"Since the Lord of the Trade Route is so fearsome, why are we getting involved? If the Lord of the Trade Route finds out, will we even survive?" the Guo brothers asked, a hint of fear in their voices.
Chang Yan's lips curled into a smile that barely reached his mouth. "What are you afraid of? We haven't lifted a finger. We're information brokers. It's not wrong for us to watch from the sidelines. Shangguan Jin has been too high-profile for too long. So many people covet this trade route. It's already showing respect that they're only acting against her now."
Chang Yan suddenly fell silent, the smile vanishing from his face. Were those people acting against Shangguan Jin now because they were certain she was no longer alive?
The Guo brothers asked with uncertainty, "Master Chang, is this trade route going to change hands?"
Chang Yan didn't answer. His gaze swept towards the depths of the desert. His eyesight was excellent, allowing him to see far. Whether it was his imagination or not, he thought he saw someone in the distance.
"Master Chang?"
Chang Yan turned around, his smile returning to his face. "Pass down the order. Instruct our people to keep a close eye on Xing Tang Road. Don't let anyone entering Xing Tang Road escape our notice."
"Yes, Master Chang." Su Dan Novel Network.
Chang Yan took a puff of his cigarette and exhaled, forming white smoke rings. The rings coalesced, transforming into a running fox before dissipating into the air.
A woman appeared by Chang Yan's side. She was beautiful and alluring, yet her expression was cold, like a aloof wildcat, her face devoid of any discernible emotion.
"Alan, are you happy?" Chang Yan sat down in his chair. Alan immediately sat on his lap, snuggling into his embrace like a spoiled, aloof cat.
"I know you're happy too." Chang Yan held his pipe in one hand and Alan's waist in the other, his smile deepening. Those who knew him would recognize this as the prelude to another scheme.
"After so many years, it's time to leave this place," Chang Yan said softly. "And the only one who can help us leave is her."
Chang Yan's emotions were complex. His greatest skill was gathering information, but Xing Tang Road was too small for him to fully utilize his talents. He had too many enemies and couldn't leave rashly without risking his life. Only that person could provide him with a place to find refuge and establish himself.
Yet, ever since he had arrived in Xing Tang Road, he had never seen her again, nor had he received any news from her. It was as if he had been forgotten, destined to grow old and merge with the vast desert, leaving no trace.
"For some reason, I always feel she's still alive, hidden in some unknown corner, continuing to plan her grand ambitions. But I also fear, I fear she's truly dead." Chang Yan's expression became incredibly complex. "Are you curious why I'm not stopping this? Because, not just them, even I want to know if she's still alive. If she's alive, and Shangguan Jin meets misfortune, she will surely come to Xing Tang Road. I'll wait for her here!"
Qin Xue had scoured Xing Tang Road from top to bottom but found no useful clues. However, she was certain that Shangguan Jin and her party had met their misfortune *after* leaving the inn.
Susu, holding a bowl of plain noodles, stood by the counter, eating and chatting with the innkeeper. "Innkeeper, is business always this good here every day?"
"How could it be? Business has only been exceptionally good these past few days. All the rooms are full, even my small attic is occupied." The innkeeper leaned her hands on the counter. "Are the noodles tasty?"
"Delicious, especially springy. This is my second bowl. Why are your noodles so good?" Susu asked curiously.
"This is a secret recipe. You won't find noodles this springy anywhere else but here," the innkeeper said proudly. "Looking at your group, you don't seem like merchants. Why have you come to Xing Tang Road?"
"Ah, don't even mention it." Susu continued eating. "It's all our future son-in-law's fault. He was supposed to marry our young lady, but he stole her betrothal gifts before the wedding and eloped with the wife of Old Wang next door. Our young lady was furious and chased after him with us, all the way to Xing Tang Road, where we lost his trail."
"What? Such a shameless, despicable man!" The innkeeper slammed the table in anger. "If I ever met a man like that, I'd slap him a few times and then chop off one of his legs, so he could never be a man again for the rest of his life!"
Susu flinched. "Master Shangguan, I'm sorry. I'm only doing this to gather information, not to intentionally tarnish your reputation!"
"Exactly. Our young lady isn't one to cling. She just wants to retrieve her million-dollar dowry. You know, that dowry is enough for an ordinary person to live without worry for several lifetimes. Now, we just want to get the young lady's dowry back!" Susu finished the last sip of broth in her bowl, set it down, and then pulled a portrait from her embrace, unfolding it for the innkeeper to see.
"Innkeeper, you're the only inn in Xing Tang Road. Please take a look, have you seen this faithless man?"
The innkeeper's gaze swept over the person in the portrait. Her previously curious expression softened considerably. Just as she was about to say she hadn't seen him, the waiter approached.
"Hey, isn't this a guest who stayed at our inn a few days ago?"
"You're mistaken. We haven't had anyone like this stay here." The innkeeper immediately retorted, giving the waiter a subtle glance. The waiter immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out and scurried away.
"Innkeeper, please take a closer look. It's this person. He stole my young lady's dowry, disguised himself as a merchant, intending to abscond with my young lady's dowry." Susu said somewhat urgently. "You must help us."
"Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I truly haven't seen this person."
Susu sighed. "If even you haven't seen him, others probably haven't either. My young lady is truly pathetic. To be abandoned before her wedding is one thing, but to have her dowry, her means of livelihood, stolen! What will she do next..."
As she spoke, Susu began to cry at the entrance of the inn. The innkeeper, seeing her cry, quickly comforted her. "If I see this faithless man, I'll tell you."
"Innkeeper, thank you. You're such a kind person." Susu wiped the tears from her face and, holding Shangguan Jin's portrait, went to ask people one by one. "Excuse me, have you seen this person? He stole my young lady's million-dollar dowry and fled to Xing Tang Road. If anyone can help my young lady recover her dowry, we are willing to give him half of it."
Initially, no one paid Susu any mind. Xing Tang Road was in the desert, and countless people died there every year. Disappearing here essentially meant one was gone. Everyone was accustomed to such things and didn't think much of it. However, as soon as they heard about the million-dollar dowry, everyone perked up their ears.