If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

As dusk faded, the last rays of sunlight still lingered on the rooftops of the city walls. Qin Shuang and Zhou Yang walked side by side in the alley leading to the county government office. The iron gate at the alley entrance was ajar, and a yamen runner peered out of the window, his eyes falling on the black uniforms draped over their shoulders. Zhou Yang lowered his voice: "They won't let their guard down."

Qin Shuang didn't reply, only tightened her sleeves. Her shadow pressed against the wall, like a black line against it. The battlefield beside her still emitted the smoke of gunpowder. She turned her head slightly, her voice soft: "Did you go in?"

"I know you are waiting, sir." Zhou Yang pressed his fingers against the doorframe, feeling the coldness of the old wood. He glanced into the depths of the alley to make sure there were no ambushes, then said, "This balancing act depends on you."

Qin Shuang nodded. The lights inside the county government office flickered on, the candlelight swaying against the tall official robes, as if reminding the two guests of the nature of their confrontation. The sound of a bell echoed through the corridor, each chime resonating in their hearts. The two entered the hall; the floor tiles still bore the lingering stains of the recent rain.

Lord Zhi sat on the steps, his expression indifferent and cold. His face, etched with fine lines in the firelight, resembled a hollowed-out old mural. When the newcomer entered, he didn't rise, but merely nodded. Qin Shuang strode to the front of the platform, kneeling and placing her left hand on the floor tile; the back of her hand still bore the marks of last night's battle.

"Master Zhi," she said calmly, "there were many dead and wounded outside tonight, and many members of the Salt Gang are still hiding in the mountain paths. We just came back from the cleanup, and Commander Zhou was right; we can't handle this alone."

Lord Zhi raised his eyes, remaining silent and motionless. Zhou Yang leaned against a pillar, his eyes searching for clues on the roof beams. His gaze fell on the tattered corner of an old flag on the crossbeam, with bloodstains still visible beneath it. Lord Zhi slowly uttered, "You should have handed over the matter of the corpse puppets."

"We didn't hand over the corpse puppets," Qin Shuang said. "These belong to the Heavenly Principle Sect. Handing them over would be tantamount to handing over the targets of those night raids to them."

Lord Zhi chuckled softly. His voice carried a chilling pressure: "You have a guarantor, Commander Qin. If she says you didn't pay, then no one is pressuring you." He pointed at Zhou Yang, "But I don't quite believe 'no one'."

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Lord Zhi. The torchlight on the platform reflected the bloodlust on his face. He said, "Grab every little bit of benefit you can, don't let any small gain slip away. We're not stupid, and the Heavenly Principle Sect won't let you off the hook."

Lord Zhi casually picked up a booklet and lightly tapped the table: "All I want is cooperation. Your men can help me find out which Salt Gang strongholds. In exchange for my constraints, Qin Shuang will allow you to move them freely." He handed over a bronze seal, the face of which was engraved with the old characters of the county government.

Qin Shuang stood up, retracting her knees, and positioned herself between Lord Zhi and Zhou Yang. Her shadow stretched long on the ground, like a hanging shield. She looked down at the seal. "You want intelligence, I want a guarantee." Her voice was low. "I'll give you a guarantee that Zhou Yang and the Salt Gang will remain under our control."

Lord Zhi nodded slightly. He looked at Zhou Yang, "This guarantee includes your movements. In return for cleaning up this mess, I want you to cooperate with me for the next month to investigate the collusion between Qin Shuang's several black market operators." He smiled faintly, "I'm not worried that you will disobey me, after all, in your current situation, you need a powerful backer the most."

Zhou Yang remained silent. Qin Shuang looked up, her sharp features undistorted in the light. She took the seal in her palm, her fingertips pressing firmly. "There's only one condition," she said, "You must give a clear account to the Salt Gang's network—in all these years as a centurion, I've never seen you offer the gang a handshake like a commoner."

It seemed Lord Zhi had been prepared. He slowly sat up straight and pushed the seal back onto the table: "I need you to explain, Qin Shuang, why you were willing to place your guarantee on that young man? Was it trust, or did you want him to do something you couldn't say about?"

His tone was not sarcastic, as if he were reciting a passage from an ancient book, but his eyes were observing Qin Shuang's reaction.

Qin Shuang didn't begin with "because." She simply said, "I'm betting he'll survive. Survival is the foundation for my line to continue reaping profits." She looked up at Zhou Yang, "Zhou Yang, do you have any other trump cards?"

