You’ve found the Dragon Qi host?
Xu Qi’an was overjoyed, braced himself on the railing with both hands, and floated lightly down from the fourth floor.
“Where is that guy?”
As he spoke, he beckoned behind him. A pale blue long robe flew over and draped itself on him.
Li Lingsu had been unconcerned at first, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Luo Yuheng was also descending from the watchtower.
The National Teacher faced the world bare-faced, her beautiful hair pinned up simply with a single Daoist hairpin. Compared to a few days before, her temperament had changed greatly, with a faint sorrow knitting her brows.
The flush on her cheeks had not faded, and her features remained elegant and charming.
A beauty in full bloom… Li Lingsu sighed inwardly, forced himself to stop looking at her, straightened his expression, and said,
“At a brothel called ‘Chunyinong.’”
“‘Chunyinong?’”
Xu Qi’an frowned, pondering aloud, “That doesn’t sound like a proper brothel name.”
Brothel names usually ended with “building, shop, or pavilion,” depending on their status.
“That’s because it isn’t a proper brothel. Strictly speaking, it’s a book society,” Li Lingsu said, reading from the intelligence provided by the Gongsun family. “It was originally founded by the young heiress of a wealthy family who loved poetry and literature. It was a place to host scholars and hold literary gatherings.
“Later, calamity befell the family, and after falling on hard times, she converted the book society into a brothel, hiring girls from similarly fallen families but with talent, to perform for customers, to add charm and elegance to the company of scholars.”
After explaining, Li Lingsu was puzzled: Xu Qian seemed to know a lot about brothels.
Xu Qi’an immediately understood, and two words appeared in his mind: themed club!
Such places were very common in the Great Feng; the most famous example was the Goulan.
Goulan were themed around opera, acrobatics, and so on, but were equally engaged in the flesh trade.
Additionally, there were also some Daoist temples of a similar nature, full of fair Daoist priestesses who would pose and preach to pilgrims, and before long, the preaching would turn into a trip to bed.
From the perspective of the client, they were not sleeping with women of the dust, but with Daoist priestesses.
The style was entirely different.
This “Chunyinong” adhered to the same principle.
Xu Qi’an turned his head to look at Luo Yuheng: “National Teacher, let’s go together.”
To be cautious, he took Luo Yuheng along to ensure sufficient strength in case of unforeseen risks.
…
Dajiao Square, the barracks.
Agent Chen reached out, grabbed a carrier pigeon as it flew into the courtyard, and pulled out the thin bamboo tube tied to its leg.
He unrolled it and, after reading, said to Ji Xuan and the others behind him,
“The Dragon Qi host has been found.”
Ji Xuan’s team, who had originally only planned to start searching after breakfast, were delighted at the news.
“Where?” asked White Tiger.
Agent Chen chuckled.
“At a brothel called ‘Chunyinong.’
“Last night due to a woman and a client, he was involved in an altercation. The whole situation was quite serious and so of course word spread, hence we could find his hiding place.”
Daoist Jiaoye shook his head, laughing. “No wonder we searched all the inns and couldn’t find him. Turns out the lad was hiding in a brothel.”
Xu Yuanshuang corrected him: “This isn’t hiding. It’s fortune at work, steering him towards luck and away from danger, helping him avoid the inns.”
Liu Hongmian, who didn’t get along with Xu Yuanshuang, laughed sweetly and said,
“By your logic, he shouldn’t have clashed with a client. He should be hiding quietly until we find him.”
Xu Yuanshuang’s pretty face was calm and cold as she replied,
“He may have already left, evading us once more with advance warning. Or perhaps, someone with greater fortune is now seeking him. Don’t forget, Xu Qian is accompanied by two strands of Dragon Qi.”
In her estimation, the Dragon Qi host had exposed themselves because Xu Qian was searching for him.
“No time to lose, let’s get moving,” Ji Xuan looked at Agent Chen, speaking quickly. “Given the Gongsun family’s network in Yongzhou, they could be gathering intel as fast as we are.”
