Chapter 2: Fei Kou Er

As soon as he relaxed his grip, Wen Siyuan immediately felt relieved, "You can rest assured, you will not suffer any loss in this business."

With a gust of wind, a young boy suddenly appeared before him, his appearance unremarkable, the kind one could find anywhere in the streets.

After a prolonged standoff, Wen Siyuan did not urge him, and the young man finally spoke: "This person takes steps of two feet and three inches, with a stable lower body, excelling in external martial arts, and possesses considerable skill. The cloth bag hanging by the horse's side weighs at least seventy pounds; based on its weight, it should contain a short axe or a short halberd. The design of the saddle is typical of the Lu region."

Wensi Yuan took a walnut from the fruit plate, rolling it in his palm as if he were imbued with a sense of three parts dejection and helplessness. "You know that I am engaged in a sideline business, relying on various connections. If this time I provoke the displeasure of the Jing'an Marquis's residence, I will have no choice but to withdraw."

Wen Siyuan paused for a moment, then unfolded his folding fan and gently waved it, no longer displaying the previous gloom: "You guessed it so quickly; you have indeed made progress in the past two years"

The young man responded with indifference, but Wen Siyuan paid no attention. He brewed a cup of fragrant tea and handed it over. "This is the spring tea I recently acquired, specially brought here to share with you."

Perhaps feeling that continuing the conversation would be a waste of breath, the young man abandoned the topic, asking, "What does the Hou residence want?"

This time, the young man turned his head and looked for a while: "It is very dangerous; when walking, one must keep the body straight and the steps bent, always on guard, with eyes scanning the market for advantageous ambush spots. This person has an extremely high level of vigilance and is concealing a weapon, possibly a dagger or a short sword. Such habits are undoubtedly those of an assassin"

The young man completely refused to accept rejection, confidently persuading: "You can rest assured, all those who come on this journey are renowned figures in the martial arts world, invited by the Jing'an Marquis's residence, and they will certainly not be detrimental to you"

The young man did not answer but instead asked, "How much do you know about the Jing'an Marquis Mansion?"

Wen Si Yuan is certainly not someone who would easily give up: "Speak up, let me see how sharp your vision is now"

The young man did not respond and sat down opposite him

The eloquence of the text reveals not a trace of embarrassment at being exposed: "Indeed, without you, I would never have attained my current position"

Wensi Yuan avoided answering and, looking down from a height, pointed at the street scene outside the window: "It is still early; let us first enjoy the scenery. Are there any people on the street worth noting?"

Wensi Yuan seemed somewhat perplexed, carrying a sense of doubt that was both real and illusory. "Who knows, the young master specifically requested you."

Under the eaves, Wen Si Yuan was also observing him, his shrewd face displaying an unabashed curiosity

After a while, the young man turned his head away, his dry lips moved slightly, but he said nothing

Regardless of his eloquence and persuasive speech, the youth remained unimpressed. After a long pause, he finally said: "While dealing with the returning swallows and troublesome wild geese is manageable for me, the unpredictable nature of the侯府 is far too perilous. There is no need to seek exemption from guilt; I will inevitably continue my thievery."

After listening to the words, Yuansiyuan did not comment, pointing to another person in the center of the street, "What about that one?"

The waterside pavilion was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, and the young man's brows furrowed tightly: "Why is it me"

The air seems to have frozen, or perhaps it is just an illusion

The young man finished speaking and then closed his mouth. Yan Si Yuan understood his lively words and replied, "What danger could there be? This time, several people are traveling together, and there are other experts in combat, which may be safer than your usual dealings. Moreover, staying in the Central Plains leaves you with nothing to do. Although the profits from the green qin are substantial, it has attracted too much attention, making it difficult to take on business in the near future."

Perhaps unaccustomed to explanations, the young man thought for a moment before saying: "With great rewards, there must be extraordinary risks"

As the elegant thoughts linger, the cup remains untouched, seemingly observing his subtle reactions. "The Canglan tea from Tiandu Peak grows at the confluence of the sea of clouds, most of it is offered to the palace, priced like gold. I exerted considerable effort to obtain it, what do you think of it?"

The man looked up and gazed into the distance as if trying to discern the direction. Wen Siyuan said: "This person has red mud on his feet, which suggests he must have entered the city through the South Gate. How much more can you deduce from this?"

On the third level of the Tingyun Pavilion, to the right is a row of elegant rooms. The central area is spacious and open, with more than ten tables set up without any crowding. However, today it appears particularly empty.

Wen Siyuan spoke with an air of nonchalance, "The most important thing is to have the silver and money in hand; if it were not for my accurate information, how could you succeed every time?"

The dark eyes suddenly contracted, and the young man instinctively stepped back, then suddenly came to his senses and looked towards Wen Siyuan beside him

The youth's shoulders stiffened for a moment, his posture holding the fragrant tea became rigid, and his voice was heavy, "You won't be so easily constrained by others; what you just said was all lies, merely to climb up to the residence of the Jing'an Marquis"

The walnut silently cracked in the palm of my hand, its hard shell shattered evenly, with each piece nearly the same size. The young man gazed for a while and said, "I am the one who stole, while you gain both fame and fortune."

