The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 55- 57

Chapter 55: I Won’t Eat You!

Ling Zhang’s lips formed a tight line when he saw the icy look on Yuwen Tong’s face.

No need to lie to anyone?

“Let’s go. Show me around your herb farm.” Yuwen Tong didn’t want to talk about the engagement anymore.

Speaking about the herb farm, Ling Zhang immediately thought of Maomao who had been left there. So he decided to put the matters about their engagement aside. But another doubt haunted him. “Why are you here, Marshal?”

Yuwen Tong said with his back to Ling Zhang, “I met your messenger as I was hanging out.”

‘So he hurried here to help me after getting the news?’ Ling Zhang looked at Yuwen Tong’s back, feeling a bit complicated.

“Why are you still standing there?” Yuwen Tong turned back at Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang caught up with Yuwen Tong and looked at his horse. “There is only one horse.”

Yuwen Tong hummed, mounted the horse then stretched out his hand to Ling Zhang, “Come on.”

Ling Zhang froze and subconsciously wanted to refuse.

But he saw Yuwen Tong was looking at him with firm eyes.

Ling Zhang clenched his fist. Being hesitant and indecisive wasn’t his style at all. They were just going to ride on the same horse, for goodness’ sake! It wasn’t like he feared Yuwen Tong or anything.

As soon as he reached out his hand, it was tightly held by Yuwen Tong. The next thing he knew, he was sitting in front of Yuwen Tong. They were so close that he could even feel the warmth of Yuwen Tong’s chest on his back. Then, Yuwen Tong’s arms wrapped around his sides as he took the reins.

Realizing his whole body was totally in Yuwen Tong’s arms, he frozen. Why didn’t let him sit in the back?

“Relax. I’m not going to eat you,” Yuwen Tong said.

Somehow, Ling Zhang felt as though Yuwen Yong had gained an upper hand. Unwilling to show his weakness, Ling Zhang forced himself to relax, but failed. He still couldn’t help tightening his back. Yuwen Tong said nothing about Ling Zhang’s strange actions. He continued to drive he horse forward while asking his subordinates to catch up with him.

Ling Zhang noticed that none of the men in black were riding horses. But they all leaped forward in a very fast speed by virtue of their superb martial skills. Every tree along the way was their foothold.

Yuwen Tong’s ridding skill was obviously much better than Ling Zhang’s. Even though they were riding the same horse, Yuwen Tong could tame the horse easily.

Ling Zhang was frowning because he felt uneasy all the way. Since he was not as tall as Yuwen Tong, he seemed to be hiding in Yuwen Tong’s arms. Meanwhile, Yuwen Tong’s breath was so domineering that he couldn’t even hold back his impulse to resist, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t relax his tight back so he had a sore back at last.

He didn’t know that Yuwen Tong lowered his head and smirked at him at the same time.

Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Zhang’s stubborn behavior and suddenly felt that Ling Zhang was like a little hedgehog, a pretty and cute hedgehog. They were in perfect fit while Yuwen Tong was cuddling Ling Zhang. Yuwen Tong’s unpleasantness caused by what Ling just said all disappeared at this moment.

With the horse galloping fast, Ling Zhang finally arrived the herb farm with his stiff body.When Yuwen Tong reined in the horse, Ling Zhang couldn’t help taking a deep breath. It seemed that his waist, back, legs and hips were no longer his own…

Yuwen Tong lowered his head, glanced at Ling Zhang then dismounted from the horse with some meaningful smile in his eyes. Besides, he suddenly carried Ling Zhang down from the horse before Ling Zhang could react.

“Hey!” Ling Zhang, who was caught off guard, shouted. Ling Zhang glared at Yuwen Tong the moment his feet touched the ground and he got a stable footing.

Chapter 56: I Can Walk by Myself

“Brother!” Ling Maomao ran hurriedly to Ling Zhang the moment he saw his brother far away.

Ling Zhang was immediately attracted by Ling Maomao, and looked at the little boy who was running fast. Unlike in Tanyang, it was easy to trip over in this herb farmland. Ling Zhang did not shout to stop Ling Maomao, but just kept his eyes on Ling Maomao’s step.

Ling Maomao rushed straight into Ling Zhang’s arms without stopping a second.

With a slight frown, Yuwen Tong quickly moved and stood behind Ling Zhang.

