Chapter 82 — The Talisman Painter Who Guards the Village

Fifteen Years of Records

The small storage room at the foot of Cảnh Linh Đài, where the sect kept old notes that were no longer in use, was now cluttered with papers spread all over the floor, candlelight swaying with each wind blowing through the narrow window. Diệp Sương sat in the middle of a pile of documents, turning pages of old notebooks, her eyes tired after many hours without rest.

"Here," Thanh Việt said, pushing a worn, leather-bound notebook across the table to her. "It records Elder Tạ Vân Khê's talent-survey trips from more than twenty years ago. She always recorded unusual signs of Linh Mạch along the way, even though it was not her official duty."

Diệp Sương opened the notebook, her fingers skimming the familiar handwriting of her deceased teacher. A feeling of both warmth and pain rose in her heart. Even after her death, Tạ Vân Khê was still silently helping her find the truth.

*

"Look here," Tất Bá Kỳ pointed to a page of notes, his voice tense. "That year, elder Tạ Vân Khê once recorded a brief, not very clear, line about discovering strange wooden stakes near the foot of Vân Tiêu Peak, similar to the type of small stakes found in Thâm Vụ Forest. She did not follow up because at that time nothing unusual had happened to be alert."

Chúc Nghi Lam, sitting at the corner of the table comparing the documents she brought with the sect's notebook, suddenly stopped. "I found it," she said, her voice shaking. "Here, the record of a 'pilot survey to expand the scope of influence' in the foothills of Vân Tiêu Mountain, approved just a few months before the night the ancient protective battlefield around the mountain was abnormally damaged in the battle that year."

*

Diệp Sương looked up. "It means," she said slowly, trying to put the pieces together, "the battlefield around Vân Tiêu did not suddenly weaken. Its endurance had been drained beforehand, silently, so that when the demon tide came, it was no longer able to resist as it should have."

"And no one on the council at that time got to the bottom of the cause," Thanh Việt continued, his voice choked with suppressed anger. "They just looked at each other in silence, then let everything pass, because right after that, other worries piled up."

Tất Bá Kỳ flipped a few more pages, pointing to a list of 'resource support for sect development' recorded regularly every year, coming from a fund of Khâm Vân Ti. "Look at the signature approving these payments," he said, his voice lowered.

*

Diệp Sương took the page, her heart sank when she recognized the familiar signature repeated over and over again for many years: Húc Bá Nguyên.

"It doesn't mean he knows the real purpose behind these supports," Chúc Nghi Lam said quickly, as if trying to find a fairer explanation. "Many officials received development funds from Khâm Vân Ti without knowing its true origin, because official records were always cleverly disguised as legality."

"But he accepted, year after year," Diệp Sương replied, her voice heavy. "In return, he probably turned a blind eye to the strange survey teams coming in and out around Vân Tiêu, asking no questions because their support gave the sect more budget to expand and appear prosperous before the council."

*

The group was silent for a long time, only the sound of candles burning and the wind whistling softly outside the door. Thanh Việt was the first to break the silence.

"We need more concrete evidence before accusing anyone, including Elder Húc Bá Nguyên," he said, his voice cautious. "A fundraising signature isn't enough to prove he knows everything. But it's enough to give us a way forward."

"The most complete and detailed records are definitely located in the central archives of Khâm Vân Ti in the capital Lệ Dương," Chúc Nghi Lam said, her voice calming down somewhat. "Where I used to work, before being assigned to Lord Lỗ Khắc Viên's survey team at Tiêu Sa Pass."

*

Diệp Sương continued to flip through the remaining pages of the notebook, trying to find more clues, until her finger suddenly stopped on a short line of notes, Tạ Vân Khê's handwriting was more shaky than the other paragraphs, as if she had written it in a hurry or with emotion.

"Small night disturbance in Tùng Lĩnh Village," he read aloud, his voice beginning to tremble, "two young ghosts did not survive, leaving behind a newborn baby. Worth noting: this area was within the radius of influence of the pilot survey approved the same year."

The whole room was silent. Thanh Việt wrapped his arms around her shoulders as soon as he saw her start to tremble; the notebook almost slipped out of her hand.

