"...A mission?"
On the paper were the writings of mission details, alongside various occurrences happening in a nearby city. Sheshui Lang smiled and clarified, "Yep, there've been reports of wandering corpses in the city of Bei Zangli."
He was baffled at the sudden notification of work, and his gaze fell upon the training disciples. "They've only been training for a few weeks, and yet you think they're ready for their first mission?"
Sheshui Lang crossed his arms, and his face scrunched up in disappointment. "Three whole weeks," Sheshui Lang corrected, cocking his head as if Fu Ran had just said something ridiculous. "And don't you remember? When we first became disciples, even a week felt like a long time before our first mission."
"You know that the circumstances are different now. The old Peak Elder—" He caught himself before the words escaped, inhaling sharply through his nose. "You know that the previous Peak Elder didn't think kindly of us, nor did he take us seriously."
The conversation had caused memories of greed and mistreatment to resurface in his mind. The previous Peak Elder would send untrained disciples on difficult missions for the mere sake of money or fame. In those circumstances, experience could be gained quickly, and a child's true power showed even sooner—but it was dangerous.
Fu Ran, Zhi Lao, and Sheshui Lang had been under the same teacher, all bonded by the term martial brother. And within only days of being accepted, they were sent on a mission toward the capital.
"If it were not for Shizun, you know how that would have turned out." If not for their teacher, they could have been badly injured, or worse yet… killed.
However, instead of listening, the gaudy Peak Master simply continued his previous line of conversation. "Besides, it should be a simple mission. Yes, the description says walking corpses, but more often than not, reports from the average citizen just turn out to be spirits."
"Fine." Fu Ran's voice was sharp. "Since it seems like you're not willing to budge, I'll do it."
His eyes thinned to a squint, and he propped his chin on his palm. When dealing with Sheshui Lang, it was often easier to keep answers short and simple. That way, he didn't have many complaints, because complaints kept him around for longer than needed.
A mission… It had been a few years since he had done one. Since before his own self-isolation. The last mission he handled was only a handful of simple tasks, but it still proved difficult. He didn't think he was suited for one yet, not mentally or physically, considering his circumstances.
Sheshui Lang reached across the table and wrapped his fingers around Fu Ran's teacup. Before a word could be said in opposition, he plucked it right out of the sleepy master's hand and took a big gulp.
Fu Ran flinched at his brother's improper behavior. Did he really just drink it all in one go? An empty cup was handed back to him, and Sheshui Lang grinned.
"Pretty good," he said, lifting a thumb to run it over his lips, wiping the wetness away. "Well, just remember to send someone to Yue Liang Hall after filling out those papers. I'll have everything prepped for you tomorrow." And just like that, he stood up, waved, and promptly left through the craft garden gate.
Fu Ran remained exceedingly calm until the man was fully gone. He lowered his fist onto the table a bit more roughly than he should have, shaking the various clamoring pieces of ceramic. "Who let that grown man be so childish?" he hissed.
Sheshui Lang visited for the first time in nearly a decade, only to bring him work and drink his tea. One infuriating moment after the next…
Despite everything, there was some truth in Sheshui Lang's words. The mission did seem like a promising opportunity. Bei Zangli, located next to the city of Jinan, was generally peaceful and quiet this time of year. The only exception was during the summer months when the celebrations and passing rite festivals began.
So until summer, it should be quiet. He also couldn't deny some curiosity, as it had been a long time since he last visited. He wanted to see the changes over the years.
Tian Han chuckled and said, "Hmm… Master Sheshui certainly has some manners." He had taken Fu Ran's discarded cup in hand, his thumb mindlessly running along the rim. Fu Ran's cup was practically empty after the brute of a Shixiong swallowed the whole thing in a single breath. "So, are we heading out?"
"We?" Fu Ran asked, his eyebrow cocked and his foot tapped against the grass.
When Tian Han gave him no response, Fu Ran sighed. It wasn't worth arguing over. He did not need another instance of the Tyrant Emperor kneeling in his bedroom all night just because of a single rejection.
Tian Han was still labeled as a guest, and while he held the respect of a Peak Master, he currently had none of the duties. There was a grace period before he would be accepted as a real Peak Master, so until then, his schedule was quite… free.
