40: Chapter 40 Sensing Something's Wrong, Taking Cautious Action

A night breeze made the copper bells on the eaves jingle. Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze from the starry sky, stood up, and brushed the dust from his trousers.

Instead of returning to his room, he circled the courtyard. His steps were light, but his ears were perked up high.

The forged paper scraps by the well platform had been buried. Their placement was almost identical to yesterday's, only the ink print of the broken-horned ox head was drawn more sloppily, like the handiwork of a novice apprentice.

He grinned and muttered to himself, 'Want to investigate me? Let me show you some fakes first.'

When he returned to the main hall, the four women were already waiting for him. The oil lamp was still lit, its flame flickering a few times, making the shadows on the wall sway.

Zhao Hongling sat at the table, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them open with a *kak-kak* sound, the shells littering the floor around her.

'You sure slept soundly. We've all been awake,'

she said, glaring up at him. 'Someone stepped on the roof tiles just now. Leng Shuang chased out a few steps, but the person vanished.'

Leng Shuang stood by the door, arms crossed, her brow slightly furrowed. 'It wasn't just one person. There was a faint sound of footsteps on snow outside the southeast corner wall, but it hasn't snowed tonight.'

She paused briefly before continuing, 'It was someone in soft-soled boots deliberately walking with suppressed steps.'

Dugu Xue withdrew a small slip of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Chen Xuan. 'A report from the northern border. Last night, during the third watch, a lamp was lit once in the backyard of the abandoned escort agency south of the city. It lasted less than half an incense stick's time before going out. Five people entered and exited, all masked.'

Liu Ruyan gently blew on the surface of her tea, her tone calm. 'Word also came from Drunken Immortal Pavilion. A guest wearing a bamboo hat asked the proprietor what time Young Master Chen leaves the house each day, offering ten taels of silver as tea money. Following my previous instructions, the proprietor said you love the morning market's fried pancakes and are always at the eastern street corner by Chen hour.'

'Oh?'

Chen Xuan took the slip, looked at it, and handed it back. 'Then I really must go eat pancakes tomorrow, or the ruse will be exposed.'

Zhao Hongling slapped the table. 'And you're still smiling! These people are clearly targeting you. Are we just going to wait around? Why don't I take the manor guards and kick down that escort agency's door!'

'You can't kick it,' Chen Xuan waved his hand. 'If you charge over now, at best you'll catch a few lowly errand-runners. The mastermind behind this is hidden deeper. What we need to do now isn't to strike the snake, but to wait for it to raise its head and flick its tongue on its own.'

He walked to the center of the room, paced two steps with his hands behind his back, then suddenly stopped.

'Here's what we'll do. We set three rules: don't increase guards, don't change routines, don't stop the matches.

We still take the stage, we still walk the streets. Make them think we know nothing.'

Leng Shuang nodded. 'I can continue the night patrols, but I'll leave no traces. If someone tries to erase my frosty Aura, it will instead expose their own methods.'

'Exactly right,' Chen Xuan smiled. 'Just treat it as your usual training, and step on a few tiles along the way to scare the mice.'

Liu Ruyan opened the small notebook she carried with her and began writing with her brush. 'I'll have the girls at the pavilion continue to keep watch. If they hear anything about you, they'll send word immediately.

At the same time, we'll spread some false rumors. For instance, say you plan to visit a Daoist priest at Western Mountain in three days, when in fact you have no such intention.'

'Brilliant.'

Chen Xuan gave a thumbs-up. 'Rumors, used well, are sharper than blades.'

Dugu Xue said, 'I've contacted three wandering knights. Starting tomorrow, they'll blend into the audience at the grand event, pretending to be ordinary spectators. If they notice any unusual movements, they'll signal with a cough.'

'Good,'

Chen Xuan stroked his chin. 'Then that's the plan. Everyone proceed as normal, the more natural, the better. If anyone acts nervous, it will only arouse suspicion.'

As soon as he finished speaking, an extremely faint *tap* sound came from outside the window, like a pebble hitting a roof tile.

The five of them fell silent instantly.

A moment later, Chen Xuan grinned, pushed open the window, and shouted, 'Hey! If you're going to throw stones, at least aim properly! You break my roof tiles, you'll have to pay for them!'

No one answered from outside.

He closed the window, turned, and sat down as if nothing had happened. 'Seems there was more than one scout tonight. Good. Means we're valuable.'

Zhao Hongling snorted. 'Sneaking around like ghosts! Have the guts to face us openly!'

'They're sneaking around precisely because it's safer for them,'

Chen Xuan shrugged. 'They can't beat me in a fair fight, so they resort to underhanded tricks. The more they do this, the more it shows they're afraid of me.'

Leng Shuang glanced at him. 'You're truly not afraid at all?'

'Afraid?' He pointed to his head. 'As long as this is clear, the body doesn't tremble. Besides, with the four of you here, what's there to be afraid of?'

With these words, the atmosphere in the room eased slightly. Liu Ruyan lowered her head to take a sip of tea, the corner of her mouth lifting a little. Dugu Xue gently touched the hilt of her sword. Zhao Hongling, though still wearing a stern face, slowed the pace of her seed-cracking.

