Chapter Thirty-Three: Preparing for the Return Journey

After only a short while back, they saw several wooden crates being carried over, one after another. The group couldn’t help but click their tongues in surprise—weren’t there carts for transport here? Why did they insist on carrying them by hand? Weren’t they heavy?

Qianyin and Lengxue had already witnessed their archaic ways, so they felt relatively calm, merely thinking these people’s minds seemed a bit dull. Watching four men laboriously carry each crate, their footsteps heavy, making ten trips before finally placing everything in the side hall, the group panted for breath. The servants brought them some tea, which they gulped down eagerly, several cups before their composure returned.

These were all “talented people”—the kind rarely found in the world. The group was tempted to mock them, but decided it would be rude and held back.

“Master Mo, we’ve delivered the goods. So, about the payment?” a middle-aged man asked, holding an account book and passing it to Master Mo. The ledger was old-fashioned, not nearly as precise as modern ones.

Hopefully, their money wasn’t as archaic, either—after all, gold and silver from ancient times would probably be worth quite a lot today. This thought made Qianyin break into a wide smile.

“Pay them,” Master Mo said with a glance at Mofan. Mofan immediately went to the back, fetched a leather suitcase, and returned with it filled to the brim with hundred-yuan bills. The money had been prepared in advance; this place was so old-fashioned, there weren’t even any banks.

Yet their counterpart merely opened the case for a glance, didn’t bother counting, just nodded. “We trust Master Mo. We’ll be taking our leave now.”

Mo Lan coughed a few times—so this is how Boss Wang’s people did things. Was it that they felt too guilty to accept the money, or were they so wealthy that this sum seemed trivial?

“I’ll go find a vehicle. Everyone should rest early; we’ll head back first thing in the morning,” Mofan said, quickly taking charge and walking toward the door. It was beneath Master Mo to run errands, and it didn’t seem proper to send a servant, so Mofan decided to handle it himself.

“No, we have to leave tonight,” Qianyin and Lengxue spoke in unison.

They exchanged a glance, then continued, “If we wait until tomorrow, we likely won’t get away. Boss Wang will have someone watching us, and if he finds out the goods are genuine, he’ll send people to hunt us down!”

Everyone nodded at once, and Mofan immediately began preparations. The others remained seated, sipping tea and admiring the view.

Just then, Qianyin received a message. She headed straight for the door and called out, “I need to go out for a bit. You all stay here; I’ll be back soon.”

Lengxue thought about trailing her again, but Mo Lan called out, “Sit down, let’s talk. She’s just going to complete a task. There’s no need for you to follow her every time—you’ll only make her resentful.”

Mo Lan felt it was necessary to talk not just with Qianyin, but also with this brawny man. These two truly weighed on her mind.

Lengxue, realizing the two women were close friends and that he needed to maintain good relations, took a seat.

“Though it’s obvious to us that you like her, she herself doesn’t see it. She’s not suited for romance, so you’ll have to compromise more,” Mo Lan said concisely and earnestly, her gaze fixed on Lengxue, as if to say: If you can’t take responsibility for her, don’t pursue her.

Anfeng listened quietly from the side, and Master Mo seemed lost in thought, as though he hadn’t heard.

Lengxue nodded but still went after her, unable to shake a certain disappointment. If everyone else could see it, why couldn’t she?

Qianyin arrived at a restaurant, only to find a little girl waiting, which puzzled her. The buyer was bold, sending such a young child to collect the goods.

“You’re Sister Qianyin, right? Where’s the stuff?”

Qianyin wore a mask for this meeting. Though she hadn’t changed clothes, few would recognize her face. She handed over a small box, her eyes betraying no hesitation. She’d already received payment; as for whom the goods went to, that wasn’t her concern.

The little girl opened the box and toyed with the ring inside. Confirming its authenticity, she looked at Qianyin with a bright smile. This big sister really was something.

“Sister, you need to be careful—many people are after you now. Would you like to have a meal with me?” the girl asked, still speaking to herself as she put the item away.

“Thank you for your concern, but I have matters to attend to. I must go. This isn’t a safe place either, so you’d best leave soon,” Qianyin replied politely, appreciating the girl’s concern, then strode out.

The little girl sat quietly before the table full of dishes, shaking her head in resignation. It seemed her father didn’t really understand this assassin named Qianyin. Making friends with her would be difficult.

She’d thought her innocent appearance might persuade Qianyin to share a meal, but Qianyin’s direct refusal was as much a refusal of her father.

Once outside, Qianyin removed her mask and gazed at the ancient streets, their charm evident in every detail. If she ever wished to retire to the mountains, this city might be the perfect place. The thought brought a trace of self-mockery to her lips—if only she could survive the year.

Lengxue, who had followed her, arrived just as she was leaving alone. He decided not to approach, and quickly returned to the branch.

As night fell, the group quietly watched the ancient city, its old-world beauty taking on a special allure in the darkness.

The goods had been loaded into different vehicles, and they set off steadily down the main road. The driver was exhausted, while the others dozed or rested with their eyes closed.

Just as they were leaving the outskirts of Nanjing, Mo Lan suddenly noticed several cars speeding up behind them, clearly targeting their cargo.

“Something’s happening—everyone wake up!” Mo Lan shouted, and the occupants of nearby vehicles immediately snapped to attention.

Master Mo’s brows furrowed. Had Boss Wang really assigned people to keep watch? That man was certainly shrewd.

Qianyin, bleary-eyed, glanced back to see several tightly sealed vehicles. What’s more, their cars seemed twice as powerful as regular ones.

Although Qianyin disliked driving, she was extremely knowledgeable about cars. Her own vehicle was different from the others.

No one else should have known they’d be leaving tonight—who had leaked the information?