Hou Niao rose. "Hou Niao of Yinling. I happened to pass through Miaogao, but with a mission to carry out, I dare not linger. Your kindness, fair ladies, leaves me overwhelmed and humbled. The mountains are high and the rivers long; we shall speak again when we meet."
With a graceful bow, he turned and left. Before anyone could react, he was already out of the restaurant, leaving only his voice drifting back from afar.
"Since my hosts are so generous, I shall leave the bill to you. Please forgive your guest's discourtesy."
Everyone exchanged bewildered looks. None had expected this outcome.
Dugu Lan and Xiao Qiang had not expected him to show them so little consideration, but they also vaguely recognized their own rashness. With a crowd of flower-chasers in tow, they could hardly blame him for walking away without a backward glance. Their sole saving grace was that he had left them to pay his bill. The money was nothing, but this at least acknowledged that they were still friends.
This made them realize that their usual approach probably would not work with him. Unusual people did unusual things. Their method of secretly stirring up conflict between two sides, observing both through that conflict, then taking the opportunity to recruit whoever performed best might not be appropriate here. It would only push him farther and farther away.
The assembled guests were dumbfounded as well. All those who associated with the two women were models of courtesy; their conversation was with accomplished disciples, their company free of the unlettered. Some wanted to voice their scorn or even physically bar his way, but once he announced his name, none dared act rashly.
The name of the Slaughterer of Suqiu had spread far and wide in recent days. Miaogao Town stood