Messenger of Calamity

Chapter 108: Abandoning a Companion

Even with his deep scheming nature, Shang Qiao could no longer maintain his expression at this moment.

His face turned beet red as he finally forced out a sentence: “Xinlei is fine. Tonight... she has an appointment.”

“But it’s so chaotic outside, she could be in danger!” Qian Gongyu exclaimed anxiously. “When I heard about the explosion at the Shang Family, I immediately went to find her, but her room was completely empty. Then I saw them heading out to look for you, so I thought Xinlei was coming to find you too, Uncle... You didn’t see Xinlei?”

Shang Xuanwen didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Head of the Qian Family, you are still under confinement, aren’t you? Escaping your place of confinement without permission—do you realize that’s an additional crime?”

“Ah?” Qian Gongyu blinked and scratched her round beast ears. “Now that you mention it... it does seem like that... But I was just trying to find Xinlei! She’s your daughter, Uncle, you’ll definitely help me, right? Besides, I just saved you, Uncle! You’re not going to be that stingy, are you?”

As she spoke, she patted Shang Xuanwen on the shoulder with a street-savvy grin that said ‘give me some face.’ But perhaps due to her tiger mask, her smile still carried that pure, sacred innocence as always.

This is bad, Shang Qiao thought.

His father was someone who firmly believed that grace was grace, fault was fault, and that punishment must come before any reward. That was the principle he used in governing others. Qian Gongyu was now practically handing over a handle against her to his father. He would definitely make a big deal of it, make her understand the need to revere the law, and only then compensate her afterward. Shang Qiao had seen countless bureaucrats disciplined this way by his father, and all of them ended up both respecting and fearing him. Every time they reported to him in the capital, it was like mice seeing a cat.

Pulling favors and establishing connections was what his father hated the most. Not to mention outsiders—even if it was his own kin begging before him, he remained ruthlessly impartial. In fact, the closer the relationship, the harsher the punishment.

Now Qian Gongyu had violated both taboos at once. Shang Qiao was already preparing words to plead on her behalf. After all, she was Xinlei’s friend and had just saved his father. Shang Qiao couldn’t bear to watch her get punished.

“Not again.”

“Father, Qian Gongyu was only... Father?”

Shang Qiao was dumbfounded. He felt like he was hearing things because he heard his father say, “Head of the Qian Family, since you want to find Xinlei, then go. But make sure to return to the Shang Family’s Shuiyue Pavilion before dawn. Otherwise, I’ll convict you of jailbreak.”

“Great! Thank you, Uncle!” Qian Gongyu cheered and leapt onto the roof, sprinting away. Strictly speaking, this was already illegal—movement across roofs and walls was prohibited in Jiangnan City. But with Shang Xuanwen’s approval, the dozens of nearby soldiers naturally pretended not to see.

“Qiao’er, send someone to the alleys near Taidai Street. The soldiers from the Ministry of Appointments and the Rat Monk... their bodies are over there,” Shang Xuanwen said in a low voice. “They were dragged into this because of me. The Taohu Rebel sent a Self-Burner to take my life, and they saved me... Take care of the soldiers’ arrangements, and handle the compensation yourself.”

“Yes.”

“Remember to send the Rat Monk’s remains back to the Shang Residence.” Shang Xuanwen suddenly coughed violently, his entire body hunching over. Shang Qiao hurried to support his father, only now realizing how light the man carrying the weight of the seven provinces of Jiangnan truly was.

“I must at least... see him off one last time.”

As Shang Xuanwen spoke, he suddenly touched his left waist with a contemplative expression. Shang Qiao quickly asked, “Is the wound still hurting?”

“No. I just realized... the promise I made to someone can never be fulfilled now.” Shang Xuanwen revealed a weakness that Shang Qiao had never seen before, as if his very essence had been drained. “Let’s go home.”

Shang Qiao quickly assigned tasks to the various family servants, then supported his father on the way back. Along the way, Shang Qiao held back for a long time, but still couldn’t resist asking:

“Father, have you ever been to Baiyun?”

“I’ve heard the mountain view is nice. Never been.”

“Then did you know anyone from the Qian Family before?”

“Qiao’er,” Shang Xuanwen slightly turned his head. Though now utterly weakened, his gaze was more fearsome than that of a lion. “I don’t like beating around the bush.”

Shang Qiao took a deep breath and gathered his courage to ask:

“Is Qian Gongyu our younger sister?”

……

…  

“It’s already close to Chou hour.” Medicine Master Wen listened to the night watchman’s voice below and said, “Less than half the time remains. They still haven’t returned.”

