Jing Hengbo looked around – oh, there was no one left in the courtyard.
Even if there were people, it wouldn’t matter. She was just a hunter’s daughter who had been insulted – couldn’t she resist?
She was a hunter’s daughter living at Seven Peaks Mountain, accustomed to seeing masters, with a not-so-good temper – couldn’t she have some impressive resistance?
“Go wash it!” The young man continued his cold scolding. He had indeed been trained – no matter how angry he was, his tone remained coolly cold, his expression didn’t show ferocity, maintaining that kind of aloof noble air.
Heaven knew that right now, Jing Hengbo hated this air the most!
“I’m dirty?” She stepped forward.
“Stay back! Do you know how disgusting you are?” Young Master Li glanced at her and immediately showed the expression of seeing a caterpillar, stepping back.
“I’m dirty?” Jing Hengbo seemed not to feel his revulsion, smiling as she stepped forward again.
“Didn’t you hear me tell you to stay back?” Young Master Li angrily retreated another step. He seemed to sense something wrong and turned to leave with a flick of his sleeve.
Jing Hengbo grabbed his sleeve: “I’m dirty?”
“Let go!” Young Master Li nearly stumbled from her pull. He turned around sharply and raised his hand to draw the sword at his waist.
Before his hand could touch the sword, Jing Hengbo was suddenly in front of him, face to face.
This close, the yellow and white patches on her face looked even more terrifying. Young Master Li’s eyes widened, afraid of catching her “vitiligo,” and he quickly backed away: “Get away!”
His qinggong was quite good. When retreating, his robes fluttered gracefully, truly having some of Gong Yin’s divine bearing – probably the result of deliberate training. His other martial arts might not work, but qinggong was best for showing off.
But even as he retreated three zhang, Jing Hengbo stuck to him like she was attached to his body, forcibly following him for three zhang until she had him backed against the wall with nowhere to retreat.
“I’m dirty?” She smiled cheerfully and spat a melon seed shell at his face.
There was still no movement around – it seemed those people didn’t mind her giving this boy a small lesson.
“Get lost! Disgusting bitch!” Young Master Li finally cursed and reached to draw his sword.
Jing Hengbo spat on his snow-white face and grabbed both sides of his cheeks with one hand, squeezing that extraordinarily handsome face until it was completely deformed.
“Do you know that you’re the disgusting one!” she said coldly. “I’m very angry!”
She was very angry!
This face was truly insulting, insulting!
She gripped that face tightly with one hand and raised the other: slap, slap, slap, slap, slap!
Front and back, eighteen consecutive slaps!
Each one forceful and solid, crisp and loud!
After slapping one side, she slapped the other. Eighteen slaps, not one more, not one less, slapping until snow-white became red, red became blue, blue became purple, purple became a large patch, swollen eyes and crooked mouth.
I’ll slap! I’ll slap! I’ll slap, slap, slap!
Slapping out all her fury, slapping out all her depression, slapping out her hatred and contempt for these shameless people, slapping out her angry curses and struggles against this heartless heaven.
I was originally an innocent commoner, helplessly entangled in worldly dust. I can be wrong, I can be wronged, but I cannot be insulted. Whoever bullies me, I’ll slap them!
Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap!
The sounds were too crisp, too continuous, too fast for anyone to stop in time.
There were people shouting to stop from far away, but she pretended not to hear.
Watching that extraordinary face become bruised and unrecognizable, uglier than a pig’s face, Jing Hengbo finally stopped with satisfaction and wiped her somewhat numb hand on that burning hot face.
She looked left and right, admiringly examining this face and nodding.
Now that’s right! This was how his face should look. That face from before was too unpleasant to look at!
Then she grabbed Young Master Li and slowly rubbed him against the wall, covering him with brick dust and yellow mud. His snow-white clothes became so mottled their original color was unrecognizable.
After cleaning the wall, she threw him down like a broken sack.
“Now you’re dirtier than me,” she said cheerfully, kicking Young Master Li with her toe.
“Stop!” The shouted prohibition finally arrived belatedly.
Jing Hengbo blinked, turned around, and looked at the approaching leader.
