Li Dao Xuan was holding a bowl of dry-fried beef rice noodles, slurping with professional focus, while his attention casually followed Bai Yuan on what was officially labeled a business trip.
Bai Yuan wore white, as always—clean enough to offend reality—while a massive, coffin-shaped case hung across his back. Inside it was not a corpse, but something that created them efficiently. Around him walked a handful of trusted retainers, the kind who didn't ask questions and carried rope just in case.
They passed through Quangou Village, followed the official road east, and crossed into Heyang County.
At this distance, Li Dao Xuan still had vision.
Gao Village sat right on the border between Chengcheng and Heyang, which meant his awareness had already leaked into both counties. He could see towns, villages, smoke from kitchens, and the general flavor of local suffering.
He just hadn't bothered touching Heyang yet.
Too much land. Too many idiots. Too little time.
But now Bai Yuan was stepping in.
That made it convenient.
"Fine," Li Dao Xuan muttered between mouthfuls. "Let's expand the map."
Not long after entering Heyang, a welcoming party appeared. At its head stood Feng Jun, the Heyang magistrate. He was young—barely past thirty—and already looked like someone whose lifespan had been shortened by paperwork.
"You are Bai Yuan?" Feng Jun asked, clasping his hands.
"That would be me."
"I am Feng Jun." He sighed immediately, like a man used to doing so. "Fan Shan Yue has been… energetic lately. I heard Chengcheng's Bai Yuan organized a civilian militia, repelled bandits, and specializes in solving problems."
Bai Yuan smiled. The kind of smile that made problems nervous.
"I do."
Feng Jun's eyes lit up—and immediately his nose started bleeding.
"Oh," he said cheerfully, wiping it. "This happens whenever I feel strong emotions. Joy, fear, hope, despair. My body is very honest."
Bai Yuan stared.
"…Impressive."
Feng Jun leaned closer. "Tell me. Will you bring the Chengcheng militia?"
"No need," Bai Yuan said lightly. "I only need to know where Fan Shan Yue goes when he leaves his camp."
Feng Jun blinked. "That's it?"
"Within an army," Bai Yuan continued, "I can take his life from far enough away that even Heaven will need a moment to notice."
That sentence caused Feng Jun's nose to bleed again.
"…Right," he said weakly. "Important reminder. Fan Shan Yue has an official appointment. If he dies, it must not trace back to you."
Bai Yuan nodded. "Naturally. If you are curious, you may watch."
Feng Jun hesitated.
Watching an assassination of an official was illegal.
Not watching it felt irresponsible.
He made a note to change clothes.
"Fan Shan Yue is camped at West Ox Village, north of the county," Feng Jun said. "Several villages nearby have already been looted."
"Good," Bai Yuan said. "Wait for news."
As Bai Yuan departed, Feng Jun changed into plain clothes.
Thinking about peace returning to Heyang made him happy.
His nose immediately bled all over the fresh outfit.
"Another one," he sighed. "I'll need another shirt."
At the same time, on Huanglong Mountain.
Inside the temporary camp of Gao Village's civilian militia, Cheng Xu unrolled a message taken from a bamboo tube. His expression darkened.
"What is it?" Gao Chu Wu asked.
"Foreign invaders breached the passes. The frontier generals marched east. Shaanxi is hollowing out." Cheng Xu folded the paper. "Dao Xuan Tianzun says we move faster. Before everything collapses, Wang Zuo Gua must die."
Gao Chu Wu nodded fiercely. "That makes sense. Right, Da Niu?"
Zheng Da Niu swallowed a mouthful of dessert. "This eight-treasure rice is excellent."
Everyone stared.
Cheng Xu burned the message and spread a map. He tapped a valley.
"This is Wang Zuo Gua's nest. We strike once. End it cleanly."
The militia roared approval.
Then Cheng Xu frowned. "Why does it feel like someone is missing?"
"I'm here!" Gao Chu Wu said.
"So am I!" Zheng Da Niu added.
"I meant the third idiot."
A soldier stepped forward. "Flat-Rabbit went scouting at dawn with Shi Jian. He said reconnaissance was his destiny and Shi Jian should call him grandfather."
Cheng Xu pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Of course he did."
Far away, unseen, Li Dao Xuan finished his noodles.
He wiped his mouth, satisfied.
Bandits were moving. Officials were bleeding. Systems were cracking.
Everything was right on schedule.