The pleasant atmosphere was instantly shattered. The courtesans, one by one, withdrew their smiles. Just moments ago they were friendly sisters, but now they resembled a troop of women ready for battle, despite their flushed cheeks and alluring demeanors.
“Sisters, since Young Master Xu has come to my Qingchi Courtyard today, I’ll boldly keep him here for the night. I hope you all can understand,” said Ming Yan.
Would the courtesans be understanding? Of course not! There was no true sisterhood in the Imperial Music Bureau. Even if there was, it would be superficial. To rise from an ordinary girl to a courtesan, they had put in tremendous effort and sweat behind the scenes. Their smooth-talking wisdom and competitive attitude wouldn’t allow them to yield easily.
For Xu Qi An, this was an opportunity – a chance to send the courtesans away. It was too dangerous for them to stay here. If a fight broke out, the energy fluctuations would kill everyone present. And warriors were straightforward, violent individuals without fancy spells.
To be honest, I quite enjoy this feeling of being pursued… I imagine this is how goddesses from my past life felt when stringing along their backup suitors… Xu Qi An coughed and looked around at the women:
“I can’t refuse Ming Yan’s kind offer. I’ll stay here tonight. Ladies, please return to your quarters. This official will visit each of you another day, I promise.”
A man’s words at the drinking table were as unreliable as those spoken in bed. But what could they do when the main guest had spoken? Such matters couldn’t be forced.
Only Fu Xiang gazed at Xu Qi An with a forlorn expression, on the verge of tears. “Young Master Xu…”
Though Xu Qi An was stubborn, he had a soft heart. He initially wanted to lower his head and drink without responding, but seeing her pitiful look, he said impatiently, “You go back first. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
Fu Xiang gave him a deep look, then ran out sobbing with her face covered.
The other courtesans took their leave one after another.
Courtesan Ming Yan rose with delight, saying coyly, “It’s getting late. Young Master Xu, please follow this humble servant.”
…
Entering Ming Yan’s boudoir, the room was heated with smokeless beast-gold charcoal, and sandalwood incense wafted through the air. Compared to Fu Xiang’s elegant room, this one was more opulent.
The female demon bowed to Xu Qi An and said obediently, “This servant will help the Young Master bathe.”
You just rest, I wouldn’t dare let you serve me… Xu Qi An shook his head and glanced at Courtesan Ming Yan. “At Yingmei Pavilion, Fu Xiang always attended to me.”
Bathe together? As a courtesan, Ming Yan had never experienced this. She felt both shy and awkward.
Biting her silver teeth, she said softly, “He’er, I’ll attend to Young Master Xu myself.”
After the sensual bath, Xu Qi An put on a robe and white silk trousers, inwardly cursing: Damn that Song Tingfeng, he still hasn’t come?
“Young Master Xu, what are you waiting for?” Ming Yan curled up in the blankets, slightly displeased.
As a woman, there were some things she couldn’t say outright, lest she appear to be a wanton woman. But she had no choice. She’d never seen a man enter her room, polish his blade for a quarter-hour, then drink tea for another quarter-hour.
She’d warmed the bed for him, and if he didn’t come soon, she’d fall asleep.
“The night is long, there’s no rush. This official is pondering some matters,” Xu Qi An said, feigning profundity.
He glanced at the demoness from the corner of his eye. If she doesn’t move, I won’t move. If she dares to move, I’ll give her a slash.
Just as he was thinking this, Xu Qi An suddenly felt dizzy. He was as mentally exhausted as if he hadn’t slept for three days, his eyelids heavy as lead.
Poisoned… His heart jolted, and he looked sharply at Courtesan Ming Yan, only to find her fast asleep, motionless.
“What is Young Master Xu waiting for?” A light laugh came from nearby. The previously demure maid seemed to have transformed into a different person.
Her gaze was bewitching and unrestrained as she stared at him intently, quite aggressive.
“Who are you? Why did you poison me? This official has no grudge against you. Poisoning a night watchman is a capital offense,” Xu Qi An said, feigning panic to probe.
“Of course, I’m waiting for the great Master Xu.” The maid giggled coquettishly, her merely pretty face now tinged with allure.
“Me?” Xu Qi An asked, puzzled.
