Chapter 82.1 – Your reputation precedes you

Su Fu used the knife on his hand to cut an entire mutton leg extremely fast. On the other hand, Ran Yan continued to cut hers at an unhurried pace.

Someone had once said that eating Western food with Ran Yan was a terrifying experience. The way she held the knife was obviously elegant, however, there was a weird feeling to it.

“Is Master Su familiar with me?” From the beginning, Ran Yan found this quite strange. Just now in the forest, she had spoken only one sentence and Su Fu recognized her.

Su Fu put the plate on the small table before quietly looking at Ran Yan, his chilly voice replied: “Your reputation precedes you.”

Ran Yan’s heart squeezed. He said “reputation”, this should be about the autopsies she performed! Yang pansi’s residence was near the east market, and he died during that rainy day when Su Fu appeared on the east market; going by the time it happened, Ran Yan had every reason to suspect that Yang pansi was killed by Su Fu. So, does he know she examined Yang pansi’s body?

Su Fu used the tip of the dagger to pick up a slice of meat and brought it into his mouth, slowly chewing it.

Ran Yan finished cutting the meat and took the initiative to also start eating. Such a fresh, tender, and crispy taste made her momentarily stunned, then her belly got even hungrier and she immediately let go of the ceremonies.

“It’s correct to say that Miss Ran is also quite familiar with me.” Su Fu’s movements were remarkably elegant despite his eating speed being extremely fast. In an instant, he wiped out half of the well-sliced pieces of meat that were in front of him.

Ran Yan’s movements paused. She has met with Su Fu several times; one time she had her veil hat, another time was when she was stealthily looking at him in the canopy made of Banks’ roses, and another one when they were using masks. There was the time he invaded her carriage and held her under his dagger; Ran Yan wasn’t wearing anything over her face at that time, but he had his face covered.

If Su Fu is speaking about that time, it shouldn’t be considered as ‘being familiar’… Or could it be…

“I’ve always been wondering whether or not I should have killed you.” Su Fu took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth with it. His chilly gaze fell upon Ran Yan’s face, appearing as if what he had just said was the most normal thing to inquire about.

Ran Yan ate a bite of her meat as she began to understand that an assassin doesn’t rely solely on appearance to identify people; breath, perception, and subtle characteristics, it all allow him to sharply tell apart the differences between people.

“So, why haven’t you killed me?” Ran Yan drily asked.

Su Fu’s eyes showed no ripples, but he didn’t answer her question, just said, “Go back when you’re done eating. And don’t ever let me see you entering this forest again.”

He then got up and walked towards the courtyard. He paused for a moment when he reached the bamboo door and turned his head to say: “Tomorrow, take an umbrella and toss it into the forest.”

The door creaked when it opened and Ran Yan looked away, silently eating a few more bites. Suddenly, she noticed a pool of blood in the place where Su Fu had been sitting.

For him to lose this much blood in such a short time, she was certain the wound was very serious. Towards Su Fu, Ran Yan truly wondered if she had anything good to say; it wasn’t strange for an assassin to be injured in the middle of the night, but to eat roasted meat so calmly while having such a severe injury – this kind of mentality was impossible for her to understand.

Ran Yan was a little hesitant; should she meddle in this matter?

Ran Yan was thinking about it, but she had already got up and was now opening the bamboo door. Cockscomb flowers had been planted everywhere within the courtyard and, in the moonlight, were like patches of dried blood, exhibiting a shocking shade of red.

The bamboo courtyard wasn’t big, there were houses on its three sides. Ran Yan followed the bloodstains on the veranda until the bamboo room on the east side.

The door was firmly closed. Ran Yan inhaled deeply before stretching her hand at it. But the door suddenly opened, allowing a cold wind mixed with a metallic and slightly sweet smell to blow over her, and a cold voice came along: “You are certainly very daring”

Everything quieted down, and Ran Yan could clearly see that Su Fu’s clothes were ajar, showing off a robust upper body that looked like an impeccable work of art. Then, noticing the scar on his chest, she still felt it was completely appropriate for him to have her, since it served to enhance his unbelievable and beautiful face, making it even more perfect.

“Since I have eaten your mutton meat, I come over to see if there is anything you need help with.” Ran Yan disregarded the sword resting at the side of her neck and couldn’t help drifting her gaze towards his chest, then she lifted her head and stared back at him indifferently.

Su Fu’s eyes, which had a hue of dark blue, approached Ran Yan as if t to they wanted to see if there was any trace of emotion within her eyes. Unfortunately, it was a futile effort.

“There is no need to look at them, I always speak out what’s on my mind.” Ran Yan’s gaze fell on the blood flowing from his waist and said frankly, “People must believe what they see, not what they hear. However, there are many people like you, who never believe what their own eyes see.”

Su Fu slowly lowered the long sword on his hand and held it against the floor, supporting his body with it.

Ran Yan sensed that the murderous aura around him had disappeared, and said: “Do you want me to take care of your wound?”

As an assassin, Su Fu had long lost the ability to trust others. Yet, for some reason, he actually nodded his head after looking into Ran Yan’s placid eyes.

Ran Yan helped him sit on the bed and went to the small table to look for cloth and also medicine for injuries. Having all the items ready, she stretched out to take off his clothing.

Su Fu saw his clothes being so rapidly stripped by a young lady, and his expression that was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old glacial ice became even more rigid. He pursed his lips and looked at Ran Yan; seeing her solemn and serious face, his tensed muscles gradually relaxed.

Ran Yan cleaned the blood around the wound with deft and agility, then applied the medicinal powder to stop the bleeding. She then raised her head and said, “The wound is very deep, I will have to sew it, do you have a needle?”

“In the medicine box.” Su Fu lifted his chin towards it.

Ran Yan followed his motion and saw a modest wooden box beside the table. Opening the box, Ran Yan saw many kinds of flasks and bottles, the majority of them being a kind of small light green porcelain bottle.

There were no lamps lit inside the room, only the light of the moon coming through the slits of the window served as illumination. It was only after groping around with great difficulty that Ran Yan could find what she needed.

But with this condition, she was unable to thread the line on the needle, so she opened the window, allowing the moonlight to seep through the room like water, increasing her visibility.