Agent Chen nodded. “I’ll immediately inform the Buddhist monks. With Luo Yuheng on the other side, we can’t handle it on our own.”
Daoist Jiaoye suddenly said, “Best not show ourselves, best to lay an ambush nearby in case we scare them off.”
…
Chunyinong.
In an elegantly furnished, antique study, a woman in gauzy attire and with a graceful figure sat reading behind a desk.
On the desk, curling sandalwood smoke wafted out of a golden beast-shaped incense burner.
This young lady had delicate features, and when she read, she possessed the composed grace of a noblewoman.
Yet her clothing was revealing, rather sexual, aimed at seducing men.
The combination of these two auras granted her an indescribable allure.
Miao Youfang stood by the window, admiring the snowy scene outside as fat flakes drifted down.
After a while, he looked back at the beauty by the desk and scratched his head.
The day he cut down the boss of the Liubo Gambling House in a single stroke, taking swift revenge and chivalrous action, he had planned to find an inn to stay at.
On his way, he coincidentally saw a thief snatching the purse of a good family’s daughter. Unable to stand by, he intervened, retrieved the girl’s purse, and drove the thief away.
He hadn’t imagined that the beautiful girl was one of “Chunyinong’s” top courtesans, called Ziyuan.
Miss Ziyuan was deeply grateful and invited him to stay at “Chunyinong.” Miao Youfang, a young man bursting with vitality, could hardly resist temptation, on one hand protesting that he can’t, on the other hand removing his trousers nonetheless.
Last night, a young noble dressed as a scholar insisted on having Ziyuan read with him, refusing to take no for an answer. Ziyuan refused, so he tried to force himself on her.
He was then beaten up and thrown out of “Chunyinong” by Miao Youfang.
Miao Youfang, oh Miao Youfang, you aspire to be a great hero, how can you keep succumbing to feminine charms… Miao Youfang coughed and said,
“Miss Ziyuan, I have to leave today.”
The lady at the desk looked up and softly said,
“Young Master Miao wishes to challenge the mighty at the Martial Assembly and temper his martial arts. Rather than staying at the barracks, better stay here with this humble woman?”
She clearly didn’t want him to leave.
Miao Youfang was momentarily lost for words. His instincts urged him to leave, but he thought it was just guilt over indulging in Miss Ziyuan’s beauty for the past two days.
“Precisely because I need to challenge masters and hone my skills, I can’t be distracted. I need to train with focus.”
Miss Ziyuan pressed her red lips together, a flash of disappointment in her eyes, and said gently:
“Would you stay one more day, master?”
Miao Youfang tried to correct her, looking troubled. As someone with little experience, he couldn’t speak words to deceive a woman without blushing and having his heart race.
At that moment, a sparrow flapped over and landed on the windowsill, its button-black eyes quietly watching the two inside.
A hundred metres away from “Chunyinong” in a small alley, three people wearing veiled hats stood silently, a thin layer of snow collecting on their shoulders and hat brims.
“Senior, what’s the situation?”
One of the men asked in a low voice.
“The man from the portrait is inside.”
Xu Qi’an was sharing the sparrow’s vision whilst multitasking and talking to Li Lingsu.
He was being cautious. Considering the incident had happened overnight, news would likely have reached the Buddhist sect and Tianjigong, so he did not dare enter recklessly.
He chose instead to control the sparrow to scout things out first.
“National Teacher, could I please trouble you to bring him out. We’ll meet at Qingxing Garden.” Xu Qi’an turned his head, reached out and gripped Luo Yuheng’s slender hand hidden in her sleeve, squeezing her palm.
Disgusting! Li Lingsu noticed this detail and cursed angrily to himself.
He felt offended.
Luo Yuheng gave a gentle “mm” in agreement and was about to fly away, when she suddenly paused and looked down at the hand that had suddenly gripped hers tightly.
…
Bang!
Just as Miao Youfang was racking his brain on how to refuse, the door was kicked violently open and a group of people burst in.
Heading the group was a gentle, handsome young man, a faint smile on his lips, giving off the air of someone easy to talk to.
