Book 16: Chapter 28
“What is that supposed to mean?” Su Xiao mumbled under his breath as he descended the mountain with everyone else the next evening.
While the hospitality offered was fantastic or terrible, it was unforgettable. While everyone else might have remembered the drinks, food, discussions or Wang Du’s ceaseless coughing, Su Xiao was hung up on Wang Du’s answer to his query that most people would perceive as idiotic.
Following the long silence that permeated the room, Wang Du haplessly smiled and replied, “Why do you think I haven’t solved their mystery yet?”
Su Xiao still could not comprehend what was implied – or the lonely and sad expression Wang Du wore when he gave the response. Nevertheless, judging from the fruits of their visit, the mission was completed relatively smoothly. Thanks to Wang Du’s insight, they finally figured out the origins of the monster, and they had the honour of sharing drinks with him. Lastly, they obtained something incredibly valuable.
After a yawn, Song Wei, wearing a smile, asked the confused Su Xiao, “Xiaoxiao, haven’t you obtained Dark Robe Brotherhood’s three treasures? You came for it and obtained it, so why do you look dissatisfied?”
Song Wei had a hobby of shortening people’s names, such as “Brother Jin Wangshi” to “Brother Shi”.
Su Xiao, carrying a bag with contents easily worth tens of thousands of taels, curled his lips and replied, “Mm… Nothing… There’s something odd about him to me, but… mm… I can’t put my finger on what it is.”
“I agree,” voiced Jin Wangshi, yawning. Besides Xie Langya, he was the only one who could keep up with Wang Du’s ability to hold his liquor. “I’ve long heard he’s unconventional compared to other mobility. My intuition tells me that he’s bottling up a lot more than he lets on.”
Langya exhaled heavily. “That goes without saying. Despite tasting success at an early age, he was hit with the harsh reality that he would never recover from his condition and wouldn’t be able to uphold his clan’s glory. Wang and Xie clans have virtually sucked all the life out of Dark Robe Brotherhood in recent years. If members aren’t being sent to serve the imperial court, they seek employment under the imperial court. I’m one example.”