Chapter 105 — The Prefect of Lizhou

The curtain was lifted, and the woman within showed her profile in it — a beauty with powdered cheeks and red lips.

She turned her face squarely toward him and looked him up and down twice; seeing his fine clothes, she took him for the son of some great house. "Young sir, where do you come from?

" Shen Mu, neither servile nor overbearing, said, "I come from Dijiang county town.

" The woman asked, "Has Dijiang county town fallen, taken by the Corpse Immortal Cult? " Shen Mu nodded, and praised her: "Elder Sister is truly clever.

" "Elder Sister?

In all my years as Assistant Governor of Lizhou, this is the first time anyone has called me Elder Sister. " The woman did not know whether to laugh or cry.

She summoned Guard Shi and said, "Pass the order to the counties of Huyang, Yukang, and the rest to prepare to send troops to Dijiang.

" Guard Shi assented and departed at once.

The woman looked at Shen Mu and said, "The Corpse Immortal Cult of Xiangxi has seized Dijiang county town; I fear the people there are beyond hope.

That you could escape is a singular thing.

I see your clothes are costly, so you must be of good family.

What do you mean to do? " Her gaze held pity, for plainly she too believed that with Dijiang county town in the Corpse Immortal Cult's grip, no one in the city could have survived. Since Shen Mu came from Dijiang county, his family too must be buried in Dijiang, never to come out alive. That was why she asked him what he meant to do.

Shen Mu hesitated a moment, then said, "I mean to go to the capital.

" The woman nodded.

"The capital is as well as anything.

My Lizhou Prefecture is about to send troops to Dijiang county; with war and chaos, bandits and robbers will surely rise on every side, and this is no place to settle.

On your way to the capital — have you a travel permit? " Shen Mu was at a loss, and shook his head.

The woman pondered a moment, then said, "I am Yuyuan Chuyu, Assistant Governor of Lizhou Prefecture.

That rebellion arose in Dijiang county, which is under my governance; it is my fault. That you fled Dijiang in haste without a travel permit is only natural. No doubt the Dijiang county magistrate died in the rebellion as well.

Guard Qu, prepare brush, ink, and documents. " The guard at her side assented, and hastily fetched brush, ink, and documents into the carriage. The woman took up the brush and wrote several lines on the document in a fine, graceful hand, then said, "What is your name?

" Shen Mu hastily gave his name.

The Assistant Governor Yuyuan Chuyu wrote down the words "Shen Mu, a subject of Lizhou Prefecture," then affixed the official seal.

When the ink had dried she sent the document out of the carriage for someone to hand to Shen Mu. "This is your travel permit, your document for passing the barriers along the way. With this permit you may enter any great city you pass through, and none will make trouble for you.

" Assistant Governor Yuyuan Chuyu let the carriage curtain fall, and her voice came from within: "You need not cling to home.

There is nothing left in Dijiang county worth your lingering over. Set out for the capital at once. My elder brother Yuyuan Chuyun holds office there; when you reach the capital, say that I recommended you, and I hope we may meet again. " "Thank you, Elder Sister!

" Shen Mu bowed, and went off quickly along the official road. Yuyuan Chuyu sighed.

"Poor thing, to lose home and family at such a young age.

I fear he is the only one who survived Dijiang county. .

. " "This Elder Sister Chuyu is truly kind.

" Shen Mu put the travel permit away and thought, "This time, going to the capital, if I am questioned, I can say I am from Lizhou Prefecture — no one will see that I come from the Barren Ruins. I have gone a whole night without sleep; I had best rest a while at Huyang county. "