Baili Qingyi frowned. He didn't intend to kill her, nor did he plan to torture her. Although this woman was ranked third among the "Traceless" assassins alongside Fang Yanzui, her personality and style were vastly different. She had only killed corrupt officials, bandits, and thugs; she had never killed an innocent person. It was precisely because he knew Cui Shenghan's background that he had spared her last time, but he hadn't expected her to dare storm the Yin residence this time to assassinate Madam Yun.
Baili Qingyi was about to ask her in detail when he suddenly heard a crashing sound coming from the side room. He swiftly rushed into the room like an eagle and saw that Madam Yun was still sleeping peacefully in bed, while someone had punched a hole in the table next to her with something.
In the blink of an eye, a white shadow like a crane flew in from the sky, skimmed over Cui Shenghan, flew over the layers of eaves, and disappeared into the moonlight.
Baili Qingyi turned around, and Baili Hanyi and Baili Tieyi followed him into the house, which was exactly what the white figure wanted.
"Young master in blue, please forgive me!" A hearty laugh echoed from afar.
"We actually let her... escape?" Baili Tieyi roared in disbelief.
Baili Qingyi looked out the window thoughtfully: "It was my oversight. I made two mistakes."
Which two?
"First, I lacked confidence. I should have believed that no one could have entered the room without my knowledge. Second, I misjudged the other person's identity."
"The other person? Isn't he that female assassin's companion?"
"No, he was just a passerby."
"Passerby?"
"That's right. And he's someone who often 'passes by' other people's homes."
While Baili Tieyi was still bewildered, Baili Hanyi frowned and asked, "Is it really alright to let them escape?"
Baili Qingyi ran his long fingers over the hole in the table, pondered for a while, and said, "If we keep her here, we won't get any more information out of her."
"Brother, do you believe what she just said?" Baili Tieyi asked in surprise.
“Third brother,” Baili Qingyi said gently, “Qiong Sect has always only opposed those with a reputation in the martial arts world, but never killed innocent servants. Yet the entire Yin family, including their servants, was murdered. I believe that the Yin family case was not the work of Qiong Sect. Since the person behind it specifically instructed Cui Shenghan to use Qiong Sect’s unique acupoint striking technique to kill people, it proves that this person is not a member of Qiong Sect, but has a great connection with Qiong Sect.”
“I understand. I will investigate the connection between the Yin family and the Qiong Sect.” Baili Hanyi’s eyes showed understanding.
With a face as fair as a peach blossom, and a dashing and debonair demeanor, Bai Can, the master thief, is furious.
Because he risked his life to rescue the three young masters of Baili Prefecture, and then carried the beautiful woman for five miles like a beast of burden, all he had to say about his righteous act was:
"You shouldn't have offended Baili Prefecture."
Bai Can was furious, but out of gentlemanly conduct, he couldn't vent his frustration at the heartbreak of his unrequited love on Cui Shenghan. So he could only swallow his anger and suffer in silence.
"Do you know that if I hadn't happened to pass by today, you would have died here?"
Cui Sheng sneered: "You've been following me all the way from Luoyang, and you still say you just happened to be passing by?"
Bai Can's face flushed red: "Me... so what? I still saved you."
Cui Shenghan turned her head away: "Actually, Madam Yun hasn't woken up at all, has she? Baili Qingyi deliberately created a false impression, and I walked right into the trap. I can't blame anyone else."
"...I don't understand. I thought you were unwilling to become an assassin. But even without Fangyanzui, why can't you escape?"
Cui Shenghan smiled faintly: "You like me?"
Bai Can's face flushed red instantly.
"How believable is the affection of the most dashing and unrestrained man in the martial arts world?" Cui Shenghan asked him calmly.
Bai Can smiled bitterly: "I also want to know how much of my feelings are real and how much are fake."
Cui Shenghan lowered her eyes, a hint of melancholy in her gaze.
Bai Can sighed, "The moment you lowered your head, my heart fluttered again."
Cui Shenghan smiled upon hearing this. Her eyes were extremely long, and when she was indifferent, they were like a line of ice and snow. When she smiled, they were like autumn water welcoming the morning sun, and her whole person radiated a soft glow.
Bai Can was mesmerized. He reached out and grabbed her hand, saying, "Trust me. If you're willing to smile at me like this every day, I wouldn't want to be the number one romantic rogue in the martial arts world, or even if the most beautiful woman in the world stood naked in front of me."
Cui Shenghan glanced at him quickly, pursing her red lips: "Even if... even if it's Yin Wuxiao, the most talented woman in the world, you still wouldn't want her?"
Bai Can was taken aback: "What...is there a difference?"
Cui Shenghan snorted: "You specialize in stealing people's treasures, don't you know that the world's number one talented woman, Yin Wuxiao, possesses a treasure that everyone wants?"
Bai Can hurriedly hugged her: "I don't want any treasures or beauties. I only want you."
Cui Shenghan chuckled, her charm and shyness captivating, a truly beautiful woman.
Chapter Six: Why Bother with Idle Thoughts of the Past (Part Two)
Thick clouds obscured the moon, heavy fog shrouded the forest, and the towering, jagged branches resembled the gaunt, menacing arms of a withered ghost reaching towards the sky in a grabbing posture.