As expected, Ling Zhang, who had tightened his body rigidly all the way back and was aching all over, could not afford Ling Maomao’s weight, and directly jerked backward.

Being a little startled, Ling Zhang held Ling Maomao steadily, with the determination to act as a cushion to protect Ling Maomao being hurt. But instead of the expected fall to the ground, he fell onto a broad chest, greeted by the familiar, cold scent.

Yuwen Tong steadily held Ling Zhang and Ling Maomao in Ling Zhang’s arms, looking down while saying, “One rushed mindlessly, while the other didn’t know clearly about his terrible physical condition and dared to pick up a kid.”

Ling Zhang, “…”

He didn’t ask Yuwen Tong to catch him.

Ling Maomao raised his head from Ling Zhang’s arms, curiously looking at Yuwen Tong, “Who are you?”

Coming back from his thoughts, Ling Zhang hurriedly straightened his back, and let Ling Maomao stand on the ground, “I have told you many times, do not rush around.”

Ling Maomao chuckled and made faces, after that he looked at Yuwen Tong and asked, “Brother, who is this uncle?”

Uncle, “…”

Yuwen Tong’s face became rigid.

Ling Zhang felt so good and almost laughed after hearing that. In fact, although Yuwen Tong had been to the battlefield early, he was only twenty-six years old now; besides, he looked even younger for his age. But in Ling Maomao’s view, he should call Yuwen Tong “uncle” because he was so tall and strong.

“This uncle…” Ling Zhang deliberately elongated the word “uncle”, “He is the guest of our family.”

Giving Ling Zhang a meaningful glance, Yuwen Tong said to Ling Maomao, “Call me ‘brother’, and my last name is Yuwen.” Ling Maomao looked at Ling Zhang, and then at Yuwen Tong, finally changed to call him, “Brother Yuwen.”

Ling Zhang snorted with discontent in his mind. But it was not wise to set himself against Yuwen Tong openly, so he could only let Ling Maomao change to call him “Brother Yuwen”.

Yuwen Tong reached out his hand to rub Ling Maomao’s head, and incidentally took out a piece of white jade, placing it on Ling Maomao’s hand, “A gift for our first meeting.”

Ling Zhang subconsciously wanted to refuse this gift on behalf of Ling Maomao. Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Zhang, as if knowing what he would say, “This is just a common gift for first-time meeting. Why must you refuse?”

‘If you say so…What else can I say?’ Ling Zhang compressed his lips for a moment, and then said, “This jade is too valuable.”

“That’s why I sent it. Or what else should I give him, a blade of grass?” Yuwen Tong asked.

Ling Zhang, “…”

Nonsense and sophistry!

“Take it.” Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Maomao and said.

Ling Maomao looked at his brother and took the jade after seeing that his brother did not say anything to refuse it, “Thank you Brother Yuwen.” His eyes were still full of curiosity about Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tong nodded, and then scanned around the herb farm, “This herb farm is quite large. I have already heard that medical herbs grow in abundance in Tanyang, and it is true.”

As some of the herbs were frequently used in the battlefield, Yuwen Tong asked Ling Zhang to show him around the farm to get a better knowledge of them.

Ling Zhang, however, just wanted to sit down and have a rest now with his sore legs and back.

But because of the reluctance to show weakness in front of Yuwen Tong, he still agreed.

Leading Yuwen Tong into the herb field, Ling Zhang was quite surprised by Yuwen Tong’s comprehensive knowledge of almost all the herbs, some of which even he himself wasn’t familiar with.

It seemed that Yuwen Tong had seen through the doubt in Ling Zhang’s eyes, and explained, “Medical herbs are indispensable on the battlefield. And as a marshal, it is necessary for me to learn more about medical herbs so that I can save the lives of soldiers at critical moments.”

Ling Zhang felt so shocked. ‘Yuwen Tong, the great marshal, who commands nearly a million military forces. Yet he still cares for common soldiers?’

After walking for a long time, Ling Zhang’s legs started to tremble. Actually, he could barely stand when he got down from the horse. He had tried so hard to insist, and now had reached his limit.

Accidentally tripping over a stone, Ling Zhang almost got down on his knees.

Yuwen Tong was fast in action, and held him up quickly, “Be careful.”

After holding Ling Zhang up, Yuwen Tong realized that Ling Zhang’s legs were weak and trembling. With a brief thinking, he figured out the reason in a second, so he could not help but frown, “Why didn’t you tell me you can’t walk?”

