Grace Brooks quietly stared at the water bowl. Only after the ink from both brush bellies had fully dispersed did he carefully use his fingers to gently tease the brush hairs. After a long while, he softly said, “There’s nothing going on.”

　　“You’re lying…” Helen Brooks wrinkled her nose, but didn’t press further. She gazed steadily at Grace Brooks, who was quietly washing the brushes, and after a long time, let out a gentle sigh: “Days like this are really, really good. Let’s keep it this way forever, okay?”

　　Grace Brooks held the cleaned brush in his hand, waited until the water had completely dripped off, then hung it back on the brush rack. He nodded and said, “Okay.”

　　“You’re lying…” Helen Brooks muttered softly.

　　Seeing his sister’s gloomy expression, Grace Brooks thought for a moment and said, “On the third of March, why don’t we join the winding stream banquet as well?”

　　“Great!” Helen Brooks instantly perked up, her thoughts turning entirely to the upcoming banquet in two days—what dress should she wear, what kind of jewelry to choose? What poems to prepare, and most importantly—what delicious food to bring?!

　　Only then did Grace Brooks breathe a sigh of relief and wipe his hands clean with a white silk cloth.

Chapter Six: The Third of March

　　Wulin Gate was built in the current dynasty, connecting westward to the Peach Blossom River and facing West Lake from afar. It serves as the northern gate of Yuhang City. Although not very old, its location is strategic—close to the canal and on a main thoroughfare—so the streets quickly filled with shops, masts and sails crowded like a forest, and merchants and travelers bustled about.

　　At the end of the marketplace stood a pawnshop called ‘Four Seas’. It looked utterly ordinary, no different from several other pawnshops on Wulin Gate Street.

　　On this day, a customer wearing a bamboo hat that obscured his face entered the dim shop and placed a bundle in front of the shopkeeper.

　　The shopkeeper listlessly opened the bundle to find a palm-sized white porcelain monkey, charming and lifelike.

　　A glint flashed in the shopkeeper’s eyes. He examined the item carefully for a moment, then glanced at the unexpected guest and asked, “Where did this come from, and what’s its story?”

　　“Bought at the Bai family’s general store in the west of the city. Cost ten taels of gold,” the customer replied in a hoarse voice.

　　“It’s not worth that much,” the shopkeeper said, wearing a ‘you’ve been duped’ expression.

　　“It’s worth it to those who know,” the customer replied indifferently.

　　“……” The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then asked, “Do you want a live pawn or a dead pawn?”

　　“Dead pawn,” the customer said in a low voice.

　　“For a dead pawn, I’ll only give you one wen,” the shopkeeper said coldly.

　　I’ve seen greedy pawnshops, but never one this ruthless. Yet the customer nodded, “That’s fine.”

　　“Please come inside to sign the receipt,” the shopkeeper put the porcelain monkey into his sleeve, stood up, opened the counter gate, and led the customer into the back room.

　　A black curtain hung in the back room, letting in not a sliver of light. Even in broad daylight, you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

　　But the shopkeeper made no move to light a lamp, and the customer didn’t object. The two began to converse in the darkness.

　　“The situation is tense right now. Perhaps you should come back in a few days,” an old voice sounded, clearly not the shopkeeper from before.

　　“I’ll pay ten times the usual fee,” the customer said stiffly.

　　“Is the target tough?” the old man asked.

　　“Of course. He’s a Yellow Rank expert,” the customer didn’t hide it.

　　“……” The other party fell silent for a long time before finally speaking, “Twenty times.”

　　“Deal,” the customer agreed without hesitation.

　　“Hiss…” In the corner of the room, two people drew in sharp breaths.

　　“Who’s the target?” the old voice asked.

　　“George Foster, an external steward of the Fu family in Suzhou. He’ll be arriving at the Wulin Gate dock by boat tomorrow.” The customer placed a piece of paper on the table. “He must not see tomorrow night’s moon.”

　　“Since you don’t wish to show your face, you must pay the full amount up front,” the old voice said. “If we fail, our society will return the full sum.”

　　“Fine.” The customer placed a heavy package on the table and was then escorted out of the dark room by the shopkeeper.

　　Once the outsider left, the room lit up. The old man sitting at the table opened the bundle, and at once, everyone’s eyes in the room were reflected in gold.

　　Seeing the bundle full of gold ingots, a black-faced man grinned, “Worth doing.”

　　“Orders from above: before The Carter Family’s people leave, we mustn’t act rashly,” someone more cautious objected.

　　“We need to make a living too, and it’s not like we’re assassinating an imperial envoy,” the black-faced man said carelessly.

　　“That’s right, Raymond Carter has been staying in his headquarters. As long as we keep our distance, what could go wrong?” Clearly, with such a huge reward, most supported taking the job.

　　The old man had already accepted the money, so his stance was clear. He ignored his subordinates’ chatter and carefully examined the portrait on the paper. The drawing was highly skilled: the man depicted had one blind eye and a full beard, making him easy to recognize. Next to it, tiny characters meticulously described the target’s physical features.

　　The old man pushed the portrait to the black-faced man and said, “Goblin, check the Fu family’s information. If there’s no problem, take some men and go.” At the end, he added a warning, “Since the customer is paying so much, the target must be tough.”

　　“Don’t worry, boss. The White Ape Society always uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut!” The black-faced man accepted the task.

　　……

　　The next day was the third of March. Helen Brooks got up early and urged Grace Brooks to hurry out. Grace Brooks pulled a long face and said, “Sister, you’re too impatient…”