Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
After the captain of the guard inspected the surroundings and found nothing, he warned the carriage shop owner not to cause trouble and left.
Relieved to see the crowd disperse, the carriage shop owner, visibly flustered, smiled awkwardly at Li Changqing and Zhang Fuguang. “I'm terribly sorry. I might have drunk too much at lunch and got things wrong. Please, don't mind me.”
“You're here to buy a carriage, right? Take your pick, I'll give you the best price,” he hurriedly added.
Despite not knowing how the duo managed to make the corpse disappear, he was certain of one thing: if they wished, he could just as mysteriously vanish from the world.
So, he eagerly tried to ingratiate himself with them.
“Don't worry, we're not good people,” Li Changqing said with a smile.
“What?” the owner started.
“Oh no, I meant we're not bad people,” Li Changqing corrected with a wry smile. “Sorry, I accidentally spoke the truth there.”
“Pick any carriage, and it's yours for half price,” the owner insisted.
“Really? Are you sure?” Li Changqing was surprised.
“Absolutely,” the owner declared firmly. “Let’s be friends!”
“Then, I can't refuse such generosity.”
Eventually, Li Changqing chose a luxurious carriage, originally priced at two hundred silver taels, but the owner insisted on only seventy.
They then bought horses and servants. Busy for a day, it was getting dark when they finally returned to their lodging.
Throughout the day, Zhang Fuguang hardly spoke, and Li Changqing didn’t pry much. However, Zhang Fuguang felt it necessary to share his affairs with Li Changqing.
Six servants were tasked with chores, four maids looked after their daily needs and cared for Zhang Siyao.
Everything was ready, and by evening, the furniture arrived from the merchant's guild, making the place feel like home.
Li Changqing looked around contentedly. In his previous life, his family of three crammed into a tiny forty-square-meter apartment. Now, he was living in such a large house.
To think that he could buy a house and a carriage so easily – such a life was beyond his wildest dreams.
“Mr. Li,” Zhang Fuguang approached.
“Sit down,” Li Changqing said, knowing why Zhang Fuguang had come.
Instead of sitting, Zhang Fuguang paused respectfully and said, “I've come to take my leave, but I haven't yet repaid your life-saving grace…”
“Haven't you already repaid it?”
Li Changqing turned to him, “Hai Songtao from the Hai family died at your hands, right? And when the Su Family wanted to trouble me, they never showed up. Later, I heard from Bai Jingfei that two innate masters from the Black List died in Changting Town. If I'm not mistaken, that was your doing too.”
Seeing Zhang Fuguang in action today made Li Changqing piece everything together.
“A few lives are not enough to repay you,” Zhang Fuguang stated firmly.
“It was just a few steamed buns, no big deal,” Li Changqing shook his he ad.
“To you, maybe, but to me, it meant everything,” Zhang Fuguang insisted. “I wanted to stay by your side, but now, I fear my identity might have been compromised, posing danger to you. I must leave.”
"I only ask one favor of you," he hesitated.
“You want me to look after Siyao, right?” Li Changqing guessed his thoughts.
Zhang Fuguang nodded solemnly. His daughter would be in danger with him and he had no one else to entrust her to. Li Changqing seemed like someone he could trust to care for her.
“Take care of your daughter yourself,” Li Changqing said without hesitation, shaking his head.
Zhang Fuguang looked stunned and disappointed but then nodded in understanding.
“Stay with me,” Li Changqing spoke calmly. “What's the big deal? Someone wants to kill you? We'll deal with them. There's no need to make it complicated.”
“But…”
Zhang Fuguang took a deep breath. “Do you know who I am?”
Li Changqing stared at him for a few seconds, then asked, “Blood Shadow Sect?”
He knew about the sect, notorious on the continent for its stealth and lethality. Their assassins lived ordinary lives unless on a mission, blending seamlessly into society. Once tasked, they became deadly weapons. The Blood Shadow Gate had almost successfully assassinated an earthbound immortal. Although this might be exaggerated, they had seriously injured one, a feat that commands respect.
The assassin who targeted Zhang Fuguang was among them, disguised as a mediator during their house purchase.