Zhou Yang gave a cold laugh, gently stroking the seal in his hand. He didn't speak, but simply turned his face towards Qin Shuang. At that moment, his face softened slightly in the firelight. He didn't say anything more, only nodded slightly.

Upon hearing this, the official smiled with a hint of appreciation. He clasped his hands together, his expression becoming serious. "Then, I will write this guarantee down." He took out paper and pen from under the table, the nib stained with ink. Qin Shuang aligned the seal with the paper, and he pressed it down gently, leaving behind a series of rusty patterns.

"This guarantee reads, 'Qin Shuang guarantees for Zhou Yang that he will not fail in his duty.'" He read aloud, "And Zhou Yang must, within a month, assist the county government in finding a place to negotiate with the Salt Gang and hand it over—in exchange for the Salt Gang's temporary silence."

Qin Shuang lowered her head, her lips remaining still. Her thoughts were racing, like scattered lamplight in the night. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What point are you looking for? You want us to act as intermediaries?"

Zhi Daren's eyelids twitched slightly: "You can convince the Salt Gang that you won't interfere, which means you have a signal. If you can take that signal to negotiations, I'll consider that you're helping me stabilize Anyang." He then looked at Zhou Yang, "Zhou Yang, you still owe me one 'intelligence transfer.' This time, you can choose to 'explain' or 'implement' it."

Zhou Yang said in a low voice, "That line is called 'Chaoyunli'. They've been working on something called 'Dragon Spine Fragments' lately. Do we have the guts to put this information on the table?" He spoke softly, as if he were handing in a blank exam paper in a street alley.

Master Zhi picked up his pen. "That's the point you have to hand over. Once you come to me with information about 'Chaoyunli,' I'll arrange for you to withdraw and temporarily escape the eyes of the Salt Gang." He sat back down and looked at Qin Shuang one last time. "Once you pledge this guarantee, it's equivalent to binding your power to this boy's fate."

Qin Shuang didn't answer immediately. Her fingernails traced a shallow line on the back of her hand. Zhou Yang noticed the talisman behind him trembling slightly, even though there was no wind. He stepped forward and gently placed his hand on Qin Shuang's back. "You are the one I fear losing most."

Qin Shuang looked up, the words echoing in her ears like the sound of a chime. She turned to Lord Zhi, returned the seal, and said, "Alright. Write this guarantee down. We will deliver the points you requested within the stipulated time."

Lord Zhi nodded. He then picked up a rolled-up map. "This topographical map is the certificate of the power we need. You hand over 'Chaoyunli,' and I will officially designate one of the Salt Gang's strongholds as a 'local self-defense' territory."

Qin Shuang looked at the map, her fingertip pausing on a section of the river. "That small village along the river is the lifeblood of the Salt Gang. Are you willing to leave your methods in the mountains? Are you willing to let us control it for a period of time?" she asked.

Zhi Daren smiled and said, "What I want is for you to give me this lead to use. You and Zhou Yang will temporarily relinquish some of your freedom, and in return, I will give you leniency and cover." He then looked at Zhou Yang, "Don't worry, if you can name 'Chaoyunli,' I'll let you hand that lead over to Qin Shuang. Don't treat us like spoiled brats."

Zhou Yang looked at Qin Shuang, a smile playing on his lips. He finally nodded: "Everything depends on you, Qin Shuang." Then he turned his gaze back to Master Zhi, "I understand your game."

Lord Zhi scoffed, "Then remember this. This is how power is traded. You give me a little, and I'll give you a plateful. The prosperity of Henan isn't built by one person alone."

Night fell silently, and the footsteps of a night patrol could be heard outside. The torches in the hall had been replaced with new ones. Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang provided their guarantees, and they walked out of the yamen. The night wind was as cold as a knife. Qin Shuang quietly held his arm, her back pressed against the wall of the yamen.

"I'll take you home," she said.

Zhou Yang responded in a low voice, then turned his head to look south, where the gray and white clouds of the war still lingered on the horizon.

"We have to keep going," he said. "The flags of the Tenrikyo sect won't be off for at least a month."

Qin Shuang didn't speak, but simply put the seal into her bosom, her fingers tracing a circle along the slightly gleaming edge of the bronze. She remembered the weight of this guarantee, and she also remembered Lord Zhi's smile towards power.

The night wind stretched their shadows long, until only the dark line in the corner of the wall was gradually blown away.

