Sincerity

"Feixue City." Unbothered by Qin Hu's coy posturing, Fang Wen casually let slip those three words. Yet to Qin Hu's ears, they fell like a sudden crack of thunder. He stared at Fang Wen, shock written across his face. "You... know?" Seeing his reaction, Fang Wen could not tell whether it was genuine or merely an act. Not that he cared either way. He simply said, "I'd guessed part of it, though I wasn't entirely certain. With what you've just said, Gang Leader Qin, it seems my guess was about right. "Still, I wonder: who in Feixue City wants them dead?" Qin Hu studied Fang Wen anew. Thus far, Fang Wen had not given a word on whether he agreed to make peace... Instead, he had done nothing but ask questions. Yet at this very moment, Qin Hu truly had no choice but to answer. "To tell the truth, someone carrying a Lingxiao Token came to the Fierce Tiger Gang bearing City Lord Wu Lingxiao's order, commanding me to intercept and kill those two." That single sentence explained Qin Hu's predicament. Fang Wen wore a strange expression. In other words, Qin Hu had believed all along that he was carrying out Wu Lingxiao's orders to execute the two people traveling to Feixue City to save Wu Lingxiao's life? Then his sudden shift in attitude truly was because of Chen Qi. When Bai Liuxian spoke of those matters, Chen Qi had been trading blows with Hua Meiniang not far away. So he had heard it as well. Assuming Qin Hu was not putting on a performance today, Fang Wen could easily imagine what a wild tumult must have surged through Qin Hu's mind when Chen Qi brought him the news. Still, he had no one to blame but himself. Fang Wen cast a sidelong glance at Qin Hu. "So before killing people, Gang Leader Qin didn't bother to investigate who they were?" "I did," Qin Hu said. "It was just that nothing came of it... "Furthermore, they were being escorted by Young Chief Escort Lu, so... I didn't think much of them." That was likely the truth. Qin Hu paused for a moment before continuing, "Thinking back now, whatever information there was on those two was probably deliberately concealed from me..." Fang Wen nodded. Neither Feixue City nor Jinghua Pavilion would allow such information to leak out. After all, Wu Lingxiao's life was at stake. There were many things beyond the Fierce Tiger Gang's ability to uncover. Only when Chen Qi revealed the pair's identities and the true situation did Qin Hu realize what he had actually been doing. He had assumed all along that he was acting on Feixue City's behalf, so he had never feared offending anyone. Only now did he realize that he had been a stumbling block on Wu Lingxiao's road to survival. Moreover, Fang Wen's martial arts were far beyond his expectations. If he did not come today to sue for peace and find a way to resolve the grievance, he would never be able to stop Fang Wen. A man capable of killing 'Flesh King' Cao Jiuyin was not someone the Fierce Tiger Gang could afford to provoke. When that time came, those two would still reach Feixue City. Once Wu Lingxiao was saved, the Fierce Tiger Gang would inevitably face retribution. And because of Fang Wen, they had also indirectly offended the Eastern Domain's Seven Great Sects... It was fair to say that the Fierce Tiger Gang was currently walking an exceedingly dangerous tightrope. It seemed steady on the surface, but a single misstep would send them plunging into a bottomless abyss. Fang Wen understood Qin Hu's predicament, but he cared little for it. After all, he could laugh off the Fierce Tiger Gang's pursuit of Lu Guiyan, but hunting Mo Beidou was not something he could let pass so lightly. He had stayed his hand earlier solely to extract more information from Qin Hu. Thus, Fang Wen simply asked, "Then, Gang Leader Qin... who was this person from Feixue City who carried the Lingxiao Token and ordered you to kill them?" "He called himself Liu Qi. Ordinary in appearance, nothing remarkable about him, roughly forty years of age, serving as chief steward in Feixue City. "I have never been to Feixue City, so I cannot say whether what he claimed was true or false," Qin Hu answered truthfully. Fang Wen looked thoughtful. "Did this man have any distinguishing features?" "Distinguishing features..." Qin Hu nodded. "On the left side of his lower jaw, there was a black birthmark the size of a copper coin." At those words, Lu Guiyan subconsciously glanced toward Fang Wen. Fang Wen lightly tapped his finger on the chair, then smiled. "That brings us back to the point. Since Gang Leader Qin intends to sue for peace, I wonder what sincerity you have to offer?" Qin Hu let out a long breath, then reached into his robes and produced an object. It was carved entirely from white jade, square and four-cornered at the base, with a slanting-eyed fierce tiger crouching atop it—an official seal. He presented it with both hands before Fang Wen. "This object is called the Fierce Tiger Seal, the token of the Fierce Tiger Gang's leader. "Seeing the seal is like seeing the gang leader in person. With this seal, Young Hero Fang may command our four hall masters and thousands of brothers." Fang Wen's expression stirred slightly as he looked at Qin Hu with a hint of surprise. "Gang Leader Qin, what a grand gesture." "To be frank, Young Hero Fang is a dragon among men. Though I do not know why you deign to remain in a petty escort agency, your future will certainly not end there," Qin Hu said. "This seal is not merely to sue for peace, but also a wager. "If we can secure Young Hero Fang's protection, the Fierce Tiger Gang might also follow along... toward boundless prospects." Fang Wen took the so-called 'Fierce Tiger Seal' from Qin Hu's hands, turning it over to inspect it. Then, before Qin Hu's bewildered eyes, he set the seal back on the table and pushed it toward him. "I have no interest in your Fierce Tiger Gang. "However, your men did hunt my Eldest Senior Brother and injured Young Chief Escort Lu. That matter cannot simply be written off. "How about this: pay up. "Convert the grievances suffered by my Eldest Senior Brother and Young Chief Escort Lu at the hands of your Fierce Tiger Gang into cash. "Give me a few thousand taels of gold as you see fit, and this matter will be put behind us." "Th-this..." Qin Hu froze, his composure nearly cracking. Fang Wen narrowed his eyes at him. "What, unwilling?" "...Willing!" Qin Hu immediately shouted, "Men, bring the banknotes!" He was thoroughly prepared; a box was brought over in short order. When opened, it was packed full of silver notes. Fang Wen took the box and leafed through them. Though called silver notes, they were backed by gold, redeemable for roughly three thousand taels of gold. He nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. As far as I'm concerned, the matter ends here. So long as your Fierce Tiger Gang stops courting death, I won't come looking for trouble with you again. "Our business is done. We take our leave." With that, he handed the notes to Lu Guiyan, shot her a glance, and the group continued northward. "Brother Chen, I must trouble you," Qin Hu murmured softly as he watched them go, making no move to stop them. Chen Qi said nothing, silently falling in behind the party from Lu'an Escort Agency. Once they had all vanished from sight, Tang Linfeng walked slowly to Qin Hu's side. "Gang Leader, does that matter really not need to be told—" Before he could finish, Qin Hu glared sharply at him, and he instantly fell silent, not daring to say another word. "Pass down the order. We are leaving this place," Qin Hu spoke slowly, and Tang Linfeng and the others murmured their assent.