"Do you really think Lord Cherlo and the heads of the city's great families are idiots? They found out where the Precious Weapons came from a month ago, so why haven't any of them made a move?"
"Isn't it because they can't figure this kid out?"
"He has no background to speak of—just an orphan whose ordinary parents died long ago. Yet he suddenly produces weapons that can cleave through iron. Who would dare to make a move without investigating something so unbelievable?"
"How many powers in this world have vanished because of mistakes like that?"
The young man could only lower his head and admit his mistake after the middle-aged man's lecture.
"I was too impatient, brother-in-law."
"So what's next? Do we keep watching him?"
Seeing his young brother-in-law admit his fault, the middle-aged man nodded as if a student had learned his lesson, then shook his head. "No need to watch him anymore."
"Lord Cherlo is getting impatient. Besides, we've learned just about everything there is to know about the kid over the past month. I only said all that to teach you a lesson: don't be hasty. Think things through."
Hearing this, the young man's crestfallen face instantly lit up with excitement. "Does that mean... we can finally make our move?"
"Yes. As soon as he comes out, we strike. Remember, we need him alive. Be quick—take him down with lightning speed before he can even react!"
"Yes, Manager Liu!" the two young men affirmed with a sharp nod.
For the past month, they had done nothing but loiter around the small courtyard, investigating. They hadn't even had a chance to enjoy themselves at the Spring Blossom Pavilion. They'd grown restless long ago.
How could they not be rubbing their hands in anticipation now that they were finally cleared for action?
They were already imagining the various ways they would torture the boy after capturing him. It would be the only way to make up for this past month of misery.
Manager Liu said no more, his eyes narrowing as he stared toward the courtyard.
After a month of investigation, Manager Liu was certain the boy had no backing whatsoever. The only reason he could sell Precious Weapons was because he possessed some kind of secret forging technique.
As long as they captured him before the other powers, forced the forging technique out of him, and presented it to Lord Cherlo, his own status would soar to new heights! He might even become Lord Cherlo's right-hand man!
Time trickled by.
Afternoon arrived.
Zhou Changqing finally put down his book.
He stood up to stretch, then carried the books back to his bedroom.
Afterward, Zhou Changqing picked up a large bundle and prepared to leave.
Over the past three months, aside from selling three iron-cleaving mortal weapons to the Miter Auction House the first time, he had returned twice more.
One trip was two months ago, where he sold four iron-cleaving weapons. The last was a month ago, with five.
By his calculations, the weapons from his last trip should have been auctioned off by now. He hadn't collected the money yet, though.
This trip was not only to deliver another five weapons for auction, but also to collect his payment and purchase necessary supplies.
It was only because Zhou Changqing had been distracted by his Dou Technique training this past month that he'd only managed five. Otherwise, with his increasingly masterful refinement skills, he could have produced six.
He left his courtyard and stepped onto the small flagstone path.
He hadn't gone far before he suddenly frowned and stopped.
"Hm? Someone's here?"
With a Spiritual Perception far stronger than that of most Dou Shi, Zhou Changqing instantly detected several faint lines of sight fixed on him.
This made him a little irritated, but he ignored it and continued walking, his body tensing in alert readiness.
This wasn't the first time he'd been watched.
One day, about a month ago, he had suddenly sensed someone observing him from the shadows.
At first, he hadn't paid it much mind, assuming it was just another pickpocket targeting him.
But things turned out to be more complicated than that.
Every day since, he could feel gazes landing on him. They came from multiple directions, clearly not all from the same group.
It was then that Zhou Changqing understood: he had been exposed.
It had happened later than he'd expected.
So he didn't panic.
He didn't believe the high-level figures of the powers coveting his secret would personally come to watch a minor character like him. The fact that he could detect them meant they couldn't be very strong.
Furthermore, these spies only dared to wander outside; they didn't dare to sneak into his courtyard or monitor it directly. Because of this, Zhou Changqing had let them be, ignoring their presence.
Lately, however, he could feel their patience wearing thin. It wouldn't be long before someone made the first move.
Soon, Zhou Changqing was halfway down the path, less than a dozen meters from the main street at the end.
Just then, three figures shot out from an alley to the right with a whoosh, charging straight for him.
"So they couldn't hold back any longer?"
Though his back was to them, Zhou Changqing sensed them the instant they moved. His expression turned grave.
At the same time, his right hand shot toward his chest, grasping something hidden there...
In a flash, the three figures closed the distance, now less than two meters away from Zhou Changqing.
"Clang!"
"Watch out!"
In that same instant, the crisp sound of a weapon being unsheathed rang out! At the same time, the expression of one of the three assailants changed drastically, and he let out a sharp yell!
But it was too late!
Zhou Changqing had already spun around, a saber gleaming with a cold light now in his hand.
The saber carved a semicircle through the air, its sharp edge cutting through the wind with a resonant hum.
Two soft sounds of a blade slicing through flesh were followed by the heavy thud of two bodies hitting the ground.
Now, two well-dressed young men lay on the ground before Zhou Changqing, clutching their necks with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, and more of it gushed through the fingers they pressed against their throats.
Their slit windpipes produced a low, gurgling sound, like the growl of a zombie.
"Xiao Hua!"
"Aaaah! You little bastard! I'll cut you into a thousand pieces!"
Manager Liu's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the two figures on the ground, who were now barely breathing. He let out a grief-stricken howl.
Zhou Changqing ignored his screams. With a flick of his saber, he immediately began to retreat with extreme speed, backing away toward the main street.
Seeing that he was trying to escape, the grief-stricken Manager Liu snapped back to his senses. He ignored the two bodies on the ground and, with a ferocious expression, pushed off the ground to give chase with all his might.
"Where do you think you're going, you little bastard! Get back here and die!"