Chapter 40 foreshadows Qin Shuang fulfilling her promise and paving the way for Zhou Yang.

The night was still young, and the rain continued to patter against the palace walls. Qin Shuang stood in the dark corridor by the side door of the imperial study, the sandalwood divination tablet in her hand tickling between her fingers, as if checking the rhythm of her heartbeat. Her voice was low and crisp: "Zhou Yang, we must leave the city tonight. Wang Jingzhi is waiting for you at Wangfeng Bridge. Don't speak yet, just stay close to me."

Zhou Yang emerged from the shadows. His damp robe clung to his body, and his smile was forced: "I wanted to ask, is Miss Qin summoning me to receive news of her death?"

She raised her eyes, her expression as steady as a knife: "The news of your death is not something Wang Jingzhi can arrange. He wants to see you because of that token from last night. The Heavenly Principle Sect is relentlessly pursuing us, and the remnants of the Salt Gang may not yet have figured out who is reaping the benefits. Wang Jingzhi wants to use you, leveraging your already sharpened daggers, to completely dismantle this place."

Zhou Yang's brows twitched upon hearing this. He realized Qin Shuang's heart was heavier than he had imagined. She was keeping him alert and clear-headed. He turned to the side, listening intently to the path leading to Wangfeng Bridge in the night wind. The rain muffled the sounds of the river, with only the occasional call of a boat echoing in the distance.

He didn't ask about the Embroidered Uniform Guard's paperwork, but simply followed. The last bit of light behind them was concealed by Qin Shuang's cloak, even their shadows became blurred.

Wang Jingzhi was already waiting beneath Wangfeng Bridge. Three lanterns hung from top to bottom at the bridgehead, their light refracted into fine stripes by the rain. Wang Jingzhi stood alone in the lamplight, the edge of his cloak clinging to the slanting wind. His brows were neither furrowed nor relaxed, and his eyes held a cold, steely edge.

Qin Shuang grabbed his collar without hesitation: "Wang Jingzhi, are you going to beat me back this time?" Her tone carried a new kind of pressure, like frozen water sliding down a mountain ridge, even the air seemed to tighten.

Wang Jingzhi raised an eyebrow: "Miss Qin is very emotional, but I'm still worried about Zhou Yang. You can persuade him, and you can persuade me, but that's still a variable. Come on, lay out your bargaining chips."

Qin Shuang didn't move. She took out a roll of paper from her bosom and spread it on the stone table. The paper was short, containing only a few lines of text: the amount of embezzled funds belonging to Commander Chen, the land deeds for two villages in Qinjia Village, and a secret message from her father within the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Her handwriting was neat and strong.

"I've already secretly exchanged the money from Commander Chen for currency with a few people. Not long ago, the old man's ledgers came out, and the Salt Gang and the Heavenly Principle Sect are intricately intertwined. I want Wang Jingzhi to personally inventory this list—all their fertile fields and drug dens must be held as collateral. Zhou Yang, as a commander, takes the flow of money from the lower echelons of the martial arts world and the business world. You want him to wipe out the remnants of the Salt Gang for us and eliminate the remnants of the Heavenly Principle Sect for the court. As collateral, with these two transactions, no one outside will know. Do you dare to throw in the tickets?"

Wang Jingzhi glanced at the land deed. He stroked the dragon pattern engraved on the edge, his gaze calming slightly. He tapped his fingertips on the table: "This money isn't exactly legitimate, but no one can say Miss Qin didn't offer anything in return. You want me to accept it, and treat Zhou Yang like a money bag?"

Qin Shuang smiled: "Take him as a ploy. No matter how far the Salt Gang escapes, no one is watching them. The Heavenly Principle Sect's progress can't be stopped either. You just need to keep Zhou Yang in the name of a commander, and he'll find those loopholes. Look how efficient he is; last night, that corpse puppet died so cleanly. We only need a talisman, a title, and the outsiders will be convinced. As for your fear of his betrayal, just transfer the embezzled funds and the Qin family's estate to him. Anyone who dares to touch him will have to ask you first."

Zhou Yang stood to the side, listening, his eyelids twitching slightly. He didn't answer, only watching the raindrops fall on the lantern. The rain flowed down the lantern, then was pulled into individual drops by the wind. He stepped slightly forward: "Wang Jingzhi, Zhou Yang isn't a hostage you're sending away. I have my own bottom line. But while you give me a title, you must also hand over the means you use to suppress me. If you're going to help me, I also need to know how many spies you've kept around me."

