Chapter 4, Assassination on the Street

No one pays attention to the failures on the ground

You also have this! Miss Lan has arrived, her spirit brightening, her eyes shining, as she reaches out to caress it, "So fine and soft, with a color like misty clouds, it truly is from Qiyun Manor. How much is it?"

What is it called so early

What? Miss Lan exclaimed in disbelief, "I eat these dishes every day, how can they be so expensive?"

Thus, Jiang Xiaohu fell silent and focused intently on eating.

Since the two entered and began ordering, the innkeeper's gaze had not left this table, and upon hearing the words, he immediately announced the bill: "... a total of forty-eight taels and seven cash"

Next time I encounter him, I will definitely beat him to a pulp

Jiang Xiaohu looked at her for half a day, then suddenly sighed: "Why must you follow me? You should know that you don't like me at all."

"You are absolutely right," Miss Lan squatted down, her smile radiant as a flower, "but you need to become a bit more useful."

With a fierce bite of her silver teeth, she angrily shook off that hand and strode out quickly

"I don't have much silver left, only about twenty taels..." Before she could finish her sentence, Miss Lan froze, her face turning pale, "Oh no, the silver is gone!"

"No wonder I couldn't find you just now," Miss Lan suddenly realized, and then seemed to remember something again, exclaiming, "That hairpin was the betrothal gift sent to me by the Jiang family, how could it be used like that!"

"No, no!" Jiang Xiaohu shouted loudly, tilting his head to dodge.

The fair and tender hand gently glided over the nose, eyes, and the base of the ears, neither too lightly nor too heavily, and the sensation was quite pleasant. Such skin is considered above average among men. Now, it is covered with a layer of radiance, appearing even more beautiful under the sunlight, though, of course, there are those two bruised areas.

The ceiling is exquisitely crafted, resembling a splendid canopy, adorned with countless bright pearls and precious gems. Delicate tassels hang lightly from the four corners. However, this luxurious carriage lacks walls, only draped with several sheer white curtains that are occasionally lifted by the wind, revealing shadowy figures within.

Jiang Xiaohu glanced around, puzzled: "What is wrong?"

How dare you not wash!

The embroidered cloud gauze is acceptable, though the color is somewhat lacking

I like many dishes

... ...

This time, Miss Lan only murmured for a short while, ultimately letting out a sigh and deciding not to dwell on it any longer. The items can be redeemed in the future; for now, money is the most important.

Jiang Xiaohu is also trembling: "Does this person dare to assassinate Shui Fengqing? Could he possibly be insane?"

"The water breeze is gentle, accept your fate!" With a loud shout, a figure suddenly leaped out from the building beside them, a cold glint shining in their hand, darting straight towards the person in the carriage like a flash of lightning

It is me, I am your wife

"Do you like me?" Jiang Xiaohu suddenly sat up, staring at her in surprise, his mouth agape enough to swallow an egg. After a long while, he came to his senses, forcing a smile with a bitter expression, "Then I must be truly fortunate, Miss Lan. We have hardly met a few times, when did you ever come to like me?"

Fifty taels of silver per foot

Damn thief

Several horse-drawn carriages, carrying supplies, proceed in an unhurried and orderly manner

I have long heard that this fellow is someone who does not cherish wealth, universally recognized as heartless. When my entire family passed away, he did not even utter a word. Now, he actually dares to collect the bodies of people he has no connection with, truly a remarkable act of virtue. It is already a sign of heaven's blindness that someone like him is still alive, and now he has even married such a beautiful yet foolish wife. It is truly unjust!

It turns out that Jiang Xiaohu has indeed married a beautiful wife! Everyone is whispering among themselves, some pointing at the bruises on his face with expressions of sympathy, but unfortunately, she is a real tigress.

Miss Lan was momentarily stunned, slowly retracting her fist, bowing her head in silence

"It was my fault, I shouldn't have hit you," she suddenly raised her head, wiped her eyes, and smiled, "Don't be afraid, little Hu, let's go make some money now. As long as you earn money, no one will dare to laugh at us in the future."

"Cheaper?" The shopkeeper glanced at her a few times, and his attitude suddenly became much more arrogant. He coldly laughed, "If you can't afford it and are still so picky, young lady, next time you want to buy clothes, you might as well make sure to come through my door again!"

Wife

Miss Lan rushed over upon hearing the sound, and after confirming that the person half-asleep behind the stone was indeed her husband, she was instantly overjoyed and urged him, "Get up quickly, get up and take a look!"

