The Reticent Blade-Chapter 79 - Cunning Listener Ye Fan

Ultimately, Chi Nanwei followed Ye Beizhi's lead, and they enjoyed a sumptuous meal at the restaurant.

After their celebratory meal, Chi Nanwei had a question for Ye Beizhi. "Is the person who owes you money the same person we are here to look for?"

Ye Beizhi nodded.

Chi Nanwei was even more puzzled. "Would he know the whole story behind what happened to the escort agency?"

"Yes," Ye Beizhi replied, scanning the street corner, seemingly contemplating where to go next.

Chi Nanwei looked at the bustling street, feeling a bit emotional. This was her first time in the capital, and its prosperity completely dwarfed that of the Jiading Prefecture. Feeling out of sorts, she asked, "Have you been to the capital before?"

"Yes... I've been here before." Ye Beizhi pointed in a direction. "Let's go this way."

For a while, the two navigated through the busy maze of streets and alleys in the capital. The crowded streets thinned as they traveled, indicating they were moving away from the bustling areas.

Ye Beizhi led Chi Nanwei down another alley, at the end of which was an unremarkable wooden door. Ye Beizhi approached and gently knocked on the door.

Soon, a yawning servant answered the door. He gave the two a cursory glance and silently stepped aside to let them in.

As soon as Chi Nanwei stepped inside, she felt a sense of openness and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! I didn't expect that there would be such a refined and tranquil place within the hustle and bustle of the capital!"

The servant that was leading them turned and made a shushing gesture to Chi Nanwei. She hurriedly closed her mouth.

After walking a short distance and up a set of stone steps, they came to a hall with its doors open, as if welcoming guests. The words "Listening Storm Pavilion" were inscribed above the door.

The servant leading Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei bowed, and then left.

Ye Beizhi guided Chi Nanwei into the hall, where a person who appeared to be the manager was seated at a table and flipping through accounts.

Hearing someone enter, he did not lift his head and said, "Please enter for tea. Make yourselves at home."

"Is this a teahouse?" Chi Nanwei asked curiously.

The manager finally looked up at Chi Nanwei's question, and couldn't help but smile with amusement. "You two seem unfamiliar, so I assume this is your first visit?"

Chi Nanwei nodded quickly, but Ye Beizhi frowned. He stepped forward, and rapped a finger against the table. "Call Ye Fan out."

The manager's eyes twitched as he examined the unfamiliar man. The man before him wore a calm expression and spoke with a neutral tone, making it hard for the manager to discern what he was here for.

Uncertain if the man was out for revenge or had some other purpose, the manager took a step back and asked, "What is your business with my master?" While speaking, he discreetly reached toward cabinet behind him.

"If you press that..." Ye Beizhi didn't move as he tracked the manager’s hidden hand. "Your head will roll."

The manager froze and gulped anxiously, not daring to move.

"Go call Ye Fan out," Ye Beizhi said, pausing to add, "Say it's his creditor."

Seeing that Ye Beizhi made no aggressive moves, the manager thought momentarily, then cupped his hands towards Ye Beizhi and said, "Please wait here a moment. I will inform my master." With that, he strolled toward the back of the hall.

Ye Beizhi brought Chi Nanwei to a nearby table to wait. Soon enough, a servant served them tea.

With wide eyes, Chi Nanwei looked around and whispered to Ye Beizhi, "Dummy, I feel like something's not quite right here."

Ye Beizhi's lips twitched as if he was about to break out into a smile. He waved his hand to reassure her.

Before Chi Nanwei could say anything else, someone lifted the door curtain at the back of the hall and walked out. Chi Nanwei quickly sat up straight on her stool, adopting an elegant demeanor.

The person who entered was dressed in a long scholar's robe without the matching scholar's cap. His long, tousled hair was casually spread over his back. In his hand, he held a white jade folding fan. He entered with bleary, bloodshot eyes, and it seemed like he had arrived in a hurry after just waking up.

As soon as he lifted the curtain, he fixed his gaze on Ye Beizhi. However, since Ye Beizhi was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, his appearance was unclear.

The person pointed at Ye Beizhi with the fan, stuttering, "You, you, you." for a while without being able to speak.

Ye Beizhi removed his hat and looked at the person. "Long time no see... Cunning Listener."

"Stormqueller... it's really you?!" The person’s expression changed drastically, his face filled with shock. "You dare... you dare... come to the capital?! Are you really willing to risk your life for that escort agency?!"

"So you actually know what happened?!" Chi Nanwei exclaimed in disbelief.

It seemed like he just noticed Chi Nanwei, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, his flustered demeanor became suave and charming. "Ah... this must be Miss Chi Nanwei, right? It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Ye Fan. If there were any shortcomings in my hospitality, please forgive me."

Chi Nanwei felt awkward at his words and repeatedly waved her hands, "No, no... ah... your hospitality was very good."

Cling— A crisp sound of a blade being drawn rang through the hall.

In the next moment, Ye Beizhi’s blade was on its way to Ye Fan’s neck, but a white jade folding fan was perfectly positioned to block the path of the Tang blade.

"As verbose as ever," Ye Beizhi said flatly.

"And you’re still as tight-lipped as ever." Ye Fan closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Uh... what’s going on with you two?" Chi Nanwei felt lost. She just saw them talk peacefully, before turning their weapons upon each other only to talk peacefully again.

"Stormqueller... give it up. It’s already a miracle that you're still alive," Ye Fan said with a sigh.

Ye Beizhi sheathed his knife without responding to him and said, "Find me a place to stay, something safe... And enough money for Chi Nanwei and me."

Ye Fan smiled wryly. "It seems you already know the truth behind what happened to the escort agency."

Ye Beizhi nodded. "You’ve already told me all I need to know."

"Are you really going to kill that person?" Ye Fan pressed with narrowed eyes.

Wordlessly, Ye Beizhi drank the tea in his cup, then beckoned Chi Nanwei and turned to leave.

"Even if you can kill him... can you come back alive?!" Ye Fan shouted, causing leaves in the courtyard to rustle and fall.

At this point, Ye Beizhi had reached the entrance of the hall. He paused without turning around, then spoke slowly, "They won’t be able to stop me."

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"Shut up!" Ye Fan exploded frustratedly. "It’s always the same thing... You are so self-righteous! And arrogant! The government will catch you and execute you sooner or later! Go to hell!"

Ignoring Ye Fan ranting behind him, Ye Beizhi led Chi Nanwei back onto the street.

Chi Nanwei was not foolish... although she did not fully understand what the two were alluding to earlier, she was quite clear about what Ye Beizhi intended to do.

Chi Nanwei was also smart enough to know she could not dissuade him, so she chose not to broach the topic.

"That Ye Fan..." Chi Nanwei tapped her chin with her finger. "Who exactly is he? He really seems to know everything..."

"He... is known as the Cunning Listener, Ye Fan." Ye Beizhi handed Chi Nanwei the note Ye Fan had given him earlier. "He claims to know everything on earth and in every corner of the world... He’s the most skilled information broker around."

Chi Nanwei took the note, opened it, and saw it read: Hulu Street, Fuzhao Courtyard.

Chi Nanwei looked up at Ye Beizhi. "Where's this?"

Ye Beizhi smiled faintly. "It’s where we will be staying for a while."