Chapter Thirty-Two: The Rainy Season and an Appointment with an Old Friend

The soldier in the tent felt somewhat awkward and could not help but cough softly, hoping Li Zisheng would give him some word. Since he was carrying out his master’s orders, he dared not act on his own; he had only come to speak to Li Zisheng directly. If his master were to learn of it, he would surely have a way in but none out.

So for the moment he did not know what to do and could only stand there in silence, his face stiff with embarrassment.

Li Zisheng finished his meal at an unhurried pace. Bao Liang, as if he had timed it precisely, came to the tent just as Li Zisheng finished eating, announced himself outside, and only entered after receiving permission.

As soon as he stepped inside, Bao Liang saw a soldier coated in dust and travel grime. This man was clearly not one of the soldiers from Ling Prefecture, but since his young master was in no trouble, there was no need for needless suspicion.

After bowing to his master and lifting the dishes to leave, he heard Li Zisheng suddenly ask, "Bao Liang, who is this person? When did he enter the tent? How dare you bring an unknown stranger into the tent? Have your days been too comfortable, that you have forgotten this is the camp of Ling Prefecture, the place where the army is stationed? If some petty villain were to slip in, would that not let the secrets of the Great Tang’s military affairs leak out and give malicious men a loophole to exploit for no reason at all? If state matters were delayed, it would not be something a mere servant like you could bear."

Bao Liang was quick-witted. One look told him clearly that this young soldier had displeased his young master.

The little soldier standing aside was even more shocked and frightened. What sort of man was this? If that brat went on like this, he would probably be made out to be some traitor selling out his country. Once that happened, there would be no way to explain himself. He had better speak at once.

Having made up his mind, the soldier was about to bow to Li Zisheng and indicate that he truly had business here.

But Bao Liang had no intention of giving him the chance. He stepped directly in front of the soldier, set the tray down, dropped to one knee, and repeatedly said he dared not, while his hands were already moving, as though he meant to drag the soldier down to his knees at once.

The soldier was not pleased. Why should he kneel before a mere boy for no reason? Even if this boy was a guest of his master, as the saying went, a man’s knees hold gold. He was a full-grown man; how could anyone order him about so casually? If word got out, how would he ever show his face in this land?

Thinking of this, a trace of anger appeared in his eyes. He was one of his master’s men and held no low standing. Yet after arriving here, Li Zisheng had not taken the chance to build ties with him, but had instead left him standing there. That was bad enough. Now even the servant treated him with no respect. Thinking of who he was, to be treated like this was simply outrageous.

So he remained standing without kneeling, glaring back in fury to see exactly what Li Zisheng intended to do.

Seeing this, Bao Liang moved at once and seized him. The soldier was no pushover either; he twisted away and tried to pin Bao Liang down directly. Yet to his surprise, Bao Liang was even more nimble. He slipped past, delivered a left kick, and before the soldier could recover, sent him stumbling. In an instant, Bao Liang had him subdued.

The soldier was pressed flat against the tent floor while Li Zisheng sat calmly in the seat of honor, steady as a mountain and utterly unmoved.

"Hmph. Kill me or cut me down as you please. You two may do as you like. I, Zhou Lin, will not so much as blink."

This attitude was within Li Zisheng’s expectations, but the soldier’s name made him pause. Could this be one of the Zhou family members targeted by Deng Qing? If so, why had he come so brazenly to find him at this time?

"Young soldier, what does your Zhou family have to do with you?" Li Zisheng asked with a slight furrow in his brow. His gaze was displeased, though he did not erupt.

"Hmph, the people of the Zhou family are nothing but jumping clowns," the soldier said, and the scorn in his eyes did not seem false. The stronger that contempt became, the more surprised Li Zisheng was.

"Oh? So you are not of the Zhou family?"

"Of course I am of the Zhou family. I merely look down on it." After saying this, the soldier’s brows and eyes were filled with unmistakable arrogance, as though he served some extraordinarily formidable power.

This attitude was somewhat beyond Li Zisheng’s expectations.

"Then speak. Why have you come here? Why did you not send word first and instead enter the tent without announcement? What business do you have?" Li Zisheng’s tone remained mild as he continued leafing through the books and records in his hands. He did not even glance at the soldier.

"Zhou Lin was ordered by my master to bring Young Master Li a message," Zhou Lin said. Seeing that Li Zisheng’s expression remained as still as water, he could not help but admire him. This Li Zisheng truly was formidable, able to conceal his emotions so completely.

"What is your master’s identity?" Li Zisheng did not ask what the message was. A message from an unknown person was not something to be accepted lightly and then forgotten.

"My master’s name cannot be spoken so casually. But you are sure to know the name of my young lady. She is the owner of the Three-Flavors Residence in Ling Prefecture."

At once, Li Zisheng understood where Zhou Lin had come from.

"Very well. Speak. What message did your master have you bring?" Li Zisheng no longer pressed him about the identity of the person behind him and asked directly what had been conveyed, while also signaling Bao Liang to release Zhou Lin.

Seeing that Li Zisheng would not press further and that he had been released, Zhou Lin was not an ungrateful man. His tone grew somewhat more respectful, at least much more so than when he had first entered. His heart had even developed a trace of reverence for Li Zisheng.

"Young Master, my master asked me to bring you a single line: the Medicine King has already been found, and you have already been allowed to see him. If Young Master has time tomorrow, might you honor us by coming to the second floor of the Three-Flavors Residence in the marketplace?"

Zhou Lin repeated his master’s words exactly.

But to Li Zisheng, the meaning was different. The Medicine King had already been found, and he had already been allowed to see him. That part was true enough, but had that not been due to the mysterious Heavenly Mechanism Institute? Why would the owner of the Three-Flavors Residence say this to him? Could it be an implication that the Three-Flavors Residence was connected to the mysterious Heavenly Mechanism Institute?

Li Zisheng could not help but speculate inwardly, though not the slightest change showed on his face.

Zhou Lin stood there, unable to detect any movement in Li Zisheng’s heart. No wonder his master valued this young man so highly. Merely his age, paired with a steadiness beyond his years, was enough to prove his extraordinary nature. Not to mention that he had earned both his master’s and young lady’s admiration. Such a thing was no easy matter. Talent was abundant in the world, and he had seen many gifted people before, but among all those he had known, none had ever been regarded with such seriousness.