The inner room of the slave shop was steeped in silence.
To Xu Yuan's surprise, Huang Shiwei appeared unaware that the man in the portrait was Nalan Ting, the person who orchestrated the Tatar Chao upheaval years ago.
Observing the hesitation on the other's face, Xu Yuan pondered for a moment before asking rather curiously:
"Mr. Huang, before carrying out this mission, did the Chief of the Secret Investigation Bureau not enlighten you about this person's identity?"
Huang Shiwei snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing these words, his voice resonating in the confined inner chamber:
"Our mission is solely to track down Qin Weishu and apprehend him. We are not privy to information deemed irrelevant."
Without comment, Xu Yuan picked up the sheet of xuan paper from the desk. The elegant fragrance painted onto it seemed to seep through the paper under the lamplight. He spoke slowly: