Laoma went out to find the High President for the road guide and Road Pass, leaving Jiang Mingxi alone in the room.
Ever since she killed Zhang Nan and fled in the night, this was a rare moment of peace for her.
But—precisely because of that, it was all the more unbearable.
Because, not long after Laoma left, a terrifying suspicion suddenly flashed through Jiang Mingxi’s mind.
Laoma might go straight to the authorities and turn her in for the Bounty!
Such an obvious thing— why was she only realizing it now?!
Jiang Mingxi leapt up from the stool, pulled open the door, stepped over the threshold, and rushed forward a few steps— only to suddenly come to a halt.
She stared at the narrow alley entrance, a wave of uncertainty rising in her chest, not knowing where to go next.
If she left here, where could she possibly go?
There was a curfew at night; soldiers patrolled the streets, searching and inspecting.
She had no identity; she couldn’t stay at an inn.
Sleep on the Great Street like a beggar?
She knew that would only draw the soldiers’ attention for a thorough search.
And if she slept rough outside, she wouldn’t be able to keep up a clean appearance, which meant she wouldn’t even be able to blend into the crowds during the day.
But sitting here waiting for death wasn’t Jiang Mingxi’s style either.
She thought for a moment, turned back to close the door, then quietly hid behind a pile of broken baskets and tattered crates stacked high in the corner.
And so, the waiting began.
Jiang Mingxi had always been used to holding her fate in her own hands, but now she had to pin her hopes on the conscience of two strangers.
She thought, at worst, the outcome is just death.
She had already died once.
Maybe everything happening now was just a fleeting dream before her death.
Countless messy thoughts churned in Jiang Mingxi’s mind.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but the sun slanted westward, the light in the alley dimming, and the broken baskets and tattered crates were cast in an orange glow.
Just as Jiang Mingxi was dozing off, her ears twitched. She snapped her eyes open, sharp and alert, and stared straight at the person walking into the alley.
It was a young boy.
He wore an unremarkable brown jacket, a large goods basket on his back, but his steps were light and lively.
He jogged into the alley, dragging out his words with a cheerful grin, calling out, “Combs for sale! Good combs— make your hair smell fragrant, no lice, live long and healthy!”
So, he was a Little Peddler selling combs.
Jiang Mingxi quietly let out a breath of relief.
She curled up in the heap of junk in the corner, unmoving, silently watching as the Little Peddler ran back and forth in the alley, calling out in a long voice.
Sure enough, two or three households opened their doors to buy combs.
The Little Peddler beamed with joy as he trotted toward the alley entrance.
Jiang Mingxi instinctively held her breath, waiting for him to leave.
But the Little Peddler suddenly stopped.
He juggled the newly earned copper coins in his palm, glanced up at the sky, and muttered to himself, “The stall is set up, time to put out the gold.” (The sky’s darkening, it’s going to rain.)
Going to rain?
Jiang Mingxi silently looked up as well, but unfortunately, from her position, she couldn’t see the sky at all.
She lowered her gaze again—only to suddenly meet a pair of cunning, cat-like big eyes.
Jiang Mingxi’s breath caught, her heart pounding like a drum.
The Little Peddler grinned at her hiding spot, showing a small tiger tooth, “Young master, you’d better go inside and hide from the rain.”
Jiang Mingxi’s body tensed, her hand quickly moving toward the Box Cannon hanging at her waist.
The Little Peddler tilted his head, “Or maybe I should call you, Second Young Master?”
After a long silence— ten full breaths— the pile of junk rustled, and soon, a blue figure stepped out.
When he got a clear look at the face, the Little Peddler couldn’t help but cry out inwardly, “Aiya ya!”
What a handsome man.
Too bad his gaze was terrifying, as if he might stab you at any moment.
The other’s hand rested on his bulging belt, murderous intent in his voice as he demanded, “Who are you?”
The Little Peddler smiled innocently, blinking, “Take a guess?”
The other’s eyes flickered, pondering for a moment, then spoke in an utterly certain tone, “You’re the High President.”
Now it was Gao Mingling’s turn to be surprised.
“You’ve seen me before?”
“No.”
“Then how did you recognize me?” Gao Mingling asked curiously.
He was so young that many people, upon first meeting, assumed he was the High President’s son.
The person before him was the first to correctly identify his identity on their first meeting.
Interesting.
Gao Mingling stared eagerly at this “Second Young Master,” feeling like the whole person was a bundle of secrets, making his heart itch like a cat’s paw.
Jiang Mingxi gave a half-smile, “Take a guess?”
Gao Mingling: ……
He puffed out his cheeks, grumbling, “You’re no fun at all.”
