"Do you know who the most famous courtesans in Jinling City are?"
"I've never heard of them!"
Su Changqing immediately launched into the stories of Jinling City's most famous courtesans, speaking like a storyteller.
From their family backgrounds to their private affairs, Su Changqing knew every detail by heart.
"You know this much about them... Among the young masters from prominent families who became entangled with those courtesans, you wouldn't happen to be one of them, would you?" Xia Qi'an teased.
At this, Su Changqing awkwardly rubbed his nose and gave a dry laugh. "I was young and ignorant back then... Fortunately, I didn't indulge myself and managed to preserve my virginity. Otherwise, if I had ruined my path in martial arts, I would have regretted it too late..."
As the two chatted idly, several maids came in one after another, weaving through the room like butterflies among flowers, and served an abundant spread of dishes and wine.
Su Changqing rose, filled Xia Qi'an's cup, and said, "To celebrate your becoming a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, we brothers have to drink properly..."
Xia Qi'an gazed at the wine in the cup before him. A flash of red flickered in his eyes, followed by a trace of imperceptible coldness.
Without revealing anything, Xia Qi'an pretended to be very interested in the wine's origins. "Brother Su! Does this wine have some story behind it?"
Su Changqing introduced it. "This is thirty-year-aged Green Ant wine. One jar costs thirty taels! It's the most expensive wine in Misty Rain Alley."
Xia Qi'an lifted the cup and gave it a sniff. Calmly, he said, "It's good wine! But whatever was added to it has truly ruined this fine Green Ant wine."
At those words, Su Changqing's expression changed drastically. "Brother Xia! What do you mean?"
"There's Soul-Bewitching Powder in the wine, isn't there? Tell me... why did you do this?" Xia Qi'an's expression remained unchanged, but he looked at Su Changqing as though he were looking at a dead man.
Su Changqing remained speechless for a long while, his expression shifting like a chameleon. At last, he slumped dejectedly back into his chair.
After a long silence, Su Changqing finally spoke in resignation, his voice weak. "...Sometimes I can't help wondering whether you're really only sixteen..."
Xia Qi'an shook his head in disappointment. "I thought we were friends... I never expected you to use Soul-Bewitching Powder, trying to ruin the foundation of my martial path..."
Soul-Bewitching Powder was an aphrodisiac that ignited a martial artist's qi and blood. Its effects were powerful enough to throw a person into a state of wild passion, leaving them unable to control themselves. Even a Spirit Condensation martial artist would have great difficulty resisting its effects.
Moreover, Xia Qi'an was currently in a brothel. If he lost his reason, the consequences were easy to imagine.
"Your talent is too high, and you have Lord Sinan's deep favor! Do you know how many people's paths you've blocked? Even I sometimes wonder how wonderful it would be if you didn't exist in this world! But I truly didn't want to kill you, so I thought of using Soul-Bewitching Powder to sever your martial foundation. That way, I could spare your life, and I wouldn't have to live every day consumed by jealousy until hatred drove me mad..." Su Changqing finally revealed the reason.
After hearing this, Xia Qi'an sneered. "And what of it? How many martial arts prodigies are there in this world? Can you kill them all?"
"Besides, using such despicable methods won't turn you into a genius..."
At Su Changqing's words, Su Changqing remained silent for a long while before letting out a long breath, as though a heavy burden had been lifted. He sighed, "Perhaps... my heart is simply too narrow..."
Xia Qi'an remained unmoved and continued asking, "Tell me... who else wants to scheme against me? Name them... For the sake of our acquaintance, I can spare your life. But don't appear before me again."
"Brother Qi'an... I was forced by my clan... I had no choice but to..."
"...That isn't what I want to hear..." Xia Qi'an shook his head.
Seeing that killing intent had already flooded Xia Qi'an's eyes, Su Changqing slowly revealed several surnames: "Wei... Wang... Lin... Wen."
After saying this, Su Changqing gave Xia Qi'an a deep look, then rose and left in a daze, slowly vanishing into the noisy crowds of Misty Rain Alley.
After Su Changqing left, Xia Qi'an rose as well and walked alone toward a courtyard deep in Misty Rain Alley.
