C199

Closing the door, he sat down in front of the table, picked up a flint stone and threw it at the flame, lighting the oil lamp. Wen Wan's eyes were somewhat cold. "How is it?"

Wen Ning walked out from the corner. "When I went back, that person was already gone. I was afraid that if I stayed there for too long, it would arouse suspicion, so I didn't investigate any further."

"There's no need." Wen Wan lowered his eyes, filled with fatigue, "As long as you know that he is not here."

Wen Ning was slightly startled. "Young Master knows that person?"

Wen Wan shook his head. "I don't know him, but I think he was there waiting for me."

Wen Ning looked at the puppet on the table and asked, "Who does Young Master plan to show this to?"

Wen Wan reached out his hand and slid it inch by inch across the puppet's face, tracing its facial features. "Such an exquisite puppet, how many people in the martial arts world would be able to do it? "How many people would be willing to use it as a bait for a test?"

Wen Ning's expression changed slightly. "Bait?" Who is he fishing for? "

"My identity." The curve of Wen Wan's lips gradually widened. "And also the person who can see through the owner of this puppet."

Wen Ning asked, "Young Master, are you unable to guess its owner?"

Wen Wan said: "To be able to make such a puppet, I can count to ten. Including the dead, there's just too many. "

"Then, does Young Master know who the owner of this puppet is?"

Wen Wan raised his head, and looked at the usually silly guard, smiling: "I know who will be able to see the owner of the puppet, but it's better for me to avoid that person. But, I can find his disciple and sell him a favor. "

Wen Ning didn't know whether she understood or not, but she still had a blank look on her face. "Do you want to speak to the White House Master about this?"

"Don't say it." Wen Wan shook the oil lamp, the smile in his eyes was tainted by the hazy light of the fire, "You can't say."

After a long silence, Wen Ning suddenly said, "Young Master, this is too risky."

Wen Wan squinted at him. "Oh?"

Wenning knew that he didn't want to talk about this, so he pursed his lips. But after a moment, he could not help but say, "We need to abandon the next game. If you want to preserve all of the pieces, you will end up with a crushing defeat and complete defeat. "

Wen Wan faintly smiled. "What? Do you know which son will be abandoned, and which son will be protected? "

Wen Ning shook her head. "I can't tell, and I don't dare to pry into Young Master's chess board. But I know that if the chess player dies, then all the pieces will die. "

Wen Wan looked at him for a long time and laughed. "But I am not a chess player in this game."

"You …" Wen Ning was about to ask a question when she suddenly stopped and looked in the direction of the door.

Wen Wan absent-mindedly looked down at the puppet, and then pointed to the top of his head. Wen Ning understood and gently climbed up the beam and sat on it.

"Big brother, you haven't rested yet, right?" Wen Ning had just stabilized herself when the sound of knocking on the door could be heard.

Wen Wan waved his sleeve to scatter the dust, and slightly raised his voice: "The door isn't locked. Come in."

Wen Ling pushed open the door and could not help but be slightly startled. She tossed and turned for a long time, unable to fall asleep, before finally putting on her clothes. He thought that even if his elder brother didn't rest, he would still undress and fall asleep. He couldn't help but feel anxious in his heart. However, he didn't expect that Wen Wan's clothes would be so neat and straight, and that he would actually have no intention of resting at all.

"It's cold at the door, come in first if you have anything." Wen Wan stood up, walked to the side, and put a cloak over her shoulders. "I haven't lit a charcoal brazier, so the room is a little cold. Please bear with it a little."

Even though Wen Ling had put on her cloak, she couldn't help but shiver. "Big Brother, don't you feel cold?"

Wen Wan squatted down in front of the brazier and rubbed the flint stone a few times, watching the flame move a few times and then extinguish, somewhat helpless: "I'm used to it." He stood up and picked up the oil lamp, poured half of it into the brazier, then lit it with a flint.

"Big brother, I'm scared." Wen Ling sat on the chair, looking somewhat timid, her voice extremely low, "This is the first time I've spent the night outside."

