Sitting at a roadside tea stall, Ancient Wen Heng sipped the tea in his cup, giving Lu Ping the illusion that it was some divine nectar.

He thought the tea must be something special, and he was quite thirsty from the walk. He picked up the cup before him and took a huge gulp, but nearly spat it out.

After swallowing the bitter tea, Lu Ping asked, "Don’t you find this bitter?"

"It’s alright," Ancient Wen Heng said. "It’s quite thirst-quenching." ’At least it quenches thirst better than plain water.’

Lu Ping said, "...You’ve been walking for the better part of the day, looking all around the whole time. Are you looking for something?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "I came out to relax. Naturally, I’m observing the local culture and scenery. That’s not what I’d call ’looking all around.’"

"It’s the same thing," Lu Ping said, glancing at the somewhat desolate surroundings. "Should I have someone bring the carriage over? It’s going to take a long time to walk back."

"That won’t be necessary. We’ll have the energy to walk back after a short rest." Ancient Wen Heng watched him slumping against the table, a far cry from the dashing young gentleman he was before.

"I think you’ve been corrupted by those teachers at Yingshan Academy. You knew I don’t have the stamina, yet you still dragged me on such a long walk."

"This way, you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Haven’t you seen the dark circles under your eyes?"

Lu Ping was moved. "Brother Wen Heng, so you did notice! You have no idea... Our shopkeeper pesters me for goods every single day, but I don’t dare disturb you by visiting. I’ve had to bear it all alone..."

Ancient Wenheng was speechless. ’I was just making a casual comment, but give this guy an inch and he’ll take a mile.’

"Tianbao, pay the bill!"

After settling the bill, Ancient Wen Heng got ready to head back, but Lu Ping stayed planted on the bench. "I can’t walk anymore."

Ancient Wen Heng sighed. "I’ll be going back in a few days. You can come with me then. How about that?"

Lu Ping was instantly full of life again, leaping to his feet beside him. "You’ve absolutely got a deal."

Ancient Wenheng was speechless.

***

「A private room on the second floor of Tianfu Restaurant.」

"I have to say, your disguise is a real eyesore," Ouyang Bing said, looking at the long scar on Guo Yurong’s face. He had to fight the urge to reach out and peel it off.

’I’ve never seen anyone go to such lengths to make themselves so ugly. And what’s with that faint look of pride? Shouldn’t someone with a scar like that be self-conscious? He can’t even act the part convincingly.’

Guo Yurong saw the disgust in his friend’s eyes, which only made him prouder of his handiwork.

"This is great," Guo Yurong said. "Most people give me a wide berth. If I were a bit more burly, I could swagger down the street like I own the place."

Ouyang Bing sneered. "That’s what you get for offending people left and right. You could have everyone fawning all over you, but no, you’d rather have them baying for your blood every day. Why do you bother?"

"Living like that would be so boring. Besides, if those people want to find me, they’ll need the skills to do it." Guo Yurong leaned against the windowsill, sipping his wine as he watched the pedestrians below.

"Then what are you doing here?" Ouyang Bing snapped. "It’s never a good thing when you appear."

"I’ve grown tired of wandering and want to go into seclusion for a while. I just came to let you know I’m safe, to save you all the trouble of searching high and low for me again."

"Pah! As if anyone wants to look for you," Ouyang Bing said, eyeing him with suspicion. "Don’t tell me you’ve provoked someone you shouldn’t have and now you need a place to hide."

"You underestimate me. Last time, I was genuinely in seclusion. If I hadn’t stumbled upon some news, I’d probably still be there."

"Now stop wasting my time with nonsense. Go have someone prepare some oil, salt, and other necessities. I’ll be gone for a long time, so don’t make me come looking for you again halfway through."

"Is that how you ask for a favor? You sound like I owe you." Ouyang Bing snorted, but still opened the door to give a few instructions to Mudou, who was waiting outside.

"Mudou, don’t listen to Little Ice Cube. Forget all that flashy, impractical stuff. Just get me plenty of salt and a few changes of clothes, that’s all I need."

"Hey, Little Ice Cube, come over here and look. I think I see an acquaintance."

Ouyang Bing slammed the door shut. "Don’t tell me they’re here for you! If you dare bring me any trouble, I’ll join in on the manhunt myself!"

"Tsk, tsk. You’re getting less and less charming. You don’t even trust your big brother’s words. I said it’s an acquaintance, not an enemy. Look how paranoid you are. You’re regressing with age." At this, Guo Yurong shook his head in mock disgust. "You’re becoming as timid as a mouse."

"Fine, I’ll see this ’acquaintance’ of yours." Ouyang Bing walked to the window and looked down. Among the bustling crowd, he was bound to spot a familiar face eventually.

"Are you talking about Big Fatty, the one who delivers pork to our restaurant? When did you get to know him?"

"Big Fatty? What are you talking about?" Guo Yurong leaned out the window. "Huh? Where’d he go?"

"It wasn’t Big Fatty?"

"Ancient Wen Heng! It’s that Ancient Wen Heng, the one you insisted on chasing down for a trade last time. Didn’t you just see him?"

"Where?" Ouyang Bing peered more closely, but still came up empty. "Are you sure you weren’t seeing things? He’s living in Fu County these days."

"There’s no mistake. How can you not trust my eyesight? I can tell identical twins apart. At this distance, how could I be wrong?" Guo Yurong recalled the direction Ancient Wen Heng had been heading. "He either entered your restaurant or the one next door. Why don’t you send someone to check?"

"...Are you trying to send me away to pull some kind of trick?"

Guo Yurong was speechless.

"Young Master," Mudou’s voice came from outside the door.

"What is it?" Ouyang Bing snapped.

"Young Master, I just saw Ancient Wen Heng from Fu County downstairs."

"See?" Guo Yurong spread his hands and laughed, the movement making the scar on his face look even more grotesque. "I told you I wasn’t lying."

Ouyang Bing remembered his men, who had been searching high and low with a portrait but could never find the merchant. He had no time to bicker with Guo Yurong any longer. Straightening his robes, he left with Mudou.

"Hey, remember to bring him up! I want to catch up, too..." Guo Yurong’s voice was cut off as the door slammed shut.

"See? You just had to wander around the city for so long, and now there are no private rooms left," Lu Ping complained again, looking around the noisy main hall.

Ancient Wen Heng poured himself a glass of water and retorted as he drank, "That’s because you were too slow. If I’d come alone, I might have finished my meal by now."

"Well, don’t you go complaining that I wasn’t a good host," Lu Ping said, pounding on his own legs. "If you ever want to go on a walk to clear your head again, just remember to tell me in advance."

Ancient Wen Heng glanced at him. "Oh? Have you finally seen the light? Realized you need to get some proper exercise?"

Lu Ping rolled his eyes at him. "Heh. I mean, tell me in advance so I can make sure I’m nowhere in your vicinity. Then you can walk however you please."

Ancient Wenheng was speechless.