Chapter 35: Taking a Master
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As Shen He and her companions crossed the threshold of the Shen residence, Madam Shan and the others wore smiles on their faces, yet made no effort to conceal the surging hostility in their eyes.
Just as Shen He passed Shen Jiao, Shen Jiao’s voice swept over her like a cold wind across a lake, carrying a piercing chill that could not be ignored.
“Eldest Sister’s life is truly harder than a stubborn stone.”
Shen He gave a silent, cold laugh. She had already endured the cycle of life and death once in this world. What could possibly bring her down so easily now?
“Thank you for your kind wishes, little sister. Just as you said, I shall remain in this world for a long, long time.”
At that, Shen Jiao’s lips curled into a cold smile, sparks of challenge flickering in her eyes.
“Then let us wait and see.”
•
At Mu Qizhi’s residence.
Wu Yong led Shen He into Mu Qizhi’s territory. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she saw four men kneeling on the ground, their bare torsos covered in a stark web of fresh and old scars.
Behind each of them stood a man holding a cane, striking their backs without mercy. The sharp sound of splitting flesh mingled with their heart-rending screams.
When Shen He took a closer look, an indescribable fury flared within her. Those four faces belonged to the very thugs who had bullied her that day.
Rage surged through her chest, quickening her breath and making her bosom heave violently.
Mu Qizhi sat leisurely in the center of the circle formed by the four men, calmly sipping the warm tea in his hand.
The moment he saw Shen He enter, he hurriedly smiled and gestured for her to sit beside him.
“Come, little sister. Sit.”
“Big Brother.”
Shen He parted her lips and called out to Mu Qizhi, but her gaze swept coldly over the four men before her like a pair of sharp arrows.
Mu Qizhi slowly set down his teacup. His eyes sharpened as he stared directly at the four men, his voice filled with unquestionable authority.
“Speak. Which great man instructed you to lay hands on my little sister?”
“Brother Zhi! Brother Zhi! Please, we beg you—we were wrong! We didn’t know Miss Shen was your sister! We—we’ve never heard of it!”
With a sharp crack, another cane lashed down, and the men howled.
“So she could be bullied simply because she wasn’t my sister? I, Mu Qizhi, may not be a good man, but I will never allow anyone to carry out such a deed on my territory!”
With a soft clink, an exquisitely carved dagger landed on the table. Mu Qizhi gave Shen He a meaningful look.
Shen He slowly extended her hand and lightly touched the dagger’s cold hilt. Then, with graceful composure, she lifted it from the table.
She walked toward the men and removed the yellow gemstone sheath that concealed the blade. Though the dagger was small, its keen edge could be felt at a glance.
“I only want to know one thing.” Shen He’s voice was low and firm, each word seeming to carry an irresistible force. “Who ordered you to do it?”
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“Miss, I truly don’t know. That person gave us a hundred silver taels and told us to… to… Miss Shen, we were wrong! We truly regret it!”
With a wet thrust, Shen He drove the dagger into the thigh of the man in charge.
“Ahhh!”
The man let out a bloodcurdling scream.
“I’m not satisfied with that answer.”
“It—it was a woman…”
With another wet sound, blood splashed onto Shen He’s hand. She drew a handkerchief from her sleeve and calmly wiped it clean.
“It really was… Miss Shen, it was a woman. But we don’t know her! She paid well, so we took the money and did the job. We truly know we were wrong!”
As she wiped the blood from the dagger, Shen He studied the man before her. His eyes were filled with terror at the thought of death.
When faced with death, human beings were all equally helpless.
“I’m not satisfied!”
Shen He smiled as she looked at him.
Fortunately, the man was clever enough. Seeing her expression, he hurriedly said, “Miss, whoever you say it was, that’s who it was! I’ll confess to anything!”
Shen He nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Mu Qizhi.
“Big Brother, have them write a confession, sign it, and stamp their fingerprints. I’ll also have to trouble you to keep them here for a while. I have a use for them.”
“Consider it done!”
Mu Qizhi waved his hand, and several burly men dragged the four away while they wailed and cried without end.
“Little sister, you’ve suffered. You can’t go without someone capable of protecting you. Tomorrow, I’ll send a few men to the Shen residence to guard you specifically!”
As he spoke, he pointed toward several broad-shouldered men behind him, each wearing a fierce and menacing expression.
Shen He burst out laughing.
“Big Brother, those men of yours don’t look as though they’re here to protect me. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they’d come to collect a debt. Don’t worry. After what happened this time, I understand that I need to keep a covert guard by my side. You may rest assured.”
“Very well.”
As he spoke, he handed Shen He a bronze token.
“This is my token. Your big brother has a bit of a reputation in the underworld. If something like this happens again, show them this token. Anyone who knows me will give me face.”
“All right.”
Shen He accepted the token without hesitation. In the underworld, this was precisely the kind of assistance she might need.
“Thank you, Big Brother!”
•
Mu Qizhi quietly arranged for men to escort Shen He safely back to the gates of the Shen residence.
Just as Shen He stepped across the threshold, a figure caught her eye. The man leaned casually against one of the imposing stone lions beside the entrance, his blue robe drifting lightly in the breeze. Most striking of all was the silver mask covering his face, which gleamed with a mysterious, frigid radiance beneath the fading light of sunset.
It was Ah Sheng.
Shen He slowly approached and asked in a soft voice, “Were you waiting for me?”
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The man nodded gently. He held something tightly in his hand, then extended it toward Shen He.
“Yes. This is for you.”
A long, flat silver hairpin shaped like a peony came into view. Its surface shimmered with silver light, and the peony carved upon it was understated yet touched with a quiet elegance.
Puzzled, Shen He accepted the unexpected gift and examined it closely. The hairpin looked ordinary enough. It bore neither elaborate ornamentation nor extraordinary craftsmanship, merely emitting a faint silver glow.
Just as Shen He was filled with confusion, Ah Sheng smiled faintly and moved one finger with effortless precision. The peony-shaped head of the pin slowly twisted free, revealing the secret hidden within.
Inside the hairpin was a sharp dagger.
“It’s small, but it can protect you in a crucial moment.”
“How extraordinary. Thank you! I never knew such a cleverly designed weapon existed.”
As she spoke, Shen He replaced the peony-shaped head and slipped the hairpin into her hair.
“Be careful.”
Ah Sheng left her with those words and turned to go.
“Wait.”
Shen He called out to him.
“Teach me some self-defense techniques. If I encounter something like this again, I won’t be left completely helpless.”
Ah Sheng turned back to look at her.
“Why me?”
“Hm?”
“You have many skilled guards in your household, and there are also plenty in the palace. Why do you want me to teach you?”
Indeed. Why?
Shen He could not explain it herself.
This man’s identity was unknown, and even his appearance was concealed. Yet she trusted him instinctively.
There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity and security whenever he was near.
“How could their skills compare with yours? If I’m going to seek a teacher, I should find an expert. Teach me a few moves that can bring down an enemy in one strike. They might save my life at a critical moment.”
Ah Sheng hesitated for a moment.
“All right. But not today. I’ll come find you in a few days.”
“Very well. I’ll wait for you.”
As she watched Ah Sheng’s departing figure, a deep sense of peace settled in Shen He’s heart.
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