Step Down, Let Me Come!

Chapter 26: Using each other

“Wiped out… how did Shen clan offend Zheng Qiao to lead to such an outcome?” it took Shen Tang a long time to once again find her voice.

The imperial censor’s deputy fought with Zheng Qiao head-on, and the Gong clan was suspected to be hiding the seal of state. The two were only sentenced to exile and not exterminated—exile is really cruel, but in any case, they could still live 2 more days.

When it came to the Shen clan, why was it directly wiped out?

Really, wiping out the entire household register.

Supposing that this body was really Tian Zhong’s “niece”, she didn’t know if she should say that this small girl was just unlucky.

If she stayed in the Shen clan, she would be directly killed, but she came to the Gong clan to get married and was exiled instead. However, because of that, she would probably have to live a life worse than death. 

Who knew, Tian Zhong would actually shake his head.

“No one knows”.

“No one knows?” Shen Tang’s raised her voice, “How could they not know? Master Tian think about it more, for example, Shen clan impeached Zheng Qiao, or the Shen clan get in the way of Zheng Qiao… Do they not have this kind of resentment? If they don’t, how could he just exterminate them?”

“It’s also something I’m puzzled over”. 

Shen clan was exterminated. The old friends and disciples of Shen clan also strived to help them, but the ones that took the initiative were warned by demotion or directly killed. Zheng Qiao’s ways were harsh, his attitude firm, so no one dared to stick out for Shen clan.

Tian Zhong said: “Shen clan wasn’t a big clan in the Xin country. How could they get noticed by Zheng Qiao?”

These words were already exaggerated.

Frankly, when Zheng Qiao was inciting trouble in Xin country, the Shen clan didn’t have any qualifications to even breathe in front of him!

They were truly unremarkable, or you could say that their ability was limited. They were neither too bold to be envied, nor too mediocre to be completely ignored. They didn't follow in others footsteps and didn’t cling to favored officials, nor did they offend any small officials.

No matter how Tian Zhong tried to recall, he couldn’t remember any conflict between the Shen clan and Zheng Qiao. However, the Shen clan was the only one who was exterminated.

Moreover - 

Shen Tang’s attitude made Tian Zhong a little concerned.

As a result, he probed: “Young master Shen, you care so much about Shen clan, but did you have friendly relations with them?”

Actually, he wanted to ask something else, for example – wasn’t this young master a twin brother of Shen family who concealed his identity for some reason and grew up among the common people?

The two of them were really too similar.

At one time, Tian Zhong doubted if Shen Tang wasn’t that unlucky girl from the Shen family, but seeing the symbol of wenxin on her waist, he dispelled his doubts. Other things could be made up, but only the sex couldn’t be false.

He was certain. This young master Shen, even if he wasn’t the twin brother of that girl, he was still linked to that family in countless ways.

Shen Tang didn’t nod nor shook her head.

Although Tian Zhong didn’t have any malice, but in her circumstances it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. The fewer people knew, the saver it was for her.

Tian Zhong was also tactful. Noticing that Shen Tang didn’t want to continue this topic, he changed the subject. He started talking about Qi Shan. Truly, he was still quite interested in Qi Shan. He had no idea how did he and Shen Tang run into each other. When he asked his father about Qi Shan, his father just glared at him.

Oh - 

Shen Tang said: “It’s like a destiny”. 

Tian Zhong was flabbergasted: “After coincidentally meeting, you just decided to move together?”

“Can’t it be like that?”

Tian Zhong said: “It's not impossible, the benefactor has great talent, and your wenxin and potential – you only have a few rivals in this world, at least that's how I see it. In the future, if you meet the right master and are willing to submit to him, the growth of your wenxin cannot be underestimated. Only – “

“Only what?”

The above sentence wasn’t asked by Shen Tang.

The familiar male voice came from behind them.

Shen Tang and Tian Zhong evenly turned their heads to meet with a pair of deep black pupils. They turned silent one after the other. Tian Zhong even suddenly stood up. With his hands hanging awkwardly by his sides, a blush of shame crawled from his neck to his cheeks.