Ling Zhang gritted his teeth and said, “I can.”

Yuwen Tong looked at him in disapproval, and at the same time, he also blamed himself because after so many years’ battlefield life, the short horse riding was nothing to him. But he forgot that Ling Zhang hadn’t experienced the tough training as he had.

“Let’s go back.” Yuwen Tong said in a low voice.

Ling Zhang nodded, turned around and got ready to go after standing still. But his leg felt weak again when he lifted his foot to take a step.

Taking him in arms, Yuwen Tong picked up Ling Zhang directly, and then carried him to walk back.

Ling Zhang’s face burned with shame, and he had never expected himself being so weak. Since he had taken exercises every morning, he was much stronger than the time of his rebirth! Besides, it was such a shame to be held by Yuwen Tong like this.

“Put me down, and I can walk by myself.” Noticing someone was looking at him, Ling Zhang felt hot with shame and said with teeth gritted.

Yuwen Tong lowered his head and gave him a serious stare, “Don’t move.”

It was so strange that Ling Zhang dared not move after Yuwen Tong glared at him.

“Put me down.” Ling Zhang tried to ignore the influence of Yuwen Tong and insisted.

Yuwen Tong quietly looked at him for a while, and suddenly rose to the sky with Ling Zhang in his arms. Then he crossed over the medical herbs field with several leaps and didn’t put Ling Zhang down until arriving at the village.

Ling Zhang had been shocked by the quick flying and still had a sense of unreality even when his feet touched the ground.

“Brother, what’s wrong with you?” Ling Maomao came over with a look of concern.

Zhou Quanfu with a few people also gathered over, “Yong Master, what happened to your legs?”

“It’s all right. Just some numbness after bumping against something hard,” Ling Zhang hastened to explain.

“Then you’d better go back to the room and have a rest.” Zhou Quanfu advised.

Those herb growers who had been sent back by the guards all looked concerned because Ling Zhang saved them from the Prefecture Guards, and they were grateful. Of course they also wanted to thank the awe-inspiring man, but they dared not to approach.

Ling Zhang nodded, “Thanks, I’ll take a rest right now.”

Not until going into the room and sitting down did Ling Zhang finally feel relieved.

Glancing at Yuwen Tong who followed into the room, Ling Zhang said, “Sorry, I can’t accompany you to check the herbs.”

Yuwen Tong looked at his face and found no regret on it, knowing clearly that Ling Zhang actually was quite happy for that.

“Nothing. I need a break, too.” Yuwen Tong lifted the hem of his clothes and found a chair to sit down.

Ling Zhang stared at him, “This room is so narrow. I’ve ordered them to prepare tea and refreshments in the hall, please have a rest there.”

“I don’t care about it. Everywhere is the same to me.” Yuwen Tong said calmly.

Ling Zhang had to fight really hard to hold back his impulse to throw the thing in his hands to Yuwen Tong. That was an obvious hint for him to leave, couldn’t he understand?

He just wanted some moments alone. He didn’t want to stay in the same room with Yuwen Tong!

“You must have sat on the back of the horse in a wrong way, so you can’t stand stably because of the sore legs. I can help you massage the sore muscles.” Yuwen Tong couldn’t help but say something to stimulate him, finding it so interesting to see Ling Zhang hold back his impulse to throw him out.

As expected, Ling Zhang almost immediately strained his body, and stared at Yuwen Tong cautiously, “No.”

“Really? Or do you prefer me to hold you if you can’t walk later?” Yuwen Tong asked.

“I said no, and I can walk by myself. I don’t need your help!” Ling Zhang finally couldn’t help but raise his voice.

“Brother?” Hearing the sound in the room, Ling Maomao ran in, and nervously looked at Ling Zhang, “What did you say? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Ling Zhang had to control his anger, and his face became a bit stiff because of the anger he couldn’t find a chance to vent.

Yuwen Tong smiled quietly, standing up, then casually rubbed on Ling Maomao’s head and went out.

“Have a good rest, Childe Ling.”

Seeing Yuwen Tong out, Ling Zhang gradually realized that Yuwen Tong was teasing him just now!

No longer able to hold back the anger, Ling Zhang thumped hard on the table. And the teacups on the table jumped and clanged.

Ling Maomao was startled, timidly looking at him, “Brother?”