“This…” The leader helped up the young man and first checked his injuries, discovering they were only superficial wounds. Though the many slaps were forceful, their positions were clever – not even one tooth had been knocked out.
He was slightly relieved. Though he also looked down on this young man, he was still a secret weapon carefully cultivated by the sect leader, and might even be the sect leader’s lover. If he was truly injured and disfigured, the plan would be ruined. He couldn’t bear the sect leader’s fury.
Now it was only superficial injuries. With some good medicine, he’d heal quickly without leaving scars.
Young Master Li hung limply on his arm, trembling all over. The leader frowned, feeling even more contempt – hadn’t the sect leader said this Young Master Li’s martial cultivation was not weak? How could he be beaten like this by a mountain girl? Besides, these were only superficial injuries – was it necessary to act like this?
The sect leader must have been flattering him. Looking at this boy’s behavior, he really was worthless.
Young Master Li was suffering in silence – his martial arts really weren’t low. Earlier when being slapped, he clearly had time to draw his sword, but for some reason, when that woman pressed her hand on his face, he suddenly felt his internal organs empty out. All his strength disappeared, his body became empty and ice-cold, and his original true qi transformed into milky white airflow that suddenly dispersed. It was like… like cold moonlight filling an empty room, bringing slight chill, seeing scattered dust in the faint light.
But gradually, his internal true qi began to recover, making him doubt whether what happened earlier was his imagination. Seeing the leader’s dissatisfied expression, he was ashamed to mention the earlier abnormality. He feared that if he spoke, the leader would think him cowardly and shameless, deliberately saying this mountain girl was a master to save face. But now he had no evidence – his body had returned to normal.
“Miss, you were too rash,” the leader turned to coldly rebuke Jing Hengbo. “Young Master Li is our honored guest. How could you beat him like this?”
“That beautiful sister told me that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated. If anyone bullies me, I should beat them up.” Jing Hengbo turned to leave. “Since this is the case, you probably don’t need me to guide you to meet the beautiful sister. I’m going back.”
“Stop.” The leader grabbed her sleeve. “Did your beautiful sister really tell you this?”
“Of course.” Jing Hengbo blinked innocently. “Sister is very good to me. The uncles on the mountain are all good to me too, and they taught me many things.” She faced the sky, spread her snow-white palms, and admired them repeatedly. “Look at my slapping just now – wasn’t it beautiful?”
The leader’s expression changed – who in the world didn’t know the names of Seven Peaks Mountain’s Master Purple Micro and Seven Kills? Most people naturally wanted to make connections, but they were afraid of those master and disciples’ unrestrained behavior that didn’t follow conventions, so they dared not make contact easily. Now hearing this little girl say she was instructed by Seven Kills, and seeing that her actions earlier were indeed skillful, he immediately felt tempted.
If he could trick out some of Master Purple Micro’s miraculous techniques…
Thinking this, he decided to let this woman go. It was just beating up Li Hanyu – he’d recover quickly.
“If you leave, you won’t get the silver. You don’t have a single copper coin on you – how will you get back?”
Jing Hengbo stopped, her back to the man, the corner of her lips slightly curving.
As long as people had greed, they were easy to handle.
“Send Young Master Li back to rest. Remember to use the best external wound medicine.” The man ordered again.
Li Hanyu struggled angrily, pointing at Jing Hengbo, probably demanding heavy punishment, but no one paid attention to him. A group of strong servants quickly escorted him to the back courtyard.
Jing Hengbo shrugged and glanced at Li Hanyu’s room.
This person was useful – she’d get intimate with him again tonight.
…
Light rain began falling in the evening. The ground reflected a layer of blue-green oily sheen, reflecting the deep red lanterns from distant inns, creating a hazy brilliance like fresh blood.
Jing Hengbo pulled her clothes tighter, thinking she’d need to go out and “borrow” some clothes later.
She planned to have a good heart-to-heart with Li Hanyu tonight and needed a beautiful outfit.