Wen Wan was slightly startled: "I'm right next door to you. I've reserved this inn, there won't be a third person here."

Wen Ling pursed her lips, "However, I am afraid."

Wen Wan was startled, he tried his best to guess her thoughts, and then asked tentatively: "Then, should I accompany you to chat? Maybe you won't be afraid after a while. "

Wen Ling gathered up her courage and said in one breath, "I want to sleep with Big Brother."

Wen Wan stared blankly for a long time. He didn't have any expression on his face, but his eyes were full of astonishment. "Then, do you want me to hit the shop floor?"

Wen Ling turned her head and looked at the bed. Her eyes were very careful, but it couldn't cover up her intention of 'this bed is enough for two people to sleep on'.

Wen Wan looked at the hope in her eyes and gave a resigned sigh. "Sure." He went to the room next door and brought a quilt and a pillow. Then he looked at Wen Ling and asked, "Are you in there?"

Wen Ling nodded. Apart from her shoes and socks, she climbed in and obediently lay down on the bed, exposing only her eyes. She then deliberately added, "I sleep very peacefully, and won't disturb Big Brother."

"I'm not afraid of you disturbing me." Wen Wan gave a bitter smile, took off his outer garment and laid down on his back. After thinking for a while, he said in a half-joking manner, "My sleep is very quiet, so you can sleep in peace."

Wen Ling's eyes curved as if she was secretly laughing, "I don't believe it, big brother. Don't you snore? Second Brother's snores are so loud when he's drunk. "

"Nope." Wen Wan smiled. "I'm not like your second brother. I sleep soundlessly."

Wen Ling stuck out her tongue and then pulled back into the blanket. "That's good. I hope Big Brother has a beautiful dream too."

Wen Wan touched her hair and smiled. "Okay. Sleep well, and don't be afraid, I'll be right there. "

Wen Ling softly nodded. She turned around and no longer spoke.

The oil lamp went out, and Wen Wan lay on his back with his pillow on his arm, as if to see if Wenning had left, or if he was thinking about something. After a long time, he gently closed his eyes.

"Big brother, why did you bring me out to play? Why are you being so nice to me?" In the darkness, Wen Ling suddenly spoke in a very soft voice, "Are you going to leave us, or am I going to leave you?"

Wen Wan opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at his third sister. "Why do you think that?"

Wen Ling didn't expect him to answer. She was stunned for a moment before asking, "Did I wake up Eldest Brother?"

"Nope." Wen Wan's voice didn't seem to be intentionally gentle, but it didn't sound too distant either. "I haven't slept yet."

Wen Ling pursed her lips and asked, "Is it because I am here?"

In the darkness, Wen Wan could see the cautious worry on her face. She remained silent for a while before answering, "I have something on my mind. I can't sleep."

Wen Ling did not think too much into it and let out a sigh of relief. "In the eyes of Big Brother, I can only accommodate Second Brother. Big brother's gentleness, after removing the hypocrisy, I don't know how much is left, but those are definitely not for me. I think, or rather, I hope... Big brother's gentleness today is all true. However, this kind of gentleness makes me feel as though my cold brother is about to disappear too. "

After a while Wen Wan asked, "Can't I just disappear? You should be more used to the Wen Mansion without me, right? "

"But in these three years, I've gotten used to being able to see big brother's home!" The young girl's voice was somewhat urgent, innocent and gentle, untainted by filth.

"But this is not my home."

Wen Ling was puzzled. "Big Brother doesn't care about this family?"

"I care, so I'm more afraid that I will hurt this family." Wen Wan lifted up a strand of hair from Wen Ling's cheek, then softly sighed, "Ling'er, you said that my gentleness is all for Zi Yu, that's indeed the case. He was the only family member in my life. You, your eldest sister, and that second sister who left this world without even taking a single glance at her. To me, she's just a passerby. "

A fraud, a drink, the sudden appearance of a brothel prostitute, the destruction of a quiet and happy home, the seizure of my parents... And his brother's happiness. You know what? When I was nine years old, I was once a famous child prodigy in the West Lake. I had a beautiful dream. I want to wait until I grow up, to take the title, to become an official, to marry a woman as virtuous as my mother. Of course … It's all just a dream.

