morning light. Two guards with swords at their sides stood solemnly at the entrance, their sharp gazes scanning passersby.
Lin Yan stepped forward, showed his identity token, and explained his purpose—to receive some basic standard martial arts techniques and array diagram rubbings.
The guard checked the token and went inside to announce his arrival. A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in a civil official's robe, with a fair complexion and bright eyes, strolled out. He introduced himself as Wu, the clerk in charge of the armory. He looked Lin Yan up and down, his gaze lingering on the bandage on the man's arm and his worn-out robe. A professional yet aloof smile appeared on his lips: "Lord Lin? The newcomer? Do you have the headman's approval for the application of martial arts formation diagrams? Or a transfer order from the mission hall? The armory is a sensitive place. Although these rubbings can be borrowed by various garrisons for reference, there must be a reason, and procedures must be followed."
The tone was polite, but the underlying intention to shirk responsibility was clear. This was blatant obstruction.
Lin Yan's expression remained unchanged. He simply took out a rough little wooden box from his pocket. The lid was still closed, but a faint, pure, and chilling fluctuation of demonic energy was already emanating from it. He opened the lid, revealing a demonic core inside. It was a deep purple color with dark red patterns on its surface, about the size of a pigeon egg, and was emitting a faint, eerie glow—one of the Transcendent Realm demonic spider cores he had brought back from the Corpse Swamp.
Wu Li's gaze was instantly drawn to it, his professional smile freezing on his face, his eyelids twitching almost imperceptibly. He was clearly an expert, able to not only clearly sense the pure energy within the demon core, far exceeding that of ordinary body-tempering demon cores, but also recognize its unique, chilling, and toxic aura—this was definitely not ordinary stuff circulating in the market! His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and his previous high-sounding rhetoric suddenly seemed pale and powerless in the face of such "hard currency."
Lin Yan closed the box lid and handed it forward, his voice still calm: "It's just a small token of my appreciation, to add some money for Mr. Wu's tea. I will soon be leading a team to Black Wind Ravine to carry out a bandit suppression mission. I've heard that the place is dangerous, and I would like to borrow some rubbings of cultivation techniques and formation diagrams for reference, just in case. I hope Mr. Wu will be so kind as to do me this favor."
Wu Li stared at the wooden box, his eyes flashing with struggle, greed, and weighing of options, ultimately transforming into a more refined enthusiasm. He glanced quickly to the left and right, and seeing that the guard's gaze remained fixed straight ahead, he swiftly took the box. Its slightly heavy weight and the cool touch, along with the immense demonic power lurking within, made his heart skip a beat. He tucked the box into his sleeve with natural, fluid movements, his face now displaying a sincere smile, even carrying a hint of heartfelt sincerity: "Brother Lin, what are you saying! Since it's for official business, I should certainly support you! Black Wind Ravine… alas, it certainly requires more preparation. Please come with me; the rubbings of cultivation techniques and array diagrams are readily available, originally prepared for the various garrisons to consult. Commander Lin, please feel free to choose whatever you need!"
Having said that, he stepped aside to lead the way, personally pushing open the heavy iron gate and welcoming Lin Yan inside.
The armory was quite spacious, but not very well lit. Along the walls were rows of heavy iron and wooden shelves, neatly arranged with copies of various martial arts manuals and rubbings of formation diagrams. The air was filled with the unique smell of leather, ironware, and old paper.
Wu Li's attitude changed drastically, becoming enthusiastic. He skillfully found the standard rubbings of martial arts formation diagrams, such as "Basic Guiding Techniques of Qingzhou Demon Suppression Bureau," "Essentials of Breaking Edge Blade Techniques," and "Introduction to Team Combat Formation Diagrams," and piled them on the table. He also took out several rolls of booklets with better paper and fresh ink from the inner room.
"Brother Lin, these are the revised 'Hun Yuan Jin Qi Guiding Techniques' from last year, which are 30% more effective than the basic guiding techniques; there's also this 'You Long Ba Gua Steps,' which excels at maneuvering through complex terrain; and this 'Detailed Explanation of the Simple Five Elements Array Flag Deployment,' which includes diagrams of three practical small arrays, quite effective against sudden attacks." As Wu Li introduced them, he observed Lin Yan's expression. Seeing that Lin Yan's expression was calm and without dissatisfaction, he lowered his voice and said with a hint of goodwill, "There are also some 'snacks' in the storeroom that were seized during the last bandit suppression but hadn't had time to be stored away yet. They are a few bottles of 'Bone Strengthening and Vitality Nourishing Pills' and 'Heart Clearing Powder.' Although they are not top-tier, they are quite beneficial for strengthening the body's foundation and resisting common miasma. Since Commander Lin is going on a long journey, you might as well take some with you, just in case."
