Yun Dong hid beside a general goods shop at some distance from the meat bun stall, not daring to get too close.

Although he had made some disguises, just as he was familiar with Pingli, Pingli was also familiar with him.

When the commotion arose, with the same objective as his subordinates stationed at the tea stall, Yun Dong immediately went to pursue the person who had shot the cold arrow at Pingli.

The chaotic crowd slightly impeded his speed.

Yun Dong pushed aside the person blocking his way when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

He immediately pressed toward that person’s wrist, and the two grappled together.

After exchanging seven or eight moves in an instant, Yun Dong realized his opponent’s skills were superior to his.

“Jinlin Guard conducting official business—which faction are you from?” Yun Dong asked in a low voice.

That person made no sound. His moves became increasingly fierce, and before long he found an opening and gripped Yun Dong’s throat.

Yun Dong didn’t move, his face ashen.

His skills were not weak—in fact, he could be said to be among the best in the Jinlin Guard. He hadn’t expected to be defeated after just dozens of exchanges.

Just what kind of master was he fighting?

These thoughts had barely flashed through his mind when the hand gripping his vital point released.

Yun Dong quickly turned around and saw that person’s feet moving like wind, quickly disappearing into the sea of people.

Yun Dong couldn’t help but furrow his brow tightly.

Though that person’s attacks were domineering, he had not sensed killing intent.

In other words, that person had never intended to take his life, but rather—Yun Dong looked toward the direction where the person who assassinated Pingli had retreated.

That person’s objective was to stop him from pursuing the one who assassinated Pingli.

But why?

Yun Dong was pondering this when several Jinlin Guards brought Pingli over: “Fifth Master, the arrow was poisoned. Pingli’s condition is rather dire.”

Pingli was being supported by two Jinlin Guards. His eyes were tightly closed, his face blackened, his head hanging powerlessly.

That arrow still protruded from his shoulder.

Since the arrow was smeared with poison, it meant those people were determined to take Pingli’s life—nine times out of ten it was a deadly poison.

Yun Dong wrapped his hand with a cloth and pulled the arrow out. A flow of foul-smelling dark blood immediately gushed forth.

He made an immediate decision, taking out his dagger to gouge away the flesh on Pingli’s shoulder, hastily wrapping it with cloth strips, and instructing: “Take him back first.”

The instant the flesh was gouged away, Pingli, whose eyes were tightly closed, trembled once, then became still again.

Pingli sank into a long dream.

In the dream, he returned to his childhood, once again that eight-year-old little beggar.

It had been a long time since he had eaten his fill. Occasionally kind-hearted people would pour leftover food into his broken bowl—in summer it would even smell rancid.

Even so, he would wolf it down.

He had seen too many beggars who were begging alongside him one day, only to become cold corpses the next, dragged away and thrown onto the mass burial grounds.

Only by eating more could he survive, could he grow up. He didn’t want to be thrown onto the mass burial grounds and have wild dogs tear at his corpse.

Until this day, when a meat bun appeared in his bowl.

The white, plump, soft meat bun was still steaming—freshly made.

In that moment, he went mad.

Whoever tried to snatch his meat bun, he would fight them to the death!

Later, living a life of fine clothes and good food, he had thought many times: if his adoptive father hadn’t appeared that day, would it have been worth being beaten to death protecting a meat bun?

That answer had never changed: Of course it was worth it.

It was precisely that time fighting for his life over a meat bun that made him realize some things were worth risking one’s life to fight for.

His neck was being strangled, breathing became increasingly difficult, yet he still bit down hard on the arm of the beggar who had snatched his meat bun and wouldn’t let go.

As his vision blurred, he saw a pair of feet stop before him.

The beggar strangling his neck was thrown aside. That person bent down and held the meat bun before his eyes.

Disregarding his burning throat, he desperately stuffed the meat bun into his mouth, hearing that person ask him: “Will you come with me? From now on you’ll have meat buns to eat every day.”

With the meat bun stuffed in his mouth, he nodded fiercely.

In his blurred vision, that person was very tall, very gentle.

All the confusion became clear in this moment: he remembered now—at that time he had thought how lucky he was to have met such a great benefactor.

A tear quietly trickled down from the corner of Pingli’s eye.

So it turned out that what changed his beggar’s fate had never been that meat bun, but rather his adoptive father.

He just hadn’t wanted to recall his experiences as a beggar, and had forgotten.

…

“Pingli, Pingli—” Yun Dong shook Pingli’s arm.

Pingli’s head hung powerlessly with no response.

Yun Dong reached out to check Pingli’s breath, his expression changing slightly.

He couldn’t detect any!

The physician was once again summoned to the Jinlin Guard offices.

After examining him, the physician shook his head: “He’s already gone.”

Yun Dong looked toward Grand Commander Luo. Grand Commander Luo showed no reaction.

Yun Dong gave a meaningful look, and a Jinlin Guard led the physician away.

“Adoptive father—”

“Let’s talk outside.”

The snow from that day still remained on the eaves and under the trees, but most of the scenery had revealed its true appearance.

Desolate, barren, just like every winter in the capital.

“The person who blocked you and the person who assassinated Pingli—are they part of the same group?”

Yun Dong was silent for a while before saying: “Though there’s no evidence, this son feels they are not.”

The person blocking him had already gripped his vital point. Snapping his neck would have been a matter of an instant and wouldn’t have delayed that person’s escape.

Yet that person chose to release him.

Grand Commander Luo rubbed his brow, saying flatly: “Handle Pingli’s affairs.”

“Yes.”

Grand Commander Luo glanced back at the half-open door and strode away.

Luo Sheng received the news somewhat later.

“Miss, you can’t imagine how lively the scene was! Several groups of people were watching Pingli…” Kou’er said with animated expression.

Ever since expanding their network of informants throughout the city, Kou’er seemed to have suddenly found her life’s purpose, momentarily even setting aside her thoughts of competing with Hong Dou for the position of first maid.

Those beggars circling the meat bun stall were Luo Sheng’s people.

“Did our people follow?” Luo Sheng asked.

“Miss, you can rest assured. The eastern district lacks everything except beggars—we have our people all along the route.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

Using these beggars, she didn’t expect them to actually stop anyone. If they could discover that assassin organization’s lair, that would be a great harvest.

At this time, Shi Yan, who had reported the news to Wei Han, was leisurely strolling over to see his eldest brother Shi Huo.

“Big brother, I heard Master sent you to scrub chamber pots. What’s this about?”

Scrubbing chamber pots used to be his job, occasionally shared by his fourth brother. How did it suddenly fall to his eldest brother?

Shi Huo asked coldly: “Didn’t third brother stay at Miss Luo’s tavern to help? Why are you back?”

Shi Yan forcibly suppressed his smugness and sighed: “No choice, big brother knows—little brother is unparalleled at playing a fortune-teller. Master specifically instructed me to supervise those Jinlin Guards, lest they ruin Master’s plans…”

A personal guard like him who could raise geese, disguise himself as a fortune-teller, and work as a shop assistant—he was truly one in a thousand.

The capable do more work. Being too outstanding was also something that couldn’t be helped.

Shi Huo pressed his lips together: “Come here.”

“What is it, big brother?”

Shi Huo kicked out with one foot.