After finishing his meal, Lu Zhiming put down his chopsticks and said to Wen Chaosheng, "When you've rested enough, go to the woodshed and chop firewood.
I only have one request: every day, you must chop all the large firewood in the woodshed to be the same size as the small firewood stacked over there."
He pointed, and Wen Chaosheng saw a large pile of neatly stacked small firewood under the eaves.
"I will pay you fifty copper coins every day.
If you can save it, you can buy your own plot of land in Ku Hai County after a year.
Although it won't be large, it will be enough for one person."
Wen Chaosheng listened, then asked, puzzled, "With a Qi citizen's identity, won't the county magistrate directly allocate a plot of land to me?"
Lu Zhiming patiently explained to him, "Qi has this clear law, but it has never been properly implemented.
If you want a place to live, you have to spend money to buy it from the county magistrate."
Wen Chaosheng was silent for a moment, then slowly took out the hatchet from behind him.
He had only walked a few steps out the door when he suddenly stopped, turned, and asked Lu Zhiming, "Mr. Lu, why is there a loquat tree in the center of the courtyard?"
Lu Zhiming's expression showed a hint of surprise when he heard this.
Then he looked at Wen Chaosheng very carefully.
Behind him, the white-haired woman who was tidying up the dishes in the room also stiffened her movements, her gaze sweeping outside.
"Isn't it normal for there to be a tree in the courtyard?"
"The house is so big; if there wasn't a tree, it would seem very empty."
Wen Chaosheng asked, "Then why not plant a few more?"
Lu Zhiming asked with interest, "Why are you suddenly asking about a tree?"
"It's just standing there, not blocking your way."
Wen Chaosheng hesitated for a moment, his eyes a little bewildered: "I don't know, I just feel… it's very special."
Lu Zhiming: "How special?"
Wen Chaosheng carefully pondered that feeling: "When I first entered this house, I noticed this tree, and I can't really describe what kind of feeling it was, but I always felt that it shouldn't be a tree, but something else…"
As he spoke, he himself seemed to feel that constantly talking about a tree was meaningless, so he took the hatchet and went to the woodshed.
Soon, the sound of Wen Chaosheng chopping wood came from inside.
The white-haired woman began tidying up the dishes again.
As she passed Lu Zhiming, her tone actually carried a hint of subtle pride: "This time, did we find a treasure?"
Lu Zhiming stared at the loquat tree in the courtyard, saying, "This loquat branch came from the far north.
Although the Yan people are born in the northern lands, they are used to seeing loquats, so they only see loquats."
"I never thought that in this far southern land, there could be an Immortal Master with true eyes, who could glimpse the true meaning within the branches, the exquisite beauty within the leaves… This, too, is fate playing tricks."
The white-haired woman asked, "Are you going to teach him?"
Lu Zhiming shook his head.
"No one in this world can teach me, nor can I teach anyone."
"However, this loquat tree has always been here.
He comes every day, so he sees it every day.
How much he can see in that tree is all his Karma."
...County Magistrate's Residence.
It was nearly evening, and the snowfall, which had finally stopped for a while, began to drift down again.
Wu Xie stood at the entrance with his saber.
After knocking three times, the room door was opened a crack.
The bailiff inside, seeing the person outside, changed his expression and immediately made way.
Wu Xie hurried to Liu Jinshi's autopsy room.
Chun Qiong was still standing in the room.
The dim light emitted by many candles illuminated the room, also magnifying the solemnity in Chun Qiong's eyes.
"Why has it been so long?" Chun Qiong asked.
Wu Xie replied in a low voice, "The people from Wangchuan were lured away last night.
There was a period when we didn't see what Liu Jinshi was doing, probably the hour before he committed suicide."
Chun Qiong frowned, "The people from Wangchuan were lured away.
By whom?"
Wu Xie: "Some people were lured away by Liu Jinshi's released family members.
Early this morning, a carriage escaped from Liu Jinshi's residence under the lingering night.
A portion of Wangchuan's people, responsible for monitoring Liu Jinshi, followed it.
They initially thought it was Liu Jinshi escaping, but it turned out to be Liu Jinshi's wife, children, and butler."
Chun Qiong said, "Where are they?"
Wu Xie replied, "They've already been dealt with.
This matter is of great importance.
The bodies of the three are in Lu Chuan's hands.
Lu Chuan has invited Your Excellency to meet at Yuanyang Brothel tomorrow, seemingly wanting to speak with Your Excellency alone."
Chun Qiong paced the room, his feet stepping on his own shadow.
The candlelight flickered unsteadily, seemingly reflecting his inner turmoil.
"What about the remaining people?"
"Wangchuan's informants monitoring Liu Jinshi are professionally trained.
They wouldn't all have chased after that one carriage.
If they were that foolish, I think I could directly write a letter to Your Excellency to impeach them.
Then, if trouble arises, I won't be too entangled in Karma."
Wangchuan is renowned in the Jianghu, a killer organization that spans the Four Kingdoms.
It has grown stronger over a hundred years.
Not to mention the common Jianghu, even those in the imperial court, they dare to kill as long as they are paid!
There are also rumors in the streets that the core figures of Wangchuan are connected with the royal families and nobles of the Four Kingdoms.
Behind the countless wronged souls and lives they've taken are untold riches of gold, silver, and jewels, and brilliant splendor.
The professionalism of this group is beyond doubt.
Wu Xie explained, "There was originally a group of people who should have been watching there."
"Wangchuan's people are always meticulous in their work, but an accident happened that night…"
Chun Qiong's eyes were like stars: "What accident?"
