Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

Shen Zhaowu, the second master of the Shen family, was dressed in civilian clothes and sat in the main tent of the garrison camp. In front of him was a pot of wine and a few small dishes.

Sitting opposite him was Zhao Huchen, the commander of the garrison battalion, a burly man in his forties with a full beard and shrewd eyes like an eagle.

"Brother, you've come to invite me for drinks in the middle of the night, there must be something wrong, right?" Zhao Huchen asked with a smile, raising his glass.

Shen Zhaowu laughed too: "Can't I ask you to have a drink if there's nothing wrong? We've been friends for so many years, why are you being so polite with me?"

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother Zhao, have you heard about the recent commotion outside the city?" Shen Zhaowu put down his wine cup and asked casually.

Zhao Huchen's smile faltered slightly: "What's that noise?"

"It's nothing serious," Shen Zhaowu waved his hand. "There are just a few江湖人士 (jianghu figures) operating outside the city. Lord Ling went out of the city tonight, apparently to deal with this matter."

Zhao Huchen raised an eyebrow: "Lord Ling has left the city?"

"Hmm." Shen Zhaowu nodded. "That's why I came to have a drink with you. With Lord Ling away, the city is finally a bit quieter."

Zhao Huchen was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Brother, are you afraid that I'll lead the troops out and ruin Lord Ling's plans?"

Shen Zhaowu laughed and raised his wine glass: "I didn't say anything."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Zhao Huchen picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and slammed the glass down on the table.

"Don't worry, brother. The brothers in the garrison will not go anywhere tonight."

"They just drank in the camp."

Shen Zhaowu smiled and poured him a full glass of wine: "That's good, that's good."

Ling Tuisi slumped against the wall, staring in the direction Sun Fan had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

The moonlight shone on his face, making his once shrewd features look like a crumpled piece of paper. His right wrist was still bleeding, but the pain no longer mattered—compared to everything he was about to lose, this pain was nothing.

He tried to stand up, but his legs felt like they were made of lead.

twice.

He tried twice, but both times he fell back down.

The third time, he finally managed to stand up, leaning against the wall. The vegetable garden was empty, with only the wind seeping in through the cracks in the dilapidated fence, howling like a cry.

Ling Tuisi staggered toward the temple.

Inside the main hall, the incense burner on the offering table was overturned, scattering ashes all over the floor. The face of the earth god statue looked particularly ferocious in the moonlight, as if mocking him.

He stood before the statue and suddenly laughed.

"Sun Fan... Sun Fan..."

He uttered the name, his voice terribly hoarse.

He recalled the first time he met Sun Fan at the literary gathering—a traveling scholar, well-spoken, talented, and without the pedantry often seen in scholars, but rather with an indescribable composure.

He thought this person was someone who could be useful.

He thought it was a tool he could control.

He thought—

In the end, he was the one who was controlled.

Ling Tuisi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

No.

We can't just give up like this.

He still has a chance.

As long as he could return to the city, as long as he could see Shen Huaishan, as long as he could persuade that person—wasn't the Shen family trying to bring him down? He could offer the Shen family more. Official positions, territory, profits, anything was acceptable.

As for Sun Fan—

He opened his eyes, a fierce glint flashing within them.

Once he catches his breath and stabilizes the situation, Sun Fan, you just wait.

He stepped out of the temple.

Just as he reached the door, a figure emerged from the darkness and blocked his way.

Sun Fan.

"You haven't left yet?" Ling Tuisi's voice was tense.

Sun Fan looked at him with a mocking expression.

"Lord Ling just summoned me, and here I am again, aren't I?"

Ling Tuisi's face looked worse than if he had eaten shit.

Keep giving him hope, then gradually break down all his psychological defenses—that's what he wants.

"Lord Ling, are you thinking that as long as we return to the city, there's still a chance to turn things around?"

Ling Tuisi's pupils contracted slightly.

"Or perhaps you're thinking—although the Shen family is at odds with you, there are no permanent enemies when it comes to interests. As long as you offer a sufficient price, Shen Huaishan might very well help you?"

Ling Tuisi's expression changed completely.

Every word Sun Fan said felt like a needle piercing his heart.

Because that's exactly what he was thinking.

"Don't bother," Sun Fan said. "I've already made arrangements with the Shen family. Before you left the city, Shen Zhaowu went to the garrison camp to see Zhao Huchen. Zhao Huchen agreed to hold back tonight—not because of you, but because of the Shen family."

"Your trusted men were taken into custody after you left the city. Now, the people in your household only listen to the Shen family."

Ling Tuisi swayed slightly.

"you--"

"You think I've been in Jingzhou these past few days just drinking tea and chatting with you and Shen Zhaoyuan?" Sun Fan shook his head. "Lord Ling, you underestimate me."

Ling Tuisi leaned against the door frame, panting heavily.

His mind was in chaos, a jumble of thoughts swirling within him, but he couldn't grasp any of them.

He suddenly remembered something.

"How did you get your hands on that evidence?" his voice was hoarse.

"The Shen family," Sun Fan said. "Shen Huaishan has been operating in Jingzhou for decades. He's known about your shady dealings for a long time. He just didn't have the evidence before, so he couldn't touch you. After I came here, I helped him find the evidence."

"How did you find it?"

"Lord Ling, do you still remember Chu Huai'an?"

Ling Tuisi was taken aback.

"Chu Huai'an isn't just a classmate I made up," Sun Fan said. "He really is a scholar from Jiangnan, and he really was imprisoned by you for half a year. But he has another identity—his uncle is a principal officer in the Ministry of Justice."

Ling Tuisi's pupils suddenly contracted.

"You think the Shen family are just local rich people in Jingzhou?" Sun Fan continued, "Shen Huaishan's connections in the court are much deeper than you imagine. Chu Huai'an's uncle and Shen Huaishan were both Jinshi graduates in the same year, and they have a very close relationship."

"You imprisoned Chu Huai'an for half a year, beat him for half a year, and tortured him for half a year. Chu Huai'an's uncle knew about it a long time ago, but he didn't do anything—because he was waiting."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for an opportunity to tear down your protective umbrella as well."

Ling Tuisi's face was as white as paper.

A protective umbrella.

Of course he had protectors. Without the backing of higher-ups, how could an outsider like him have gained a foothold in Jingzhou?

That person's surname was Zheng. He was a protégé of a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty and worked in the Ministry of Personnel.

Every year, Ling Tuisi would send a sum of money over.

Every year, that person would help him suppress some "unpleasant" memorials.

"You think Lord Zheng will protect you?" Sun Fan's voice was soft, but every word struck Ling Tuisi's heart like a hammer blow. "This afternoon, Shen Huaishan's handwritten letter was delivered to Lord Zheng. Attached to the letter was an account of all the silver you've sent out over the years—every single transaction, when it was sent, who handled it, and where it was sent, was written down clearly."

"You must be familiar with Lord Zheng's strategy of 'sacrificing the pawn to save the king,' right?"

"Do you think you can be handsome forever?"

Ling Tuisi's legs went completely weak.

He slid down the door frame and landed on his bottom.

It’s over.

It's all over.

He raised his head, looked at Sun Fan, and for the first time, a pleading look appeared in his eyes.