Forget Your Grudge

That morning, Zhang San’s art shop was a bit more bustling than usual. After all, the number of people had increased from the usual two to three.

Zhang San had actually noticed from the very beginning that the young man in white clothes had been secretly paying attention to the street corner. As for the art shop he opened, due to his identity as a killer, he had deliberately chosen this relatively hidden but observant location on the street.

In addition, there were very few Jianghu people who liked artworks.

Therefore, Zhang San had already made a judgment early on: this person had a purpose and after observation, had chosen his shop. From his initial gaze, something should appear at the street corner today...

Was he from the underground society?

A thug? Assassin?

Zhang San immediately denied these possibilities. It was impossible for someone from the underground society to carry the weapons of the former Star Sea Sect. Moreover, this person had sharp brows and bright eyes, with an imposing manner, and didn't look like someone from the underground society either.

The only exception was that knotted tassel.

If the young man in white would occasionally observe the street corner,

Then Zhang San would occasionally glance at the knotted tassel on the hilt of the young man's sword a few times.

Of course, with Zhang San's skills, he seemed indifferent on the surface but actually had the young man's every move under control. However, the young man was completely unaware that his actions were being watched by Zhang San all this time, let alone that Zhang San had been eyeing the tassel on his sword the entire time.

"Brother, after watching for so long, is there a painting or calligraphy work you fancy?" Zhang San asked lightly, his voice soft and his breath gentle, completely matching the feeling of a delicate scholar.

The young man in white turned his head and smiled, "Let me look a bit more, look a bit more..."

Zhang San asked again, "May I ask for this brother's name?"

The young man in white did not speak, but only looked at him doubtfully.

Zhang San apologized, "Don't get me wrong, brother. It's just that in my early years I also practiced martial arts, but unfortunately, my body simply couldn't handle it. So later I learned some poetry and literature. However, I have always admired Jianghu chivalrous people. That's why I asked. Brother, if you mind, just pretend I never asked.”

Seeing Zhang San's 'sincere' appearance, the young man in white did not become suspicious. Instead, Wang Xiaoer, who was wiping the table to the side, looked at his master with admiration.

The master's acting skills were truly much stronger than his!

After some thought, the young man in white said, "I see. It's just that when I was twelve years old, I changed my name and swore to never mention my original name again. So I can only tell you the name I go by now, brother."

Zhang San bowed and said, "I didn't expect such a story. My name is 'Zhang San' and I'd like to befriend you, brother."

The young man in white said, "My name is Xiu Wangchou."

Xiu Wangchou!

To actually use these three characters as a name, only someone who had experienced some past events would do so.

Zhang San was stunned for a moment, showing his surprise at the name.

Xiu Wangchou just smiled indifferently without saying anything.

At this moment, several local thugs suddenly walked down the street, going from door to door collecting protection fees.

"You, you, pay up if you paid already!"

The three people in the art shop looked up.

I saw those local thugs acted arrogantly. As they passed any shop, they would shout loudly. The merchants on the street could only obediently hand over some silver coins, and no one dared to resist at all.

Of course, it wasn't that these shops were afraid of these thugs, but rather the underground organization behind them.

When it was the art shop's turn, Zhang San respectfully took out two strings of coins. Under Wang Xiaoer's reluctant gaze, the coins were taken by those thugs. After sizing up this dilapidated art shop and confirming there was probably no money to be exploited, the thugs weighed the silver coins in their hands and left.

Not until those thugs had walked far away did Zhang San say to Xiu Wangchou, "I let brother laugh."

However, Xiu Wangchou stared at those leaving thugs like electricity. If not for having something important to do today, he would not have endured and lowered his head just now. Instead, he would have drawn his sword on the spot!

With his brows tightly furrowed, Xiu Wangchou glanced at Zhang San and asked, "Brother, for some local thugs in a small county to be so rampant, how long has this been going on? Is there anywhere I can be of use?"

From Xiu Wangchou's steady pace, calm deep breathing, and sword at his waist, Zhang San felt that he was definitely no ordinary master. To deal with those thugs, he probably wouldn't even need to unsheathe his sword.

However, so what if he defeated or even killed those thugs?

It would only bring the underground organization behind them over.

It would only break his cover identity as an art shop owner.

Zhang San said, "There’s no need, brother Xiu. Over the years, everyone on this street has gotten used to it."

Xiu Wangchou did not answer, but from his expression there was no intention of forgetting about this matter.

Zhang San asked again, "Brother Xiu, your sword is very special."

"Is it? It belongs to my master's school."

"That tassel is also beautiful." Zhang San subtly brought the topic to that tassel.

"It's just an ordinary knotted tassel."

"Four interlocking rings with a flower bud inside, very special craftsmanship..." Zhang San said so.

However, when Zhang San said this, Xiu Wangchou's gaze at him gradually became suspicious. But he soon calmed down, muttering to himself: How is that possible? That person is already dead.

Xiu Wangchou indifferently said, "The craftsmanship is quite special, but the materials are ordinary. It’s a technique from my hometown."

Zhang San nodded with a look of sudden realization and said, "So it turns out to be a technique from your hometown. No wonder I’ve never seen it before. But brother Xiu, where is your hometown?"

Just as Xiu Wangchou was about to speak, a commotion suddenly came from the street corner!

As they were talking, it was already noon.

Firecrackers popped on the street, and gongs and drums sounded loudly.

A six-man sedan carried by sturdy guards walked down the street in grandeur, followed by a row of tall and mighty government clerks.

Turned out this day was when the newly appointed county magistrate of Xiaoyun County would tour the streets upon taking office. It was said that this county magistrate was a bit special. His official uniform and ribbons were personally bestowed by the prefect of Baiyun Prefecture. Just from this point, anyone could understand that he must have an extraordinary background.

Therefore, although he was just a small county magistrate, he still used a six-man sedan chair with a group of government clerks and guards clearing the way with gongs and drums ahead of him, making for an impressive spectacle!

However, this was the day Xiu Wangchou came to Xiaoyun County.

Standing inside the art shop, when Xiu Wangchou first saw the six-man sedan and several guard clerks around it, he immediately looked over at the nearby government patrolmen. After finding the people he was looking for, he immediately moved to hide in the corner of the art shop, seemingly appreciating the paintings and calligraphy there.

The patrol guards were also vigilant of their surroundings, to prevent any mishaps.

If there was someone with eyes as sharp as Zhang San among those government clerks, who noticed the art shop, they would immediately spot something off. On such a lively and bustling street, how could that young man in white be alone hiding in the corner of an art shop looking at paintings and calligraphy?

Zhang San sighed. He didn’t even know why he was getting involved in matters completely unrelated to him. But in the end, Zhang San still walked out from behind the counter and stood inside the art shop door, ostensibly observing the bustling street. However, this just happened to block the person in the corner from view.