Chapter 152: Heart

Zhao Jin said in a low voice, "Everyone pick up the pace. Once the fire really gets going, the Water Society township braves will come to fight it!"

The so-called "Water Society" was a fire brigade organized by the neighbors of a ward. Once a fire broke out, someone would sound a gong to summon everyone, and people would rush over to help. It wasn't out of any sense of public justice — if no one fought the fire, the flames would often spread and turn into a disaster.

The moment the neighbors mobilized, the few of them would be in danger of having their tracks exposed.

"Could it fail to burn him to death?" Dong Bingfeng asked, his voice trembling. On the battlefield he could charge forward bravely, but tonight he had been somewhat timid all along.

Zhao Jin walked on in silence for a stretch before he spoke. "The firewood and straw were doused in oil, and he couldn't move. By the time anyone finds him, he won't be alive."

By the time he said this, they had already gone three streets away. Looking back toward the residence, a conspicuous red glow was already visible — the fire had clearly grown large. Faint sounds of stirring came from that direction; the neighbors were obviously beginning to be alarmed.

Everyone unconsciously quickened their pace. As the red glow over there grew brighter and brighter, their steps kept speeding up, until they were practically jogging.

Sun Dalei was panting from the run, but suddenly spoke up. "If that woman and Li Yang both burn to death, won't people not know the dead man is Li Yang?"

Everyone paused. Wang Zhaojing nodded; the others were all a bit puzzled. Liu Yong answered, "The money for the half-closed door wasn't collected by that whore. The thug who collected it will definitely know who it was."

This conversation didn't affect the group's pace. Their strides remained swift the whole time. Someone tripped and fell, but without a word he scrambled up and kept walking fast.

Only when the outline of the freight yard residence came into view did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. As if by unspoken agreement, they all stopped and turned to look back. The red glow was bright, and in the quiet night they could even faintly make out the clamor from that direction.

Chen Sheng looked left and right, then lowered his voice and urged, "Let's head back first. Once we're back there, everything will be easy to explain."

Everyone turned to go. Wang Zhaojing walked forward a few steps, then looked back and found Zhao Jin still standing there in a daze. He couldn't help turning around, going back, and giving him a push. "Brother Zhao, hurry back!"

Zhao Jin shuddered all over, then hastily followed Wang Zhaojing back. In the darkness his expression couldn't be seen, but Wang Zhaojing's brow was already furrowed.

The back gate had no sentry and was left ajar. Lei Cai was waiting right there. Seeing the group return, he too looked relieved and hurriedly shut the gate.

The private courtyard Zhao Jin and the others used was spacious enough; all eight of them had places to sleep. Once inside the house, they lit candles and only then truly relaxed. Each changed out of his clothes, washed up with water that had been prepared long before, exchanged a few words, and went off to sleep. Zhao Jin, however, remained sitting in a chair in a daze. The others assumed he was pondering something, and no one went over to disturb him.

As Chen Sheng was leaving the room, he hesitated, then turned back and stayed. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Zhaojing also returned. The two exchanged a glance, and Chen Sheng spoke first. "Zhao Jin, why have you been so dazed tonight, like you've lost your soul?"

"Brother Zhao seemed to suddenly become distracted the moment he entered that courtyard. What exactly happened?" Wang Zhaojing added.

Anyone with even a little attentiveness could see something was off about tonight's events. After entering that courtyard, Zhao Jin's reactions and movements were clearly half a beat slow. The others simply assumed that whatever Zhao Jin did must have his reasons, but Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng wanted to ask what was really going on.

Zhao Jin rubbed his face with his hands, frowned in thought for a moment, then spoke. "Tonight I killed an innocent person. It sits very uneasily with me."

From the moment he had stabbed that woman with his short knife, Zhao Jin had felt extreme unease. It wasn't that he had never killed before — to save Mu Shulan he had killed monks of Cloud Mountain Temple, killed Cheng Tongtou, killed desperate blade-men. Zhao Jin's hand had not faltered, nor had he felt much unease. But after killing that woman, Zhao Jin felt self-reproach and disquiet.

After all, that woman had done nothing against the Zhao family. She had no connection to this matter; she was a completely innocent person. This was what Zhao Jin found so hard to bear. When he withdrew the blade, Zhao Jin had felt a chill run through his entire body.

Hearing this answer, Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing both widened their eyes, as if they had heard something unbelievable. Seeing that Zhao Jin did not seem to be lying made it all the more baffling to them. Over these past months, they had never seen Zhao Jin's hand waver in killing — killing the Cloud Mountain Temple monks, killing Cheng Tongtou, killing the desperate blade-men, and tonight's affair. Zhao Jin had always been ruthless and decisive. They never imagined he would go soft over mistakenly killing a woman.

Wang Zhaojing gave a dry laugh and said, "That was just a woman of the pleasure quarters…"

He stopped halfway through, as if realizing his words were inappropriate. Chen Sheng spat on the ground and said impatiently, "What are you doing thinking about useless things like this? Let me ask you — if that fire that day had really taken hold, and those two servants of your family had burned to death, they'd still have some connection to the Smelling Incense Sect. But if the three members of your family had burned to death, would that count as innocent? Fine, even if your family of three had some involvement — if the neighbors had burned to death, would anyone call them innocent? Would the arsonists feel any guilt in their hearts? And another thing — if that woman had screamed, and the few of us couldn't get the job done, and then we got plotted against and killed, would we count as innocent or not!"

