The potential conflict, on the verge of erupting, was instantly diffused by the appearance of the old man with a long beard.
Much like Yan Shouyi's reaction, Zhu Ling was also sizing up the old man with the long beard.
"So it's him," Zhu Ling murmured to himself.
Yan Shouyi quickly asked, "Does Elder Zhu know the identity of that gentleman?"
"Qin Tianxing, known as Master Qin Six. His ancestors had a distinguished background and vast wealth. This entire Xiao Dongmen, as far as your eyes can see, comprises his shops," Zhu Ling stated.
Yan Shouyi was inwardly shocked. This Master Qin Six was the true power broker of the area!
Zhu Ling continued, "There are still a few people like Master Qin Six in Chang'an, each controlling an antique market. Xiao Dongmen's public order is relatively good precisely because of Master Qin Six's presence. It's said that Master Qin Six cannot tolerate any nonsense. Anyone who dares to cheat or cause trouble in his territory will be unhesitatingly expelled and forbidden from ever setting foot in Xiao Dongmen again."
Yan Shouyi sighed. Having property truly made one influential!
An ordinary person would be proud to own one apartment, but this Qin Tianxing, Master Qin Six, directly controlled an entire street. He could drive away anyone he disliked without caring about money, simply because he had so many properties and shops, he didn't lack that much.
Judging by Qin Tianxing's countenance, he indeed appeared to be an upright person. However, he was alone, and it was impossible for him to constantly monitor this vast Xiao Dongmen, which had allowed that stall owner to exploit loopholes earlier.
He hadn't expected Ma Jinxuan to be looking for Master Qin Six this time when she came to Xiao Dongmen.
With Master Qin Six's appearance and the expulsion of the swindler and thugs, other stall owners came forward to greet and show their favor. Master Qin Six engaged in a brief exchange with them.
After finishing his greetings, Master Qin Six approached Yan Shouyi and his group. He lowered himself and cupped his fists, apologizing, "My management of Xiao Dongmen has been inadequate, causing trouble for you all."
Yan Shouyi and Zhu Ling quickly shook their heads, stating that Master Qin Six was too polite.
Master Qin Six continued, "I prefer tranquility, and my home rarely hosts strangers, which is why Jinxuan came to find me alone. However, upon learning of the presence of disciples from folk sects here, I hurried over. I cannot let guests wait outside. Please do me the honor of visiting my humble abode."
Master Qin Six was polite and down-to-earth in his speech, showing no airs due to his age. Everyone's impression of him improved considerably.
Yan Shouyi happily accepted and introduced Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi to Master Qin Six. As Master Qin Six was also from a traditional background, he understood folk sects and naturally had heard of Fengyi Xuan's reputation. Therefore, when he learned that Zhu Ling from Fengyi Xuan was present, Master Qin Six was greatly surprised and immediately invited them to accompany him.
As they followed Master Qin Six towards his residence, Zhu Huansi, with her head lowered, approached Yan Shouyi, hesitant to speak. Yan Shouyi's attention was focused on Master Qin Six, and he hadn't noticed Zhu Huansi following behind. It was the meticulous Lin Zitong who noticed and intentionally tugged on Yan Shouyi's clothes, saying, "Huansi has something to tell you."
"Oh?" Yan Shouyi turned his head and saw Zhu Huansi's face flushed red, her words caught in her throat.
Yan Shouyi waved his hand, "Did your grandfather send you to apologize to us?"
Zhu Huansi shook her head. "Grandfather didn't say anything. I wanted to apologize myself, and also to thank you."
"Oh, no need to be polite." Yan Shouyi hadn't paid much attention to Zhu Huansi's matter. In his eyes, Zhu Huansi, like Cui Yu from the Qiantang Funeral Home earlier, was just a naive, chuunibyo teenager. Despite their blustering and seemingly powerful demeanor, someone would eventually teach them a lesson. Cui Yu had grown after being disciplined, but Zhu Huansi still had a ways to go. Today's deception was just the beginning; there would be a second and third time. Besides, the one who should be anxious and concerned was Zhu Ling, not Yan Shouyi, so his attitude was very nonchalant.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's completely indifferent demeanor, Zhu Huansi felt a bit dejected. She walked to the back of the group, put on a crestfallen face, and said to Zhu Ling, "Grandpa, am I very annoying?"
"Am I?" Zhu Ling looked at Zhu Huansi with a half-smile. Zhu Huansi was not foolish; seeing Zhu Ling's schadenfreude, she understood his meaning. Thus, her originally flamboyant personality gradually began to temper.
Now that she had calmed down, and looking at Yan Shouyi and his group again, Zhu Huansi realized that although they seemed carefree and boisterous, they were actually very disciplined. Except for Long Feicheng, who occasionally whistled at pretty girls by the roadside, and Old Jin and Weng Qianxiang, who sometimes displayed lecherous expressions... However, it was Yan Shouyi who surprised Zhu Huansi the most. He was only a few years older than her, yet he could converse so congenially with her grandfather and Master Qin Six, something Zhu Huansi could absolutely not do. For a moment, Zhu Huansi found herself admiring Yan Shouyi.
Master Qin Six's residence was situated on a high point of Xiao Dongmen, offering a panoramic view of the entire district. This location was remarkably similar to Zhang Shantong's haunted house in Sanfang Qixiang, both being excellent places for tranquility amidst the bustle. The difference was that Master Qin Six's house was adorned with antiques everywhere; every object visible exuded an ancient, weathered, and profound sense of history, as if even the plants and trees held stories.
Ma Jinxuan introduced, "Master Six ventured out with my master when he was young. Although not true tomb raiders, they were considered semi-practitioners. Later, Master Six retired from the profession, returned to Chang'an, and took over the family's Xiao Dongmen."
Long Feicheng exclaimed with envy and jealousy, "A second-generation rich kid's failed startup leading to inheriting the family business, what an inspiring story!"
Weng Qianxiang also revealed a look of longing, "Since I was a child, I always felt I was the illegitimate son of some billionaire, but I'm already this old, and my billionaire father still hasn't shown up."
Master Qin Six was amused by the remarks of these two.
As everyone walked into the courtyard and before they could sit down, Yan Shouyi couldn't help but ask Ma Jinxuan, "Didn't you come to inquire about Ma Xingping's whereabouts? How is it going?"
Mentioning her brother, a complex expression appeared on Ma Jinxuan's face. Master Qin Six sighed and spoke for Ma Jinxuan, "Xingping arrived here a few days ago."
"Ah?" Yan Shouyi and the others were surprised. Does this mean Ma Xingping had already escaped from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor? Although they were very curious about what Ma Xingping had experienced, they were relieved to know he was out safely.
"Then where is he now?" Long Feicheng asked.
Master Qin Six glanced at Ma Jinxuan. Ma Jinxuan went into the inner room and shortly returned, pushing a wheelchair. In the wheelchair sat a man so emaciated he was skin and bones, motionless and on the verge of death. From his facial contours, one could vaguely recognize Ma Xingping, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.