Chapter 19: Xiao Yuanting

When Xiao Wu returned to the Xiao Family, he was still in an incredibly sorry state. A few servants wiping down the corridor pillars caught sight of his battered appearance but didn't dare to take a second look, terrified of inviting misfortune upon themselves.

Xiao Wu had no time to care about them. He strode straight through the winding corridor, his boots pounding against the bluestone pathway without a moment's pause. Every servant he encountered along the way quickly stepped aside, bowing their heads with their hands by their sides, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Everyone knew that Mr. Xiao was the Patriarch's most capable subordinate. He was usually impeccably dressed and never cracked a smile. For him to look like this now, something massive must have happened.

Xiao Wu didn't stop until he reached the doors of the study. The doors were left ajar, letting out a faint scent of sandalwood. He straightened his lapels and tucked his loose hair behind his ears before rapping his knuckles against the wood.

"Come in," a deep voice drifted out from inside.

Xiao Wu pushed the door open and entered. Xiao Yuanting, Patriarch of the Xiao Family, sat behind his desk with a book in hand. At forty-seven years old, his hair was a mix of black and white, but his eyes were still piercingly bright.

"You didn't bring him here?"

Xiao Wu dropped to his knees. He fell hard, his kneecaps striking the cyan-brick floor with a dull THUD. "Your subordinate is incompetent. That young man... his strength is terrifyingly formidable!"

The Patriarch of the Xiao Family showed no anger. He merely set his book down gently. "Tell me."

Xiao Wu recounted the entire alleyway confrontation in full detail. "That young man only struck once. Both of my arms are still trembling. If he had meant to kill me, I'm afraid..."

He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was crystal clear. If Lin Yan wanted to kill him, it would have been absolutely effortless.

Silence fell over the room.

A moment later, Xiao Yuanting spoke. "To possess such strength at such a young age, it's no wonder he looks down on the Xiao Family." His gaze grew deep and unreadable. "He also said he'd go on a killing spree?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the room seemed to freeze. Kneeling on the floor, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Xiao Wu's forehead. He knew his master's temper all too well. The Xiao Family had been rooted in Qingzhou City for over a century. Only others bowed their heads to them; no one had ever dared to disrespect the Xiao Family.

But after waiting with bated breath for a long time, all he heard was a soft chuckle.

Xiao Yuanting stood up and walked to the window with his hands clasped behind his back. "Xiao Wu."

"Here, sir."

"What do you think of this person?"

Xiao Wu hesitated for a second before gritting his teeth. "Unfathomable."

"What else?"

"Very young." Xiao Wu added, "Much younger than I ever imagined."

"Yes... Far too young," Xiao Yuanting muttered to himself. He then walked back to his desk, but instead of sitting down, he pulled open a drawer and took out a brocade box. He lifted the lid, revealing neat rows of gold leaf inside.

"Xiao Wu."

"Here, sir."

"Make another trip." The Patriarch closed the brocade box and pushed it to the edge of the desk. "Apologize on my behalf. Tell him that the Xiao Family was in the wrong this time, and we ask for his forgiveness."

Xiao Wu's head snapped up, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Patriarch..."

"Go." Xiao Yuanting waved him off without elaborating. Although Xiao Wu had followed him for decades, there were some things he didn't need to be told.

For a family to prosper and endure, relying solely on brute force and ruthlessness would never last. Some mistakes could be made, but one should never gamble with fate. After all, compared to their very lives, a little bit of face and some silver and gold were nothing but mere worldly possessions.

Meanwhile, in the inn's courtyard, Old Niu was lying under the thatched shed, ruminating. Its jaw shifted side to side as it chewed, eyes half-closed, looking entirely carefree.

Lin Yan stood in front of the cattle shed, watching it for a while before turning to call out to a waiter passing by with a wooden basin. "Waiter."

"Yes! How can I help you, sir?"

"Take this ox out for a feed later and put the fodder on my tab. Give it a good brushing while you're at it."

The waiter nodded eagerly and asked with a sycophantic smile, "What would you like for dinner, sir? We have fresh river fish today, as well as freshly slaughtered mutton. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Lin Yan thought about it and said, "Bring me a bowl of noodles with extra chili, and slice up a plate of braised meat."

"Right away! Take a seat, it'll be right up." The waiter briskly tied up the ox and sprinted off toward the kitchen.

Lin Yan picked a table in the corner of the lobby and sat down. It was the peak dinner hour, and the hall was packed with patrons, filling the air with a noisy clamor. At a table near the door, people were discussing the Shen Family, mentioning that several stewards had rushed out the door in a hurry, apparently searching for someone.

Lin Yan caught a snippet of the conversation but paid it no mind.

When his noodles were served, it was a large, steaming-hot bowl. The braised meat was sliced paper-thin and neatly arranged on a small plate, its rich texture clearly visible. He picked up his chopsticks and dug in. The noodles were delightfully chewy, and the chili packed a punch. After just a few bites, he was covered in sweat.

A short while later, Lin Yan finished his last bite of noodles, lifted the bowl to drain the broth, and casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He got up and headed upstairs, planning to wash up and go to sleep.

Not long after Lin Yan left the ground floor, Shen Liu appeared outside the inn. He wore a navy blue silk robe and black satin multi-layered cloth shoes. His hair was meticulously combed without a single strand out of place. He exuded an air of refined dignity that could only be cultivated in a prominent, wealthy household.

The waiter greeted him, but before he could speak, Shen Liu pulled a small piece of loose silver from his sleeve and placed it on the counter. "Is there a guest surnamed Lin staying here? Quite young, driving an ox cart."

At the sight of the silver, the waiter's eyes lit up, and he nodded profusely. "Yes, yes, yes! The gentleman is staying in Room Three on the second floor. He went up just a short while ago after finishing his dinner."

Shen Liu nodded, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked up the stairs. Once outside the room, he knocked lightly on the door a few times.

To his disappointment, there was no response from inside.

Shen Liu waited for a moment before raising his hand to knock again, this time with a bit more force.

This time, a voice finally called out from within. "Who is it?"

Shen Liu cleared his throat, his tone polite. "I am Shen Liu, a steward of the Shen Family. By the orders of Ms. Shen, I have come to invite Mr. Lin to our estate for a chat."

Silence reigned in the room for a while, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Lin Yan pulled the door open and sized up the little old man in front of him. "What do you want?"

He made no effort to conceal his evaluating gaze, and his tone was extremely blunt. After all, anyone interrupted right as they were about to rest would have the same attitude.

Shen Liu took no offense, merely cupping his hands in a respectful salute. "Ms. Shen said that if not for Mr. Lin's escort last time, she would not have returned safely to Qing Province. She wishes to invite you over to thank you in person, and there is also another matter she would like to discuss."

"The person has been delivered, and the silver has been settled, so there is no need for thanks. As for other matters... I have no time right now."

The polite expression on Shen Liu's face stiffened for a split second before instantly recovering. If Lin Yan's eyesight hadn't vastly improved beyond what it used to be, he truly wouldn't have noticed it.

"You are mistaken, Mr. Lin. Ms. Shen sincerely wishes to see you. You shouldn't let her earnest intentions go to waste." Shen Liu's tone remained polite, but a thinly veiled threat lay hidden within his words.