Little did they know, Yu Qing was also out of options.
Under normal circumstances, Yu Qing would never dare to act recklessly in front of someone like Qing Ya, let alone go alone to his territory and cause trouble without any backing.
He was truly out of options and had been pushed to the brink of becoming a fugitive. If this trip to the Jinghong Hall failed, how long he could survive in the future would truly depend on luck, so he had decided to risk it all.
The two sides instantly clashed, and the atmosphere grew tense.
However, Qing Ya quickly smiled again, letting go of the crushed crumbs in his hand, and said to Gu Qingzhao with a smile, “They say the Tanhua is the most talented scholar in the world. Seeing it today, his quick thinking is indeed extraordinary. I, Qing, have truly learned a lesson.”
Gu Qingzhao understood his change of attitude perfectly, smiled charmingly, and followed up immediately, “Is that even worth mentioning? All those books were not read for nothing.”
The atmosphere, which was on the verge of a collision, suddenly changed its flavour amidst the banter of the two, turning into a joking mood.
The key point was that the transition was very natural.
Even Yu Qing was stunned by the reactions of the two, but he quickly realised what was happening and also dropped his fierce expression.
Qing Ya then said, “Serve fresh tea for the Tanhua.”
Gu Qingzhao turned around to call for someone, but Yu Qing did not have time to waste dawdling. He raised his hand to stop her, “Landlady, forget the tea, there is no need to be so polite.”
Seeing this, Gu Qingzhao had to give up.
Qing Ya gestured to Yu Qing again, and the host and guest sat down once more.
At this time, Qing Ya also dropped his airs and said amiably, “Tanhua, let us stop beating around the bush. Beating around the bush can easily lead to misunderstandings. Why not just speak plainly? What exactly do you need my help with?”
Yu Qing stood up again, clearly intending to avoid a third party. He took the initiative to lean close to Qing Ya’s ear and whispered amidst Qing Ya’s vigilant reaction.
Gu Qingzhao was very tactful and immediately stood up, walking over to the handrail under the eaves to admire the moonlight outside.
After whispering a few sentences, Yu Qing quickly retreated to his original seat.
Qing Ya frowned, “What do you want that thing for?”
Yu Qing answered a question with another, “Can Master Qing get it here in the Sea City?”
Qing Ya said, “If we are talking about which place in the world has the most complete range of goods, I am afraid only the Sea City qualifies, even the Youjiao Wharf cannot compare.”
Hearing this, Yu Qing naturally understood the other party’s meaning. The Sea City had what he wanted, and the other party could get it. He asked again, “Can you get it within half an hour?”
Qing Ya asked in return, “That is something used for killing. It cannot be given to just anyone. Do you not think you should explain its purpose to me?”
Yu Qing said, “Master Qing also said it is something for killing. Would you definitely believe my explanation?”
Qing Ya fell silent, obviously considering it.
Something for killing? It was hard for Gu Qingzhao not to hear it, yet she had to look outside and pretend she had not heard a thing.
After a moment, Qing Ya said, “If it is used improperly and something goes wrong, it will implicate me.”
Yu Qing said, “If something really goes wrong, I will be the first to bear the brunt. I will not treat my own safety as a joke.”
Qing Ya said nothing more and stood up. He gestured for Yu Qing to wait a moment, then walked out with his wooden clogs clacking. Outside, he waved to summon his trusted subordinate Pang Chengqiu and whispered something to him.
After Pang Chengqiu understood and left, Qing Ya slowly walked back while peeling peanuts. When he sat down, he gave Yu Qing an answer, “Within half an hour, you will see the item.”
Yu Qing was secretly delighted and praised him continuously, “Master Qing is truly worthy of his name to get such things so easily. It seems I really did not find the wrong person. I only regret that we did not meet sooner…”
Hearing the most talented scholar in the world flattering him, Qing Ya could not help but smile while peeling peanuts. He realised that when the person flattering you is different, the feeling is also different, and it tasted quite nice.
Afterwards, Gu Qingzhao also joined their casual chat, and the three of them waited while talking.
Less than half an hour later, Pang Chengqiu returned, bringing back a metal gourd the size of a thumb, and placed it in front of Qing Ya.
Qing Ya asked, “No accidents happened, right?”
Pang Chengqiu replied, “It was fine.”
Gu Qingzhao kept her eyes fixed on the brought item, as if trying to see through it.
Qing Ya casually pushed the small gourd to Yu Qing and asked Pang Chengqiu at the same time, “Did you spend money?”
Pang Chengqiu replied, “It would be a bit unreasonable not to pay for this. We agreed on twenty million, but the money has not been paid yet.”
Hearing the mention of money and that price, Yu Qing, who had just taken the gourd, suddenly felt somewhat uncomfortable. He tried his best to act nonchalant while looking at the item in his hand.
Qing Ya turned and asked him, “Does Brother Yu think this price is appropriate? If you think it is too expensive, it can be returned.”
Yu Qing said, “Master Qing has more experience in the jianghu than I do. I will listen to you. If you say it is appropriate, then it is appropriate.”
Qing Ya said, “I heard you are a bit tight on funds. I wonder if it is true or false?”
Yu Qing felt quite helpless in his heart. How did they even know he had no money here? He really could not be stubborn about this. “It is indeed quite tight. Can we discuss it and let me owe it for now?”
No matter how expensive it was now, he had to find a way to get it in his hands first. Besides, he had no intention of paying this money back at all.
Qing Ya said, “How about this? I will advance the money for you first. You write me an IOU for twenty million. That is not too much to ask, is it?”
Yu Qing said, “My purse is currently empty, which makes Master Qing and the Landlady laugh at me. Fine, I will listen to Master Qing.”
Gu Qingzhao did not look down on him. Instead, she covered her mouth with her round fan and smiled.