The benefactor saved his father. He talked too much and lost his propriety. Unexpectedly, benefactor stood behind them…

If he wasn’t afraid of scaring others, he would give himself a slap on the face. His dad said it right, he should really sew his running mouth!

He wanted to apologize, but was stopped by Qi Shan’s hand.

He easily made Tian Zhong leave: “I just got up and heard the faint sound of coughing coming from master Tian’s side…”

Tian Zhong following Qi Shan’s words swiftly found a way out of this embarrassing situation.

“Dad’s not well? I’ll go and see”. 

He disappeared in a flash, as if the soles of his feet were smeared with oil.

Qi Shan sat in his place. He clearly heard their conversation. He started playing with bonfire while smiling. 

“I didn’t expect that, I assumed wrongly. Young master Shen is not from the Gong clan, but was born in the Shen clan…”

She didn’t want to say too much.

The intuition told her that Qi Shan could still be mistaken.

Before finding a definite evidence, she wouldn’t dare to be certain that this body belonged to the lady from the Shen clan…

Shen Tang didn’t utter a world. Qi Shan said: “Since Shen clan was already uprooted, young master Shen, you don’t have any relatives left in this world. It doesn't matter if you don't go to the Xiao city. Rest early, we’ll go to a nearby town tomorrow”.

“When did I say I wouldn’t go to the Xiao city?”

Qi Shan was astonished: “You’ll go?”

Fully aware of Qi Shan’s strategy of retreat to advance, Shen Tang still said: “I’ll go, why should I not? I went with you in order to learn the actual way of the world. The key task is to survive, I’ll deal with other things when they come. I’m just curious, what do I have that Yuanliang actually regard as important? You seem like you really want me to go there, but in my opinion, taking someone superfluous on the road is not beneficial for you”.

Seeing Shen Tang poking through this window paper, Qi Shan was slightly surprised, and said solemnly: “Young master Shen, you are not a burden”.

Naturally, it was because of a cooperation.

Even profiteers could be envious of this kind of spirit.

Shen Tang understood his unfinished words and smiled without a word.

She let him become her encyclopedia, and she also became his tool to achieve a certain purpose?

They’re tools for each other, which was fair and just.

“Yuanliang, I still have a question”. 

Qi Shan: “Ask”. 

Shen Tang turned to look in the direction of Tian Zhong. 

“Before Tian Shouyi said something. I felt a bit doubtful when he said, ‘if you meet the right master in the future and are willing to submit to him, the growth of your wenxin cannot be underestimated’. What did he mean?”

Intuition told her, that there was another meaning hidden inside his words.

“Originally, it’s this question. You don’t need to know”. 

Shen Tang: “???”

Qi Shan had a complex hard to describe expression, when he said: “Young master Shen, wenxins are different. Tian Shouyi’s words could be aimed at most of the people with wenxin or wudan. However, I sincerely hope, you’re not one of them”. 

Shen Tang “???”

What did he want to say?

She changed the topic: “Can you let me know what do you want to do in the Xiao city? Let me prepare myself…”

After all, Qi Shan loved to sell his teammates. 

She needed to be on guard, lest she didn’t know how she died.

Qi Shan, raised his head to look at the clear moon. The night’s wind brushed his hair, concealing the emotions hidden in his eyes. Shen Tang only heard his voice: “In order to collect the debt. I have a longstanding debt, and I must collect it, even if it is only to recover some interest”.

Shen Tang “…”

She felt apprehensive in her heart.

Collect a debt?

I believe your evil!

What debt could cause Qi Shan to produce such a strong killing intent?

The end of the night, dawn.

The second day, the two of them separated with Tian Zhong and his father.

The latter was going to seek refuge in his relative's house. They would die sooner or later if they stayed in Zheng Qiao's area of influence. Shen Tang and Qi Shan went to the Xiao city.