Chapter 468: How Many Heads Do You Have

Xiao Er asked, "Is the eldest son talking about that batch of repeating crossbows?"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Exactly. I will disguise myself as Zhou Jing'an, go to the Incense Hall, demand the repeating crossbows from them, and then head straight for Jingcheng!"

Lu Qi widened his eyes: "Eldest son, this... this is too bold."

Xiao Ningyuan said slowly, "It's not a whim of mine; we must not let the Nine-Star repeating crossbow fall into Blood Blade's hands."

"When Xue Jiangtao returns to the Incense Hall, even if we can locate the repeating crossbow, whether we intend to destroy it or take it, it will be as hard as scaling the heavens."

"If we are to break the deadlock, the plan for now is only to seize this method while he hasn't returned."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, then slowly nodded.

"Lu Qi, does Boss Su Wanyun of the Liangjiang Guild have any disguise items in his possession?"

Lu Qi replied, "There should be, but we need to ask to know."

Xiao Ningyuan said, "Good! Go to the Liangjiang Guild and ask Boss Su to bring those items over immediately."

"Understood!"

"Xiao Er, prepare all our carriage luggage; when the brothers return, let them go ahead and wait on the road back to Jingcheng."

"Then go to the Carriage Shop again and buy brand‑new carriages and horses."

"If Thousand Faces truly is as wondrous as written on this letter, after obtaining the repeating crossbow, we will rendezvous with the brothers on the road, change carriages, and continue."

"If they try to chase, hehe, it won't be that easy!"

"Indeed!"

The two took the orders and left.

Tuan Tuan yawned lightly, "Big brother, I'm sleepy."

Xiao Ningyuan lifted her onto the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and covered her with a blanket: "Good girl, sleep now; when we set out, brother will call you again."

"Mm." Tuan Tuan closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Uncertain how long passed.

"Tuan Tuan? Wake up, Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan was sleeping soundly, her body gently rocked.

She groggily opened her eyes to a large face inches away.

A straight nose bridge, tightly pressed thin lips, a cold and unfamiliar visage—it was Zhou Jing'an!

Sleepiness vanished in an instant.

Tuan Tuan raised a small palm, and with a "slap!" sound, solidly struck Zhou Jing'an's face.

"Bad guy!"

Zhou Jing'an was startled by the blow, yet did not get angry; instead, a supremely gentle smile spread across his face.

"I'm your big brother, Tuan Tuan." The lips that belonged to Zhou Jing'an opened, but the voice that came out was Xiao Ningyuan's resigned tone.

Tuan Tuan was completely stunned, reached out a small hand to cup the face before her, and remembered, "Oh, it's Thousand Faces!"

She blinked, extended a little finger, and poked the person's cheek.

Soft and bouncy, fun! She kept poking several more times.

Xiao Ningyuan let her play, his smile deepening.

"Really?" Tuan Tuan finally believed, then scrunched her little nose, "You scared the baby! Big brother, you're really bad!"

"Haha, get up, little lazy pig, we're about to set off!"

Xiao Ningyuan tidied his sister's clothes and helped her put on shoes and socks.

The room door was pushed open, and Xiao Er stepped in.

He changed into ordinary servant attire, his face covered with Luosaihu, and wore a wide‑brimmed hat, completely concealing his original features.

"Eldest son, the brothers have already gone ahead; the newly procured carriage and horses are parked at the back door."

"Mm." Xiao Ningyuan replied, lifted the still‑drowsy Tuan Tuan, and said, "Let's go."

"Lu Qi?"

"He is delivering something to Boss Su; he'll be back in a moment."

At the inn entrance.

Su Wanyun looked at Lu Qi standing before him, his face covered in beard and hat, his lips moving as he whispered:

"I don't know what you're about to do, but... be careful in everything."

Lu Qi's body stiffened, and he made no sound.

Su Wanyun bit his lower lip, a flash of irritation and grievance in his eyes: "You, you stifling gourd!"

After speaking, she turned and left.

