Chapter 95: World Three [9] Part 1

After dismissing the idea of immediately eliminating Third Master Luo, Jing Ke patted her Little Disciple’s head.

“Don’t worry. I’m home every night. No matter how many come, your Master will take care of them,” Jing Ke said.

“Don’t overthink it. Focus on your training. Before long, you might be able to face those assassins yourself.” Jing Ke moved her hand and squeezed her Little Disciple’s shoulder.

Her Little Disciple’s shoulders had developed some muscle; her External Martial Arts was already showing initial results.

Luo Yuezhu nodded. She had complete faith in Jing Ke’s strength, so after hearing her Master’s assurance, she didn’t worry excessively about the assassin matter.

“Master, since Third Uncle lives in the southern part of the city, should we pay him a visit?” Luo Yuezhu asked. “I feel Third Uncle is a very adaptable person. Perhaps meeting face-to-face could clear up some kind of misunderstanding.”

“Hmm? You want to meet him?” Jing Ke raised an eyebrow.

Luo Yuezhu nodded, her small face serious. “I don’t think there’s a need for an endless cycle of revenge. We can go tell Third Uncle that whatever he can do, I can do too. And I can even offer more money and hire even more formidable assassins.”

Jing Ke paused, slightly surprised, then pinched her Little Disciple’s cheek with pleasant surprise. “That’s indeed a good idea. But before that, you’ll need to find a way to contact Rakshasa Tower.”

Her Little Disciple had a sharp mind, and her little cheeks were exceptionally smooth—they felt quite nice to pinch.

“If Head Constable Liu knows this much, others in Peace Offering City surely know more. For instance, the Shopkeepers of some major restaurants and teahouses must know something. As long as we’re willing to offer a sufficient reward, there won’t be a shortage of information sources,” Luo Yuezhu stated.

The departure of her loved ones had forced Luo Yuezhu to mature at an alarming rate. Both physically and mentally, she was fundamentally different from an ordinary ten-year-old child.

“That’s a good idea. When do you want to go see this Third Master Luo?” Jing Ke didn’t reject her Little Disciple’s proposal but instead decided to assist her in carrying it out.

Luo Yuezhu thought carefully. “It’s already late today. We can first send someone to find out Third Uncle’s specific address. It would be more appropriate to visit the day after tomorrow.”

“Alright, then prepare the carriage. I’ll accompany you there the day after tomorrow,” Jing Ke agreed.

–

For girls in this era, who were commonly betrothed by twelve or thirteen and married soon after their coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, managing a household at ten was early, but not unacceptable.

As an open-minded Master, Jing Ke didn’t interfere in her Little Disciple’s arrangements this time, letting the household servant boys gather information and then preparing two unremarkable bags of rice as gifts.

After a simple breakfast, Jing Ke brought out her horse, planning to ride alongside the carriage, acting as both Master and bodyguard.

“Master, won’t you ride in the carriage with me? It’s getting windy outside. You might catch a cold,” Luo Yuezhu asked before boarding.

“Don’t worry, I’m protected by Inner Strength. You’ll understand once you have it yourself. Once your Cultivation Base is high enough, be it scorching heat or bitter cold, the temperature always feels just right for you,” Jing Ke said, extending a hand. “Need me to help you into the carriage?”

“Thank you, Master.” Luo Yuezhu didn’t refuse her Master’s offer. She placed her somewhat thin hand on Jing Ke’s palm and used the leverage to climb into the carriage.

The distance between the north and south parts of the city was considerable. It took a large portion of an hour on horseback, and a carriage wasn’t much faster.

Looking on the bright side, as the weather turned colder, fewer citizens were out strolling, so the main roads were slightly emptier, allowing them to increase their speed.

Right on time at the start of the Si hour (9 AM), the carriage from the Luo Residence stopped precisely in front of a small, single-courtyard residence.

Jing Ke gently nudged her horse forward, her gaze falling on the Gatekeeper. Still mounted, she spoke down to him, “I’m looking for Third Master Luo. Tell him someone from the Luo family in the northern part of the city is here.”

The Gatekeeper had been somewhat drowsy, but upon hearing Jing Ke’s words, all sleepiness vanished instantly. He looked up cautiously at Jing Ke, noting the long sword at her waist, and offered a fawning smile.

“Young Hero, please wait a moment. This humble one will report immediately,” the Gatekeeper said, and before his words faded, he scurried inside, as if fearing Jing Ke might do something if he delayed even a second.

Jing Ke hadn’t actually intended to scare him; she simply acted out of efficiency.

The benefit was obvious. By the time Jing Ke dismounted and handed her horse to the servant boy doubling as Groom, the Gatekeeper was already running back.

“Third Master is in his study. Please, come in,” the Gatekeeper said, bowing.

