Chapter 127: Hidden

Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing's silhouettes disappeared around the street corner, and the smile on Jin Buhuan's face also stiffened, finally revealing a gloomy undertone.

He turned and walked upstairs, his obese body making the carved wooden stairs groan under the weight.

On the fourth floor, inside a simply furnished room, a man stood by the window.

He held a purple clay teacup, but his gaze fell on the two figures receding downstairs.

A long sword hung at his waist.

"It seems the officials' noses are sharper than imagined."

Jin Buhuan refilled his pipe, took a deep puff, and exhaled thick smoke.

The man slowly turned around—he was the boss of the Five Absolutes Sect.

He set the teacup on the table, producing a clear clink, his tone calm and unruffled.

"As expected."

"You're surprisingly composed," Jin Buhuan muttered discontentedly.

"What now? They obviously suspect us; next they might come search the restaurant."

The man walked to the table and sat down, his long fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, producing a rhythmic patter.

"I have a plan."

Jin Buhuan's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly:

"What plan?"

The man merely glanced at him lightly.

"I haven't thought of it yet."

Jin Buhuan instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, plopping into the chair, his fleshy face full of worry.

"You… can you be reliable? This is a matter of life and death!"

"Don't panic," the man said, his tone still calm.

"Since I promised to help you, I will naturally handle it cleanly."

"Handle it cleanly? Isn't killing Assistant Official Liu's family enough?"

Jin Buhuan lowered his voice, almost shouting.

"I only asked you to kill him alone; who made you kill them all?"

"Now it's blown up; the officials have their eyes on us!"

A cold light flashed in the man's eyes, his tone icy.

"Those who achieve great things don't fuss over trifles; Assistant Official Liu's family knew too much, leaving them alive would ultimately be a disaster."

"A disaster? What could they possibly know?!"

Jin Buhuan trembled with anger.

"It's just some minor business matters; do we really need to exterminate them?"

The man let out a cold laugh and said:

"Minor business matters? Do you think the officials only care about Assistant Official Liu's family?"

"They're investigating you, investigating your smuggling business!"

"Once they catch you with evidence, do you think you can still sit here smoking peacefully?"

Jin Buhuan's face kept changing, his lips trembling, yet he could not speak.

The man stood up, walked to the window, gazing at the bustling street outside, and said in a low tone:

"Assistant Official Liu is just the beginning; more people will obstruct our plans ahead."

"So you'd better pray I come up with a solution soon, otherwise…"

Jin Buhuan finally squeezed out a fawning smile after a moment.

"Hero, hero! Let's talk it out, let's talk it out! Look, this is all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

He pulled a heavy sack of silver from his sleeve and offered it with both hands to the man.

"Just a token, not much respect; please accept it, hero."

The man glanced at the sack of silver, the corner of his mouth curling in disdain.

"You think I'm short on money?"

"No, no, no, certainly not!"

Jin Buhuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and apologetically said:

"This is a labor fee, a labor fee!"

"Hero, you work day and night to solve my problems; this bit of money can be considered a tonic for your health."

The man said nothing more, reached out to take the silver, weighed it, then tucked it into his bosom.

He turned and walked to the door, paused a moment, and without looking back said:

"I need time."

Having said that, he pushed the door open and vanished into the night.

Jin Buhuan stood alone by the window, gazing at the brightly lit street outside, his heart forever suspended.

He knew that although the man had taken the money, it did not mean the matter was over.

Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing returned to the Xian Ya, sitting opposite each other with furrowed brows.

"Mr. Jiang, Jin Buhuan is tight-lipped; we got nothing out of him."

Li Wenqing sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Looks like we have to think of another way."

Jiang Xiaomu remained silent, the scene at the Jin Zhuangyuan Jiulou replaying over and over in his mind.

Jin Buhuan's speech and behavior seemed normal, but he always felt something was off.

Moreover, while they were talking, he constantly felt someone upstairs was staring at him, a feeling like a prickling on his back that made him very uncomfortable.

"Constable Captain Li, I always feel there's something wrong with this Jin Zhuangyuan Jiulou."

Jiang Xiaomu raised his head, his gaze sharp.

"While we were talking, I felt someone upstairs was monitoring us."

Li Wenqing blinked, then fell into thought as well.

"What Mr. Jiang means is……"

"I suggest sending someone to secretly monitor Jin Zhuangyuan Jiulou to see what Jin Buhuan is up to."

Jiang Xiaomu's tone was firm.

Li Wenqing nodded, feeling Jiang Xiaomu's suggestion made sense.

"Alright, I'll arrange the personnel right away."

Night fell, yet Jin Zhuangyuan Jiulou remained brightly lit, the hall full of guests.

However, across from the inn, several figures hid in the darkness, closely watching its every move.

Jiang Xiaomu returned home; his sister Jiang Xiaoyu had already prepared dinner and was waiting for him.

"Brother, you're back!"

Jiang Xiaoyu saw Jiang Xiaomu and her face lit up with a bright smile.

"Xiao Yu, how was your day?"

Jiang Xiaomu rubbed his sister's head, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Not bad."

"What did Xiao Yu do today? Anything new?"

Upon hearing that, Jiang Xiaoyu's eyes lit up instantly, like two sparkling stars.

"Brother, you have no idea how lively it was today!"

"The neighbor Old Lady Wang's hen actually flew up a tree, and in the end only her son climbed up to bring it down!"

"Also, the butcher Li at the street's end slaughtered a pig today—it was so fat, over two hundred catties!"

"I heard the meat sold out; I had wanted to go see the excitement, but……"

She said this with a hint of resentment in her voice.

"People say girls shouldn't watch pig slaughter—it's too bloody……"

Jiang Xiaomu listened to his sister chatter on about these trivial matters, a gentle smile always on his face.

"By the way, brother,"

Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly seemed to remember something, leaning in mysteriously to whisper in Jiang Xiaomu's ear.

"I saw a strange person on the street today."

"A strange person?"

Jiang Xiaomu raised an eyebrow, a sense of alertness rising in his heart.

"How was he strange?"

"He was dressed all in black, wearing a big bamboo hat that covered his face, looking sinister."

Jiang Xiaoyu lowered her voice.

"Moreover, he kept wandering the street, as if looking for something."

Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred—could it be that man?