There were no clothing shops nearby, so she planned to stroll through the city. It was also a good chance to see the scale of various martial factions’ local branches. Guanjia River was also an important town in Hawksbill, and most Hawksbill forces reportedly had important sub-branches here, which was why this group had been especially careful when entering the city.
Jing Hengbo also wanted to find traces of that Master Mu. On her journey from the capital, she’d heard this name several times and was full of curiosity about this figure and his organization, thinking he must be a remarkable person famous throughout Hawksbill. However, after arriving in Hawksbill and making intentional and unintentional inquiries several times, no one had heard this name.
In this situation, either someone had lied to her before, or this Master Mu was truly formidable, entrenched in Hawksbill while hidden behind the scenes, completely inaccessible to ordinary people.
She was very interested in such a force. Undoubtedly, the Three Gates, Four Alliances, and Seven Major Gangs were her enemies, but whether this Master Mu was enemy or friend remained unknown. If he was an enemy, she needed to understand him; if a friend, she should bring him into her camp as soon as possible.
That group outside seemed to have something going on tonight – earlier she’d heard sounds of them all mobilizing. Of course, they’d left guards outside her room, but this didn’t affect her. The next moment, she was already standing on the wet street.
There were sounds of silk and bamboo music in the distance. Guanjia River’s western Jade Tower District was the legendary red-light district, but actually also where various factions’ branches were located.
Today the silk and bamboo music was especially melodious and loud, seeming to spread through half the city. With Hawksbill’s royal authority in decline, there was no curfew, and there were quite a few pedestrians on the street. She randomly grabbed someone to ask, and the person laughed: “The big shots of North Hawksbill are hosting a joint banquet tonight, right in Jade Tower District. You women should stay away – if you’re accidentally noticed, it’ll be trouble.” Turning to look at her, he laughed again: “Though being noticed wouldn’t be bad. After the big shots finish drinking, there’s always an entertainment program. All the city’s top courtesans will go then – you could take the chance to show off too.”
Jing Hengbo chuckled and let go, thinking that with no one managing things, there was freedom. The local customs were quite open.
It was still early. Looking at that prosperous pleasure district, she suddenly felt like checking out this martial gathering.
Having always found gang stories thrilling, she wondered what this ancient version of gang banqueting would be like – what kind of Hongmen Feast? Also, the four words “joint banquet” sounded strange. From what she knew, though the Three Gates, Four Alliances, and Seven Major Gangs weren’t all opposed to each other, their relationships were intricately complex, making it very difficult for them to gather and drink together. Now they were jointly hosting – who were they hosting? Who had such great influence?
When she reached Jade Tower District, she didn’t need to search – the largest brightly lit building was obvious. On the street below, those eating, walking, and playing were all groups of tough men in different colored clothes, all with sharp eyes, light steps, carrying swords and sabers, full of killing aura. And they were clearly distinct, obviously belonging to different organizations.
Two groups by the roadside were gambling while a crowd cheered. When one side lost, a blade flashed and three fingers rolled onto the street. No one screamed; everyone laughed. Passing pedestrians calmly kicked the fingers into the gutter.
This was a scene unseen anywhere else in Dahuang, full of sinister brutality, subtle ferocity, silent bloodthirst, and calm fighting.
This was the martial world’s domain.
Jing Hengbo propped up her chin, thinking that someday she’d have to make all these guys honestly roll back into their rat holes.
Besides martial artists, the rest on the street were women. The entire Jade Tower District was a pleasure quarter, so courtesans were everywhere. Almost every person dressed like a leader had a heavily made-up woman beside him, and based on the leader’s status, the women’s appearance quality varied accordingly. From the street end to the central Jade Tower, it was like seeing a gradual transformation from ugly to beautiful women.
In such a place, there was no need to worry about disguises. At night, Jing Hengbo’s skin returned to normal, so she walked in openly.
At first no one noticed her – there were too many women. But when a drunk accidentally swung his lantern in front of her, that person was greatly startled.
People around were also startled.
Everyone eating, playing chess, drinking, and gambling on the street silently turned to stare at Jing Hengbo as she walked past.
Women straightened up from men’s embraces, looking Jing Hengbo up and down, their eyes holding jealousy but more admiration.
