Liubai Camp: Remnants of the army attack northward

Chapter 19 Sharp Knife

The next morning, in a corner of the training ground.

The morning mist hadn't completely dissipated, creeping along the ground and engulfing the pebbles and grass roots. In the distance, only the gray-white roofs of the tents were visible through the mist, like things floating on water.

Shen Bai squatted behind the earthen wall, looking into the distance. Ten new recruits were running laps, silent, only their figures moving in the morning mist.

"They're all corrosive stones." Lin Yu squatted down beside him. "The shopkeeper said your father intercepted this batch of mystic stones."

Shen Bai didn't even turn his head. "How's the discipline?"

"No group chats, no mutual help, everyone sleeps separately."

"Obedience?"

"Shoot wherever you point, without asking why."

One of the runners fell down, but got up and kept running without stopping.

"Um, what did you do before?"

"Old Ghost, a former scout."

Shen Bai stood up and patted the dirt off his hands.

"What I need are sharp knives. The kind that can be thrown out, plunge in, and bring back the message alive. The personal guards are thinking the wrong way. These people are only trained in skills, not in empathy. They're used and then replaced."

Lin Yu glanced at him. "Aren't you afraid they'll turn against you?"

Shen Bai didn't turn around. "The prerequisite for betrayal is having a place to return to. The Corroded Body doesn't have one."

He paused for a moment. "Those who have no way out are the most reliable."

Lin Yu was silent for a while. "Your statement, 'Those who have no way out are the most reliable,' doesn't sound like you're talking about them."

Shen Bai didn't reply. A wisp of dust was stirred up by the wind.

"Just give the instructions," he said. "Don't worry about anything else."

Lin Yu didn't ask any more questions. The two squatted side by side, watching the people running laps. The sound of footsteps came from afar, muffled, like walking on cotton.

"How do you plan to use them?" Lin Yu suddenly asked.

"Use them separately. Send out the scouts, and the rest guard the camp."

Who's leading the team?

Shen Bai paused for a moment. "Old Ghost, take the scouts. The rest, you take them."

Lin Yu glanced at him. "Me?"

"Didn't you say you were coming with me?"

Lin Yu didn't speak. He turned his head and looked in the direction of the running laps. In the sunlight, ten figures stretched out long.

"OK."

Shen Bai stood up and walked towards the camp. Lin Yu followed behind.

Halfway there, Shen Bai suddenly asked, "What was that scout's name?"

"Old ghost."

"Tell him to come see me tonight."

Lin Yu responded without asking further questions. The two parted ways. Shen Bai headed towards the tents, while Lin Yu went towards the training ground to call for reinforcements.

As Shen Bai reached the tent entrance, he paused. He turned back and glanced in the direction of the training ground. Ten Eclipses were still running; in the sunlight, their shadows stretched long, thin, and solitary.

He looked away, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

In the evening, the old ghost arrived.

Standing outside the tent flap, head bowed, he remained silent. Shen Bai didn't look up. "Come in."

The curtain moved slightly. Old Gui took a step, his footsteps very light, almost silent. He stood before the table, his hands hanging down, like a wooden stake driven into the ground.

"name."

"Old ghost."

"How many years did you work as a scout?"

"ten years."

Why was it modified?

Old Ghost didn't answer. His throat moved slightly, as if he hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time.

"You don't want to talk about it?"

"I don't remember."

Shen Bai looked at him. His face was expressionless, as were his eyes. That emptiness was something he saw every morning when he looked in the mirror.

"understood."

He stood up and walked up to the old ghost.

"I don't care who you were before. From tonight onward, you are my eyes. You will see whatever I tell you to see, and you will see everything I ask you to bring back. Can you do that?"

Old Ghost nodded.

Do you hate it?

silence.

"I don't know what hatred is." His voice was like a broken gong, dry and hoarse, as if squeezed out from a crack in a rock.

Shen Bai waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The curtain fell, and Shen Bai stood there, his back to the light.

The next morning, a middle-aged man arrived at the camp gate. He was dressed casually, carrying a folding fan, and smiling.

"Young Master Shen, my surname is Zhou, and I am a businessman. I have long admired your reputation and have come to pay you a visit."

Shen Bai stood on the opposite side, without moving.

Zhou took a letter out of his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.

"A small token of my master's appreciation."

The letter read: "A good bird chooses a good tree, and a wise minister chooses a good lord." Below it was a string of numbers—three hundred taels, monthly salary.

Who is your owner?

"Lord Wang."

Shen Bai folded the letter and didn't return it.

"What do you want me to do?"

Zhou's smile deepened. "Let's leave the account book aside for now. I'll leave you a way in Jiankang. Young Master Shen is still young; why risk your life for a worthless ledger?"

"That's all?"

Mr. Zhou was taken aback.

"Three hundred taels," Shen Bai said. "Go back and tell Lord Wang that he underestimates us."

Zhou's smile vanished. "What does Young Master Shen mean by this?"

Shen Bai took a step forward, his voice not loud, but every word clear. "I will walk my own path in Jiankang; he doesn't need to stop me."

Zhou sneered. "Not just anyone can enter the Ministry of War."

"That's why I want that ledger."

Shen Bai turned and walked towards the tent, stopping after two steps without looking back.

"Three hundred taels is too little. Come back next time and bring the correct amount."

The curtains fell.

Zhou stood at the camp gate, his face ashen. He spat, "Soldier scoundrel," and turned to leave.

The curtain fell again. Shen Bai sat behind the desk, his fingers lightly tracing the account book.

Chen Qingzhi stood to the side, opened the account book, and glanced at the line "filial piety money".

"Three hundred taels," he said softly. "He's made his offer."

Shen Bai remained silent.

Chen Qingzhi closed the ledger and looked at Shen Bai. "You replied, 'Bring enough next time.' Wang Dechang will wonder—did you think the money was too little, or did you not intend to accept it at all?"

He paused for a moment. "If he keeps guessing wrong, he won't be able to sleep."

Shen Bai's lips twitched slightly. "You understand."

Chen Qingzhi didn't reply. He put the account book back on the table, turned around, and walked out. He paused at the entrance to the tent.

"However, if he can't sleep, you have to be able to."

He lifted the tent flap and went out.

The curtain fell again. Shen Bai sat behind the desk, his fingers lightly tracing the account book.

He recalled Chen Qingzhi's words: "If he can't sleep, you have to be able to."

Shen Bai closed the ledger.

"As long as he can't sleep."

He blew out the oil lamp.

at night.

Shen Bai sat in the tent, looking at the account book by the light of an oil lamp.

He had read the ledger many times, noting the date, amount, and destination of every expenditure. The entry for "Filial Piety Money" had no name, only a circle. It was different from the other entries.

He stared at that symbol for a long time.

Then he stood up, put on his coat, and went out of the tent.

The night breeze was cool.

He walked towards the edge of the camp, stopped at the door of Old Ghost's tent, and paused.

"Old ghost. Come with me."

He didn't turn around and walked towards the outside of the camp.

"There's more than one bandit stronghold in the area. Let's find out what's going on first."

Old Ghost followed behind, his steps very light.

The two walked out of the camp gate one after the other and disappeared into the night.

(End of Chapter Nineteen)