The attendant led them to a manor outside the city, shrouded by trees, giving it a somber air. "My lords and ladies, this is as far as I can escort you."
"Thank you." Lan Yan tossed out a silver ingot. After the attendant left, she looked at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan nodded, stepped forward, and knocked.
The door opened quickly, and a hunched old man said, "Please, come in."
Jun Yelan frowned, took Lan Yan's hand, and whispered, "Stay close to me. There's something strange about this place."
Lan Yan squeezed his hand back, her eyes filled with resolve.
The two entered and followed the old man to the front hall, where a middle-aged man adorned in gold and silver was seated.
Lan Yan observed the man's shrewd eyes, surmising he must be the wealthy merchant Lin. She tugged at Jun Yelan's sleeve, and as they had planned, Jun Yelan spoke first.
Jun Yelan stared at the wealthy merchant Lin, asking coldly, "Are you the one who invited us?"
"Indeed. You are esteemed guests of our establishment, and I naturally wished to host you." Merchant Lin's cheekbones were high, his cheeks hollow, and his eyes appraised them.
He waved his hand, and the old man behind him brought over a wine pot.
Jun Yelan motioned for Lan Yan to sit, then sat down himself, his hand firmly gripping hers under the table. If anything were to happen, he wanted to protect Lan Yan immediately.
Lan Yan felt the weight on her hand and offered Jun Yelan a faint smile, signaling she was alright.
Jun Yelan then turned his attention back to Merchant Lin, "May I ask why you summoned us?"
Merchant Lin took a sip of wine, a chilling smile on his lips. "I am a man who enjoys doing business. I heard you are wealthy merchants from Ding County, so I wished to discuss a deal with you."
Jun Yelan's brows furrowed. "If there is profit to be made, my wife and I are certainly interested. My wife has a fondness for jewelry, and I often accompany her on travels, so I have met many merchants."
"If your business fails to impress us, we shall take our leave."
Merchant Lin was taken aback. How had Jun Yelan said what he intended to say, making him seem passive? "I heard your surname is Jun. Lord Jun, you are indeed impatient. Allow me to show you something."
He took an account book from his chest and placed it on the table.
Jun Yelan glanced at Lan Yan and placed the account book before her. To Merchant Lin's puzzlement, he said, "Matters of our household are managed by my wife."
Lan Yan opened the account book and her eyes darkened as she scanned the recorded figures. This Merchant Lin was involved in smuggling salt, and in vast quantities. It was impossible that he was acting alone!
She casually tossed the account book onto the table. "Merchant Lin, this is an act that defies the law and carries the risk of decapitation. Why would my husband and I risk our lives to cooperate with you?"
Merchant Lin narrowed his eyes. "Madam, I naturally have my channels, and we will not be discovered. As long as you cooperate, you will gain coffers of silver."
"Allow my husband and I some time to consider this." Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan, and the two of them rose, preparing to leave.
However, Merchant Lin called out from behind them, "Gentlemen, it is getting late. Perhaps you would honor me by staying at my residence. Butler, prepare a room."
The old man from before walked towards the covered walkway.
Lan Yan and Jun Yelan exchanged a look, then turned and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Merchant Lin." It was exactly what they had hoped for.
The two were led to a room.
Jun Yelan securely latched the door and windows. "Something is strange here. I will go search for the list, and you stay here."
"Mhm, don't worry, I'll be fine." Lan Yan took out the poisoned needle Jun Yelan had given her earlier and smiled.
Jun Yelan remained uneasy, but without completing this mission, neither of them could leave. He walked to the window, pushed it open, and then turned back, saying, "Lan Yan, be extremely careful."
"You too." Lan Yan nodded, watching Jun Yelan depart like a gust of wind. She sat alone at the table, gazing at the candlelight, her hands clenched together, her eyes filled with unspoken worry.
Jun Yelan circled the rooftops and landed on the roof of a brightly lit room. He lifted a tile and peered inside – it was a study. He had found the right place. Seeing no one around, he quickly slipped inside.
He then searched the study for the list, thoroughly checking all the cabinets, but found nothing. He surveyed the surroundings, his gaze falling upon a deity statue on a cabinet.
His eyes deepened in thought. He rotated the statue, and the cabinet slid aside, revealing a hidden compartment within. He reached out, but footsteps and voices from the corridor interrupted him.
"Quickly! The master has ordered us to surround the courtyard of those two guests and kill them." More footsteps followed.
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled. He murmured, "Lan Yan is still there." He glanced at the hidden compartment, then decisively left, using his Qinggong to fly back towards their room.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan sat in the room, shouting in anger at the people who rushed in, "What do you want?"
The men, armed and surrounding Lan Yan, had ferocious expressions. "What a pity for such a beautiful woman. Kill!"
Lan Yan cried out that she had fallen into a trap. Merchant Lin had seen through their disguise and set a trap for them here. She must have been exposed somewhere, or perhaps Merchant Lin had known they were coming all along.
In that case, the Assassin's Pavilion where Jun Yelan was located was also no longer safe, and Jun Yelan was in even greater danger.
She clenched the poisoned needle in her hand and shot it out with all her might as they approached. "You want to stop me? Not a chance!"
A group of them fell, but their numbers were great, and the next wave lunged at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan quickly covered her head and shouted, "Jun Yelan." Just as she spoke, she was enveloped in a warm embrace by a figure, and a gentle voice came from above her head.
"Don't be afraid, I'll take you away." Jun Yelan held Lan Yan tightly, his eyes fierce as he glared at the attackers, drawing his sword. He led Lan Yan towards the door.
People suddenly appeared at the doorway. Lan Yan instinctively shielded Jun Yelan, her back bearing the solid impact of a blow.
"Lan Yan." Jun Yelan's pupils contracted sharply. With one arm around Lan Yan and the other wielding his sword, he slew all those around them and fled the manor with Lan Yan.
However, their pursuers relentlessly followed.
Lan Yan looked up at the beads of sweat on Jun Yelan's forehead and said weakly, "Jun Yelan, with me, it's difficult to escape."
"We will definitely escape!" Jun Yelan shouted. "If anything happens to you, I will not live on alone." All he wanted was for Lan Yan to live well somewhere, even if it was not by his side.
He absolutely could not let Lan Yan die here. He felt pain in his leg but ignored it, accelerating his pace.
Lan Yan was stunned. A smile spread across her pale face as she called out, "Jun Yelan, let's leave together."
"Alright." Jun Yelan held Lan Yan even tighter and ran forward with her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.
They turned into an alley, but there was no one ahead, and the sounds of pursuit behind them grew closer.