The entire street suddenly changed from extreme noise to extreme quiet. Those strange, probing gazes made even someone as bold as Jing Hengbo feel uncomfortable.
She knew she was beautiful and had thought that in such a place full of mixed characters, showing her face would inevitably lead to competition and harassment. But strangely, no one did anything.
She walked through the quiet and strange gazes, feeling uncomfortable all over.
Wherever she passed, everyone made way, creating a path straight to Jade Tower. She couldn’t even hide in a corner.
She was forced by those people to walk toward today’s banquet venue at Jade Tower.
The shop owner stood at Jade Tower’s entrance. The big shots hadn’t arrived yet, and the owner and all the servers were already greeting guests at the door. Seeing her walk straight in, they immediately came forward: “Miss, please rest in the back room and wait for summons.”
Jing Hengbo was baffled, truly not understanding what medicine these people were selling. Did they recognize her identity? It didn’t seem like it.
Since she was here, she might as well stay. She entered Jade Tower.
As soon as her figure disappeared into the building, the deathly quiet street erupted with noise again.
Discussion rose like waves, nearly sweeping this rain-dampened street.
“Ha! Tonight’s top courtesan is quite beautiful!”
“Don’t know where Gang Leader Hua found her. Doesn’t seem to be from Guanjia River’s local pleasure houses.”
“Maybe a courtesan from Shangyuan? Look at her refined bearing.”
“Who’s the invited boy? Such good fortune!”
“Come on, what is he? Be careful he comes but doesn’t return alive!”
…
Jing Hengbo stood at a second-floor window of Jade Tower, watching the commotion below.
The shop owner had enthusiastically brought her in. No one asked her identity or questioned her at all. She was directly taken to a rest room where bed curtains, bedding, and a dressing table were fully prepared, even with a bathing area.
The owner told her to rest well, use anything in the room as she pleased, and even brought a set of exquisite dress and skirt.
Two little maids came in to serve, asking if she wanted to bathe, their attitudes respectful.
Of course Jing Hengbo didn’t want to bathe – she wanted to solve the mystery.
With her eloquence, deceiving two little maids was a matter of minutes. Soon she learned that everyone here had taken her for tonight’s top courtesan accompanying guests.
Jade Tower District group banquets would always invite the most beautiful girls to accompany the most important guests – this was tradition.
So when she appeared, everyone was amazed by her beauty and naturally assumed she was the courtesan coming to accompany guests.
As for her simple dress and appearance not looking like a courtesan, no one found it strange. Hawksbill’s local martial culture was strong, and with troubled times, women often learned crude martial arts or disguise techniques to protect themselves.
Standing upstairs, Jing Hengbo saw local courtesans arriving one after another, some in blue sedan chairs, some walking casually. The inn’s arrangements were thorough – they could apply makeup and change clothes after arriving.
Jing Hengbo found it odd. Having seen gangster movies, shouldn’t these underworld gatherings fear enemy infiltration? If someone mixed in and assassinated someone important, couldn’t it immediately change the power structure?
The little maids laughed.
“Miss probably arrived in Hawksbill recently and doesn’t know our Hawksbill rules. Ten years ago, the leaders of the Three Gates, Four Alliances, and Seven Major Gangs established a rule: in any non-combat group gathering, no one is allowed to harm others. This ensures that when various factions need peaceful negotiations, they can sit down and talk safely. All leaders have sworn blood oaths for this. We Hawksbill people take oaths very seriously – once broken, one would be hunted by the entire martial community with no peace. No one dares violate this.”
Then the little maids politely but insistently asked Jing Hengbo to bathe. While she bathed, she noticed their burning gazes and agile movements, quietly checking her clothes without being obvious. Outside the room, figures occasionally flashed past.
They weren’t not investigating – they were investigating discreetly. Indeed, assassination would be difficult here. Not to mention how many people and mechanisms were inside and outside, just the gang members arranged by various factions outside were like an iron wall – who could fly out?
Since that was the case, she’d go with the flow. Jing Hengbo took a refreshing bath and sat before the dressing table to apply makeup.
