Chapter 43: Scheming to Kill the Lustful Bandit (Middle)

  Xiao Ziyang smiled wryly: "I'm afraid I'll have to leave after tonight."

  "Why? I can add more money!" The clerk exclaimed anxiously.

  "Money is good, but you also need to have a life to spend it. After this incident, the Red Guest will definitely investigate who discovered his whereabouts, and the first person he wants to find won't be your daughter, but me. This man's lightness skills are unmatched; if he were to become an assassin, he would be extremely terrifying!"

  The secretary hesitated and wanted to persuade him again, but had nothing more to say. He could only sigh and say, "I'll go arrange it now. Is there anything else you want to entrust me with?"

  Xiao Ziyang thought for a moment, then said: "Firstly, whatever happens, don't let the news spread. Let the guards take their usual night shift; hmm... you can tell Wu Du, the head of the guards, to arrange for his best men to be on duty tonight. Secondly, let those on night shift keep a distance from Miss's courtyard as usual, so as not to arouse suspicion. Thirdly, the person impersonating Miss must be someone steady and reliable."

  "Alright, I'll go and instruct them according to your wishes right away." With that, the clerk hastily walked out.

  Xiao Ziyang returned to his room and found Wen Jin pacing back and forth. At this time, the anger in his heart gradually dissipated, and he couldn't bear to blame him anymore.

  Through these days of getting along, Xiao Ziyang found that Wen Jin, although still not rid of his childish habits, was among the few in his peers who were steady and reliable. Plus, he was clever and agile, and when it came to handling matters, he was quite reassuring.

  "Wen Jin, I have something that needs your attention. If you don't want anything to happen to the young lady in your household, it's best if you don't mess this up."

  "Wu Da Xia, please give the order, I will definitely get it done! Even if it costs me my life, I will get it done!" Wen Jin said with a resolute expression.

  Xiao Ziyang smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's not about getting you to fight with someone, but rather to gather some information."

  "This I'm familiar with, gathering what information." Wen Jin let out a breath of relief.

  "On the east side of Wenfu Street, there is a hostel called Rúguī. Go ask around and find out what kind of guests have checked in from yesterday to today. Don't ask inside the store, call the shop boy out and ask him. Also, it's best not to ask directly, try to get the information through casual conversation. Got it?"

  Wen Jin nodded, and suddenly his expression changed. "Rugui Inn! The courtyard wall behind the inn is just next to Miss's residence! Wu Daxia, isn't that damned Red Silk Guest staying at Rugui Inn? Since we know he's there, why don't we go catch him?"

  "You're clever," said Xiao Ziyang, glancing at him. "But you should know that Hong Zhuo is extremely cunning and has excellent lightness skills. If we go to catch him in broad daylight, we might not even see his shadow. So, after I discovered his trail, I set a trap for him to fall into on his own. Don't worry, your young lady will be moved to a new location tonight. Alright, stop wasting words and hurry up to gather information as I said. Remember, if you accidentally alert Hong Zhuo and let him escape, next time he comes, I won't have the good fortune of discovering his trail again."

  Two hours later, when Xiao Ziyang and others were getting impatient. Wen Jin finally came back, Xiao Ziyang asked: "Have you inquired about everything? Tell me, how many guests have stayed at the Like Returning Inn in the past two days, what do they look like?"

  "I've asked clearly, it's not the season for collecting grain now, there are very few people staying in the town, and this inn is a small one. These two days, there have only been two guests. One was a scholar from the neighboring town who went out to visit friends and came back late, stayed overnight, and left early this morning. The other person is a merchant who checked in early today, with a big beard on his face."

  "It's fine, but why did you come back so late? Does it take that long to gather such a small piece of information?" Xiao Ziyang asked coldly, staring at Wen Jin.

  Wen Jin's eyes darted around, "I'll come fortune... oh, come fortune is the little second of that store. I invited him to a nearby wine house for a drink and asked about the things you entrusted me with. After feeling a bit uneasy, I got him drunk and replaced him at the store to entertain some guests, and also confirmed the matter, so I came back late."

  "Hmph! I suppose you want to see the appearance of the Red Thread Guest, but let me tell you, that's not his true face... Alright, don't bother explaining, whether or not you've stirred up a snake in the grass will be clear tonight..."

  After hearing the news brought back by Wen Jin, Xiao Ziyang's heart was finally put down. If Xiao Ziyang had only 70% confidence in the route of Hong Zhu Ke before, then now he had almost 100% confidence.

  Night fell once again, a new moon hanging in the sky. Under the cover of night, wearing his makeshift black and green cloak, Xiao Ziyang believed that absolutely no one could discover his figure hiding among the dense foliage within three zhang.

  He sat cross-legged on the branch, with a thick-backed steel knife placed horizontally across his legs and covered with a cloak, holding a flying dragon in his palm. He had been motionless for nearly two hours.

  At midnight, the sound of a night watchman's rattle came from afar.

  Suddenly a black shadow appeared on the wall opposite. "He's here!", Xiao Ziyang looked closely, it was a man wearing a night-traveling outfit, with only his eyes exposed.

  The man in black crouched on the wall, observing the surroundings. With a slight touch of his toes on the wall, he was like a wisp of smoke, seemingly slow but actually fast, flying towards a branch in front of Xiao Ziyang.

  Five zhang... three zhang... two zhang... it's now! Xiao Ziyang raised his hand and triggered the flying dragon mechanism in his palm. Bang! Bang! Two consecutive sounds! Six five-inch-long crossbow arrows, emitting a cold glow, shot out like lightning towards the black shadow's lower abdomen dan Tian. In just the blink of an eye, the crossbow arrows were only a few feet away from him.

  The man in black was suddenly attacked, but he didn't panic. He let out a cold cry and reached for his waist, where a cold light appeared before him. The sword light exploded like fireworks: clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal clashing filled the air, almost indistinguishable.

  Xiao Ziyang heard the sound of clashing gold and iron, as if he had been struck by five thunderbolts. He felt a chill rising from his feet, and all the hairs on his body stood up!

  One sword, six exits! Unparalleled swordsman! These eight words appeared in his mind like a thunderclap! He knew he had underestimated the red-robed guest! He knew he would face a terrible crisis!

  The black-clad man, despite his exceptional lightness kung fu skills, after jumping a distance of seven or eight zhangs, had already become impure in his internal energy within one breath. After knocking away six swift crossbow arrows as fast as lightning, he finally lost the strength to advance and fell towards the ground.

  Xiao Ziyang sprang up without hesitation, his powerful kick shaking the ancient tree beneath him, sending a cascade of green leaves swirling through the air.

  His slightly lean body, like an iron tower, brought down a force of ten thousand kilograms from the sky, and the thick-backed knife transformed into a black flash of lightning that slashed towards the black-clothed man's head!