"Cooperate? Co-cooperate with what?" Wen Zimo was bewildered.
The tall man in black glanced around and said with a smile, "This place is full of bodies. It's not a good place for conversation with so many people around. Young Master Wen, please return to your manor first, and we will arrive shortly."
With that, he and the man with the dart leaped away, disappearing into the night.
The lightness skill of these two men was also so formidable; they were like specters in the dark night.
Wen Zimo came back to his senses and realized his body was trembling. He helped up his two injured attendants, got into the carriage, and rushed home.
Wen Zimo's manor was a three-courtyard residence on Tongfu Street.
Upon returning to his manor, he immediately ordered all courtyard gates to be tightly shut, and from tonight until dawn, he would see no one.
Furthermore, he instructed all the guards in the manor to be on high alert, patrolling the grounds in shifts and paying close attention to any unusual occurrences within the residence.
Uncle San was looking after the jewelry store today and had not gone to the grain shop with Wen Zimo. After hearing the coachman's account, his face turned deathly pale. Their young master had truly escaped by the skin of his teeth this time.
If those men in black could truly protect their young master, that would be good. However, he wondered if they were friend or foe. If they were wicked individuals, wouldn't it be even more dangerous?
Wen Zimo felt slightly at ease after ensuring all the manor's defenses were in place.
But when he entered his study and closed the door, upon turning around, he saw the tall man in black seated on a wooden chair behind the desk, with the man with the dart standing behind him.
"You... How did you get in?!" Wen Zimo leaned against the door, his legs trembling slightly. These men in black were truly elusive and impossible to guard against.
The man in black curved his lips into a smile and said, "We are also from the Ye Sheng Sect. We can go wherever we want, and there's nothing we can't do."
"Ye Sheng Sect? What kind of sect is it? Why haven't I heard of it before?" Wen Zimo asked with a wry face.
The man in black did not answer immediately. Instead, he poured himself a cup of tea without any pretense, then offered a cup to the man with the dart behind him. The two of them drank as if no one else was there.
After finishing their tea, they casually picked up the pastries from the plate and began eating.
They were completely treating his home as their own. Ten thousand mythical creatures roared within Wen Zimo's heart, but he couldn't utter a single word of protest.
It was all because he was weak, a mere chicken.
No, he had to learn martial arts from now on! Even though he was twenty and his limbs were no longer young, he would learn as much as he could.
In any case, he never wanted to be a weakling again!
After eating a few pastries, the man in black clapped his hands and said slowly, "Ye, Ye Sheng, the 'Ye' is for life; the 'Sheng' is for life; the 'Men' is for door. 'Ye Sheng Sect' is a newly emerging martial arts sect that integrates businesses such as assassins, intelligence gathering, escort services, and trade. Perhaps you haven't heard of it before, but from this moment on, it won't be long before the Ye Sheng Sect strikes fear into the hearts of many!"
"Then... what does this have to do with me, a mere merchant?" Wen Zimo spread his hands.
The man in black curved his lips into a smile, his teeth shining white, "Young Master Wen, what do you think of this sect leader's martial arts?"
Wen Zimo honestly replied, "Immeasurable." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The man in black nodded in satisfaction, "Then does Young Master Wen know who sent people to kill you today?"
Wen Zimo's expression darkened, and he said indignantly, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be people from the Rongguo Mansion, the backer of Bai Gucang. My friend warned me."
"Oh? What kind of friend?" The man in black's gaze suddenly turned sharp.
Wen Zimo glared at him, "You don't need to know that!"
The man in black chuckled, "Very well. Since you know the backer of Bai Gucang wants to kill you, you should also know who that backer is. According to their nature, they not only want to kill you but also seize your supply sources.
If they failed to kill you today, they will not give up. Your life will not be peaceful in the days to come. It doesn't matter if you die alone, but you will implicate your friends. Can you bear to do that?"
Wen Zimo frowned. He indeed couldn't implicate Bai Sheng, but he couldn't abandon the grain business halfway.
Although he knew that doing business in grains would offend some people, he was not afraid.
