Chapter 300: Do You Like My Ninth Brother?

Xiao Ningxun twitched the corner of her lips: "Useful, very useful; we'll talk about it when we get back."

When everyone returned to the inn, Xiao Ningxun explained calmly: "What they stole are the delivery vouchers for the poisonous spices from the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion."

Xiao Ran, puzzled, said: "The Hundred Fragrance Pavilion has so many spices; why would they use poisonous stuff as spices? It doesn't make sense."

Xiao Ningxun replied: "They have been using the spice shop as a cover to purchase at high price a poisonous herb called Purple Nether Fragrance, making poison from its stems and flowers, and selling it all to Jiangkuo Trading Firm."

"Although the root of that poisonous herb cannot make poison, it has a unique fragrance; only a tiny amount mixed into other spices can create a signature scent."

Xiao Ran suddenly understood: "I see, since that poisonous herb is expensive, it can't be wasted, which is why they make poisonous spices."

"Exactly." Xiao Ningxun nodded.

Lu Qi said: "Again Jiangkuo Trading Firm! What on earth is Shen Wanjin trying to do?"

Xiao Ningxun was silent for a moment: "After seeing those vouchers today, I guessed that they have refined iron mixed with Cold Star Sand and also poison; could it be that they forged arrowheads and then coated them with poison?"

Xiao Er slapped his thigh: "It must be so! The Nine-Star Repeating Crossbow is already terrifyingly powerful; add poison, and it becomes an unparalleled weapon!"

Tuan Tuan didn't understand the rest; she knows the Nine-Star Repeating Crossbow well—coating the bolts with poison?

That's terrible!

She huffed angrily: "That lousy trading firm! Third Brother, you hurry and arrest them all!"

Xiao Ningxun patted her little head: "We only have suspicion, no evidence. To catch thieves and seize the loot, we need to know where they do this, and find those poisoned arrowheads to punish them."

Zhou An hesitantly asked: "Is it… Shen Wanjin?"

Xiao Er asked: "Do you know him?"

Zhou Ping said indignantly: "The big boss of Jiangkuo Trading Firm, who doesn't know him! When our skills were still lacking, we could only go to taverns and inns to beg for leftover scraps."

"In front of others, he pretended to be a great benefactor, giving us food."

"We were reluctant to eat it, wanting to save it to bring back to father. He came out, saw us sitting at the doorway with a bowl of food, and in the darkness when no one was watching, he kicked our bowl over with a single foot!"

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed, "Why would he do that!"

Zhou An nodded: "He even steals things!"

"What?!" This time even Xiao Ningxun was shocked. "Jiangkuo Trading Firm is so big, he's already among the richest; he steals things? What does he steal?"

Zhou An replied: "Really, benefactor! I'm not lying to you!"

"I've seen it twice! Once in a tavern, he secretly slipped someone's silver spoon into his sleeve. Another time in a teahouse, he slipped a small plate into his bosom when no one was watching!"

Xiao Ran couldn't help laughing: "So how is his thieving skill?"

Zhou An, with a serious face, said: "Bad! Far from it; if he tried to scrounge food on the street, people would have broken his hands long ago."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lu Qi laughed: "It's a pity he doesn't steal on the street, otherwise I'd be the first to break his hands!"

Xiao Ningxun looked at the two brothers: "If I let you follow him and return everything he steals back to his trading firm, would you be willing?"

Zhou Ping, confused, asked: "What do you mean, benefactor?"

Tuan Tuan sighed: "Ah, stop calling each other 'benefactor' all the time, okay? Call each other like Uncle Two and the others!"

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "Tuan Tuan is right, stop calling me 'benefactor'; I practice the third at home." He raised his hand and pointed at Xiao Ran, "He practices the ninth."

Zhou An obediently shouted: "Yes, Third Young Master."

Zhou Ping also changed his tone: "Does Third Young Master want to… scare him?"

"No." Xiao Ningxun's eyes lit up, "Not just fear, but to make him paranoid."

"He doesn't lack money, yet has this secretive vice, so naturally he doesn't want others to know."

"I get it!" Xiao Ran laughed: "No wonder the little brat said you're like a fox; you really have many cunning ideas!"

