A Fated Encounter

In a dilapidated bungalow, a young man in gray hemp clothing sat in a chair with a teacup in hand, his face solemn.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking rang out. Upon hearing it, the young man in gray hemp clothing immediately set down his teacup, turned toward the door, and called out.

"Who is it?"

The person outside hurriedly replied, "Second Brother, it's me..."

Hearing the familiar voice, the young man in gray hemp clothing rose and opened the door.

The person outside was short and thin. As soon as the door opened, he slipped inside.

The young man in gray hemp clothing looked around, and only after confirming that no one had followed him did he close the door.

After entering, the short, thin man immediately went to the table, picked up the water jug, and began drinking straight from it.

"Glug, glug, glug..."

After several gulps, more than half the water in the jug was gone.

Seeing that his companion had finished drinking, the young man in gray hemp clothing hurriedly asked, "How did it go with what I asked you to investigate? Did you find anything?"

The short, thin man said anxiously, "Second Brother, things have taken a turn for the worse."

The young man in gray hemp clothing felt his heart drop with a thud. He hurriedly pressed, "Did something happen to Big Brother and the others?"

"Yes." The short, thin man nodded, then related what he had learned.

"Big Brother and the others were arrested by the yamen?!!!" After hearing the story, the young man in gray hemp clothing wore an incredulous expression.

"Is this absolutely certain?"

"Absolutely certain." The short, thin man added, "To verify whether the news was true, I specifically spent some money bribing a constable in the yamen..."

"..."