Chapter 0008: Soft and Hard Tactics (Part Two)

Mu Sanshou let out a cold snort: "Then it seems death is the only option!"

The blind man said: "We intended to make amends; we went to the Blue Mill tonight to find an opportunity to return the items to you. However, we did not expect to encounter the assassination of the governor." He spoke his lies with great conviction

Luo Lie said: "At this point, no matter what I say, Third Master will not believe it. Fortunately, this item is still here, and it can now be returned to its rightful owner."

The blind man awkwardly laughed and said: "It may be like this in the eyes of others, but for me, it is also a blessing from the ancestral master, a skill honed through years of hard practice." His thick skin is truly extraordinary.

Ye Qinghong said: "Knowing that the owner is related to me, and also knowing that Third Master is my godfather, you still dare to act this way. You really have quite a bit of audacity!"

Luo Lie quickly coughed twice, intending to remind the blind man not to speak carelessly, lest he provoke unnecessary trouble. However, the blind man completely ignored his presence at that moment and continued: "The dragon comes from the clouds, the tiger comes from the wind; every profession has its own characteristics. With a little attention, it is not difficult to discover some traces. I deliberately mentioned the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty to attract his attention, and he indeed took the bait, actively coming to inquire about the future of the Qing Dynasty. I seized the opportunity to take his purse."

Mu Sanshou laughed heartily: "You understand better! I just happened to encounter a small matter and would like you to help me with it. Once it is resolved, this matter will be settled once and for all."

Mu Sanshou laughed and said: "Good steel should be used on the blade, it is truly a waste to use someone like you to kill. Moreover, I have many better candidates under my command!"

Mu Sanshou said: "The specific matters will be conveyed to you by Qinghong." He approached Luo Lie's side, once again scrutinizing the young man before him, and meaningfully remarked: "Young man, it is best not to harbor any thoughts of dismissing me. The children at the Gospel Primary School are still enduring hunger, aren't they? I can assist you in doing good deeds, but if the meaning is misunderstood, it is quite possible that good deeds may turn into misfortunes"

Ye Qinghong, with her eyebrows raised in anger, exclaimed: "Good thing? You ruined my dress! Compensate me!"

Luo Lie's head buzzed as if it had grown larger; truly, he had teammates as foolish as pigs, who had completely revealed all the underlying details. At this point, he had nothing more to say and could only wait quietly for Mu Sanshou's reaction

Luo Lie shook his head

Luo Lie's heart stirred, and he did not immediately engage in conversation. Mu Sanshou's words must have other intentions. Just now, he deliberately omitted mentioning the seal of Prince Rui, Yixun, out of concern that it might lead the other party to mistakenly believe they knew too much. Given Mu Sanshou's ruthless methods, it is not out of the question that he might eliminate witnesses to protect the secret.

The blind man, perhaps due to being suspended for too long, became dizzy and mistakenly thought that Mu Sanshou was mocking him, and shouted: "I was just guessing too!"

The blind man had been hanging for half a day, eager to escape his current predicament, he shouted: "This item must be a relic of Prince Rui, Yixun. It is said that Prince Rui, back in the day, took advantage of the Empress Dowager's trust in him and embezzled a considerable amount of silver from the Qing Dynasty, hiding it away, and to this day, no one has been able to find it. This item is most likely the key to opening the treasury."

Luo Liedao said: "We are merely two insignificant figures in the concession. If Third Master truly wishes for our demise, we would be powerless to resist. However, our lives are probably not worth even 100,000 taels of silver. I, Luo Lie, have always conducted my affairs with openness and directness, so it would be best for both of you to stop beating around the bush. What is it that you want us to do? Please feel free to state it plainly!" He had long since discerned that Mu Sanshou and Ye Qinghong had ulterior motives.

Mu Sanshou's gaze had lost the fierce killing intent it had just moments ago. The young man before him not only possessed first-rate throwing knife skills but also had a keen sense of observation and extensive knowledge. What was even more remarkable was his composure and calmness that were not in line with his age, along with an exceptionally intelligent mind.

Mu Sanshou said: "Why do you say that?" He stood up and walked towards the blind man, blocking Luo Lie's line of sight, and effectively cutting off the hints Luo Lie was giving to the blind man

Luo Liedao: "In the French Concession, and indeed throughout Huangpu, Third Master truly does not need to show any respect to anyone"

The blind man said: "I do not possess such abilities, but Luo Lie does. He understands Manchu script and can also recognize the seal characters. Moreover, he identified Ye Qinghong from the photograph."

Ye Qinghong's pair of clear eyes coldly fixed on Luo Lie: "Have you seen me before?"

Luo Liedao: "Third Master, please see clearly, we have no relations with any forces."

Luo Lie understood her intentions; she was clearly trying to provoke Mu Sanshou's anger. With a slight smile, he said: "If we truly wished to harm Miss Ye, we would not have come to her aid at the Blue Mill tonight"

Mu Sanshou said: "The meaning of 'Qinghong' is precisely my intention!" He spoke with finality

Mu Sanshou said: "I am well aware of the notable figures in various schools and sects. Anyone who makes a living in the French Concession must first greet me and show me some respect. Are you two young men ignorant and fearless? Or are you simply lonely souls, unloved by both your grandmother and your grandmother's mother?"

