53. Human Hearts

The courtyard residence’s sitting room.

“Steward Lin, this is aged tea I’ve treasured for many years. Please try it and see if it suits your taste.”

Zhang Lin bent forward to pour Lin Yun a cup, his expression eager to please.

Seated at the head of the room, Lin Yun lifted the tea bowl and took a small sip. He nodded. “Mm. Good tea. You’ve gone to the trouble, Zhang Lin.”

“I owe everything I have to your care over the years, Steward Lin,” Zhang Lin said with a smile. “I would never forget such kindness.”

After a few pleasantries, Lin Yun changed the subject. “The Plum Blossom Fiend’s repeated killings have had a dire impact on the Bloodridge Black Market. You kept your head, worked out the fiend’s intentions, and reported them. That will be a great help to the plans I’m about to put into motion. Once this is settled, I’ll report your contribution to the incense master and ask that you be rewarded.”

Zhang Lin was about to thank him when something occurred to him. An awkward look came over his face.

He had spent many years in the Tiger-Wolf Sect and knew how important merit was.

There were two main ways to rise through the ranks. One was to take part in the examination held every three years. The other was to earn merit.

Merit was a broad and somewhat nebulous matter, determined by the incense master and reviewed by the Merit Hall. There was plenty of room for discretion, and plenty of behind-the-scenes dealings and credit-taking.

There was another way to earn merit: completing missions issued by the sect. These brought both the stated reward and merit, and the terms were much more straightforward.

For instance, if the Tiger-Wolf Sect decided the Plum Blossom Fiend was beyond redemption, it might issue an internal mission: “Whoever kills the Plum Blossom Fiend will receive such-and-such reward and such-and-such merit.”

Most missions were dangerous, and Zhang Lin had never dared accept one.

The merit tied to the Plum Blossom Fiend was a rare opportunity for him.

Yet Zhang Lin knew perfectly well that it was the “Old Brother” who had figured out the logic behind the fiend’s killings and its motives. Zhang Lin had already overstepped by rushing to report it first, though he could at least justify that. But if he claimed the merit as well, he would be turning against Old Brother.

He had thought it all through before leaving that morning. But now that the moment had come, he found himself wavering again.

After weighing the matter carefully, Zhang Lin suppressed his greed. “Steward Lin, you misunderstand. I didn’t come up with this. It was the new steward.”

Lin Yun turned to study Zhang Lin, plainly surprised.

He had seen through Zhang Lin’s little schemes long ago.

In Lin Yun and Incense Master Wei’s absence, the Bloodridge Black Market was under the direction of Xie An, who had taken over for Zhang Biao. A report like this should have gone through Xie An. Zhang Lin’s arrival that morning had been a breach of protocol, and could easily be seen as an attempt to claim the credit.

But Zhang Lin had served Lin Yun for years, so Lin Yun had let it pass. Had Zhang Lin continued to claim the credit, Lin Yun would have been willing to look the other way.

“Zhang Lin, have you thought this through?”

Zhang Lin gritted his teeth. “I have. The credit belongs to the new steward. I can’t claim it for myself.”

Lin Yun said nothing more and simply drank his tea. But he found himself curious about this new steward. What sort of charisma did the man possess to win the loyalty of an old hand like Zhang Lin?

His own chief steward had clearly meant to give Zhang Lin some credit, and Zhang Lin had refused?

From what Lin Yun knew of him, Zhang Lin was not a bold man. He preferred to play it safe. He would never make a grab for some great reward, but taking the occasional small credit or perk was second nature to him.

This was strange indeed.

Before long, Liang Zhi hurried in.

“Where’s your chief?” Lin Yun asked.

Under the weight of Lin Yun’s gaze, Liang Zhi clasped his hands and replied, “The chief is occupied with urgent business and cannot come. He asked me to apologize to you on his behalf, Chief Steward Lin.”

Hm?

Lin Yun’s mood soured at once. He felt that this new steward had no manners, and was showing scant respect for his position. His tone cooled. “Is this urgent business really that important?”

Liang Zhi delivered the explanation he had prepared in advance. “The chief believes the Plum Blossom Fiend may target two merchants who are doing particularly well at the black market. He’s watching them now and doesn’t dare let his guard down for even a moment, in case the fiend takes advantage.”

Zhang Lin heard this and flushed scarlet. At once, he understood the gap between himself and the new steward.

While Zhang Lin had been rushing to report the news and claim the credit, the other man had been quietly doing the work. They weren’t even on the same level.

Lin Yun’s expression softened, and a smile touched his lips. He had gained a measure of respect for the new steward. He generally didn’t mind his subordinates competing for credit, but with the Bloodridge branch facing a crisis, what it needed most was capable people who got things done—not men scrambling for recognition.