"Fifty taels?" Miss Lan exclaimed, slowly retracting her hand. After a long while, she finally asked in a low voice, "Is there... a cheaper option?"

Your jewelry!" Jiang Xiaohu exclaimed

Jiang Xiaohu panicked: "I won't wash."

... ...

The Lord of Tianshui City truly lives up to his reputation, as even his subordinates are so formidable. Young Lady Lan gazed enviously at the direction in which the carriage had departed, when suddenly a face appeared right in front of her, blocking her view

... ...

half a day

A long time has passed

"He is not a madman," Miss Lan thought for a moment and calmed down. "He must be driven by the pressures of life or have some unavoidable reason; otherwise, even the most skilled assassin would not dare to recklessly take on this job."

I pawned the gold hairpin from yesterday

Aside from the clothes and pants still on their bodies, there is not a single valuable item left; even the jade pendant at the waist is gone. This blow is indeed significant, and in comparison to the previous dire situation of the two, it is undoubtedly adding insult to injury

"Where are you from?" Miss Lan exclaimed joyfully, jumping up.

I have silver, how could I not have anything to eat

Jiang Xiaohu sighed and said to her, "Let us go."

Crimson blood flowed in torrents, forming several small rivers crisscrossing the ground

"What?" Miss Lan jumped up, glaring, "If you don't wash your face, how can you sleep with me at night? I don't want such a dirty husband!"

The lord of the water city has personally come out to procure goods

I am afraid that there will be nothing to eat for the next meal

Changxing Cloth Shop

Meal concluded

Miss Lan, are you sure you can eat so many dishes

The shopkeeper, feeling impatient, said: "Miss, nowadays it is not easy to run a small shop..."

Wife's encouragement made Jiang Xiaohu feel invigorated: "Good."

The shopkeeper was originally dozing off at the counter when he suddenly noticed a customer entering. He hurriedly stood up with a smile to greet the business. However, once he clearly saw the person following behind, his expression immediately turned impatient: "Jiang Xiaohu, what are you doing here? Are you also here to make clothes?"

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Xiaohu had vanished.

"I just don't like washing my face." As soon as this sentence was shouted, realizing the danger, Jiang Xiaohu turned and ran. Unfortunately, before she could take more than a few steps, her ear was caught by a delicate hand.

Miss Lan felt somewhat uncomfortable and nudged him, saying, "Hey, be more refined."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper scrutinized the two of them several times and mocked, "Which girl from the building have you gotten involved with this time, who is willing to spend money to make clothes for you?"

"That is my home, so I naturally have to go back," Jiang Xiaohu lazily lay on the ground, resting his hands behind his head, looking at her, "If you are afraid, you can go home, there is no need to follow me."

In the early morning, the rising sun casts a slanting light over the grassland, which is a lush green expanse. The tips of the leaves are still adorned with dew, and the sparkling droplets refract the sunlight, displaying a dazzling array of colors like diamonds, radiant and beautiful

Who said that I do not like you

Let us go eat first

Oh, it turns out that Jiang Xiaohu has indeed married a wife

At last, the shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow and resolutely brought out a piece of silver-red satin from the back room: "Miss, you truly have an eye for quality. This is the prized possession of our small shop, a product from the Qiyun Manor in Jiangnan. If it still does not meet your esteemed taste, please feel free to look elsewhere."

At this moment, Jiang Xiaohu, who had remained silent all along, suddenly took out two ingots of silver from his bosom and said, "I have them."

Jiang Xiaohu, still not fully awake, turned over with his eyes closed and mumbled, "Who is it!"

I knew you wouldn't buy it, go out, go out

However, in the next moment, he fell to the ground like an arrow that had lost its strength mid-flight, landing with a muffled thud. Upon closer inspection, there was already a blood hole in his throat, and he did not even have time to let out a groan.

Is there ... um, something cheaper? The voice was as faint as a mosquito.

The carriage did not stop, and the people on the carriage remained motionless. The four maidservants on the carriage did not even glance this way, maintaining their previous indifferent demeanor, standing gracefully as if they were completely unaware of their master's peril

The tip of the sword has already reached the veil, and the assassin is filled with ecstasy

When this statement comes from a woman's mouth, it usually indicates one of two situations: the first is that she is deliberately acting coy and sulking to make you anxious, and the second is that she cannot find a reason. If you are wise, you should not pursue the matter further.

Miss Lan has become popular, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up, she dipped her hand in water and smeared it on his face: "Let's see if you will wash it off!"