What was rather interesting was that—
Earlier, in the brothel, when the maidservants had brought out the wine and dishes, one of them had secretly hinted to Xia Qi'an that there was something wrong with the wine.
Although his Crimson Pupils cheat had let him see the abnormality in the wine clearly, he was still curious about who had secretly helped him.
Thus, following the maid's hint, he went alone to investigate this private residence.
Although the courtyard before him stood in Misty Rain Alley, it was extremely quiet, separated from the liveliness of the courtesans' gathering by only a single wall.
Clearly, this was a private residence.
Then, led by a servant, Xia Qi'an met the master of the residence.
The owner here was none other than Shopkeeper Hong, the head shopkeeper of the Treasure Pavilion.
She wore a tight-fitting red dress with very little fabric and sat upright in a chair.
A thin, ring-shaped collar encircled her fair neck. Below it, the fabric wrapped around her magnificent bosom, swaying precariously and making one fear it might spill out at any moment.
Her long, slender legs were crossed, facing the direction from which Xia Qi'an entered.
The slits on both sides of the lower skirt were just right: they revealed the graceful curves of her long thighs without becoming overly revealing.
Beneath the deep night, Shopkeeper Hong's full and captivating snowy-white figure could not help but lift one's spirits.
The table before Shopkeeper Hong was piled high with sumptuous dishes, making her intentions obvious.
"What does Shopkeeper Hong mean by this?" Xia Qi'an asked in confusion after looking around.
Shopkeeper Hong gently waved the feather fan in her hand and laughed coquettishly. "We can be considered business partners now. There's nothing strange about inviting you to a simple meal, is there?"
"Of course we can eat... It's just that a setting like this easily gives people all sorts of ideas!"
"I only wanted to invite you over for a chat... As for what sort of ideas you have... that's none of my concern..." Shopkeeper Hong's seductive eyes narrowed, and she looked ready to devour him.
Seeing this, Xia Qi'an could only pretend to be calm as he sat down.
"Is Misty Rain Alley also one of Shopkeeper Hong's properties?" After taking his seat, Xia Qi'an openly picked up a piece of beef and put it into his mouth as he asked.
Shopkeeper Hong shook her head and explained, "Not all of it... The deeds to this street, Misty Rain Alley, belong to the Treasure Pavilion, but each brothel operates independently. They have nothing to do with the Treasure Pavilion!"
"I see..."
"Then what do you know about Su Changqing drugging me with Soul-Bewitching Powder?" Xia Qi'an immediately pressed.
At this, displeasure appeared on Shopkeeper Hong's face. She pouted reproachfully. "You're such an ungrateful man... I secretly sent someone to help you, and now you're questioning me instead..."
"Shopkeeper Hong is overthinking it... I know you had nothing to do with this. I simply want to know who was involved behind the scenes, so I can take precautions in advance..." Xia Qi'an explained tactfully.
"I learned of this by chance... I have informants hidden throughout Misty Rain Alley. Naturally, nothing done here can escape my eyes! I also knew everything about you drugging and capturing the Four Ghosts of Xiaoxiang with the Hound Guard earlier!"
"Impressive... impressive! But Shopkeeper Hong still hasn't answered my question..."
"Hmph... What an uninteresting man... I helped you. Shouldn't you be grateful? Will you acknowledge this favor or not?"
Xia Qi'an saw through her as clearly as a mirror. Since this woman had sought him out, she clearly had a purpose. Unless she achieved it, she would never speak easily.
"I, Xia Qi'an, will remember this favor..." Xia Qi'an said helplessly.
"Mm... Good!" Shopkeeper Hong rolled her eyes playfully and replied with satisfaction.
Then she continued, "Lord Wang, the Hound Guard Commander Wang Yangshuo, is being transferred to the headquarters in You Province! Si Nanyue will soon succeed Lord Wang and officially become the Hound Guard Commander of the Jinling Wei Dao Si!"
"That's a good thing!... But what does that have to do with me?" Xia Qi'an asked as though he had fallen into a fog.
"Why are you so impatient? I haven't finished speaking yet..." Shopkeeper Hong raised the feather fan in her hand and lightly smacked Xia Qi'an's arm with it, scolding him coyly.
Before you continue