Liu Yao finished listening to the words that were a bit exaggerated and even felt like they were trying to butter her up, but she showed no reaction, just frowning in silence.
Although Yang Lou’s story was full of holes—for example, why didn’t he report it to the authorities or choose to appeal the case, instead coming to hire a bodyguard he had just met and never even seen before to break a prisoner out?
Wasn’t this obviously messing with her?
Yet the young woman still hesitated, and it wasn’t for any other reason than the word “unjust.”
In her years traveling the Jianghu, she had indeed heard plenty of such cases.
The government, in order to make up numbers and close cases, would randomly grab people and pin crimes on them—it happened from time to time.
Some were lucky enough to encounter an official who saw through everything and could get the verdict overturned; others were unlucky and died in prison without anyone even knowing.
Though she was half-suspicious of Yang Lou’s words, when he brought up the word “unjust,” the young woman still felt a pang of sympathy.
‘No rush, let me first play it cool and ask clearly.’
Liu Yao let out a long sigh, lifted her gaze, and looked at the two men, testing the waters.
“Mr. Yang, your intentions are certainly good, but I’m not sure exactly what you mean…”
“Brother Yang’s meaning is obvious—he wants to ask you, Young Master Lu, to help save those innocent guys.” Wang Chengle interrupted.
Yang Lou, who was off to the side, glanced at Wang Chengle and then continued, “Yes, just as Brother Wang said, I hope that you, Young Master Lu, can help rescue those who have been wronged.”
As he spoke, he placed both hands on the table and deeply bowed his head toward the young woman, speaking earnestly, “So I beg you, Young Master, to help them!”
Wang Chengle, sitting beside him, quickly stopped him. “Brother Yang, why must you put yourself through this?”
“No, I have no way to overturn their cases on my own, so this is the only way to save these people!”
Watching the two men talk back and forth, Liu Yao simply pressed her hands together under her chin, hiding the change in her eyes as she thought.
‘So obviously playing the good-cop-bad-cop routine, do they really think I’m stupid?’
‘Those two definitely have ulterior motives!’
‘Not to mention Wang Chengle’s slightly forced acting, just based on his usual attitude toward others, Liu Yao couldn’t believe a word from these two.’ After all, she wasn’t really stupid—no way she’d bite on such obvious bait.
What’s more, she was already bogged down with all sorts of affairs, even forgetting her own original purpose. Where would she find the time to meddle in such thankless trouble?
But even though Liu Yao had already weighed the pros and cons, her heart still hesitated.
‘But what if it’s true? I can’t just let them die, can I?’
‘And if I just ignore it, how could I face my Master…?’
Liu Yao was silent, struggling internally.
Seeing the young man before him hesitating in silence, Yang Lou thought of how Wang Chengle had hired her as a bodyguard and assumed he was waiting for a price, so he added another line:
“Of course, you don’t need to worry about the reward, Young Master. I won’t have you work for nothing. After it’s done, the payment will be generous.”
“It’s not about the reward, Mr. Yang…” Liu Yao let out a long sigh, speaking earnestly. “Actually, I have important business here in Xiang’an Town…”
The young woman held a cup, rubbing the rim, her tone helpless. “I accepted Lord Wang’s hiring invitation only out of the principle of seeing things through to the end, which is why I stayed a few extra days at his place.”
“Moreover, for a dangerous task like breaking a prisoner out, though I have the intention, I really don’t have the strength…”
Liu Yao shook her head, looking regretful.
Actually, her refusal was not untrue. Ever since she arrived in Xiang’an Town, all sorts of things had come at her one after another.
She’d taken on a disciple out of confusion, lost her junior sister’s keepsake by accident, and taken on the tasks of bodyguard and searching for someone by sheer chance…
Every single one of them was far too draining and troublesome for her.
‘And if I verbally take on this prison break task too, then I, who have already slipped out from under the government’s nose, will probably jump right back into their sight…’ the young woman thought.
But for Liu Yao, it was truly unbearable to abandon these poor people who might be in trouble.
‘No, I need to probe this guy’s stance a bit more first.’
‘If it really doesn’t work, I’ll secretly go check it out myself!’
Seeing Liu Yao refuse, Yang quickly added, “Don’t worry, Young Master Lu! I’m not asking you to storm the prison or oppose the government. I’ve already thought of a plan.”
“After these prisoners arrive, they’ll be temporarily held by the horse gang—that is, a private courier escort here in Xiang’an Town. I’ve already spoken with the horse gang people, saying the prison is full and asking them to help guard them for a few days.”
“If you don’t believe me, Young Master, you can go and check for yourself. Then you’ll know if I’m lying or not.”