Taking a few deep breaths, Ling Zhang finally regained his cool and answered, “It’s all right. I am not getting angry with you.”

Ling Maomao felt relaxed and came over, “Brother, who makes you so angry?”

Who else can? Thinking of the laughter of Yuwen Tong just now, he really wanted to beat him up.

“An annoying fly, and I already killed it.” Ling Zhang said in a murderous tone.

Outside the room, Yuwen Tong, who did not go far, heard all their conversation. He just raised his eyebrow, and could not help but smile again.

Although it was a faint smile, the subordinate following Yuwen Tong caught it and looked at Yuwen Tong in surprise, “Marshal?”

Yuwen held back that faint smile and said, “There are many people here, pay attention to what you call me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Go get some details about the encampment of Tanyang Prefecture Guards.” Yuwen Tong commanded.

“Yes, My Lord.” The subordinate answered, “How long will you stay here?”

“Ling Zhang won’t stay here for long. Just go back to Tanyang after your investigation.” Yuwen Tong said.

“Yes.”

Yuwen Tong looked at the encampment of Prefecture Guards from far away. The encampment was larger than he imagined, and there must be more soldiers than he expected. He had long heard that Zhang Chong had become the “emperor” of Tanyang, and it seemed the rumors were quite true.

On his way to Tanyang, he had ordered some men to get some information about Tanyang and he knew that local people relied on Prefecture Guards a lot because they were the only ones that all local people could trust to fight against the bandits. But after so many years, bandits never disappeared, or to be precise, were gaining influence. This was abnormal.

Chapter 57: You Want to Help Us?

At the thought of this, Yuwen Tong turned around and retraced his steps back into Ling Zhang’s room.

Ling Zhang looked at him with a frown on his face as he saw him return.

“I have no intention of arguing with you, but you’ve been in Tanyang all this time, so you must know clearly about what Zhang Chong has done in Tanyang.” Yuwen Tong sat down again and fixed his eyes on Ling Zhang.

Still angry with him, Ling Zhang didn’t want to talk with Yuwen Tong at all.

Ever since Yuwen Tong turned up, violent fluctuations of his mood had never subsided. He really could use some time to think all this through and figure out what he should do.

“Are you still angry?” asked Yuwen Tong.

He put it as though Ling Zhang was quibbling over some frivolous matters. With an unnatural smile, Ling Zhang twitched the corners of his mouth and said, “You must be joking, Marshal. Of course I’m not angry. It’s just that I have no idea which aspect Marshal was referring to.”

Since Yuwen Tong had just arrived in Tanyang and Ling Zhang didn’t know him well enough, so he naturally wouldn’t stupidly tell Yuwen Tong everything.

Besides, he still had vivid memories of what that servant of Yuwen family had done to him in his last life. Were people of Yuwen family really trustworthy?

As a result, though Yuwen Tong had just offered him help, he didn’t dare to take a gamble, since this matter was of great importance.

Probably having seen what Ling Zhang was hesitating about, Yuwen Tong said, “Zhang Chong has a cousin who’s an imperial concubine in the palace. The prince she gave birth to is already sixteen years old and will reach adulthood next year. He’s been making preparations to compete for the throne for a very long time, but he’s not a legitimate son, so he must be powerful enough to defeat his opponents in order to succeed to the throne, and Zhang Chong is one of his backers.”

So this was what it was about. No wonder Zhang Chong had such a solid foundation in Tanyang. It turned out that he had such a powerful ally in the imperial court, who’d been supporting him all the time.

With a frown on his face, Ling Zhang asked Yuwen Tong, “Does Marshal by any chance also think that this prince is the best prospect?”

If Yuwen Tong sided with Zhang Chong, he would be his enemy!

“The best prospect?” Yuwen Tong sneered. “What makes you think I will regard him as the best prospect? The emperor is fatuous, incompetent and has a very suspicions mind. And all his sons are weirdos, who barely have any merits, only heads full of evil thoughts. All of them are terribly incapable. I don’t think any of them would make a prospect for the throne even if they could start their lives from the beginning all over again.”

Ling Zhang widened his eyes with shock. How…How dare this man be so bold as to make such disrespectful remarks in front of him? Was he not afraid that he might tell on him?