Lin Yan nodded slightly: "Mr. Wu has considered everything very well. Thank you for your trouble."
Wu Li's smile widened, and he quickly ordered his storeroom servants to bring the pills as well. Before long, the rubbings of the cultivation techniques and array diagrams, along with the bottles of spiritual herbs, were neatly packed and placed in a sturdy wicker box. Wu Li personally saw Lin Yan out of the armory, and as they parted, his face showed just the right amount of concern, specifically instructing him: "Commander Lin, although these are rubbings and copies for internal reference, please take good care of them and do not easily lose them outside. I wish Commander Lin a safe journey and swift success!"
Lin Yan bowed in thanks, picked up the heavy wicker trunk, and turned to leave. Wu Li stood at the armory entrance, watching his departing figure. The smile on his face gradually faded, and the fingers holding the demon core in his sleeve tightened slightly. A complex mix of satisfaction and calculation flashed in his eyes. He then shook his head, turned, and strolled back into the depths of the armory, which was filled with the smell of decay.
As the sun rose higher, it illuminated the courtyard deep within Willow Branch Lane. When Lin Yan returned carrying the wicker trunk, the Black Stone Guards in the courtyard had just finished their morning exercise, each drenched in sweat but full of energy. Upon seeing Lin Yan's return, they all gathered around him.
Lin Yan placed the rattan trunk on the stone table in the center of the courtyard and opened the lid. In the sunlight, the brand-new booklets, illustrations, and several small jade bottles stood out prominently.
"Cultivation techniques, formations, and elixirs," Lin Yan said succinctly. "From today onwards, everyone except the wounded must intensify their training. Li Tie, you are still injured, so you are responsible for supervising. If you have any questions, write them down and ask me."
Everyone looked at the things they rarely saw before, their eyes filled with excitement. Li Tie even struggled to stand up straight and nodded vigorously.
Lin Yan's gaze swept over everyone, and he said in a deep voice, "There is one more thing. One day from now, I will lead a team to Black Wind Ravine to carry out a cleanup mission."
As the words fell, the expected fear or commotion did not erupt in the courtyard. Instead, a strange silence, a mixture of fighting spirit and eager anticipation, permeated the air. Wang Dashan's eyes lit up, Zhou Fu clenched his fists, and even Li Tie, still recovering from his injuries, straightened his back slightly. They had crawled out of the carnage of Black Stone Town, and knew all too well the treacherous nature of this world and Liu Xiong's ruthlessness. Rather than living in fear and being schemed against in the city, they would rather go to that dangerous place and fight for real!
"My lord, when shall we set off?" Lu Ling asked in a deep voice, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes: "No rush. If we're going, we need to be well-prepared. We can't be like the previous groups who went to their deaths in a daze."
He turned and took out an even larger package from the house. Unwrapping it, he found a large number of talismans neatly categorized and bound—protective talismans, lightness talismans, sharp metal talismans, explosive flame talismans… The cinnabar runes on the golden paper shimmered with spiritual light in the sunlight; all of these were made by Su Qingyao in the past few days. He also took out the materials he had previously purchased for drawing talismans and setting up formations.
"Take these talismans as needed. The protective talisman must be carried at all times. Familiarize yourself with the usage of the other talismans; they will be essential for saving your life and killing enemies in critical moments." Lin Yan distributed the talismans and then pointed to the materials. "Qingyao will use these to prepare as many talismans as possible for us before we set off, and to set up several simple early warning and protective formations in this courtyard."
Finally, he looked at Lu Ling and Wang Dashan: "You two, take five demon cores and go to the West Market again. This time, don't buy anything else, just armor. Leather armor, iron plate armor, even inner armor, make sure they offer reliable protection and don't hinder movement. Buy as much as you can. Make sure that every one of our people has at least one piece of protective gear."
Lu Ling and Wang Dashan exchanged a glance and nodded emphatically: "Understood!"
"Black Wind Ravine is a den of dragons and tigers; Liu Xiong wants to use someone else to do his dirty work." Lin Yan's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute determination. "But we are not sheep to be slaughtered! From this day forward, master your techniques, consume your elixirs, prepare your talismans, and don your armor! I want you all fully armed, and sharpen your teeth!"
"Yes!" In the courtyard, twenty men roared in unison. Their voices were not loud, but they carried a pent-up, pent-up anger that was about to be released. The roar echoed dully in the depths of Willow Branch Alley.