"But ever since that calamity, I have been disqualified from even dreaming."

Wen Wan's voice was calm, calm to the extreme: "I ran out of the house crying. At that time, it was about the same kind of cold, with snow swirling in the air. I fainted in the snow and was picked up by my master. Master asked me, do you want to go home? Or stay by his side as his disciple? I immediately chose the latter without any hesitation. "

"From that time on, there was no longer any fame in my life, no longer any political ambitions. My dreams were shattered, no longer there. I lost my mother and my father. "Other than the times when I would climb over the wall at night and return to the manor to take a look at my second brother, there is nothing in the Wen Mansion that I miss."

"I had originally wanted to wait until I had the ability to protect my second brother before bringing him out from the Wen Mansion. But when I was able to learn a whole set of kung fu skills, I suddenly realized that I could not bring him out. Because the Jiang Hu is on the run and their daily life is on the verge of destruction, which is a hundred times more cruel than the life in that wall of the Wen Mansion. I can't bear to have my second brother suffer the same pain as me. "

"This wall separates my life from my second brother's."

Wen Wan used his finger to wipe away the tears at the corner of Wen Ling's eyes and said softly, "All the gentleness that you can see now is true. However, this is the only thing I can leave you. Tomorrow, after I send you back to your residence, I will leave.

The next moment, his tears that had just been wiped away gushed out like a spring. "Since you want to leave, why do you want me to remember that I have a brother like you?"

"Because it's just maybe." Wen Wan was at a loss for a moment, then answered quietly, "If you are willing to believe me, then remember, I care about the Wen family, so I want to protect it well. When the wind is calm and the waves are ready, I will come back. Ling'er … His chest received a severe blow, causing him to feel a slight pain.

Wen Ling threw herself into his arms. She could no longer suppress her tears as she cried loudly, "Big brother, I beg of you, you must come back first. I want you to show me such a beautiful scenery when you come back earlier! I want to tell myself that everything today is not a dream and that I will have another chance to enjoy the same happiness in the future! "

Wen Wan smiled. "Okay." Even though he knew very well that this was just a lie. Even if he could return home, he didn't know how long it would take. At that time, the old friend was still there. Could the scenery be there? If the scenery is still there, would the old people like to see it together?

He did not know, but he could not bear to refuse.

The quiet night was filled with crying sounds.

Wen Wan lightly caressed her hair, consoling her in a perfunctory manner. She lost her sadness and tears in her eyes. After a very long time, her eyes finally dried up and turned slightly red.

"Big Brother, if I marry someone I like in the future, will you come and send me out?" After crying for a long time and tired of it, Wen Ling asked about all sorts of small things. She seemed to be recalling all the good things, as the only way out. The voice above him was gentle, patient, and earnest. He listened attentively and answered seriously without the slightest bit of perfunctory behavior.

Wen Wan smiled. "Yes, you will definitely marry the one you love."

Wen Ling smiled. "Thank you, Big Brother!" He tilted his head and said sullenly, "I'll tell Big Bro about the person I like. Big Bro, don't tell anyone else."

Wen Wan was slightly startled, but before he could understand what she meant, he saw her lips move slightly, silently spitting out two words. Her eyes were filled with happiness for the sake of these two words.

White, Lou.

It was a very familiar name, but he had never cared about it.

"Big Brother, have you 'seen' it yet?"

Wen Wan was awakened by her voice and replied with a smile, "How can you see in such a dark place?"

Wen Ling pouted. "Anyway, I've already said it."

Wen Wan stroked her hair. "You will marry that person, so when I come back to see who you are, I will know who he is."

Wen Ling snorted. "You're annoying."

"Alright, let's sleep in peace. Let's go home tomorrow."

