Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

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At the doorway, Xiong Shan paused and turned around with a grin.

“Short on silver, are you?”

Hearing this, Da Ming felt a warmth bloom in his chest.

He shook his head and chuckled sheepishly. “Brother Xiong, how about we squeeze in together?”

Xiong Shan laughed, pointing between the two of them. “With just one bed and two people our size—how exactly do you propose we squeeze in?”

At that moment, the inn’s servant quickly stepped forward. “Gentlemen, I thought you were together. The room I gave you is a double.”

Xiong Shan blinked in surprise.

Da Ming chuckled again, just as simple and honest.

Xiong Shan let out a helpless laugh and stopped declining. He fished out a piece of broken silver from his chest and tossed it to the servant. “I’ll cover the room fee!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Xiong Shan burst out in hearty laughter.

Seeing him laugh, Da Ming couldn’t help but laugh along.

Xiong Shan stepped forward and patted Da Ming’s shoulder, his eyes shining.

He said in a low voice, “Not bad. Brother Ming, I really like your style!”

“We met by fate—how about we become sworn brothers? What do you say?”

Da Ming shook his head, grinning dumbly.

“My father said I’m not allowed to make friends with strangers.”

Hearing this, Xiong Shan was caught between laughter and tears.

He let out a loud laugh. “Fair enough! A father’s command must be obeyed!”

“Then I won’t push it!”

“Hahahaha…”

The two of them headed upstairs and entered the room.

Once inside, Da Ming carefully placed the Qilin Axe against the wall and set his raincoat and straw hat to the side.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiong Shan, by contrast, was far less meticulous. He casually tossed his own raincoat and hat aside and plopped down on the bed.

“Brother Ming, how old are you this year?”

Da Ming chuckled. “Twelve.”

Xiong Shan froze at the answer.

Twelve?

He stared at Da Ming’s hulking frame like he’d seen a ghost.

Twelve and already built like that?

Being stared at like that made Da Ming a bit embarrassed, and he gave another bashful laugh.

“A natural-born talent…” Xiong Shan muttered, then sighed. “Shame, though. I’m headed to Jiangling, so we’ll have to part ways tomorrow.”

“Otherwise, I’d have recommended you to a great place.”

“Jiangling?” Da Ming’s eyes lit up at the name.

Xiong Shan nodded. “Exactly, Jiangling City.”

“Brother Xiong, I’m heading there too!” Da Ming scratched his head and replied sheepishly.

Xiong Shan’s eyes lit up. “Perfect! Then let’s travel together!”

“You don’t have much experience out in the world. I don’t have loads either, but I can at least keep you from getting swindled.”

Da Ming blushed and smiled shyly.

Seeing his honest face, Xiong Shan couldn’t help but laugh again.

He liked Da Ming even more now—admiration growing in his heart.

They called the servant for hot water, washed up, and soon drifted off to sleep.

---

Night fell.

The stars and moon were hidden. Darkness blanketed everything.

In Jingzhou, Wuchang Prefecture…

Two shadowy figures raced across the rooftops of residential houses.

Dressed in black night-cloaks and wearing face-covering scarves, the two moved swiftly and silently.

They sped across rooftops in one direction.

At the end of their route stood a grand mansion, a vermilion plaque above the gate bearing two bold characters:

Zhang Residence!

The two shadows moved like the wind, gliding over rooftops with ease.

Soon, they reached a nearby house overlooking the Zhang estate.

Just then—

A loud shout echoed from the end of the street.

“Hyah, hyah!” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A middle-aged man in a deep blue official robe galloped on a red-brown horse toward the Zhang residence.

He reined in at the gate, dismounted, and knocked.

The gate opened, and a steward appeared. Seeing the man, he led him inside.

From atop the wall, Sun Sheng adjusted his mask slightly and whispered to Qiong Aohai, “Second Brother, Wan Qing’s movements have been hard to track.”

“But a few days ago, someone saw him enter the Zhang residence.”

“This place belongs to the Provincial Administrator of Huguang. I don’t understand—what business would Wan Qing have here?”

Qiong Aohai’s brows furrowed with suspicion.

Wan Qing was a hereditary first-rank marquis. Why would he be mingling with a second-rank official like Huguang’s administrator?

“We’ll know once we’re inside.” Qiong Aohai’s gaze fixed on the mansion, his voice low.

Sun Sheng nodded and tightened his mask.

Together, they leapt into the estate, moving with great care.

The Zhang estate was vast, with guards patrolling the front courtyard, some clearly skilled martial artists of third-tier ranking.

Fortunately, Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai were both second-tier experts—masters of first-tier lightness skills.

They slipped in undetected.

Moving carefully, they searched the grounds for Wan Qing.

Suddenly—

Voices drifted from a brightly lit room ahead, catching their attention.

“Administrator Zhang, this year’s Peach Blossom Floods are far more severe than usual.”

“In a few days, it could wreak havoc on the people living along the Yangtze and coastal regions.”

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai froze and crouched low on the rooftop edge.

In the room across, two silhouettes were cast against the window.

One man stood in the center, animated and speaking anxiously.

The other sat calmly, sipping tea.

“I am aware of the situation,” the seated man said calmly. “I’ll report to the court at once and request extra relief funds and manpower.”

“Silver is already en route. It should reach Wuchang in a few days. I’ll distribute it to the various provinces.”

“No need to worry.”

His voice was steady and composed.

The agitated man seemed reassured by the response and continued. “But Administrator Zhang, I’ve discovered that this Peach Blossom Flood isn’t a natural disaster—”

“It’s man-made!”

The man sipping tea paused, lowering his cup.

“Oh?” he said slowly. “Explain.”

The man went on, “All the upstream dams in Jingzhou were blown up. The attackers wore black and were highly skilled—killing the guards with ease.”

“I suspect it was the work of Jianghu operatives.”

“This must be reported to the Six Gates. These martial rogues have gone too far!”

“Completely disregarding the lives of ordinary people!”

“Martial world members?” the seated man sat up, suddenly intrigued. “Do you know who?”

The speaker shook his head.“No. Only that they wore black.”

The seated man exhaled in relief. “Very well. I’ll notify the Six Gates as well.”

“You have my word.”

The man in the center bowed deeply. “Thank you, Administrator Zhang!”

Administrator Zhang smiled faintly. “It’s my duty as the head of Huguang.”

“On behalf of the people, I thank you—”

Suddenly, a young voice rang out from within the room:

“Let me thank you too, on behalf of the people of Huguang.”

A tall, slender figure appeared in the room—like he had emerged from thin air—standing behind the speaker.

His right palm struck forward.

The man in the center had no time to cry out. His body went limp and crumpled to the floor.

From the beams above, Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai widened their eyes in horror.

“Divine Envoy—why… why did you kill him?”

Administrator Zhang, who had been seated, jumped to his feet in alarm.

The tall figure didn’t answer. His voice was calm and chilling: “The two guests outside—how long do you plan to keep lying there?”