Chapter 29: Who Holds the Knife?

Judging by the woman’s attire, Ren Yuan could identify her as Sun Erniang even before she introduced herself.

"Oh, traveler, you stare at me so intently, it makes me quite shy! I am a married woman, you know!"

Seeing Ren Yuan looking her up and down, the woman mistook his intentions, assuming she had captivated him. She began to act even more provocatively, casting hungry glances back at him.

"This leader is tall and sturdy—perfect for selling as beef. That lean fellow behind him... well, I suppose he will have to be sold as dog meat."

Thinking this to herself, she noticed the bulging bundles Ren Yuan and Shi Qian carried and was overcome with joy. "What a lucky day! I just encountered two fools, and now two more arrive. It seems I am destined to make a fortune today!"

"Sister, you have a way with words. My brother and I have been traveling and our stomachs are empty. This place is so desolate, your shop is truly a godsend. Do you have anything to eat?" Ren Yuan suppressed his rising emotions and asked with a smile.

"Oh, we do, we do!" The woman was delighted, her eyes crinkling into crescents. "My shop has fine wine, good meat, and when you want dim sum, we have big steamed buns!"

"Then bring on the best wine and meat! And start with twenty meat buns!"

Ren Yuan acted with great generosity. Though Shi Qian remained silent, he followed Ren Yuan’s lead perfectly. The woman, having no suspicions, readily invited the two into the tavern.

Once they were seated, the woman first brought over a jar of wine and poured a bowl for each of them. "Taste my fine wine first. Every traveler who passes through says it’s excellent. The buns will be ready soon."

She turned and, swaying her hips, headed toward the kitchen. In that brief moment of distraction, Ren Yuan quickly splashed his wine under the table, using his body to shield the act. Shi Qian, even faster, did the same.

The two exchanged a look, then simultaneously slammed their empty bowls onto the table and wiped their mouths, shouting loudly, "Fine wine! This has real kick! Sister, hurry with the meat and buns!"

The woman turned back and, seeing their actions and the empty bowls, beamed with joy, her hips swaying even more vigorously. "Good, good! I’m bringing the buns and meat right out!"

She lifted the door curtain and vanished into the kitchen. Moments later, three or four burly men emerged, carrying meat and setting it on the table. Once the dishes were served, the strong laborers didn't leave; instead, they sat scattered near the tavern entrance, watching the pair intently.

"Freshly steamed meat buns! Here they come!" The woman reappeared holding a large platter piled high with white, piping-hot buns. She set them down, smiling, "Come now, dig in."

"No rush. Sister, may I ask your name?" Ren Yuan feigned a lecherous look and continued to pry.

"Oh, brother, don't tease your sister," she said, pretending to be shy while her tongue kept wagging. "My surname is Sun, and everyone around here calls me Second Sister."

The Mother Yaksha, Sun Erniang! It really was her!

Ren Yuan nodded while picking up a bun, breaking it in two, and asking, "Sister Sun, these buns smell wonderful. What is the filling?"

"These buns are filled with pure beef, I guarantee they taste divine! Try one!"

Ren Yuan sneered inwardly. His sharp eyes had already spotted a black hair in the meat filling! These were human-flesh buns!

He had no intention of exposing her yet. Instead, he feigned a sudden realization, clutched his forehead, and slumped onto the table as if unconscious. Seeing this, Shi Qian realized his brother was having fun, so he promptly keeled over as well. As a master thief, his ability to fake a faint was top-tier.

"Down! They’re down!" Sun Erniang sat on a table and clapped her hands. "No matter how cunning you are, you still have to drink my foot-washing water. Trying to flirt with me—it’s just your bad luck!"

Seeing her henchmen staring greedily at her, she didn't get angry, but instead pouted playfully, "What are you idiots staring for? It’s not like you haven't seen this before! Get to work!"

The men grinned and stepped forward to carry Ren Yuan and Shi Qian away. But just then, a man walked into the tavern, and everyone stopped what they were doing.

What did this man look like? He wore a green silk headscarf, a white linen tunic, knee guards, hemp shoes, and a waist pouch. He had a bony, angular face with a few wisps of whiskers, looking to be about thirty-four or thirty-five years old.

Upon seeing the scene, the man set down his carrying pole and smiled at Sun Erniang, "My dear, business is booming!"

*So, that must be Zhang Qing. Good. The whole family shall be dealt with together.* Ren Yuan, still pretending to be unconscious, peeked through a crack in his eyelids.

"Little San, how much stock today?" After entering, Zhang Qing took a cup of tea from a servant, sipped it, and turned to ask one of the men.

"There was a large man and a monk this morning, and now these two. Four in total today," the servant replied honestly.

"A monk?" Zhang Qing frowned and turned to Sun Erniang. "Didn't we agree not to kill passing monks, Taoists, entertainers, or those in exile? Why drug a monk?"

Sun Erniang rolled her eyes at her husband and sneered, "Save that talk to fool others. You dare put on an act in front of me? Let me ask you: isn't the meat you take to the village to sell human flesh? Why act like a hero in front of me?"

Zhang Qing, seeing his wife’s reaction, immediately lost his bravado. He forced a flattering smile and said, "My dear, that's not what I meant. As the saying goes, one must look at the long term. If we encounter a true hero, letting one or two go doesn't matter. Firstly, it builds our reputation for chivalry, and secondly, if we ever have to abandon this trade and roam the world, we’ll have allies!"

Sun Erniang scoffed. She held little respect for her husband and retorted sharply, "If you want to play the good guy, I won't stop you! But don't you dare get in my way when I want to kill! These four today—three are burly men, and once I butcher them, we'll have enough 'beef' for half a month. The thin one can be sold as dog meat. Don't interfere! Besides, these two have bulging luggage; they clearly have plenty of wealth!"

As she spoke, she rummaged through Ren Yuan and Shi Qian's belongings. When she felt the hard objects inside, she beamed. She shook the bundles open, and gold and silver spilled onto the table with a clatter, dazzling everyone present.

"See? What did I tell you?" Zhang Qing stared at the gold and silver and laughed, "My dear is truly brilliant! With such a haul, deal with these people as you please!"

Sun Erniang shot him a look and headed to the kitchen. Zhang Qing collected the gold and silver, then walked to the door. With his back to the "unconscious" men, he said deliberately, "The world is a dangerous place. Don't blame us for being ruthless; you brought this upon yourselves. You are the fish and we are the knives. Don't be a confused ghost when you meet the King of Hell!"

With that, he waved his hand, signaling the servants to move the bodies. He, however, wanted to stand there a while longer to enjoy the scenery of Crossroads Slope.

*Bam!*

The next second, a figure screamed as if thrown like a stone, flying past Zhang Qing and crashing into the wall. The entire tavern shook, and the man slid to the floor, already breathing his last.

Zhang Qing looked closely—it was the servant called Little San. Before he could react, a voice filled with murderous intent rang out from behind him:

"Who did you say was the knife?"