A City Swept by Wind and Snow GL - Chapter 4

◎As an assassin, his personality is unexpectedly lively!◎

Seeing the murderous intent in Xue Qianxun’s eyes, Jin Se flicked her sleeve: “It’s getting late, I’m off!” and turned to leave.

“Wait.” Xue Qianxun grabbed her cloak, pulling her back with force. Jin Se looked straight at her, eyes sparkling with innocence—a captivating sight. Xue Qianxun said, “I have a question for you.”

“Hmm,” Jin Se pretended to realize something, smiling like spring flowers in bloom, “You want to ask the secret to eternal beauty?—Here’s the secret! First, always keep a smile, and never, yes, never make the expression you’re wearing now!” She raised two fingers, lifting Xue Qianxun’s lips, but halfway through her speech, she was cut off by Xue Qianxun pressing her cold fingers over her warm lips.

“I want to ask: how far have you advanced in your ‘Playing With You’ Technique’?”

“This is good,” Jin Se ignored her, exhaling deeply, expression serious: “Someone finally cleared the suspicion of assassinating the Zhuang King. My Spring River Courtyard is finally safe.” She looked at Xue Qianxun and smiled generously: “No need to thank me. If you really want to, just return those three pearls—I picked them up, after all.” She blinked innocently as she spoke.

Xue Qianxun sneered: “Who’s thanking you? I could have handled it myself.”

“How? The King clearly wants seven pearls. Are you going to say you mistook three of them for tangyuan [sweet dumplings] and ate them?”

“I’ll just say the three pearls were stolen. If he doesn’t believe it, he can search all he wants. If they’re found in your room…” Xue Qianxun bit her lip, smirking mischievously.

“Hah,” Jin Se scoffed, “Qianxun, you’re the best at scaring people! I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

As they spoke, a faint sound came from outside. Xue Qianxun didn’t notice, but Jin Se’s expression suddenly stiffened. Her gaze locked onto a tiny tear in the window screen, no larger than half a fingernail. She immediately broke free of Xue Qianxun’s hand and leapt outside. Yet outside, only the softly falling snow was visible—no figure in sight, not a single footprint in the pristine snow.

Xue Qianxun chased after her, pouting: “Don’t try to weasel out of this one!”

Jin Se made a “hush” gesture, expression serious: “Quiet, someone’s here.” She pointed at the tear in the screen: “It wasn’t here when I came in.”

Xue Qianxun trusted Jin Se’s judgment and fell silent, secretly hoping the intruder wasn’t sent by Zhuang King. She heard the faint jingling of bells, followed by Jin Se softly calling: “Xiao Xue.”

Distracted, Xue Qianxun instinctively replied. Jin Se smiled and tapped her nose lightly: “I didn’t call you.” Xue Qianxun realized then that the mischievous little white fox had suddenly stiffened, leaping into the air with a silent, dazzling flash of blue in its eyes. Xue Qianxun instinctively stepped back, and Jin Se reached out to steady her.

The little white fox leapt from the doorway, touching down lightly on the ground like a white dragon, soaring toward the rooftop. A terrified howl erupted from above, mixed with whimpering curses: “I just pried open a window! Haven’t even seen anything yet!”

Jin Se raised her eyebrows: “Caught a prey.” She grasped Xue Qianxun’s hand and stepped outside.

Looking up, Xue Qianxun saw a young man in a brightly patterned brocade robe on the rooftop, howling and flailing as he fought with the little white fox.

“Is Xiao Xue alright?” she asked.

Jin Se remained silent, eyes fixed on the fox. After a moment, she spat and said, “Bastard. This guy is asking for death,” then pushed off the ground and leapt onto the roof.

Xue Qianxun looked pityingly at the flower-patterned young man: “Thanks to you, that fight would normally leave someone beaten to a pulp, wouldn’t it?”

Tang Fei, ignored by Jin Se, became frustrated and shouted: “I am the one and only, unrivaled assassin—Three Blades! Look at my treasured blade—‘Moonlike Hook’!”

Xue Qianxun was startled. Jin Se quickly turned her head, interested: “Three Blades?”

“Yes!” Tang Fei declared resolutely, but seeing Jin Se’s face, his tone softened. “To be honest, I am the famous assassin Three Blades. Ah, of course, this is a secret. If you weren’t pretty, I wouldn’t tell you!”

“Three Blades is already dead,” Xue Qianxun said lightly, “It happened eight or nine days ago. I suppose it’s spreading in the martial world.” She turned, eyes drawn to the blade he displayed. It indeed resembled the Moonlike Hook, the same weapon Three Blades wielded.

Tang Fei noticed her now, taking in her pale, jade-like complexion, clear eyes, and a natural aura of chilling fierceness. Her figure was elegant and tall, not delicate, and though youthful, her black attire amidst the snow gave her a unique, captivating charm compared to Jin Se’s radiant beauty.

Tang Fei swallowed, eyes darting back and forth between the two women.

Xue Qianxun and Jin Se approached him slowly. Xue Qianxun’s cold gaze met him: “Speak. Who exactly are you?”

Tang Fei suddenly stomped and shouted: “Ah, what a hard choice! Don’t come closer! Don’t ask me which one I like better! Such a painful choice!” He swung his multicolored sleeves, grabbed his head, and, as the women approached, flew straight into the sky, vanishing like fireworks.

