While Xing Yan was intent on counting his money, several soldiers suddenly entered the noodle shop beside the street, saying their master wished to see him.
Watching their perfectly coordinated movements, looking at their uniforms, and hearing the word "master," Xing Yan was thoroughly puzzled.
Still, the scene did not intimidate him. He calmly gathered the pile of money, pushed it toward the woman beside him for safekeeping, then turned to ask the soldiers what this was about. From their respectful answer, he learned that the invitation came from the young prefect praised by everyone throughout Yulin: Bai Shijun, Marquis Changyi's adopted son, known as the Peerless Young Master.
Xing Yan was clever enough. As soon as the leading soldier announced the Peerless Young Master's name, he guessed that Prefect Bai, who had once favored him with a gift of silver, probably hoped to recruit him. Despite that suspicion, he asked politely:
"May I ask, sir, what business your lord has with me?"
Sure enough, the leading soldier replied deferentially:
"Young hero, my lord said that when you met by chance last time, he felt an immediate affinity with you. Now that you have come to the territory under his jurisdiction, he wishes to extend a little hospitality and invite you to his residence for a chat."
"Oh, so that is it."
Hearing the soldier call him "young hero," Xing Yan realized that someone the Peerless Young Master had stationed in advance must have noticed his street performance earlier. The thought filled him with admiration for the young lord's far-reaching eyes and ears. His own curiosity was stirred as well, and he readily accepted, calling Qiong Rong and Xueyi to come outside with him and board the Four-Horse Carriage waiting before the shop.
Once inside, Xing Yan discovered that the