"Someone like Shen Wanjin, if he suddenly realized others have discovered his vice, it's no wonder he'd become paranoid! He might even start doubting his own mother."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "Right! Since the Qian family was seized, he already suspects his deeds have been exposed; with that, he'll definitely take action."

"After that, as long as we keep an eye on him, once he shows any flaw, we can strike at the opportune moment, seize his personal loot and profit."

Zhou Ping and Zhou An exchanged glances, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes.

"Third Young Master, rest assured, making him uncomfortable is something we are more than happy to do!" Zhou Ping puffed out his chest, "We guarantee that whatever he steals will end up running back to his own trading firm!"

The next day, the two brothers Zhou Ping and Zhou An began to lie in wait at places Shen Wanjin frequented, ready to act.

A few people were idle in the inn; Xiao Ran stretched lazily: "Finally we can rest a bit!"

The waiter's voice came from outside the door: "Guest, the Young Chief of the Qiaotou Gang is visiting."

Xiao Ran froze instantly.

Everyone's eyes flicked toward him.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Xiao Ran's voice clearly trailed off, "She comes, that's her business, what does it have to do with me?"

Tuan Tuan cheerfully rushed out of the guest room: "Sister Luo is here!"

Xiao Er hurriedly followed.

After a moment, Xiao Er led Tuan Tuan back to the guest room, his expression subtle: "Ninth Young Master, Young Chief Luo says she came looking for you; please go down, she has something she wants to discuss with you alone."

Xiao Ran, looking helpless, stood up, straightened his collar, and descended the stairs with stiff steps.

In the inn's main hall, Luo Hongli sat alone.

Today she wore a striking dark‑red outfit, her hair tied high, exuding her usual heroic bearing.

Seeing Xiao Ran come down, she rose and clasped her fists: "Young Master."

"Miss Luo." Xiao Ran returned the salute, and the two sat down.

Luo Hongli looked straight at Xiao Ran: "The Qian family has collapsed."

"Hmm." Xiao Ran nodded.

"In a single night," Luo Hongli said calmly, "the biggest salt merchant in Jiangzhou fell without warning."

"I, Luo Hongli, may be a rough person with no scheming, but I'm not stupid."

She paused, lowered her voice: "You aren't ordinary wandering swordsmen, nor are you typical rich young masters, right?"

Xiao Ran's Adam's apple moved slightly; she seemed about to speak, but never opened her mouth.

"I have come today for two reasons. First, to give thanks," Luo Hongli said solemnly, "The Qian family has plagued Jiangzhou for years; you have eliminated the menace for the people, and the entire Bridgehead Gang is immensely grateful."

"Second," she bit her lower lip, "I wish to ask you, sir, a question."

Xiao Ran's heart leapt. "Miss Luo, please speak."

"You always avoid me because your status is too high, thinking that a wandering woman like me is unfit to be your friend?"

The words were too blunt; Xiao Ran was caught off guard, a flash of panic crossing her face: "No! Miss Luo, you've misunderstood. You're fine, it's me, I—"

She stopped mid‑sentence.

What could he say? That he is the current Nine Prince?

That the royal family and the jianghu should be clearly separate? That between them lies not a mountain but an entire world?

"Sister Luo!" Tuan Tuan's soft, mushy voice came from the stairs.

Turning around, they saw Tuan Tuan, Xiao Ningxun, Xiao Er and Lu Qi, who had somehow formed a line on the stairs, watching them.

Xiao Ran exhaled a sigh of relief, lifted her teacup and took a sip: "Why have you all come down?"

Tuan Tuan trotted to Luo Hongli's side, tugged at her sleeve, and looked up with a small face: "Sister Luo, do you like my ninth brother?"

"Pfft—"

The sip of tea Xiao Ran had just taken erupted from her mouth.

Luo Hongli's face flushed "Swoosh" red: "Little girl! You!"

"I understand perfectly!" Tuan Tuan pulled Luo Hongli down, making her bend over, "Sister Luo, I'll tell you a secret!"

She whispered conspiratorially, "My ninth brother likes to play with boys, not with girls! All his good friends are boys!"