Hiking the Price on the Spot

Early the next morning.

Wang Dali had only just woken when he learned that the people from the Wang Family Manor had arrived.

The Wang Family Manor was something like an organization of assassins.

Unlike the criminal underworld, however, the Wang Family Manor had official government approval.

Its activities also fell within certain legal limits.

Its targets were rapists, murderers, kidnappers, and plunderers, most of whom were on the government's wanted lists.

This time, Wang Dali had paid through the nose to hire one second-rank and two third-rank operatives from the Wang Family Manor.

As long as they could capture Liu Bo alive, even if it cost him his entire fortune,

he would spare nothing.

Inside the main hall.

The three people from the Wang Family Manor wore dark blue-black robes. Their leader looked to be in his thirties.

A fierce murderous aura emanated from him, and the large saber strapped to his back made him look particularly ostentatious.

The other two looked much younger.

"Greetings, Proprietor Wang. I am Man Guang, and these two are my companions."

Man Guang did not rise, merely cupping his fist in greeting.

The other two looked even more haughty.

They gave a snort by way of acknowledgment.

Wang Dali could not help looking somewhat awkward. "Thank you for making the long journey. I'll have a banquet prepared to welcome you."

"No need. We didn't come here to eat."

Man Guang refused him outright.

"Sorry for the trouble," Wang Dali said politely.

Man Guang said, "Liu Bo, the former deputy leader of the Fish Dragon Gang, is quite well known in the martial world for his Whirlwind Saber Technique.

"While we're confident we can deal with him, it'll still take considerable effort.

"Let me be frank. Proprietor Wang, you're a man with no shortage of money, so as for our payment..."

Before he could finish, Wang Dali cut in. "Rest assured, I certainly won't let the three of you make this trip for nothing."

As he spoke, the steward brought over a box.

Zhao Lin, standing behind Man Guang, opened the box, glanced inside, and snorted disdainfully.

"What is this, alms for beggars? Proprietor Wang, it seems you don't think much of us at all."

Wang Dali rubbed his hands together and gave a dry laugh. "Then what would the three of you suggest?"

Zhao Lin smiled, her smile rather sinister. "With a business as large as yours, Proprietor Wang, a thousand taels of silver is hardly anything."

A thousand taels!?

Wang Dali's expression changed abruptly.

This was plainly looting a burning house, hiking the price on the spot.

Wang Dali suppressed his anger. "But... a thousand taels... where am I supposed to find that much money?"

Man Guang smiled faintly. "Proprietor Wang, you have extensive holdings, plenty of friends, and connections everywhere. Surely you can scrape together a thousand taels.

"But I must remind you that money is easy to gather, while this man is hard to catch.

"Time waits for no one. What if Liu Bo disappears without a trace?

"If you can't avenge this great wrong, how will you face your dead nephew?"

Wang Dali glared fiercely at Man Guang, but in the end, he could only say helplessly, "Fine! I'll find a way to get a thousand taels."

The three from the Wang Family Manor smiled smugly.

They had already made their inquiries before coming.

They had deliberately dragged things out to leave Wang Dali with no other choice.

Just then, a servant suddenly hurried over.

"M-Master!"

"What are you shouting for? Has someone died?"

Wang Dali violently hurled the teacup in his hand.

He vented all the anger boiling in his belly on the servant.

The unfortunate servant hurriedly explained, "There's a blind man outside asking to see you. He says... he's captured Liu Bo."

"What!?"

Tap, tap, tap~

The walking stick struck the marble floor with crisp taps.

Li Ping'an walked in with a burlap sack over his shoulder.

"Proprietor Wang."

Wang Dali swallowed. There was clearly a person inside that sack.

Could it really be Liu Bo?

The three from the Wang Family Manor had just heard that someone had beaten them to capturing their target, Liu Bo.

They had all been startled, worried that someone had ruined their business.

But when they saw Li Ping'an walk in, they were even more puzzled.

...A blind man?

Zhao Lin snorted. "Proprietor Wang, I think this blind man is simply here to cause trouble."

Man Guang also smiled disdainfully. A moment ago, he had been worried that this man really had captured Liu Bo.

But now that he saw the man was blind, he knew this was a fool trying to pass off some random person as Liu Bo to claim the reward.

Wang Dali looked at Li Ping'an without jumping to conclusions.

He opened his mouth, only to remember that he did not even know Li Ping'an's name.

Li Ping'an untied the sack. "Proprietor Wang, I've brought him."

Liu Bo poked his head out of the sack, gasping for breath.

Wang Dali's eyes widened in disbelief.

It really was Liu Bo!!

Wang Dali fought to contain his excitement. "Good... good! Good!"

Liu Bo suddenly sprang into action, spitting a sharp blade from his mouth straight at Li Ping'an's throat.

The change came too quickly for anyone to react.

Without even turning his head, Li Ping'an lashed his walking stick hard against the sack.

Liu Bo screamed as his entire body was knocked flying.

Li Ping'an said calmly, "Proprietor Wang, the payment we agreed on last time, and those medicinal herbs."

"...Of course, of course."

Wang Dali nodded frantically.

"I'll come to collect them tomorrow at noon. I won't trouble you any further. Farewell."

With that, Li Ping'an turned and left.

From entering to leaving, he had taken less than half the time needed to drink a cup of tea.

The three from the Wang Family Manor had yet to recover their senses when he was already gone.

"Brother, that brat!"

A trace of killing intent flashed in Zhao Lin's eyes.

A thousand taels of silver-what an enormous sum that was.

Enough to buy a house in the capital, marry a beautiful wife, and live out a lifetime without worrying about food or clothing.

Just as it was about to fall into their hands, an interloper had charged out of nowhere, and the cooked duck had flown away.

Man Guang said gravely, "That man is no ordinary person. Don't entertain any foolish ambitions."

Having traveled far and wide for many years, Man Guang naturally knew whom he could provoke and whom he should leave alone.

"Shopkeeper, fill this flask with wine, and give me three roast ducks and some pickled vegetables."

Li Ping'an took money from his pocket.

"Coming right up!"

When he returned home carrying the wine and food, Liu Yun was feeding the ox.

Seeing him return with delicious food in hand, she smiled faintly.

"What's the occasion today? Why did you buy so much good food?"

"To get some nourishment into you," Li Ping'an said.

Warmth stirred in Liu Yun's heart.

She knew that someone living in a place like this could hardly be wealthy.

He probably seldom had meat in his usual meals, yet now he had spent so much money for her sake.

If I can return to the palace, I must reward him well.

Liu Yun looked at the roast duck before her, unsure where to begin.

It was a whole roast duck. However she ate it, she would look uncouth.

Especially as she was Princess Liu Yun.

But as she watched Li Ping'an take great mouthfuls, grease coating his lips,

she pursed her lips and began eating with her hands too.

In any case... no one can see me.

There was only a blind man and an ox here.

What surprised her somewhat was that Li Ping'an had bought three roast ducks.

They each had one, and Old Ox got one as well.

Oxen eat duck too?

Liu Yun looked at Old Ox in puzzlement.

As though sensing her confusion, Li Ping'an said, "He's no ordinary ox. He even eats beef."

"Moo~"

Old Ox let out a moo.