The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy, oppressively breathless.

Yan Sanhe simply turned her face away.

Before entering, Xie Zhifei’s heart still felt somewhat awkward, but after coming in, his heart calmed down at once. However, he didn’t want to speak so quickly.

Like when the siblings quarreled as children, he was accustomed to giving her the cold shoulder first.

Sure enough, Yan Sanhe cursed in her heart: Surnamed Xie, would you please say something!

Feeling impatient inside, her brow furrowed slightly.

Xie Zhifei knew the moment had arrived.

“I know in my heart how far I can help with Jing Chen’s heart demon. You don’t need to overthink things for me. Mingting and I have official positions—when traveling, we can help to some extent. It’s not that I look down on you and Hero Li, but wouldn’t it be good to save some time and effort?”

Hearing these words, Yan Sanhe didn’t respond.

“As a person, don’t be too stubborn. Yield when you should yield, borrow strength when you should borrow it. Can’t you see from Yan Xing’s example the principle that excessive rigidity leads to breaking?”

Xie Zhifei raised an eyebrow. Sunlight shone through the window, falling behind him in a soft layer of light.

His words were soft, and he was soft, but Yan Sanhe’s heart didn’t soften.

“I know you mean well, but as they say, even companions who travel a thousand miles together must part eventually. If I get used to borrowing strength now, when the day of parting comes, whose strength will I borrow then?”

Xie Zhifei’s brow tightened. These words made his heart ache.

“Yan Xing isn’t rigid—he has pride and integrity. In his entire life, he only lowered his head to others once for his grandson. Others can owe him, but he cannot owe others.”

She suddenly smiled lightly. “I was raised by him. I’m the same way—I can’t owe others.”

You weren’t raised by him.

You were raised with the Zheng family’s rice and water.

You were the person who would cry delicately for half a day if her hand got even slightly scraped!

And furthermore.

You don’t owe others—I’m your brother!

Xie Zhifei secretly gritted his teeth and swallowed down all the words he couldn’t say, mustn’t say.

“Yan Sanhe, I’m from the Xie family, personally trained by my father. You should know what kind of person my father is—he’s best at assessing situations. When things look bad, I run faster than anyone else.

Besides, you don’t like owing others, but do others like owing you? What’s wrong with letting me repay a little?”

Having said this much, what else could Yan Sanhe say?

Yan Sanhe wasn’t the type to endlessly dwell on one matter. Since Xie Zhifei had said this much, his meaning was already very clear.

“Xie Zhifei, when that time really comes, run early, run fast. Don’t drag your feet.”

“Don’t worry!”

Having appeased the person, Xie Zhifei’s roguish air returned. “Third Master here—can’t do much else, but escaping is my number one skill.”

“Anything else?”

“No!”

Xie Zhifei stood up, supporting himself on the table edge. After thinking, he added another line: “That energy you had arguing with me the other night was quite impressive.”

Exactly!

Yan Sanhe also stood up and raised her head to meet his eyes at the same level. “I’m the type who rises to meet strength.”

Xie Zhifei looked approving. “Keep it up.”

“Why?”

Yan Sanhe raised an eyebrow. “Has Third Master become addicted to arguing with me?”

“Not really, it’s just…”

Xie Zhifei lazily lifted his foot. Upon reaching the door, he tossed out three more words: “Quite exhilarating!”

Yan Sanhe looked at what was beside her hand, wanting to find something to throw at him. She only saw a teapot.

Forget it—breaking it would cost a tael of silver!

Not worth it!

…

Leaving the room and reaching the main hall, food was already prepared, but Young Lord Pei and Huang Qi were nowhere to be seen.

Just as Yan Sanhe’s patience was wearing thin, the two finally arrived.

Young Lord Pei was showily dressed in a water-colored long robe, his hair combed without a strand out of place. Somehow, he now carried a fan in his hand. Rather than looking like someone on a journey, he looked like an elegant young master going on a spring outing to admire flowers.

Yan Sanhe glanced at Li Buyan: What’s wrong with him?

Li Buyan snorted: He’s sick.

Yan Sanhe frowned: He wasn’t like this before.

Li Buyan coldly: Just came down with it.

Yan Sanhe withdrew her gaze and picked up her chopsticks. “Let’s eat.”

Wait, we’re just eating?

Young Lord Pei’s foot kicked toward Xie Zhifei: Don’t I look good all dressed up?

Xie Zhifei: You look good.

Young Lord Pei: But she didn’t even look at me a few extra times?

Xie Zhifei: Maybe… she looks at what’s inside?

Young Lord Pei: …

After eating, they settled the bill and left.

Their guide was a little beggar, thirteen or fourteen years old, filthy all over with only a pair of eyes rolling around, bright and sharp.

Zhu Qing lifted him onto the horse. The little beggar pointed with his black hand. “Go south.”

They walked for a full two hours. At the third quarter of the noon hour, a river appeared before them.

“Muli Mountain is across the river.”

The little beggar pointed at the ferry boat by the river. “Take the boat across. I’ll watch your horses—one tael of silver per day.”

Xie Zhifei felt this little beggar was excessively shrewd and deliberately said, “What if we come back and you’ve run off?”

“My lord, Hejian Prefecture is only so big. Where could I run to? Besides, you’re not my only clients.”

The little beggar smiled, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “People who want to see Old Master Tang—there are always a few each month. I’m counting on this business to last long-term!”

Yan Sanhe spoke up. “So many people want to see Old Master Tang?”

“Of course.”

The little beggar looked proud. “In the past hundred years, our Hejian Prefecture has only produced this one successful candidate.”

Yan Sanhe pointed across the shore. “Why does he live on the mountain?”

“That whole stretch of mountain belongs to his family! Generations have lived there.”

The little beggar smiled with some cunning. “The tea gardens, orchards, and those vast stretches of paddy fields at the foot of the mountain—all belong to their family. They’re very wealthy.”

No wonder he could be a recluse—he didn’t lack food or clothing.

Yan Sanhe looked toward Xie Zhifei. Their gazes met. Xie Zhifei calculated the time—at most they’d spend a day or two on the mountain, which wouldn’t delay them too long.

“One tael of silver per day it is then.”

The little beggar’s mouth stretched in delight. “My lord, just watch. I guarantee I’ll guard these horses carefully. They won’t lose half a catty—only gain weight.”

Xie Zhifei didn’t bother with more talk. “Zhu Qing, ask about the ferry—how much silver, and can we leave immediately?”

“One tael of silver per person. Once he gets the silver, he’ll go.”

The little beggar shouted loudly to the old man on the small boat: “Old Qiao, here’s six taels worth of business. Stop sleeping and get to work!”

With this shout, Xie Zhifei felt much more assured. Clearly, this little beggar regularly brought people here.

The ferryman called Old Qiao was wearing a straw hat and napping on the boat. Hearing the shout, he cursed: “Damn it, couldn’t you say two taels per person?”

“If I said two taels, your shabby little boat would be too embarrassing. I couldn’t bring myself to say it.”

“Embarrassing your mother! Scram!”

After cursing a few times, Old Qiao called Xie Zhifei and the others to board.

Zhu Qing was first to board, Huang Qi last. One stood at the bow, one at the stern, both secretly vigilant.

Even the usually carefree Hero Li, though chewing on a foxtail grass with a nonchalant expression, never let her gaze leave Old Qiao for a moment.

On water wasn’t like on land—if the ferryman harbored evil intentions, it could be a matter of life and death.