Chapter 38 - 38: Beaten and Bruised
The grandeur and tranquility of the Shen Clan mansion were conjured by its appearance. Elegant carvings and exquisite latticework graced the pavilions, which had roofs that curled upward like legendary creatures' wings. The area surrounding the house had an air of easy elegance while still being lively with activity.
Refined manners betrayed the high position of the charming males who walked lazily by the gates. Countless stunning females sauntered in the vicinity, some even managed to sneak in and out of the Shen Clan mansion undetected by the watchful eye of the guards.
The guards stood rigidly at their stations, keeping poker faces even though they were in the middle of a friendly and carefree crowd. Their agile bodies were well-protected by their leather armor, which suited them closely.
Along with the robust robes that shrouded and concealed their features, elaborate pauldrons decorated their shoulders. They had to do this so no one from the general people would know who they were, protecting their honor from the scandals that the Shen Clan was renowned for.
The Shen Clan's principal source of wealth was the Red Light District, where they owned almost three-quarters of the brothels and wine pavilions. This near-monopoly produced conflict with many independent dealers and businesspeople, adding another element of risk to the lives of the guards.
Unscrupulous merchants would not hesitate to torture or kill individuals acting under the Shen Clan's direction, making anonymity an essential component of their role. A single gossiper getting sight of a guard's face may spell catastrophe for him and his family.
"Who is that? In the distance..." On this particular day, the typically stationary guards outside the Shen Residence were in for a surprise. Two tattered figures approached the gates, moving slowly and painfully.
"Goodness me! What happened to those two?" The men and ladies walking by were too scared to voice any more comments, their eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of the injured couple. Their robes were in shreds, and their flesh was scarred with apparent bruises and knocks, discolored from the brutal beatings they had undergone.
"That can't be Young Master Zhou Tian and Shen Mu, right?" As they came closer, the guards recognized the figures despite their ragged look. These were none other than Young Master Shen Mu and Zhou Tian, two of the most famous men in Crescent Moon City.
However they could not believe they had been reduced to such a pathetic state considering their ability. Shen Mu's once-handsome face was now bloated and battered, his eyes hardly discernible through the puffiness. Zhou Tian's usually clean robes were smeared with dirt and blood, his feet wavering as he fought to hold up his injured companion.
The guards exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to proceed. Their stoic training had not equipped them for such a circumstance. One of the senior guards stepped up, his voice firm amid the tumult. "Young Master Shen Mu, Young Master Zhou Tian, what has happened? Where is Wu Zhen?"
Shen Mu lifted a shaky hand, his voice a ragged murmur. "Li Wei... that bastard... he humiliated us... destroyed us..." The young man dropped his head in shame unwilling to accept the result, "Wu Zhen is worse off.. That bastard left him lying on the ground like a dog."
The senior guard's eyes tightened. "We must notify the Patriarch quickly. Please, come inside and receive medical assistance." As the guards took the injured young masters into the estate, the atmosphere around the Shen Clan's land grew hostile. The sight of Shen Mu and Zhou Tian in such a state sent waves of terror and indignation through the passersby.
Meanwhile, in the Shen Clan's largest courtyard, a pair of old individuals were having some tea and conversing about some inconsequential issues. The two individuals sat on opposite side of a well built table, which had various complex carvings carved on it. The teapot and cups that lay on top of it were created from a precious sort of porcelain, which had a fantastic blend of blue and white tones, making a stunning pattern.
"The matters regarding that upstart at the Liu residence should have been resolved by now, if you are still feeling uneasy, Elder Xu, then one of my men can bring the culprit over for further punishment." The individual sat on the right was an old man, who resembled Shen Mu and wore yellow robes that were embroidered with beautiful dragon embroidery.
The yellow robed elderly guy was no other than the Grand Elder of the Shu Clan and Shen Mu's paternal uncle, Shen Zi . He had a serious expression on his face as he spoke to Zhen Xu, who had come to the Shen house on Grand Elder Zhen Mu's instructions.