She declined the little maids’ help and opened the makeup box herself. Facing the eight-bat diamond-shaped bronze mirror, she felt vaguely dazed.
It was as if she were still in Jade Mirror Palace, applying yellow flower makeup before the mirror at that dressing table that belonged to her, which had reflected her makeup, recorded her smiles, revealed underground secrets, and where Cui Jie’s corpse had lain.
In that final moment, what the bronze mirror captured – was it her pale countenance?
Facing the mirror, applying yellow flower makeup.
She lightly drew her eyebrows, brows like distant mountains, dark and verdant.
Was that palace now desolate and cold, with spider webs and dust, the bronze mirror covered in dust, no longer reflecting the myriad phenomena of the world, the carefree youth?
The person in the mirror was now wandering thousands of li away, struggling step by step for survival in dark and unfamiliar places.
She chose peach-red rouge, dabbing at the corners of her eyes, sprinkling light gold powder.
Golden palace halls, peach blossoms falling – in whose memory would that spring in Jade Mirror Palace forever remain?
She took bright red lip color and lightly touched it to her lips, sealing that year’s spring beauty between them.
Life’s most brilliant time is youth. After that flowing, beautiful era passes, one must apply layer upon layer of makeup – vermillion and powder, emerald and rouge, each layer of splendor covering a layer of frost, forgetting this deep autumn chill.
She arranged her black cloud-like hair, piling it high, adorning it with twin autumn begonia hairpins.
That year, the person in the mirror stood behind her. His leaning breath was fragrant and distant. She remembered the coldness and fineness of his hand’s back, like touching a handful of clean snow on a summer day.
Snow-colored dark gauze long dress, purple silk shawl trimmed with light gold cloud patterns. Vaguely palace dress style, dignified and noble, yet the long trailing skirt hem secretly harbored several degrees of romantic and gorgeous tender thoughts.
She had once been a romantic queen, turning heads in Imperial Song to amaze the entire city. Wild, flowery chiffon skirts had brushed countless hearts, yet couldn’t steadily sweep across her own throne’s crimson steps.
So, start again.
…
She rose gracefully from before the mirror. Behind her, the two little maids had long held their breath.
Originally they had simply thought her beautiful, naturally assuming she must be the premier courtesan without thinking. But now, seeing such beauty before their eyes, they suddenly felt the words “courtesan” were too profane.
They didn’t even dare breathe loudly, fearing their breath was too hot and turbid, polluting this jade-adorned, snow-built beauty.
Jing Hengbo sat quietly before the mirror, feeling dazed, as if she were a bride dressed in finery, waiting for her beloved.
Then she gently raised her lips in a mocking curve.
In this chaotic Hawksbill, dark martial world, crude gatherings – where would a beloved come from?
…
The sky grew darker, the girls had basically all arrived, and then the big shots appeared in sequence.
She observed from upstairs while little maids softly introduced them.
“The tall one with a golden complexion is Flame Gang Leader Hua Yan, also today’s host.”
“The one thin as a bamboo pole is Raft Gang Leader, controlling North Hawksbill’s water business.”
“The bald one with a sword taller than himself is Monk Wang of Heavenly Will Blade. He commands eight hundred blade warriors, each fearless of death.”
…
“The one with yellow hair and beard, tall and mighty, is Blazing Fire Alliance Leader Meng Liehuo. Following beside him is his sixth daughter, called Sixth Young Master, said to surpass all her brothers and sisters in talent, most beloved by Alliance Leader Meng. Some say Blazing Fire Alliance will be passed to this young lady in the future. She has publicly declared she won’t marry but will take husbands.”
“This is Rakshasa Gate’s female Sect Leader, said to be called Luo Sha. Didn’t expect her to come today too. She’s a leader of one of the Three Gates, also the top leader of North Hawksbill.”
“We don’t recognize the other few – they might have come from South Hawksbill and Black Water Marsh. Leaders of other major gangs probably… what a grand array…”
The little maids also exclaimed in amazement, seemingly not having expected such a grand array today.
