The Story Of Dusk

Both of them were looking at Xiao Jun as though he was the center of gravity while the man apparently ignored the weird gazes that threw at his direction.

"Why? You can"t do that?" Xiao Jun raised his eyebrows defiantly.

Finding a group of a.s.sa.s.sin was an easy task, but if the target was the current crown prince of the formidable country like Azura, who would want to take the job?

Under the table, Qianru tugged his sleeves as a sign of asking if he really wanted to kill Xiao w.a.n.g Wei? But, Xiao Jun flipped her hand and held her instead.

"Prince, prince Xiao Jun, let this humble one think about this thoroughly." Long Tianmo a little bit stuttered when he replied.

"Very well, I will give you time to think." Xiao Jun reached the tea pot and started to brew his own tea. "Until I finish make a cup of tea for my wife."

Long Tianmo, who was initially had relaxed a bit because Xiao Jun had willing to give him time, didn"t know whether to laugh or cry when he heard the time that he gave him.

If Xiao Jun only gave him time until he could serve a cup of tea for his wife, than it meant, time for him to think was less than seven minutes.

How he could make a big decision within that short time? He thought Xiao Jun would at least gave him three days!

"Jun, I think Mr. Long wants to say something." Qianru glanced at the inn owner who had opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, couldn"t muster courage to say a word.

Xiao Jun kept doing his job; make a tea for Qianru, she slightly soaked because of the rain and Xiao Jun didn"t want her to catch a cold.

"Are you done? What your answer?" Xiao Jun asked without looking at the man who was fidgeting on his seat uncomfortably.

"Prince… Prince Xiao Jun could you give this humble one, three days? No!" Long Tianmo shook his head vigorously. "Give me one day, one day is enough." He said hurriedly, corrected himself.

Three days would be too long for Xiao Jun.

"Then, you can forget it. Mr. Long, you can get the money from the information about the golden auction when you are out of this room. I will pay generously for my visit in your inn." He dismissed him heartlessly.

With that being said, there wouldn"t be any deal between them and Long Tianmo wouldn"t be able to secure any deal with Xiao Jun.

The privilege from this prince was more worthy than the money that he would offer! He couldn"t lose such a profit, but how he could fulfill his order, if Xiao w.a.n.g Wei was died in this black market, there would be many hidden spy around to find the murderer.

The worse case, he could lose his head, but…

"I will find the a.s.sa.s.sin, but with condition." Long Tianmo hastily found the way out for himself. His greediness got the best of him.

"Speak." Only then Xiao Jun was willing to look at his eyes and continued their discussion.

"This humble one knows a group of a.s.sa.s.sin that could carry this order, but I will just provide the information, for the negotiation about the price and whether they want to do it or not, this humble one couldn"t involve further." Long Tianmo said, relieve with his own thought to avoid the future problem.

With that, if Xiao w.a.n.g Wei really got killed, no one could track that matter toward him, it would be one on one deal between the group of a.s.sa.s.sin and Xiao Jun.

"You know how to save yourself." Xiao Jun said with mocking tone. "Alright, I will give you the previous spot in capital city, the same spot like the one I had revoked from Nangong Yunyi."

"That spot is really good and this humble one heard Nangong Yunyi had been making a lot of profit by trading there, however, there is one spot that this humble one desired and only Prince Xiao Jun could grant the access." Long Tianmo started to bare his greediness.

Xiao Jun smirked, he knew exactly what this old fellow wanted, but still feigned his ignorance. "What is it?"

"The crystal road." Long Tianmo"s eyes glimmered with rapacity.

"Crystal road." Xiao Jun hummed. "You are very well informed Mr. Long." He praised him.

Crystal Road was a path between Rockstone Kingdom and Azura capital city. This was the fastest and the safest way to reach Azura capital city from Rockstone kingdom.

Free from hoodlums because this was within Black Sword Clan"s territory. However, most of the time this path only used by the Shadow Guard as training ground, no one ever used this path for trading except for salt.

Yes, the salt that was consumed by majority of Azura"s people was transported from crystal road.

Salt was significant thing for every countries, one could use satin instead of silk for their clothes, but no one could use sugar instead of salt.

Not many people knew about this, outsider always thought that Black Sword Clan had monopolized the crystal road for their own benefit, because all the tribute for every pa.s.sing carriages would go to Black Sword Clan directly, it was an old agreement between Black Sword Clan and the Emperor of Azura long time ago.

But, the truth was Xiao Jun and Xiao Tianyao shared twenty percent each from it. This was their biggest income except from their other business.

"But, I am afraid I couldn"t help you with that." Xiao Jun still played his ignorance card. "As you and other people know, Crystal road is under Elder Dam, not me."

Long Tianmo chuckled lightly. "You are too kind Prince Xiao Jun. This humble one is not "other people" and knows very clear about the twenty percent under Prince Xiao Jun"s possession."

Xiao Jun gave him side look while contemplating his next answer. "Five percent." He said.

"Let make it ten percent." Long Tianmo bargained boldly. "Get rid of the crown prince is not an easy job, my highness."

"I will find one way or another to get rid of him." Xiao Jun didn"t budge.

"Prince Xiao Jun, only in the black market you can plan something like this openly. This is a good opportunity that heaven has given to you." Long Tianmo said persuasively.

