364: 364 364: 364 Zheng Dazhi had a recollection of Duan Liu’s appearance and had co specifically for him this ti, so it didn’t take long for him to spot Duan Liu sitting on the couch.
Beside him sat a young man with delicate, tender skin and a long, straight fringe that gave off a strong effeminate vibe.
“You’re Sixth Master Duan, aren’t you?”
Duan Liu was focusing on the young man beside him, holding his delicate hand while the other hand gently caressed without stopping.
However, Dazhi’s interruption clearly startled his prey, as the young man’s hand jerked slightly and attempted to retract, but Duan Liu firmly grasped it.
The young man covered his face in bashfulness, blushing brightly, giving Dazhi goosebumps all over.
“I’m Duan Liu.
What does the officer want with ?”
He really had the makings of a Thief King, not even needing a glance to know it was an officer.
Zheng Dazhi laughed, “Heh, does Sixth Master Duan have so free ti?
I’d like to invite you to a al.”
“Pretty straightforward.
Just say what you have to say here.”
Duan Liu kissed the young man’s hand gently, then with a soul-lting look and tone, said, “Wait for in the room.”
“You must co, okay?”
The young man cooed, and Duan Liu gave his buttocks a light pinch before the latter covered his face and scurried away.
Zheng Dazhi was once again struck dumbfounded and reminded himself to be extrely cautious when making friends in the future.
After sending off his little sweetheart, Duan Liu turned his gaze to Zheng Dazhi seated across from him, smiling.
This older man’s smile was quite attractive, but Dazhi found it quite repulsive.
Hearing rumors was one thing, but witnessing it firsthand was sothing else.
He thought that the working girls who sold their bodies were better—they toil for themselves and bring pleasure to others.
As for being involved in homosexual acts, forget it—that’s self-indulgence and repulsive to others.
What’s the point?
“What does the officer want with ?
I am a genuine law-abiding citizen, after all.”
“Of course, I know.
This ti I ca…” People were passing by in pairs, and the more Zheng Dazhi saw, the more uncomfortable he felt.
“Sixth Master Duan, shall we change the venue?”
“That won’t do, Liang is still waiting for , as you just saw.
Speak your mind, no need for roundabouts when we’ll cross paths again in the future.”
Duan Liu leaned back on the sofa, exuding a presence that set Zheng Dazhi slightly on edge.
“Sixth Master Duan, I…”
“Stop with the ‘Sixth Master’ thing.
At my age, I’m at best uncle material.
Just call Sixth Uncle, and I’d be content.”
Zheng Dazhi didn’t push it.
These kinds of people won’t look at you any differently if you butter them up.
Instead, the more honest or rather, the more blunt you are, they might find you more appealing.
It’s said that the brutes are often more righteous while the ungrateful ones are usually the scholars.
The difference between the martial and the literate is not rely in fists and feet; it’s more about loyalty and betrayal.
“Sixth Uncle, the reason I’m here is to inquire about soone from you.”
“Go on.”
“Chuanzi is your disciple, right?”
“Yes.”
“Has he been in contact with you recently?”
Duan Liu narrowed his eyes, “What kind of contact are you referring to?
The kind where a living person stands in front of you and talks, or through phone calls and ssages?”
“All contacts.”
“Hehe,” Duan Liu picked up a glass of red wine in front of him, took a sip with his head bowed, his tongue swirling it around in his mouth a few tis, assessing the quality of the wine before he spoke, “He hasn’t co to see in a long ti; he has already completed his apprenticeship.
Strictly speaking, we don’t have much of a relationship anymore.
I’ve given him the chance to shine, whether he can hold onto it depends on how deep his luck runs.”
Zheng Dazhi was not satisfied, thinking you could dismiss everything with just a ntion of ‘apprenticeship’?
Who are you trying to fool!
“Did he co to you before he left…”
“He left?
Did he get into trouble?”
Zheng Dazhi nodded, “Yes, he got into so trouble.”
“Personal or business?”
“…Business.”
“That ans it’s personal.”
Duan Liu had his ways.
Would anyone bother calling out “Master Duanliu” over official business?
What a joke!
“I can’t deal with his issues.
Don’t be so anxious, I still know Chuanzi.
His ambitions are sky-high, but he’s as fragile as paper.
Can’t handle big issues, always ssing around with minor ones.
You drop a million on his head, and if he catches ten thousand, it’s considered pretty good.
If he doesn’t co back, it ans he’s scared.
But from the looks of it, you seem to be hoping he’ll return?”
Zheng Dazhi didn’t say anything.
These people are shrewd to the core, trying to outwit them would just kill his brain cells.
Speaking too much leads to mistakes, better to say nothing at all.
“To get him back, all you can do is wait.
Don’t look at like that, after all, it’s his legs on his body, nobody can guarantee that he’ll walk back here on his own.
That’s just how it is; I can’t help you, sorry about that.”
Despite his apology, the way he lowered his head to taste the wine didn’t show a single sign of remorse.
Zheng Dazhi saw this and was really angry, genuinely fuming.
Chuanzi was like a ticking ti bomb.
Once it exploded, he would be torn to shreds.
All the plans and arrangents he had made for the next five or ten years would go up in smoke because of this explosion, leaving all his hard work in vain, as stupid as jumping high to pick the moon.
“Isn’t there anything you can do?”
“There isn’t.” The reply was blunt, leaving no room for negotiation.
Zheng Dazhi suppressed his anger, “Could you please visit Chuanzi’s place?
Maybe, you might see sothing different there.”
“That’s even less likely.
In that territory of yours, there’s a Grandmaster of our profession.
I wouldn’t dare create trouble there.”
Duan Liu’s decisiveness surprised Zheng Dazhi.
If there was a sliver of leeway in his previous words, there was absolutely no turning back in what he said now.
“Master Duanliu, what do you an by that?”
Duan Liu thought for a mont, then said, “Chuanzi lives on Erwanzi Street, right?”
“Behind Erwanzi Street is Liumu Alley, not too far; a ten-minute walk.”
“That’s what I’m saying.
In our line of business, territories are clearly marked.
Don’t think I’m all that amazing.
At the end of the day, aren’t I just a thief skimming wallets?
I’m not as incredible as you think, all that wall-scaling and flying through snow—it’s all bravado.”
Zheng Dazhi shook his head, “Sixth Uncle, you’re being modest.”
Others can downplay their abilities, but you cannot agree with them.
Not only can you not agree, but you also have to keep flattering them, endlessly, until they are too pleased to refuse.
He may not accept, but nobody gets slapped in the face for offering a gift.
Duan Liu didn’t take offense to the title, perhaps purposefully ignoring it, “In our profession, we revere Shi Qian, the Grandmaster, as the Grandmaster.
In your jurisdiction, you have Shi Qian’s twenty-ninth-generation descendant.
Don’t think I’m trying to bluff you.
Every notable family has its genealogy.
The old Grandmaster is a deity to us younger generation, and with Divine Dragon coiling around that Earth Realm, we small insects don’t dare to jump about in that territory.”
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