Chapter Twenty: Stirring Up a Storm

Raven was left behind to clean up the battlefield, while Liang Zhi made his way toward the Benevolent Orphanage.

His steps slowed as he walked, dreading the scene he imagined he would find.

“Hey, I knew you’d come back,” Xie Zhitu waved at Liang Zhi, wearing his usual saintly expression, even though the orphanage had been bombed.

Standing beside Xie Zhitu and Qiu Shilu was a group of children.

“One, two... thirty-eight. Not a single one missing.”

Liang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the orphanage. Half the building had been destroyed in the explosion, and the spreading fire seemed determined to consume what remained.

“As long as everyone’s safe…”

He wanted to say that with everyone unharmed, the house could always be rebuilt. But when he saw the children’s faces, the words caught in his throat.

To these children, the Benevolent Orphanage was far more than just a shelter—it was their home, their refuge. Without it, they would have no place to turn in this world, forced once again into the cruel life of vagrancy.

“Perhaps if we repair the orphanage, it’ll still be livable,” Liang Zhi tried to comfort them.

A sudden crash. The beam of the orphanage collapsed, sending sparks flying everywhere.

Liang Zhi’s face froze, and he fell silent.

Xie Zhitu patted his shoulder. “There’s no way anyone can live here now. That explosion was Peach Blossom Spring’s retaliation. With no deaths this time, they won’t let us off so easily.”

“I’ve already discussed it with the children,” Xie Zhitu continued. “I’ve arranged for them to stay at a friend’s orphanage, which has even better conditions than this place.”

Raven flew back onto Liang Zhi’s shoulder, and Liang Zhi gestured behind him. “Not everyone survived. I killed two.”

Qiu Shilu rolled her eyes. “Fine. Peach Blossom Spring’s next retaliation will be even fiercer. I might be on their revenge list myself.”

Xie Zhitu reached out to Liang Zhi. “I extend the invitation again. Will you join us in destroying Peach Blossom Spring’s stronghold in East City, once and for all?”

Liang Zhi rubbed his hair helplessly and pushed Xie Zhitu’s hand away. “I’m in.”

Truth be told, he hadn’t wanted to provoke such a mysterious organization as Peach Blossom Spring.

But they were simply too dangerous.

They’d dared to bomb the orphanage just because Xie Zhitu had reported them repeatedly to the Criminal Tribunal.

An intern reporter at the News Bureau had been reassigned simply for mentioning Peach Blossom Spring in a report.

If they weren’t dealt a painful blow, they’d always linger like hyenas, waiting to strike. Organizations like Peach Blossom Spring preyed on weakness; only by standing strong and making them wary could one find true safety.

“Since you proposed dealing with Peach Blossom Spring, you must have a plan, right?” Liang Zhi asked.

Xie Zhitu stroked his chin. “It’s not much of a plan. We just need to find their stronghold and the three of us can storm it.”

“How do we find the stronghold?” Qiu Shilu asked, puzzled.

Peach Blossom Spring was shrouded in secrecy. If Liang Zhi hadn’t uttered their name that day, she wouldn’t even know they existed. Xie Zhitu had only learned of them through Qiu Shilu.

“Actually, it’s not that hard. We may not have information, but others do.”

“Who?” Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu asked in unison.

Xie Zhitu lowered his head, a sly smile on his lips. “The editors at the News Bureau, and… the Criminal Tribunal in Kaiyuan District, East City. We just need to pay them a visit and ask.”

“That… might make a big scene,” Qiu Shilu leaned back. “Do you have a more reliable idea?”

A big scene?

Liang Zhi’s eyes lit up. “I think just asking won’t do. Why not kidnap them all?”

Qiu Shilu covered her face. Her teammates seemed unhinged. If she wasn’t possibly on the retaliation list herself, she wouldn’t team up with these maniacs.

“This is Wangjing City. The Da Dong government protects its officials well. We’ll only have one chance, and we must act quickly, so we need to choose our target carefully.”

...

The next night, the stars were thin and scattered, perfect for a clandestine operation.

During the day, they had relocated the orphanage children to another large orphanage in Wangjing City.

Then, they analyzed everyone who might have information about Peach Blossom Spring, including, but not limited to, the News Bureau and the chief officers of each Criminal Tribunal in East City.

In the end, they selected their target: Chief Criminal Officer Fan Nang of Kaiyuan District.

Wangjing City was divided into six major regions: the Imperial City, Upper City, Lower City, East City, West City, and the Industrial Zone.

Each region was larger than most cities and subdivided into several, or even dozens, of county-level districts.

Kaiyuan was one such district in East City; Erxian Bridge, where Liang Zhi lived, and the rundown street where the orphanage stood, both lay within Kaiyuan.

Among all districts in East City, Kaiyuan had the highest number of missing women and children, and the Criminal Tribunal’s response was notoriously perfunctory.

Xie Zhitu had reported Peach Blossom Spring to Fan Nang multiple times, which had led to Peach Blossom Spring’s retaliation. To claim Fan Nang had no connection to them was impossible.

But if that were the only reason, several others would also be suspect.

What truly convinced the three to choose this target was Liang Zhi’s insistence.

First, the chief criminal officer of Antai Town, Fan Dai, bore a resemblance to Fan Nang.

Second, Liang Zhi wanted the trouble he stirred to be as big as possible, and Fan Nang was the highest-ranked among all candidates.

With their target chosen, the three began preparations.

Before they set out, however, they made some simple arrangements.

This operation could spiral out of control. If their identities were exposed, neither Da Dong’s officials nor Peach Blossom Spring would spare them. So, at Qiu Shilu’s suggestion, they prepared disguises.

Qiu Shilu wrapped several strips of cloth tightly around her chest, donned oversized clothing, and wore an owl mask.

Liang Zhi dressed in black nightwear, donned a raven mask, and draped a hazy black cloak over his body. His identity was well concealed.

Yet, he carried a black flag emblazoned with the words “Night Raven!”

“What are you doing?” Qiu Shilu stared at the flag in his hands.

Liang Zhi twirled the flagpole, its metal clanging. “I want everyone to remember my name.”

“Are you insane?” Qiu Shilu shouted. “Look at how Xie Zhitu and I disguised ourselves!”

Just then, Xie Zhitu emerged, his disguise meticulous: a long white robe, a clean face, a gentle smile…

“You didn’t disguise yourself at all!” Qiu Shilu stomped her foot in fury.

Xie Zhitu shook his head. “I did.”

He turned around, pointing his thumb to his back, where six bold black characters read: “I am not Xie Zhitu.”

Qiu Shilu’s eyes were blank. “Did I do my disguise wrong…?”

“Your calligraphy is excellent. Those six characters are beautifully written,” Liang Zhi praised, giving Xie Zhitu a thumbs-up.

“And your ‘Night Raven’ characters are well designed. I’ve never seen such a font,” Xie Zhitu replied. It was the first time the two had agreed on something.

“Forget it, I give up. Let fate decide,”

Qiu Shilu followed behind, dejected, filled with pessimism about the upcoming mission.