Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Settling Down
In that instant, Jiang Ran couldn’t help but gasp.
He couldn’t help but exclaim:
"This is impossible!"
’How could this be possible?’
A group of people had appeared out of thin air and established such a massive presence here in Cangzhou Prefecture.
’And yet they had no origin to speak of?’
’How did they manage to settle in and live here so peacefully?’
’No matter what, there should have been a process of integrating.’
’But... according to what Steward Liu is saying, this group of people just appeared out of thin air, and everyone took their presence for granted.’
’This... Isn’t this like I’ve seen a ghost? Could the family be demons, ghosts, or even gods?’
Steward Liu’s face was also filled with utter disbelief.
But in response to Jiang Ran’s words, he could only offer a wry smile.
"This... this... sigh. Young Hero Jiang, to be perfectly honest, my mind is in a complete mess right now..."
"What in the world is going on?"
Jiang Ran had originally intended to find someone who knew what was going on and ask a few questions.
But now, he’d managed to thoroughly confuse the one person who was supposed to have answers.
The two men stared blankly at each other, equally bewildered.
In the end, it was Jiang Ran who broke the silence.
"Steward Liu, I have a favor to ask."
"Please, speak freely, Young Hero Jiang."
Steward Liu said quickly.
Jiang Ran then described the old drunkard’s appearance and mannerisms. He didn’t mention the man was his master, saying only:
"I came to Cangzhou Prefecture for two reasons. First, for the matter concerning Dao Zhen and Zhang Dongxuan, and second, to find this man."
"However, I am just one man and new to the area. I have no idea where to even begin searching in this vast sea of people."
"That is why I have the audacity to ask for your help, Steward Liu."
"That can be arranged."
Steward Liu nodded. "I will have the constables start making inquiries right away. I imagine there will be news soon."
"Then I am in your debt, Steward Liu. I will never forget this kindness."
Jiang Ran cupped one fist in his other hand in a salute.
In truth, he hadn’t intended to ask for help with this matter.
But with the Tang family’s origins being so inscrutable and their purpose unknown, Jiang Ran was truly beginning to worry about whether the old drunkard was dead or alive.
"Not at all."
Steward Liu shook his head and then asked:
"Regarding the Tang family, is there anything else you know, Young Hero Jiang?"
"No..."
Jiang Ran scratched his head.
"I only just met them for the first time yesterday. What more could I know?"
"That’s true."
Steward Liu nodded.
After that, the two of them made small talk for a little while.
Jiang Ran didn’t mention the Tang family again, acting as if he had merely paid a chance visit, discovered their strangeness, and had come to the Government Office simply to report it.
The old drunkard had lived his entire life by a philosophy of eight vices: eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, swindling, conning, abducting, and tricking.
He had constantly drilled these into Jiang Ran, and though Jiang Ran had been unwilling to learn such things, he was inevitably influenced by what he constantly saw and heard. As a result, when he put on an act now, no one could see the slightest flaw.
As they spoke, Jiang Ran brought up his intention to look at the case files for wanted criminals.
Steward Liu naturally agreed to this wholeheartedly. He immediately led Jiang Ran out the door and, after a series of twists and turns, brought him to another room.
The room was filled with bookshelves, their contents sorted by category and arranged by year.
Looking at all these case files, Jiang Ran felt a great sense of comfort.
’These aren’t case files at all,’ he thought. ’They’re pill formulas!’
Steward Liu gave Jiang Ran a few instructions, telling him he could read the case files here, but could not take them away.
However, the wanted posters were another matter. But before taking one, he had to inform someone so another copy could be drawn up.
Jiang Ran readily agreed, then casually pulled out a file, sat down at a desk, and opened it.
Seeing that Jiang Ran was occupied, Steward Liu turned and left the room.
After pulling the door closed, he trotted all the way to the rear courtyard.
When he reached the courtyard from before, he knocked on the gate.
"Your Excellency... I have something to report."
"Come in."