Xie An’s actions had won Lin Yun’s approval.

Then Lin Yun shot Zhang Lin a sudden sideways glance. Zhang Lin immediately lowered his head, his face burning, unable to meet Lin Yun’s eyes. He knew without being told that Lin Yun was disappointed in him.

Clack.

Lin Yun set his tea bowl down hard on the table and rose. “Come on. Take me to see.”

“Yes.” Liang Zhi nodded and led the way out. Sharp-eyed as he was, he had noticed the expressions on both Lin Yun and Zhang Lin’s faces. His admiration for the new steward deepened.

Without making a fuss, he had turned the situation around—and left Lin Yun disappointed in Zhang Lin.

A masterstroke.

Meanwhile, Xie An stood beside the street, leaning against an old scholar tree. As he watched the two merchants, he occasionally glanced toward the courtyard residence.

Xie An had his own plan, and believed he had left nothing out.

But Lin Yun had yet to make a move, and Xie An still felt uneasy.

The trouble was that he didn’t know Lin Yun well enough to be certain of what the man valued. If Lin Yun was the sort to covet credit and accept bribes, he might take Xie An’s conduct as an insult, a sign of disrespect.

But if Lin Yun cared more about results, he would not think Xie An had slighted him. He would praise him instead.

Xie An was seventy or eighty percent sure of his read, but until he saw the outcome, he couldn’t feel at ease.

At last, he saw Lin Yun emerge from the courtyard residence with Zhang Lin and Liang Zhi, striding toward him.

Xie An knew things had gone well. He stopped looking toward the residence and focused on the two merchants, adopting the air of a man wholly absorbed in his work.

“Haha, brother, you’ve been hard at it!”

Lin Yun called out with a smile as he approached from behind.

Xie An pretended he had only just heard him. He spun around and immediately put on an expression of surprise and gratitude, clasping his hands in greeting. “Please forgive me, Chief Steward. I wasn’t able to come pay my respects at once.”

Lin Yun was in excellent spirits. He hurried over and warmly took Xie An by the hand. “You’re making too much of it. These are just empty formalities. There’s no need to worry about them. Work comes first. What we need most right now is a capable man like you, someone who gets things done.”

“Thank you for understanding, Chief Steward.”

Xie An thanked him, and from the corner of his eye glanced at Zhang Lin behind Lin Yun. Zhang Lin’s face was crimson with shame. From that alone, Xie An could tell the outcome was even better than he’d expected.

After a few exchanges, Lin Yun still took Zhang Lin’s side, and explained of his own accord, “I thought Zhang Lin had worked out the Plum Blossom Fiend’s intentions. But he told me it was your doing. He was simply so concerned that he came to report it first thing this morning.”

It was a seemingly casual remark, but Xie An picked up two things from it.

First, Lin Yun was still looking out for Zhang Lin. He didn’t want Xie An to misunderstand him and let resentment grow between them, which could hurt the black market’s business.

Second, Zhang Lin hadn’t tried to keep the credit for himself. He’d been honest about who deserved it. He might have his little schemes, but he had principles. He was worth befriending.

With that in mind, Xie An gave Zhang Lin a graceful way out. He clasped his hands and said, “Brother Zhang has been patrolling day and night lately, working himself to the bone and facing no small danger. He told me as much when he reported to the branch office this morning. I should be thanking him for helping shoulder the burden.”

Zhang Lin gave Xie An a grateful look and finally let out a breath.

Had Xie An been petty enough to speak ill of him to Lin Yun, Zhang Lin might never have found a place at the branch again.

At the thought, shame welled up in him. Xie An was broad-minded, a man worthy of respect and trust. From now on, Zhang Lin would stand by him wholeheartedly.

Lin Yun was all the more pleased by Xie An’s magnanimity. Smiling, he said, “Excellent. If everyone stands together like this, what have we to fear from one Plum Blossom Fiend? Are those the two merchants you mentioned?”

Xie An carefully explained his reasoning, and made sure to praise Liang Zhi for his competence in front of Lin Yun. It was only a passing remark, but it moved Liang Zhi deeply.

Lin Yun looked Liang Zhi up and down. “Well done.” Then he and Xie An discussed their next steps.

In the end, Lin Yun made the decision: at closing time before dawn the next day, they would follow the two merchants and draw out the Plum Blossom Fiend.

Zhang Lin couldn’t help asking, “Steward Lin, Incense Master Wei was gravely wounded by the Plum Blossom Fiend. Can the few of us really handle it?”