Jin Se pointed at the empty night sky: “That multicolored guy… Three Blades?”

Xue Qianxun told Jin Se: “The Three Blades I saw had a covered face. But thinking back, their brows and eyes were indeed similar, and the blade he carried looked like the Moonlike Hook. Only… his flamboyant outfit was really unexpected.”

Jin Se nodded: “As an assassin, his personality is far too lively!”

The following morning, normally the Spring River Courtyard would be quiet. Most girls were still in bed, the fragrance of last night’s festivities lingering. Yet today was different. At dawn, the four first-class beauties from the central building rushed to Jin Se’s room, flustered, like startled squirrels.

Leading the group, Ruhu exclaimed: “Unbelievable, Boss! There’s a flower spirit wreaking havoc in my room!”

Jin Se lazily turned in bed: “How do you know it’s a flower spirit?”

Ruhu confidently: “He’s colorful, flying, and jumping!”

Jin Se, already aware, asked: “How is he wreaking havoc?”

Ruhu indignantly: “He hugs and kisses me!”

Jin Se was puzzled: “Is that such a big deal? Plenty of people hug and kiss you.”

Ruhu wailed: “But he didn’t pay!”

Jin Se suddenly understood: “Ah, that’s serious.” She handed Ruhu a handkerchief: “Were you frightened?”

Ruhu, fists on hips, huffed: “Except for Haozi [the mouse], I’ve never met another creature who made me lose my composure!”

Jin Se smiled knowingly, gently patting her head: “Good. Tonight, if you see him again, make sure to demand interest.”

Just as Jin Se escorted Ruhu out, the startled, squirrel-like Ruyu arrived. Jin Se frowned: “Little squirrel, did you meet the flower spirit too?”

Ruyu nodded, tears streaming. Jin Se asked again: “Colorful, flying, jumping?” Ruyu nodded again.

“Did he hug and kiss you?” Jin Se asked. Ruyu nodded repeatedly.

Jin Se gently comforted her: “You were frightened, weren’t you?”

Ruyu cried: “I thought he would take me to the demon world as his flower spirit bride and I’d never see you again!”

Jin Se hugged her shoulder: “Good child. Imagine whatever you like! Tonight, no customers. Sleep in my next room.”

As Ruhu and Ruyu calmed down, Ruman and Ruhan ran in: “Boss! Wuwu…”

Jin Se asked: “Colorful, flying, jumping?” They nodded in surprise.

“And hugging and kissing?” Nodded firmly.

Seeing their pale, frightened faces, Jin Se said: “Scared, weren’t you?” They nodded: not only were they scared, but that flower spirit also beat up their clients.

“I don’t care about that,” Jin Se gritted her teeth, “but he crossed my line.”

Ruhu, focused on her own calculations, grabbed the others: “How much money did he give you?” Ruman and Ruhan, knowing Ruhu’s influence, quickly hid behind Jin Se.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Jin Se was furious: “Damn it! How many of my girls did he bully?!”

A faint voice: “What’s the matter, Jin Se?”

It was Xue Qianxun. She sat across from Jin Se, realizing that this time, Jin Se was truly angry—their atmosphere reminded her of when Jin Se took over the Spring River Courtyard a year ago.

After hearing the story from Ruman and Ruhan, Xue Qianxun knew that Tang Fei had not left the Courtyard last night, and she understood why Jin Se was so furious.

Although Spring River Courtyard was a brothel, Jin Se did not tolerate anyone bullying her girls. A year ago, when a noble tried to force one of her singers to accompany him, Jin Se didn’t hesitate to cut off his hand: “Touch her hand, I cut yours. Touch her face, I take your head!” Later, the noble sent dozens of thugs, but Zhuang King intervened.

Now, this colorful intruder had made four girls cry in one night—undoubtedly, he had caused trouble.

Regardless of whether Tang Fei was truly the assassin Three Blades, one thing was undeniable: his martial arts were extraordinary.

On the rooftop, Jin Se fought him. Though he hadn’t seen her face, he knew his opponent was a woman and lightly said, “I won’t hurt you.” Jin Se, however, made no concessions, attacking with the intention of teaching him a lesson for half a month. Tang Fei remained unharmed, his subtle, precise defense proving far more formidable than any fierce offense.

Jin Se realized this man was difficult to deal with and didn’t want He Qi Shu to intervene. After all, the favors of the Zhuang King weren’t easily endured.

Xue Qianxun said: “No matter what, we have to catch him first.”

Jin Se bit her finger, frowning: “He comes and goes without a trace. Where should we catch him?”

Xue Qianxun smiled mischievously: “Seduce him!”

Jin Se instantly blushed a bright, rosy red.

Xue Qianxun continued: “With so many beauties in Spring River Courtyard, you know which room he’ll visit first. Dress up beautifully, make him follow you to your room.”

Jin Se looked at Xue Qianxun plaintively: “You little wolf cub…”

“Boss! Wuwu…” Ruhu, Ruyu, Ruman, and Ruhan gazed at her pitifully.

“Enough! Stop crying, little darlings!” Jin Se made up her mind: “Fine! Let him die in my room!”