Jiang Mingxi was in no mood for games. She got straight to the point, “There are too many people outside. Let’s talk inside.”
……
As soon as Gao Mingling entered the room, he wrinkled his nose. When he saw the messy furnishings, his whole face scrunched up.
“I really don’t get how Laoma manages to live here.”
He grumbled, then looked up to meet Jiang Mingxi’s cold, wary gaze, and suddenly let out a heavy sigh.
“……You’re such a bore.”
Listlessly, he took off his goods basket, rummaged inside, and pulled out a few documents and a Road Pass, handing them directly to Jiang Mingxi, “Here, the things you wanted.”
Jiang Mingxi looked at the Identity Certificate and Road Pass in her hand, feeling a strong sense of unreality.
The things she’d schemed and struggled for so long to obtain—just handed to her so easily?
No negotiation? She hadn’t even offered any terms!
……Could they be fake?
She turned them over and over for a long time. They were indeed fake, but whoever forged them was a master—the replicas were so lifelike they’d be enough to get her out of the city.
Jiang Mingxi knew well that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
She raised her guard to the maximum, her gaze fixed firmly on the young High President’s face, not missing a single expression, “Name your price.”
“If I said it’s free, you’d never trust me.”
Gao Mingling thought for a moment, then pulled out pen and paper from his basket, “Then please help me draw a map.”
He looked around the room for a desk, but couldn’t find anything suitable. In the end, he had no choice but to lay the paper on his own goods basket.
Jiang Mingxi took the brush, “What map?”
“The Map of Zhang Family.”
Gao Mingling casually dropped a bomb, “Since you people managed to kill Zhang Nan without a sound, you must be very familiar with the Zhang Family’s layout.”
He looked helplessly at the black muzzle of a gun pointed at his brow, and let out another heavy sigh, “That’s why I hate dealing with people as crafty as you…”
He patiently explained, “Your Wanted Poster is all over the Great Street now. It says you’re an accomplice of the female bandit Shen Mingming. Anyone who provides information about you gets a reward of two thousand silver dollars.”
“……That little?” Jiang Mingxi raised a brow, “I remember Shen Mingming’s Bounty is a hundred thousand silver dollars?”
Gao Mingling thought seriously for a moment, “Hu Old Dog must be skimming off the top. So shady.”
The two exchanged a glance, and somehow, both burst out laughing.
Jiang Mingxi quickly put away her pistol. Gao Mingling asked curiously, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn you in for the Bounty?”
Jiang Mingxi grunted, squatted down, smoothed out the white paper on the basket, and began to carefully draw the map.
Gao Mingling waited and waited, but got no further explanation, so he asked, frustrated, “Why aren’t you afraid I’ll turn you in for the reward?”
Jiang Mingxi didn’t even look up, answering coolly, “Because there’s no need.”
Gao Mingling: ……
He drew a breath and pressed on, “Why is there no need?”
Jiang Mingxi glanced up at him, finally saying the first long sentence since they’d met, “If you wanted the reward, you wouldn’t have helped me forge an identity and Road Pass.”
Smart.
Gao Mingling finally felt a bit relieved. He studied the detailed diagram, marveling at her sharp mind— she’d even marked the warehouse locations and the guards’ blind spots.
“When do you plan to leave?”
“When do you plan to act?”
Both spoke at the same time, stunned.
Meeting Jiang Mingxi’s sharp, unyielding gaze, Gao Mingling answered first, “In the next couple of days.”
“I’ve pretty much figured out the Zhang Family’s layout.”
He couldn’t help but explain, “If you people hadn’t acted first, I would have succeeded long ago.”
Jiang Mingxi said calmly, “Without us, you wouldn’t have been able to kill Zhang Nan either.”
You failed the assassination, had your hand chopped off, and fled in panic.
After that, you wandered for decades, moving among the Green Gang, Hongmen, and Gelaohui, making a name for yourself— everyone respected you.
You were the legendary figure Shen Mingming admired but could never reach in her past life.
But even so, you never managed to kill Zhang Nan.
Because Zhang Nan died of illness ahead of time.
She watched as the still-young gang leader puffed out his cheeks, glaring at her indignantly and saying things like, “Don’t underestimate me!”
Jiang Mingxi cut off his complaints, her tone brooking no argument, “We act tomorrow night at midnight. I’ll go with you.”
Gao Mingling was utterly shocked, his cat-like eyes wide and round, “You want to go with me too? Why?”
Since they’d met, this hateful person’s eyes had always been cold enough to freeze, but now her expression softened, and she even showed a gentle smile. He said, “Before I leave, I want to say goodbye to someone.”
For some reason, Gao Mingling was dazed for a moment, then suddenly realized, “Your lover?”
Jiang Mingxi: ……