Ye Qinghong's lips curled into a smile that was both enigmatic and profound: "Weren't you just adamantly denying that it was you who drew the knife?"

Are you capable of bearing this responsibility

The blind man shouted, "Luo Lie, let's fight to the death, killing one earns us one..." Mu Sanshou raised his hand and slapped him again, causing stars to dance before the blind man's eyes and blood to spurt from his nose. This old fellow really strikes hard.

"That means I don't have to show any respect to anyone!" Mu Sanshou's voice suddenly became stern

The blind man was nearly shocked to the point of dropping his jaw upon hearing this amount; a qipao actually costs 100,000 yuan. This girl is a robber! An outright theft!

The blind man opened his mouth wide, not understanding how the focus suddenly shifted to the two of them. Mu Sanshou's expression was also quite strange; the originally serious inquiry had unexpectedly transformed into a farce where Ye Qinghong was demanding a skirt from Luo Lie

Luo Lie could not help but think of Lu Weilin, wondering if that cold-blooded and precise marksman was one of Mu Sanshou's subordinates. He calmly said: "Third Master, please speak!"

"One hundred thousand silver dollars!"

The blind man did not dare to pretend to be deaf and mute, and with a sigh said: "Third Master, it is I who am blind to the truth. I initially thought that the chubby fellow was an easy target, but I did not realize that he has such a powerful backing in you. If I had known, even if you lent me a bit of courage, I would not have dared to act."

Ye Qinghong could not help but exclaim, "What is being taken away? It is nothing but theft!"

The blind man shouted: "One hundred thousand dollars, there's no time to rob a bank..." Before he could finish his sentence, Mu Sanshou raised the smoking rod in his hand and struck him on the head, causing the blind man to let out a painful scream, and the rest of his words were swallowed back.

Mu Sanshou smiled and said, "Alright, I will give you both a chance. As long as either of you can tell the origin of this item, I will consider this matter as if it never happened"

Luo Liedao: "Sometimes, doing good deeds does not necessarily require leaving a name."

Ye Qinghong frowned slightly, while Mu Sanshou burst into hearty laughter, the sound echoing within the church, only subsiding after a considerable time

The blind man said: "Although I am not a master of the golden door, I do have some insights into the art of observation. That person is plump and fair, without a beard, and even lacks an Adam's apple. When he speaks, his voice is high-pitched and thin, and his demeanor is full of an eerie aura. He is either a eunuch from the palace or a naturally born castrate"

Mu Sanshou said: "How did you know that this object is a key, and that it is related to Prince Rui's secret treasury?"

Ye Qinghong aptly added: "You still have the opportunity to make amends"

Miss Ye, please state a number

Luo Lie chuckled softly, standing up and raising the spiral tower-shaped pendant in his hand: "It is truly commendable for both of you to come here at such a late hour. This sum of 100,000 dollars, I dare say, even if given three days, or even three years, we would still be hard-pressed to gather it.

Ye Qinghong's words were not yet finished: "One hundred thousand dollars, delivered to my home within three days. From now on, if it is even a minute late, I will throw you into the Huangpu River to feed the fish!" Her expression was indifferent, leaving no room for negotiation.

Luo Lie smiled and said: "Since it was our mistake, we will take responsibility..."

Mu Sanshou's expression suddenly softened again as he handed the spiral tower-shaped pendant to Luo Lie, saying, "Kid, tell me about its origins, and perhaps I will show you some leniency!"

Luo Lie secretly thought it was not good. Although he was cautious in his words and actions, he could not control the blind man's mouth. The more he spoke, the greater the trouble he feared. Everything the blind man said was merely their previous conjectures. Aside from the seal of Prince Rui, Yixun, they had no solid evidence. However, if by misfortune they happened to hit the mark, it would likely bring about a tremendous problem

Blind Man Dao: "Recently, almost every front page of the Huangpu Daily and the Xiaodao Daily features your photo, making it hard not to recognize you"

At this moment, Ye Qinghong quietly approached them, and Mu Sanshou said: "Since you know how important this item is, and that the owner has some connection to me, why would you still dare to take action?" However, this question was not directed at Luo Lie.

Luo Lie has already realized that if he does not demonstrate some genuine skills tonight, it will be difficult to pass the test set by Mu Sanshou. Mu Sanshou's intentions should not merely be to reclaim something; given his status, there is no need for him to personally seek revenge. At this point, there is nothing left to do but take a gamble. Luo Lie said: "If I am not mistaken, this object should be a key, with some text engraved along its spiral design. I have examined it with a magnifying glass, and it is in Manchu. The engraved content is a passage from the 'Tao Te Ching.'"

Luo Lie thought to himself that the matter entrusted by Mu Sanshou would definitely not be trivial, but circumstances were stronger than individuals. In the current situation, he could only agree first and then discuss further. Once Mu Sanshou became complacent, they could easily escape from Huangpu, leaving the other party's sphere of influence. With this thought in mind, he nodded and said, "As long as Mu San Ye does not ask us to kill anyone, everything is negotiable"