Chapter 270: 262 Another Commission

The young man pouring tea had delicate features, yet his face lacked distinctiveness, making it hard for anyone to form an impression at a glance. Standing there, he held no extra posture, his Spirit neither vibrant nor humble.

At most, he bowed slightly upon hearing the gentle young man call him out, saying, "Eldest Brother." Then he raised his head, smiled faintly, and said, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

That Eldest Brother stared at his face closely and said, "Your disguise technique has improved, but beyond the technique, there is no progress; in fact, you have regressed. Weise, you are too lazy."

Weise smiled and said, "Indeed, it has been a long time since I used a disguise. Now that I don't need to hide myself at all times and remain vigilant, I have naturally relaxed my standards. Besides Eldest Brother, has anyone else noticed?"

Eldest Brother sighed and said, "Likely not. Their powers of observation are not even as good as yours. Unless you overestimate your own abilities and insist on testing her."

Weise said calmly, "Naturally, I dare not do that now." His gaze swept inadvertently across the pavilion, where Lady Hua Rong was chatting and laughing with two women, one old and one young, paying no attention to this side. At this moment, a young girl with hair in bangs entered, pushing a small cart loaded with a pile of fresh fruit and strange Art Tools. "Besides, we have sister disciples specifically for receiving female guests, so I am not needed."

Eldest Brother said, "I thought you were determined to fly far away and stay far from her. I didn't expect you to be so close, even right under her nose. Is this to hide in the shadow of the Lamp?"

Weise shook his head and said, "Since I left, I have only considered myself and no longer consider her. I am here now because life here is comfortable. As for meeting anyone because of this, that cannot be helped."

Eldest Brother glanced at him and said, "Although your vigilance has regressed, you are surprisingly more courageous, which means you are more confident. It seems your choice had its merits. Very well, what do you have to say to me?"

Regardless, Weise being so close to Lady Hua Rong was still very dangerous; "avoiding danger" was an instinct carved into the Bone of people like them. Since he risked appearing and even led him here, he naturally had a request.

Weise nodded slightly and said, "I have a matter to ask of Eldest Brother..."

Eldest Brother held the cart frame and cut him off, saying, "You have no right to call me Eldest Brother; by what right do you ask me? You are even..."

Weise said, "I am paying."

Eldest Brother let go and said, "You don't even have the right to ask me for a discount."

Weise said, "No discount, at the highest standard."

Eldest Brother glanced at him and said, "Struck it rich?"

Weise said, "No. This can be reimbursed. Our master is a wealthy man."

Eldest Brother smiled faintly and said, "Since there is money, I won't talk about discounts. What do you want to do?"

Weise said, "Kill someone."

Eldest Brother frowned slightly instead and said, "Killing is our old trade; nothing could be simpler. However, can you not kill the person I can kill?"

Weise said, "Killing is only the first step. It is also necessary to take his identity and continue to carry out a major task, even spending days lying in ambush until the critical moment for a thunderous strike. Who else but Eldest Brother can do this?"

Eldest Brother suddenly said, "Wait, for such a big task, when do you want me to act?"

Weise said, "Today. If Eldest Brother agrees, come with me now."

Eldest Brother said angrily, "Are you crazy? How can I slip away today? She is sitting right there; how can I leave with you under her nose?"

Weise said, "If you agree, this matter is a commission from my White Jade Flourishing Shop, and someone will speak to her. We can just go and handle the business."

Eldest Brother asked in confusion, "If so, why not have your shop commission her directly? Wouldn't it be more legitimate if she assigned me to do it?"

Weise said, "Public is public, private is private. Publicly, I naturally wouldn't make things difficult for Eldest Brother, but privately, I should still speak to Eldest Brother first. This is my entrustment, and I don't trust anyone but Eldest Brother." Following his slight hint, another girl walked into the pavilion and whispered something into Lady Hua Rong's ear. Lady Hua Rong rose from the pavilion and went to chat with her.

Things were very proper.

Eldest Brother sighed and said, "What 'private' is there between you and me? You have said your piece. I am going back. If you can really persuade her to let me do the task, I will naturally do my best, and I can go down the mountain with you today. What task isn't worth doing? Thirty percent deposit; work begins when the money arrives, and you will reimburse the expenses during the task. Finally, I will give you the bill according to the results."

Weise smiled and said, "No problem. Tell me if Eldest Brother wants any Art Tools, and I will give you a discount. This is a gift."

Eldest Brother said, "In consideration of you being a big client, I will cover for you with others. This is also a gift." As he spoke, he prepared to leave, turned his back, and said, "One more thing. Because you left the Yama Shop, your name has been crossed off my target blacklist. If someone buys your life, I will take the order."

Weise cupped his hands and said, "Understood. I wish Eldest Brother prosperous business."

Eldest Brother walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back and asked, "Are you really living well?"

Weise nodded and said, "Very well."

Eldest Brother said nothing more and returned to the pavilion with the wine and snacks.

"Puchi—"

Fresh fruit was pressed into a jar-like Art Tool. The girl moved a mechanism, the Art Tool made a sound, and a spout opened at the bottom, pouring out clear fruit pulp.