“After all, seeing with your own eyes is more credible than my words.”
The horse gang?
‘How did the horse gang get dragged into this?’
Liu Yao’s heart skipped a beat at the words “horse gang.”
The reason wasn’t anything else—it was because her cheap disciple was still there.
Her face remained calm, but her mind was already racing.
‘Wait! This might even be a good thing?’
‘If what he says is true and those prisoners are arranged at the horse gang, I only need to go talk to Yi An and sound him out, don’t I?’
‘Heh! Not hard at all!’
Liu Yao lowered her head, pretending to think, but in reality, her mind had already gone through several rounds.
‘Finally, there’s a bit of a solution.’ The young woman was secretly delighted, but on the surface, she still wore a troubled expression.
“…I’m sorry, Mr. Yang. I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else for this.” After a moment of thought, Liu Yao said to Yang Lou helplessly.
“However, I truly admire your intentions, Mr. Yang. Although I can’t offer any practical help, I will be rooting for you in my heart!”
“Of course, I won’t stoop to being a rat who informs on you. Rest assured.”
Liu Yao politely declined.
Seeing the young man refuse, Wang Chengle and Yang Lou exchanged glances.
“This… might I ask what you mean, Young Master? Is my sincerity not enough?”
“No, it’s my problem.” Liu Yao shook her head and replied, “Actually, I should have left several days ago, but because of Lord Wang’s matter, I’ve been delayed for too long.”
“Since Lord Wang is here, let me say it all at once.”
“These past few days, Lord Wang has been safe, and there have been no signs of further assassination attempts. I think there shouldn’t be any major problems.”
“So I think it’s better for me to resign from the bodyguard job; otherwise, I’ll feel guilty accepting your money all the time.”
“Well then, I’ve made everything clear. I should be leaving now. Lord Wang, please take care.”
As she spoke, she stood up, cupped her hands, and said solemnly.
“Ah, this… Young Master, you…”
Seeing this, Wang Chengle was dumbfounded. According to logic, a warm-hearted and impulsive young man like Liu Yao shouldn’t react like this when hearing that others are in trouble.
‘Why is he suddenly leaving?’
‘Then what about my personal safety?!’
Wang Chengle wanted to raise his hand to stop her, but Yang Lou raised his hand to stop him.
He looked at Yang Lou in confusion, but Yang Lou’s gaze wasn’t on Wang Chengle. He just watched the white-clothed young man with a look of regret.
“Since you’ve put it that way, Young Master, if I still refuse, I’d appear ungrateful.”
“However, given your character, Young Master Lu, I’m still willing to believe that you won’t leak the secret.”
With that, he picked up his cup, toasted Liu Yao, and drank it all in one go.
Under the watch of the other two, he finished his drink, then cupped his hands toward Liu Yao. “I have troubled you enough! Also, thank you for your help to Brother Wang earlier!”
“Not at all, not at all…”
Seeing how enthusiastic this man was, Liu Yao waved her hand in embarrassment and returned the courtesy.
“Since everything has been explained, I’ll take my leave now.”
After saying that, without waiting for Wang Chengle or Yang Lou to react, she stood up and walked toward the door of the private room.
Before leaving, Liu Yao left one last line.
“May your trip go smoothly!”
Then the sound of the door closing echoed, leaving only the two men in the room.
“Hmph!” Wang Chengle punched the table in dissatisfaction. “Brother Yang, what was that about? Why did you let that fool get away?”
“We could have tricked him first and then made him take the blame for us!”
But goat-bearded Yang Lou just stroked his beard and said unhurriedly, “Don’t rush, Brother Wang.”
“Think about it again… Young people like Lu Yao, deep down, they’re mostly indignant about the injustices they see. I just exploited that point.”
Yang Lou curled the corner of his mouth, smiling sinisterly.
“Although he refused on the surface, I know that people like him will never just stand by and watch others suffer.”
“I believe he will definitely make contact on his own. Then, even if things go wrong, we can be completely cleared of suspicion. Kill two birds with one stone.”
“…But what about my personal safety?” After hearing Yang Lou’s words, Wang Chengle’s dissatisfaction gradually subsided, but he still couldn’t help asking about his own safety.
“Hmm…”
Yang Lou thought for a moment, then shrugged. “You’ll have to fend for yourself on that one, Brother Wang.”
“…Tch!” Wang Chengle slammed the table hard when he heard that.
While the two inside the room were arguing, in the corridor outside—
Liu Yao walked along the path leading out of Dawn Spring Courtyard, but her face no longer wore the usual peaceful smile. Her expression was cold, her steps hurried.
Liu Yao was deep in thought, but her feet kept moving without stopping toward the exit.