Chapter 12: Mei Shuangfeng!

Shen Xiuhan drew a deep breath and cupped his fist in greeting: "If I may ask, miss — could you arrange an introduction to Hall Master Mei?"

The woman in martial garb frowned, gave him another once-over, and shook her head without a moment's hesitation:

"My master is in seclusion. She sees no visitors. If you're not here to enroll, please leave."

Shen Xiuhan had no choice. He glanced around, confirmed no one was paying attention, and quickly lowered his voice:

"One moment, miss — I have... news of a treasure fish."

SWISH!

The woman's pupils contracted sharply. Without an instant's hesitation, she said:

"Follow me!"

She turned and led Shen Xiuhan toward the inner courtyard at a brisk pace.

Shen Xiuhan's mind stirred.

He didn't know this woman's identity and didn't dare tip his hand too soon.

So he'd only mentioned "news" of a treasure fish... and hadn't expected her reaction to be this intense!

It seemed Mei Martial Hall's hunger for a treasure fish ran far deeper than he'd imagined.

Or rather...

The silver-backed fish was even rarer than he'd assumed?

Inner courtyard.

Outside the main chamber doors.

The woman halted, released her grip, and fixed her gaze on Shen Xiuhan:

"You're absolutely certain you have news of a treasure fish? I'll make this clear upfront — if you dare come in here spinning lies... once you walk through that door, it'll be too late for regrets."

News?

No, no, no!

I have the real thing!

Shen Xiuhan thought to himself, but kept his composure. He smiled and cupped his fist:

"Please rest assured, miss. You could give me ten times the nerve and I still wouldn't dare spout nonsense in front of Hall Master Mei."

The woman studied him with a long, searching look, as if weighing the substance behind his words.

After a moment, she tossed out a single line:

"Wait here."

She turned and pushed through the door.

In the cold wind, Shen Xiuhan let out a long, slow breath. A thread of anxiety still wound through his chest.

Honestly, he'd rather not have had to gamble on whether the intelligence's claim that "Mei Shuangfeng also possesses the bearing of the righteous path" was true or false.

But someone had shoved him to the table.

From the moment he'd been spotted entering the inner city, Shen Xiuhan had known with absolute certainty:

Ma Xianyang would not let this go.

Feng Xiaobao had mentioned that Ma Xianyang had left for Changshui County, fifty li away. He wouldn't be back for ten days to half a month.

But ten days to half a month was the blink of an eye.

When he returned...

Shen Xiuhan was not about to bet on whether Ma Xianyang "also possessed the bearing of the righteous path."

So he had to use this window — at any cost — to find a patron and claw out a sliver of survival.

Offer the treasure fish to the Mei Martial Hall, which was secretly buying fish, in exchange for protection and a chance to learn martial arts...

That was the strategy he'd settled on after careful deliberation — his way to break the deadlock!

Moments later.

The wooden door opened again.

The martial-garbed woman stepped out, moved to one side, and said in a low voice:

"Master has agreed. Follow me inside."

Shen Xiuhan steadied his nerves and crossed the high threshold.

Past a carved rosewood screen, the interior of the chamber came into view.

At the center of the hall stood a large bronze tripod cauldron.

Behind the cauldron, a dark-wood writing desk.

And behind the desk sat a single figure.

The sight of her sent a jolt through Shen Xiuhan.

This Hall Master Mei was a woman — a beauty of perhaps thirty, no more!

She wore a moon-white robe beneath a sheer overlay of black gauze, its hems cascading to the floor. Her long hair was loosely gathered by a jade pin, a few dark strands spilling across her shoulders.

Her features were regal and composed, every line of her brows and eyes exuding the refined air of someone long accustomed to wealth and comfort.

At first glance, she could have passed for the cloistered lady of a great estate, the kind who rarely ventured beyond her chambers.

And yet—

What lurked in those phoenix eyes was a jarring ferocity.

Cold. Brooding. As though harboring a killing intent that would never fully dissolve.

But what truly made the blood run cold were her hands, resting on the edge of the desk.

Ten slender fingers, the knuckles sharply defined.

Fingertips slightly curled, thin calluses barely visible — like talons forged from iron and stone. A single glance was enough to send a chill crawling down the spine.

As though they could explode forward at any instant and crush a man's throat in one savage clutch.

