Chapter Eleven: Wealth Stirs the Heart

Chao Jin'er could never figure out why, since Lu Zhou already knew that Liao Buping was an imposter, he wouldn’t come to the same conclusion as she had—that the fake Liao Buping was likely to be Withered Leaf. Previously, she hadn’t thought the intelligence about Head Escort Huang from the Golden Lion Escort Agency at the Lichun Brothel would be connected with the intelligence regarding Master Withered Leaf. But as soon as she learned the other head escort was Huang, she immediately linked the two matters together. She didn’t know what entanglements lay between them, but it was clear that Withered Leaf’s visit to the Golden Lion Escort Agency was most likely aimed at Huang. That was why the agency had protected Withered Leaf’s convoy; Withered Leaf killed the real Liao Buping and then impersonated him. Only with Huang as an insider could he play the role of Liao Buping so flawlessly.

Since ‘Liao Buping’ was likely Withered Leaf, and their mission was to pursue and kill him, why had Lu Zhou let him go?

“Is it for the Arhat Golden Body?” Chao Jin’er suddenly thought of this. Since Lu Zhou suspected the Arhat Golden Body wasn’t with them, it must be elsewhere, and he’d already planted a tracking insect on them. Was this a ruse to lure the snake from its hole?

Lu Zhou countered her, “How can you be certain Liao Buping is Withered Leaf?”

Chao Jin’er paused. She couldn’t be certain—it was just a deduction based on the intelligence. Only Withered Leaf had a motive to target Dantai Mingjing. Since Dantai Mingjing had people inquire about Withered Leaf’s whereabouts, Withered Leaf would naturally be wary and would set a trap to kill him. At least the logic held up. But with Lu Zhou’s question, she found herself doubting—after all, Liao Buping’s forehead wasn’t stamped with the name Withered Leaf.

She shook her head. “I can’t be sure.”

“Neither can I,” Lu Zhou said with a smile. “Since we can’t be sure, what if we kill the wrong person? Wouldn’t that startle the real Withered Leaf and make him flee?”

“So letting him go isn’t a problem?”

Chao Jin’er bit her lip, suddenly feeling that Lu Zhou’s thinking was almost overly cautious. Even if this Liao Buping was Withered Leaf, he couldn’t possibly escape Lu Zhou’s grasp, since the tracking insect was already in place.

“You’re not worried they’ll suspect why you let them go?” she retorted. Lu Zhou’s reason for releasing them was too casual, so much so that even a three-year-old would be suspicious.

“You just believed them when they said they were going to fetch something? I doubt they believe you’d buy such a story.”

“If the man is Withered Leaf, he’ll take this chance to flee far away and won’t return until things calm down to collect his goods. If he isn’t Withered Leaf, then perhaps they never had anything in the first place.”

“They won’t trust you, will they?”

Lu Zhou’s eyes half-closed as he replied, “Of course they won’t trust me. Have you forgotten our mission? We’re to hunt Withered Leaf first, and only after that retrieve the Arhat Golden Body.”

“If the man is Withered Leaf, Dantai Mingjing will help us kill him. Withered Leaf dead, our task is done, isn’t it? As for the Arhat Golden Body, once Withered Leaf is dead, it’ll disappear without a trace and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“If he isn’t Withered Leaf, what’s the first thing they’ll do after leaving?”

As he spoke, Lu Zhou picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth, analyzing the mission as easily as eating meat.

“What would they do?” Chao Jin’er was bewildered. If they weren’t Withered Leaf, how could she know what they’d do next? She wasn’t Liao Buping and couldn’t guess his thoughts.

“Let me put it another way,” Lu Zhou smiled. “If Liao Buping isn’t Withered Leaf, then who instructed him to set up this trap for Dantai Mingjing?”

“Withered Leaf?” Chao Jin’er answered uncertainly.

“So you mean, once they’re out, they’ll go looking for Withered Leaf?”

Lu Zhou finished the last slice of beef and wiped his mouth. “Exactly.”

…

A hundred miles from the inn, Head Escort Huang and Liao Buping hurried along the road. Huang carried a bundle the size of a man on his back. The hazy night cast its glow upon the snowy ground, yet not a single footprint trailed behind them. They had no time to conserve their inner energy; all of it was channeled to their feet, so walking on snow without leaving a trace came as no surprise.

“Big brother, are we really going to look for that monk?” Huang’s voice was tinged with urgency.

‘Liao Buping’ sighed. “What else can we do? He sent us to hunt Dantai Mingjing, and since we failed, our lives are now in Dantai Mingjing’s hands.”

So this Liao Buping was not Withered Leaf after all.

“But since we failed, will the monk help us?” Huang pressed anxiously. They didn’t believe Lu Zhou’s lies and knew he would be able to track them, so running was pointless. Their only option was to seek out Master Withered Leaf, though they weren’t sure if he would aid them.

‘Liao Buping’ shook his head. He didn’t know either.

“It’s my ailment that dragged you into this, brother…” Huang sighed.

‘Liao Buping’ replied emotionlessly, “You can’t say that. After all, Withered Leaf gave us plenty in return. In the end, we were just too greedy.”

Huang fell silent.

“But everyone looks out for himself. If Dantai Mingjing and Withered Leaf end up killing each other, the treasures will be ours again,” a ruthless glint flashed in Liao Buping’s eyes.

Of course, that would be the best outcome. There were two other possibilities: either Dantai Mingjing would be killed by Withered Leaf, or Withered Leaf would fall to Dantai Mingjing. If the first happened, they might survive—even if they didn’t get their reward, at least they’d live. If it was the second, then fate would have its way.

“Big brother, why don’t we hide the Arhat Golden Body somewhere first? If we’re lucky enough to survive, it’ll be our ticket to a carefree life,” Huang suggested, gesturing to the bundle on his back.

They’d hidden the Arhat Golden Body all along. According to Withered Leaf’s instructions, once Dantai Mingjing was dead, they were to return the golden body in exchange for payment.

‘Liao Buping’ shot him a sidelong glance. “You still think this thing is real?”

Huang hesitated, then spat on the ground and cursed, “Bald old thief!”

They spoke no more, for they had arrived at their destination: a small roadside tavern. At the foot of a nearby hill stood several open pavilions, their weathered corridors and vermillion railings matched with dark, mossy tiles. The area was silent—on a night like this in such a place, there would be no other travelers.

Here, they could finally breathe a little easier.

Suddenly, they saw not far behind, a monk in a red robe stepping through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints as he slowly approached.

It was Dantai Mingjing.

…

Back at the inn, Lu Zhou rose, with Chao Jin’er following behind.

“Let’s go. The real show should be starting.”

He lifted the curtain. A cold gust swept in, and Lu Zhou paused, then took off his warm cloak and draped it over Chao Jin’er’s shoulders.

Chao Jin’er shrank back shyly but did not evade him, her delicate face tinged with blush.