It seemed they also didn’t know who was being hosted today. Jing Hengbo’s heart stirred, feeling that Hawksbill’s martial forces truly shouldn’t be underestimated. A wine house under the weakest-ranked Flame Gang had trained a pair of little maids who were very familiar with these martial affairs and bosses – one could imagine the power and capabilities of the others.
However, the guest who had triggered such a grand array still hadn’t arrived.
It was apparent that the big shots below didn’t look pleased.
The followers filling the streets looked even less pleased.
Mobilizing such an array to invite such a sensation-causing guest in Hawksbill – anyone should be flattered and honored, waiting early at the door. But this guest had such arrogance, making so many big shots wait!
Time passed minute by minute. Even Jing Hengbo upstairs was waiting with curiosity – this was taking too long. Who among these big shots had ever waited for anyone like this? Was this person doing it deliberately? Deliberately angering all of Hawksbill’s martial forces? Was this seeking death?
In a quiet room downstairs, the big shots drinking tea and waiting had consumed bellies full of water and anger. Most were already hungry, and hunger bred fire, each with fierce, blazing eyes.
“Why hasn’t he come yet! Was the invitation even delivered!” A voice like a great bell roared angrily.
“Reporting to Gate Leader Xiong, the invitation was delivered directly to their mountain gate, and they said they would definitely arrive on time,” someone tremblingly replied.
“I said we shouldn’t mobilize such a grand array to invite someone. Does he deserve it? You all insisted, saying this person could take root in such complex Hawksbill and quietly develop such power – he’s extraordinary. We must show sufficient grandeur to overwhelm him in one stroke. Now the person isn’t overwhelmed, but we’ve been slapped first, hehe…” A man with a pale face, no beard, wasp waist, and slightly abnormal red tinge at his eye corners sneered continuously.
“Perhaps it’s precisely because the array is too grand that this person was scared and didn’t dare come,” a capable-looking middle-aged man laughed, turning to glance at the young man beside him, who only smiled while gazing distantly at the road outside the window.
“Great Protector speaks reasonably,” Rakshasa Sect Leader suddenly laughed. “If this person really didn’t dare come, it’s not easy for us to gather once. Perhaps Great Protector could teach us how to contact and please the Queen?”
“What did you say?” The leader of the Thirteen Protectors, Great Protector, was startled.
The man who had been gazing at the road outside suddenly turned around.
…
The same rainy night, in a desolate alley in Hexing City, Yelu Qi walked under an oiled paper umbrella.
Xianyu Qing followed one step behind, holding the umbrella for him, not daring to say a word.
When Master arrived in Hexing City, naturally there were no problems. The “mole” was arranged by him and had already fled upon hearing the wind. Master had smoothly handled the Hexing branch’s affairs and planned to head to Shangyuan tomorrow.
Things went very smoothly. Master’s mood should be good, yet he sensed Master carried heavy concerns, darker and deeper than this early winter rainy night.
“Xianyu,” Yelu Qi suddenly spoke.
“Subordinate is here.”
“Our Shadow Pavilion has quietly developed in Hawksbill for five years. To grow stronger now, we can no longer remain hidden. The Three Gates and Four Alliances should already know of Shadow Pavilion’s existence, shouldn’t they?”
“I think… yes.”
“Since they’ve discovered us, there’s no need to hide anymore. How do you think Shadow Pavilion and I should appear before Hawksbill’s many forces?”
Xianyu Qing felt bitter at the corners of his mouth and bowed low under the umbrella.
“Everything depends on the Pavilion Master’s decision.”
“Perhaps I don’t need to think of an entrance method,” Yelu Qi said lightly. “Those alliance leaders and gang leaders, knowing of Shadow Pavilion’s existence, would they let us go?”
Xianyu Qing dared not speak, sweat seeping out layer by layer on his back. Fortunately, this winter’s cold rain was constant, and his robes were already slightly damp, so it wasn’t noticeable.
“For example…” Yelu Qi’s voice grew lighter, “the Three Gates, Four Alliances, and Seven Major Gangs joining together for a grand banquet.”
Xianyu Qing shuddered, gritted his teeth and raised his head, but Yelu Qi turned his head away at that moment.
