025 Mutual aid tool person

"Perish nine generations... I wonder how the Shen family offended Zheng Qiao to end up in such a fate?" It took Shen Tang a while to regain her voice. The Deputy Minister of Personnel opposed Zheng Qiao in such a manner, and it seems that the Gong family might have hidden the imperial seal, yet both families were only banished rather than exterminated—banishment was harsh, but at least one could survive a few days.

Now, the Shen family was directly annihilated nine generations? A real cancellation of the family register.

If this body truly belonged to Tian Zhong's "niece," one couldn't decide if the young girl was unlucky or doubly unlucky. To stay with the Shen family meant facing execution directly, while marrying into the Gong family would lead to banishment to the Xiaocheng brothel, with a fate most likely worse than death.

Who knew, but Tian Zhong shook his head. "This one has no idea."

"No idea?" Shen Tang's voice raised slightly. "How can there be no idea? Tian Langjun, think again, perhaps the Shen family accused Zheng Qiao or obstructed Zheng Qiao's path to advancement... Was there such a grudge? But without a grudge, how could one be exterminated upon arrival?"

"This is also where this one is puzzled..." The Shen family was exterminated, and old friends and students related to the Shen family had tried hard to save them, but those who dared to stand up were either demoted or killed on Zheng Qiao's orders. Zheng Qiao's methods were severe and his attitude unyielding, leaving no one daring to speak up for the Shen family again.

"In theory, the Shen family is not considered a prominent clan in Xinguo, so how could they attract Zheng Qiao's attention?" This was already a euphemistic statement. To be more straightforward, during the years when Zheng Qiao caused trouble in Xinguo, the Shen family didn't even have the qualification to gasp for breath in front of him!

A family that followed the middle path, with limited abilities, neither standing out to attract envy nor being too mediocre to be completely ignored, neither cozying up to influential officials nor offending inconspicuous minor officials.

No matter how Tian Zhong recollected, he couldn't recall any conflict between the Shen family and Zheng Qiao, yet it was only the Shen family that was exterminated.

Furthermore—

Shen Tang's attitude made Tian Zhong somewhat curious.

So he tentatively asked, "Young Master Shen is so concerned about the news of the Shen family, is it because you have a relationship with them?" In fact, he wanted to ask something else, like—is this young master Shen the twin brother or younger brother of the Shen family's eldest daughter, who grew up incognito in the folk for some reason?

The two were too similar.

Tian Zhong once suspected that Shen Tang was the unlucky Shen family's eldest daughter, but seeing the wax seal hanging from Shen Tang's waist dispelled his doubts. Everything else could be faked, but gender couldn't.

He was sure that this young master Shen, even if not the Shen family's eldest daughter's biological brother, had numerous ties to the Shen family.

Shen Tang neither nodded nor shook her head. Although Tian Zhong had no malice, in the current situation, the fewer people who knew, the safer it was.

Tian Zhong was also tactful. Seeing that Shen Tang had no intention of continuing the conversation, he changed the subject and talked about Qi Shan. Honestly, he was quite interested in Qi Shan and didn't know how Shen Tang ended up traveling with him. He inquired about Qi Shan's matters with his father, but his father just glared at him.

Sigh—

Shen Tang said, "It's probably fate."

Tian Zhong was surprised. "Encountering each other by chance and traveling together?"

"Is that not permissible?" Tian Zhong said, "It's not that it's not permissible, but the benefactor has great talent, and his potential in literary talent and linguistics is unparalleled in the current world. If he meets a wise lord in the future, he will be willing to attach himself and serve, and the growth of literary talent should not be underestimated. Just—"

"Just what?" This was not Shen Tang asking.

A familiar male voice came from behind the two.

Shen Tang and Tian Zhong turned around together, meeting a pair of deep, black, and profound eyes, all falling into silence mode. Tian Zhong even hurriedly stood up, his hands awkwardly hanging at his sides, a blush of embarrassment creeping up his neck.