"Go home … Will Big Brother come home with me? "

"..." "Mm, I'll leave after I return."

"Thank you very much." He murmured and fell asleep.

— —

"How is it? Do you see it clearly? " The man in black sat in front of the stove, slowly putting the arm of a puppet into the fire, watching as the pale, tiny arm as dead as a baby was devoured by the flames, before speaking. The hood of the cloak covered most of his face, revealing a small part of his face that was extremely pale under the firelight.

The man who had been standing by the side for a while looked away from the fire. "Even if it's you, it's not easy to be a puppet like that, is it?"

The black-clothed man lifted his head, and saw the look in his left sleeve. He smiled, "What you want to say is, if I am like this, it should be very difficult to make a puppet like that, right?"

Yan Bugui gave a faint smile and said, "One hand is enough to be the best puppet master in the martial arts world. Such a puppet would not make things difficult for you, but you would still have to put in a lot of effort, wouldn't you? "

The man in black lifted his right hand and looked at the tiny wounds on his fingertips. "But I'm really looking forward to what you will see today, and how the person who received this puppet will react."

Yan Bugui said, "I am not looking forward to that person's reaction after receiving the puppet. However, the result of today's investigation might surprise you a little."

"There aren't many things that can surprise me." The man in black turned his gaze back, his expression indifferent.

Yan Bugui clicked his tongue and asked, "Do you know who bought that puppet today?"

The black clothed man threw another puppet into the fire. "Didn't you say he was Xia Chan?"

Yan Bugui narrowed his eyes. "Do you know Wen Wan?"

The man in black was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about this name, "Yes, my warm son."

Yan Bugui said, "Today, I went to the inn that Wen Wan had reserved for me. "Or perhaps it could be said that that inn belongs to the Wen Clan and is not for tonight's guests."

The man in black did not have much of a reaction. "Wen Lun has always had a brother. He was quite famous when he was young."

Yan Bugui frowned, "But he must be Xia Chan." Seeing that he didn't believe her, she emphasized: "He has the scent of the spice that the sect master concocted for him. Other than Xia Chan, no one else would use that type of spice. "

"So what if it's Xia Chan? "So what if it isn't?" The black clothed man stood up and brushed off the dust on his body. "You want to kill him?" What was supposed to be a question, had become a statement instead.

Yan Bugui's eyes slightly moved, but he did not answer.

The man in black smiled, his voice was very soft, "I am not an enthroner, I would never agree to be that loyal."

Yan Bugui did not deny his question. "How can you be so sure that I want to kill him?"

The man in black smiled. "Even if you don't kill him, he will."

Yan Bugui also smiled, which was a little cold. "You seem to know us very well?"

"Even if you don't understand it, it's inevitable." The black clothed man lowered his eyes, completely ignoring the killing intent in the depths of his eyes. You are cold-blooded and without tears, and your heart is as hard as iron. You don't believe he'll change in ten years, and so will he. You don't believe he's grateful to Xia Qianyu, and so is he. You don't believe he can spare your life if he suspects that you have a murderous heart, and he does the same. "

Yan Bugui was lost in thought. "One of us must die?"

The man in black shook his head. "I won't comment, but I have a word of advice."

Yan Bugui asked, "What do you mean?"

"A change might happen if I'm late."

Yan Bugui was startled. "What will happen?"

The black-clothed man narrowed his eyes, but there was no joy in his eyes. "Xia Ruyu and Bai Yutang are sworn brothers in life and death, and Xia cicada is as important to Bai Yutang as his own son. The Wen family had been very close to the Ling Ge Palace in recent years, and it was impossible that they didn't have a Xia Chan inside. Now that they were both eggs covered in a nest, it was a piece of cake for them. The moment others realize that you have the intention to kill them, no matter if it's me or someone else, I won't let you have the chance to take action anymore. "

Yan Bugui was silent. "Alright, I understand. Let me think about it more carefully."

The man in black glanced at him indifferently, then he looked back at the stove. "If you need my help, I can help."

Yan Bugui nodded, "I got it."