Xianyu Qing stared in shock at his master’s back. His figure was outlined hazily by the fine rain, hair shrouded in crystalline mist.
“A banquet with ill intentions…” Yelu Qi gazed north, his lips gradually curving into a slightly mocking arc.
“Since someone is foolishly volunteering to charge forward and take the blade for me, why wouldn’t I be happy to oblige?”
…
Inside Jade Tower in Guanjia River, Luo Sha was still staring at Great Protector Qu Shaohong with a cold smile.
She had already received news that the Queen had long since descended the mountain and had connections with the Thirteen Protectors. Now her subordinates had found a hunter’s daughter at Seven Peaks Mountain to help track the Queen. This reminded her of reports from subordinate dark halls that the Thirteen Protectors had frequently gone to Seven Peaks Town recently. Comparing the two, she naturally found it suspicious.
But Great Protector was completely confused, looking at Second Protector Jian Zhizhuo beside him in bewilderment.
Great Protector felt slightly irritated. Recently everything had gone wrong – the underground dark hall in Seven Peaks Town was destroyed, Twelfth Protector was crippled, they’d lost much important data, and the fierce beasts transferred and cultivated afterward kept dying. So many troublesome things had happened, yet they didn’t even know who the culprit was. Though the scene had evidence left by Blazing Fire Alliance and Jade Belt Gang, the Second had stopped the angry crowd wanting revenge, saying the matter was suspicious and required long-term planning. Now hearing Luo Sha suddenly come out with such an ambiguous statement, he immediately felt uneasy – what trouble had emerged now?
Jian Zhizhuo’s attention remained on the street outside, his brow slightly grave.
Someone muttered irritably: “What the hell is he doing!”
…
What was he doing?
He was grooming himself.
Using this word for a man seemed somewhat inappropriate, yet his posture before the mirror at this moment was indeed composed and alluring.
The bronze mirror was very bright, reflecting the incomparable beauty of the person within.
Beside the mirror in a small box lay a thin, skin-like adhesive patch. He loosened his clothing, and the bronze mirror reflected a line of deep red on his chest – the mark of a knife wound.
On rainy days, mist clouded the mirror, making the wound appear cherry-colored, poignant and beautiful.
He used that false skin to cover and hide the scar. Ever since discovering her habit of tearing clothes to look at chests, he applied one every time he went out.
Beside the mirror were also two thin human skin masks and one very exquisite silver mask.
He put on one layer of mask. In the bronze mirror was a gentle, refined young man, his face carrying a slight smile that was somewhat shy.
One person bears one face in life, yet holds a thousand faces in the heart. For him, a thousand faces wrote only one name.
This mask was very long, connecting to the neck and extending to the chest. For this, he removed his upper garments and carefully smoothed the mask.
This was a specially made mask, extremely delicate and realistic, capable of reflecting all facial expressions. More importantly, the mask’s opening was at the chest, so if one habitually tried to lift it from the neck or behind the ear, it couldn’t be discovered.
After applying the first, he took up the second mask, still a handsome man’s image. He always felt that a good appearance could dispel more of her suspicions. After all, attractive people generally didn’t like wearing masks.
Of course, it couldn’t be too attractive – at least not surpassing him.
The seam between mask and neck was nearly seamless, yet looking left and right, he felt his skin was too pale. He took some powder and slowly smoothed the junction.
One heart, a thousand faces of makeup – all the upheavals and fluctuations only for her reflection.
Finally, he picked up the silver mask.
The mask was very exquisite, with gentle lines and brilliant silver light that wasn’t aggressive.
He knew his original face, though beautiful, was cold. He always worried it wasn’t gentle enough, that sharp edges might wound her fragility.
So he made a mask that looked happy and joyful.
Everything arranged, he looked and felt the chin area seemed too thin. He thought for a while, couldn’t think of any way to disguise it, then suddenly smiled slightly – disguise what? Being thin made him look even less like himself, no need to painstakingly cover layer by layer.
He stood up as guards offered a cloak. The surrounding guards were all newly selected, secretly cultivated early but never exposed hidden guards, all unfamiliar faces.