Medicine Master Wen and Ying Ru Shi didn’t wait directly at the Upper and Lower Ninth Archways but instead hid on the third floor of the ‘Jiangnan Chef Deity Building’ near the archways. It was one of three safe points designated by the thieves. After all, the archways were far too conspicuous, and each of these three safe points had a clear view of both the archway and one another. If the team got separated or split up, they could return to a safe point to regroup.

“The Heaven-Reliant Sword is already in hand. If they don’t come back in another quarter-hour, we’ll go search,” Ying Ru Shi said casually while sitting on the railing.

Although the assassination of Shang Xuanwen failed, at least the combined assault by Ying Ru Shi and Medicine Master Wen completely shattered his Heartguard Mirror’s defense, thereby neutralizing and capturing the Heaven-Reliant Sword. That was the fundamental reason Medicine Master Wen proposed the retreat—after all, the Heaven-Reliant Sword was already in her possession. She was the biggest winner in this mission and naturally prioritized preserving her strength. There was no need to fight to the death.

Medicine Master Wen’s reasoning was well-founded. In terms of damage output, she had contributed the most in this battle. In terms of strength, she was a Third-Stage Messenger. Other than Yellow Dog, whose full power had yet to be revealed, she was stronger than the other two. In terms of the mission, the target—the Heaven-Reliant Sword—was now in her possession.

If she wasn’t the top contributor, who else could be?

Watching Medicine Master Wen tightly clutch the Heaven-Reliant Sword to her chest, not even bothering to disguise herself as the curve of her full figure pressed against the soft armor beneath her wrappings, Ying Ru Shi knew that the moment she uttered the phrase “let me see the Heaven-Reliant Sword,” she’d be met with a spear tossed straight at her. So, she simply gave up on that idea.

But while she stayed silent, Medicine Master Wen leaned in closer. “Do we really need to look for them?”

“Hmm?”

“The Thieves' House never said the thieves had to return together, did they? Last time we only went back together by chance,” Medicine Master Wen said. “Besides, if they truly ran into trouble, by the time we get there, they might have already been caught. I suspect they didn’t go to the Wenyan Pavilion but instead tried to loot the Imperial Secret Treasury and got into some accident.”

Ying Ru Shi blinked. “So, Black Wolf, you mean… we should go look for them now? I didn’t expect you to be so soft-hearted.”

“White Fox, haven’t you noticed that they’ve already formed an alliance?” Medicine Master Wen asked flatly.

Ying Ru Shi raised an eyebrow. “How did you find out?”

“Just now,” Medicine Master Wen said. “In terms of strength, you and I are stronger than Red Snake. In terms of mission success potential, we’re more likely to succeed. If Yellow Dog chose Red Snake over us, what reason could there be besides secret collusion?”

“But that’s only natural. Work together long enough and companions are bound to grow close. No need to make a fuss,” Ying Ru Shi shrugged. “Even if they really formed an alliance, so what?”

“If Snake and Dog can stay together, then Wolf and Fox can travel as one.” Medicine Master Wen stared directly at Ying Ru Shi. “White Fox, I used to look down on everyone in the Thieves’ House, but tonight, your performance has earned my respect.”

“Well, that’s such an honor,” Ying Ru Shi chuckled with thinly veiled sarcasm. “So, you want me as your subordinate?”

“As an ally,” Medicine Master Wen replied. “We’re strong. Why associate with Snake and Dog? Of course, I’m not saying we should backstab them. But if they’re eliminated by the mission, why should we intervene? The Thieves' House isn’t some mutual-aid society—every rule it has urges us to watch our backs.”

“Returning early to the Thieves' House might even grant us extra contribution rewards. But staying behind to find them only increases our competition.” Her voice was like the whisper of a jackal. “If they don’t make it back, the rewards from the Thieves’ House… will be ours alone.”

“In the future, even if new thieves are brought in, we’ll have the advantage and can dominate the Thieves’ House. Four people leads to suspicion, but two equal allies can split the world.”

Medicine Master Wen spread her arms wide as if to embrace the entire world. “Just imagine—we could take turns receiving Legendary Tokens. The Thieves’ House, this secret realm no one has ever fully mastered, would become our shared domain… Sooner or later, we’ll own an endless supply of Legendary Tokens, travel anywhere across the world through the Thieves’ House, even wield the power to judge life and death in the main city... And all this glory would start from one small, insignificant act of ruthlessness.”

“Worst case scenario, even if we do find them, what’s in it for us? Do you really think they’d share what they got from the Imperial Secret Treasury? White Fox, you’re not naïve enough to believe in that kind of fantasy, right?” Medicine Master Wen leaned against the railing, gazing out at the distant palace walls. “Don’t you think this is better? Rather than having us turn against each other over profit one day, letting them stop here and now—perhaps that’s the true form of mercy.”

Ying Ru Shi said nothing. The fierce wind howled through her sleeves, making them flutter with a rustling sound.