Chapter 43: Entering the River

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Entering the River

Dachun was somewhat confused by his young master’s words. But Zeng Anmin had already reached the door, so he quickly followed.

"Shen Jun pays his respects to the Left Chief Clerk."

Outside the door, Shen Jun stood in a white robe. His thick brows were lowered submissively, and his gaze toward Zeng Anmin was filled with respect.

"There is no need for such formalities. Do you still remember what I told you when we met yesterday?"

"I have come precisely because of those words."

"Good. Get ready to leave."

As Zeng Anmin was speaking with Shen Jun, a burly man approached from outside the door. Upon seeing Zeng Anmin, the man’s expression also turned respectful as he asked, "Young Master Zeng, where is the horse?"

This burly man was none other than Wang Daoyuan, from whom Zeng Anmin had borrowed a horse the previous day.

Zeng Anmin looked at Wang Daoyuan, a half-smile appearing on his face. "The horse is in the backyard, but there is no rush. Accompany me on a case first."

He currently lacked suitable subordinates, and hastily asking his father for men would likely leak information. Therefore, Wang Daoyuan was quite a suitable candidate.

"Ah?" Wang Daoyuan looked bewildered. He had only come to retrieve his horse and never expected to be drafted into service at the last minute. After pondering for a moment, he showed a troubled expression. "May I ask where we are going to handle this case?"

Zeng Anmin did not answer directly, but instead glanced at Shen Jun beside him.

Understanding the hint, Shen Jun coughed and addressed Wang Daoyuan, "A Desolate Mountain not far outside Liangjiang County City. There might be traces of my uncle there. If we leave now, we can be back by evening."

The fact that Zeng Anmin had solved the case of Shen Jun murdering his aunt, which then evolved into the disappearance of Shen Liu, had already spread throughout the Observation Department of Liangjiang Commandery yesterday. Wang Daoyuan had naturally heard of it. He had personally witnessed Zeng Anmin solve the Zhang Lun case on the spot, so he admired his deductive abilities.

"This... I need to report back first. If I am caught leaving my post without authorization, it will likely be a disaster." Wang Daoyuan glanced cautiously at Zeng Anmin.

"Very well," Zeng Anmin nodded indifferently. "We will wait for you at the docks."

"Yes, sir!"

At the docks.

A small boat had been waiting by the riverbank for a long time. It was stocked with food and wine, giving off a rather leisurely vibe.

"You are quite thoughtful," Zeng Anmin said, raising an eyebrow at Shen Jun upon seeing the small boat.

"My family is in this business, so naturally, I know what to prepare for a journey." Shen Jun smiled modestly and extended his hand. "Please."

"Be careful, young master." Qi Dachun surveyed their surroundings with extreme vigilance as he carefully helped Zeng Anmin onto the boat.

For this outing, Zeng Anmin did not wear his official uniform, but merely casual green robes. He strongly resembled his father, and though his clothing was unpretentious, he naturally possessed an elegant demeanor. Shen Jun, having been pampered at home since childhood, carried an air of wealth and nobility. As for the towering Qi Dachun and the plain-clothed Wang Daoyuan, they did not stand out much compared to the other two.

After all four were seated on the boat, Qi Dachun froze for a moment. He looked around and asked, "Where is the boatman?"

Zeng Anmin did not answer; he merely shot a sidelong glance at Wang Daoyuan.

Wang Daoyuan immediately understood and quickly said, "I’ll do it! I’ll do it!"

With that, he stood up, took hold of the oars, and steered the small boat slowly out onto the shimmering river.

Later, on the river.

Zeng Anmin and Shen Jun chatted on the boat, talking about everything under the sun. However, what made Zeng Anmin look at him with newfound respect was that Shen Jun actually had some substance to him. In his earlier years, he had studied and was once a student at Shuidu Academy. It was only later, due to his family’s business affairs, that he discontinued his studies.

"It’s a pity. If you had been willing to continue your studies, you might have reached great heights," Zeng Anmin clicked his tongue, a trace of regret on his face.

"Heh, there are a thousand paths in this world, but which one can we truly choose for ourselves?" Shen Jun smiled and shook his head, dropping the subject.

Wang Daoyuan, now drenched in sweat, gasped for breath. He pointed to the faint silhouette of a Desolate Mountain with a green peak up ahead and interrupted, "Is that the place?"

Shen Jun turned his head and peered into the distance for quite a while. Then, he nodded with certainty. "That is indeed the small Desolate Mountain. The water surrounding it is vast, making it hard to find unless someone is specifically looking for it. If my uncle intended to hide, this would undoubtedly be an excellent location."

Zeng Anmin cast an indifferent gaze toward the small hill. It was surrounded by water on all sides. Even with just a cursory glance, he could sense the vitality on that mountain. It truly was a great place to secretly gather strength for a rebellion. Zeng Anmin praised it in his mind, though his face remained expressionless as he ordered, "Pull closer."

"Yes," Wang Daoyuan replied with utmost respect, bearing the burden of rowing the boat without complaint. Before long, the small hill was right before their eyes.

"It may be small, but it has everything it needs," Zeng Anmin remarked, raising an eyebrow as they approached the hill. Supported by Dachun, he stepped ashore.

He looked up to get a general view. The mountain featured green trees and flowing streams, and he could even see a few scampering wild hares leisurely nibbling on the weeds.

Shen Jun and Wang Daoyuan disembarked together. Looking at the environment of the small hill, Shen Jun’s voice carried a tone of nostalgia. "My uncle named this mountain Shuiyun Island. Although I only came here with him when I was a child, the memory remains deep."

"Good. Let’s go up and take a look, but make sure to stay hidden." Zeng Anmin gazed at the relatively low hill, eyeing the other three with a warning look.

"Yes." No one dared to say anything more. Knowing they were now actively working a case, serious expressions appeared on all their faces.

Moments later, on the hill.

When Zeng Anmin and the other three climbed the hill, the area before them suddenly opened up. A massive basin appeared, offering a wide field of vision that formed a valley.

"Whoa!" Zeng Anmin lay flat on the hilltop, exposing only his head. When his gaze fell upon the scene in the valley, his Dan Feng eyes narrowed slightly.

There were not many people in the valley, only about two or three hundred, all moving goods with numb expressions. At a glance, he saw the busy figures in the valley amidst the CRACK of whips. Several squads of men wearing Armor brandished whips in their hands, driving the laborers. However, what truly made a chill rise in Zeng Anmin’s heart was that hanging from the waists of their Armor, almost every single man had a sizable Firearm!

Seeing this, Zeng Anmin’s gaze grew sharp, his voice carrying a trace of coldness. "King Jiang’s ambitions are truly massive."

"What should we do now?" Shen Jun’s palms sweated nervously at the sight, and he looked at Zeng Anmin with a guilty conscience. He assumed his uncle was in league with the people below.

"Let’s retreat first. We shouldn’t alert the enemy." Zeng Anmin’s eyes flickered as he quietly backed down the hill.

The group did not dare delay and quickly followed Zeng Anmin back down the mountain.

However, at that moment, an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed over the river.

"Heh, since you have arrived, why not stay as guests? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

All four of them subconsciously looked toward the riverbank. There, they saw a small boat slowly drifting forward, carrying an elderly man who wore a kind smile.

The old man’s back was slightly hunched, and his face was lined with deep wrinkles. His plain cloth clothing was extremely simple. If one did not know better, they would assume he was just an ordinary old farmer. However, his seemingly cloudy eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp gleam, giving him an unfathomable aura. Holding a black Feather Fan in his hand, he sat leisurely on a small stool at the bow of the boat, looking at Zeng Anmin’s group of four with amusement.