The meat had yet to finish cooking when another carriage arrived at the martial hall's entrance.
This one was far more exquisite than the one from earlier that day. Its body was lacquered black, its fittings bronze, and its curtains made of the finest silk. The driver jumped down, found Xu Qing, and respectfully handed him an invitation.
Xu Qing accepted it and saw only one line written on it: "Lucky Auspice Restaurant, three quarters past the hour of the dog. Lin Mu awaits respectfully."
Lin Mu. The county magistrate's third son. The man responsible for his parents' deaths.
Xu Qing stared at those two characters, his fingers unconsciously tightening and leaving a shallow crease along the edge of the invitation.
A chill surged from the depths of his heart and crawled up his spine.
His brows drew together into a deep furrow. After taking a long breath, he turned and headed into the inner courtyard to find Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan was drinking tea in his study. He took the invitation and glanced at it, the smile on his face gradually fading. After a moment of silence, he set it on the table.
"What do you think?" Zhao Yan asked softly. He did not know about the old grievance between Lin Mu and Xu Qing's parents.
"This disciple does not wish to go," Xu Qing said bluntly.
Zhao Yan nodded, lightly tapping the tabletop twice with his fingers. "A spear in the open is easy to dodge, but an arrow in the dark is hard to guard against. You caused such a stir at the Golden Scale Gathering today. There are only two reasons Lin Mu would seek you out... to recruit you, or to test you."
"You should go and see what he truly wants. Better that than