Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Outside Lüzhou City.

The sun slowly descended, and the crimson glow of dusk spread across the sky as though foreshadowing the bloodshed to come that night.

Inside a restaurant in Lüzhou City, Zhao Jiu and Liu Rouwei sat opposite each other, eating and drinking.

Zhao Jiu had changed into another Human-Skin Mask. He now looked like the young master of a wealthy family. Liu Rouwei, seated across from him, had also donned a Human-Skin Mask. Her complexion was fair, but her features were thoroughly unremarkable. Anyone who saw her would assume that she was a maidservant.

They had entered the city at noon, and Zhao Jiu had already investigated everything he needed to know. Pockmarked He’s surname was indeed He, and his family lived in a manor southwest of the city, near the woods. His mother had died long ago, and only seven members of the He Family remained.

Zhao Jiu breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, there were not many of them. Had the family been larger, accepting only one thousand taels would have cost him dearly.

With half a jug of wine in hand, Zhao Jiu approached the Shopkeeper and probed, “Shopkeeper, nothing has happened to Pockmarked He recently, has it?”

“Nothing at all, Young Master. Young Master He has recently been trying to buy Old Man Wang’s residence in the north of the city. Aside from that, nothing has happened. An Imperial Envoy was killed in Jiangnan not long ago. Who would dare cause trouble at a time like this?”

The Shopkeeper had mistaken Zhao Jiu for a wealthy young master who had come to discuss business with Pockmarked He. Determined not to offend either side, he gave nothing but vague and evasive answers.

Zhao Jiu scoffed inwardly.

There had to be something wrong with the Shopkeeper’s head. Could the death of an Imperial Envoy in the south somehow make Lüzhou in the north peaceful and orderly?

However, Zhao Jiu now suspected that the woman in the sack had been Old Man Wang’s daughter.

Were these people a criminal gang?

No, they were worse than criminals. Even gangsters knew that a dispute should not be extended to someone’s family!

Zhao Jiu had learned almost everything he wanted to know. He thanked the Shopkeeper, left the restaurant with Liu Rouwei, and moved to another inn, where he reserved one of the best rooms.

After telling Liu Rouwei to remain there and not wander off, he went alone to scout the He Family Manor.

Outside the city, near the manor, droplets of water still clung to the trees in the woods. The previous night’s rain had left the soil with a distinctive fragrance that refreshed the senses.

The surrounding walls were not particularly high. From elevated ground, one could see the entire manor at a glance.

Calling the place a manor was rather generous. It was an awkward mixture of styles. It possessed neither the flowing streams and verdant shade of a Jiangnan estate nor the solemn dignity of a northern courtyard residence. It resembled nothing more than an oversized house with a few trees planted around it and several artificial hills scattered across the grounds.

It was already late autumn, and most of the leaves had fallen. From a distance, the entire residence looked like a plucked white chicken.

Zhao Jiu stood on a distant hillside and observed the manor for half an hour, silently committing the terrain and the movements of its servants and maidservants to memory.

Those people had nothing to do with his target. As long as they did not stand in his way, there was no reason to make things difficult for them.

He was not some bloodthirsty killer, after all.

Once he had memorized the appearances of the He Family’s seven members, Zhao Jiu turned and left.

He would allow them to live a little longer. They might as well have one final look at the falling autumn leaves.

After returning to the inn, Zhao Jiu took out his Hidden Weapons and coated them with poison one by one.

A craftsman who wished to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

Hidden Weapons and poison—I was practically… Young Master So-and-So.

Only after darkness had deepened and the lamps had been changed three times did Zhao Jiu slowly rise. He nodded at Liu Rouwei, who was drinking tea.

“Let us go. You are eager to watch, and I am eager to earn my silver.”

In the woods outside the He Family Manor, Zhao Jiu wore black clothes and a Demon Mask, with a Tang Saber tucked into his belt.

He smiled and said, “Wait here until I return. Once I finish killing them, I will set the place on fire. You can watch the flames from here.”

Liu Rouwei seemed lost in thought. She said nothing and merely nodded.

“Watch the horses, foolish woman!”

Zhao Jiu waved a hand in front of her eyes to make certain she was listening.

Without waiting for her response, he circulated his Internal Qi, performed Chasing the Stars and Pursuing the Moon, and vanished into the darkness.

Inside the He Family Manor, Old Third He had only just fallen asleep when a thin stream of smoke drifted slowly through his window.

Old Third He gradually sank into a stupor.

The door then opened, and a Throwing Knife struck him squarely between the brows.

The killer was Zhao Jiu, who had silently infiltrated the He Family’s residence. Old Third He was already his fourth victim.

The front courtyard has been cleared. There is one more on the left and two in the rear. Large estates are troublesome. I should accept fewer jobs like this in the future. There is too much work for one person.

Zhao Jiu extinguished the candle, closed the door behind him, and quietly approached the room on the left.

The room was brightly illuminated, and the playful laughter of men and women could be heard from inside.

Zhao Jiu felt deeply helpless.

There were always unexpected complications that disrupted his plans.

As before, he blew Knockout Smoke into the room. Once all sound had ceased, he pushed open the door and entered.

A man lay unconscious across the table with his arms still wrapped around two women.