Behind him were: a reserved and frosty young woman, a cool young man carrying a long spear, a mature woman of captivating charm, an old man in a shabby Daoist robe, a tall, burly man, and a man from the Southern Marches wrapped in a brightly coloured robe.
Exactly the group who had, inexplicably, become his enemies back in Qingzhou.
Besides this group, there were also two young monks: one with gentle eyes, the other exuding a powerful presence.
Why are they here?
Are they after me?
Why?
Questions flashed through his mind, but Miao Youfang’s reactions did not slow. He sprang up, about to jump out the window and flee.
“Amitabha, turn back and see the shore.”
A gentle, mellow voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Miao Youfang’s body stiffened, his movement stalled, and he involuntarily turned back.
White Tiger and Jingyuan struck at the same time, grabbing Miao Youfang’s shoulders from left and right, each pulling towards themselves.
“Hmph!”
Jingyuan gave a cold snort and punched straight for White Tiger’s face.
White Tiger grinned savagely and countered, their fists colliding with a thunderous bang.
Inside the study, scroll paintings, incense burners and porcelain vases all shattered from the shock.
Miss Ziyuan, who had already been terrified, felt her chest tighten as if struck. Her face turned deathly pale and she spat a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing softly onto the table, her fate unknown.
“Miss Ziyuan!”
Miao Youfang’s eyes nearly popped from his head.
Ji Xuan turned to Jingxin and said lightly, “Just as agreed beforehand, the Dragon Qi host belongs to us.”
Jingxin pressed his palms together and reproached: “Jingyuan!”
Warrior monk Jingyuan frowned, releasing Miao Youfang with displeasure, no longer fighting for him.
Miao Youfang’s eyes were bloodshot as he gnashed his teeth, saying,
“I don’t know why you target me, but since I’m already at your mercy, why must you harm the innocent?”
No one answered him; it seemed this minor figure was not worth their words.
“Take him, let’s parade him outside and give that late friend a look.” Ji Xuan glanced at his cousin Xu Yuanshuang. “This lady has sustained some injuries.”
Xu Yuanshuang said expressionlessly, “My things were stolen by Xu Qian.”
Ji Xuan slapped his own forehead and passed the embroidered pouch at his waist over.
After Xu Yuanshuang fed the courtesan some healing medicine, the group left Chunyinong.
…
“No need!”
Xu Qi’an sighed. “He’s already been taken away by them.”
Hearing this, Li Lingsu felt a rush of lingering fear. “Had the Daoist Leader revealed herself just now, she might have faced a joint ambush by the Buddhist sect’s Arhat and Vajra.”
Behind the trailing veil, Luo Yuheng’s brows and eyes were full of sorrow. She sighed softly.
“If only I had advanced to first rank sooner.”
The “Sorrow” personality had three treasures: sighs, sorrow, and self-blame.
“Senior, this is getting difficult. It seems we can only give up on this person and search for the next target.”
Since it did not concern him directly, although Li Lingsu was disappointed, he was not too anxious.
For me, gathering all nine Dragon Qi is absolutely necessary… Xu Qi’an mused inwardly,
“I’ve already anticipated this possibility, so I prepared another plan.”
Li Lingsu instinctively asked, “What plan?”
No sooner had he spoken than Xu Qi’an plucked off his veiled hat.
Li Lingsu was puzzled, and before he could ask, he saw Xu Qian, this wretched old fellow, lift his leg and give him a savage kick out of the alleyway.
At the same time, he heard Xu Qian focus his qi into his dantian and thunder out:
“Li Lingsu, Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, is here!”
???
Li Lingsu never imagined that Xu Qian, the elder he always trusted, would do something so utterly mad.
What was even more insane was that he saw Xu Qian, after shouting, calmly take out a jade pendant and shatter it.
With a “crack”, a beam of clear light wrapped Xu Qian and Luo Yuheng, and they vanished.
The next moment, a giant golden palm descended from the sky, enveloping the area.
The Arhat had made his move.
Li Lingsu was plunged into despair.
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