*

"Mist," he called softly, his voice equally choked.

"I know," Diệp Sương whispered, tears rolling down uncontrollably. "Elder Tạ Vân Khê has suspected it for a long time, perhaps even before she came to accept me. She recorded this, but never said a word to me."

"Perhaps," Tất Bá Kỳ said softly, his voice full of sympathy, "she didn't want you to carry that burden too soon, when you weren't strong enough to face it. She waited, until you were strong enough to discover the truth on your own, in your own way."

*

Diệp Sương sat quietly for a long time, clutching the notebook tightly to her chest, trying to breathe evenly to calm down the rolling emotions. Outside, the moonlight had risen high, illuminating through the narrow window a thin streak of silver light stretching across the floor of the room littered with papers.

"We have to go to Lệ Dương," he said finally, his voice regaining stability, even though his eyes were still red. "Not only for Cửu Vân, not only for Elder Tạ Vân Khê. But because I need to see the whole truth with my own eyes, no matter how cruel it is."

Thanh Việt squeezed his hand tightly, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. "We'll go together. Not just you anymore, never." Chúc Nghi Lam nodded and folded the documents she brought with her. "I will lead the way to the central archives. I still remember every corner of it clearly, although now that I return there, I know I am betting my life."

Tất Bá Kỳ stood up and draped his cloak over his shoulders. "I will inform Captain Sầm Nguyên Trạch and General Cố Bạt Nguyên. If our group needs a solid support in the heart of the capital, there is nothing better than the support of the imperial army."

*

News of the upcoming trip spread outside the storage room faster than Diệp Sương thought. Less than half an hour later, Miên Trà was standing in front of the door, her hand clutching a small homemade stick, her eyes determined and unshakable.

"Are you going to leave without saying a word to me?" the girl asked, her voice both reproachful and worried. "I heard what Big Brother Tất Bá Kỳ said. I'm about to go down to the capital and confront the very person who ordered people to follow me in the middle of the night. Why do you think I'll stay here peacefully and wait for news?"

Du Khinh stood behind her, arms folded across his chest, nodding in agreement. "Chief Lãnh Vũ also gave permission," he said, his voice low but firm. "The Mist Hidden Clan owes you a part in healing the Khuyết Nguyên area. We will repay that debt by accompanying you to the end, even if the road ahead leads to the enemy's lair."

*

Diệp Sương looked at the two people, a warmth creeping into the pain that was still fresh in her heart. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice choked. "But the road to Lệ Dương will not be easy. We may have to face the very people who once wore the royal clothes, those who hold legal power in their hands."

"That's why we need to go with you," Miên Trà replied immediately, without hesitation. "Not everyone who wears royal robes is right, and not everyone who doesn't wear royal robes is wrong. I taught you that, right from the first day I stepped into Thâm Vụ Forest."

Thanh Việt smiled slightly, although his eyes were still heavy with confidence. "Well then, it looks like our team has gained two of the most trustworthy friends one could hope for."

*

Before everyone dispersed to prepare their luggage, Thư Khải Dương personally stopped by the archive room and stood silently looking at the pile of documents for a long time before speaking. "I will write an official letter, bearing the sect's seal, and send it to your group," he said, his voice solemn. "Not to give orders to Khâm Vân Ti, I do not have that authority, but to prove that whatever you discovered in Lệ Dương is an official investigation of the Tông Vân Các, not the spontaneous action of a few individuals."

"Thank you, Master," Diệp Sương replied, bowing her head. She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Are you afraid this will cause a serious rift between the sect and Khâm Vân Ti?"

Thư Khải Dương looked at her with unusual calmness. "If a relationship can survive only by concealing a crime, its rupture is not a loss but the first step toward rebuilding something more worthy. I learned that lesson, belatedly but not too late, from you and from Elder Tạ Vân Khê's sacrifice."

*

Outside, it was late at night, but no one in the small storage room felt tired anymore. Only a shared determination was growing silently, preparing Diệp Sương for the longest and most dangerous journey she had faced since leaving Tùng Lĩnh Village.