Chen Xuan stretched. 'Alright, everyone, go get some rest. Tomorrow I still have to look impressive on the tournament stage. Can't lose my Aura.'

The group dispersed. He remained alone in the hall, sitting for a while longer before finally getting up and returning to his room.

Passing by the well platform, he bent down and scattered a handful of fine sand beside the paper scraps to cover any footprints. Only then did he enter his bedroom, closing the door and sliding the bolt.

The next morning, sunlight spilled into the courtyard. Everything seemed as usual.

Chen Xuan changed into a blue cloth robe, donned a light armor vest over it, slung his customary wooden sword on his back, and walked out the door, humming a tune.

Zhao Hongling followed behind, yelling, 'Can't you walk slower? I haven't even finished breakfast!'

'Missing a bite won't starve you,' he turned back with a smile. 'Tournament matches are strenuous. Eating too much can easily disrupt your Qi.'

The streets were bustling with people. Tea stalls and taverns already had storytellers recounting the tale of Young Master Chen defeating four champions in a row.

As he passed by, he deliberately stopped to listen for a moment, then tossed a copper coin into the storyteller's bowl. 'Not bad storytelling. A reward for you!'

The storyteller was momentarily stunned, then quickly clasped his hands in thanks. 'Many thanks, brave sir!'

Chen Xuan waved him off and continued on his way. Several times along the route, he sensed someone tailing him, gazes sweeping over him then quickly looking away.

Once was at the bridgehead, where an old man selling candied hawberries stared at him for too long. Another time was a woman with a basket who pretended to ask for directions at a lane entrance, but her eyes kept darting towards his waist.

He pretended not to notice any of it, chatting and laughing naturally the whole way.

Arriving at the grand event grounds, today's opponent was a burly man wielding twin maces, quite renowned, hailed as 'Iron Bones Pacifying All Directions.' He launched a fierce assault from the start, each move aimed at vital points.

Chen Xuan, however, did not meet force with force. He only used basic boxing techniques to maneuver, dodging left and right, occasionally flicking his fingers to lightly tap the Acupoints on his opponent's wrists. After three to five exchanges, the burly man's offensive gradually weakened, sweat beading on his forehead.

Someone in the audience whispered, 'This isn't his real skill, is it? Why is he only dodging and not attacking?'

'I heard he's testing his opponent's style,' another person chimed in. 'In the previous matches, he defended first and attacked later. The final move is where you see his true skill.'

Sure enough, when the burly man was exhausted, Chen Xuan suddenly accelerated. A single 'Severing Flow Finger' struck the inside of the opponent's elbow joint. The man grunted, and both maces clattered to the ground.

The entire arena erupted in cheers.

Chen Xuan cupped his hands in a salute to the crowd and announced clearly, 'Merely a minor technique. Tomorrow, even stronger contenders will take the stage!'

With that, he turned and descended from the platform, his back straight, his steps steady.

On the way back in the afternoon, he deliberately took a detour to the eastern market entrance. He bought a bowl of tofu pudding, squatted by the stall to finish it, and even chatted with the vendor about vegetable prices for a bit. Then he leisurely walked through two streets and turned into the lane leading to his residence.

As soon as the courtyard gate opened, Leng Shuang came forward, her voice low. 'Two new shoe prints left on the wall top, facing west. The size is rather small. Probably a scout whose lightness skill isn't very good.'

'Noted,' he nodded. 'Leave them be. I'll check them tonight.'

Zhao Hongling rushed out from the house. 'I just heard from a contact that a retainer from the Nangong Family went to the abandoned escort agency last night and came out with a cloth bundle in his arms!'

'Oh?' Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. 'What did the bundle look like?'

'Don't know. The guards were too tight.'

'It's fine,' he smiled. 'It'll come to light sooner or later.'

Liu Ruyan emerged from the south room, waving a slip of paper in her hand. 'From Drunken Immortal Pavilion again. The bamboo-hat guest returned, still asking about your whereabouts. I had someone tell him you're going to the western city herbal shop tonight to buy calming pills for insomnia.'

'I don't have insomnia,' Chen Xuan rubbed his nose. 'But I can develop insomnia tonight.'

Dugu Xue stood under the eaves, gazing at the distant sky. 'The wandering knights report that among the spectators, they spotted three people acting suspiciously, whispering frequently to each other. They mentioned the phrase "time to act."'

'Good,' Chen Xuan leaned against the doorframe, his finger slowly brushing past the tip of his nose. 'Everyone's gathered. The show is about to begin.'

After nightfall, he inspected the courtyard again. The forged paper scraps by the well platform were still there, untouched. He crouched down, gently brushed aside the fine sand, confirming the traces were intact.

Then he stood up and looked towards the direction of the western lane.

The wind blew from that direction, carrying a hint of dust.

He said softly, 'Come on. Let me see what act you're really trying to pull.'

A roof tile at the corner of the courtyard shifted slightly. A withered leaf, caught by the wind, swirled and landed on the threshold.