27. Sneaking

As he pondered about his family's safety, he was also curious about the situation on the other side which was in the Liu family. It has been a few weeks since he last heard about them. Not that he cared nor he was scared, but he was curious about their reaction after he beheaded those servants they hired to assassinate Li Jie. Don't blame him for being merciless, but as what they have said, 'strike while the iron is hot.'

Imagining their faces full of horrid and fear, an unknown happiness rose up to Li Jie's heart. Being a criminal and a killer in his past times, this phenomenal event was just one of his prosaic hobbies. But now, he needs to be alert. Because here in his new body compared to his previous one seems a bit different. No, not bit, but a whole new different situation.

In his last life, he can kill people without getting emotional. Instead, he was a psycho or a living chucky doll, stabbing people repeatedly using his kitchen knife as he maintained a wide smile on his face. Creepy wasn't it? But compared to his situation now, he couldn't even look at the people he ruthlessly killed. It was as if he was guilty about it. It maybe because he was changed or perhaps he hadn't used to this current body's psychological emotions. This body had a weak heart. That's why, he couldn't tolerate hurting anyone.

But he and this owner's body were different. It was like oil and water, a completely opposite to each other. One is a pure kind-hearted, and the other was a ruthless beast. And even if he still got his normal strength from his previous life, with his weak heart it was still useless. That's why, he picked up a pitiful servant who was tasked to assassinate him that night, Li Wei. With his servant, he can do as he pleases as long as the other won't betray him. The servant insisted to Li Jie dragged him out of that nasty den.

Sitting in a lotus position, he called his servant to his room. And a few minutes passed and his obedient servant slash disciple had come into his room. Li Wei entered room and kowtowed him. Seeing Li Wei kneeling in front of him, Li Jie's mouth twitched and sighed helplessly. Yes, Li Wei was his servant. Howbeit he also acknowledged him as his younger brother and an obedient student. It's just that, this kid had a habit of kneeling others. Well, for Li Wei, it was normal since he grew up to be a servant, even if he wanted to. Except being with Li Jie of course.

"Did you practice what I taught you?" Li Jie evaluated as he remained to close his eyes.

"Yes Master." Li Wei said as he kept looking at the floor. Somehow, Li Jie felt irritated as he looked at him.

"Do you think you can sneak into the Liu manor tonight?" Li Jie asked again and opened his eyes. Li Wei nodded vigorously with a hint of seriousness plastered on his face. After all, Li Wei originally worked in the nasty place. He believed that his servant can do what he wants to do.

"Tonight, I want you to sneak in the Liu manor. Search all the critters and see if you discover something fishy. Well, that minister wouldn't calm down if he never gets what he wants. If there's something interesting, report it to me. Also, be sure to be careful." Li Jie tasked him a risky job this coming night and to his surprise, Li Wei doesn't even refute. Li Wei nodded modestly and went to his room. He still needs to prepare and wouldn't proceed to his mission empty-handed.

Earlier before, Li Jie overheard the servants talking about the capital. As what the maids have said, the situation near the border became hectic. The people were dying from hunger, other families turned penniless, and the increase of bandit attacks doubled its forces. If left abandoned, the nation may fall as well as the palace. This was also the reason why Delun was stuck in his office from dawn till dusk. And even if Li Jie didn't study much in history, he surely knows what the minister steward's position in the palace. As for the finance area of the palace, that is obviously his job.

Either he was keeping the treasury for himself or the palace's treasury was being transported to somewhere else in return for his satisfying desires. But no matter what it is, that scum was up to no good.

"He really is a snake that swallows an elephant." Li Jie thought

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As his master ordered, Li Wei sneaked in the inside of the Liu manor carefully. Since he had worked in here before, there was no difficulty of infiltrating the place. He had changed into his old clothes so many couldn't guess if he was originally from the outside. The only problem that he was facing now is to unable to get caught. Otherwise, his neck will be cut off before the twilight breaks.

Due to his master's knowledge, he didn't go through the gate but to the most secluded place in the manor in which he liked to hide before when he was still working in the manor.

Li Wei's movements were normal, as if he was one of the servants inside the manor, although he was once one of them before. As expected, things went smoothly as he walked to the halls of the manor.

As two of the guards of the Liu manor were heading to the opposite direction, he lowered his head a little to avoid his face getting suspected by them. His heart was pounding, but he quickly recovered as they only passed him and didn't pay attention to him.

He glanced a little to the left and right, checking if no one was looking. Then, in the secret basement in which no servant or people was allowed to step near that place was guarded by two guards.

Knowing the inside of the room is quiet and serene, Li Wei knows that no one is in that room. As a diversion, Li Wei threw something brittle on the other side of the hall which makes a shattering sound echoed beyond the manor's walls.

