Chen Shun secretly led Li Ping'an to a cellar and opened a hidden door.
Behind the hidden door was a staircase, which they followed down.
It was pitch-black as ink, and the moment they entered, a cold, sinister chill rushed into their faces.
This was where Chen Shun's father stored his treasures.
Escort guards traveled far and wide, and inevitably encountered rare and wondrous treasures from across the Nine Provinces.
Chen Shun's father had placed all those treasures in this secret chamber.
Chen Shun lit a long tubular lamp. "Sir, have a look. Are there any weapons that suit your hand?"
Li Ping'an passed straight by the treasures and approached the weapon rack to one side.
Up close, his eyes could still make out a few things.
Li Ping'an took hold of the second saber on the left.
Its blade was long, narrow, and slightly curved, its azure gleam like lightning.
The sharp edge and the thick, blunt spine formed a perfectly balanced contrast.
Its sheen was fresh and bright, its curve graceful and gentle.
Intricate patterns covered its surface, making it look like an exquisite work of art.
"What is this saber called?" Li Ping'an asked.
"I remember this one. My father brought it back from the Western Regions. It's called Azure Sky.
"He found it beside a martial artist who had died in the desert. My father buried him, then brought the saber back because it looked good."
"This is a fine saber."
Li Ping'an's praise was heartfelt.
"As long as you like it, sir. This saber is yours."
Li Ping'an smiled. "I'm only borrowing it. If you don't mind, Young Master Chen, I'll return it once I've settled my business."
Chen Shun hurriedly said, "You're looking down on me by saying that, sir. I truly consider you a friend. Never mind a saber-what would it matter if I gave you every piece of gold, silver, and jewelry in here?"
Then Chen Shun asked curiously, "What is this business you mentioned, sir? If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."
"Then you have my thanks, Young Master Chen."
"Oh, I also have some flexible armor here, along with other weapons. Would you like to take a look, sir?"
There was no need for flexible armor. Li Ping'an didn't like wearing the stuff.
"Do you have any bows or crossbows?"
Chen Shun froze. "Bows?"
Once he recovered, he didn't find it particularly surprising. As far as he was concerned,
although Li Ping'an's eyes no longer worked well, a master of his caliber probably didn't need eyes to shoot an arrow.
"How about this bow?"
With some effort, Chen Shun took a bow down from the weapon rack.
"This is called the Heaven-Shaking Bow. Its power is unmatched. The bow itself is forged from mystic iron and weighs over a hundred jin.
"They say its string is a tendon from an ox demon's back. It's incredibly tough."
Chen Shun tried drawing it, but the string only twitched before refusing to budge.
He couldn't help giving an embarrassed smile.
Li Ping'an took the bow. It seemed tailor-made for his build.
He drew it fully with ease.
Li Ping'an and Chen Shun went outside, and Li Ping'an aimed at a distant tree.
Whoosh!
The bowstring thundered, and the arrow shot toward the great tree opposite them like lightning.
With a tremendous crack, bark shook loose and the branches and leaves trembled.
The arrow pierced the thick trunk from one side to the other.
"What fine archery!"
Until now, Chen Shun had only ever seen his father draw this bow.
When Li Ping'an returned home, he carried an additional longbow and a long saber called Azure Sky.
After dinner, Li Ping'an sat on the roof, wiping down the saber.
Liu Yun crept up behind him. "Why did you suddenly decide to buy a saber?"
"No particular reason."
"By the way, why did you eat so little today? No appetite?" Li Ping'an asked.
Liu Yun had just finished washing the dishes, her sleeves rolled up to reveal her forearms.
She leaned back, supporting herself with her arms, and said with feigned nonchalance,
"It's nothing. I just didn't have much of an appetite today."
Neither of them spoke again. They silently watched the stars filling the sky.
"I might not be able to spend New Year with you. I received word that I have to leave tomorrow."
Liu Yun suddenly spoke softly.
"Mm. I'll see you out of the city tomorrow."
Li Ping'an spoke calmly.
Liu Yun shook her head. "There's no need. Someone will be waiting outside the city for me tomorrow."
"It's dangerous inside the city. Can your friends come in?"
Liu Yun bit her lip, her expression conflicted.
Li Ping'an sensed her difficulty and spoke before she could answer.
"I'll take you out of the city."
Liu Yun clenched her fingers and lowered her head.
Only after a long while did she say, "It's very dangerous. You... should stay here."
"It's all right."
Liu Yun said, "...I'm sorry. I've dragged you into this."
Li Ping'an paused, then smiled.
"It's all right. It's just a shame we won't get to celebrate New Year."
Li Ping'an had been in this world for over twenty years, yet he had never spent New Year with anyone else.
The Peace Escort Agency.
"Dad, where are you going at New Year?"
Over the past two days, Chen Shun had noticed his father behaving very strangely. Many familiar faces in the escort agency had also vanished.
"It's none of your business. Go back to bed."
Chen Zhongshi's expression was stern.
"Dad, is there another escort job?" Chen Shun asked curiously.
Looking at his only son, Chen Zhongshi suddenly felt a trace of melancholy.
"Someone once told me that life is a gamble.
"You either remain unknown, or stake a fortune on one grand wager.
"Son, your father has been gambling all his life.
"And I'll win this time too!"
Chen Shun swallowed, suddenly feeling that the father before him was a stranger.
"Father... what exactly are you going to do?"
Chen Zhongshi smiled. "Something great enough to overturn heaven and earth."
Meanwhile, almost every underground gang and member of the criminal underworld in Luoshui City
was saying farewell to their families. Some had even drawn up wills.
None of them knew whether they would return alive after this great battle.
As the saying went: blade in hand, cow a widow; take to the sea, plunder another's ship.
A moonless night was a night for murder; a rising wind heralded a day for arson.
Tonight, Luoshui City would not sleep.
At the mouth of the alley.
Li Ping'an closed the gate with his own hands, as though bidding farewell to the home where he had lived for so long.
"Let's go."
Heavy snow danced through the sky, carrying a bone-piercing chill.
Li Ping'an took out the jacket he had prepared and handed it to Liu Yun.
Liu Yun rubbed her slightly reddened cheeks and exhaled into the cold. "Hss..."
Snowflakes landed on her face, stinging a little.
A moment later, they melted against her skin and trickled down her neck, drop by drop.
Liu Yun shivered.
"Cold?"
"Mm, very cold." Liu Yun nodded meekly.
Li Ping'an took her hand.
A stream of scorching true qi poured from his palm into her body, dispelling the chill within her.
Liu Yun huddled in on herself. Feeling the warmth against her palm, her face seemed to redden a little more.
Li Ping'an swung his cane, and a muffled grunt came from the darkness.
Holding the umbrella, Liu Yun shifted it over Li Ping'an's head.
"The snow is really heavy tonight."
"Yes." Liu Yun let out a soft breath and said with a hint of dejection, "We were supposed to be making dumplings at home tonight. I'd already kneaded the dough."
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