Chapter 1 Three months, ten thousand taels, all yours…
As the sun sets, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys along the lake shore, and streetlights illuminate the streets one after another. The sounds of conversation and soft music emanating from buildings can be heard everywhere.
The bells hanging from the treetops swayed and jingled in the gentle breeze by the lake.
"Quickly look up at the man in the southwest direction on the second floor of Liuyunzhai!" The girl's voice was sweet and melodious as she excitedly patted her friend's shoulder.
"What—" The questioning voice of his companion stopped abruptly, followed by a restrained exclamation, "Whose young master is he? I've never seen him before?"
The man casually glanced down, a hint of sternness flashing in his peach blossom eyes, yet still retaining a gentle warmth. His every move exuded a unique youthful carefree and unrestrained charm.
As his gaze swept back and forth, the girls below the building fell silent for a moment, as if their hearts had been captivated.
Ding—
The crisp sound of a teacup falling to the ground brought everyone back to their senses, and they all looked toward the source of the sound.
The girl's delicate face, filled with panic like a fawn, instantly came into everyone's view. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with helplessness, and she seemed to bite her lip almost imperceptibly, as if she would burst into tears at any moment. She was so pitiful that no one could bear to be harsh with her.
"It's alright, it's just a teacup."
"Check if it's burned—" The woman noticed the girl's reddened hand, paused, and urged, "Your palm is all red from the burn. Go to the backyard and rinse it with cold water to cool it down."
"Miss, please go quickly." The waiter in the teahouse came over with a tea towel and quickly wiped the water stains off the tea table. "Don't leave any scars."
The girl pursed her lips slightly, gratefully thanked everyone, and then hurriedly went to the backyard.
As everyone watched the girl's figure disappear into the teahouse, they suddenly came to their senses and looked back at the second floor of Liuyunzhai, only to find that the man had vanished without a trace.
"Miss." The servant sweeping the backyard called out to the girl who was hurrying over. He noticed her covering her palm and suddenly pointed behind her, saying, "Qingchi is over there."
Biezhi followed his fingertip and nodded: "Thank you."
The girl walked lightly and quickly reached the clear pond.
She rolled up her sleeves, gripped the gourd ladle, and laboriously scooped up half a spoonful of water. As she lifted it up, the ladle wobbled uncontrollably and tilted in all directions, causing more than half of the water in it to fall back down.
The cleaning boy trotted up and held out his hand: "Miss, let me help you."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi looked up and handed him the gourd ladle in her hand.
The servant took the gourd ladle and scooped out a large spoonful of water.
Clear water dripped down, its crisp, melodious sound drowning out the rustling of leaves and branches in the treetops.
"The message arrived half an hour ago." The servant's eyes were fixed on the water, his lips barely moving: "We will depart for the capital at 5:15 AM tomorrow."
"Understood." Bie Zhi brushed her fingertips across her fair palm without looking up. "I'll deal with the tails following behind tonight."
"Do you need our help?"
"Just finish it off."
The water in the ladle was completely gone. Biezhi slowly withdrew her hand, looked up and smiled gently: "Thank you."
"You're too kind, young lady." The servant stepped back a few paces to make way for her.
Biezhi nodded.
She did not return to the front yard, but instead walked straight through the trees in the yard and left the teahouse.
The streets were bustling with people, and the candlelight illuminated the entire long street, shining brightly on men, women, and children as they passed by.
In a short while, Biezhi found the man's figure.
She followed at a distance, her gaze fixed on the man's tall, slender back. His upright figure stood out, and the bright moonlight made him appear even more otherworldly.
Even so, the gaze from the other branch did not seem out of place.
People of all ages on the street glanced at her, just like she did, and her two or three friends who were traveling together would whisper and discuss it.
Walking through the bustling crowd to the end, the man stepped onto a low stool. As he bent down to get into the sedan chair, he suddenly looked back.
Across the long street, his piercing gaze pierced through the surging crowd like a sharp sword.
Standing in front of the stall, playing with the fox mask, Biezhi's lips curled slightly. Her gaze, seemingly casually, fell on the man with pursed lips. Watching his figure disappear into the carriage, she took out some silver and handed it to the vendor before leaving, wearing the fox mask.
The wheels rolled over the stones, making a slight sound.
In the shadows of the forest, Biezhi sat on a tree branch, swinging his legs from time to time, idly swallowing the candy pill in his hand and playing with the mask he had just bought.
The sharp light flashed across her eyes, and a faint smile appeared in them.
With a slight lift of her wrist, the sharp blade slashed through the air.
The moment the blades clashed, a clang rang out as the blade pierced the black-clad assassin's sword, and the piercing sound of a sword echoed through the meticulously planned and boundless street.
The guards hidden in the shadows leaped out, swords in hand, to protect the carriage. They also jumped from the trees and into the woods across the street.
The man in the palanquin lifted the curtain of the window, his eyes sweeping over the two or three guards outside. He frowned slightly, then looked up at the dark woods. "Send a few men up to help him."
The guards remained motionless upon hearing this, as if their steps were nailed to the ground. They exchanged glances, their faces showing reluctance.
After a moment's hesitation, the guards on the other side cupped their hands and said, "We are here on orders to protect your safety, sir. The rest of us are not within the scope of our mission. Please understand."
