Extraordinary skills? That’s a blatant lie. With her few tricks, what good were they? However, this little girl asked so many details, it seemed like she wanted to copy Xiaoxiao’s background. Too bad for her, Zuo Xiaoxiao had no family background worth copying. As for her martial arts, her master’s skills were an eclectic mix and didn’t belong to any particular school.
Zuo Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then said, “I’m a disciple of ‘Po Fengliu’.”
“‘Po Fengliu’…” Shi Le’er frowned slightly.
Zuo Xiaoxiao’s master had once told her that if anyone ever asked about her martial arts, she should say she was from the “Po Fengliu” sect. “Po Fengliu” was a martial arts school that had recently risen in popularity, with disciples spread all over the world. However, it had neither an official sect nor a fixed meeting place, giving it a reputation of being all name and no substance. The martial arts techniques of “Po Fengliu” were also varied and unconventional, with no fixed patterns. Claiming to be a disciple of “Po Fengliu” would mean no one could confirm or deny it, a clever tactic.
Shi Le’er clearly understood this. Claiming to be a disciple of “Po Fengliu” was a response, but it was also a way of brushing off the question.
Just as Shi Le’er was about to press further, Zuo Xiaoxiao’s stomach suddenly growled—loudly.
Li Zhenghai burst into laughter. “Le’er, you can ask her more after we get down the mountain.”
Shi Le’er turned her head, smiled, and nodded.
Zuo Xiaoxiao touched her stomach, looking wronged. It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t eaten anything all day, and had been running around nonstop… She glanced at Li Zhenghai and Shi Le’er, her mind filled with emotions. Following these two, she felt like something troublesome was bound to happen. What would her master do if he were alive?
Before she could think for long, her stomach growled again. Tsk, what’s the use of thinking so much! She was already in this situation. Being barefoot, why should she fear those who were wearing shoes? After expending so much energy, she might as well get a meal out of it. That’s right. Filling her stomach was the most important thing in life!
T/N “Being barefoot, why should she fear those wearing shoes” (光脚的不怕穿鞋的): This is a common Chinese saying that refers to someone who has nothing to lose, and thus, nothing to fear from those who do.
Zuo Xiaoxiao immediately made up her mind. She plastered a smile on her face and cheerfully followed them.
By the time the group arrived in town, it was already the hour of Xushi (戌时, roughly 7-9 p.m.). The townsfolk had long since turned off their lights and gone to bed, leaving the streets deserted. The Xingfeng Escort Agency had travelled through this town many times over the years, so the escorts were familiar with it. It didn’t take long before they found an inn they knew well and settled in for the night.
However, at this late hour, the inn’s kitchen was no longer serving meals. The considerate innkeeper, though, boiled some noodles and brought out leftover steamed buns from dinner to serve the group.
Zuo Xiaoxiao wasn’t picky about food, and having been hungry for quite a while, she didn’t hesitate to grab a bowl of noodles and a steamed bun. She sat in a corner and began to eat without any pretence.
Just as she was about to take a bite of the steamed bun, Shi Le’er came over with a small dish of vegetables and sat down at her table.
“Xiaoxiao, just eating noodles and steamed buns is so plain.” Shi Le’er placed the dish in front of her, smiling innocently.
Zuo Xiaoxiao’s mouth was halfway open, but she froze in place.
Showing kindness for no reason, you’re either a traitor or a thief! Zuo Xiaoxiao clung to her bowl of noodles, holding the bun tightly, staring at Shi Le’er with a look of terror.
T/N 无事献殷情，非奸即盗 (Wú shì xiàn yīn qíng, fēi jiān jí dào): A traditional Chinese idiom meaning “If someone offers unsolicited kindness, they probably have bad intentions.”
Shi Le’er, still smiling, pursed her lips. “Sister, what are you so afraid of? Do you think I’d poison you?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao immediately shook her head, forcing a smile. “No, no, of course not. Why would you poison me? Haha…” She cautiously took a bite of the side dish and swallowed it quickly, then nibbled on the steamed bun, chewing as fast as she could.
Shi Le’er nodded with satisfaction, idly twirling her fingers through her hair.
“Sister…” Shi Le’er leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “You’re not a good person, are you?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao nearly choked on her bun.
“At first, you tried to rob me. Then, that ambush… well, that was just a coincidence,” Shi Le’er said, her gaze unwavering. “As for the so-called ‘righteous help’ afterward, that was just one gang preying on another, wasn’t it?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao choked hard, coughing and clutching her chest in pain.
“Don’t worry, sister,” Shi Le’er said calmly. “I’m not going to tell Uncle Li the truth now.” She stood up and patted Zuo Xiaoxiao’s shoulder. “Actually, you saw it too—those escort wagons were empty. Do you know why?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao, finally catching her breath, widened her eyes and shook her head furiously. “Please, don’t… I don’t want to know.”