"Heaven will give me abundant opportunity to exact my revenge, don"t you worry about it." Xiao Jun gave a cup of tea to Qianru cold hands. "Your hands are so cold." He mumbled under his breath.

"It"s alright." Qianru forced a smile while received the warm cup of tea.

The weather and rain from before had nothing to do with her cold hands, but rather their discussion that make Qianru shivered.

How could Xiao Jun make a dangerous demand like that? The problem with the kingdom of Rockstone still made her worry and now he wanted to add one more attempt on his life!

"It"s already late and Princess Xiao needs to arrest, so do I." The impatient in Xiao Jun"s tone was obvious. "Five percent with a spot in the capital city or leave with the payment for the chamber." He didn"t leave any room for further negotiation.

The inn owner looked so trouble with Xiao Jun"s way to seal the deal. In the end, temptations for having share of crystal road won his conscience.

"Alright." He relented. Five percent didn"t sound too shabby, moreover he got a crucial spot in the capital city, to think about this again, this was still a good dealt. "Give this humble one a day to locate them." By saying "them", Long Tianmo implied the group of a.s.sa.s.sins.

"I expect I will have heard news from you before sunset." Xiao Jun helped Qianru to stand up.

Long Tianmo also stood up and spread the sickening smile on his lips again. "Let this humble one leads the way to your chamber." He waved his hand respectfully as he let Xiao Jun and Qianru to walk out of the room first.

*** 

"Jun." Qianru couldn"t help it, the moment the door just closed she had tugged his sleeves, demanding an explanation.

"I know." Xiao Jun shushed her. "Freshen up first and let"s eat dinner, after that I will answer your questions."

Qianru wanted to argue, but she knew to not do that, Xiao Jun had willing to give her the explanation, therefore she shouldn"t argue over it.

However, when Qianru was about to go to the bathroom to wash all the dirt from her body, she saw Xiao Jun was about to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Qianru asked apprehensively, she followed him to the door hastily and tugged his sleeves to stop him.

"Be good and stay here." Xiao Jun cupped her face in his palms. "There is a matter that I need to take care of. I will ask someone to bring the dinner and I will be right back when the dinner ready." He said softly.

Qianru didn"t say anything when she watched his figure disappeared behind the closed door. She sighed tiredly.

It was always the same reasons every time.

Qianru felt slightly dejected.

She patted her cheeks to cheer up herself, trying to think at the bright side, before Xiao Jun wouldn"t let her know wherever he was gone, but now here she was, accompanying him in his journey.

She should be more patient and understanding, rushing him to open up with her completely needed time and both of them were trying to get into that point.

With that thought, Qianru went to the bathroom and freshen up while waiting for the dinner to be delivered.

*** 

The ray of the sun warmed Qianru"s face and stung her eyes when she tried to open them. She raised her hand to block the ray of the light, but her back felt like split into two. She groaned under her breath, slightly moved her body, but the unwelcomed pain washed her body once again.

Her arms felt numb and her neck was so stiff.

Only when she could adjust her eyes under the glaring light of the sun and looked at the cold dishes in front of her, another waves of pain hit her, but this time from within.

She could feel the ripple of disappointment crushing her heart.

He didn"t return. He lied again.

Qianru looked at the cold dishes on the plate impa.s.sively. Because he said he would return and having dinner together, she foolishly waiting for him and didn"t eat even a grain of rice.

She must be falling asleep because of tiredness, hoping Xiao Jun would come and woke her up to eat together. But, even when the sun had risen, he didn"t fulfill his words.

Since when Xiao Jun became someone whose words couldn"t trust?

Qianru felt the sharp pain on her stomach, she was hungry and her body demanded for her to eat something as she couldn"t eat the cold dishes in front of her.

Her disappointment grew thicker every time she breathe, it felt so heavy as if someone had shoved gravels to her throat down to her lung.

Her body wobbling when she tried to stand up, gripped tightly at the edge of the table for support, Qianru tried to steady her numbing feet.

She dozed off, while waiting for Xiao Jun, on the table by resting her head on her arms, no wonder she could feel her body aching all over because of her poor sleeping position.

Staggering, Qianru made her way toward the door, she opened it slightly only to find Feng Jin, one of the guards who came with them, was guarding her door dutifully.

He was a young man in his teen age, but had excellent swordsman skill, otherwise Liu Wei wouldn"t recruit him in such early age.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

He whipped his head toward Qianru"s direction when he heard the door opened. "Good morning Princess Xiao." He said respectfully, slightly bent his body.

Qianru opened her mouth to ask if Xiao Jun had returned, but bit her lips and talked in dull tone instead. "Ask someone to bring out the dishes from inside."

"Yes, Princess Xiao. Should I ask someone to deliver a breakfast as well?" When Feng Jin asked.

"Yes." Qianru agreed without even thinking.

But, when he was about to go, Qianru called him back.

"No need. I will having my breakfast at the restaurant nearby." Qianru turned around to enter her room, she needed to at least freshen up if she was about to go outside.

"But, Princess Xiao, master said you are not allowed to roaming around without him." Xiao Jun had informed him specifically to not let Qianru walked out of the inn.

"He is not here and I will just having breakfast." Qianru said rigidly as she slammed the door forcefully once she was inside.

Her heart throbbed with pain as well as her stomach, it was funny thing that she still wanted to crave something and feel her hunger.

A self- deprecation smile grazed her lips.