“Since everyone is here, let's go.”
Uncle Gen did not open the door after he was done talking. Instead, he stood where he was as he scrutinized everyone.
The moment his eyes landed on the workers, they felt as though a venomous snake were looking at them and couldn't help trembling.
Xiaowu was unafraid of him, but he deliberately acted scared so as not to blow his cover.
“Don’t try anything funny!”
Now that everyone was looking at Uncle Gen respectfully, he felt happy with the effect of his scrutiny and reminded them kindly, “You know what to do. You take turns pushing the cart every day at work. After you are done burying the things, you have to scatter the medicated powder in the basket.”
For some reason, even though people continued talking after they left, they became increasingly quiet on their way there until all that remained was the sound of breathing.
Despite Uncle Gen’s age and hunc
Wang Er was very curious about Xiaowu as well. Xiaowu was in a disguise and changed his gestures and voice to match his fake identity, but his airs made him seem out of place. He stood out like a sore thumb among these crude men. “My mother complained about me idling at home and told me to find a job. A beggar living on the same alley as Uncle Gen told me about the opening.”Xiaowu was very good at making up stories and didn't skip a beat as he spoke. Initially, he intended on posing as a family member of Uncle Gen’s missing employee. However, Uncle Gen ended up telling him to come to work before he even got to it. Also, it was an even faster way to learn the truth.Xiaowu was relieved that he did not have that conversation with Uncle Gen. Otherwise, Wang Er, Li Erfa, and the others would have seen through his lies.Xiaowu heaved a sigh of relief as he came up with a new story for his fake identity.Wang
Xiaowu was unfamiliar with the voice. He didn't talk much to the man who was talking to Li Erfa, so he didn't recognize it right away.“What? Can’t I even say my opinion in the middle of nowhere?” retorted Li Erfa in contempt in a much softer tone.The moment he finished his sentence, he resentfully shut his mouth and the others went quiet as well.In an instant, only their breathing could be heard throughout the mountain.Before long, someone broke this silence and changed the subject as they walked out of the unmarked burial site. The atmosphere finally became less tense.Ever since Xiaowu left the place, he had been following nearby. He quickly arrived behind them at the mountain path they took when they first came. They carefully walked up the mountain path one after another.The mountain fog at night made it hard for them to see, making it even dangerous to travel on the mountain.
Most of the rooms had communal beds and were intended for people who made a living doing menial labor. Xiaowu specially changed his disguise and used a human skin mask of a lewd cunning man so that no one could recognize him.After he was done disguising himself, Xiaowu hurried to their residence at Tonghua Street undetected.Tonghua Street was not a flourishing street as its name suggested. Instead, it was a very rundown area.Everyone walked around quickly without lingering.Xiaowu wanted to head over to Wang Er’s place to observe them, but he noticed Wang Er, and the others walking out of the compound and seemed to be heading somewhere.“Wang Er, you have to follow my bet this time. The last time I followed yours, we lost so badly!”Xiaowu hurriedly hid in a corner when he saw them walking out to eavesdrop on their conversation.“Li Erfa, what the hell would you know? Those pe
“Are you really interested in Yu Die?”“That goes without saying. Tell me more. How much does it cost just to listen to Yu Die sing a single song?” Xiaowu deliberately pulled his purse from his chest and waved it in front of the brawny man to make his act more believable. The brawny man swallowed his saliva when he saw Xiaowu’s bulging purse. “That’s cheap. It only costs one tael of silver to listen to her sing.”A tael of silver to listen to her sing? How could that be considered cheap?“What about that guy? Does he spend the night with her or just listen to her sing when he comes?”“That is one odd man. He visits every few days at around this time.” Now that he realized Xiaowu had money, his attitude towards Xiaowu became better and he sounded a little ingratiating as he spoke.“He always pays to spend the night with Yu Die, but leaves after chatting and listening to Yu Die sing a song.”
Xiaowu slumped onto the ground powerlessly as the people kept punching him on his face and head. His attackers kept kicking him around like a sack and he looked miserable!“Don't hit me! Stop hitting me! I will pay you tomorrow!”Xiaowu wailed as he begged the men while he cursed in his heart, “Damn it. They are so slow. Why aren't they helping yet?”Wang Er and the others spoke in hushed tones and Xiaowu could hear them discussing whether or not to help him.“Oh god! Are they going to leave me in the lurch?” Xiaowu came up with a good plan, but he did not count on these evil men to stand by and watch him get beaten to death.Perhaps god heard Xiaowu’s wishes and Wang Er and the others changed their minds and walked over.“Stop! Why are you beating him?”Xiaowu glanced at Wang Er thankfully. He was glad he didn't save Wang Er in vain now that he had finally stepped up to help.Tin
Li Erfa looked at Wang Er as he spoke to Xiaowu, “Don't worry about your debt. I will definitely help you settle it.”The moment Li Erfa finished his sentence, he retrieved a piece of jade from under the blanket beside Xiaowu. The jade pendant was translucent and flawless. Someone had clearly taken good care of it for years. How could Li Erfa have something as expensive as this?Xiaowu felt surprised. He promptly realized he was coming closer to the truth.Li Erfa swung the jade pendant before Xiaowu’s eyes and whispered into his ear mysteriously, “Look at this. We can even gamble a little after we are done paying your debt.”Xiaowu opened his eyes wide and acted like he had never seen something as precious as the jade pendant in his life. He gaped with his saliva almost drooling from his mouth.“Where did you get that from?”“Hehe. You haven't seen such good jade before, right?
The moment they heard what Xiaowu said, Wang Er asked, “What do you mean? Are you looking down on our source of income? Do you think it is wrong for us to do this?”Xiaowu looked anxious and a little slow as he hurriedly explained, “It’s not true! I'm just worried you don't have enough money. Also, if you didn't help me, I would have…”Xiaowu’s eyes turned red as he spoke and wanted to kneel before Wang Er and the others. Li Erfa was caught by surprise and quickly helped him up.“What are you doing? You don't have to be so formal with us now that we are friends!”Wang Er finally let down his guard on Xiaowu. After observing Xiaowu for some time, he found Xiaowu authentic and ungreedy.He placed two pearls in Xiaowu’s hands. “Enough. Don't worry. There is enough for everyone. I won't let you work for nothing.”“Erm…”Xiaowu looked at the pearls in his hands hesitantl
Wang Er glanced at Xiaowu who was still in deep sleep and said nothing. Xiaowu was already awake when Li Erfa woke up. He lay in bed with his eyes closed as he pretended to eavesdrop on their conversation in the hope of gathering useful intel. Sure enough, he got what he wanted.Xiaowu didn’t move a muscle and even pretended to snore. However, his secret guard instincts were telling him something was coming towards him. Judging from the source of this sound, it was most likely Wang Er.Xiaowu felt worried. Everything was fine between them up till this morning. Was Wang Er finally going to kill him?Xiaowu quietly placed his hand on the soft sword at his waist. If Wang Er wanted to do anything to him, he could swiftly unsheathe his sword and arrest him.Xiaowu tightened his grip on his soft sword as the man approached him.Before long, Xiaowu could sense Wang Er’s hands reaching