If he were afraid, he wouldn't have opened a jewelry store alone seven years ago and fought against the powerful Wen family by himself.
He walked the righteous path, so he wasn't afraid of the entanglement of demons and ghosts.
But he also had to strengthen himself; he couldn't just wander the martial world based on impulse.
"What did you mean earlier by saying you are my backer?"
The man in black smiled faintly, "The Ye Sheng Sect that could save you just now can also save you in the future. It all depends on whether you are willing to believe us."
"Your so-called cooperation means I hire you to protect me?"
"That's what it means. Let us be your backer."
Wen Zimo curled his lips, "I'm very familiar with Prince Yu. If I want to find a backer, why wouldn't I find him instead of you? You are so unknown..."
The man in black suddenly let out a series of chuckles, "Prince Yu, an abandoned son by his father. He can't even protect himself, so how can he be your backer?"
Wen Zimo stiffened his neck, unresigned, "But... but no matter what, he is still the lord of Bianzhou!"
The man in black sneered, "The lord of Bianzhou must be alive first. Do you know how many people want him dead?"
"You... What do you mean by that?" Wen Zimo's fingers clenched until they turned white.
"The meaning is very clear," the man in black said indifferently. "To tell you the truth, it won't be long before we, the Ye Sheng Sect, also become Prince Yu's backer. If you don't believe me, let's wait and see!"
Wen Zimo's eyes widened in astonishment. What arrogance! What presumption!
However, it was precisely this powerful confidence and arrogance that made Wen Zimo want to give it a try.
"But how do I know you aren't working with those who want to kill me?"
The man in black laughed in exasperation, "Not to mention the difference in martial arts skill, just looking at our demeanor, do you think we are alike?"
Wen Zimo shook his head. The first wave of men in black were at best ordinary local thugs, but these two masked men were truly chilling martial arts experts.
But could such martial arts experts truly guarantee his safety forever?
"It's not impossible to hire you for protection, but we are strangers. How can I trust you? Besides, if you fail, wouldn't I have wasted my money and died in vain?"
The man in black said, "Your concerns are reasonable, but you have no other choice but to trust us. As long as you trust us, the Ye Sheng Sect will definitely not disappoint you."
"What is the remuneration?"
"One thousand taels of silver per month!"
Wen Zimo snorted coldly, "You certainly dare to name a price."
The man in black grinned, "One thousand taels is already the most favorable price. Young Master Wen's life is worth far more than a thousand taels, isn't it?"
Wen Zimo's eye twitched, "Allow me to consider it."
"There's no time to delay. I can't guarantee that those assassins won't come a second time tonight," the man in black stood up, packing the unfinished pastries along the way.
Wen Zimo closed his eyes, pretending not to see anything, "Alright, I agree! But I have one more condition: teach me martial arts."
"An additional six thousand taels, and you'll learn it!" the man in black said without batting an eye.
The man with the dart behind him couldn't help but twitch his mouth. The sect leader was truly good at making money. In a short while, he had earned seven thousand taels. Thinking of the glistening silver, his legs trembled.
Wen Zimo's mouth fell open, "Six thousand taels? If I casually hire a master, I wouldn't even use a tenth of that amount!"
"Then go and casually hire a master," the man in black said indifferently.
Wen Zimo lowered his head, "Then... then you must teach me until I learn. The money will be paid in two installments. I don't have that much money now."
"Deal!"
The two parties signed a contract.
The tall man in black pointed to the man with the dart and said, "From now on, he will be your master. Although your old arms and legs can't reach his level, you'll be able to protect yourself."
Wen Zimo put his hand to his forehead. It was fine for him to call himself having old arms and legs, but once someone else said it, he wanted to lash out. He moved his fingers, but alas, forget it, he couldn't beat them!
The man in black patted Wen Zimo's shoulder, "From now on, Young Master Wen can rest easy."
"Only... as long as I am in danger, will your people appear?" Wen Zimo said with a tremor.
"Naturally."
"Do you guarantee it?"
"Absolute guarantee!"
"Are you absolutely sure?"
The man in black: ...
What to do? He really wanted to hit his first client.