He secretly tried to regulate his qi, but the energy in his dantian was as thick as honey, impossible to mobilize. His limbs felt weak and powerless.
Damn it, that bastard Song Tingfeng set me up!
Trusting the Night Watchman’s Office, he had chosen to stay, not wanting to miss the chance to capture the demoness. Now it seemed Song Tingfeng must have encountered some trouble. Otherwise, he could have made several round trips between the Imperial Music Bureau and the office by now.
There was no reason for such a long delay.
“The night is long, and the lady has fallen asleep. Let this servant take her place in caring for Young Master Xu,” the maid said, approaching slowly. With each step, she removed an article of clothing.
She wants to have her way with me! Xu Qi An’s heart jolted in shock.
This was no sensual delight. Having been with the Night Watchmen for so long, his experience and knowledge had rapidly accumulated. He knew many female demons were skilled in dual cultivation, draining men into husks.
The fate of such husks was usually an untimely death.
Where did she poison me? The incense? The wine? I don’t know much about poisons, but that’s not the key issue… The real question is, she had prepared countermeasures against me long ago… I came to the Imperial Music Bureau on a whim today, how could she have known…? Xu Qi An couldn’t understand.
When the demoness was within three feet of Xu Qi An, his eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and all emotions subsided.
Clang!
The black gold long blade left its sheath. A thin line of blade light flashed in the room, then extinguished.
Xu Qi An didn’t look at the result. He exploded with his remaining strength, rushing madly towards the window.
He wanted to make a commotion to alert others outside, forcing the demoness to hesitate.
Thud… Xu Qi An fell heavily to the ground, his foot caught on something.
It was a thick, long gray tail, furry like a fox’s.
Xu Qi An looked back. The maid’s figure had vanished, leaving behind a paper doll cut in two at the spot where she had been.
“Tsk…” A wet tongue licked his face. Xu Qi An turned his head inch by inch to see the maid had somehow appeared behind him.
Her pupils had turned amber, examining him like prey as her agile tongue licked his face.
“Such vigorous qi and blood. Just smelling you makes me unable to control myself,” she said.
She was telling the truth, as Xu Qi An could see her physiological reaction to his presence.
This is the first time I’ve felt disgust towards a woman… Xu Qi An’s body stiffened, the sense of crisis plunging him into extreme anxiety.
The burst of strength he had just unleashed was half from activating his potential, half from chewing the strength pill hidden under his tongue.
He had wanted to catch the demoness off guard with a surprise attack, but Xu Qi An had underestimated his opponent’s strength.
What should he do now? Shouting would surely get him killed instantly.
Roll away with all his might? After all, even immortals find it hard to copulate with someone rolling… Or perhaps release some fragrant golden dung to disgust her…
The demoness smiled and extended a finger, tearing Xu Qi An’s silk trousers… Just then, her expression suddenly changed. She looked to the side and shouted, “Who’s there!”
“You don’t need to know who I am, because those who know this master’s name are all dead,” came a reply.
A black shadow had appeared in the room at some point, white-robed and snow-bright, standing with his back to them.
The demoness let out a low growl from her throat, baring her teeth at the white-robed man. She decisively pounced towards the window, intending to flee.
Bang…
She collided with an invisible qi barrier and was thrown back.
“How pitiful,” the white-robed man shook his head and sighed, speaking with sympathy.
Then he snapped his fingers. Array patterns spread from beneath his feet, enveloping the demoness.
Insubstantial, illusory chains extended from within the array, binding the demoness’s wrists and ankles, restraining her in place. No matter how she struggled, she could not break free.
“Keep her alive,” Xu Qi An said, fearing this imposing expert might kill the demoness outright.
The white-robed expert stood with his hands behind his back and said, “You are Xu Qi An?”
“I am indeed,” Xu Qi An replied. “May I ask who you are, senior?”
“Yang Qianhuan of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. You should have heard of me,” the white-robed man said indifferently.
Sorry, I really haven’t… Xu Qi An feigned recognition and said, “So it’s Senior Yang. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Oh?” The white-robed man sounded quite pleased. “Did Junior Sister Caiwei tell you about me, or was it that obsessive Song Qin?”
“Both, both…” Xu Qi An guessed the man was probably a disciple of the Observatory Master.
