Chen Yan merely pretended he had noticed nothing and continued walking through the alley as if nothing were amiss.
Or rather, he was waiting.
After walking forward another dozen or so zhang, Chen Yan noticed that Zhao Yuanhua had arrived at the alley entrance ahead.
He took several steps forward.
The young man in a pale silver Daoist robe suddenly strolled slowly out from the alley entrance ahead, opening the folding fan in his hand with an air of looking down from above.
Quite the act.
Chen Yan thought.
"You are Chen Yan, Wei Yang's instructor?"
Zhao Yuanhua spoke calmly, lowering his gaze to glance at the several packets of spirit herbs wrapped in yellow paper that Chen Yan carried.
He was asking a question he already knew the answer to.
Though Chen Yan knew this perfectly well, he still chose to play along.
"I am indeed Chen Yan. May I ask Your Excellency's honored name, and what business you have with me?"
Chen Yan cupped his hands toward Zhao Yuanhua.
"My surname is Zhao."
Zhao Yuanhua emphasized the word "Zhao," then lightly flicked his right wrist, snapping shut the folding fan in his hand.
"Do you understand now?"
At those words, Chen Yan's expression abruptly changed, as though he had realized something.
Then Zhao Yuanhua lightly tapped the wall beside him twice with his folding fan, signaling Chen Yan to enter the small alley they had just passed.
Chen Yan complied.
It was a dead end.
It appeared even narrower than the previous alley. High courtyard walls rose on both sides, while beneath their feet lay uneven mud, mixed with gravel and fallen leaves.
Chen Yan stood within it, while Zhao Yuanhua blocked the way outside.
"These past few days, I have been pondering a question."
Zhao Yuanhua tucked