Jing Ke nodded, and once her Little Disciple caught up, they entered the seemingly modest courtyard together.

–

Hearing from the Gatekeeper that someone from the Luo family had arrived, led by a Female Swordswoman dressed in Jianghu attire, Third Master Luo’s heart leaped into his throat.

To avoid mysteriously losing his life in his sleep, he forcefully suppressed his unease and allowed the visitors in.

“Well, if it isn’t Heroine Jing and Little Yuezhu! What brings you here? Such rare guests,” Third Master Luo said, grinning. “Someone, quickly brew a pot of hot tea!”

“No need, Third Uncle. I just came to deliver two bags of rice and, incidentally, inform you of something,” Luo Yuezhu said with a smile.

Compared to when she had kept vigil for her relatives without sleep, her complexion was now rosy, her breathing deep and steady, and her posture more upright; she resembled a small, resilient white pine sapling.

“Oh? Did something happen? Did those shopkeepers trick you with fake account books because of your age?” Third Master Luo feigned ignorance.

He indeed suspected an unwelcome possibility, but he absolutely couldn’t admit it now. If word got out, his already tarnished reputation would be utterly ruined. Even if the Rakshasa Tower assassin succeeded then, he’d struggle to smoothly claim the Luo family fortune through their family relationship.

“Someone does wish to bully me, but it’s not the shopkeepers. It’s someone else,” Luo Yuezhu said. Knowing her Master stood right behind her, she quickly steadied her slight nervousness. “Who that person is, Third Uncle, you actually know very well. I came here just to tell you this: whatever that person who wants to bully me can do, I can do too.”

“Third Uncle, you must also be well aware that I’ve sold off the few shops outside Peace Offering City. The warehouse still holds quite a bit of silver—certainly enough to hire some capable people to work for me.”

Luo Yuezhu spoke steadily, managing her facial expression to ensure no trace of timidity showed in her eyes.

Third Master Luo froze upon hearing this, the smile visibly disappearing from most of his face. “Little Yuezhu, what kind of riddle is this? I don’t understand.”

“Whether Third Uncle understands isn’t important. What’s important is that I’ve delivered the message. If Third Uncle truly doesn’t understand, there’s nothing I can do. I can only say Third Uncle, your luck is just bad,” Luo Yuezhu said without changing her expression.

Luo Yuezhu’s learning curve for putting on a facade was average, but in feigning ignorance and being thick-skinned, she seemed to gain new insights almost daily.

It couldn’t be helped. The shopkeepers in Peace Offering City had no apparent objections to her, but the people under them weren’t so obedient. Especially after news spread that she had sold five shops outside the city at a low price, many who considered themselves somewhat wealthy began eyeing the ten city shops that were consistently profitable, hoping to acquire them cheaply.

Practicing martial arts was indeed her most critical task, but she didn’t waste the little remaining rest time. She’d already mostly sorted through the previous account books and information.

Luo Yuezhu’s unyielding words caused Third Master Luo’s smile to vanish completely. “Little niece, you can eat recklessly, but you can’t speak recklessly. Don’t let some misunderstanding cause a huge incident.”

“And what if it isn’t a misunderstanding?” Luo Yuezhu countered.

Seeing the shift in Third Master Luo’s demeanor and tone, Luo Yuezhu became even more convinced of her suspicion. Head Constable Liu’s warning was correct. The Rakshasa Tower assassin had taken his silver, which was why they targeted her.

Third Master Luo remained silent. The reason he’d chosen Rakshasa Tower was precisely because he understood that assassin organization’s operational style: take the money, finish the job. Hiring such assassins was an excellent choice against an enemy. But if the enemy hired them to assassinate him in turn… Third Master Luo truly couldn’t guarantee his own survival.

But how had he been exposed? He hadn’t sought an assassin immediately after being kicked out of the Luo Residence. He’d deliberately waited a full seven days before posting the commission through a middleman, spending eighty taels of silver, his hard-earned savings, just to get Rakshasa Tower to accept the job.

Had Luo Yuezhu really uncovered something, or was she just bluffing?

Third Master Luo was internally torn. He didn’t believe his meticulous plan could have been leaked, but he was also terribly afraid that Luo Yuezhu wasn’t bluffing, that she genuinely intended to pay Rakshasa Tower to take his head.

“A misunderstanding, there must be a misunderstanding here. I haven’t done anything to wrong you. I’ll give orders right away so everyone in this courtyard knows that.”

Third Master Luo still didn’t dare gamble, so he chose to subtly concede, hoping to save his own life by perhaps canceling the commission.

“Is that so? And when will they know?” Jing Ke, who hadn’t spoken much, finally spoke up. “And how can you guarantee they will heed your words?”