The benefactor was the savior of him and his son, yet he lost his sense of proportion while chatting and actually talked behind his benefactor's back...

If it weren't for fear of startling the person, he would want to give himself two slaps on the ears. His father was right; this mouth that ran all day should really be sewn shut!

He opened his mouth to apologize but was stopped by Qi Shan's raised hand.

He casually dismissed Tian Zhong: "Just now, I heard a faint cough from Teacher Tian's side..."

Tian Zhong immediately went down the steps.

"Is Father feeling unwell? I'll go check on him right away."

With swift feet, he dashed off.

Qi Shan took the seat where Tian Zhong had been sitting. He had obviously overheard Shen Tang and Tian Zhong's conversation and smiled as he toyed with the campfire.

"I never expected to be mistaken; Young Master Shen is not from the Gong family but rather from the Shen family..."

Shen Tang: "..."

Words should not be spoken too hastily.

Intuition told her that Qi Shan might still end up embarrassed.

Until there was concrete evidence, she dared not be certain that this body belonged to the Shen family's eldest lady...

Shen Tang remained silent, and Qi Shan continued, "Since the Shen family has been exterminated, Young Master Shen has no relatives left in this world. It's better not to go to Xiaocheng. Rest early and head to the nearby town tomorrow."

"When did I say I'm not going to Xiaocheng?"

Qi Shan's eyes widened in surprise. "You're going?"

Knowing that Qi Shan was retreating to advance, Shen Tang persisted, "Yes, why not? I followed Yuan Liang to learn skills. In today's world, survival is the first priority, and other matters can be dealt with later. I'm just curious, what do I have that Yuan Liang values? You seem very eager for me to go to Xiaocheng, but in my view, carrying a burden on the road is of no benefit to you."

Seeing Shen Tang see through his intentions, Qi Shan, somewhat amazed, solemnly said, "Young Master Shen, you are not a burden."

Certainly, it was because there was a plan behind his actions.

Plotters were always the ones who rose early without profit, a despicable profession that even shady merchants envied.

Shen Tang understood the unspoken words, smiled, and said nothing.

She regarded Qi Shan as an encyclopedia tool, and was she being regarded by Qi Shan as a tool to achieve some purpose?

Being tools for each other seemed fair and just.

"Yuan Liang, I have one more question."

Qi Shan: "Ask."

Shen Tang looked in the direction Tian Zhong had left.

"Earlier, Tian Shouyi said something that left me puzzled. He said, 'In the future, if one encounters a wise lord, they would willingly attach themselves and serve, and the growth of literary talent should not be underestimated.' What does that mean?" 

Intuition told her that there seemed to be deeper meaning in this.

"That was the question; you don't need to know." 

Shen Tang: "???"

Qi Shan, with a complex expression that words could not describe, solemnly said to her, "Young Master Shen, not all literati are the same. Tian Shouyi's words were aimed at most strategists and warriors with literary talent. But I sincerely hope that you are not among them."

Shen Tang: "???"

What is he hinting at now?

She changed the subject: "Can I know why you are going to Xiaocheng? It's better to let me be mentally prepared... After all, you, Qi Shan, love to sell teammates. I need to be cautious so I don't get tricked without knowing."

Qi Shan looked up at the moonlit sky, the night breeze blowing through his hair, concealing his thoughts in his eyes. Shen Tang only heard his voice saying, "For debt collection. I have an old debt from many years ago, and I will go to collect it, even if it means traveling thousands of miles, even if it's just to recover some interest."

Shen Tang: "..."

She muttered in her heart.

Debt collection?

You can't fool me with that!

What old debt could make Qi Shan harbor such strong resentment?

Night passed, and the dawn arrived.

The next day, the two bid farewell to the Tian family.

The latter had to go to seek refuge with relatives. Staying within Zheng Qiao's sphere of influence would mean certain death sooner or later. Shen Tang and Qi Shan were going to Xiaocheng.