The man glanced at him sideways. "He's not with you guys, is he?"
“No,” the guard said, also finding it strange. “I have not received any news that this person was traveling with us.”
It has been more than fifty days since I traveled from the capital to Hezhou and back to the capital. The only time we crossed paths was on the day this person first arrived, when I delivered a message to him. Apart from that, this person did not make a move along the way, except for today.
If I'm not mistaken, this person's skills are—
They seem to be from Xianyunlou.
He hesitated for a moment, then said nothing more.
Within the woods, the clash of sharp swords echoed repeatedly, startling birds that had taken a rest and causing them to scatter in all directions.
A sharp blade came hurtling towards her eyes, and Biezhi barely dodged it by sidestepping. Her mind raced, and she roughly estimated that there were about seven or eight assassins approaching, and perhaps others were also closing in.
She couldn't wait for others to get closer; she needed to act quickly.
Bie Zhi glanced at the moonlight, her lively eyes revealing a murderous intent.
The lead assassin, with his sharp eyes, noticed the other man pull out a bullet. The moment the bullet hit, his expression changed. "Conceal your presence!"
Unexpectedly, the moment he calmed down, a piercing, numbing pain penetrated his skin, so painful that he couldn't stand up. Beads of sweat poured out, large as beans, and soon he lost consciousness.
Watching the assassins fall one by one, Biezhi squatted down and lightly patted the man's cheek, clicking her tongue: "If you're under the influence of sleeping pills, hold your breath. If you don't faint, who will?"
When the manager of Liuyunzhai and others arrived, they saw the petite Biezhi lifting up one burly man after another like piglets and throwing them aside as if sweeping up garbage.
"Have someone escort them back to the capital." Biezhi had already noticed their arrival. Seeing her senior brother standing at the front looking hesitant, she took out a sachet and threw it to him: "A thank-you gift for tonight."
"The same effect?" the shopkeeper asked, glancing at the mountain of assassins.
Biezhi thought for a moment and said, "I forgot. Senior brother, figure it out yourself."
The shopkeeper looked at her helplessly: "How many lives do I have to explore like this?"
Upon hearing this, Biezhi couldn't help but laugh; she had indeed forgotten.
She was in such a hurry when she received the mission that she couldn't even remember what she brought with her, but one thing she was certain of was that she had brought it with her.
Biezhi raised her eyes slightly and said to him in a light and playful tone, "Don't worry, senior brother, I won't die."
Looking at the girl's lively and charming expression, the shopkeeper laughed out loud.
Having been away from the capital for many years, he had forgotten that their junior sister was not one to play by the rules, which suddenly reminded him of the days when he was still in the capital.
He glanced at his subordinates who had already tied up the assassin and said, "Junior Sister, until we meet again."
Biezhi nodded and watched them leave.
The next day, before sunrise, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard.
This time, they didn't rest along the way and returned to the capital in just half a day.
Biezhi tightened the reins, watching the man ride into the city with a whip crack, waiting for the Dali Temple guards at the city gate to greet him before whipping his horse toward Ding'an Gate.
Just a hundred steps or so past Ding'an Gate, you'll see a bustling street scene.
The sounds of bustling activity could be heard everywhere, with the constant music of string and wind instruments and a constant stream of people coming and going. Even in the middle of the night, Chang Le Street was the most lively street in the capital.
Biezhi walked through the surging crowd and stepped into Baidinglou.
She walked to the shop, took a silver ingot, and handed it to the shopkeeper. "Second floor of the villa, West Lake Longjing tea."
The shopkeeper accepted the silver ingot with a smile and called over a servant: "Quickly take this young lady to the second floor of the villa."
The front courtyard of Baidinglou and the other courtyards are separated by only one wall, but the interiors are completely different.
The noise from the front yard didn't reach the other yard at all.
People in Beijing often say that the Baidinglou Villa is a hidden paradise.
The tranquil bamboo garden is filled only with the sound of flowing water, the rushing river tinkling, and the clear, melodious sound of wind chimes under the eaves. The sounds of these sounds blend together and create a unique ambiance.
"Miss." The servant stopped in front of the door.
Bie Zhi glanced at the wooden sign on the side of the door: Baihua Pavilion.
Her gaze sharpened, and she looked up at the servant.
The servant slightly raised his lips, revealing a smile.
Biezhi pushed open the door, and the moment it closed, she saw her master standing behind it. Her smile was only halfway up when she noticed that her master's eyes were seemingly looking at a screen that was about two people tall. She suppressed her smile and bowed to the man behind the screen, saying, "Biezhi greets Master."
"There's someone you might need to follow." The man's indifferent voice drifted over on the breeze.
Biezhi paused for a moment, then looked at her master with a puzzled expression.
The master shook his head slightly, clearly unsure of his master's intentions.
According to the Qingyin Pavilion's custom, after completing a mission, one is entitled to ten days of rest. This rule was set by the master and has been in place for many years without anyone breaking it.
Moreover, during the more than fifty days she was away from the capital, she only rested for an hour each day, relying entirely on cups of tea to dispel her drowsiness.
A branch never compromises itself.
She withdrew her gaze from her master and lowered her head.
"Master, your subordinate—"
"Three months, ten thousand taels, all yours."
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