"Please enjoy, honored guests."

"Grapes, apricots, peaches, and..." the elegant old lady smacked her lips lightly and said, "What is the other fruit? It has a very fragrant taste and is quite unique."

"Guoniangguo. It's a wild fruit found only on our mountain." The girl smiled sweetly. "We also have fruit shipped from the South by owl, longan, starfruit, mango..."

The old lady smiled and said, "I won't eat those expensive fruits; bring me a few more kinds of your mountain's wild fruits."

The girl smiled and said, "Alright. Most of the fruits on our mountain are rather sour; let me add some honey for you. How about some freshly baked pancakes?" She pointed to the griddle-like Art Tool nearby.

Yun Xiyan said, "Meat pies?"

The girl nodded and said, "There are thin and thick crusts. As for fillings, there are meat, mushroom, eel, fruit, and cream fillings. If you don't like those, there are also steamed dumplings and rolled pastries here..." She then pointed to two other Art Tools nearby.

Yun Xiyan asked curiously, "Are all these Art Tools in this row for making various snacks?"

The girl said, "Not just snacks and fruit pulp; there are also grills, appetizers, and even Art Tools that can knead dough, pull noodles, and boil noodles all in one when you put in flour."

The old lady just smiled upon hearing this, but Yun Xiyan was somewhat tempted. She was not short of money and was too lazy to do things herself, and she was always running around, usually eating dry rations and road food. These few Art Tools hit exactly where she was itching.

"This series..." the girl pressed her advantage and pointed over there, "is our 'Glowing' series of gourmet Art Tools. We are even having a promotion today, with free gifts."

Then someone outside was heard laughing, "Is this another Art Tool Azhao has been pondering? He said before he wanted to make various Art Tool series; I didn't expect them to have been launched already."

It was Lady Hua Rong returning. Someone had just invited her out and whispered some private words to her outside the pavilion. Yun Xiyan hadn't heard them, but she saw her nod at the end, and things seemed to have gone smoothly. Sure enough, she was now returning with a smile.

The girl smiled and replied, "They were just launched. There are also medical series, outdoor series, entertainment series, and so on... all of which can be discounted." Hearing Lady Hua Rong speak so familiarly and affectionately about Tang Zhao, she felt a sense of goodwill and became even more enthusiastic and sincere.

Lady Hua Rong said, "Isn't this child busy with Sword Casting? Does he still have the heart to manage so many things?"

She was naturally referring to this kind of icing-on-the-cake cooking Art Tool, but it seemed to be more than that.

The girl said, "Our Tang... Senior Brother is very capable. Although he is devoted to Sword Casting, he left behind a development plan, and the shop's business is advancing steadily according to his planning. You are our good friend; if you have time, go to the shop and take a look. It's different from the first half of the year."

At this moment, the old lady suddenly said in a joking tone, "This lady recognizes your Senior Brother Tang as a friend, but I am here for the first time and don't know anyone. Does that mean I am not a friend? Why not invite me?"

The girl was stunned for a moment, but clearly reacted quickly, saying, "Of course you are too. I was just about to invite you, and this heroine as well. As the saying goes, 'meeting for the first time feels like old friends.' You are so elegant and graceful, and the heroine is so heroic and spirited; who wouldn't admire you? I felt at a glance that you two were old friends of many years."

Flattery will get you everywhere; although the girl's flattery was a bit blunt, the old lady still laughed.

Lady Hua Rong teased her, "Since meeting for the first time also makes us friends, then is everyone a friend?"

The girl said, "Not necessarily. We would hope that everyone who comes is a friend, or at least 'everyone who comes is a guest,' but there are too many people, so it is inevitable..."

"Pa—"

A crisp sound rang out, and an object flew out from the neighboring pavilion, crashing against the steps below and instantly splitting open with a large crack; it was exactly an Art Tool for juicing.

That Art Tool was not fragile, and could usually be thrown down from a two-story building without sustaining any damage, yet it had been smashed until it cracked, which showed how much force the person who threw it had used.

Then someone shouted: "What kind of thing are you, blathering and yapping incessantly here? Go and ask around, how did your master speak to me back in the day? When I was riding in the same carriage as your master, you hadn't even come out of your mother's womb yet. I have come in person, and it is one thing that Xue Xianyun does not come out to welcome me himself, but even that brat Shi Chunqing does not come, sending only a yellow-mouthed youngster like you who popped out from who knows where; Zhuoyu Villa has quite the nerve!"

The voice carried far away, and everyone in the pavilions heard it; the young girl said helplessly: "You see, sometimes things like this happen too."

Madam Hua Rong's expression darkened slightly, and just as she was about to signal her sons to take action, Yun Xiyan was the first to jump up, saying: "Fine, causing trouble on my brothers' heads, you are truly courting death."

Just as he was about to go out, the young girl at his side blocked him instead, saying: "Honored guests need not concern yourselves. This is our Zhuoyu Villa's Sword Casting Conference, we handle our own affairs, how could we trouble our guests?"

The corners of her mouth curled up: "It just so happens that the time is also almost up."

At this moment, a great wind rose overhead!