The lush Cyan Mountain streams, the ancient paths stretch endlessly.
Beside the dusty ancient road, the tea house was bustling with activity.
The little runner boy was busy serving tea and water to merchants and rangers from the north and south.
The shopkeeper, in a moment of respite, glanced over at the entrance of the tea house and saw a ragged beggar curled up, hugging a bamboo stick, sleeping against the steps.
Beside him was a chipped bowl, though it was empty at the moment.
"In chaotic times, lives are cheap; everyone is a pitiful soul."
The shopkeeper sighed, waved a runner boy over, and gestured toward the door with his lips.
The boy immediately understood and rolled up his sleeves:
"Watch me, shopkeeper. I'll chase him away right now."
Before he could leave, the shopkeeper smacked him on the head:
"Go to the back, get two pieces of bread, and fetch a bowl of fresh water for him."
The boy paused, then went off sheepishly. Moments later, he returned with two pieces of bread and a bowl of fresh water and squatted down beside the beggar, placing the water bowl nearby:
"Wake up, wake up."
He nudged the beggar with his foot.
The beggar opened his eyes, slightly murky, looked at the boy with surprise, and quickly said:
"I'll leave, I'll leave right now..."
"Don't go, our shopkeeper is kind-hearted; he can't stand to see others in misery. These two pieces of bread are for you. If you need more water, feel free to ask. Eat and drink your fill before you leave."
The boy tossed the bread into the bowl and then went back into the tea house without another word.
The beggar was tearfully grateful, thanking repeatedly.
Yet as he lowered his gaze, a gleam of sharpness quietly passed through his eyes.
He kept one of the pieces of bread and devoured the other ravenously.
In truth, he wasn't very hungry... He had just eaten a wild duck during the morning and had a duck leg hidden in his pocket.
But to play the part of a beggar, naturally, he had to resemble one.
Chu Qing was quite confident in his acting skills.
It's not because Chu Qing had studied acting in his previous life, but because the original owner himself had learned from a master.
To be an excellent assassin, acting and disguise are essential aspects.
Playing a woodsman requires the appearance of a woodsman; playing a doctor requires the demeanor of a doctor.
A top assassin must not only control their murderous intent but also possess the ability to transform into countless personas, enabling them to strike unannounced.
Proper disguise increases the chance of a successful assassination when taking the target by surprise.
Moreover, mastering this skill can ensure survival, even if the assassination fails.
As it's often said, if one strike misses, retreat swiftly over a thousand miles.
The 'retreat' involves skill; it's not only about running fast but also about hiding swiftly.
If the target is unharmed, backlash is inevitable; surrounded by allies, the escape will not be easy.
So hiding is crucial.
To hide in corners is a plan, but the better plan is to stand amongst people where none can recognize you.
Hide and flee, and no one can catch you.
This is the true meaning of 'retreat', coming like a shadow, leaving without a trace.
Thus, acting skills are sometimes even more important than martial arts for an assassin.
Of course, Chu Qing's disguise wasn't for an assassination since he had acquired an Assassin System, but there's no assignment right now.
Half a month ago, after escaping, he didn't have time to lament his transmigration but started considering his next steps.
Chu Qing's initial plan was to flee far away to an unknown place, using the system to grow stronger.
Once invincible, he intended to dismantle the foundation of Mirror of Sin entirely, leaving nothing behind.
But a secret letter changed his plan...
Chu Yunfei had already been listed with a price on the Mirror of Sin's list.
As a transmigrator, he had no father-son bond with Chu Yunfei.
Yet carrying the original owner's memories gave him complex feelings towards Chu Yunfei.
On one hand, he disliked the destiny arranged for him, yet he couldn't bear to see him in danger.
Additionally, there was a subtle desire for his approval... These thoughts, along with the memories, now lingered in Chu Qing's mind, which, though not enough to make him restless because of the secret letter, still occupied his thoughts.
If Chu Yunfei were truly killed by Mirror of Sin, it would inevitably become a psychological burden.
That would be losing more than gaining.
He thus decided to secretly return to Celestial Dance City to warn Chu Yunfei.
Relying on Chu Yunfei's renown of Iron Palm Tribulation, along with the influence of Celestial Dance City, if prepared in advance, even Mirror of Sin would struggle within the domain of Celestial Dance City.
As for himself... he didn't intend to show up.
Regardless of whether Chu Yunfei still remembers that marriage arrangement, his system isn't suitable for sentimental attachments.
The rain system washed away his traces half a month ago, and this stealthy journey has been peaceful; now he's almost at Celestial Dance City's territory.
As he pondered, the sound of horse hooves approached from a distance.
This place serves as a transportation hub; if the Great Qian Dynasty were still here three hundred years ago, there would be a post station here.
Though slightly desolate now, there are still plenty of travelers coming and going.
Chu Qing hadn't paid much attention to the horse sound, knowing they were two horses. In a blink, the riders dismounted, chatted briefly, calling each other senior brother and junior sister, seeming to be fellow disciples.
Only when the clinking from the bowl sounded did Chu Qing 'surprised' to look up.
Standing before him, he saw a young man and woman, the man around twenty, wearing a cyan robe with a waist belt, wrist guard, broad palm with prominent knuckle.
Clearly skilled in fists and palm techniques.
The woman looked slightly younger than the man, dressed similarly but in a women's style.
Her face was delicate, yet held no expression.
In contrast, the man's expression was somewhat complex.
For some reason, Chu Qing found the man's appearance inexplicably agreeable...
But he quickly responded, changing his voice:
"Thank you, kind sir and miss."
His face covered in mud obscured his true appearance, his voice hoarse sounding like a middle-aged beggar.
The young man, hearing his voice, filed away the complex expressions, feeling somewhat disappointed yet relieved, slightly shook his head:
"Not at all."
"Senior brother... everywhere you go, you give silver to beggars; why is that?"
Chu Qing listened to the woman speak; her voice wasn't cold but not particularly warm, suggesting their relationship wasn't close.
The man sighed:
"Junior sister, you might not know my younger brother left home when he was young, hasn't returned for years, and remains untraceable to this day.
"For the past half month, in my dreams at midnight, I often see him in rags, begging by the roadside, hungry and cold, emaciated... Every time I dream of it, I wake abruptly.
"Now when I see beggars by the road, I worry it might be him, yet hope it's him..."
Listening to him, Chu Qing's mind buzzed.
Seven years without seeing each other, appearances changed naturally, yet blood is still connected.
No wonder when he saw him just now, he felt agreeable... This person turned out to be his second brother, Chu Fan!
...
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ps: Thanks to 'Crazy's Father' 'Feicai' '_Flipfish_' for the Alliance Leader's rewards~~~
Also, during the new book period, as usual, updates at eleven o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the afternoon, two updates a day~ Please collect!!