Chapter 22: The Young Master's Secret

“Sheng You was scared to death when he couldn't find you at the usual spot.”

“It was only because Taohua said you certainly couldn't be dead and told him not to act rashly to avoid making things worse that he was able to calm him down.”

The boatman pressed his hand to his chest, then patted it again.

“Later, when we went to Lu County and saw the marks you left, everyone was finally certain you were alright.”

“But why have you returned to Zhao County?”

Mo Zheng looked at the fragmented lights dancing on the river surface. “Mr. Jiang’s family died because of me. Since I am alive, I must naturally avenge them.”

The boatman frowned. “Young Master, this is too risky. Mr. Jiang’s family sacrificed themselves for you; if something happens to you now, they will truly die without peace.”

Mo Zheng fell silent for a moment. He did not answer whether it was a risk, nor did he say he wouldn't do it again. He only asked, “Have you found out the origins of the people who tried to kill me?”

The boatman said, “These people used the unrelated Li family as a proxy; they didn't act personally and left no traces. The few survivors we managed to catch up with that night committed suicide on the spot. We still have no leads to this day.”

He lowered his head.

“I am incompetent. All these years, I have failed to erase the traces, which exposed Mr. Jiang and put you in danger.”

Mo Zheng watched the slowly flowing river water.

“It wasn't incompetence; it was unavoidable,” he said softly. “We chose to expose our traces back then in order to survive. We cannot complain about our past actions just because we are in danger now.”

The boatman’s expression grew complex, his gaze drifting toward the water as if lost in reminiscence.

“You and Grandfather Zhang were eunuchs with no money and no survival skills, and I was a sickly two-year-old child. How were we supposed to live?”

“Only by revealing my identity could I become a 'valuable commodity.'”

“Others weighed my value, and in exchange, we gained a roof over our heads, enough food and warm clothes, people to serve us, and the ability to read, write, and learn martial arts.”

“When Grandfather Zhang was ill, he could seek medical help, and when he died, his grand-nephew was there to handle his affairs so he could be buried with dignity.”

“Uncle Hong, you can now adopt ten sons; you never have to worry about your ancestral line again.”

Hong Lin, the boatman, was amused. Snapping out of his reminiscence, he said, “Listening to you, Young Master, it sounds like we’ve lived quite well.”

His voice dropped as he looked toward the river.

“If I hadn't experienced it firsthand, I would have believed it.”

His eyes turned cold and mocking.

*A valuable commodity.*

How could a commodity ever have a truly good life?

To be weighed, imprisoned, resold, and fought over.

They drifted from one hand to another.

They spoke of having a roof over their heads, but most of the time they were locked in secret rooms or cellars, hidden from the sun. Fearing they would attract attention, they wore coarse, tattered clothes and ate meager meals.

They spoke of having people to serve them, but in reality, they were under constant surveillance.

As for teaching them to read and write, it was merely to keep the child quiet.

It was the child himself who endured the pain of hanging himself by his hair and piercing his thighs with awls, reading all those books by eavesdropping and peeking.

Learning martial arts was nothing more than a way to entertain people with the child.

It was the child himself who endured the mockery, crawling and rolling through hardships to hone his skills.

As for Grandfather Zhang’s illness and his adoption of foster sons—that had nothing to do with those people. It was the result of them enduring countless tribulations to finally break free from those people, build their own forces, and stop being someone else's commodity to finally take control of their own lives.

They had worked hard all these years to hide their tracks and erase the traces they once left, but...

“It seems we still failed to erase them.”

At this, Hong Lin struck the floor of the boat in frustration.

“Mr. Jiang was merely staying with the Qi family for three months while studying in Ganzhou. The Qi family was destroyed shortly after, yet someone still managed to trace it.”

“Traces of existence cannot be completely erased,” Mo Zheng said. “Since we’ve been found, we will deal with whatever comes our way.”

He looked at the boatman and smiled.

“Fortunately, we are no longer in a position where we must sell ourselves just to survive.”

“If they want our lives, it won't be that easy.”

Indeed, they now had their own men and a place to hide; they were no longer easily manipulated.

Hong Lin smiled.