The young man glanced at the leaking pot without surprise. "At 8:15, as expected, you are still so punctual"

In the face of questioning, Wen Siyuan appeared unfazed, responding without any flaws, "The commission provided by the Hou residence is indeed substantial. I advise you that this trip is beneficial and harmless. You have just stolen the green qin from the Zhao family of Yunyang, and Yan Guihong has been pursuing you closely. Why not take refuge outside the borders for a while? When you return, your charges will be completely cleared, and you will have a large sum of gold and silver in your pocket. Wouldn't that be a perfect solution?"

The other party declined decisively, and the young man was neither annoyed nor angry: "Reason?"

He was a middle-aged man with eyebrows like knives, slender in build, and with a gloomy expression

Do not let the youth speak, let the young take the lead: "The task is not complicated, it involves accompanying a few martial artists to retrieve an item for the son of the侯府."

The young man casually plays with a folding fan, as if waiting for someone. The fan ribs, carved from ivory, are lustrous and smooth, exceptionally precious.

The young man, not particularly interested in tea, lifted the lid of the teapot and took a sip, suddenly becoming still.

Three sides of the lake shimmer, the silk curtain is half-rolled, a gentle breeze comes, and only a young man dressed in brocade and jade sits.

After much contemplation, the young man gave up and asked again: "Alright."

After a moment of silence, the young man simply replied, "You know I do not engage in such business."

Detecting the underlying threat in the words, the youth's dark eyes revealed a hint of vigilance

The youth leaned silently against the railing, as if he had heard nothing at all

You have already listened to that deceitful liar enough; there is no need to comply with every matter. The young man did not hide his sarcasm, folding his fan, the jade tassel drawing a bright arc in the air: "Additionally, apart from the promised reward, once the task is accomplished, the Duke of Jing'an will submit a request to the throne to pardon all your past serious crimes. How does that sound?"

The young man observed casually: "It has been several months since I last saw you after the theft of the green qin, how have you been lately?"

With a distant gesture of the fan's ribs, Wen Si Yuan pointed out a person: "What do you think of that individual?"

The young man was momentarily taken aback

The ivory fan bone glinted in the sunlight, casting a dazzling light that pointed towards a couple who had just turned the corner.

Wensi Yuan withdrew his gaze, a hint of a secret smile appearing, and there was a trace of delight and pride in his words, "Shen Manqing and Yin Changge, known as the Twin Jewels of Tiandu, disciples of the Golden Void Real Person of the Zhengyang Palace, what do you think?"

Not the target, then it is the employer? The young man slightly furrowed his brows

He spoke very vaguely, and the young man had no intention of probing further, shaking his head: "I do not cooperate with others"

Realizing that the resistance was too strong, the young man paused for a moment and said, "Not for any other reason, but to clear my past offenses and avoid being hunted down by the net of heaven and earth, wouldn't it be nice to feel so light? The name 'Flying Bandit' is not very pleasant to hear." The young man's words were shrewd and cunning, each sentence striking deep into the heart, "I have also considered this for you; although it may take some time, it could yield two thousand gold in one go, and when calculated, there is not much risk involved, making it worth a try."

He spoke a few more words, and the young man lowered his eyelashes, suddenly breaking the silence: "Wen Siyuan, how much benefit can you obtain?"

The man referred to is a tall figure strolling leisurely down the street, in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and a square jaw. Dressed in a brown coat, he appears travel-worn, and there is an imposing aura about him, reminiscent of a mountain standing still amidst the depths of a valley. The horse he leads shows clear signs of fatigue, indicating that it has come from a long journey.

The young man set down the tea cup, lowered his head in silence for a moment, and picked up the walnut that Wen Siyuan had placed down, saying, "Over the years, I have earned quite a bit for you as well"

Despite the other party's numerous attempts to persuade him, the young man remained completely disinterested

Rest assured, it is not to encourage you to steal; who would dare to risk their life by offending the Jing'an Marquis's residence?" The young man smiled calmly and tapped his folding fan on the table: "If someone truly dares to open such a deal, even if you are unafraid, I would not dare to accept it.

Wen Si Yuanqin nodded in appreciation: "Let us take another look at how those two are doing"

The young man and woman, each wielding a long sword at their waist, were exceptionally outstanding. The man had a tall and upright figure, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes; the woman possessed an elegant demeanor, beautiful and dignified. Their temperaments were strikingly different from the ordinary, resembling a pair of proud and transcendent cranes, particularly eye-catching amidst the bustling marketplace

The half-dropped curtain filtered the sunlight, casting a reflection on the gray clothing of the youth, making him appear like a silent shadow, his voice as faint and insubstantial as a shadow, "What do you want, and how much is the reward?"

This price is shocking, and the boy's eyes involuntarily widen. His pair of eyes, under the sunlight, appears extremely dark, seemingly capable of swallowing light. After a moment of astonishment, he says: "I will not go."

The young man provided the answer: "Indeed, the Jing'an Marquis Mansion is the host for this occasion"

The hottest hour of the day has passed, and from the waterside pavilion, a scene of prosperity unfolds along the bank. Vendors of all sizes display their silks and satins, hairpins and jewels, while young shop assistants loudly showcase their goods, and beautiful courtesans sell wine at the counter; vendors selling lotus seed soup, candies, and pastries scatter about to attract customers, and the crowds at both ends of the street are bustling and incessant

I know you have a practice of not accepting requests from the powerful, but this time the situation is different. The young man, skilled in the art of persuasion, presented an extremely tempting offer: "The Jing'an Marquisate is exceedingly generous, offering a reward that is extraordinary, amounting to as much as 2,000 taels of gold"