Zhao Jiu wasted no time. He slashed the man across the throat, ending his life cleanly, then turned and headed toward the rear courtyard.

Only one main house stood in the rear courtyard. A candle was still burning inside, and the silhouette of someone sitting beside a table and drinking tea could be seen through the glow.

Zhao Jiu did not bother using Knockout Smoke this time. He gripped his saber and pushed open the door.

The elderly man seated beside the table was startled when he saw an armed intruder enter. Just as he was about to shout, Zhao Jiu spoke calmly.

“Do not shout, old sir. I am only here for wealth, not lives.”

The old man breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Wealth was fine. As long as the intruder did not want his life, surrendering some money was of little consequence.

“Great Hero, my wife is asleep in the inner room. Tell me how much you want, and we can sit down and discuss it,” the old man said with a smile. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed to relax.

Zhao Jiu did not waste time on pleasantries. He sat opposite the old man and said indifferently, “Old Master He, I do not know how much wealth your family possesses. However, you know perfectly well what the consequences will be if I am dissatisfied.”

Old Master He’s expression changed.

He had encountered a ruthless man. This matter would not end unless he surrendered a considerable portion of the family fortune.

Old Master He drew a long breath. “Great Hero, follow me. The He Family’s entire fortune is kept in a side building. I only hope that you will honor your promise and spare the lives of my entire family.”

“Very well, Old Master He. I am only here for wealth…”

Zhao Jiu returned his saber to its sheath.

He had only said that he was there for wealth. He had not promised again that he would spare anyone’s life.

The old man could hardly blame him later.

Old Master, He rose and stared into Zhao Jiu’s eyes, hoping to determine how much truth lay in his words.

However, even after watching him for some time, he saw no ripple of emotion in Zhao Jiu’s eyes. They resembled a pool of stagnant water.

Old Master He could only say, “Please follow me,” before leading the way.

After turning a corner, they entered a side courtyard.

Old Master He activated a hidden mechanism, and a Secret Door slowly opened.

Zhao Jiu gestured for Old Master He to lead the way, then followed behind him.

The passage beyond the Secret Door descended underground. After walking down several steps, they reached a place resembling a Cellar, where several large chests had been stacked on the floor.

“Great Hero, the He Family’s entire fortune is here. Take as much as you please.”

Old Master He lowered his gaze, concealing his expression.

“Gladly.”

Zhao Jiu could no longer suppress his laughter.

Before Old Master, He could say anything else, a saber plunged into his back.

He cried out in pain and tried to turn around, but a hand had already closed around his throat.

“There is nothing I can do about it. The people above said that no one else could be allowed to learn of this matter. Therefore, you cannot be permitted to…”

Zhao Jiu’s voice was sinister.

Old Master, He’s face changed drastically. His eyes bulged, and his mouth opened and closed like that of a fish stranded outside the water.

Judging by his reaction, Zhao Jiu suspected that the old man had misunderstood something.

He tightened his grip slightly and snapped Old Master He’s neck.

After casually tossing the corpse aside, Zhao Jiu looked at the large chests and burst into laughter.

“Mine! Mine! It’s all mine!”

His voice echoed through the Cellar with a low hum.

He opened the chests and transferred the silver ingots into his Storage Space one after another. He then took out a Fire Striker and set the chests alight.

Only after the flames had grown did Zhao Jiu stroll leisurely out of the Cellar.

Upon returning to the side courtyard, he left the Secret Door open and headed toward the main courtyard. He killed the person lying on the bed with a Throwing Knife, then used the Fire Striker to ignite the curtains.

Afterward, he went through the front and middle courtyards, tossing several torches into different rooms.

As the flames grew, Zhao Jiu removed his mask, stripped off the Night-Raiding Clothes he wore over his other garments, and threw them into the fire before leaping over the manor wall.

Behind him, the flames rose higher and higher, illuminating the darkness with a crimson glow. Shouts to extinguish the fire and the sounds of water being thrown against the flames rang out one after another.

When Zhao Jiu returned to the woods, Liu Rouwei was leaning against a tree, watching the towering flames consume the He Family Manor.

Zhao Jiu did not disturb her. He merely stood beside her with his hands clasped behind his back.

Illuminated by the drifting sparks, Liu Rouwei’s smile looked somewhat forlorn.

After watching for a while, Zhao Jiu gently tugged at her sleeve.

“Let us go.”

Liu Rouwei turned toward him. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but judging by her expression, she seemed to be in reasonably good spirits.

She wiped the corners of her eyes and asked with an air of relief, “Where are we going?”

“Bingzhou. From there, we will pass through Luoyang and Chang’an, leave through Tongyu Pass, and travel another five hundred li to Jiuquan.”

Zhao Jiu took the reins of both horses as he explained.

“We killed people and exterminated a family in Lüzhou. Should we take our old route through Yuzhou, Xuanfu, and Xingqing, it will only be a matter of time before we are discovered. Xuanfu is heavily garrisoned. Even a Fourth Rank martial artist cannot withstand a cavalry charge.”

Liu Rouwei neither agreed nor objected. She simply mounted her horse.

The two of them pulled on their reins and turned their horses around. Illuminated by the distant flames, they rode south.