Shi Le’er raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t want to know?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao nodded firmly. Her master had always warned her: This world has secrets, and once you know them, your life will be at risk. It’s better not to know. If someone asks, always say no!
Shi Le’er smiled, clearly amused. “You’re smart.”
Zuo Xiaoxiao sniffled, wiping her nose. “Please, young lady—no, hero—just let me go. I was confused, but I swear I’ll change my ways and be a good person. Don’t ignore small acts of good, and don’t commit small acts of evil…”
T/N 勿以善小而不为，勿以恶小而为之 (Wù yǐ shàn xiǎo ér bù wéi, wù yǐ è xiǎo ér wéi zhī): A well-known moral saying, “Do not neglect small good deeds, and do not commit small evils.”
Shi Le’er cut her off impatiently. “Who said I was going to deal with you?”
Zuo Xiaoxiao stopped crying, clutching her bowl of noodles and glaring at Shi Le’er with a mixture of fear and frustration.
“Since you’ve already seen what’s in the escort wagons, we’re now in this together. Wherever we go next, you go too. Understood?” Shi Le’er smiled as she issued the thinly veiled threat.
Zuo Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. “Understood, understood. I’ll follow your orders!”
Shi Le’er smiled with satisfaction. “Good. Take your time eating. I’m going to bed now, and don’t even think about running off.”
Zuo Xiaoxiao nodded even harder.
As Shi Le’er walked away, Zuo Xiaoxiao wanted to cry but had no tears left.
What bad luck. She bit into her steamed bun miserably. I didn’t check the almanac before going out today. This has to be one of those “nothing goes right” days… What a disaster.
“Miss Zuo.” Zuo Xiaoxiao was sulking when Li Zhenghai walked over and placed a few side dishes on her table. “You must be hungry. Eat more.”
Zuo Xiaoxiao looked up gratefully at Li Zhenghai. Even though they were just casual acquaintances, she somehow knew that Li Zhenghai was a good person. Although his extreme hatred for evil wasn’t a perfect trait, he was definitely reliable.
Li Zhenghai smiled, nodded, and then turned to leave.
It was only then that Zuo Xiaoxiao realised she was the only person left in the inn’s lobby. The flickering candlelight made her feel even more lonely. She stopped chewing, lowered her head, and remained silent.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The waiter hurried out from the kitchen and opened it.
“Waiter, are there any vacant rooms?” A clear male voice sounded from the entrance.
“Yes, sir, please come in,” the waiter responded, inviting the guest inside.
Zuo Xiaoxiao, with a bun still in her mouth, turned to see a man in his twenties walk through the door. His dark blue, simple clothing was not eye-catching. But judging by his steady gait, it was clear he had practised martial arts. Squinting her eyes, Zuo Xiaoxiao examined him carefully. His facial features were delicate, and his demeanour was handsome. If not for his plain attire, he would certainly be considered a gentleman. However, a proper gentleman wouldn’t be carrying so many weapons.
On his back was a crimson carved bow and a quiver, while a short knife hung at his waist.
Zuo Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened when she saw the quiver. It was half gold-plated and half silver-inlaid, divided into yin and yang halves by the two metals. The intricate patterns on it were exquisite and clearly extraordinary.
“The Mandarin Duck Quiver…” Zuo Xiaoxiao whispered, “Is he from the Lian family of divine archers?!”
T/N The “mandarin duck” refers to the concept of yin and yang or duality, often symbolising pairs or opposites, which is fitting for the design of the quiver being divided into gold and silver halves.
Though she spoke softly, the emptiness of the lobby made her words audible.
The man paused, slowly turned to look at Zuo Xiaoxiao, and gave her a brief smile. He nodded as a greeting before turning to follow the waiter upstairs.
Zuo Xiaoxiao, with her mouth full of noodles, immediately regretted speaking up. What was she thinking, blurting out like that? As if she hadn’t already attracted enough trouble! She chewed angrily, mentally cursing herself.
As for the Lian family, known as the “Divine Archers,” their reputation was well-earned. The martial world had a saying: “The Divine Archer Lian family, hitting a leaf at a hundred steps. Never missing a shot, they kill enemies and capture foes alike.” For three generations, the Lian family had held official positions and were highly valued by the imperial court for their unparalleled archery skills. But because of this, they were often scorned by others in the martial world. The relationship between the court and the martial arts community had always been filled with tensions.
Though the Lian family wasn’t considered part of the martial world, their reputation as “divine archers” secured them a place in it. The “Mandarin Duck Quiver” was one of the Lian family’s distinctive symbols. Given that the man carried this quiver, it was likely that he was none other than the Lian family’s young master.