Elder Xu was quite hesitant about working with the Shen clan publicly, but he could not retort the instructions issued to him by his superiors. The instant he arrived at the Shen clan's gates, the guards promptly took him to Grand Elder Shen Zi's mansion, where he found him waiting with a pot of tea already made.
"While I have no doubts that your subordinate is capable, my worries stem from the fact that only he was sent to assist the two young masters." Elder Xu didn't beat about the bush and openly told Shen Zi that he was concerned about the situation. He thought that the Shen clan's Grand Elder had underestimated the opposition and was placing Wu Zhen in peril by just sending him to help the two young masters.
"Elders! Their is a situation..." Before Shen Zi could speak, one his attendant's broke through the door. This rapid entry left the two elderly figures mid-sentence, their attention jerking to the worried guard standing at the entrance to the courtyard. The anxious atmosphere that filled the air was evident as the guard battled to recover his breath, his face pale and eyes wide with haste.
"What is it?" Shen Zi's speech was piercing, his stern visage getting even more grim.
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The guard gulped hard before adding, "Young Master Shen Mu and Young Master Zhou Tian... they have returned, but they are gravely injured."
Both elders exchanged a look of disbelief and anxiety. Elder Xu's doubt appeared to intensify, his brows pulling together as he observed Shen Zi. "Take us to them immediately," Shen Zi said, rising from his seat. Elder Xu followed suit, his prior discomfort now mingling with a sense of dread.
The guard took them briskly across the estate, the tranquil attractiveness of the surroundings suddenly feeling like a jarring contrast to the gravity of the situation. They walked by numerous Shen clansmen and graceful maidens who now wore faces of anxiety and terror, muttering among themselves as they watched the elders speed past.
Upon reaching the main hall, they saw Shen Mu and Zhou Tian being cared to by multiple healers. The young masters reclined on comfortable beds, their bodies coated with salves and bandages. Shen Mu's face was virtually unrecognizable, bloated and bruised, while Zhou Tian's typically flawless look was disfigured by dirt and dried blood.
Shen Zi approached Shen Mu, his severe face softening just slightly as he noticed the situation of his nephew. "Mu'er, what happened?" The anger of seeing a relative he doted upon being so ruthlessly beaten left him rather indignant.
Shen Mu's voice was feeble, but the bitterness and shame were apparent. "Li Wei... he toyed with us. We were no match for him. Wu Zhen... he couldn't stop him." The poor lad could hardly support himself as he coughed several spouts of blood, which left the healers anxiously attending to his wounds.
Elder Xu's visage darkened, his prior misgivings now completely warranted. "It seems this Li Wei is far more formidable than we anticipated." The very thing he was worried about came to pass, because of Shen Zi's complacency both the young masters were now in dire need of medicine to rid them of the pain and swelling they had sustained under the hands of Li Wei.
Shen Zi tightened his hands, his wrath barely restrained. "This is an affront to the Shen Clan. We will not let this go unpunished." A baleful aura surrounded the yellow robed elderly, which left the main hall in a suffocating silence.
Elder Xu nodded in assent. "We need to gather our strongest forces. This Li Wei must be dealt with swiftly and decisively." In that point, Elder Xu pulled out a precious looking token and promptly submitted a report to the highest echelon of the Zhu clan, it was evident that he was also displeased by the vicious methods employed by Li Wei.
Shen Zi turned to the guards. "Quickly! Summon the Clan leader. Inform him of everything. We must prepare for a counterattack." As the guards raced off to carry out his commands, Shen Zi stared back at the injured young masters. "Rest now. We shall revenge this insult."
The estate, which had been bustling with a relaxed activity, suddenly hummed with anxious preparations. Orders were yelled, and messengers were ordered to assemble the Shen Clan's most strong soldiers. The formerly easygoing environment was replaced with a feeling of approaching violence.
Back in the main courtyard of the Shen Clan, Shen Zi and Elder Xu began discussing their approach. "We cannot underestimate this Li Wei," Shen Zi replied, his voice hard and calculating. "He has proven to be more than just an upstart."