A deep, powerful voice came from within the courtyard.
Steward Liu quickly opened the gate and was met with a WHOOSHING sound.
He looked up to see his supposedly frail and sickly lord tossing two enormous stone locks back and forth as if they were embroidered balls.
He would toss one up, catch the other, then flick his wrist to send it flying as he caught the first one again.
He made the heavy objects look light, his movements exceptionally skilled.
He continued juggling the stone locks as he spoke.
"Got something to say, say it. Got a fart, let it out."
Steward Liu didn’t dare get any closer, afraid one of the stone locks might fall and smash his head.
Each one weighed a hundred pounds, at least. If one fell on his head or body, he’d be gravely injured, if not killed outright.
So from a safe distance, he relayed everything Jiang Ran had said about the Tang family.
"Oh?"
After listening to the report, a look of astonishment appeared on the face of the "frail and sickly" lord.
He caught one of the stone locks and tossed it to the side.
"Something like that happened?"
"I have already sent government constables to investigate. I imagine we’ll have a report back soon."
"Mm."
The lord contemplated this for a moment.
"Actually, there’s no need to investigate. Jiang Ran has no reason to lie to us."
"I fear the Tang family’s estate is truly deserted."
"This way of doing things... it feels somehow familiar."
"Did you think of something, Your Excellency?"
Steward Liu asked hurriedly.
The lord paused to think, but instead of answering, he just shook his head and smiled.
"It’s nothing. With important matters imminent, we can set such trivial things aside for now."
"You are dismissed."
The lord gave a slight wave of his hand.
Although Steward Liu felt this was hardly a trivial matter, he still acknowledged the command, bowed, and excused himself.
Only after Steward Liu had left did the lord’s expression turn solemn.
’The first tax payment was delivered ten years ago, which means they have been here for at least that long.’
’Ten years...’
He shook his head, entered his study, took up a brush, dipped it in ink, wrote a few words, then rolled up the paper and tucked it into a small bamboo tube.
From a nearby birdcage, he took out a white pigeon and tied the bamboo tube to its leg.
With a flick of his hand, the pigeon shot into the sky.
...
...
Jiang Ran remained in the Government Office until evening.
He spent the entire afternoon reading through case files, memorizing the details of many wanted criminals.
’This way,’ he thought, ’if I run into them in the future, I’m sure to recognize them.’
As he read through them that afternoon, Jiang Ran also discovered something.
There were often differences on the wanted posters. Some specified "Capture Alive," while others read "Dead or Alive."
He looked for the posters for Dao Zhen and Zhang Dongxuan and discovered that both of theirs bore the three words: "Dead or Alive."
This gave Jiang Ran a flash of understanding; it was why he had been able to complete his mission simply by bringing their heads to the Government Office.
’That must be why,’ he realized. ’If the bounty had been for ’Capture Alive’ and I’d just chopped off their heads, I probably wouldn’t have been able to complete the mission.’
’So I can’t just go around chopping the head off every wanted criminal I see.’
The constables Steward Liu had sent to inquire about the old drunkard’s whereabouts had not yet sent back any news.
When Jiang Ran had left the Government Office, he and the steward had agreed that Steward Liu would send someone to find Jiang Ran as soon as there was any news.
Until he heard back about this, Jiang Ran couldn’t leave Cangzhou Prefecture.
With the Tang family’s home deserted, he certainly couldn’t stay there tonight. He strolled along, planning to find an inn to stay at for the time being.
He hadn’t walked far before he saw an inn with its main doors wide open.
Jiang Ran wasn’t picky, so he went straight inside.
The main hall was packed to the rafters. A crowd of armed Jianghu People were gathered in small groups, shouting and carousing, drinking wine from large bowls and eating great chunks of meat.
Someone who knew would say it was an inn; someone who didn’t might mistake it for a mountain bandit’s Unity Hall.
The moment Jiang Ran stepped through the door, carrying his bundle and his saber, every single head in the room snapped toward him.