As he rose, through the window he saw a gaunt-faced middle-aged man standing under the corridor.
“This is Second Protector Lei Shengyu,” the guard introduced. “Great Protector Xianyu has gone out. Second Protector Lei volunteered to escort Master to the banquet.”
His gaze swept over that man and he nodded: “Very good.”
…
Inside Jade Tower’s quiet room, argument had nearly broken out.
Waiting made people irritable. Luo Sha stared fixedly at Great Protector, hinting and suggesting he hand over the Queen. Great Protector naturally denied everything. The two sides gradually developed into verbal sparring with hidden anger, both thinking that when that Master Mu arrived, they’d definitely give him a harsh lesson.
Second Protector Jian Zhizhuo, who hadn’t participated in the argument and had been thoughtfully watching the street, suddenly said: “He’s here!”
…”He’s here!” The little maid standing beside Jing Hengbo on the third floor suddenly exclaimed.
Jing Hengbo looked down from afar and saw heads on the street parting like flowing water, revealing a group of people. The group wasn’t large – only three to five people – moving composedly through the crowded street. At the front was a handsome man pushing a wheelchair.
She was startled, not having expected this invited guest to be disabled.
Jade Tower’s entrance and shops on both sides of the street were lit with large wind lanterns, casting uniform, lustrous red shadows. Reflecting on that person’s moon-white light robe, they showed some gentle warmth. From Jing Hengbo’s angle, she couldn’t see his face clearly, only his flowing black hair. The wheelchair bounced somewhat on the uneven bluestone road surface, and some silver-bright light flashed at his hair tips – whether from rain reflections or natural formation. His posture was slightly lazy, leaning against the wheelchair armrest, half a sleeve hanging down, revealing a section of wrist bone, jade-warm and carved with precision. From far away, the posture of wrist and fingers resembled a silently blooming white flower.
She suddenly felt this must be a man of indescribable elegance.
Like when she had arrived earlier, the street now returned to quiet, even quieter than before. This man seemed to possess a strange aura that steadily captured people’s thoughts and breathing.
For a moment, only the rumbling sound of wheelchair wheels rolling over the ground could be heard.
The big shots in the quiet room were also somewhat shocked. Some even unconsciously half-raised themselves, wanting to stand and greet him, but suddenly stopped under others’ surprised gazes, secretly startled at their own loss of composure.
Rakshasa Sect Leader was sighing softly, her eyes showing strange light: “Never imagined the legendary Master Mu would be such a talent!”
Hearing the longing in her tone, others secretly laughed – the female Sect Leader’s lustful habits were acting up again.
People long in the martial world had keen eyes and could see that even wearing a mask and sitting in a wheelchair, this man still possessed excellent bearing, definitely not an ordinary person.
Even the arrogant Blazing Fire Alliance’s Sixth Young Master watched Master Mu with interest, though when her gaze fell on the wheelchair, she coldly turned her head away.
Jing Hengbo’s attention from upstairs fell distantly on a side street entrance.
A small sedan chair had arrived there, very exquisite and luxurious, with deep red curtains hanging golden bells. Through the shadows, one could see a beautifully dressed woman inside.
The serving women had all arrived. One arriving so late now should be the most important, or one who considered herself most important.
If this courtesan entered, she would be exposed.
Jing Hengbo beckoned from the high building.
A flying stone shot into the sedan chair, grazing past the face of the woman about to exit. The woman cried out softly and fell back into the chair.
She had fainted, so the sedan bearers had to hurriedly carry the chair back.
This scene occurred outside the street, behind everyone, and extremely quickly. All attention on the street was on Master Mu – no one noticed.
On the wheelchair, Master Mu suddenly turned to look in that direction, then raised his head to glance at the third floor.
Jing Hengbo had already pulled back inside.
Having resolved the potential exposure problem, she sat quietly in darkness, thinking of that wheelchair-bound Master Mu – long famous by reputation, finally seen today.
Somehow, she felt a bit unsettled.
The door was suddenly knocked. The shop owner called from outside: “Please come to the second-floor private room, miss. We need to select the beauty to serve dishes.”