The moonlight was serene; He Ping and Fang Bie looked at each other under the moonlight.
Standing Fang Bie and He Ping, who was sitting on the rooftop ridge, cast their shadows under the moonlight.
"So I am curious," He Ping looked at Fang Bie, "Why didn't you kill her back then?"
"Clearly, you are such a cautious person who is afraid of death."
Fang Bie curled his lips and smiled, "Because I am not sure that the next one will be better than Lin Xue."
He Ping shook her head, "Change to another excuse."
Fang Bie looked at He Ping, "Is this one not good enough?"
He Ping shook her head seriously, "No, although Lin Xue is very outstanding."
"However," He Ping's brown eyes flickered slightly in the moonlight, "she might make you die."
Fang Bie nodded, "I indeed do not like uncertain factors by my side."
"But whether I killed her or let her go back, she would die anyway." Fang Bie reached out and tapped his temple, "Since she can become my Bee Wing, then, why not take her along for a while?"
"I did not know you were such a soft-hearted person," He Ping chuckled and said.
"Just like after understanding you, I could never imagine what kind of mood you were in when you took the seven-year-old me away during that flood," Fang Bie said, "But now I know."
He Ping looked up at Fang Bie, "Then tell me?"
"It is just that, even though I know it is trouble, and even though my heart has already become very hard," Fang Bie said.
"There is just that one moment where someone strikes the softest part of your heart."
"That is why I made this decision."
"And."
Fang Bie looked at He Ping, "Didn't you also not kill her just now?"
He Ping smiled.
Her smiling face was like a flower.
"Because I like her very much."
This retired assassin said with a smile.
"Tomorrow is your first mission. It looks simple, but it is actually quite unusual. Be careful."
Fang Bie nodded, "Mm, I know."
Under the moonlight, master and disciple clinked their cups and drank up.
……
……
At noon the next day, it was overcast and raining.
On the bluestone street of Luocheng, pedestrians walked in the drizzle holding oil-paper umbrellas, and ripples spread across the puddles.
Although the sky was clear yesterday, today's overcast rain had nothing to do with yesterday's sunny weather.
At Xiao Hun Inn, a man wearing a conical hat and a straw raincoat walked into the inn and sat down by the window, "Where is the waiter?"
Fang Bie stepped forward and asked in his usual tone, "Guest, are you here to have a meal or stay at an inn?"
If it were normal times, he would not ask this, as it was only noon, but if it was raining, choosing to stay at an inn to rest was a very normal thing.
After all, it was fine in the city, but once outside the city, the official road would be muddy and difficult to travel.
The man looked up at Fang Bie. He noticed this handsome young man with a black cloth covering his eyes was acting as a waiter. The man was clearly blind, yet he moved as usual in the lobby full of tables and chairs, which made him quite concerned. However, seeing the other guests in the lobby all looking accustomed to it, he felt he was making a fuss and couldn't help but laugh at himself.
Ning Huaiyuan took off his conical hat and placed it on the corner of the table. He had a square face and big eyes, looking quite heroic, and his build was tall. Through the dripping conical hat, one could see a long sword inlaid with rubies hanging at his waist.
Fang Bie had already seen his portrait, so he remained calm.
"What are your signature dishes here? Bring them all out," Ning Huaiyuan said, his tone peaceful and without hostility.
Fang Bie turned around, "Guest, one bowl of Confused Noodles."
Ning Huaiyuan was stunned instantly, "What kind of noodles?"
Fang Bie replied seriously, "Confused Noodles."
"Didn't I ask for your signature dish?" Ning Huaiyuan was shocked.
"Confused Noodles is our signature dish here," Fang Bie introduced seriously, "Don't let the name fool you; it is actually white flour noodles boiled with coarse grains. It tastes fragrant and delicious, soft and nourishing for the stomach, and helps ward off the cold. Our shop is a small business, and Confused Noodles sell the fastest. We have a whole pot boiled in the back; if you want some, I will serve you a bowl."
"I don't want any Confused Noodles!" No matter how good-tempered Ning Huaiyuan was, he could not stand Fang Bie's serious introduction, "Do you have cooked beef? Cut two plates first, pair it with two bowls of yellow wine, and by the way, bring me ten baked flatbreads. I will eat them as dry rations for the road."
The Great Zhou Dynasty prohibited the slaughter of plow cattle, but beef was still sold in various inns. However, it was usually boiled old yellow beef, which had a coarser texture and a higher price.
"Alright, top-quality beef, cut two plates for this guest," Fang Bie shouted, and at the same time, he went to the wine cabinet to pour two bowls of yellow wine for Ning Huaiyuan. Yellow wine was a fermented wine without distillation, only simply filtered, so the wine was yellow in color. Its alcohol content was not high, and it was a common type of wine brewed in villages. The price was not high, but it had a strong aftereffect.
"Your wine. May I ask where you are going, guest?" Fang Bie said with a smile, appearing to speak casually and calmly.
"Don't ask so much, be careful with your tongue," Ning Huaiyuan said. He picked up the wine bowl, looked at the wine inside, sniffed the aroma first, and then pushed it to Fang Bie, "A reward for you, you drink a sip first."
Fang Bie looked at the slightly yellow wine rippling in the bowl and apologized with a smile, "This wine was ordered by you, guest, how could I be embarrassed to drink it?"
Ning Huaiyuan looked at Fang Bie calmly and placed his sword on the table with a clatter, "I told you to drink."
The Great Zhou Dynasty did not prohibit civilians from carrying weapons. Because the practice of martial arts was prosperous, almost every household had some Kung Fu to rely on. After all, it could prolong life and defend oneself, so as long as there were conditions, everyone would learn three or five moves.
However, the long sword that Ning Huaiyuan placed on the table had an elegant and ancient design, and the rubies on the hilt were shining brightly; it was clearly not an ordinary object.
"Guest, don't be so angry," Fang Bie smiled, "If you want me to drink, if you don't mind that I am dirty, then I will drink a sip for you to see."
As he said this, Fang Bie took out a small celadon bowl from his bosom, placed it on the table, poured half a bowl from each of the two bowls of yellow wine into it, and then drank it all in one gulp with both hands.
Ning Huaiyuan sat on the chair and watched Fang Bie drink the bowl, his body not even swaying, "You kid have a pretty good tolerance for alcohol. Go see if the beef is ready."
As he said this, he picked up a bowl himself and drank half a mouthful. Clearly, having traveled for half a day in the rain, he was quite thirsty.
As for Fang Bie, after receiving Ning Huaiyuan's permission, he walked through the lobby all the way to the kitchen. Xue Ling was cutting beef in the kitchen. Seeing Fang Bie come in, she looked up and asked, "How is it?"
Fang Bie had already restrained the flattering expression on his face. Looking at Xue Ling's hands cutting the beef, he said calmly, "Cut it and give it to me. Don't ask anything else. I will prepare a dipping sauce for the guest."
While saying this, Fang Bie dipped his hand in water and quickly wrote two characters on the cutting board where Xue Ling was cutting meat. Xue Ling glanced at it lightly and saw that the two characters written were:
"Fake."
Xue Ling couldn't help but look up in surprise, seeing that Fang Bie had already picked up the garlic masher and was pounding the garlic juice there.
His expression was like a monk in meditation.
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