Mu Anxiao still remembered the promise she had made to Feng Qishi. She knew better than anyone that Feng Qishi was a man who always kept his word, and she also had absolute confidence in her own ideas. Calculating the time, she realized she was still a little anxious.
However, to express her thoughts clearly, she told herself not to be anxious. "You gave Ah Chu money, didn't you, hoping she would stay away from those people?" She believed the dirty-faced man would understand who she meant by 'those people'.
"Yes."
"In that case, wouldn't it be enough for Ah Chu to leave here?" Mu Anxiao said dismissively.
As Mu Anxiao spoke, the dirty-faced man lowered his eyelids. "You say that so easily."
"How is it easy for me to say?" Mu Anxiao feigned ignorance.
The dirty-faced man sighed softly, then raised his face to look at Mu Anxiao and said, "Ah Chu likes a man, and in their eyes, I'm just a penniless beggar. Do you think," he paused, then continued, "Ah Chu will listen to me?"
"You have so little confidence in yourself," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
The dirty-faced man gave a wry smile. "I wish I could have confidence, but reality doesn't allow it. Tell me," his eyes darkened, "what can I do?"
"Then you're willing to go on like this forever."
"Yes, I will go on like this forever. As for Xiao Er's money," the dirty-faced man said seriously, "you can forget about earning it. I won't listen to you."
"So resolute."
"Yes, I am that resolute. Although Ah Chu is a girl in this inn, no matter what, she holds an absolute place in my heart. No one will defile her, unless..." The dirty-faced man stopped speaking, closed his eyes, and then said, "unless it's someone she likes."
"So, you know Song Xu." Mu Anxiao asked again.
"Of course, he is the young master Ah Chu likes the most. But..." the dirty-faced man said, "that man doesn't seem very friendly to Ah Chu. But Ah Chu likes him, so no one can do anything about it, right?"
"You plan to keep silently protecting Ah Chu like this?"
"Yes."
Hearing the dirty-faced man's firm reply, Mu Anxiao smiled helplessly. "So, you stole for Ah Chu. Tsk tsk," she shook her head slightly, "such good skills, completely wasted."
"What do you mean by that?"
"As far as I know, there aren't many martial artists here," Mu Anxiao said, an idea striking her. She became serious. "To tell you the truth, I am the steward of the General's mansion, and also the General's personal... bodyguard. Recently, the General has been looking for a capable assistant."
"And then?" The dirty-faced man remained expressionless.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "Then he let me look. Speaking of which," she propped her chin with one hand and scrutinized the dirty-faced man's face, continuing, "I think you are the best candidate."
"I'm not going." The dirty-faced man refused outright.
It was said that if you love someone, you must give them the best future. Clearly, the dirty-faced man's identity as a thief had greatly reduced his chances. Under normal circumstances, after hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the dirty-faced man would have been moved. He might even have enthusiastically taken on this responsibility himself.
To Mu Anxiao's surprise, he refused.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but show a disappointed expression. "Why?"
"No reason, I'm just not going." The dirty-faced man was resolute.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao saw something in the dirty-faced man's expression and the story behind it. "What did you do before?" she tried to pry into his past.
The dirty-faced man's eyes darkened. "What I did has nothing to do with you." His gaze flickered.
Seeing the dirty-faced man like this, Mu Anxiao smiled again. "You fellow, you're quite stubborn. Speaking of which," she thought for a moment, trying to provoke him, "is your past so difficult to speak of?"
"This..."
"No, you're quite difficult to speak of now too," Mu Anxiao said, glancing down at the money pouch at the dirty-faced man's waist. "This money pouch belongs to a woman."
Upon hearing this, the dirty-faced man quickly covered the money pouch with his hand. "Fortunately, you are smart enough not to give the money pouch to Ah Chu, or you would have surely ruined her."
"I won't harm her."
"You have already harmed Ah Chu in a subtle way."
"You... What do you mean by that?"
"Ah Chu is a girl here, and that fellow Song Xu clearly doesn't like Ah Chu very much. Of course," Mu Anxiao said, a slight smile on her lips, "I also know why you are like this. It's because Song Xu's status is higher than yours, and you are inferior."
"I just want her to be happy."
"Just want her to be happy," Mu Anxiao repeated, clapping her hands. "Not bad, truly a devoted man."
"Whether I am devoted or not has nothing to do with you. I will not leave here."
"The General's mansion is not a place anyone can enter. Most importantly," Mu Anxiao said, "you are still a thief. This opportunity I'm offering you, you should cherish it."
"You don't understand my situation," the dirty-faced man growled.
Mu Anxiao let out a soft hum. "I don't understand, but I do understand that Ah Chu wants stability. The reason she clings to and likes Song Xu so much is because... she believes Song Xu can bring her that stability. But if you had that kind of capability, wouldn't she look at you then?"
"What you say is so simple."
"What I say may be simple, but it is also the truth."
"You..."
"Think about it. If you've made up your mind, come find me at the back gate of the General's mansion in a quarter of an hour," Mu Anxiao interrupted the dirty-faced man and stood up.
The dirty-faced man's expression stiffened. "Your tendency to make decisions for yourself..."
"I don't like being rejected. If I don't see you in a quarter of an hour, then you'll never be able to survive in Jincheng again."
"What do you mean by that?" The dirty-faced man was stunned.
Mu Anxiao's lips curled into a smile. "What else could it mean? It means I'll have you arrested. You know, the people of Jincheng hate thieves the most. If you are exposed, I believe Ah Chu will know your identity immediately, because," she glanced down at the money pouch again, "you stole that woman's money." After saying that, she bent down, picked up the rope, and jumped down.
The dirty-faced man was completely stunned by Mu Anxiao's words.
Just then, Mu Anxiao, using the rope, landed in front of Feng Qishi. "..." She panted and dropped the rope in her hand.
"All done," Feng Qishi said softly.
Mu Anxiao nodded and pointed at the 'pocket watch' in Feng Qishi's hand. "How long?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi deliberately put away the 'pocket watch' and started walking away first.
Mu Anxiao's body stiffened, and she quickly followed Feng Qishi.