Chapter 30: 【Carrier Street】(Middle)

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you don't let me intervene, I'll just clumsily stick my foot in; you can go to the carrier street, and I can go too. Otherwise, let's see who can find Mo Shaolin first."

Murong Feiyan's heart sank; knowing Hu Xiaotian's arrogant nature, he would do anything, and although she didn't want him involved in this matter, he was after all the victim of this case. This kid clearly hadn't told the whole story, surely hiding something. After a moment's thought she finally nodded and said: "You can come with me, but you must not interfere with my affairs!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Don't worry, I always behave well in front of pretty girls."

Their destination was West City Carrier Street; in Kangdu there are three major horse markets, and West City Carrier Street is the largest of them, yet also the most chaotic. People often refer to the West City Horse Market as the carrier street. Here all kinds of livestock are sold, from cattle, horses, sheep, and camels down to chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. Although the variety is mixed, genuine quality is rare, and most traders are ordinary folk, with few large‑scale deals; most sell by the head, and prices are generally low.

Murong Feiyan had not changed into her official uniform; her outfit was unsuitable for riding, so she got into Hu Xiaotian's carriage. Hu Xiaotian also disliked riding, because his horsemanship was poor and he constantly feared falling from the horse's back.

Murong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain, looked outside, and saw Hu Xiaotian's six attendants following closely like shadows. She frowned and said: "You noble offspring, must you make such a grand display wherever you go? Are you afraid people won't know your family is wealthy and influential?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You're annoying me, and I'm annoying you. Have you ever tried having someone constantly follow you while you eat, sleep, or use the privy?"

Hearing this, Murong Feiyan's cheeks flushed, her long black lashes drooped, and she fell silent, silently cursing this shameless wretch who could say anything without shame.

Hu Xiaotian sighed, leaned against the carriage, and suddenly recalled that Tang Qingxuan's several brothers were domineering figures in the horse market. He wondered whether today's trip to West City Horse Market would bring him into conflict with the Tang family, and whispered: "I remember Tang Tiehan seems to be in charge of the horse market?"

Although he asked tactfully, Murong Feiyan still sensed his worry and concern from his words, smiled and said: "Don't worry, this is the carrier street; their business isn't here." She paused, then added: "If you haven't done anything guilty, you needn't fear ghosts knocking at your door; if you keep doing wicked deeds, won't you also feel guilty?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly: "I'd feel guilty? Hahaha…" His laugh obviously sounded forced. It wasn't because he feared the Tang siblings, but merely because he didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble.

As the carriage entered the carrier street, the ground instantly became a muddy mess. Although the carrier street isn't small, its conditions are truly poor; cattle and horse dealers from all directions gather here, a mixed crowd, and most of them are itinerant traders; truly powerful horse dealers disdain to do business here.

Though the road is wide, the constant flow of carriages and horses, together with vendors driving livestock, makes it terribly crowded. After just a few steps, their carriage was blocked and could not move forward.

Murong Feiyan pushed open the carriage door and jumped out; Hu Xiaotian followed closely behind.

The driver, Hu Fo, said: "Young master, the livestock ahead has blocked the way; the carriage can't pass."

Murong Feiyan had already walked forward on foot; Hu Xiaotian said: "You wait here, I'll go with Murong Constable…" He had wanted to say "Murong Constable Chief," but seeing the crowd coming and going, he swallowed that title. Several attendants also wanted to follow, but Hu Xiaotian waved his hand, signalling them not to make a big show, lest they startle the snake, and only let Li Jin Hao and Shao Yijiao accompany him. After observing them for a while, he found that among the six attendants, these two had decent fighting ability, while Liang Da Zhuang and the like, though big and fat, were actually cowards; if anything happened, they'd only drag him down.

Liang Da Zhuang had always considered himself the chief attendant beside the young master. Seeing Hu Xiaotian this time not only fail to call his name but also not bring him along, he felt a bit disappointed and volunteered: "Young master, I'll go with you."

Hu Xiaotian waved his hand: "You are the person I trust most; staying here to hold the fort puts my mind at ease."

Liang Da Zhuang was overjoyed by these words, his confidence bursting: "Young master, rest assured, I will not disgrace my mission."

Murong Feiyan's outfit today was indeed inconvenient for walking; after a few steps she stepped into a mud puddle. Hu Xiaotian saw her lifting her skirt, her boots covered in mud and horse dung, and couldn't help sighing: "I thought Miss Murong was a pure white lotus rising from the mire, unstained."

Murong Feiyan glared at him, too lazy to bother with his sarcastic remarks. In fact, this was also self‑knowledge; she knew she could never match him in verbal sparring.

They found Mo Shaolin at the northern end of the carrier street. Mo Shaolin, twenty‑four years old, from the northwest, is of Qin and Hu descent, tall and dark‑skinned, with naturally curly hair, a square face, thick brows and big eyes, wearing a brown warrior uniform that has faded from frequent washing, his trouser legs rolled up to the knees, revealing muscular calves, and wearing straw shoes also caked with mud.