"Wanyun!" Lu Qi suddenly called out.

Su Wanyun's silhouette trembled, and he slowly turned: "You, what are you calling me?"

"Wanyun." Lu Qi did not evade, his gaze flickered, "In the past, I didn't understand. But walking with Lord Master all this way, I have understood."

He paused: "In life, the most important thing is to cherish the people before you."

"When Lord Master's business here is finished, I will come to Yuzhou to find you; from then on, at the Liangjiang Guild teahouse, we will share the responsibilities together."

Su Wanyun's face lit with surprise, his eyes shining: "Good! I'll wait for your return!"

Lu Qi took a deep breath, turned, and strode toward the back door.

Su Wanyun watched his silhouette disappear, murmuring: "Little Lord Master, you actually managed to make this hard stone understand these things; if I have the chance, sister, I will definitely thank you properly."

Outside the back door, a blue‑canopy carriage stood quietly in the hazy morning mist.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted Tuan Tuan into the carriage and mounted the horse.

Xiao Er sat on the carriage pole, while Lu Qi rode his horse following behind Xiao Ningyuan.

Xiao Ningyuan flicked his whip: "Go!"

Before dawn was fully bright, the carriage arrived at the front gate of Incense Tower and slowly stopped; the gamblers had all dispersed, and no one stood before the building.

Xiao Ningyuan sat lazily on horseback and ordered: "Knock on the door."

Lu Qi understood, swung down from his horse, walked to the tightly shut gate, and knocked loudly.

"Dong dong dong—"

The dull sound carried far in the quiet morning.

Moments later, hurried footsteps came from inside, and the door opened with a 'creak'.

A sleepy-eyed attendant poked his head out; upon seeing the rider's face, he jerked awake, all drowsiness gone.

"Zhou, Young Master Zhou? How did you come back?"

Xiao Ningyuan didn't even lift his eyelids, grunted: "Where's Boss Xue?"

"He personally said he'd definitely return today. Where is he? Call him out so I can see him!"

The attendant stared, stunned.

"Cough cough," Xiao Ningyuan covered his mouth and gave a light cough, brow furrowed: "Little master me, for this errand, I inadvertently caught a chill—I'm utterly exhausted!"

"Why are you still standing there? Do you want me to come fetch him myself?"

The attendant hurriedly smiled and said: "No dare, no dare! Master Xue instructed before leaving that he'd return at noon today, and he will certainly not delay your lordship's errand."

"It's still early; why don't you, Young Master Zhou, come in for a cup of tea and wait a moment?"

"No need." Xiao Ningyuan wore a look of impatience: "I have important business; I have no leisure for this."

"Since he's not here, go and summon the steward!"

"Yes! Yes!"

The attendant replied repeatedly, scrambling and crawling into the building.

"Big brother, you're really good at this! So fun!"

Tuan Tuan sat in the carriage, covering her mouth as she laughed happily.

Not long after, a man in his forties, wearing an outer robe, came running out, followed by several attendants: "I didn't know Young Master Zhou would grace us with his presence; please forgive me!"

Xiao Ningyuan sized him up from head to toe, making the steward's heart go cold.

He then slowly said: "Yesterday I received a pigeon-message; His Highness is urgently waiting for these supplies, so I hurried back."

He paused: "Move everything out! I'll take it away immediately."

The steward's face showed difficulty; he wrung his hands and hesitated: "This… this is really troubling for a humble person like me."

"Master Xue repeatedly warned before leaving that these items are of utmost importance, must not be touched by anyone, only he himself…"

"Impudent!"

Xiao Ningyuan shouted sharply, making the steward shudder.

His eyes suddenly turned sharp; the arrogance of the marquis's son was fully displayed: "These are the things I brought! They belong to His Highness Prince Qing!"

"His Highness needs them—am I not allowed to move them?"

"What are you, daring to use Xue Jiangtao's words to brush me off?"

His tone was grim: "If you delay His Highness's important affair, how many of your heads are enough to be cut off?"