Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"Awooo—!"

Lu Guan suddenly let out a sharp and urgent shout, which unexpectedly ripped through the night sky, startling the birds roosting under the eaves into a flurry of flight, and even the wild grass on the ground seemed to tremble three times.

Everyone around him shuddered. They weren't startled by the sudden appearance of the person, but were instead taken aback by Lu Wan's appearance and all turned to look at him.

Especially Liu Bang, who was closest to him, felt his eardrums go numb from the vibrations. He immediately covered his ears tightly and slapped the back of Liu Bang's head hard with his other hand.

"What's wrong with you?!"

He cursed angrily, feeling his heart skip two beats in fright. His hand trembled, and he almost drew his knife instead of slapping him.

"No, no, no...it's not—"

Lu Wanlian flinched as she was slapped, but didn't even bother to cover herself. Her eyes widened like saucers, her tongue stammered, and her trembling finger pointed at the person emerging from the ground. Her voice cracked:

"You, you, you... are you a human or a ghost?!"

Seeing his brother's appearance, Liu Bang felt utterly humiliated by his own brother, wishing he could disappear into the ground. He rubbed his ears, which were ringing from the shock, and gritted his teeth, whispering:

"It's definitely a person! What nonsense are you talking about? Where would a ghost come from in the middle of the night?"

But after he finished speaking, he himself was a little confused—in the dead of night, in the middle of nowhere, a hand suddenly stretched out from underground... This kind of scene is indeed not like a normal person.

As expected, this explanation failed to convince Lu Guan in the slightest; instead, it only increased his suspicion.

It's the middle of the night, that's why it's easy to encounter ghosts. It's not that he's timid, it's just that the four people next to him are too calm.

He looked at Xiao He's calm face, then at Cao Can's unchanging expression, then at Fan Kuai holding his knife as if nothing had happened, and even Liu Bang only looked at him with disdain, thinking, "So he's the only one making a fuss?"

Lu Wan shut her mouth, silently took a step back, and retreated behind Fan Kuai to hide away.

Fan Kuai turned his head and glanced at him, but didn't say anything. He simply stepped forward silently, making Lu Wan even more completely shielded.

Xiao He stepped forward, his posture steady, and bowed slightly to the person in the shadows. His tone was calm yet probing, speaking neither servile nor arrogant:

"May I ask who you are? Did you invite us to meet here?"

"good."

The figure that had just emerged responded softly, slowly stepping half a step out of the shadows. Moonlight fell on his shoulder, making it vaguely discernible that he was wearing a blue robe. He raised his hand in a slight bow.

"It was I who invited you all here. I am Shen Liang, the magistrate of Yangcheng County. Greetings to you all."

"Oh, the county magistrate!" Upon hearing this, Lu Wan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling half at ease. Anyone who could become a county magistrate must be a human, not a ghost.

But Cao Can, standing beside him, suddenly frowned, stepped forward, and spoke with clear doubt:

"The magistrate of Yangcheng County? That can't be right! I clearly remember the magistrate of Yangcheng County being named Chen Zhuo. How can you deceive me like this?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wan's heart, which had just settled down, jumped up again.

Yes! He had just argued with Xiao Yuan about this person last night, and it left a deep impression on him.

"Shen Liang..." Xiao He's gaze darkened slightly. After a moment's thought, he looked up again, his tone now grave, and slowly began to speak:

"If I remember correctly, the previous magistrate of Yangcheng County was named Shen Liang. However, he was killed in battle when bandits broke into the city half a year ago, and his body should have been long gone."

"Aww—~!"

Another shout, even louder than before, made Lu Wan's hair stand on end and her scalp tingle. She gripped Fan Kuai's clothes tightly with one hand. Fan Kuai, such a strong man, was forced to take half a step back by his glare. He looked at him speechlessly, only half of his head sticking out from behind him, his finger trembling as he pointed at Shen Liang.

"I...I...what did I just say? I said he's a ghost, but you guys didn't believe me, Brother Ji!"