“However, the enemy is in the dark while you are in the light. Go back to Yunling to lie low first,” he said.

Mo Zheng shook his head and looked toward the cabin.

“I still have to escort Miss Yang to the capital. Regardless, she is the one who protected me.”

In the mountains that night, he had been fleeing.

The sedative in his system had worn off, but he sensed more than one group of pursuers behind him.

Escaping would not be easy.

At that moment, he heard the sounds of fighting coming from the forest ahead.

So, he saved that young lady, allowing the people chasing her to collide with the people chasing him.

A chaotic melee ensued.

He used their momentum against them.

He confused their vision.

He escaped successfully and even obtained a new identity to mask his tracks.

The lady's guard.

A slight smile curled the corners of Mo Zheng's mouth.

If not for this lady, he would never have had the chance to risk returning to Zhao County to avenge the Jiang family.

“I, Mo Zheng, settle my debts of vengeance and repay my debts of kindness. I must deliver her safely to the capital.”

Hong Lin hesitated. “But that is the capital. It is too dangerous for you to go there, especially now that the Li family has mentioned the treasure of the former dynasty. The Imperial Court will surely investigate.”

Mo Zheng shook his head. “Uncle Hong, as long as I am born and as long as I live, I will always be in danger. This is my fate; I cannot escape it.”

The fragmented light rippled across the youth's face, carrying a hint of melancholy.

*Fate,* Hong Lin sighed inwardly and lowered his head. “Yes, I obey your command.”

Mo Zheng chuckled softly. “Uncle Hong, do not worry. The most dangerous place is also the safest. Once I reach the capital, I might actually be safer.”

Hong Lin looked up. “Young Master, let Sheng You and Taohua go to the capital.”

Mo Zheng nodded. “You take the people from the mountains and retreat as quickly as possible to avoid being wiped out.”

Hong Lin complied.

Mo Zheng said no more and stood up.

Perhaps due to the strain on his shoulders and back, he let out a soft breath.

Thinking of something, Hong Lin asked hurriedly, “Young Master, how is your injury?”

First, he had been ambushed with drugs and had to run for his life, so he must have been injured. Then, he had returned to Zhao County and killed over a dozen people alone; it was impossible for him to be unscathed.

Furthermore, he had been intercepted by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. To prevent them from discovering his old wounds, he had inflicted new ones on himself during the conflict.

“I controlled the angle at the time so the guard's blade wouldn't cut deep,” Mo Zheng said. “I only layered it over the original wound, making the opening larger.”

Thinking of this, he looked toward the cabin.

He had already prepared for the worst-case scenario. If things had truly turned dire, he could have used Yang Luo's true identity to avoid being cut down on the spot.

He just hadn't expected things not to reach that worst-case scenario. Before Wei Jiao could even investigate, Yang Luo had directly shouted out her identity after taking a single blade.

This lady was even kinder than he had anticipated. Kind people should be rewarded.

Mo Zheng smiled faintly and walked toward the cabin.

“I am going to change my medicine.”

Watching his retreating figure, Hong Lin hurriedly said, “Young Master, let me help you.”

Mo Zheng waved him off without turning around. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Hong Lin hesitated. “Young Master, I am an eunuch.”

His voice was very low, perhaps unheard by the youth, who walked straight into the cabin.

Hong Lin let out a soft breath and lowered his head to pole the boat, making its passage through the night smoother.

...

...

Inside the small compartment of the cabin, no lamp was lit. Yang Luo was sleeping soundly in her small bed.

Mo Zheng stood by the other small bed. He removed his outer robe and inner garment, then unwound the thick bandages wrapped around his shoulders and back.

The night wind blew, and the light from outside danced through the window into the cabin, scattering across his bare, standing body.

Slender shoulders, a thin back, a lithe waist, and delicate curves.

Mo Zheng turned his head slightly. The medicinal powder in his hand fell like snow, landing on a gruesome wound on his shoulder and back.

Everyone has their secrets.

The fallen lady has hers.

The hunter who saved the person in the mountains has his.

*I didn't expect so many people to have guessed it already, hahaha. As expected, nothing escapes the eyes of the readers.*

(End of Chapter)