Heaven's Silence

Chapter 77 – City of Immersed Snow

As they were about to reach the street leading to Chun Qiong's manor, Wen Chaoshen asked Ma Huan if there was any medicine to help treat A Shui's injuries. Ma Huan replied:

"Don't waste your effort."

"Her injuries can't be treated with ordinary medicine."

"These aren't normal wounds; they're injuries left by a Celestial Realm cultivator, imbued with Dao essence. There are only a handful of people in the world who can heal such wounds, and the only one I know is the Beihai Daoist, but he's as elusive as a dragon..."

Wen Chaoshen was shocked and said:

"Was there a Celestial Realm cultivator involved in the Wind City incident?"

Ma Huan gazed into the distance, his graying hair dusted with snow, adding a cold, aged look, yet his tone carried genuine reverence.

"There was one."

"But she killed him."

Wen Chaoshen stopped in his tracks. As their eyes met, the shock in his eyes was unmistakable.

"A Shui... is also in the Celestial Realm?"

Ma Huan shook his head.

"No, she's not."

"I've roamed the Martial World for most of my life, heard countless tales of extraordinary people, and read many wild histories, but this is the first time I've seen such a living legend."

"The A Shui you speak of is the only warrior I know of who has slain a Celestial Realm cultivator while being in the Nether Passage Realm."

"Though the two realms are just a step apart, the difference is vast as heaven and earth. In the past thousand years, no one has done it. Anyone who claimed so would be laughed at for their ignorance, yet this legendary feat truly happened."

"That's why I said earlier, in the battle of Wind City, she should have become famous across the land."

"But that battle also damaged her foundation, causing her realm to fall, nearly costing her life, leaving her with hidden injuries from Dao essence. It's uncertain how many years she has left."

Wen Chaoshen slowed his pace as he saw the Chun Manor plaque ahead and asked Ma Huan:

"Can a fallen realm be restored?"

Ma Huan remained silent for a long time, finally uttering just one word:

"Difficult."

Wen Chaoshen nodded, thanked the old man, and knocked on the door to meet Chun Qiong.

Although it was already late, Chun Qiong was not asleep. From his furrowed brows, Wen Chaoshen saw his worry.

His unexpected late-night visit even brought a hint of surprise to Chun Qiong.

"It's so late, what brings you here?"

Wen Chaoshen didn't hesitate and directly asked Chun Qiong to use the pretext of an investigation to seal off his courtyard, allowing no one but the black dog to approach.

Chun Qiong, sensing something might have happened tonight, quickly inquired about the reason.

Wen Chaoshen said:

"Many people came to Wangchuan tonight. I don't know if it has anything to do with Lu Chuan."

Chun Qiong glanced out the window at the snowstorm, seemingly realizing the danger, his eyelids twitching.

"...Are they all dead?"

Wen Chaoshen nodded:

"Yes."

"There are dozens of bodies in the courtyard now. If county residents see them tomorrow, it will cause unnecessary panic."

Chun Qiong clenched his fists, paced back and forth in the room, and instead of addressing the bodies, asked:

"How is that woman now?"

Wen Chaoshen knew the real reason behind Chun Qiong's inquiry about A Shui's condition. To reassure him, he calmly said:

"She's poisoned, but it's not a big issue. She has practiced a unique art that can expel poison. She'll be fine after resting for two or three days."

Hearing this, Chun Qiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

One of the reasons he was willing to cooperate with Wen Chaoshen was the martial prowess A Shui had shown.

Without A Shui as a stabilizing force, Chun Qiong would have to reconsider his options.

"The issue of the bodies is easy to solve. Tonight, I'll send some personal guards from my household to your courtyard. Before the sun rises tomorrow, these bodies will disappear without a trace..."

In the flickering candlelight, Wen Chaoshen's face appeared both bright and dark, giving Chun Qiong an inexplicable chill, and his words indeed sent shivers down Chun Qiong's spine:

"...Lord Chun, with so many people dead tonight, don't you think it's a waste to just bury the bodies silently?"

Chun Qiong swallowed quietly and asked:

"What do you want to do?"

Wen Chaoshen glanced at him and said:

"Liu Jinshi has been cultivating local influence in Kuhai County for years. Isn't it a waste not to use it?"

He tapped Chun Qiong lightly, and the latter seemed to understand a bit, his pupils gently contracting.

Wen Chaoshen slowly approached the window, pushing it open to let the swirling snow and wind blow in.

"Lord Chun, whether dealing with Wangchuan or Lu Chuan, you must not get involved directly. This is the principle of the game in Kuhai County. You must remember."

"Your role is to create invisible threats to make them anxious, not to confront them head-on."

"Four words: Pull, but don't declare."

"Otherwise, if you push them too far, be careful they don't retaliate desperately."

"After all, you're in an official position and can't escape even if you want to."

Wen Chaoshen's voice was calm as he continued:

"Lu Chuan doesn't seem to have any claws in Kuhai County, but Wangchuan is a big problem. There should be cooperation between the two... To deal with Wangchuan, you can't attack directly; you have to stab them in the back."

"And to secretly deal with Wangchuan, we need the local influence in Kuhai County to provide us with intelligence."

"Tonight, the dozens of people who died from Wangchuan are your best tools for establishing authority."

"To win over these local influences, both kindness and power are essential."

"A relationship based solely on interests or coercion is not stable enough."

"You have to show them wealth and make them fear you, so they'll be loyal enough to work for you. Understand?"

Listening to Wen Chaoshen's explanation, Chun Qiong's gaze towards him gradually changed.

He realized he might have severely underestimated the man who once had the status of a refugee.

Could an ordinary refugee or county resident have such thoughtfulness and depth?

Recalling the unexplained ten-year gap in Wen Chaoshen's past, his mind was in chaos, unable to stop pondering Wen Chaoshen's identity.

"What should I say to Lu Chuan?"

After a long silence, he asked Wen Chaoshen again, but this time, his tone carried a hint of sincere inquiry.

Wen Chaoshen turned to look at him:

"Do as I say, and soon Lu Chuan will come to you personally."

"Then I'll guide you."

He then began to describe his plan to Chun Qiong, who listened intently, his breathing unconsciously becoming rapid.

After discussing the matter of the bodies, Chun Qiong personally poured two cups of tea, handing one to Wen Chaoshen. The latter took it, drank it down, and continued:

"There's one more thing..."

Seeing Chun Qiong's flickering gaze, Wen Chaoshen said:

"Do you know Qiu Ziheng?"

Chun Qiong seemed to find the name familiar, lowered his head in thought for a moment, and nodded slightly.

"Not really."

"On my first day in office, this person wanted to invite me to dinner, but I refused."

"Later, I asked the clerks, and they said he has some connections in Guanghan City."

"So, is this person useful?"

Wen Chaoshen put down the cup and said:

"Useful."

"In a few days, I need to deal with him. Help me out."

...