dmims Chapter 29 A Popular Trio
Chapter 29 A Popular Trio
The two arrived at the Sun family's courtyard, where Madam Su had already dressed Ayan in a festive red jacket with snow-white rabbit fur trim. Her hair was styled into two small round buns tied with red ribbons, making her look like a lucky doll from a New Year's painting.
Russell chuckled, bent down, and easily lifted Ayan above his head, letting her sit astride his shoulders: "Let's go! Ayan, let's go see the lantern festival!"
The view suddenly rose, and the lights that were about to illuminate the streets seemed within reach. Sitting high up, Ayan held Russell's hair tightly in her small hands and finally showed the brightest smile she had shown in days, and nodded vigorously.
The lantern festival is usually bustling, but tonight's Shifo City is completely different from the desolate and lifeless atmosphere of the past few nights. The streets on both sides are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with buildings of varying heights.
There are simple red gauze round lanterns, revolving lanterns painted with flowers, birds, fish and insects, and uniquely shaped lotus lanterns... The light and shadow sway, forming a warm and brilliant river of lights, illuminating the bluestone road as if it were daytime.
Countless lanterns carrying wishes float on the winding river within the city, their candlelight flickering in the paper boats as they drift downstream, like scattered stars.
The roadside was filled with a dazzling array of acrobatics and magic tricks, as well as riddles and various food stalls. Russell glanced at them for a moment and was momentarily dazed, thinking he had wandered into the commercial street of some ancient town or city.
The only difference is that, compared to the eagerness of tourists in the commercial street, the pace of the lantern festival here is undoubtedly much slower, and the smiles on the faces of passersby are all from the heart.
"Russell, where should we go first?" Mu Wanqing hadn't been to a lantern festival many times, and now standing in front of the bustling street, she was overwhelmed and didn't know where to start.
"I'm fine with going anywhere, I'll just follow you guys around for now." Russell picked Ayan up from his shoulder and let her run around freely, while he and Mu Wanqing followed at a distance behind her.
As the three strolled along, three men dressed as merchants began to harbor ill intentions.
The leader was a scarred man with a scar running diagonally from his left eyebrow to his right cheek, which looked particularly ferocious under the lantern light. Beside him was a short, fat man with triangular eyes and a stocky build. The last one was as thin as a bamboo pole, hunched over, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, looking just like a wild monkey that had become a demon.
"It's truly a blessing from heaven," the skinny monkey chuckled in a low voice. "They're almost gone, and they've sent us three top-quality goods. That boy has delicate skin and tender flesh; he'll definitely fetch a good price. That girl hasn't fully grown yet, but she has a good foundation; in a couple of years, she'll be a money tree! As for that woman, hehe..."
His triangular eyes greedily swept over Mu Wanqing's profile, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Let's see where they're staying tonight. Once we catch them, the three of us can have some fun. I've been so bored on this long journey."
Scarface's gaze remained fixed on Russell. He grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth: "You can have the women, but this pretty boy is mine. Once I'm done with him, I'll sell him to the capital. I've heard that the high-ranking officials there love this kind of guy. A pretty boy like this is priceless."
The three exchanged a knowing glance and followed Russell, Mu Wanqing, and Ayan, maintaining a comfortable distance as they blended into the crowd.
All three were skilled in martial arts, extremely light on their feet, and possessed highly sophisticated tracking abilities. It was clear that this wasn't their first time doing something like this. Unfortunately, they encountered Russell today.
With Russell's current five senses and six perceptions, he was initially immersed in the atmosphere of the temple fair and taking care of Ayan, so he did not immediately notice anything unusual. However, as time went on, he eventually realized that something was wrong.
Just then, Ayan took a fancy to a sugar figurine and tugged at Russell's sleeve, refusing to leave. Russell stopped, and while paying, he subtly glanced at the crowd about three feet behind him. Then, without making a sound, he took Ayan's hand with one hand and leaned close to Mu Wanqing's ear with the other, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe: "Someone's watching us."
Mu Wanqing's eyes suddenly sharpened, and she instantly became alert. However, her rich experience in the martial arts world prevented her from doing anything foolish like looking back. Instead, she subtly glanced at them out of the corner of her eye as she raised her hand to tidy her temples, and asked in a low voice, "How many? What kind of style?"
Russell replied irritably, "How would I know? I'm not a god. I just discovered it and haven't had a chance to examine it closely yet."
Mu Wanqing was taken aback and realized that her question was a bit stupid. She smiled embarrassedly, but it was really not her fault. After spending these days together, Russell's martial arts skills, knowledge, and methods had almost become synonymous with omnipotence in her mind.
Their back-and-forth, their playful banter, appeared to an unsuspecting bystander as a strikingly good-looking young couple, flirting and clearly very affectionate under the bustling lantern market.
In the shadows of the alley corner, Scarface watched as Russell approached Mu Wanqing and whispered. Mu Wanqing gave a slightly coquettish look, while Scarface sneered inwardly, "Laugh all you want now, but wait until tonight, let's see if you're still laughing!"
With these three tails attached, Russell and Mu Wanqing were not exactly alarmed, but their interest in strolling around was greatly diminished.
But Ah Yan was too engrossed in playing, her little face filled with excitement, and they couldn't bear to take her away immediately. Besides, Russell also wanted to see what these three thieves were up to.
Another half hour passed. The three of them followed them to watch the acrobatics, bought clay figurines, and listened to half an act of opera, but they only followed from a distance and never took any action. Their patience was terrifying.
Russell gradually realized that this was not a spur-of-the-moment robbery, but a seasoned hunt, so he decided to let loose and have some fun.
Mu Wanqing was initially a little tense, but seeing that Luo Su didn't care, she gradually relaxed. Even when Ayan pointed at the fireworks exploding in the sky and exclaimed in surprise, she also raised her head, her eyes reflecting a dazzling light.
As the evening approached, the crowds at the temple fair gradually dispersed, the noise subsided, many vendors began to pack up, and little Ayan, tired from playing, rubbed her eyes, nodding her head, and was about to fall asleep.
Russell bent down, picked up the little girl, and said to Mu Wanqing, "Let's go back."
Mu Wanqing nodded.
The two walked back along the street, which was gradually quieting down.
Sure enough, the three tails followed again, now even closer than before.
Back at the Sun family's courtyard, Madam Su had already prepared hot water.
"Madam, we're afraid we'll be bothering you here for another night," Russell said somewhat apologetically to Madam Su as he closed the door.
"Huh?" Mrs. Su blinked, looking puzzled.
"So it is, so it is..." Russell explained simply and clearly, and indicated that these were just some small fry, and even if he didn't make a move, Mu Wanqing could easily take them down.
Mu Wanqing nodded repeatedly, proudly indicating that Russell was right, and puffed out her chest, which had been completely humiliated by Madam Su, in an attempt to increase her credibility.