Cui Shenghan hid her face in the shadows of the trees, feeling as if the sparks flying from the fire threatened to melt and incinerate her, yet also seemed incredibly far away. She heard herself softly, respectfully calling out:
"Owner."
The fire crackled as if in response, then a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out: "At least you haven't forgotten me."
"I will never forget my master's teachings, not even for a day."
"Hmph." The flames slowly illuminated the figure, which appeared thin and weak, yet exuded a strong sense of aggression.
After waiting for a long time without him speaking, Cui Shenghan had no choice but to ask again, "What are your orders, Master?"
The newcomer suddenly sighed: "Mimeng, you have already escaped from Baili Qingyi twice."
"This... is all thanks to Master." Cui Shenghan couldn't figure out his meaning, so she could only answer like this.
"You should have died at his hands."
Cui Shenghan shivered.
"Master...do you want me to commit suicide?"
"Hmph," he scoffed again, "You are indeed smarter than Fang Yanzui, but you are still not smart enough."
"So, what does Master mean..."
"I want you to do something for me."
He slowly uttered a few words.
Cui Shenghan's face turned deathly pale: "Why? Why is it..."
"You dare to defy me?"
"I……"
A faint, unnatural rustling sound of branches and leaves drifted from afar. The newcomer suddenly laughed: "You're nervous. Are you afraid he'll see me, or afraid I'll see him?"
Cui Shenghan took a deep breath and tried to answer in the best way possible: "Mi Meng only knows how to obey his master's orders. Whether he sees his master or his master sees him, it has nothing to do with me."
A moment later, Bai Can arrived, carrying a full water bag, stepping through the leaves.
"Are you thirsty?" He considerately handed her the water pouch.
She gave him a deep look, took the water pouch and drank heartily. After finishing, she handed the pouch back to him.
"Why don't you have some too?"
Bai Can looked at the mouth of the cup she had just drunk from with her lips, and her face was slightly flushed.
People of the martial world are unconventional and unrestrained...
He took the water bag somewhat slowly and happily drank it into his mouth.
Cui Sheng's cold, watery eyes dimmed slightly.
He didn't see it, he didn't see it. An unknown powder from under her fingernails quietly fell into the water sac and dissolved completely in an instant.
"Bai Can".
"Um?"
"If I do something bad one day, will you forgive me?"
Bai Can smiled and said, "No matter what you did, I will forgive you."
She believed him, but she didn't know that nothing a man says when he's in love should be taken seriously.
He didn't doubt her, but he didn't know that when a woman says "what if" to the person she loves, that "what if" often becomes a reality.
In the capital city, at Huanyi Study.
Huanyi Study is the largest property of the Yin family. The manager of Huanyi Study is named Cen Lü.
Cen Lu was an extremely dedicated and responsible shopkeeper. He opened the shop promptly at dawn every day and closed it at dusk, making a fortune every day and earning tens of thousands of taels of silver a year. He also managed the Yin family's library perfectly. Such complicated tasks were something that ordinary people would never have the time or inclination to do.
He was a very patient man who always understood the principle of "casting a long line to catch a big fish." He had been in the Yin family for almost sixteen years. Although he was initially tricked by that woman, Yin Wuxiao, he later had to admit that he had his own purpose in staying in the Yin family.
The purpose wasn't the Yin family's wealth. No matter how wealthy the Yin family was, they couldn't compare to his family's riches.
Since he's so patient, he naturally won't tell you his true purpose here.
However, this goal has recently taken a lot of his energy.
Can't that brat Shi Mansi just shut up for once? Over the years, she's earned the nickname "Black Jade Goddess" in the martial arts world. She's all over the place, calling the lords of various gangs brothers and sisters, and she's incredibly popular. Poor him, all his worries have made him look prematurely old.
This morning, he plucked out a few more completely white hairs while looking in the bronze mirror. Sooner or later, his once-black hair would be ruined by Shi Mansi.
"Manager, today is another day to clean the east wing," the waiter reminded him.
Cen Lu nodded.
The east wing is the most special place in Huanyi Study; even its cleaning is personally supervised by Cen Lü. Others might assume that the east wing hides some priceless treasure, but that's not the case.
This east wing was the private library of their eldest daughter, Miss Yin. Every book in the east wing bore her annotations and inscriptions. When Miss Yin was alive, this study was strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel. Now that Miss Yin is gone, only Cen Lu faithfully preserves every book in this library exactly as she was when she was alive, without even changing their placement.
Yin Wuxiao, haven't I done everything I could for you? Cen Lu silently said this to himself every day.
That day, he walked into the east wing and was stunned.
"Boss, you're blocking the doorway, we can't get in," the waiter whispered from behind.
Cen Lu stood at the door, motionless. From his back, the workers could not discern his emotions at all.
One of the other workers glared at the one who had just spoken. Who didn't know that Manager Cen was notoriously unpredictable? He even had a nickname: "Cold-Faced Beast."
The manager has his own plans for everything. This newcomer keeps interrupting. Does he think he's capable?
Cen Lu finally spoke: "I won't be cleaning the east wing today. You may all leave." He went into the room, and the door closed behind him.
"Hey, the shopkeeper..."