Zuo Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but sigh. Look at Shi Le’er, who doesn’t know where she came from, covered in jewels, as if she’s afraid that people don’t know she’s rich. And the son of the Lian family, who is obviously wealthy, is dressed in cloth. Alas, this world…
Zuo Xiaoxiao sighed and bit fiercely into the steamed bun in her hand. Forget it, in the final analysis, the poorest person is her…
After eating alone, Zuo Xiaoxiao returned to her room. The Xingfeng Escort Agency is rich and powerful, and they book the best rooms in the inn. Zuo Xiaoxiao hugged her pillow and rolled on the bed, feeling happy. After walking on the mountain road for a day, having a full meal, and a soft bed to sleep on, she should be very sleepy, but Zuo Xiaoxiao’s spirit was surprisingly good, not sleepy at all. She widened her eyes and stared at the top of the bed.
An hour later, she turned over and opened the window. The escort car was parked downstairs, and several escorts on night watch stood beside it. Zuo Xiaoxiao frowned, climbed up the window frame, and jumped onto the roof in a few seconds.
Zuo Xiaoxiao stood on the roof. The early spring night breeze was a little cold. She put her hands on her hips and laughed silently. If she is not allowed to leave, she will really not leave? What a joke!
Zuo Xiaoxiao tiptoed and walked briskly. Well, now is a good time to be a scoundrel. Why not walk around the town and see if there is anything to take? Thinking of this, she put her hands on the pergola and looked around.
“Girl, you can’t sleep either?” Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Zuo Xiaoxiao was startled and turned around.
It was a man wearing a feather mask. From the sound of his voice, he was a man dressed in silver, with his sleeves fluttering in the wind, like flowing moonlight.
“Yin…Yin Xiao!!!” Zuo Xiaoxiao exclaimed in surprise.
T/N oops, in the pervious chapters it mentioned “Silver owl” soz it’s my mistake, His name is Yin Xiao because it can also be translated as Silver Owl.
“Hey? Miss, do you know my name?” The man stood up, his voice full of smiles.
“Uh, Yin…” Zuo Xiaoxiao was about to call him hero, but she sensed that Yin Xiao was a robber, so she changed her tone, “Mr. Yin… your name is well-known to everyone. The moonlight is nice tonight, and you are here for a walk, right? I won’t bother you, I’ll take my leave first…”
Zuo Xiaoxiao bowed and prepared to run away.
“Miss.”
In just a moment, Yin Xiao came around in front of Zuo Xiaoxiao and blocked her way.
“Since we are destined to meet, let’s have a chat while the moonlight is just right~” Yin Xiao said, with his hands behind his back.
Zuo Xiaoxiao froze. Yin Xiao’s Qinggong (lightness skill) is also one of the best in the martial arts world, completely different from her half-baked one. If she really tried to run, she would definitely not be able to escape. As for martial arts, Yin Xiao is a great thief after all, one that the government has been unable to catch. There is no false reputation under a great reputation, so she thought she was no match for him.
Zuo Xiaoxiao wanted to cry but had no tears. How could she be so unlucky? She could run into such a deadly guy just by climbing a roof. Heaven is jealous of exceptional talent….
T/N “天妒英才” (tiān dù yīng cái), meaning “Heaven is jealous of exceptional talent,” means that talented individuals often face misfortune.
So in this context. Zuo Xiaoxiao is talented but feels unlucky when she runs into a dangerous person just because she decided to climb on the roof.
“We… what do we have to talk about?” Zuo Xiaoxiao swallowed and said in panic.
“Of course there is something to talk about.” Yin Xiao paced a few steps and said, “The girl has been traveling with Xingfeng Escort Agency all the way, so she must know a lot of information. For example, which of these four escort cars is…”
“I don’t know.” Zuo Xiaoxiao immediately distanced herself from the matter before he finished speaking, “Really, really, I don’t know at all…”
“Don’t know?” Yin Xiao’s tone was unkind.
“Uncle Yin… I really don’t know…” Zuo Xiaoxiao said pitifully, “I have no relatives or friends with them; how could they tell me? I just happened to be on the way… I don’t know anything. Uncle, please let me go~”
Yin Xiao looked Xiaoxiao up and down, “So, the girl is not from Xingfeng Escort Agency?”
“No, no. I am a disciple of ‘Po Feng Liu’, and I am just passing by,” Zuo Xiaoxiao said seriously.
Yin Xiao paced a few more steps, “Then the girl must not know what the Xingfeng Escort Agency is escorting this time?”
“Of course I don’t know,” Zuo Xiaoxiao said firmly. She thought about it and added, “I don’t want to know at all!”
Yin Xiao was stunned, “You are interesting. You don’t want to know about the treasure that everyone in the world covets.”
Zuo Xiaoxiao covered her ears, “I really don’t want to know.”
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