The journey began with three things Shen Rui disliked. A hard carriage seat. Dust. And people who believed leaving before sunrise was a reasonable decision. Shen Rui sat inside the carriage with his arms folded, his head leaning against the wooden wall. Across from him, Minister Han Zhi was carefully reviewing the documents concerning the missing grain, while two officials sat beside him, whispering about the investigation. Outside, the wheels rattled over the uneven road. If the heavens truly have eyes, they should see how much suffering I am enduring. Minister Han’s fingers paused over the document. One of the officials glanced at Shen Rui before quickly lowering his head. Shen Rui, unaware of their reactions, shifted into a more comfortable position. I was an assassin in my previous life. I survived bullets, explosions, and people who wanted my head. Yet somehow, a wooden carriage is what may finally kill me. Minister Han cleared his throat. “Young Master Shen, are you feeling unwell?” Shen Rui opened one eye. “I’m perfectly fine.” “You have been sighing for nearly half an hour.” “I’m mourning my lost sleep.” The official sitting beside Minister Han lowered his head to hide a smile. Minister Han stared at Shen Rui for a moment before returning to the documents. “You should take the investigation seriously.” “I am taking it seriously,” Shen Rui replied. “If I don’t find the truth, we might have to travel again.” His expression became solemn. “That would be unacceptable.” The carriage fell silent. Minister Han’s mouth twitched, though he quickly concealed it behind his sleeve. Shen Rui closed his eyes again. At least this minister understands the importance of avoiding unnecessary travel. Outside, the convoy continued along the road toward Qinghe Village. The investigation team consisted of Minister Han, three officials from the Ministry of Revenue, six imperial guards, and a small group of soldiers assigned by the military headquarters. They were expected to reach the village before nightfall, provided the roads remained clear. But the roads did not remain clear. Around midday, the convoy stopped abruptly. Shen Rui’s head struck the carriage wall. He opened his eyes. Excellent. Someone has finally decided to assassinate the carriage seat. A guard’s voice sounded outside. “Minister Han, the road ahead is blocked by a fallen tree.” Shen Rui rubbed his forehead and looked toward the carriage door. “A fallen tree?” he muttered. Minister Han lifted his head. “What is it?” “The road is blocked.” “I heard that.” “Then why ask?” Minister Han gave him a tired look. “You are becoming increasingly disrespectful.” “I’m only disrespectful when people ask questions they already know the answers to.” One of the officials coughed. It sounded suspiciously like laughter. Minister Han ignored him and stepped out of the carriage. Shen Rui waited for several breaths before following. The road ahead was narrow, bordered by dense trees and thick undergrowth. A large tree had fallen across the path, its branches spreading over the road like twisted fingers. Several soldiers were already attempting to clear it. Shen Rui stood beside the carriage and studied the tree. The trunk was thick, but the leaves were still green. There were no signs of decay, and the broken roots were strangely clean. He crouched near the edge of the road. The soil beneath the roots was damp. Yet the surrounding ground was dry. That tree didn’t fall naturally. His gaze moved toward the forest. The birds had gone quiet. There were no insects buzzing in the grass. And somewhere beyond the trees, a branch had snapped. Shen Rui’s expression did not change. There are people hiding nearby. He straightened slowly. Minister Han approached him. “What did you find?” Shen Rui looked at the fallen tree. “Someone put it here.” The soldiers stopped working. Minister Han’s eyes narrowed. “Are you certain?” “No.” “Then why say it?” “Because if I wait until I’m certain, someone might put another tree behind us.” The minister turned toward the guards. “Search the surrounding area. Stay alert.” The soldiers immediately spread out. Shen Rui sighed. I only wanted to sleep. Why does everyone keep making me demonstrate basic survival skills? A faint rustling came from the forest. One of the guards suddenly shouted, “There!” An arrow shot from between the trees. It flew directly toward Minister Han. Shen Rui moved before he had time to think. His hand seized the minister’s sleeve and pulled him sideways. The arrow passed between them, striking the carriage behind with a sharp crack. Several guards drew their swords. “Protect Minister Han!” More arrows flew from the forest. The convoy erupted into chaos. Shen Rui dropped to the ground as an arrow swept over his head. He rolled behind a large stone, his eyes scanning the trees. Six attackers. No—eight. Two positioned on the left ridge, three concealed behind the trees, and three moving toward the rear of the convoy. Their formation was organized. Not bandits. Trained fighters. Wonderful. They even brought reinforcements. How considerate. A soldier rushed toward the attackers, but one of the hidden men stepped from behind a tree and struck him across the chest. The soldier stumbled backward. Shen Rui’s gaze sharpened. The attacker’s movements were disciplined, but his left foot dragged slightly when he turned. An old injury. Shen Rui memorized the detail automatically. Then he remembered that he was supposed to be a fourteen-year-old noble’s son who had never learned martial arts properly. He immediately lowered his head. Don’t stand out. Don’t help too much. Let the guards do their jobs. A man suddenly appeared beside the stone. His blade flashed. Shen Rui leaned backward, allowing the sword to pass inches from his face. The attacker froze, clearly surprised that his target had avoided the strike. Shen Rui looked up at him. “Are you finished?” The man’s expression twisted, and he swung again. Shen Rui grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into his eyes. The attacker cursed. Shen Rui kicked his knee. The man collapsed with a strangled cry. Shen Rui caught the fallen sword before it struck the ground, then immediately tossed it aside. Too much trouble. Someone else can pick that up. He seized a broken branch instead and struck the attacker’s wrist. The man’s weapon fell into the dirt. To anyone watching, the movements appeared clumsy and desperate. But