The guards were alarmed so they rushed to where the sound resided. As they ran, Li Wei followed behind them and slashed their neck with his sided palm making them unconscious. He then hide them somewhere in the dark, and didn't forget to tie them up.

As he was done, he checked his surroundings again if he find someone spying on him. As he found no one, he then ran to the secret basement and entered. His master taught him how to run without getting a sound from his steps. Li Wei practiced well and was taking notes. Since he was a student with excellent mind, he was able to do what his master teaches him. And that's what his master was proud of him.

Although, his master was always thinking about someone that made himself in a daze, Li Wei could only sigh inside his mind and grumbled silently.

As he managed to infiltrate the basement, his heart was pounding for excitement. However, he could also feel the fear and anxiety of getting caught. But, this was also part of being a soldier hence he could use this as a scapegoat for his determination to become a soldier.

When he turned around, his jawbone nearly fall to his skull as he looked at the amount of gold hidden in the basement. Not just gold, but a lot of medicinal purposes were here. Ginseng, ginger root, and many other medicine that was nearly cost a tons of gold. It was as if this medicine was as many as the shops of the Capital were combined.

He explored the area with care and alertness. He looked at the seal and was confused about it. This seal had a mark of the two dragons. If Li Jie or the General saw this, they would definitely skin the Minister alive as this mark was the mark of the Emperor. Technically, this riches belong to the palace's finance room. Li Wei didn't knew about this but he quickly drew the images inside his head. Thanks to his strong memory, he could remember the things he saw and was definitely in an advantage.

'What is this place? Why do I feel that the minister was more richer than the Emperor?' Li Wei was clueless about it and can't help but asked. But since he finally get what he wants to know, he was prepared to go outside.

However, maybe the luck hadn't sided with him tonight. Li Wei heard the minister's voice outside with more people.

"Where's the guards I ordered to guard this place?!"

As the minister's voice sounded outside, Li Wei's heart began to palpitate and was immediately finding a place to hide. Howbeit because of his panicking mind that he couldn't find any place to hide.

As he turned to the door, a pair of strong hands grabbed his waist to the side and the other hand of the man was covering Li Wei's mouth in case he would freak out. The two snuggled in the secluded corner of the room, hiding from those venomous people.

"Those damn cockroaches dared to slack off? Let's see if I can still see those faces tomorrow! Good thing that the money was safe, or else I have no face to see 'them' if they come here!" Liu Ming exclaimed with rage.

"Check if there's something missing!"

"Yes, Sire!" The servants roamed inside the room and checked if the goods were stolen. Seeing that the goods were unharmed, Liu Ming took a deep breath and sighed as a relief.

"Okay, you two! Guard this place! Don't let any people come this area. Understood?"

"Yes, Sire!" After that, Liu Ming left with some of the guards but he left two guards guarding the door. Seeing that there's no more people in the room, the man who grabbed Li Wei loosened his grasp towards him and uncovered his mouth.

The man was all dressed in black, and Li Wei couldn't see him well. But among those black clothes, he could see that the man was built with a good body and was particularly handsome. The pair of bottomless eyes stared at Li Wei. At the same time, Li Wei also stared at him.

The man broke the eye contact and cleared his throat.

"Ahem..." His powerful voice seems to suit his personality more making Li Wei blushed.

'The hell? Why do I feel hot?' Li Wei thought as he calmed himself. But, also he thought that the voice was somewhat familiar.

"Follow me." The man said and held Li Wei's hand. Li Wei gulped as he heard the man's voice. Li Wei pondered what the man was doing. They couldn't go out through the door since there are people guarding outside the door. How will they going to come out?

But to his surprise, there was a hidden passage in the room and it was connected to the outside. From the narrow tunnel, the two crawled fast and didn't even looked back. Li Wei wanted to ask the man's name but there was no voice coming out from his mouth. So, he could only shut up and looked with admiration towards him.

Minutes passed and they arrived at the end of the tunnel. As expected, this tunnel was connected to the outside which may come in handy. He turned to the black-clothed man. However the man avoided his gaze. If it wasn't because of this man, Li Wei may become a headless corpse before tomorrow comes.

"Be careful next time." The man said, his magnetic voice touched the certain person's heart.

"T-thank you. Then, I'll get going now." Li Wei said and the man nodded. Li Wei smiled and ran towards his original place, his master.

"That young man was the Madame's servant. What is Madame was up to again?" Jiao-long in the black clothes starting from his head to his feet pondered. And as he thought of Li Jie again, his heart beats faster and couldn't help but smiled bitterly.

The fate really is unfair sometimes.