Chen Sheng's words were blunt to the point of rudeness, but Zhao Jin listened very carefully. He sat there pondering for a while, then stood up and said, "I understand. Everyone, go to sleep."

Zhao Jin's face showed no sign of relief, but the hesitation and dazedness had vanished completely. Chen Sheng nodded and turned to leave. Wang Zhaojing had been studying Zhao Jin the whole time. As he stood, he said in a deep voice, "Brother Zhao, you have great ambitions and want to accomplish great things. The soft-heartedness of a woman is something you cannot afford."

Zhao Jin nodded but did not answer. Wang Zhaojing said no more, merely cupped his fists in salute, then went out to rest as well.

Though he understood what he ought to do, Zhao Jin did not feel any more at ease in his heart. He simply sat there lost in thought. He had been toiling the entire day; as he pondered, weariness washed over him, and without realizing it, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Zhao Jin was shaken awake by his companions. Hired hands came into the house to tidy up. Seeing the floor covered in empty wine jars, they couldn't help clicking their tongues, wondering just how much these young masters had drunk. They did not notice that in a corner of the back courtyard wall, the smell of alcohol was especially strong — and of course, there were other pungent odors there as well.

Ji Xiang's father had long since prepared breakfast for them here. Before the meal, Wang Zhaojing seized a moment alone to ask Zhao Jin, "Has Brother Zhao thought it through?"

Wang Zhaojing's question seemed casual, but his expression was very serious and earnest. Zhao Jin thought for a moment and said, "I've thought it through. What's done is done; regret is useless."

At these words, Wang Zhaojing gave an "Oh." Zhao Jin continued, "The reason I've thought it through is that I imagined what I would do if I encountered such a situation again. If I encounter it again, I still won't hesitate. I will still draw my blade and stab."

Zhao Jin spoke very lightly, but within that lightness was resolution. The seriousness on Wang Zhaojing's face melted away, replaced by an easy smile.

Just as they were speaking, Chen Sheng walked over with a flatbread clenched in his teeth. Chewing the bread, he was about to speak when Zhao Jin said with a smile, "Don't ask. I've already thought it through."

Chen Sheng paused, then said, "Ask what? I was going to say we should go to the yamen and have a look. Those men should have been interrogated to some result by now."

Zhao Jin burst out laughing, a hearty, carefree laugh. His companions, busy with the morning's tasks, all looked over.

Before they could even head out, You Zhenrong of Jinbao Grocery had already come to deliver the silver. It wasn't just silver he brought — there were also men leading two goats, a pig, ten chickens, and an assortment of gifts. All told, it was worth about sixty taels of silver.

The two sides had, as the saying went, only become acquainted through a fight the day before. By normal etiquette, You Zhenrong could have simply sent someone to deliver it, and only the monthly protection silver at that. No one expected him to deliver it in person, and with so much — it could be called a grand gesture.

"What's this — can Jinbao Grocery earn this much in a month?" Zhao Jin asked with a smile. By a twenty percent cut, Jinbao Grocery would have to bring in at least several hundred taels a month. In the whole city of Xuzhou, there were only three or four shops like that, and all of them were shady businesses like gambling dens and brothels.

You Zhenrong bowed and smiled. The day before he had still been fairly composed, but in just half a day and a night, he had become far more deferential. Zhao Jin continued with a smile, "The rules were set, so we follow the rules. Give what's due, and no more. I won't take extra."

He had only mentioned it in passing, but You Zhenrong hesitated, then spoke. "Last night I heard about the fire east of the city. Old You here didn't sleep soundly the whole night. This morning I got to thinking — that grocery shop never made much money to begin with. Master Jin only taking twenty percent is truly too generous. Old You felt bad about it, so I specially prepared a gift. From now on, let's make it thirty percent each month!"

The smile never left Zhao Jin's face as he looked at the apprehensive You Zhenrong. He understood perfectly the meaning behind the man's words. This fellow had been frightened out of his wits.

Who could have imagined that the same person who swept through the south of the city in broad daylight yesterday would go and burn his enemies to death that very night? Such methods were far too ruthless. Thinking back to how he himself had brawled in the street with such a character the day before — anyone's heart would be gripped by fear.

Zhao Jin stepped forward and clapped You Zhenrong on the shoulder. He was over twenty years younger than the man, yet the gesture made it seem as if he were the elder. Zhao Jin said with a smile, "Brother You, no need to overthink it. If no one offends me, I offend no one. Zhao always deals fairly."

With that clap on the shoulder, You Zhenrong instinctively stooped a little and said with a dry laugh, "From now on, Old You will mainly be living at the estate outside the city. If Master Jin has any orders, just send someone over to let me know."

Zhao Jin agreed with a smile. You Zhenrong was about to take his leave when he recalled the household troop drills he had seen upon entering — over a hundred young lads moving in perfect unison at shouted commands, their presence overwhelming. Thinking further of how fierce and skilled in battle Zhao Jin and his companions had been the day before, You Zhenrong hesitated, then stepped closer and said in a low voice, "Master Jin, the Smelling Incense Sect has never been one to swallow a loss. Back in the twenty-eighth year of the Wanli reign, some in the sect rose up in revolt and were caught by the yamen and beheaded. Within a year, the constables who handled it, the clerks, and the executioner who swung the blade — all of them lost their lives. Master Jin, having done what you've done, you must be careful!"