Chapter 313 — Three Letters in One Week

CHAPTER 313

Three Letters in One Week

“Read the third one again,” Elder Qian Mo said.

“I've read it twice,” Elder He Zhen said, rubbing his forehead. “It says the same thing both times.”

Six inner-court elders stood along the reception hall’s pillars. Tian Luo held his register open without writing. Near the back, Shi Feng waited to hear why he’d been summoned. Lin Langtian had dragged him in by the arm and refused to explain on the way.

Three letters lay on the side table. All three had arrived this week.

“First,” Elder Tian Luo said, tapping them one by one. “Qingtong Town. Master Smith Kang writes that his furnaces are cold, his apprentices are eating porridge twice a day, and he would like to know whether Artificer Hall still exists.”

“It exists,” Elder Qian Mo muttered. “We checked.”

“Second. Jinsha Ferry. The ferry steward reports three caravans robbed in a month, and the river gang has put its own flag on the north dock. Third. Cuiping Herb Valley. The Ninefold Lotus there has ripened, and both Martial Palace and Hundred Flower Valley are claiming the valley as theirs,” Tian Luo said.

“Our tribute towns are all being squeezed at once,” Elder He Zhen said. “That isn't bad luck. When the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.”

“It's Martial Palace,” someone whispered near the pillars.

“Of course it's Martial Palace.”

“After the tournament? After the champion?”

“Shh. He's right there.”

Shi Feng thought, He’s reaching the tribute towns now. Wei Chengyuan had threatened more than Shi Feng himself, and the letters showed how that pressure was spreading. He listened instead of answering the whispers.

On the high-backed chair, Li Changyuan sat with his chin on his fist and his eyes half shut. He wore the patched brown robe he always wore. Everyone in the region said Artificer Hall had the strongest sect master alive. No one had ever seen him prove it, and at this moment he looked like a man waiting for a pot to boil.

“Who goes?” Li Changyuan asked.

Silence.

“Elder Tian Luo has the register,” Elder He Zhen said quickly.

“The register has to stay here,” Elder Tian Luo said, even more quickly.

“I'd go,” Elder Qian Mo said, “but the road costs money. Three towns, a month, meals, inns, an ox. Do you know what an inn charges for a bed in Jinsha? Last time I went, they charged me for the draught.”

“We know,” Elder He Zhen said. “You tell us every time.”

“Sect Master,” Lin Langtian said cheerfully. “Allow your chief disciple.”

Lin Langtian let go of Shi Feng's arm and strode up the aisle like a man invited to a banquet. He bowed with great grace and beamed at the elders.

“This senior brother will inspect them,” Lin Langtian said. “All three towns. Personally.”

He Zhen looked suspicious of the offer. Qian Mo was already worrying about its cost. Lin Langtian met both stares with an eager smile, untroubled by their reluctance.

“You volunteered,” Li Changyuan said.

“For the sect,” Lin Langtian said, pressing a hand to his chest. “Who else has this senior brother's talent for inspection? Dust trembles when I enter a room.”

“Then go,” Li Changyuan said, and closed his eyes again.

“Thank you, Sect Master. An inspector needs staff,” Lin Langtian said.

“Of course,” Li Changyuan said.

Lin Langtian turned and pointed straight at the back of the hall.

“Junior Brother Shi Feng. He's coming,” Lin Langtian said.

Every head turned. Shi Feng met two dozen stares.

“Why me?” Shi Feng asked.

“To learn,” Lin Langtian said warmly. “A man can't haggle from a hut.”

Shi Feng knew Lin Langtian had a plan. The three towns needed help, and standing in the hall would do nothing for them. He saw no reason to refuse.

“Fine,” Shi Feng said.

“See?” Lin Langtian said to the hall. “Such obedience. I trained him myself.”

“You've known him for a few months,” Elder He Zhen said.

“A good teacher doesn't need long,” Lin Langtian said.

The pill stall at the outer-court gate was open when they reached it.

Sima Lan sat behind the table with her chalk, the ledger and a line of customers that she was dismissing one by one with figures. When Lin Langtian arrived, she didn't look up.

“The stall's closed for the inspection,” Lin Langtian announced.

“It is not,” Sima Lan said. “It's open until the third bell.”

“I'm taking Junior Brother Shi Feng to Qingtong, Jinsha and Cuiping. A month, maybe longer. He needs someone to guard his money. I'd ask a princess, but I'm told she's busy,” Lin Langtian said.

Sima Lan put down her chalk. She gave him a flat, cold look.

“A month of travel,” Sima Lan said. “Inns, ferry fees, three towns of tribute books. Who keeps the receipts?”

“Zhu Liu has the abacus,” Lin Langtian said.

“He can record every copper we spend,” Sima Lan said. “He can’t decide what we should spend it on. Someone has to keep the accounts, not just collect the receipts.”

Behind the stool, Zhu Liu went red and clutched his abacus.

“So you're volunteering?” Lin Langtian asked.

“I keep his accounts,” Sima Lan said. “Where the accounts go, I go.”

“Wonderful!” Lin Langtian said. “What a devoted attendant!”

“Attendant,” Sima Lan said, “is the correct word. Devotion isn't in the contract.”

She snapped the ledger shut. The customers in line had stopped to listen.

“She's a princess, I heard.”

“Shut up, she can hear you.”

She could. She lifted her chin, and the whispering stopped at once.

“We leave at dawn,” Lin Langtian said. “Pack for a month. Bring your chalk.”

“I always do,” Sima Lan said.

“And Junior Brother,” Lin Langtian said, grinning, “bring a lot of money.”

“Why?” Shi Feng asked.

“An inspector doesn't carry his own purse,” Lin Langtian said. “That would be undignified.”

Shi Feng looked at the grinning face, then at Sima Lan, who was already writing a figure on the board. He sighed quietly.

The figure had a lot of zeroes.