Wang Jingzhi chuckled dryly: "You put it with quite a bit of authority. Could the Heavenly Principles Society be secretly monitoring us? I don't want to be clinging to a crooked neck. But you really should be more focused on your actions. Tell me, how do you plan to deal with the Salt Gang? Let me know what they have to offer outside of the court's official accounts."

Zhou Yang looked at the dark figure on the opposite bank of the river: "The Salt Gang isn't a real power. The Salt Gang's lawsuits are under Commander Chen's command, and his men are scattered in three dark alleys in the county town. I've already figured out the routes in the past few days. He left a few men at the blacksmith shop and the Golden Flower Pavilion, and he even tried to ambush them yesterday. Give me a Commander Chen's talisman, and I can use the pretext of confiscating property to expose those gangs. As for the New Year's compensation you want, I can write it down item by item."

Wang Jingzhi slammed his fist on the table, his face turning slightly red. He looked at Qin Shuang: "Do you know how much the court will envious us by giving Zhou Yang such a prestigious title? His background is too illegitimate. I need to give him a clean identity. Would you be willing to help me by sending a few clues to the tin ledgers in the Qin family? Only after I submit the memorial can the court make any moves."

Qin Shuang remained calm: "I already said. The embezzled funds and land deeds are the guarantee placed in the court on his behalf. To completely clear his name, we must start with the Qin family's internal accounts. I can have one of the head of the family's old stewards present old account books in the Tian Ce Division to change Zhou Yang's name from Chen Qianhu. When you submit your memorial, say that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating the Salt Gang's years of corruption, which has attracted the attention of the Ministry of War. You wouldn't dare say it yourself, so I'll say it for you. As long as you return the memorial, Zhou Yang's name can be split in two, one part remaining with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the other part placed in the military household register."

Wang Jingzhi nodded, a glint in his eyes: "Alright. I need a stamp. Give me the seal and keep it at the Tiance Division's office. I'll submit a memorial stating that these are my records of local governance, and they must be handed over to the court for review. No one in court will ask 'Who is this person?' They'll only look at the money and the land on the books. You give me Zhou Yang, and I'll give you a safety net. In the Qin family's records, he's still Chen Qianhu's direct disciple. I need his official records clear. The moment a Qianhu's badge passes through the court, I'll hand over the embezzled funds to him. Make him accept it in person, and those secret guards who trust you won't dare touch him, no matter how far away they are."

Zhou Yang listened from the side, like a merchant selecting goods. He nodded: "I only need one identity, an identity that allows me to legally enter the Salt Gang's stronghold. As for the others, you can come and harvest them after I've dealt with them."

Wang Jingzhi's smile vanished: "Then sign it. Miss Qin, give me the warrant. As for Zhou Yang, I'll write in the memorial: 'Zhou Yang, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, though he joined the Salt Gang, remains loyal to the court. He is only a token; if he betrays it, he will be punished according to military law.' From now on, your name will be even more obscure than those of fugitives. I need someone to handle it."

Qin Shuang handed over the scroll. It was damp from the rain, the corners slightly wrinkled. Her gaze was fixed: "I've placed three account books in a secret room in the Qin family. Afterwards, in the memorials you request, address me as 'Lord Qin.' I'm not afraid of Wang Jingzhi's courtly controversy. What I fear is another attack from the Heavenly Principle Sect. Zhou Yang's methods are the very blade I fear most. As long as he can unleash that blade, no one will dare call him a heretic anymore."

Wang Jingzhi took the account book and pressed it with ink. He picked up a pen and drew a circle: "Alright, I'll take the memorial to the emperor now. You two—go back first. The night is still long, don't let the Heavenly Principle Sect's eyes turn back again."

The two retreated to the side of the bridge; the rain had stopped. The river below was still, with several small boats moored along the bank. Qin Shuang gave Zhou Yang one last look: "Remember, becoming a commander of a thousand households doesn't mean you wield power. You're a tool to be used for suppression. If you feel something's wrong, use the token I gave you to break free. But don't cause any trouble near me. Don't create a rift in the court."

Zhou Yang pulled open his shirt, revealing a short knife inside. In the firelight, he whispered, "I will keep all the knives I own in this life, saving them for the moment you need them."

In the lantern light, his face was somewhat pale, yet within that paleness, a certain warmth emanated in an orderly fashion.