Chapter Sixty-Four: Outmaneuvering

Zhao Mu pondered for a moment. If his guess was correct, this person should be the head of the Liu family.

However, his gaze did not linger on the man for long; instead, he looked first at Qin Jian.

"Brother Qin, your younger brother has brought you quite a few extra fish today!"

Zhao Mu cupped his fists from afar and greeted Qin Jian warmly.

It was as if he had no idea whatsoever that the people from the Liu family had come specifically for him.

At that moment, Qin Jian was also wondering whether Zhao Mu knew about what had happened to Liu Jun.

Yet, since Zhao Mu had already put on such a demeanor, Qin Jian had no choice but to welcome him over first.

"My brother, the fish can wait. Today, this respected Master Liu here has a few words to ask you."

Knowing that the head of the Liu family might grow impatient, Qin Jian decided to simply reveal the identity of the Liu family patriarch to Zhao Mu straight away.

Feigning ignorance, Zhao Mu asked, "Master Liu? Could it be that the matter regarding the grain you mentioned, elder brother, has finally been settled?"

Qin Jian could not tell whether Zhao Mu was truly clueless or deliberately playing dumb, but what Zhao Mu had just said was precisely what he hoped to hear.

"No, it is about that tiger from yesterday."

Right in front of the Liu family head, Qin Jian took the initiative to ask, "When you hunted the tiger the day before yesterday, did you happen to encounter anyone else?"

Zhao Mu's eyes rolled slightly, and he instantly grasped Qin Jian's intention.

Qin Jian was worried that the head of the Liu family might use brute force to pressure Zhao Mu into saying something detrimental to himself.

Since Qin Jian had already taken the lead in asking, the Liu family patriarch could hardly disregard Qin Jian's face by forcing Zhao Mu to make damaging statements.

Understanding Qin Jian's good intentions, Zhao Mu naturally would not let him down.

He immediately feigned cluelessness and said, "People? We didn't see anyone. However, when we first encountered that tiger, it was in the middle of eating a person."

Hearing this, the head of the Liu family sprang up, overwhelmed with agitation.

"A person? What kind of person? Did you clearly see what he looked like? Is he still alive?"

In his agitation, the Liu family patriarch completely forgot the logic in Zhao Mu's previous sentence.

The tiger had already been devouring a person; the one it ate naturally had no breath left in him.

Watching the agitated state of the Liu family head, Zhao Mu maintained his innocent expression and replied, "When we discovered him, that person had already lost his life. As for his identity, we truly have no idea."

The head of the Liu family staggered a few steps, and the steward beside him hurriedly rushed to steady him.

Waving his hand, the Liu family patriarch asked again, "Then... was there any token left on that person? What did you... what did you do with his body?"

Zhao Mu answered honestly, "After we killed the tiger, we searched his body and found some silver coins and bank notes, as well as a jade pendant that looked quite valuable. Later, thinking that the dead should be laid to rest, I buried him right where he was."

Tears streamed down the face of the Liu family head instantly. Supporting his frail body, he asked with a trembling voice, "Was... was there a kylin carved onto that jade pendant?"

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "There certainly was a kylin. How did Master Liu know? Could it be that you recognize this person?"

Knowing that Zhao Mu was always clever, Qin Jian figured he must have understood what was going on the moment the Liu family head began his inquiry.

Yet, for Zhao Mu to put on such an act now meant he must have known Liu Jun's identity all along!

Though he could not fathom what had transpired between Zhao Mu and Liu Jun, since Zhao Mu chose to play dumb, Qin Jian had no intention of exposing him on purpose.

He was well aware of what kind of person Liu Jun was.

Even if a genuine conflict had arisen between Zhao Mu and Liu Jun, Qin Jian would never side with Liu Jun.

Meanwhile, the head of the Liu family was now crying so bitterly that he was on the verge of fainting.

"Jun'er! My precious kylin of a son!"

Crying out in anguish, the Liu family patriarch suddenly collapsed straight backward.

The steward and the others rushed forward in a flurry to catch him, some pinching his philtrum while others fanned him.

After a long while, the head of the Liu family slowly regained consciousness.

Yet his gaze remained vacant, and he muttered the exact same words over and over again.

"Jun'er!"

"My precious kylin!"

The greatest sorrow in life is to lose one's child in old age.

Especially since Liu Jun practically shouldered the entire hope of the Liu household!

The grief in the heart of the Liu family patriarch was something ordinary people could never comprehend.

Even those nearby who had harbored grievances against Liu Jun could not help shedding tears when they saw the current state of the Liu family head.

After a long while, the Liu family patriarch straightened his posture and asked Zhao Mu, "Since my little brother buried Jun'er's body, would you be willing to accompany me into the mountains to bring his remains back and bury them in the Liu family ancestral graveyard?"

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "Since he was Master Liu's offspring, it is only right and proper. Once I finish delivering these fish, I will lead Master Liu's men into the mountains shortly."

With a pained nod, the Liu family patriarch said, "In that case, I must trouble you, little brother."

Seeing him behave with such exquisite courtesy, Zhao Mu felt somewhat hesitant for a moment—unsure whether he should reveal the truth about Liu Jun's death to the patriarch.

Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought from his mind.

Since Liu Jun had been able to venture into the mountains alongside Shen Qiang and Qi Long, it meant their family backgrounds were likely comparable.

If he were to speak the truth, the head of the Liu family would inevitably turn against the Shen and Qi families.

However, if the Shen and Qi families retaliated against him, the Liu family patriarch might not necessarily come to his rescue.

Furthermore, he was certain that were it not for Qin Jian's presence, the Liu family head's attitude toward him would not have been nearly so agreeable.

He might even have had him arrested on the spot!

Pondering for a moment, the Liu family patriarch continued, "That jade pendant of Jun'er's—I had it custom-carved for him specially. I wonder if you happen to be carrying it with you, little brother?"

Zhao Mu immediately put on a troubled expression, scratching his head from time to time.

Being old and shrewd, the Liu family head understood what was troubling Zhao Mu.

He immediately said, "Since you helped collect Jun'er's remains and laid him to rest, little brother, I will not let you help in vain. Once we retrieve Jun'er's body and the jade pendant, I am willing to gift you a hundred liang of silver."

Zhao Mu pursed his lips and continued to feign difficulty, saying, "Reporting to Master Liu, that jade pendant looked extremely valuable, and I was afraid it might be stolen, so I did not carry it with me. If Master Liu wishes, I can bring it along for you tomorrow when I deliver the fish."

Staring at Zhao Mu for a moment, the Liu family patriarch said, "Very well. However, since I have already given my word, I shall present the silver to you right now!"

With that, he drew a bank note worth a hundred liang from his bosom and handed it to Zhao Mu.

Glancing sideways at Qin Jian, Zhao Mu did not reach out to take it.

Qin Jian immediately took the bank note and shoved it into Zhao Mu's hand, saying, "Since Master Liu is giving it to you, just accept it."

Having said that, he pulled several more bank notes and silver ingots from his own robes and added, "And these—this is the silver from selling that tiger yesterday, along with the payment for today's fish."