Qing Ya immediately had Pang Chengqiu prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He watched Yu Qing write an IOU for twenty million on the spot. That handwriting was indeed beautiful.
Afterwards, Qing Ya took the IOU, and Yu Qing took the item. After thanking them repeatedly, he left, with Pang Chengqiu seeing the guest out.
Qing Ya and Gu Qingzhao stood under the lamp and watched him leave.
Seeing Yu Qing look back and wave from time to time, Gu Qingzhao also waved her round fan occasionally.
Qing Ya muttered to himself, “I really do not understand why Godmother insists on dealing with him in secret.” The implication was that they could have just killed him directly.
Suddenly seeing Yu Qing, who had been looking back politely, suddenly stop and stare at him, he also raised his hand and waved goodbye along with Gu Qingzhao.
Gu Qingzhao’s face was bright with a smile as she saw the guest off, while her mouth faintly replied to Qing Ya, “If Godmother is unwilling to say, we cannot ask too much.”
Yu Qing, who turned around again to continue walking, suddenly lost the smile on his face. His mind was still replaying the lip movements of Qing Ya and Gu Qingzhao. He did not look back to be polite again and continued forward with his mouth corners slightly tense.
Seeing the guest disappear, Gu Qingzhao suddenly made a move and snatched the IOU from Qing Ya’s hand into her own. She spread it out and examined it carefully. The more she looked, the more her eyes shone. Finally, she could not help but click her tongue and say, “The handwriting is truly excellent. Just from this handwriting, one knows that there is no false reputation under a great name. He is truly worthy of being the most talented scholar in the world.”
Having said this, she folded the IOU and tucked it into her sleeve, “I will keep this IOU safe for you.”
Qing Ya glanced sideways, “His handwriting is worth a bit of money, but it is not worth twenty million, unless he is dead…” He paused slightly after speaking, probably understanding the woman’s meaning. Did they not want to kill that Tanhua right now?
After keeping the IOU, Gu Qingzhao naturally did not forget to ask, “What was the thing he asked you to find that is so expensive?”
“White Luo gauze.”
“What? You actually helped him get such a thing? Are you not afraid of trouble?”
“He has already flipped the table in front of me and risked everything to turn against me. If I do not help him get it, what should I do? Act impulsively like him? Do you really want to attract the You Guards again?”
“The problem is that this thing is not used for good deeds. Trouble will happen. If it falls into his hands and causes some incident, it will implicate you.”
“I am not afraid of trouble. I am only afraid of no trouble. If trouble happens, it is not necessarily a bad thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“If trouble happens, he will no longer bite on the kidnapping matter. Using the You Cliff to extort things from me and leave, do you think he would still dare to run to the You Cliff to stab me in the back? As long as the incident does not happen outside, especially involving the You Cliff, if something happens in the Sea City, it will be easier for us to mediate and deal with it.”
Gu Qingzhao suddenly realised and took out the IOU to look at it again, “So you mean, if he does not pay the money back, we would not dare to make a fuss about him borrowing money either.”
“Who knows if he will pay it back. This Tanhua is very smart. Did you not hear him run over at the very beginning and say he wanted to make a transaction with me? This is a transaction, or rather, extortion. We took a loss. Damn it, I have not dealt with him yet, and he has already come to mess with me first.”
…
Inside the underground drainage culvert, a team of men jumped down from the entrance one after another. The big nosed Lord Wen was still leading at the front, fluttering his nostrils.
Walking to a corner, under the vigilance of the lighting devices held by the men on the left and right, they turned in and saw a faint smoke drifting.
Seeing the unknown smoke, the accompanying personnel subconsciously heightened their vigilance, raised their sleeves to cover their noses and mouths, or used magic to hold their breath. Only the big nosed Lord Wen continued to sniff endlessly.
After walking a certain distance, the group discovered a pile of ashes accumulated on the ground. The fire was out, and the smoke should have come from here.
Just as Lord Wen stepped over the ashes, his figure suddenly swayed, as if he could not stand steadily. Fortunately, the man behind him urgently supported him.
Someone asked in surprise, “My Lord, what is wrong?”
Lord Wen’s face had already become very ugly. He grabbed his own neck with both hands and tried his best to make a sound, “Retreat, it is poisonous smoke!”
Everyone was startled and quickly carried him to retreat.
Very soon, a group of people climbed out from the wellhead in the open space near the sewage hub. Carrying one person, they ran crazily in the direction of the Zhenhai Division. After entering the bustling district, they even directly leaped and ran across the rooftops.
Such a commotion caused the pedestrians on the street to stop and watch one after another, chattering and discussing.
With the return of the big nosed Lord Wen, the inside of the Zhenhai Division also fell into chaos.
Commander Zhu Xuan and the two Left and Right Envoys all rushed to the front hall urgently. They squatted on the ground one by one to treat Lord Wen, but eventually let go of their hands one by one slowly. Their expressions were all grave, and Zhu Xuan’s face was extremely gloomy.
The big nosed Lord Wen lay on the ground motionless, his face swollen and purple, with traces of blood seeping from all seven orifices. When he was just delivered, he could still breathe, but now he was dead with his eyes wide open.
As the team leader nearby explained the situation when the incident occurred, those in the know understood what was going on as soon as they heard it. Someone intended to stop Lord Wen from investigating further and designed this assassination targeting Lord Wen.
Zhu Xuan suppressed a roar from his mouth, “Outrageous!”
Very soon, another team of men urgently rushed to the location of the trap to thoroughly investigate the scene.
Returning to the rooftop of the Zhenhai Division, Zhu Xuan looked out at the brilliantly lit Sea City for a long time. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and say, “Find all the people who were not at the scene when the incident occurred. Gather them all, do not miss a single one!”