the attacker never managed to rise again. From the corner of his eye, Shen Rui noticed Minister Han being surrounded by guards. The soldiers had pushed the attackers away from the carriage, but the ambush had clearly been planned to separate the officials from their protection. Someone wasn’t merely trying to kill them. They were trying to seize the documents. Shen Rui turned toward the carriage. A shadow slipped beneath it. There you are. He picked up a stone and threw it. The figure beneath the carriage hissed and rolled away. A dagger flashed in his hand. Shen Rui rushed forward, not to attack, but to kick a loose wheel chock beneath the man’s feet. The assassin stumbled. A guard noticed and immediately struck him down. “Search him!” Shen Rui shouted. The guard dragged the man upright and searched his clothing. From inside the assassin’s sleeve, he retrieved a small metal token engraved with a symbol resembling a black crow. Minister Han took the token. His face changed. “What is it?” Shen Rui asked. The minister did not answer immediately. He stared at the symbol as if he had seen it before. Then he folded his fingers around the token. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Shen Rui looked at him. Whenever someone says that, it usually means it is exactly something I need to concern myself with. He glanced toward the forest. The attackers were retreating. Two had been captured, three were injured, and the remaining men had disappeared among the trees. The guards wanted to pursue them, but Minister Han raised his hand. “Do not chase them. Secure the convoy first.” Shen Rui looked at the forest once more. The attackers had withdrawn too quickly. They had not expected resistance from the young noble. And they had not succeeded in taking the documents. This was a warning. He looked at the carriage, where the original Yunzhou records remained locked inside. Someone knows what we found. A cold wind moved through the trees. Far away in the capital, inside the imperial study, Xiao Jingyuan received the first report. The messenger knelt before the emperor, his head lowered. “Your Majesty, the investigation convoy was attacked on the road to Qinghe Village. Several assassins were involved. Two were captured, and the rest escaped.” Xiao Jingyuan’s hand stopped over the memorial he was reading. “Casualties?” “Three soldiers injured. No officials were killed.” “And Shen Rui?” The messenger hesitated. “Seventh Young Master Shen is unharmed.” Xiao Jingyuan’s eyes lifted. “Unharmed?” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Did he hide?” The messenger lowered his head further. “He… assisted in stopping one of the attackers.” The emperor’s expression remained unreadable. “Describe how.” The messenger repeated what the guards had reported: Shen Rui had avoided an attack, thrown dirt into an assassin’s eyes, and incapacitated him with a broken branch. Xiao Jingyuan listened without interruption. A fourteen-year-old boy from the Marquis of Yong’an household should not have moved so quickly. He should not have recognized the threat before the guards. And he certainly should not have reacted with such calm. “Did he display any martial technique?” “No, Your Majesty. His movements appeared disorderly.” Xiao Jingyuan leaned back. Disorderly. That was what someone wanted others to believe. “Send another team,” he ordered. “Increase their protection without making it obvious.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “And investigate the symbol found on the captured assassin.” The messenger bowed. “This servant obeys.” After he left, Xiao Jingyuan turned toward the window. Shen Rui had been sent to investigate missing grain. Yet someone had already tried to silence him before he reached the village. The emperor’s fingers tapped once against the desk. What exactly are you hiding, Shen Rui? Meanwhile, on the road, Shen Rui sat beneath a tree while the soldiers repaired the damaged carriage. His sleeve had been torn, and a small cut marked his cheek. Minister Han stood before him. “You saved my life today.” Shen Rui waved a hand. “Please don’t say it like that. It makes it sound as though I did something impressive.” “You did.” “I was protecting the documents.” Minister Han studied him. “Not me?” “The documents are heavier. They would be more difficult to replace.” The minister stared at him. Shen Rui looked away. If he thanks me again, I’m going to demand compensation. Minister Han’s expression grew complicated. “Why did you notice the tree was deliberately placed?” Shen Rui considered the question. “Because the roots were too clean.” “That is all?” “And the birds were quiet.” Minister Han’s eyes narrowed. Shen Rui immediately yawned. “Also, I was bored.” The minister did not appear convinced. Before he could ask anything else, a soldier approached. “Minister Han, the carriage is ready. However, we should not continue traveling before nightfall. We can camp near the river ahead.” Minister Han nodded. “Very well.” Shen Rui’s eyes widened. Camp? Outside? In the wilderness? He looked toward the distant sky. The sun was already beginning to descend. I would like to formally withdraw from this investigation. But the convoy continued moving. By nightfall, they reached a small riverside clearing. The guards set up tents while the officials gathered around a fire. The captured assassins were bound beneath strict watch. Shen Rui sat on a folded blanket, holding a bowl of hot soup. He took one sip. At least the soup is decent. Across the fire, Minister Han suddenly looked toward him. Shen Rui blinked. “What?” “Nothing,” the minister said. Shen Rui narrowed his eyes. Everyone in this world says ‘nothing’ far too often. He lowered his head and continued eating. Beyond the campfire, the forest stood dark and silent. A figure watched from the shadows. The man’s gaze rested on the tents, then shifted toward the prisoner tied near the guards. One of the captured assassins slowly lifted his head. Their eyes met. The prisoner gave the slightest nod. The watcher turned and disappeared into the darkness. Inside his tent, Shen Rui placed his empty bowl on the ground and lay down. Tomorrow, we reach the village. We investigate the grain. We return to the capital. He pulled the blanket over his head. And then I sleep. Outside, a soft whistle sounded from the forest. The captured assassin smiled. The investigation had only just begun.

The Road to Qinghe Village