Mei Shuangfeng sat behind the desk, her gaze drifting down to settle on him. She spoke, her voice unhurried:

"You... have news of a treasure fish?"

Shen Xiuhan drew a deep breath. He didn't bother with preamble:

"Reporting to the Hall Master — I've already caught the treasure fish!"

"What?!"

The martial-garbed woman's head snapped up. She stared at him in disbelief.

Mei Shuangfeng likewise paused. Her eyes flashed like lightning, piercing straight into him:

"Where is it?"

"Outside the city."

The hall went still for a beat.

Mei Shuangfeng studied him for a long moment, suspicion churning in her gaze:

"What kind of treasure fish?"

"A silver-backed fish!"

The martial-garbed woman's breath hitched. Excitement blazed in her eyes, her breathing quickening.

Mei Shuangfeng flicked an imperceptible glance at her, then drew her gaze back to Shen Xiuhan's face:

"If you've come into such fortune, why sell the fish to me of all people?"

Shen Xiuhan had rehearsed this. He cupped his fist and bowed:

"Reporting to Hall Master Mei — it's because yesterday, while selling fish at the market, I happened to run into a friend and his senior brother, who were out sourcing treasure fish. From him I heard that the master of the Mei Hall is known for her integrity... so I thought I'd try my luck."

Mei Shuangfeng's eyes narrowed to slits, boring straight into Shen Xiuhan's face.

Shen Xiuhan met her gaze squarely.

After a beat, a note of amusement crept into her tone:

"Not bad — you're not lying."

But then her tone shifted abruptly, half-smiling, half-mocking:

"However... you said it was your friend who told you I'm known for my integrity?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"Hahaha!"

Mei Shuangfeng actually laughed out loud, shaking her head:

"Stay away from that friend of yours."

The martial-garbed woman also ducked her head, pressing her lips together, her shoulders trembling faintly.

Shen Xiuhan kept a straight face, but his heart lurched.

What did she mean?

Had the intelligence gotten it wrong?

Wait...

It hit him!

The intelligence system had stated it clearly:

Mei Shuangfeng, master of the inner-city Mei Martial Hall, bears a fearsome reputation but also possesses the bearing of the righteous path.

...Bears a fearsome reputation!

Fuck!

Shen Xiuhan could have slapped himself — that's what you get for skimming!

His heart was drumming, but he kept his face perfectly neutral, pretending he hadn't noticed a thing.

Mei Shuangfeng, oblivious to the storm inside his head, reined in her amusement:

"Well, never mind. Bring the treasure fish to me first. Once I've verified whether it's genuine, we can—"

She stopped mid-sentence, as if something had just occurred to her, and asked offhandedly:

"By the way — you said your friend and his senior brother were sourcing treasure fish? Which hall do they belong to?"

Here it comes!

Shen Xiuhan cupped his fist and answered truthfully:

"Reporting to the Hall Master — it's Tongbei Martial Hall's inner-court Senior Brother Ma, Ma Xianyang."

Tongbei Martial Hall!

Ma Xianyang!

The instant those words hit the air, the temperature in the hall seemed to plunge several degrees.

A cold gleam sparked in the martial-garbed woman's eyes.

Mei Shuangfeng's hands, resting on the desk, contracted ever so slightly — curling into talon-like hooks.

"You're certain it's him?" the woman asked, voice tight.

"Certain."

Shen Xiuhan hastened to add, his tone earnest:

"My friend is enrolled in Tongbei Martial Hall's outer court. I heard with my own ears that they were looking for treasure fish."

"Yesterday, when I caught several silver-striped fish, Senior Brother Ma was very generous — not only did he buy them at a premium, he told me that if I ever caught more silver-stripes, or anything better, to bring them straight to Tongbei Martial Hall. The price wouldn't disappoint me."

He paused, letting a note of helplessness enter his voice:

"Just now, I actually went to Tongbei Martial Hall first. But Senior Brother Ma wasn't there — they said he'd gone to Changshui County."

"My friend was also out. I don't know anyone else at Tongbei, and I was worried the treasure fish had been out of water too long and was losing its vital energy. So I took the liberty of... coming to try my luck with Hall Master Mei."

As his words settled, Mei Shuangfeng and the martial-garbed woman exchanged a glance.

In both pairs of eyes, a flicker of barely concealed relief.

Ma Xianyang...had gone to Changshui County?

Good.

Very good.

Ma Xianyang, what excellent timing you have!