CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 114: HEIFENG VILLAGE

With a sword at his throat, some people would be terrified, others furious and embarrassed, but Ma Biao just reached out and flicked the sword away as if dusting off a chicken feather.

"Brother, I’m just joking with you, don’t get angry, hahaha!"

His strike was strong, the sword hummed lightly, and the man in black felt his arm go slightly numb. He looked at Ma Biao cautiously, knowing that this man possessed high martial arts skill. If Ma Biao wasn’t doing it on purpose, he would have had no chance of getting close.

While the man in black was shocked, Ma Biao was also assessing him. That sword strike was very fast, and although he was on guard, dodging it would have been difficult. This man has good skills, making him worthy of discussing business!

This small confrontation was a test; both sides felt the other was not bad and someone they could do business with.

So, Ma Biao gestured invitingly, "Come, sit down and let’s talk it over!"

"Ma, please!" The man in black and Ma Biao found a place to sit and began negotiating.

"My master wishes to ask you to handle something. Once it’s done, there will be more gold and silver as a reward; this is merely the deposit."

"Oh? Haha, well, your master is generous! Tell me, what exactly does he want?"

"The Xiliang Envoy is passing through here. My master’s intention is... to ensure they do not return."

Ma Biao’s pupils suddenly contracted, and he looked horrified: "You want me to ambush and kill the envoy? Sir, this deal can’t be done! Even if I’m just a hill bandit, I know that you can’t harm an envoy; it might lead to war between two countries! Your master is from the Capital City, why would he want to do this?"

People from the Capital City must have a background, shouldn’t they be wishing for peace instead? Why cause trouble and provoke a war?

Ma Biao felt something was fishy about this, but it wasn’t his place to ask.

"Sir, my master is determined to achieve this. If you don’t do it, we can find other villages, but once someone else benefits and surpasses you, I can’t say what might happen!"

The man in black squinted, reminding him.

Ma Biao stroked his chin, contemplating: "If this is carried out, and the court investigates, Heifeng Village can’t withstand the court’s forces."

"Ma, you are the most powerful bandit leader in the area. You should know how to do things without leaving a trace, so whether you take this deal depends on whether you are willing."

"Boss, take it, it’s just killing some foreigners, what’s to fear?"

"Exactly, boss, so much money, I’ve never seen such gold and silver in my life. With this, we can swallow up other villages!"

Ma Biao was still hesitating, but the bandits around him couldn’t contain their excitement and started clamoring.

Ma Biao glanced back at the shining gold and silver, finally made up his mind, and said angrily: "Fine, I’ll risk it. We’ll take the deal!"

"Hahaha, Boss is wise, let’s do it!"

"Let’s do it!"

For a moment, the entire village was filled with jubilation.

...

Qin Mansion.

Long Yue, Yun Niang, and Qiao’er were together, pondering over embroidery designs.

"Move this pattern over here, and the overall effect will be better, and this one..."

Long Yue was sharing her thoughts and looked up to see Qiao’er was distracted.

"Qiao’er, Qiao’er?"

"Ah? I’ll go and do it..."

Qiao’er snapped back to reality and instinctively took the embroidery out.

"Stop right there!"

Long Yue frowned slightly, feeling that this girl had been acting strangely these days, always distracted, even almost ruining an embroidery piece once.

Once could be overlooked, but if it happens two or three times, there must be something wrong.

Qiao’er is now an embroiderer at the embroidery workshop, and Long Yue felt responsible for her, and also for the workshop!

Qiao’er quickly stopped and turned around, lowering her small head, looking very obedient. Long Yue circled around her, resting her chin on her hand and asked: "These days, you’re out of sorts, are you hiding something in your heart? Tell me, let’s see if Sister Yue can help you?"

"Sister Yue, I... I’m really fine..."

This little girl is still stubborn, and Long Yue thought of using some tactics to make her talk, just at that moment, Xiang Yin came in.

"Father asked me to inform you that the thirty acres of medicine fields are growing well, maybe you should visit them someday to see if there’s any improvement needed?"

"Okay, I’ve been busy with the embroidery workshop lately, neglecting the medicine fields, it’s been hard on Uncle Xiang."

"No problem, father is quite interested in those medicinal herbs and often goes to the field."

Xiang Yin waved his hand, showing a rare, honest smile. Long Yue chuckled softly, her peripheral vision catching Qiao’er standing in the corner, her eyes fixed on Xiang Yin, not moving an inch. Long Yue immediately understood the reason for her recent distraction.

This silly girl!

She felt speechless, turned out Qiao’er had her eyes on Brother Xiang. No wonder her face sometimes turned red and pale, people who didn’t know might think she had a fever.

"Oh, Yun Niang, I just remembered, there’s an embroidery technique I’ve never managed to get right, come and take a look!"

Long Yue’s eyes lit up with an idea. She slapped the table and went over to pull Yun Niang.

"Oh, where..."

Yun Niang wanted to ask the situation, but Long Yue gave her a meaningful look, though she didn’t understand, she still followed her out.

"Qiao’er has her eyes on Brother Xiang!"

Once outside, Long Yue whispered.

Yun Niang was stunned and then joyfully said: "That’s great, I see Xiang Yin as a sincere and reliable child, marrying him would surely be Qiao’er’s good fortune!"

These days of interaction, Long Yue also thought highly of Xiang Yin, crucially, this person was a little brother of her family’s Prime Minister, often running errands to help.

For someone doing business with them, how could he be bad?

"Did you call me out to play matchmaker?"

Yun Niang peered into the room with a gossiping look.

"I would love to, but with Qiao’er’s timid nature, I fear she might run off any moment now..."

Before she finished speaking, a petite figure hurriedly emerged.

Long Yue shook her head, indeed she’s not bold, and even is quite a shy girl. If left unchecked, she might miss out on a good match.

"I’ll go have a chat with her!"

Long Yue felt it was time to give her a hand and followed up.

Qiao’er hurried back to her room, her heart still racing, her cheeks flushed. She tried hard to calm herself down, but the door creaked open, and Long Yue came in.

"Sister Yue, why are you here?"

Qiao’er was a bit stunned and asked nervously.

"Just came to see you! Why, your face is so red, people might think you have a sweetheart!"

"Oh, Sister Yue, stop joking, I..."

Being caught off guard, the little girl panicked, not knowing where to place her hands.