"I don't trust that old bastard..."
After noon, on the second floor of the Welcome Inn, Yang Ge slumped wearily in a chair, cradling a bowl of tea. "Whether it's true or not, verify it yourself. If anything goes wrong, don't come looking for me..."
Shen Fa sat upright opposite him, gently shifting the lid of his tea bowl with one hand, his face thoughtful. Only after a long while did he release a quiet breath and nod solemnly. "I'll verify it carefully... thank you for your efforts again. Once I return to the capital, I'll report everything to the Sovereign exactly as it happened, in full. I won't let your blood and sweat go to waste."
Yang Ge stared blankly at the roof beams and replied softly, "If you people could just pull your own weight a little more, I'd thank you a thousand times over... I only have one life, too. Don't count on me for everything. If one day I don't come back, you'll still need something up your sleeves."
Shen Fa fell silent for a moment, then suddenly gave a bitter smile and sighed. "You've already done more than enough!"
Yang Ge lowered his head to give him a puzzled look, then smiled. "That doesn't sound much like something you'd say."
Shen Fa forced a faint smile. "I've never seen you like this, either..."
Hearing that, Yang Ge suddenly felt much better. "All right, go take care of your business. No need to sit here wasting time with me."
"Then I'll return to the capital and make arrangements..."
Shen Fa set down his tea bowl and rose. "Send someone with a message if anything comes up. Even if I can't help you much, I can at least offer some advice."
Yang Ge nodded and waved him