Zane Zhuang felt a sense of unease—he had never seen anyone so strikingly handsome. Luna Quay’s features were almost feminine, yet carried a masculine vigor. He was more beautiful than any woman Zane had ever met, but without losing the air of a man. Perhaps only the ghost of the legendary beauty Xi Shi, whom Zane had seen as a child, could compare.
Beside him stood Lance Quinn, wearing a monk-like smile. Yet Zane Zhuang sensed something odd about these two master and servant—there was a strange aura about them, though he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Leading Lance Quinn inside, Zane Zhuang found Henry Henderson, who had been troubled by the guest’s death in his home the previous night. Henry immediately became enthusiastic, instructing Zane to prepare the finest food and drink for Luna Quay and his party. According to Henry, Luna Quay was the son of a wealthy family from the west, who had helped manage the family business from a young age.
Luna Quay often traveled for business, and this time he sought a large quantity of premium nanmu wood. At the table, Luna Quay agreed in one breath and immediately had Lance Quinn produce a large sum of money, paying in full.
Henry Henderson was delighted. The matter of Master Wu had been settled; everyone present spread the word that Master Wu had died suddenly of illness early the next morning.
Those in Henderson Village who knew of the incident said nothing. Zane Zhuang was well aware that Master Wu had been bitten in the neck, his body curled up and drained of blood when he died.
This detail was extremely strange. The corpse had already been dealt with by Zane Zhuang and his men that afternoon, and Master Wu’s family received a large sum of money. Henry Henderson hoped to suppress such bizarre happenings, lest it harm the Henderson Family’s reputation.
“Ah, Young Master Luna, you’re as generous as ever.”
Zane Zhuang sat beside Henry Henderson, drinking wine. Nearby, Victor Fan also found Luna Quay peculiar. Both Zane and Victor harbored doubts about this wealthy young man.
After three rounds of drinks, Victor Fan used drunkenness as an excuse and asked Zane Zhuang to help him back to his room.
"Zane, what do you think of Young Master Luna...?"
"He seems fake. I've lived in Dingtown for more than twenty years, and I've never heard of any wealthy Luna family with such close ties to the Hendersons."
"Zane, you may not know, but Young Master Luna is a rich merchant from the western Qin Kingdom. He's come to Dingtown for business over the years. That's my impression—he's always generous, never haggles, always pays the asking price. I've done business with him a few times."
Victor Fan spoke, clearly puzzled. He immediately told Zane Zhuang to fetch his account books. For nearly twenty years in Dingtown, every transaction Victor had made was recorded on these bamboo slips.
Yet Zane Zhuang had no memory of Luna Quay at all. He helped Victor Fan search through the pile of old account books, but after an entire night—until the moon was about to set—they still hadn't found Luna Quay's name.
Victor Fan pinched his nose, looking exhausted.
"Zane, are all the records here?"
Zane Zhuang nodded.
"Teacher, are you sure you've met this Young Master Luna before?"
Victor Fan pressed his forehead, and after a long moment, nodded.