Chapter 1978: Open and Covert Battles

Every breath people took in the early morning felt like standing in a blessed land, where all their aches, pains, and fatigue were completely dispelled. After consuming the spirit elixir, their hunger vanished, and their craving for food significantly decreased.

However, Tu Shanfang’s night raids were forced to halt. During the day, Guo Baiyu would often launch his attacks.

The combination of war and the spirit rain made this peculiar fortnight unforgettable for Fan Shuang.

That afternoon, as soon as he arrived home, Father Fan pulled him aside and whispered:

“Something’s not right. I need your advice. You know I have a good relationship with Clerk Liu from the county government, right?”

“Yes, what about it?” Clerk Liu’s real name was Liu Honghua. He worked as a scribe for County Governor Huang, writing announcements and notes for the county government. Being educated men of similar age, he and Father Fan got along well. They often ate and chatted together, and before food became scarce, they frequently went for a drink after work.

“Sometimes we’d talk about a few county secrets that ordinary people don't know about. Two nights ago, Clerk Liu somehow got his hands on a jar of wine. I hadn’t had any in ages, so I had a couple of drinks with him, and we chatted for a while.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“We were happy talking about other things, but when the jar of wine was nearly empty, Clerk Liu casually brought up the guardian beasts, saying that their contribution was at least 70% to Miancheng’s continued resistance.”

“That’s true,”

“Unfortunately, during these days of resisting Guo Baiyu, the guardian beasts have suffered significant damage. Two of them were completely destroyed, and nobody in our city knows how to repair them. If they all break, we’ll be in big trouble.”

Fan Shuang nodded: “Ten days ago, when Guo’s army attacked the city, one guardian beast emerged from the wall and started attacking people. However, it was ambushed by three strange-looking demonic creatures. Although it killed two of them, its own neck was broken. Since then, Miancheng has been extremely cautious about using the guardian beasts.”

These were secrets unknown to the common people. Only those working in the county government had access to such inside information.

Father Fan continued: “Liu Honghua then told me that County Governor Huang had mentioned these guardian beasts, named ‘Zhuo Qing,’ were transported from Mangzhou in Yaoguo. They originally guarded the main city gate of Mangzhou and were treasures left over from the Middle Ages. After Bai Tan’s rebellion, Mangzhou was also attacked. These guardian beasts were somehow taken, smuggled out of the country, and then purchased at a high price by the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce before being installed on Miancheng’s battlements.”

Mangzhou, originally Yaoguo's second-largest city, had enjoyed nearly a century of peace and prosperity. Xue Zongwu's father-in-law lived in Xiaotao Mountain Villa in Mangzhou, which is why the area became a crucial site for the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities' killings.

Fan Shuang shook his head: “So high-tech? No wonder nobody in our city knows how to repair them.”

“Liu Honghua also asked me if I had seen these guardian beasts in Mangzhou?” Father Fan said. “I had too much to drink at the time and blurted out that they weren’t Mangzhou’s guardian beasts.”

“You knew?” Fan Shuang had also been to Mangzhou but had never paid attention to the guardian beasts, as they usually didn't show themselves.

It was said that over a hundred years ago, the rune arrays driving the guardian beasts had to be drawn directly on stone walls, making them easy to destroy. In recent centuries, with more sophisticated craftsmanship, the beasts’ rune arrays could be integrated directly into the city walls, almost completely hidden, greatly enhancing security and making the beasts themselves more concealed.

“Yes, I knew! I once accompanied Lord Wang on an inspection tour to Mangzhou and went up to the city walls to see the guardian beasts there. Mangzhou’s guardian beasts had lion heads and lion claws, completely different in appearance from the Zhuo Qing beasts. And the number wasn’t right either; Mangzhou had eight guardian beasts in total.”

Fan Shuang’s heart sank: “Wait, did you tell Clerk Liu that too?”

“Ah, yes, I did,” Father Fan lowered his voice. “Then Clerk Liu very naturally asked me, ‘So, they’re different from the ones here?’”

“I only managed to say ‘no’ before suddenly remembering what you had told me earlier, and I swallowed the rest of my words.” His son had previously warned him not to mention anything about the guardian beasts to anyone, absolutely anyone!

He held up five fingers: “Miancheng has this many guardian beasts in total.”

“I’ve been uneasy for the past two days, and thinking back, Liu Honghua often brought up personnel matters and secrets within the county government, even after work, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” Father Fan scoffed. “Have you ever seen a normal official eager to discuss such things after their shift?”

“…No, I haven’t,” Fan Shuang agreed. They were all officials, and after work, none of them wanted to dwell on their professional duties. Fan Shuang then asked:

“Did he often ask about things in the county accounts?”

Father Fan thought for a moment: “Now that I think about it, it seems… he brought it up casually two or three times.”

Could it be?

“What’s Liu Honghua’s background?”

“He seems to be from Miancheng, otherwise County Governor Huang wouldn’t have employed him.”

Fan Shuang said seriously: “Father, you’re very observant. Something is indeed off with Liu Honghua. I’ll go talk to Captain Tu about it.”

He sought out Tu Shanfang because he and his father would likely have to go through Clerk Liu to see County Governor Huang.

Tu Shanfang was frowning at a list. Seeing Fan Shuang arrive, he beckoned: “Help me read these two characters. What are they?”

He had learned many characters over the past year or so, but obscure ones still stumped him.

Fan Shuang lowered his gaze and saw it was a medical prescription. The two characters Tu Shanfang pointed to were “Qiōng.” “This herb is used to treat internal injuries, swelling, pain, and headaches,” he explained.

He then pulled Tu Shanfang into a small alley and, in a low voice, relayed Father Fan’s suspicions.

“Liu Honghua, you say?” A fierce glint flashed in Tu Shanfang’s eyes. He grunted, “Understood.”

That evening, Tu Shanfang found Fan Shuang and informed him:

“Liu Honghua is a spy.”

So it was true! Fan Shuang was slightly startled: “Whose spy is he?”

“A faction from the east, led by Ran Hao, who has now joined forces with Guo Baiyu,” Tu Shanfang said, pointing west. “Liu Honghua is a devout believer of Miaozhan Heaven and thus despises the Dragon God. Guo Baiyu tasked him with gathering intelligence on the guardian beasts! This information isn’t recorded in the county accounts, but he knew your father was present for the inspection when Miancheng received the guardian beasts, which is why he deliberately tried to extract information. His questioning methods were subtle, unnoticed by anyone else in the government except your father. So, he did indeed manage to extract a lot of classified information!”

Fan Shuang’s heart tightened. The guardian beasts were currently Miancheng’s primary defense; if Guo Baiyu fully understood their capabilities, the consequences would be dire.

“When we caught him, he had already gathered a lot of information about the city and was preparing to secretly hand it over in two days! If he and Guo Baiyu had succeeded, Miancheng’s defenses would become even more vulnerable!” Tu Shanfang patted his shoulder. “Brother Fan, you and your father have rendered a great service!”

Fan Shuang let out a long sigh of relief: “It’s good that he was caught; it’s good that the intelligence didn’t get out!”

Indeed, the very next day, County Governor Huang of Miancheng publicly praised Fan Shuang and his father, awarded them thirty taels of silver, and promoted them on the spot.

Under the admiring and envious gazes inside and outside the county government, the father and son straightened their backs.