When Hu Xiaotian and Murong Feiyan saw him, he was bargaining with a customer. Bargaining at the horse market isn't done by words alone; usually the two parties hide their hands in their sleeves, pull them together, one uses fingers to state the price, the other uses fingers to counter‑offer, and once the price is agreed they shake hands to seal the deal.

Seeing Mo Shaolin's strong, well‑developed muscles, Hu Xiaotian had already judged his combat ability to be formidable. He leaned close to Murong Feiyan's ear and whispered low: "Should we call a few more helpers?"

Murong Feiyan glanced at him, her eyes full of contempt; in fact she always looked at Hu Xiaotian with this gaze, her tone laced with mockery: "Are you afraid?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How do you write the character for 'fear'?"

Murong Feiyan had already begun walking slowly toward Mo Shaolin.

Mo Shaolin and that customer ultimately failed to reach an agreement; with no deal, they shook their heads, exchanged apologetic smiles, and the customer left. Mo Shaolin's gaze fell on Murong Feiyan's pretty face; to see such a beautiful woman appear in the filthy carrier street is inherently incongruous, and moreover she is accompanied by a richly dressed young nobleman—these two ought to be boating on the misty waters of Emerald Cloud Lake or sitting in a red‑brick, green‑tile pavilion listening to music and composing poetry, not appearing in such a place.

Mo Shaolin's gaze swept over their faces, then quickly settled on their feet; from a person's stride and step rhythm one can tell whether they know martial arts. Mo Shaolin's face bore a smile, but his heart had already gone on alert.

Hu Xiaotian kept watching Mo Shaolin's gaze change; he excelled at reading subtle psychological shifts from facial expressions, and it seemed the saying "many skills do not weigh one down" still held some truth; his past study of psychology had indeed proved useful.

From their gait Mo Shaolin had already judged that Murong Feiyan and the two attendants behind her all possessed martial arts; as for this smiling, frivolous young master, he appeared not to know martial arts, though his physique was robust, not like a scholar incapable of trussing a chicken.

Mo Shaolin felt wary, yet his face shone with a bright smile: "Sir, Madam, are you here to buy a horse?"

Being called "madam" made Murong Feiyan's cheeks flush crimson; she thought, what kind of eyes does he have? I am clearly an unmarried maiden, and my hair‑do and attire also show I am not married.

Hu Xiaotian, however, laughed heartily; he had no intention of taking advantage of Murong Feiyan; it was Mo Shaolin who helped himself to the advantage. Hu Xiaotian nodded, intending to beat around the bush to ask about Zhao Zhenghao's whereabouts, but Murong Feiyan had no interest in circling the issue; she cut straight to the point: "Are you Mo Shaolin?" Su Le, hearing this, instantly cursed inwardly.

Mo Shaolin laughed: "Yes! Madam, do you know me?"

Murong Feiyan said: "Do you know Zhao Zhenghao?"

Mo Shaolin said: "I know him! We once traded horses together."

"Where is he now?"

Mo Shaolin looked at Murong Feiyan with suspicion: "What do you want him for?"

Before Murong Feiyan could speak, Hu Xiaotian already produced a silver ingot weighing about five taels, waved it in front of Mo Shaolin, then handed it to him. Seeing the silver, Mo Shaolin's smile grew even brighter; he reached out and snatched the ingot, glanced around furtively, and whispered mysteriously: "I'll give you a sign—I'll take you there right away!"

If Murong Feiyan weren't so impatient, Hu Xiaotian wouldn't have resorted to this tactic; truly, I don't know how the title of "First Female Constable of Jingzhao Prefecture" came to her—solving a case requires skill, one must probe indirectly and try to uncover the truth before the opponent notices one's real intent. Originally Murong Feiyan had taken off her uniform and dressed in civilian clothes; Hu Xiaotian thought she was going to act as a plainclothes policeman, but he never imagined that upon seeing Mo Shaolin her very first words would expose her true identity—she only needed to avoid explicitly saying "I'm a constable."

Mo Shaolin turned and walked toward the rear, entered the horse pen, and instructed a groom wearing a gray‑blue headscarf.

Hu Xiaotian said to Murong Feiyan: "Something seems off; Mo Shaolin is acting sneaky." He gave Li Jin Hao and Shao Yijiao a look, signalling them to circle to the other side, watch Mo Shaolin to prevent him from escaping that way.

Murong Feiyan coldly said: "He won't be able to pull any tricks." As her words fell, they saw Mo Shaolin leap onto a mud‑covered yellow piebald horse, grinning at Murong Feiyan: "Want to find him? Follow me!" He jerked the reins hard, squeezed his legs against the horse's belly; the horse let out a long neigh, flung its four hooves wide and bolted forward. As it neared the fence it suddenly sprang up, clearing the four‑high barrier in one bound, its hooves landing and sending mud flying, splattering Li Jin Hao and Shao Yijiao, who had not yet managed to encircle him. Mo Shaolin had already spurred his horse away, shaking them off and galloping off.

***********************************************Explanation of the protagonist's personality: as the body changes through transmigration, the body also changes you; I will not elaborate further on this point, welcome all reasonable opinions; as for those who deliberately attract attention with malicious reviews, I can only laugh…