Chapter 728 - 722-723: Peng Si’Er (2)

"Let Uncle Ling see a joke."

"Sigh, Zhaodi, what do you plan to do next?"

"It’s getting late now. Let’s stay here for the night and return tomorrow."

"Sounds good."

...

Zhang Residence.

Zhang Zhu asked where "Guo Xian" was, why it was taking so long, and if they were relatives.

Dai Tu nodded.

Zhang Zhu said, "Then where are they? Since they are Guo Lang’s elders, I should also meet them, offer them a cup of tea, and invite them to the wedding ceremony."

Dai Tu said these relatives had poor character. Upon learning of his success in the exams, they came to him for money and wanted to rely on him, so he gave them some money to send them off.

"I’m afraid if they came in, they would ask you for money and upset Father-in-law," Dai Tu said.

Zhang Zhu understood and said, "Everyone has a few parasitic relatives. Guo Lang, you should never agree to their demands from the start. If you give in even once, it’ll become a bottomless pit. Next time they come for money, tell Father and ask him to send someone to scare them off. Such people bully the weak and fear the strong."

Dai Tu nodded.

However, in his heart, he made a decision.

Although he had frightened Dai Ling and Huang Zhaodi for the moment, if they became angry and reported to the authorities, everything he had now would vanish.

He decided to go all the way.

The success in the provincial exams allowed him to meet some people and learn some things in Xiangyang.

No matter how prosperous and lively Xiangyang seemed now, darkness still existed behind the facade.

Amid the various trades, there were always those who committed crimes. No matter how peaceful the world was, they would not disappear.

Consequently, there were also "assassins."

Paying money to buy a life.

...

"Uncle Liu, three meat buns, please. This is to pay what I owe from last time."

In front of the bun stall, Huang Zhaodi took out a piece of broken silver the size of a fingernail and placed it in front of Old Liu.

Old Liu, who was rolling dough, glanced up and smiled, "Oh, it’s you. So, you found your husband? Where is he?"

"It’s a mistake, someone with the same name," Huang Zhaodi replied.

"Ah?" Old Liu was stunned, then noticed the expressions of Huang Zhaodi and Dai Ling, especially Zhaodi’s red, swollen eyes, indicating she’d just been crying. It seemed there was more to the story.

Yet, since they chose not to speak, Old Liu didn’t ask further but sighed, "What a false joy."

Saying that, he placed a basket of buns in front of them.

Huang Zhaodi was startled, "Uncle Liu, we didn’t order this many."

"Those few buns last time didn’t cost that much," Old Liu chuckled, then added, "It’s getting late. Have you found a place to stay?"

Huang Zhaodi’s expression darkened. Dai Ling said, "We asked around, but all the inns in town are full."

"My woodshed is quite large. If tidied up, you could spend the night there if you don’t mind," Old Liu offered with a smile.

Dai Ling hesitated, then said, "Thank you, Brother Liu."

"No need to be polite."

...

Night was falling.

There was no curfew in Xiangyang.

Under the southern city bridge.

A clear stream flowed, and on both sides lived low-class citizens and undocumented residents, a mixed crowd.

Due to the chaos, no children from good families would come here.

However, despite the disorder, no crimes occurred. Xiangyang had a large and growing population, leaving no time to deal with this area.

By the riverside, some small boats were moored, and some people lived and ate on these boats.

Although Peng Si’Er was just over twenty, he’d been living by his wits on the streets since the age of eleven, dabbling in the trades of carts, boats, inns, feet, and teeth, becoming well-versed in both the shady and daylight trades.

In his early years, he even learned some skills from an Entry Grade martial artist.

But, lacking money, he didn’t receive the true teachings. Though not a martial artist, his skills and physical condition were quite good.

If he gained the upper hand, even an entry-grade martial artist would find it difficult to deal with him.

At this moment, he was humming a tune while cooking when a tall figure blocked his light.

He looked up to see a man in a brocade robe, wearing a mask clearly bought from a stall. Surprised, he asked, "Who might you be?"

"Are you Peng Si’Er?"

"Does the gentleman need something from me?" Peng Si’Er’s expression changed slightly as his hand moved toward the short blade at his waist.

"I heard you handle dirty work?" the brocade-robed man asked.

Peng Si’Er raised an eyebrow, knowing this was business. He bragged, "If you ask around the south of the city, everyone knows Peng Si’Er is the quickest, leaves no traces, and offers the most reasonable prices."

"Very well. Here’s a down payment and the target’s portrait. They’re ordinary people. Once done, I’ll pay the rest." The brocade-robed man tossed a bulging pouch at Peng Si’Er, then warned, "Do it cleanly, not in the city, or else I’ll know what you look like."

"Rest assured."

Peng Si’Er opened the pouch to find three ingots of silver, each ten taels, and three portraits.

"This is a massacre." Peng Si’Er muttered, looking at the portraits and the direction where the brocade-robed man had left. He quickly stored the silver and followed after.

The brocade-robed man deliberately went in circles and, upon entering an alley with no one around, removed his mask and breathed heavily, his heart racing.

The man was Dai Tu.

Though he was heartless to Huang Zhaodi, hiring a killer was something he was doing for the first time. Just moments ago, handing over the money made his palms sweat; even after the transaction, he felt nervous, regretful, and guilty.

But soon, the guilt and regret vanished.

"No one can stand in my way," Dai Tu’s eyes turned piercingly dark.

After leaving the alley, he didn’t return immediately but circled around to ensure no one followed before returning to the Zhang Residence.

"The Zhang Residence..." Peng Si’Er murmured, watching the figure just entering the mansion.

Initially, after taking the brocade-robed man’s down payment, Peng Si’Er considered running. After all, for someone like him, scamming and deceiving were commonplace, especially as law enforcement had improved in the Four States, and he hadn’t engaged in murder for years.

But knowing this person belonged to the Zhang Residence, Peng Si’Er thought he could do it after all; it was an opportunity to "make connections."

After leaving, Peng Si’Er immediately activated his network connections to find the people in the portraits.

As they say, each path has its way, and he had his methods.

...

Elsewhere.

Although Chen Mo declined Qin Shi’s lunch invitation, by evening, the Xiao and Gan Families invited him again under the guise of business at the chamber of commerce, saying they had important matters to discuss.

Chen Mo believed them and went.

"Prince, you truly are a busy man. You’ve been back in Xiangyang for days and haven’t visited Copper Sparrow Garden once."

The speaker wore a scarlet palace gown, a jade belt cinched at her waist highlighting her full and graceful figure. Her styled hair was grand, her delicate brows refined, her jade face fair, and beneath her snowy neck was enticing skin—a half-revealed Ying Yue tempting to taste.

It was Madam Xiao.

"Greetings to King Wei," said Madam Gan, rising to bow.

Compared to Madam Xiao, Madam Gan’s attire was simple yet elegant, graceful and gentle. Though older, she was remarkably beautiful, exuding a captivating charm, her long hair unbound, draping over her shoulders.

"Was this your idea?" Chen Mo frowned and sat down.

Madam Xiao willingly approached Chen Mo. Since fleeing Chongzhou to seek refuge with Chen Mo, her notions of etiquette and honor before him had vanished entirely.

She wrapped her arms around Chen Mo’s neck, whispering softly, "Don’t blame me, it was all my idea. Since you didn’t come to see me, I had to find a way to see you.

If you’re angry, then punish me well."