Maybe because the surprised look in Ling Zhang’s widened eyes was really very amusing, Yuwen Tong couldn’t help scrutinizing Ling Zhang, deeply feeling that the more time he spent with Ling Zhang, the more he liked this person.

He began to consider that maybe he should not break off the engagement, that maybe he should just marry the man.

“Then why are you asking about Zhang Chong?” Ling Zhang managed to subdue the shock caused by Yuwen Tong’s disrespectful words and asked.

“I don’t want any internecine warfare to happen while I’m fighting with foreign enemies outside. Besides…” After saying this, Yuwen Tong gave a subtle pause before continuing, “Your butler told me that you have an old score to settle with Jia family and Zhang Chong. Your grandfather once saved my grandfather’s life. Though my grandfather passed away, I’ll never forget what your grandfather did for us. Giving you a hand is merely a small gesture of gratitude.”

Giving them a hand? Did Yuwen Tong’s words contain an undertone of his intention to cross Zhang Chong?

And about the matter of saving his grandfather’s life…

With a serious look, Ling Zhang stared at Yuwen Tong’s eyes, intending to find a trace of Yuwen Tong lying in his eyes, but the expression in his eyes was firm and poised without anything suspicious.

Yuwen Tong was telling the truth…

“You really want to help us?” asked Ling Zhang.

“What I’m going to do will tell you the answer. Now Zhang Chong and your family have become mortal enemies. He’s a very powerful man in Tanyang. What happened in the woods today was just a beginning. He will make yet more moves in the future. Trust me, he is by no means an opponent easy for you to deal with,” said Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang’s heart lurched. If what Yuwen Tong said about Zhang Chong’s backer was true, then he would have to face not only Zhang Chong but also his powerful allies. Could he really defeat them and protect Ling family single-handed under the circumstances?

But if he gained Yuwen Tong’s support, the situation would be totally different. With all those troops at Yuwen Tong’s command, he could even overthrow the government in the blink of an eye if he wanted to, since there was no longer any army powerful enough to stop him in the Great Yue.

In addition, Yuwen Tong had paused for some subtle reason during his talking, which indicated that he indeed wanted to help Ling family, but there must also be some other reasons why he did this.

“Okay, I’ll tell you everything,” replied Ling Zhang after making up his mind.

This might be his only chance. If he let it slip away, it was very unlikely that he could find another ally powerful enough to be a match for Zhang Chong.

To this end, he was willing to leave aside the humiliation those servants of Yuwen family had inflicted on him in his last life! He was even willing to forget his hatred towards Yuwen family if Yuwen Tong really offered him help.

“In Tanyang, ninety percent of businesses have some kind of connection with Zhang Chong. It’s not that they voluntarily choose to fawn on Zhang Chong but that if they don’t curry favor with Zhang Chong, they won’t be allowed to transport their goods out of Tanyang, and even all their family members’ lives will be in danger. Though being robbed of their goods is unfortunate, at least they still get to live. But if Prefecture Guard secretly spread the word that certain businesses were no longer under their protection, those businesses would become the targets of bandits.”

“After a lot of such things happened, all people are scared. Now everybody pays Zhang Chong protection money. Gradually, Prefecture Guard becomes even more powerful than the Prefecture Yamen, and many officials side with Zhang Chong. Lord Tao only has the authority to deal with petty affairs. He barely has any say in major issues in Tanyang, since Zhang Chong has been the one who makes the call for a long time. Though announcements are still issued by the Prefecture Yamen, it’s a mere formality.”

Ling Zhang’s words contained a lot of undertones. Tanyang had now become Zhang Chong’s territory. Even bandits were in collusion with Prefecture Guard.

“I heard that you once faced Zhang Chong’s down in the Prefecture Yamen not long ago,” said Yuwen Tong.

A cold look flashed across Ling Zhang’s eyes. “I merely took advantage of the indignation of the public. As long as Zhang Chong doesn’t seal Tanyang off, news on some matters will spread out of the city eventually. Currently, he is not bold enough to run the risk of being convicted of rebellion.”

That trick wouldn’t work for a second time, and Zhang Chong was no fool.

Yuwen Tong said with a serious look, “What about the station of the Tanyang Prefecture Guard? Are you familiar with the situation inside?”

“People like me are not allowed to get in there. We’ll be regarded as spies working for bandits and arrested if we approach that place,” said Ling Zhang.

Recalling what his Second Uncle had told him, Ling Zhang hesitated about whether or not to tell Yuwen Tong.