Jiang Xiaohu

It turns out that the rumors are true; the Jiang family indeed has ghosts! Miss Lan suddenly felt a chill run up her back, and instantly her whole body felt as if it were submerged in ice water, cold and shivery

After grumbling and complaining for a long time, she turned her face and called out: "Jiang Xiaohu, come and wash up quickly"

It is unknown whose stomach made a "gurgling" sound twice

Encountering a rebuttal, the shopkeeper was taken aback

twenty taels

Shopkeeper, please settle the bill

So much! Looking at the remaining more than 50 taels of silver, Miss Lan was in a dilemma, wondering whether she should give it or not. She hesitated, but unexpectedly, a hand reached over from the side, grabbed a silver ingot from her hand, and tossed it to the shopkeeper, smilingly saying: "Good shopkeeper, just accept it, consider it a good deed on your part."

The water breeze is gentle

Where is Jiang Xiaohu

Jiang Xiaohu blinked: "Are you really not afraid?"

Who is my wife looking at

Jiang Xiaohu did not ask, but murmured: "Hitting is affection, scolding is love; it turns out that Miss Lan is fond of me, so she hit me?"

The crowd emitted sounds of admiration, "tsk tsk," as the procession was about to pass by.

Do not follow me

Jiang Xiaohu smiled lazily and said, "I will not buy it"

I do not wish to buy, but there are those who do wish to purchase

The clear stream is indeed clean, and Miss Lan, lost in her own thoughts, used to have the finest rouge and flower powder at home, but now she has nothing at all

Having never endured such humiliation, Miss Lan was rendered speechless, standing there in a daze, her face alternating between red and white, on the verge of tears.

The shopkeeper's expression was not very pleasant, yet his attitude remained courteous: "Miss, you must be joking. These are all signature dishes of our small establishment. We have always conducted our business with fair prices, without deceiving anyone, young or old. If you do not believe me, you can check the sign; the prices are all written there."

Let us go buy some kerosene

At each of the four corners outside the tent stood four maidens, their toes lightly tapping against the horizontal beam, yet they remained as steady as Mount Tai, their expressions calm and composed, clearly possessing exceptional skills in lightness of body. Moreover, each of them was strikingly beautiful, with distinct charms: some were delicate, others alluring, some were graceful, and others were coldly elegant, each exuding a unique aura. They were all dressed in identical white garments, swaying gently in rhythm with the movement of the carriage, appearing ethereal as if they were celestial beings

A gentle breeze brushed against her face, as if she were immersed in a hot spring, feeling warm and extremely comfortable. The sounds of chirping birds, rustling leaves, and flowing water filled her ears. Miss Lan, still in a daze, opened her eyes, rubbed them with her hands, and then began to survey her surroundings.

Suddenly

Jiang Xiaohu was speechless

In the distance, a well-organized procession is approaching

grassland

The shopkeeper complained to himself, "What a waste of my time!" and no longer paid her any attention, walking away while holding the fabric.

Miss Lan exclaimed in panic: "Haven't you seen us sleeping here?"

Miss Lan cheerfully pulled him to his feet: "I will go freshen up first, and then we will return to the city for dinner, after which we will buy some clothes and necessities. The remaining money will be used for your business."

After shouting for half a day, a drowsy voice finally came from behind the large rock on the left

Though he secretly mocked, he still nodded in agreement for the sake of the silver and instructed the shop assistants to carry the body away for proper handling

The team continued to advance in an orderly manner, with each individual maintaining a composed demeanor, making it impossible to discern who had acted.

I do not want to wash

Jiang Xiaohu, while hiding, called out with a sense of grievance: "I am useless to begin with, didn't you already know that?"

This white gauze... although it looks splendid, it does not feel delicate enough to be considered a high-quality item

"Jiang Xiaohu—Jiang Xiaohu—" Miss Lan was both anxious and angry, calling out as she walked. After searching several streets without seeing Jiang Xiaohu's figure, she was about to return to the Jiang family to look for him when she suddenly heard a commotion around her. People on both sides of the street rushed out of the buildings in droves, and before long, the street was packed with people.

After staring at the corpse on the ground for a while, Miss Lan suddenly let go of him, ran across the street, and stopped the owner of the coffin shop who was about to enter: "Could you help collect the body?"

No! Miss Lan dragged him to the creek, pressed him to the ground, and without further ado, poured water over him.

