A Body of Wood and A Heart of Stone
Shen Yiren chuckled at her subordinates reactions of disbelief. “Don’t keep standing there. Help them move the stuff.”
Bai Yeshuang: “But…”
Shen Yiren dimpled. “Captain is right. In terms of rank, he is the leader of Liu Shan Men. I shouldn’t have had to handle those documents. It’s time to return them to the person in charge of them.”
Forget Song Ou. Even Song Chi’s brain had yet to come around. They knew Shen Yiren wouldn’t be be happy about it. They might’ve expected her to start swinging, screaming or reporting them to Emperor Yuansheng, but they never expected her to acquesice.
The entire event was premediated. The decree was real, but Song Ou just leveraged the circumstances to seize power. Liu Shan Men was a free bank account and army for Song Clan, and it wasn’t within the realm of things Song Chi was concerned about. Furthermore, according to Song Chi’s understanding,their clan had yet to earn Emperor Yuansheng’s trust. Therefore, in the current forecast, Liu Shan Men would neither have any big roles nor be of much help. Song Chi accounted for every strategic and physical challenge that might’ve presented itself. Accordingly, he had Song Clan’s adepts from Yangzhou hiding around Liu Shan Men in case he needed to get physical, but Shen Yiren’s reaction was unaccounted for and unforeseen.
The brothers couldn’t determine if Shen Yiren still had another trick up her sleeve or just feigning indifference.
“If you want to move stuff, help yourselves.” Shen Yiren had a glance at her study as though she was reluctantly bidding it farewell prior strolling off without looking back.
As Shen Yiren passed by him, Song Chi quietly said, “Had you stuck to being just my sister-in-law, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Shen Yiren just continued on her way, puzzling Song Chi even more, impelling him to question if he was wrong all along.
Once Shen Yiren was out of sight, Song Ou straightened up his back again and confronted Su Xiao because Su Xiao fought back hardest before. “Hear that?”
Su Xiao lowered his head and, in a muffled voice, answered, “I heard.”
“Understand where you stand now?”
“I do.”
Song Ou slapped Su Xiao over the head viciously. “What are you standing here for, then? I want you to start moving the scrolls first.”
Su Xiao looked Song Ou in the eye. “I. Refuse!”
“What did you say?! What gives you the right to refuse?!”
“None. I just refuse.”
If Song Ou couldn’t put the l-, boy in his place, how could he expect others to obey him at the office? Hence, he drew his sword and thundered, “You going to do as you’re told or not?!”
Su Xiao stepped back as the sword cut into his private space. “No!”
As soon as Song Ou missed his three-hit combo, he launched another one.
Six Phenomena Swordplay might’ve been a foundational discipline for Liu Shan Men’s constables, but constables were only taught the first three moves. The remaining three moves required one to have reached a certain level in their training to have any hope of mastering them.
Though Su Xiao recognised Song Ou’s three attacks were feints once he leaned his head back and saw Song Ou change direction to catch him with the fifth move, it was too late.
Since it was his first easy victory since serving as Liu Shan Men’s captain, Song Ou was immediately full of himself. “I could kill you without breaking a sweat. Now, are you going to do as you’re told or not?”
Su Xiao looked away as if Song Ou’s appearance was harmful on the eyes. “I know you hold a higher rank than I and that the decree came from His Majesty. You hold the advantage over me in every way, but I don’t respect you. I won’t take any orders from you. If you bite me, I’ll bite back. If you hit me, I’ll hit back. If you kill me, so what? People will remember me as a hero who stood his ground. It’s easy for you to kill me, but it’s impossible for you to make me submit.”
“You really want to die, don’t you?!”
Su Xiao looked Song Ou dead in the eye despite having a sword at his neck. “My last name is Su, first name is Xiao. Do as you please. I’m an impulsive person!”
Song Ou, face as white as a sheet, never really had an intention to kill anyone. After being publicly humiliated, though, his hand on his sword that was increasingly heavy started to shake. Suddenly, the weight was lifted. By the time he focused on it again, he felt a burning sensation from his hand.
Whilst disarming Song Ou, Tang Ye had already pulled Su Xiao behind him and retreated. “Captain, Xiao Han is a kid. There is no need to draw a sword on him, is there?”
As he didn’t want to spill blood, Song Ou responded, “As you have pleaded on his behalf, I shall spare him this once… Wait, Tang Ye, where are you going?”
Tang Ye looked over his shoulder. “Ming Feizhen has gone missing. I’m going to go search for him.”
As soon as he heard “Ming Feizhen”, Song Ou inhaled through his nose and then exclaimed, “I don’t approve!”
Tang Ye calmly replied, “Even His Majesty has given the decree to search for him. Why can’t I search for him?”
“That is precisely why you cannot go,” Song Chi condescendingly voiced. “Why waste extra resources when there a search team for him already exists? We have more important duties as constables of Liu Shan Men.”
“Such as daily patrols?”
“That is a service for the people. Isn’t that your favourite form of Liu Shan Men?”
Tang Ye stood as still as a statue for a while, then released Su Xiao and sighed. “Fine. Let’s fight.”
“Halt.” Shen Yiren drew all eyes over to her. She had attached Yujing to her stash and was trodding over atop Battle Cloud. “Why do you need to fight during a meeting?”
Song Ou: “These two. You sure have an eye for people. Not one of them follows instructions.”
Looking back condescendingly, Shen Yiren asked, “Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t ask the obvious! Su Xiao and Tang Ye! You said you’re impartial. What are you going to do about these two now?!”
“Simple.” Shen Yiren looked over to the duo. “Tang Ye, Su Xiao.”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye: “Present!”
“You would dare to defy orders?”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye: “Sorry!”
“Are apologies of any practical use?”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye: “No!”
“Do you accept your punishment?”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye: “Yes!”
“Okay, I hereby fire the two of you. Get out of Liu Shan Men! Now!”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye: “Understood!”
Su Xiao and Tang Ye draped their arms over each other’s shoulders and jogged off as though they were heading out for a picnic.
“Wh-wh-wh-wh-“ Song Ou had yet to react to that matter when he espied Shen Yiren ride off. “Wh-where are you going now?”
Shen Yiren casually answered, “I’ve thought long and hard. Rather than doing what I can’t, why not do what I can first?”
Everyone present: And what is that?
Shen Yiren smiled the same way she would after a refreshing swig of wine. “With my light sword and fast horse, I shall adventure in the pugilistic world once again.”
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