“You got something else on your mind?” Yuwen Tong noticed it with his sharp eyes.

“Two days ago, Zhang Chong submitted an application to the Imperial Court, requesting a permission to expand the station. And my family’s herb farm is the area he wants. If this is really a reasonable need of Prefecture Guard, Ling family is willing to give up this herb farm for free, but the station of Prefecture Guard is already far larger than it is supposed to be by the law. If he manages to expand it further, he will be powerful enough to revolt,” said Ling Zhang.

Yuwen Tong briefly lifted his eyebrows, but there was no surprise on his face. “You think he’s going to succeed?”

“The Imperial Court has hardly rejected any of Zhang Chong’s requests these years,” said Ling Zhang.

Yuwen Tong nodded, “That’s true. When something clouds the emperor’s judgement, he can’t even see fallen sky.”

Ling Zhang looked at him in surprise. Yuwen Tong casually criticized the emperor once again. Was he really not afraid that he would tell on him? Or did he believe that he wouldn’t tell on him?

“I’ll make sure his request is denied. Anything else?” said Yuwen Tong.

He agreed just like this with no strings attached? Ling Zhang could scarcely believe what he had just heard.

On the sight of the interrogative look in Yuwen Tong’s eyes, Ling Zhang collected his thoughts. After thinking for a while, he said, “Zhang Chong has been secretly buying ore from Jia family’s mine all these years, but I have no idea whether he’s been using it to forge weapons or not, because I’m not allowed to enter Prefecture Guard station.” Finally, the look on Yuwen Tong’s face slightly changed. He furrowed his brow and asked, “Jia family’s mine?”

Ling Zhang nodded, “It’s right in the West Mountain. Though it’s not a big one, he has bought a considerable amount of ore from it during the past couple of years.”

“Why didn’t anyone report such serious matter to the Imperial Court?” Yuwen Tong asked.

Surprised, Ling Zhang looked at him and said, “You think there are a lot of people who can get their words heard by the emperor? I don’t know whether or not Lord Tao has ever mentioned this in his memorials to the throne, but others… Tao Yi once told me his father, for several times, had suggested that the Imperial Court dispatched an army here to eliminate those bandits once and for all, but none of his proposals was accepted.”

Yuwen Tong coldly snorted and an aura of sharpness briefly surged out in a spontaneous manner.

Ling Zhang quivered and involuntarily slowed down his breathing. Not until now did he realize the reason why he hadn’t felt uncomfortable was that Yuwen Tong had been restraining his Qi all along.

“Yaoyi,” Yuwen Tong suddenly called.

“My lord.” A man in black immediately walked inside.

“Send a letter to the capital city. Tell them to make sure Zhang Chong’s request never goes into the palace,” said Yuwen Tong.

“Yes, my lord.” The man in black named Yaoyi replied.

Then Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Zhang and said, “Where’s the exact location of that mine you just mentioned?”

Ling Zhang didn’t answer but turned around to the desk, ground some ink, dipped the head of a writing brush into it, drew a sketch map of the West Mountain and handed it to Yuwen Tong.

“I don’t know the exact location, but it’s roughly within this area.” Ling Zhang poked a circle on the paper.

Yuwen Tong nodded and put it away.

Ling Zhang was a little puzzled as he saw Yuwen Tong put it away himself. Was he not going to send his men to investigate into it?

As if having read his thoughts, Yuwen Tong said, “I’ll investigate myself.”

Ling Zhang nodded, confusion and suspicion gleaming in the depths of his eyes.

Yuwen Tong was giving him a sense of security as well as this feeling that whatever he entrusted Yuwen Tong with would be handled properly, which was very different from what he had imagined. What was going on exactly?

Ling Zhang silently returned to his seat and sat down, his thoughts and emotions still in disorder.

…

“Nobody? Why?”

In the Prefecture Guard station, sitting in the host seat, Zhang Chong questioned them in a slow voice, his eyes sweeping across a dozen men kneeling on the ground.

These people were the patrol that had arrested those herb farmers.

“Today those herb farmers have been staying in the herb farm all along. None of them went to the pond in the woods to get water,” the captain of the patrol answered, his head down.

“Those farmers go to the woods to get water every day. Why is today an exception?” Zhang Chong queried a man standing on the right side in the uniform of a deputy captain.