"Lu Wan, be quiet, don't talk nonsense." Xiao He immediately scolded him in a low voice. Although his tone was reprimanding, his eyes were full of protective composure. He then turned to Shen Liang and bowed slightly, his eyes still wary: "My younger brother has been rude. I hope you will forgive him."

Shen Liang simply shook his head slightly, lowered his eyes, and chuckled softly, so softly that it was almost swept away by the night wind, carrying an indescribable desolation and self-mockery, its meaning unfathomable.

"It's alright, saying that... isn't actually wrong."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the five men one by one. Just then, the thin clouds that had been obscuring the moon were finally blown away by the wind, and the clear moonlight poured down like a ribbon, shining directly on his face, allowing the five men to see his appearance clearly, especially his eyes—they were very bright, but not the bright and spirited kind of eyes that Xiao He or Liu Bang possessed; rather, they were the cold flames of someone who had burned too far and were now just embers.

He spoke slowly, accompanied by the night breeze: "I, Shen, have indeed died once. Now, I am merely a wandering ghost, filled with vengeance and seeking justice."

"This applies to everyone in this cave."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of soft noises came from the cave entrance he had climbed up from, followed by a series of figures bowing and climbing up one after another.

They were all ragged and covered in dust, some with unhealed wounds, others emaciated, all in a sorry state. They stood together behind Shen Liang, their eyes burning with the same deathly yet desperately refusing-to-extinguish cold flame as Shen Liang's.

An unexpected turn of events occurred; there were many people on the other side, and Liu Bang and his men instantly tensed up.

Fan Kuai stepped forward and stood at the very front, his expression solemn. Liu Bang and Cao Can stood not far behind him, their hands on their waists. Lu Wan stood at the very back, his face no longer showing any fear, protecting Xiao He in the center.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the abandoned kiln was stagnant, the night wind howled, and the two sides faced each other from a distance, creating a tense atmosphere.

Fortunately, Shen Liang showed no intention of making a move. He simply raised his hand slightly, signaling the people behind him to move aside and reveal the dark hole.

"Clerk Xiao, gentlemen, I have prepared hot water. Would you all be willing to come down with me for a chat?"

Xiao He raised his hand and gently pushed aside Liu Bang's arm that was blocking his way. He took half a step forward, his gaze slowly shifting from Shen Liang's face to the ragged people, then back to Shen Liang's face, and suddenly the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

"It would be difficult to refuse Magistrate Shen's kind invitation. If we were to decline again, we would appear petty and cowardly." He straightened his robes. "In that case, we will trouble you."

"Please." Shen Liang stepped to the side and gestured with his hand.

Xiao He lifted his foot, preparing to take the lead, when a hand reached out from the side and firmly pressed down on his arm.

Liu Bang shook his head at him, then released his grip, turned around, grinned at Shen Liang, and said with a hint of roguishness:

"I've never tasted hot water from underground before. Today I've certainly broadened my horizons. Clerk Xiao, please let me be the first to drink it."

After saying that, he lifted his foot and strode forward into the cave entrance.

Fan Kuai didn't say anything, but silently followed. When he passed by Shen Liang, he turned his head and gave him a deep look.

Lu Wan stretched out her hand, calling out, "Brother Ji, wait for me!" and without hesitation, she jogged to catch up with Liu Bang.

Xiao He followed, nodded to Shen Liang, and Cao Can walked at the back, his short dagger already slipped into his palm.

The entrance was narrow and cramped, allowing only one person to pass by bending over. The damp, earthy smell mixed with the musty odor hit you and clung to your nose and mouth.

After moving forward cautiously with a crouched posture for about half an incense stick's time, the space gradually opened up, and the wind blowing in our faces became drier, carrying a slight smell of old wood.

The person leading the way stopped and lifted a heavy wooden plank that was blocking their head.

The group climbed up the rope ladder and looked around. It was a simple but spacious thatched hut.