“Was it my colleague who notified you, senior?”
“That little bronze gong?” The white-robed man nodded. “Indeed. He notified the Imperial Astronomical Bureau two incense sticks ago, saying there was a demon here. I’ve been outside the courtyard until just now.”
Huh? Then why didn’t you act sooner…? Xu Qi An opened his mouth, perplexed.
As if seeing through his thoughts, the white-robed man snorted and said, “True heroes always appear at the last moment. Don’t you think?”
I think you’re a bloody lunatic… Xu Qi An forced a smile and nodded.
Yang Qianhuan nodded with satisfaction and said solemnly, “Ask whatever you want to know.”
Xu Qi An let out a breath and sat up shakily, staring at the demoness trapped in the array. “Are you remnants of the Myriad Demon Kingdom, or demons from the North?”
The demoness sneered silently.
The illusory chains suddenly tightened. Streaks of energy arced across the demoness’s body. She screamed in pain, her delicate form convulsing.
“Heh, this is my self-created interrogation array. It can wound both flesh and soul. Few humans or demons can withstand such pain,” the white-robed man said indifferently, hands behind his back.
Extreme fear flashed in the demoness’s amber pupils.
“Myriad… Myriad Demon Kingdom. I’m a fox spirit from the Myriad Demon Kingdom,” she said.
“Was the Sangbo case you’re doing?”
“Yes.”
“Is Hengui also one of your people?”
“Yes.”
“What is your goal?”
“To destroy Sangbo and release what’s inside.”
“What’s inside?”
“I don’t know… I don’t know.”
Xu Qi An glanced at the white-robed man. Seeing him remain silent, he believed the demoness and continued asking, “I have three more questions:
“First, since you’ve released the sealed object, why did you still instigate Hengui to cause trouble, kill Marquis Pingyuan, and attack the Minister of War’s mansion at night?
“Second, who are the people working with you?
“Third, why target me specifically?”
The demoness hesitated, then said softly, “I don’t know the answers to the first two questions. I was infiltrating the capital, following orders. I don’t know about other matters.
“As for dealing with you, I received orders not long ago. If Night Watchman Xu Qi An entered the Imperial Music Bureau, I was to find a way to take his life.”
The white-robed man said nothing. Xu Qi An frowned. So the demon hidden in the Imperial Music Bureau was this demoness… The order to kill me was to silence me because I was getting too close to the truth of the case. Do they want to eliminate the threat from the source by getting rid of me?
At least it wasn’t fruitless. Hengui was indeed the breakthrough point in this case.
“One last question: Is Courtesan Ming Yan an accomplice?”
The demoness sneered, “I’d like to say yes…” The energy arcs crackled, and her expression changed drastically. She shook her head, “She knows nothing.”
“Senior, I’ve finished my questions,” Xu Qi An said.
Can this female demon be left to me as a merit…? As he was thinking this, he heard the white-robed man say, “Good, this demoness is my merit. I’ll take her away then.”
Huh? No, aren’t you a great expert? This answer is different from what I imagined… Xu Qi An replied somewhat dazedly, “Mm, alright. Also, are there any other demons hiding here?”
“With this master present, even treacherous mountains and seas would become paradise,” Yang Qianhuan said arrogantly. “The Imperial Music Bureau is very safe.”
Although he felt this guy was a bit unhinged, his strength was undeniable. Xu Qi An nodded reassuringly.
“Lower your head for two breaths,” Yang Qianhuan suddenly said.
Xu Qi An complied in confusion. When he raised his head after two breaths, the white-robed man had vanished.
After checking that Courtesan Ming Yan’s breathing and heartbeat were normal, Xu Qi An left Qingchi Courtyard. A question echoed in his mind: Why did he want me to lower my head for two breaths?
Xu Qi An dragged his exhausted body into Yingmei Pavilion and was led to the main bedroom, where he saw Fu Xiang with eyes swollen from crying.
The courtesan sat on the edge of the bed, turning her body slightly and averting her gaze.
Xu Qi An glanced at her, too tired to explain. He lifted the quilt and went to sleep.
He didn’t want to stay overnight at Qingchi Courtyard anymore. Unable to return home in the middle of the night, he could only rest at Yingmei Pavilion.