"What kind of kerosene to buy!" Miss Lan suddenly turned around, her eyes red, and with a clenched fist, she struck at him, "How could my husband be so useless? It's all your fault, all because of you!"

Jiang Xiaohu nodded weakly and said: "Alright"

Miss Lan ignored his expression, thought carefully for a moment, and came up with an idea: "Why don't we all stay awake tonight and figure out what exactly is going on"

Jiang Xiaohu was completely unconcerned: "It has been several years already"

Miss Lan remained silent for a long time, gritting her teeth: "I am not afraid"

Miss Lan immediately touched her head, and indeed, the hairpin ornaments on her head were nowhere to be found

Miss Lan tightened her grip on Jiang Xiaohu's hand, her voice trembling: "He... is dead."

Such coarse satin, is it really for sale? The rough maids in my household would never wear it; it would surely chafe their skin

Who the people inside are remains unknown to everyone

The shopkeeper was taken aback, then understood: "This embroidered cloud silk is also quite good, priced at thirty taels of silver per foot"

Is it possible that this is the young and accomplished Lord of Tianshui City, as rumored? Miss Lan, both surprised and delighted, immediately abandoned her intention to search for Jiang Xiaohu, and secured a vantage point among the crowd, preparing to admire the demeanor of this legendary figure.

This is a well-known old establishment, offering premium abalone, top-grade bird's nest, and aged fine wine, making it difficult for ordinary people to frequent. Therefore, the seemingly useless Jiang Xiaohu appears particularly special.

Jiang Xiaohu nodded: "He is truly pitiful"

How could I be lying on the grass? Miss Lan was stunned for quite a while before finally recalling what had happened last night, and she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. She jumped up and screamed, "A mouse! There is a mouse! Jiang Xiaohu! Jiang Xiaohu!"

The most striking is the spacious carriage in the middle

The shopkeeper recognized him and smiled: "Jiang Xiaohu, it turns out to be you"

Miss Lan paced back and forth, scolding for quite a while. Finally, she calmed down, disregarding the dirt, and sat down dejectedly on the nearby stone steps. Then, with a pitiful look, she gazed at Jiang Xiaohu and said: "We have no money left, what should we do?"

Miss Lan was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly blushed and glared, saying, "I refuse to tell you!"

Everything happened unexpectedly, and the crowd screamed and fled

Miss Lan is not foolish: "How much silver do you need? I will provide it."

Of course not! Lady Lan, let him go, stand up, your face is pale. Don't you remember that we clearly slept at your house last night? How could we end up outside the city?

"I am not some girl from the building; I am his wife!" Miss Lan, who was beside her, couldn't help but get angry, "Is it not allowed for me to make him clothes?"

The fabric in front of us piled higher and higher, and the shopkeeper's mouth opened wider and wider. Our Miss Lan was still scrutinizing it thoroughly, clearly not very satisfied with these goods

I seem to be hungry again

The carriage disappeared into the distance, and the crowd gradually dispersed. The body that had been lying in the middle of the street was now alone, appearing to be in its thirties. Judging by the attire, it seemed to be that of a professional assassin, likely having been hired by someone to carry out the assassination.

Originally intending to use it as capital to gamble a few more times, Jiang Xiaohu did not dare to say this truth: "I fear that your funds are insufficient"

You ... ...

"I possess martial arts skills that can protect you," Miss Lan said confidently, "As long as you sleep beside me tonight, you need not fear."

"Wife?" Jiang Xiaohu was shaken awake by her, and had no choice but to open his eyes reluctantly. After looking at her for a while, he finally remembered that he was already a married man. He couldn't help but silently lament in his heart that marrying this wife not only meant enduring many punches and kicks, but now he couldn't even sleep soundly. "What now?"

The vegetables that are eaten daily at home are surprisingly expensive when bought outside. Miss Lan flipped through the menu for half a day, only to obediently pay the bill. When she walked out of the shop, she had just over fifty taels of silver left on her person, and she began to worry about how much she could buy with this amount of money

She stammered and asked, "So... do we still have to go back tonight?"

Miss Lan's gaze flickered slightly, and suddenly, her face flushed as she pushed him away, exclaiming, "I don't care about you, wash it yourself!"

A clear stream flows through the meadow, contrasting with the lush green grass, resembling a jade belt

The team cannot be considered large, consisting of only twenty to thirty individuals; however, no one dares to underestimate any one of them, for everyone knows that the Lord of Tianshui has four great guardians, eight water deities, twelve personal attendants, and thirty-six assassins, all of whom are rare masters in the martial world