As Zhou Qiming was deep in thought, the room door opened, and an elegant young master emerged, casually waving a folding fan with extraordinary bearing.
"Eh? Wasn't that Bai Hao, who just left? How did another one come out?"
Only after taking a closer look did he notice the subtle differences in this newly emerged Bai Hao. His eyes and smile were much more lecherous, and he lacked the noble air of a young master.
It was obvious that this was the Jade Thief Tian Liang in disguise. The transformation was so perfect that anyone with slightly duller senses would probably truly be fooled.
"None of the people who roam the martial world are simple characters. I'll follow him and take a look. If I can obtain this Disguise Technique..."
A glint flickered in Zhou Qiming's eyes. Tian Liang had likely mastered a Disguise Technique. If Zhou Qiming could learn it, traveling the martial world under an alias would be much safer in the future.
One more identity meant one more margin for error. Tian Liang had committed crimes in several County Towns without being captured for so long, clearly relying on his superb disguise skills.
Even if he offended a noble young lady from the commandery city, at worst he could change his face and identity and start life anew.
In excellent spirits, Tian Liang arrived at the City Guard Department in the southern district of the Outer City and requested an audience with Constable Lord Ren Xue, completely unaware that Zhou Qiming was tailing him.
"Young Master Bai, please wait. I'll go report this at once."
Seeing that the visitor was Bai Hao, who was listed on the Human Ranking, the several gate constables dared not be negligent and hurried inside to inform their superior.
Before long, Ren Xue emerged wearing a Fish Scale Black Robe, her face filled with delight.
"Brother Hao, what brings you here to see me? Did you bring me a gift?" the woman asked shyly, her voice almost dripping with sweetness.
The constable subordinates nearby all turned their heads away. Usually, they only saw Ren Xue's imposing and overbearing side. When had they ever witnessed such a scene? They wished they could take Bai Hao's place.
"What, I can't come see you when I have nothing to do? We're people who will marry sooner or later," Tian Liang said with a wicked chuckle.
"Come on, I'll take you somewhere nice." Tian Liang coaxed her, inviting her into the carriage.
Ren Xue glanced around and hesitated. "Isn't this inappropriate? It's still working hours. What if an official from the Inner City comes to inspect?"
However, her body was far more honest than her words, and she followed Tian Liang into the carriage.
"Constable Ren, today's case files haven't been reviewed yet. This isn't appropriate, is it?" A burly constable stepped forward and offered a symbolic objection.
"Get lost. We'll talk when I return." Ren Xue kicked her subordinate aside, then turned back and put on a delicate, dependent look for Tian Liang before lowering the carriage curtain.
The crowd of constables behind them was green with envy, all of them wearing lecherous smiles.
"Tsk, tsk. Who would've thought the icy Constable Lord had a side like this?"
"Is this the power of a Human Ranking Heavenly Prodigy? Just lift a finger, and a beauty throws herself into his arms."
"Shut up. Do you want to die, gossiping about Constable Ren behind her back?"
The constables stopped discussing it, but their minds had already begun running wild, imagining themselves in Bai Hao's place.
At Qingping Inn, a man and a woman pushed open the door and entered.
Ren Xue caught the fragrance in the room and cautiously furrowed her brows.
"Brother Hao, why did you bring me to a place like this? Isn't this inappropriate?"
She still felt somewhat resistant and surprised. She and Bai Hao had always behaved properly around each other, and this was the first time they had come to such a private place.
If she stayed in the room too long, Bai Hao might think she was a frivolous woman.
"Xue'er, come, drink this cup of tea. Treat it as our wedding cup, and let's celebrate my rise onto the Human Ranking."
Tian Liang presented the two cups of tea he had prepared long ago. They had been drugged. He continued smiling gently. "I originally wanted to surprise you. In a few days, I'll visit your home and personally offer the betrothal gifts to Uncle Ren."
"What? Is that true?" Ren Xue's eyes lit up. After Bai Hao became a Human Ranking Expert, she had felt that she was no longer worthy of the Bai Family. But upon hearing this news, she was overjoyed.
She and her father truly had not misjudged Bai Hao. He was not the sort of man who would change his heart easily.
"Drink up. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I wanted to tell you personally that I pursued the Human Ranking back then so I could marry you properly and let everyone know who my future wife is."
Tian Liang revealed a row of white teeth, looking pleased with himself as he put an arm around her.
"Brother Hao, why aren't you drinking? Could there be something wrong with this tea?" Ren Xue said with a sly smile, teasing him.
Tian Liang: "..."
He hurriedly drank first, lifting his cup in salute and downing it.
Ren Xue giggled and drank her tea as well. "I was only teasing you. How could I possibly suspect the Four Young Masters of Luoshan City?"
But before her voice had even faded, Ren Xue's expression changed. She suddenly felt heat raging through her body and weakness spreading through her limbs. Her entire body went limp as she collapsed onto the bed, her curving silhouette revealed.
Ren Xue's face went pale with terror. She glared at Bai Hao, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief, and demanded angrily, "Young Master Hao, you! What is going on? Why did you deceive me?"
She was shocked and furious, tears flashing anxiously in her eyes. For the first time, she felt that Bai Hao was utterly unfamiliar, completely different from the man she had known in her daily interactions with him. The halo around him shattered to pieces.
Tian Liang let out a sinister cackle and stopped pretending. In a cold voice, he said, "Deceive you? Do you still not understand? I just wanted to take our relationship further. You accepted so many gifts from this young master—what, am I not allowed to touch you?"
"No, this is impossible. The Young Master Hao Xue'er knows isn't someone like you!" Ren Xue shook her head in despair. She was probably doomed to lose her innocence today. She regretted not listening to the constables' advice and abandoning her work to come fool around with Bai Hao.
"Father, your daughter has failed you." Ren Xue closed her eyes, her heart sinking into an abyss. She had never imagined that Bai Hao, whose fame was at its height, would use such despicable means against her and the Ren Family.
"I'll return all the gifts to you. Don't hurt me."
Ren Xue shook her head frantically, trying to push away the figure leaning toward her. Her eyes were filled with fear and unwillingness. "Bai Hao, Xue'er will belong to you sooner or later. Why are you doing this?"
Now that things had come to a head, Ren Xue wanted to uncover the truth. She still held onto the last shred of expectation and hope toward Bai Hao—what if this was merely some kind of joke?
"Hahahaha, you're another foolish woman blinded by love. I hate being the one to clean up after someone else! Why should Bai Hao get to taste you first?"
As his words fell, under Ren Xue's stunned gaze, Tian Liang raised a hand and tore off the Human Skin Mask. But beneath it was no handsome Bai Hao.
Tian Liang had a peculiar fetish. Although he liked using disguise techniques to approach his targets first, when it came time to indulge himself, he disliked wearing someone else's face. Just imagining it made him feel disgusted.
The moment he saw Ren Xue's appearance and bearing at the City Guard Department, he knew she was exactly his type. There was no way he would let Bai Hao experience her first!
Driven by desire, Tian Liang had also cast aside the task Bai Hao had entrusted to him. He would worry about that later!
As for the Bai Family's pursuit and vengeance, Tian Liang did not take them to heart. Even the Noble Families of the commandery city could do nothing to him for the time being, let alone the trifling Bai Family in a County Town.
"You really aren't Young Master Hao. Brother Hao would never do something so vile. Release me at once, or Father and the Bai Family won't let you off!"
Seeing his true appearance, Ren Xue felt as if she had seized a lifeline and began threatening Tian Liang with the Bai Family.
"You really won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Take a look at this, my good Xue'er."
Before you continue