Taking roots after the misty rain

Ch-26

Jin Zixuan had left Jin Zixian's chambers long ago so as not to arouse suspicion. Zixian had calmed down and was sifting through the items in her room. She found a bunch of boxes sealed with talismans. When she opened them, they were just filled with cheap rogues and the like, but when she undid the talismans, a stack of account books made themselves visible. 

She locked her door and glanced through the books. To her surprise, she was the leader of a great organisation called Shield of Death. The thought of holding such power in her hands made a current run through her body.

She pinched herself to check if it was all a dream. Jin Zixian had the ability to protect herself now—a place to go after leaving the Jin Sect.

She decided to familiarize herself with the ropes as much as possible with the books and letters. She was in the midst of reading the tenth book when she felt a burning sensation on her left wrist. The golden bracelet was glowing ever so slightly. She brought it closer to her eyes when she heard a small noise as if someone was speaking.

Zixian looked around to find who was speaking, but her room was empty except for her. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and distinctly heard the voice.

She pulled her hand away and started at her bracelet.

'It must be this bracelet!'

She brought it to her ear again and listened carefully. She had missed quite a bit as the person on the other side was in the middle of speaking, reporting something from his tone.

"Gui Xiaojie, fret not. Whilst we may have failed this time, we will certainly set up a meeting with Qing Yan's master next time." The person said.

'Qing Yan? I seem to have read that name. Who on earth is Qing Yan? And who is Gui Xiaojie, is it me?'

"Gui Xiaojie? Are you alright? You still haven't told me if the schedule needed to be tweaked." He asked.

She frantically flipped through the books for any mention of something as a schedule but found none.

"Oh that, can you repeat it? I didn't hear you properly." She said nervously.

"Gui Xiaojie? Gui Xiaojie? Are you there? Gui Xiaojie?" He inquired.

"Can you not hear me?" She examined her bracelet for any defects and turned the beads.

'Why can't he hear me?'

"Gui Xiaojie, I heard you just now. Can you hear me?"

She figured that he could hear her thoughts when she turned a certain bead. She twirled it again and thought.

'What is my current schedule?'

"You have to visit the main branches in all five provinces next week, Boss. By then, it is also time for your monthly visit to the head branch at Yiling. Do you need me to postpone a visit to make time for Qing Yan?" He asked. 

'Don't postpone, prepone Yiling. I shall be there tomorrow.'  She thought in reply. 

"He Yang shall do as you command." 

"So his name is He Yang...I think he was in charge of Yiling in my absence. So, I better check up on everything I can about Yiling."

She sat up straight and combed through the never-ending stacks devouring all the information she could.

*-*-*

"Jiang Guniang, we have received a plea for help from Yiling. Apparently, a large group of fierce corpses have been plaguing the region. The local authorities cannot take care of them and request assistance." A disciple informed Jiang Yanli.