"However, speaking of which, I did not expect that Master, you would actually still have such a chivalrous heart," Wang Xiaoer said while massaging his master's legs, completely fawning over his master like a 'Little Zhang San' from twenty years ago.
Zhang San took a sip of his tea and asked, "What do you mean?"
Wang Xiaoer said, "You see, Master, it was fine that you saved that hero and young lady, but you even went to the Wang family residence and saved her father out. Aren't you a great good person?"
Zhang San said, "When I was healing that young girl, she kept mentioning her father's matters. I thought since I had already saved them, I might as well resolve the issues with the Wang family and this father-daughter pair, since I was dragged into this mess by you, this smelly brat."
Wang Xiaoer nodded repeatedly and said, "Master is indeed wise."
...
In a small alley north of the county town's bakery, the reunited father and daughter wept in each other's arms.
"Father, how did you escape?" Little Chun held her father tightly while crying and asking.
The old man also wept as he explained, "It was not me who escaped. It was a masked hero who saved me!"
At this time, Xiu Wangchou slowly walked over. The father-daughter pair selling flour cakes kowtowed repeatedly to Xiu Wangchou, seeming to assume that he was the one who rescued them.
Xiu Wangchou helped the two up. He wanted to explain but sensed that the strange events of last night clearly involved a master's helping hand. However, that master did not show himself, presumably unwilling to reveal his identity.
After some thought, Xiu Wangchou wondered if he could ask the old flour cake seller for more details and said, "Elder, how exactly did you escape from those people last night? Could you describe in more detail?"
The old man looked at Xiu Wangchou blankly, not understanding why this 'benefactor' would ask such a question. Surely it was the white-clothed hero before him who had saved them?
Although confused, the old man recognized Xiu Wangchou as the swordsman who had killed the evil young master that day. Therefore, he honestly said, "I don't remember clearly either. I was locked in the woodshed on the Wang family property last night. Late at night I was suddenly knocked out. When I woke up, I was in my flour cake shop with a letter and 300 taels of silver notes next to me."
As he spoke, the old man took out the letter and silver notes.
Xiu Wangchou had no interest in the silver notes but took the letter. It read:
"The Wang family members have been eliminated. Your daughter is in the small alley next door. But for safety, take this money and leave Xiao Yun County for another county to make a living before noon today."
The handwriting on the letter was terrible, extremely terrible.
Xiu Wangchou understood that the other party did not want to leave any traces.
Moreover, from how the other party brought all three of them back near the flour cake shop, the intention was also to avoid the three of them being found by the Wang family servants after last night's events.
As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest.
By doing so, the helper not only saved them but also avoided any possibility of meeting by not having to stand guard nearby.
"This person has very meticulous thoughts, I wonder who it could be?" Xiu Wangchou murmured to himself.
Xiu Wangchou looked at the letter again and realized another thing.
The Wang family members have been eliminated...
What does that mean?
At the same time, in a run-down book and painting shop north of the county town.
Since it was not yet opening hours, the master and disciple were talking about last night's events.
Wang Xiaoer asked, "Speaking of which, Master, you went to rescue someone, so why did you have to kill Lord Wang, his second son, and those servants too?"
Zhang San drank a mouthful of tea and smiled bitterly. "Although they were not good people, in good conscience, I did not intend to kill anyone! It was because...I made a mistake."
"Huh?"
Zhang San explained, "That young girl hazily said her father was captured. I figured the Wang family was using this to set up a trap, so her father was probably locked up in their residence. So last night, I put on a mask and went to the Wang residence. Indeed I found him there as expected."
Saying so, Zhang San could not help but sigh, "To be honest, these wealthy corrupt old masters who commit evil deeds really tie up their captives in the same old way. They always throw them in the woodshed. Can't they switch up locations? At least use a dungeon or something. Anyway, with just a casual look, I was able to find him."
Wang Xiaoer then asked insistently, "So why exactly did you kill them, Master?"
"Didn't I just explain already?"
"When did Master ever explain?"
Zhang San pointed at his own face and said, "Didn't I explain? I put on a mask and went to the Wang residence. Still don't understand?"
Wang Xiaoer suddenly realized and said, "Master means that you did not disguise yourself and also did not wear a human skin mask, right?"
"A teachable child is a joy. This time it was my mistake. Xiao Er, you must always remember this kind of careless error."
"So the servants fought with you and tore off your face mask in the struggle?"
Zhang San scolded, "Nonsense! With just their mediocre skills, how could they even get near my body? If I had wanted to go, I could have instantly leaped onto the roof and left at that time. The main reason was because they saw my face!"
Wang Xiaoer curiously asked, "Weren't you wearing a mask?"
Zhang San sighed in frustration and said, "I thought you really understood. Forget it, to put it simply, I did not disguise myself and did not wear a human skin mask either, which means that although my face was covered, it was covered by my real face! Although my nose and mouth were covered, my eyes and forehead were still exposed!"
Wang Xiaoer suddenly understood and said, "So the Wang family members saw one third of your true face!"
Zhang San slapped his thigh and regretted, "Yes!"
He never expected that while rarely doing a good deed, he had once again compromised his steady professional assassin career.
Following the previous incident of killing the scholar.
Yet another humiliating record in Zhang San's career.
He was careless and did not disguise himself, yet was still seen one-third of his true face!
But since the humiliation had already occurred, then how to eliminate this humiliating record?
Of course, by killing everyone involved that caused this humiliation!
Therefore, regardless of any bounty, Zhang San still killed all dozen or so people present.
Fortunately, Lord Wang, his second son, and the servants holding blades or torture tools were all male. Zhang San had no psychological pressure killing them regarding his sect's rules.
As for whether those people were good or bad people.
To be honest, Zhang San did not care at all.