“I betrayed the Blood Shadow Sect's rules, so now I'm subject to their relentless pursuit,” Zhang Fuguang explained. “Anyone from the sect who sees me will try to kill me. Staying with you will endanger you.”
“It doesn't matter.”
Li Changqing dismissed the concern. “As I said, if they dare come, I'll deal with them. If someone wants to kill you, kill them first.”
Zhang Fuguang looked conflicted, as if wanting to say more.
“Speak your mind,” Li Changqing urged.
“Maybe you don't fully understand the power of the Blood Shadow Sect. Their assassinations are almost impossible to guard against. Today's attacker was mediocre in our sect. We have top experts with incredible stealth skills.”
“Their attacks are so sudden that by the time you realize, it's too late. I've seen people crumble in fear, knowing they are targets of the sect.”
"When you realize you're being attacked, it's usually because your throat's been slit."
Zhang Fuguang explained earnestly, hoping Li Changqing wouldn't underestimate the Blood Shadow Sect.
“That's fascinating,” Li Changqing was intrigued. “Where can you hide?”
Zhang Fuguang hesitated, as revealing his hiding ability was usually unthinkable.
But since Li Changqing asked, he revealed, "Shadows."
"I can hide within shadows."
Li Changqing was taken aback. Who doesn't cast a shadow?
"What a formidable assassin," he thought.
Li Changqing was shocked. “Try attacking me,” he suggested.
Zhang Fuguang vanished instantly as if sinking into the ground. As dusk fell, there was no sign of him, not even to Li Changqing's Divine Soul.
Li Changqing couldn't detect him at all, realizing why the Blood Shadow Sect was feared.
“Try attacking me when you see a chance,” Li Changqing said, going about his business.
Zhang Fuguang waited for the perfect moment to simulate an assassination, to show Li Changqing the sect's lethality .
Hours passed without any attack. Li Changqing even wondered if Zhang Fuguang had left to drink.
“Where's my father?” Zhang Siyao emerged, confused.
“Maybe he went out for a drink. He'll be back soon,” Li Changqing reassured her.
Zhang Siyao went back to sleep.
As she closed her door, Zhang Fuguang suddenly attacked from a tree's shadow, aiming for Li Changqing's throat.
Li Changqing's reaction was faster, his fingers already at Zhang Fuguang's brow.
The fleeting sword intent was pure and mixed with numerous sword techniques, startling Zhang Fuguang.
“You held back?” Li Changqing raised an eyebrow.
“No,” Zhang Fuguang shook his head, surprised by Li Changqing's speed.
"It was interesting," Li Changqing mused. "I didn't expect you to come from there."
"How could you react so quickly?" Zhang Fuguang couldn't believe it.
His assassinations had almost never failed, except against Lin Qingyi.
Now, he felt defeated again.
"You underestimate the world's heroes," Li Changqing said, explaining his strong Divine Soul allowed him to react instantly. "Don't feel defeated."
Zhang Fuguang was surprised, admitting he succeeded to assassinate Painting Sage but failed with Li Changqing.
"Because he's not as good as me," Li Changqing said plainly, almost showing off.
Li Changqing reflected on the Blood Shadow Gate's assassination techniques, commenting it wasn't easy in any profession, especially hiding for hours. He joked about the difficulty if someone had to hide in unpleasant places.
Zhang Fuguang was speechless.
“Don't worry about leaving. Stay with me. Just keep yourself safe. I'll handle the rest,” Li Changqing concluded and retired for the night.
Zhang Fuguang realized a new the extent of Li Changqing's strength and decided to stay, reassured.
***
The next morning, Li Changqing rose early.
“Good morning, Mr. Li,” Zhang Fuguang greeted him while cleaning the yard.
“Let the servants handle these chores. You should not for this,” Li Changqing advised. “I plan to start a small business and could use your help. Also, I found a few private schools where we can enroll Siyao.”
Zhang Fuguang was touched by Li Changqing's consideration for his daughter's education.
“What kind of business are you thinking of?” he asked.
“Something low-key. I'm planning to open a small tavern. It doesn't matter if it makes money or not; the main thing is it's close to my son.”