No one would question his decision to follow along with the Master of Calamity, even if they thought it strange.
Fu Ran stood up and raised an open hand to the side of his mouth. "Lin An! Meng Xiao! Wan Yu! Go pack your bags and meet here at sunrise tomorrow! We're going to the city." He did his best to sound sweet despite the irritation, and luckily, his kids seemed not to notice.
Lin An squealed in delight while the other two were simply quiet.
"You too. Get your things." The sweet voice had vanished when he turned to face the other adult.
In response to the simple command, Tian Han held up his own teacup toward Fu Ran. He took it in hand, drank it without question, and then walked toward his teahouse pavilion.
For the next few hours, he sat at his desk and filled out a few sheets of necessary paperwork. It was simple information—how much funding they would need, how many people were going, what the scope of the mission was.
Some of it had already been prepared, so his job was quite easy, filling out requests for money and supplies. If nothing else, Sheshui Lang was a man of his word when it came to work.
Everything written on the sheet of paper would be supplied come morning, along with a carriage for a speedy arrival.
Along with the paperwork was a single document: a letter to the sect describing the problem that had led to the mission request. A woman passing by the town of Bei Zangli had reported sightings of corpses roaming the streets at night. In particular, the small farm town was expected to have fewer than ten living residents, but the letter stated that there were easily hundreds.
The letter did state one final detail: these walking corpses weren't violent.
That sounded like a good thing, but it was cause for concern. If a corpse was moving yet non-violent, then the cause was likely nefarious. It was entirely possible that they had been awakened by someone else.
Fu Ran's brows knit together, and the butt of his brush tapped against the paper. "Someone is waking up the dead? For what reason? Is it just someone practicing demonic cultivation, or is there more to it?" He shook his head. The answer was unclear from a single letter.
He finished the paperwork and piled them all together.
"Hmm… I wonder if I should prepare masks." Fu Ran pressed his fingers to his chin and muttered to himself, not even noticing the small boy waiting at the archway to his garden.
"Shizun?" Wan Yu called after giving a small knock.
Fu Ran turned his head and sat upright. "Did you forget something? A-Wan, what's wrong?"
"Gege explained the mission to me. If things aren't solved in Bei Zangli, is it true that we could wind up going to the Faceless City?"
The Faceless City was a nickname to Bei Zangli's neighboring city, Jinan. What Wan Yu said was entirely true. If the mission wasn't solved in one city, they would simply have to check the next. However, that was a last resort.
Despite spending three weeks with the boy, he had not become any easier to read. Wan Yu didn't twirl in place or fiddle with the hem of his clothing like Lin An, and he didn't sigh or roll his eyes like Meng Xiao.
His reason for visitation was completely ambiguous, but still, Fu Ran smiled sweetly and questioned, "Do you not want to go? The city is a bit scary, but you have two reliable adults with you," he calmly reassured.
Instead, the boy only looked more frazzled, his brows furrowing in frustration. With a small sigh, his face returned to blankness, and he shook his head. "I'm not worried about me." He paused, like he was thinking heavily on his words. "I'm worried about Shizun."
Fu Ran pressed his sleeve to his lips and chuckled. "Me?" he asked, clearly humored. "What in the heavens has you worried about me? Have I done something to make you think I'm so easily endangered?"
Despite the joking atmosphere, Wan Yu spoke with surprising seriousness. "The Faceless City…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "...likes pretty faces."
It took Fu Ran a moment to register what the boy had said, through his own bewilderment. No matter how long he searched the boy's eyes for answers, he only received blankness.
"A-Wan, you say the strangest things," he said with a hint of exasperation. He paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up like he had just remembered something. "Oh, right. Will you do something for me? On your way back to the dorm, can you drop this by Shesui Shixiong's office?"
Fu Ran plucked up the paperwork and gave them a few taps against his desk. Wan Yu took them without hesitation.
"Yes, Shizun," he said calmly. His footing stuttered, like he wasn't quite ready to leave yet, and his eyelashes lowered against his cheeks. Finally, though, his shoulders slumped, and he whispered, "Good night, Shizun…"
"Goodnight, A-Wan. Sleep well," Fu Ran said, turning back to his work desk.